Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Routledge (1857-1893)

Click to enlarge

Thomas Routledge
Click to enlarge

Farmer.

Born at Mealsgate, Cumberland, England on 4 March 1857, son of Joseph Routledge and Ann Hewetson, he was educated at Wigtou College, Cumberland, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1879, he rowed in the winning University crew against Oxford.

He came to Western Canada in May 1879 and settled at Riding Mountain, locating the land for the Bell Farm and afterwards being its general superintendent for two years. There he joined Frank Bouverie, youngest son of the Earl of Radnor, in the livestock business of Bouverie & Routledge. In Fall 1883, they commenced operations on the Boss Hill Farm at Virden, raising horses, shorthorn cattle, and sheep. A painting of their buildings was one of the attractions sent to the Chicago World’s Fair at Chicago, in 1893, by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

He served as President of the Virden Agricultural Society and also the Liberal-Conservative Association. He was also a commissioner for the Province of Manitoba and a Notary Public for the North-West Territories. He was Captain of “A” Troop, Manitoba Dragoons, which he organized. In December 1886, he contested the riding of Dennis for the Manitoba Legislature. He was a member of the Anglican Church.

He died of pneumonia at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 12 December 1893, after spending 90 minutes outdoors with little clothing in cold weather. He was buried in the St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery.

Sources:

The Canadian Album: Men of Canada or Success by Example, Vol. III, Bradley, Garretson & Company, Brantford, Ontario, 1894.

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Mr. T. Routledge dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 December 1893, page 5.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 October 2018

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.

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:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 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!