OldTimersWhoPassed30Jun1927

Edmonton Bulletin

30 Jun 1927    

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Old Timers Who Have Passed On Left Trail of Noble Deeds Behind

A few days ago one of the best known old timers passed away, when Sheriff Peter Gunn, a resident of Alberta for 44 years, answered the last call. The late Mr. Gunn was sheriff of Peace River and the Athabasca districts for eleven years. He started his career in 1883 in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company, coming direct to Edmonton in company with Charles Bremmer. He was amongst the first legislative representatives of the province after incorporation, taking his seat for Lac Ste Anne and serving two terms. His funeral held last Friday gave the pioneers of Edmonton the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the most outstanding of the fast dwindling number of old timers in Alberta.
Francis D. Wilson who died in 1925 was the oldest employee in the service of the Hudson Bay Co. at the time of his death. He came west in 79 and was district manager of the James Bay District until he retired in 1918.
Col. Bryce J. Saunders, as a surveyor laid out the cemetery site where he sleeps today. He was a forty year resident of Alberta, coming west on the survey of 81. He was minister of Public Works in the old N. W. Territory government.
Thos. Bellamy resided in Edmonton for 34 years, having his home  on site where Jas. Ramsey store now stands.  He opened the first branch of the Massey Harris Co. in Edmonton.

Founder of City
Alex Taylor who died in 1916 was one of the founders of Edmonton as it is today. He started the foundation of the present electric light and utility system, also telephone system, his vote on the city council being responsible for the obtaining of control of the dame by the city. His brother established the street railway system and he was one of the founders of the Bulletin with the Hon. Frank Oliver.
Robert Lee, mayor of Edmonton in 1909, 1910 and a resident of 27 years standing when he died in 1925.
Donald Ross, who died in 1915, was a resident for 43 years and ran the first hotel in Edmonton, west of Portage La Prairie. His hostelry was famous as a gathering place. Ross Flats are named after him. He was the third to build the first house in Edmonton. He had the first billiard tables used in Edmonton which were freighted in by ox cart. Participated in the Caribou rush, going there via the Parsnip and the Peace. On the Peace River, while the rush was on, the story is told that he collected fees from other boats for information as to the route, and after collecting his fee told the enquirers the river was not navigable. He arrived at Peace River landing August 1872, reaching Edmonton in 1876.

Brand Early Perils
Mrs. Malcolm Groat was one of the Red River settlers, being a daughter of W. J. Christie Factor of the H. B. C. Company, Saskatchewan. She died in December 1915.
J. G. Christie was born in 1857 at the Old Edmonton Fort. He came from a family who had served the Hudson Bay for 177 years. His grandfather, Alexander Christie, founded Fort Garry.
James Gibbons was resident of Edmonton for 61 years. He invented the "grizzly" gold washing method. Was an old prospector and had a varied and colorful life in the mining camps of the west.
Henry W. McKenney who came to Edmonton in 1875, died in 1918. He was a member of the first legislature of 1905 representing St. Albert.
Mrs. Jas. Ross came to Edmonton in 1881 by trail in a party consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Stewart, Mr. Lauder, Hugh McKay, Hugh Bannerman and Fielders.
Chas. Stewart came in 1881-- died in 1916. Was a member of the firm of McDougall, Stewart and Bannerman.
D. Grummett was a resident of Cooking Lake for 23 years. Died in 1918.
P. Brynes, the trail partner of Luke Kelly, came to Edmonton in 1882 and died in 1917.
J. H. Conklin, another old-timer, died in 1916.
John Duguid, old-timer, died 1925.
Mrs. C. E. Vaughn, 32 years a resident, died in 1920.
F. G. Bradley, the first sergeant-at-arms at the parliament buildings, 21 years ago, died in 1926.
W. McIntosh died in 1926.
Miles Kennedy, for thirty two years a resident of the St. Albert district.
P. G. Grierson died in 1918.
W. E. Mann, district engineer G. T. P. railway, who loaded the first steel for Edmonton, died in 1916.

Opened First Hardware
Jack Norris was a resident of Edmonton and the west for 67 years. He came from Fort Garry. Started the first hardware store in Edmonton. He died in 1916.
Thomas Henderson came over the Yellowhead pass with his family by packhorse. The family lived for three weeks on raw oatmeal during the trip. He died in 1926 after farming at Rabbit Hill for years. His wife died in 1923.
John Stocks, who died in 1917, was one of the most popular citizens of early Edmonton. He was deputy minister of public works, member of the utility board. He came west in 1881 as engineer for the C. P. R. During the war he assisted in raising a battalion for the front.
Don McDonald came west in '93 after serving in the U. S. civil war. He died in 1918.
Dr. William Morrison McKay came to Canada from Scotland as doctor in the service of the Hudson's Bay Co., in 1864. He made many trips throughout the north until his retirement in 1900. He died in 1917.
Joseph McDonald-- his fathers were all Hudson's Bay men dating back to 1779. He came to Edmonton in 1863 and located his home where Strathcona now stands.

Kept Indians Quiet
Rev. George McDougall first visited Edmonton in the early 'sixties, settling here in 1870, and establishing the McDougall church. He was superannuated in 1906. He rendered great service during the Riel Rebellion by keeping the Indians in his charge quiet.
W. G. Ibbotson, who died in 1913, was a prominent business man and active in Edmonton affairs.
John Walters resided in Edmonton 50 years. He was prominent in business as a lumberman and capitalist. Walter Flats being named after him.
St. George Jellot, who came to Edmonton in 1882, was a partner of T. P. Ottewell and a member of the firm of Jellett and Slessor.
John Fraser was a real native son, having been born at Jasper House in 1840. His father, Colin Fraser, was the officer in charge of Jasper House for 18 years for the Hudson's Bay Co. At twelve he was apprenticed as a boat builder. He was master of winter transportation for the company. He farmed the Highlands district in 71 and was the first trustee of the Belmont school. He acted as chief of scouts during the Riel Rebellion. He died in 1919.

Shipped First Coal.
Donald McLeod, freighter, came to Edmonton in 1870. He built the first house in Edmonton, now owned by Isaac Cowie. He was the first to ship coal from Edmonton to Colgary. He built the first mills west of Winnipeg in conjunction with John Norris and Inspector Belcher.
James Cameron resided in Edmonton for thirty-six years; was a merchant, and came in over the Winnipeg Trail with 96,000 pounds of supplies. He was an active member of the first board of trade formed in 1891. He was on the first council with Mayor McAuley. He died in 1919.
Angus Chisholm was a partner of the Bawlf Grain Co., built the Chisholm block; was arrested during the Riel Rebellion and nearly executed with Thos. Scott. He came to Edmonton on foot when nearly 60 years of age. He died in 1918.
Colonel Robert Belcher served with the Mounted Police from '73 to 1908. He was through the rebellion; in the Yukon; saw service in Africa and attended the diamond jubilee celebration of Queen Victoria. He raised the 138th battalion in 1915. He died in 1919.
R. C. C. MacDonald, 1880 pioneer, was a mail carrier, prospector, scout and gold miner; carried the first mail between Edmonton and Battleford; was despatch carrier during the rebellion for General Otter; went overland to the Yukon in '97 with Frank Walker of Fort Saskatchewan. He was afterwards appointed superintendent of the government telephone service for Alberta and Saskatchewan. He died in 1923.