Frederick Claude Birks was the manager of the Fairview branch of the Royal Bank of Canada.
In the 1912 Vancouver directory, he was at 1874 Pendrell Street.
Family Background
Frederick Claude Birks was born on July 10, 1880, in Montreal, Quebec. His parents were Frederick Birks (1844-1922) and Sarah Keillor Dillon (1849-1895).
Early Life
Frederick Claude Birks was educated at Montreal High School.
For three years, he was a lieutenant with the Third Victoria Rifles in Montreal.
He was active in sporting events, and he held several trophies in bowling and shooting. He later became a life member of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association.
He also belonged to the A.F. & A.M. [Ancient Free & Accepted Masonry: http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/afandam.html.
He joined the Royal Bank of Canada, and he managed the bank’s branches at Port Alberni and Ashcroft, British Columbia, at Morin (or Morinville), Alberta.
Marriage to Iva Wright
In June 1908, Frederick married Iva Maude Wright, who was the daughter of James Wright of Edmonton, Alberta.
To Vancouver
Frederick and Iva arrived in Vancouver about 1911. They lived at 2322 Cypress Street. Frederick was the manager of the Fairview branch of the Royal Bank.
In 1912, Frederick and Iva were at 1874 Pendrell Street. By 1913, they were back at 2322 Cypress Street.
By 1915, they were no longer in the Vancouver directories.
In 1919, they were in Alberni, British Columbia. By 1922, they were in Ashcroft, British Columbia.
To Calgary
About 1925, Frederick left the bank and he joined the Quaker Finance Corporation in Calgary.
In 1928, he became the secretary of Calmont Oil Ltd. in Calgary. From about 1926 to 1930, this company was involved in drilling an oil well in Turner Valley, Alberta.
The Quaker Finance Corporation took out advertisements in Canadian newspapers to promote Calmont Oil.
Ultimately, the well proved unsuccessful.
Later Life
In the early 1930s, Frederick was the manager of the Wichita, Kansas Memorial Park. About 1934, he moved to Montreal to become the managing director of the Montreal Memorial Park. From 1937 to 1951, he lived at 5169 Earnscliffe Avenue in Montreal.
He was one of the Montreal directors for the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism Inc.
He died in Montreal on June 25, 1951. He was buried in Montreal Memorial Park cemetery.
Iva appears to have died on September 12, 1963.
Frederick and Iva had the following children.
John Wright Birks
John Wright Birks was born in British Columbia about 1911.
On December 24, 1938, in Vancouver, he married Ivy Winifred Grace (“Jan”) Arthur.
In 1950, John was living with his parents, and he was the manager of Gabriel Aero Marine Instruments Ltd.
In 1960, John’s marriage to Ivy ended in divorce.
Ivy did not re-marry. She died in Vancouver on November 7, 1983.
On July 15, 1961, in Arlington, Virginia, John married Madeleine Regimbal.
In 1990, John was living in Montreal.
Karl Dillon Birks
Karl Dillon Birks was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia on March 28, 1914.
On March 24, 1946, in New York City, Karl married Carolyn Ann Felker, who was the daughter of Edward Pearson Felker (1891-1963).
Karl was living in Washington, D.C. in 1951.
Karl died in Bethany Beach, Delaware on October 6, 1990.
Carolyn died in San Diego, California on July 29, 1996.
Frederick’s Other Siblings
Frederick also had two sisters and one brother who survived him: Mrs. Fred Dakin of Montreal; Mrs. George James of Cloverdale; and Harold Birks, of Vancouver.
