Gramp, (as he became known to all) was born April
12,1867 in the country of Armagh, Ireland. He was the eldest of nine
children born to John and Martha Roney. The Roney's emigrated to Canada
when Gramp was two years old. They settled in Orangeville, Ontario.
Gramp married Rebekah Ann Banks (born in Bowling Green, Ontario in
1872) February 14,1894 at Grand Val¬ley, Ontario where their first
three children, Lillie, Eva and Richard were born.
They moved to a house north of Wawanesa in 1899, and then into town.
The rest of their family, Albert, Hiram, Wilbert, Ann, George and Jean
were born at Wawanesa. Gramp broke horses for Vanstone and Rodgers, who
bought and imported horses to this part of the country.
Gramp started a dray and dairy farm which he operated until Rebekah's
death, January 7, 1929. He bought part of the 26-7-17 for pasture for
his cattle and horses. Part of this land was later owned by his
grandsons, Bill and Morley, and part, he made into a park, Roney's
Park. It was a beauty spot which was open to the public at all times as
a fishing and picnic spot.
Gramp moved a house on to the land and lived there until the flood in
1950, when it went down the river. He sold the land to Wawanesa
Community Club. Roney's Park is now known as the Lion's Park.
When a hockey game was on, you could always find Gramp behind the net
as goal judge. One time, Wawanesa played Treherne in the playoffs, and
Wawanesa won. Treherne heard he'd bet on the game and they disputed the
win, as he was goal judge. "Sure, sure," he said "I had the bet with
your goal judge!" They forgot about the dispute.
August 22, 1950, Gramp died in the Brandon General Hospital at the age
of 83. He is buried beside Rebekah in the family plot at Wawanesa
cemetery.
Adapted from Sipiweski, page 400
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