HISTORY: Families and People: R-S | STEWART

 

Duncan Stewart was born in Killan, Scotland on February 10, 1895 and moved to Canada as a child. He first met Cyril Weddell when they both enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1915. They were both sent to Europe, but in separate Battalions. Duncan was taken prisoner, interned in Germany and only released at the end of the war. He returned to Kelowna and again met Cyril Weddell. They renewed their friendship and began looking for ranchland which the Veteran’s Allowance would help them purchase. They eventually decided to buy the Preston’s 160 acre parcel in Joe Rich and to divide it between them.

Duncan (1) and Cyril (2) ready for war - 1915

Duncan ended up with the smaller part of the property, but most of the farm buildings, the house and the flat land as well as the majority of the cattle. He got 65 acres and Cyril got 95 acres. Duncan, a loyal Scot always preferred Aberdeen Angus Cattle even though Herefords were more common and probably better suited to BC. He was well organized and a good planner. When Cyril Weddell found lettuce growing profitable, Duncan Stewart soon followed suit. He was the first to make a specialty of growing turnips, but grew good lettuce also. They both trucked their produce to Kelowna and the packing house. Duncan often took advantage of the trip to make a long visit to the pub.

Duncan Stewart - 1921

Dunc's "John Bull" - 1935

Duncan remained a rather stubborn and irascible bachelor. He usually came out on the good side of any negotiations he undertook. He talked little and never committed himself to an agreement in any way that he could not back out of. But he could be charming.

Margaret (Weddell) Hine remembers that for a long time Dunc used to get his bread baked by Mary Weddell, but in later years the Weddells sometimes bought bread in town for Dunc. On one occasion, when Margaret was small, she was given the job of taking Dunc his bread. As she walked up the valley to his place, the bread smelt so good that she dug a hole with her finger through the wrapping and scooped out a little piece to eat. When she gave the loaf to Dunc he noticed the hole and asked how it had gotten there. Margaret told him that a mouse had eaten it. She thinks that he never quite believed her story, but he didn’t get after her anyway.

The Preston’s log house that Duncan Steward first lived in was located on the southwest edge of Joe Rich Creek just upstream from the present Red Star barn. Dunc eventually built the ‘new’ home which still stands across the creek from the Red Star barn and across and downstream from where his old place was.

Dunc remained a bachelor, but in later years was charmed by Mrs. McKenzie. In his old age, he developed cancer of the lip. He had no close family in this area. When he died of a heart attack at age 63, on March 3, 1958, his will was probated in the BC Supreme Court on April 23 rd of the same year. His property was to be sold and converted into money which was to be used to care for his brother, James who probably lived in England. On the death of James, the estate was to be divided into four parts and given one quarter to a nephew, Stewart Palmer in England, one quarter to Edith Stewart, a sister-in-law living in California, one quarter to the four children of Mary Innes living in England, and the final quarter to Teresa Wallace in Joe Rich, Mrs. McKenzie’s daughter, Tessie.

Duncan Stewart’s property was sold to Armstrongs who sold it to Demitors. When Demitors bought it, the creek had moved southwest and the Dunc’s old garage was hanging over its bank. The old log house originally built by the Prestons was also in bad shape. Howard had to get rid of both of them. Gerry remembers that the house still contained some old lamps and a Bachelor’s Pantry, a decorated painted metal cupboard with shelves and bins. She wishes now that she had kept some of these antiques, memorials to Dunc’s good organization.

Last days of Dunc's house and garage - 1961

Stewart's Barn and 'new' house - 2004