Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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Mayor John Davidson

Mayor John Davidson

Male 1805 - 1877  (72 years)

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

  • Name John Davidson 
    Prefix Mayor 
    Born 1805  Aberdeen, , Aberdeen, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4] 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1843  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Historic Building 1846  63 Grand Ave. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Built by John Davidson in 1846 stone house was converted to St. Paul's Lutheran Parish Hall and a church was built adjacent at the same time in 1960.
    Occupation 1852  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    merchant 
    Residence 1852  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Presbyterian 
    Elected Office 1854  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Reeve of Galt 
    Occupation 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Postmaster & Banker 
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Episcopalian, Church of England 
    Elected Office 1863  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mayor of Galt 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Postmaster 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Church of England 
    Died 30 Nov 1877  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Cause: Paralysis 
    Business 1897  Victoria Wheel Works, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Victoria Wheel Works 
    • The hub and spoke manufacturing business first started by Thomas Todd and John Davidson in 1861 and later operated by Young and Smith. Mr. Scott purchased the business in 1873 and operated it for many years as R. Scott and Son Ltd., later the Victoria Wheel Works. The buildings were damaged by fire in 1882 but were rebuilt and enlarged. Mr. Scott continued to manage the business until 1906 when he sold it to his son-in-law George A. Dobbie. The business was located at the foot of Main St. for many years before moving to new facilities on Middleton St. in 1913.
    Victoria Wheel Works    		 Victoria Wheel Works
    From 1897 Jubilee Souvenir of Galt
    Interesting politics, business, fire, bank, insurance 
    Possessions 16 Maple Ridge Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-26794 
    Buried Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Person ID I26794  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Father James Davidson,   b. 31 Mar 1776, Walthamstow, , Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Aug 1852, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Mother Elspeth Blackhall,   b. 1777, of, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Oct 1853, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Family ID F7004  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Julia McCrum,   b. 1822, , New York State, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Aug 1844  (Age 22 years) 
    Children 
     1. William Davidson,   b. CALC 25 Sep 1842, of, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Aug 1843  (Age ~ 0 years)
     2. Julia Davidson,   b. Aug 1844, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Feb 1845  (Age ~ 0 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F32074  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Jane Tassie,   b. 1828, Dublin, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 May 1895  (Age 67 years) 
    Children 
     1. John Blackhall Davidson,   b. 1857, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Feb 1867, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 10 years)
     2. Mary S. Davidson,   b. 1858, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. James Alexander Davidson,   b. 26 Dec 1859, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Elsie St. George Davidson,   b. 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jan 1929, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
     5. Absalom Shade Davidson,   b. Oct 1862, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 May 1884, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 21 years)
     6. William Davidson,   b. CALC 17 Mar 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     7. John Davidson,   b. CALC 17 Mar 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     8. Philip Davidson,   b. 1865, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Michael Alfred "Alfred" Davidson,   b. 14 Feb 1868, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 May 1934, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F32075  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • John was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on Sep 20, 1805. He came to Canada in 1834 with his family settling first in Woolwich. He remained on his parents' farm for a while and moved to Galt about 1840 and opened a small store on Main St. In the early 1840's he was named the Gore Bank of Hamilton's manager in Galt. He retired in 1869. Involved in education he served as a trustee for Galt Grammar School, Galt Collegiate Institute. he was Captain of the 9th Comany of the 1st Battalion of the Waterloo Militia and was postmaster of Galt from 1862-1877. He was involved with a number of business: the Steam Bending Hub and Spoke Factory, Victoria Wheel Works, Gore Mutual Fire Insurance Co. serving as its Director from 1863 until 1869. Davidson Street is named for him.


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

      _____________________________

      John was a banker in Galt, and was afterwards Postmaster. His wife was a sister of the late Dr. Tassie of Galt.

      The Early History of Elora, Ontario, and Vicinity by John R. Connon

  • Sources 
    1. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link .
      In/ memory of/ John Davidson/ died Nov. 30' 1877 in the 73rd year of/ his age/ Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord/ John Blackhall/ second son of/ John & Jane Davidson/ died in London, Ont./ Feb. 9' 1867/ aged 9 years/ Absalom Shade/ their 4th son, was drowned/ in the Grand River at Galt/ May 26' 1884: / aged 21 y'rs 7 mo./ Jane Tassie wife of/ John Davidson/ died May 25' 1895/ aged 66 years/

    2. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Div 1 Pg 22.

    3. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 20.

    4. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 4 Page 50.

    5. [S530] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Pioneer Pergola (formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian) CC#4488 Internet Link.
      In/ memory of/ William/ son of John Davidson, Galt/ who died Ag'st 3d 1843/ aged 10 months/ and 9 days

    6. [S107] Book - The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880, Biography of Absalom Shade Allan.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1805 - Aberdeen, , Aberdeen, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1843 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHistoric Building - 1846 - 63 Grand Ave. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - merchant - 1852 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1852 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Reeve of Galt - 1854 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster & Banker - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Episcopalian, Church of England - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsElected Office - Mayor of Galt - 1863 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster - 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 MapsDied - Cause: Paralysis - 30 Nov 1877 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Victoria Wheel Works - 1897 - Victoria Wheel Works, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - 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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