Memorable Manitobans: James Alexander McTavish (1877-1963)

Physician, community activist.

Born at Wellesley, Ontario on 19 December 1877, brother-in-law of Alfred William Muldrew, he came to Morden in 1891 and resided there for nine years until he moved to Winnipeg to attend the Manitoba Medical College, graduating in 1909. He practiced medicine in Elmwood and East Kildonan for 47 years.

On 10 October 1916, he married Mary Gladys Kennedy (?-?) at Winnipeg. They had eight children: William Boyd “Bill” McTavish (1917-1988), Kenneth Richardson “Ken” McTavish (1919-2003), John Alexander McTavish (1920-?), Mary Gwendolyn “Gwen” McTavish (1921-1988, wife of William Duncan MacDonald), David Frederick Bruce McTavish (1925-1928), Sheila McTavish (1927-1995, wife of Frank Beckett), James Kennedy “Jim” McTavish (1930-1998), Peggy McTavish, and Dorothy Joan McTavish (?-2000). The family lived at 123 Hart Avenue. He was a member of St. John's Presbyterian Church. He served as President of the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association, President of the Manitoba Curling Association (1929-1930), and President of the Elmwood Curling Club (1913-1914).

He died at the Victoria Hospital on 30 April 1963 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage registration [James Alexander McTavish, Mary Gladys Kennedy], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registrations [William Boyd McTavish, Kenneth Richardson McTavish, John Alexander McTavish, Mary Gwendolyn McTavish], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Becomes bride of Dr. McTavish,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 October 1916, page 14.

Obituary, Winnipeg Tribune, 2 May 1963.

Obituary [Mary Gwendolyn MacDonald], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 1988, page 43.

Obituary [William Boyd McTavish], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 February 1988, page 47.

Obituary [Sheila Beckett], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 December 1995, page 57.

Obituary [James Kennedy McTavish], Winnipeg Free Press, 3 February 1998, page 34.

Obituary [Dorothy Joan McTavish], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 March 2000, page 40.

Obituary [Kenneth Richardson McTavish], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 August 2003.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 7 May 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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