Memorable Manitobans: John Milton Donaldson (1896-1970)

Grocer and meat merchant.

Born at Brandon on 18 March 1896, son of Joseph Donaldson and Elizabeth Emma Wallis (1857-1927), he was educated at Brandon Public School, Upper Canada College, and Brandon College. In December 1914, he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, serving with the 45th Battalion. He took the Officers’ Course at Winnipeg then went overseas to France in July 1916. He served as Ypres and Somme and was wounded in September 1916. He was invalided to England, returned to Canada and was with the British War Mission in the USA. Discharged in 1918, he resumed business with his father in Brandon.

He was married three times, first on 14 December 1917 to Nursing Sister Hannah Gertrude Petty (1892-1919). On 14 September 1921, he married Marie Ruth Spaulding McKay (?-?) at Brandon. His third wife was Georgina Scott (?-?). He had five children. He was a charter member of the Brandon Kiwanis Club and a member of the Brandon Board of Trade, Masons, Brandon Country Club, Brandon Golf Club, Anglican church, and Conservative party.

He died at Brantford, Ontario on 18 November 1970.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

Obituary, Brandon Sun, 21 November 1970, page 13.

Hannah Gertrude Petty Donaldson, FindAGrave.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 December 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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