James Irvine Brewster left Kingston in 1872 as a lad of eighteen, to seek his fortune in Western Canada. He became a freighter and farrier in the fast growing trade between Winnipeg and the Northwest Territories. From 1877 to 1879, he freighted from Winnipeg to Fort Edmonton, then south to Morleyville, where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Boyd, sister-in-law of the Rev. John McDougall. Jim had a timber lease west of Banff about 1883, for the CPR construction crews. Brewster Glacier and Brewster Creek are named for him. Later he was foreman of the Mt. Royal Ranch near Cochrane; served as a scout during the Riel Rebellion; then homesteaded near Bowden in 1887 with his brothers William and George. His White House was a popular stopping place on the Calgary-Edmonton Trail. Jim Brewster was well-known and respected throughout Alberta and was a prominent Mason. He died at Bowden in 1937. Mary Jane Boyd died at Calgary in 1913; his second wife was the former Christine Thompson. Jim had two children, Elizabeth Boyd and James Irvine Jr.
Alberta Death Reg. #1937-08-402562
Alberta Death Reg. #1937-08-402562
James Irvine Brewster left Kingston in 1872 as a lad of eighteen, to seek his fortune in Western Canada. He became a freighter and farrier in the fast growing trade between Winnipeg and the Northwest Territories. From 1877 to 1879, he freighted from Winnipeg to Fort Edmonton, then south to Morleyville, where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Boyd, sister-in-law of the Rev. John McDougall. Jim had a timber lease west of Banff about 1883, for the CPR construction crews. Brewster Glacier and Brewster Creek are named for him. Later he was foreman of the Mt. Royal Ranch near Cochrane; served as a scout during the Riel Rebellion; then homesteaded near Bowden in 1887 with his brothers William and George. His White House was a popular stopping place on the Calgary-Edmonton Trail. Jim Brewster was well-known and respected throughout Alberta and was a prominent Mason. He died at Bowden in 1937. Mary Jane Boyd died at Calgary in 1913; his second wife was the former Christine Thompson. Jim had two children, Elizabeth Boyd and James Irvine Jr.
Alberta Death Reg. #1937-08-402562
Alberta Death Reg. #1937-08-402562
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