Robert Francis Couzens

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138820
• Occupation: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Occupation: 1881, , Manitoba, Canada; carpenter

Robert — Julia Ann King. Julia was born 16 Mar 1830, Stepney, , Middlesex, England; died Oct 1869, Poplar, , London, England. [Group Sheet]

Robert — Mary Jessie "Jessie" Gasson. Mary was born Between 1848 and 1849, , England; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138821
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138822
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1881, , Manitoba, Canada

Notes:

EARLY RESIDENT LAID TO REST HERE SATURDAY.

The funeral of the late Mrs. J. G. Oliver, well known and highly respected pioneer of the west, was held Saturday morning at the Wright Funeral Home, Biggar, with the Rev. H. Moore of Third Avenue United Church in Charge.

After a 67 mile drive the cortege reached Battleford United Church Cemetery, where an impressive message was given by they Rev. J. W Bulleyment , of St. Paul's Anglican Church, who conducted the rites. Many flowers adorned the coffin. Pallbearers were H. McKenzie and G. Smith, Biggar; G. Hewitt, Calgary; A. E. Craig and w. Rowland, North Battleford; and H. S. Stewart, Battleford.

The departed is survived by three daughters: Mrs. J. T.. Callahan, Pouce Coupe, B.C.; Mrs. H. McKenzie, Biggar; Mrs. J. G. Gewitt, Calgary; and Arthur K. Oliver, Portland, Ore.; Two sisters, Mrs. T. Clark, Nanaimo, B.C., and Mrs. w. Scott, London, Ont., also mourn the loss.

The Oliver's made their home in Battleford, where the deceased was prominent in church and community affairs, and became noted for her great kindness and large hearted hospitality, During all the years her memory has been cherished by friends and neighbours. In August 1883 Agnes first white child north of the Saskatchewan River east of Edmonton, was born. The eldest son, Jay, was drowned in the Saskatchewan River in July 1901, and the body was never recovered.

Mr. John Oliver passed away in 1920 and Mrs. Oliver left here in 1930 to make her home with her daughter in Biggar. Suffering a stroke four years ago she never fully recovered and died at the age of 80 years and 10 months on Thursday night of last.

Battleford News - Thursday Oct. 27, 1938

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Battleford Loses Its Oldest Resident, John G. Oliver.

On Monday morning John G. Oliver, the longest resident of Battleford was found dead in his bed. The deceased had been suffering from cancer for a number of years, which lately had become more serious as well as developing in one or more other places. So serious had the progress of the disease become that it was known that a fatal termination could not long be delayed, so that his early death was not unexpected, still the suddenness with which it came at the end was a great shock to his family and friends.

In 1876 Mr. J. G. Oliver was foreman of a party of workmen who were employed in building the capital of the North-West Territories, to be called Livingstone, near Fort Pelly. He received instructions to stop the work and proceed to Battleford. Selecting twenty-six men of the different trades that would be required, he set out on his long journey, sending the rest of the men down the Assiniboine from Fort Ellice to Winnipeg on flatboats. After building the Government House in Battleford, (now the Academy), and other buildings he returned to Ontario but returned a little later with the lease of a timber limit at Turtle Lake. In connection with this he built a sawmill at the mouth of Turtle River, calling the place Ogemah. The mill was burned by the Indians during the Rebellion of 1885, and never re-built. Mr. Oliver, who was one of the most expert mechanics in the West, installed machinery in mills at Whitefish Lake and at Fort Vermilion in the very far North and in the Hudson's Bay Co.'s steamboats on the Mackenzie River. He built and operated the first steam ferry at Battleford, and also built the local mill and elevator.
The deceased was the son of Hon. Adam Oliver and Elizabeth Grieve and married Miss. Julia P. Couzens in Brandon Manitoba on 28 Nov 1882.
He leaves besides his widow, three daughters - Mrs. J. T. Callahan; Mrs. Hugh McKenzie (of Biggar) and Miss Alice and one son Arthur King. Another son Jay was accidentally drowned in the North Saskatchewan River, a number of years ago.

The funeral service on Wednesday afternoon at the family residence on 29th St. Battleford, was conducted by Rev. J. C. MacLeod assisted by Rev. Canon Matheson, and was attended by a very large number of friends of the family, including many Old-Timers.

He was married in 1882 in Brandon Manitoba, John and his wife travelled west via C.P.R. to Qu'Appelle, where they unloaded their outfit and made the remainder of the journey overland. On mild days they drove in a cutter, but in stormy weather they enjoyed the shelter of a closed jumper.

At duck Lake they branched into Prince Albert to make arrangements for a saw mill to follow when navigation opened. On reaching Battleford in 1883 they made preparations to go to the site of the mill, called Ogemah, on the Turtle River, about 20 miles from town. The mill was burned by the Indians during the rebellion of 1885. After this the Olivers made their home in Battleford, Mr. John G. Oliver passed away in 1920

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138823
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1881, , Manitoba, Canada

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138824
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England
• Residence: 1881, , Manitoba, Canada

Other Events:

• Name: Ellen Couzens
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-138825
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England