Biography of Alexander Sebastian Cameron (1891-1978)

When he was ten years old his father David passed away.  Alex was fortunate enough to have a strong and determined mother, and of course his older brothers, all of whom served as early role models.  After his father’s death Alex remained active, though in a more structured way.  The tall young man was a member of the Gladstone Crescent Baseball Team in 1904, under the guidance of manager William Murdock, playing alongside other lads of Scottish descent with surnames like MacDonald, Monro, MacCrae and Kerr.  During the winter months he was on the town hockey team, a sport that equally shared his passion.  At this time Alex also entered the local workforce, finding a type-setter position with the Gladstone Age Press Newspaper.  Until his death, some seventy years later, he subscribed to "The Age," reading it before he would touch other local papers.

In 1905, looking to provide homesteading opportunities for her children, Alex's mother immigrated with the family to the eastern Alberta border, near the town of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.  At that time Alex chose to remain in the Gladstone area.  Unlike his oldest brother Will, who had completed his education and was away from home, working, Alex was the only Cameron family member who stayed behind in Gladstone.  It was assumed by many that he lived with his maternal Grandparents, William Allen Sebastian and Isabella Noble, while he completed his high school education, but census records tell another story.  In June 1906, when the Manitoba Census was undertaken, Alex was among nine boarders living in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Dotton, in Gladstone.  The Sebastians were raising two other grandchildren at this time, William and Isabella Archer, and probably had little spare room.  Another story, passed along by descendants of Alex's uncle Charles, tells a different tale.  Since he attended Neepawa Central High School, which was a fair distance from Gladstone, while school was in session he lodged with the local veterinarian in Neepawa, doing chores and keeping fires lit in exchange for room and board.  It is unclear whether this actual occurred, but it is a possibility.  

To support himself, sometime around 1903 Alex started working.  He had strong, fond memories of that time in his life:

“When about 14 years of age I started driving the delivery wagon for Galloway Bros.  (Their slogan was "The Liveliest Business House of the West." - - and it was VERY MUCH ALIVE.)  The old delivery horse, Tom, was blessed with the greatest horse sense I have ever encountered.  Late on Saturday night I would jump into the high wagon, tell Tom the home we had to go to, and without any steering from me, he would take me there.  Later I graduated into the grocery department and because their business encompassed every phase, from baled hay, meat, hides, and even snake root, a liberal education should have been mine.  On a cattle buying trip with Mr. Galloway Sr., about 1903, we traveled up the west side of Lake Manitoba as far as the Ebb and Flow, picking up a few head here and there, then down the east side of the lake to Long Island, where we got them all together (about 150 head) and drove them across Lake Manitoba to Kinesota and then into Gladstone.  The trip took 2 ½ months.  While in Galloway’s store my lot was fortunate, being associated with the finest of co-workers that any person has ever been associated with.  In those days there were 10 to 25 employees.  The inhabitants of the Gladstone District were the cream of the crop.”

Galloway Brothers, built in 1902, was located on Dennis Street in downtown Gladstone.  This building was recognized years later - in 1989 - as provincial historic site, one of the earliest extant department stores in Manitoba.  Alex spent four years working at Galloway Brothers.

During 1907 he also found work as a "fireman" on Jack McAskill's threshing gang.  That autumn Alex and the Sebastians left Gladstone, heading west to meet up with the family.  Before he boarded the Alberta Lady train, Alex’s grandparents presented him with a wonderful surprise, a beautiful gold-banded pen set as a graduation present.

Upon arriving out west Alex decided, as had his older brothers, to take up a homestead.  His was located on the south-east quarter of section 24, township 46, range 2, west of the 4th meridian, southwest of Rivercourse, near McLaughlin.  A "quarter" is a section of land 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile (160 acres).  Alex filed for his land on October 1st, 1910 and "proved up" on it March 9th, 1914.  However, it seems that he did not live on his homestead; the 1911 Census shows him residing with his mother and siblings on the family ranch, on the S.W. 1/4 of 4-47-1; between the Vermilion River County hamlets of McLaughlin and Rivercourse, Alberta.  This census does not record a residence there in his name, indicating that a home was not built, at least at that time.  Eventually, as life took him in different directions, his property was combined with his younger brother Collins' adjacent property.  The newly formed eastern half of 24 went to Collins' son Lloyd Collins Cameron and eventually passed out of the Cameron family, sometime in the mid 1960s.

