STREET HISTORY...

William Parker:
Inspector, Reg #28, 205, 252
b. 15 August 1853, at New Romney, near Dover in Kent England. He was the son of Reverend Henry Parker and Anne Parker (nee Milton). William was one of the original 300 having joined as a Sub-Constable on 4 April 1874 at London, Ontario. He served in the Police Force for more than 38 1/2 years. It was while serving at Battleford he met and married a Metis girl named Mary Margaret Calder. The marriage took place at St. George's Anglican Church on the evening of the 22 August 1882, with the Rev. Thomas Clarke officiating and the Rev. S. Trivett of Fort MacLeod assisting. He served at Dufferin, Swan River, Winnipeg, Battleford, Fort MacLeod, Fort Saskatchewan, Shool Lake, Fort Qu'appelle and Medicine Hat. William attended the signing of Treaty Six at Fort Carlton and Fort Pitt then Treaty Seven signing at Blackfoot Crossing. He was part of Steele's Scouts during the 1885 Rebellion, the Almighty Voice incident and took leave of absence to join Strathcona's Horse in the Boer War. The early years in Battleford saw William and his brother, Harry (who later became Sheriff at Battleford) and another brother, Sub-Constable Julius Foster Dyke Parker (later Rev. Dyke Parker) play major rolls in the early development of Battleford. As a result of his colourful life, Parker became a popular raconteur in his later years at Medicine. He passed away their on 16 May 1945 and is buried in the Hillside Cemetery at Medicine Hat alongside his wife, who also died on 30 November 1944.

N.W. Mounted Police - R.N.W. Mounted Police
James Walker:
Superintendent (Colonel) Reg. #0.18
b. Carluke Wentworth County, Ontario 14 April 1846. Son of James and Margaret Walker.
d. Calgary, Alberta, 31 March (89 years old)
m. Miss Euphemia Davidson Quarrie - 1876
original 300 - served with the 37 Battalion of Haldeman Rifles and 77th West Worth Battalion - second Fenian Raid 1876
Graduate - Gunnery Course, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
Joined N.W.M.P. as Sub-Inspector
C.O. at Battleford in 1876
Took part with signing of Treaty Six at Fort Carlton - 24 December 1876. Major James Walker left Battleford for Ontario on 3 April 1880. He resigned as Supt. of the N.W.M.P. 14 May 1881 to take an interest in the Cochrane stock Farm in the Bow River (Calgary) Country with Senator Matthew Henry Cochrane.

Samuel Benfield Steele, Sir, K.C.M.G. CB, MVO Reg. #3 & 6 Superintendent
b. 5 January 1849 at Purbrook, Medonte County, Upper Canada. Son of Capt. Elmes Steele, Royal Navy and Anne MacIan MacDonald.
m. Marie Elizabeth Harwood at Vaudreuil, Quebec - 15 January 1890.
d. 30 January 1919 at Putney, London, England. Victim of the influenza epidemic of 1918. Buried: St. John's Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Served in Fenian Troubles, 1866, Red River Troubles, 1870 with Steele's Scouts, 1885 - Yukon, 1898 - with Lord Strathcona's Horse, Boer War, 1900 W.W.I, 1914-1918.
Commanding Officer, Battleford, Tuesday, 15 December 1885 to 1 September 1886. D. Division.

Albert Champagne - Reg. #1488
b. 5 June 1866 at Ottawa, Ontario. Son of Seraphin Champagne and Melina Ducharms of 309 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa.
m. Ester Dill (Evans) nee: Oliver at Mistawasis Reserve by Rev. W.L. Moore, Presbyterian Minister.

T.O.S. N.W.M. Police at Ottawa on 6 July 1885, 20 years, 10 months, 6' 2" tall - 160 lbs.
S.O.S. Purchased discharge at Battleford - 21 September 1895 Conduct Very Good

Albert engaged in ranching in the Redberry Lake District for a short time following his discharge, then traded the ranch for the Queen's Hotel. His wife, having been in the hotel business in Battleford for several years, added to Albert's outgoing personality. "Cham" as he was known, was the perfect host. He became Battleford's first Mayor when Battleford became a Town on the 15 June 1904. He then became Battleford's first M.L.A. when Saskatchewan became a Province in 1905. In 1908, he was elected Member of Parliament and served in the Dominion House until the dissolution of the 12th Parliament.

He died in Ottawa on the 12 October 1937 at the age of 72 years. He was buried in the Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa. His wife, Ester passed away in Saskatoon on the 28 November 1949 and is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon.

Joseph Howe, Superintendent
Reg #339 - 0.48
b. 5 September 1855 at St. John, N. Brunswick.
m. Agnes Mary Cameron, 13 April 1892 - Sister of W.B. Cameron
d. Sunday, 17 August 1902 at Fort MacLeod, Alberta.

T.O.S. at Fort Walsh, 9 June 1879. Arrived at Battleford on Sunday, 4 June 1885, in charge of field guns. C.O. at Battleford February, 1888 to Wednesday, 1 May 1889.

Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell
K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., LL.D.
Lieut-General, Canadian Army
Superintendent, Royal North West Mounted Police - Reg. No. 0.95

b. Windsor, Canada West, 6 October 1864
Son of Samuel Smith Macdonell

m. Mary Maud Flora Campbell, third daughter of Lieut.-Colonel J.T. Campbell of the 72nd Highlanders and Royal Canadian Rifles on 14 April 1896.

Lady Mary Maud Flora Macdonell died at Burlington, Ontario, near Hamilton, on 13 July 1936. She is survived by her husband and one daughter, Alison Cameron Macdonell.

Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell died at his home in Kingston, Ontario on 23 December 1941.

Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell graduated from Royal Military College at Kingston, Ontario in 1886. After serving in the Canadian Permanent Militia for a term, he transferred to the North West Mounted Police. He served in the South African War with the Canadian Mounted Rifles/Stratcona's Horse and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was severely wounded in February of 1916 while serving with Lord Strathcona's Horse in World War I and was many times mentioned in dispatches. Following WWI, he served as Commanding Officer at Royal Military College, Kingston, from July 1919 to July, 1925. His only son, Leiut. Ian Cameron Macdonell, was killed in action at the Somme on 2 July 1916, age 21 years. He was buried at Arras Memorial, Faubourg - D'Amiens Cemetery France.

Inspector Macdonell resumed his rank with the N.W.M. Police following the South African War (Boer War) and was promoted to Superintendent in March 1903. He took over command at Fort Battleford on Friday, 13 January 1905. His family arrived in Battleford on Saturday, 4 February 1905. The children, Ian and Alison, attended St. Vital School in Battleford. Supt. Macdonell was transferred to Winnipeg and left Battleford on Thursday, 19 April 1906. His family followed on 15 May 1906. Inspector McGibbon replaced Supt. Macdonell as Commanding Officer at Battleford.