Memorable Manitobans: Thomas McFarlane (1833-1916)

Farmer, municipal official.

Born at Strath-Blann, Perthshire, Scotland on 8 January 1833, he mined gold in New Zealand for two years then returned to Scotland. He then emigrated to Canada with his parents and settled in Welland County, Ontario. There he married Catherine Ann McFarlane (1842-1927) and, after the birth of children Winfield Thomas McFarlane and Lillie McFarlane, he followed his parents to Manitoba, taking up a homestead near his father, directly north of the Rockwood Cemetery. Three more children were born in Manitoba: Victor William McFarlane, Addie Nina McFarlane (1882-?), and Hector Winfield Thomas McFarlane (1886-?). He farmed and served as the first Reeve of “Little Rockwood Municipality” (1878-1879) until the present, enlarged Rural Municipality of Rockwood was established. In 1881, he was appointed Municipal Treasurer and served in this position for 22 years. He resigned in 1904 due to ill health and retired to Winnipeg. He died there on 31 October 1916 and was buried in the Stonewall Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary, Manitoba Free Press, 1 November 1916, page 12.

100 Years of History: Rockwood Municipality by Rockwood Municipality History, 1982.

We thank Shelley McFarlane for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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