William and Margaret Code Obituaries

William H. Code

In the passing of William Code, whose death occurred early Monday morning, Mossbank district breaks contact with another of the early settlers; one who in his own quiet, effective way , was a force in the communal development, ever since his arrival here, in 1909, to homestead in the North Point district, 10 miles west of Mossbank.

The late William Code was a native of Ontario, the little village of Carleton Place, not very far from Ottawa, being where he first saw the light of day, on September the 13th, 1843, 88 years and one month, lacking a day, prior to his death, and there he spent the first 35 years of his life.

In 1869 he married Margaret Ennis, daughter of a family after whom the village of Innisville was named, and five children were born there: Abraham, Caroline, Jas. E., Wm. B., and Elizabeth. During this period, Mr. Code engaged in farming, and even at that time, showed the stuff that was in him, when his church, having bought a melodeon (organ), and having no one to operate it , "Grandpa." then young William Code, went at the job. learned a few hymns by ear and made a name for himself as an organist in that district.

In 1878 the family migrated to the States, and Mr. Code was one of the pioneer settlers of a district which two years later was organized as "Walsh County". His activities that are thus tersely dealt with in the "Walsh County Record:, when commenting on a visit of Mr. Code to his old home, under date of September, 19th, 1929:

"Mr. Code was one of the early pioneers of Kensington Township, having filed on a homestead one mile east of Park River, in 1879, along what was known as the "Garfield Trail," now state highway No. 17. His home was a "half way house" between Grafton and the western part of the county where he and Mrs. Code dispensed hospitality to the pioneers hauling their grain to market from western Walsh county.

Mr. Code was one of the three county commissioners appointed on the organization of the county in 1881 and the first chairman of the board. He presented the third commissioner's district for nine years and voluntarily resigned at the end of his third term of office. He took an active part in the organization of the county, the court house and jail being erected during his administration as chairman of the county board."

Mr. Code continued his municipal activities after coming, to Saskatchewan, and was for a time a member of the Council of the Municipality of Sutton, and for a term was Deputy Reeve of that body. In all he had to his credit 40 years of continuous public service and during that period he left nothing that could be construed as cause for regret. He was a consistent member of the Anglican church, and counted that Sunday lost when he was forced to miss a service. In politics, he was a Conservative just as consistent in that as in his church affiliation.

Honoring him and loving him for his many sterling and lovable qualities, we regret his passing from our friend, even though it be but for a season, and this sentiment will be echoed by many people who had the privilege to know William Code.

Margaret Ennis Code

Mrs. Wm. Code Will Be Buried Sunday Afternoon From Anglican Church

Mossbank, April 9, - Death has claimed a well beloved pioneer of Mossbank, Mrs. Wm. Code, aged 74 years, who died, Wednesday afternoon after a two weeks illness, the cause of death being leakage of the heart and a gradual failing due to her advanced age. Mrs. Code was a member of St. Luke's Anglican church and honorary president of the W.A.Margaret Ennis Code was born at Innesville, Ont., the town having been named after her parents. She was married to William Code, January 17, 57 years ago at her home at Innesville and moved with her husband to Park River, N.D., in 1897. In 1901 they moved to Hampden, N.D., and lived there eight years, coming to Saskatchewan in 1909 where they settled on their farm near Mossbank, later moving to the village. Except for two years in Arizona and occasional trips to visit sons and daughters, they have resided here since.

They spent the past winter in Seattle and Vancouver, Mrs. Code leaves to mourn her, her husband, Wm. Code, four sons and five daughters. They are: Abraham J., Tampa, Florida; James E, Mossbank; William Buell, Seattle; Carleton Reid, Butte Creek, Mont.; Mrs. E.R. Swarthout, Tucson, Ariz; Mrs. Frank R. Van Campen, Seattle; Mrs. Marcus A. Knuteson, Hampden, N.D.; Mrs. Peter Muller, Oak Harbor, Wash.; Mrs. Ward Estey, Tacoma, Wash. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The service will be conducted by Rev. R.S. Montgomery, Moose Jaw, and burial will take place in Mossbank cemetery.

William and Margaret Code

Local History book for Mossbank, Sask - "Furrows & Faith"

William and Margaret Code had eleven children. They came with their son, James, from North Dakota to homestead in the Mazenod district in 1909. Mr. Code played the violin for step-dancing. Margaret belonged to the first Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church. Mr. and Mrs. Code sold their homestead and moved to Mossband with their son.

William passed away in 1931 ; Margaret in 1926. In 1928, a bell with Margaret's name on was placed on the Anglican Church at Mossbank. William was a Mason and belonged to the Orange Benevolent Society and at his death was the oldest member recorded in Canada. Carlton Code homesteaded in the Mazenod area in 1912. He returned to Montana where he married Midge and disposed of his ranch. They returned to Saskatchewan and purchased the George Stanley homestead north of Mossbank. They had nine children. In the mid thirties, he sold his land and moved to Seattle, Washington.

James Code married Augusta Bittner, in 1905, in North Dakota. In 1909 he came to homestead north of Mossbank and, in 1913, his wife and two children, James and Genevieve, joined him there. Augusta helped organize the first St. Luke's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church. She was artistic and did oil paintings. They moved to Moose Jaw where the children attended school . Augusta passed away in 1919. James returned to Mossbank, and in 1926 married Gladys Parker, a telephone operator from Assiniboia.

James went into the Insurance and Realtor business until his retirement in 1947. At this time Brett, a three month old nephew, came to live with them. James passed away in 1956 and Gladys resides in Mossbank. James had the first Cadillac in this area, and when he sold it for a taxi in Moose Jaw, it was used to escort the King and Queen on their first visit. Genevieve, James' daughter, married Malcolm MacDonald and resides in Nova Scotia.

They have two sons, Glen and Gary.James A., James' son, farmed with his father and taught school. He married Ann Damaski. In 1931, they went by team and covered wagon to Pine River Valley, Alberta, to homestead. In the fall of 1934, they returned to his father's homestead. Ann clerked at the Red and White Store in Mossbank until they moved to the Frazer Valley, B.C. in the fall of 1961, where they still reside on a dairy farm. They had seven children. Margaret married Sam Edgerton of Mossbank; James, Calvin and David are all married with families; Edwin passed away in 1967 ; Dennis is single; Shirley married Glenn Sparrow of the Vantage area.