Early Rat Portage Settlers
Ernest Frederick Angood 1889-1970
William LeBaron Baker 1848-1888
George Barnes 1854-1935
Rocque Francis Beaudro 1884-1960
John Thomas Brett 1886-1941
George Nelson Brunsel 1872-1938
John Kerr Brydon 1847-1930
Archibald Campbell 1863-
Sir Douglas Colin Cameron 1854-1921
William George Cameron 1863 - 1940
Frederick Wallace Canniff 1864- 1943
Angus Carmichael 1856-1938
Ellen / Helene /Helena / Hélène (Collin) Charbonneau(u)
James Clarkson 1857 1910
Herbert Thomas Cossey 1871 - 1947
Augustus Frederick Dulmage 1846-
Dr. Albert Henry Edmison 1860-1934
Jack "J.R." Fraser
Thaddeus Anthony "T.A." Gadbois 1858-1915
Frank Gardner 1848-1937
William Robert Housten Gerrie 1855- 1927
John Robert Gunne 1870-1935
William James Gunne 1859 - 1950
Dr Thomas Hanson 1846-1913
Louis Hilliard 1851-
Howard Fenwick Holmes 1878-1917
Captain Frederick Thomas Hooper 1851-1924
Charles Thomas Hooper (Tom) 1883 - 1960
Algeron Sydney "A.S." Horswill 1862-1927
Jacob Hose 1853 - 1907
John Wesley Humble 1851- 1939
William Jackson 1872 - 1924
Fredrick Dufferin Jackson 1874- 1944
Charles Wilbur Jackson1979-1936
Gustavus Adolphus Kobold 1862-
Jack Lepine
William McCarthy 1848 - 1911
James Nelson McCracken 1861
Samuel Charles McGimsie1847 - 1936
William "Billie" George McGimsie 1880
William McKinnon 1851-1911
Charles Edward McMurdie 1854-
Alexander McQuarrie 1852-
John McQuarrie 1850-
Malcolm Doherty McQuarrie 1847
Robertson Pierce Murphy 1858-1940
John Nash 1848-1914
Murdoch K. Nicholson1856-1945
John A. Patterson 1882 - 1932
Thomas Neil Phillips 1883-1923
James Edward Rice 1862-1950
Harding Rideout 1847-1932
Dr. Simons Southmayd Stuart Scovil 1854-1927
Ernest Agustus Sharpe 1843 - 1912
Alexander Shragge 1865 - 1933
John Samuel Whiting 1859-1935
Arthur Woods 1851-1915
William Young 1848-1920
The earliest settlers to the Kenora area were beleived to be the Ojibwa.
Pow-Was-Sang
Pow was sang was chief of North West Angle for 14 years from 1911 to 1925. He died 12 March 1927
Ernest Frederick Angood 1889-1970
Earnest Frederick Angood, son of Frederick Angood and Harriet Boyden was born in Chatteris, Cambridge, England on 15th Oct. 1889. He emigrated to Canada around 1910 first to Winnipeg but when he couldn't find work there to Kenora, Ontario. For a time he stoked and fired up the boilers on the S.S. Keenora. He commenced employment with the CPR in Kenora as a wiper in 1910. In 1920 he was promoted to engineer at which he was employed until his retirement on November 1 1954.
In World War 1 he joined the 52 Battalion of the Lake Superior Regiment and spent four years in the trenches, receiving a military medal for his duties in the war.
He returned with his war bride Florence Waites. They had three children,
Margaret Angood m. W.H. Clipperton
Joyce Angood m. George Weeks
Brian Angood
He was instrumental in the founding of the Great War veterans' Association (Canadian Legion). He was an active member of the Locomotive Engineers and the Peguonga Lodge. He was a member of Knox United Church and he and his wife were responsible for the development of the Church's Christian Education Centre.
William LeBaron Baker 1848-1888
William LeBaron Baker was born in London, England in 1848 and emigrated to Canada, first to Nova Scotia, then on to Rat Portage in 1879. He married Isabella Jane McCulloch (b. 1848, Halifax NS) in Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 11, 1872 and had at least one son and daughter before moving to Rat Portage in 1879,
James McCulloch Baker b. 13 Aug 1874, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, died presumably before 1881
Helen Jean Baker b. 10 Dec 1875, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Married Allan McLennan died before 1911
Four more daughters were born in Rat Portage
Minnie S. Baker b. 3 Jun 1879,Rat Portage, married Peter Goldthorpe
Alice Maude Baker born 19 Nov 1881, Rat Portage
Isabella C. Baker b. 19 Nov. 1881, Rat Portage (First twin births recorded in Rat Portage)
Winnifred Oliver Baker b. 29 Feb. 1881Rat Portage, married John William Walker and died in Fort Frances 26 Jan 1954.
Harry Payson Baker b. 8 Aug 1886, d. 21 July 1888
Two more sons Robert and Allan were born and died presumably between 1881 and 1891.
The family moved to Rat Portage in 1879 where he established the Baker & Co General store and managed the store known as "One Price Cash Store" selling everything from pins to stoves.
William Baker came to work shortly after each morning and was always last to leave at night. He did his own booking, helped wait on people when needed. He wrote his own advertisements putting them in envelopes and sending them to customers with their parcels.
He arranged for delivery of his goods to his customers. He had Louis Hilliard send a team of pintoes that he kept at the hotel twice a week Mr. Hilliard's father in law Mr McGinnis drove the team and Agar Fitzgerald delivered the parcels. He had three clerks working for him:
Fred Canniff in charge of dry goods, John Dalziel in charge groceries and Mr Pugsley. In time Canniff left to work for Jacob Hose in Keewatin and was replaced by a Mr Kyle Baker paid for Kyle family to move from down east to Rat Portage. When William Baker died in 1888 Kyle was made manager of the store which was sold to Smith Brothers and subsequently became a cafe, pool room, tin shop and taxi office and later being torn down and the lot made into part of a park.
Before the Canadian Pacific Railway got their trains running Mr Baker was agent for the Express Company. He was also agent for the powder Company
Mr Baker died 20 Dec 1888. His wife 18 Oct 1902.
Corrections welcomed. Please send to jretson@shaw.ca
George Barnes 1854-1935
George Barnes was born in Welington, Prince Edward County on the Bay of Quinte in September 1854. He first came to Rat Portage in 1871 via the Dawson trail when Rat Portgae was only a Hudson Bay Post.
He spent a couple of years running the Maline Portage Stopping House, North of the Rainy River before moving back to Belleville where he settled for a time. He then moved to Toronto where he remained until 1876. In 1876 he moved to Parry Sound to work with the Parry Sound Lumber Company. In Parry Sound he married Miss Fanny McMurray and when she died her sister, Sarah McMurray, by whom he had four children
Fanny Hazelton "Hazel" Barnes b. 11 May 1886 in Rat Portage
Winnifred Barnes 09 Apr 1892 in Rat Portage
Fanny Barnes b. 09 Apr 1892 Rat Portage
George McMurray Barnes 04 Aug 1898 Rat Portage
In 1880 he moved to Rapid City Manitoba where he owned land and framed until 1882 when he moved to Rat Portage.
In Rat Portgae he resided in a house on the west side of Matheson Street and worked as the tie and wood inspector for the CPR. When the CPR office was closed he had a one story building build on Hennipen Lane and operated a grocery store.
In 1886 he closed the grocery store and used the building as a home. He and his brother Howard opened the K Furniture store on Second Street. His business extended to all areas of Rainy River and Lake of the Woods District. The Town's first undertaking parlour was ran in the back of the store. In 1897 he sold to Horn and Taylor.
He served on the Town Council in 1886 and was elected mayor in 1895. He was unseated as a result of accusations on "corrupt Practices and D.H. Currie served for the remainder of the year until a new election was called.
He was re-elected in this election in 1896. During his reign several parks were created including, Kenora Park on Town Island, Central Park and the Park South of the Lake of the Woods Cemetery afterwards occupied by the Paper Mill
Sources: A.D. Battiston Builders of a Town; Hlynski et al. Early Settlers of Kenora, Page 132
Rocque Francis Beaudro 1884-1960
Rocque Francis Beaudro, son of Joseph Beaudro and Sarah Leger, was born on February 29, 1884 in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. In 1887 at the age of three, his family moved first to Fort William, Ontario and then Rat Portage. As a child, "Roxy " took a passionate interest in hockey and other sports such as rowing and rowed and baseball.
The local hockey team "The Thistles" had developed a winning team and won the 1902-03 Manitoba and Northeastern Hockey Association title and issued a challenge for the famed trophy of senior hockey, the Stanley Cup. Roxy, who had just turned 19 years of age, played right wing in the March 1903 challenge series against the Ottawa Silver Seven. In 1906 Roxy and the Kenora players went pro. In 1907 the Thistles challenged the Montreal Wanderers. In 1907 he scored the Stanley Cup game winning goal. He retired at the end of the hockey season. In 1982 the the 1907 Kenora Thistles team was named to the Northwest Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
Roxy married Mabel Louise Goodman in 27 August of 1907 in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he moved but subsequently moving on to Cochrane, Ontario where his son Earl Laurier Beaudro was born in 09 Jan 1909.
Roxy took on a job as an accountant for the government.
In 1915 he enlisted in the Canadian Army and played with the 28th Battalion's Royal Fusiliers In early February of 1917, the order came to be shipped overseas and Roxy saw extended combat duty during the war. Following the war he raised a family living at various times in Winnipeg, Cochrane, and Thunder Bay, and then Toronto.
Roxy Beaudro died on February 10, 1960 in Barrie, Ontario after a short battle with cancer. He was 75.
Source Note Kenora Thistles: Our Hockey heritage, Bowes Publishing Limited
Geneology Note: Roxy's father's name and family name appears at various times on census and other records indexed as Beaudre or Biadio.
John Thomas Brett 1886- 1941
John Thomas Brett, was first born son of George Thomas Brett and Margaret Cullen. There was a George Thomas Brett who died in Vancouver on 22 Feb. 1951
John Thomas "J.T." was born 9 Sep 1886 in Simcoe County, Ontario. On Nov 27 1895, he married Catherine Ellen Ronan born January 1 1872 also in Simcoe County. They had 4 children
Agnes Brett b. 1911 in Simcoe County
Harry Joseph Brett b. 22 Mar 1907 in Rat Portage
James Albert Brett b. 23 Dec 1909 in Rat Portage
John Thomas Brett b. 1917
In 1887 he moved to Rat Portage where he became engaged in grocery and feed business store located on Second street between Matheson and Chipman St. The Business became largest dealer in flour, feed and provisions - latter he established business known as Brett Elevator Company. He served on Town Council 1908-1911, Mayor of Kenora 1912-14. He was a strong supporter of Laurier and the liberal party.
He was a Charter member of Rotary Club,and held attendance record for many years. He was President of trade and served on Board of Education.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the pulp and paper business. Construction of mill began in 1921 and began operating in 1924.
He spent his summers at summer cottage at Point Alymer. He is beleived to have passed away Aug 1941.
John Kerr Brydon 1847-1930
John Kerr Brydon was born 28 Jun 1847 in Dunfirmline, Scotland. He settled first in Toronto. He moved to Rat Portage in May 1882.
He opened an office in the Masonic Hall block and established himself as a solicitor, conveyancer and notary Public.
In 1883 he had a house built on the North side of First Street South.
He married Mary Charlotte Compton in York, Ontario in 10 Aug 1886. She was born 30 Jun 1850 in York, Ontario. They had three children.
John Brydon Kerr Compton in 15 May 1887
Robert George Howie Brydon in 25 Dec 1891
Mary Isabel Gladdens Brydon in 17 Aug 1888
Brydon's promoted the town's name change. The Following note appears in August 10 1901 edition of the Rat Portage Miner:
It has been suggested that when the flour milling town and the gold mining center are united the names of the two places should be amalgamated also. 'Keewortage' sounds too much like the name of a hard dermatoological excrescence and 'Ratwatin' is simply ludicrous. There seems no way out of the difficulty except to call the new city 'Brydonstown' or ville or better still, Brydon'. But perhaps Mr. Brydon wouldn't like it.
