W.R. FRANCIS.

 





	W. R. Francis, well known in the educational circles of Regina as
principal of the Model school, was born in London, Ontario, in 1883.
His father, George Allan Francis, was born in the state of Pennsylvania
of the stock commonly known as "Pennsylvania Dutch," and educated in
Knox College, Toronto, following which he entered the ministry of the
Methodist church. Later in life he became affiliated with the Congrega-
tional church, spending some thirty years in the work of the clergy. In
1890 he went to the States, where he preached in Toulon, Illinois, and
McGregor, Iowa, returning to Canada in 1907 to become a farmer. He
bought a farm in Saskatchewan, which he cultivated until his death. For
a number of years he was president of the Grain Growers Association in
his district.  A well-read man, he kept abreast of the times in public
affairs, voted with the Liberal party and fraternally was a Forester. In
Ontario, George Allan Francis was married to Isabella Harrison, a native
of that province, of Scotch descent. They became the parents of two chil-
dren, one of whom is deceased.
	When the family moved to the States, W. R. Francis was a child of
about seven, thus he obtained most of his education in Illinois and Iowa.
He graduated from Knox College of Galesburg, Illinois, in 1903, with the
B. A. degree, following which he took eighteen months of work at the
University of Wisconsin at Madison. His first position was that of pri-
vate secretary to the superintendent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad. In 1905 the young man came to this province and took up a
homestead about forty miles south of Melford, [sic] and in due time proved up
on this land, which he still owns, as well as some other tracts of land in
that vicinity which he has acquired by purchase. During the boom years
at Victoria-1910, 1911 and 1912-Mr. Francis was engaged in the real
estate business in that city, subsequently returning to Saskatchewan. It
was not until 1915 that he took up the profession in which he is now
engaged most successfully. That year he taught in the country schools
and the ensuing three years was a teacher at Rosthern, Saskatchewan.
He came to Regina in 1919, as vice principal of the Wetmore school and
one year later was made principal of the' Model school. His rise in the
teaching profession has been rapid, attesting unusual ability and aptitude
for this work, in spite of the fact that it was not the thing for which he
originally prepared himself.
	In 1908 Mr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Wilson,
an Illinoisan by birth, and they became the parents of two daughters:
Marjorie, a sophomore in the Collegiate Institute; and Jean, who is also
a student in that school. Mrs. Francis passed away in 1913. Mr. Francis
was married in 1916, to Miss Olive Durnin, daughter of James and Eliza
Durnin.  Mrs. Francis was born at Casselton, North Dakota, and edu-
cated in the public schools of her native state, Minnesota, and in Ontario,
graduating from the high school at Dauphin, Manitoba.  Her parents
were born in Huron county, Ontario, and moved to Saskatchewan in 1907,
where the father bought a farm near Melford[sic], on which the family still
lives. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have become the parents of a son: James
Allan, aged two years and three months. Mr. and Mrs. Francis are both
Presbyterians in their religious faith and active church workers.  Mr.
Francis is the leader of the Carmichael Presbyterian church choir and
also of the children's choir, the best in the province, which has a member-
ship of fifty children, ranging in age from eight to fourteen years. While
he was living in Victoria Mr. Francis was tenor soloist in the Metropoli-
tan church. He is identified with the Canadian Club of Regina, and aside
from his music, which is the source of much pleasure and recreation for
him, his chief hobby is boxing, a sport in which he takes great interest.
The family residence is at No.2221 Lorne street, where Mr. and Mrs.
Francis are always at home to the many friends they have made since
coming to this city.



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