Winston Cosgrove's
Wolfe Island Past and Present

Excerpts from:

Chapter Three: Renowned Citizens

Used with the kind permission of Mrs. W.M.
(Phyllis) Cosgrove October 10, 2001

For the purpose of brevity, only portions have been extracted
from the full text. For a genuine appreciation of Mr. Cosgrove’s
writings please read the entire work. The book is available
from the Kingston Public Library.

Dr. William Spankie, MP was born in Kingston in 1859 of Scotch and Irish parentage. He was educated at Kingston private and public schools, Collegiate Institute and Queen’s University. At the latter he won the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery.

From 1885, the year of his medical graduation he practiced medicine on Wolfe Island. Dr. Spankie served on Wolfe Island for 45 years. He attended families to the third generation.

Dr. Spankie had one daughter and four sons. His daughter is Mrs. A.S. Kennedy of Calgary. His sons are Dr. W.E. and A.T. of Calgary, Ralph M. of Ottawa, H.L. a lawyer of Edmonton.

Wolfe Island was served for brief periods by doctors Hunt, Burke, McCarthy but for long stretches there was no resident doctor. Emergency aeroplane flights by Capt. Free of Kingston brought patients to the city when ice conditions were poor or if the ferry were off the run.

Richard Spoor, purser on both the steamer and motorship Wolfe Islander for 44 years, recalled a baby born in his cabin and two other infants first seeing the light of day aboard the ferry.

A community drive raised $11,000 and on July 1, 1972, the Wolfe Island Community Medical Clinic was officially opened.

Dr. Spankie - First Wolfe Island Car
From "Renowned Citizens"
Cosgrove, W.M. Wolfe Island Past & Present, p. 13.
Photo courtesy of W. Cosgrove

Dr. Kingsley (From the Kingston-Whig Standard – January 13, 1941)

One of the best known Roman Catholic clerics in the archdiocese died this morning after a lingering illness, in the person of Rev. W.T. Kingsley at the age of 66 years.

Dr. W.T. Kingsley was born on Wolfe Island, March 29, 1875, son of William and Mary Kingsley. Dr. Kingsley was the first native Islander to be ordained He was ordained by Archbishop C.H. Gauthier of Kingston on Oct. 19, 1901.

Rev. Kingsley was appointed pastor of Kingston Mills in Nov. 1907 and remained there until 1924. He was then appointed to the chaplaincy of Kingston Penitentiary and pastor of the Church of the Good Thief retiring in 1939.

PHOTOS IN BOOK BUT NOT SHOWN ONLINE:
W.I. Medical Clinic page 13

The Islands: Books: Winston Cosgroves Wolfe Island Past and Present: Renowned Citizens

Winston Cosgrove's Wolfe Island Past and Present

Chapter Three: Renowned Citizens

Winston Cosgrove's
Wolfe Island Past and Present