Memorable Manitobans: John Morrison (1868-1930)

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John Morrison
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Businessman, MLA (1916-1920), MLA (1921-1922).

Born at Mount Forest, Ontario on 17 April 1868, son of John and Grace Morrison, his parents came to Canada from Scotland in 1867 and settled at Mount Forest. In 1878, they moved to Selkirk. He was educated at Mount Forest and Selkirk.

On 2 February 1890, he married Sadie Blimco (1872-1944), daughter of Thomas Blimco, of Guelph. They had four children: Ethel Morrison (1892-?, wife of Alexander Watson Notman), Walter Morrison (1893-?), Grace Wilson Morrison (1896-?), and Rowland Mulock Morrison (1898-?).

In 1898, during the Klondike Gold Rush, he went to Dawson via Edmonton, returning in August 1902. After working at Poplar Point as a foreman for William Robinson, in 1903 he partnered with Roderick Smith in building the steamboat Mikado and establishing a commercial fishing station at Sandy’s Island on Lake Winnipeg. He sold out to Smith in 1906. The family moved to Grand Rapids in 1912 where they resided until 1922.

He was first acclaimed as a Liberal to the Manitoba Legislative Assemly in a September 1916 by-election and acclaimed again in 1920. He did not stand for election in the 1922 general election, instead farming near Winnipegosis for three years and operating an automobile garage and implement business for three years at Shoal Lake. He moved to Mafeking in 1926 and built a general store.

He died at Swan River on 6 June 1930 and was buried in the Mapleton Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1922.

“John Morrison is laid to rest at Mapleton,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 June 1930, page 20.

Obituary [Sadie Morrison], Winnipeg Tribune, 4 July 1944, page 15.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 13 September 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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