Consolidated Addendum to April 25, 2004 - Pioneer Profiles: B

Baillie, William & Mary Jane

William Baille, a stone mason, and wife Mary (nee Spenser) are recorded to have had a son named William born in Calgary on April 02, 1886.

Ref: Alberta Index for Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations 1870-1905.

Baker, George

George Baker claimed to have crossed the border one jump ahead of the Sheriff. He worked near Macleod in the early 1880's and moved to B.C. where he broke horses near Kamloops. He accepted a contract to deliver and break a carload of horses for the N.W.M.P. in Regina and returned to the High River district in 1887 where he worked for the High River Horse Ranch. He and Bill MacDougall later took a contract to cut rails for a fence at the Bar U Ranch. He was well liked and remembered as a fine horseman.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bangs, A.

Mr. A. Bangs was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Bangs, E. J.

Mr. E. J. Bangs was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1888.

Banker, J. T.

Mr. J. T. Banker came to Okotoks in 1889. He was born October 9, 1852 in Northwich, Cheshire, England.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Bannerman, J. A.

Mr. J. A. Bannerman came to Calgary in March of 1886. He was an Inspector in the Dominion Land Office.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Bannister, Thomas William (see also earlier profile)

Thomas Bannister after arriving in Calgary in 1886, briefly worked as a butcher and before the end of the year he became employed at the Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek. Initially working for W. R. Hull and later Pat Burns, he was employed for some 25 years years, mainly in charge of the ranch. He was transferred to be in charge of the stockyards at Calgary in 1910. He remained there for some 20 years until he retired in 1930 and died in 1934. Thomas was well know among ranchers and farmers of Alberta, and was highly respected for his knowledge of the cattle business.

Barclay, George

George Barclay in 1884 homesteaded the SE 1/4 of Sec.30-21-28-W4M in the Davisburg District.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Barker, Robert Leonard (see also earlier profile)

In February, 1885 "Bob" Barker was one of the first two constables reporting to Police Chief Jack Ingram of Calgary. He joined the Alberta Lodge #1 of the Odd fellows in 1887. He later served as Truant officer for both the public and separate school boards in the early 1900's. He died January 16, 1939 at the age of 78 years. Flags were flown at half mast at schools as a gesture of respect to him. Members of the City of Calgary Police force acted as Pall Bearers at his Funeral.

Barnett, W. W.

Mr. W. W. Barnett was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Barton, Robert

In February, 1885 Robert Barton was one of the first two constables reporting to Police Chief Jack Ingram of Calgary. He was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1888.

Baylis, ?

Mr. Baylis arrived in Medicine Hat in 1884 and invested one hundred thousand dollars developing a coal mine at Redcliff.

Bear, Chief Bill

Chief Bill Bear was born on the Blackfoot Reserve in Alberta in 1862. At age 5 he was adopted by Constable James Stamford of the NWMP at Ft. Macleod. Constable Stamford retired to Montana. where Bill was educated by Stamfords mother In 1880 at age 18 he returned to the Blackfoot Reserve to visit his mother. He stayed there and later married Minnie Dog Child who was born in 1871. He acted as the interpreter for the Blackfoot tribe and later joined the NWMP where he stayed for ten years. Following his retirement he raised cattle, in the area He died February 14th. 1943 and Minnie died January 1st, 1960.

Ref: Gleichen Call.

Beauchemen, Cleophas

Cleophas Beauchemen arrived in Gleichen in 1890 where he worked for Joseph Beaupre. In March of 1901, his residence on NE of Sec.12-27-22-W4M, became the first Post Office, named the Rosebud Creek Post Office. Cleophas returned to Montreal after his wife left him for another man.

Ref: Acme Memories.

Beaupre, Louis

Although born in Canada Louis Beaupre was raised in Montana until he came to St. Albert in 1865 where he married 14 year old Euphrasine L'Hirondell upon arrival. They initially farmed at St. Albert and later squatted on land beside a creek that bears his name in the Big Hill vicinity. He cut and sold logs to the Cochrane Ranch and assisted the ranch at branding time. They had a family of one son and one daughter. He sold his farm in 1883. Being French Canadian/Metis they had good relations with the local Indians. They traded at the Morley Trading Post.

