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No resident of the Victoria
district of Alberta is better known nor more highly esteemed than Walter
G. Ross, who for over forty years has been intimately connected with the
development and upbuilding of Fort Saskatchewan, enduring all of the
hardships and dangers of pioneer life and sharing in many of its
exciting episodes. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, June 5, 1853, a son
of Patrick and Elizabeth (Gordon) Ross, both of whom are deceased. The
mother was a native of Scotland and the father was born in India, being
of Scotch parentage. They had a family of seven children, 'of whom six
survive, Anna being the firstborn. Frances married John Forbes and they
reside in Vancouver, British Columbia. The others are: Walter C., of
this review; William, a native of the capital city of the Dominion; John
B., whose home is in Vancouver, British Columbia; and George, who is
living in Prince Rupert, in that province.
William Ross, brother of
Walter G. Ross, was born June 1, 1855, and when twenty years of age he
came west to Alberta. In 1877 he entered a homestead in the province and
proved up on his claim, engaging in general farming for six years, when
he also took up stock raising, being thus occupied until 1900. He then
turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, opening a general store at
Star, near the town of Lamont, in the Victoria district, which he
conducted for five years, being associated with his brother Walter. He
has since been a resident of Fort Saskatchewan, although he has made
frequent business trips to the other provinces of the Dominion, and
makes his home with the subject of this review, with whom he is still
associated in business, their attention now being devoted to real estate
operations. He is numbered among the substantial business men and
leading citizens of his community and is highly respected by all who
have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
It was in 1873 that
Walter G. Ross came to Alberta, at which time he was a member of the
Royal Northwest Mounted Police, and was stationed at the old Hudson's
Bay fort at Edmonton until the expiration of his three-year term of
service. In 1877 he located at Fort Saskatchewan, being one of the
earliest settlers in this locality, and the country was at that time
inhabited chiefly by the redskins. For about sixteen years he engaged in
trading with the Indians, with whom he always maintained friendly
relations, acquiring a valuable fund of knowledge in regard to their
language and customs. From 1884 until 1896 he served as postmaster of
the town and in 1880 he had taken up a government claim. On his
withdrawal from public office he joined his brother William in the
conduct of a general store at Star, Alberta, of which they remained the
owners until 1900. They then entered the real estate and insurance
business in Fort Saskatchewan and for twenty-two years have continued
therein, gradually increasing the scope of their operations. The
prosperity which they now enjoy is well merited, for it has been gained
through hard work and fail, dealing, and their labors have also been of
material advantage to the locality in which they reside.
Mr. Ross' public spirit
finds expression in his service as a member of the town council, in
which capacity he is doing everything in his power to promote the
welfare of his town, standing at all times for constructive measures and
progressive methods. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, with
which his brother is is also affiliated, and both participated in the
work of quelling the rebellion of 1885. They have manifested in their
lives the sterling qualities of the Scotch race—thrift, integrity and
steadfastness of purpose—and have made the name of Ross an honored one
in the district in which they have so long resided. |