Sources
Frederick Claude Birks
Who’s Who in Canada, 1928-29, International Press Limited; B. M. Greene, editor, page 1583 (includes photograph of Frederick Claude Birks): “Birks, Frederick Claude – Vice-President Quaker Finance Corporation, Ltd., 400 Lancaster Building, Calgary, Alta.; Director, Calmont Oils, Ltd.; Director, Wales Petroleum, Ltd. Born Montreal, Que., July 10, 1880, son of the late Frederick and the late Sarah K. (Dillon) Birks. Educated: Montreal High School. With Royal Bank of Canada, 1900-25; served in Ottawa, Ont., and Edmonton, Alta.; Manager, Rossland, B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Port Alberni, B.C., and Ashcroft, B.C.; joined Quaker Finance, 1925. Lieutenant, 3rd Victoria Rifles, Montreal, Que., three year. Married Iva Maude Wright, daughter of James Wright, of Edmonton, Jane, 1908; has two sons. Clubs: Calgary Golf and Country; M.A.A.A. (Montreal), (Life Member). Society: A.F. & A.M. Recreations: Golf, tennis. Conservative. Anglican. Residence: 925 20th Ave. W., Calgary, Alta.
Frederick Birks (1844-1922), http://records.ancestry.com/frederick_birks_records.ashx?pid=48974304 (father of Frederick Claude Birks)
Frederick Birks (1844-1922), http://www.geni.com/people/Frederick-Birks/6000000003494882106,
Sarah Keiller Dillon (1849-1895), http://records.ancestry.com/sarah_kieller_dillon_records.ashx?pid=87261173 (mother of Fredrick Claude Birks).
Sarah Kieller Dillon (1849-1895), http://www.geni.com/people/Sarah-Dillon/6000000003494882278,
Frederick Claude Birks, http://records.ancestry.com/frederick_claude_birks_records.ashx?pid=48975947 (Note: gives death date as 1967, but this appears to be incorrect.)
Fred. Claude Birks, (born 1880); http://www.geni.com/people/Fred-Birks/6000000003494882755.
“Canada Census, 1911”, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/27XB-B1V : accessed 06 Jul 2014), Fredrick Birks, 1911.
1911 Census of Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver, 44 Vancouver City, page 40, family 408, lines 8-9, http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=62743&highlight=8&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Fredrick+Birks.
1921 Census of Canada, Alberni, Comox, British Columbia, district 15, Frederick Claude Birks, Iva Mau Birks, John Wright Birks, Dillon Birks.
Vancouver directories, 1911-1914
Vancouver Social Register, 1914, page 14: Birks, Mr. and Mrs. F.C., 2322 Cypress, Bay 2067L, 2nd Thursday.
Canadian Almanac, 1914, page 131: F.C. manager of Royal Bank, Fairview, Vancouver.
Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory, 1919, page 105 (Alberni): F C Birks.
Calmont Oils Ltd., Montreal Gazette, January 15, 1930, page 22, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RIBhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J4wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4896%2C2196885
Calmont Oils Ltd., Ottawa Citizen, January 27, 1930, page 16, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GmsuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j9oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4219%2C3035247
Calmont Oils Ltd., Montreal Gazette, January 30, 1930, page 21, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gHAtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J4wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2659%2C4814568
Calmont Oils Ltd., Ottawa Citizen, March 19, 1930, page 5, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ahsvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ONsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3506%2C2497089
Calmont Oils Limited – 1928-1939, http://www.petroleumhistory.ca/history/companies.html#calmont
“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XPRP-D62 : accessed 06 Jul 2014), Frederick C Birks, 29 Jun 1932; citing “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” Ancestry.com; Ship , arrival port Buffalo, New York, , line , NARA microfilm publication M1480, roll 14, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XPRP-D6L : accessed 06 Jul 2014), Frederick Claude Birks, 27 Feb 1933; citing “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” Ancestry.com; Ship , arrival port Buffalo, New York, , line , NARA microfilm publication M1480, roll 14, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Frederick Claude Birks, death notice, Montreal Gazette, June 26, 1951, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VTcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o5gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6363%2C8651932: “Birks. – At the Royal Victoria Hospital, on Monday, June 25, 1951, Fredeerick Claude Birks, beloved husband of Iva Maude Wright, and dear father of Karl (Washington, D.C.), and John, in his 72nd year. Resting at the Armstrong Funeral Home, 3426 Park Avenue. Funeral service at St. Matthew’s Church (Corner Dufferin and St. Luc Roads, Hampstead), on Wednesday, June 27th, at 2 p.m.”
