Mr. Edward Philip Leacock
b- Dec 28, 1853 on the Isle of Wright-
d- bet Apr-June 1927
in Maldon Registration District, Essex, England
He married Georgina E.
Vickers
Aug 6, 1881, Saturday, in St. James Cathedral, Toronto ON
daughter of Mr. J. J. Vickers of Toronto ON
He
was the CPR Townsite Agent for Estevan,
arriving by train from Winnipeg, August, 1892,
with Mr. Lauchlan Alexander Hamilton,
the CPR Senior Land Commissioner, and Surveyor
and Dr. Scott,
who became the first Post Master in Estevan,
and the first Doctor.
This guy has to be one of the more
lets say "colourful"
characters that ever lived in Estevan, I am sure.
From a very famous family, he lived in Estevan
for those first months, while the town was being laid out,
lots were being sold, and settlers were moving in.
He had a lot of power as Townsite Agent.
Most people in Estevan wouldn't know this fellow
was even there, never mind who he was.
I'm hoping to change that here.
Mr. E. P. Leacock was the Uncle
of Stephen Leacock, the famous author and humorist,
who also was born in England.
Edward was Stephen's father's younger brother.
Stephen actually wrote 2 books about his Uncle,
"My Remarkable Uncle" and "Boom Times"
Mr. E. P. Leacock left for England in 1894.
He "owned" a huge estate in Winnipeg before he left.
You have to read the stories about this man.
He had a Railroad, with No Rails,
printed free pass cards for his "railroad",
and passed them out to anyone of stature,
and received free pass cards,
from all the other railroads,
in exchange for his fake ones.
Head of a Brewery, (for brewing the Red River),
He owned a Bank, which had no money, and never opened.
Without a doubt, this man's life should be made into a movie.
Funniest thing I think I've read in years.
I really liked the part where he had a hotel clerk
give him $24.00, so that when he got back,
from God knows where, he could send an even $100 !!!
to cover his $76.00 bill!
Of course he never did return to that hotel.
Elected Member of Manitoba Legislature in 1886,
Feb 27, 1880- head of Manitoba Telegraph Company
June 18, 1880- Elected Director of
Westbourne & North-Western Railway,
Elected Secretary- Treasurer no less.
July 14, 1880- Elected Sec-Treas. Manitoba Drainage Co.
Oct 14, 1880- His name is on an ad for
The Great North-Western Telegraph Company, Canada.
Shown as Sec. Prov. board.
Nov 5, 1880- member of the Selkirk club, also it's founder.
Nov 22, 1880- Held a business meeting
at the Lyon's Hotel in Winnipeg,
Re his Westbourne railroad Co.
June 29, 1881- Ad for 3 carpenters, good wages paid.
Apply Room #6, Imperial Bank Block.
May 30, 1882- Co is now
Portage, Westbourne and Northwestern Railway.
address #17 Donaldson's block in Winnipeg.
Jan 13, 1885- ill with Quinsey, for past week.(acute
peritonsillitis)
June 7, 1893- Justice of the Peace for St. Boniface.
Wrote a book, titled- Hudson's Bay Route
M.P.P., Warden of Kildonan.
1884 he was listed as a petitioner for
Winnipeg and North-Eastern Railway company.
He was written about In the July, 1941,
Reader’s Digest “My Most Unforgettable Character,”
by Stephen
Leacock
Well this fellow got into Estevan,
paid by the CPR, so they fell hook line and sinker too.
Lord knows what he really did there.
The Town folks loved him.
they probably all got a free pass on his railroad!
I guess today he was a "Con man", in those days
a guy with the gift of the gab.
OH yes, he was also a politician,
and why don't we doubt that! |
