Arbuthnott,
Richard (Dick)
![](images/Arbuthnott.jpg)
Biography: Born at Craig Park, Inverkeilor, Angushire,
Scotland m. 1924 to Ida.
Claims: He came to Canada in 1913 at age eleven with his parents,
brothers and sisters. Blacksmith for Albert Stilwell for seven years
then bought the business in 1936. Later was caretaker of Erin
Park and manager of Killarney Arena.
Probable Significance: Modest
Source: Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. /
Reflections p. 188
Highlights from Local Histories
Richard (Dick) was born in Scotland. He came to Canada in 1913 at age
eleven with his parents, brothers and sisters. They lived a few years
in Winnipeg then came to live at Treherne. Dick became a blacksmith by
trade as was his father.
Ida was born at Exeter, Ont in 1901 and came west to Treherne in 1919.
She and Dick were married at Souris in 1924 by the Rev. Coleman. They
spent some time in Ontario at Cameron Falls near Nipigon on a hydro
project. From there they came to Killarney by train in 1925 at 2:30
p.m. Dick was coming t.o work for Albert Stilwell, blacksmith and
carriage maker. Dick was shoeing horses shortly after 3:00 p.m. that
day.
Dick worked for Abe Stilwell for seven years then rented the shop and
eventually bought it in 1936. The hungry thirties were a trying time
for everyone and Dick's wages were often a load of wood or a quarter
beef taken in by Mr. Stilwell on accounts owing.
Barnfield, Wilfred,
Biography:
Claims: Section foreman on the railway in Killarney from 1898 to 1901.
He also cut ice from the lake during the winter, which was shipped out
by train. Another occupation was digging wells and at this work he was
involved in a tragedy. His companion was overcome by gas when he went
down the well to retrieve a glove he had left there. Fred had lowered
him by a rope tied to his leg but was unable to haul him up because of
the scaffolding.
Probable Significance: Modest
Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 357 /
Reflections p.
Bate, Aquila
Biography: b. 1880
Claims: First Teacher – Oak Lake (Killarney) School, 1883. Oak
Ridge School, In 1887 appointed Assistant Post Mistress. Postmistress
from 1920 – 1923.
Probable Significance: High
Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 212 /
Reflections p. 200, 110
Highlights from Local Histories
Aquila Bate, then fifteen years old, kept a diary in which she wrote an
account of their trip from England. When Killarney (then called Oak
Lake) school opened in 1883, she became the first teacher, having been
granted an interim certificate by the Department of Education. She went
to Winnipeg to the Teachers In- stitute in 1886, where she received her
teacher's diploma. As she had to leave before the railway reached
Killarney, her father drove her to Brandon on a day so cold that he had
to lift her out of the sleigh when they arrived. Six weeks later she
returned by train to Killarney. It took two days to come from Winnipeg
for there was an overnight stop, but it was warm and comfortable. She
taught the rest of that year in Oak Ridge school (then called
Killarney). By 1887 the Killarney post office was busy enough to
require an assistant and Aquila was appointed. When her father died in
1920, she was postmistress until she resigned in 1923.
Bate, Charles
![](images/BateCharles.jpg)
Biography: In 1883 he was appointed as the first Postmaster. He
served for 37 years. He was followed by Aquilla Bate,
On the first school borard. His home became the first Museum. Organized
the first Sunday School in 1883.
Claims: Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
![](images/BateAd.jpg)
Highlights from Local Histories
Charles Bate was born in Plymouth, England, and entered the Royal Navy
in 1853 where he served for twenty- six years, retiring in 1879 with a
pension and two medals. In 1862 he married Aquila Crockford. They had
five children, all born in England, Charles, Aquila, John, Eleanor
(Mrs. A. M. High), and Honora.
In 1880 the Bate family ventured forth to Ottawa where they spent two
years. It was there that Charles met John Sydney O'Brien who told him
about Killarney. In the spring of 1882, Charles Junior took a job with
a government survey party, and his father came to Killarney where he
filed a claim to E 4-3-17, part on one side of the lake and part on the
other. The south part was low meadow and very stony, the north, bush
and oak groves, not a good choice but not a serious matter as Charles
Bate never developed into a farmer.
