William Robert "Robert" Mathison

1871 - 1965  (93 years)

• Name	William Robert "Robert" Mathison
  Born	29 Apr 1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/171169239
  Residence	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Occupation	1891	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Agricultural Laborer
  Residence	1891	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Baptist
  Occupation	1911	Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1911	Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Presbyterian
  Residence	1952	Piper St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-199005
  Died	7 Feb 1965	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Buried	9 Feb 1965	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I199005	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	William A. Mathison,   b. 8 Oct 1842, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Dec 1932, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 90 years)
  Mother	Louisa Thorburn Rae,   b. 20 Aug 1847, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 22 Mar 1933, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 85 years)
  Married	26 Jan 1866	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6, 7, 8]
  Family ID	F19089	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Ritchie,   b. 31 Mar 1876, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 5 Jan 1952, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 75 years)
  Married	14 Mar 1906	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Children	1. Mary Louisa Mathison,   b. 31 Jan 1907, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 Nov 2003, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada  (Age 96 years)   2. Elizabeth Ellen Mathison,   b. 14 Sep 1911, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Dec 2010  (Age 99 years)
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F187747	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  W. Robert Mathison, Ayr's Oldest Resident, Passes - Ayr's oldest resident and a life-long resident of this district, William Robert Mathison passed away In K-W Hospital on Sunday in his 94th year. He had been hospitalized only since the previous night. He was born in North Dumfries Township on the family homestead on the Cedar Creek Road (now owned by Franklin Lisso), a son of the late William A. Mathison and Louisa Rae. In his earlier years he was a farmer and subsequently took up custom threshing. In this line he became well known to a wide circle of farmers in the area who relied on his services each fall. Mr. Mathison moved to Ayr nearly half a century ago, and after disposing of his threshing business devoted his full time to a repair and knife and saw sharpening shop which was located adjacent to his home on Piper St. He continued to actively pursue this business until only a few years ago when advancing years forced him into unwilling retirement. During the years at this trade there were few farmers in the entire area who had not brought binder and mower knives or saws to be sharpened, and later commented on the meticulous attention Mr. Mathison paid to each job. He was a quiet spoken man who possessed a keen wit and a sense of humor that continually bubbled forth into laughter. It was the habit of numerous friends and customers to visit Mr. Mathison's shop frequently to enjoy his good natured conversation. He was an adherent of Knox United Church. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. H. G. Thompson (Ellen) of Brantford and Miss Mary of Ayr; three brothers, James of Ayr, Walter of Gleichen, Alta., and Edward of Cobourg; two sisters, Mrs. Alex Fraser (Agnes) of Galt and Mrs. James Scott (Catherine) of Grandora, Sask. Two grandchildren also survive. His wife, the former Elizabeth Ritchie, predeceased him in 1952. The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday afternoon from Coutts Funeral Home, Galt, conducted by Rev. Andrew Denholm. Interment was made in Ayr Cemetery. Pallbearers were: James D. Patterson, John T. Kennedy, Erb Clark, Hugh Gillespie, Dee King and John G. Welsh, all of Ayr and district. The Ayr News Feb 11 1965 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, North Div. 2 Page 68. [S562] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1911, Div 3. Pg. 13. [S2042] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1891, Section 1 Page 35. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration. Name: William R Mathieson Date of Birth: 29 Apr 1871 Gender: Male Birth Place: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father's name: William A Mathieson Mother's name: Louisa Thorburn Rae [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Mathison/ In Loving memory of/ William Robert Mathison/ Apr. 29, 1871 - Feb. 7, 1965/ his wife/ Elizabeth Ritchie/ Mar. 31, 1876 - Jan. 5, 1952 [A] Father [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register. Louisa Rae Born: North Dumfries Res: North Dumfries Age: 18 Born: abt 1848 Father: William Mother: Ann Dryden Spouse: William Mathieson Age: 23 Born: abt 1843 born: North Dumfries Res: North Dumfries Father: John Mother: Agnes Kennedy married 26 Jan 1866 [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Louisa Rae Age: 18 Birth Date: abt 1848 Birth Place: North Dumfries Marriage Date: 26 Jan 1866 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: William Mother: Ann Dryden Spouse: William Mathieson Spouse's Age: 23 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1843 Spouse Birth Place: North Dumfries Spouse Residence: North Dumfries Spouse Father: John Spouse Mother: Agnes Kennedy Residence: North Dumfries [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 7 Feb 1866. Rae, Louisa married 26 Jan 1866 to Wm. Matheson At Galt, by Rev. W.T. Murdoch. Both of North Dumfries. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Elizabeth Ritchie Age: 29 Birth Date: abt 1877 Birth Place: North Dumfries Marriage Date: 14 Mar 1906 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: Samuel Ritchie Mother: Mary Murphy Spouse: William Robert Matheson Spouse's Age: 34 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1872 Spouse Birth Place: North Dumfries Tp Spouse Father: William A Matheson Spouse Mother: Louise T Rae Matheson

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 29 Apr 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Agricultural Laborer - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Baptist - 1891 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 14 Mar 1906 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1911 - Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - Roseville, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1952 - Piper St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 7 Feb 1965 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 9 Feb 1965 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth