Share via Share via... Twitter Facebook Pinterest × Table of Contents Frobisher Name Origin Location Elevation Grain Elevators Newspaper School ca 1920-1921 Postmasters and Post Office History Postmaster Bios History Book Frobisher Frobisher, Saskatchewan, Canada Village of Frobisher Located in Rural Municipality of Coalfields #4 Name Origin Frobisher started out as Frobyshire A legal name change was required My couple guesses of where the name came from: Sir Martin Frobisher, (b- ca 1535 or 1539 ,d- 15 Nov 15, 1594) was an English seaman who made three voyages to the New World to look for the Northwest Passage. or maybe? There were 3 Frobisher brothers who were famed fur traders and explorers of the West. Joseph Frobisher, b- 1740 in Halifax Yorkshire. Benjamin Frobishire came to the North country in 1765 Joseph in 1768, and Tom in 1774 Joseph in 1774 reached the Saskatchewan River. Established a small post on the Churchill River, and returned to Montreal with many furs. He and his brothers, with Simon McTavish, were founders of the North West Company. Joseph was a charter member of the Beaver Club in Montreal. Joseph died Sept 12, 1810 Joseph was involved in the Frobisher-McGill firm One article I read claimed “The Frobisher name should be among the first on the roll, of the famous men of the west.” Looks pretty good to me! Donald A. Smith of the CPR was an old fur Trader, the last commissioner of the HBC. He would have known the Frobisher name, I am sure. Mr. Art Forgay, Principal of Estevan Collegiate Institute in the 1960's did research on the name of the village. Part of my Dad's 1927 Map showing Frobisher East of Hirsch Location Located W 1/2 Sec 13, Township 3, Range 4, W2 Latitude- 49° 12' 35“ N Longitude- 102° 25' 37” W Located at the crossroads of the CPR Souris Line, and the Grand Trunk Regina-Boundary, Branch Line Located on the Grand Trunk Railroad / CNR / Regina-Boundary Branch Line GTPR Regina Boundary Branch Line Elevation Elevation 1891 ft Grain Elevators Sept 1903 4 Elevators in Frobisher Northern Elevator Co. Imperial Elevator Co. (2)- Andrews & Gage- Each had a capacity of 25,000 bushels Frobisher still has a Grain Elevator standing, June 2017 Frobisher Elevator Nov 20, 2016 Photos taken by Karl Gompf, courtesy Larry Gompf Newspaper 1906 the “Frobisher Times” became the newspaper of the village School Frobisher School #810 1980 this was a 5 roomed school for grades 1-6 and a modern High School was opened ca 1979 ca 1920-1921 Frobisher has CPR Telegraph, Dominion Express, Government Telephones, and a Bank. Population =200 Town Hall Overseer (same as a Mayor today) Frederick “Fred” Thomas Dallin b- bet Oct- Dec 1873, Bristol Registration District, England d- Feb 27, 1958, Matsqui, BC, age 84 married bet Apr-June 1898, Bedminster Registration district, wife- Florence Dallin, nee Wintle b- ca 1878, d- June 29, 1951, Matsqui, BC, age 73 both buried in Abbotsford BC left Bristol England , July 1906, on Victorian, arriving in Montreal Quebec, August 1906 Councillors Charles T. Lapp, and J. G. Bond Town Clerk Rev. Edgar Whitehouse CPR Station- Elwood Graham, Agent Stores / Restaurants etc Yuen Ding Restaurant Frank C. Renie, Clothing and Confectionary Leonard E. Rennie, Grocer and Meat Market Samuel Hammil, Livery Sale and Feed Stable Robert H. White, Farm Implements, Garage and Repairs John T. Wood, Ford Agent, Farm Lands, Insurance, and Loans Imperial Oil Ltd., Duncan MacNicol, Agent Charles T. Lapp, Farm Implements John S. Bond- Farm Implements, Harness, Insurance, Farm lands, and Loans Frank McGillivray, Barber and Pool Room Alfred E. Potter, Hardware Donald MacNicol, General Store Riddell & Co.