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©Keeseekoowenin 1998
By Walter Archibald Scott
(L - R) Walter Scott, Billy Dyre, Glen Campbell |
In 1880, Glen Campbell came to the Mercheston Ranch, when his father, Robert Campbell, starting ranching. The Mercheston Ranch was located at the site of the former Hudson Bay Company's Riding Mountain House post. Glen was going to school in Scotland and was to return to Scotland in the fall to continue his schooling. He returned to Scotland, finished his schooling and returned to the ranch. Before settling down to working for his father on the Mercheston Ranch he went to Montana for two years learning to be a cowboy and a rancher. He joined his father about 1885 and when the Riel Rebellion broke out. Glen joined Major Bolton's Scouts. The Bolton Scouts played a major role in the fighting at Batoche. |
While with the Bolton Scouts at the Riel Rebellion, Glen met a young fellow just out from Scotland, Crieffe Perthshire, Scotland, near where the Campbell's lived. His name was Walter Scott, my father. They became very good friends and when Glen returned to the Mercheston ranch he brought his friend Walter Scott with him. Walter stayed with the Campbell's for many years. They married sisters, Victoria Burns and Harriet Burns, both were daughters Chief Moses Burns.
About 1889 Walter and Glen moved over to the north side of Riding Mountain to an area called Big Grass. There they took up homesteads and their wives got a quarter section each for their script. Here they started ranching on their own. He usually had two or three horses to race with, Joe Boyer and Bonhomme were his jockeys.
Why they moved to Big Grass instead of taking up land that was available north of the Mercheston ranch in the beautiful valley of the Little Saskatchewan River, I will never know. They lived there till 1898. At the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. Glen and Walter sold all their land to finance their expedition to the Klondike except Mrs. Glen Campbell. She refused to have her 160 acre Script sold. This stayed with her till she died, her oldest son Jack got her land and it stayed in the family until 1942.
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