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

Samples, A. P.

Mr. A. P. Sampless firm delt in stock, and had an extensive meat-market on Stephen Avenue in Calgary in 1885. At the time he was fulfilling a cattle contract with the CPR and had an working interest in a coal mine in the mountains. A western man of wide experience , he ranked as one of the foremost business men in the district.

Ref: Calgary, Her Industries & Resources March, 1885.

Sampson, Herbert

Herbert Sampson was a charter member of the first Hospital Board in Calgary when the charter was granted in 1890.

Ref: The Calgary Herald, Nov. 18, 1933.

Sanders, Gilbert Edward (Colonel)

Gilbert Sanders, born 1863 in Yale B.C., joined the NWMP at Regina in 1884. He served with the force for a total of 27 years in all parts of the NWT. After 1905 he was mainly in Alberta at Fort Macleod, Calgary and Athabasca. Following retirement in December, 1911 he served as Police Magistrate in Calgary until July 1st, 1932. At one time he was a Director of the Calgary Hospital Board, the President of the Mounted Police Veterans Association, and Provincial commissioner of the Boy Scouts. He married Caroline A. Jukes of St. Catherines, Ontario and they had two daughters. Caroline died in 1938. Gilbert died in Calgary April 1955.

Ref: SAPD files.

Sanderson, James Francis

James Sanderson was a fur trader and freighter from Selkirk to Medicine Hat in the early 1880s. He built the first livery stable in Medicine Hat. James married a daughter of John H.G. Bray. They had one son Owen who was a well known horseman in the area.

Ref: The Forgotten Corner - Medicine Hat.

Sanderson, James Francis

James Sanderson was born 1848 in Fort Garry, NWT, the son of a HBC officer. In 1869 he joined with a group of residents who opposed Louis Riels attempt to form a provisional government and became one of several prisoners taken by Riel in 1870. He married Maria McKay in 1872 and they settled in Fort Walsh, on the NWMP built the post in 1875. He served as a scout and interpreter for the Police, then moved to the future site of Medicine Hat in 1882 prior to the railways arrival. He became a rancher and operated a livery stable and contracting business. He died in Medicine Hat in 1902.

Ref: Ref: SAPD files.

Sanderson, Janet

Janet Sanderson was a Scottish girl who came west with Mrs. Louis Garnet to the Cowley area about 1883. She later worked for the Captain Scobie family. She married E. Swain and settled on the Waterton River.

Ref: Ref: SAPD files, Re: John Freebairn.

Saunders, S.L.

Mr. S. L. Saunders was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Savery, Herbert

Herbert Savery was an early rancher at Fort Kipp in 1882, when he was an eyewitness to the drowning of Nick Sheran at his ferry crossing of the Oldman River at Kipp.

Ref: Nineteenth Century Lethbridge, p. 19.

Sayyeau, W

Mr. W. Sayyeau settled on SW 1/4 of Sec.10-34-1-W5M in 1890.

Ref: Olds First.

Scarlett, James

James Scarlett, born in Seaforth, Ontario in 1861, came west with his brother Sam in 1887. They took up land east of Carstairs and operated the Scarlett Stopping House on Rosebud Creek. In 1893 he homesteaded in the Little Red Deer area and it was on two acres of his land that the Red Deer School was built. In 1894 he married Estella Wildman, a daughter of a local pioneer family and they raised four sons and one daughter who died at age 6. James Died in 1927 and Estella died in 1959.

Schack, Charles

Charles Schack arrived at Gladys Ridge near Aldersyde in early 1890. His great-grandchild is Charlotte Mae Moir whose brother is Thomas A. Summers.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Schoening, Charles Conrad

Charles Schoening, born in Danzig, Germany, came to Canada in 1862. Charles along with a partner Gus Neuman trailed a herd of horses into Waterton, Alberta from the USA in 1883. From there they went to Fort Macleod where they learned that the NWMP was buying hay from Pincher Creek. They went back to Pincher Creek where they settled on some land, built a house, borrowed a scythe and started putting up hay. In March of 1886 he married Johanna Whittkauf in Ladysmith B.C., they raised 5 boys. They were instrumental in establishing a Lutheran Church in Pincher Creek. Charles died in 1938 and Johanna died in 1945.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 370-371.

Scobie, Captain

Captain Scobie, a retired British officer, arrived with his wife in Pincher Creek on May 24, 1882. They built a log ranch house, which was still standing 100 years later, about two miles east of Pincher Creek. During the building of the railroad Capt. Scobie had a big business selling Clyde mares which he had imported from Toronto. He donated land to the Anglican Church and the grave yard.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 146.

Scott, Jim

Jim Scott is mentioned as an old timer of the 1880s in the Pincher Creek area.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Scott, W. D.

Mr. W. D. Scott arrived in Calgary in January of 1884 as an agent for the CPR Land Department, which he had helped organize in 1881 at Winnipeg. He opened his office in the Northeast Land Companys office, where he was able to give out information connected with the sale of the companys lands in this district.

Ref: Calgary, Her Industries & Resources March, 1885.

Seely, James W.

James Seely was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Sewell, T. C.

Mr. T. C. Sewell was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1890.

Shafford, Sol

Sol Shafford was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1887.

Shannon, Joseph and Margaret

Joseph Shannon came west in 1882 from Weston, Ontario and obtained an 80 hectare homestead on Fish Creek at the edge of the Sarcee Reservation. He married Margaret McInnes who had come west from Priceville, Ontario in the late 1880s to keep house for her brother. They had no children. An astute rancher and good horseman he increased his holdings to 500 hectares by 1911. His double diamond brand was a sign of quality. Rheumatism forced him to sell and move to California. He returned to Calgary in 1926 where he died in 1935. Margaret died in the late 1950s in Calgary.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions, & A Guide to Fish Creek Park, p. 58-59.

Shannon, Robert

Robert Shannon, born in Toronto, Ontario on November 11, 1858, came west to Calgary in 1888 and settled in High River until 1894. In 1894 he squatted on SW 1/4 of Sec.32-35-3-W5M in the Raven country near Red Lodge. The land was surveyed and his land was located at on October 3, 1901. He married Lucy Ann (Deans), who was the first white girl born in Calgary, in 1885. They had some four children. They lived in a log house until 1909 and then replaced it with a large frame building. Lucy Died in 1945 and Robert died in 1953.

Ref: Grub Axe to Grain, p. 215-216.

Sharpe, Sam & Emma

Emma Sharpe, wife of Sam Sharpe, gave birth to Wallace James Sharpe on August 31, 1889 in Pincher Creek.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass.

Shaw, Joseph

Joseph Shaw, a Section Foreman at the age of 64 years, joined the Medicine Hat Masonic lodge No. 2 A.F. & A.M in December, 1885.

Shea, Doctor

Dr. Shea, born in 1873, is mentioned as the first medical Doctor in Medicine Hat.

Ref: Early History of Medicine Hat Country.

Sheran, James and Kate (additional information)

James and Kate (nee McGovern) Sheran came to Lethbridge in 1886 along with three children, to manage the Sheran coal mine interests following the death of Jamess cousin Michael. Michael had taken over the coal mine after his brother Nicholas, developer of the mine in the 1870s, had drowned in the Oldman River in 1882. James and Kate built a home and established a ranch where they raised hay, ran a herd of Hereford cattle as well as some very fine horses. They had two sons and four daughters. James died in 1924 and Kate died in 1930.

Ref: The Bend -West Lethbridge.

Sibbald, Clarence E.

He was born 1881 in Morley to Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Sibbald. He attended Morley school, later worked as a ranch hand, a railway fireman, a packer and guide, raised cattle, became a mechanic and worked for Banff Motors for ten years. He married Elizabeth Quigley in 1915 and they raised five children. In 1927 he opened Sibbald Motors in Cochrane but was forced to give it up in 1932 due to the depression. In 1932 he became the caretaker for the school, a position he held for 23 years when he retired due to poor health. Clarence passed away in 1957 and Elizabeth in 1972.

Sifton, Hon. Arthur Lewis

Arthur Lewis, born October 26, 1858 in London, Ontario, came to Calgary in 1889.

Ref: SAPD Black Book files.

Simms, J. A.

Mr. J. A. Simms was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1886.

Simons, Leslie

Leslie Simons, a well educated man, and his wife were enticed to leave London by George Ross to come west about 1890. They arrived at Little Bow and worked for George Ross for a time until they settled on a piece of their own land nearby and then began adding to their holdings of land and cattle. They disposed of their land in about 1910 and bought a fruit farm on Vancouver Island. Later they sold the fruit farm and returned to Alberta where they eventually settled in the Ponoka area.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree p. 203.

Simpson, D. J.

Mr. D. J. Simpson was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1887.

Simpson, William John

William Simpson, born in Eastern Canada, came west to the NWT and later to Cochrane in the 1880s. He married Mary Elizabeth Gillies at Cochrane in 1899. They moved to Brentwood B.C. where they operated a hotel. In 1905 they returned to Cochrane to purchase the Alberta Hotel. In 1908 he left the hotel business and joined C.W. Fishers general Store and hardware. John and Mary had a family of nine children. John died in 1919 and Mary, having moved to Calgary in 1935 after disposing of the business, died in 1940.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 271.

