Fonds F1158 - John Liss fonds

John Liss (originally Pozarzycki), 1892-1986, was born in Poland. His father moved to the USA in 1902 and the family joined him in 1904. John first came to Alberta in 1912 and decided to homestead in Paddle Valley, near Sangudo. He then returned to the USA and joined the US Marines until 1914. During First World War he served overseas in the Canadian Army. His first wife, Bernice, died ca. 1920, when their son, Kenneth, was two. In 1922 he married Mary Fridel, 1903-1990, of Barrhead, who was born in the Polish state of Galicia. They had seven children, Stanley, Vladyslaw, Helen (Ivanhoe), Edward, Thadeus "Ted", Valeria (Ferguson) and John R.

John, Sr. farmed on the Paddle Valley homestead continuously, except while he served with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry during the Second World War. He was active in a wide variety of agricultural and cooperative organizations, including the Alberta Wheat Pool, United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), Alberta Dairy Pool, Sangudo Farm Breeders' Association, and Paddle Valley Rural Electrification Association. In the late 1930s his farm was chosen as a Dominion Illustration Station. Also active politically, he ran, unsuccessfully, for the CCF, both federally and provincially.

For further information see The Intrepid Fox / Reuben Bauer. -- Victoria : Trafford, 2007.