FAMILY WEB PAGE

The parish of Rathen birth records indicate John Robertson Murray was born April 5, 1872, at 5:00AM, in Stonehouse, in the parish of Rathen, Aberdeenshire, with the father being George Murray, a farmer's son of Redhouse, Rathen, and the mother being Anne Fraser, a domestic servant.

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The passenger list of the Pomeranian shows John was on board with the rest of the family in 1890. However, various Winnipeg censuses show immigration dates of 1887 or 1889. It is possible he might have traveled back and forth between Canada and Scotland in this period.

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John was a harness maker by trade. It is likely he was working in that trade before leaving Scotland. In Winnipeg, Canada, he initially worked for a company belonging to E.F. Hutchings, called Great West Saddlery. In 1891 he was employed as a packer (likely for E.F Hutchings) at 519 Main Street. He worked there until 1902. In 1892 John was living at 452 McWilliam Avenue, which is Pacific Avenue today. In 1893, John was living at 180 James Street. 

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The year 1894 was a big one for the Murray family as John's parents and sisters moved to Winnipeg from Rokeby (now in Saskatchewan). They first stayed with a family named McInnis. Shortly thereafter, still in 1894, they moved into a block at 220 James Street, across the street from the police station at 221 James Street. They stayed in this block “Maybe just for the Winter”, Jessie says in “The Murrays Come to Canada”.

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In 1895 the Murray family moved into 259 Princess Street, which Jessie described as the “little house on Princess Street” where “Johnnie and George had a room and Mother and we girls slept in two double beds in the front room.” ['The Murrays Come to Canada']. George's occupation is unknown at this time.

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John Robertson Murray married Julia Thornton Simmons on November 26, 1895. In 1896 there were living at 144 Syndicate Street (which is 140 Syndicate, a vacant lot today). In 1896 John and Julia moved into 166 Syndicate (address is 160 Syndicate today). This was the first house built by Julia's father Thornton Simmons, known as "the Packing Crate house".  PUT A LINK HERE. The 1901 census shows Julia's brother Owen is living with them. This census lists John's occupation as Harness Maker. Henderson Directory lists his occupation as Shipper.

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In 1902 John, Julia, daughter Gladys and son George were living at 148 Syndicate (same address today). John's occupation was coal oil merchant, so he had left E.F. Hutchings. The reason for his leaving can only be surmised but possibly he was not given the chance to apply his trade in the 10 or so years he worked there. From 1902 until 1907 John worked as a (coal and) coal oil merchant and delivering for Imperial Oil. These deliveries would have been by horse and wagon, which John would be very familar with.

The 1906 Winnipeg census shows John, Julia, and their 4 children living at 148 Syndicate Street. Julia's parents, Thornton and Louisa (nee Richards) Simmons, and family were living at 164 Syndicate Street. Julia's brother, Thornton Simmons and his wife Maud were living at 160 Syndicate Street (the Packing Crate house).

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In 1907 or 1908 John went on his own as owner of J. Murray & Co. The first indication is a saddlery company at 103 Higgins Avenue. In 1909, Henderson Directory carried the first bold print advertisement for J Murray & Co. at 180 Princess Street. In 1911 John listed his occupation as Storekeeper.

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In 1913, John and Julia's daughter, Gladys married Dave Magee.

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John, Julia and family remained living at 148 Syndicate until 1914 when they moved to 160 Syndicate, the "Packing Crate house", again.

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In 1916 John, Julia, son George (Geordie) and daughters Ruby and Hazel moved into 128 Syndicate Street which is on the corner of Sutherland. Gladys (Mom Campbell) was not living there as she had married David Magee in 1913. This was "the big house on the corner" as Mom Campbell called it. She also told me that the big building across Sutherland was the blacksmith shop.  129 Syndicate was the biggest house on the block. In this year's census John is listed as a Harness Maker for the first time. J. Murray & Co had a large advertisement in Henderson Directory (not digitized).These must have been good times for John and Julia. They lived at 128 Syndicate until 1920.