George Nelson Brunsel 1872-1938
George Brunsel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Angus Brunsel was born in St Clement (Selkirk? )Manitoba on Feb 17 1872 (17 Feb 1873?). He came to Rat Portage in 1879. He operated the first boat building company in Rat Portage with his brother Neill located on the lakefront between Main and Matherson street. Between 1899 and 1904 the company build many boats including the Daystar, the Wanderer and the Helen S. The business ended with a fire in October 1904. In 1906 it was purchased by Robert J. Parrott. Subsequently the business was operated by Gus Anderson 1929, who in turn sold to J.W Stone in 1934.
George went to work for Parrott Boat Building Company until he joined the 141st Battalion in 1916. He served overseas with the 48th Bull Moose Battalion returning to Kenora in 1919. Following the war he was employed by J.W. Stone Boat Company until his retirement in 1939. In the early years he took part in all the boat races. He also spent time at his camp in Clearwater Bay which is now Pye's Landing. They lived at 801 Fourth St. North
On 07 Aug 1897 he married Agnes H Neill in Rainy River Ontario. They had 8 children:
Margaret Elizabeth Agnes Brunsel b.09 Nov 1899
George Neil Brunsel b. 02 Mar 1902
Helen Louise Brunsel b. 29 Mar 1903
Alice May Brunsel b. 21 Mar 1905
Ethel M Brunsel b. Jan 1909
Heywood B Brunsel ?
Raymond Brunsel
Marguerite Belle Brunsel b. 19 May 1911
George passed away 13 Sep 1947 in Keewatin, Ontario
Sir Douglas Colin Cameron 1854-1921
Sir Douglas Colin Cameron KCMG. Colin Cameron who was born June 8 1854 in Hawkesbury, Prescott County, Ontario on 5 June 1854, son of Colin Cameron and Annie McClaren. He was educated at Vankleet Hill High School. He farmed in Ontario from 1871 to sometime between 1878 and 1880 when he moved to Manitoba in 1878, and worked as a contractor at Brandon. In 1880, he married Margaret Cameron Ferguson (1857-?) of Vankleek Hill, Ontario. They had three children: Evelyn Cameron (b 1885), Douglas Lorne Cameron (b 1888), and James Leslie Fergus Cameron (b 1896).
Subsequently he moved to Rat Portage. In the Fall of 1883 he formed the lumber business of Cameron & Company, later known as Cameron & Kennedy. In 1892, it was incorporated as the Ontario & Western Lumber Company, being renamed as the Rat Portage Lumber Company. He served as its General Manager from 1892 and president from 1894. He was also heavily involved in the forest industry in British Columbia.
In 1901 he was elected as a councillor in Rat Portage. He would later serve as the city's mayor. In 1902, he was elected a MLA of Ontario as a Liberal for Fort Williams and Lake of the Woods defeating Conservative Thomas Smellie, 1483 votes to 1121. He lost the 1905 election to Smellie, 1536 votes to 1228. Shortly thereafter, he moved Winnipeg to better oversee his business ventures. He was defeated as a candidate for Winnipeg in the 1908 federal election losing to Conservative Alexander Haggart by 8747 votes to 6729.
Other business interests included the Presidency of the Maple Leaf Flour Mills, and directorships of the Northern Crown Bank, Manitoba Bridge & Iron Company, and the Gas Traction Company. In 1910 he was listed by the Winnipeg Telegram as one of Winnipeg's 19th millionaires
He was a member of the Manitoba Club, St Charles Country Club and Lakewood Country Club. He served as President of the The St. Andrew Society of Winnipeg from 1906 to 1908. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel with the 79th Highlanders. He was a keen horseman, his stables winning many honours at horse shows. In 1911, he lived at 65 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg. His letter-book for the years 1911 and 1912 is at the Archives of Manitoba.
He was 8th Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba on August 1, 1911. In 1915 Cameron used his constitutional authority to call a Royal Commission of Enquiry into an ongoing scandal involving the construction costs of the province's new legislative buildings. The Commission upheld charges against Rodmond P. Robin's government by the opposition Liberals and Roblin was forced to resign. Cameron was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St. George in the 1914 New Year's Honour List. His term in office ended in 1916. He died in November 27, 1921 and is buried in St John's Cemetery.
Sources:
Bryce, George (1906) A History of Manitoba, Its Resources and People, The Canadian History Company
Bumsted, J.M (1999) Dictionary of Manitoba Bibliography, Winnipeg:: University of Manitoba
Schofield, F.H. (1913) The Story of Manitoba, S.J.Clarke Publishing Company
The Manitoba Historical Society, Memorable Manitobans, Online
William George Cameron 1863 - 1940
William George Cameron was born near Truro Nova Scotia on February 8 1863. He received his education in Truro before moving to Pictou NS where he learned the grocery business. He lived in Portland Oregon for a few years before moving to Winnipeg. In Winnipeg he was employed as a brakeman by CPR and a conductor working Emerson and Winnipeg.
He arrived in Rat Portage in 1883 according to David Hogoboam 1923 news story. He continued to work with the CPR untill 1894. He became proprietor of the Queen's hotel in 1888 and continued until 1898. In 1898 he started a wholesale grocery in Rat Portage with Max Heap which became known as Cameron and Heap located at the bottom of Matherson Street. (Presently Frosted Foods) Branches were subsequently established at Regina , Prince Albert, Dauphin, Fort William, and Nipigon. They sold the business in August 1929 to Western Grocers.
Shortly after arriving in Rat Portage he was first involved with a mine of Cameron Island in Shoal Lake which he sold to the Buffalo Syndicate. He then got involved with the Wendigo Mine.
W.G. Cameron was a member of the Town Council 1900 1903, President of the Board of Trade in 1902, The Hospital Board, the cemetery board, Pequnga lodge, AF & AM , Gold Hill Lodge, IOOF member of the Lake of the Wood Lodge and a chairman of the Kenora District Victory Loan Committee. He became the first Rotary Club President in 1920.
On December 12th 1888, he married Hattie Henesy (born October 7 1863). They had five children:
William Cameron b. 28 June 1891
John Cameron b. 29 Mar 1894
Helen Cameron b. 10 Feb 1896
Sadie Cameron b. 10 Aug 1899
Max Cameron b. 5 Nov 1904
He died in Kenora in 21 Jun 1940.
Archibald Campbell 1863-
Archibald Campbell, son of Farquhar and May Campbell,l was born on 8 Jul 1863. He married Annie H Halstead 21 Oct 1888 in Kenora, Ontario.
They had 3 children
Stewart Woodbury Campbell b. 15 Sep 1889
Daniel H Campbell b. 4 Mar 1891
Isabella A Campbell b. 05 Dec 1893
Archibald Campbell came to Rat Portage in 1886. In 1890 he was the owner of Rat Portage's first stationary and book store which was located in the lower part of the Hilliard House. There was a post office in the rear of the store.
In 1891 he was elected councillor along with Harding Rideout, John Nash and J. Clarkson. In 1892 he became the first mayor following Incorporation of the Town with counsellors C.W. Belyea, D.C. Cameron. J.B. Davies, John Nash, Walter Oliver and J.M Savage.
In 1899 he went into the Insurance Business for a short time.
He was treasurer of the rowing club in 1892, a member of the first band formed in 1886 and a member of the first fire brigade formed in 1888 In 1894 he became Crown Land Agent.
They moved from Rat Portage to Kansas City in 1900. Mrs Campbell died there in October 1944 at the age of 76 Early Settlers of Rat Portage
Frederick Wallace Canniff 1864- 1943
Frederick Wallace Canniff, son of James Partridge Canniff and Eliza Elizabeth Wallace was born in Cannington, near Belleville, Ontario 7 August 1864.On New Years Day 1 Jan 1902, he married Emily Howard. They had one child Frederick Howard Canniff born in Kenora on 6 Oct 1904.
Fredrick came to Rat Portage with the CPR . He was the first night operator with the railway.
In 1886 he was hired by William LeBaron Baker in the One Price Cash Store. He left to manage a store for Jacob Hose and Coates in Keewatin. In 1889 he left to operate a book and Stationary business in Rat Portage. Subsequently he was joined by Joseph Johnson and drugs were sold in the store as well under the name Canniff and Johnson. He subsequently sold his interest to Johnson who was joined by his brother Lowry Johnson and the business was renamed Johnson's Pharmacy.
In about 1899 he left for Phoenix, B.C. where he had a hardware business but with the Boer war he left to go to Fort Frances with Herbert Williams.
In 1904 he returned to Rat Portage entered into a Partnership of Hose and Canniff, with Jacob Hose. He managed the store after Hose died in 1907.
In 1920 he sold out and retired but was back in business a year later with J.P. Williams in a a partnership known as Canniff and Williams. He sold out his interest and retired for good in 1927.
Frederick Canniff was a member of the Keewatin Masonic Lodge and Gold Hill Lodge I.O.OF. He was a member of the Anglican Church.
He owned a small camp on an Island in Golf Course Bay.
He died in March 1943.
Angus Carmichael 1856-1938
Angus Carmichael, possibly son of Hugh Carmichael and Isabella McNiven was born in Cannington, Ontario son on January 15 1852. He arrived in Rat Portage around 1882. He rented Frank Gardner's store on the North West corner of Main Street and Second Street South (2012 site of Corner Stone Restaurant) and started a dry goods business.
He returned East and married Minnie Helena Simpson, daughter of George Simpson on April 28l 1886 in Toronto. They returned to Rat Portage and lived above the store on Main Street. He build a home at 228 First Street North in 1889, one of the first houses north of the railway tracks.
He carried on the dry goods business until 1900 when he sold the store. He then went into the insurance business and real estate. They had three sons:
Hugh Melville S. Carmichael b. 12 Apr 1887 d. 6 June 1916 buried in Menin Gate memorial cemetery (Ypres) (http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=43136, http://wwii.ca/memorial/world-war-i/55428/private-hugh-melville-carmichael/) at the age of 29 years
Ross McNevin Carmichael b. 08 Mar 1890, m. Norah "Dora" Anne Johnson 14 Sep 1921 in Kenora
George Raymond Carmichael b. 12 Mar 1893 m. Lillian May Nelson 08 Aug 1923 in Peterborough, Ontario d. 03 Mar 1981 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Angus Carmichael was an active sportsman being a member of the Bicycle Club in 1894, a member of the Anglers' Club and President of the Curling Club in 1890-91.
He was the first Rat Portage Militia Officer to hold the commission as Major of the Algoma Rifles and was Commander in Rat Portage. He was one of the the first officers in the 90th Regiment. He dropped from active service in 1902.
Angus Carmichael was one of the oldest masters of the Pequonga Lodge, a charter member of the Lake of the woods Lodge and a charter member of the Gold Hill Lodge I.O.O.F. He was president of the Board of Trade in 1904.
Angus Carmichael served as town counsellor in 1904-05 and mayor in 1906. He promoted the maple Leaf Milling Company with Sir Douglas Cameron. He became the Mill's first president. With Jacob Hose and other businessmen he was one of the originator of the Citizen's Light Power and Telephone Company.
George Carmichael 1893- 1981
George Raymond Carmichael, the son of Angus and Minnie Simpson, was born March 12, Mar 1893. He married Lillian May Nelson on Aug 8, 1923 in Peterborough, Ontario. He died March 3rd, 1981 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Like his father he was elected mayor of Kenora
Ellen / Helene /Helena / Hélène (Collin) (Charbonneu)Charbonneau
When you read the early papers of Rat Portage you seldom see a married women referred by their given name but rather by their husbands name. Such is the case with Mrs Joseph Charbonneau. The additional problem with this name is the variation of spelling of her name. It is highly unlikely that her French spelling of Hélène attached to her before she left Ireland with her parents to St. Jerome Quebec. She married Joseph Felix Charbonneau possibly in Winnipeg on 18 Nov 1880. The name "Charbonneu" appears in both the 1901 and 1911 Census in Rat Portage - Kenora but it is beleived that the original and more common spelling of the name as "Charbonneau" both preceded him and followed the children. It no longer appears in the Kenora of 2012. Children:
Benson (Census) Vincent (WW1 Attestation papers) Charbonneau b. 20 Aug 1880
Ernest Charbonneau b. 20 Dec 1881
John William Charbonneau b. 17 Mar 1883 married Marie Eva Giguere
Margaret Charbonneau b. 20 Feb 1884, married George Moshier
Helene Charbonneau b. 09 Nov 1886, married David Dickson Cossor
Amelia Charbonneau b. 15 Apr 1889, married John Dunne
Mary Louise Charbonneau b. 1890, Solomon Guy.
