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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | [James Macleod to his wife about his daily life and work routines in Fort Walsh] |
| Archival Reference | M-776-14a |
| Sub-collection | Macleod, James F. Family |
| Author | Macleod, James F. |
| Date | 3 Dec 1879 |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Contents | James Macleod to his wife about daily life in Fort Walsh, his distress at their lengthy separation, with reminiscences about their previous marital intimacies. |
| 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 | Indigenous Peoples First Nations Domestic Life and Living Conditions Food and Nutrition Marriage and Relationships Children and Family Sexuality Arts, Literature and Music |
| Places | Fort Walsh; Saskatchewan |
| People | Macleod, James Farquharson Macleod, Mary |
| Themes | Children & Family; Women's History |
| Library | Glenbow Museum |
| Copyright | Glenbow Museum |
| Transcript | Fort Walsh Decr 3. 1879My own darling Wife,What on earth can have become of that beast Farwell. Just fancy, he has not turned up. I could twist his head off, burn him before a slow fire or torture him in any way that would cause him the most pain - if I could lay my hands upon him at this moment. Damn him ! - excuse me, is it worse in writing than in words. If he thinks he can go on treating me in this way he is much mistaken.Not to have our proper mail communication on account of the public business is bad enough but not to hear from you or of you and my precious little girl is something more than I can bear. I have determined to throw him off and have engaged another man to take the mail. If however he has been detained by Winder I must, I suppose, give him another chance.Next, think of my anxiety to hear how you are - how you are getting on without me and my long long longing for some sweet words of love from you.This confounded place I am sure intensifies the feeling and I must confess that, although I was never in better health in all my life than I am now, I am still restless and unhappy. My own one, how I sit and think of what you and our little Nell are doing from morning till night. About your getting up in the morning after a long think about your absent lover - for I was never more so even in my lowest days - and a good play with the little puss : then your breakfast together, Miss Nell on my office chair with her own chair clampt [?] on top of it : then the morning spent about the house whirring away at the sewing machine making all sorts of things : then lunch and in the afternoon a good walk or a drive with I hope, lots of good Mrs. Winder.I wonder if you often drive alone and know quite well how dreadfully dull the long evenings must be without me. And dearest getting into bed; I sincerely hope to sleep like a top and dream of your poor old hub. Oh Mary pet what rapture to look forward to folding you in my arms again, my sweet my precious wife.Now I shall tell you how I pass the day. I generally awake at reveille and seldom sleep afterwards. My first thoughts are always of you and Nell and I try to think of nothing else. Mansean who is now my servant comes in at 8 to light the fire etc; and I get up about 9 : then breakfast and a couple of pipes, papers or a book : sometimes the whole forenoon, sometimes for an hour I am continually giving an audience to someone - Indians, Traders, people about law matters, officers and men. Sometimes I am busy in the Orderly Room but not very often - but mail day will come round and I must put my nose to the grindstone.I am glad to say I have received very few letters from Ottawa lately. I generally take my frugal lunch about 2.00, then a pipe, more reading and talk and a short walk. On my way back I call at the Baker's store and have a cigar with Boissenault the new Agent : home about 5.0 and then a long hour till dinner.Our Mess here is not very good and requires a good deal of repair. It is roast beef, roast beef, roast beef, day after day and not very good either, with a rice or bread pudding afterwards.You have certainly spoiled me in the most effective manner for such fare as we get here and the society of those fellows as compared with you - Oh heavens ! There is Crozier, who is certainly improved in many ways but he has that foolish laugh - more exaggerated than ever and is become just a little presumptuous amongst the juniors; I suppose from being in command here for some time.Neale is a very nice fellow and, to tell you the truth, he fills Clark's place much better than Clark did and his own too. He will, I think, go to Canada next month. Steele, a very good fellow, sits as if he had a ramrod stuck up his back and never speaks but smiles when he is spoken to.Cotton is improved and not at all a bad little fellow - then Dickens caches himself all day - is only seen three times that is at meal hours. He is also improved wonderfully and hears a great deal better than he did. I find him a very nice fellow to talk to.Such are the fellows I have to sit with every day at dinner instead close to my own pretty girl. My sweet darling interesting angel. There is no fun, no interest, in the present arrangement. I have not the least inclination to tickle any of them under the table or hug them until they almost fall off their seats!!!! Do you know anyone who has been subjected to both those little bursts of playfulness on my part? My fingers tingle to be able to do it now. Alas I can't!!After dinner I come over here for more pipes and a book if I have one, after taking off my boots and putting on my light shoes. Cotton and Crozier and I talk till midnight sometimes. I sit in a chair just like the iron one at Home. How often I think of you plumping yourself down on my stum jack [stomach], when it is not quite ready for such a heavy weight. I believe I would allow myself to be crushed to atoms now, to have you loll over me as you have so often done.After our talk I turn in between the blankets - I have no sheets - what a difference between my bed here and that at home with all I think lovely in the world beside me - with her darling arms around me and her delicious lips pressed with fervent love to mine. Oh I am getting crazy - how could I be otherwise my darling duck.I soon go to sleep and never wake till daylight. I have finished a nice book by Celia [?] Arbour. I send it to you by this mail. You will find it all marked but not by me. There are some passages I would mark - they express so well my love for you and the way it has grown and grown stronger and stronger until it has become a passion impossible to describe - explain.There is absolutely nothing new here except that Lieut Dunne is to be married next Sunday. I am to perform the ceremony.The mail will be in tomorrow. I will keep this open till it comes. Goodnight, my sweet pretty birdie. Endless kisses to you both, your devoted husbandJim.Mail [from the East] just in, no signs of Farwell - D---- him a thousand times. I send you a little note from Bess. I have got a letter from mother and will send it by next opportunity, I have not read it yet. There is a parcel for you from White which I send on. I suppose it is the knives and forks etc;. Fondest love, your own Jim |