Memorable Manitobans: Matthew Henry Harkness (1872-1963)

Farmer, realtor.

Born at Bobcaygeon, Ontario on 22 June 1872, son of John and Margaret Harkness, at the age of 7 he came with his family to a farm near Carberry. He was educated at Pleasant Point School, quitting at 14 to join his father on the farm. They sold the property in 1911 and he purchased a home in Carberry and engaged in the real estate business. In 1934, he moved to Lac du Bonnet and farmed.

On 18 December 1907, he married Annie Adelaide Biddle (?-?) at Manor, Saskatchewan. They had three children: Ian Newland Harkness (1908-1989), Vera Margaret Harkness (1910-1998, wife of Earle Oberholtzer), and Gregory Walter “Gregg” Harkness (1911-1921). He was a member of the IOOF, Masons, and Anglican church. He served on the Carberry municipal council. He died at Lac du Bonnet on 18 April 1963 and was buried in the Riverland Cemetery at Lac du Bonnet.

Sources:

Birth registrations [Ian Newland Harkness, Vera Margaret Harkness, Gregory Walter Harkness], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 April 1963, page 11.

Obituary [Ian Newland Harkness], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 1989, page 48.

Obituary [Vera Margaret Oberholtzer], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 August 1998, page 16.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 23 May 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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