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The Winnipeg General Strike occurred May 15 to June 26, 1919. WIKI: "There were many background causes for the strike, most of them related to the prevailing social inequalities and the impoverished condition of the city's working class. Wages were low, prices were rising, employment was unstable, immigrants faced discrimination, housing and health conditions were poor. In addition, there was resentment of the enormous profits enjoyed by employers during the war." As a previous employee of E.F Hutchings, John would have experienced those disparities, himself being an immigrant. I believe he brought those experiences into his role as a business owner and endeavored to make conditions better for his employees.

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In 1920, John, Julia, and family (Geordie, Ruby, and Hazel) moved to 417 William Avenue. Interestingly this was down the road from where Julia's brother, James and his family lived in the Winnipeg Carnegie Library. James was a caretaker of that building. This is an interesting move that was short lived.

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Although the 1921 Winnipeg census seems to have missed John and his family, they appear in Henderson Directory in an apartment (Suite #1) above John's harness shop, the J. Murray & Co, at 180 Princess Street. These apartments were addressed 180-1/2   Princess Street, and the building was known as the McGregor Block. In 1921 we find John, Julia, Gladys and her 3 daughters, her mother (Julia), son Geordie and their 2 sisters Ruby and Hazel all living in that apartment

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In 1929 this whole family vacated 180-1/2 Princess and moved into 210 Horace, a house in the Norwood community of Winnipeg. Gladys's 3 daughters went to school in Norwood. This was the beginning of the Great Depression that started in 1929 and ended in the late 1930's.

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Still living at 210 Horace in 1930, 1931, and 1932 were John, Julia, daughter Gladys and her 3 daughters, son Geordie and daughters Ruby and Hazel. In 1932 John Robertson Murray took a job as manager of Garry Shoe Repair. His company became 2 entities and they were Murray Auto Top at 280 James Street, Wm. Batchelor, manager; and Murray Tent & Awning at 180 Princess Street, J.H. (Joseph) Whiley, proprietor. Thus ended J Murray & Co.

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In 1933 Gladys and her 3 daughters moved into 372 Edmonton. The rest of John's family remained in 210 Horace in 1933 and 1934. In 1934 John is listed with no occupation, Ruby is a steno, Hazel is a clerk, and Geordie is not listed in Henderson's Directory but likely living with them.

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John is listed at 710 Horace in 1935 but this could be a misprint (meaning 210). John's occupation is given as retired. The other family members were not found

in 1935.

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In 1936, John is listed as living at 15 Sutherland with the occupation of harnessmaker but no place of employment is given. By this time, the demand for the harnessmaking trade was very low. The other family members were not found in 1936

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In 1937 and 1938 the family continued living at 15 Sutherland. In 1937 John is listed with no occupation and in 1938 John is occupied as a salesman. Ruby and Hazel are both living there in 1937, both with no occupation listed, and this is the last year Hazel appears in Henderson, so she may have been married in 1937 or 1938. Ruby might be living at 87 Donald with no occupation in 1938. In 1937 and 1938 Geordie is living with them, and he is an employee at Sheas Brewery. Prohibition had ended in 1923 in Manitoba.

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The year 1939 saw the family move to 280 Eugenie.  In 1939, 1940, and 1941, John is listed as a harnessmaker with no employer given. 1941 is the very last time John lisrs his occupation as harnessmaker. The automobile has replaced the horse and the need for harnessmaking has essentially disappeared. In these years, Geordie is a labourer with Sheas Brewery. His address appears as 200 Eugenie in 1939 and 1940, but this is probably a misprint (should be 280). Ruby is not listed in Henderson's in these years.

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In 1942, 1943, and 1944 the family remained living at 280 Eugenie. John is now listed as retired, Geordie is still a labourer at Sheas Brewery. Ruby is not listed in Henderson's. On June 9, 1944, the whole family moved to  227 Eugenie Street.

