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

Wakeford, William

William Wakeford came from Walkerton, Ontario to the Gladys district in 1889. He sold his farm in the in 1899 and moved to Clover Bar, Alberta where he farmed and later retired to Edmonton. There were three daughters and one son in his family.

Ref: Gladys-Dinton through the years.

Walker, Jesse Bailey

Jesse Walker was a charter member in 1888, of the Lethbridge North Star Masonic Lodge, No. 4.

Walker, John A.

John Walker was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge, Bow River No. 1, Calgary which was instituted in 1884.

Walker, Madge

Madge Walker, from Aberdeen, Scotland, took over as a school teacher in High River, S.D. #144 in 1889, replacing Mr. John Blair.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Walker, William J.

William Walker who had previously resided in Winnipeg in 1878 and Edmonton in 1881, came to Calgary in 1883 and ranched in the area.. He was founder and President of the Great North Insurance Co.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Wallace, Frank

Frank Wallace 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.

Wallace, Jim

Jim Wallace traveled from Idaho to NWT with his wife, two children, a hired man and 222 head of horses, in 1889. They ranched south of Lethbridge until 1910, when they moved to Manyberries where he partnered with Walter Ross. The ranch continued to grow with the addition of the Cross Z, the Spencer, and in 1920 the J.J. Bowlens Q Ranches. They had one son Jeff who was born in Alberta.

Ref: The Forgotten Corner.

Wallace, Robert

Robert Wallace was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1885.

Wallwork, James W.

James Wallwork, a locomotive engineer, came to Lethbridge in 1886.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Walsh, Major

After the disappearance of the buffalo in the late 1870s, the government was faced with bands of starving Indians. On the recommendation of Major Walsh a government farm and Indian Reserve was established near the Moody Ranch. From 1879 to 1885 crops froze so Piapots band were anxious to move onto a small reserve near Maple Creek.

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

Walsh, Richard

Richard Walsh, born in Bradford, England in 1863, came with his parents to Moosomin in 1881. He freighted for the CPR and was a member of Steeles Scouts. He and his family came to Calgary in 1886, and in 1889 he took up a homestead in Madden. While proving up his homestead he worked for Pat Burns in Calgary and in Banff. He met Laura Wilson in Banff he married her there in the Methodist Church in 1891. They had eight children. Richard died in 1945 and Laura died in 1951.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 714.

Walters, (Nigger) Green

Green Walters rode with the trail herds coming up from Idaho to Alberta in 1883. He worked at the Oxley, the Bar U and the CC Ranches. In 1890 he ranched on the North Fork of the Highwood River and built a cabin there. His brand was The Ox Yoke.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Ward, Albert W.

Albert Ward came to the Dogpound Ranching area in 1890.

Ref: SAPD membership application files, Re: Sherwell Garton Roper-Ward.

Ward, George

George Ward was a guide and packer for the CPR in the early 1880s. In 1886 he filed on a homestead in the Tongue Creek district where he resided for several years. He was a successful farmer and in 1891 on a 50 acre parcel he recorded a crop yield of 50 bushels to the acre. It was threshed with a horse powered thresher that required 12 horses to supply the power. He died in Banff in 1898.

Ward, Talbot

Talbot Ward was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Wardman

Wardman and Vere from Lethbridge, arrived at Rock Creek in the Pincher Creek area in the 1880s.

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

Ware, John (additional information)

John and his trail partner, Billy Moody, were hired in Idaho to help trail a herd to Alberta in 1882. Later, he worked at the Bar-U and then at the Quorn ranch. In 1889 he established his own ranch located near Millarville, where a plaque commemorates his place with his cabin declared a historic site. His death came as a result of a fall with his horse that stumbled in a gopher hole.

Wathen, Alfred Herbert

Alfred Wathen, born near London, England in 1863, came to Canada and joined the NWMP at Toronto and took his training at Regina and Fort Macleod and later was stationed at Okotoks from 1885 to 1890. In 1890 he married Mary Cameron and they raised nine children. He homesteaded in the Allan district on SE ¼ of Sec.34-19-1-W5M where he farmed until 1928 when he moved into Okotoks. Mary died in 1920 and Albert died in 1943.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Watson, Eugene

Eugene Watson was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge in 1889.

Watson, Saunders

Saunders Watson came with his family to the Pine Creek district in the early 1880s, where they operated a stopping house. He was the first Post Master of Pine Creek, a position he held from 1887 to 1889.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Watt, Francis (Frank) Alexander

Frank Watt, born in Guelph, Ontario in 1865, came to Calgary in 1889. He was employed for many years he was associated with the NWT government as a building contractor and while also working for John Linehams sawmill in Okotoks. Later he moved to a homestead on the Big Hill Water Reserve west of High River where he experimented with grains and was the first to grow wheat this far west. He raised fine horses and always had an excellent garden. He married Alice Wilson in 1899 and they raised a family of four sons and five daughters. Francis died in 1946 and Mrs. Watt died in 1959.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree p. 413, and Tales & Trails - Longview.

