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John Tully Speirs
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Baker.
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John Tully Speirs
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Born at Glasgow, Scotland on 10 March 1860, son of John Speirs and Elisabeth Tully, he came to Winnipeg in 1881. He started in wines but was burned out twice before turning to baked goods. In the early years, he operated one wagon which he drove himself, with one oven. He lived to see the operation expand to one of the largest bread-manufacturing plants in western Canada. In 1910, he was in partnership with Edward Parnell. The daily output of their bakery was 100,000 loaves.
On 31 October 1882, he married Susan Marnie (1863-1928) at Winnipeg and they had six children: Elizabeth Speirs (1884-1884), John Tully Speirs (1885-?), James Marnie Speirs, Ella Stark Speirs (1890-1976, wife of George Tristam Mackinnon), Mabel Mildred Speirs (1892-1983, wife of Norman Alexander Verner, daughter-in-law of Thomas Henry Verner, mother of Norma Jane Hall), and Catherine May Speirs (1898-1988). He was a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Canadian Order of Foresters, St. Andrew’s Society, and Manitoba Lawn Bowling Association. He served a single term on the Winnipeg city council, in 1899. He was a Past Chief of the Clan Stewart and an avid curler.
Uncle of James Wasson Speirs.
He died at his Winnipeg residence, 6 Middle Gate, on 13 March 1925 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Speirs House (6 Middle Gate, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Elderslie Cottage (171 Gimli Road, Dunnottar)
Manitoba Business: Quality Cakes Limited
Birth registrations [Elizabeth Speirs, John Tully Speirs, Mabel Speirs, Ella Stark Speirs], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
A History of Manitoba: Its Resources and People by Prof. George Bryce, Toronto: The Canadian History Company, 1906.
Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.
Marriage registration [Mabel Mildred Speirs, Norman Alexander Verner], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [John Tully Speirs, Sussan Speirs], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Winnipeg pays final tribute to J. T. Speirs,” undated newspaper clipping. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B8]
“Mrs. S. Speirs passes at 65,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 May 1928, page 17.
Obituary [James Marnie Speirs], Winnipeg Free Press, 8 October 1958, page 10.
Obituary [Mabel Speirs Verner], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 1983, page 36.
Classified death notice [Catherine May Speirs], Winnipeg Free Press, 13 August 1988, page 2.
Ella Stark Speirs, FamilySearch.
We thank Garry Bolton for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 8 November 2026
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