John Waldie

John Waldie
Portrait of John Waldie (1906)
Member of Parliament
for Halton
In office
1887–1888
Preceded by William McCraney
Succeeded by David Henderson
In office
1888–1891
Preceded by David Henderson
Succeeded by David Henderson
Personal details
Born April 22, 1833
Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died June 12, 1907
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting place Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s)
Mary Ann Thompson
(m. 1859; d. 1884)
[1][2][3]
Sarah Ann Jarvis (m. 1885)
[4]
Profession lumber merchant

John Waldie (April 22, 1833 – June 12, 1907) was a Canadian politician and businessman.

Biography

Born in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, he moved to Canada West when still a youth.[5] When the rest of his family moved to Huron County to establish a farm,[6] he decided to remain in Nelson Township, becoming a prominent wheat merchant.[7] He was Reeve of Nelson Township for two years,[5] and was instrumental in incorporating the Village of Wellington Square in 1873.[7] After Wellington Square was amalgamated with Port Nelson to become the Village of Burlington late that year,[7] he became its Reeve for five years.[5] During that time, he was also Warden of Halton County for two years.[5]

In 1885, he sold his interest in his business to his partner, and became a lumber baron, moving to Toronto in the process.[7] He founded the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company (consolidating three mills then operating)[8] that year,[6] located at Victoria Harbour, Ontario.[7] Many of the buildings he had constructed there have since been designated as heritage properties.[9] He would acquire further mills in his lifetime, including one in Spragge, Ontario just one month before his death.[5]

He was also the President of two tanneries, located at Collingwood and Burk's Falls,[5] and was a director on the boards of the Toronto Paper Company (operating in Cornwall) and the Canada Coating Mills (located in Georgetown).[5]

Waldie was also a director of the Bank of Toronto,[5] and had also been vice-president of the Landed Banking and Loan Company in Hamilton, Ontario,[5] which later became part of Canada Permanent Trust.

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Member of the Liberal Party in the 1887 election to represent the riding of Halton, later being re-elected in 1888, but defeated in the elections of 1891 and 1896. In that time, he developed a close friendship with Wilfrid Laurier, which proved useful after he left office.[6]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 1896
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeDavid Henderson2,46050.9-0.2
LiberalJohn Waldie2,37649.1+0.2
Total valid votes 4,836 100.0
Canadian federal election, 1891
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeDavid Henderson2,44151.1+1.4
LiberalJohn Waldie2,33748.9-1.4
Total valid votes 4,778100.0
Canadian federal by-election, 22 August 1888
Party Candidate Votes%±%
On Mr. Waldie being unseated, 19 January 1888, for bribery by agents, and the subsequent winner Mr. Henderson being then unseated for corrupt practices by agents
LiberalJohn Waldie2,04250.3
ConservativeDavid Henderson2,01849.7-1.4
Total valid votes 4,060 100.0
Canadian federal election, 1887
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Waldie2,22250.1-1.1
ConservativeDavid Henderson2,21349.9
Total valid votes 4,435 100.0

Further reading

  • Armson, Kenneth A.; McLeod, Marjorie (2007). The Legacy of John Waldie: A History of the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company. Toronto: Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-55002-758-7.

References

  1. ↑ "Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869". familysearch.org.
  2. ↑ "Died". The Canadian Champion. Milton. January 24, 1884. p. 3.
  3. ↑ Gillies, Mark (March 9, 2015). "John Waldie had two wives and thirteen children: all were brought back to Burlington where they were buried". Burlington Gazette.
  4. ↑ "Married". The Canadian Champion. Milton. December 24, 1885. p. 3.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Death of John Waldie, Ex-M.P." The Acton Free Press. June 20, 1907. p. 2.
  6. 1 2 3 Gillies, Mark (March 2, 2015). "John Waldie 'The Father of Burlington' paid for the library and created the Greenwood cemetery". Burlington Gazette.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "John Waldie: An outstanding citizen of early Burlington". Burlington Post. January 8, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Victoria Harbor Lumber Company Mills". Tay Township Heritage. February 28, 2016.
  9. ↑ Gillies, Mark (March 13, 2015). "Gillies thinks civic recognition of John Waldie embarrassing and pathetic, suggest naming something significant after the 'Father of Burlington'". Burlington Gazette.


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