In addition to having and raising her won, Helene served as a midwife in early Rat Portage. The infant death rate was very high in Rat Portage as elsewhere at the time, where no hospitals existed and little available help for women in trouble. She served well for about a dollar a day, with compassion and care and no doubt was a great comfort to pioneering women in Rat Portage. She passed away in 1918.
James Clarkson was born in 1857. He married Lucinda Martha Seymour (born 10 Sep 1856 in Penetanguishene, Simcoe, Ontario) in August 4 1880. They had 4 children:
Margaret Anne Clarkson b. 29 Jul 1883 in St. Boniface, Manitoba
Stanley Seymour Clarkson b. 23 Mar 1885 in St. Boniface, St. Manitoba
Ida May Clarkson b. 9 Jan 1889 Rat Portage
John Gordon Clarkson b. 31 Mar 1891 in Rat Portage
He was a town Counsellor in 1884, 1885, 1890, and 1891
He died in 16 Aug 1910 in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada
Herbert Thomas Cossey 1871 - 1947
Herbert Thomas Cossey, son of Thomas Robert Cossey and Mary Elizabeth Harrison, was born in Ormesby St. Margaret, Norfolk, England. He had been engaged in with his father in yacht and boat building in England before coming to Canadas. His father arrived from Toledo Ohio where he had been engaged with W. Lake in the construction of motorboats . Father Thomas Robert Cossey arrived in Kenora in 1905.
In Canada Herbert Thomas Cossey first went to Prince Albert where he build the 120 foot sternwheeler "Alberta " for the Hudson Bay Company. Later it was brought down the Saskatchewan River through Lake Winnipeg and the Red River where it wound up its career making excursions to River Park. In Kenora he built many boats for cruising Lake of the woods including, the Erin, Calypso, Hostalingia, Raven, Ramona, Nahmeaka, Condon and the Ariel.
He left Kenora in 1926 to Gravenhurst District where he carried on his trade until his retirement in 1945.
He married Rose Annie Lake in 13 Apr 1893 in Yarmouth, Norfork, England and emigrated to Canada with 4 children , two others having died in infancy. He had a total of 10 children:
Hylton Herbert Cossey b. 01 Mar 1894 Norfork, England, d. May 1967, Saint Clair Shores, Macomb, Michigan, US
Ruby Rose Cossey b. Aug 1895 Norfork, England d. 1968 Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Claude Albert Cossey b. Feb 1897 Norfork, England d. 01 Oct 1973 Haney, BC
Olga Lilian Cossey b. Abt. 1899 Norfork England, d. July 1899, Norfork, England
Basil Wilfred Cossey b. July 1900 Norfork, England d. July 1900 All the above were born in Norfork England
Donald Wilfred Cossey b. Apr 1902, Greater Yarmouth, Norfork, England
Lillian Helen May Cossey 31 Mar 1906 Kenora, Ontario d. 1985
Stanley Thomas Cossey b. 04 Jan 1909 Kenora, Ontario d. 06 Oct 1971 North Vancouver, BC
Douglas Jack Cossey b. 28 Jul 1911 Kenora, Ontario d. 27 Oct 1969 Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Gordon Nelson Cossey1918 Kenora d. 2003 in Ladner, BC, Canada
Herbert Thomas Cossey died on March 24 1947 at the age of 75 at his home in Gravenhurst.
(More Research required on Children and business in Kenora)
Joseph Derry
Joseph Derry came to the rat Portage on the boat "The Lady of the Lake that sailed from North West Angle to Rat Portage around 1880. He was once the owner of the only theater in Town. His wife was Frances and he had one daughter Frances. D. Hogoboam has him arriving in Rat Portage in 1877
Augustus Frederick Dulmage 1846-
Augustus Frederick Dulmage was born in Camden East Twp., Lennox & Addington Co., ON, Canada, in around 1846 His wife Elizabeth Ann Oliver came from Napaneses was born April 14 1851. According to an article in the Kenora Daily Miner in 1929 on the occasion of Mrs Dulmage death, the family moved from Orillia, West to Winnipeg in 1860 and settled in Winnipeg. After a short stay there Mr Dulmage got employment with the Rat Portage Lumber Company and was stationed at Fort Frances. In the fall of 1883 he moved to Rat Portage . Shortly thereafter he secured the appointment of Crown Tiber Agent.
Their children born sometimes in the 1870s or 1880s are
Rhoda Jane Dulmage
James Stillman Dulmage b. March 3 1872
Flora Maude Dulmage
George Augustus Dulmage
Glen Oliver Dulmage b. August 29 1877
Claude Archibald Dulmage
Alexander Dulmage
Louise Emma Dulmage
Frederick Goode Dulmage b. August 3 1881 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Goalie for 1894-95 Kenora Thistles, Original member of the 1896 Rat Portage junior Thistles which beat the Senior Thistle Team, 1903-04 Thistle First Club to challenge for the Stanley Cub, subsequently played goalie for Fort Williams in the New Ontario Hockey League from 1908 to 1911. He died March 1974 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Claude Dulmage b. July 29 1884
5 of the Children survived Mrs Dulmage (Elizabeth Ann Oliver) in 1929: Mrs Philbin with whom she resided, James employed at Minaki, Alex resident in Winnipeg, Glen Resident in Grand Forks ND. and Fred in Medicine Hat.
The Article in 1929 indicates that Mrs Dulmage was a descendent of the Anaka Jann family who came from Holland and were among the early settlers of New Amsterdam (New York).
Dr. Albert Henry Edmison 1860-1934
Dr. Albert Henry Edmison, son of William Alexander Edmison and Abigail Morgan was born in Roseneath, Ontario 20 Sep 1860 and came to Rat Portage in the 1880s. In 1901 he is listed in the census as resident at Rat Portage and his partner Dr Laidlaw live at the same residence.
He married Eva Elizabeth Richards on 12 Nov 1890 in Rat Portage. They had 4 children:
Nora Edmison b. 03 Mar 1897
Ruth Edmison b. 11 Oct 1898
Alexander Edmison b. Jan 1904
Marie Edmison b. Feb 1905
He died in Kenora on 11 Feb 1934
Thomas Stoddard Agar FitzGerald 1873 - 1966
Thomas Stoddard Agar FitzGerald, or simply Agar FitzGerald as he was known in Rat Portage was born 4 Mar 1873.
On 7 Feb 1912 he married Sylvia Lucille Wiggle in Essex County, Ontario. They had at three two children
Gerald Fitzgerald b. 24 Apr 1917 Kenora
Alice Agar Fitzgerald
Living FitzGerald Kenora, Ontario
He delivered parcels for William Baker.
He died 7 May 1966.
Charles Flett
Charles Flett b. Oct 1850 married his wife Mary b. abt 1857 and had the following children
Charles Flett b. abt 1873
Jane Flett b. abt 1875
Andrew Flett b. abt 1876
Mary Ann Flett b. abt 1878.
Alexander Flett b. abt
Hector Flett b. Sep 1887
Charles Flett b. abt 1890
Milander Flett b. Jun 1901
He is listed as a fisherman in rat Portage in 1901.
Jack "J.R." Fraser
Jack "J.R." Fraser is beleived to be James but I have had difficulty figuring out which James. Fraser played five games for Thistles during the 1903-04 season, four as a rover and one replacing Billy McGimsie at center, scoring one goal. Fraser later played for the Thistles' interleague rival Brandon Wheat Kings, potting 10 goals in the 1906-07 season and squaring off against his former club in a two game Stanley Cup playoff. The following year Fraser played for another rival, the Portage La Prairie Plains, scoring 8 goals in 9 games before moving back east to play for various clubs, including the Nipissing Mines, Waterloo Colts, and the legendary dream team, the Renfrew Millionaires. Fraser may have died in 1942.
I would appreciate any additional information any one can provide me with this individual.
Thaddeus Anthony "T.A." Gadbois 1858-1915
Thaddeus Anthony "T.A." Gadbois was born in November 1858, New York and baptized in Williamstown, Ontario Dec 6 1858. He was the First Postmaster in Rat Portage in 1882 and held the position until 1886. He served as a town counsellor in 1884-85. In 1886 he was Reeve of the Township of Rat Portage. His family is listed in a 1900 census as having arrived in the United States in 1885.
He married Marguerite Andrews Fishleigh in 16 Nov 1880. They had at least six children
Thad J. Gadbois Jan 1883 in Canada
Marie Gadbois Jun 1884 in Canada
Gustavus Clarence Gadbois13 Aug 1886 in Illinois
Minota Gadbois Nov 1887 in Illinois
Harold Bowie Gadbois
May 1890
in Illinois
He died in 1915 in Hennepin, Minnesota, United States.
Frank Gardner 1848-1937
Frank Gardner, son of William Gardner, Glasgow, Scotland and Mary McKerrow, Edinburgh, Scotland, was born 31 Mar 1848 in Perth County, Ontario. He moved to Winnipeg in 1875 after spending five years at a lumber camp in Black Rivers, Quebec. He next moved to Fort Frances where a canal was being build to overcome the falls of Rainy River.
On Oct 17 1876 Frank moved as a merchant trapper and trader of furs to Keewatin arriving before the CPR. In a quote originally taken from "Keewatin Reflections (requoted in Early Settlers of Rat Portage) Frank indicated
My First appearance on the Lake of the Woods was in September 1875. At that time there were no settlers on any part of the lake. The Upper portion of Rainy River on the Canadian side, from the Big Forks to Fort Frances was sparsely settled. the first men to settle there coming in about 1873 or 1874. In October 1876, I settled at Keewatin , on the North shore of the Lake of the Woods. At that time I was the only inhabitant. I did a little trading in furs. Work on the Canadian Pacific Railway in that neighbourhood started the following spring, and the village of Keewatin had its beginning that same summer, Rat Portage now Kenora, began about 1879 or 1880
In Keewatin he built his first house known as the Matchet Point Log House. This was the first business where he established a trade with the Indians. He also boarded the first crew working on the Mill in the Winter. The members of the firm were John, Frank and William Gardner. The business was started in Keewatin in 1876 and subsequent moved to Rat Portage in 1879. He stated that only one other person Dr. Hanson started in Kenora with a cabin on the site now occupied by the Kenrica Hotel.
The business called John Gardner & Co and included Wholesale and Retail Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, and Groceries,on Main Street subsequently known as the Doner Building. Four years latter, in 1883 he sold out to Angus Carmichael and went into freighting and touring logs from Rainy River to Kenora.
Mr. Frank Gardner was the builder of the large passenger and towing steamboat, the "Algoma", which is now owned by Mr. John Gardner, the senior member of the above firm. ( "Prominent Business Houses of Rat Portage" in The New West, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1888). In 1889 he bought the business back from Carmichael and amalgamated into the firm Gardner, Rice, McLeod.
Frank Gardner served on the town council in 1883 and 1906 with William Baker as Reeve. He also served on the Board of Trade. He started the first education in Kenora and worked hard collecting fees to help the school.
In 1890 and 1895 he was president of the Citizen Electric Light and Telephone Company. He put in the water work system.
He was active in the Curling Club 1889, Rowing Club 1890 and in 1894 he commencing 1894 he became issuer of liquor licenses.
Frank Gardner married his wife Sadie McDonell b. 1876 and had 4 daughters and two sons
Mary Gardner b. May 1903
Margaret Gardner b.15 Nov 1904 d. 1930
John Gardner b. 05 Sep 1906 died in infancy
Frank Gardner b. 05 Nov 1909 d. May 1913
Catherine Gardner b. 05 Nov 1909
Bernadette Jeannette Gardner b. 27 Feb 1912
Sadie died July 1914.
Frank died in St Joseph Hospital 31 Jan 1937 at the age of 89 years.
William Robert Housten Gerrie 1855- 1927
William Robert Housten Gerrie, son of William Gerrie and Marguerite Housten was born November 2 1855 in Eastern Ontario. He married Christena Drysdale b. 30 Jun 1858 in Rat Portage, in 1891.
He came to Rat Portage in 1884. He was involved in construction business and was also the Town building inspector. He was an active member of Board of Trade.
