Realtor, insurance, financier.
Born on 21 February 1857, he was educated at a private school in Toronto, Ontario then worked as a clerk with the North British Investment Company until March 1882 when he was transferred to company's Winnipeg branch office. In 1884 he relocated to Brandon where he worked as an agent for several insurance companies. He was also a lands agent for the Canadian North West Land Company and Canadian Pacific Railway. He returned to Winnipeg in 1917.
In November 1895, he married Essie Augusta Girouard (1865-1959) of London, England. They had six children: Mary Desiree Skynner (1896-?, wife of Park Benjamin Riddell Tucker), Virginia Cranwill Skynner (1898-1981), Henry John Skynner (1900-1944, husband of Susan Beatrice Carter), Naomi Jarvis Audie Skynner (1901-?, wife of Thomas Ernest Drewett Boys), Kathleen Lucy Skynner (1903-?), and Harris Arthur Skynner (1905-1989, husband of Lucile Harsh). The family lived at 417 Sixth Street, Brandon. He was a member of the Brandon Club.
He died at the Misericordia Hospital on 13 February 1945 and was buried in the St. John's Cathedral Cemetery.
Birth registrations [Mary Desiree Skynner, Virginia Cranwell Skynner, Henry John Skynner, Naomi Jarvis Andis Skynner, Kathleen Lucy Skynner, Arthur Harris Skynner], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.
A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.
Marriage registration [Mary Desiree Skynner, Park Benjamin Riddell Tucker], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Naomi Audie Skynner, Thomas Ernest Drewett Boys], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Henry John Skynner, Susan Beatrice Carter], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Harris Arthur Skynner, Lucile Harsh], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registration [Henry John Skynner], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Henry John Skynner, 87, pioneer dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1945, page 4.
Obituary [Virginia Cranwill Skynner], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 April 1981, page 47.
Obituary [Harris Arthur Skynner], Winnipeg Free Press, 10 November 1989, page 60.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 18 April 2024
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 SearchBrowse 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 | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 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.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
