I am a descendant of John and
Isabella... the following is quoted from the "Brewster's Mountain
Lodge" website.
Before the
Irish famine in the 1840’s, William
Brewster managed the
Irvine Estate in
Irvine, Fernanagh,
Erie. James
Irvine, a friend & a doctor, had immigrated to Canada & encouraged his friend William to come to Canada. Sarah Jane
Irvine followed her brother soon after to
Kingston, ON. Here it was that Sarah Jane, an heiress to land holdings in Ireland, married the manager William
Brewster, and while farming in Ontario raised eight children. John, the 5th born in 1852, married
Isabella Thompson, farming until following the railroad west to Winnipeg where he worked in mill shops before coming to
Banff. Isabella
Brewster with her four sons, William, James, Fred & Jack arrived in
Banff, AB via CP Rail from Winnipeg, MB on March 17, 1888 to join her husband John who had decided
Banff would become their permanent home. George, Pearl (1st white baby girl), & F.O. Pat were born in
Banff. John, on the advice of his brothers who had visited the mountains earlier, told him of the opportunities in the West, thus he started a dairy to service the
Banff Springs hotel & the community. This was the start of a great adventure for the
Brewster Family in
Banff National
Park.
I am the great-grandson of their son James, who left
Banff and had a stopping house near what is now
Bowden,
Alberta. Hope this helps... it's interesting to know there you both exist!
D