Memorable Manitobans: William Thomas Andrews (1851-1925)

Building contractor.

Born in Ontario on 17 March 1851, cousin of Alfred Joseph Andrews and Fletcher S. Andrews, he moved from Mount Forest to Winnipeg in 1881 and worked as a building contractor. For many years, he resided at 563 McDermot Avenue and maintained an office at 260 Fort Street, with much of his work focused on the construction of residential dwellings. Around 1910, he retired to Aurora, Ontario.

He had four children with his first wife Martha Carley (1855-1921): Benjamin Claud Andrews (1886-1966), Ernest Warren Andrews (1877-1951), Rolph Carley Andrews (1883-1937), and Lina May Andrews (1881-1966, wife of John MacGregor); later remarrying after Martha's death. He was a member of the Methodist Church and Ancient Order of United Workmen.

He died at Aurora, Ontario on 28 June 1925 after being struck by streetcar and was buried in the Aurora Cemetery.

Some of his works in Manitoba included:

Building	Location	Year	Status
Wesley Methodist Church	520 William Avenue, Winnipeg	1898	Church (2023)
American Flats	650 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg	1902	Demolished (?)

Sources:

Birth [Benjamin Claud Andrews], marriage [Lina May Andrews and John MacGregor], and death [Rolph Carley Andrews, Ernest Warren Andrews] registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 & 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

“New Wesley Church,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 21 March 1898, page 6.

“Wesley Church,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 19 March 1898, page 1.

“Former local resident dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 June 1925, page 2.

“Former Winnipeg resident dies suddenly in Aurora,” Manitoba Free Press, 30 June 1925, page 16.

Obituary [Rolph Andrews], Winnipeg Tribune, 23 September 1937, page 23.

[Photo caption, Mr. and Mrs. John MacGregor], Winnipoeg Free Press, 14 June 1952, page 21.

Obituary [Lina M. MacGregor], Winnipeg Free Press, 15 September 1966, page 14.

Obituary [Benjamin C. Andrews], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 November 1966, page 32.

Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), 2131/66 Benjamin Claude Andrews, GR4902, Archives of Manitoba.

Aurora Cemetery burial transcriptions, FindAGrave.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 6 February 2023

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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!