William Humberstone
Encyclopedia
William Humberstone was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a municipal councillor in Edmonton
.
in the 1870s, and in July 1880 left for Edmonton on foot with an ox
and a Red River cart. He arrived three months later.
Soon after his arrival, he began to extract coal
from the banks of the North Saskatchewan River
and founded the Humberstone Brick & Coal Company. He was elected to the Edmonton Town Council as an alderman in the 1897 municipal election
, finishing sixth of nine candidates, but did not seek re-election at the conclusion of his term.
In 1899, he married Beata, a German
immigrant. Not long after the wedding, flooding in the river washed away his mining infrastructure. He rebuilt it the following year, and continued to run the mine, in conjunction with Beata, until his death.
William Humberstone died in Edmonton on April 2, 1922.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and a municipal councillor in 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...
.
Biography
Humberstone was born in Niagara Region, Ontario in 1836. He moved to WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in the 1870s, and in July 1880 left for Edmonton on foot with an ox
Ox
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
and a Red River cart. He arrived three months later.
Soon after his arrival, he began to extract coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from the banks of the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
and founded the Humberstone Brick & Coal Company. He was elected to the Edmonton Town Council as an alderman in the 1897 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1897
The 1897 municipal election was held December 13, 1897. This was the last election to elect a full town council for a one year term, as the 1898 election was conducted under a staggered system...
, finishing sixth of nine candidates, but did not seek re-election at the conclusion of his term.
In 1899, he married Beata, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigrant. Not long after the wedding, flooding in the river washed away his mining infrastructure. He rebuilt it the following year, and continued to run the mine, in conjunction with Beata, until his death.
William Humberstone died in Edmonton on April 2, 1922.