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Farming and stock raising
has for many years engaged the attention of Andrew Gilmour of Lacombe.
He was born in East Middlesex, Ontario, in 1875, a son of James and
Sarah Elizabeth (McClary) Gilmour, the former a native of Scotland and
the latter of Ontario. The father, who followed the occupation of
farming during the greater part of his life, was one of the prominent
men of his day and represented East Middlesex in the federal house for
two terms. He was held in high confidence and esteem by all who knew him
and his death was deeply regretted by many friends, as well as his
family. Mrs. Gilmour is making her home in Wetaskiwin, with her
daughter, Mrs. W. H. Odell. To James and Elizabeth Gilmour four children
were born, three of whom are living, Andrew Gilmour being the second in
order of birth. The youngest son, John Gilmour, is associated with his
brother Andrew in live stock operations at Lacombe. The religious faith
of the father was that of the Presbyterian church and his political
allegiance was given to the Conservative party.
In the acquirement of his
education Andrew Gilmour attended the schools of his birthplace and was
graduated from high school. His first occupation after putting his
textbooks aside was as a farmer and rancher. In 1897 he located in
Manitoba, where he remained but a short time, coming on to Lacombe the
same year, and engaging in ranching and today he is one of the most
successful and largest ranchers in the district. He has a large and well
improved farm and he feeds cattle, hogs and sheep, the latter to the
number of two thousand and he owns and operates thirteen hundred and
sixty acres of land. Mr. Gilmour uses progressive methods in promoting
his enterprises and his prosperity is but the natural result of his
thorough application and the scientific principles which he applies to
his work. On the 24th of December, 1901, was celebrated the marriage of
Mr. Gilmour to Miss Olive Grant Burns, a. daughter of William Burns, the
postmaster of Lacombe.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilmour are
consistent members of the Presbyterian church and zealous workers in its
behalf. The political allegiance of Mr. Gilmour is given to the
Conservative party and he is very active in party affairs. He was a
member of the city council for a number of years and was elected to the
legislature of Alberta in 1917,. serving one term, at the end of which
time he withdrew from public life. He stands ever ready to devote time
or money to worthy public enterprises and champions agricultural
progress, commercial expansion, educational improvement and intellectual
progress, taking a deep interest in all movements that con- tribute
toward the elevation of the human race. |
