The Autobiography of Ruth Tagg Caley

Mom was excited to go to Canada. She was eight years old when she left England. Itwas a long journey by ship. She always liked ships and drew pictures of them. She had anartistic hand and loved poetry [SHOW BOOK].When they got to Canada they had another long journey ahead of them as they traveledacross the country to Alberta and tried to homestead. The winters were harsh and they had togive up that dream. Life on the farm was very difficult and they did not have any conveniences.They moved into the town of Cardston where her father eventually resumed his trade ofshoemaking.Mom was sent out to live with other people to earn her way and was only able to go toschool through the sixth grade. That was the end of her family life. She missed them so muchand always tried to bring back what she had lost. The family meant so much to her.In 1928 she came to Salt Lake to live with her brother Jim. When she first got here shehad typhoid fever and was not able to work for quite sometime. When she regained her healthshe worked for a doctor in his home. She applied to the United States government for a workpermit in June of 1929.Her brother Steve’s wife Jean introduced her to John Caley, the man that was to be herfuture husband. She married at age 23 and John was 36.[LETTER - May 14, 1930 - Five weeks before they got married.]“Well dear Ruth if I don’t write oftener it is not because I do not think of you, for that isone of my main thoughts and the other is how can I better my position, a pretty hard problem tosolve it seems at present. But let us hope for the best. I have some work to do pretty soon so Iwill have to close these few lines and trusting that you are well, and that you have fully recoveredfrom your cold. With love and best wishes and hoping to see you soon. Yours truly, John. (Tobe paid in full when I see you - 27 X’s.)”She became a citizen of the United States on April 7, 1941.Her oldest child, Winifred died later that year on October 31, 1941 at the age of 10. Shelost another daughter, Marguerite, February 11, 1944 at the age of one month and six days.Marguerite was my twin sister.She loved all of her children. John is the oldest of the living children, David is next inthe family, followed by Esther and Marjorie.[READ MY EXTRA GIFT FOR MOTHER’S DAY.]“It had been raining every day for over a week and the wind was cold. I was glad I had aroof over my head and plenty to eat. I looked out through the window and saw a big grey cattaking shelter from the cold windy air of early month of May, there she stayed, waiting for theRuth Tagg Caley pg 56