Watt, Frank

Frank Watt was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge, Bow River No. 1, Calgary which was instituted in 1884.

Weinard, Philip (Phil)

Philip Weinard, born in Prussia, emigrated to Minneapolis, in 1872, and later in 1879 left home to work on river boats. In 1882 he drove 8 yoke of oxen pulling nine tons of flour up the Whoop-Up Trail from Fort Benton to Fort Calgary. In 1888, having married Mary Ferris in Helena, Montana, they took up ranching on homestead land Philip had obtained on the Highwood River around 1883. They had six children. Mary and one son died of typhoid in 1909. After Marys death he relocated down the river where he built the South Fork Trading Post. His second wife Miss Ausland died in 1917. Phil retired in 1926 and died September, 1941.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Wells, George

George Wells came to Medicine Hat in 1888.

Ref: SAPD membership application files.

Wenman, W.

Mr. W. Wenman, according to the SAPD minutes of Jan. 17, 1929, was reported to be at Blindman River, NWT in 1870, which is believed to be west of Innisfail, Alberta.

Ref: SAPD files.

Wentworth, George

George Wentworth, a horse breeder, came to Calgary in 1886. SAPD membership application files

Whitaker, Conis James

Conis Whitaker was recorded as a member of the Masonic Lodge, Bow River No. 1, Calgary in 1888

Whitbread, Joe

Joe Whibread was a quiet Englishman who came to the Quorn Ranch in 1889 to be employed as a stud groom. In 1900 when William Christie purchased most of the Quorn Ranch, Joe managed Christie Ranch on the Highwood River. He later moved to his own place that he had aquired earlier and still later he moved to Calgary where he worked for the Fire department. In 1918 he became a cattle inspector ot the stockyards until his retirement in 1938. He died in 1939, having been predeceased by his wife and two daughters.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree, p. 412.

White, Christopher

Christopher White, born in Perthshire, Scotland on December 13th, 1848, came to Alberta with the construction of the CPR for whom he worked constructing buildings. He worked on the roundhouse in Gleichen, Alberta and in 1884 he moved to Calgary and took up homesteads at Horn Hill and Clearview. His first wife, Ann Richards was born in Wales in August 23rd, 1859. They married in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 15th, 1884, and had four children. Christopher died in Red Deer in September of 1942 at age 92. His wife Ann died in July of 1943 at age 84.

Ref: SAPD files.

White, David

David White, employed as a section foreman with the CPR, arrived in Banff in 1886. He remained working with the CPR in the Banff area until 1894. He then left the CPR and purchased a building, a lot, some merchandise and thus became a General Merchant by opening his Park Store in October, 1894. Later three sons, David Jr., Clifford and Peter were taken in as partners by 1930 and the business became known as Dave White and Sons.

Ref: Banff Crag & Canyon, 1935.

White, William Henry

William White arrived in Fort Macleod with the NWMP in 1885.

Ref: SAPD old membership cardfiles.

Whitford, James

James Whitford, a halfbreed who had been a scout for Custer, married Mary Hergert on July 15, 1888 at Pincher Creek. Mary was a grandaughter of Chief Ermineskin who was a close friend of Father Lacombe. They lived at Pincher Creek until 1911 when moved to the Peace River district. They had four children. They returned south in 1918 to Lake Beauvais where he lived the remaining years of his life. Mary died in 1970 and is burried at Worsley in the Peace River.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 250.

Wigmore, Sam

Sam Wigmores name is affixed to the Cane of Rememberance which lists pioneers of southern Alberta, residing in the area prior to December 31, 1883. The 1975 Brand Book listed the Wigmore brand as being OX which was located on the left shoulder of both cattle and horses.

Ref: Cane of Remembrance, at Glenbow Museum.

Wilcock, Francis

Francis Wilcock and family, from Manitoba, arrived in the Pincher Creek area in 1883. They drove a bunch of dairy cows some 160 miles from the end of the steel at Medicine Hat. He established a mixed farm and tried growing fruit trees. He also grew and marketed garden rhubarb on a large scale and grew fall wheat successfully.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek p. 36.

Wilder, Everard (Bert) Raphael

Everard Wilder, born of English and Irish parents in Chicago area, moved to Nebraska and then to Wyoming where he worked with the Powder River Cattle Co. His company put him in charge of driving one of four herds that were driven to Alberta in 1886. Following sale of his company he worked for the Bar U Ranch. He married Bertha Mott in 1895 and in 1898 they moved to the Flying E Ranch on Willow Creek. He later acquired a quarter north of High River where he fed cattle for both himself and for the Flying E Ranch. They had three children, John, Ruth and Helen. The Wilders lived in the High River district until their deaths.

