Memorable Manitobans: Henry Gledhill “Harry” Heasman (1870-1955)

Educator, merchant.

Born at Wellington, Ontario, on 8 May 1870, son of William Henry Heasman (1827-1914) and Catherine McKenzie (1835-1903), he graduated from his local collegiate in 1889 and attended teacher training. By 1891, he moved with the family to Manitoba and worked as a public school teacher. He received his first-class teaching certificate in 1901 and continued his teaching career at Holmfield School (1902-1903) and was Principal of Miami School (1903-1904), Wawanesa School (1904-1907), and Birds Hill School (1924-1933). By 1911, he had moved to Saskatchewan, eventually taking up residence at Wawota. There, he worked as a hardware merchant and, for a brief time, was a partner of William Edward King.

He married twice, first on 24 June 1903 to Edith Mabel Mackay (1879-1905) at Hamiota. They had a daughter, Edith Armstrong Heasman (1905-1905). On 24 December 1906, he re-married to Elizabeth “Bessie” Cummings (1876-?) of Hamilton, Ontario at the St. John’s Methodist Church parsonage, 51 Cathedral Avenue, in Winnipeg. They had one son, Jack McKenzie Heasman (1918-2010), and an adopted son (nephew), Howard Reid Heasman (1907-1972).

He died at Wawota, Saskatchewan, on 19 May 1955.

Sources:

1891, 1916, 1921, & 1926 Canada censes, Library and Archives Canada.

1901 & 1911 Canada censes, Automated Genealogy.

Birth [Jack McKenzie Heasman] and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registration [Howard Reid Heasman], Saskatchewan Vital Statistics.

“Successful candidates,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 August 1901, page 5.

“Hamiota,” Shoal Lake Star, 3 September 1903, page 1.

“Oak River budget,” Rapid City Reporter, 21 July 1904, page 5.

“Oak River budget,” Rapid City Reporter, 4 August 1904, page 4.

“Hamiota gold medal contest,” Manitoba Free Press 5 September 1905, page 11.

“Heasman - Cummings,” Manitoba Free Press 28 December 1906, page 3.

“Heasman - Cummings,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 December 1906, page 3.

“Birds Hill standard club has big fair,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 September 1927, page 37.

“Ottawa announces,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 August 1942, page 6.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

Lumsden Cemetery burial transcriptions [Howard R. Heasman], FindAGrave.

Hamiota Cemetery burial transcriptions [E. Mabel Heasman], FindAGrave.

Nickerson family tree, Ancestry.

Harding/Graham family tree, Ancestry.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 30 May 2019

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!