True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: August, 2021
The NWMP and Their Migration to the USA
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
In spite of a formal 1818 US-British agreement which regulated the Canadian-American border, for many years afterwards, anyone could traverse the invisible line quite easily without detection or from raising an alarm. The US-Canada border was publicized as the longest under-defended border between two countries in the world. In the time of the NWMP say around 1873, and well into the mid to late 1800’s, it was fairly easy to sneak across the border, and thousands of people took advantage of this somewhat lax situation. Migrants flowing in both directions did not worry unduly about legitimate identification, or immigration papers or a passport. Record-keeping was sketchy. There might have been laws on the books, but essentially people saw the US-Canada border as wide open, and among the migrants flowing south were several dozen NWMP. Some police officers simply walked away to escape their law enforcement responsibilities in Canada while others looked forward to new opportunties in the United States or sought adventure. Oftentimes, the elusive nature of the wandering NWMP meant that their true identity as former police officers was never fully known to American authorities.
Sub Constable John Dorgan was born in Halifax, NS in 1850. He joined the NWMP in November 1873, however he deserted in 1874 midway through the March West. Dorgan skipped across the US border without raising an alarm and he made a new life for himself in the New England States. He died in Boston, MA in 1908 at the age of 58, and he was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, MA. Dorgan's grave was found by Edmonton, AB RCMP Veteran AJH 'Joe' Collinson and London, ON, Veteran Merle Armstrong.
John Arnold Ridley was secretly married to Sarah Johnston when he joined the NWMP in April, 1877. He was a member of the March West, and afterwards he served both in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Ridley deserted from Wood Mountain Detachment around 1878, and he quietly returned to his wife in Toronto. Sarah Ridley gave birth to a baby in 1870, but the child died in infancy. He was employed in the printing business. Ridley calculated that the NWMP was searchng for him and considering his circumstances (desertion) he decided it best to keep a low profile.
Ridley met Lottie Fuller and sometime after the 1881 Ontario Census, Ridely and Fuller skipped Toronto and on September 24, 1881 the pair got married in Chicago, II. Ridely and Fuller moved in with her parents who were also living in Chicago. In the 1900 US Census, Ridley is listed as a book binder and Lottie was listed as a dressmaker. The Census also lists them living in Des Moines and it notes their birthpace was Canada. While living in Chicago, the Ridley's gave birth to a son, Frank, who died. The boy was buried in Des Moines. Lottie died in 1916 in Chicago and she too was buried in Des Moines. A Death Certificate in the name John A. Ridley lists his occupation as a retired book binder who was born in Canada. He died in Des Moines, on June 11, 1921. Ridley's grave was found by Manitoba RCMP Veteran Neil Christoffersen in Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines II, USA.
Joseph Wood served in the NWMP for three years, but he was considered an irresponsible sort. In October, 1874 he was convicted in Service Court for committing a nuisance in front of the NWMP camp. He was fined $1. In July, 1875, Wood appeared in Service Court for a second time. He conspired to commit mutinous conduct with five other NWMP with the intent to release Sub Constable McCarthy from the temporary Guard Tent. Wood was fined 30 days pay. Two years later, he quit. After Wood left the NWMP in 1877, he settled in St Catharines, ON. In 1911, he moved to Detroit, MI where he wandered the city going from job to job. He died in Detroit in 1947 at the age of 95. Manitoba RCMP Veteran Neil Christoffersen disovered Wood’s grave in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Detroit. He and his wife Elizabeth are buried side by side in an unmarked grave. Their son John has a marker, but nearby neither Joseph Wood or his wife have a headstone. Wood might have wanted his final resting place to remain a secret.
After the March West by the NWMP in 1874, Crofton Uniacke served for six years then he moved to the western USA. In 1933, he died in Nevada at the age of 79. Uniake was buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, Nevada. His grave was discovered by London, ON RCMP Veteran Merle Armstrong.
Sub Constable Richard Goldsworthy joined the NWMP in Halifax NS. He served from 1873 to 1877. After the NWMP, Goldworth moved to Montana where he worked in a copper mine. He died in Montana in 1912 at the age of 62. His grave was discovered in Mountain View Cemetery in Butte, Montana by RCMP Veterans Jack O'Reilly and AJH 'Joe' Collinson.
David Graham also served in the March West in 1874. After his service with the NWMP, he farmed in Belt, Montana. He retured to Ontario where he married in 1883. He and his wife returned to Belt. David Graham was Belt's first Postmaster and he was also a founder of the Belt Cemetery in 1895. In 1937, Graham died at the age of 88. His grave was discoverd by Manitoba RCMP Veteran Neil Christoffersen and RCMP Veterans Jack O'Reilly of Toronto, ON and Edmonton, AB Veteran AJH 'Joe' Collinson.
Charles John Knowles was born in Guelph, ON in 1849. Prior to NWMP, Knowles was a Sergeant Major in the Wellington Field Battery Artillery based in Guelph. He joined the NWMP in 1874 in Toronto, ON, and he too was a pioneer of the March West. In spite of appearing in Service Court on one occasion in October, 1874, Knowles served very honourbly until his time with the NWMP expired in 1877. Upon his release, Knowles returned to Guelph where he married. He found employment as an auctioneer, but he grew restless in Ontario. In 1882, he and his family relocated to Montana, USA. He died in 1899 at the age of 50. Charles Knowles was buried in Old Highland Cemetery in Great Falls, Montana. His grave was discovered by Edmonton, AB RCMP Veteran AJH 'Joe' Collinson and London, ON Veteran Merle Armstrong.
Not every NWMP entered the USA unlawfully. Frederick William Geddes served throughout the March West in 1874, and he stayed with the NWMP until mid-1877. Geddes recognized fresh oportunities looming south of the border so in 1878, he founded a huge live-stock business in northern Colorado and Nebraska before he settled in Wyoming. With his cattle industry flourishing, his business enterprise led to some wealth. Geddes became very popular in the State, and he was nominated to the State House of Representatives in Wyoming. He died in 1942 at the age of 84. Manitoba RCMP Veteran Neil Christoffersen found his grave in the Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne, WY.
There are hundreds of stories about members of the NWMP who migrated to the USA from Canada for a whole variety of reasons. The vast majority of these NWMP made a new life for themselves and their families in America, and many of them like Fred Geddes also found success in business or in other professions. It is rewarding that the lives of the NWMP can be explored through on-line research today, and that Canadians can read and learn more about them and where they are buried.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
August 23, 2021
