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Title [James Macleod to his wife about domestic life in Ottawa]
Archival Reference M-776-14a
Sub-collection Macleod, James F. Family  
Author Macleod, James F.  
Date 29 Mar 1879
Document Type Correspondence
Contents Macleod writes about life in Ottawa.
Sub-collection Information James Farquharson Macleod, 1836-1894, was born in Scotland, the son of Martin Donald Macleod and Jane Fry. The family moved to Upper Canada in 1845. James received his BA from Queen's in 1854 and was called to the Bar in 1860. He served under Col. Wolseley during the 1870 Riel Rebellion. In 1873 he accepted the position of Assistant Commissioner in the newly formed North-West Mounted Police, and the following year led a police column to southern Alberta and established Fort Macleod. In 1875 he sent troops to establish Fort Walsh and Fort Calgary. He served as Commissioner of the NWMP from 1876 until 1880. As Commissioner he successfully negotiated Treaty 7 in 1877. When he resigned in 1880 he moved to Pincher Creek and devoted himself to judicial duties. He was one of only three magistrates in the North-West Territories. From 1887 until his death he was a judge of the Supreme Court of the North-West Territories. He married Mary Isabella Drever, 1852-1933, in 1876, and they had four daughters and a son, Helen (Cross), Jean (Montgomerie-Bell), Mary M. (Townshend), Roma (Sharpe), and Norman T. Macleod. His older brother, Norman Torquil Macleod, 1822-1885, served as the first Indian agent in southern Alberta from 1880 to 1882. Colonel Macleod School in Calgary was named in his honour in 1955. Macleod Drive in Lethbridge, Alberta, Macleod Manor at Fort Macleod, Macleod Island, Alberta, Macleod Mall in Calgary, Macleod Plaza in Calgary and Macleod Trail in Calgary are also named after Colonel Macleod.
Region Canada  
Subjects Women's History  Domestic Life and Living Conditions  Children and Family  
Places Ottawa; Ontario
People Macleod, James Farquharson  Macleod, Mary  
Themes Arts & Entertainment; Women's History
Library Glenbow Museum  
Copyright Glenbow Museum
Transcript Ottawa March 29, 1879

My dearest Mary,

I am so sorry you were disappointed in not getting a letter from me. I have written every day since I returned. The box with the beautiful flowers arrived this morning. Emily could not make out who had sent them, but I knew the writing altho' it is better than your usual hand you very careless old girl!!!

Emily did not make the coffee this morning -- it was so far from her bedroom to the kitchen!!! -- Oh Gosh.

I was at the Bazaar again to lunch today and afterwards bought endless things. I made Emy a present of a kind of scarf with worked flowers, which she appreciated immensely. Mrs. Jones regularly went for me. It has been raining all day and everything is damnably wet.

With fondest love

Your own

Jim

I was not the least annoyed at your opening my letter. What I have always said is that you might read a letter sometime which would perhaps annoy or hurt you, & would require no end of explanation to put right. If you think otherwise open them all. There is no chance of there being a woman in the matter.