After building a house of poplar boards from the mill at Wakopa, he
went back to Ottawa for his family. Unfortunately Eleanor and Honora
had had scarlet fever and were too weak to travel, so Charles returned
to Killarney with his son John. His wife and daughters left Ottawa
October II and he met them at Emerson wearing a peaked cap, grey shirt,
and red bandanna neckerchief. His wife was horrified. She had never
seen him in public except in navy uniform or with top hat and cane. The
trip from Ottawa took nine days to reach Winnipeg, five waiting for the
car with their goods and chattels, three in Brandon, and two and a half
driving from Brandon. When they arrived at the homestead on the north
shore of Killarney Lake, the first snow of the season was drifting down
over the gray water and leafless trees.
With William Willoughby to help him, Charles Bate drove back to Brandon
for their belongings which included furniture they had bought in
Ottawa, and linen, silver, china and a chain-stitch sewing machine
brought from England.
The house was very cold as it was only one ply of boards with daylight
showing through in places. For warmth a tent was put up in the living
room in which the parents and daughters slept. Their breath made frost
on the linen sheets they had brought from England and they had to be
thawed out the next day. They wore mittens to make the beds. Although
they had a cook stove and a box stove, a wet dishcloth laid on the
table between them soon froze.
On April 1, 1883, Charles Bate became postmaster, a position he held
for over thirty-seven years. In 1886 he moved the post office to
Killarney and, until 1889 when the family joined him there, John and
his sisters did most of the farm work. They had a dugout about a yard
deep, built up at the sides and roofed over for a barn. In summer they
rowed across the lake to milk the cows in the pasture. Some of the men
in the village pastured their horses there, paying $1.00 a month per
horse.
"We were unbelievable greenhorns," wrote Mrs. High, "When we did not
know how to get the chickens killed for the winter, my elder brother
Charles solved the problem by shooting them with his revolver. When a
calf or a pig had to be butchered our neigh- bour, William Riddell,
came over and helped. Mother had learned to make bread before leaving
Ottawa, and at a stopping house on the way she had observed a woman
making butter. She proceeded to make butter, colouring it with carrot
juice and packing it for the winter in large ornamental vases Father
had brought from China. She made pie from rabbits we children snared in
the bush and pre- pared standard English food like roast beef and suet
pudding. (Alas! the day C. W. Gordon chanced to stay for a meal she had
nothing in the house to offer him but potatoes.) But whatever the fare
Mother always set the table with a white cloth and table napkins."
They had hardly any money. What Charles Bate saved from his navy pay
was all spent, mostly on equipping the farm, and his pension and salary
were infinitesmal. But they all worked and the older children, Charles
and Aquila, contributed to the family exchequer.
Charles Bate was elected to the Council of Turtle Mountain Municipality
in 1883, appointed Justice of the Peace, and was one of the first
trustees of Killarney School, later serving as secretary- treasurer
until 1906. He became a lay reader in the Anglican Church and was
secretary of the Killarney Musical and Literary Society.
On September 3, 1883, he organized a union Sunday School, held first in
the school house and later in Pritchard's Hall. David Finlay, one of
those who attended, wrote, "He had been a sailor and kept excellent
discipline. He delighted in seeing children happy but would tolerate no
mischief." About 1898 each denomination took over its own Sunday School
and Charles Bate was superintendent of the Anglican school until 1914.
His son Charles remained with the government in the Department of
Agriculture in Ottawa. Eleanor married Archie M. High. Honora did not
marry.
Brown, Walter with Brown, Hannah G.
Biography:
Claims: Draying Service. Reeve 1903 -1908.
When all freighting and hauling was done with horses, many draying
teams were needed. Walter Brown, who had the C.P.R. contract for
handling express, was succeeded by his wife, Hannah G., a colorful lady
who donned overalls and carried on by herself for several years. Though
a slight little woman of senior years, she seemed able to manhandle
freight meant for men accustomed to such heavy work.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
Carson, William John
![](images/carson.jpg)
Biography: (1875 - ) Married Mary Effalena King in 1902.
Claims: Druggist Degree in 1904 he purchased Mr Olver's store, later
known as the Rexall Store. He built the brick building later operated
by Mr R Perrin. In 1905 Bell Telephone Co installed the first
switchboard in Killarney in the back of the store and Mr Carson became
the first operator.
Member of the Chamber of Commerce, served on the council and was Mayor
of Killarney 1940- 43. Canoe club, curling club and golf club.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
Dagg, R.L.
![](images/Daggs.jpg)
Biography:
Claims: Teamster, drayman.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
![](images/Dagg.jpg)
Mr. Richard Dagg delivering ice winter of 1914. Mr. Art Boyce, Mr.
