Memorable Manitobans: James Alexander Barry (1886-1950)

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James Alexander Barry
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Railway executive, city councilor, MLA (1937-1940).

Born in Winnipeg on 13 January 1886, son of Michael Joseph Barry (1855-1889) and Ellen Marie Curlen (1853-1930) who came from New Brunswick in 1879, he was educated at St. Mary's School. He worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway, rising to the position of Chief Clerk. He served on the Winnipeg City Alderman for Ward 3, being elected in 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925. He was defeated in his bid for a seat in the Manitoba Legislature at the 1932 and 1941 general elections but was elected in 1936.

On 27 November 1927, he married Delmar Kathleen Erickson (1893-1978, daughter of Ile and Kain Erickson) at Winnipeg and they had a son, Edward Barry. He served as President of the Catholic Club (1906) and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus (1917-1918). In 1925, he lived at 216 Glenwood Crescent, Winnipeg.

He died at Vancouver, British Columbia on 21 May 1950.

Sources:

Marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1938.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

“Mrs. E. M. Barry, 76, resident since 1883, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 October 1930, page 3.

“Ex-Alderman, MLA, James A. Barry dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 May 1950. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 144]

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Oliver Bernuetz (Legislative Library of Manitoba) for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Sarah Ramsden, and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 26 January 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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