Memorable Manitobans: Murdock McLean (1838-1910)

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Murdock McLean
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Carpenter, farmer, brickmaker.

Born in Isle of Skye, Scotland on 7 January 1838, son of Archie McLean and Mary Campbell, the family came to Canada around 1854 and settled in Cape Breton. He worked as a carpenter.

After the father’s death, they moved to Kincardine, Ontario where Murdock met and married Mary Kester Shewfelt (1852-1929). They subsequently had nine children, the latter six of whom were born in Manitoba: Archibald M. “Archie” McLean (1875-1947, husband of Lizzie Hopkinson), Rachel McLean (1877-1960, wife of Alfred Clements and later George Mason), Mary E. McLean (1879-1942, wife of Jack McLachlan), Sarah Elizabeth McLean (1882-1967, wife of Fred Horn), Nina Ann “Annie” McLean (1884-1966, wife of Allen Howarth), Virginia McLean (1888-1975, wife of Ernest Atkins), Ida McLean (1890-1963, wife of Lewis Lunn), Jessie McLean (1894-1980, wife of Carl Cook), and Joseph Allan McLean (1896-1971, husband of Mae Mynard).

McLean and his family moved to Manitoba and lived for five years in Winnipeg where he helped to build the first bridge over the Red River. Later, they moved to a farm in the Kingsley district. Their newly constructed frame home was destroyed by fire so he resolved to build a fireproof replacement. Around 1900, he established a brickyard near his farm where he manufactured bricks used in several homes in the vicinity, including his own.

He died at Kingsley on 2 March 1910 and was buried in the Kingsley Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: McLean Brickyard (Municipality of Pembina)

MHS Resources: Manitoba Bricks and Blocks: People

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

Turning Leaves: A History of La Riviere and District by LaRiviere Historical Book Society, c1979, pages 204-205. [Manitoba Legislative Library, F5649.L38Tur]

We thank Carol Wilkinson for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Chris Thompson and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 9 July 2021

Memorable Manitobans

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.

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