RD Vincent & Mabel Marshall

River John, Nova Scotia

River John, Nova Scotia is on the northern shoreline at the Northumberland Strait and was founded as a result of French Huguenots leaving Lunenburg for better farming lands.  By the close of the 18th century, a bridge had been built to connect the Scottish communites from the other side of the river resulting in the appointment of town officers, overseers of roads & fisheries and more.

The farmers of the area were able to prosper at the turn of the 19th century thanks to wars in Europe with Napoleon selling their timber for record prices to the overseas market.  At the end of Napoleon's campaign in 1818, River John saw the birth of the Disciples of Christ Church and the first school.  Despite the post-war depression, River John did become known as a ship building community and saw a resurgence as a result of the Crimean War in 1853.  

However, as we know from history, growth changed communities including luring the youth away from their homes.  The stage coach connected River John to the town of Pictou and that was replaced by the railway; the ship building business started to dwindle with demand for steel and steam.

My 4x grandfather was a farmer and shipwright in the area with his father having branched out to being millwright in the neighboring Pictou communities.  By 1871, my little Vincent clan had left River John and settled in Truro.

My 3x grandfather, David Robinson Vincent, was born in 1865 at River John, NS, the son of John W Vincent & Mary A Rogers.  He was a butcher in 1881 in Truro but as his obit indicated, he found work with the railroad and eventually felt the pull west and left home.  When he changed his name is unclear but on the 1891 census and other records, he was going by Robert David, aka RD.

Manitoba Free Press, Mon, 12 Dec 1927

Pioneer Contractor of Winnipeg is Dead 

   Robert D Vincent Had Been Resident Here For Forty-Six Years

Alloway Ave, Home

Robert D Vincent, a pioneer businessman and racehorse owner of Winnipeg, died at the Misericordia Hospital last evening.  He was in his 62nd year.  He is survived by his wife, a son, Charles, and a daughter, Leah, all at the family residence, 31 Alloway Avenue.

A native of Picton, Ont, Mr Vincent came west 43 years ago and for some time worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway construction, having gone as far west as the Kicking Horse Pass.  Returning to Winnipeg, he is reputed to have driven the first Royal Mail Wagon in Winnipeg from the Canadian Pacific depot to the post office while in the employ of Chas Robinson, who had secured the first contract in this connection.

RD Vincent

Mr Vincent went into the hack business on his own account and was one of the first in this line.  Later he developed the cartage business, his company being known as the Imperial Dray Company.

Mr Vincent was one of the most highly respected members of the Winnipeg Driving Club.  At one period, he owned a string of trotting horses and later, of the highest class thoroughbreds, and the local race course have had an almost unbroken line of his horses on the track during the racing periods.  He was at the time of his death, owner of four racers.

In addition to his other activities, Mr Vincent had held the local mail contract from 1911 until 1921.  The funeral will in all probability be held on Wednesday afternoon.

Mabel Marshall

Winnipeg Paper, Mar 1954

Mrs Mabel E Vincent, 87, of 197 Furby Street, Suite 2, Winnipeg pioneer, died Thursday in Moore's Nursing Home, 165 Maryland Street.  Born in Owen Sound, Ont, she came to Winnipeg in 1872 via the Dawson route and had lived here since then.  Her husband Robert David died in 1927.  Surviving are one daughter Leah, one son Charles, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Funeral service will be held 130 pm Saturday in Thomson funeral chapel with Rev W E Donnelly officiating.  Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery.