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A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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Martin Nichol Todd

Martin Nichol Todd

Male 1858 - 1917  (59 years)

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  • Name Martin Nichol Todd 
    Born 27 Jul 1858  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Todd Milling Company 
    Galt-ToddMillingCompany-0002.jpg    		 Galt-ToddMillingCompany-0002.jpg
    Residence 1861  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    United Presbyterian 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    C. Presbyterian 
    Occupation 1881  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Agent 
    Occupation 1883  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    commission agent 
    Occupation 1885  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    commission merchant 
    Occupation 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Miller & Maltster 
    Residence 1891  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Presbyterian 
    Business 1897  Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Thomas Tobb & Son Commission Merchants & Maltsters 
    Malt House    		 Malt House
    From 1897 Jubilee Souvenir of Galt
    Interesting miller, business, life story, railway, public service 
    Occupation 1901  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Malt House 
    Website 1909  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Photograph 
    Occupation 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Manufacturer 
    Residence 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Presbyterian 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-63472 
    Died 29 Aug 1917  [4] 
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Person ID I63472  Generations
    Last Modified 3 Mar 2025 

    Father Thomas Todd,   b. 14 Oct 1831, Thurlstone, Ettrick, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jan 1899  (Age 67 years) 
    Mother Sibella Nichol,   b. 1831, , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jul 1861, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 30 years) 
    Family ID F6049  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Johann Gilholm,   b. 28 Feb 1860, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Dec 1935  (Age 75 years) 
    Married 13 Jun 1883  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 7, 8] 
    Children 
     1. Thomas Todd,   b. 21 May 1884, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Jul 1942  (Age 58 years)
     2. Minota Andesen Todd,   b. 20 Apr 1886, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1968  (Age 81 years)
     3. Robert Gilholm Todd,   b. 16 Feb 1888, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Nov 1956  (Age 68 years)
     4. Martin Milne "Milne" Todd,   b. 22 Jul 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Oct 1963  (Age 72 years)
     5. John Scott "Jack" Todd,   b. 10 Dec 1899, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 4 Mar 2025 
    Family ID F16574  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Martin N. Todd    		Martin N. Todd
    From the Kitchener Public Library Digitial Collection

  • Notes 
    • MARTIN N. TODD

      Martin N. Todd was born in Galt July 27th., 1858, and died there August 29th., 1917. He was educated at the Galt public school and the old Tassie school. Leaving home, he was for some years in Hamilton, in the employ of the Great Western Railway, thus showing early prediliction for an occupation with which he was later to be prominently identified. Returning to Galt he became associated with his father, Thomas Todd, in the Galt flour mills, and later in the commission business.

      Thomas Todd, in his time, one of Galt's prominent industrial men, was the principal promoter and first president of the Galt, Preston & Hespeler Railway.* On his father's death M. N. Todd became president of the company, in January 1900, and is now, in turn, succeeded by his son, M. Milne Todd, as president. Thus, since beginning of the Galt, Preston and Hespeler Railway, in 1894, the office of president has been held in the same family; now in the third generation. Under M. N. Todd's management the G. P. & H. Ry. soon began to expand its business and eventually became one of the best interurban electric railway properties in Canada. Mr. Todd was also manager of the Lake Erie & Northern Rail way; the adoption of electric traction on this line, instead of steam as had been contemplated, was due mainly to his foresight and practical judgement of traffic requirements on it. Facilities for passenger and freight traffic afforded by the Galt, Preston & Hespeler Ry. and its connection and operation with the Canadian Pacific Railway and later on with the Lake Erie & Northern Ry. gave fresh impetus to the manufacturing and general business activities of Kitchener and Waterloo, as earlier to Preston and Hespeler, a benefit due to a great extent to the energy and good management of M. N. Todd, in whom Waterloo County lost a valuable citizen.

      While his time and effort were mainly devoted to his railway work, he had interest in the Galt Malleable Iron Company, the Pres ton Car and Coach Company, the 'Stamped Enameled Ware Company of Hespeler and in the Canada Malting Company. He had a farm east of Galt, where, among other things, he took particular interest in breeding horned Dorset sheep. He was connected with the Galt Horse Show from its beginning and was for years president of the Association; was charter member and first president of the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club.

      Mr. Todd was member of the Galt Hospital Trust for a number of years. He was a Presbyterian and of the congregation of Central Church, Galt. He is survived by Mrs. Todd, one daughter and four sons, among the latter being Lieut. Thomas Todd, now with the British army in France. The family home, Caverhill, on North Water Street, on the main entrance to the city, is one of the hand some residence places of Galt.

      *See Waterloo County Railway History, this Report.

      Fifth Annual Report of the Waterloo Historical Society

      _____________________________

      Martin Todd, born in 1858, became president of the Galt, Preston, and Hespeler Railway after the death of his father, Thomas Todd. Under Martin Todd's leadership, the railway became one of the best electric railways in Canada and went on to serve Waterloo and Berlin. Todd also managed the Lake Erie and Northern Railway and in addition to his business pursuits, he was active in community organizations. After his death in 1917, his son, Milne Todd, became president of the Galt, Preston, and Hespeler Railway.


