SAUNDERS, Prof. William - Member of 1887 Eastern Media Tour
Visited the Bell Farm on October 5, 1887. During the autumn of 1887, a group of 11 Eastern Canadian newspaper representatives undertook a cross-Canada excursion to inspect and report on agricultural activities throughout the Dominion, including daily attendance at local agricultural fairs, and, at Indian Head, a visit to the famous Bell Farm. For an unknown reason, two of the visitors – William Weld and Professor William Saunders, did not sign, and hence their entries are included in Album 600 – Other Bell Farm Visitors – 1882-2006.
William Saunders (1836-1914) was born in England and came to Canada with his parents in 1848, settling at London, in present-day Ontario. Having trained as a pharmacist, he opened his own drug store in 1855.
He married Sarah Agnes Robinson in 1857, and they raised a daughter and five sons.
William Saunders also became active in agricultural research, and served as a member of the Ontario agricultural commission of 1880–81. Due to his extensive research into the scientific aspects of farming, Saunders was appointed Director of the newly-established Dominion Experimental Farm system in 1886, with its headquarters at a farm adjacent to Ottawa. Initially five experimental farms were established from coast-to-coast, at: Nappan, Nova Scotia; Ottawa, Ontario; Brandon, Manitoba; Indian Head, Assiniboia District of the North-West Territories (now Saskatchewan); and at Agassiz, British Columbia. Later, seven more farms were opened. With Brandon located not that far from Indian Head, some people questioned why the latter site was chosen, rather than another further west. Unquestionably, there was considerable lobbying by all parties to see their location chosen, and it would appear that Major Bell and other Indian Head proponents presented a better case and/or had more political influence in this decision.
Professor Saunders joined the Eastern Media Tour in Ottawa or Winnipeg, and then travelled with them as they attended daily agricultural fairs and inspected the new or proposed Dominion Experimental Farm sites across the country - one of which, at Indian Head, was comprised of a portion of the original Bell Farm. Consequently, the land was possibly already plowed and ready to farm. It was also situated next to both the town and the CPR railway - well-placed for future communication and transportation needs.
William Saunders retired in 1911, and died in 1914.
SOURCES:
List of Eastern delegates/William Weld & Professor Saunders, p. 3, column 3 - https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=HOg0WoviCygC&dat=18871013&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Saunders biography: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/saunders_william_14E.html
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.