Mischievous Alexander Cameron

In 1900 a railroad track was laid from Pua to Lonquimay, for the primary purpose of mobilizing the military to protect the border with Argentina. This border area was considered vulnerable since in this region the Andes has a low altitude mountain pass. This development was a tremendous blessings for the Cameron's since the track was laid at the edge of the Santa Catalina property.

In an age of digital communication, jet travel and internet shopping it is difficult to conceive the excitement a train line and train station (Cullinco) created. Not only was the train the epitome of technology but it connected Santa Catalina with the world. Instead of delivering the wheat harvest to Victoria by an oxen pulled cart (around 7 hours each way), the Camerons could now drop off their sacks at the Cullinco Station (½ hour away). Instead of going to Temuco or Traigen to buy supplies, they could order them buy mail from England, and these would be brought around the horn by ship to the Port of Talcahuano, loaded on a train headed for Cullinco and delivered in Santa Catalina 6 - 9 months later. In the 1900's that was cool.

There is another surviving anecdote of Alexander Cameron that the family tells with mischievous glee and reminds us that Alexander was indeed a frugal Scotsman. The train system in Chile in those days offered three accommodations: 1^st Class (leather seats), 2^nd Class (wooden benches with a cushioned leather inset), and 3^rd Class (wooden benches). Trunks, suitcases, boxes and other type of luggage had to be checked in the luggage car, for which their was a nominal fee. This anecdote tells us that Alexander was returning to Santa Catalina with a brand new saddle. Instead of checking the saddle with the luggage, he carried it with him to the first class car. When the train conductor came through and realized that the saddle that had not been appropriately checked, the conductor demanded that Alexander pay the luggage fee. Alexander who was very aware that the train was approaching his property, started a fierce argument with the conductor. Eventually once the train was passing by the Cameron's property Alexander tells the conductor with disgust, “if you are going to make such a big deal about this saddle, I would rather throw it away than pay you a penny” at which point he opened the window and tossed the saddle out. Needless the say, the conductor was shocked by such a Gringo loco. An hour later Alexander recovered his brand new saddle.

Both picture below are from around 1933 - 1934

Front Row: Norma Rickemberg, Yolanda Lagos, Alister Contreras, Alexander Cameron, Winnie Contreras

Middle Row: Douglas Cameron (standing), Rhoda Cameron (kneeling), Annie Cameron with Donald Cameron on her lap, Loyda Cameron

Back Row: Unk. Agnes Cameron,.Alexander Cameron, unk, Eunice Cameron, unk, Stella Lagos, unk, Ernesto Lagos

Front Row: Alister Contreras, Norma Rickemberg, Donald Cameron, Winnie Contreras, Alex Cameron, Yolanda Lagos

Back Row: Ernesto & Stella Lagos, Eunice, Douglas, Loyda and Rhoda Cameron

The forgotten book that lead Alexander to become a Seventh Day Adventist

Around 1895 an American colpoteur by the name of T. H. Davis, stopped by Santa Catalina to sell religious books (http://www.theliteratureevangelist.com/HiveHandler.aspx?page=The_Ministry_of_Publications&action=revision&revision=2). Family history tells us that Alexander bought an English book titled “The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels” by Ellen Gould White (originally published in 1858, with a reprint in 1884 and 1888). Ellen G. White, is an inspired religious writer and founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA).

This book was placed in a trunk for safekeeping and quickly forgotten. Four years later in 1899 Mr. Davis stopped by again, and Alexander remembered his previous book and rescued it. During this second visit he purchased another book titled “Daniel and the Revelation” by Uriah Smith (London International Trust Society Ltd 1897) “Uriah Smith is best remembered for his book generally known by the short title Daniel and the Revelation. This book marked the beginning of the sale of doctrinal subscription books in the colporteur work of the SDA Church” (http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/clt4/drbio.htm).

