Journalist, artist.
Born in Vermont, USA in 1837, son of Franklin Mead and Rachel Price, the family moved to Ontario when he was young. He came to western Canada in the 1860s. He was secretary pro tem of the Red River Famine Relief committee in 1868-1869 and editor/artist of The Nor’Wester in 1869. He was one of those captured at John Schultz’s house in December 1869 and is thought to have painted the widely copied execution scene of Thomas Scott.
On 31 July 1866, he married Mary Rachel Ashford (?-?) at Winnipeg. They had seven children, including Rachel Meade (1872-1953, wife of Arthur Quesnel). He lived for a time on the Winnipeg River near Fort Alexander, and also at Cumberland House and The Pas.
He died at Winnipeg on 5 May 1879 and is commemorated by Meade Street in Winnipeg.
“City and provincial,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 May 1879, page 1.
“Mrs. Quesnel, pioneer city woman dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 October 1953.
Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
Nationalism and Visual Media in Canada: The Case of Thomas Scott’s Execution by Lyle Dick, Manitoba History, Number 48, Winter 2004-2005.
We thank Kimberley Moore for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 16 December 2022
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
