Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - GUTHRIE, Donald, K.C

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Pioneer - GUTHRIE, Donald, K.C.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

GUTHRIE, Donald, K.C . One who has taken a prominent part in the public life of the city of Guelph, is Mr. Donald Guthrie, K.C., the recognized leader of the Bar of the county of Wellington, one of the Benchers of the Law Society; the representative of South Wellington in the House of Commons, and in the Legislature at Toronto for a period of fourteen years. Mr. Guthrie has behind him a long record of usefulness, and to-day enjoys a high and honored place in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

Donald Guthrie was born in Scotland in the year 1840; fourteen years later he came to Canada, and in 1859 he took up his residence in the then town of Guelph. Completing his academic course he entered the study of law, stood high in his examinations was admitted as a solicitor in 1863 and was called to the Bar in 1866. He was created Q.C. by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in Mar. 1876, also by the Governor–General, the Marquis of Lansdowne, in October, 1885. He was made a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1882, and stood high on the list of 30 elected Benchers on the succeeding elections for five year terms. In 1886, 1896, and 1901, and also in the election of April, 1906. These elections are by the vote of the barristers in Ontario.

Mr. Guthrie's activities have been manifold, For 42 years he has acted as solicitor for the county of Wellington, and solicitor for the city of Guelph. Long experience, and a thorough grasp of municipal law have given him a position of pre-eminence in that particular field of his profession. Indeed, it may truly be said that the opinion of no man in the Province on questions affecting the right of municipalities would be valued higher than that of Mr. Guthrie.

Mr. Guthrie was one of the organizers of the Guelph Gas Company in 1870, and was President of that company during its whole existence, for 33 years. In 1888 an electric plant was added and the name changed to the Guelph Light and Power Company, and the entire business of which was acquired by the city in 1903.

The subject of this sketch early evinced an aptitude for politics. As a law student, he acquired distinction as a debater and his experience at the Bar developed his natural talent as a public speaker.

When Mr. David Stirton resigned his seat, as representative of South Wellington, in the Commons of 1876, the Liberal party nominated Mr. Guthrie as his successor. It was the first political struggle in which the National Policy was the dominant issue. Mr. Guthrie's opponent was Mr. James Goldie. The battle was short, sharp and decisive, Mr. Guthrie winning by 139, a considerably reduced majority, largely because of the defection of national policy Liberals. He was against the same opponent re-elected in 1878 by a majority of 303, and continued in the Upper House until 1882, when although honored with unanimous re-nomination by his party he, for business reasons declined to run. Four years later Mr. Guthrie was persuaded by his party, in order to heal a division in their ranks, to again enter the political arena, this time as a candidate for the local Legislature He was elected by a majority of 672, and was again returned by about the same majority in 1890, and in 1894, he retired. In 1895 he was appointed Inspector of Registry Offices for the Province of Ontario, which office his still holds.

During all these years of public life Mr. Guthrie was unquestionably the foremost representative of the Liberal interests in this section of the Province. He possessed all the requisites of a successful public man, a thorough student, gifted with a clear analytical mind, great capacity for work, everpresent ambition to do that which was worth doing well, and splendid abilities as an orator. On the platform or in debate in the House, he could always hold the close attention of his hearers. A fine presence, with a voice mellifluous and resonant equally adept in graceful as well as incisive language and with a full measure of that earnestness, without which no speech can be effective, he had all the natural gifts of a born orator. To the strength which this ability gave him, he brought a natural taste for politics, fine capacity for organization and tact and shrewdness in dealing with troublesome situations.

In the social or religions life of the city Mr. Guthrie has always been an active figure. He was one of the Managers for several years of Chalmer's Church and for some time was Chairman of the Board. To benevolent and charitable enterprises he has always given his sympathy and generous support.

Mr. Guthrie was m. in 1863 to Eliza Margaret MacVicar, sister of the late eminent minister, Dr. D. H. MacVicar, Principal of the Presbyterian College of Montreal, There are seven children: Hugh Guthrie, K.C., M.P., who represent South Wellington in the Commons; Dr. J. B. Guthrie, Rev. Dr. Donald Guthrie, of Baltimore; Norman G. Guthrie, barrister, Ottawa, and three daughters.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906