Date Range

1911-1978

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Bannen family

Physical Description

2.54 cm textual records; 59 black and white photographic prints

History Biographical

John H. Bannen was born in 1866, in Hamilton, Ontario. He moved with his family to Langdon, Michigan around 1887. Mr. Bannen was a road commissioner in Michigan, and in 1918 was hired by the federal government for road construction to replace prairie trails. In 1922, he worked near Skiff, Alberta. In 1930, John H. Bannen bought a piece of farm land in southern Alberta and eventually, his son, Darwin Bannen, took over the farm. Darwin Bannen exchanged the farm land near Warner for the Skiff property. John H. Bannen continued to manage the Warner property until his retirement. John H. Bannen married Rosa Packard, a school teacher, in 1899. The couple had six children: Belle, John Gordon, Darwin, Eunice Rose, William and Lewis. The family lived in Michigan and in March 1917, they moved to a farm just northeast of Warner. John H. Bannen was active in the community, and served as township supervisor and county clerk for over twenty years. The family were members of the Evangelical Church in Warner. In the 1930s, Darwin Bannen was farming at the Skiff property during the Depression. The family experienced many hardships. In 1941, Darwin purchased another piece of land from Mrs. Marion C. Lyons of Dubuque, Iowa. Darwin Bannen farmed until he was enlisted in the military. He was killed in action in January 1943. The farm was sold to Fergus Russell in 1961. John Gordon Bannen married Ellen Elizabeth Miller in July 1925 in Pondera, Montana, and they had four children: Vivian Eunice, Lila Mae, Gordon Lloyd, and Eileen Rose. In 1934, the family moved to Sweet Grass, Montana. In 1940, the family lived near Shelby, Montana. Belle Bannen Ostby was born in 1900, and married Alvin Clarence Ostby and had four children, including Eldon Clarence Ostby and Florence Otsby Oswald. The family lived in Warner, Alberta. Belle Bannen Ostby was a school teacher in the area. Eunice Rose Bannen Vassberg, born in 1905, was a Registered Nurse. She married Richard Vassberg in 1932 and raised their family in Bawlf, Alberta. William Bannen (1909-1925) and Lewis Bannen (1911-1924) both lived with their family in Warner, Alberta.

Scope and Content

2021.1085/001-045: Bannen Family Photographs. 58 photographic prints. 1912-1978. 2021.1085/046-047: Bannen Family Papers. 1 photographic print. 1911-1953.

Accession No.

20211085

Collection

Archive

Less detail