| COCHRANE, Dave |
Dave Cochrane came west as a Mountie and stayed after his tour of duty
ended at Fort Macleod. His first homestead was located in the Blood Indian
Reserve and when the Indians complained he left the homestead but claimed
improvements from the government and he received $3,500 from the Indian
department for a one room cabin. His next homestead was located on the
Walrond Ranch lease where he also received 'compensation' for improvements.
He was well known for his collection of junk and old parts which he would
sell if the price was right.
- Source - Alberta History Along the Highway by Ted Stone
|
| COCHRANE, Matthew |
Senator Matthew Cochrane was the first of the big leasehold ranchers in
Alberta. He leased 100,000 acres of land from the government for under
one cent an acre. His first herd of 3,000 cattle arrived from Montana late
in the fall. After a hard drive and before they had time to regain their
strength, the ranch was hit with a hard winter and many of the cattle died.
Cochrane purchased another 4,000 head of cattle the following year, 1882,
but this herd fared no better and by the end of the second winter Cochrane
had lost more than half of his original 7,000 cattle. Cochrane decided
to move his cattle south and leased another 100,000 acres near what is
now Waterton Park. The north ranch was used for sheep and horses. The following
year found Cochrane plagued with further losses. Evenutally the Cochrane
Ranch recovered but by the early 1900's open-range ranching in Alberta
was over.
- Source - Alberta History Along the Highway by Ted Stone
- Source - Heritage Hunter's Guide to Alberta Museums by Roberta Hursey
|
| CROWFOOT, Chief |
Chief Crowfoot was born in southern Alberta in about 1830. He was known
by several names including Bear Ghost, and Shot Close. His courage as a
young warrior caused him to be made a chief of one of the Indian bands.
In 1870 he became one of the three head chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
The chief was a friend of Father Lacombe and Colonel Macleod of the NWMP.
It was Chief Crowfoot who influenced the starving and diseased Blackfoot
Indians to sign Treaty #7 in 1877, bowing to the inevitable, he ceded the
Quenn 50,000 square miles of fertile land. In 1885, Crowfoot convinced
his tribe not to join the Riel Rebellion after visiting Winnipeg. On April
25, 1890 he died of turberculosis at Blackfoot Crossing.
- Source - Heritage Hunter's Guide to Alberta Museums by Roberta Hursey
- Source - Alberta History Along the Highway by Ted Stone
|
