Biography of Charles Angus Cameron (1858-1939)
The son of John Cameron and Isabella Dallas, Charles was born on January 11, 1858 in Cobourg, Ontario.  He was fortunate enough to receive a good education and attended industrial school, learning the carpentry trade in Bruce County, Ontario after the family had homesteaded in that area.

In 1877 Charles and his brother Simon decided to “seek their fortunes in the west.”  After arriving in Manitoba, Charles worked his trade in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, contracting the building of the first fire hall and municipal buildings.  On June 2, 1879 he married Mary Little, who had come to Portage La Prairie by way of ox cart with her parents, Joe and Elizabeth Little, from Bruce County in 1869.

Following their marriage the Camerons moved to a homestead in the Rolling River District, north of Minnedosa.  Heavy early frosts prevented the growth of productive crops, so in 1882 they returned to the Glendale area.  In 1883 they bought Mary’s sister’s farm, three miles west of Neepawa, at 25-14-16.  The log buildings were on the banks of Stoney Creek, in the center of the north side of the farm (on what now is Yellowhead Highway 16).  Charles built a modern two-story home and farm buildings, which were occupied by Cameron family members until 1961, when they were demolished.

Charles and Mary were very community minded.  He supervised the construction of the area’s first church (Knox Presbyterian) and school (which has been relocated to and preserved in Neepawa’s Riverbend Park) in the district.  While Charles was busy with his numerous projects and responsibilities, Mary was the local midwife, an occupation she continued until she was 70 years of age.  

In 1921 Charles and Mary retired to their new home, built by Charles on Mill Street in Neepawa, leaving the family farm to their son Edwin.  They both continued to enjoy good health and a happy retirement until Charles passed away in 1939.  At that time Mary returned to the family farm, to live with her son’s family.  She was fortunate enough to attend the Christening of her first great great grandchild and since she had passed through Winnipeg five years before it became a town, was a special guest at their 75th anniversary celebrations.  Mary was never hospitalized and enjoyed good health until the day she passed away, at the age of 89, in 1949.