Showing 78 results

Unknown

William Tomison was born in South Parish, South Ronaldsay in 1739. In the summer of 1760 he sailed for Canada in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company. In April of 1778 Tomison was sent to manage Cumberland House, Northwest of Lake Winnipeg. Later in 1795 he established Edmonton House as Factor. He retired back to the Orkney Islands in 1811 building a school, Tomison's Academy, there. He died March 26, 1829.

William Henry Sheppard was born in Newmarket Ontario in 1862. He married Annie Elizabeth Lowe on April 13, 1892. Together they came to Edmonton in 1894 and ran the Raymond Hotel and then the Hotel Edmonton in 1896. He built the Sheppard Block in 1907 and began a political career serving on the First Strathcona Council in 1899 until 1901 then 1903-1904 and again in 1908-1909, until being elected mayor of Strathcona in 1906. Mr. Sheppard also owned and operated the Yellowhead Brewery in Rossdale. He died in November 1944.

The Scott family have been residents of the Edmonton area for many years.

Anderson, Robert Thompson 1880-1960
Anderson, Margaret “Greta” McPherson 1890-1979
Anderson, Malcolm Robert 1920-2007

Robert Thompson Anderson was born in Rapid City, Manitoba, on August 2, 1880 to William Anderson (1843- 1925) and Jane Struthers (1840-1907). William and Jane had four children: Clara Jane (1868- ), John (1873- ), Robert, and Walter (1883- ). In 1897, they moved west to Lemon Creek, in the Slocan Valley region of British Columbia. John also moved to the area to work as a druggist. By 1898, Robert had also moved to B.C. and was working in his brother's drug store. Robert became a prolific poet earning rave reviews and by 1900 The Slocan Drill was regularly publishing his poetry. One of his poems, titled The Message of Grief, on the death of Queen Victoria, was praised in both Toronto and Vancouver papers.

In 1905, Robert came to Edmonton and first worked at the W.H.Clark lumber company. By 1906, he joined the Edmonton Fire Department and became the Department's fourth staff member. In 1910, he married Isabella Edith McGhee (1888-1913) and they had one daughter, Clara Edith Anderson (1911-1933). Anderson continued to write poetry and his first book, The Old Timer & Other Poems, was published in 1909. Some of his poems were also published in the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Bulletin.

Isabella McGhee Anderson died in 1913. Robert enlisted in 1914 with the Alberta Dragoons and served for the duration of the First World War. His attestation papers list his marital status as widower and according to the article, "The Kipling of the Kootenays," Robert's military pay cheques were sent to his sister Clara who was the guardian of his daughter Clara Edith. In 1916 Robert received a military medal for great gallantry when on reconnaissance patrol for pushing forward under sniper fire and when his horse was shot, he carried on dismounted and brought back reliable and valuable information as the enemy position. He was discharged on 20 Apr 1919.

Robert married Margaret ‘Greta’ McPherson Grant, a Scottish immigrant, in May 1919. He also took a position with the City of Edmonton's Health Department as Quarantine Officer. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1947. He then served with the Corps of Commissionaires for eight years.

Many of Robert Thompson Anderson poems were inspired from his work or reflect his activities, family and heritage: The Fire Laddie’s Call Three, De Health Inspector, and The High Hills of Scotland. Anderson had two more books of his work published, Canadian Born & Other Western Verse (October 1913) and Troopers in France (December 1932).
Robert and Margaret had two children, Malcolm Robert and Ailsa Theresa.

Robert Thomspon Anderson died 3 Apr 1960 and is buried at Edmonton’s Westlawn Cemetery.

Holland, Henry Francis 1843-1910
Fraser, Selina 1853-1924

Henry Francis Holland was born 18 Jul 1943 to Georgina Hagarty and Richard Lee Holland in Cobourg, Ontario.

Selina Fraser was born in 1851 to Mary and Alexander Fraser in Cobourg, Ontario.

Henry married Selina Fraser 26 Nov 1874 in Cobourg, Ontario, and they had four children - Arthur Hagarty, Henry Fraser, Helen Gertrude, and Therese Fraser.

Henry was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1876, and worked as a lawyer in the Cobourg, Ontario area.

Henry Francis Holland died 17 May 1910 in Cobourg, Ontario.
Selina Fraser Holland died 22 Jul 1924 in Cobourg, Ontario.

Macdonald, John Kenneth 1874-1945
Holland, Therese Fraser 1882-1976

John Kenneth Macdonald was born 24 Jul 1874 to Mary Ann Ketchum and Donald Macdonald in Drayton, Wellington County, Ontario. He attended schools in Cobourg, Ontario. In 1884 he came to western Canada following his father, who had moved to Manitoba two years earlier. He remained in Western Canada for a few years but returned to Ontario to complete his schooling and study law. He returned west in 1892, and came to Edmonton in 1893.

John was with the editorial staff at the Edmonton Bulletin for a time, and was an active in the Edmonton amateur theatre scene in the late 1890's and early 1900's. He was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1903. John was Assistant Deputy Attorney-General of Alberta from 1904 to 1906, after which he entered into private practice.

Therese Fraser Holland was born in 1882 to Selina Fraser and Henry F. Holland in Cobourg, Ontario. Therese graduated in nursing from the Hospital for Sick Chiildren.

John Kenneth Macdonald and Therese Fraser Holland were married 1 Jan 1912 in Cobourg, Ontario. The couple returned to Edmonton and they had three children - Alan Fraser, Lorna Louise, and Bruce Fraser. Therese was very involved in the Victorian Order of Nurses in Edmonton. John continued in his private law practice, was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, and involved in other community organizations.

John Kenneth Macdonald died 21 Apr 1945 in Edmonton.
Therese Fraser Holland Macdonald died 21 Mar 1976 in Edmonton.

McCauley, Alexander J.H. 1876-1948
McCauley, William Alexander 1917-1999

Alexander James Henry McCauley was born 1 Jul 1876 to Matilda Benson and Matthew McCauley in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the age of 3 he moved to Fort Saskatchewan and later to Edmonton where his father homesteaded. Alex was very involved with the musical community in Edmonton, often performing as pianist or organist, including with the First Presbyterian Church Choir.

Alexander moved to Tofield, Alberta in 1907 to open a real estate and insurance office. He was an active part of the community in Tofield serving as mayor, as well as on the municipal school board, and in other community organizations.

Alexander married Barbara Ann Sinclair and they had three children – Helen Mary (1912-1997), Margaret Elizabeth (1914-2004), and William Alexander (1917-1999).

Alexander J.H. McCauley died 14 Mar 1948 in Tofield, Alberta.

*

William Alexander McCauley was born 14 Feb 1917 to Barbara Sinclair and Alexander J.H. McCauley. He started piano lessons at 6 yrs, and at 16 yrs he formed a dance orchestra that travelled around the Edmonton district and was broadcast on CFRN.

During World War II, he was made Assistant Bandmaster of the Toronto Manning Pool Band, but was later remustered to aircrew. He went on to become a pilot, then instructed on Harvard aircraft and received an Honorable discharge as a flying officer.

After the war, William returned to his musical career. He went on to become an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and trombonist. A few of his many accomplishments include playing with the Toronto Conservatory Symphony, Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Film Board Orchestra and the Toronto Summer Symphony. William worked as the Music Director for Crawley Films, and composed and conducted music for over 100 documentary films.

William Alexander McCauley died 18 May 1999 in Alliston, Ontario.

McCauley, Alexander 1860-1908
McCauley, Elizabeth 1866-1933

Alexander McCauley was born 15 May 1860 to Eleanor Latimer and Alexander McCauley in Owen Sound, Ontario. Alexander came to Edmonton in 1895, following in the footsteps of his brothers Matthew and Samuel. Alexander was a carpenter by trade and worked for his brother, Samuel. He took over his brother’s construction/house moving business following Samuel’s death in 1903.

Alexander married Elizabeth (?) and they had four children – Emmons (1892- ), Edna (1895-1902), Ethel (1898- ) and George (1899- ).

Alexander McCauley died 15 May 1908 in Edmonton after a three month illness.

McCauley, Alexander J.H. 1876-1948
McCauley, Anne Cookson 1868-1948
McCauley, Frank 1888-1930
McCauley, Julia Alberta 1883-1966
McCauley, Lillian Bell 1877-1939
McCauley, Mabel Victoria 1883-1957
McCauley, Margaret Jane 1880-1979
McCauley, Matilda Benson 1875-1896
McCauley, Matthew 1850-1930
McCauley, Maud Muriel 1886-1941
McCauley, May Emeline 1884-?

Matthew McCauley was born 11 Jun 1850 to Eleanor Latimer and Alexander McCauley near Owen Sound, Ontario. Matthew first moved to Winnipeg in 1874, then to Fort Saskatchewan in 1879, and to Edmonton the following year.

In 1881, Matthew McCauley opened a butcher shop and a livery/cartage business. By 1890, he was no longer in the butcher business and the livery/cartage business became known as the M. McCauley Cartage, Feed and Sales Stables, eventually becoming the Edmonton Cartage Company. It was the only livery, cartage and stable business in Edmonton for many years and became an important part of Edmonton’s business scene. The livery was a both a stable where horses and teams could be hired and a stable for boarding privately owned horses. The cartage company was noted for hauling large heavy loads, including being known for bringing the first piano to Edmonton. Matthew McCauley sold the business in 1902.

Matthew McCauley was very involved in the community in early Edmonton. He organized Edmonton’s first public school in 1884. He was a founding member of Edmonton’s school board and served on it for 18 years. When Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892, he was elected Mayor by acclamation. He secured a charter from Ottawa for a municipal railway system – the first west of the Great Lakes. He was re-elected as mayor in 1893 and 1894.

In 1905, when Alberta became a province, he was elected to the first provincial legislature as a representative for the Vermilion area. He was a member of the provincial legislature until he was appointed as the Warden for Alberta’s first penitentiary. Matthew served as Warden from 1906 to 1911. He retired to Penticton, B.C. in 1912 to take up fruit farming. He returned to Edmonton in 1925 purchasing a 1000 acre farm in the Peace River District.

Matthew married Matilda Benson in 1875 and they had eight children – Alexander James Henry (1876-1948), Lillian Bell (1877-1939), Margaret Jane (1880-1979), Julia Alberta (1883-1966), Mabel Victoria (1883-1957), May Emeline (1884-?), Maud Muriel (1886-1941), and Frank (1888-1930). As the children grew, many were very active in the community including the choir of the First Presbyterian Church.

After Matilda’s death in 1986, Matthew married Annie Cookson in 1902. They had four children – George (born ca. 1901), Raymond (born ca. 1903), Jack (born ca. 1904) and Ada (born ca. 1906).

Matthew McCauley died 25 Oct 1930 at the age of 80 in Sexsmith, Alberta, and is buried at the Edmonton Cemetery.