The Hunter Family
An historical and photographic perspective

William Adam Hunter & Margaret Elizabeth Copland in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

William Adam Hunter &	Margaret Elizabeth Copland
Born: June 17, 1845	Born: April 18, 1849
Place: Dunscore, Dumfriesshire	Place: Bankend Cottage, Kirkgunzeon, Kircudbrightshire
Married:	Dec 22, 1870
Place:	Kirkgunzeon, Kircudbrightshire
Died: Sept 12, 1894	Died: Feb 18, 1940
Place: Llewellyn, Saskatchewan, Canada	Place:  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Buried: Llewellyn Cemetery	Buried: Llewellyn Cemetery

Illustration copied from Temperance Colonization Society pamphlet showing idealized future city of Saskatoon

The first incident of this trip was camping for three days in a snowstorm a splendid introduction to pioneer life. Then came a huge mistake in the road by the assistant commissioner, in which he took the outfit down into the valley of Big Arm Creek, which they tried to cross, but had to return to high land. Trials in plenty followed, and the elbow of the South Branch of the Saskatchewan River was reached after some four days. Here the assistant commissioner was "treed" again by the band because he "didn't know where he was going, or the road he was travelling." They threatened to drown him in the river so he skipped out, riding seventy-five miles on horseback to Moose Jaw. They, however, came on courageously to their destination, and reached here in due time to meet the settlers of 1882, Messrs. Hamilton and Eby, already on the ground. Then followed Messrs, Clark and Sons, of whom Prank is still in the vicinity. They reached here and celebrated the 24th of May' as a holiday. Close by also were Mr. and Mrs, Copland and Mr. and Mrs. W. Hunter, each tasting for the first time but not the last, the trying experiences of pioneer life; and, indeed many experiences, the result of blunders by the Company adding much to the difficulties of locations, etc., which were difficult enough at best.

One incident of this year was a visit to the colony in the autumn, which no doubt will be remembered by many who witnessed it. Some sixty Indians came down at a gallop on the village, with the object of causing dismay and fear, and then demanded food. For a short time the prospects were alarming, but all turned out right. One lady was scared, and after giving them all she had to eat, ran off and left them to devour it; but Mrs. Copland, like the brave woman she is, successfully stood off the whole band though her husband was away in the hay field. During all the time up to this year the intercourse between the colony and the White Cap Indians was pleasant and agreeable; and so also with the half-breed population both north and south. There was little indication of the unrest which so soon after developed into the well-known rebellion of the ensuing year.

Louis Riel c. 1880

From Saskatoon was sent the first word to Toronto announcing the arrival of Louis Riel on Canadian soil on this occasion, July 2nd, 1884, and his development as leader on the opening of the disturbance was well known.

Chief Whitecap, Sioux Chief of Moose Woods Reserve and members of his family, c. 1885

True to the expectations of the Saskatoon people, the agitation extended to the White Cap Indians (1) under the influence of the Half-Breeds settled near the reserve, and as a result the entire population struck camp to join the rebellion at Batoche. On their way they had to pass Saskatoon, where preparations had been made to receive them either as friends or foes, as the case might he. The settlers had mostly been sworn in to defend the women and children, and had elected E. S. Andrews as captain of their home guard. They had also taken the precaution to let the Half-Breeds and Indians know that they were prepared for the emergency. We believe Chief Whitecap did not wish to leave the reserve, and join the rebellion, but the hot-headed warriors, influenced by a few Half-Breeds and emissaries from Riel, were disposed to be hostile, and the result was that the whole tribe appeared in sight of the village one fine morning. Our scouts had been watching them, and we knew of their coming. We suspected, too, (what we found afterwards to be true) that they had Riel's instructions to wipe Saskatoon out on their way north. They could not get round the village for the deep snow, and after trying in vain to do so, they came on and were stopped in the heart of the village for a conference. Mr. Hamilton was chosen as the representative of Saskatoon people, but could not take the job, and Mr. Copland had to step into the breach as the alternative choice. An attempt was made by friendly advice and warning of danger to get the Indians to go back to their reserve, but without result, and the whole party moved on, leaving Saskatoon unscathed. and still watching them so as to keep telegraphic communication.

1. These were Sioux, by repute the fiercest of the tribes of the Prairies. They bad taken part in the defeat and slaughter of the Custer column in 1876, by Sitting Bull. They took refuge In Canada, but did not return with the rest. They were given a Reserve at Moose Woods, with White Cap for chief.

The quick following events of the next few weeks culminated, upon the arrival of troops from the east, in the well-known battle of Fish Creek, the result of which was to again bring Saskatoon into the foreground as an important point. The necessity for hospital accommodation was immediately filled by the people placing all their resources in houses and stores, and the best help they possessed, at the disposal of the authorities. It was accepted, and for three months the village was one active scene of military life, and for the time it might be said that all attempts at settlement or agriculture were abandoned.

Northwest Rebellion, Battle of Batoche, May 9-12, 1885

Through this opening of the houses to the wounded, diphtheria (for which there was no remedy known at that time) was brought to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Copland, who were thus bereft of their daughter, Jessie.

