Patrick Joseph “Paddy” McDermott (1856-1938)

Merchant.

Born in Ireland on 26 February 1856, he emigrated to Canada and, in 1879, arrived at the Red River Settlement where he loaded up some supplies in a wagon and headed west, intending to open a general store. Passing “Tanner’s Crossing” (forerunner of the town of Minnedosa, Manitoba), he opened a store next to the Land Titles office near the new town of Odanah. In 1883, as the railway was set to arrive in the vicinity, he went into partnership with H. G. Henderson. He later built stores at Clanwilliam and Franklin. He helped to form the Minnedosa Power Company to generate electricity for sale to Minnedosa businesses. It built a dam and spillway to the north of town and, when the area behind the dam filled in early 1912, Minnedosa Lake was formed. He eventually sold the company in 1920.

He served as a councillor and Mayor of Minnedosa (1896-1897). He died, unmarried, at Minnedosa on 26 September 1938.

More information:

Early Days of Minnedosa by E. J. Brown
MHS Transactions, Series 3, 1964-65 Season

Odanah by Florence M. Brown
Manitoba Pageant, Volume 5, Number 2, January 1960

Sources:

Commemorative plaque in the Town of Minnedosa.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Death registration for P. J. McDermott, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

This profile was written by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 4 October 2009

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