The brick business in the Forks is one line which it will be impossible to overdo. The demand for good brick is something enormous. The partly supply the demand Messrs. Budge & Eshelman reserved ten acres in the recent sale of the Aker’s property, on which to erect a brick yard, of which slight mention has been made. The gentlemen have associated themselves with W. P. Alsip, an experienced brickmaker of Waukon, Ia., who has devoted a lifetime to the business. The company have purchased a complete outfit of machinery, which is on the road for this place. They will be prepared to partially fill the demand by supplying five million brick the coming summer. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, April 5, 1882, Page 1)
1885 Dakota Territory Census records show W. P. Alsip (24) married to Mary (22). The couple had one daughter Lottie (5).
W. P. Alsip & Sons, whose paving brick manufacturing plant burned June 17 (1895), at Grand Forks, N. D., contemplate locating in Texas City, Tex. (Paving and Municipal Engineering
Municipal Engineering Company, Indianapolis, Volume IX, Number 6, December 1895, Page 379)
W. P. Alsip purchased the Ainsworth brick-making outfit of Frank Whittecar and the same is being moved to the reservation this week. (The Valentine Democrat, Thursday, May 7, 1896,
Volume XI, Number 15, Page 1)
William P. Alsip Dies on Tuesday
William Pitt Alsip, 85, president and founder of the Alsip Brick, Tile and Lumber company, died early Tuesday [May 2, 1944] at this residence, 215 Stafford street, following a lengthy illness. He was born at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and came to Winnipeg in 1896. He was also president of the Red River Valley Brick corporation and was past president of the Winnipeg Builders' exchange. During his long residence in Winnipeg, he took an active interest in the affairs of the building industry and had been a source of supply of building materials for many of Winnipeg's large buildings. We was a life member of the Masonic order and for many years was active in Khartum temple of the Shrine. He is survived by his widow, Eva; two sons, John C. K. and W. P. , Jr., both of Winnipeg; four daughters, Mrs. L. Randall, of New Jersey; Mrs. G. MacDonald, of Los Angeles, Cal.; Miss M., of Washington, D.C.; Miss Doris, of Winnipeg. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 2:45 p.m. in Gardiner's funeral chapel, with burial in Elmwood cemetery. Dr. W. M. Grant will conduct the service. (Winnipeg Free Press, Tuesday, May 2, 1944, Courtesy of the Manitoba Historical Society)