Mary MacRae

[ the Winnipeg Free Press ]: “Pioneer Woman Who Died Monday” “Mrs Donald Macrae” [nee Mary McGregor] “Arden, Man., Nov 23 – With the sudden death Monday noon of Mrs. Donald McRae, passed away one of the earliest pioneers of northwestern Manitoba, THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN TO SETTLE ALONG THE SASKATCHEWAN TRAIL WEST OF PORTAGE LA PRARIE. On Monday morning Mrs. Macrae, enjoying her usual health and strength, was moving about the house, when she was seized with a fainting fit and expired.

She was born near Inverness, Scotland, in 1818, and afterwards removed to Huron County, Ontario. In 1871 she, with her husband and family, removed to Manitoba, making the last stage of the journey across the plains from St. Cloud, Minnesota, in an ox cart, a tedious journey of many weeks. Donald Macrae located at Stony Ford, on the White Mud River, (later known as Second Crossing) now Woodside. Mrs. Macrae being at that time the only white woman beyond the Portage settlement.

Since the death of her husband in July 1886, Mrs. Macrae [nee Mary McGregor] has resided with her son Duncan, the last 19 years being spent at Arden, Man. She was a lifelong and highly respected member of the Presbyterian Church, beloved by young and old. The deceased leaves five sons and three daughters: Hector, Vancouver; Donald, Dawson City; Alexander, Okotoks; Fred, Plumas; Duncan, Arden; Mrs. William Ferguson, Portage La Prairie; Mrs. Donald Morrison and Mrs. Donald Gray [nee Annie McRae] both of Okotoks, Alberta. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon to Gladstone Cemetery.”

Cut glass vase brought over from Scotland - currently with Mary Twedt