Tales and Items of Interest

HENRY TUENTER 1903 - 1981

Henry Tuenter is among the many interesting people who lived in this area. He was born in Holland in 1903 where he grew up on a farm. Later, he served for a time in the Dutch Cavalry. After being spurned by a young lady whom he loved dearly, he emigrated to Canada around 1930. There he worked for Edward Seaman of Hunter River who loaned him the money to buy a farm in Marshfield from Harry Muttart. (This is the farm that David Ross pioneered in the 1800’s and Dianne and Kerry Boswall own now.)

In 1932 he took his first grist to the mill at Suffolk, the first grain ground by Hillard Johnston who had just purchased the mill. Henry was a very strong, rugged, self-sufficient man. His horses were his most prized possession. He also raised cattle, sheep and hens which supplied most of his needs - milk, meat, eggs, butter and hides for various uses. The dairy products were lowered into his covered well to keep them cool. Henry grew grain and hay for his livestock, as well as wheat for his own bread. He also kept bees, had his own honey and fished trout from the brook. He left vegetables of each kind in the ground until late fall, then he collected the seed for his next year’s planting.

He had a large orchard which provided apples, plums, cherries and pears which he dried, preserved or kept fresh for his own use. One of his specialities was excellent homemade sauerkraut. He also had a beautiful fenced rose garden and often brought bouquets to June Boswall saying, “Here Missy, so you’ll know I’ve been here.” He collected twigs from various fruit trees of his neighbours which he grafted to wild trees in an area through which a small stream gurgled. Buster Hopkinson, a hired hand at Lincoln Boswall’s, called this area “The Garden of Eden.” Henry believed in reincarnation, and planned to return to this spot.

Henry put up his hay by himself. He went to

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the field with horse and cart, loaded the hay then took it to the barn, stuck the fork into the hay and hauled it by a long rope into the loft with the horse. He tripped the fork and pulled it back to repeat the procedure, a chore that usually required two or three people.

This agile man travelled to visit his neighbours by bicycle or on the run and could be heard by those living nearby playing his harmonica or his accordian in the evenings. He was stricken in middle age with rheumatoid mthritis, which he tried to control with bee stings or by grasping the wires of motors and electric fences.

Being of a highly independent nature, Henry found it difficult to ask for or receive help from his neighbours. Finally the time came when age and

Courtesy of Lela Sawler (née Muttan)

Henry 'Ihenter with his horses

infirmity forced him to accept help from his long- time friends, June and Lincoln Boswall. Henry passed away in 1981, and is buried in Central United Church Cemetery.

SOURCE Notes of June Boswell and Cecil Stetson