William, of Culbokie, and his wife Margaret Macdonell had nine sons. Of these, Archibald and John fought under Wolfe at Quebec. John settled at Montreal, and became Chief Justice of the Montreal district. In 1774, or more probably in 1773, Simon left home, and settled near Bennington, Vermont. Here his son, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1776. His mother and her family came to Canada after the death of his father (as stated above), and settled in Glengarry. Simon was the youngest of the family. He was placed in school in Montreal, where he resided with his uncle, the Chief Justice. In 1792, at the age of sixteen, he became an articled clerk with McTavish, Frobisher & Co., to the North-West Fur Trading Co., which had its headquarters in Montreal. In 1802 he became a partner, and subsequently went out to the far North. In 1805 he came down from Fort Athabasca to Fort William, and was then nominated to cross the Rocky Mountains, to extend out-posts and form trading connections with the Indians. He responded at once to the call. He said he would undertake the expedition provided they gave him a sufficient outfit. This the Company were only too glad to do. It was a very hazardous undertaking. He crossed the mountains with thirty men--clerks, axemen, guides and interpreters. He soon found himself in a wild and desolate region. As he went on he built block-houses, and took possession of the country in the name of the King. In 1806 he discovered the river which takes its name from him. He discovered many rivers and lakes which he named after different members of the Company. He traced the Fraser river to its source, and met many different tribes of Indians, some friendly, others hostile. At one time they met different tribes who were very friendly and made a great feast for them; they killed their _fattest dog_ for him, which of course he feigned to eat; but at the same feast the chiefs held a council and decided to put him to death, which the interpreter, who understood their language, told him, and they stole quietly away. He first named the river now known as the Fraser river, the "Great River," and called the place "New Caledonia." Here he left some of the party, and crossed westerly into the open country, and built another house near a lake, which he called Fraser's Lake. He was now with four men in the midst of Indians who had never before either seen or heard of the "pale face." On the border of this lake he witnessed an Indian ceremony. He was brought by the Indians to where they had a large burying-ground, where one of the Chiefs of their tribe was being buried. An immense number of warriors were assembled, and after a most solemn and impressive ceremony, Mr. Fraser was invited by signs to approach the grave. He did so, and gave immense satisfaction by engraving his name on a post which had been planted over the remains of the departed warrior. In July, 1807, he received fresh