In time the Cameron's were baptized and became pillars of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Southern Chile. The first Adventist School in Chile was opened in 1906 (picture below) and was located in Pua (less than 10 kilometers from Santa Catalina). This is where the Cameron children learned how to read and write (http://centenario.unach.cl/historia/index.php). Alexanders son, John (and my grandfather) was among the first graduates of “La Escuela Adventista de Pua.” He graduated at 23 years old, which is a testament to the fact that work came first and schooling was done when time was available.

Legend also has it that Alexander enjoyed the pleasures of a single malt Scottish whiskey. Not surprising for a man man who brought to the new world his clan kilt, sword, and bagpipes.

Annie showing the clan colors (circa 1920)

Alexander Cameron was the rightful heir to the Urquhart Millions

1934.From left to right, front row: Stella & Lydia Potter, Rhoda, Nunny, Loyda Cameron
Seated middle row: Annie Cameron, Mrs Potter, Agnes Cameron with Alex in her lap, and Douglas Cameron.
Standing middle row: Irma Gaugin, Maile ?, Tanty Lydia
Back row: Sydney Potter, Alexander and his son John Cameron


In order for this anecdote to be understood, one has to make three assumptions:
1) The Urquhart Estate was exceedingly wealthy,
2) Alexander Cameron was the logical inheritor
3) Alexander Cameron was denied his rightful inheritance.

I will look at each of these separately.

1) The Urquhart Estate was exceedingly wealthy
We have copy of Walter Urquhart last will. It is a hand written, sewn bound document titled “Copy. Settlement of Walter Urquhart. Merchant New Elgin. 1903. Stewart & McIsaac” I have reproduced it below.

