Reeve Alfred Edward Watson

1860 - 1943  (82 years)

• Name	Alfred Edward Watson
  Prefix	Reeve
  Born	20 Dec 1860	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Reeve - Ayr
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179938504
  Interesting	politics, business, story, public service
  Residence	1871	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Presbyterian
  Occupation	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Clerk
  Residence	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Occupation	1901	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Iron Manufacturer
  Occupation	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Manager - Foundry
  Residence	Bruce St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-57789
  Died	26 Feb 1943	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Buried	28 Feb 1943	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Person ID	I57789	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	John Watson,   b. 12 Jun 1820, Glasgow, , Lanark, Scotland ,   d. 14 Dec 1903, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Ann Dolman,   b. 1828, , England ,   d. 12 Sep 1866, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 38 years)
  Family ID	F14918	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jennie Wyllie,   b. 1863, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Jun 1898, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 35 years)
  Married	18 Nov 1890	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Children	1. Dorothy Margaret Watson,   b. 28 Apr 1895, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ,   d. 16 Mar 1992, Paris, Brant County, Ontario, Canada  (Age 96 years)   2. Alfred Wyllie "Wyllie" Watson,   b. 20 Nov 1896, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ,   d. 20 Sep 1965, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 68 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F14919	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Died In Ayr, on Friday, February 26, 1943 Alfred Edward Watson In his 83rd year. The Funeral Will take place from his late residence, Bruce Street, on Sunday, Feb. 28th, at 2.30 p.m., to Ayr Cemetery. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation Funeral Card _______________________________ Death of A. E. Watson - Outstanding Citizen of Ayr Passes Suddenly in His 83rd Year - Ayr's most outstanding citizen, Alfred Edward Watson, died early Friday morning at his home on Bruce street in his 83rd year. Although in failing health for some years past, he had been at his office as late as Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning about six-o'clock, however, he was taken with a heart seizure, from the effects of which he succumbed Friday morning about five o'clock. Born in Ayr December 20, 1860, he was a son of the late John Watson and Elizabeth Dolman. Having been born into a manufacturing family (his father being the originator and president of the John Watson Mfg. Company, manufactures of farm implements, which he founded in 1847, his life's work was I practically an aforegone conclusion, and, with this end in view, he was educated in Ayr, Cobourg and Poughkeepsie, New York. Following an apprenticeship with the company here, he was for several years manager of the Winnipeg branch office, an appointment he received when he was serving as assistant to his brother, the late John George, superintendent of the plant here. Upon the death of his brother, William D., in 1906 he returned to Ayr to assume the management of the company, and in 1918, when his eldest brother, John George, died he became president, an office he still retained at the time of his demise. For some 36 years he guided the affairs of the company through good times and bad. An outstanding example of his supreme confidence in both himself and the company was his decision to rebuild after the disastrous fire in June, 1920, which practically destroyed the company's handsome three-storey factory. An executive of unusual ability, he was successful in conducting his business, which, even during the depression of the early thirties when many businesses were forced to curtail production, was able to carry on although on a slightly depressed basis. An illustration of his excellent judgment and far-sightedness was the introduction into the business of the manufacture of warehouse trucks, a move which proved gratifyingly successful. The fortunes of the John Watson Mfg. Company and the village of Ayr have always been synonymous. As the company flourished so did the village. Following in the footsteps of his father, who pioneered the path before him, Mr. Watson always had foremost in mind the welfare of the community and bent every effort to see that all organizations in which he was interested progressed steadily forward. He was largely instrumental in the installation of a rural telephone system in the community, and for the 34 years existence of the Ayr Rural Telephone Company he served as its very capable and efficient president, as is clearly evidenced by the fact that this company is one of the most outstanding rural companies of its kind in the entire province. The same may, in fact, also be said of the Ayr Library Board, of which he was always a member, serving as chairman up to the time of his passing. That Ayr has one of the most attractive and beautiful cemeteries in this section of the country is very largely due to Mr. Watson's efforts and advice in its behalf. For many years and at the time of his death he was president of the Ayr Cemetery Company. In succession to his father, he was for many years a director of the Gore Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Galt. Many years ago, he served the village as a member of the Council, being reeve for a time, and for a long term of years he was division court clerk, an office which he filled with distinction, and in a manner quite satisfactory to all concerned. Throughout the years, he also acted in an advisory capacity to the various heads of municipal government, and he was always found most anxious to be of service toward the better welfare of the village and community. He was one of the foremost sponsors of the inauguration of the Ayr Continuation School, an educational institution which has become an increasingly important part of the life of the community. Possessed of a keen, analytical, judicial mind, Mr. Watson's advice was eagerly sought by citizens of the community in every walk of life, and everyone was assured a courteous, sympathetic hearing. In politics, he was quite prominent locally in the executive of the Liberal Conservative Association. He was a member of Knox United Church. While not active in sports of late years, he was an ardent supporter of baseball, softball and hockey. In his youth, he was actively interested in lacrosse, in which game he was considered quite proficient. He was married, shortly before his appointment as manager of the Winnipeg office, to Jennie Wyllie, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Wyllie of this village, who predeceased him some 45 years ago. He is survived by one son, Alfred Wyllie Watson, of Ayr; a daughter, Mrs. James H. Lovett, of Toronto; three grandchildren, and two sisters, Miss Elizabeth Dolman Watson and Miss Mary Urie Watson, both of Ayr. The Funeral There was an exceptionally large attendance of friends and relatives at the funeral, which took place on Sunday afternoon from his late residence, Bruce street, to the Ayr Cemetery. In the absence of Rev. J. W. Currie, pastor of Knox United Church, who is ill at present, the services were conducted by Rev. Thomas Merryweather of Glenmorris. The pallbearers were: Albert Melvin, William Woolsey, Edward Whitson, James Little, Charles Bain and Arthur Underwood. Those present includes many people from Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa, Caledonia, Galt, and other places. The Ayr News Mar 4 1943 pg 10

  
  

• Sources

  [S326] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1901, Ayr (Village) A Page 3. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Jennie Wyllie Born: Ayr Age: 27 Father: John Wyllie Mother: Margaret Pringle Born: abt 1863 Spouse: Alfred Edward Watson Age: 29 born: Ayr Father: John Watson Mother: Elizabeth Dolman married 18 Nov 1890 married: Waterloo, Ayr [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, North Div. 2 Page 79. [S1282] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1911, p 9. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . Mary Urie/ wife of/ John Watson/ died Apl. 5th 1851/ aged 24 Yrs. / Elizabeth Dolman Watson/ died Oct. 29th 1944/ aged 78 years/ Mary Urie Watson/ died Sept. 13th 1959/ aged 84 years/ Alfred Edward Watson/ died Feb. 26th 1943/ aged 83 years/ Jennie Wyllie [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Sect. 2 Page 4. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Jennie Wyllie Age: 27 Birth Date: abt 1863 Birth Place: Ayr Marriage Date: 18 Nov 1890 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: John Wyllie Mother: Margaret Pringle Spouse: Alfred Edward Watson Spouse's Age: 29 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1861 Spouse Birth Place: Ayr Spouse Father: John Watson Spouse Mother: Elizabeth Dolman

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 20 Dec 1860 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Reeve - Ayr - - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Clerk - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 18 Nov 1890 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Iron Manufacturer - 1901 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manager - Foundry - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - - Bruce St., Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 26 Feb 1943 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 28 Feb 1943 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth