Williamina Thorburn Mair and Hector McDonald

[Jessie 46]

Williamina was born in 1895 in Edinburgh she and Hector McDonald were married there in 1924.

It's possible Hector went to Canada not long after they married and Williamina followed afterwards.

Looking for help in locating where they settled and any other information that can be found on them

Thank you

Jessie

[*Sandra*]

Canada Passenger List - Willamina Thorburn McDonald - 1896 Scotland arrived 3 September 1926 on the Metagama. Husband Hector McDonald C/O Mr Skinner, Dropmore, Manitoba.
Mother Mrs Mair, 43 Pitt Street Leith.

Sandra

[Jessie 46]

thank you Sandra that is them

Jessie

[eileenwilson]

1926 Census of the Canadian Prairie Provinces shows Hector working with Frank L. Skinner at Shellmouth Post Office:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C395-L9QZ-3?i=9&cc=3005862&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQP5R-B79Y

Frank Leith Skinner became a well known horticulturist:

http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/50/skinner_fl.shtml

[eileenwilson]

In the 1935 Voters' list, Frank Skinner is in Dropmore, but no sign of Hector and his wife with him; however, in the 1940 list, there is a Hector McDonald, an electrician, with a Mrs. Hector, in nearby Gilbert Plains, which might be yours. In 1945, Hector is noted in the armed forces.

[RunKitty]

Hector MacDonald was also involved in horticulture.  There are several articles in the Winnipeg papers mentioning him..

One from the Dauphin Herald, July 14 1967 says that the Manitoba Department of Agriculture has published a book about the native plants of Manitoba - called Native Manitoba Plants in Bog, Bush and Prairie.  The author was Hector MacDonald - a native of Scotland who has been working with horticulture in Manitoba since 1924.  He started with Dr. Frank Skinner, and between 1941 and his retirement in 1964 was in senior positions with Metropolitan Winnipeg's parks. 

RK

[RunKitty]

He is mentioned here on the Memorable Manitobans site...receiving a Centennial medal. 

It says he received the medal for his many years as Head Gardener at Assiniboine Park during which he established the famous English Garden and other beautiful gardens.

http://mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/centennialmedals.shtml#M

RK

[eileenwilson]

Nice. So the Voters' lists entries in Gilbert Plains are certainly not him.

[RunKitty]

Probably not

I found another short note about the 5th edition of his book coming out in 1977.  It gives Hector's dates as 1889-1973.  It also says that he studied at the botanical gardens in Edinburgh before coming to Canada in 1924.   He wrote AND illustrated the book  .  Very talented man

RK