- General Store, John S. Riddell William I. Riddell, Clerk Reynolds & McCall- Garage and Repairs Albert McCall, Proprietor Robert J. Reynolds, Proprietor Harold Manns, Mechanic, Drayman- Charles Harris Hotel- Imperial Hotel, John Klaholz, Proprietor Doctor- R. Allan Lee, Physician and Surgeon Elevators Leitch-McClean Elevator Co. Ltd., Leonard Rennie Agent (May 1920 the Leitch-McClean Elevator Co. Ltd. bought 17 elevators from the Imperial Elevator Co. and one from Hallet and Carey. No list of which towns though, or owners) Farmers Elevator Co., William Forsyth, Agent International Elevator Co. -Fred T. Dallin, Agent International Elevator Co was was absorbed by Federal Grain Ltd. in 1929 Mar 1924 manager was A. Thompson, and held that position for 13 years prior. He was being questioned in Winnipeg on setting grain prices. International Elevator Co. was incorporated in 1910. Had 48 elevators in 1928. Federal Grain Ltd, in 1929, merged Federal Grain Ltd., Stewart's Terminals Ltd, the Union Grain Co. Ltd., the North Western Elevator Co. Ltd., Consolidated Elevator Co. Ltd., the Brooks Elevator Co. Ltd. (Incorporated in 1927) , the McLaughlin Elevator Co. Ltd., the Copper Grain Co. Ltd., and the International Elevator Co. They controlled 338 Country Elevators, total of 11,250,000 bushels of grain, after the mergers. General Manager A. C. Michael Board Members 1929: James Stewart, Henry Eugene Sellers, Fred “William” Riddell, H. J. Symington K.C., Harry D. K. Sellers, J. H. McDonald, Allan Holmes Williamson, b- Apr 28, 1895 in Toronto ON, d- July 1, 1961 in Vancouver, Chairman of the Board- James Stewart President- John C. Gage, Vice-President- Henry Eugene “Harry” Sellers (1886-1970) In 1928 it cost between $12,000-$15,000 to build each elevator. Telephones Saskatchewan Government Telephone Co. Fred T. Dallin, Agent Lillian McElroy, Operator, Vera O'Brien, Operator School School Teachers- Margaret Pickard Mr. Melville Rae, Principal, Public School, Sept 1921-June 1922 Bank Merchants Bank of Canada Merle Manns, Ledger Keeper Frank Pullinger, Accountant in Charge Harold E. Ramsey, Clerk Arthur W. Evans, Teller Blacksmith Frank Meadous Post Office John J. Nesbitt, Postmaster Church Union Church -Rev. Edgar Whitehouse, Pastor Misc Silas Giem, retired farmer George O'Brien, retired farmer Thomas Adair- retired Postmasters and Post Office History First Name of Office: Frobyshire Federal Electoral District: Assiniboia (Saskatchewan) Located on Sec.13, Twp.3, R.4, W2 Name of Postmaster Military Status Date of Birth Date of Appointment Date of Vacancy Cause of Vacancy John Samuel Riddell (See below) see below Feb 1, 1902 see below Due to an Error on the Village Plans the name had to be legally changed to Frobisher New Name of Office: Frobisher Federal Electoral District: Moose Mountain (Saskatchewan) Name of Postmaster Military Status Date of Birth Date of Appointment Date of Vacancy Cause of Vacancy John Samuel Riddell see Below 1902-02-01 1912-02-03 Dismissal, Political Partisanship John James Nesbitt see below 1912-05-10 1938-04-07 Death Miss Lena Adelaide Nesbitt 1887-08-04 (see below) 1938-04-08 Acting Ernest William Sabroe see below 1890-07-03 1938-10-04 1942-02-08 Granted Military Leave John Robert Simpson OAS 1886-07-20 1942-02-09 Acting - Ernest William Sabroe 1890-07-03 1945-11-30 1949-11 Death Mrs. Mary Sabroe, nee Lancaster * 1949-11-01 Acting - Mrs. Mary Sabroe * 1950-01-14 - - Mrs. Mary Joan Howard * 1970-07-01 This reproduction is