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Iona Farm

Iona Farm

Connie (View posts)
Posted: 10 Apr 2006 11:18PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, McCormick
Somewhere in Manitoba in the 1890's and early 1900's there was a place that was referred to as "The Iona Farm" that was run by a McDonald family (and some McCormicks) from Iona, Argyll, Scotland. They arrived there in about 1889. Can anyone help me with where this was located?
Thanks much..

Re: Iona Farm

Bette (View posts)
Posted: 11 Apr 2006 1:02AM GMT
Classification: Query
Which McDonalds and which McCormicks?

Re: Iona Farm

Connie (View posts)
Posted: 11 Apr 2006 2:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, McCormick, McPhail
To the best that I can determine there was John McDonald that married Mary McCormick, Lachlan McDonald that married Flora McCormick, Archibald McCormick that married Margaret McDonald, John McDonald that married Mary McCormick and Coll McCormick that married Janet McPhail that were all connected to this Iona Farm. These were all McDonalds and McCormicks that were from the Isle of Iona, Argyll, Scotland. Do you have information that can help me on any of these and on the location of this farm?

Re: Iona Farm

Bette (View posts)
Posted: 12 Apr 2006 3:45AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McCormick, Macdonald
Not sure that you have these..
GROOM'S LAST NAME: MACDONALD
GROOM'S GIVEN NAMES: LACHLAN
BRIDE'S LAST NAME: MCCORMICK
BRIDE'S GIVEN NAMES: FLORA
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 05/07/1924
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: MINNEDOSA
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1924,019210

GROOM'S LAST NAME: MCCORMICK
GROOM'S GIVEN NAMES: ARCHIBALD
BRIDE'S LAST NAME: MACDONALD
BRIDE'S GIVEN NAMES: MARGARET
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 05/07/1924
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: MINNEDOSA
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1924,019211

Interesting...this must have been a double ceremony - same date.

from: Minnedosa Valley Views, pg. 513
McCormick - Archie & Margaret (Macdonald)
McCormick - Coll & Marion (McPhail)
submittted by Marion McCormick
Archie McCormick came to Canada from the Isle of Iona on the West Coast of Scotland in 1912, and worked in the Fairmount area until 1919. In the autumn of that year, he and a cousin returned to Scotland for a visit. The following spring of 1920 they returned to Canada accompanied by Archie's sister, Flora, and his brother, Coll.
In 1924, Flora married Lachlan MacDonald, and Archie married Margaret Macdonald. They and Coll McCormick lived and farmed in the Fairrmount area until 1950.
Mr. & Mrs. Archie McCormick came to reside in Minnedosa in the autumn of 1950. Their house was in the downtown section, so they were close to the stores and the business area. They were a quiet couple, but they enjoyed life, and their many friends and relatives, who visited them often.
Mrs. Lachlan Macdonald also took up residence in Minnedosa in 1950, following the death of her husband in 1949. Their home was in the northwest area of town. She lived a comparatively quiet life, too, but she did enjoy the company of her many friends and relatives.
Coll McCormick purchased a home in the northwest area of Minnedosa, also, and in 1962, Coll and Marion McPhail of Vista, Manitoba were married. In 1954, Marion joined the teaching staff of the Minnedosa North School teaching Grade Two, for a period of 13 years.
Coll continued farming from town until 1960. At that time the farm was rented. Now he had more time for recreation. He enjoyed curing and bowling.
We also had more time to travel. Besides trips that we had enoyed in Canada, we went overseas in 1964 and again in 1970. Coll had visited his homeland in 1937, but during these later trips, he was to see many changes. Britain is so full of history, and then it was a thrill to meet relatives and friends. For Coll, it meant much more, for he was returning to the land of his birth.
Coll passed away on August 10, 1973. He was predeceased by his brother and his sister-in-law in 1964 and 1965. And his sister died in 1976. They are all interred in Fairmount Cemetery.
Marion, Mrs. Col McCormick, continue to live in her home in Minnedosa. (Note - this book was published about 1983).

This still doesn't answer where Iona Farm was but I expect it was close to Minnedosa. Although I come from Minnedosa, I don't remember where the Fairmount area was.

Unfortunately, because they didn't arrive until 1912, they won't be caught in the 1911 census, but their marriage certificate, available online from Manitoba Vital Stats would give you their parents.

Re: Iona Farm

Connie (View posts)
Posted: 12 Apr 2006 2:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, McCormick
Bette, thank you so much. This is all very informative and certainly is information to help me put together these people's lives. Information I do need. All these McDonalds and McCormicks are of a later generation than the John McDonald b. 1833 and Mary McCormick b 1849 that appear to be some of the ones that started Iona Farms, leaving Scotland in 1889. There obvious were other McDonalds that left Scotland in 1889 that I do not know the names of. Perhaps Archie McCormick and others were not involved with the Iona Farm like I believed they were. The thing that shocks me that Coll McCormick and Marion McPhail did not marry until 1962. He would have been 68 years old at that time.
Please tell me just where is Fairmount and Minnedosa? Would you advise that I post to another Manitoba board rather than the general.
Thanks again.

