Memorable Manitobans: John Waller de Courcy O’Grady (1854-1914)

John Waller de Courcy O'Grady Click to enlarge

Banker, soldier.

Born at Hemmingford, Canada East [now Quebec] on 26 September 1854, he was educated at Bishop’s Collegiate and High School at Lennoxville. He entered the service of the Bank of Montreal in May 1870. He left the bank in 1905 to establish the Northern Bank (afterwards the Northern Crown Bank) at Winnipeg. Active in military affairs, he was senior Captain in the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall’s Own Rifles, Ottawa. In March 1911, he became Commanding Officer of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles.

In June 1885, he was married to Katherine Frances Maunsell (1863-1958), eldest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. Maunsell, deputy Adjutant-General of Fredericton, New Brunswick. They had nine children: Gerald Francis O’Grady (1887-?, son-in-law of Francis Lawrence Patton), George Waller de Courcy O’Grady (1888-1950), John Madley O’Grady (1889-?), William Agar de Courcy O’Grady (1891-1938), Kathleen Frances O’Grady (1893-?, daughter-in-law of William Henry Culver), Anna Faith O’Grady (1895-?), Nora M. O’Grady (1898-?), Herbert O’Grady (1899-?), and Ronald Guy O’Grady (1901-?). A keen sportsman, he was one of the founders and original members of the St. George’s Snowshoe Club (Montreal), Kennwood Lawn Tennis Club (Chicago), Rideau Curling Club (Ottawa), and St. Charles Country Club. He served as President of the Assiniboine Curling Club (1911-1912) and Manitoba Curling Association (1907-1908, 1911-1912).

He died at Winnipeg on 3 November 1914 and was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery. He was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame (2010).

Sources:

“Orders from a curler,” Manitoba Free Press, 7 March 1911, page 6.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

The Leading Financial, Business & Professional Men of Winnipeg, published by Edwin McCormick, Photographs by T. J. Leatherdale, Compiled and printed by Stone Limited, c1913. [copy available at the Archives of Manitoba]

Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Terry Webber for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 14 November 2022

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!