Robert Telford
Encyclopedia
Robert Taylor Telford was a Canadian pioneer and politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1905 until 1913. Born in Quebec
, he came to western Canada to serve with the North-West Mounted Police during the North-West Rebellion
. He then settled near Leduc
and became a prominent local businessman, before being elected as a Liberal
in the 1905 election
. He served two terms before retiring, and later served one year as mayor of Leduc.
, to Irish
parents, Robert and Anne (Pratt) Telford. He was educated at public schools in Quebec. In 1880 he went to the United States, before returning to Canada in 1885 in search of adventure after reading an article about the North-West Rebellion
. He arrived in Calgary
and worked as a carpenter until July 1886, when he joined the North-West Mounted Police. In 1889 he homesteaded near what is now Leduc
, on the shores of what was then called Leduc Lake. That July he built a house, which was then the largest building between Calgary and Edmonton
; he operated it as a "stopping house", or hotel.
In the spring of 1890 he married Wisconsin
native Belle Howard. They married in Wisconsin, but returned to Leduc shortly afterwards. Robert and Belle Telford adopted to sons, Raymond and Lome; Raymond was killed in June 1916, while serving with the 51st Battalion in World War I
. Besides his stopping house, which he moved closer to the railway station when the railway arrived in Leduc, Robert Telford operated a general store and later a lumberyard; he ran the latter for twenty-five years before selling it in 1919. He served as postmaster from 1894 until 1905, and became Leduc's first justice of the peace
around 1911. He was also active with the Masons
.
candidate in Leduc
in the 1905 provincial election
, the first in Alberta's history. He handily defeated his Conservative
opponent. He was returned to office without opposition in the 1909 election
, and did not seek re-election in 1913
. In the legislature, he supported the government of Premier
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
against a group of dissident Liberals in the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
. The Calgary Herald
alleged that he had accepted a bribe of C$500 to do so, prompting Telford to sue for libel. When Rutherford's government fell and was replaced by that of Arthur Sifton which, though Liberal, followed the opposite course to Rutherford's on the railway issues that had brought down Rutherford's government, Telford supported the new government, notwithstanding its policy differences with the old.
Telford was also involved in local politics: he served on the Leduc town council for several years and as mayor from 1915 to 1916. As at 1924, he also served on the school board.
Leduc Lake was renamed Telford Lake in his honour, and the hamlet
of Telfordville
also bears his name.
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1905 until 1913. Born in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he came to western Canada to serve with the North-West Mounted Police during the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
. He then settled near Leduc
Leduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
and became a prominent local businessman, before being elected as a Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
in the 1905 election
Alberta general election, 1905
The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
. He served two terms before retiring, and later served one year as mayor of Leduc.
Early life
Telford was born June 19, 1860, in Shawville, QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, to Irish
Irish Canadian
Irish Canadian are immigrants and descendants of immigrants who originated in Ireland. 1.2 million Irish immigrants arrived, 1825 to 1970, at least half of those in the period from 1831-1850. By 1867, they were the second largest ethnic group , and comprised 24% of Canada's population...
parents, Robert and Anne (Pratt) Telford. He was educated at public schools in Quebec. In 1880 he went to the United States, before returning to Canada in 1885 in search of adventure after reading an article about the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
. He arrived in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and worked as a carpenter until July 1886, when he joined the North-West Mounted Police. In 1889 he homesteaded near what is now Leduc
Leduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
, on the shores of what was then called Leduc Lake. That July he built a house, which was then the largest building between Calgary and Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
; he operated it as a "stopping house", or hotel.
In the spring of 1890 he married Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
native Belle Howard. They married in Wisconsin, but returned to Leduc shortly afterwards. Robert and Belle Telford adopted to sons, Raymond and Lome; Raymond was killed in June 1916, while serving with the 51st Battalion in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Besides his stopping house, which he moved closer to the railway station when the railway arrived in Leduc, Robert Telford operated a general store and later a lumberyard; he ran the latter for twenty-five years before selling it in 1919. He served as postmaster from 1894 until 1905, and became Leduc's first justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
around 1911. He was also active with the Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.
Political career
Telford ran as the LiberalAlberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate in Leduc
Leduc (provincial electoral district)
-1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:On October 30, 1957 a stand alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive...
in the 1905 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1905
The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
, the first in Alberta's history. He handily defeated his Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
opponent. He was returned to office without opposition in the 1909 election
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, and did not seek re-election in 1913
Alberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
. In the legislature, he supported the government of Premier
Premier of Alberta
The Premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. The current Premier of Alberta is Alison Redford. She became Premier by winning the Progressive Conservative leadership elections on...
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...
against a group of dissident Liberals in the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Scandal was a political scandal in Alberta, Canada in 1910. It resulted in the resignation of the provincial government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford over allegations of conflict of interest in the government's involvement in the financing of the Alberta...
. The Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
alleged that he had accepted a bribe of C$500 to do so, prompting Telford to sue for libel. When Rutherford's government fell and was replaced by that of Arthur Sifton which, though Liberal, followed the opposite course to Rutherford's on the railway issues that had brought down Rutherford's government, Telford supported the new government, notwithstanding its policy differences with the old.
Telford was also involved in local politics: he served on the Leduc town council for several years and as mayor from 1915 to 1916. As at 1924, he also served on the school board.
Later life and legacy
After selling his lumberyard in 1919, Telford entered a state of near-retirement, though he continued to derive significant income from real estate holdings in the Leduc area. He died in 1933 at the age of 73.Leduc Lake was renamed Telford Lake in his honour, and the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Telfordville
Telfordville, Alberta
Telfordville is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Leduc County. It is located just off of Highway 622, approximately west of Leduc.- Demographics :The population of Telfordville according to Leduc County's 2005 municipal census is 29....
also bears his name.
Electoral record
| 1909 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1909 The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results (Leduc Leduc (provincial electoral district) -1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:On October 30, 1957 a stand alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive... ) |
Turnout N/A | |||
| Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Robert Telford | Acclaimed | ||
| 1905 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1905 The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories... results (Leduc Leduc (provincial electoral district) -1905 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:On October 30, 1957 a stand alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive... ) |
Turnout N.A. | |||
| Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Robert Telford | 481 | 63.46% |
Conservative | C. E. A. Simons | 277 | 36.54% |