Mrs. Ruby Howard-Campbell, one of the earliest pioneer women of North Bend, in telling of her coming to Canada, compared herself to the wild geese. She felt the urge to come north and so they came. They prepared for days, even picking a barrel of apples.

Her brothers, Ralph, Frank and Bert Howard and her husband, William Campbell had filed on homesteads in the fall of 1901. The first winter we lived in a tent on the Hillmond Hills so the wind would blow away the snow. "Our only equipment," says Frank "was a bell roll, a 5 lb. lard pail and a frying pan. We did trapping and chased coyotes to obtain supplies, but enjoyed some of the best times of our lives."

The Campbells came to North Bend or Yankee Bend as it was called then in 1903. Mrs. Ruby Campbell and Mrs. Dolly Howard were the first white women in the district. "We came as far as Lloydminster and out to the Bend and moved into our tent. There was three inches of snow on the ground. Fernando was one year old and caught whooping cough, but I nursed him through and we had our barrel of apples and the prairie chickens were so plentiful, you could shoot them any time. So we prepared for our first Christmas. The spirit of the times was to give so I made up bags of homemade candy as a present for each one. I made three extra bags and on Christmas Day along came three strangers, so they received their bags also."

Grandma and Grandpa Howard came up a year later and they also lived in a tent. She put up her bed and laid the carpet on the ground. Apple boxes were nailed on the trees for cupboards. Grandma had brought her organ along so they all had some music. Ruby Campbell also brought her camera so she took many pictures of those early days. Mrs. Dolly Howard is now one of five generations, Cliff, Freddie, Betty and her three children. As she thought of those times, she remarked, "Neighbours in those days were not just the family who lived down the road. They helped one another in times of need and exchanged labor and when one went out, they brought supplies for all."

She told a story of the many in her memory.... Rabbits were used for food and one winter, Jack Kirby went to Edam. He lived on rabbits during the summer so when he went into the restaurant the China man said, "Labbit Stew, Labbit fry and Labbit bake," It was too much so Jack didn't stay.

Before long there were quite a number of oxen in the neighbourhood. Mr. Tucker had a team that could walk to Lloydminster just as fast as any team of horses.

Frank was such a good shot that he kept us supplied with moose and deer meat during the winter. Frank still whole though ninety years old and still tends the garden. He says, "In later years, I wintered at Chetwynd, BC. Ben Mudge and I built cabins for Fernando Campbell and also a store for W.A. Campbell. It was a race to get the roof on before winter set in but we made it."

Ruby still lives in her "Little Grey House in the West" quite near her daughter, Joy Naylor. She is in her eighties and still very active. She has many and varied interests. The pursuing of her hobby in wool crafts, making the lovely Permashag Woolens is in itself a story of interest. She has also made a number of tapes for her family, telling of the early days and recently has been prevailed upon to do some recording of the very old folk songs handed down to her from her mother's mother. Will was promoted to his heavenly home in 1965.

Burial: 14 January 1973, Albion Cemetery, North Bend District, Frenchman Butte, Saskatchewan

Will, travelled as blockman for the Sawyer-Massy Machine Company for a year or two. Next he accepted a position teaching in the University of Saskatchewan at Saskatoon, but when offered a permanent position on the teaching staff, he declined in favour of county life.

The next adventure for Will and Ruby Campbell in pioneering was a few years in the sawmill business. They had a little sawmill north of Red Cross, and here for quite a number of years farmers from as far away as Maidstone, Saskatchewan sometimes came and took out lumber to build their farmsteads.

During World War 1, a teacher shortage developed and Ruby was prevailed upon to take a short course at the teacher training college and taught school a few terms. However, when offered a very attractive position to teach in North Battleford, she declined, again in favour of the county life.

Will and Ruby returned to the homestead where they built a home and settle down to farm. They remained there until 1955, when they retired to a home with their daughter and son-in-law at Woodlands Farm; John and Joy Naylor having moved there to take care of the little Ashley Post Office for the year of its life.

At this writing, there are living-of Will and Ruby Campbell's family, besides their children, fourteen grandchildren and thirty-five great grandchildren. They are all Canadians.

Burial: 1965, Albion Cemetery, North Bend District, Frenchman Butte, Saskatchewan