Harry Smith (son-in-law of Mr. Dagg).
Highlights from Local Histories
Richard was born in Lucan, Ont and became a school teacher. His two
brothers, James and Frank who came to Manitoba to take up homesteads,
sent for Dick to come west as they said "The gold was laying on the
'Prairie"', meaning the wonderful crops of wheat on the virgin soil. He
came in 1882, homesteaded eleven miles southwest of Killarney, farmed
until he could claim his land and then sold it to his brother.
Richard married Margaret Moxley in 1893. Margaret was born in Ottawa
and came to Brandon with her parents, in1884, then to Killarney in 1885
by covered wagon.
Dick and Margaret moved into Killarney, bought the first public
schoolhouse that had been built and moved it and lived there for many
years.
Dick started an ice business by cutting ice in Killarney Lake and
selling it to merchants and private homes. The ice was packed in
sawdust and stored in sheds to be used in ice boxes which served as
refrigerators. The ice blocks, three to four feet deep, would keep all
summer. Dick often hired six men to keep up with his orders. In the
summer he took any job that was available.
He was a founder member of the Orange Lodge in Killarney, and among the
men who were put on guard after the "Strangler" was jailed in Killarney
in 1927.
Dunn, William
Biography:
Claims: Well Digger. Town Constable who was in charge of the
jail, during the “Strangler” incident. See Reflections p 58
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
Images: As Above
Content: No additional information
Edwards, P.C.
![](images/edwards_pc.jpg)
Biography: (1878-1952) In 1921 he married Florrie McCormick
(Hellis)
Claims: Jeweler, municipal official.
He started in photography in a large studio in London. There he became
an accomplished photographer and technician and remembered working on
many portraits of Queen Victoria, other Royalty and heroes of the Boer
War.
In 1903 he came to Canada to settle on a homestead in Saskatchewan, but
fortunately decided to get off the train in Boissevain. He worked on a
farm and in a tinsmith shop that winter and came to Killarney in 1904
to open a studio with a Mr Scott. He operated studios in Cartwright,
Crystal City, Pilot Mound and Manitou for many years.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
![](images/EdwardsPC.jpg)
At Killarney Lake
From
the Local History Sources...
PC
Edwards (1878-1952) was born into a large family in Kentish Town,
London, Eng. He started in photography at an early age in a large
studio in London. There he became an accomplished photographer and
technician and remembered working on many portraits of Queen Victoria,
other Royalty and heroes of the Boer War.
In 1903 he came to Canada to settle on a homestead in Saskatchewan, but
fortunately decided to get off the train in Boissevain. He worked on a
farm and in a tin- smith shop that winter and came to Killarney in 1904
to open a studio with a Mr Scott. Scott left for the US in 1910 and PC
operated the studio until his death.
The studio was first located upstairs on the east side of Broadway
about where No. 523 is now. In 1917 a fire destroyed several businesses
in that part of the block and he lost everything as well as all of the
negatives of the early days of Killarney. Many prints of these
negatives are around today, especially in the JAV David Museum. The
building was rebuilt by PJ Sherlock and the studio reopened on the
ground floor
In 1921 he married Florrie McCormick (Hellis) and lived at 538 Clark
Ave. Edith, Florrie's daughter from a previous marriage, lived with
them and their son, John, born 1923.
PC saw many changes in photography, from the days of glass plates to
roll film. In early days he would load up a buggy and drive around the
country taking pictures of the threshing outfits so workers from the
east could send home pictures of the wild west. He operated studios in
Cartwright, Crystal City, Pilot Mound and Manitou for many years.
A photographer did not make much money during the thirties and many a
chicken or quarter of beef was traded for Christmas portraits. With the
war years, business picked up and most of Killarney's servicemen and
women had their portraits taken by PC before they went over-seas.
PC and Florrie lived a quiet life and the home on Clark Ave was a
showplace with many flower gardens and shrubs. Florrie worked at the
studio when needed and enjoyed the lakeshore, boating and visiting with
her friends.
After the war PC was joined in his work by his son, John and continued
to work until he became ill in 1951
As far as is known the first photographer in Killarney was a Mr.
Martin. He probably did not have a studio and did only a small amount
of work. About the same time Mr. Osborne's name appears on photographs
and he later ran a studio in Boissevain.
Hatch, W.H.