Beck, Nicholas Dominic (see also earlier profile)

Nicholas Beck the son of Rev. J. W. R. and Georgina Beck, was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1879, having earned his degree from the University of Toronto. He maintained an office in Peterboro for a time then came to Calgary in 1889 and became a member of the firm Lougheed, McCarthy and Beck. He later moved to Edmonton in 1891 where he became interested in legal, moral and educational advancement of the NWT.

Beddingfield, Agnes & son Frank

Mrs. Beddingfield and her son Frank first immigrated to Iowa in 1881 and then came and lived at the High River Horse Ranch from 1884 to 1886. They moved into their own log cabin where they went into partnership on a cattle venture with the Seven U Ranch. Frank married Josephine Maitland in 1910 and they established their own home. When WW1 started Frank enlisted as an ambulance driver and served overseas for two years. Mrs. Beddingfield returned to England likely before WW1. Frank later sold the ranch to Edward, Prince of Wales and he returned to England with his wife and daughter.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree, p. 425.

Beebe, Ellis & Sara

Ellis Beebe and Sara (nee Maxwell) are recorded to have had a daughter named Georgina Jane born in Calgary on October 11, 1885. Georgina married Fredrick Miller on June 23, 1903.

Ref: Alberta Index for Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations 1870-1905.

Begley, Robert W.

Robert Begley was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889. He was a shoemaker on Stephen Avenue. He died in December 26th, 1928 and was survived by his wife Victoria who was then living in the Forest Lawn District.

Belcher, Percy Hugh

Percy Belcher was a member of the N.W.M.P and a member of the North Star Masonic Lodge No. 4 in Lethbridge Alberta prior to December 31, 1890.

Bell, Ernest Leopold

Ernest Bell, born in England, came to Canada at the age three with his family in the early 1860's. He traveled west in 1881 as a surveyor but tried many other vocations. He worked as a freighter, a carpenter, broke horses, and fought in the Riel Rebellion with Steel's Scouts. In 1898 he traveled overland to the Klondike gold fields and in the early 1900's managed the Inglis Ranch for two years. He purchased a homestead near Beaver Dam Creek and raised polo ponies and horses for the NWMP. He married Annie Gentles and had four children. He sold his holdings in 1918, moved back to Ontario and died in 1935. His wife Annie died in 1955.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 701.

Bell-Irving, William

William Bell-Irving came from Scotland in 1882 and was one of the first settlers who homesteaded in the Grand Valley in 1883. He purchased a section from the CPR land and by 1886 he held 5,280 acres of leased land. He was fortunate during the severe winter of 1886-87 in that his ranch had less snow and better shelter so his stock survived. He also raised light horses which his wife rode in races. He sold out in 1900 and moved to Cuba where he bought a ranch..

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 350.

Berry, Corporal

Corporal Berry was one of the early NWMP in the Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek areas who arrived by way of Montana in about 1874.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek, p. 4-5.

Berry, Dick

Dick Berry in 1872 started to construct a post near Fort Kanouse along the Elbow River. He was driven off by Indians before the first timber was laid. He then moved westward and constructed a post about 12 miles upriver from Kanouse. He was later killed in an ambush by a Blood Indian named Old Womans Child.

Bescoby, Harry (see also earlier profile)

Harry Bescoby, born in England, initally emigrated to Manitoba. He fought in the Riel rebellion, then moved to a farm in Listowell, Ontario. His first wife died and he took the advice of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Tom Bunce of Calgary, to come west with his five children. 1890 he homesteaded on the South Fork of the Sheep Creek. He hauled mail from Okotoks to Lineham Post office. He and his second wife, Sara Anne Manard , lived on the ranch until 1917 when he returned to Listowell. He died in 1925. Only three of his seven children attained adulthood.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bice, Joe

Joe Bice homesteaded the SW 1/4 of Sec.6-21-28-W4M in the DeWinton district in 1883.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Biggs, Thomas

Thomas Biggs with George Stuart worked the hunting grounds in the "gap" west of Pincher Creek in the 1880's. In 1889 Thomas filed for homestead rights on Sec.20262W5M.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek, p. 6-7 and SAPD Black Book files.

Birney, William George

William Birney came to Lethbridge in 1886 and ranched in the area.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Bjornsdottir, Durlief

Mrs. Bjornsdottir, born in Iceland in 1813, accompanied her daughter Mrs. Benedict Bordal and family from Iceland to Markerville in 1888. She lived on the NW 1/4 of Sec.30-37-2-W5M until her death in 1902.

