Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Ross Hargraft (1860-1919)

Alexander Ross Hargraft Click to enlarge

Grain merchant.

Born at Cobourg, Ontario on 28 November 1860, son of William and Mary Hargraft, he was educated at Cobourg then he commenced a career as a clerk with his father's firm of Hargraft & Company. He first came to Manitoba in February 1879, in the company of John A. MacDougal, with whom he took a cart train of general merchandise to Edmonton. He returned home to Cobourg later that year and remained there until 1899 when he moved to Toronto and opened a grain and commission business.

He came to Winnipeg in August 1901 and founded the grain business of Hargraft & Company, changing later to Coffee, Hargraft & Company. Within a few months of his arrival, he was elected to the council of the Winnipeg Grain Exchange and, in 1904, served as its President. In 1911, Hargraft was a partner in the firm of Hargraft & Gooderham.

In November 1883, he married Florence Fairbanks (1861-?) of Oshawa, Ontario. They had three children: Alice Hargraft (?-?, wife of Reginald Parmenter), Stewart Alexander Hargraft (1889-?), and Bruce Gerald Hargraft (1893-?). He was a member of the Manitoba Club, St. Charles Country Club, and AF & AM. He was an active golfer.

He died suddenly at his Winnipeg home, 109 Wilmot Place, on 29 August 1919.

Sources:

A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.

1911 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.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Alex. R. Hargraft is suddenly called,” newspaper clipping dated 29 August 1919. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B7]

“A. R. Hargraft found dead in his bed,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1919, page 1.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 22 January 2018

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!