Based out of the “Cameron Ranch,” the family had a herd of cattle, mostly open range.  “The Cameron Boys” (as they were widely known) spent many a day cutting and stacking hay for the winter months, besides checking the herd.  Mostly, two of the younger boys, usually Gordon and Norman, and one older boy, often times Alex, did this on horse back.

The Cameron lads loved to lace up their skates and play hockey.  In addition to doing so in Lloydminster, they sharpened their blades for use on nearby Lonely Lake, where the occasional weekend skating party was held.  Along with his brother Bert (Albert Edward), Alex owned and operated the first public skating rink in Lloydminster, beginning in December 1912, in time for the 1912-13 hockey season.  Before this time the town did not have a practice rink, and the Lloydminster Times applauded "the capable management of Messrs Cameron Bros" in filling "a very felt want in Lloydminster."  At this same time news accounts reported that the young town was experiencing a significant series of young "hooligans" roaming about and causing problems.  The hope was - once again in the words of the Lloydminster Times - that Alex and Bert would "insist on the least appearance of rowdyism being kept outside the rink."

A Lloydminster Hockey Club organized for the first time on December 9th, and they chose yellow and black for their jerseys.  Alex spent the season playing for both the junior and senior Lloydminster teams, apparently because he was only 21 years of age at the time.  Bert, on the other hand, being four years Alex's elder, played exclusively for the senior team.  The local junior team - oft referred to as "the hockey boys" - went undefeated in their premier season, due to the efforts of players such as Archie Miller, Pat Hamilton, the Tuckwell Boys (Ronald and Allan), the Cameron's cousin William Archer and Alex himself.  Rosters indicate that Alex served in numerous positions throughout the season.  He spent time in the goal, at point, rover and right wing.  Once a slight, thin lad, he was a force to be reckoned with on the ice, clocking in at 5'11" in height, with a sturdy frame.

A notable regular season game was played at Lloydminster's rink on January 18, 1913, with the local junior team taking on the junior team from Battleford.  Alex was in the nets and shut out the Battleford boys, with Lloydminster "badly bumping" their visitors 6-0.  One week later, on Saturday January 25th, these two teams met up once again, but this time at Battleford, and although the final was a 3-3 tie, the news cited Alex as "the pick of the visiting team."  The next week Alex was up with the senior team as they decimated the visiting Manville team 18-2.  Alex was cited in the Lloydminster Times as one of the "hardest workers" on the team, accompanied by his good friend Archie Miller.

With the very successful Lloydminster season drawing to an end, two exhibition games were held in town, and were widely attended.  The first, which was played on February 13th, was reported to have drawn "the largest crowds ever seen at a hockey match in the town."  It was billed as "Hill vs. Lyle," with the town's new mayor (Hill) selecting a team to take on the former mayor (Lyle) on the ice.  Alex was chosen to play on Mayor Hill's team, as rover, and his brother Bert was on the opposing team, in the goal.  It was a pitched battle on the ice, and the action became rough.  With his team leading 2-1, early in the second "spasm," Alex wrenched his shoulder and had to quit the game.  News accounts later reported that "his (Alex's) loss sent the losers up in the air, and before coming back to earth they were hopelessly in the rear."  They also mentioned that he was "going fast till his injury put him out of the game."  Bert Cameron was blocking everything in the Lyle net and the former mayor's team went onto a 5-2 victory.  

With the interest in from this game "too red hot to let simmer down," another exhibition game was scheduled for February 20th, with teams chosen by local citizens H.B. Hall and R.W. Miller.  On Hall's team Alex was at point and also served as team captain, Bert was firmly set in the nets and cousin Will Archer played at centre.  About 100 fans were in attendance to witness more Lloydminster hockey history.  Unfortunately, despite a "plucky attempt in the final period to pull the game out of the fire," Hall's team was defeated 8-5.  Bert Cameron "got in the way of some deadly attempts on his goal" and Alex "worked hard at the point," but it was for naught in the end.  The teams were treated by their sponsors to a supper at Lloydminster's Old Country Tea Rooms afterwards, where Alex - in his capacity as captain - joined in on the evening's speeches.      