Biography:
Claims: Established the Killarney Guide in 1894. Left after
2 years.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
Hay, Arthur George
![](images/hay_ag.jpg)
Biography: Ontario (1862 – 1931) married Eliza V. Robertson
Claims: called to the Manitoba Bar in 1893. He moved
to Killarney and established a law practice there.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
From
the Local History Sources...
Lawyer.
Born at Paisley, Ontario on 16 December 1862, son of Robert Hay and
Janet Fleming, he graduated from Queen’s University (Kingston) in 1889
and, the next year, came to Winnipeg where he studied law for three
years and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1893. He moved to Killarney
and established a law practice there. Finding insufficient business
there, he took a position as town solicitor at Virden. From 1922 to
1931, he was District Registrar at the Virden Land Titles Office.
On 24 December 1894 he married Eliza V. Robertson of Kincardine,
Ontario. They had four children: Lilian Robertson Hay (b 1895), William
F. Hay (b 1899), Arthur John Hay (1906-1949), and Elizabeth Mary Hay
(1915-1999). He was involved with the Virden Board of Trade and St.
Andrew’s Society.
He died at Brandon on 12 January 1931 and was buried in the Virden
Cemetery.
Hunter, Henry
Biography: (1852-1937) in 1875 married Elizabeth Dickson
(1855-1912)
Claims: worked in A. J. Rollins' store at the east end of the bay.
During the winter he drove to Brandon taking wheat there and bringing
back supplies for the store. In 1885 when the railway was being built
across their land, the children pitched a tent near the tracks and did
a flourishing business trading butter- milk to the camp cook for
cookies.
Hunter Pennick:
Biography: ( d.1943) In 1905 he married Elizabeth Tracy
Claims: Pennick was a natural mechanic and fitted a third wheel to his
bicycle so he could ride it on the rails. He also built a windmill
which could be used to saw wood. For many years he did custom
threshing, both with steam and gas outfits. He was a member of the
first Killarney fire brigade.
Probable Significance: Modest
Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 260 /
Reflections p.
McNamee, William
Biography: married Winnifred Stilwell in 1899.
Claims: Blacksmith. Noted curler.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
William McNamee married Winnifred Stilwell in 1899. Will ran the
blacksmith shop for many years and was a noted curler.
Monteith, J.H.
Biography:
Claims: Killarney Guide. Raised in the Highview district, a son of the
first Mayor of Killarney, he learned the printing trade in Winnipeg.
Immediately before coming to Killarney he had been employed at the
Manitoba Free Press.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
Monteith, George Bertram
![](images/monteithg.jpg)
Biography: Ontario. (1868 – 1952) . On 12 September 1900,
he married Mary Kerr (?-1941)
Claims: Lawyer. Established a law practice at Killarney. He was a
Liberal candidate for the Killarney constituency in the 1903 provincial
general election
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
From
the Local History Sources...
Born
at Exeter, Ontario on 22 May 1868, son of Robert Monteith and Mary
Kilpatrick, brother of John Herbert Monteith, in 1896 he graduated with
a BA from the University of Manitoba. He was called to the Manitoba Bar
in 1899 and establish a law practice at Killarney. He was a Liberal
candidate for the Killarney constituency in the 1903 provincial general
election. On 12 September 1900, he married Mary Kerr (?-1941) of
Winnipeg. They had two daughters: Barbara Monteith and Mary Monteith.
He moved to Winnipeg in 1912 where he died on 3 February 1952 and was
buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.
Moody, Martin
Biography: (1852-1924) In 1877 he married Janet Aldcorn ( -
1943)
Claims: Drayman / Teamster. Well-known Clydesdale horse
breeder and raised Shorthorn cattle and Plymouth Rock hens.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
Stilwell Fred
Biography: (1835 – 1908)
Claims: Blacksmith. Decided in 1888 to look for a promising site for a
blacksmith shop in the west and chose Killarney because he wanted to
live near a lake. He established a blacksmith shop and carriage works
on Broadway.
Probable Significance: Medium
Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. 313 /
Reflections p.
Highlights from Local Histories
FRED STILWELL (1835-1908) of Newcastle, Ontario, decided in 1888 to
look for a promising site for a blacksmith shop in the west and chose
Killarney because he wanted to live near a lake. The next year he
returned with his wife, and sons, Albert and George, and daughters,
Mrs. Annie Kent (Mrs. Arthur Mustard) with her son, Fred, and Winnie
who married William K. McNamee.
