CHARLIE S. WEEKS
Born in Amherst N.S. in 1852. In 1875 at the age of 23 he left the Maritimes
for Colorado. From there, accompanied by a friend, he went to Northfield
Minn. It was here they opened a poolroom and bowling alley. Eleven years
later he landed in Richibucto with Dr. F. Weeks his cousin. In 1887,
he married Emma Davis of Richibucto. Charlie Weeks carried a "tin-type" photo of the Jesse James gang. When questioned as to weather he knew
Jesse James, he explained this away with, "All the acquaintance I had
with the James boys was a nodding one, but on many occasions they were
in my bowling alley. The only one of the gang I really knew and I knew
him well, was Clel Miller, and he was one of the gang killed in an unsuccessful
attempt at the first National Bank in Northfield, Minn. It was Miller
who gave me the photo. The four in the tin-type are Jesse James, Bob
Younger, Charlie Pitts and Clel. Charlie and Clel were both killed in
the Northfield, Minn. holdup. There were at least a thousand posse men
scouring Minnesota for the rest of the gang at the time but they got
away".
HENRY MORE SMITH (a.k.a. Pat Foley)
Smith is one of those characters who give honest color to any story
in any town they may have visited.
Mr. Smith only visited Richibucto while
posing as a London , England tailor. He offered a tailor made suit for
two pounds, six shillings. At that low price, everyone was a customer.
Ah, Smith was a charming rascal and loved by the ladies whom he offered
paisley shawls to for a low price.
But, Henry More Smith loved to steal
horses; he loved the challenge and defied the law to catch him. Catch
him they did and twice he had been sentenced to hang for this very crime.
He is reputed to have been a master hypnotist who could escape locks
like Houdini.
He broke jail in Ireland the day before
he was to be executed . In Ireland in May , 1814 , he was known as Pat
Foley. But, one month later on our shore, he appeared as Henry More
Smith the man who visited Richibucto.
Air Vice-Marshal L . F. STEVENSON
Leigh F. Stevenson was born in Richibucto in 1895. His home was
where Francis Cassie lives today. (across from the Main Street Laurentide
Chemical operation).
In 1914, he enlisted with the Canadian
Expeditionary force and was posted overseas as a Sergeant with the 32nd
Infantry Battalion. He had a storybook career in the armed forces.
In 1940 he was promoted to Air Commodore
and was posted to England as the commanding officer, RCAF overseas.
In 1944 Stevenson was appointed senior Canadian officer on Lord Mountbatten's
staff with responsibilities for Southeast Asia. In 1959, in private
life, he was manager of Forest Industries Flying Tankers for MacMillan
Bloedel ltd. He lived in the big house on main street were Mr. Francis
Caissie lives today. Stevenson
died at his Vancouver home on march 2nd 1989.
TELESPHORE ARSENAULT
First elected to the federal house as an M.P. in July 1930. He was defeated
seeking re-election in 1935. In 1940,he was once again nominated as
a candidate for the federal riding of Kent. Arsenault was known as a
dedicated and concerned member as he carried out both the wishes of
his conservative party and his constituents concerns. Mr. Arsenault
purchased the Martin Flanagan property in 1924. This land in the 1840's
show in some of our records that an A. Keith bought land here. The home
is occupied by his son Omer Arsenault.