Memorable Manitobans: Richard Reuben “Dick” Knox (1864-1947)

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Richard Reuben Knox
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Business executive, civil servant.

Born at Carleton Place, Ontario on 17 October 1864, he came to Manitoba in 1888 and farmed near Dominion City for five years. He moved to Winnipeg in 1893 and joined the staff of the Winnipeg Electric Company, rising to become assistant to the General Manager prior to his retirement.

He was active in public life since 1908. He was a member of the Winnipeg School Board for 22 years, serving as Chairman in 1916 and 1917. He contested the North Winnipeg constituency in the 1926 federal election and became a member of the Winnipeg Parks Board in 1931, serving as its Chairman in 1934 and 1935. He ran for city council in 1937. He retired from civil service in December 1946, after 35 years of continuous service.

In 1889, he married Emma Margaret Hattie Bleeks (1867-1916) and they had three children: C. Earle Knox (1890-?), Elsie M. Knox (1893-1964), and William Melville Knox (1896-1976). He was President of the St. Johns Curling Club (1912-1913) and a member of the AF & AM (King Edward Lodge) and Kiwanis Club.

He died at the Winnipeg General Hospital on 14 September 1947 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth registration [William Melvill Knox], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Death registration [Emma Margaret Hattie Knox], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“R. Knox retires from city board,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 December 1946. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9]

“Richard Knox, civic leader, dies at 84,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 September 1947. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B9]

“R. R. Knox, 84, former W.E.C. official, dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 September 1947, page 10.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Rick Mutton and Rob McInnes for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 October 2022

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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