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Bill Malcolm

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Bill Malcolm
Born
William John Malcolm

(1881-12-17)December 17, 1881
DiedOctober 7, 1970(1970-10-07) (aged 88)
NationalityCanadian
Alma materToronto University
Spouse(s)Bertha Elder (m. 1913–1918)
Nellie Elder (m. 1920)
Children5, including Dr. Jim Malcolm
Parent(s)James Malcolm
Elizabeth Murison
Relatives John Malcolm (grandfather)

Reverend William John Malcolm (December 17, 1881 – October 9, 1970) was a Canadian Presbyterian minister, Boy Scout scout leader,[1][2] and the grandson of the farmer John Malcolm. In 1901, He became a homesteader in Moose Jaw. Malcolm was drafted in World War I and served from 1917 to 1918. His brother, Charles Alexander Malcolm (1884–1961), was also a reverend.[3][unreliable source?]

Malcolm preached at several Presbyterian churches, including Beaver Dam First Presbyterian Church.[4] He was also moderator of Kalamazoo Presbytery,[5] being succeeded by Rev. Herbert G. Hurrell.[6]

Life

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William John Malcolm was born December 17, 1881, in Box Grove, Canada to James Thomas Bain Malcolm (1855–1937) and Elizabeth Ann Malcolm (née Mursion) (1859–1943).[7] William Malcolm was a paternal grandson of John Malcolm, a successful farmer and entrepreneur.

Malcolm lived in Box Grove until 1901. That year, he took a 20 dollar gold piece, got on a train, and headed west. When he got to Moose Jaw, he decided to exit the train. Along with many other people, he became a homesteader in Moose Jaw. Another homesteader was Harry Elder. Elder invited his sister, Bertha Elder, to visit Malcolm. He and Bertha married on June 3, 1913.

Malcolm was drafted in World War I[8] in 1917, and served from 1917 to 1918. During his service, Bertha contracted influenza and died about 24 hours later. After Malcolm's return, he married Bertha's sister, Nellie Elder, on August 6, 1920.[7]

Career

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During Malcolm's time in Moose Jaw, he would go back to Toronto each winter and work on completing his degree in divinity. He graduated from Toronto University as a Presbyterian minister. Later, he opened a bookstore. After he retired, Malcolm and his wife moved back to Three Rivers, Michigan, United States, where they spent most of their final years.

Family

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During Malcolm's first marriage with Bertha Elder, he had three children:

  • Elizabeth (1914–2002)
  • William (1915–1997)
  • Ruth (1917–2002)

During Malcolm's second marriage with Nellie Elder, he had two children:

  • Barbara (1923–1993)
  • James (1925–2012)

Family charts

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Death

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William John Malcolm died October 9, 1970, at the age of 88 following a "lengthy illness".[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b English: 1970 Obituary for William John Malcolm, 1970-10-07, retrieved 2024-02-21
  2. ^ America, Boy Scouts of (1941). Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America: Letter from the Chief Scout Executive Transmitting the Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America ... as Required by Federal Charter. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  3. ^ Malcolm, Reverend William John (c. 1964), English: Scrapbook owned by Rev. Bill Malcolm made in the early-mid 1960s. Contains information about his family., retrieved 2024-02-21
  4. ^ The Wisconsin Presbyterian. Home Mission Committee of the Synod of Wisconsin. 1919.
  5. ^ America, Boy Scouts of (1941). Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America: Letter from the Chief Scout Executive Transmitting the Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America ... as Required by Federal Charter. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  6. ^ America, Boy Scouts of (1941). Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America: Letter from the Chief Scout Executive Transmitting the Annual Report of the Boy Scouts of America ... as Required by Federal Charter. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  7. ^ a b "Person Details – CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project". Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  8. ^ "Life story: William John Malcolm | Lives of the First World War". livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-21.