Sissons, Daniel

Daniel Sissons, born in Ontario, moved to Portage la Prairie and along with his wife Annabel (nee Ogletree) in 1869. A daughter Francis was born Jan. 28, 1874 in Burnside Manitoba and then Mrs. Sissons died in 1875. Daniel moved to Medicine Hat in 1883 where he opened a general store. Daniel died in 1890 or 1899.

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

Skilding, George

George Skilding, a coal merchant, arrived in Fort Macleod in 1882.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Smart,

Mr. Smart is mentioned as being an oldtimer in the 1880s in the area south of Cowley.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek p. 26-28.

Smart, James

James Smart, who became a Fire Chief of Calgary, was a native son who came to Calgary in 1883.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Smibert, Harry

Harry Smibert, in 1886 was probably one of the earliest men to try ranching in the Cypress hills.

Ref: Early History of Medicine Hat Country.

Smith, Charlie & Marie (additional information)

Charlie Smith, born in Norway, left home at the age of 12 travelled to the Canadian west where he married Marie Rose Delorme at St. Albert on March 26, 1877. They later traveled with two children to the Pincher Creek area where they homesteaded and had thirteen more children. Marie became well known for producing well crafted native goods. Charlie died on February 9, 1914 and Marie died April 4, 1960 at the age of 98.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 247.

Smith, Harry

Harry Smiths name is affixed to the Cane of remembrance which lists names of pioneers from the Calgary District who arrived prior to December 31, 1883.

Ref: Cane of Remembrance, Glenbow museum.

Smith, J. B.

Mr. J. B. Smith, living in Fort Macleod, represented a syndicate that sent J. B. Stone in 1880 to develop Mart Holloways coal property west of Pincher Creek. had an interst in mines and he stayed about three years.

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

Smith, J. H.

Mr. J. H. Smith was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in the year 1890.

Smith, James

James Smith homesteaded from 1880 to 1886, the SE 1/4 of Sec.14-5-28-W4M which is in Fishburn district located on the Dry Fork of a tributary to the Belly River. He had been a sailor but returned to England and died there.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 449.

Smith, James

James Smith lived in Silver City for 50 years commencing in the 1880s. The town locate 20 miles west of Banff is reported to have had a population of 3,000 at one time.

Ref: Newspaper dated November 18, 1933.

Smith, James Hamilton

James Smith, born at Selma, Nova Scotia in 1858, arrived in southern Alberta in 1887. He married Annie Speakman in the early 1890s at Red Deer. Annie was born in Scotland and arrived in Alberta in 1890. They homesteaded near Horn Hill, in the Red Deer area where they remained until about 1920. They then moved to Somenos, B.C. to take up fruit farming. James, a member of the Methodist Church, died in 1936 and Annie died in 1940.

Smith, W. E.

Mr. W. E. Smith was the manager of North Fork Ranching owned by A. B. Few in 1886.

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

Smith, William (Big Bill)

Big Bill Smith worked as a carprenter on the Bar U Ranch in 1890. The following year he completely repaired the High River Horse Ranch buildings. He was a big man and had the reputation of being a tough fighter. Some believed that if he could have kept away from the bottle, he could have become a champion boxer.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Souter, David

David Souter established a blacksmith shop in 1888 in Calgary. It was from this small beginning that the Calgary Iron Works branched out in 1895 to meet the growing requirements of the growing industrial life of the city.

Ref: Newspaper Clipping, no date recorded.

Spafford, Solomon Sheldon

Solomon Spafford, a contractor, arrived in Calgary in 1883.

Ref: SAPD membership files.

Spalding, Charlie & John

Charlie and John Spalding came from Montana bringing 450 head of cattle to southern Alberta in 1881. They built up a herd of 800 head which they branded with an inverted anchor hanging on the left side.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree p. 254.

Sparks, Walter

Walter Sparks arrived in Medicine Hat in 1887.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Speers, Mr.

Mr. Speers came to the Pincher Creek area with his son John in 1890. John Speers was born in 1879 in the Georgian bay area of Ontario. John grew up and got some schooling before going into the Porcupine Hills to make his living trapping and hunting. A creek in the Kananaskis area was named after him Speers Creek. He lived in a seniors lodge in Pincher Creek, prior to his death in 1966.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass.

Spencer, Mr.