Ref: Leaves from the Medicine Tree.

Wildman, Moses

Moses Wildman, born in England in 1835, emigrated to Canada in the early 1800s and married Elizabeth Ann Young, who was also born in 1835 in Whitechurch, Ontario. In 1887 he left Ontario to seek homestead land in the west. He found suitable land at Little Red Deer Lake, and he then he brought out his family of four children, Marmaduke, Estella, Mary and Fred. Moses died in 1911 and Elizabeth died in 1917.

Williams, David

David Williams was recorded as a member of the Calgary Odd Fellows Lodge prior to December 31, 1890.

Williams, Horace

Horace Williams, born in Utah in 1867 and his wife Clara Elizabeth McLean born in Nevada in 1871 were married in Kaysville, Utah in 1888. They decided to move to Canada shortly thereafter and they arrived at Cardston in July, 1888. They homesteaded on the NW ¼ of Sec. 2-3-26 W4M. They had 10 children. He served on the school board and was superintendent of Sunday School and a teacher in the LDS Church. They farmed and ranched this quarter until the fall of 1928 when they moved eventually to Spokane, Washington. Horace died Oct. 20, 1929 in Spokane and was buried in Cardston.

Ref: Hardwick Papers.

Williams, Nicholus F.

Nicholus Williams is listed in the Homesteader Files in the Gleichen area.

Ref: The Gleichen Call.

Williams, Rev. J. A.

Rev. J. A. Williams, while superintendent of the Methodist Church, came with Rev. Bridgeman and set up for an impromptu service for 15 men and a few women, in the CPR roundhouse one Sunday in 1883.

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

Williams, Sterling

Sterling Williams, born in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sept. 9, 1870, arrived in Cardston with the first party of settlers from Utah on March 6, 1887. He married Attena Bates in 1894 and they had a family of four children. He farmed in the area and served as a principal of a school from 1904 to 1906.

Ref: History of Alberta by MacRae, p. 794.

Wills, R.

Mr. R. Wills homesteaded on the NE ¼ of Sec. 36-34-28 W4M in 1890.

Ref: Olds First.

Wilmot, Edmond Meade

Edmond Wilmot, born in Derbyshire, England in 1860, initially came to Guelph, Ontario in 1881 and proceeded west in 1883 to tend cattle in the Crowsnest Pass area. A keen polo player he had returned from a trip to England with the first real polo sticks and ball imported into the Americas. Henceforth the game was played in ernest and is credited with founding the first Polo Club in Canada in 1889.

Ref: History of the Early Days of Pincher Creek p. 36.

Wilson, Dr. W.

Dr. W. Wilson, born in Kingston, Ontario, came west as a non-commissioned officer of the NWMP in 1878 and for awhile he was in charge of Fort Calgary. He was also stationed in Fort MacLeod and at Blackfoot Crossing. In September 1883 he purchased his discharge, and immediately opened his office as Surgeon-Dentist located on the Elbow River in Calgary. In April of 1884 he moved his office to the north side of Stephen Ave., and later moved once again next to the Royal Hotel.

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

Wilson E.

Mr. E. Wilson 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.

Wilson, J. A.

Mr. J. A. Wilson arrived in Queenstown, NWT in July of 1889.

Ref: SAPD membership application files, Re: Dorothy Annie Fairbanks.

Wilson, John Hugh

John Wilson, born in Ireland in 1856, came initially to Halifax in 1887 and arrived at Gleichen on November 27, 1887. He worked on the CPR roundhouse at Gleichen and then later at Calgary as a fireman. In 1901 he returned to Ireland but soon returned and in 1902 he married Sarah Hayes of Antrim, Ireland. They purchased the SW ¼ of Sec. 30-22-23-W4M and homesteaded the NW ¼ of Sec. 30-22-22-W4M where they farmed. They had four daughters and one son who died in infancy. John died in 1934 and Sarah in 1939.

Ref: The Gleichen Call.

Wilson, John J.

John Wilson came from Winnipeg, Man. to Calgary as a member of the NWMP in 1888. He returned to Winnipeg and then in 1891 was transfered by the NWMP to Fort Macleod He was president and manager of the Alaska-Yukon Pioneers Reunion.

Ref: SAPD files, Re: Letter from John Wilson.

Wilson, Llewellyn J.

Llewellyn Wilson, an architect, arrived in Calgary the first week of June in 1887. SAPD membership application files.

Wilson, Maurice (Tug)

Maurice Wilson, born in New Zealand, emigrated with his parents and brother Thomas initally to Barrie, Ontario. Maurice came west to the Pincher Creek area, and then Thomas arriving in Medicine Hat in 1882, jioned him there and they located a homestead calling it the Starlight Ranch. They also started the Key Ranch north of Cowley and in 1886 the KEY brand became a registered brand Their parents came west and settled in the North Fork district and opened the first Post Office in 1893. Maurices wife Mae and child died at the Key Ranch.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 554.

Wilson, Thomas

Thomas Wilson, born in New Zealand, emigrated with his parents and brother Maurice initally to Barrie, Ontario. Thomas arriving in Medicine Hat in 1882, jioned his brother Maurice in Pincher Creek and they located a homestead calling it the Starlight Ranch. Maurice married Ethel Miller who he had met at his mothers post office and they had four daughters. Tom died in 1947 and was buried at Livingston. His wife and one daughter stayed on at the home place, The Key Ranch.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 554.

Wilson, Tom

Tom Wilson, born at Bond head, Ontario in 1859, joined the NWMP around 1875 and was sent to Fort Walsh. In 1881 he received his discharge and took a job as a packer with the I.G. Baker Co. While in Ft. Benton he got a job with the Major Rogers Survey crew and was dispatched, with supplies, to Calgary and west to Bow Fort. He wintered at Morley with Mr. & Mrs. D. McDougall in 1882 and in 1885 he joined Steeles Scouts and proceeded to the Riel Rebellion. Following that he married Miss Minnie McDougall and they established a home at Morley, where they had four children. In 1893 they moved to Banff where Tom became renowned as a guide and outfitter. He died in Banff in 1933.

Ref: Big Hill Country, p. 97.

Winterbottom, A..

Mr. A. Winterbottom homesteaded the S ½ of Sec. 23-22-2-W5M in the Pine Creek district prior to 1890.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Winterbottom, E. J.

Mr. E. Winterbottom homesteaded the S ½ of Sec. 24-22-2-W5M in the Pine Creek district prior to 1890.

Ref: Sodbusters to Subdivisions.

Wishart, David Charles

David Wishart, born in 1867, came west while working with the CPR when he was 15 years old in 1883. He later took up a homestead in the Gleichen area and in 1892 he married Maud Vicar and they had two children, Florence and Roy. David hauled mail from Gleichen and later moved there. He bought a livery stable where he kept horses and rigs to rent. His later years were spent sheep herding in the Milk River country. He died in 1956 and Maud passed away in 1960.

Ref: The Gleichen Call.

Wittkopf, Ida

Ida Wittkopf, born in Germany on July 2, 1867, came to Canada in 1879 and moved to Pincher Creek in 1888. She married Emil Steinke, December 30, 1890 in Fort Macleod and they farmed a homestead 3 mile south of Pincher Creek. They had a family of three daughters and one son.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass.

Wittkopf, Richard August

Richard Wittkopf, born in Germany in 1864, came to Quebec in 1879 and moved to Fort Macleod in 1886. He walked Fort Macleod to Pincher Creek where he established a blacksmith shop with W. Foote and C. Dyson. In 1893 he married Jessie L. Houghton, who was born 1872 in England. They had five children. They moved to the Fishburn district where Richard took up farming and operated his own blacksmith shop. He along with two brothers and two sisters, were instrumental in getting a Lutheran Church built south of Pincher Creek.

Ref: Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass, p. 467.

Woolfe, John Anthony

John Woolfe and his wife Mary arrived in Cardston in 1887. He was vice president and director of the Cardston Coal Ltd. and owner of the Hotel de Woolfe. He was president of Lees Creek Mormon Church and Mary was very active in the church. There were 12 children in their family.

Ref: Chief Mountain Vol. # 2.

Woollans, Frank

Frank Woollans came to Calgary in 1890.

Ref: SAPD membership application files, Re: Mrs. Elaine Davis

Worley, Const. J. B.

Const. J. B. Worley was with Col. Macleod at Samples Bottom near Fort Macleod and at the signing of Treaty No.7 at Blackfoot Crossing.

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

Wright, Nathaniel

Nathaniel Wright, born at Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario in 1860, came to Poplar Grove (now Innisfail) in 1887. From there he went to the Little Red Deer River where he homesteaded two quarters (320 acres). He married Susan Pierce who was born Nov. 4 , 1870, in Carleton, Ontario on New Years day, 1890. Nathaniel and Susan had 10 children. He died at Calgary in 1949.

Wright, William Reid

William Wright, born in Alton Village, Ontario on June 6th, 1858, joined the NWMP in 1878 and arrived in Fort Walsh in June the same year. He was discharged on July 1881 and moved, intending to work as an accountant, to Fort Calgary. In 1885 he made a famous non-stop ride from Calgary to Fort Macleod bringing news of the outbreak of the Reil Rebellion. He married Emma Rogers of Pembroke, Ontario in 1903. They had no children. He worked as a book-keeper for Irwin's Grocery store in Calgary for many years. William died in Calgary in February, 1930. His wife Emma died in Calgary in September of 1943.

Ref: SAPD Black Books.