Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

John J. J. Renshaw

Male 1864 - 1913  (49 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name John J. J. Renshaw 
    Born 7 Aug 1864  Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Unknown 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Unknown 
    Occupation 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Expressman 
    Residence 1891  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Christadelphian 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Grand Trunk Railroad Agent 
    Residence 1646 Blair Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-52819 
    Died 4 Nov 1913  [4
    Buried Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Person ID I52819  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Feb 2024 

    Father John R. Renshaw,   b. 1832, , Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Aug 1892, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years) 
    Mother Margaret Hanley,   b. 1832, , Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Dec 1894  (Age 62 years) 
    Married 18 Jan 1855  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Family ID F12010  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lois,   b. 5 Oct 1865, , USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2024 
    Family ID F23917  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • The first postmaster at Blair was Wendal Bowman who served from 1858 to 1863. Mr. Bowman was succeeded by Henry Bechtel Sr. who operated the post office from 1863 to 1865. Mr. Bechtel was in turn succeeded by John R. Renshaw who was Blair's postmaster from 1865 to 1892. It was during Mr. Renshaw's tenure, in 1874, that the Grand Trunk Railway built a station in Blair and the post office moved to that facility. With the move Mr. Renshaw became stationmaster as well as postmaster.

      The office of postmaster remained in the Renshaw family for a number of years with John Renshaw's widow, Margaret, filling the office from 1892 to 1895. She was succeeded in 1895 by her son John J.H. Renshaw who retained the office until his death in 1913. At this point his widow Lois Renshaw took over the office which she relinquished in 1914.

      In 1914 Elizabeth Renshaw, a daughter of John R. Renshaw and sister of John J.H. Renshaw took over from Lois Renshaw as Blair's seventh postmaster. It is reported that Elizabeth Renshaw did not want to have anything to do with the Blair train station and moved the post office to a corner of her house at 1646 Blair Road . She had a special door installed in the wall facing the road for public access. Miss Renshaw retired in 1931 and died in 1939



      Cambridge Postal History - III, Jim, Quantrell, pg 139-140

  • Sources 
    1. [S86] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1901, Waterloo (South/Sud) G-2 Page 12.

    2. [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 13.

    3. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 3 Page 25.

    4. [S34] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Blair CC#4501 Internet Link.
      John J.H. Renshaw / died / Nov. 4, 1913

    5. [S110] Church Records - ON, Waterloo Co., Cambridge - First United.
      John Renshaw, Manufacturer, Married Margaret Hanley, Spinster, Witn: Andrew Elliott & William Lutz, 18 Jan 1855 By License In Galt

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 7 Aug 1864 - Blair (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Unknown - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Unknown - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Expressman - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Christadelphian - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Grand Trunk Railroad Agent - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - 1646 Blair Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth