The Argonauts Limited company was formed in 1909 by partners Wm. A. Rae, Robert McQuarrie, Charles Spencer, C. Byar, Edwin Simpson, John Sutherland, and W.H. Carter. W.A. Rae, the general manager, was also the secretary-treasurer. He was assisted by Alphaeus Patterson, president, and T.M. Hadman, vice-president. Other shareholders included Henry Roberts, Alfred Marfleet, Job Hamilton, Neil Campbell, Arthur Gill, Allen Parker and Charlie Dunlop. Late in 1909, Jack Sutherland was sent north to the Grande Prairie area to determine whether the southern half of the S ½ 26-71-6-W6th, along the Canadian Northern Railway survey, was suitable for a town site. Upon his favourable report, the company purchased 80 acres of the land, and in 1910 had it sub-divided into town lots by Dominion Land Surveyor Walter McFarlane. These were promoted and sold by the Grande Prairie Townsite Company, of which W.A. Rae was also secretary. When the Arognauts Limited secured its charter in 1910, the partners decided that they should also take in a sawmill. The procession of twelve teams carrying a steamer and all the equipment needed for the mill started from Edmonton on February 12, 1910 and a month later had made it as far as the Simonette River. Here they were stranded by early break-up of the rivers until they could raft it up the rivers. The mill was finally set up in the virgin timbers of the Wapiti River valley to provide lumber for the first buildings in Grande Prairie City. Grande Prairie City grew rapidly, attracting other developers on parcels of land surrounding the original townsite. The village was incorporated in 1914, and by 1919 had the requisite 1000 residents for a town. A few years later, in 1922, The Argonauts disbanded. A great number of their lots were still unsold, and these were distributed to the shareholders on the basis of three dollars worth of property for each dollar of capital shares held.