A. S. McCormack off the bike
One of the many Notman photographs of Montreal Bicycle Club members includes a young man photographed in 1894 and identified as A. S. McCormack.
In fact, the individual was Alexander Stearns McCormick, son of Duncan McCormick of Ormstown, lawyer, and Susan Gertrude Smith (daughter of Hannah Augusta Stearns of Rouse's Pt., N.Y.-a descendent of Issac Stearns who arrived at Salem, Mass. in 1630). He was born on May 22nd, 1876.
Alexander continued to be a member of the Montreal Bicycle Club at least until March, 1897 as he is mentioned as a committee member of the club as reported in the Montreal Gazette of March 12th.
Perhaps, A. S. appreciated the military style of the MBC uniform, as he was also a member of the Victoria Rifles of Canada prior to and during his attendance at McGill University.
In March, 1900, he resigned his commission with the Victoria Rifles to join the 2nd Regiment of the Royal Canadian Regiment to serve in South African during the Boer War. His remembrances of his time there were published in the McGill University Magazine in April 1902 after he had returned to Canada and his studies.
A. S. received a medal for his service in the Boer War, which he received from his Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall in Montreal on September 18th, 1901 while the future king was touring Canada.
The Royal visit, which had stopped in Quebec prior to Montreal was subdued somewhat by the recent assassination of the US President William McKinley on September 14th in Buffalo, N.Y.
Alexander also received a 'Welcome Home' medal from the town of Westmount.
Prior to his experiences in the Boer War, Alexander was enrolled in the Arts program at McGill but, on his return, he switched to Medicine.
I was unable to find any mention of A. S. McCormick in relation to the Montreal Bicycle Club after his return from South Africa. It seems that his focus might have changed after his experience in the Boer War plus the demands of studying Medicine perhaps did not allow him time for such leisure pursuits.
In fact, Alexander's studies seemed to overwhelm him as future mentions of him in the McGill Outlook have him shifting from the Class of '05 to '06 with the last mention of him in 1906 as still a second year man.
He then disappears from the Montreal scene except for a single notation in 1908 in the Gleaner of his marriage to Ruth Barbara Morrison on February 17th at the home of Alexander's father, Duncan, in Westmount.
Alexander shows up in 1913 at a Detroit Border Crossing where he lists his residence as Akron, Ohio and having lived there since 1911.
In 1916, he declares his intention to apply for US citizenship by declaring that he is neither an anarchist nor a polygamist but, ironically, will renounce his allegiance to King George V after having fought for him in South Africa.
In 1918, he completes the process and becomes a US citizen.
Alexander spends the rest of his life living and working in Akron, Ohio and then finally just south in Canton. He is mentioned often in the Ohio State Medical Journal over the years being actively involved in the workings of the Summit County Medical Association. Occasionally, he is also mentioned with respect to what was probably his first love, the Arts. Once, having written three poems (a strange entry for a medical journal) and once for having founded and being the conductor of the Summit County Medical Association's Orchestra.
US Census records for 1920 through 1940 show that Alexander and Ruth never had any children but he was celebrated, in 1956, for his work at the local Children's hospital.
Finally, in 1965, Alexander Stearns McCormick passes away at the age of 89.
This notice in the Ohio State Medical Journal is the first mention found mentioning A. S. being at the University of Western Ontario. Subsequently, a physician's Death Notice provides further evidence of his activities from 1906 when he left McGill and 1911 when he moved to Akron.
A small notice in the Ottawa Journal in 1965 also mentions the passing of A. S.
It is interesting to note that, although Alexander spent most of his life in Ohio and only practiced in the US, the notice describes him as a Montreal physician. Certainly, he retained strong connections with his military experiences in the city and South Africa, and often contributed articles to military history journals about the soldier's life in the Boer War.
A. S. McCormick's days as a wheelman of the Montreal Bicycle Club appear to be limited to his time before the Boer War. The closest he came to cycling in Ohio was being only three hours away from the Wright Brothers' Bicycle shop in Dayton.
Still, his description of the qualities of a Medical society member in the 1919 Lancet Journal were, no doubt, formed by his participation in the Victoria Rifles of Canada and the Montreal Bicycle Club.
R. Gallant aka George Trenholme Bishop
Great Work G.T. I found a few other references to A.S. looking through old copies of the Montreal Bicycle Minute Book and I added them your Post
1895 Annual Report
Pages 74-74 list A.S. McCormick as one of the 24 members who "made a raid across the lines and captured Rouses Point"
1896 Annual Report
Page 78 shows A.S. McCormick as having completed 260 miles "with the club on advertised club rides".
