Memorable Manitobans: John Erzinger (1855-1930)

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John Erzinger
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Wholesale tobacconist.

Born at Schauffhausen, Switzerland on 10 October 1855, son of John and Margaret Erzinger, he was educated at Switzerland. He came to Winnipeg in 1878 and established a retail tobacco shop which grew to become the tobacco wholesale business of John Erzinger Company, with branches in Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

He was married twice, first to Caroline Spatch (1858-1886) with whom he had two sons: George Edward Erzinger (1881-1938) and John Alexander Erzinger (1884-1949). On 8 September 1891, he married Mary Elizabeth Riddell (1868-1960) of Winnipeg and they had four more sons: Albert Henry Erzinger (1894-?), Charles Salisbury Erzinger (1895-1961), Edwin Fritz Erzinger (1898-1976), and Frank Riddell Erzinger (1903-1926). He was a member of the Canadian Club, Rotary Club, Carleton Club, Granite Curling Club (President, 1929-1930), Southwood Golf Club, IOOF, and Holy Trinity Anglican Church. In 1911, he lived at 214 Donald Street, Winnipeg. He was appointed the Swiss Consul in 1913.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 50 Yale Avenue, on 13 May 1930 and was buried in the St. John's Cathedral Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Erzinger House (50 Yale Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Glengarry Building (290 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

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

“John Erzinger, resident here 52 years, dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 May 1930. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Rick Mutton for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 April 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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