Businessman.
Born in Renfrewshire, Scotland on 1 July 1859, he worked as an apprentice and journeyman joiner before emigrating to Canada and arriving in Manitoba in May 1882. He took up a homestead north of Balgonie where he farmed until 1887. In that year he came to Brandon and accepted a position with the furniture firm of Wilson & Smyth. He then formed a partnership with George W. Vincent in a furniture business. It was sold in 1926 and he established an undertaking business on Eleventh Street near Rosser Avenue. He retired in 1948.
In 1889, he married Sarah Gurley (1858-1922) of Leamington, England and they had seven children: Violet Mary Macpherson (1890-1978, wife of J. R. Mackay), Archie Marquis Macpherson (1891-1963), Ritchie “Bob” Macpherson (1892-1968), Janet Macpherson (1894-1894), Hugh Macpherson (1895-1895), Keith Macpherson (1896-1896), and Jean Rosalie Macpherson (1899-1900). He was a member of the Masons, IOOF, COF, Brandon Horticultural Society, Brandon Parks Board, Brandon Rotary Club, and St. Paul's United Church. He was Secretary of the Poplar Hill School District for forty years and President of the Brandon Winter Fair (1961-1962).
He died at Brandon on 11 April 1954 and was buried in the Brandon Cemetery.
Birth registrations [Janet Macpherson, Hugh Macpherson, Keith Macpherson, Jean Macpherson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [Janet Macpherson, Hugh Macpherson, Keith Macpherson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.
Obituary [Sarah Gurley MacPherson], Brandon Sun, 28 March 1922, page 5.
“R. Macpherson pioneer of city, died,” Brandon Sun, 12 April 1954, page 1.
“Ritchie Macpherson,” Brandon Sun, 13 April 1954, page 7.
“A.M. Macpherson dies In Brandon,” Brandon Sun, 25 June 1963, page 1.
“Ritchie (Bob) Macpherson dies in Brandon at 76,” Brandon Sun, 13 February 1968, page 3.
Obituary [Violet Mary Macpherson Mackay], Toronto Star, 3 May 1978, page 9.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Darryl Toews.
Page revised: 19 May 2024
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