Re: Iona Farm

Connie (View posts)
Posted: 12 Apr 2006 9:08PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McCormick, McDonald, McPhail
Hi Bette, This is the second message I'm posting to your reply. I have gone over all the information you sent with a fine tooth comb and over the information I have. First of all, I have looked without success to locate Fairmount. I believe that the Fairmount location was where this Iona Farm was. I'll tell you why. I learned from Marion's writing that Archie McCormick (as well as the others) farmed in that area until 1950 and Coll continued to farm even though he had moved to Minnedosa until 1960 when the farm was rented. From information I have, it says that Archie McCormick who took over part of this huge holding (Iona Farm) wrote his cousin Archibald McDonald in Iona, Scotland that they could plow 12 furrows at a time with the horses....... I know the parents of three McCormick siblings, and Lachlan McDonald and Margaret McDonald were likely a neice and a nephew of this John McDonald and Mary McCormick who went in 1889 and started the Iona Farm along with maybe other brothers of John McDonald. So therefore, they were very likely born in Canada. I also believe the Marion (McPhail) McCormick was born in Canada and perhaps the daughter of John McPhail and Catherine MacMillian. Is there anything in this Minnedosa Valley Views of about McDonalds or McPhails that might connect? I know this all sounds confusing and the way I've written it makes it more so, I'm sure. Sorry about that.
Thanks again,
Connie

Re: Iona Farm

Posted: 13 Apr 2006 12:22AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 22 Nov 2006 4:06AM GMT
I believe that Fairmount was an area approximately 5 - 6 miles south of Erickson. There is a small lake which # 10 highway curves around and that is apparently in the Fairmount area.
Erickson has an area history book which would quite likely cover that far south from Erickson and may have a family history of these people.

I do not have a copy here but will try to locate same thru a library and will forward any info I find.

You might also contact the Village of Erickson as they apparently have copies of the book still for sale.

Hope this is of some help in your search.

Re: Iona Farm

Connie (View posts)
Posted: 13 Apr 2006 12:55AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McCormick, McDonald, McPhail.
Hi Murray,
Thanks for your message and I appreciate any help that I can get since I do not know Manitoba at all. I did successfully find Erickson on a map and if Fairmount was just south of it, the location would be very resonable because of it's closeness to Minnedosa.
Anything that you might find will be a lot more than I know already.
Thanks again.

Re: Iona Farm

Bette (View posts)
Posted: 13 Apr 2006 12:57AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, McCormick
Hi,
A good place to search for placenames is
http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
You'll see there that Minnedosa is a little town of about 1,500 about 30 miles N of Brandon and 100 miles W of Winnipeg. Minnedosa is located at 15-18-W1

I take it that the John McDonald/Mary McCormick family who emigrated earlier and started Iona Farms is this family from the 1901 census. All born Scotland rural, except the youngest. Census says they emigrated in 1880.
1 14 3 McDonald John M Head M Aug 15 1833 68, Presby, farmer
1 15 3 McDonald Mary F Wife M Jan 5 1849 52
1 16 3 McDonald Dougald M Son S Oct 22 1873 26
1 17 3 McDonald Donald M Son S May 27 1876 24
1 18 3 McDonald Mary F Daughter S Jan 22 1880 20
1 19 3 McDonald Maggie F Daughter S Jun 5 1882 18
1 20 3 McDonald Jessie F Daughter S Nov 12 1884 16
1 21 3 McDonald Neil M Son S Nov 19 1887 13
1 22 3 McDonald Lachlan M Son S Sep 22 1890 10, b. MB
1901 Census of Canada
Subdistrict: Harrison, MARQUETTE, MANITOBA
District Number: 9
Subdistrict Number: j-2
Archives Microfilm: T-6434

Harrison appears to be an unincorporated area somewhere near Minnedosa but again, unfortunately, I don't know exactly where. It's the first time I've heard of it.

