1914 WWI big decisions

There was much concern is both Canada and the US over "King Eddie" and what he might do at the start of WWI. There was fear that he would surrender to avoid bloodshed, and  this would place a less reasonable power just to the north of the US. There was concern that Eddie would do nothing, and let the Kaiser run all over Europe. Gustav Meilicke wrote a letter to his two sons, Gustav and Julius, suggesting that they come home for a bit. Gustav decided to stay in Canada and Julius decided to go home for a bit.

This was a major turning point in the life of Julius, for he went home and found a wife to bring back to Canada. Found is not the right word, for Emma and Julius had been writing from the time before Gus and Jules left Iowa on the great venture north west, where Gustav senior thought would be the next area to develop. This Greencourt venture was Jules second attempt at homesteading. He had gone to Minnesota and found it nothing but rocks, and not suitable for farming and returned home to Iowa. In 1907, he and Gus headed to the the unknown west and north. In 1908, they each filed for a quarter of land, and started farming. By 1914, Gus had a 1/2 section, Jules had a 1/4 all proved up. Jules went out to work in the winters to earn a "grub steak", while Gus stayed at home and did freighting, brush clearing, logging, and the like.

I recall Gus saying that he could walk to Edmonton in three days, but it took 5 days to drive oxen. It was faster to lead the oxen then to drive them, and he could lead them home in 4 days, if the road were dry. Oxen in harness, that is. I recall that Gus said that oxen in yokes could pull more for short distances, but not as long, and oxen in harness was the way to work them.  

Thank you for reading this. Please feel free to post your own thoughts or opinions on this subject or any other. I would like to get your input on what you remember about Gus and all the ancestors, so the storeys can be passed about.