By the end of March the 1912-13 hockey season drew to a close.  The First Annual Social and Dance of the Lloydminster Hockey Club was held on the evening of Thursday, March 20th, with 160 in attendance at Wood's Hall.  "A pleasing feature of the evening was the voting by all present as in which four hockeyists this winter had played the cleanest and best games, the winners to be presented with engraved medals as souvenirs.  The voting resulted in the following four being chosen: Archie Miller (#52), Alex. Cameron (#42), Ronald Tuckwell (#28), Allan Tuckwell (#25)."  Alex's medal, which survives to this day, is inscribed with his name and denoting him as  one of the "four best hockey players in Lloydminster," as right wing on the senior (adult) team.  The evening continued until 3AM and was cited as being "one of the best dances yet held in town."   

Although Alex and Bert would enjoy many more years on the ice, the 1912-13 season must have been their most memorable.  Alex continued to use his beloved Gladstone-purchased hockey skates, which are now on exhibit, suitably labeled, in the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre (Richard Larsen Museum, Pioneer Life Room) of Lloydminster.  

Hockey in itself and working the Cameron lands wasn't enough for Alex.  Even though, as previously mentioned, he "proved up" on his land on March 9, 1914, records indicate that Alex was working for "MacDonald's Grocery" from 1914-1915.  Verbal family history also indicates that he lived in Edmonton for a time.  It is probable that Alex worked for the A. MacDonald Company.  A wholesale grocery business and Edmonton branch for the A. Macdonald Company of Winnipeg, this branch became one of the three largest grocery suppliers in northern Alberta.  With his experience in Gladstone at Galloway Brothers, Alex would have been very well suited for a position at MacDonald.  While in Edmonton, around 1915, Alex married a young lady by the name of Rose (whose maiden name is believed to have been Garden or Garten).  She was supposedly a "beautiful girl," born in Warwickshire, England, who hailed from either the Gladstone or Winnipeg area.  Rose wasn't the only member of her family named after flowers - her sister's name was Lily (Mrs. John Dawe of Edmonton).  She may be the true reason that Alex did not initially venture west with his family, as long distance courtships on the frontier were difficult.  Though the newlyweds were frequent visitors to the Lloydminster, McLaughlin and Rivercourse areas, they did not settled into a house on Alex's homestead, instead residing at 9527 160A Avenue in Edmonton.  

By early 1915 the first Canadian soldiers were landing in France, with World War I having commenced the preceding year.  Alex and his brother Fred both "joined up" to serve.  His brother was sent overseas, but Alex was stationed in Canada, as a member of the Canadian Royal Flying Corps.  It is unclear where he was stationed, but family stories relate that it was at Selkirk, Manitoba and also Edmonton.  It is also uncertain when he served; all that is known for sure is that he was in the R.F.C. in 1917, the date engraved in a shoe shining brush, one of many mementos preserved within the family.  On May 11, 1917, while Alex was in the service, Rose died after a long bout of diphtheria.  Her burial took place two days later, at Edmonton Cemetery.  Alex, now a heartbroken soldier, was promptly discharged.     

He soon decided that a change was in order once again.  His entrepreneurial oldest brother William J. Cameron (Will) had woven his way down across the U.S., working in pharmaceutical sales.  He finally chose Chicago as a location to launch his own medical equipment company, initially producing a line of transilluminated medical lights that he had bought the patent for.  Alex, with an acute interest in the medical profession, boarded the Canadian Pacific Railway on June 27, 1917 in Winnipeg and emigrated to the U.S.  After crossing the border at Noyes, Minnesota, records indicate that he arrived in New York the following day and then back-tracked to Chicago, where he arrived on June 29th.  If these records are correct, then this was probably done for immigration purposes.  During his early years in the U.S., Alex lived with Will and their maternal cousin (fellow "Gladstonian" and "Llodyminsterian") William "Billie" Archer in a rented house at 1107 Berwyn St., Chicago.  The three gentlemen were "working on their own accord," selling instruments for Will's fledgling business, American Surgical Specialty Company, located at 6 East Lake Street in Chicago's "Loop."  Based on some records, it appears that Alex was working with his brother as early as mid-1917.

