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

James Baxter

Male Cal 1854 - 1908  (~ 54 years)


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

  • Name James Baxter 
    Born CALC 19 Oct 1854  Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Interesting suicide, misfortune, life story 
    Misfortune 1908 
    Suicide 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-338581 
    Died 26 Oct 1908  Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Cause: Cause: Taking of Alkaline Poison (2-3 hours) 
    Buried 28 Oct 1908  Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I338581  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father James Baxter,   b. 1813, , Stirlingshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Sep 1900, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years) 
    Mother Jane Elliott,   b. 1825, Langholm, , Dumfries, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jul 1864  (Age 39 years) 
    Family ID F247747  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Hall,   b. CALC 15 Nov 1852, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Nov 1912, London Twp., Middlesex Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 59 years) 
    Married 22 Sep 1880  Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Children 
     1. John Hall Baxter,   b. 27 Oct 1882, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jul 1905, Cranbrook, , British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 22 years)
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F247748  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Suicide in Blenheim

      James Baxter Drinks a Deadly Decoction


      The community was terribly shocked early Monday morning when it became known that James Baxter, lot 10, con. 10, Blenheim, had ended his life by drinking caustic alkali, mixed with cider. The deceased, who was in his 55th year, had returned Saturday evening from a trip to the Northwest, where he had recently invested in a quarter section of land near Yorkton, for which it was said he paid $25 per acre, a sum about double what the property proved to be worth. Whether this was the direct cause of his rash act or not can only be surmised, but on Sunday he set to work writing out his will, in the course of which he asked forgiveness of his family for anything that might happen, thus indicating a determination of make away with himself. That night he retired with one of his sons, but got up about 1 a.m. His son heard him preparing the drink, but supposed he was getting something for a cold. As Mr. Baxter did not return to bed in the course of a reasonable time, the young man got up to see what was wrong and found his father in an apparently dying condition. Dr.; Mitchell of Drumbo and Dr. Meldrum of Ayr were sent for, the former arriving before death ensued. Mr. Baxter was a well-to-do, thrifty farmer, with a large connection throughout the district, and a wide circle of friends who are at a loss to understand his terrible action. His wife, who as been in the London asylum for some years, and four sons survive, two of whom - the eldest and youngest - are at home. To these he bequeathed in his will sums for service over and above their equal share in the property. Mr. Baxter was a member of Knox Church, Ayr, and a fairly regular attendant at Divine service. His funeral took place yesterday afternoon, interment being made in the Ayr cemetery.

      The Ayr News - Oct 29 1908 pg 8 1908 pg 8

  • Sources 
    1. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link .
      [Front/East] In memory of/ James Baxter/ died Sept. 2nd, 1900/ aged 87 years/ also his wife/ Jane Elliott/ died July 8th 1864/ aged 39 years/ also / their Infant daughter/ Margaret/ died Feb. 23rd 1860/ Wm. J. Baxter/ 1887 - 1968/ Christina V./ Baxter/ 1896 - 1976/ Baxter
      [Left/South] In memory of/ James Baxter/ died Oct. 26th 1908/ aged 53 years/ Margaret Hall/ wife of the Above/ died Nov. 7th 1912/ In Her 59th year
      [Back/West] Mary Elizabeth/ dau. of C. E. & Jessie/ Baxter/ died Feb. 24, 1915/ aged 14 Yrs. 11 Mos./ Eddie/ son of/ Chas. E. & Jessie/ Baxter/ died Aug. 2, 1906/ aged 15 years 3 Mo's./ C. E. Baxter/ 1858 - 1921/ Jessie Taylor/ wife of/ C. E. Baxter/ 1864 - 1929/ D. Taylor Baxter/ 1885 - 1930/ Margaret B. Baxter/ 1897 - 1934.
      [A] Eddie [B] Mary [C] Mother [D] Father
      [Right/North] James H./ son of Jas. & Margaret/ Baxter/ died July 23rd 1905/ aged 23 years/ 9 months

    2. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration.
      Name: James Baxter Age: 25 Birth Date: abt 1855 Birth Place: Blenheim, Ontario Marriage Date: 22 Sep 1880 Marriage County or District: Oxford Father: James Baxter Mother: Jane Baxter Spouse: Margaret Hall Spouse's Age: 27 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1853 Spouse Birth Place: Blenheim, Ontario Spouse Father: John Hall Spouse Mother: Christian Hall

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - CALC 19 Oct 1854 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 22 Sep 1880 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Cause: Taking of Alkaline Poison (2-3 hours) - 26 Oct 1908 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 28 Oct 1908 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth