Memorable Manitobans: David John Dyson (1863-1949)

Businessman, veteran.

Born at Inniskillin, Ontario on 12 September 1863, son of Sarah Anne Dyson (1840-?), he first came west from London, Ontario as a volunteer in the 1885 North West Rebellion. He returned east and later came to Manitoba in 1887, eventually becoming President of Dysons’ Limited, a firm that manufactured food products in Winnipeg, and later the Dyson Pickle Company. He retired in 1938.

On 15 December 1916, he was elected Mayor of Winnipeg by a margin of 18 votes. A recount done several days after, however, made Frederick Harvey Davidson the winner.

He and his wife Wilhemina Esther Kirk (1868-1949) had six children: Tryphena May Dyson (1893-1949, wife of Reo Everett Palmatier), Wilhelmina Esther Dyson (1895-1951), Violet Edith Dyson (1896-1983, wife of R. Vosper), Wellington James Dyson (1899-1908), Alberta Alexandra Dyson (1902-?, wife of Joshua Clarkson Woodland), and David Wesley Dyson (1904-1972, father-in-law of Claude Hooper Wilson). An original member of the Young United Church, he was also involved with the YMCA from its origins in Winnipeg. He was also a member of the AF & AM (Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 3), and the Norwood Golf Club.

Once a resident of 170 Morland Street, Winnipeg, he died on 12 March 1949 at the Grace Hospital. He was later buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Dyson is Mayor on margin of 18 votes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 December 1916, page 1.

“Veteran of North West Rebellion, former food manufacturer dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 March 1949. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 86]

“The man who was a four-day mayor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 August 1964.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 August 1972, page 148.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Sarah Ramsden and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 August 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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