CROSS, A. E. (1861-1932)
Alfred Ernest (A.E.) Cross
A politician, rancher, brewer and one of the Big Four of Calgary Stampede
A. E. Cross
Born: June 26, 1861 at Montreal, Quebec
Married: June 8, 1899 at Calgary to Helen (Nell) Rothney Macleod
Died: March 10, 1932 at Calgary, Alberta
Buried: Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, plot E:04:003
Contributor: Jim Benedict
His Early Years
Alfred Ernest Cross (or A. E. as he liked to be called) was born in Montreal, the eldest of seven children of the chief justice of the court of Queen’s Bench. He was educated in private schools, at the Montreal Business College and studied for three years in England. He trained as a veterinary surgeon at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph and the Montreal Veterinary College Educated as a veterinarian, but at heart, he was an empire builder. In 1884, it was the West that offered the greatest opportunities to young men who wished to carve out empires; so young Cross turned to the prairies and foothills. Here, he found employment on the Cochrane Ranch as veterinarian, bookkeeper, and general ranch hand.
Simply working for others was no more challenging for A. E., so, he began ranching on his own. Starting with a quarter-section homestead west of Nanton, Alberta, he built it into the A7 Ranch1. Mr. Cross was far more interested in improving quality than in building for size. He imported pedigreed Shorthorn and Hereford cattle. Putting his scientific knowledge of animal husbandry to work, he began improving the breed of Alberta beef stock.
Because of a riding injury, it became necessary for A. E. Cross to move from his ranch into Calgary. However, he had no intention of retiring. He could no more sit still and leave the building of the country to others than he could cease breathing—it was simply not in his nature. Cross looked around and decided there was need for a local brewing industry. He went east, studied to become a brewer, then returned to the West to found the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company.
Although there was plenty of rotgut and firewater on the western frontier, the Calgary Brewing Company had a virtual monopoly on good-quality, reliable alcohol. The Brewery was located in present-day Inglewood, known then as Brewery Flats.
John and Helen
Helen Rothney Macleod was born in the Officers’ Mess of Fort Macleod, the eldest child of Lt. Col James and Mary Macleod. She was baptized by an itinerant American missionary visiting the fort, though nicknamed Nell. She was educated at Bishop Strachan’s School in Toronto from the age of 11. Her mother, Mary Macleod, born in the old Fort Garry, was the daughter of William Dreaver of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Dreavers were Red River people, and part of the oldest European community in the Northwest. She insisted her daughters also be skilled at cooking, sewing, outdoor duties, and other tasks around the home.
Colonel Macleod died on Sept. 5, 1894, leaving Mary and their five children with only eight dollars. The family was forced to move in with her sister Jean Pinkham, who sold her diamond ring to afford the groceries for six more people. Despite petitions from former Governor General Lord Lorne and Lord Dufferin, the current Governor General, amongst others, the Federal Government refused to grant Mary a pension. The hat was passed and a two-story home at the corner of Fourth Street and Twelfth Ave S.W. was found for the Macleod family.
In 1899, A. E. Cross and Helen were married in Calgary at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer. A. E. was the M.L.A. for East Calgary at the time. The ceremony was performed by Nell’s uncle, the Lord Bishop of Saskatchewan and Calgary. At the reception held at the Macleod residence, the Calgary Fire Brigade band serenated the happy couple. They then departed to Banff for their honeymoon.
The growing Cross family lived at Calgary 1240 – 8 Avenue SE in present day Inglewood. The Cross House is a Calgary Heritage Site and today it is known as the restaurant Rouge.
The Calgary Stampede and “The Big Four”
In the summer of 1912, Cross, along with Pat Burns, George Lane and Archie McLean (“The Big Four”) put up the combined amount of $100,000 to finance the first Calgary Stampede, held in September of 1912. They are known as the Big Four. As it happened, A. E. owned 80 acres of land at the original Stampede site.
The Final Years for A. E. Cross
A. E. Cross died on March 10, 1932, after contracting pneumonia following surgery. Nell was left the Calgary home and had a lifetime allowance of $600/month. The Victoria home was sold, as Nell stopped travelling due to a degenerative hip issue.
Nell died on Jan. 30, 1959, at her home in Calgary. While conducting a tour of Union Cemetery, I was told by a gentleman who was a telegraph runner as a child that any telegraphs destined for the Cross house were fought over by the runners.
Nell would not only tip the young boy who brought it, but often sent them to the kitchen for a hot chocolate if the weather was cold.
A. E. Cross Legacy2
A. E. Cross School
A. E. Cross never ceased being a rancher. Nor did he or his family ever lose interest in pedigreed cattle, for members of the Cross family are leading Alberta cattle breeders today. Their Western heritage has also given A. E. Cross’ descendants a healthy respect for Western history. While it has continued to help build Calgary’s future, the family has never forgotten its obligations to the past.
The A. E. Cross Junior High School in Calgary is named for him. Also, the Big Four Building is named in honour of the four founders, including A. E. Cross.
A. E. Cross was a founding member of the Ranchman’s Club, in 1891.
He had many business interests and played a foundational role in the development and growth of Calgary, on all levels.
Business Interests:
- Calgary Brewing & Malting company
- The brewery grew and had over 100 employees.
- A7 ranch. Today the A7 ranch is the oldest ranch in western
- Canada still in the hands of the original owners. It is
- managed by A. E. Cross’ grandson John and great-
- granddaughter Tanis.
- Invested in Calgary natural gas and in oil companies
- Established Hotels in BC and Alberta which eventually numbered 47
- Leadership Positions
- Conservative MLA for East Calgary, 1899
- President of
- The Calgary Board of Trade
- The Western Stock Grower’s Association
- The Rachman’s Club
- Canadian Manufacturer’s Association
- Board memberships
- Calgary General Hospital
- The Western Canada Polo Association
- The Prairie Thoroughbred Breeders & Racing Association
- Chinook Jockey Club
- He also founded British Canadian Pictures with Pat Burns and JJ McFarland. The most famous film was His Destiny, filmed at the Calgary Stampede and the Prince of Wales ranch near Longview. His Destiny debuted at the Palace Theater in Calgary in 1928.