This is my Dad's Uncle Alvie holding his favorite Marlin model 24 and a skin stretched out on the side of the chicken coop. Alvie was known for his deadly accurate shooting skills. He was the camp hunter for several logging companies. He and his brother Clifford (Ace) were consistent winners at turkey shoots. That is a very satisfied looking grin on his face!

I can remember my Dad telling me that his Uncle Alvie never touched alcohol or tobacco, and he only got a truck when he was convinced that he needed one. Then there was the time that Alvie had his rifle confiscated by a game warden. Alvie was out one day doing what he did best, getting food for the table. In the distance he saw someone who waved at him. Thinking that it was a neighbor, Alvie walked over to meet him. Much to his chagrin, it was the game warden who quickly took his favorite rifle and the partridge (ruffed grouse to Americans).

Alvie was the eldest son of our Red Robin. As such, he felt that he was first in line to inherit the family farm. As fate would have it, Alvie did not stay and run the farm. He struck out on his own. His brother James stayed behind to work the farm and to look after their father and disabled sister, Margaret. James inherited the farm. This was a point of contention with Alvie. Finally, around 1913 Alvie and Jim got into an argument over the inheritance. They would not speak to each other for 20 years. They ate family meals together at holidays, but would not even acknowledge each other's presence. Finally, when James was on his deathbed in 1933 they made up, agreeing that they had wasted 20 years, and that both regretted it.