Matthew Wilkinson Kirkwood

1876 - 1951  (75 years)

• Name	Matthew Wilkinson Kirkwood
  Born	8 Jun 1876	Cheltenham, Chinguacousy Twp., Peel Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/268971233
  Historic Building	Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Hexam House
  Interesting	business, railway,
  Occupation	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Superintendant, Steet Railway
  Residence	126 Dover St. S., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1911	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Anglican
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-229586
  Died	24 Jul 1951	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Buried	Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Person ID	I229586	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family	Melinda Mary "Mary" Henning,   b. 6 Jun 1878, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Jan 1953, Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 74 years)
  Married	28 Oct 1902	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Children	1. David Henning Kirkwood,   b. 9 Apr 1909, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 3 Feb 1988, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025
  Family ID	F223018	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Retired Grand River Railway Chief Passes PRESTON, July 24-- Matthew Wilkinson Kirkwood 75, retired general manager of the Grand River and Lake Erie and Northern Railway, subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, died at Galt General Hospital early today. Mr. Kirkwood's leadership contributed much to the community. A kindly personality earned him many intimate friends. Served 52 Years Born at Cheltenham, near Georgetown, he served the railway for 52 years during which time he rose from the ranks of the line gang at a salary of 60 cents a day to the highest position the local line had to offer. Mr. Kirkwood's activities were not confined solely to railroading. He was responsible for the formation and location of the successful industrial business in Preston known as Kondu Manufacturing Co. Ltd., of which his son David H. Kirkwood is president. While he made his permanent residence at Blair in 1945. Mr. Kirkwood spent his summers for some years previously at the home he created in that village. The Kirkwood home is a historical point in the county, being more than 100 years old. At one time it was a distillery, then a tannery and later an electric plant generating the electricity which lit the streets of Preston with old arc lights. Funeral Thursday He was a member of St. John's Anglican Church. Surviving are his wife, Mary Melinda Henning; a son David H. Kirkwood of Blair; two sisters, Mrs. Clara Feick of Hamilton, and Mrs. J.E. Martin of New Durham, N.H. Four grandchildren also survive. Interment will be in the Blair cemetery. Waterloo Region Record: July 24 1951 edition, page 3

  
  

• Sources

  [S1669] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1911, Div. 24 Pg. 28. [S2858] z Vit - ON - Birth Registration, Birth Certificate 023798 (1876). Name:Matthew Wilkinson Date of Birth:8 Jun 1876 Gender:Male Birth Place:Peel, Ontario, Canada Father's name:David Kirkwood Mother's name:Jane Wilkinson [S34] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Blair CC#4501 Internet Link. Kirkwood [A] Gladys S. Wildman/ 1913-1991 (B) David H. Kirkwood/ 1909-1988 (C) Mary M. Henning/ 1878-1953 (D) Mathew W. Kirkwood/ 1876-1951 [S2488] aaa Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 002724 (1902). Name:Matthew W Kirkwood Age:25 Birth Year:abt 1877 Birth Place:Ontario Marriage Date:28 Oct 1902 Marriage Place:York, Ontario, Canada Father:David Kirkwood Mother:Jane Williamson Spouse:Mary M Henning

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 8 Jun 1876 - Cheltenham, Chinguacousy Twp., Peel Co., Ontario, Canada Historic Building - Hexam House - - Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 28 Oct 1902 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Superintendant, Steet Railway - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1911 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 24 Jul 1951 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth