Memorable Manitobans: John Crerar (1848-1933)

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John Crerar
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Lawyer, municipal official, MLA (1881-1883).

Born in Perth County, Ontario on 22 September 1848, he attended the Stratford Grammar School and Upper Canada College, graduating from the University of Toronto and being admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1877. He practiced law then moved to western Canada in 1879 and settling at Minnedosa in May 1880. He was called to the Manitoba Bar in November 1881 and practiced as a partner in the firm of Crerar and Beynon.

In 1899, he married Ida May Porteous (c1864-1946) at Pembina, North Dakota. He served as the first Mayor of Minnedosa and later practiced at Birtle with Charles J. Mickle and at Melita as of 1891. He was elected to the Manitoba Legislature at a by-election in October 1881. He did not run for re-election in 1883 but ran unsuccessfully in the 1886 and 1899 general elections.

He retired in January 1928, selling his law practice to Frank G. Barrett, and moved to California where he died at Long Beach on 1 October 1933.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Crerar House (165 Boundary Street, Melita)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Crerar Building (129 Souris Street, Melita)

Sources:

1881 Canada census, FamilySearch.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“West honored son of county, John Crerar,” Stratford Beacon, 25 June 1938. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9]

Our First Century: Town of Melita and Municipality of Arthur by Melita-Arthur History Committee, 1983, pages 375, 493.

We thank Pat Allan for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 13 June 2022

Memorable Manitobans

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.

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