He was also active in Knox United for 15 years as choir leader and secretary treasurer of the Church Sunday School. He was a member of the town council in 1887-88 and in 1895. He died February 12 1927 as a result of shock and excitement brought about by fire which broke out in his residence the same morning
John Robert Gunne 1870-1935
Dr. John Robert Gunne, son of Robert Gunne (1822-1900) and brother of William James Gunne was born 20 February 1870. He went to Dauphin in 1893, where his father was a Dominion Land Agent. For the next few years he was the only doctor in the community and answered calls from as far away as 50 miles. In 1903 he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature representing the Dauphin constituency. In 1905 he moved to Kenora and went into a medical partnership with his brother, J. W. F. Gunne. Later deciding to specialize, he made two trips to Europe, in 1905 and 1910, where he took postgraduate work in London and Vienna. On his return, he practiced medicine at Winnipeg with A. W. Moody, later returning to Dauphin where he organized a medical clinic, working there until his death. He was married twice, first on 8 April 1903 to Christina Malcolm (?-1922) and later to Maizie Parker in 1928. He died at Dauphin, Manitoba on 5 June 1935 and was buried there. (Source Manitoba Historical Society)
Dr. William James Gunne 1859 - 1950
Dr William James Gunne, son of Robert Gunne (1822-1900) and brother of Dr. Robert Gunne, wasw born in Florence, Ontarion, 19 Dec 1859. He came to Rat Portgae in 1884 and worked as a clerk and accountant in the store of the late Angus Carmichael.
He graduated from Trinuity College and first prcaticed medicine at Cockberry, Manitoba. There he met and married Alzina Evelyn Livingstone, daughter of William Gay Livingstone of Glenboro. They married in 1888 and had three children
Dr. Livingstone Gilbert Gunne b. 11 Jan 1890 in Genboro
Dorothy Gunne b.29 Jan 1893 m. Mr Green
Kathleen Gunne b. 31 Oct 1900 m. Mr Lewis
They moved to Rat portage where Dr Gunne worked with Dr. Scovil as CPR Doctors.
Doctor Gunne was chairperson of the First Old Age Pensions Board for Kenora District. He served on the local CNIB Board, Director of the General Hospital Board, Health Board and Board of Trade. He was honourary president of the Kenora Rowing Club and invlved with District Football League and Tennis Club.
He instructed classes for the CPR and the local high school. He passed away 16 August 1950.
Dr Thomas Hanson 1846-1913
One of Rat Portage' s earlier Doctors was Dr Thomas Hanson, son of Dr. Henry Hanson and Catherine "Jane" Moore. He was born in London, Ontario and attended the local med school. He served in the Union Army in the American Civil war as a surgeon. After the war he returned to Selkirk, Manitoba and then Winnipeg where he was hired by CPR.
He was sent to Cross Lake where he was stationed until, at age 33, he and his family traveled to Rat Portage. During the construction of the CPR (1879-1884) he was CPR Doctor in the construction camps west of Kenora to Hawk Lake. He served the Department of Indian Affairs as Medical Officer in the District from 1886 to 1913.
Doctor Hanson moved into Rat Portage and located around the present Kenricica Hotel site and subsequently built a home for himself at 709 Second Street South. Operations were carried out on the Hanson dining table. Hanson himself would quarantine himself with patience with smallpox and diphtheria in a building on the south side of Ninth Street North for months.
Thomas Hanson married Carline F Pruden b. 22 Jan. 1852, daughter of Peter Pruden and Susette Josephte Gothiver Jolicoeur. They had at least 8 children although their exact names are difficult to ascertain with variations appearing between birth, census and married records. One possible listing include
Rhoda Jane Hanson b. 1877
Thomas H Hanson b. 13 Mar 1879
Carline F. Hanson b. 15 Jan 1881
Sybil H. Hanson b. 13 Dec 1892
Helene Gertrude Hanson b. 17 Nov 1884
Joslan Hanson b. 4 Oct 1886
Jack O. Hanson b. 6 Dec 1895
A Blanche Hanson, daughter of Ryor and Carline Larson, married a Max Kirkpatrick Heap in Kenora 26 May 1898.
Other names given include a Nellie, Christine and Mary. The later was a lodger in his home and there exists no evidence that she was a daughter.
Louis Hilliard 1851-
Louis Hilliard was born 21 Sep 1851. He married Annie X (b. 7 Nov 1863)
They had at least 3 children:
Charles E. Hilliard b. 20 Aug 1882
Laura B. Hilliard b. 6 Jul 1894
Harold A. Hilliard b. 26 Nov 1889
Rat Portage Miner and News - September 6, 1904
Excerpted from a letter written to the editor by a visitor to Mr. Hillard's farm which was located in Jaffray, about 2 miles from downtown Rat Portage (now Kenora).
Mr. Hilliard has 180 acres, 70 of which are under cultivation, and he claims 40 acres more of swamp land which is already drained and will be cleaned up this fall. Some of it that I saw was from one foot to eighteen inches of beautiful black mould, with clay subsoil.
His crop this year consists of 48 tons of hay, 9 acres of wheat, several acres of barley, and a quantity of vegetables of all kinds. He has 250 hogs and some turkeys and chickens, and he tells me that in 1903 he sold 37,000 pounds of pork, and since he started clearing off his land he has taken over eight thousand cords of wood of it. Still, when you talk of farming in this district, the majority of our citizens look at you as if your mental health would be improved by a sojourn to Selkirk. I do not claim to be a practical farmer, but when I see what Mr. Hilliard's farm proves, I cannot help but call the attention of the business community to the possibilities of this section in an agricultural way. I have met a dozen men who question the fact of Mr. Hilliard making his farm pay, but that is no doubt owing largely to the want of knowledge of what he is doing, and confidence in our soil. Thirty-seven thousand pounds of pork at 7c, amount to $2,590. Wages for the pork alone would not be over $480. The hogs will pasture on clover for three months out of four, that is one month to harden them on grain. The life of a pig should be about four months, and they should weigh about 125 pounds, to make the best pork. Mr. Hilliard showed me one sow that has two litters this year - one of twelve and one of eight. That is, twenty from one, and Mr. Cameron tells me his company buys about five carloads of pork every year. The CPR, the eastern farmer, and the pork packer gets all, and we sit here and do not make and effort to get any settlers onto our lands.
Howard Fenwick Holmes 1878- 1917
Howard Fenwick Holmes son of Daniel Holmes and Charlotte Hoyt was born in 18 Apr 1857 at Petitcodiac, New Brunswick. He married his wife Maud Marion English in 5 Jun 1878 in Woodstock New Brunswick. At their marriage in 1878, HF was living in Victoria Co, New Brunswick while Maud was living in Woodstock, NB
They came to Rat Portage in 1882. He became a Town Counsellor in 1883 and 1884. He opened his hardware business on Main St. in 1890. He was a member of the First Electric Light and Telephone Company in 1890.
In 1894 he became agent for Hamilton Powder Company. This company was created in 1862 to buy the assets of the former Canada Powder Company, which had formed in 1852. Their major product was black powder, used for blasting. In 1878 the company was purchased by Dr. Thomas C. Brainerd, a U.S. businessman in the black powder industry. In order to provide the massive amounts of explosives needed to build the Canadian Pacific Railway, a new dynamite factory was opened in McMasterville, Quebec. Other black powder plants were acquired in Quebec and the Maritimes and, in 1890, the company opened the first explosives plant in the far west, near Nanaimo, British Columbia. In 1910 Hamilton Powder and Dominion Cartridge merged with the Acadia Powder Company, Ontario Powder Company, Standard Explosives Company, Western Explosives Company and Victoria Chemical Company to form the Canadian Explosives Company (CXL). During the 1920s they diversified into paint and varnish, coated fabrics and plastics, and in 1927 they changed their name to Canadian Industries Limited. Canadian Industries Limited, also known as C-I-L is a Canadian chemicals manufacturer. Products include paints, fertilizers and pesticides, and explosives. It was formed in 1910 by the merger of five Canadian explosives companies. It is currently a subsidiary of Imperial Chemical Industries.
He lives on Water Street, right behind the Museum. (McDonald's Directory of Rat Portage and the District of Rainy River, 1894.)
He sold his Rat Portage Hardware Co business, located on the west side of Main Street to C.E. Neads around 1897.
In 1901 he is a contractor. He apparently became estranged from Maud sometime after 1901, the last record of them living together, he had his left arm amputated and he may have suffered from alcoholism.
Maud died 25 April 1907 and is buried in Portage Vale Kings County, New Brunswick.
There is a record of him arriving in Buffalo, New York on 6 Nov 1913 but may not have been permitted entry. Another record has a Howard Fenwick dying in Jackson, Florida 20 April 1917.
Captain Frederick Thomas "F.T." Hooper 1851 - 1924
Captain Frederick Thomas Hooper, born 23 Nov 1851 in England, came west from Peterborough in 1873 to Fort Frances. He installed machines for the work on the construction of the Mackenzie Canal at Fort Frances. He returned east the same ear to finish his training as a machinist.
In 1876 he returned to Fort Frances and took out his Lake Captain papers and operated a streamer on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. He made his home at Rat Portage at this time. He handled transportation on the lake during the busy construction period of the CPR. In 1882 he was captain on D.L. Mather's boat.
He married Mary Sarah O'Sullivan, daughter of James O'Sullivan and Sarah Lewis. They had 8 children
Charles Thomas Hooper (Tom) b. 24 Nov 1883 (See Below)
May Kathleen Hooper (may) b. 14 Sept. 1885
John Hooper (jack) b. 03 Oct 1888
Isabella Helens Hooper (Isabel) b. 19 Dec 1890
Fredrick James Hooper (Jim) b. 28 Dec 1892
Sarah Margaret Hooper (Madge) b. 30 Mar 1894
William Hooper (Bill) b. 06 May 1899
Frances Hooper Aug 1901
Captain Hooper was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Captain Hooper died in Kenora on 03 Jan 1924. His wife in 6 Jun 1935.
Charles Thomas Hooper (Tom) 1883 - 1960
Charles Thomas Hooper's oldest son of Captain Tom Hooper was born in Kenora on 24th Nov 1883. He played hockey as a lad and was a member of the Junior Thistle team that challenged the senior thistle team in January 1896 and soundly beat the senior team. In 1896 along with 13 year old Tommy Phillips joined the Senior League. By 1901 the team rose to the top of the Manitoba and Northwestern Hockey League. Playing with the Rat Portage Thistles in their first season a challenge was issued for the Stanley Club. In 1907 along with Roxy Beaudro, Tommy Phillips and Billy McGimsie, the Thistles won the Stanley Cup.
He died in Vancouver B.C. on 23rd Mar 1960.
Algeron Sydney "A.S." Horswill 1862-1927
Algeron Sydney Horswill, the last Mayor of Kenora under the Name "Rat Portage" before it changed its name to Kenora. He was born on February 1st 1862 in Leaminton Spa, Lancashire, England. He married Amy Vivian Partington, (born May 20th 1867 in Manchester, Lancashire, England) in Marriage: 1885 in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada in 1885.
They had a large family of which all but the last child were born in Rat Portage:
1. Richard Sydney Horswill born Nov. 2, 1884 in Rat Portage, Kenora, died Jan 1886 in Rat Portage.
2. Algeron Thomas Horswill born Oct 26 1887 in Rat Portage; married Margaret Pearl McGregor, died Mar 18th, 1965 in Castlegar, BC
3. Alfred Stanley Horswill born Mar 12 1891 in Rat Portage, married Irene Evelyn Danforth, died July 3rd 1979 in Nelson, BC
4. Eva Violet Gersnell Horswill born April 20 1892 in Rat Portage, died January 19 1975 in Ladner, BC
5. Amy Vivian Horswill born October 14th 1894 in Rat Portage; married Robert Morrow March 2nd 1915 in BC; died June 12 1920 in Nelson, BC
6. Mary Louise Horswill born Feb 6th 1897 in Rat Portage; died October 15 1964 in Vancouver, BC
7. Leslie Wyatt Horswill born January 27 1899 in Rat Portage; died Feb 1900 in Rat Portage
8. Edward Allan Cecil Horswill born February 18 1902 in Rat Portage; died July 22nd 1965 in Vancouver, BC
9. Hugh Vernon Horswill born December 29th 1905 in Rat Portage; died December 24 Dec 1994 in Trail, BC
10. John "Jack" Partington Horswill born June 17th 1910 in Nelson, BC married Margaret Anne Hipperson
The name Hudson's Bay Company adopted for their post located on Old Fort Island on the Winnipeg River was Rat Portage, a rough translation of the Ojibwa name Waszush Onigum. This name was adopted by the community that grew up around it. The first suggestion of a name change came in a public meeting in 1892 followed by a local poll held by the local newspaper where 103 voted to retain it while possible alternatives, including Sultana, Norman, Sabaskong, Island City, Island Park, Pequonga, and Lakeside garnered a total of 173 votes. Strong feelings were expressed and the idea was dropped.
