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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Hi Folks , today I have this HDR rendition of this statue located near to the location of my previous upload of a historical C.P. Rail station found in the town of High River Alberta.
the Statue is of a man named George Emerson , in High River referred to as "The Father of the Rancher"
George Emerson crossed the border to Canada around 1868 brought by rumor of gold in the Northwest Territories, I guess that did not Pan out because in the winter of 1868 he went in to the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Edmonton driving dog teams. He also spent some years as a company freighter often making the 1000 mile run from Fort Garry in Winnipeg to Fort Edmonton.
Speaking both Cree and Blackfoot languages Fluently he was also known as a free trader among the Indians , it was said that he had a rare degree of something seldom found amongst his contemporaries and that was confidence and esteem for the older Indians he had known in his earlier years.
when the North West Mounted Police established Fort Calgary, George was one of the men who carted building materials and supplies from Fort Edmonton.
later He sold his milk cows to the Force , and traded his location between the forks of the bow and elbow river for a horse , tent and camp outfit , I know this area well it is now the historical site of Fort Calgary , very near to Saint George Island the location of the Calgary Zoo.
in 1876 George started cattle trailing . forming a partnership with Tom Lynch , trailing Montanan cattle in to the new ranches opening up with the disappearing of the buffalo herds.
in 1879 Emerson and Lynch brought in 1000 head and set up range north of the Highwood River , about four miles out of what is now the town of High River. Four years later Emerson and Lynch moved west and their old site was taken over by the Bar U ranch, He ranched in this new location along the Highwood River for 22 years maintaining good stocks of cattle and horses and a thriving Ranch using the Rocking P iron. He was one of the most highly esteemed Men in the Territories and an original member of the stock association.
in 1905 George Emerson sold his ranch to the Bar U ,one of few Ranching names that still survives in this day and age , moving north to the area of 12 Mile Coulee he and George Lane another prominent name in High River history , leased land from CP rail running independent herds , Emerson on a straight steer basis. Emerson and Lane never actually paid any rental to C.P.rail , because if they did the Rail company would then have to pay taxes on the land. the history I find between 1905 and 1909 is not too clear but it seems that Emerson ran into a bit of hard times , losing 90% of his heard to a harsh winter in 1907. in 1909 he went into a prospering partnership with Rob Macleay until 1914 when he sold his cattle and brand to Macleay because he did not like the idea of trailing cattle over deeded land , the days of open range where over.
between 1914 and 1920 George Emerson lived between High River and his Sandhills Ranch which was run by his old friend David L. Porteuos , in this time he invested into an oil stove and heater dealership holding the franchise for western Canada , but the venture was a total failure ,Emerson was no sales man and never sold a single stove.
After a short illness George Emerson Died in High River in 1920. He was born in 1841 , raised in Danville Quebec , and homesteaded in Counsil Bluffs Iowa , He was said to be built like an oak tree , and the local natives said he was the strongest swimmer in the Albert plains.
Prospector , Indian Trader , Hudson's Bay man and Rancher , George Emerson ran cattle from as far south as Mexico to as for north as Red Deer , and contributed in no small way to the opening of the west in its most colorful and adventurous days.
Research done on the 'our roots ' Canada's local histories online ' site from excerpts found in the book 'leaves from the medicine tree; a history of the area influenced by the tree, and biographies of pioneers and old timers who came under its spell prior to 1900'
Leaves from the Medicine Tree
thank for stopping in
regards
Art |
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