F. C. Birks Dies; Funeral Tomorrow, Montreal Gazette, June 26, 1951, page 9; http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VTcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=o5gFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7145%2C8573025, [link leads to top of column 3; obituary for F.C. Birks is at top of column 4.]: Funeral service for Frederick Claude Birks, 72, for the past 17 years managing director of Montreal Memorial Park, and a member of the Masonic Order, who died yesterday at the Royal Victoria Hospital, will be held at St. Matthew’s Church, Dufferin and Cote St. Luc roads, Hampstead, at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Born in Montreal, the son of the late Frederick Birks, he was educated at Montreal High School. Having joined the Royal Bank of Canada, he was successively manager of the bank’s branches at Port Alberni and Ashcroft, B.C., Morin, Alta., and the Fairview branch in Vancouver. For the past year he had been affiliated with Mount Royal No. 32 Lodge of the Masonic Order. He left the Royal Bank after 18 years’ service, and was interested in the Turner Valley oil project, and was secretary of the Calmont Oil Co. from 1923 to 1929. He spent the next years as manager of the Wichita, Kan., Memorial Park, and in 1934 returned to his native Montreal as managing director of the Montreal Memorial Park, with which he was still connected at the time of his death. A nephew of the late William M. Birks, he was a life member of the M.A.A.A. and held several trophies in bowling and shooting which he won in his youth, when he was very active in athletics. He has been one of the Montreal directors of the National Committee fo Education on Alcoholism Inc. He married Miss Iva Maude Wright of Winnipeg and the couple had celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary Sunday. Survivors, besides his widow residing at 5160 [sic] Earnscliffe road, Hampstead, are two sons, Karl, of Washington, D.C. and John Birks of Montreal; two sisters, Mrs. Fred Dakin of Montreal and Mrs. George James of Cloverdale; one brother, Harold Birks, of Vancouver, B.C.”
Iva Maude Wright (wife of Frederick Claude Birks)
Iva Maude Wright (c. 1887-1963), http://www.geni.com/people/Iva-Wright/6000000003494882812
Iva Maude Wright (1887–1963); Birth: ABT 1887, Manitoba; Death: 12 SEP 1963 (ancestry.ca).
Karl Dillon Birks (son of Frederick Claude Birks)
Karl Dillon Birks, http://www.gencircles.com/users/higginsw/1/data/820
“New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957”, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/24G3-CG1 : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Karl Dillon Birks, 1946.
“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XGLR-J4C : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Karl Dillon Birks, 06 Mar 1950; citing “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” Ancestry.com; Ship , arrival port Buffalo, New York, , line , NARA microfilm publication M1480, roll 15, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“United States Social Security Death Index,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V3PQ-KPL : accessed 05 Jul 2014), null, 06 Oct 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing). (Karl D. Birks).
“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1K-L7K3 : 15 December 2015), Karl Dillion Birks, 1990; Burial, Ocean View, Sussex, Delaware, United States of America, Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church; citing record ID 147804709, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147804709: “Karl Dillion Birks; Birth: 28 Mar 1914; Death: 6 Oct 1990 (aged 76); Burial: Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Ocean View, Sussex County, Delaware, USA; Memorial ID: 147804709.”
“United States Public Records, 1970-2009,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KTM3-N59 : 23 May 2014), Karl D Birks, Residence, Bethany Beach, Delaware, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
“United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9LL-1NN : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Ed P Felker in household of John C Felker, Creston Township Creston city Ward 5, Union, Iowa, United States; citing sheet 3A, family 44, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240461.
“United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2VW-929 : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Edward P Felker in household of Eva Thompson, Cambridge Ward 5, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 758, sheet 15B, family 338, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374608.
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZ2C-79N : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Edward Pearson Felker, 1917-1918; citing Des Moines County, Iowa, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 1643081.
Harvard College, Class of 1911, http://www.mocavo.com/Harvard-College-Class-of-1911-Volume-4/387574/155, page 139.
