Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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James Blain

Male 1805 - 1882  (77 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name James Blain 
    Born 10 Mar 1805  Bowness, Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Dickson Mills, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Dickson Mills 
    Immigration 1831  , Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Elected Office 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor - Galt 
    Elected Office 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor, Deputy Reeve 
    • Municipality . Galt Years on local council: 1861-62, 1864, 1866, 1870 Councillor; 1863, 1865 Deputy Reeve
      Years on Waterloo County Council: 1863 1865
    Occupation 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Gentleman 
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    United Presbyterian 
    Elected Office 1863  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor - Waterloo County 
    Elected Office 1864  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor - Galt 
    Elected Office 1865  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor - Waterloo County 
    Elected Office 1865  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Deputy Reeve - Galt 
    Elected Office 1866  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    councillor - Galt 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Gentleman 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Grain M. 
    Residence 1871  Metcalfe St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1871  Metcalfe St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Church of England 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Church of England 
    Residence 1872  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-100140 
    Died 17 Jul 1882  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Cause: Bladder Disease 5 months 
    Buried Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Person ID I100140  Generations
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 

    Father Thomas Blain,   b. 20 Apr 1775, Of, Bowness, Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Nov 1855, Bowness-on-Solway, , Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Little,   b. 18 Jan 1777, Heskey, Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Oct 1857, Bowness-on-Solway, , Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Family ID F52780  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Ann Bell,   b. 1808, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 18 Oct 1872  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 
    Family ID F25783  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Jane Gash,   b. 1810, Stockdalewath, Cumbria, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Feb 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years) 
    Married 18 Mar 1834  Hesket-In-The-Forest, , Cumberland, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Children 
     1. James L. Blain,   b. 1838, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Isabella Blain,   b. 1846, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 19 Dec 2024 
    Family ID F38393  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • James first settled in Niagara developing a building business while at the same time a flour shipping company. He came to Galt in 1854 and partnered with his brother Richard Blain in the running of Dickson Mills. Dissolving the partnership in 1858 he later in 1862 acquired lots and the mill from the Dickson Estate. He sold the property to his brother Richrd in 1874. Served on Galt Municipal Council and was director of the Great Western Railway and was involved bringing branch lines of the Grand Trunk and Credit Valley Railways to Galt. Part owner of a steamer Arabian.


      Cambridge Mosiac, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [snippet from original text in book]

      ______________________


      Death of James Blain, Esq. - This gentleman, for many years one of Galt's leading citizens, passed to his rest on Monday last. Up to 1875 the deceased was an active, energetic business man, but during that year he was stricken with apoplexy, from which he never entirely recovered, and since then he has suffered from a partial stroke of paralysis which greatly weakened his once iron constitution. For the last few years he has been a severe sufferer from a form of epilepsy. A short time ago he met with quite a severe fall, and the powers of life being almost exhausted, he gradually sank.

      Mr. Blain was a native of Cumberland, England, having been born in Bowness-in-Solway, on the 10th March, 1805, and was consequently in his 78th year at the time of his death. In the spring of 1831 he came to Canada, preceding Mr. Richard Blain and others of his brothers by some years. On arriving at Niagara he at once entered the building trade, one of his first works being the erecting of the Presbyterian Church there, which building still stands. Niagara was then the Capital of Upper Canada, and a busy, flourishing place, and Mr. Blain was successful there in laying the foundation of the competence which for many years he usefully employed. Besides the building trade, Mr. Blain engaged largely in the shipment of flour to the seaboard Provinces, and in this line he was also successful.

      The decadence of Niagara caused Mr. Bain to leave it, and in 1850 he removed to Lockport, N.Y., where he joined Mr. Lyman A. Spalding in the forwarding business. In the fall of 1854 he came to Galt and entered into partnership with Mr. Richard Blain, in the Milling business, the firm carrying on the Dickson Mills. In 1858, the partnership was dissolved and in 1866 Mr. Blain acquired by purchase from the Dickson Estate, the Mill, the water privileges in connection therewith, and a large number of lots on the hill where the homestead new stands. To the development of this property Mr. Blain largely gave his energies for some years, although at the same time he was an active Director on the great Western Railway and also engaged in the shipping business, being part owner of the steamer Arabian, running between Quebec and Shediac.

      Almost immediately upon his coming to Galt, Mr. Blain identified himself at once with its interests and was elected and served for several years as Councilor. Possessed of an active temperament, he entered freely and willingly into all the schemes which seemed likely to conduct to the progress of the town and lent valuable aid in securing the connection with Grand Trunk Railway and subsequently with the Credit Valley railway. It was during these years that the Great western, under the Managership of Mrs. Thomas Swinyard, was passing through perhaps its most trying time, and there was no Director on the Board who took more interest or gave more of his time and influence for its benefit than the subject of these remarks.

      The deceased gentleman was twice married, his second wife, who still survives him, having been his loving partner through all the trials of his later years. His only son, Mr. James L. Blain, is well known in this locality and at present occupies a responsible position in connection with a College in Paris, France. Of Mr. Blain's brothers and sisters there are yet living - John Blain, Esq., of Cumberland, England; Wm. Blain, Esq., of Niagara; Capt. Isaac Blain, of Brampton; Richard Blain, Esq., of Galt; and Mrs. T. Devenish , of Scarboro'.

      Mr. Blain's funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon to Trinity Church Cemetery, and was largely attended by his old friends in the Town and by many from all parts of the Province, who thus testified their respect for him.

      Galt Reporter 21 Jul 1882 pg 1

  • Sources 
    1. [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 1 Page 22.

    2. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 36.

    3. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 29.

    4. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link .
      In/ memory of/ Jane Gash/ the beloved wife of/ James Blain/ who died Feb. 28th 1871: / aged 58 years/ " Her end was peace"/ James Blain/ a native of/ Boness-on-Solway England/ died July 17th 1882/ aged 77 y'rs 4 m's & 7 days/ (inscription illegible)

    5. [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 13172 (1872), James Blair-Ann Be..
      James Blain (resident of Galt) Birth Place: England Age: 67 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1805 Father Name: Thomas Blain Mother Name: Elizth Blain Spouse Name: Ann Bell Spouse's Age: 62 Spouse Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810 Spouse Birth Place: England Spouse Father Name: William Bell Spouse Mother Name: Margt Bell Marriage Date: 19 Oct 1872 Marriage Place: York, Toronto

    6. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 4 Page 48.

    7. [S1450] Waterloo County Councillors A Collective Biography.

    8. [S2198] England, Select marriages, 1538-1973.
      Name:James Blain
      Gender:Male
      Marriage Date:18 Mar 1834
      Marriage Place:Hesket-In-The-Forest, Cumberland, England
      Spouse:Jane Gash
      FHL Film Number:1472062
      Reference ID:80

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 10 Mar 1805 - Bowness, Cumberland, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1831 - , Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 18 Mar 1834 - Hesket-In-The-Forest, , Cumberland, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Galt - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor, Deputy Reeve - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Gentleman - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - United Presbyterian - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Waterloo County - 1863 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Galt - 1864 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Waterloo County - 1865 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Deputy Reeve - Galt - 1865 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - councillor - Galt - 1866 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Gentleman - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Grain M. - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1872 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 18 Oct 1872 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Bladder Disease 5 months - 17 Jul 1882 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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