Memorable Manitobans: William Villiers “Bill” Udall (1874-1962)

Journalist.

Born at Douglas, Isle of Man on 12 September 1874, he came to Canada in 1890, settling near Boissevain. He was Editor and Publisher of the Boissevain Recorder weekly newspaper from 1905 to 1945. He served on the Boissevain Board of Trade and the Boissevain municipal council, and was a director of the Childen’s Aid Society of Western Manitoba. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Weekly Newspapers Association and the Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association.

On 9 April 1902, he married Cassandra Cossett “Cassie” Brondgeest (1879-1966) at Boissevain and they subsequently had four daughters: Mona Lillian Udall (1903-2001, wife of H. Ridgely), Gwendoline Udall (1904-?, wife of W. F. Graham), Una Willa Udall (1907-2000, wife of R. J. Gillespie), and Elizabeth “Betty” Udall (1914-?, wife of G. S. Dinwoodie). He was a member of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. In retirement, he lived in Winnipeg from 1949 to 1956, and in Brandon from 1956 to his death.

He died at Brandon on 31 October 1962 and was buried in the Boissevain Cemetery. He is commemorated by Lake Udall at the International Peace Garden, in recognition of his key role in its establishment.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“W. V. Udall President of weekly newspapers’ branch,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 May 1927, page 15.

Obituary, Brandon Sun, 1 November 1962, page 28.

Obituary [Cassandra Udall], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 March 1966, page 24.

The Story of Manitoba’s Weekly Newspapers by Major A. M. Pratt, The Manitoba Weekly Newspapers Association, 1970.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 October 2016

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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