Walter Urquhart, merchant, New Elgin, in order to settle the succession of my means and estate after my death do hereby give grant assign and dispose to and in favor of Hugh Stewart, solicitor, Elgin, John Hunter Clark, plumber, Elgin and James Rhuid Stewart, solicitor, Elgin and the successors and survivors of them and such other person or persons as I may hereafter appoint, or as may be assumed into the Trust hereinafter designed my Trustees, as Trustees, for the ends uses and purposes aftermentioned my whole means and estate heritable and moveable real and personal wheresoever situated presently belonging to me or which shall belong to me at my death with the writ vouchers and instructions thereof and I nominate my said Trustees to be my Executors: declaring that these presents are granted in trust (First) For payment of my debts death bed and funeral expenses including a memorial stone over my grave of such values as my trustees may think fit. (Second) To pay to the Parish Council of Farrintosh for the purpose of providing a hearse for the Parish or if that be not necessary to be expended on such other object for the good of the Parish as the Parish council of the said parish of Farrintosh may with the consent of my said Trustees determine. (Third) To hold the property on the east side of High street New Elgin belonging to me for behoof of my sister Janet Urquhart residing at Farrintosh in life rent and on her death to be realized by my Trustees the price to be paid to the family of Donald Gillies, laborer, Burghead and my sister Mary Urquhart or Gillies, his wife, other than their son John who went abroad and has not been heard of for several years and that in the proportion of two fifths to their daughter Annie and three fifths among the other children equally, the children of any predeceasing taking their parents share and if any predecease without leaving children their share to be divided amongst the others, other than said John in the above proportion (Fourth) I direct my Trustees to convey and make over the property belonging to me lying between Main street and Convener street, New Elgin to the Elgin Parish Council to be used by them as a town hall for New Elgin or to sell it and apply the price toward providing such a town hall, it being my wish and desire that the hall may be open on such terms as the Council may fix for the use of all such denominations of whatever views so long as they are not immoral and their lectures or performances are conducted with propriety (Fifth) I hereby provide that the foregoing legacies and provisions will be paid free of legacy duty (Sixth) The residue and remainder of my means and estate to be held by my Trustees for the purpose of contributing an annual sum of three pounds towards the expense of an annual treat to the children attending the New Elgin Public School, three pounds sterling towards the funds of Doctor Grays Hospital Elgin to help toward the maintenance of a child’s crib in that hospital and the balance to the Baptist Union of Scotland and I authorize my trustees to sell or let the heritable subjects by public or private bargain to invest the Trust funds in such securities heritable or personal as to them may seem best and to employ one of their own member or others at suitable remuneration as law agents in the trust. And I consent to registration for preservation in witness whereof I have subscribed these presents on this and the preceding page at Elgin on the seventh day of July nineteen hundred (Jul 7, 1900) Before these witnesses David Mckie Edwards clerk in the office of the Royal Bank of Scotland at Elgin and John Middleman was clerk to Steward and McIsaac solicitors Elgin Signed Walter Urquhart Signed D. Mackie Edwards witness Signed J. Middleman witness I Walter Urquhart, merchant, New Elgin, the granter of the within settlement do hereby make the following alterations thereon (First) Instead of my Trustees holding the property on the east side of High street, New Elgin, belonging to me for behoof of my sister Janet Urquhart residing at Farrintosh is different and on her death to be realized by my Trustees and the piece paid to the family of Donald Gillies, laborer, Burghead, and my sister Mary Urquhart or Gillies, his wife other than the son John who went abroad and has not been heard of for several years in the proportions within mentioned, I direct my Trustees to convey the said property to the family of the said Donald Gillies and Mary Urquhart or Gillies other than their said son John in the proportion of three fifths to their daughter Annie and two fifths among the other children equally, the children of any predeceasing being entitled to the share which would have fallen to their parents, but under the real burden always of an annual payment from the rents of said property to my said sister Janet Urquhart of four pounds sterling during her life and (Second) Instead of conveying and making over the property lying between Main street and Convener street belonging to me is the Elgin Parish Council at the period of my death to be held by them as within mentioned I direct my Trustees to hold the said property during the life time of my said sister Janet for her life rent use and on her death to convey it over to the said Parish council for the purposes within mentioned. In witness whereof I have subscribed these presents on this and the preceding page at Elgin upon the sixteenth day of April nineteen hundred and one year (April 16, 1901) before these witnesses Alexander Russell teller in the office of the Royal Bank of Scotland Elgin and John James Petrie Clerk to Messrs Stewart and McIsaac, Solicitors, Elgin (signed) Walter Urquhart (Signed) Alexander Russell, Witness (Signed) John J Petrie, Witness

So these facts indicate that Walter Urquhart had two properties. The property lying between Main street and Convener street was left to the New Elgin Parish Council. The other property on the east side of High street, New Elgin, was left to the children of Donald Gillies. Annie received three fifths while Henry, Daniel and Margaret Gillies shared two fifths.

Other correspondence indicates that Annie Camerons' three fifths amounted to a total of £ 291 which would make the total price of the High street property to be approximately £ 485. A simple deflator of currency (http://www.friesian.com/coins.htm) allows us to estimate that the purchasing power of £ 485 in 1910 would be roughly equivalent to £ 7760 in 2000, or roughly $14,000 USD.

I believe that these simple calculations, although containing potential errors, allows us to understand that Walter Urquhart was wealthy, but was not a millionaire, as the family lore had it. To bad : (

2) Alexander Cameron was the logical inheritor
The relationship of Annie to Walter Urquhart has already been described (see blog entry dated Sunday, August 10, 2008) and given the traditions of the day, the inheritance would have gone to her husband Alexander Cameron. Not much to add here.

3) Alexander Cameron was denied his rightful inheritance.
The settlement document seems quite clear, and I don't believe there is any substantive reason to believe he was denied any inheritance rights.


To conclude, the existing documents supports that Alexander and Annie Cameron received the inheritance left in the Urquhart will. The sizable amount of the inheritance must have had an enormous purchasing power in Southern Chile in 1908, but Walter Urquhart was a wee bit short of being a millionaire.



1932 From left to right: Rhoda, Alex, Nunny, Loyda and Douglas Cameron