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With the coming of the Riel Rebellion in1885, Patrick was pressed into service as a surveyor and had to leave ranching. On his return to the area in 1886, he homesteaded "Plateau Farm," located closer to Calgary and his surveying work, which he carried on in conjunction with ranching. That same year he married Margaret McPherson, a grand niece of Lord Strathcona. The Patrick’s had seven children. Patrick left government employment in 1888 to launch his own surveying business. Shortly after this, he discovered oil near Alberta’s Waterton area. While Patrick spent most of his time surveying, Margaret and the children managed the farm. After the First World War, the Patrick family moved into a large home on Calgary’s 13th Avenue. Margaret died in 1940, and Allan followed in 1949. Patrick’s contribution is still in evidence throughout the province of Alberta. During his career he surveyed the original grid for Calgary and all the railway townsites between Macleod and Edmonton with the exception of Leduc.
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© Calgary Public Library. 2000