Henry Main

Cal 1834 - 1888  (~ 53 years)

• Name	Henry Main
  Born	CALC 23 Nov 1834	Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Livery Stable Prop.
  Residence	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Occupation	1881	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Livery Keeper
  Crime	8 Feb 1888	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	murdered
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192608015
  Interesting	misfortune, murder, business, bank
  Misfortune	murdered
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-102112
  Died	8 Feb 1888	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 5]
  	Cause: murdered
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I102112	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	William Henry Main,   b. CA 1799,   d. CA 1841  (Age ~ 42 years)
  Mother	Harriet Babcock,   b. 7 Oct 1800, , England ,   d. 15 Oct 1872  (Age 72 years)
  Family ID	F59438	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret "Maggie" Lowell,   b. 20 Oct 1849, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 10 Nov 1933, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)
  Married	2 Jun 1870	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6, 7]
  Children	1. Mary Ida Main,   b. Mar 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Florence Helen Main,   b. 15 Jun 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 17 Mar 1961  (Age 87 years)   3. Harriet Alberta Main,   b. 26 Apr 1877, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Jul 1918  (Age 41 years)   4. Major Gladstone Lowell Main,   b. 27 Sep 1885, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 26 Feb 1932, North York Twp., York Co., Ontario  (Age 46 years)   5. Frances Terry Main,   b. 22 Jul 1888, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Apr 1906, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 17 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F26207	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Main & Gerimger, brokers and liverymen. Both gentlemen wore born in Galt, and own several houses and lots in the town, besides some 62 ½ acres of land in the Township of North Dumfries. Illustrated Atlas of the County of Waterloo, H. Parsel & Co., Toronto - 1881 _________________________ Henry Main was born in Beverly Township in 1834 and from a young age was raised by his uncle, Wilder Babcock. His first job was as a traveler for Mr. Pattinson, Confectioner, of Hamilton. In about 1859 or 1860 Mr. Main moved to Galt where he entered the livery business in association with William Scrimger. He remained in this business until about 1884 when he opened a private bank and broker's office in Galt. It was in this office that he was murdered by John Currie of Puslinch Township. Mr. Currie had previously borrowed money from Mr. Main. When Mr. Currie could not repay, Mr. Main sued and Mr. Currie was forced to sell some already heavily mortgaged property to meet his financial obligations. A short time before the murder, Mr. Currie once again approached Mr. Main for a small loan. Mr. Main refused. Mr. Currie later returned to Mr. Main's office on February 8, 1888 and shot him in the head at close range. He then left the office and walked down the street to the stable of the Galt House Hotel where he shot himself in the head, dying instantly. Mr. Main is buried in Mount View Cemetery. Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge ______________________ Murder and Suicide GALT, Ont., February 8th - A murder and suicide occurred here today, the victims being Henry Main, a private banker, and a man named John Currie. There had been some business transactions, out of which arose a dispute. This morning Currie purchased a revolver, saying that he was going to Detroit. He then went around town and bid his friends good-bye, and afterwards went to Main's office, and without a word he shot Main, who was sitting at his desk with his back to the door. When found a few minutes later he was lying on his face in a pool of blood, dead. Currie then walked across the road to a shed in the rear of the Galt Hotel, and put a bullet through his head. Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14041, 9 February 1888 _______________________ In Galt, on Wednesday morning, 8th inst., Henry Main, aged 53 years, 2 months and 16 days. Funeral, tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, at 4 o'clock, from his late residence, to Mount View Cemetery. Galt Reporter Feb 10 1888 pg 8 ___________________ CURRIE, JOHN The most tragic occurrence, that has ever taken place in Galt, was enacted at about 10: 30 the morning of February 8, 1888. From what can be ascertained at present, it appears that John Currie, a farmer, aged about 40 (or 45 - varying reports) years, living in the township of Puslinch, has been in town for a week or more drinking to some extent and it is said, threatened in conversation with others to shoot Henry Main, banker and broker. Little notice was taken of the threat. About 8 a. m., he went to McMurtry's Hardware Store and bought a 32 calibre self-cocking revolver, saying he was going to Detroit. He then went around town and bade his friends good-bye. This morning about 10, Mr. Currie entered Mr. Main's office and fired two shots at Main, one taking effect over the right eye and the other about the middle of the forehead. Death must have been instantaneous. Mr. Currie then went across the street to the stables attached to the Galt Hotel and shot himself dead in the forehead. No shooting was heard by anyone, until Mr. Currie fired at himself. Money-lending transactions are said to have led to this deplorable act. From the evidence, it appears that Mr. Currie blamed Mr. Main for his financial ruin and threatened to make public the manner in which he alleged the Mr. Main had swindled him. Henry Main was 54 years of age and was widely known throughout the county. He was a man of great shrewdness and business ability and had amassed a considerable fortune. He was for many years a member of the firm of Main and Scrimger and engaged in the livery business but latterly, he followed the business of private banking and was very successful, being one of the largest property owners in Galt. He leaves a wife and young family of four children. John Currie was well known in the township of Puslinch. He was rather improvident and intemperate in his habits and on Saturday, his farm on the 1st concession of Puslinch was sold under mortgage. Mr. Currie was a carpenter and barn builder and when sober, was a good workman. On Saturday night, while under the influence of liquor, he committed an assault upon his father-in-law, Frederick Smale of Puslinch, on account of which, a warrant was issued for his arrest. John W. Gilchrist arrived in Galt yesterday morning between 8 and 9 to take him into custody upon this charge, when John Currie promised to go with him in about three-quarters of an hour, as he desired to visit some friends. As they were old friends and had been brought up together, Mr. Gilchrist allowed him to go. Some time afterwards, they met at Scrimger's Hotel, when John Currie informed him that he had engaged a lawyer to defend him and that he was going to Mr. Main's to get some money. That was the last seen of him. His misfortunes, though largely of his own making, would appear to have driven him to desperation. He leaves a wife and four young children. A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 2, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark

  
  

• Sources

  [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 1 Page 96. [S2697] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge, Mount View Cemetery Internet Link. In/ loving remembrance/ of/ Henry Main,/ who died/ Feb. 8' 1888;/ aged 54 years/ And of his beloved wife/ Margaret/ Lowell/ died at Galt/ Nov. 10th 1933 / [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 57. [S1800] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1891, Section 2 Page 128. [S2491] aaa Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 017655 (1888). Name:Henry Main Gender:Male Age:53 Birth Date:abt 1835 Birth Place:Beverly Death Date:8 Feb 1888 Death Place:Victoria, Ontario, Canada Cause of Death:Murder From Ohot of Woohen Death Immshiate [S2488] aaa Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate. Name:Henry Main Age:36 Birth Year:abt 1834 Birth Place:Perth, Ontario Marriage Date:2 Jun 1870 Marriage Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father:William Main Mother:Harriet Main Spouse:Maggie Lowell [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 8 jun 1870. Main, Henry married 2 Jun 1870 to Maggie Lowell At the Queen's Arms Hotel, Galt, by the Rev. Michael Boomer, LLD. Bride, youngest daughter of F. Lowell. Both of Galt.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - CALC 23 Nov 1834 - Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Married - 2 Jun 1870 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Livery Stable Prop. - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Livery Keeper - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Crime - murdered - 8 Feb 1888 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: murdered - 8 Feb 1888 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth