AHOF Members archive

Ernest McCausland was born on November 8, 1902 to John and Clara McCausland at Boissevain, Manitoba. He received his education in the Fairburn District. He married Marjorie Pettypiece in 1925 and they farmed in the Fairburn District from 1925 – 1969. Both spent many years involved in community activities. They raised three sons, Keith, Earl and Grant, two of whom became farmers. In the spring of 1934, Ernie organized the Boys and Girls Swine Club. Under Ernie’s leadership the Boissevain Calf Club won the prestigious Winnipeg Grain Exchange Trophy twice. In 1963, Ernie founded and led the Boissevain and District PeeWee Calf Club. These young people (6 – 9 years) were taught: care of a young calf, showmanship, making scrapbooks/posters,...

Allen McCoag McCallister, one of the most colourful and successful Manitoba settlers, was the eldest son of George and Sarah (Watt) McCallister, pioneer immigrants from Glasgow, Scotland. Allen was born in the Township of Keppel, Grey North County, Ontario. He was 18, when he came west to Manitoba. He worked on a farm, and later as a fireman on the Grand Trunk Railway. He bought and successfully operated a dairy in Prairie Grove. In 1913, he sold it, and purchased a half section of land six miles north of Portage. This farm enabled him to put into practice those ideas that set his place apart as a “demonstration” farm. At first he ran a mixed farm, but in 1924, he...

Owen McAuley was raised on the family farm near McAuley, Manitoba. In 1968 he received a Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba. After a year in the Alberta oil industry, he returned to McAuley, married Anna Mae Marshall, and together they raised three children, Laurie, Karen and Scott. In 1991 they were presented with the Manitoba Farm Family of the Year Award by the Red River Exhibition Association. Owen’s early years on the farm made him realize the many ways that the agricultural industry was being impacted by factors beyond the farm gate. Thus began his involvement in organizations which focussed on addressing issues affecting prairie farmers. Owen was involved with the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) from its...

William (Bill) Sheppard May was born in Dundee, Scotland on January 23, 1907, immigrating to Canada in 1926. He married Ruth Parker of McConnell, Manitoba in 1939 and their daughter Dell, was born in 1940. Mr. May farmed in the Strathclair district, raising cattle, swine, and registered seed grain. Because of limited space on “Dundee’s Pride”, he turned to pure-bred Yorkshire swine which were shown at top shows across the country. He was the first Manitoba breeder to win the “Silver Pig” trophy. Bill served community and province, as well as his country in many capacities as director and often president: of the Manitoba Swine Breeders for 20 years; of the Canadian Swine Breeders; the Advisory Board to R.O.P. Board...

Dr. Henry Heard Marshall (D.Sc.,P.Ag.), a Manitoban of great prowess, spent his career working in the field of horticulture. He married (Eva) Genevieve Evangeline Foresman, on October 26, 1940 and they raised four boys. As a self-taught scientist, Henry’s research was not restricted to a field of specialized training but rather expanded as he studied the problems of different crops. Whether it was vegetable, fruit, ornamental flower or shrub, he approached it as a challenge. His depth of interest was broad, ranging from chemistry, to genetics, to colour, to essential oils, to the genetics of sweetness. He trained himself in statistics, botany, and genetics, often to the level attained only through advanced university degrees. Mr. Marshall’s interests included such studies...

Dr. Grant MacEwan was born a native son of Elton Municipality in 1902. The MacEwans moved to Brandon in 1908 and MacEwan began his elementary education in Alexandra School. He proved to be an apt student and won the hearts of his classmates by his eloquent recitation of a Scottish ballad. In 1915, the MacEwans moved to Melfort, Saskatchewan, where MacEwan completed his high school education. He attended the Ontario College of Agriculture in Guelph and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. After post-graduate work in Iowa, he became head of the animal husbandry department at the University of Saskatchewan in 1928. In 1946, MacEwan accepted the post of dean of agriculture...

Walter Lynch, a bachelor and soldier, came West in 1869-70 with the Wolseley Red River Expedition. He was impressed with the farming opportunities on the Prairies. When he returned to Ontario, he persuaded a group of people to come out to this relatively unknown area. They were attracted by the offer of good soil, pleasant climate and 160 acres of free land. Lynch promoted the idea of establishing a new life in the West. He proposed to avoid the “Prairie” because of its problems with fire, lack of wood and water and its openness to the elements hail, frost, wind and snow. He wanted to develop river lots, especially those near the old fur trading community of Portage la Prairie....

Archie William Londry was born on April 5, 1922 at Minnedosa, Manitoba. He attended school at Willow Grove, McBride and Minnedosa High School. He was a member of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the forerunner of 4-H. He was an R.C.A.F. pilot in WW II. On July 3, 1946 Archie married Winona Horner. Their family is son, David, his wife Marlynn and four grandchildren. During an eight-year period Archie worked for C.P.R., drove mules and horses, fired steam engines and flew aircraft before he began farming. His farming operation included purebred beef cattle as well as growing foundation, registered and certified seed grain. Archie’s main interest, however, was the cattle industry where he was president of the Hereford Association, the...