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Title [James Macleod to his wife about his longing for her company and daily life in Fort Macleod]
Archival Reference M-776-14a
Sub-collection Macleod, James F. Family  
Author Macleod, James F.  
Date 4 Jun 1882
Document Type Correspondence
Contents James Macleod writes about his longing for his wife's company, memories of their previous moments together, and a brief description of daily life in Fort Macleod.
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 Marriage and Relationships  Sexuality  Domestic Life and Living Conditions  Travel and Transportation  Indigenous Peoples  First Nations  
Places Fort Macleod; Alberta
People Macleod, James Farquharson  Macleod, Mary  Healy, Joe    
Themes Children & Family; Exploration, Expeditions & Travel; Indigenous Peoples; Women's History
Library Glenbow Museum  
Copyright Glenbow Museum
Transcript Fort Macleod

June 4. 1882

My own dearest Mary,

It is impossible for me to tell you how much I miss you, my darling girl - and our two little pets. Heretofore, when we used to be apart I always had so much to occupy my mind that it was not quite so unbearable as it is at present - but now I feel our separation most horribly, as if indeed my better half had slipped out of me. I hope to goodness I shall feel better over it. I suppose the feeling is partly caused by my getting older and older, and more and more infatuated with my perfect wife, at any rate I feel as I should think a fellow would, whose girl had given him the ...? - and they get over that.

I am now writing in our old dining room where I have been the greater part of the day reading papers and thinking of the happy days we have spent together in it. Those delicious evenings when we used to spoon on the easy chair and talk and chatter and hug and kiss to our hearts content. My sweet sweet bird, were we not happy in our little nest - and then the journey in comes back to me when you would drive with me in the blazing sun - the night, the first on the Belly River, when I bid you goodnight after you had all gone to bed and the delicious drive between the South Fork and the Cut bank!! Won't we talk that journey over some day, and won't I tease you, and won't you, in your pretty blushing way, pretend you don't remember and don't know what I am talking about.

I sleep in our old bed now and try and try to content myself but it is no use. It is you and not the springs that made it so nice. But with the two it was paradise indeed!! I will imagine my ears boxed by my blushing and offended beauty pet and try not to think about it.

This place is kept much cleaner than it used to be. Smith is still in the kitchen and doing very well and Watson takes care of this room. He sweeps it out regularly every morning and would not now offend my mother's eyes so much.

I came here to hold a Court on the first and have made up my mind to remain for ten days or so, till the next mail comes in. I have several things to attend to and I thought it would be better - or as well - to leave Neil and Loo [?] to settle down by themselves.

I should like to make you blush again but really the partition at Kyleakin is like the sounding board of a piano; the iron bedstead is not proper and two solos night and morning - on another little instrument I shall not mention - played by people ignorant of the effect produced, are very fetching!! There - I won't say any more naughty things for fear of getting a scolding.

And now for our trip out. I think I told you that I promised Joe Healy·to take him out with us - so our party consisted of the Scobies, Healy and Shurtliff [Shurtleff]. Notwithstanding all my efforts to diminish baggage, the big wagon was loaded heavier than when we left to go in. Louie drove with me for three days. The first night - Friday - we made the leavings of the Teton - the very first place we camped when Captain Clark and William were with us. That man Nelse, whom you remember I introduced you to in Benton - who always called me Honour - keeps the house there - and it was very lucky that we had a house to go into, as a severe snow storm came on and the heavy wagon did not get up till late. Cockburn, the brute, showed signs of playing out. He did not get away till late next afternoon and only made the Pend d'Oreille Springs. The wagon was a long distance behind. While I was unharnessing the ponies, Louie went for a ramble and when I got things fixed I went to look for her but not a sign could I find. As it was getting dark I got in a deuce of a state and, as the wagon came up without her on board, I was afraid to ask if they had seen her; when, just at that moment, I saw her on a butte some distance off - to my intense relief. She might very easily have been lost.

Next day we made the Marias and actually forded the next morning. Shurtliff came with me and Louie drove in the wagon the rest of the journey. The Rocky Springs was our next camping place close to where we camped the last time we came out. Do you remember that pretty camping place and the pleasant ramble we had together. The wagon horses came in played out by that brute Cockburn.

Milk River next day where we came up to Mr. Begg. Next day Kipps Coulee and the next Nick Sheron's - early enough to cross everything. Next day we were crossing the Old Man's River at Kipp. After we left there a dreadful accident befell poor Sheron, who had kindly come up to show us the ford. He tried to cross back at the old ford, when he got into such deep water that his wagon was upset and the poor fellow was drowned. He had been tight in the afternoon but was quite sober when he tried to go back as he had remained at the ranche for 5 hours. I am happy to say I did not give him any grog. He will be quite a loss here as he was thought a great deal of and was such an enterprising fellow. I camped here on the other side of the slough as it was rising very fast. I came across for supplies and found General Strange in our room. He is such an agreeable nice man. I should have liked to have some more of him.

We were detained all next day by the horses being lost. There was a tremendous thunder storm the evening before and I suppose they were driven away by that, but the next morning an Indian turned up with them and I very much suspect that Indian of having had them cached, as they did not look very full. The new horse got sick at Scotts Coulee so we left him with Big Swan [?] and substituted Mr. George who pulled like a little man all the way to Kyleakin.

Lyons had the place looking nice and clean. He has twenty-two chickens only - but there are a lot more expected. Pincher Creek country is looking perfectly beautiful - as green as emerald and smooth as a billiard table. Things in the garden are coming on nicely, the potatoes are showing and plants in the hotbed are ready to transplant. Lyons had the fence well on. I drove Stewart down on Wednesday. I brought the boat with the oven. I crossed several times alright but the day before Easter Day when I was crossing myself the darned thing upset, but I had not much difficulty in swimming to shore with the boat. I even grabbed my hat and put it on and saved everything belonging to the boat. I was keeping her too strongly against the current when she heeled over, took in water and pitched me out head foremost. It was unpleasant having my clothes and boots on - that was all, as I would think nothing of putting myself in the same place, naked.

I don't take too much stock in Scobie, he certainly is not a wrestler and is not at all so attentive to Louie as he should be. He would jump out of the wagon and leave her to herself and seldom gave a hand in pitching camp or making beds. He has an unpleasant habit of telling her not to be a fool. He would not suit my Manitobaness.

I think Louie is very cheerful and happy - but I think she has made a great mistake in coming up this year. She has no idea what they will do.

I was so delighted to get Norman's telegram telling me of your safe arrival at Bismark. I shall be very anxious till I hear of your arrival at Winnipeg, as I fear you will have had a very uncomfortable journey from Glyndon - there are such crowds going in.

What a happy meeting you will have with your father and Jeanie. Take care of yourself, my own darling, and keep your courage up and see that you indulge every whim and fancy which comes to your dear head.

Kiss the dear little ones for me and, with your arms close folded, think you have me there - the happiest of the happy if you had.

Your own devoted

Jim

I will write about money next time. Love to Norman. I miss him so much. Hope he likes what he has got to do.