“United States Census, 1920,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8ZK-26G : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Edward Felker in household of Charles Cox, St Louis Ward 28, St Louis (Independent City), Missouri, United States; citing sheet 15A, family 308, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820953.
Decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States, Volume 18, U.S. Government Printing Office, 939, decision number A-98624, pages 421-423, http://books.google.ca/books?id=L7J396jIFmkC&pg=PA422&lpg=PA422&dq=%22edward+p+felker%22&source=bl&ots=8yEhDYFONK&sig=jNI3wdu2ONNkaHvZkUJ7YfkIf3Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eUW4U8DBPMndoASRjoDQBA&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22edward%20p%20felker%22&f=false, reference to Col. Edward P. Felker, Field Artillery Reserves, United States Army.
“United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X5CC-YNL : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Edward Pearson Felker, 1942; citing ARC identifier 623234, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2372907.
Edward P. Felker, obituary, March 30, 1963, Akron Beacon Journal, Index to Obituaries, 1962-1979, D-H, page 312, http://sc.akronlibrary.org/files/2013/05/1962-1979_Obits_d-h.pdf
Carolyn Ann Felker
“United States Census, 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHV9-2XZ : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Carolyn A Felker in household of Edward P Felker, St Louis (Districts 1-250), St. Louis (Independent City), Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0194, sheet 21A, family 190, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1244.
“United States Census, 1940,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KWX6-44X : accessed 06 Jul 2014), Carolyn Anne Felker in household of Edward P Felker, Upper Arlington Village, Perry Township, Franklin, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 25-45, sheet 11A, family 243, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 3070.
“United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XG3W-FZS : accessed 05 Jul 2014), Carolyn Anne Birks, 06 Mar 1950; citing “Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954,” Ancestry.com; Ship , arrival port Buffalo, New York, , line , NARA microfilm publication M1480, roll 14, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
“California Death Index, 1940-1997,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPV2-P72 : 26 November 2014), Carolyn Felker Birks, 29 Jul 1996; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
“United States Social Security Death Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JRJZ-1JD : 20 May 2014), Carolyn Birks, 29 Jul 1996; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
“Find A Grave Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1K-L7DX : 15 December 2015), Carolyn A Birks, 1996; Burial, Ocean View, Sussex, Delaware, United States of America, Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church; citing record ID 147804761, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147804761: “Carolyn A Birks; Birth: 9 Oct 1923; Death: 29 Jul 1996 (aged 72); Burial: Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Ocean View, Sussex County, Delaware, USA; Memorial ID: 147804761.”
John Wright Birks (son of Frederick Claude Birks)
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MR-1KY3 : 18 March 2018), John Wright Birks and Ivy Winifred Grace Arthur, 1938. British Columbia Marriage Registrations; Registration Number: 1938-09-467705; John Wright Birks and Ivy Winifred G Arthur; date of marriage: December 24, 1938-12-24; place of marriage: Vancouver; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/361f71f9-1332-4372-af73-d82ddb1209be.
Petition of Ivy Winifred Grace Arthur Birks, of Toronto, Ontario, praying for the passage of an Act to dissolve her marriage with John Wright Birks, Journals of the Senate of Canada, https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/70/mode/1up; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/172/mode/1up/search/birks; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/213/mode/1up/search/birks; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/716/mode/1up; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/720/mode/1up/search/birks; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/731/mode/1up; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/734/mode/1up/search/birks; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/748/mode/1up/search/birks; https://archive.org/stream/journalsofsenate106cana#page/813/mode/1up/search/birks
Journal of the House of Commons, https://archive.org/stream/journalsofhouse106cana#page/n4/mode/1up.
“Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9X-DXDP : 10 January 2019), John Wright Birks and Madeleine Regimbal, 15 Jul 1961; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing , Arlington, Virginia, United States, certificate 18375, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
Ivy Winifred Grace Arthur (wife of John Wright Birks)
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL1N-BK7 : 8 November 2017), Jan Birks, 1983; http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a496ec9d-a73b-4c90-8913-a4c31f2cf0bf
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