Price, Henry Ferrier

Henry Ferrier Price 1833-1898

Henry Price was born at Wolfesfield in Sillery, Quebec, the Price family estate acquired by his father, William Price, who had arrived from Wales in 1810. William had begun wood-cutting operations on the Saguenay River that would later become Price Brothers. Henry was the fourth son of William and Jane Stewart, who was descended from Scottish supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They had fourteen children. Henry’s brothers David Edward, Evan John and William Evan took over the company from their father, but Henry had other plans.
Henry decided to travel to California to join the Gold Rush. He boarded a ship and sailed south around Cape Horn. Upon reaching Chile in 1850 on the voyage north he visited with his Uncle Richard who had settled there. His uncle persuaded him to abandon his plans and he stayed in Chile where he worked in his uncle’s business of cattle and horses.
In 1866 Henry married Florence Stoker Rogerson who was born in Ireland in 1841. They settled on their “Estancia” in Talcahuano, Chile where all seven of their children were born: William, Henry Edward, Teresa Jane (Aunt Terry), Arthur John, Florence Mary (Aunt Flo Bradshaw), Frederick Courtnay, and Lewellyn.
Henry’s brothers back home in Canada had remained bachelors and urged him to come home so that they could keep the lumber business in the family. He sent his oldest sons, William and Henry Edward, north in 1879 to finish their high school education and apprentice in the business. In 1884 Henry Ferrier and the rest of his family moved to Canada and settled in Toronto. The children were sent to different schools as they matured. Henry Edward went to Trinity College in Port Hope as did Arthur. Fred and Lewellyn were sent to Ridley College in St Catherine’s.
William, the eldest, was sent to BCS in Lennoxville, Quebec for a year before going to school in England. He would later take over building Price Brothers and was knighted (Sir William) for his work with the Canadian Army during World War I.
In Tadoussac, William rebuilt Fletcher Cottage for his family and a house nearby called Casa Nueva which later became the Harry Price House. Henry Ferrier died in Toronto in 1898 and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. His wife, Florence, died in 1921 and is buried beside him.

Greville Price