Robert Telford

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Robert Taylor Telford (born: 1860 died: 1933) was a police officer, farmer businessman and politician from Alberta, Canada.

Robert joined the Royal North-West Mounted Police and served the force for 4 years. He moved to Leduc, Alberta at that time in the Northwest Territories in 1889 and set up a farm. The farm house he build was the second largest between Calgary and Edmonton.

In addition to farming, Robert was heavily involved in local business in Leduc. He rented out rooms in his house to travelers going from Calgary to Edmonton and ran a local lumberyard, and general store. He also provided government services such as being the local justice of the peace and postmaster for the city.

Robert got involved in Leduc municipal politics serving on the town council and later as mayor for a 2 year period from 1915 to 1916.

When Alberta was made into a province Robert got involved in provincial politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the Alberta Liberal Party in the 1905 Alberta general election. In the 1909 Alberta general election Robert was acclaimed to a 2nd term in office.

Robert's son, Raymond Telford was the first soldier from Leduc to die in combat during World War I.

Lake Telford is named in his honor.