"RED" HECTOR MCLEAN of LITTLE SOURIS, MANITOBA ---------------------------------------------- SE 1/4 24 -9-19 (Ward 3) SW 1/4 24-9-19 (Ward 3) Hector's parents, Alexander (Alex) MacLean; fisherman at Balephuill and Catherine Lamond were married on June 8, 1851 at the Barony, in Glasgow, Scotland. Hector was born on January 15, 1856 to Alex and Catherine. Catherine died of peritonitis at 6 am on January 21st, 1856 and was buried in the Soroby Cemetery in Tyree. Alex registered the birth of his son Hector and the death of his wife Catherine on the same day, January 30, 1856. Hector had an older sibling, Murdoch who was born on April 16th, 1854. However, since Murdoch doesn't appear on the 1861 census, it is assumed that he passed away sometime during this period. Hector was the grandson of Donald and Ann McLean of Balephuill and he resided with his grandparents and their children. Hector was of slim build and wiry. He was on the fishing boats by the age of 15 and became a ship's carpenter. He sailed the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. It appears he enjoyed sailing because later he shipped aboard the China Tea Clippers which raced 'round Cape Horn with tea cargoes and on one occasion his ship was first to come in. Perhaps because of his seafaring days, it was well known that Hector enjoyed a 'wee dram or two' and had 'an eye' for a pretty lady. In 1878 Hector came to Canada with his two uncles, in a party of 'three McLean families'. The uncles and Hector wintered in Kincardine Bruce County Ontario and in the early spring of 1879 came to Manitoba. Hector's trade was that of a shipwright and because of this naval background he was well acquainted with the use of a sextant. This became very useful in order to survey their properties. He shot the lines from the north hill, now Highways 1 and 10. In the winter of '79, Hector obtained work as a labourer in Winnipeg, and became a construction foreman for the original Louise Street Bridge until its completion. He had several other skills as well. He was a shoemaker, harness-maker and a steam 'engineer'. In those early years Hector also served as a Trustee for the Little Souris School #227. He got his homestead underway by the 5th of July, 1879. While in Winnipeg, he met Anne (Annie) Black of Clochlea, Isle of Lismore, Argyleshire and they married on May 5, 1882 in the original Baptist Church located on Main Street and Rupert Avenue. The Reverend A. McDonald officiated. Anne was the youngest of four children born on August 14, 1858 to Neil Black and Sarah McIntyre of Clochlea. Anne also had a half sister named Anne born to her father Neil and a Janet Black on September 2, 1846. Annie and Hector had ten children, John Black (Jack); CatyAnn (Kate) married Fred Gilbert; Maryflora (Mary) married Dougald McKinnon; Charles; Neil; Alexander; Duncan married Alma Olafson; Sarah Marion married James Hardcastle Robertson; Daniel (Dan) and Margrete. Annie passed away in 1934 and Hector passed away on July 8, 1943 , both are buried together in the Brandon Cemetery. (Submitted by Jeanette Robertson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, dusable@escape.ca)