Mr. Spencer, an Easterner, met Rev. George MacDougall in Edmonton and on the Reverends recommendations Spencer hired a Stoney Indian guide to take him to the Morleyville district in 1874. He was the first settler in the area between the Ghost River and Cochrane. He brought in a small herd of cattle in from Montana and established a ranch where a nearby creek in the area was named after him.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 347.

Spicer, Harold

Harold Spicier, born in Herefordshire, England, came with his parents to Chatham, Ontario in 1885 and then later moved to Calgary in 1887. He married Mary May Ford from Oklahoma, USA, in 1909.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 273.

Spicer, Sam

Sam Spicer, born in Herefordshire, England in 1870, came out to Calgary in 1888, and later that fall he went to Donald, B.C. He later returned to Cochrane where he homesteaded, and then ranched until his death in 1944.

Ref: Big Hill Country.

Spierman, Thomas

Thomas Spierman, was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1885.

Sprague, Samuel William

Samuel Sprague, a CPR Conductor, was a charter member of the Medicine Hat Masonic Lodge no. 2 in the year 1883. He was born in October19, 1858 and died July 7, 1960.

Springbett, William

William Springbett, born at Sault Ste. Marie in 1869, arrived at Old Red Deer Crossing, Alberta, in October of 1890. He established a blacksmith business which was relocated to the new Red Deer town site in 1891. He married Christina McQueen at Regina in 1895, and they had one daughter and four sons. He acted as overseer when Red Deer was first incorporated, and later was on the Town Council. He was a member of the School Board, and a Justice of the Peace. A heart attach in 1945 ended his working days and he later died in 1946.

St. Arnaud, David

David St. Arnaud settled on 320 acres in the Olds area on February 21st, 1889.

Ref: Olds First.

Stafford, Jane (additional information)

Jane Stafford (nee Gibb), with nine of her children, arrived in Coalbanks in June of 1883 from Westville, Nova Scotia. They had completed the train trip west at Medicine Hat, riding in the caboose of a CPR construction train. From Medicine Hat they traveled the last 100 miles of their journey in a democrat from Dunmore siding to Coalbanks.

Ref: The Bend -West Lethbridge.

Stafford, John

John Stafford arrived as a member of the RCMP at Macleod in 1885.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Stafford, Solomon Sheldon

Solomon Stafford, a contrator, arrived in Calgary in 1883.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Stafford, William Jr.

William Stafford Jr., the eldest son of William Stafford Sr., accompanied his father with others in 1882 to examine and assess coal outcrop exposures in southern Alberta. Based on their assessment and recommendations the coal deposit at Coalbanks was developed.

Ref: SAPD Black Book files.

Standish, Christopher G.

Christopher Standish came to Calgary in 1886.

Ref: SAPD membership application files, Re: Mrs. Anne Fitzpatrick.

Starkey, Samuel

Samuel Starkey was a Dominion Land Surveyor came west to Calgary in 1885 with his sons, Herbert, Henry and Richard. They Homesteded Sec.20-21-28-W4M in the Davisburg Distrisct.

Ref: Sodbusting to Subdivision.

Steele, Richard

Richard Steele, born in England, in 1839 was employed as a railway laborer when he was recorded as a resident of Calgary in the 1891 Census, Sub District A25D Calgary, page 20.

Steinke, Emil

Emil Steinke, born March 28, 1863 at Thorne Centre, Quebec, came west to Pincher Creek in 1889. He married Ida Withkopf on December 30, 1890 in Fort Macleod and they farmed a homestead three miles south of Pincher Creek. They had a family of three daughters and one son. Ida, born in Germany July 2, 1867, had come to Canada in 1879 and had moved to Pincher Creeak in 1888.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass.

Stetz, Alexander

Alexander Stetz and wife came from Cleveland, Ohio to arrive at Lethbridge, Alberta in 1887 for Alexander to work in the local coal mines. While they endured many hardships, they had a baby girl named Mary. After there was a shutdown at the mine and Mary was a few years old, they left Lethbridge and returned to Ohio. They later returned to the area and Mary now grown married Nick Grisak. Alexander, along with his son-in-law in about 1903 they both filed on homesteads & later purchased adjoining land.

Ref: The Bend - History of W. Lethbridge.

Stevenson, Johnston

Johnstone Stevenson who was wounded in the Riel Rebellion of 1885, had operated a ferry across the Bow River in Calgary prior to the construction of a bridge. He homesteaded the NE 1/4 of Sec.28 in the Nose Hill area of Calgary. He took ownership of the Johnston Stevenson Stopping House, located on the old Edmonton Coach Road four miles north of Airdrie, on July 23, 1886. After the Calgary and Edmonton Railway opened in 1891, he became the local postmaster at the stopping house, which remained in operation until 1900.