      Kitchener Public Library Digital Photograph Collection

      ____________________

      The Todd Milling Company

      This plant is located on Bruce Street, and is one of the largest of the kind in the Dominion. The mill was erected in 1878 by a Glasgow firm, and purchased in 1886 by the present company, which is composed of Messrs. Thos. Todd, John Scott and Martin N. Todd. Connected with the mill is an extensive cooper shop, directly opposite the mill. The barrels are sent across by an automatic contrivance as soon as completed. The whole establishment gives employment to a large number of hands. The mill is a substantial six storey structure, built of stone, and has a capacity of 400 barrels per day. It is fitted up with the most improved machinery, and their brands of flour are eagerly sought after, as is shown by the fact that a ready market is found for their large output, not only throughout the Dominion, but in competition with the world in the market of Great Britain. The gentlemen of the firm are also interested in the social side of the town's welfare, and are greeted on every hand as men of the highest commercial standing. Mr. Thos. Todd is president of the Street Railway and Mr. John Scott is one of the largest and most extensive cattle exporters in Canada.

      Jubilee Souvenir of Galt 1897

      _________________________

      MARTIN N. TODD

      1858-1917 Married: Joanna Gilholm

      Martin Nichol Todd was born in Galt on July 27, 1858, the son of Thomas Todd and Sibella Nichol. He received his primary education at Galt's Central Public School and his secondary education at the Galt Grammar School, later the Galt Collegiate Institute. After completing school he moved to Hamilton where he was employed by the Great Western Railway. After a few years in Hamilton, Mr. Todd returned to Galt where he worked with his father in Thomas Todd & Son Ltd. also known as the Galt Flour Mills. The company did a large commission and export business in grain and hay and operated two malt houses, one in Galt and the other in Port Hope. Mr. Todd's father was one of Galt's prominent industrialists and an original promoter of the Galt, Preston and Hespeler Street Railway, an electric rail line that moved goods and passengers between those three municipalities. On January 1, 1900, following the death of his father, Mr. Todd became president of the railway. He set about expanding the line until it became one of the best interurban electric rail systems in the country. Mr. Todd was also the manager, and later vice-president, of the Lake Erie and Northern Railway and ensured that the rail line used electricity instead of steam as its power source. Mr. Todd was also one of the founders, in 1906, of the Galt Malleable Iron Company, and had an interest in the Preston Car and Coach Co., in the Stamped and Enamelled Ware Co. of Hespeler and in the Canada Malting Co. He also had a farm east of Galt where he took a particular interest in breeding Dorset sheep. Mr. Todd was associated with the Galt Horse Show from its inception in 1901 and served as the president of the Horse Show for many years. Mr. Todd was also a member of the Galt Hospital Trust for many years. He died on August 29, 1917 and is buried in Mount View Cemetery. Todd St. is said to have been named in honour of Mr. Todd and his equally well known father, Thomas Todd.

      Sources:
      1. "Biography, Martin N. Todd", Waterloo Historical Society Journal Vol. 5, 1917.
      2. J.N. MacKendrick "Local history in the street names of Galt" Waterloo Historical Society Journal Vol. 7, 1919.
      3. "Picturesque and Industrial Galt", Jaffray Bros., Galt Ontario July 10, 1902.      4a

      4aCambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [used with kind permission of Jim Quantrell]

  • Sources 
    1. [S259] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1901, Galt (Town/Ville) C-7 Page 8.

    2. [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 2 Page 4.

    3. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 70.

    4. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
      Martin Nichol/ Todd/ died Aug.29,1917/ aged 59 years/ his wife/ Joanna Gilholm/ died Dec.31,1935/ their eldest son/ Thomas Todd/ died July 31,1942/ aged 58 years/ Todd

    5. [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Galt 1911 Div. 14 Page 24.

    6. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 2 Page 27.

    7. [S1800] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1891, Sec. 1 Page 2.

    8. [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 12482 (1883), Martin M. Todd-Joanna Gilholm.
      Martin M Todd (Coummsn. Merchant of Galt) Birth Place: Galt Age: 24 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859 Father Name: Thomas Todd Mother Name: Isabella Todd Spouse Name: Joanna Gilholm (resident of Galt) Spouse's Age: 23 Spouse Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 Spouse Birth Place: North Dumfries Spouse Father Name: Robert Gilholm Spouse Mother Name: Jane Gilholm Marriage Date: 13 Jun 1883 Marriage Place: Waterloo, Galt

    9. [S512] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Galt - Central Presbyterian.
      Thomas Todd Born 04 May 1884 Galt Parents Martin N. Todd & Ivy Gilholm baptized 14 Sep 1885 Occupation: Commission Merchant

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 27 Jul 1858 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Todd Milling Company - - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - United Presbyterian - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - C. Presbyterian - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Agent - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - commission agent - 1883 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 13 Jun 1883 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - commission merchant - 1885 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Miller & Maltster - 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 MapsBusiness - Thomas Tobb & Son Commission Merchants & Maltsters - 1897 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Malt House - 1901 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWebsite - Photograph - 1909 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, 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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