Memorable Manitobans: John George Bitcon (1875-1963)

Cleric.

Born at Inverness, Scotland on 28 April 1875, son of John Bitcon (1848-1935) and Isabella Mcdonald (1848-1914), he immigrated to Canada via the United States in 1901. He graduated from Manitoba College and was named Reverend of Dufferin Avenue Presbyterian Church (1903-1907). During his time in Winnipeg, he was active in the Royal Templars of Temperance and a lead figure in the North Winnipeg / Dufferin Council.

In May 1907, he moved to Saskatchewan as Pastor of Presbyterian congregations at Macoun (1907-?), Maple Creek (1910), Swift Current (1914), and Lewvan (1926). Toward the end of his 48 years of service, he returned to Manitoba as Pastor at Rapid City United Church (1948-1950) and Plumas United Church (1950-1951), after which he retired to Winnipeg.

On 14 July 1910, he married Ethel Susan Ferraby (1883-1971) of Grove Lake, Minnesota at Maple Creek, Saskatchewan and they had a son, Robert John Bitcon (1924-1953).

He died at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on 26 December 1963 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

1906 & 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

1926 Canada census, Library and Archives Canada.

“Farewell to Rev. J. G. Bitcon,"” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 May 1907, page 9.

“Social and person [The engagement is announced of Ethel Susan Ferraby ...],” Lethbridge Daily Herald, 12 July 1910, page 4.

“The church situation,” Shaunavon Standard, 15 January 1914, page 1.

Obituary [Robert John Bitcon], Rapid City Reporter, 10 September 1953, page 1.

In memoriam [Robert John Bitcon], Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1961, page 22.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 28 December 1963, page 24.

Obituary, Winnipeg Tribune, 28 December 1963, page 22.

Obituary [Mrs. Ethel S. Bitcon], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 August 1971, page 21.

Bitcon family tree - Garrett, Ancestry.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 12 November 2020

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!