THE PETER McROSTIE FAMILY by Mrs. S. G. Sinclair (Christene McRostie)1967

   Peter McRostie was born in 1854 in Metcalfe, Ont. near Ottawa of Scottish parents, the parents coming from Perth, Scotland.

    He came to Winnipeg in 1878 and worked on the railway there for two years before coming farther west in search of a homestead.  Near Portage la Prairie he met David Dunn and they came on together. Near Birtle they met Roderick McDonald who was returning to Birtle for his family after filing on his homestead in the Minniski district. These two land seekers joined the McDonald party which included John A. McDonald, John Halliday and Henry Black. All took up homestead at Minniski the Dunn and McRostie tracts being side by side.

    By reports I heard when I was young, these settlers were quite community minded and anxious and willing to help one another. All seemed agreed that when shacks were built for themselves and shelter for their few animals, that churches and schools should be built so they set to walk to do this.

    In 1884 Peter McRostie married Annaretta, daughter of Roderick McDonald and they  lived on the farm, homesteaded there until after she died in 1907 when he with his family, moved to Russell where he died in l 927.

    Peter served as a trustee of Minniski school for many years and the work of the church there and in Russell was one of his first interests.

    Joe and Robert McRostie also came to the district later and farmed there.

    The Peter McRostie family consisted of: Clark, who died in 1961; Mrs. Harold Madill (Laura) of Russell; Mrs. S. C. Sinclair (Christene) of Strathclair; and George who died in 1918.

This site made possible by the Town of Russell

Family History Main Page |  Town of Russell  |   Town History Pages

NEW - History being collected.  If you live or have ever lived in the Russell area please click here.

The site created and maintained by The Grain Web.