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In 1945, the whole family is at 227 Eugenie. (I checked that this is not an address shift but it is a physical move from one house to another.)  Making this move were John, with no occupation listed, Julia, possibly Geordie (this is uncertain), and Ruby who now appears for the first time as a bookkeeper for Dr. J.R. Davidson. Hazel is still not listed with the family. This is a follow up action, to find Hazel from 1938 onward, with a different (married) last name.

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John is listed as retired in 1946. With the family still at 227 Eugenie, Geordie began a new occupation in 1946 which would carry him until retirement in 1965, which was a school caretaker employed in Norwood. In 1946, he was working in the Queen Elizabeth School at 260 Kenny Street. This school was demolished in 1963. Ruby is still a bookkeeper Dr. J.R. Davidson.

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In 1947 living at 227 Eugenie Street, we find - John (retired), Julia, Geordie (caretaker at Norwood Collegiate), and Ruby (receptionist).

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John Robertson Murray died January 27, 1948. It is impossible to carry on without stopping to reflect upon the life of this great but unassuming man. Born out of wedlock in a stone house and raised by his father (or maybe his brother), he was uprooted from the rural life that he knew, around age 17, and went to work in the third largest city in Canada, which was Winnipeg, even before his parents and siblings arrived. Patiently working and waiting to be recognized in his trade of harnessmaker he eventually started his own harness making business and provided employment for several people, bringing a sense of fairness for the worker. Always the family-man, John rescued his daughter from a failed marriage and provided a home for her and her three daughters. Never evading what he perceived as his responsibility, he continued to employ and pay his employees into the Depression years. Finally relinquishing control of his business he sought employment himself, to provide for his family. Then he listed his occupation as harnesmaker long after that trade had effectively ceased to exist; but that is who he was, and that is what he achieved. In my book, John Robertson Murray is truly an unsung hero who deserves this space and more.

ARRANGING HERE and DOWN.   leave where is, or move up???

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J. Murray & Co manufactured harnesses for horses in the early days. During the height of his business he would go to all the fairs.  He made decorative saddlery for all the parades. 

When the automobile came he switched to auto tops and rad covers, along with tents and awnings until 1931 when he was forced to close because of the Great Depression.  He had tried to keep all his employees during the depression but eventually had to let go of his business.  Both his daughter Ruby and son George worked with him in the family business.

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J. Murray & Co eventually became Murray Tent and Awning, which is still in operation in Winnipeg.

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          John loved sports and took his daughter Gladys with him to all kinds of sporting events.  He liked to go to the bonspiel and was always joking with the policemen on the beat that passed his store oat 180 Princess Street.  He loved to play jokes on his pal Mr. Sam Cassissa, who also had a store on Princess Street, and the two men were always trying to catch the other one in a joke.  For example, John would take something that sounded like a cat meowing into Sam’s store and the poor guy would be looking all around to see where the cat was when it was only John playing a joke on him.

As mentioned, in 1920 John arranged for his daughter Gladys and her 3 daughters to come 'back home' and live with him and his wife, Julia. Gladys had married David Magee and moved to Cardinal, Ontario, but the marriage did not work out. They all lived in an apartment above the shop at 180 Princess Street, in Winnipeg. The 3 granddaughters were somewhat raised by their grandparents, John and Julia, while Gladys went to work to support the family.

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         During those days, John had a car and he would always take the kids (his 3 granddaughters) for rides.  Sometimes they would go away out to the north end to the circus and that was a great treat. He played the fiddle and was popular at parties.  His daughter Gladys would chord for him on the piano. 

          He loved geography and his granddaughter Vivian, who did not like geography, remembers him telling her more about geography than she really wanted to know.

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          Later, John often went down to see Gladys at work and she would take him out for lunch and give him a little money as the family was on rations following the loss of his business during the Great Depression.

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note: Addresses and occupations are taken from Winnipeg censuses and Henderson's Winnipeg Directory.

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