James Wesley “Wes” UMPHREY (1864-1948)

James Wesley “Wes” UMPHREY (1864-1948)

James, the son of Samuel Umphrey (1837-1919) and Elizabeth Moore (1838-1910), was born at Uxbridge, Ontario on 04 June 1864. He moved to the Miami area of  Manitoba with his parents in 1881.

On 20 February 1889, he married Susanna Mclean (1862-1949) in Winnipeg. They had five children: Beatrice Sadie Umphrey (1889-1977, wife of George Douglas), Sarah Alma Umphrey (1892-1986, wife of A Lindsay and Oscar Thorkelson), Effie Maude Umphrey (1895-1975, wife of Franklin N McDonald and J Gordon Ritchie), Hattie Alberta Umphrey (1898-1942, wife of A.G. Gronow), and Edwin Jefferson Umphrey (1901-1965).

Businessman

In 1915, he moved with his family to Winnipeg and worked with FN. McDonald and Co., implement jobbers. He was a manager at the time of his death.

James was a sports enthusiast and played lacrosse as a young man. Later he enjoyed lawn bowling, curling and was a member of the Manitoba life Members’ Association and a past president of the Elmwood Curling Club, where he was known as the “club bard”. He was also a member of the I.O.O.F., Number 34 Miami lodge and past master of the Midlothian Lodge, A.F. and A.M.

He died at  his Winnipeg home on 30 July 1948 and was buried in the family plot at Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

  • Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
  • “Manitoba Pioneer, J. Umphrey Dies”, Winnipeg Tribune, 30 July 1948, page 4.
  • Obituary [Mrs. J.W. Umphrey], Winnipeg Tribune, 07 June 1949, page 27.
  • Obituary [Beatrice Douglas], Winnipeg Free Press, 05 January 1977.
  • Obituary [Alma Sarah Thorkelson (nee Umphrey)], Winnipeg Free Press, 05 August 1986.
  • Obituary [Harriet Albert Gronow, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 November 1942.
  • Obituary [E.J. Umphrey}, The Liberal, 09 December 1965.

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