Memorable Manitobans: Mordecai S. Weidman (1864-1952)

Mordecai S. Weidman Click to enlarge

Wholesale grocer.

Born at Bialostok, Russia in 1864, son of Beril and Rachel Weidman, he came to Canada in 1882 and worked on the road gang of the Canadian Pacific Railway. From 1884 to 1887, he farmed near Moosomin, Saskatchewan with his brother Hiram Weidman. He came to Winnipeg in 1887 and was engaged in general storekeeping until 1906, when he joined his brother in the enterprise of Weidman Brothers Limited, of which he was Vice-President and later President.

He and wife Bessie Shragge (1866-1915) had seven children: Anne Weidman (1887-1972, wife of R. Lionel Halter), Abraham Edward Weidman (1889-1953), John Peter Weidman (1890-1971), Sara Cynthia Weidman (1892-1977, wife of Jacob J. “Jack” Korman), Etta Gertrude Weidman (1893-?, wife of Joseph R. Skaletar), and Isobel “Bella” Weidman (1897-1970, wife of Victor Rackow), and Sydney Herbert “Buddy” Weidman (1904-1961). In 1925, the family lived at 91 Balmoral Place.

He was one of the founders of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, and was instrumental in forming the first YMHA in Western Canada (1892), serving as its first President. He was a director of the Jewish Consumptives Relief Society of Denver, Colorado and a Life Member of the Winnipeg General Hospital. He was a member of the Bnai Brith Lodge.

He died at Winnipeg on 21 September 1952 and was buried in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Weidman Warehouse (244-246 Jarvis Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth registrationa [Ende Weidman, Abram Weidman, Jonah Parache Weidman, Sarah Miriana Weidman, Yetta Weidman, Bella Weidman, Sydney Herbert Weidman], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Death registration [Bessie Weidman], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Marriage registration [Sarah Marian Weidman, Jacob Korman], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Pioneers and Prominent People of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Canadian Publicity Company, 1925.

“Pioneer, 88, celebrates his arrival in city,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 May 1952. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10]

“City pioneer, M. S. Weidman, dies age 88,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 September 1952.

“In honor of the memory of our deceased President,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 September 1952, page 7.

“A. E. Weidman, wholesaler, dies aged 64,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1953, page 8.

“A. E. Weidman estate set at $103,917,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 1953, page 11.

Obituary [Joseph R. Skaletar], Winnipeg Tribune, 26 April 1960, page 27.

Obituary [Sydney H. Weidman], Winnipeg Tribune, 27 November 1961, page 25.

Obituary [Isobel Rackow], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 April 1970, page 39.

Obituary [John P. Weidman], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 July 1971, page 27.

Obituary [Sara Cynthia Korman], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 1977, page 172.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Stan Carbone and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 4 December 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!