Alex received his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from The Washington School of Optometry of Spokane, Washington and later an honorary Doctor of Ocular Science (D.O.S.) degree from Beta Sigma Kappa International Honorary Fraternity, on March 9, 1928.  He is documented as having been a member of the Senior Faculty of The Northern Illinois College of Optometry, on Drexel Boulevard in Chicago, from at least 1930-31, though his tenure there probably lasted much longer.  While instructing students, he also served as an advisor to Phi Theta Upsilon fraternity, and would be the Deputy Grand Chancellor of their International Council in 1958, indicating that his involvement was ongoing.  In addition to teaching, Alex went to work for his brother full-time in or around 1929.  By this time the company had undergone quite a few changes.  On January 1, 1922 the business was renamed "Cameron's Surgical Specialty Company."  After operations were moved to various locations within the city, on December 5, 1925 they settled into a 4-floor office/factory at 666 W. Division St. in Chicago.  They also had offices in New York and overseas in London, as of March 1, 1928.  In addition to overseeing production of new optical diagnostic equipment and directing Cameron Surgical’s Optometric Educational Department, Alex was primarily in charge of sales.  Along with 60 or so fellow salesmen, Alex put in many long hours, traveling throughout North America.  He soon became Vice-President of the company, working side-by-side with his brother.  

Beginning in 1903 Alex turned his attentions to inventing optical instruments.  The United States Patent Office recognized these devices as original concepts and granted seven patents specifically to Alexander S. Cameron:

- Patent# 1,780,291 (issued November 4, 1930): An optical apparatus that has more particular reference to a device for testing and charting the visual and color fields of a patient's eyes.

- Patent# 1,796,359 (issued March 17, 1931): Invention relates to optical instruments with particular reference to an instrument that includes a projector to cast an illuminated image or test object upon a screen where it may be observed by the patient under examination or treatment.

- Patent# 1,797,544 (issued March 24, 1931): Optical apparatus for examining, testing, exercising and treating the eyes.

- Patent# 1,886,939 (issued November 8, 1932): Instrument for examining, testing and exercising the eyes. 

- Patent# 1,887,708 (issued November 15, 1932): Instrument for exercising the eyes of a patient whereby a stimulating effect is had upon the eye muscles.

- Patent# 1,899,135 (issued February 28, 1933): Optical apparatus primarily designed for the purpose of exercising the eyes of the patient, as well as for measurement and charting the visual and color fields.

- Patent# 2,057,983 (issued October 20, 1936): Optical instrument for a new novel method of control of the associated and supportive functions of vision which is accomplished by the use of selected light frequencies.

In the December 3rd, 1931 issue of the Optometric Weekly, Alex had an article printed: New Considerations of Visual Color Fields, their Development and Change.  In it he addressed his national peers in his theories of Chromagraphologic studies.  Toward the end of his piece, Alex expressed his attitude toward his work.  He stated how important experience and interest in the field of research were to him.  Alex would go on to lead the development, by Cameron's Surgical, of Myoculator devises marketed to optometrists throughout North America and also published the illustrative guide book entitled Myoculator Technique Results, which featured before and after photographs of optical patient success stories and their prescribed treatment.

Throughout the years he stayed involved in the fostering of students in his field; teaching, employing, educating and supporting them whenever possible.  Alex also kept his medical skills up-to-date, frequently attending seminars in areas as diverse as physical education, vitaminology, chiropractic and naturopathic medicine.

While living in Chicago Alex met Grace Ann Fawcett (Clark).  The date was January 2, 1919 and the war in Europe had just ended.  Years later she wrote of that day: “he was very thin (and tall) and in uniform – Royal Flying Corps.”  Alex and Grace were married in Chicago on March 28, 1921 by the Reverend James S. Ainslie, initially resided at 1408 Foster Avenue, and would have two children in the years following: Dorothy and Alexander.  On December 22, 1927 Alex became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States, concluding a process he had begun five years earlier.  Just a few months later, on April 20, 1928, the Camerons moved from Chicago (6150 N. Campbell ) to the near-north side Chicago suburb of Park Ridge.  The young town then had a population of 1,000 and promised to be the best of both worlds: small town living with city culture.  The family of four resided at 831 Greenwood Avenue.  Alex and Grace would spend the next 47 years in relative peace and contentment in this same home.  That house is still standing, having been renovated and given a large addition by subsequent owners, nearly doubling its original size.  Alex was especially proud of his yard, which was laden with trees that he brought from the Manitoba and Alberta countryside.

