In the spring of 1908, his wife and the rest of the family left Freetown and crossed from Cape Traverse to by ice boat, where they boarded the train for Lacombe. They spent six days and five nights on the train. From Lacombe it was necessary to travel to Rimbey, a distance of thirty-five miles by a two seated horse drawn wagon. For a time after their arrival at Rimbey, groceries, merchandise and other necessities were transported to the local merchant by teams of horses on wagons or sleighs. In time, the railroad came through Rimbey. Fred and Phemi met with a strange coincidence, just as the railroad went through their farm in Freetown , it also passed through their farm in Rimbey. With the railroad came an increase in population of the village and surrounding area. Fred was made overseer of roads and bridges in Rimbey. He had been a road overseer in Freetown . The Picketts, being Methodists, first had their services of worship in the school. When the decision was made to build the first Methodist Church in Rimbey, Fred Picketts and his helper built it, and son William hauled all the lumber that was used in constructing it. The door knobs that were used in the doors were brought by the Picketts from P.E.I. The Picketts were very active in this church as Ervie, Harvey and Leila Jackson, along with Ina Spinks all sang in the choir. Fred Picketts was b. in Wilmot Valley on 4 July 1861. He was the son of John Peter and Emeline (Curtis) Picketts. They are both buried in Freetown United Church Cemetery . Fred Picketts m. Phemi Burns of Freetown . She was b. 1865. She was the daughter ofWilliam and Ellen (Baker) Burns. They had six ch. all born in Freetown . 2a Hattie b. 1 Oct. 1887. She m. Leslie Bernard b. 1880. She d. 7 Dec. 1971. Leslie d. 4 Mar. 1960. They had no children. 2b William b. 29 Oct. 1889. He m. Sarah McCrorie . They had five sons and two daughters: 1. Jessie, 2. Freddie d. young, 3. William, 4. Robert, 5. Russell, 6. Bertha and 7. Leslie. 2c Harold b. 4 Mar. 1893. Hem . Lettie Allison . They had two sons and one daughter: 1. Bruce, 2. Bryon and 3. Dorothy. 2d Ina b. 27 Apr. 1895. She m. Thomas Spinks . They had three ch: 1. Ha m. Alfred Thill , 2. Madeline m. Fred Thill , 3. Blanche m. Dick Hoag. 2e Leila b. 6 Sept. 1898; m. Harvey Jackson . They had one son, Ervie m. Katherine Coburn . They had two sons: 1. Andrew m. Marilyn Mason and have one son Joel. 2. Gary m. Alix and have one dau. Lauren. 2f Ruell b. 19 Aug. 1904; m. 1. Marjorie Mosley . No children; m. 2. Mary King . No children. Fred Picketts d. 7 Dec. 1928. Euphemia (Burns) Picketts d. 7 Sept. 1947. Leila (Picketts) Jackson visited Freetown during the summer of 1984, and narrated the contents of this article on the Fred Picketts family. JAMES COLLEDGE POPE It is recorded that William Taylor arrived in Bedeque around 1807 and took over the milling operations on the Dunk River at the Hatchery Bridge for the Gordon Bros , who were the co-proprietors of the northern half of Lot 26. Taylor was in charge of the mills and farmed his own land as well. J.C. Pope is believed to have bought the mill property and 168 acres adjoining it from the Gordons around 1830. There is no mention of the mills in Lakes Map of 1863 or Meachams Atlas of 1881. In the latter, J.C. Pope is listed as the owner of 338 acres adjoining the Dunk River (code 127). There is no indication that he ever lived there. J.C. Pope was a successful business man, he was the proprietor of several farms in Upper Freetown, he owned a shipyard at Howatts shore and ran a successful mercantile operation in Summerside in those early days. He was also well known as a politician being a staunch conservative. He was the first Premier of this province after Confederation. 374