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As the Canadian Pacific Railway built out across the praries and the Canadian government offered title to land for a commitment to improve the land, new settlements and towns appeared. Castor sprung up in the early 1900's as a railway town. James Wilfred Marshall, his five son's; James Charles, John Inglelton Gillies (Jack), Thomas Arthur, Ingelton (Slim), William Francis (Frank) and daughter Janet Eva Gladys moved to the area. Charles, Jack, Slim, and Thomas purchased homestead properties. James Wilfred purchased the farm of the late W. C. Gillies in 1909. Thomas William Marshall, nephew to James Wilfred also moved to the area and received a homestead. |
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The google map to the left shows the castor area.
James Wilfred and family moved out west approximately 1909, although his first trip to the area was in 1905.
For some insight into life in Castor in 1909 - 1912 please find a series of letters written by a young pastor Martin Holdom.
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Homestead Records from Alberta
| MARSHALL, James |
| Section 20 |
Township 38 |
Range 14 |
Meridian 4 |
| Film # 2520 in Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta |
| File # 64389A |
| MARSHALL, John Ingleton Gillies |
| Section 28 |
Township 38 |
Range 14 |
Meridian 4 |
| Film # 2742 in Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta |
| File # 981524 |
| MARSHALL, Thomas Arthur |
| Section 4 |
Township 38 |
Range 14 |
Meridian 4 |
| Film # 2756 in Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta |
| File # 1236693 |
| MARSHALL, Thomas William |
| Section 4 |
Township 38 |
Range 14 |
Meridian 4 |
| Film # 2756 in Accession # 1970.313 at Provincial Archives of Alberta |
File # 1236691
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