Alex’s life took an unexpected turn in September 1953, when his brother Will passed away.  The following February he became the Chairman of the Board and President of Cameron’s Surgical Specialty Company, subsequently bringing his son Alex and son-in-law Noel in as executives.  Alex held this position until July 24, 1957, when Cameron's Surgical Specialty Company was sold, a process that was complicated by a large sum of money that Will had borrowed from the company over time.  Cameron’s Surgical’s assets were acquired by George K. Hendrick and eventually became the Cameron-Miller Surgical Company.  This company still exists in Chicago, using that hybrid name.  At this same time (July 24, 1957) Alex was granted exclusive distributorship of the Cameron Heartometer, an instrument produced by one of Cameron's Surgical’s small affiliated entities, Cameron Heartometer Company.  In addition to his other duties, Alex had been heading this line since at least 1942 and had great hopes for its future.  That same year, 1942, found him making a demonstration of the Heartometer at a meeting of the National Medical Association in Cleveland.  The 1957 agreement stated that after approximately one and a half years of operating in space Cameron’s Surgical facilities (which operated under that name but with new ownership until at least 1959) that the Cameron Heartometer Corporation would be conditionally transferred to him, effective January 31, 1959, along with any assets or debt obligations.  Articles of Incorporation for the Cameron Heartometer Corporation were filed with Cook County on February 18, 1959 and assignment of the company to Alex, complete with its assets, trademarks and patents took place two days later, on February 20th.  Under Alex's guidance over the next two decades the Heartometer enjoyed moderate success, with one unit even going to the Moon on an Apollo mission.

The Heartometer, invented in 1937, was one of the first medical instruments to take its measurements from visual means (lights actuated by the pulse), rather than by sound.  This insured the most accurate way of measuring and permanently recording the following:

-  Systolic and diastolic blood pressures
-  Pulse rate
-  The force and character of heart action
-  Peripheral vascular circulation throughout the extremities

Alex put long hours promoting the Heartometer and giving lectures on the theories behind its use.  He established a network of well over 3,000 doctors, organizations, governmental entities and universities, all operating Heartometers.  Customers were spread across 49 of the United States (Alaska, while it was the only state with no recorded customers, must also have been a Cameron market).  In addition to the U.S., seven Canadian provinces had numerous Heartometers in cities, both large and small.  The company catered to doctors in other countries: Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the Philippines.  Since Cameron's Surgical had offices in England at one time, it is theorized that there were clients there also.  Unfortunately, only one-half of the company records survived, so there is no way to substantiate this.

From the year 1944 through 1965 Alex went on the long sales and lecture road.  Usually accompanied by Grace, they would drive from state to state, province to province.  As an example, in 1948 he was almost constantly driving: from February 8th to September 11th, stopping in at least 14 states.  These trips were to both large and small cities.  His childhood in a small town showed Alex that quality medical care was especially important in these areas, where hospitals were almost non-existent.  He was also a frequent speaker at many venues, including Kiwanis Clubs, and attended numerous trade shows with his son through the mid 1970s.

In August of 1973 a great honor was bestowed upon Alex.  The U.S. government requested his presence on a fact-finding board in China.  The doctors who made up this board studied all phases of Chinese acupuncture, at a time when simply obtaining entry to that country was unusual.  It is believed that a few Cameron Heartometers made their way into China after this trip, a result of friendships that Alex established during his visit.

Technology – by its nature – is doomed to obsolescence.  With transistorized modern electronics entering the marketplace, demand for the mostly mechanical Heartometer began to fade, despite rave reviews by faithful users.  Alex and his team moved production from the large downtown Cameron’s Surgical offices to a small facility at 6449 N. Newark Ave., Chicago in 1959.  The option of modernizing the Heartometer would have been overwhelming, with costly re-tooling an extreme financial gamble.  Consequently, by the mid 1970s the Cameron Heartometer ceased production, after serving the medical community for nearly 40 years.

After a long, fulfilling life, Alex passed away on July 29, 1978 .  This soft-spoken, kind hearted man, whose love of optometry evidenced itself in a huge collection of vintage eyeglasses, had many interests.  He was mechanically gifted, being able to fix just about anything he set his mind to.  Alex also loved the outdoors: hunting, fishing and his famous back yard garden with grape trellis.  Even though Chicago was this U.S. citizen’s adopted home, at heart he was very much a die hard, true blue Canadian.  He cherished countless family keepsakes and related colorful stories from his frequent trips back up to see his family north of the border.  Years after his passing he is remembered as being a considerate, intelligent soul; a friend to many in the medical community and a true gentleman to the end.

Alex and his wife Grace are buried at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago: Section 111, Lot 72