- Saskatoon Temperance Colonization Society

The Narrative of Mr. Archie Brown
from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sksaskat/NarrativesOfSaskatoon/28.html

In July we found that Geo. Garrison had come down for supplies and arranged with him to take us on his return trip. Early one mormog Wm. Horne and myself boarded the Garrison waggon and started on the trip. Another settler, Wm. Hunter, down with a yoke of oxen, was also returning with his load. The second day out Hunter took sick. Garrison made him as comfortable as possible on top of his load, and I volunteered to drive the oxen. I did not understand these animals, and they did not understand me. Whenever they came to a particularly bad spot they seemed to delight in going their own way through it. My cries of gee had no effect. When they got to deep enough water to suit them which was about up to their stomachs, they would stop and nothing I could do would induce them to move; the cool water on their stomachs was so pleasant and the plagues of flies would not reach what was in the water, so they were content.  I would have to get off, wade through the water and tramp a few miles ahead to where Garrison and the others were camped for a meal. Garrison would then come back with the horses and pull us out of the slough. Everything was novelty, and incidents like this served to break the monotony. Saskatoon was safely reached early one morning in August, Hunter slightly better, and myself a failure as a driver of oxen...     

Unidentified family posed outside their long sod house c. 1883

My next job was helping Thos. Copland build his first house, a sod one. My sleeping place was the cellar of the new house covered with some boards. My pay was to be in butter taken during the winter as required. Mr. and Mrs. Copland treated me as their son, and their little daughter Jessie was a great favourite of mine, for children were scarce. Finally some lumber came down the river in the Fall of '83, brought down the river in two rafts from Rush Lake by a crew of Swedes. A water soaked and sand filled lot it was: every piece of flooring or siding had to have the groove scraped out before it would be lad; no edge could be kept on a plane in trying to work it, as the sand was ground right into the grain of the wood. The rafts were soon broken up and the lumber piled on the river bank of what is now Idylwyld to dry and the buildings started. The Swedes put up what was called the Company Buildings, really a double store front: they then left for Moose Jaw. R. W. Dulmage, Chas. Garrison and Silas Lake put up buildings, mere shells, but it entitled them to a free lot. Geo. Grant put up quite a pretentious building, McGowan, W. Horn and myself being the carpenters. This was the extent of the building that Fall. During the, winter W. Horn and- myself put up a small building for John Conn, and towards spring started one for the Company. This used up all the lumber brought down the river. The uses to which the various buildings put up that first fall were put were as follows: The Company stores were occupied by Dr. Willoughby. Fred Davidson and D. W. McDonald and G. K. Smith, while Dulmage occupied his own. The Garrison building was sold to the Fletchers when they arrived, as C. Garrison did not return from Ontario, the Silas Lake (1) building was used as school church, public meeting place and exhibition building, the Conn building became the Trounce store, the Company dwelling house was occupied by various tenants, the Clarks, Pendygrasse, Fletchers and by T. Copland as the Company's Agent. The Grant building, occupied by the McGowan family the first winter. was used later by Capt. May, Wm. Sinclair, and as N.W.M.P. Police Barracks...

The forty miles to Saskatoon were made in about two and a half days, and the people were glad to see us, as they thought we must have all perished.

We had returned, however, with a scant supply of flour, as a large part of it had been consumed on the journey, a large batch of bread being made up at the Elbow. To make matters still worse the coal oil had leaked and given a decided flavour to the flour. One had the taste of coal oil in one's mouth all day. The diet for the rest of the winter consisted of snow-shoe rabbit, an occasional prairie chicken, and corn, of which Dr. Willoughby had a supply in his tent store. For dessert we had dried apples. As soon as the snow began to soften Wm. Hunter decided to make a trip to Duck Lake to get some flour. He had oxen, and could only travel while the snow was soft, as crusted snow cut their legs. He returned in about a week with some of the Duck Lake patent process.  It was made from badly frozen wheat, in an old mill of the stone type, and it was almost the colour of chocolate. Yeast refused to work in it. As soon as water or milk was put in and one started to mix the dough, it would stick like glue to the fingers, and it took a knife to scrape it off. However, it was decided by all that got some of it that it was the finest and best for making bread of some kind that they had ever eaten, just like cake. This ended the winter of 83-4. There had been one death, Robt. Clark-W. Horn and myself making the coffin. There were two births - one to the McGowan family and to the Richardson family.     

- from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sksaskat/NarrativesOfSaskatoon/28.html

Note: Llewellyn, Saskatchewan. William Hunter and Mrs Hunter were postmasters from 1892-1897 and Gwilym Lewis postmaster from 1903-1915. There were 71 homesteaders who proved up on their claim named William Hunter of which SW4-T37-R4-W3 belonged to one William Hunter... There is a Llewellyn cemetery located North-East quarter, Section 4, Township 38, Range 4, West of 3rd. In further research in 1894, National Archives holds these two records: Notice of the arrangements made for mail service between Llewellyn and Saskatoon NWT, and in 1897a file for the Notice of the Closing of the post office at Llewellyn and the discontinuance of the Llewellyn and Saskatoon mail service.

Trading with Indians
University of Saskatchewan Archives

Agnes Hunter (William Adam Hunter's aunt) died on Sept 23, 1884, in Kirkton, Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, at the age of 85.

 

William Adam Hunter died on Sept 12, 1894, at the age of 49, and is buried in the Llewellyn Cemetery north of Saskatoon. - from http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2529486074&topic=3566

William Hunter (William Adam Hunter's father) died on Aug 11, 1895, in Dunscore, Dumfriesshire, at the age of 90. - from http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2529486074&topic=3566

 

Map of Canada, 1898

Little Stone School, Saskatoon, 1899
Prominent names include Caswell, Clinkskill, Leslie, Hunter, Cairns Powe, Garrison

Thomas Copland Curling Team, Saskatoon, 1903-1904

Margaret Copland Hunter, 1935

Margaret Elizabeth Copland died on Feb 18, 1940, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, at the age of 90.

The South Saskatchewan River and the Development of Early Saskatoon 1881-1908

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