Julia Boswell Spiers

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-127885

Other Events:

• Business: Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Galt Art Metal Company
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187731191
• Interesting: pioneer, story, business, politics, public service
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-60435
• Residence: 1841, Galston, , Ayr, Scotland
• Immigration: 1848, , Ontario, Canada
• Immigration: 1849, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1852, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; clerk
• Occupation: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; merchant
• Occupation: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Occupation: 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; manufacturer
• Elected Office: 1880, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor of Galt
• Occupation: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Flour Miller
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1901, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Business: 1902, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Spiers' Oatmeal Mill
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Income
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Notes:

DAVID SPIERS

David Spiers was born in 1832 at Darvel in Scotland and came to Canada at an early age, living for a short time in Hamilton. At nineteen he came to Galt and there remained. He died July 9th., 1917.

He began in the store of Andrew Elliott & Co., which stood where W. W. Wilkin son's establishment is now. Later he purchased Robert Wallace's grocery. From that time his business career saw many changes and advancement, mostly in manufacturing. He bought out the electric and gas works, operating the former until the town took over the plant and started using hydro-electric power. In 1913 he replaced the old timber dam on the Grand River in Galt with the present concrete one.

He owned and operated the oatmeal mill and was interested in different manufacturing concerns, including the Galt Art Metal Company of which he was president. He was one of the six original promoters of the Galt, Preston & Hespeler Railway.

For twenty-five years Mr. Spiers served on the town council and for three years, 1880 to 1882 inclusive, was Mayor of Galt. Until the appointment of a police magistrate he performed the work of justice of the peace of the town. He was a member of the Collegiate Board for forty-three years, twenty-eight years as chair man, until his retirement in 1914, and was president of the Hospital Board for the eighteen years during which he was a member of this Board. The new wing of the Galt hospital was built under his administration.

That for which he will best be remembered, for which he more than any individual was responsible, is the new building of the Galt Collegiate Institute, massive, rugged and yet beautiful and admirably adapted to its purpose, fit monument to the sturdy character and civic usefulness of David Spiers.

He was a member of Knox church and active in its management. He married Angela Keefer, daughter of Peter Reefer. Mrs. Spiers died fifteen years ago. Four sons and five daughters survive. The family home was in old days the residence of Dr. Tassie, in which many boys, from all parts of Canada and some from the Unit ed States, had their domicile, from time to time, while attending the Tassie school.

An intimate, long time friend says: "Mr. Spiers was a man of more than ordinary mental calibre. Though without any preparatory legal training he was quick in discovering the right or wrong in any case brought before him as a magistrate. His judgment was generally to be relied upon either in legal or business matters. He was kind-hearted and sympathetic and many a man and woman too has been helped by his advice given willingly and without thought of remuneration. He was successful in business and might have been even more so had he not given so much of his time to the nobler purpose of public service. Galt and every other city and town in Canada need just such men, intelligent, honest, public spirited, unselfish, and untiring in their efforts to advance the interests of the communities in which they dwell."

Fifth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society

_____________

DAVID SPIERS, ESQ

Is one of the pioneers of Galt and a citizen held in the highest esteem by his fellows, having been identified with the interest of the town in almost every public capacity since 1852. As merchant, manufacturer and private citizen, Mr. Spiers was to be found in the front. Some 20 years has he served on the Council Board, and filled the Mayor's chair for 3 years. Closely identified with educational and social interests, a member of G. C. I. Board for 20 years, and enjoys the honor as chairman in this the Jubilee year. He is also president of the Hospital Board, president and manager of the Gas and Electric Light Co., a director of the G. P. & H. S. R. R., and one of the original promoters of the road. Although Mr. Spiers is so engaged in business, he is always ready to help. We can only say he is a busy, useful man, and Galt knows it.

1897 Jubilee Souvenir of Galt

__________________

David Spiers was born David Speirs at Knowehead Farm (by Darvel) in the parish of Galston

Email Robbie Wilson 2018

Occupation:
Staying at Francis Lowell's Inn.

