Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

MARY ISABELL (BELLE) WHITE née SWEET

Archibald William Westhaver was born on 22 November 1876 in Martins Brook, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to David Westhaver and Amelia Elizabeth Rhoetnizer. His siblings were Ellen May (1865-1889), Davis L (b 1868), Collin McKenzie (b 1869), Agnes (b 1873), Ambrose F (b 1875), Jessie (b 1881) and Andrew Harold (1883-1980).

The 1900 census found him listed as a student boarding with Ella Buckley in Crawfordsville, Union Township, Montgomery, Indiana. His immigration year was given as 1899 and his birth date November 1877. A border crossing record created in February 1910, gives his last permanent address as Dundurn, Saskatchewan, his age as 29, his occupation as clergyman, his mother’s name as Amelia and his destination as Elysian, Minnesota. Almost certainly, this was the same Archibald born to David and Amelia in 1876, but the birth date of 1881 was incorrect. He married Bernice Mary Haskell on 21 June 1911 in North Mankato, Minnesota. Bernice was born on 7 May 1889 in Elysian, LeSueur, Minnesota to Addison W Haskell (1847-1918) and Hannah V Prosser (1861-1929).

Archibald and his family was found in 1920, 1930 and 1940 census records for Elysian, Minnesota. In these records and in a WWI USA draft record created 12 September 1818, his birth year always calculated to 1883. The WWI enlistment papers gave a birth date of 22 November 1883 and included his signature.

In 1920, his mother, Amelia, was living with his family in Elysian. Archibald and Mary had 3 children, Doris Ellen (b 1912), Ronald Gilbert (1914-1914) and Leslie Addison (1918-1970).

Archibald died on 15 March 1948 and Bernice on 3 October 1951 in Waseca, Minnesota. They were both buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Elysian, Minnesota. Family trees on Ancestry and his tombstone gave Archibald’s year of birth as 1876.

Although only one reference could be found that placed Archibald anywhere near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (the 1910 border crossing record that gave his residence as Dundurn), it is believed that he was the person represented by the quilt signature. Census records and Henderson City Directories placed his brother, Andrew Harold Westhaver and his family in Saskatoon from at least 1911 to 1921. It is believed that either Archibald was in Saskatoon on a visit at quilt signing time or one of his relatives signed the quilt with his name. He had enlisted to fight in the War, so perhaps his signature was put on the quilt in honour of him. The name Westhaver is very uncommon and no other A W Westhaver could be found associated with Saskatoon.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Westhaver Tree.

Courtesy of Ancestry.com