Blackburn, (see also earlier profile)

Mr. Blackburn, one of the first settlers residing at Livingstone near Pincher Creek, was honored by having Blackburn Coulee named after him.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek, p. 4-5.

Blair, John

John Blair was the first school teacher in High River S.D. #144. He became the school inspector of the area and turned his job over to a Miss Madge Walker the spring of 1889.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Blake, Frank

Frank Blake arrived in Alberta in 1885 and settled on a SE 1/4 of a section in Twp.9 in Rge.29 ,W5M. He had a son Tony who resided in Vancouver.

Ref: Rosella Thiebert.

Blakeley,

Mr. Blakeley first lived close by Morleyville settlement in 1884. He worked cutting rails for a sheep ranch and he also worked for a Miss Adams. Following his marriage he lived east of the Bar C quarter and milked cows for a living. He later squatted on leased land. He had one daughter.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 114.

Blick, C. A. Corporal

Corporal Blick served with the NWMP in Fort Macleod from 1888 to 1893. He was later attached to the Fort Calgary detachment where he was the officer in charge of receiving the complaints of residents in the 1890's. He was one of the first in the area to enlist for the Boer War, leaving Calgary with the Lord Strathcona's Horse in 1900.

Ref: The Albertan, July 10, 1950.

Bluff, T.

Mr. and Mrs. T. Bluff lived on the Little Red Deer River in 1887.

Bolton, Amos (see also earlier profile)

Mr. and Mrs. Bolton came to Calgary in 1889. They homesteaded NE 1/4 of Sec.28-20-27-W4M. They used four oxen they had to break the land in preparation for their first crop. They had eight children. The sold their farm in 1919 and they moved to High River. Amos died in 1933 and Mrs. Bolton died in 1946.

Ref: Gladys - Dinton through the years.

Bolton, Arthur

Arthur Bolton was born February 07, 1866 in Guelph, Ontario. Mr. Bolton, his wife and son Herbert came to Calgary in 1889. In 1891 they homesteaded NW 1/4 of Sec.16-20-27-W4M. There eventually were four sons and two daughter in their family. Arthur is buried in the Anglican cemetery at Dinton, Alberta. His wife died several years later at Rochester, Alberta..

Ref: Gladys - Dinton through the years.

Bone, Peter Turner

Mr. Bone born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1859, attended the University of Glasgow where he received a degree in civil engineering. He came to Calgary in 1883 during the construction of the CPR. employed in survey work on the Calgary to Edmonton railway. At the turn of the century he was the first engineer in charge of irrigation east of Calgary. Served on City Council and on board of Western Canada College and the Sheriff King Home. Past President of The Southern Alberta Pioneers and Old Timers Association. He died in Calgary in 1945.

Ref: Glenbow Musceum, Calgary.

Bordal, Benedict & Sezilea

Benedict and Sezilea came to America from Iceland in 1873. They arrived in Calgary by train and travelled from there by horse and oxen to Tindastoll (Markerville) in 1888. They homesteaded there until 1889 when they moved to the Happy Hill District. Mr. Bordal was a very good carpenter and Mrs. Bordal was Secretary Treasurer of the the Ladies Aid for years. They had three sons. Mrs. Bordal died in 1903 and Benedict in 1910.

Ref: Grub-axe to Grain.

Boston, George

George Boston arrived in the early 1800's from Cheshire, England and worked for the CPR. He moved to Cochrane in 1894 to homestead SE 1/4 of Sec.36-26-5-W5M, raising horses and cattle. He died in 1900 at Mitford, Alberta.

Ref: Big Hill Country.

Boston, Joseph

Joseph, a brother of George Boston, also worked for the CPR. He homesteaded SW 1/4 of Sec.36-26-5-W5M in 1894. He Married Alice Coomber who was a maid of Lady Cochrane. He was an original member of the Calgary Fire Brigade. Alice died in 1944 and Joseph married Violet Emily Allen and lived in Calgary until he died in 1951. Emily died in 1973.

Boswell, G. C.

Mr. G. C. Boswell was with Col. Macleod at the signing of Treaty No.7 at Blackfoot Crossing.

Ref: Scarlet and Gold, Boswells historical note, Seventh Annual, p. 48.

Botha, George

George Botha settled on NW 1/4 28-32-3-W5 in 1890.

Ref: Olds First.

Boyle, Lord George

Lord George Boyle took up ranching with his brother Henry on the South Fork in the Pincher Creek area. He became the first representative of Pincher Creek for the Territorial House in 1884 or 85. At the end of his term he got the wanderlust and left for unknown places.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek.

Bradke, Charles

Charles Bradke with his wife and family arrived in Pincher Creek from Manitoba in 1884. They traveled by CPR rail to Medicine Hat and then drove 200 miles by wagon using a four horse team to Dutch Flats area near Pincher Creek.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek.

Bradley, John W. & son Robert

John Bradley was born in Cobourg, Ontario in 1847. In 1890, John, with his wife and three sons took 14 days traveling from Muskoka, Ontario to the Calgary area with a freight car of settler's effects. They settled on a farm in the Bowness area for two years and then he and his son Robert homesteaded on Tongue Creek . John and his wife moved back to Calgary and settled in the city. John died during the flu epidemic in 1918. Mrs. Bradley died in 1937.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bradley, J.W. Jr.

Mr. J. W. Bradley Jr. arrived with his family in 1890 from Muskoka, Ont. In 1898 he and his brother Levi went to Hutchings & Riley in Calgary to learn the leather business. Two years later J. W. Jr. started a harness business in High River where he was later joined in the business by his brother Levi.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bradley, Levi

Levi Bradley arrived with his family in 1890 from Muskoka, Ont. He drove a team on grade work for the C & E Railway, Midnapore south. He also had a contract with Chas. Short to pick & ship buffalo bones. He joined his brother J. W. Jr. in a harness business and when the demand for harness fell off he started making fine saddles. He married Mary Patterson, from Northhampton, England in 1899. They had five sons and 2 daughters. Mary died in 1942 and Levi died in 1958.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bradtke, William

William Bradtke came to western Canada from Germany in 1883 and filed on a homestead south of Pincher Creek. Later in 1884 his wife and daughter Berthahe arrived from Germany. They traveled by rail to Medicine Hat and then drove 200 miles by wagon and four horse team to the Pincher Creek area. They farmed until 1909 when they retired in the Crook District southeast of town. He died in 1911 and his wife died in 1929.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass.

Bratton, John McCain

(see also longer profile)

John Bratton was born November 04, 1862 at Round Rock, Texas. He and his brother Tom joined a cattle drive to Alberta in 1888 that arrived there in the summer of 1889. He settled in the Porcupine Hills where he homesteaded. He Married Clara Hamilton in 1901 and they ranched on Beaver Creek, raising cattle and horses until 1911. They moved to Bow Island and he went into the Livery Stable and feed business with the Beattie Bros. He served as a town councilor from 1913 to 1924. He died 16 May 1926 and is buried at Ft. Macleod.

Bray, E.

Mr. Bray was an Olds area surveyor for the Dominion Land Survey in the year 1883.

Ref: Olds First.

Bray, John H.G. & Jemima

John Bray was the second man to joint the NWMP in Toronto in 1873 and came west in 1874 where he was made a Sergeant. He married Jemima McKay at Fort Walsh in 1876 and was later transfered to serve in Pincher Creek from 1881 to 1892. They had 13 children.

Ref: Hell for a Basement.

Brealey, Alfred

Alfred Brealey was born in Costa Rica in 1861 and settled with his brothers William, Henry and Arthurat Beaver dam in 1887. They were engaged in ranching . Alfred died in 1890.

Ref: The Prairie.

Bredin, W. F.

Mr. W. F. Bredin arrived at the Red Deer Crossing in 1883 and took over Myer's claim He later opened a store in Calgary with R. Steen and began freighting between Calgary and Edmonton. In the same year he discovered and developed the Climax coal mine 22 miles south-west of Calgary. He was recorded as a member of the Calgary Oddfellows registry in 1888.

Bremner, George

George, a brother of Archibald Patterson Bremner, settled on a quarter section in the Starmount district. He became a widower with six sons. He died in 1912.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Brett, R. H. Dr.

Dr. Brett came to Calgary to practice medicine in 1884.

Ref: SAP membership application files.

Bridgeman, Rev.

Rev. Bridgeman with Rev. J. A. Williams, the superintendent of the Methodist Church, came to the Medicine Hat railway roundhouse to conduct a service one Sunday in September, 1883. There were 15 men and a few women in the congregation. They sat on improvised chairs while preacher used an anvil draped with a blacksmith's as a pulpit.

