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Edwin Goater, an early rancher in our area, left Hampshire, England in 1890, first trying out farming in Manitoba. Finding it too cold there, he moved west, ending up on the banks of a small lake (now Goater Lake) close to Lamerton in 1895.

He built a house overlooking the lake, and his house stood until sometime in the 1970's.

Edwin married Kate Greenard of BC, and they had two daughters, Kathleen and Mary.

In the early days, Mr. Goater had a large corral, where all the cattle from the open range were brought in for the round-up.

Edwin became deeply involved with the polo and steeplechase sports at the Westhead and other area ranches.

He raised polo ponies and was a jockey in the Old Country. Edwin's daughter, Mrs. J. Sturgeon tells that he was a very good rider in the steeplechase, and his father was a well known horse trainer in England.

Edwin was trusted to ride the finest horses in the area, including Jim Brindle's "Badger", who won many steeplechases in Calgary, and even at 80 years of age, he rode, and handled well, a retired race horse, known to be touchy and hard to mount.

Edwin also raised cow ponies, crossed with some racing blood, for the gymkhanas, which were held at the Simpson's ranch on Sundays. And he went along on many a coyote hunt, which was done on horseback.

He owned and raised one of Mr. Mott's beagle hounds, which he used on the hunts, and was a member of the Lamerton Gun club of 1901.

Edwin was one of the early settlers who helped build St. Monica's church.

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Edward Goater's First Home
1908
Near Lamerton, Alberta

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Here's Edwin's home he built on the banks of Goater Lake, near Lamerton.

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Plowing with Oxen Team on the Edward Goater Farm
1908
Near Mirror, Alberta

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Edward Goater plowing his fields in the days of the oxen, around 1908 to 1910.

His farm was 2 miles west and a half mile north of Mirror.