Ref: The Calgary Herald, October 1, 1975, & SAPD Black Books.

Stevenson, Thomas

Thomas Stevenson arrived in Calgary in 1886.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Stewart, Vincent, Isaiah

Isaiah Stewart, born May 3rd, 1865 in Utah, married Ann Mary Webb in 1888 and in 1889 they moved to Cardston, Alberta. They required two trips, to move their stock and possessions from Logan Utah to Cardston. They lived in Cardston for a while, but later settled near Fish Creek, later known as Mountain View. Vincent was chosen Bishop of this area on Dec. 24, 1893 and later became Bishop of the Glenwood Ward. They had seven children. Ann Stewart died in 1936 while Isaiah Stewart died in 1955.

Ref: Hardwick Papers.

Stingsby, William

William Stingsby was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Stirrett, A. C.

Mr. A. C. Stirrett was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1888.

Stirrett, Alberrett

Alberrett Stirett was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1887.

Stockland, Margaret Grace

Mrs. Margaret Stockland prior to her marriage, was the telegraph operator for Burns and Company when the CPR Telegraph first came to Calgary in 1886. She and her husband George had one daughter, Dixie and two sons, George Cameron and William Cameron.

Ref: Newspaper Obituary Clipping in SAPD files.

Stocks, John

John Stocks arrived in Southern Alberta with the CPR in 1883. He became a Director of the Calgary Hospital Board in the 1890s.

Ref: SAPD membership application files, Re: Marjorie Pursell.

Stocks, John

John Stocks, born in Sherrington, P.Q. in 1858, became a construction foreman in 1882, and later superintendent of construction for the CPR from Swift Current to Lake Louise. He married Ada A. Remilard, of Barrie, Ontario in 1881 and they had five children. In 1901 he became assistant chief engineer under the old Territorial Government at Regina. When Alberta was formed he became Deputy Minister of Public works. He held that position during the construction of the Parliament buildings in Edmonton, and was instrumental in developing Albertas highway Systems. He died in 1917.

Stone, J. B.

Mr. J. B. Stone, a practical engineer was sent by a Syndicate represented by J. B. Smith of Fort Macleod, to open Mart Holloways coal mine in 1880. Mr. Stone stayed for about three years.

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

Storey, Alex

Alex Storey came to Calgary in 1900.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Strickland, Edward

Edward Strickland left England on April 16, 1885 aboard the ship Samaritain, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia April 28th and then journeyed by colonial train cars to Calgary, arriving there on May 7th 1885.

Ref: The Calgary Albertan, May 26, 1971

Strong, John P.

John Strong came and farmed in the Olds area in Alberta in 1890.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Strong, Jon Jonssan & Helga

Jon and Helga, Married in Iceland in 1872, came to America in 1884 and arrived in Calgary in 1889. They homesteaded in the Markerville area on NE 1/4 of Sec.34-37-2-W5M. Jon, a cabinet maker, made chairs, tables and desks. The house he built on his land was considered one of the better houses in the community. They had one son.

Ref: Greek one to Grain.

Stuart, George

Trappers George Stuart and Biggs worked the trapping grounds in the Gap west of Pincher Creek.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek p. 6-7.

Sullivan, John J.

John Sullivan who met Barbra Harkley on a Saturday, got engaged on Sunday and married her within a week, had 6 children, four who were born prior to 1891. The nearest neighbors were the Ings at the Rio Alta Ranch. When Mrs. Sullivan and her three children became ill with black diphtheria, Mrs. Ing risked her life to nurse them. Mrs. Sullivan survived but her three children died. They then raised four more children. Mr. Sullivan was dragged to death by a horse in Calgary in 1905.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree p. 74.

Summerton, William Henry

William Summerton came west from England in 1887 to learn the ranching business at the High River Ranch. He bought the nearby Tom Lynch Ranch, returned to England and returned to his ranch with two fine Cleveland bay stallions & a thoroughbred mare Silver Cross, and in Ontario, he picked up a carload of breeding mares. With this stock he was able to raise some fine horses, but he went broke and sold out to Charles Spalding. In 1898 he went to the Klondike to work for 2 years. Around 1900, he inherited some money and returned to England.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree p. 103.

Sweinhurt. Mr.

Mr. Sweinhurt and his wife came from Germany to homestead in the Pincher Creek area in 1883. Their homestead was located south of the town. They had no children. When Mr. Sweinhurt died in 1910 or 1911, Mrs. Sweinhurt returned to Germany.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 382.