Ref: Early History of Medicine Hat Country, p. 70.

Brier, Mr.

In 1887, Mr. Brier was making bricks near Redcliff and hauling them by wagon to Medicine Hat to sell them for $9.00 a thousand. He had to pay $0.50 a load to take the bricks over on the ferry.

Ref: Bricks in Alberta.

Briggs, Peter

Peter Briggs was an active member of the Beaver Creek Polo Players in the Pincher Creek area in 1888.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek, p. 10-12.

Brimmins, (Brims) B. A.

Mr. B. Brimmins was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1885.

Brogden, Samuel Stirling

Samuel Brogden, born in Brampton, Ontario in 1870, came west with his parents in 1883. He married Maude Dames in 1901. Following their marriage they farmed south of Midnapore before moving to the Priddis area.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Brooke, Lionel (see also earlier profile)

Lionel Brooke arrived in the Pincher Creek area in 1884. Although he ranched in partnership with H. M. Hatfield for a time and spent most of his time in the mountains hunting with the Indians. He is said to have played in the first polo game in Alberta, and is alleged to have spent two or three fortunes in his time.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek.

Brown, Austin

Austin Brown came from Ireland with his brother Sydney in 1890. In 1897 he homesteaded the SE 1/4 of Sec.12-21-3-W5M. He lived with the Deane-Freemans and later worked for Adams & King. He drowned in 1898 in the North Fork of Sheep Creek.

Ref: Our Foothills Priddis, Kew, Millarville.

Brown, C.

Mr. C. Brown established his ranch in the Medicine Hat area in 1887, reported to be one of the best in the region.

Ref: Early History of Medicine Hat Country, p. 60.

Brown, Charles

Charles Brown, a well educated American, came north via Fort Benton. He was a bull-whacker and freighted for I.G. Baker Co. making several trips from Fort Benton to Blackfoot Crossing. He worked as a cow puncher for most of the local ranches and was with Lach McKinnon in 1889. He was a drinking man and when he attempted to cross back into Montana, he was turned back. Later he got his identity cleared up and was able to return to the USA.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Brown, Isabelle

Isabelle Brown came to Alberta in 1883 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs John Sr. and brothers James and John Brown. In 1884 she left for the Kananaskis area where she met and married David Sinclair in 1886.

Brown, James

James Brown came to Alberta in 1883 with his parents, sister Isabelle and brother John. James homesteaded in the Little Red Deer River and married Mary Arnell in Calgary in 1888.

Brown, John Campbell Ferrie

John Brown was with the CPR legal department, when in 1885 he came to Alberta to open an office in North Calgary. He continued to practice law until 1891, when he moved to Edmonton. He married Phoebe Miller on Christmas Day, 1889 in Calgary. They had two children, Emily Rachel and a son Walter John.

Brown, Walter William

Walter Brown arrived in 1888 in Calgary, where he worked for Mr. Angus Sparrow at the Hippo Ranch. He homesteaded the Heap See Ranch, southwest of Strathmore, and also purchased the Hippo Ranch. He married Agnes McCormack and they had a family of four children. In 1916 they bought a ranch on the Red Deer River west of Hutton. He owned the Gleichen Transfer and Coal sales and was bailiff for the Calgary Sheriff. Walter died in 1939 and Agnes, an accomplished musician and singer, died in 1939.

Ref: The Gleichen Call.

Brown, Wellington

Wellington Brown was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889

Brown, William & Susan

William Brown with his wife Susan, four girls and four boys, arrived in the Gleichen area in July 1889. They initially spent several months sleeping in hammocks in a barn hayloft. Buffalo chips were used as fuel and water was hauled from a nearby spring. In the fall of 1889 they had a small house constructed on a homestead two miles east of Gleichen. They named their homestead Arbuthnott Ranch after the estate he had been employed at as a Factor in Scotland. It was their home for 60 years. William died in 1921 and Susan died in 1933. They are buried in the Medicine Hat cemetery.

Brunneau, J

Mr. J. Bruneau was one of the original NWMP stationed at Fort Macleod in 1874.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek.

Brunskill, Dr. Thomas

Dr. Thomas Brunskill and wife came west in the early 1870's, likely to the Fort Macleod area..

