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

Male Cal 1856 - 1916  (~ 60 years)


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  • Name James Kersel Cranston 
    Born CALC 14 Aug 1856  Cedar Creek, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Cranston Novelty Advertising Co 
    • The late Mr. Youmans at one time a resident of this town, keeping a bookstore and stationers establishment in the stand now occupied by Mr. J. K. Cranston. He moved away when Mr. Cranston took possession, some twelve years ago

      The Weekly Reformer 29 Apr 1897 pg 2
    Cranston Novelty Advertising Co    		 Cranston Novelty Advertising Co
    Cranston Novelty Company 1904    		 Cranston Novelty Company 1904
    Elected Office Galt - councillor 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187517610 
    Name J. K. Cranston 
    Residence 1861  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    United Presbyterian 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    C. Presb. 
    Occupation 1886  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    stationer 
    Occupation 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Book Merchant 
    Residence 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Presbyterian 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-39564 
    Died 7 Nov 1916  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Cause: Cancer of Rectum (several years) - General Debility 
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Person ID I39564  Generations
    Last Modified 28 Jan 2025 

    Father Alexander "Alex" Cranston,   b. 1 Feb 1822, Yetholm, , Roxburgh, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Aug 1886, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Marion Dickie,   b. 3 Jan 1824, Kilmaurs, , AYR, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Sep 1895, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married 1845  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F176435  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eva McLean,   b. 19 Apr 1865, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Apr 1922, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years) 
    Children 
     1. Herbert J. Cranston,   b. 26 Jul 1880, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Robert Stark Cranston,   b. 28 Jul 1882, Woodstock, Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1950  (Age 67 years)
     3. Russell Cranston,   b. 2 May 1884, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Donald Cranston,   b. 14 Jul 1886, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Helen Cranston,   b. 15 Aug 1888, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Sep 1888, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     6. Henry Cranston,   b. 15 Mar 1893, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Frederick L. Cranston,   b. 20 Mar 1899, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1960  (Age 60 years)
    Last Modified 29 Jan 2025 
    Family ID F271759  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    James Kersel Cranston    		James Kersel Cranston
    The E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 17, April 26, 2020, Article 14

  • Notes 
    • James Kersell Cranston, educated at Dickie Settlement School and apprenticed in a book store in Port Hope. He came to Galt when he purchased Youman's book store which he operated for 15 years. He sold his business in 1905 to Thomas Ballantyne and moved to Toronto.

      He operated the Cranston Novelty Advertising Co in Galt and later Toronto. It is reported that he introduced the first phonograph and safety bicycle in Galt. He served on Galt council.

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

      ________________________

      The Books you get from J.K. Cranston,
      Are good enough for any mansion;
      If once you buy at this cheap store,
      You'll soon be back to get some more.

      It is the place to get the Toys,
      That will just suit the little boys;
      And blue-eyed Dolls with lovely curls,
      That will delight the little girls.

      There's Toys and buggies for the babies,
      And fancy things to please the ladies,
      Such as Albums, Vases and Dressing Cases,
      In which they can see their pretty faces.

      Young gents', it is the place to buy,
      Things to please our girls, O my!
      The ladies can get a game of crouet,
      And a nice fine book with which to crochet.

      Papa and mama when you go shopping,
      Just stop and buy for the Christmas stocking,
      Balls, Marbles, and Horns, Mouth Organs and Whistles,
      Work Boxes and Puzzles and little dishes.

      There's such nice Bibles for dear grandpa.
      And Sacred Hymns for our grandma;
      The Bible is the only book that God has given,
      To guide us on our way to heaven.

      Come ere and buy, come one, come all,
      There's something nice for great and small;
      The things they sell are very cheap,
      Which when you get you'll have a treat.

      Advertisement for James K. Cranston of Galt
      poem composed by a 13-year-old schoolgirl Galt Summer Carnival, June 12th and 13th, 1890.

      ___________________

      Blair

      Concert. - Mr. J. K. Cranston of Galt, gave a gramophone concert in our school house on Tuesday evening This wonderful instrument delighted the audience with its beautiful songs, recitations, band music, etc., and did no show the slightest sign of nervousness in facing such an intelligent audience.

      Waterloo County Chronicle, 5 May 1898, p. 8

  • Sources 
    1. [S259] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1901, Galt (Town/Ville) C-6 Page 5.

    2. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 10 Page 79.

    3. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 14.

    4. [S1800] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1891, Section 2 Page 107.

    5. [S2697] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge, Mount View Cemetery Internet Link.
      In loving memory of/ James K. CRANSTON/ 1856-1916/ Eva McLEAN/ his wife/ 1858-1922/

    6. [S2491] aaa Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 006583 (1916).
      Name:James Kersel Cranston Gender:Male Age:60 Birth Date:abt 1856 Birth Place:Galt, Ontario Death Date:7 Nov 1916 Death Place:York, Ontario, Canada Cause of Death:Cancer of the Rectum

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - CALC 14 Aug 1856 - Cedar Creek, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - United Presbyterian - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - C. Presb. - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - stationer - 1886 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Book Merchant - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Cancer of Rectum (several years) - General Debility - 7 Nov 1916 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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