NOT represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the National Archives of Canada. The source of this material is the National Archives of Canada Postmaster Bios John Samuel Riddell First Post Master b- Mar 16, 1864 in Nissouri, South Frontenac Co. ON d- raised at West Nissouri, ON son of William Riddell and Eliza when he married Sept 20, 1893 at Keewatin, Rainy River, ON he was age 29, a telegraph operator at Pipestone, MB Wife- Lavina Riddell nee Irwin b- May 2, 1871 in Creemore, Nottawasega, Simcoe Co., ON (1872 in 1901 census) d- July 26, 1944 raised at Hagerman Township, Parry Sound District, ON Age 22 when she married, living at Keewatin, ON daughter of Thomas Irwin and Isabella. 4 children: 1. Isabella “Elma” Phillis Riddell b- July 21, 1894 in RM of Pipestone, MB d- Married Clarence V. Pickard, 1925, Frobisher, Saskatchewan, Canada. 2 Children: Margurite Pickard Gertrude Pickard 2. Muriel Alexandrina Riddell b- Aug 17, 1897 in Alameda, NWT, SK d- Married Alexander C. Sweet (1896-1936), in 1923, at Frobisher, SK, Canada 3 children: Jack Sweet Douglas Sweet Helen Sweet 3. William “Bill” Irwin Riddell b- Oct 1, 1900 in Alameda, NWT, SK d- 1969 in Frobisher, SK Royal Canadian Flying Corps, WW1, saw action in France. enlisted in Regina Mar 26, 1917, 249th overseas Batt., Reg # 1069599 Served in Royal Canadian Air Force, 1925-1960s. Retired as Wing Commander, Commander of the Rockcliff RCAF Base, near Ottawa, Ontario. Stunt flyer Married Margaret McLean (1903-1970) 2 children: Martha Riddell Margot Riddell 4. Georgina Annetta Riddell (Georgeina in vital records) b- Jan 4, 1902 in Frobisher SK d- School Teacher Married W. H. Waddel 1901 census, John Riddell living with his family in Alameda SK., CPR Agent 1911 census John Riddell shown as Presbyterian, Occupation- Merchant Built the first structure in town, which became the Riddell & Company General Store with his residence at the rear. The store contained the Telephone, Telegraph Office and Post Office. Riddell's were the first family to settle in Frobisher. John Riddell also built the first Bank in Frobisher. John James Nesbitt b- May 27, 1855 in ON d- Apr 7, 1938 He was agent of Imperial Elevator Company in 1903, in Frobisher. Married Lydia Thorn b- July 23, 1855 in ON d- had 4 children, all born in ON Amy Nesbitt- b- Aug 8, 1880 Walter H. Nesbitt- b- Feb 7, 1883 Wilson T. Nesbitt, b- Mar 13, 1884 Lena A. Nesbitt , b- Aug 4, 1887 (see below) ca 1900, came to Frobisher from a farm near Kincardine, Bruce Co. ON Post Mistress and Daughter Lena Adelaide Nesbitt b- Aug 4, 1887 in ON d- Oct 9, 1965 in Kelowna BC, age 77 Ernest William Sabroe b- July 3, 1890 in Odense Denmark d- Nov 1949 Age 17 he came to USA 4 years later came to Canada Married in 1925 to Mary Lancaster b- Nov 16, 1904 in North Portal, SK d- daughter of John Lancaster and Mary Ann Lancaster, nee Lawn they had 6 children Ernest served in the navy in WWI and Veterans Guard of Canada in WWII Rank LCP, Reg # 257759 in WWI living in Frobisher SK, enlisted in Regina Jan 19, 1918 single, Lutheran, farmer Father- Christian Theodore Sabroe in Odense, Denmark History Book A history book was written in 1980 https://cdm22007.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p22007coll8/id/361446/rec/1 NOTE- This is NOT my Web Site, and link May or May NOT Work in the future. I now have a copy of this book as of June 2017. I have no affiliation with present day Frobisher. This page was created to add to the history of the area Originally Created Mar 28, 2011 © Last modified: 2021/09/05 18:43by dlgent Log In