Fred Maggs Family

Born in Cairn, Wiltshire, England, Fred Maggs came to Cochrane with his wife and family in 1910. Their original plans were to go to Vancouver, where Fred was going to work as a grain buyer. However, they stopped in Cochrane to visit the Beynon and Davies families, with whom they had been good friends in the Old Country, and Mr. and Mrs. Maggs decided to stay.

Fred went into a partnership with Jack Campbell in a grocery store. A year later Fred bought out his partner’s interest in the building and the store. Fred took an active interest in the affairs of the Village, serving as mayor for a number of years. During the First World War he served on the Tribunal with Mr. Abell. Fred donated the land to the Cochrane Legion where the Cenotaph and the Legion Hall were located, and also donated a flagpole and flag to the Legion. He was made an Honorary member of the Canadian Legion. He bought and paid for the planting of the poplar trees that were planted on the south side of Main Street.

The Maggs were strong supporters of All Saints Anglican Church.

While Fred Maggs was on the council, he and Mr. Patterson, the Union Bank manager, tried to get a golf course made on what is now Cochrane Heights. The villagers would not agree to it, claiming that it was far too windy for a golf course. Some enthusiasts did try to play there, but they always said that the wind blew the ball off the green. For a number of years that piece of property was known as the old golf course. When R. B. Bennett was elected as Conservative leader at a convention of the party held in Winnipeg in the early 1930s, Fred Maggs felt honored to be chosen as a delegate representing Cochrane.

The Maggs had two children, a son Leslie and a daughter Enid. The children attended school in Cochrane. Leslie chose banking as a career and managed banks at Turner Valley and Strathmore. He retired to Victoria, where he still resides. Enid married F. L. Gainer.

Shortly before World War II Fred sold his store and business to W. Andison, and he and his wife moved to Victoria. He passed away in 1943. Mrs. Maggs moved back to Calgary, and passed away in 1965.