THE A. B. CALLIN FAMILY by Mrs. H . Payne (Bertie Callin)
Alexander Bradley Callin of N. E. Hope, Perth, Ont. came to Brandon in
1882, then on to Shellmouth in 1883.
On September 10th, 1884, he married, at Listowel, Ont., Elizabeth
McNeelands of Elma County, Ont. They lived in Shellmouth until 1901, when
they moved to Russell.
Mr. Callin was a building contractor. He built the swinging
bridge, across the Assiniboine, at Shellmouth in 1884, and the Asessippi mill dam in 1901.
He also had a hand in building the Barnardo home in 1889, and later the present
public school, in 1913 in Russell.
In 1894 A. B. Callin, and Geo. McDonagh were dealers in lumber,
undertaker's supplies, etc., and also in jobprinting.
From 1885 to 1888 and from 1895 to 1898 he was reeve of Russell
Municipality.
He was secretary of Russell village and town from 1910 to 1932.
Twenty-two years of faithful service were given.
In 1916 A. B Callin was gazetted a magistrate under the Small Debt
Recovery Act until his retirement in 1932. As magistrate, especially in the
thirties, his was a responsible but unenviable position. Poverty and unemployment
prevailed. His position required wisdom, patience, common sense and
understanding. He served Russell well.
As a devotee of Masonry he was a past master of Russell Masonic Lodge,
a past District Deputy Grand Master of the fifth Masonic District, and a member of the
chapter at Neepawa.
Mrs. Callin was a chaplain in the Eastern Star Lodge, and served a term
as president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion and the Ladies Aid of Knox United
Church. Although busy with home and family, she also found time to do some
dressmaking. She was of a friendly, mild and hospitable disposition and a comfort to
many in pioneer times.
The family consisted of: Lilly Alberta,
"Bertie", Mrs. Herbert Payne; Alvie; Edith, deceased; Hazel,
Mrs. George McCartney. Elizabeth, Mrs. George McDonagh, was a daughter of
A. B. Callins by a previous marriage in Ontanio.
Bertie married Bert Payne on January 20th, 1915. Bert
was a contractor in Russell from 1910 to 1913, except during the depression, he worked at
his trade in Kenora, Fort William, Ont., etc. He died in 1945. They had one son
Eric Alvin (Bunty) of Russell. Eric served overseas with the Canadian Army
Service Corps from 1941 to 1945. On his return he married Donelda Coutts
of Benito, Man. on Nov. 11th, 1946. They have one son, Ronald Herbert,
attending Russell High School. Eric is employed by the town of Russell.
Alvie Branter Callin was a building contractor in
these parts for years. He then moved to Flin Flon and worked with the Hudson's Bay
Mining and Smelting Co. He married while in Russell, Minnie Lyon,
daughter of Thomas Lyon, a pioneer. She is now deceased. Their family consists
of James of Esterhazy, Sask. and Elizabeth, Mrs. G.
Sparrow of Winnipeg.
In the first World War Alvie served with the band of both the 43rd and
44th Cameron Highlanders.
As an athlete, "Moose" Callin, as he was widely known, was
famous for his skill in hockey. He played in 1912 with the Melville Millionaires.
He is now retired in Flin Flon.
Hazel married George McCartney of Paisley, Scotland in
March, 1926, while he was employed with Smellie Bros. Creameries, in Russell and McNutt,
Sask. He moved to Toronto and became a broker in mining stock. He passed away
in 1951. Their family consisted of Dennis Andrew, Ronald Bradley and
Kathleen Elizabeth, Mrs. Donald Boyle, all of Toronto.
Elizabeth married George McDonagh of Russell.
They farmed for years in the Brightside area. Then they moved to Russell where he
did carpetering. They had two sons, George and William of Edmonton.
William died in June, 1965.
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