Alexander Rattray, John immigrated to Canada, with his
parents and settled near Pipestone where his father farmed and operated
a blacksmith shop. John, after graduation from the Ottawa Normal
School, went to Pipestone in 1890 where he was that community’s first
school teacher. He later operated a hardware business. He was land
inspector for Canada Life Assurance Company for some years.
He served as Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Pipestone (1902-1904).
He attended the 1905 founding meeting, in Brandon, of the Union of
Manitoba Municipalities.
He was active in military affairs. He had joined the 19th Manitoba
Dragoons and in 1910 raised the 20th Border Horse. He went
overseas in 1914. He commanded the 10th Canadian Battalion staff at
Witley and Bramshatt Camps during 1917 and 1918 and was Q.C. Seaford in
1919 until returning to Canada in September 1919, with the rank of
Colonel. In January 1916, he was awarded the D.S.O. for distinguished
service during World War One.
He was called to Ottawa to head the Soldier Settlement Board in 1927.
He lived in Winnipeg from 1919-1927 and was a land Inspector with Osier
Hammond and Nanton. He was also Chairman of the Veteran's Assistance
Commission in 1937 and was in charge of the Conscientious Objectors
camps during the Second World War. He died at Ottawa, Ontario on 23
June 1944, and was buried at Pipestone, Manitoba.
During his many years in Pipestone he was superintendent of the Sunday
School. For a number of years treated the village to a show of
fire-crackers on May 24th.
Adapted from Trails Along the Pipestone, page 385
Adapted from Pioneers of the Pipestone. page 12
Pipestone
The Village of Pipestone got its start in 1892 when the Canadian
Pacific railroad was approaching from the east. A Mr. Richardson
erected a tent and opened a general store. Mr. Skelding also located at
the same place and operated a hardware and tinsmith business. The
railroad reached the Pipestone townsite on December 2, of 1892 with the
first train arriving on December 6. A freight car served as a temporary
station until a proper station was built. Soon a water tower and a
foreman’s dwelling were ready for use.
Business Places in Pipestone 1892-1918
Hardware — Rattray and Skelding
General Store — McNicol and Pitt
General Store — Bridgett
Livery Bam — Jack and George Stewart
Drug Store — Laycocks
Harness shop — Ed Brandon
Bank — Northern Crown, F. Matheson & Ready,
Mgr.
Bake shop — Cecil Robcrtson
Tinsmith shop — Gordon Handford
Flour and feed — Archie Brock, Dan Morrison
Hotel — George dark
Boarding house — McLaughlan
Furniture store — Dolph Dinham
I.H.C. Implements — Ed Parker, later W. J. Mann
Frost & Wood Implements — Ed McKenzie
Massev Harris Implements — Wm. Pineo, later D.
L. Mellish
Barber shop. Pool room. Bowling alley — Shorty
Ckark
Lumber yard — John Crawford
Blacksmith — John Wright
Doctor — J. W. Cairns and others
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