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 Knox United Church at Plumas (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.
1906 and 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: 6 January 2024
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