In 1902, the issue was raised with Imperial, Portage Falls, Goldwater, and Kenora presented for public approval.
In 1904 the Town Council gave the first reading of a bylaw to change the name at an October Council meeting and a week later, the name Kenora was chosen. The name was derived by combining the first two letters of Keewatin, Norman, and Rat Portage. Credited with inventing the name was given to Mrs Matt Brown and Miss Hall. When the decision of the meeting was reported to the town, there was an instant uproar. A petition against the change was circulated in the town and sent to the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council in Toronto, whose approval was required to make the name change official.
The issue in the municipal election held on January 2, 1905. In that election, Mayor Algernon S. Horswill was re-elected, as were three of the 1904 Councillors. Added to the slate were C.C. Delbridge, who was opposed to the name change, and William Robertson and W.W. Scott, whose position on the name issue seems to have been pro-change. The Lieutenant-Governor required a resolution from the new Council confirming the former's Council's resolution regarding the name change. A special Council meeting was held and the confirming resolution was passed. At a April 10, 1905, town meeting held in the fire hall, once again, indignation was expressed with the name change. When Mayor Horswill was asked to explain the actions of the previous Council in passing the name by-law, he explained quite calmly that they had been within their rights to do so, since they were the elected representatives of the people.
Less than a month later, without the voter's input, Kenora was officially declared the new name of the Town, by ratification of the Lieutenant-Governor. A large crowd assembled for another town meeting on May 25th gathered to express indignation . The Mayor was allowed to defend the actions of himself and the Council and he did so. When he was finished, there was applause and the name "Kenora" remained.
In 1908 A.S. Horswill moved to set up another business in Nelson BC. There he was once again elected a Town Counsellor. He died on May 25 1927 in Spokane, Washington, USA. His wife died on Jul 7th 1944 in Nelson, BC
Source for Name Change:
Rat Portage Becomes Kenora, Lake of The Woods Museum Newsletter, Vol. 15 No.1, by Lori Nelson,Jacob Hose
Jacob Hose was born in Wisconsin, US in 1853. He married Adelaide Emily Lucas at Kenora in 20 Jan 1888.
He arrived in rat Portage in 1881 and started his hardware business known as the Tin Shop in a log Cabin. In 1883 he erected the store occupied by R.J. Husband. In 1898 he build the large brick building (corner of Main St. South and Second St. South).
Hose Hardware Building as it appears in 2012
In a few years with deteriorating health and increasing business he took Mr Canniff into the partnership of Hose and Canniff.
In 1890 he erected the first amusement hall on the southwest side of Main St. known as Music Hall,
If ever Rat Portage erects a statue to the memory of the man who fostered and fed amateur dramatic art, that emblem in reticent store must represent Mr. Hose. Talk about about kindness and good nature! Any local troupe could use the Music Hall every night for months free of charge, and Mr. Hose would supply the fuel and light. He did this not only for the dramatic club, but for the minstrels, and in fact for everybody in town who wanted to get up an entertainment. Indeed it is not going to far to sa that there was a period in our early history when we thought the music hall belonged to the people. (Oct 4 1901)
Mr Hose died suddenly July 11 1907. Mrs Hose moved in with her sister Mary Frances (Lucas ) Kendall. She died 21 years latter on 11 Feb 1928.
John Wesley Humble 1851- 1939
John Wesley Humble (J.W, Humble) was born in London Ontario on 22 Sep 1851. His father Thomas Humble was one of the pioneer farmers in Middlesex County, Ontario and J.W. Humble was brought up and worked on the farm until the age of 20. In 1871 he took up employment with J.S. Watson of Township of Brudenell, Renfrew County. He learned telegraphy and became a a store clerk and telegraph operator. He was a graduate of Oxford University, England where he learned bookkeeping. He remained in Mr Watson's employment until December 1878.
In March 1879 he arrived in Winnipeg. In April 1879 he was engaged by the contractors of section B of the CPR which extended from Rat Portage to Eagle River. He worked until the construction was finished and then entered the employment of Frank Gardner of Rat Portage. In 1883 he was a clerk in McKinnon Brothers. General store with Angus Carmichael.
In 1885 he went into business for himself and took over the wine and spirt business of the Gare Estate on the corner of main Street and First Street South until 1899 when he sold it to E.R. Welsman.
The 1888 publication "The New West", Winnipeg, Manitoba, gives the following description of J.W. HUMBLE's business of " Wholesale and Retail Wines, Liquors and Cigars, Main Street, Rat Portage"
Prominent among the honorable and substantial business houses of this city is that of Mr. J.W. Humble, dealer in wines and liquors, who has been established in business here since 1885, during which time he has built up a large and lucrative trade, which extends to all parts of the surrounding country. The premises occupied are fitted up in a neat and attractive style, and a large and complete stock of imported and domestic wines, brandies, whiskies and cigars is carried. In addition to a prosperous local patronage, the house enjoys an extensive outside trade. Mr. Humble's honorable business principles have won the esteem of the trade, and he is popularly considered a leading merchant in his line.
He married Martha Malissia Ross, daughter of William Ross and Margaret Carswell on 25 Dec 1889 and had three children:
Florence Margaret Humble b. 11 Dec 1890 at Rat Portage, Ontario
George E. Humble, b. 1892, died 15 Jan 1897
William Garnet Humble b. 18 Mar 1894 at Rat Portage, Ontario
Mr Humble was very active in the community of Rat Portage. He was a member of the Rowing Club member and Board of Trade in 1890. In 1895 he was a member of the Hospital Finance Committee. He was a member of the Finance Committee and on the Board of Directors of Western Algoma Brick Company in 1896. He was President of the Library Board, and on the local board of Health, Chairman of First Board of Jubilee Hospital in 1897.
Between 1893 and 1896 he erected three blocks on or near Main St.
In 1902, he was appointed Sheriff for the District of Rainy River which lasted until he retired in 1931. He died in Kenora in 1939.
Fredrick Dufferin Jackson 1874- 1944
Fredrick Dufferin Jackson, eighth child of Robert Jackson and Jane Riggin was born in Perth County near Strathford in 15 Aug 1874. He came to Rat Portage around 1898 and opened a bakery business with brother William at the foot of Matheson Street.
He married Edith Lye on 12 Sep 1900 at Stratford, Ontario. They had
Edna Irene Jackson b. 26 May 1901 at Rat Portage d. 13 Feb 1902 at Rat Portage
Alma Edith Jackson b. 21 May 1902 at Rat Portage, m. David Francis 14 Aug 1928 d. 19 Jun 1981 lived in Medicine Hat
Frederick Herbert Jackson b. 25 Jul 1903 in Rat Portage m. Letta Violet Ray 10 Jun 1931 d. 15 Dec 1990
Robert Edward Jackson b. 25 Apr 1905 in Perth County m. Nattie Fisher d. 06 Mar 1956
Gladys Marion Jackson b. 03 Sep 1906 at Stratford, Perth, Ontario m. Mr Douglas
Charles Gordon Jackson b. 05 May 1908 at Stratford, Perth, Ontario d. 15 Sep 1963
Harold Walter Jackson b.23 Jun 1915 m. Annie Jane Duncan d. 01 Feb 1988
In 1904 the Bakery moved to 129 Main St. subsequently owned by the Campbell Brothers.
Three children were born in Stratford between 25 April 1905 and 5 May 1908 and the last in Winnipeg on 23 June 1915. His obituary indicates he moved further west to Winnipeg in 1918. In Winnipeg he was a member of the IOOF. He returned to Keewatin in 1924 where he farmed outside Keewatin. He died 21 September 1944.
Charles Wilbur Jackson1979-1936
Charles Jackson, tenth child of Robert and Jane Riggin was born 15 Sep 1879 near Strath ford, Perth County Ontario. He was the third of the Jackson brothers to join the Bakery Business in Rat Portage in 1901. The business subsequently moved to Main Street in 1904.
He was a member of the Pequona Lodge, the Kenora Board of Trade, Gold Hill Lodge, I.O.O.F. the Kenora Rotary Club and an ardent member of the Kenora Gulf Club.
He resided above the Main Street store with his first wife Anna (Matheson) and their four children - Roberta Jean ( b Sep 26, 1907), Patricia Evelyn ( b Mar 17, 1909), Edgar Charles ( b Aug 3, 1912) and George Matheson (b Feb 7, 1915) . Anna died during childbirth on Feb 7, 1915. In 1909, Charlie purchased two lots (11 & 12 King St) on Coney Island and built a cottage in 1911 that became a focal point for the family's gatherings.
Charlie married Christina Gladys Craig of Keewatin, ON, on Feb 27, 1918. They had two children, Marjorie and Douglas (twins) on April 26, 1921. They purchased a house on First Street North in 1921 where they lived until moving to 506 First St South in 1925. He passed away on May 16, 1936, leaving sons Edgar and George to run the family business until 1968 when the business was sold to two employees, bakers Robert Giles and Oswald Clark. Up untill the Lake of the Woods Milling Company Flour mill burned down in 1967 they had had the exclusive right to sell white and brown bread in the Kenora area. They had the commercial accounts as well and delivered bread to the various commercial establishments in the area.
Their nephew Randy Jackson, subsequently opened up a bakery shop in 1984 Sunset Country Donuts and sold it in 1997. He subsequently became the Manager of the Roy Thompson and Massey Concert Hall in Toronto for 8 years from August 2000 before retiring. He was a talent musician and President of the Lake of the Woods Historical Society. He contributed substantial information with respect to the Jackson family who came to Kenora.
William "John" Jackson 1872 - 1924
William John Jackson, the seventh child of Robert Jackson and Jane Riggin was born on Maple Willow Farm in Strathford, South Easthope Township, Perth County, Ontario in 23 Mar 1872.
He married Annie Mary Cardwell (born 12 Jan 1877) on 28 Feb 1900 and had the following children:
Ruby Isabella Jackson b. 26 Feb 1901 m. Richard Hingston Elliott 21 July 1925 in Kenora
Florence May Jackson b. 20 May 1902, Rat Portage d. June 1929 Teacher at East Windsor
Thomas E Jackson b. 19 February 1904 Rat Portage d. May 1965
Ida Kathleen Jackson b. 19 Feb 1904 (Twin to Thomas) Rat Portage m. Roscoe H. Brown 23 Sep 1960 d. 24 Jan 1964 in Detroit
William J Jackson b. 3 Aug 1906 Stratford, m. Edith d. 1984 Kenora
He came to Rat Portage in 1898 and opened a bakery business with brother William at the foot of Matheson Street. In 1904 they moved to 129 Main St. in property subsequently owned by the Campbell Brother. He passed away July 30 1924.
Gustavus Adolphus Kobold 1862-
Gustavus Adolphus Kobold or better known as G.A. Kobold or familiarly as Chris. Born in Ontario in 14 October 1862, son of Leopold Kobold and Wilhelmina Vollrath, he moved to Rat Portage, Ontario around 1880. There he operated a butcher shop. On 11 October 1882, he married Helene W. Appleby of Cobourg, Ontario.
She died sometime before November 1900, when Kobold sold his shop and moved to Winnipeg where he became associated with his father's butchery. On 14 October 1901, he married again, to Emma Rachel Johnstone of Winnipeg.
In Kenora he operated Kobold and Company, a wholesale and retail butchers business on Second Street, Rat Portage started in 1880.
Kobald and Company Store Building Location as is in 2012
The business expanded and prospered until November 1900 when he moved to Winnipeg where he took charge of father's business. He sold Kenora Business to John Gardner and Company.
G.A. Kobold was one of founding members of Gold Hill Lodge no 261 in November 1887. He was a keen duck hunter, a member of hockey club and president of Senior Thistle Hockey Club in 1894. He was the Manager of Lacrosse Club around 1897 and an avid member of the Kenora Rowing Club. He was a member of the first Electric Light and Telephone company in 1890, and President of the Old Timers' Association in 1900
On 12 December 1904, he and his brother Victor C. Kobold built the Dominion Theatre in Winnipeg, and operated it until March 1909 when they leased out the business.
In May 1906 he was on the founding Board of Directors for the Happyland Park Company, along with Frank H. Pippen, J. H. Anderson, R. M. McLeod, William Blackwood, W. O. Edmounds, and D. E. Sprague. The firm operated an amusement park in Winnipeg for several years.
In 1910 he opened a real estate business in an office at the corner of Portage and Main, buying and selling city and farm land. In November 1910 he helped to found the first Rotary Club in Winnipeg, and served as its first president.
In September 1912, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles, California, intending to spend winters there and summers at their cottage on Lake of the Woods.
Dr Albert A Laidlaw (Partner of Dr Edmison)
Jack Lepine 1922
Jack Lepine was born in Quebec. He travelled out to British Columbia before the railway was built where he prospected and mined. He was one of the earliest settlers and prospectors on Lake of the Woods. He came to the Kenora area in the 1880s settling on an Island on the lake. He made a living trapping and hunting. He lived for a short time in the District jail there being no other place to accommodate him. He became ill and moved into the St Joseph's Hospital where he died in November 1922 (Nelson 1978)
William McCarthy 1848-1911
William McCarthy served in the defence of Canada during the Fenian Raids. He subsequent went west via St. Paul with Colonel French who established the Northwest Mounted Police. He was present at Edmonton and other places when Mounted Police Posts were established.
He came to Rat Portage around 1881. He served on the Town Council in 1884, 1887, 1894 and was mayor in 1898-1900. He was a prominent conservative in the area.
He married widow Viola (Valsada) Halstead and had two sons John and William as well as raise her four step daughters
Annie Halstead 1868 (Mrs Annie Campbell)
Rosy Halstead 1870
Minnie Halstead (Mrs Burrage)
Tilly Halstead (Mrs Hockey)
John Seagar McCarthy 27 Sep 1881
William Oliver McCarthy 25 Jan 1919
Mr McCarthy was one of the first farmers in Rat Portage squatting on the North side of Coney Island. In 1812 had a frame building where he took in tourists. When the boundary dispute was settled he applied for title but John A, MacDonald had given all the islands to Mr Mather of the Keewatin Lumber Company. He purchased a building on the south west corner of Main and and Second Street and moved to town. They took in summer borders with his wife and daughters doing the work They kept adding to the house and called it Russell House.
James Nelson McCracken 1861-
Who was the town counsellor called J. McCracken in 1885-1886 who became the Reeve in 1887-1888 according to James Duffus, in A History of Politics in Kenora, 1976. In early Settlers of Rat Portage it is said to be John McCracken who was married to Annie Bunting and had three children Nelson, Arthur and Ida.
I will throw it out that it was James Nelson McCracken born in Ontario in 1861. His wife, Annie Ethel Bunting who possibly was born in 1867 in New Brunswick. Their marriage certificate have them married in Rat Portage on May 10 1889.
Hopefully others may be able to help out on this one.
Samuel Charles McGimsie 1847 - 1936
Samuel Charles McGimsie, son of John and Janet McGimsie from Scotland was born 30 Apr 1847 in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada. He moved to Rat Portage in 1882. . He was involved with the construction of the CPR and subsequently went into the Contracting business first in partnership with Mr R.E. Dorsett and then on his own.
In 1875, he married Susan Charlotte George who was born 05 Apr 1856 in Cobourg, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada.
They had 4 children
Janet Margaret McGimsie b. 22 Jun 1878, d.12 Jun 1940 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
William George McGimsie b. 07 Jun 1880 known as Billie, was born in Woodsville, Ontario but moved with his family to Rat Portage when only one. As a youngster he was a member of various church groups and school teams that played hockey. His father build the Princess Rink in 1896 and installed it with electric lights to be used by the senior league. Billie and his younger brother along with other local boys made the rink their club house. In 1896 he was a member of the Junior Thistles that took on and defeated the Senior Thistle team. In the 1903 games first challenge for the Stanley Club McGimsie scored three goals. In the 1907 Stanley Cup game he contributed to the win. He was elected to national Hockey league hall of fame in 1960. He died at age 88 in Calgary, Alberta, October 28 1968. (Source Kenora Thistles: Our Hockey Heritage, Bowes Publishing Limited)
Susan Adelaide McGimsie b. 22 Oct 1883 died 11 Aug 1886
Samuel Charles McGimsie b. 4 Aug 1887 . He served in World War 1 with the 183rd Battalion of Winnipeg. In 1920 he was appointed Tax Assessor for the Town of Kenora. He married Mildred McDonald and had one daughter Jenny McGimsie (Marshall). He then married Mrs. Monty Mackenzie. He died in Vancouver 5 may 1970
Samuel Charles McGimsie Sr. served on the Town council in 1889. He was an active supporter of the Liberal party. He was a staunch member of the Methodist church. He died 22 Nov. 1936 in Kenora.
William Alexander McKinnon 1851-1911
William Alexander McKinnon was born around 1851 and left Shebandowan in 1879 on their way to Brandon, Manitoba. They crossed the Portage into Maligne's Lake where their canoe capsized and they lost their supplies. The continued across Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods on their way to Brandon, Manitoba. In Brandon they started a dry goods store. After their business was destroyed by fire they decided to return to Rat Portage where they were attracted by the lake.
William and his brother started a store on Main Street. In 1881 they hired Bill Lyon, and subsequently for a short time J.W. Humble before he opened up is liquor store. Around 1883 the brother's partnership was wound up and brother Angus returned East. William carried on the business for a few years before it was sold by public auction. He worked other jobs such as book keeping after the business was sold.
He married his wife Clementina (Bathgate ?) and lived in the Rideout House until their frame house was finished on First Street South. Latter they moved to third Street South. They had 4 children
Beatrice McKinnon b. 1884
Hugh Bathgate McKinnon b. 1886
Monica (or Marion) Isabella McKinnon b. 1890
Jim McKinnon who was still young when Mrs McKinnon passed away and he was brought up by a family named Galligan.
Mr McKinnon was a town councillor in 1894. He Died on February 20 1911.
Source; Early settlers of Rat Portage
Charles Edward McMurdie 1854-
Charles Edward McMurdie born 31 Jul 1854 in Lambeth, Surrey, England is reported by D. Hogoboam as arriving in Rat Portage in 1877, He married Catherine Sullivan (b. 9 Jun 1854 in Peterborough, Ontario)in 1881 Erie, Pennsylvania. He had 5 children:
Marie Josephine McMurdie b. 12 Jul 1882 Erie Pennsylvania d. 25 Sept. 1895 Rat Portage
Gertrude Catherine McMurdie b. 07 Jan 1884 Rat Portage d. 16 Nov 1959 Kenora
Charles Leo McMurdie b. 20 Oct 1885 Rat Portage d. 30 Jun 1968 Los Angeles, California
Edward Alphonse McMurdie b.17 Sept. 1887 Rat Portage, 29 Sept. 1918 France
Joseph Francis McMurdie b. 19 Mar 1891 Rat Portage d. 25 Dec 1948 Kenora
Alexander McQuarrie 1852-
Alexander McQuarrie, son of Archibald McQuarrie and Ann Docherty, was one of three brothers who acted as Town Counsellors of Rat Portage. He was born on February 3 1852 i in Nova Scotia, and moved to Goderich, Huron County, Ontario before 1859. He married Salome Headley on March 20 1879 in Goderich and had his first child shortly after. He had a total of at least 5 children:
Paul Headly McQuarrie b. 1 Jun 1879
Sidnham Charles McQuarrie b. 11 Jun 1880
Grace H. McQuarrie b. Mar 1883, d. 26 Mar 1883
Malcolm Keith McQuarrie b. 17 Aug 1884
May Bierl McQuarrie 16 May 1889
He arrived in Rat Portage possibly in 1882 and worked with his older brother in a grocery business called the McQuarrie Brothers. He served as Town Counsellor in 1896, 1898, and 1900
John McQuarrie 1850-
John McQuarrie, son of Archibald McQuarrie and Ann Docherty, was one of three brothers who acted as Town Counsellors of the young Rat Portage, incorporated in the Province of Manitoba. He was born in 1850 possibly in Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. He moved with his family from Nova Scotia sometime between 1852 and 1859 to Goderich, Huron County, Ontario, Canada.
He served on the first council in Rat Portage along with Fred Bulmer, Frank Gardner, H.F. Holmes with William L. Baker as Reeve.
He was the first sheriff in the year 1885 to 1886. His brothers who also were counsellors of the Town were Malcolm and Alexander.
Malcolm Doherty McQuarrie 1847-
Malcolm Doherty McQuarrie, son of Archibald McQuarrie and Ann Docherty, was the oldest of three brothers who acted as Town Counsellors of Rat Portage. He was born on 19 September 1849 possibly in Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. He moved with his family from Nova Scotia sometime between 1852 and 1859 to Goderich, Huron County, Ontario, Canada. He arrived in Rat Portage in 1882. He started a grocery store on the east side of Main Street. After the CPR finished he sold alcohol along with the groceries. He was a member of the Town Council in 1888.
He initially lived on Matheson Street and then moved into W.R. Juries house on Main St. North. On April 30 1872 in Huron County Ontario, he married Caroline Halliday, b. 15 May 1847, Lanark, Ontario. He had at least 9 children. From the 1891 Census they were listed as,
Alexander McQuarrie b. 1873
Isaac Halliday McQuarrie b. 1875
Hector McQuarrie b. Abt. 1877
Annie Elizabeth McQuarrie b.26 May 1879
Archie Malcolm McQuarrie b. Abt. 1880
Edna May McQuarrie b. Abt. 1882
Mamie Salome McQuarrie b. Abt. 1884
Caroline Flora McQuarrie b. Abt. 1886
Gregor Grant McQuarrie b. Abt. 1887
November 19 1883 Manitoba Attorney General cam to Rat Portage to throw some weight on the sovereignty issue. In the mid afternoon Mr Malcolm McQuarrie who sold liquor under an Ontario licence was summoned to appear before Manitoba Police Magistrate Breeton to answer the charge of selling liquor without a license.
At the Council meeting that night a resolution was put forward,
Moved by Councillor Gadbois, seconded by Councillor Alexander, that the Attorney-General be instructed to take the necessary action, under the advice of the Council to Prevent Messers. Holmes, The Reeve, and Councillors Stubbs, Chadwick, MacDonald and Baker from interfering with this corporation, and with the government and management of the town
The Council voted 3-2 McKinnon and Kobald voting Nay
McQuarrie disregarded the summons and a strong armed force of the Ontario police was placed in and outside of his store to protect him from arrest.
Attorney -General threatened to bring out the Field Battery from Winnipeg to maintain order. At the
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Margaret (Begg) Mitchell
For every famous pioneer whose success is supported by volumes of historical document, there were untold thousands of ordinary pioneers who sought to make a better life in what is now Canada. Though their struggles were not, on the whole , imprinted on the nation's collective memory, such pioneers made contributions far out of proportions to their position. There are untold numbers who should receive recognition for their goodness, their hard work and at times their sacrifice and compassion. Two such pioneer that I would like to sing the praises are Catherine (Spence) Beggs and her daughter Margaret (Begg) Mitchell.
Catherine's father was George Spence (1773-1859) who came from the Orkneys. Her mother, a Cree woman Catherine Tchi-Tchit. George was possibly born around 1773 was an officer of the Hudson Bay Company and in latter years, Sheriff of the York Factory District. It isn't known when George ceased to be an employee of Hudson Bay but it may be that he was part of the advanced party to prepare for settlers of the District of Assiniboia and Lord Selkirk's Settlers. George and Catherine were married on May 2 1828 at St Johns (Winnipeg) in the first Anglican Church built in the area. They moved to Mapleton just north of the Fort at Lower Fort Garry. George Spence died in 1859 and Catherine in 1865.
Margaret (Begg) Mitchell's father, Charles Robert Begg was born in Haddington, Scotland in Feb 14 1814 and was engaged by Hudson Bay on May 12 1831 on Wyre Isle, Sandwick, Orkneys and arrived at Montreal. For 5 years he worked in the company's Northern department as a labourer. He participated in the historic Arctic Discovery Expedition and after the expedition in 1840 became a crew member of a sloop which brought him to Lower Fort Garry. In 1841 he was assigned to the Red River District. In 1844 at about 30 years he met and married the 21 year old Catherine Spence, eldest daughter of George and Catherine Spence on May 16 1844.
Soon after their marriage Charles was promoted to Sloop Master and was sent to work in Lake Superior in the Company's Southern Department. Catherine and Charles moved around Northern Ontario including 10 years at the Pic River Post. They had a total of 9 children of which the fourth, Margaret Begg was born on January 10th or 11th 1852.
In 1862 Charles decided to move his family back to the home community of his wife Mapleton where they built on River Lot 5. Unfortunately their house was flooded out and the family returned to Pic (Red River). In 1865 Charles retired from Hudson Bay Company and returned to Mapleton. There, Margaret met and married George Mitchell.
George Mitchell was born around 1849 in Coventry, Warwickshire County, England. He was involved in the battlefield of the Louis Riel Rebellion and almost died. His wife Margaret found him and carried him to her home some distant away.
George and Margaret came to Lake of the Woods about 1879 first at North West Angle. She served as a nurse to Doctors during the construction of the CPR and afterwards. "She was not a graduate nurse by profession, but was according to instinct". She looked after many expectant mothers in her own home. Her Mother Catherine Beggs also assisted in bringing many Rat Portage Babies into the world'
George and Margaret had five Children:
Jessie Catherine Mitchell b. 28 Jun 1873 North West Angle, Lake of the Woods
Florence 'Flora' Mitchell b. 1 Jan 1878, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Minota Mitchell b. 1 Jul 1883 Rat Portage
William Mitchell b. 08 Aug 1885 in Rat Portage. He served almost 4 years overseas in World War 1. He joined the staff of the newspaper in 1901 and except for the war years, worked with Miner and News until his retirement. It is currently beleived that he married Margaret Mildrum Irvine overseas, although I can not confirm this. Similarly I believe he had one son William and one Mrs Robertson but don't know which Mrs Robertson this was. Hopefully a reader will be able to help out with additional information.
Marian Mitchell b. 19 Dec 1887 Rat Portage, Kenora, Ontario, Canada
In Rat Portage, George served as an accountant with J.K Brydon until his death in 1893. He was one of the gang who helped decorate the Devil's head in the Gap.
In 1894 Mrs Mitchell and her elder children built a home at 402 Second Street South. Three generations lived there subsequently. Mrs Mitchell died in Vancouver in 1944 at the age of 1944.
Robertson Pierce Murphy 1858-1940
Robert Pierce Murphy was born in Andover New Brunswick August 27 1857 or 1858. He farmed there until 1881. He married Susan Ada Donnelly in Andover New Brunswick prior to moving to Rat Portage in 1882.
He founded his cartage business on Sep 14 1882 with a two wheeled cart and the first horse brought to Kenora. The firm expanded in 1897 with brother Herman Sherman Murphy known as Murphy Brothers which developed into the largest teaming and transfer business in the district. The firm expanded to cope with construction work on the various camps on the lakes in the early years and in winter hauled heavy machinery across the ice to various construction sites.
In 1928 the business sold to John Kron and son.
His wife first wife died in May 30 1915 after a 13 month illness. He remarried again in 1917 to Emily Ann Lodge. They had one daughter Roberta (Mrs R. Ongman) and one son Ray
Mr. Murphy was a member of the first band formed here in 1886 and in later bands. He was a member of Gold Hill Lodge, I,O.O. F, Golden Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Pequona Lodge A.F. & A.M. . He passed away in 1940
The dates on his headstone are "Aug.27, 1857 - Sept.14, 1940" .
His wife died 30 May 1915:
Death of Mrs. R. P. Murphy
After an illness extending over the past thirteen months Mrs. R.P. Murphy passed away at her home Sunday morning. It had been known for some time that she could hardly recover but nevertheless the announcement of her death came as a shock to her many friends.
The late Mrs. Murphy was born In Andover, N.B. Shortly after her marriage at that place, she removed with her husband to Winnipeg. In 1882 they came to Kenora and have made their home here ever since. She was therefore one of the old timers, and prior to her long illness took a keen interest in the welfare of the town. She was devoted to her home, and also found time to give active service to her church in which she will be greatly missed. Besides her husband, she leaves three brothers and two sisters, Joseph Donnelly, Fort Fairfield, Maine, James, Three Lakes, Wisconsin, Mrs. John de Marchant and Miss Lillian Donnelly, who has been here for the past six weeks.
The funeral took place yesterday from her late residence to Lake of the Woods Cemetery and was largely attended.
(Kenora Miner and News, Wed., June 3, 1915.)
John Nash 1848- 1914
John Nash was born in Thurso, Quebec. In 1869 he went to California for the 2nd gold rush. He arrived in Canada arriving in Norman in 1883. He became a Sawyer for Cameron and Kennedy Mill. He became a timber explorer and was engaged in this capacity by the Hardy Government of Ontario in 1900 when they made extensive explorations in the country to the north.
Mr Nash was a member of the Town Council in 1888, 89, 91, 92 and 1893.
He was appointed local agent of the Department of Marine and Fisheries and held the position until his death.
HE married Mary Lydia Dycie and had two daughters,
Maud Nash b. 13 May 1884
Florence Nash b. 28 Apr 1889
He died June 6 1914.
Murdoch K. Nicholson 1856-1945
Murdoch K. Nicholson was born 06 May 1856 in Mount Hope, Prince Edward Island. He came to Rat Portage in 1881.
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His Tailor shop was located in a small frame building on Main St.. In 1895 he moved into the Board of Trade Building on the corner of Main and Second.. He build the Standard Block in 1888 which occupied his tailoring and clothing business |
He served on the Town Council in 1894. He was on the board of the Jubilee Hospital in 1897. He was a member of the fire brigade in 1888 and became chief in1900. He was also chairmen of the school board in 1900
He died June 6 1945.
Alice Maria August Ellen Nord 1879 -
The first "European" born in the Kenora area was Alice Maria August Ellen Nord daughter of Mr and Mrs Ole Nilson Nord. She was born 28 November 1879.(Notes by Agar Fitzgerald, Nelson 1978)
Walter Oliver 1826 - 1898
Walter Oliver was born March 28 1826 in Scotch Lake Settlement, Queensbury Parish York County, New Brunswick. He married Mary Ann Parkhurst February 21 Feb 1856 in Ingersoll Ontario. They had three children:
Caroline L Oliver 1857 in Ontario
Susan Oliver 1863 in Ontario
Emma L Olive 1866 in Ontario
He came to Rat Portage from Fort Frances in 1778-79 He was a builder by trade.
He was Reeve of the Rat Portage in 1884-1885 during the bitter Ontario - Manitoba Boundary dispute. Oliver appears to have support the Manitoba side of the boundary dispute and was the target of a bitter article by the Argus newspaper on October 12 1883. He survived two terms and returned as a counsellor in 1892. He died in 22 Jun 1898
Dr J. P. Paton
Dr J. P. Paton came to Kenora in June 1912. Most of his work was with the CPR but in the winter he made trips to lumber camps by horse and sleigh.
He was a member of the Kenora Lawn Tennis Club.
John A. Patterson 1882 - 1932
John A. Patterson was born in Dundee Scotland in 15 Aug 1882. He married Clara Adolfina Jackson b. Abt. 1885 in Sress Isvall Sweden on 14 Aug 1914 Norman. They had one son John Alexander Patterson b. 25 Feb 1917 in Kenora. He purchased the business of John Fairbain Philbin around 1895 and carried on bakery and confectionery business "Snow Flake Bakery" from 1895 until he was appointed Postmaster at Norman in 1908. According to Early Settlers of Rat Portage, "He always had a good stock of California fruit and other fruit in season and was known for his shortbread and scones." Subsequently he was employed as a brakeman with CPR and died as a result of being scaled and injured by explosion of an engine boiler on a freight train that was a brakeman. at age 50 on 22 Jan 1932.
Thomas Neil Phillips 1883-1923
Thomas Neil Phillips "Tommy", son of James Phillip and Marcelline Bourassa was born in Rat Portage on 22 May 1883 according to a Jan 25 1921 statutory declaration of his mother, Marcelline Phillips.
In the early 1890s a hockey team in Rat Portage was initiated by the Hardisty family, who moved from the nearby city of Winnipeg. The name of the team, the Thistles, was submitted by Bill Dunsmore, in a local contest along with a drawing of a thistle which became the team emblem as well as a symbol of the area's largely Scottish heritage. The team's colors were red on white.
The early Thistles competed with other clubs around the area including teams from Winnipeg, Brandon, and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. In 1894, the team won twelve games competing in the Manitoba Hockey Association (M.H.A.). The early popularity of the team encouraged local children to have pick-up games of rag-tag hockey along the lakeshore and the adjacent Laurenson's Creek.
In 1895, Samuel Charles McGimsie built an indoor ice rink known as Princess Rink, complete with with electric light. The rink serve as sort of a meeting place for several young teenage boys who would play pick-up games of hockey when the rink was not in official use. An unofficial "junior" Thistles team was eventually formed, and the boys began to play exhibition games in the style of their older namesakes.
In January, 1896 junior Thistles challenged their senior counterparts to an exhibition game. The result was a shocking victory for the Junior Team. Team members included Goalie Fred Dulmage, Wellington "Duke" McCannon, Tom Hooper, Roxy Beaudro, Matt Brown, Theophile "Tuff" Bellefeuille, Billy McGimsie, Si Griffis, Bill Martin, and Tommy Phillips. Over the next couple years, the boys who comprised that junior Thistles squad populated the largely abandoned senior roster, and by the turn of the century began to dominate the M.N.H.A. intermediate division.
Playing out of the intermediate division, the teenage Thistles managed to finish tied for second place in 1899-1900, and at the conclusion of the 1900-01 season, beat the intermediate Victorias in a one game playoff to claim the M.N.H.A. intermediate championship. Games in Rat Portage were held at the octagonal-shaped Victoria Rink, the new indoor ice arena that opened its doors on November 30, 1897, located on the site of the Post Office (2012) at the corner of Park Street and First Street South.
In the 1901-02 season Tommy Phillips, who had previously ventured east to play a short stint with the senior league Montreal Shamrocks attended McGill University and play hockey in the Canadian Intercollegiate Hockey Union.
In 1903, after McGill's short four game season, Phillips had time to get on board another team before the winter was through, and did so by joining the Montreal senior circuit juggernaut. Phillips was inserted into Montreal's roster to help defend the Stanley Cup. During the summers the Rat Portage Rowing Club and the Rat Portage Alerts baseball squad were populated by the likes of Tom Hooper, Billy McGimsie, Si Griffis, Roxy Beaudro, and returning collegian Tommy Phillips.
Along with Phillips, goal tender Eddie Giroux from Toronto was inserted into the Thistles' 1904-05 starting line-up. With Phillips, the Thistles assembled one of the most formidable front lines in hockey history including Billy McGimsie anchoring center, Phillips took the Left Wing while Tom Hooper moved up and assumed Right Wing, Si Griffis in the rover position. Roxy Beaudro relieved at Right Wing. Many of the team had been playing together for nearly ten years. The end of the '05 season found the Thistles with 7 wins and only 1 loss-- celebrating another M.N.H.A. championship and the right to again challenge for the Stanley Cup. The thistles lost this challenge but returned in 1907 to win the Stanley Club and remain forever heroes in the small Kenora Town.
On January 4 th 1911 Phillips married Ellen Gertrude Kilgour in Wentworth County. He became a lumber dealer but died at the early age of 40 years in November 20 1923. He is buried in Hamilton Ontario
Sources: http://hobokin.net/others.html
James Edward Rice 1862-1950
James Edward Rice, son of Charles Marion Rice and Caroline Offutt was born on 15 Feb 1862 in Chatfield, Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA. He married Marguerite Beatrice McGuire.
They had at least 3 chidren:
Julia Esther Rice b. 28 Mar 1894 died young possibly at age 13.
Anna Juanita Rice b. 11 Feb 1896 in Rat Portage, d. d. 31 Mar 1969 in Seattle, Washington, USA
James Leo Rice b. 03 Jun 1898in in Rat Portage, d. Vancouver, BC
He arrived in Rat Portage around 1884 and in his early years was employed by the CPR. In 1894 he built the present McLeod Block on Mian St. and was occupied by his clothing store. In 1900 he became a partner of the Gradner, Rice and McLeod General Store. He was an active member of the Town council in 1899 and 1900.
