William Lemond Hamilton

• b- 1868-May-11 , Farm near Russell, Ontario
• d- 1933-Oct-1 , near Wapella, SK

William came to Bienfait Coalfields in 1889 from Winnipeg, in 1916 he went into partnership with R. J. Hassard in the purchase of Bienfait Mines Ltd. He sold his interest in that mine in 1924 to J. R. Brodie and Thomas Taylor and then went to Taber AB to mine there.

1911 census shows him in Passburg, Mcleod, AB. area, with his family. He opened the Leitch Collieries Ltd. mine at Passburg AB, in 1907. A crippling General Strike, Heavy Corporate borrowing, and a disappearing European Coal Market, all contributed to this mine closing in 1915. All the assets were liquidated Aug-Sept 1919. Site declared an Albertan Historical site in 1976.

This is a group photo of the Hamilton families at a SE Saskatchewan mine. Photo above sent to me by Mr. Ron Carpenter, Grand Nephew of Will Hamilton. Thanks Ron!

William Hamilton returned to the Bienfait area, ca 1926 to work the Crescent Collieries Ltd.

William died in a 1933 Car accident near Wapella, SK, his open car overturned when the front wheels hit a culvert and pinned him underneath. He had left Wapella where his wife was, to visit his brother, and was almost at the end of his journey.

After William L. Hamilton died, his daughter Jessie Morrow Hamilton became the mine manager at the new Crescent Collieries Ltd. At that time, it was the Only Mine in Canada Managed by a Woman.

Jessie was born in the family home called “Eagle's Nest”, near their family owned mine, at Coalfields, Assiniboia, NWT, Mar 21, 1901.

Jessie married Hiram Ennis Symons, who was also a mine manager at another mine. Jessie was given a Coronation medal by Queen Elizabeth shortly after the Queen's Coronation. Hiram passed away in Calgary AB. June 27, 1974.

Hiram Symons descendants are well known today in Estevan. Hiram was the father of George Alan Symons.

External: Ouroots - Story and Picture

Ellen (Ella) A. McNeil

• b- Apr 5, 1870, Cranbrook, Huron Co, On
• d- Apr 17, 1934 in Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg, MB
• m- June 13, 1900 in Estevan SK-
• Buried in family Plot in Bienfait Cemetery

Daughter of Lauchlin McNeil and Sarah Lamont,
Ellen was a school teacher in Estevan. She lived in Crow's Nest Pass for a while, in 1920 returned to Winnipeg, MB, where they lived.

Her sister Jessie McNeil, married Peter Cuthbert Duncan, July 28, 1886 at Grey, Huron, ON. When he got married he was Chief of Police in Brandon, MB, age 25, b- Perth Co., ON., son of James Duncan and Joanna Maria Robertson. Peter was the former Mayor, Land Owner, and Business Man in Estevan in the early years.

Brother H. J. McNeil lived in Winnipeg in 1934

Sister, Mrs. J. M. Knight living in Brussels, ON in 1934

@@person.father|@@

• b-1840, Ontario
• d-1881, Russel ON

• Irish, Methodist, Farmer
• 8 children that I know of (listed below under siblings)

Jane Lemond

• b-1843, Ireland
• d-unk