Ref: Fort Macleod Gazette, 1993, obituary of daughter Mrs. Francis Mckay.

Bryant, Thomas James & Francis

Thomas Bryant born April 5th, 1855 at Croydon, England.and his wife Francis Matilda Golding who was born Sept. 5, 1860, arrived in Calgary in 1888. They had three children who were born in Croydon and four children born in Calgary. Thomas James died in 1905 and Francis Matilda remarried a George Carr Scott in Calgary in 1909. Matilda died in September 23, 1942.

Buckingham, Mr.

Mr. Buckingham was a CPR time keeper at the locomotive shop at Medicine Hat in 1884.

Buckley, Charlie

Charlie Buckley known as Bowlegs, was a rangeland character known from the Rio Grande to the Bow River. He was a good cowhand and gunfighter. He was wagon boss for the TL outfit in Montana and helped George Lane bring in a bunch of horses for the Bar U during the summer of 1885. He was later killed in a gun fight in Montana.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Bullock, John

John Bullock to a ranch in the Pincher Creek area in the early 1880's. He opened a coal mine on his ranch in 1885.

Ref: Early History of Pincher Creek.

Bunn, John

John Bunn established a HBC trading post near the mouth of Ghost River in the fall of 1874. In August of 1875, he with 10 workers, rafted the buildings and supplies down the Bow River to the east bank of the Elbow River. The buildings were reconstructed and was named The Elbow Post. John operated the HBC post until 1877 where during the first half of 1877 they took in over 1000 Buffalo robes, hides and pelts.

Ref: Calgary Hearld, Nov. 14, 1985.

Burn, Family

The Burn family, though originally from Scotland, came from Oregon to Alberta in prairie schooners in the 1880s. They were ranchers who brought a bunch of horses with them. They fitted in well and added much to the community socially.

Burrell, Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith, an engineer on the railway was recorded as a member of the North Star Masonic Lodge No. 4, Lethbridge in 1888. He died in Royalties, Alberta in September 28, 1946.

Burrell, John

John Burell a waterman on the railway was recorded as a member of the North Star Masonic Lodge No. 4, Lethbridge in 1889.

Burrows, J. J.

Mr. J. Burrows was with the Dominion Land Surveyors who came to the Big Hill Country in 1884. They not only mapped the area they also recorded an assessment of the possibilities of the land for farming.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 15-16.

Butland, Joseph

Joseph Butland a member of the NWMP arrived in Fort Macleod in 1874 from Ontario. About a year later in 1875 he was transfered to Fort Calgary. In 1880 he left the NWMP and located a ranch on the NW 1/4 of Sec.33-23-1-W5M. His property, located 2.5 miles west of Calgary, had 60 head of cattle and 17 head of horses. His farm had a notred sandstone quarry that was located within thehis property on the river bank.

Ref: Alberta Resources and Industries, 1885.

Butler, Ben

In 1883, Ben Butler was one of four engineers surveying a railway bridge across the South Saskatchewan River near Medicine Hat. There was some question of who owned some of the land that had been surveyed the previous year. It was learned that it was homestead land and Ben was one of the men who claimed title and settled on it.

Ref: Early History of Medicine Hat Country, p. 24.

Butler, Robert

Robert Butler came to Beaver Lake in 1884 and later was employed as an implement dealer.

Ref: SAP membership application files.

Byers, George

George Byers originally from Collingwood, Ontario, came to Calgary in 1882 then left for Red Deer Crossing during the winter of 1882-83. He got lost, abandoned his outfit and was in bad straits. The police found him with his fingers badly frozen. Being a determined young man he left again after he recovered on 23rd January, 1883 with a freighter. They got lost again but with the help of others he managed to locate his abandoned outfit and then make his way to Red Deer Crossing.

Ref: The Homsteads that Nutured a City.

Byers, William

William Byers, a blacksmith by trade, arrived to homestead at the Red Deer Crossing in 1883. Unfortunately he later found that the land he settled was owned by The Saskatchewan Land Co. who refused to sell to him for less than five dollars per acre. He then decided to settle in Calgary and open a blacksmith shop. The bad luck followed him for in 1885 he made a pair of massive hinges for Fort Normandeau for the price of $63.80. Unfortunately Fort Normandeau was only authorized to pay him $40.00, which did not cover the cost of the iron that cost him $43.00.

Ref: Pioneers Book, Nov 02, 1903,