Memorable Manitobans: Gilbert Ernest Davidson (1868-1949)

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Gilbert Ernest Davidson
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Farmer, lumberman, grain buyer, municipal official.

Born at Lachute, Quebec on 4 May 1868, one of nine children of John Davidson and Cecelia Somerville, brother of I. H. Davidson, he came to Manitoba with his family in 1877. He attended New Haven School No. 78 and worked on the family farm. In 1882 he became employed by the hardware, lumber and grain firm of R. J. Chalmers and Company, where he learned the lumber business. In 1886, in partnership with T. Turnbull, he purchased the lumber business of C. R. Gordon, later buying out his partner and operating lumber yards at Manitou, Altamont, Kaleida, and Darlingford. He also dabbled in real estate.

On 13 August 1895, he married Mabel Kerr (?-?), with whom he had three children: Gordon Rolston Davidson (1900-?), Mabel Maud Davidson (1903-?), and Jack Davidson (?-?). Active in community affairs, he ran for a seat in the Manitoba Legislature in 1907 and 1922, being defeated each time. He served as a Director of the Lumberman’s Association of Manitoba, and Mayor of Manitou (1915 to 1916).

He retired to Winnipeg where he died in 1949.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Opposition to the Roblin government,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 March 1907, page 27.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

In Rhythm With Our Roots: A History of Manitou & Area edited by Haraldine Webb and Diana Vodden, published by the Manitou Centennial Book Committee, 1997, page 514-515.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 September 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.

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