Ralph Rowan was born on April 12, 1912 in Melville, SK. His mother was a pioneer of the Brandon district in Manitoba and the family returned there in 1914. In 1918, the Rowan family moved to Elkhorn, then to the Arawana district. Ralph attended school in Arawana, as well as Springvale School. When he was 18, he moved with his parents to Kirkella onto section 7-12-29. Ralph married Ellen (Nellie) Oliver (1912-2011) in 1935, and the couple moved to Fleming, SK where they started farming. The Rowan's had five children: William, Arlene, Darwin, Dorothy and Lyle. They moved to the Woodville School District southwest of Elkhorn. During their time near Elkhorn the family fored a small orchestra and provided music for dances in the area. Ralph served on the school board, the local Pool board and became active in the Farmers' Union, serving seven years on the provincial board in Winnipeg. He was also active in the New Democratic Party (NDP), running as a candidate in the Virden constituency. In 1967, Ralph and Nellie moved to Elkhorn, where they ran a small holding of horses, pigs and cattle for personal use. Ralph Rowan died in November 2004 in Elkhorn, MB. He is buried at Fleming Cemetery in Fleming, SK.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is a recording of an interview with Ralph Rowan about pioneering and Depression days. Interviewer is Elmer Armstrong.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the Elkhorn local history "Steel and Grass Roots." Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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