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John Herron is now living
retired at Pincher Creek, after years of earnest, persistent labor,
which brought to him a handsome competence. He engaged in ranching for
many years and still retains some of his, land. He was born in Ontario,
on the 15th of November, 1853, a son of John and Marguerite (Crane)
Herron, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. The
father was a farmer and came to Ontario at the age of twenty-one years.
He owned much land in that province and lived retired for some time
prior to his death, which occurred when he was ninety years of age. Mrs.
Herron died in her sixtieth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Herron twelve children
were born, John being the third in order of birth. One son, Peter, came
to Alberta in the latter part of the '80s and homesteaded some land near
Pincher Creek, on which he resided until his death. John Herron, Sr.,
was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church throughout his life
and was an Orangeman.
John Herron attended the
common schools of Ashton, Ontario, until he was twelve years of age, at
which time he hired out, working in the woods of Ontario and Quebec for
six dollars per month. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the
trade of a blacksmith and in 1874 he joined the Royal Northwest Mounted
Police, as blacksmith for the police at Winnipeg. The following spring
he came to Alberta with the Northwest Mounted Police, as escort of Major
General Snipe. From Calgary they moved on to Macleod and thence into
Montana. Subsequently he returned to Calgary with the same party. Later
he went through the mountains to Walla Walla, Washington, and finding it
too late to make his way back through the passes Mr. Herron went on to
Salt Lake City, where he bought a pack horse and made the journey to
Calgary by way of Macleod, arriving there at Christmas time. He was
stationed at Calgary until he received his honorable discharge from the
Royal Northwest Mounted Police, in May, 1878. He then returned to
Ottawa, Ontario, by the way of Fort Walsh and there embarked in the
grocery and liquor business. Later lie entered the firm of Bate &
Herron, which association was maintained until 1881, when he withdrew
and came back to Pincher Creek. He organized a cattle company in this
district, which was known as the Stewart Ranch Cattle Company and he
obtained a lease of about forty thousand acres between Pincher Creek and
South Fork. He became local manager of the ranch and he deserves great
credit for what was accomplished. He engaged in breeding Clydesdale
horses and imported several stallions. At one time he put one thousand
head of horses, which he had brought from Idaho, in the Crowsnest Pass
for the winter and he never lost a horse. When Mr. Herron determined to
dispose of his interests and retire he held a large sale and averaged
better than one hundred and eighty dollars per head. Aside from ranching
he has done some experimental farming, and he owns a half section of
land. He retired from active life in 1908.
Mr. Herron married Miss
Ida Lake of Lindsay, Ontario. To their union three children have been
born: The eldest child, Georgia G., is the wife of E. G. Ambrose, a
successful farmer; Kate is the wife of J. L. Jenison, superintendent of
the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Edmonton; the youngest member of the
family is Edith Maude, who is the wife of George Hunter, manager of the
Union Bank at Lethbridge.
Mr. Herron gives his
political allegiance to the Conservative party and he was elected to
parliament at Ottawa in 1904 and again in 1908. Fraternally he is
identified with the Masons, being past master of the Royal Arch Masons,
and he is also an Orangeman. Mr. Herron deserves great credit for what
he has accomplished, for he started out in life empty- handed, met
difficulties cheerfully and bravely, overcame obstacles, and by energy
and perseverance worked his way upward to success. His friends
throughout Macleod district are legion and he is held in high confidence
and esteem. |
