Dr. James Sime Wardlaw

1851 - 1935  (83 years)

• Name	James Sime Wardlaw
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	29 Aug 1851	Tillicoultry, , Clackmannan, Scotland   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Business	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Dr. Office
  		Scott & Bennet Plumbing Galt, Ontario source unknown
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146960723
  Interesting	business, medical, life story, public service, sports
  Residence	1853	Plattsville, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Occupation	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Engineer
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	R. Presbyterian
  Occupation	1881	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Manufacturer
  Occupation	1891	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Physican
  Residence	1891	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Presbyterian
  Immigration	1895	, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Occupation	1901	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Occupation	1904	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	physician
  Occupation	1911	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Medical Doctor, Doctors Office
  Residence	1911	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	Presbyterian
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-60860
  Died	22 Feb 1935	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5, 6, 10]
  	Cause: Arteriosclerosis (5 years) - Fractured 3 Ribs (fall in bathroom, 27 days) - Acute Uraemia
  Buried	25 Feb 1935	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Person ID	I60860	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	John Wardlaw,   b. 27 Feb 1824, Tillicoultry, , Clackmannan, Scotland ,   d. 23 Mar 1903, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 79 years)
  Mother	Mary Ann Davidson,   b. 4 Oct 1824, , Scotland ,   d. 10 Apr 1907, , York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 82 years)
  Married	29 Jun 1850	Tillicoultry, , Clackmannan, Scotland   [11]
  Family ID	F15927	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Dorita Eloise Lundy,   b. 24 Nov 1867, Sheffield, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario ,   d. 22 Oct 1893, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 25 years)
  Married	5 Aug 1891	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5, 12]
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F36102	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Helen Ritchie,   b. CALC 27 Nov 1875, Mara Point, Simcoe Co., Ontario ,   d. 24 Oct 1932, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 56 years)
  Married	14 Jan 1904	Beaverton, Durham Co., Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Children	1. Mary Davidson Wardlaw,   b. 1 Aug 1914,   d. 9 Apr 1977  (Age 62 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F190303	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Dr. James Sime Wardlaw image from Jubilee Souvenir of Galt, 1897
  		Galt-Flood-1929-0001-SourceUnknown-Dr.JamesWardlawonTheRight.jpg Galt, Ontario Flood 1929 - Dr. James Wardlaw on the right - source unknown

  
  