He died in Apr 1950 in Vancouver BC, his wife predeceased him in Vancouver on 29 Aug 1943.
Harding Rideout 1847-1932
Harding Rideout was born on 29 Oct 1853 at Bayside, Charlotte County, New Brunswick. He arrived in Rat Portage in 1882 during CPR construction. HE was employed by the CPR and latter went into the contracting business . He build the Anglican Rectory.
In 1896 he went into the furniture business in the firm known as 'Rideout and Davidson' and late as 'Rideout and Turner'. He sold the business around 1917 and went into the Insurance business.
He was a member of the town council for years, 1889, 1890,1891, and mayor 1908-1910.
For 15 years he served as Justice of the Peace.
He married Lydia Doten and had one child Joseph Harding Rideout b. 26 Sep 1882 in Oak Bay New Brunswick.
Harding Rideout was also a member of the Lake of the Woods Masonic Lodge, Board of Trade, Board of Education and associated with numerous community efforts and fraternal organizations
Ross
Billy Ross was born 22 July 1847 in London Ontario. He came to Kenora (Rat Portage) with the Wolsley Expedition . He settled down in Rush bay in 1881. Ross was the first Black man in the area and claimed to "The First white man to cross the Lake of the Woods " (Nelson 1978)
Dr. Simons Southmayd Stuart Scovil 1854-1927
Simmons Southmayd Stuart Scovil, son of Samual S. Scovil and Adeline Bushe was born on 28 Nov 1854 in Portland, Leeds County, Ontario were he spent his boyhood days. He graduated in 1878 from Queen's University, Kingston. Anthony J Mclaughlin. The next year, he married 18 Feb 1879 Ellen Ursilla Mclaughlin, daughter of Anthony J and Rebecca McLaughlin.
Dr. Scovil first practiced in North Gower in the Ottawa Valley and came to Kenora in 1882. He entereed into private practice and shortly after was appointed surgeon for the dividion.
He built his home ay 303 Main Street South in 1882 where he located in the early days.
The Scovil had four children:
May Scovil b. 15 Apr 1880 (Mrs Persse)
Gertrude Scovil b. 8 Nov 1881 (Mrs Chartesworth)
Jack Scovil
Stuart Scovil 17 May 1886 Rat Portage
Dr Scovil passed away 26 Dec 1927
Ernest Agustus Sharpe 1843 - 1912
Ernest Agustus Sharpe, son of James Gill Sharpe and Mary Ann Fowler, was born in McCann, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia on July 9 1843. Ernest Augustus Sharpe was in Rat Portage in 1879 and worked in construction work during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He was the first express agent in the area. He started the first boat livery in 1883
Over the winter of 1881-1882 he went to Galveston, Texas, and married Emma Emma (Kems) Ebers, widow of Herman Ebers on on March 16, 1882, and brought Emma and children to Rat Portage:
Alice Lulu Ebers b. 14 Jan 1876
Florence Ebers b. 09 Feb 1877
Thomas Ebers b. 9 Feb 1877 Died in Infancy
Hermann Alphonse Ebers b. 18 Mar 1880 Herman went by the name of Herman Sharpe and was one of twelve teenage boys who formed the original junior Rat Portage Thistle squad in 1896.
With Ernest she had three more children,
Howard Logan Sharpe b. 31 Jan 1883
Pearl Sharpe b. 6 Jun 1885
Constance Cornelia Sharpe b. 24 Feb 1888
Stanley James Sharpe b. January 28, 1887, d. 31 Jul 1887
Emma was a person in her own right and her story is told admirably by Ray Baker in "The Life of Emma Kems" in Common Ground: Stories of Lake of the Woods 2010.
Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe ran a boarding house in 1884 known as Bismarck House. He had a team and hauled wood and water to the house and subsequently started delivering water for 25 cents a barrel.
Mr Sharpe served on the Rat Portage town council in 1899. He served on the Board of Education.
He build the Sharpe Block on Second Street in 1905.
He died in Kenora Ontario 1 March 1912.
Alexander Shragge 1865 - 1933
Alexander Shragge, son of Jacob Joel Shragge and Yhetta Gertrude Kamilaar was born 21 Oct 1865 in Brody, Galicia. He came to Canada with his parents in 1880 at the age of 15. The Family settled in Winnipeg.
His first job was a helper on a Red River Boat. A short time after he got a job with Hailey and Sutton Ltd at Morden, Manitoba. When the firm moved to Vancouver he accompanied the firm. He is listed in the 1891 Census in Vancouver. Shortly after he returned to Winnipeg.
In 1893 he came to Rat Portage. About 1893 he opened his Shargge's Clothing Store on Main St. The vfisrt structure was small but subsequently enlarged with living quarters in the upper portions of the building.
in 1898 he married Elizabeth Ripstein. They Had 4 children:
Gerald Emanuel Shragge 23 Mar 1901 Rat Portage, m. Belva Margaret English, d. 19 Jul 1977 in Sannich, BC.
Yhetta Gertrude Shragge b. 1902 Rat Portage, m. Abraham Coppelman, d. 02 Mar 1976 in Vancouver, BC
Clarence Charles Shragge b. 04 Jan 1904, Rat Portage, d. 28 Dec 1969 in Toronto
Verna Clarice Shragge b. 14 Aug 1906, Kenora, Ontario m. Samuel Kleinman d. 11 Nov 1997 Los Angelas, California
Mr. Shragge was an active member of the Board of Trade, Town Council, Pequonga Masonic Lodge, Oddfellows, and the Rotary Club. He donated a trophy for baseball in 1904 and donated a lot at Pine Portage to the Boy Scouts for their annual camp. He sponsored the dog derby which eventually became known as Shagge's Dog Derby. He Died in Los Angeles, California in 3rd April 1933.
John Samuel Whiting 1859-1935
John Samuel Whiting son of John Samuel Whiting and Emily Wright, was born at Shotsham near Norwich, England on 20 May 1859.
He came to Canada at a relatively young age and for two years worked on a farm near Coburg, Ontario.
Subsequently he moved to the Kenora Area around1878 and built his home on Treaty Island, farming and prospecting. He optioned one of his mining properties The Gold Creek to Eastern Interest in 1934.
Elizabeth Campbell of Kenora, reading from his journal, reports: "He went by 'Sam' and prior to purchasing Treaty Island, he lived out on Clearwater Bay. Aside from prospecting and mining, Whiting also was one of the area's early market gardeners. He had crops growing on several islands around the lake, and he used the produce to supply the grocer in Keewatin, and maybe others in the area, too. He was partner to Mr. Kendall (from whom Kendall Inlet Road received its name), but the partnership went sour and the dispute between the two men went to court. His family kept Sam Whiting's journals, but a copy is held by the Lake of the Woods Museum. The journals were mostly business notes - income and expenditures, etc. - however, there are some interesting little memos on life on the lake in the early days scattered through the pages.
He mentions coming home one winter night from Rat Portage across the ice to Clearwater Bay. When he arrived home it was to find that his ox, named Dolly, and his dog had fallen through some rotten ice and drowned. Upon reading this, I felt such compassion for the man. In one day he had lost his main working animal, together with which he earned most of his living, and his trusted companion. A dog would mean so much to him living alone in the wilderness.
I turned the page and read the next day's entry, which read something like, 'Skinned the ox and the dog...' So Sam was a very practical man in the face of adversity, too!"
He married Emily Louisa Mylam in St. George Anglican Church, Montreal, Quebec on Aug 20 1899 the day after arriving on the ship Tainui from England. They had 5 Children:
Leonard Samuel Whiting b. 31 Oct 1904
Walter Whiting
Harold Erick Whiting b. 6 Nov 1909
Nellie Whiting
Dorothy Evelyn Whiting b. 24 Feb 1912; married Thomas Boucha 1940
He died 27 September 1935. He was buried on Treaty Island
Arthur Woods 1851-1915
Arthur Woods, son of Russell Woods and Elizabeth Huston, was born in Kildare Township, Jolliette County, Quebec on December 16th 1851. He married Harriett Ross in Ross Township, Renfrew County, Ontario in 27 Feb 1884. They had a large family of 10 children, all born in Rat Portage:
William "Harvey" Woods b. 7 Mar 1885
Arthur "Lorne" Woods b. 12 Nov.1886
John "Stanley" Woods b. 3 Jan 1889
James H. "Ross" Woods b. 14 Jan 1892
May "Marguerite" Woods b. 2 Feb 1894
Emily "Eileen" Woods b. 12 Feb 1896
Dorothy C. Woods b. 18 Dec 1899
Victoria Woods 21 Jan 1901
"Russel" Vernon Woods b. 10 Feb 1903
"Helen" Florence Woods b. 8 Dec 1907
He came to rat Portage around 1883 where he and his brother Russell had a store and sold meals near the CPR Line.
He became a member of the Police force and was promoted to Chief which he served from 1887 to 1907. He served on the town Council in 1885,86, 1908,09 and 1910. He was Chairman of Public Works and operated the Kenora Labour Bureau. He served as a school trustee for seven years. He was also chief engineer in the fire department until the water system was installed and again in 1888.
He later became interested in Real estate and had an office on Matheson Street.
He moved his family to Winnipeg in August 1911 where he died in February 14 1915 after a two year lengthy illness.
Note: Additions to this individual may be added by sending an email with additional information to jretson@shaw.ca.
Andrew Alan Young 1876 - 1942
Allan young, son of Robert Hamilton Young and Elizabeth Patterson was born in Scarborough, Ontario on 01 Dec 1876. He came to Rat Portage around 1890. He carried on business with his father until he left for the West around 1909. He carried on business for several years.
In 1907, he married Mabel Creighton of Rat Portage and had two Children Greighton and Paddy.
He was an active member of the Board of Trade, Gun Club, Anglers Club and Rowing Club. When he retired from the Clothing business he was connected with the Singer Sewing Machne Company and Carling's Distillery. He died in Rat Portage in the 1942.
William Young 1848-1920
William Young was born in Scotland about 1848. He came west and was located in Rat Portage during the Construction period of the CPR. Later he went into the contracting business and later engaged in prospecting and was one of the first discoverers of Gold in he area.
Around 1885 he was a justice of the Peace. He was Reeve in 1889, 1890 and 1891 before Rat Portage was incorporated. IN 1897 he was elected Mayor but resigned a few months later when he was appointed Stipendiary Magistrate for the District.
He married his wife the much younger Helga at least before 1901. He left for British Columbia around 1908 and acted as Magistrate during the construction of the G.T.P. in Northern BC.
HE passed away in Winnipeg in January 1920
1879
John Fraser, James Charbonneau, James Fitzgerald, Charles Fraser, William and John Heany, James Ledman, George McGee
1880
Adam Blondin,
Israel Gagne,
A.D. McDonald
1881
James Begg, J. McKeown, Thomas Montgomery, George Montgomery,
1882
James Baxendale, William Bishop, J. Bunting, John Challoner, John Fiddler, William Hawley, Wellington McCammon, Andrew McKenzie, John McQuarrie, William Richards
1883
John Clark, William Gould, William Kendall, A.D. McKenzie, Joseph Perrault, Joseph Robinson
1884
John Anderson, Joseph Beaudro, E.C. Cameron, J. Clarkson, John Dalzill, Fred Dulmage, J.J. Linklatter, Alf McDonald, Joseph Perron
1885
John Benchley, J. Clarke, J. Clougher, Charles Falkner, William Howard, P.C. Mills, W.R. Wilson, Albert Wright
1886
D. H. Currie, Joseph Derouin, Barney Duncan, D.T,. Feguson. Ed Foster, W.L. Howard, Dave Kay, Nels Larson, William Margach, Alfred McCall, George McPherson, R. E. Preston, Thomas Ratchford, David Ross
1887
Charles Anderson, Charles Caucutt, Joseph Harper, James Lang, William McKreith, Harry Webster
1888
Robert Wiggins
1889
James Fraser, G. Frisble, B. Linstrom, Thomas Loutitt, J. O'Neil, W, Ouelette, F Thompson
References
Nelson, Patricia and Lori (1978) A Colloquial History of the Lake of the Woods. Kenora Public Library 971.311