He established a blacksmith shop and carriage works on Broadway.
He was an enthusiastic gardener, bringing raspberry canes and lily of
the valley from
Newcastle. He was one of the first in the district to grow and ripen
tomatoes. He was a keen fisherman and loved the lake, usually walking
around the hill road with his grandson, Fred Kent, on Sundays. He was
fond of music and led Holy Trinity Choir until his death in 1908.
Waldon, Thomas
Biography:
1865-1947 In 1894 he married Ellen Elizabeth
Neill (1868-1937)
Claims: Vet. Ontario Veterinary College graduated about 1892.
In March 1898 with two small children they came to Killarney where they
lived the rest of their lives.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
![](images/waldron.jpg)
Thomas and Ellen Waldon and family. Harold, Bertha, Neill, Ida,
Evelyne, Charlie and Ruth.
Walker, Harry Ewart
Biography: (1882 – 1961) 1913, he married Martha McCrindle
(1878-1936)
Claims: He was the Superintendent of the Killarney
Demonstration Farm (1917-1920, 1927-1947) and Secretary of the
Killarney Agricultural Society (1928-1949).
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
Wilkins, Thomas E.
Biography: Born in Reston 1905. Married in 1933 to
Elva Dafoe
Claims: Came to Killarney in 1929 as a linotype operator
and printer. He was a member of the staff of the Killarney Guide, owned
by J.H. Monteith. For 17 years he worked under Herb Monteith, until
1946 when he purchased the business which he operated for many years.
President of the Chamber of Commerce, as a director of the Manitoba
Chambers of Commerce. Director and later President of the Manitoba
Weekly Newspapers Assoc. and one term as director of the Canadian
Weekly Newspapers Assoc.
As a member of Killarney Masonic Lodge, he filled the chair as Master
of the lodge for one term. He served on the Board of the Killarney
Agricultural Society and was for several years Chairman of the Board of
Lakeview Home for senior citizens. He was a member of the Board of
Brandon College before it became a University. Tom has long been a
member of the Peace Garden Board and its executive and is currently the
vice-chairman.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
![](images/Wilkins.jpg)
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wilkinson and Donna at the Newspaperman’s Ball for the
1967 Centennial in Ottawa.
From
the Local History Sources...
Thomas
E. Wilkins a native of Reston, Man. where he was born Dec. 23,
1905, came to Killarney in 1929 as a linotype operator and printer. He
was a member of the staff of the Killarney Guide, owned by J.H.
Monteith. For 17 years he worked under Herb Monteith, until 1946 when
he purchased the business which he operated for many years, selling out
to Jack Boak, an employee in
1974.
During that time his wife Elva (nee Dafoe) whom he
married in 1933 aided in the business of running the paper and for 25
years wrote a "Friendship Column" of local interest, featuring
gardening, plant care and related subjects. It was through her column
that interest in a horticultural society was fostered and subsequently
formed. Also because of her gardening activity, aid was sought in
planting trees at the park and on the former hospital grounds.
Previous to her marriage Elva had worked as a clerk in several stores,
first with W.A. McKnight an early storekeeper; later for Ernie Richards
and finally with his successor G.M. Anderson.
After easing up on the business activity, Elva became interested in
ceramics and has for 15 years given in- struction in the art in her
basement studio. She was in- strumental in the formation of the Western
Manitoba Ceramic Association and, with, Tom led in the founding of the
Canadian Ceramics Association of which he is secretary-treasurer.
T.E. Wilkins served on several occasions as president of the Chamber of
Commerce, as a director of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and, on
one occasion ran for Mayor of the town; but was defeated by the
incumbent Mayor P.J. McDonald. He also served as a director and later
President of the Manitoba Weekly Newspapers Assoc. and one term as
director of the Canadian Weekly Newspapers Assoc.
As a member of Killarney Masonic Lodge, he filled the chair as Master
of the lodge for one term. He served on the Board of the Killarney
Agricultural Society and was for several years Chairman of the Board of
Lakeview Home for senior citizens. He was a member of the Board of
Brandon College before it became a University. Tom has long been a
member of the Peace Garden Board and its executive and is currently the
vice-chairman.
Woods, Isaac
Biography Wife, Marion (nee Bower),
Claims: Cheesmaker. Came to Killarney from Seeley's Bay near
Kingston, Ont in 1889. brought out by Alex David to operate the cheese
factory at Oak Ridge, west of Killarney.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
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