Robert Forbes

1814 - 1895  (80 years)

• Name	Robert Forbes
  Born	2 Jul 1814	Alloa, , Clackmannan, Scotland   [1, 2]
  Christened	8 Jul 1814	Alloa, , Clackmannan, Scotland   [1]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234902392
  Interesting	life story, business, mill
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-56307
  Died	6 May 1895	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I56307	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	James Forbes,   b. 1779,   d. 13 May 1860  (Age 81 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Hyde,   b. 1781, Aberdeen, , Aberdeen, Scotland ,   d. 7 Aug 1856, Georgetown, Halton Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 75 years)
  Married	29 May 1806	Stoneham, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
  Family ID	F35727	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ann Duthie,   b. 22 Dec 1825, , Aberdeenshire, Scotland ,   d. 25 Nov 1911, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 85 years)
  Married	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Children	1. James Hyde Forbes,   b. CALC 6 Oct 1858, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Feb 1891, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 32 years)   2. Mayor George Duthie Forbes,   b. 30 Oct 1860, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1934  (Age 73 years)   3. Margaret Forbes,   b. 1869, Badenoch, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 May 1949, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025
  Family ID	F35729	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Robert Forbes 1814-1900 Ancestry Public member family tree

  
  

• Notes

  Robert was born in Kinrosshire, Scotland 2 Jul 1814 one of six children of James Forbes, a saddler. He left Scotland in 1836 coming to Hamilton where he was employed by John Young as a wholesale merchant. He moved to Galt in the 1840's to partner with his brother David H. Forbes, where he and his brother owned a paper mill which failed. His brother moved to Georgetown later Chicago where he was successful, dying in Brighton, England. Robert remained and operated a tannery and stave operation with John Forwell by 1844 and moved to Hespeler in 1854 to help operate it after his marriage to Ann Duthie. Later in 1856 he moved to a 600 acre farm in Puslinch Twp. at Badenoch which had a prosperous stave mill. Later in 1871 moved Guelph. He demolished his old mill in Hespeler which had operated his tannery and stave business and replaced it with a new stone factory used to manufacture woollen products with Jonathan Schofield as a partner. Was known as J. Schofield & Co. and as Star Woollens. They later moved to a larger factory of Randall, Farr and Co. when they moved to Holyoake, Massachusetts in 1874. The partnership lasted until 1880 when Robert Forbes bought out his partner and renamed the business R. Forbes & Co. It operated until 1928 and sold to Dominion Woollens and Worsted Co. Ltd. Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book] ______________ FORBES, ROBERT In Guelph, on Sunday, May 6th 1895, aged 80 years, 10 months and 4 days. A familiar figure, a cheery presence, a most successful businessman, an unpretentious but very liberal giver to many good works passed away from us this morning at his residence, "Summerhill" in Guelph. Mr. Forbes was able to take part in the business activities, which have marked his life up to two years ago when he was taken ill and though he has been able to attend to his affairs since, he has been gradually failing, being almost confined to the house the last two or three months. A native of Berwick, Scotland, he learned the business of a draper in Paisley and came out to Hamilton in 1839-40, where he was employed in the wholesale establishment of the late Hon. Isaac Buchanan, Harris and Co. Two years later, he went to Galt and started a general store, conducting it with success for eight years or so when, owing to ill health, he turned it over to his brother, David. After two years, he took possession again but subsequently, sold the business to Gavin Hume and went into a tannery at Hespeler for five years. He then bought four hundred acres, the Linderman farm in Puslinch and there carried, on a lumber business, making headings and shingles until some eighteen years ago, when he and Mr. Schofield purchased the Randall Farr Co. 's mills in Hespeler and continued the woolen business. He had previously moved his family to Guelph. Mr. Schofield retired after five years, when Mr. Forbes took the management, assisted by his sons, the late James H. and George D., the firm becoming afterwards, merged in a joint stock company, in which Mr. Forbes held the chief interest. The business at Hespeler is a very extensive one, employing over 300 hands and perhaps no concern in the Dominion has a higher record for giving steady employment to its operatives. Mr. Forbes has been a large stockholder and for many years, a director of the Guelph and Ontario Investment and Savings Society and has large interests in the Guelph Light and Power Company. He also owns the old Allan Mill property at the bridge. He has been very successful in his business transactions, his well known probity, foresight, industry and generous dealings having gained for him a well won competence. Very few knew the extent of his benefactions. He was naturally retiring and his wide range of charity was generally hidden from the public. Towards the procuring of an ambulance for the city, he was a main contributor. The General Hospital owed not a little to his gifts. Many in private life have reason to be grateful for timely assistance. In the work of the Presbyterian Church and of Chalmers Church, which he attended, he was very liberal. The best of good feeling was always maintained between him and his employees and their annual excursion at the firm's expense was one mark of their mutual esteem and interest. He leaves his wife, formerly Miss Duthie, whom he married in Galt; a sister, Miss Forbes in Galt; his son, George D. of Hespeler; his daughters, Mrs. Charles Auld of Guelph; Mrs. William Nicol of Kingston; Miss Maggie and Miss Carrie, at home. The funeral took place this afternoon from his residence. It was largely attended, some eighty conveyances being in the cortege. The majority of the leading men in Hespeler were there, together with acquaintances from Fergus, Elora and other adjoining towns and villages. Rev. Dr. Torrance assisted by Rev. R. J. M. Glassford of Guelph and Rev. D. Strachan of Hespeler conducted the services. Pallbearers: Lewis Kribs of Hespeler; D. Guthre, Q. C. ; Professor Panton, Ontario Agricultural College; J. Yule; W. Watson; J. McIntosh, O. A. C. ; Robert Melvin; and William Stewart, merchant. James Innes, M. P., who was to be one of the pallbearers, telegraphed from Toronto that he could not make connection in time, on account of the train from Ottawa being three hours late. -Information from Badenoch 1832-1967: Robert Forbes purchased and ran Linderman's Mill on lots 33, 34, 35 and 36, front concession 10, Puslinch (Badenoch area) until 1871. -Information courtesy of Chris Bowman: Robert Forbes' brother, David Hyde Forbes, eventually went to Chicago. He came back to Galt for a short visit, then went to Brighton, England, where he died on Apr. 28, 1873, age 53. A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

  
  

• Sources

  [S1609] Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. Robert Forbes Gender:Male Christening Date:08 Jul 1814 Christening Place:ALLOA,CLACKMANNAN,SCOTLAND Birth Date:02 Jul 1814 Father's Name:James Forbes Mother's Name:Elizabeth Hyde [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234902392.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 2 Jul 1814 - Alloa, , Clackmannan, Scotland Christened - 8 Jul 1814 - Alloa, , Clackmannan, Scotland Died - 6 May 1895 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Married - - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth