Clearings from my memory of fifty years ago. Memoirs by Wm. Laurie
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/link/descriptions83919
- Date Range
- 1924
- Description Level
- Item
- Accession No.
- 20151004007
- Physical Description
- Typed manuscript 220 pages
- Scope and Content
- Sinopsis - Patrick G. Laurie's start in the newspaper business - printing shop apprenticeship, journeyman work at Toronto, Coburg, Brantford and his own newspaper business at Owen Sound; - Bishop Anderson of Rupert's Land and plans to move to the Red River Settlement - Settling in Windsor, Ontario,…
- Date Range
- 1924
- Description Level
- Item
- Creator
- William Laurie
- Physical Description
- Typed manuscript 220 pages
- History Biographical
- William Laurie, a prominent barrister of Cardston, was born at Owen Sound, Ontario, on the 28th of September, 1856, a son of Patrick G. Laurie and Mary Eliza (Carney) Laurie, the former born ill in 1833, and the latter born in Barrie, Ontario, in the same year. His father, Patrick G. Laurie, was involved in the newspaper business in Toronto and worked on various papers there, and later became manager and editor of the Owen Sound Times, subsequently establishing and managing the Essex Record, at Windsor, Ontario. In 1869 he went to Winnipeg as an employee of the Nor'wester, then owned by Sir John Schultz, and he was connected with various papers in Winnipeg until 1878. At that time he located in Battleford, Saskatchewan, and established the Saskatchewan Herald, the first newspaper ever published west of Winnipeg. The paper was later managed by his son, Major R. C. Laurie. Patrick G. Laurie was Queen's Printer for the Northwest Territories from 1878 to 1883. He was an inspector of schools in the early days and served as a coroner for some time. His supported the conservative party and affiliated with the Anglican church. His wife was a member of the Methodist church. Patrick G. Laurie passed away in 1903, and his widow died in 1912. Patrick G. Laurie and Mary Eliza (Carney) Laurie had eleven children. Among them William Laurie; Major Richard C. Laurie; Mabel Reid, the wife of John A. Reid, who served as Alberta representative to England; Minnie Gauvreau, the widow of P. V. Gauvreau, first agent of the Dominion lands at Edmonton; Effie Storer, the widow of Lieutenant J. H. Storer, who was killed in action in France in 1917; and Jessie DeGear, the wife of J. C. DeGear of Battleford, Ontario. William Laurie attended Manitoba College at Winnipeg and later began the study of law in that city. He was admitted to the territorial bar in 1895. He was engaged in civil service work from 1884 to 1890 in Battleford, and from 1890 to 1897 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He worked in a law office in Lethbridge for some time, having located there in 1897, and in 1901 he came to Cardston to establish his law practice. In 1914 he went to Battleford, Ontario, where he served as mayor for two and one-half years. He returned to Cardston in 1918 and resumed his practice. Mr. Laurie was a veteran of the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. He joined the Royal Northwest Mounted Police as special constable and was active in the battle of Duck Lake. Mr. Laurie has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Herbert, a native of Warwick, Ontario. They were married in 1892 and her death occurred in the same year. In 1894 he was married to llla Humphries, a native of Strathroy, Ontario, and to them two children have been born. Mr. Laurie was member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Evangelical church. His supported the Conservative party and he served as town solicitor and school trustee. Fraternally Mr. Laurie is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Son William T. Laurie joined the Princess Pat Regiment for service in the World War One and went overseas. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge, on the 9th of April, 1917, and upon recovery he was transferred into the air service, and was flying in France when the armistice was signed. He entered service in 1916 and was overseas almost three years. Douglas C. M. Laurie joined the Princess Pat Regiment in 1915 and was wounded on the 8th of October, 1916. He was sent to England to convalesce and in June, 1917, returned to France, and was with the Old Regiment at Mons when the signing of the armistice closed hostilities. Source: Alberta, Past and Present, Historical and Biographical, Vol 2
- Custodial History
- The manuscript was originally donated to the Lethbridge Public Library and transferred to the Galt Archives in 2015
- Scope and Content
- Sinopsis - Patrick G. Laurie's start in the newspaper business - printing shop apprenticeship, journeyman work at Toronto, Coburg, Brantford and his own newspaper business at Owen Sound; - Bishop Anderson of Rupert's Land and plans to move to the Red River Settlement - Settling in Windsor, Ontario, publishing the Essex Record, and the second chance to go west - Move to Red River, father's job at Nor'-Wester newspaper owned by Dr. John Schultz -events leading up to the Red River Rebellion in St. Cloud -Dr. Schultz, Dr. Lynch, John James Setter, Walter Lynch, James Cousins, Colin Ferrie, Fred Geddes, William Laurie, Patrick Laurie escape to Fort Frances. -Met No. 7 Company expedition under Captain (later Colonel) Scott as base of communication for supplies. -Travel down Rainy River with Indian guides, cross Lake of the Woods. -Arrive at Rat Portage (Kenora), Hudson’s Bay post at Winnipeg River. -Navigate rapid down Winnipeg river in canoe, portage part of the way, particularly across the Seven Portages. -Pass canoes carrying Lieutenant-Governor Archibald to new province of Manitoba -Stayed at Fort Alexander with Rev. B. Spence. -Passed 60th Rifles on way to St. Peter’s. -“Tracked” up river to Lower Fort Garry. -Canoe breaks after passing St. John’s Cathedral, camp at E. L. Barber, a storekeeper at Point Douglas. -Sent on foor to Winnipeg, then a hamlet of less than fifty buildings, the “metropolis of the West,” one street two blocks long. -Stayed at only hotel locally known as “Yellow Tavern,” kept by German man George Emmerling (“Dutch George”), a rebel sympathizer. Eventually sells to Illinois man D. A. Davis, later premier of Manitoba, who renames hotel to Davis House. -Three saloons: Red Saloon by Hugh “Bob” O’Lone, active supporter of rebellion who fled; White Saloon by McIntyre and McKeever; no named saloon by the Frenchman Monshamps, where only pool table was. -freight went to St. Cloud, Minnesota, price of coal oil. -Anson R. Gerald kept butchershop, price of beef. -F. E. Kew & Co. local representative with supply samples, opens retail shop Kew, Stobart, & Co., later becoming Stobart, Sons & Co., later Stobart, Eden &Co. -Four churches, Anglican (Ven. Archdeacon McLean, later first bishop of Saskatchewan), Presbyterians (Rev. John Black, later Dr. Black, graduate from Knox college), Methodists (Rev. George Young, later Dr. Young), Roman Catholics. -St. Boniface cathedral with Rev. W. Cyprian Pinkham, later bishop of Calgary. -1871 census showed population of 313, excluding garrison men. -No. 7 Company arrived from Fort Frances to Fort Garry, crossing the Lake of the Woods, marched over Dawson road. -War over when they reached Winnipeg, Riel fled across the Assiniboine, Gen. Wolseley takes Fort Garry. -citizens deemed “loyals” or “rebels” -Lieutenant-Governor Archibald occupies building formerly occupied by governor of Hudson’s Bay Company. -premier and Attorney General Henry Joseph Hynes O’Connor Clake -member of cabinet Hon. Joseph Royal, Quebec Lawyer, Governor of Northwest Territories. -Hon. Joseph Dubuc, became court of justice of Queen’s bench of Manitoba. -Hon. Thomas Howard, for a while provincial treasurer -Residence of A. G. B. Bannatyne, a local merchant, held meeting. -Hon. Marc Aimable Girard, a “carpetbagger,” appointed to senate. -sent mail through U.S. system. -Money, Canadian, and Hudson’s Bay “blanket,” blue blanket (shilling sterling), red blanket (five shillings), redeemable in gold at York Factory. -Merchant bank of Canada, Ontario bank (George Brown), Bank of Montreal (Campbell Sweener later of Victoria). -Trading methods. -No telegraph, news came by mail on horseback. -New Nation by Major Robinson, rebel propaganda, edited by Thomas Spence, a writer. -Dr. Schultz gave Thomas Spence a gun to defend himself. -printing plant acquired by Coldwell (founder of first newspaper in Red River) & Cunningham (old country Scotsman, became member of House of Commons for County of Marquette). -Thomas Scott executed by provincial government. -John Bruce (first president of the Provisional Government) later admits they weighed the body down in the Red River. -election for Manitoba legislature, test to qualify to vote. -High Bluff (English speaking on Assiniboine between Winnipeg and Portage la Prarie), both candidates named John Norquay. “Big John Norquay” and “Little John Norquay.” -Donald A. Smith elected for Selkirk, Dr. Schultz for Lisgar. -sold publications of effusions in verse. “A Song of the Expedition” by Frank I. Clarke (brother of Attorney General Clarke). -Peel hired a writer for No. 6 Company, written by Murray, Scottish gentleman -New Nation suspended publication, Newsletter becomes The Liberal. -Sheriff Malcolm Young -Card game “Jack and his Mother.” -Barracks men break into jail to release the prisoners, celebrated at Davis house. Came across Major Wainwright and ringleader George Lee got three days confinement. -Fenian Raid in late summer early fall of 1871 caused Second Expeditionary Force dispatch from Eastern Canada to Winnipeg -O’Donoghue from Fenian Raid of 1866 and Irish-American civil war veterans expected there. -Lieutenant-Governor called all able bodied men, Winnipeg Cavalry, Winnipeg Field Battery, Winnipeg Rifles, Winnipeg Home Guards organized under Militia Act, mobilized in barracks -Kildonan company came with Earl of Selkirk -Sol. A. G. Irving led militia, later become commissioner of Mounted Police, warden of Manitoba Penitentiary, going to Pembina -Stewart Mulvey, Jack Cameron -looting of Hudson’s Bay store at West Lynne -Col. Weelock, U.S. commander at Pembina arrested the ringleaders -Louis Riel showed up at St. Boniface on Sunday -governor sent Gilbert McMicken to St. Boniface to thank Riel -used against McMicken when he was a candidate for legislature, coined phrase “one censurable lapse inna lifetime of virtue” -grasshopper plague of 1873-1874 -rice and beans became substitutes. -Judge Johnstone first judge in Manitoba, then Hon. Alexander Morris, later chief justice of The Court of Queen’s Bench, then succeeded Governor Archibald as lieutenant-governor -court sat twenty days, Attorney-General Clarke tried to talk out legislature -indignation meeting in Winnipeg, citizens condemned government decisions, like placing courthouse downtown -1873 steps to incorporate Winnipeg as a city, Donald A. Smith helped change name to Selkirk, resulted in indignation meeting -Dr. Bird, the speaker of the House, was tarred and feathered, perpetrators never caught. -W M Laurie represented the Winnipeg Free Press in the Press Gallery of the Legislature -Mr. Coldwell could not walk, carried to his place -during premiership of R. A. Davis, “better terms” demanded for increased subsidy, supported by opposition Edward Henry George Gunson Hay, or “Alphabetical Hay” -first public school in Winnipeg in fall of 1871, original residence of Laurie family -W. F. Luxton first teacher, founder and editor of Manitoba Free Press -school opened with 22 pupils -W. M. Laurie enrolled in Manitoba College in 1872, which had been established at Kildonan a few months before. -1874, contracts for main line of CPR between Winnipeg and Rat Portage, located where Lake of the Woods empties into Winnipeg river. Contract 14 and Contract 15. -Contract 14 led by Joseph Whitehead, fireman on Stephenson’s first locomotive, later was fireman of engine at World’s Fair in Chicago, had to bring first locomotive down Red River or a barge behind steamboat, entire population of Winnipeg gathered, Andrew McDermont, after McDermont street came. -railway bridge across Red River, after railway constructed from Emerson to St. Boniface, Pembina Branch, connected railway known as St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railway, original train came on rails laid over ice, civic holiday proclaimed, public climbed on train to go over bridge -fruit unknown, first apples came in 1872-3, 1875 first peaches, fifty cents for three, oranges and lemons two for a quarter. -introduced to telephone after invention became a business possibility. First connected to Free Press office -old man calls George Ham, gets offended. Part II