Memorable Manitobans: Richard “Dick” Woosey (1881-1940)

Prospector.

Born at Merseyside, England on 26 May 1881, he joined the British Army and served in South Africa, India, and Afghanistan. He came to Canada in 1906 where he met Kathleen Rice. Together they trapped, fished, and prospected, staking properties in the Wekusko Lake area of northern Manitoba. He was described as the “father of the Herb Lake Gold Rush.” He died penniless at The Pas on 2 September 1940 and was buried in The Pas Lakeside Cemetery. In August 2013, a commemorative plaque was attached to a rock face on the northwest corner of Woosey Island.

See also:

Kate Rice Prospector by Helen Duncan, 1984.

Sources:

“Good showings reported Herb Lake property,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 July 1928, page 18.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Richard “Dick” Woosey, FindAGrave.

We thank the Heritage North Museum for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Ralph McLean and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 23 July 2017

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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