Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

WILLIAM RICHARD DRINKLE and MINNIE MAUD DRINKLE née DAWE

William Richard Drinkle was born on 8 April 1876 in Waverley, Simcoe, Ontario to Richard Drinkle (1854-1901) & Jane Anne Smith (1857-1895). William had two brothers, John Clarence (1878-1951) & George Livingston (1893-1957) and one sister, Elizabeth Jane (b 1880). William’s father farmed at Flos Township, North Simcoe and this is where William grew up. William married Minnie Maud Dawe on 17 December 1902. By 1908, the couple had moved to Saskatoon, residing at 200 27th St W initially and then moving to 830 Ave A North two years later.

Minnie Maud Dawe was born on 2 July 1879 in Little Britain, Mariposa Township, Victoria County, Ontario to George Andrew Dawe (1858-1927) & Elizabeth Ann Ferguson (1860-1930). Minnie had five brothers, George Andrew (b 1851), Charles Wesley (1882-1959), Ephraim Burton (1892-1971), William Everett (1896-1964) & Walter “Howard” (1896-1971) and four sisters, Ellen Jane (b 1883), Alice Mabel (1885-1957), Myrtle Ruth (1896-1925) & Bernice (1900-1977). Minnie’s father farmed and the family moved to Tay Township during Minnie’s early years. In 1901, Minnie was a live-in domestic servant in Toronto for a dealer in patent medicines, Etna D Howe.

William & Minnie had four sons, Harold Melville (1903-1974), Mervin Clarence (b 1910), Reuben Ronald (b 1912) & Kenneth Cecil (1917-1995) and four daughters, Dorothy Muriel (b 1905), Winnifred Eileen (1908-1998), Maria Gwendoline (b 1918) & Roberta Eloise (1921-1986).

William’s brother, John Clarence Drinkle left a major mark on Saskatoon, being the investor who built the three Drinkle Buildings on 3rd Avenue between 1903 & 1913. On his arrival in Saskatoon, one of John’s first businesses was the Great Western Furniture Co Ltd at the corner of 2nd Avenue & 21st Street. However, John’s grand scheme for Saskatoon meant that this building was razed to the ground and Drinkle Building No 1 took its place. The furniture store then occupied the lower floors and William was the secretary/treasurer of this enterprise in 1910. There is a permanent exhibit in the Drinkle Mall at 115 3rd Avenue S. You can read about the history of the buildings that JC Drinkle built here.

Over the ensuing years, William was regularly described as ‘farmer’ as well as managing director of City of Saskatoon Real Estate Corporation (1916), real estate (1919), butcher (1926-1955) and proprietor of Mayfair Meat Markets, Model Meat Market and Q&S Grocery & Meat. He and Minnie lived at 828 Ave D North for about forty years.

Minnie died on 17 January 1957 and William just three months later on 14 March. They are both buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon.

William and Minnie’s son Reuben married Ruby Ella Faulkner, daughter of Adrian and Anna. See Faulkner family.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Drinkle Tree.