Memorable Manitobans: Leslie Hill McDorman (1879-1966)

Leslie Hill McDorman Click to enlarge

Manager, Mayor of Brandon (1944-1945), MLA (1945-1949).

Born at Great Village, Nova Scotia on 19 January 1879, he came to Brandon about 1901 where he managed and owned the Brandon Creamery. He served on Brandon city council and, in December 1943, he defeated fellow councillor Frank Williamson to become Mayor of Brandon (1944-1945). He was elected in 1945 as a member of a coalition government to the Manitoba Legislature. He served a single term and did not stand for re-election in 1949.

On 10 January 1900, he married Clara Baynton (1876-1949) at Carberry and they had seven children: Minnie Aletha McDorman (1901-1979, wife of William Edward Peters), Robert Gerald McDorman (1903-1978, husband of Margareta May Biggs), Vera May Irene McDorman (1908-1937), Wilfred Roy “Billy” McDorman (1913-1918), Marion Jean McDorman (1914-1991, wife of Harold J. Simpson), Dorice Merle McDorman (1917-2006, wife of James W. McGregor), and Margaret Noreen “Marnie” McDorman (1920-2019, wife of James Lougheed Mills). He was a member of the Masons and IOOF.

He moved to Rivers in 1962 and died there on 19 May 1966. He was buried in the Brandon Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage registration [Leslie MacDorman, Clara Baynton], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registrations [Minnie Aletha McDorman, Robert Gerald McDorman, Wilfred Roy McDorman, Marion Jean McDorman, Doris Merle McDorman, Margaret Noreen McDorman], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Co-eds’ prank ends in near tragedy when girl falls in escaping from locked room,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 March 1937, page 1.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1951.

“Former city mayor dies,” Brandon Sun, 20 May 1966, page 3.

Obituary [Jean Simpson], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 December 1991, page 49.

Obituary [Margaret Mills], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 November 2019.

Clara Baynton, FamilySearch.

We thank Oliver Bernuetz (Legislative Library of Manitoba) for providing additional information used here.

We thank Nancy McGregor and Gary Mills for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 1 November 2022

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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!