Page 81 lists him as part of a group that rode out to Terrebonne, "leaving the Club House at 3 pm and going by way of St Denis, St Laurent,Back Rive and St Vincent de Paul, arriving at Terrebonne at 4:45". A.S. does not appear to have been a racer, no mention of him is given in the long list of races held that year.
However he does have some musical talent, partaking in a "very excellent program" at the MAAA grounds on June 25th (page 93).
He was part of "The principal social event of the year, the annual Veteran's night and dinner, when ninety three sat down at Welsh and Rough's dining hall" getting special mention as having taken part in the evening's entertainment.
Finishing that year, on Dec 18th, the "Smoking Concert and Cake Walk", the Victoria Rifles Band played three selections and A.S. McCormick also contributed. (page 94)
The annual report that year ends with the question as to whether the time has not arrived that the formation of a bicycle club among our lady associate M.A.A.A. members.
No doubt Mrs McCormick (perhaps A.S. McCromick's mother?) seen here in a MBC uniform was one of these same ladies.
The 1896 Wheel and Cycle Trade Review, which gives a description of all the cycling clubs in Montreal at time states that the City Club was the only Montreal bicycle club to allow ladies as well as gentlemen to become members.
Malcolm McRae aka A.T. Lane
25 April 2020
I found an undated letter published in the Montreal Star?? that was added to A.T. Lane's copy of "Our City. Our Sports" by A. S. McCormick.
Concordia University has micro film copies of Montreal newspapers from July 1 1876 but I was not able to find any references to the ride. However since the ride occurred on Dominion Day it would have have been a holiday and A.T. Lane's appearance on this new machine would have caused some interest among those present.
Malcolm McRae aka A.T. Lane
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| The Bicycle Corps of the 3rd Victoria Rifles |
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| Monterey leaving Halifax March 17th, 1900 |
The Royal visit, which had stopped in Quebec prior to Montreal was subdued somewhat by the recent assassination of the US President William McKinley on September 14th in Buffalo, N.Y.
Alexander also received a 'Welcome Home' medal from the town of Westmount.
In fact, Alexander's studies seemed to overwhelm him as future mentions of him in the McGill Outlook have him shifting from the Class of '05 to '06 with the last mention of him in 1906 as still a second year man.
Alexander shows up in 1913 at a Detroit Border Crossing where he lists his residence as Akron, Ohio and having lived there since 1911.
A. S. McCormick's days as a wheelman of the Montreal Bicycle Club appear to be limited to his time before the Boer War. The closest he came to cycling in Ohio was being only three hours away from the Wright Brothers' Bicycle shop in Dayton.
R. Gallant aka George Trenholme Bishop
Great Work G.T. I found a few other references to A.S. looking through old copies of the Montreal Bicycle Minute Book and I added them your Post
1895 Annual Report
Pages 74-74 list A.S. McCormick as one of the 24 members who "made a raid across the lines and captured Rouses Point"
1896 Annual Report
Page 78 shows A.S. McCormick as having completed 260 miles "with the club on advertised club rides".
Page 81 lists him as part of a group that rode out to Terrebonne, "leaving the Club House at 3 pm and going by way of St Denis, St Laurent,Back Rive and St Vincent de Paul, arriving at Terrebonne at 4:45". A.S. does not appear to have been a racer, no mention of him is given in the long list of races held that year.
However he does have some musical talent, partaking in a "very excellent program" at the MAAA grounds on June 25th (page 93).
He was part of "The principal social event of the year, the annual Veteran's night and dinner, when ninety three sat down at Welsh and Rough's dining hall" getting special mention as having taken part in the evening's entertainment.
Finishing that year, on Dec 18th, the "Smoking Concert and Cake Walk", the Victoria Rifles Band played three selections and A.S. McCormick also contributed. (page 94)
The annual report that year ends with the question as to whether the time has not arrived that the formation of a bicycle club among our lady associate M.A.A.A. members.
 |
| Mrs. McCormick and bicycle, Montreal, QC, 1895 |
No doubt Mrs McCormick (perhaps A.S. McCromick's mother?) seen here in a MBC uniform was one of these same ladies.
The 1896 Wheel and Cycle Trade Review, which gives a description of all the cycling clubs in Montreal at time states that the City Club was the only Montreal bicycle club to allow ladies as well as gentlemen to become members.
Malcolm McRae aka A.T. Lane
25 April 2020
I found an undated letter published in the Montreal Star?? that was added to A.T. Lane's copy of "Our City. Our Sports" by A. S. McCormick.
Concordia University has micro film copies of Montreal newspapers from July 1 1876 but I was not able to find any references to the ride. However since the ride occurred on Dominion Day it would have have been a holiday and A.T. Lane's appearance on this new machine would have caused some interest among those present.
Malcolm McRae aka A.T. Lane
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