Stranica 267 [267]
OCR
that the persecution of William B. Richards, William B. Wells, Walter McCrea, and other Reformers of this section, was totally uncalled for. Mr. Gowan was one of the originators of the first volunteer force formed in Upper Canada, it being known as the “ Brockville Invincibles.” For several years he figured prominently in the Militia. Sir Francis Bond Head made him Captain of the 2nd Leeds Militia, under the orders of the Hon, Charles Jones. Lieutenant-General Lord Seaton gave him command ofa company of the Queen’s Own Rifles. His Excellency, Sir George Arthur appointed him to acommand in the gth Provisional Battalion of Militia. At the Battle of the Windmill he was slightly wounded, and was noticed in the general orders giving an account of the battle. On the decease of the Hon. Charles Jones, he became the commander of the znd Leeds Militia. As a politician he represented the County of Leeds in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Provincial Parliaments, and also in the Second Parliament of Upper Canada. The election riots which broke out at Beverly, and disgraced the Province, have been generally ascribed to Mr, Gowan’s determinaconnected with his public career, not generally known, deserves more than a passing comment. In a letter, written in 1830, he favored the preservation of harmony between the executive and representative branches of the government, thus becoming an advocate of Responsible Government. This letter, which is still extant, was published by Sir Francis Hincks, and largely circulated. Mr. Gowan was appointed agent for Crown Lands in the District of Johnstown, and afterwards Supervisor of Tolls on the Public Works west of Lachine. His parliamentary career closed in 1861, when he became Post Office Inspector of the Money Order Department for Upper Canada, a position which he filled for many years. At the time of his death he held the position of Issuer and Inspector of Licences for the City of Toronto. For many years his influence in political circles was great, his position as Grand Master of the Orangemen giving his opinions weight. An excellent public speaker and debater, he handled political opponents with a severity at many times uncalled for, and provoked a bitterness in the discussion of public affairs which even the lapse of fifty years has not been able to efface. MAJOR J. M. WALSH. . Major Walsh, of the Northwest Mounted Police, In 1866, when the Fenian Raid aroused the patriotism of so many Canadians, Mr, Walsh joined the yolun — hr + éa sú 4 a B d te) sú Te ee Ét RA J be - KELETŰ ge ét peel pe i a Pp sf = res gi úg ő 5 he re he ih ee x ; "Ő " i - 4 _ : : h "a _ teers, he having previously graduated at the Military School at Kingston, His promotion was rapid, he being created ensign and subsequently actingadjutant, next becoming Captain of the Lisgar Rifles. Entering the Cavalry School, he won well merited praise from the officer commanding, Colonel Jenyns, who declared him to be the best drilled Canadian who had graduated from the school. In 1872, he organized a troop of cavalry, which remained under his command until. the following year, when he proceeded to the Northwest with the first detachment of Mounted Police, his position being that of Subordinate Inspector. During the following year he returned to Ontario on business connected with his military duties, and was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and Inspector. In May, 1874, he departed for the “Great Lone Land,” with his second detachment, and marched from Dufferin to the Rocky Mountains, a distance of 1,400 miles, establishing the post now so well known as Fort Walsh. He has taken a leading part in negotiating treaties with the Indians, and has upon several occasions of great danger acted with a promptitude and decision, which marks him as an officer of the class especially fitted to deal with the treacherous savages. On the arrival of Sitting Bull on Canadian territory, the situation became one of great peril, requiring caution, boldness and tact. Major Walsh so conducted matters that he became known over the continent as “ Sitting Bull’s Boss.” During his acquired the Sioux and Blackfeet languages. By the Peigans he is known as " White Chief of the Assiniboines,’”’ and by the Blackfeet as “The one who ties,” having upon one occasion shackled four of their chiefs. In 1870, the Major married a daughter of Mr. John Mowat, of Brockville, where his family at present resides. W. R. BIGG., Mr. W. Rk. Bigg was born in London, England, in 1821, and followed the mercantile profession till 1843, present time he has been actively engaged in the cause of education, having filled the positions of Principal of the Central School, St. Thomas (Elgin); Mathematical and Science Master of the Galt Grammar School; Principal of the Brockville Central School, and Headmaster of the United High and Public Schools of Brockville; which latter position he held till his appointment of Public School Inspector for the First Division of Leeds, in 1871. In thesame year he was also chosen as Public School Inspector for Brockville, and a similar honor
