MR. GILCHRIST.
One of the victims of the Frog Lake massacre was William Campbell
Gilchrist, a native of the village of Woodville, Ontario, and eldest
son of Mr. J. C. Gilchrist, Postmaster of that place. He was an
energetic young man, of good address, and if spared would have made
his mark in the land of promise. Prior to going there, he held
situations in various parts of this province, and they were all of
such a nature, as to make him proficient in the calling of his
adoption, he had splendid business ability and with a good education,
made progress that was quite remarkable for one of his years, at the
time of his murder he was only in his twenty-fourth year.
He was clerk for Mr. E. McTavish of Lindsay, for some time; he then
returned to his home to take a situation which had been offered him by
Mr. L. H. Staples, as assistant in his general store; he afterwards
went to the village of Brechin as Clerk and Telegraph Operator, for
Messrs. Gregg & Todd. While there he formed the acquaintance of Mr. A.
G. Cavana, a Surveyor, and it was through his representations that he
directed his steps to the great unknown land. Shortly after his
acquaintance with Mr. Cavana, that gentleman received a government
appointment as surveyor in the territories, taking Mr. Gilchrist with
him in the capacity of book keeper and assistant surveyor; they left
in the spring of 1882. He was well fitted for the position, for
besides being an excellent penman, was an expert at figures; when the
winter set in, he remained there, taking a situation in a store in
Winnipeg, and when the summer opened out he again went with Mr. Cavana
on the survey, (1883) on his way home in the autumn he fell in with
Mr. J. A. Gowanlock, who induced him to remain with him as clerk, with
whom he never left until that sad morning on the 2nd of April, when he
was shot down in his strength and manhood. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church having confessed at the early age of 14 years. It
was his intention to enter the Manitoba College as a theological
student.
--Two months in the camp of Big Bear
by Theresa Gowanlock and Theresa Delaney (Primary source documents / Timeline)
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