Business:
image from: "Picturesque and Industrial Galt" 1902

David married Angela Keefer 25 Apr 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Angela (daughter of Peter Keefer and Jane Angela Christie) was born 13 Jan 1839, Thorold, Thorold Twp., Welland Co., Ontario; died 18 Aug 1902, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187731423
• Name: Angela Spiers
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-60437
• Residence: 1851, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Episcopalian
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; English Episcopalian
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: dnf-90898
• Occupation: 1841, Galston, , Ayr, Scotland; farmer

John — Elizabeth Brown. Elizabeth was born 10 May 1789, , Ayrshire, Scotland; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Elizabeth Spiers
• Eby ID Number: dnf-123186
• Residence: 1841, Galston, , Ayr, Scotland

Notes:

lizabeth Spiers was born Elizabeth Brown on 10 May 1789 daughter of John Brown, Portioner and Margaret Orr. She was first married Robert Osborne in 1810 this one of David Spiers's sons was named Osborne. David Spiers was born David Speirs at Knowehead Farm (by Darvel) in the parish of Galston.

email Robbie Wilson 2018

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92859321
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-388691
• Occupation: 1851, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Postmaster
• Residence: 1851, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Episcopalian
• Occupation: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; English Episcopalian
• Occupation: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Clerk Division Court
• Residence: 1886, Blair Rd, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Keefer, Alexander died 25 May 1863 At Beechworth, Victoria Colony, Australia. Barrister. Brother of P. Keefer, Galt. In his 38th year. Formerly of Toronto, C W.

Dumfries Reformer 12 Aug 1863

___________________

In Galt, on Thursday noon, January 21st, at a quarter past 12 o'clock, Peter Keefer, in his 81st year.

Funeral, on Saturday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, from his late residence, Blair Road, to Trinity Church Cemetery.

Galt Reporter Jan 22 1886 pg 8

Peter — Jane Angela Christie. Jane was born 29 Dec 1812, , England; died 15 Dec 1893, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201710499
• Name: Jane Angela Keefer
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-335703
• Residence: 1851, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Episcopalian
• Residence: 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; English Episcopalian
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Anglican

Notes:

MRS. KEEFER

Mrs. Keefer, widow of the late Peter Keefer of Galt, after a fortnight's illness, passed quietly away last Friday afternoon, December 15th. Her illness was more the breaking up of a naturally strong constitution than actual disease. Bad she lived two weeks more, she would have completed 81 years of life. Galt loses in Mrs. Keefer's death one of its oldest residents, one who has seen all the changes, advances and progress that have taken place here in the last 44 years, for it was in the early part of 1850, that Mrs. Keefer first moved here with her husband and young family. The journey they made from Thorold, in the Niagara peninsula, took the greater part of two days in stage sleighs, via Hamilton, where the night was spent. Of the family of five children who came with her, three only remain, one son a retired officer of the Indian Army, at present settled in Galt, and two daughters, one married to Mr. David Sipiers of Galt and the other to Mr. John Barnard, General Manager of the Omaha and St. Louis R. R. Her husband died about six years ago, having attained almost precisely the same advanced age at which she has just passed away. Mrs. Keefer was of Scotch descent, her maiden name being Christie. She came to this country in 1835, with her parents who settled for a time at Niagara, but eventually returned to England, their daughter having meanwhile been married to Mr. Peter Keefer, one of the well known families of U. E. Loyalist's of Thorold. Six of Mrs. Keefer's uncles served their country faithfully and well, three having been in the army and three in the navy. Of the latter Captain Peter Christie, R.N., had the honor, when a private officer, of being presented with a miniature portrait on Ivory of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Emperor himself, when the latter was a State prisoner on the Bellerophon, on which ship young Christie was serving as midshipman. Christie afterwards lost, his life in the Crimea campaign and this portrait of the Emperor came into Mrs. Keefer's possession. During her life here Mrs. Keefer attached to herself many sincere friends. Her bright manner, animated conversation and numerous accomplishments making her a general favorite. Of her contemporaries hardly one survives her. Besides the three children named above, she leaves behind her sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Weekly Reformer 22 Dec 1893 pg 1