1906 Census; In this census it says that John emig 1890 and that some of the younger ones didn't come untll 1893. But it does put them at Township 16- Section 16- Range 19-W1 so one might imagine that that is where Iona Farm is/was. In 1906 they owned 12 horses, 30 cows, 70 cattle, 35 sheep and 5 hogs. (they must have been considered pretty rich farmers)
13 24 MacDonald John Head M M 73
14 24 MacDonald Mary Wife F M 56
15 24 MacDonald Dugal Son M S 32
16 24 MacDonald Donald Son M S 30
17 24 MacDonald Mary Ann Daughter F S 26
18 24 MacDonald Maggie Daughter F S 24
19 24 MacDonald Jessie F. Daughter F S 21
20 24 MacDonald Neil Son M S 18
21 24 MacDonald Laughlan Son M S 15
District: MB Marquette District (#5)
Subdistrict: 11 (Townships 16, 17, 18 in ranges 19, 20 west) Page 3
Details: Schedule 1 Microfilm T-18355

Birth: Mother is Mary McCormick
LAST NAME: MCDONALD
FIRST NAME: LACHLAN
DATE OF BIRTH: 09/22/1890
PLACE OF BIRTH: R.M. OF HARRISON
SEX: M
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1890,002690

Marriage:
GROOM'S LAST NAME: MCDONALD
GROOM'S GIVEN NAMES: NEIL
BRIDE'S LAST NAME: BELL
BRIDE'S GIVEN NAMES: JESSIE MARGARET
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 06/28/1916
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: RM HARRISON
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1916,034038

Death;
LAST NAME: MCDONALD
GIVEN NAMES: MARY
DATE OF DEATH: 05/26/1923
AGE: 74
UNITS OF AGE: YEARS
SEX: F
PLACE OF DEATH: RM HARRISON
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1923,020338

LAST NAME: MCDONALD
GIVEN NAMES: JOHN
DATE OF DEATH: 12/27/1909
AGE: 76
UNITS OF AGE: YEARS
SEX: M
PLACE OF DEATH: HARRISON
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1910,001153

This looks like John McDonald's western land grant - you can order these records through Manitoba Archives for the price of photocopying I understand. Maybe the papers will mention Iona Farm! Although can download the front page from the Internet. From what I can see the document is dated 19 Oct 1895. see;
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02011102_e.html

SE 16 16 19 W1
Reference:
Liber: 101
Folio: 349
File reel number: C-6015
Names: John Macdonald

If you check out the census district map (Marquette) on this page from the 1901 census
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02012202_e.htm
You can pinpoint 16-16-19 (Harrison) as being where the word HARRISON is printed on this map - just NE of Minnedosa and Clanwilliam.

I hope that helps a little.
Bette

Re: Iona Farm

Bette (View posts)
Posted: 13 Apr 2006 1:17AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: McDonald, McCormick, McPhail
Hi Connie,
I don't see anything further on McDonald, McCormick or McPhail. May be I don't remember correctly, but I thought it said that the McPhail's were from Vista MB.
There are people in Minnedosa, I'm sure, who would remember this family. I'll ask my mother who might remember - contact me offline at bette@kosmolak.com and I'll see if I can come up with something.

this Marion is the dau of Kate McMillan.
LAST NAME: MCPHAIL
FIRST NAME: MARION
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/05/1903
PLACE OF BIRTH: ROSSBURN
SEX: F
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1903,003584

In 1906 her famiy looked like this;
9 165 McPhail John Head M M 52, b. Scotland, emig 1878
10 165 McPhail Catherine Wife F M 38, b. Scotland, emig 1878
11 165 McPhail Alexander Son M S 5, b. MB
12 165 McPhail Marion Daughter F S 3, b. MB
District: MB Marquette District (#5)
Subdistrict: 14 (Townships 19, 20 in ranges 24, 25, 26 west - Also 27) Page 20
Details: Schedule 1 Microfilm T-18355
They are living at Oak River, 10-19-24-W1

In 1901 the John McPhail family looked like this.
5 14 39 McPhail John M Head M Aug 7 1851 49, b. Scotland, emig `1878, Congregational, farmer
5 15 39 McPhail Kate F Wife M Mar 27 1869 32, b. Scotland, emig 1889
5 16 39 McPhail Alexander M Son S Jul 14 1900 8 mos, b. MB
5 17 39 Mooney Jos M Employee S ? 1883 17
5 18 39 Hrankosky Lena F Domestic S Jul 15 1886 14
1901 Census of Canada
Subdistrict: Rossburn, MARQUETTE, MANITOBA
District Number: 9
Subdistrict Number: p-1
Archives Microfilm: T-6434

I expect these are John McPhail's homestead records.
NW 10 19 24 W1
Reference:
Liber: 317
Folio: 126
File reel number: C-6186
Names: John McPhail

SW 10 19 24 W1
Reference:
Liber: 38
Folio: 189
File reel number: C-5970
Names: John McPhail

Births to Katie McMillan
LAST NAME: MCPHAIL
FIRST NAME: ALEXANDER MCMILLAN
DATE OF BIRTH: 07/14/1900
PLACE OF BIRTH: R.M. OF ROSSBURN
SEX: M

Marriage of John & Katie
GROOM'S LAST NAME: MCPHAIL
GROOM'S GIVEN NAMES: JOHN
BRIDE'S LAST NAME: MCMILLAN
BRIDE'S GIVEN NAMES: CATHERINE
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 09/20/1899
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: SHOAL LAKE
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1899,001479

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