Robert McKay Brebner was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on October 18, 1855 to Alan Ramsey Brebner and Francis Ann (McKay) Brebner. He moved to Alberta in 1882 and secured a homestead in Spruce Grove. In 1890, he visited Scotland and returned to Spruce Grove with a camera with which he would document his life.
In 1894 or 1895, he was joined by Emily Wynn Wrench, a friend of his family, and the two were married in Edmonton. They lived in Robert's original log cabin on the Spruce Grove homestead. After the birth of their first son, Alan Ainslie, in 1896 a new two-story house was built on the farm. A second son, Alexander Blaikie, was born in 1897 but died after 11 days. Robert and Emily had two more children, Mary Elizabeth Bruce in 1899 and Robert Wynn in 1900.
The Brebner family returned to Scotland in 1908. Robert eventually returned to the Spruce Grove homestead alone where he died suddenly on November 9, 1909 before his family returned. Robert was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Spruce Grove. Emily remained on the homestead, running it with hired help until Alan took over operation of the farm at the age of 17. Emily eventually moved to White Rock, British Columbia, with her daughter, Mary, and died in 1937.
These amazing photos from Provincial Archives of Alberta that Brebner captured his life with family in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada in the early 1900s.
In 1894 or 1895, he was joined by Emily Wynn Wrench, a friend of his family, and the two were married in Edmonton. They lived in Robert's original log cabin on the Spruce Grove homestead. After the birth of their first son, Alan Ainslie, in 1896 a new two-story house was built on the farm. A second son, Alexander Blaikie, was born in 1897 but died after 11 days. Robert and Emily had two more children, Mary Elizabeth Bruce in 1899 and Robert Wynn in 1900.
The Brebner family returned to Scotland in 1908. Robert eventually returned to the Spruce Grove homestead alone where he died suddenly on November 9, 1909 before his family returned. Robert was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Spruce Grove. Emily remained on the homestead, running it with hired help until Alan took over operation of the farm at the age of 17. Emily eventually moved to White Rock, British Columbia, with her daughter, Mary, and died in 1937.
These amazing photos from Provincial Archives of Alberta that Brebner captured his life with family in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada in the early 1900s.
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| Robert Brebner on a horse-drawn carriage with family members |
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| Robert Brebner plowing his field on the Brebner homestead |
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| Robert Brebner with son with plow team |
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| Robert Brebner, Jr. holding a cat |
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| Royal Northwest Mounted Police trooper |
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| Steam engine near Spruce Grove, Alberta |
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| Steer carcass being dressed on the Brebner homestead |
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| The first Brebner house, a log cabin, with icicles |
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| Threshing crew |
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| Town celebration, possibly Dominion Day |
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| Turkeys on the Brebner homestead |
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| Two boys in a rowboat |
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| Two men with a horse-drawn sleigh |
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| Unidentified Brebner child dressed warmly for winter |
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| Unidentified girl (possibly member of the Brebner family) holding a hawk |
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| Unidentified homesteaders and farm animals |
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| Unidentified man (possibly Robert Brebner) clearing trees from the Brebner homestead |
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| Unidentified man (possibly Robert Brebner) riding a horse |
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| Unidentified woman with a horse |
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| Wild turkey visits the Brebners |
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| Work crew on a rail line near Spruce Grove, Alberta |
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| Alan and Mary Brebner on a sleigh |
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| Alan Brebner with a cat |
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| Alan, Mary, and Robert Brebner |
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| Alan, Mary, and Robert on a train |
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| Brebner baby |
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| Brebner boy on the homestead (Alan or Robert, Jr.) |
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| Brebner child (probably Robert) in a very large coat |
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| Brebner children and dog |
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| Brebner children in garden |
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| Brebner children in snow |
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| Brebner children in the woods |
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| Brebner children |
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| Brebner children |
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| Brebner children |
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| Brebner family and their photogenic dog |
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| Brebner family members and friends on the Brebner homestead with bear skin and sleigh |
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| Brebner family on a horse-drawn wagon |
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| Brebner family |
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| Brebner family |
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| Brebner house with Emily Brebner in the doorway |
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| Emily and Mary Brebner in a horse-drawn sleigh |
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| Emily and Mary Brebner in front of animal fur |
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| Farm buildings on the Brebner homestead |
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| Farmhands on the Brebner homestead |
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| Geese on the Brebner homestead |
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| Group portrait of unidentified Spruce Grove homesteaders and residents |
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| Horse-drawn buggy |
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| Man (probably Robert Brebner) plowing field and smoking a pipe |
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| Man and horses |
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| Mary and Alan Brebner |
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| Mary, two unknown men, and Alan Brebner with a dog in a tent |
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| Men in a rowboat |
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| Mill in unknown location |
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| Portrait of Emily Brebner |
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| Portrait of John McPerson and Alex McNabb, including riding gear |
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| Mary Brebner |
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| Robert Brebner, Jr. |
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| Portrait of Robert Brebner |
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| Possibly Cree gathering and circle dance |
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| River valley, possibly North Saskatchewan River |
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| Robert and Emily Brebner with children |
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| Robert and Emily Brebner |
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