Baxter, Dave
Biography: (1876-1971) In 1915 he married Gertrude Dafoe
Claims: He arrived in Killarney in 1886. Farmed but later turned
to carpentry. He spent several years in western USA and Canada keeping
his trade. In 1913, he returned to Killarney and opened up a machine
shop. In 1918 Dave operated the town's light plant. In 1929 he
became first superintendent of the Manitoba Power Commission in the
Killarney area.
Transferred by the hydro to Morden in 1939.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p.
From
the Local History Sources...
David (1876-1971), youngest son of Henry and Helen
Baxter was born in
Grey County, Ontario. He arrived in Killarney with other members of the
family in 1886. Much of his early youth was spent in farming operations
but he later turned to carpentry. He spent several years in western USA
and Canada keeping his trade. In 1913, he returned to Killarney, bought
a brand new Ford car for $800.00, and opened up a machine shop where
Prairie Freighters is now.
In 1915 he married Gertrude Dafoe of Bannerman and to this union four
children were born: LaVerne, Wilbert Dorothy and David. In 1918 Dave
operated the town's light plant on the site now the Lakeside Motel. It
burned down in 1929 after which Hydro supplied service d Dave served as
first superintendent of the Manitoba Power Commission in the Killarney
area.
George Wesley Brooks was born in the town of Mitchell County of Perth,
Ont. in July 1873. He received his education in Ont. and came to
Killarney as a young man to start his own carpenter business. He
married Margaret Maria Robbins in 1900. They had five children: Alvin,
Fred, Garnet, Maybelle and Russell. They also raised a niece, Alma
Mitchell.
He was a carpenter in Killarney for a number of years, building many
houses that remain, as well as barns and other buildings in the
surrounding district. He built the Town Hall on Main Street which was
demolished a few years ago for a new building. He built the Canadian
Customs Office at Lena Port of Entry which is still being used by the
Government. He was an active member of the Methodist Church and also
very interested in helping the young people in sports. He was an active
member of the Forrester's Lodge and Orange Lodge. He died Oct. 3, 1953.
Brooks, George Wesley
Biography: (1873 - 1953) Married Margaret Maria
Robbins in 1900.
Claims: Carpenter. Came to Killarney as a young man to start his
own carpenter business.
Built many houses, as well as barns and other buildings in the
surrounding district. He built the former Town Hall on Main Street. He
built the Canadian Customs Office at Lena Port of Entry. He was an
active member of the Methodist Church and also very interested in
helping the young people in sports. He was an active member of the
Forrester's Lodge and Orange Lodge. He died Oct. 3, 1953.
Probable Significance: Medium
Source: Trails & Crossroads to Killarney p. / Reflections
p. 220
George
Wesley Brooks was born in the town of Mitchell County of Perth,
Ont. in July 1873. He received his education in Ont. and came to
Killarney as a young man to start his own carpenter business. He
married Margaret Maria Robbins in 1900. They had five children: Alvin,
Fred, Garnet, Maybelle and Russell. They also raised a niece, Alma
Mitchell.
He was a carpenter in Killarney for a number of years, building many
houses that remain, as well as barns and other buildings in the
surrounding district. He built the Town Hall on Main Street which was
demolished a few years ago for a new building. He built the Canadian
Customs Office at Lena Port of Entry which is still being used by the
Government. He was an active member of the Methodist Church and also
very interested in helping the young people in sports. He was an active
member of the Forrester's Lodge and Orange Lodge. He died Oct. 3, 1953.
Crouse, Allan
Biography: Allen Crouse (1865-1940) married 1886 Sarah Emma
(King) .
Claims: Worked on a threshing gang. Partnered with Teddy Wenman and
Elijah Tracey, as carpenters. Worked on the Killarney Town Hall
and Methodist Church. Worked for A.M. High Lumberyard for 20 years.
Chief of Killarney Fire Department for 25 years. Loyal Orange
Order. Sir Knight of the Red Cross Degree in Royal Black Perceptory.
Methodist Church
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
261
![](images/Crouse.jpg)
Mr. And Mrs. Allan Crouse and family.
From
the Local History Sources...
Allen
Crouse (1865-1940) and Sarah Emma (King) were born and raised on
adjoining farmsteads in Hastings, attended the same school and Ebenezer
Methodist Church. There were married Dec 21, 1886 when both were 21
years old. In 1899 they came to Killarney on a CPR harvest excursion
train with their three children; Albert (10), Egbert (7) and Jennie
(3). A fourth
The village of Kingsford on the Salmon River 1 1/2 miles from his farm
in Co. Hastings, Tyendinaga Township in Upper Canada was named for
James King. James and his wife Susannah Richmond came to Killarney in
1900 to be near their daughters Sarah Emma Crouse and Adelaide Martin.
They had four other daughters; Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy and Naomi. While
in Killarney they lived with Crouses. They were Wesleyan Methodists.
Jewell, Jabez
Biography: (1852-1910)
Claims: Painter and paper- hanger in Mitchell, Ont. Arrived
in Killarney in 1899 with all the material necessary for building a
house except the bricks. These were made in a kiln south of Lena and
dyed by Jabez in a process only he knew. The contractor was Nelson
Tracey, in the employ of James Bros. The house still stands on Broadway.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p. 360
From
the Local History Sources...
Jabez
Jewell (1852-1910) was a painter and paper- hanger in Mitchell,
Ont. He developed a form of colic which he attributed to his
occupation. He decided to leave Ontario for the West. He arrived in
Killarney on April 22, 1899, accompanied by his wife and five children.
