Memorable Manitobans: Earl Thompson Collins (1895-1958)

Click to enlarge

Earl Thompson Collins
Click to enlarge

Merchant, farmer, MLA (1943-1945), MLA (1946-1949).

Born on the family farm on the outskirts of Miami on 3 September 1895, son of Christopher Fowler Collins (1852-1905) and Susanna Thompson (1864-1960), he was educated at the Miami Public School, St. John’s School for Boys (Winnipeg), and St. Andrew’s Boys’ School (Toronto).

He returned to Miami and worked in a general store (1915-1923) then worked for two years in a Winnipeg store. In 1927, he opened a general store at Rosebank that he operated until 1937. He also managed the Co-operative Oil and Supply Warehouse (1928-1946). After selling his store, he bought farm land at Graysville where he grew grain and Hereford cattle. He took over his family farm in 1944.

On 23 November 1928, he married Hazel Viola Campbell (1905-2001), daughter of James Campbell of Pathlow, Saskatchewan, at Winnipeg. They had no children. He was a member of the United Church. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Rosebank Co-op. He was elected at a provincial by-election on 12 June 1943, and was acclaimed at the 1945 general election. He lost the Conservation nomination in the 1949 general election. He ran again in 1953 but was defeated.

He died at Morden on 31 August 1958 and was buried in the Miami Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1947.

“Well-known ex-M.L.A., Earl T. Collins dies,” Dufferin Leader, 4 September 1958, page 1.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Hazel Viola Campbell Collins, FindAGrave.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

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

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 January 2022

Memorable Manitobans

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:
1976 | 1977 | 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.ca

Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements

Help us keep
history alive!