HEBERT, TELESPHORE, also known as TOM HIEBERT
Télesphore Joseph Hébert accompanied his son, Ignace Hébert, who had been hired by the North West Mounted Police to bring 142 dogs from Labrador up to the Yukon during the winter of 1898-1899.Tom Hiebert remained in the Territories where during a few years he pursued his work as an auxiliary to the police during their patrols and their mail delivery. Also he trapped, prospected and exploited mines in various regions of the Territories; over and above all this, he had a store/stop-over or relay station on the Overland Trail.
In 1922, he built himself a small house in Mayo. During the 1930’s he prospected in the mines of the Keno and Mayo regions, then he settled in Dawson City. He then returned to his birthplace in Quebec with the idea of retiring there, but not long after, he could not resist the call of the Yukon so he returned to live in his cabin in Dawson City. In 1964, aged 94, he entered St. Mary’s Home/Hospice. During that same year, he was named a life member of the Order of the Pioneers of the Yukon.
On August 17, 1970, he celebrated his 100th birthday. His health had kept him in bed for the previous three years. He died two months after his 100th birthday. He was buried in the Dawson City cemetery. According to Father Jean-Paul Tanguay*, who knew Télesphore Joseph Hébert very well, although he often went by the name of Tom Hiebert, he was a French-Canadian.
Ref. Empreinte, vol. 11, page 65
No comments:
Post a Comment