Their second child, Arthur Leslie had died in 1883 at the age of two.
When the Jewell family came to Killarney in 1899,
Jabez brought all the material necessary for building a house except
the bricks. These were made in a kiln south of Lena and dyed by Jabez
in a process only he knew. A barn to shelter a horse and buggy was
first built and here the family lived while their house was being
built. The contractor was Nelson Tracey, in the employ of James Bros.
The house still stands on Broadway.
Porter, John
Biography: (1871-1962) married (1896) Elizabeth Church. (
1874 - 1949)
Claims: Carpenter. Homesteaded in 1891 – near Lena. Moved to Killarney
in 1910
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
From
the Local History Sources...
JOHN
PORTER (1871-1962) married Elizabeth Church. Of their ten
children, Howard, Goldie, Norman, Roy, Myrtle, Winnie, Edna, Dora,
Robert, and Eunice, two are still in the district, Roy in Holmfield and
Myrtle (Mrs. Kenneth Stouffer) in Killarney. John moved in to Killarney
in 1907.
John was the eldest son of Alexander and Jessie Porter who left
Portpatrick, Scotland for Wingham, Ont in 1865; remained there until
1881 then came west to Pilot Mound.
In 1891 Alexander and son John homesteaded in the Plum Hollow district
(Lena area). John had NW 2-1-17 and Alex had the east half. Being on
the U.S. border, St. John and Rolla, ND were closer than Killarney so
they often shopped and travelled over the border, especially in winter.
Alex and Jessie had eleven children: Lizzie (Mrs J Cardno), Merne (Mrs
A Cardno), Jessie (Mrs A Cardno)
In 1896 John married Elizabeth Church of the Plum Hollow
district.
John and Elizabeth moved to Killarney in 1910, buying a house on
Norquay Ave. In 1946 they celebrated their 50th anniversary and ten of
their eleven children were able to celebrate with them: Howard, Goldie,
Norman, Roy, Bob, Myrtle (Mrs K Stouffer), Winnie (Mrs C Mitchell),
Edna (Mrs R Porteous), Dora (Mrs J Frucht) and Eunice (Mrs L
Koellermeier). A daughter, Marjorie died at the age of one year.
Elizabeth died in 1949 in her 75th year. John stayed on in the house
until 1960 when he sold it but remained in Killarney until the fall of
1962 when he came into Winnipeg to make his home with Winnie. It was
only for a few short months for he died Dec 8 in his 91st year.
McNamee, Andrew
Biography:
Claims: Built Killarney’s first school in 1883.
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections p.
Wenman, Edward George, (Teddy)
Biography: (1883 – 1926 ) 1904, married Ada Hall
(1880 – 1965)
Claims: Mr Wenman received his education and apprenticed for seven
years to a building contractor in Folkestone, Kent. In 1906 Mr.
and Mrs. Wenman emigrated to Canada. Mr. Wenman had expected to farm
but when the authorities found out about his training, it was decided
he should go to Killarney where a carpenter was needed. His first job
when he arrived was unloading bricks for the new High School on
Broadway. Contractor (Lena United Church) (New Rink (1925)
Probable Significance:
Source: Trails to Killarney p / Reflections
p. 572
![](images/Wenman.jpg)
Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Wenman
![](images/WenmanSmithScott.jpg)
George Scott, HJarry Smith, T. Wenman (man in foreground unidentified).
From
the Local History Sources...
Mr.
E.G. Wenman was the contractor (Lena United Church) and the final
cost was $5,300.
In 1925 heavy snow collapsed the roof of the rink. That winter an
outdoor rink was set up on the bay just east of the bridge crossing.
There was also a toboggan slide on the north shore of the bay which ex-
tended to the ice surface giving a good long toboggan ride.
Teddy Wenman was the contractor for rebuilding the rink and he
supported the roof with wooden trusses approximately every four feet on
the skating side. The west side was still supported by upright timbers.
Edward George 'Teddy' Wenman (1883) was born at Whitestable, Kent, Eng.
He was the younger son of Captain H. Wenman of the Merchant Marine and
Mrs. Wenman. The family moved to Folkestone, Kent where Mr Wenman
received his education and apprenticed for seven years to a building
contractor.
In 1904, following the completion of his apprenticeship, he married Ada
Hall of Folkestone. She was born at Dover, Kent in 1880.
In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Wenman emigrated to Canada. Mr. Wenman had
expected to farm as this seemed to be one of the main jobs open to
immigrants but in Winnipeg, when the authorities found out about his
training, it was decided he should go to Killarney where a carpenter
was needed. His first job when he arrived was unloading bricks for the
new High School on Broadway.
For some time Mr Wenman worked with Nelson Tracy, then he and Allen
Crouse went into partnership. Later he started on his own. The two men
who worked longest with him were Harry Smith and George Scott. Later
Judson 'Jud' Sellers, Dave Denton and Jack Agolini joined the gang. The
greater part of the work was done in the country, building houses,
barns, etc. In the early days he travelled by horse to the country
Monday morning and returned home the following Saturday. This changed
before 1920 when a new Ford car was pur- chased; a happy event for the
whole family!
Mr. Wenman died in 1926, just a year after he, with his wife and two
younger daughters, had spent the winter in England visiting relatives.
Mrs Wenman died at the age of 85 in 1965.
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