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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | [James Macleod to his wife about daily life in Fort Benton] |
| Archival Reference | M-776-14a |
| Sub-collection | Macleod, James F. Family |
| Author | Macleod, James F. |
| Date | 22 Jun 1879 |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Contents | James Macleod's to his wife about domestic life in Fort Benton, the want of good food and her company. |
| 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 | Children and Family Domestic Life and Living Conditions Food and Nutrition Marriage and Relationships Climate Alcohol Leisure, Entertainment and Social Life |
| Places | Montana; Fort Benton |
| People | Macleod, James Farquharson Macleod, Mary |
| Themes | Children & Family |
| Library | Glenbow Museum |
| Copyright | Glenbow Museum |
| Transcript | Benton June 22. 79 Sunday morning 6 o'clockMy own darling,We are just about to start from this charming place and I am glad indeed as I am sick and tire of it. The weather has at last cleared up and this is a fine bright clear morning. How I wish I could feel as bright. Perhaps when I get out and to work I shall feel better. I mean in spirits, for I am perfectly well otherwise. I don't know what is come over me. I feel as if I don't care to live without you and that life without you is very flat. The only time of the day which I care about is when I go to bed and fall off to sleep imagining that I have you in my arms -- the waking up in the morning is hateful to find that I am alone. Oh dear pet how can we manage to be together again? I am quite sure you would not have liked to have spent any time here. I really can't eat a lot in the house and have made all sorts of excuses to get my dinner at a restaurant in Town where one can get a capital beef steak. Last night Mrs. C. [Conrad] insisted upon my staying to tea -- I did so and got nothing but in less than an hour I was pitching quite a splendid bit of cold roast beef and salad at Col. Moule's washed down with capital lager beer. Mrs. C. has two servants, just fancy she changes them every day. One cooks today & the other one tomorrow so as to equalize their work. They have got some new furniture which is rather pretty. The bell has just rung for breakfast. Good bye by own love.With fondest fondest love and sweet sweet kisses. (What wouldn't I give for one)Your own JimI send two pictures of Fort Macleod wh[ich] I know you will like to have. |