Ernest Wilson Hubbell

 

Ernest Wilson Hubbell, son of the late Henry Sherwood Hubbell and Eliza Jane Wilson Hubbell, was born at Brockville on November 5th, 1862. He died on Friday, February 19th, 1943, at his home in Ottawa. He was educated in the Kingston public schools and graduated from the Royal Military College in 1881.

 

Early in 1883 Mr. Hubbell became attached to the Technical Branch of the Department of the Interior and served articles to A.G. Cavana, receiving his commission as a Dominion Land Surveyor in 1884. In 1889 he was appointed Chief of a Survey Party and for many years was engaged in surveying work.

 

Few surveyors were better known in the West and later, as Chief Inspector of Surveys, he travelled over a great part of the western plains and came to know the West and western surveys to a greater extent than probably any other contemporary surveyor.

 

Colonel Hubbell also took an active part on the Soldier Settlement Board, which operated after the Great War, in an effort to establish returned soldiers on the land.

 

For the last few years, prior to his retirement, he was employed in the Office at Ottawa.

 

Colonel Hubbell was always interested in military life and enlisted in the 14th Battalion of Kingston in 1876. In the Riel Rebellion, he served as lieutenant to "F" Company, Kingston, Midland Battalion. He continued his connection with the military forces and during the last war was active in organizing the 25th Battery, C.E.F. He was retired in 1920 from the active militia with the rank of colonel.

 

He was an active member of the Dominion Land Surveyors' Association and an honorary member of the Canadian Institute of Surveying; in 1917-1918 he was president of the Army and Navy Association.

 

Source: The Canadian Surveyor, April, 1943.