Mr. August Larpenteur—1843, Ninety-three years old.
The first day I came, in 1843, I had dinner with Mrs. Jackson. It was a fine one—ducks, venison, and vegetables raised by the Selkirk refugees. Here I first tasted pemmican. It was most excellent. The bread was baked in a Dutch oven.
New Year's Day, Mr. Jackson, Luther Furnell and I took a yoke of oxen to make some New Years calls. We first went to Mr. Gervais' where we talked, took a drink, kissed the girls and then to Vital Guerin's. Next we went up to Mrs. Mortimer's where we made a sedate call. She lived where the police station now stands. Last, near present Seven Corners, we called on the Irvine's. By this time the OXEN were tired. We began to feel drowsy, so we returned and took a rest.
The Indians always called on us on Christmas, went through much handshaking and expected a present.
[1] From Captain Alexander Henry's diary about the Red River country in 1801, presented to Ottawa. He also says there were 1500 of these carts there in 1808.
[2] All pioneers over ninety are so introduced as we feel that no state can show so large a number who have the same mentality
[3] A sister of Mrs. Duncan Kennedy.
[4] Mrs. Kaercher's work begins with Mrs. Crippen.