Dr. James Sime Wardlaw

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• Business: Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Dr. Office
• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146960723
• Interesting: business, medical, life story, public service, sports
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-60860
• Residence: 1853, Plattsville, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Engineer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; R. Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Manufacturer
• Occupation: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Physican
• Residence: 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Immigration: 1895, , Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1901, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Physician - Doctor - Dr.
• Occupation: 1904, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; physician
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Medical Doctor, Doctors Office
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian

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

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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

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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]

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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, SA 29 Oct 1932 pg 4

James married Dorita Eloise Lundy 5 Aug 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Dorita (daughter of Dr. John Bostwick Lundy and Lydia Eck) was born 24 Nov 1867, Sheffield, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario; died 22 Oct 1893, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 24 Oct 1893, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

James married Mary Helen Ritchie 14 Jan 1904, Beaverton, Durham Co., Ontario, Canada. Mary was born CALC 27 Nov 1875, Mara Point, Simcoe Co., Ontario; died 24 Oct 1932, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 26 Oct 1932, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192552012
• Name: Mary Davidson Dando
• Name: Mary Davidson Edwards
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-162239

Mary married Lieutenant-Colonel George Alexander Mackay Edwards, MP 8 Jun 1940, Parkdale, York Co., Ontario, Canada. George (son of Mayor Alexander Mackay Edwards, MP and Laura May Clare) was born 2 Oct 1908, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Jun 1960, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 20 Jun 1960, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Mary married Harold Stanley Dando 1964. Harold (son of Charles Henry Dando and Dorcas Ethel "Ethel" Godfrey) was born 15 Oct 1912, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1994; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]