• Notes

  Jas. S. Wardlaw, M.D. Few professional men have enjoyed the experiences of Dr. Wardlaw. In his younger years he became a practical engineer and was engaged in the East India Reserve as engineer remaining in India for four years. On returning to Canada, his adopted country, he studied medicine, graduating in 1888 at Trinity and Toronto Universities, practicing successfully in Galt. The doctor has a genial smile and good word for everyone and has a warm place in the heats of his fellows. Office and residence on Dickson Street. Jubilee Souvenir of Galt, 1897 ______________________________________ Dr. James Syme Wardlaw. On February 22nd, Waterloo County lost one of its best known citizens through the death of Dr. James Syme Wardlaw at his home in Galt, Ontario. Doctor Wardlaw was born in Scotland in 1851, and came to Canada with his family in 1853, settling first at Plattsville, Oxford County, Ontario. His father, John Wardlaw, was a manufacturer of woollen goods, with factories at Plattsville and Weston, and afterwards in Galt. James Wardlaw received most of his secondary school education in the last mentioned town. He worked in his father's factory, receiving a good knowledge of the textile industry. Wishing to learn more about the machinery, he entered the plant of the Goldie & Mculloch Company, and thence went to India, where he spent five years installing machinery in newly-opened factories there. Desiring to study medicine he returned to Canada, and graduated from Trinity Medical School with the class of 1888, receiving the Silver Medal. He also held degrees from Queen's and Toronto universities. He then took post-graduate work in New York. In 1889 Doctor Wardlaw settled in Galt and began practice with Dr. Head, and afterwards with Dr. Sylvester. He was Medical Officer of Health for several years, retiring when he found his practice would not permit the necessary time for his work. He took an active interest in organized medicine. He was a Past-president of the South Waterloo Medical Society, a life-member of the Ontario Medical Association and a member of the Canadian Medical Association. He took a keen interest in education, and was for twenty-six years a member of the Galt Collegiate Institute Board. Doctor Wardlaw was twice married, first in 1891 to Doreta Lundy, a daughter of the late Dr. Lundy, of Galt; his second wife was Mary Helen Ritchie, of Beaverton. He is survived by one daughter, Mary, and two brothers, Henry, in California, and Thomas, in Toronto. For many years, in fact up to three years ago, Dr. Wardlaw enjoyed a very large family practice. He was a very skilful surgeon, and in his earlier years did much surgery in the farm houses of the community. As a general consultant he was in demand by his confrères for miles around. He was a friend of the young doctor, and at least five men in the community owe much of their success to his help and advice. He was very fond of golf and at the age of 70 won the "C" Flight Championship of Canada. He was a member of The-Hole-in-One Club. The Doctor was a raconteur without equal in this community. His stories have been told and re-told many times. It was the Wardlaw candid pungency of humour that will make them told and re-told for many years to come. To the writer he was a true friend and many times has been of great assistance in solving his medical problems. He played the game honestly and fairly with us, and we shall miss him. WARD WOOLNER The Canadian Medical Association Journal April 1935 pg 462 _____________________ DR. JAMES S. WARDLAW 1851-1935 Married: 1. Dorita Eloise Lundy - 1891 (d. 1893) 2. Mary Helen Ritchie - 1904 James Sime Wardlaw was born in Tillicoultry, north of Dunfermline, Scotland on August 2, 1851 the son of John Wardlaw and Mary Ann Davidson. He emigrated from Scotland in 1853 with his parents, landing in New York and settling in Plattsville and Weston before arriving in Galt. At an early age Mr. Wardlaw served an apprenticeship in the woollen milling business owned by his father. He demonstrated a talent and interest in the workings of machinery and took a job as an engineer with the Goldie & McCulloch Co. Ltd. He remained with that firm for a few years and then worked as an engineer in Scotland and then in India. After three or four years abroad, Mr. Wardlaw returned to Canada to study medicine. He graduated from Trinity College in 1888 and from Queen's University before receiving his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1890. He began his medical practice in Galt in association with Dr. Head and was associated with Dr. Sylvester until 1893. In addition to a practice that covered over forty years, Dr. Wardlaw was Galt's medical officer of health from 1890 to 1902. Dr. Wardlaw was a member of the Galt Collegiate Institute Board of Trustees for twenty-six years, was a vice-president of the Galt Horse Show in 1908 and was on the first committee of the Galt Anti-Tuberculosis League when it was formed on December 2, 1908. Dr. Wardlaw was also one of the founding members of Galt Brass Co. Ltd. when it was organized in 1907. He died on February 22, 1935 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery. Sources: 1. Obituary Galt Evening Reporter Friday February 22, 1935. 2. E. N. Coutts "History of Freeport Hospital", Waterloo Historical Society Journal Vol. 31, 1943. 3. Dr. J. R. Smith, "The Galt Board of Health. 1854 -1963", Unpublished manuscript, Galt, 1966 A991.204.1017, City of Cambridge Archives. Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [used with kind permission of Jim Quantrell] _______________ AT Galt (Ontario), on June 6, 1930, Mr. James Wardlaw, aged 79, did a hole of 196 yards in one. He was escorted to his home by his fellow members, headed by a brass band. He is the oldest golfer to do a hole in one. The youngest is Maurice Regimbal, a caddie at the North. Bay Golf Club, Ontario. He was only nine when, two years ago, he holed his tee shot at the ninth-125 yards on his home course. The News, Adelaide, South Australia 29 Oct 1932 pg 4 _______________ WARDLAW, JAMES SYME was one of Galt's outstanding and esteemed physicians. He was born on August 2, 1851, in Tillicoutry, Scotland. He died at Galt on February 22, 1935. His father was John Wardlaw, a manufacturer of woolen goods, and a brother of Sir Wm. Wardlaw, the 14th. baronet. He married (1) Doreta Lundy of Galt in 1891, and (2) Mary Helen Ritchie of Beaverton in 1914. His family emigrated to Canada in 1853. His father operated woolen mills in Plattsville and Weston, and finally in Galt. He was educated in the local schools, and he served an apprenticeship in his father's mill. He then went into the Goldie and McCulloch Company plant and learned engineering. He spent a number of years installing machinery in factories in Scotland and in India. When he returned from India he studied medicine at Trinity University, Toronto, graduating as silver medalist in 1888. He also earned degrees from Queen's and Toronto Universities, and took postgraduate work in New York. The Dumfries Reformer of September 27, l888 announced his arrival to practice: Medical Co-partnership Dr. Wardlaw has decided to remain in Galt, and has formed a co-partnership with Dr, Head, whose health has greatly improved of late. Dr. Wardlaw had an exceptionally brilliant record in attaining his degree and gives every promise of being a very successful practitioner. One year later the Reformer of October 3, 1889 reported the dissolution of this partnership. A year after that, on October 2, 1890 a new partnership was noted, this time with Dr. Sylvester. This time the arrangement lasted until Dr. Sylvester moved to Toronto in 1893. In 1893 He was appointed Medical Health Officer, a position he filled for several years. In April 1935 Dr. Ward Woolner wrote of his capacity as a physician, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal: For many years, in fact up to three years ago, Dr. Wardlaw enjoyed a very large family practice. He was a very skillful surgeon, and in his earlier years did much surgery in the farm houses of the community. As a general consultant he was in demand by his confreres for miles around. He was a friend of the young doctor, and at least five men in the community owe much of their success to his help and advice. To the writer he was a true friend and many times has been of great assistance in solving his medical problems. He played the game honestly and fairly with us, and we shall miss him. A former writer of the Reporter in a biographical sketch said of him in that paper on February 22, 1935. "There are probably few men in the medical profession today who are more affectionally regarded by people in general than Dr. Wardlaw and one does not have to go far to find the reason. For over forty years he has been going and coming with words of cheer for all and sympathy for those in distress. Endowed by nature with an unusually keen sense of humor, an alert mind and a knack of extracting fun out of the most gloomy situation, turning depression into laughter, who shall not say that by exercising these rare qualities, the mentality of patients has often been aroused to a more hopeful outlook, and thus contributed to his ultimate recovery? There is nothing gloomy about the doctor although oftimes he assumes a certain brusqueness of manner which merely conceals a never failing and sympathetic heart." His interest in municipal affairs was centred in the Collegiate Institute Board, where he served as a member for 26 years. His engineering background was of great value to him as chairman of the property committee involved in additions to the school. He was a member of the Waterloo Golf and Country Club, where in 1921 he was the C flight champion of Canada. He had the pleasure of scoring a hole in one, on which occasion the Kiltie band serenaded him at his home. He was a curler of some standing. In his 84th. year after having been retired for three years he died suddenly after a severe illness. He was survived by his daughter. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925, 1986

  
  

• Sources

  [S259] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1901, Galt (Town/Ville) C-4 Page 2. [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 1 Page 63. [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 12. [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 16 Page 20. [S1859] Canadian Medical Association Journal, "Obituary of Dr. James Syme Wardlaw," April 1935 pg 462. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link . John Wardlaw/ born 1824-died 1903/ Mary Ann Davidson his wife/ born 1824-died 1907/ Margaret Jane Wardlaw their dau./ born 1862-died 1931/ James Sime Wardlaw M.D./ born 1851-died 1935/ Mary Helen Ritchie/ wife of J. S. Wardlaw M.D./ born 1875-died 1932/ Wardlaw [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 14128 (1904), Wardlaw-Ritchie. Jame Simie? WARDLAW, 50, physician, Lillicoulby? Scotland, Galt Ont, widower, s/o John WARDLAW & Mary A. DAVIDSON, married Mary Helen RITCHIE, 28, Point Mara, same, nurse, d/o Jno. D. RITCHIE & Mary LUMAW, witn: Thos D. WARDLAW, Toronto & Allie B.C. BEST, Beaverton, 14 Jan 1904 at Lot 15 Con B Mara. [S1800] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1891, Section 2 Page 71. [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 16 Page 21. [S2491] aaa Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 033883 (1935). Name:James Sime Wardlaw MD Gender:Male Age:84 Birth Date:abt 1851 Birth Place:Scotland Death Date:22 Feb 1935 Death Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father:John Wardlaw Mother:Mary Davidson [S1788] Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910, Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M11468-5 System Origin: Scotland-ODM GS Film number: 1040210. John Wardlaw married 29 Jun 1850 Mary Ann Davidson [S2488] aaa Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 012182 (1891). Name:Dorita E Lundy Age:23 Birth Year:abt 1868 Birth Place:Ontario Marriage Date:5 Aug 1891 Marriage Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father:John B Lundy Mother:Lydia Lundy Spouse:James S Wardlaw

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 29 Aug 1851 - Tillicoultry, , Clackmannan, Scotland Business - Dr. Office - - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1853 - Plattsville, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Engineer - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - R. Presbyterian - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturer - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physican - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 5 Aug 1891 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Immigration - 1895 - , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1901 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - physician - 1904 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 14 Jan 1904 - Beaverton, Durham Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Medical Doctor, Doctors Office - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Arteriosclerosis (5 years) - Fractured 3 Ribs (fall in bathroom, 27 days) - Acute Uraemia - 22 Feb 1935 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 25 Feb 1935 - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth