William Frederick West ("Fred") was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England on November 29, 1908 to Lewis Victor West and Ellen (Richardson) West. He immigrated with his mother and sister in 1912 on board the Royal George.

In 1921, he lived with his parents in Toronto. In 1935, he was a labourer in Otter Lake Station near Parry Sound, Ontario. The following year. on June 20th he married Ida Badger. In 1945, Fred was listed as a farmer, still living in Otter Lake.

The family grew. By 1947 they had 6 children. They moved in 1948 to the rural area of Charlton in Northern Ontario near Englehart and settled on a farm where he lived for the rest of his life. Two more children were born there.

Fred died in 1974, leaving a wife and eight children. He was buried at the Englehart public cemetery.

Years later their country road was named after the family.