fall of 1870, small pox epidemic from Fort Carlton to the mountains and international boundary lines north beyond Saskatchewan river. -Indians dying and small white population also. Dr. McDonald, captain of a company of Ontario battalion made trip for relief -Indians would leave a member with smallpox in a tent -never hard of small steamers passing from Mississippi to Red River except the steamer Anson Northrup once, replaced by larger boat The International. -Hudson’s Bay Company’s marine business managed at St. Paul by Norman W. Kittson, named Kittson line on Red River. -steamer christened “North West” built by Messrs. Hill (J. J. Hill), Griggs and Company in winter 1870-71, freight business. -In 1872 Hill, Griggs and Company absorbed by Mr. Kittson and Kittson line, rates increased -to counter high rates, business men formed Merchants’ International Steamboat Line, registered as an American company to comply with U.S. laws, two steamers, the Manitoba and the Minnesota, sold out to rivals in 1874-75. -Kittson line had monopoly until completion of railway to Winnipeg in 1879, steamboats transferred from Red river to the Saskatchewan, needed to cross Lake Winnipeg, one was wrecked as they were unsuitable for lake navigation -opening of Manitoba attracted many -United States Press Association arranged for annual trip in 1871, Fort Garry selected as destination, party included Bayard Taylor, Horace Greeley, Charles A. Dana, W. D. Howells and Bliss of the Chicago Times, luncheon to receive guests -poem by Bayard Taylor a favourite -perish at Kildonan joined Winnipeg to north -Presbyterian church established Manitoba College, brought Scottish customs -W M Laurie became a pupil in January 1872 -some families could not sit in a single pew -description of church -Hon. Senator Southerland owned a pew, Dr. Black pastor and first minister of Kildonan, received training at Knox College in Toronto -Dr McClure provides an accurate description of conduct of funerals -description of a stove made in Three Rivers, Que., called Three Rivers stove -stayed in house of Orkneyman John Harper -Scottish names to distinguish them: Morrison’s Aleck, Morrison’s George, Robert’s Bob, Black Aleck, Red Aleck, etc. -Winnipeg general hospital experienced typhoid epidemic in 1871, large fatalities, staff were Mr. and Mrs. Martin Shipley, Shipley a handyman, orderly, and male nurse, Mrs. Shipley a matron, female nurse, and cook, building inadequate for use -1872 W. L. Luxton one of first patients in new hospital on Bannatyne street -later site of Notre Dame street -water drawn from red river, tasted bad. -governments of Ottawa and Washington in 1872 or 1873 known as “The Gordon Kidnapping Case.” Erie railway in New York State in arrears, Lord Gordon, a Scotsman or Englishman with the full name Gordon Gordon Harcourt Gordon, came and got access to the “four hundred,” arrested on criminal charges, disappeared before trial to Manitoba, obtained whereabouts through Linus R. Bentley, tried to get Gordon back into U.S. jurisdiction. Party of three, Hon. Loren Fletcher, member of Minnesota state legislature George N. Merriam, later governor of Minnesota and senator, and Mike Hoy, chief of police of Minneapolis, maid Bentley in Winnipeg their headquarters, they kidnapped man and went for international border and were arrested. -Fred McKenzie took case, appealed for enlargement supported by U. S. Consul Taylor, prisoners released under heavy bail -Lord Gordon brought back from vicinity of Fort Ellice, prisoners pleaded guilty to kidnapping -Gordon lived in Headingley, 14 miles west of Winnipeg -Dawson route opened for traffic -two men from Toronto police force issued warrant by Police Magistrate McNabb, seeking Gilbert McMicken, shot self with pistol, body lies in Headingley churchyard -Federal election of 1872 in Winnipeg and St. Boniface, criticism of three year residence required to vote. John A. MacDonald’s plan to get older people out to vote -procession protesting voting law from Winnipeg to St. Boniface, passed blacksmith shop owned by Davis, seized vote books, returned to ferry -Gilbert McMicken wished he could have cut ferry lines.
- Accession No.
- 20151004007
- Collection
- Archive
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