The truth about Harry Gordon

[RedMystic]

Hi Chatters,

I'd love some help with this one. Harry Gordon isn't related to me. He was a bachelor who lived next door to my grandparents & I don't want him forgotten.

- Can any one find Harry Gordon in the Wapella area, Saskatchewan in the 1911, 1916, 1921 census.
- Did Canada have something similar to the USA pony express &, if so, might there be records?
- Is there a way to connect Harry to family in England? (NOTE - I only have his headstone to confirm birth year so I am taking it with a grain of salt at this point.)

Background:
When I was a little girl there was a man who lived next door to my grandparents in Moosomin, Saskatchewan. My mum said he was a Barnardo Boy but he's not on the list.

He told me that he was an orphan who had come from England and he had ridden for the Canadian equivalent of the pony express. I don't know if that's true, but my grandpa said Harry had traveled studs for breeding from farm to farm in the Wapella area. His goal was to live to 100 & when I visited Saskatchewan in 2012, I found his headstone (St Andrew's Cemetery south of Wapella) which indicated 1884-1984.

I've been told that he came to the St Andrew's district of Saskatchewan about 1909 and worked on John Reid's farm until about 1915, but I can't find him in the 1911, 1916, or 1921 Saskatchewan census. After that, he lived on different farms: Cattermole's, Joe Johnstone's, Billy McTavish's and Mum says he was around their farm a good deal until they moved to Moosomin in the early 1950s. I can find Harry Gordon on Voter's Lists in Moosomin when he lived next to my grandparents in town.

Ideally, I'd like to build a small tree for Harry in the event someone of his blood family ever comes looking. 

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. 

[DonM]

No pony express.
 
I can't find him on any SK census either perhaps his "birth" name wasn't Harry/Harold which would mean he could be impossible to find.  It may be hidden in his death registration or possibly an obit.

I'll assume you checked Ancestry's emigration/immigration records.

Don



 

[RedMystic]

Thanks Don.

Most of the info I've got is from his obit.  I was hoping for a census that would give me an idea of year of arrival. Otherwise the name is too common. I've looked through all the Gordons in the right age spectrum on the Banardo Boys site. No love there either. I'm beginning to think the community members made some assumptions.

I've made him a tree of 1. Hopefully, something will fall into place.

I appreciate you taking a second look.

[Janice M]

In the 1911 census for Saskatoon, there is a Harry Gordon listed (no age given) as a hotel guest. Saskatoon (by car just over an hour).(over 7 hours to Wapella)

http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=25486


Here is the link for John Reid (living in Qu'Appelle - Township 15) (Wapella is close to there)
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=142784

The closest Harry (Harris) Gordon is living in Qu'Appelle - Township 12)
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/SplitView.jsp?id=142718

1911 Saskatchewan Townships & Districts
https://www.ogs.on.ca/ogspi/1/1911sk.htm

Janice

[RedMystic]

Thanks Janice. I think it's the right John Reid. He sold out about 1915. As to the other two possibilities - great finds. I just need a few more hints. thanks again. 

[dbree]

Hi RedMystic,

This is info that you already have, but...I thought that it would be nice to have a photo for
other RC's to see of Harry and his stallion Rolland from 1950. 

http://www.ourroots.ca/page.aspx?id=2885570&qryID=d008f167-870b-4839-a3c4-89ea31634a80

Cheers,
DB

[Janice M]

Nice find debreeze.

RedMystic
He could have worked for the "Royal Mail" in Saskatchewan.
http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/transportation.html

Janice

[RedMystic]

Thanks dbreeze. I do have the Moosomin book - a great resource.

Janice, that's an interesting lead. I'll look into it. Thanks very much.

[manawakian]

Henry Gordon age 6 aboard SS SIBERIAN arrived Quebec City 11 June 1889.  Was one of 123 Scottish orphan boys aboard headed for Fairknowe Home in Brockville Ontario.  Home founded by William Quarrier "distributed" some 7,000 Scottish orphans around Canada between 1871 and 1938.

Googling "Quarrier" or "Fairknowe" one can find where the records of these children can be ordered by descendants, but don't know whether available to the idly curious.