Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - HAMILTON, John H

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Pioneer - HAMILTON, John H.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

HAMILTON, John H . was b. Derry West Peel Co., Ont. He came to Guelph in 1867, and after working about six years as a stone cutter, went to Buffalo as manager for McDonald, McBain & Co., stone and bridge contractors. After two years with them, he returned to Guelph, where he established, in 1871, the largest granite and marble works in the city and county, and one of the largest in the Province. The premises have a frontage of 200 feet, on both Woolwich and Norfolk streets, including yards and buildings, and the stock of finished monuments and other work as well as raw material, is of the largest in the Province west of Montreal. The material is imported direct, granite being obtained from Norway, Sweden, Russia, England, Ireland, and Scotland, also from America and New Brunswick quarries. White marble is all imported form the U.S.A.

Special attention is given to the monumental work, turning out granite monuments in all sizes and all modern designs, for the supply of the local and outside trade, shipments being made to all parts of the Province and far east as Cobourg, and west as far as Windsor and Sarnia, with an excellent trade in Manitoba, British Columbia and the North-West, shipping clear to the Pacific coast. A large business is done in mail orders, which are constantly being received from all parts.

Since 1901, Mr. Hamilton has manufactured all of his own work, bringing in material in the rough. He runs a wholesale as well as retail trade. His three sons, Albert, Harry, and Stanley, are connected with him, under the firm name of Hamilton & Sons. Stanley in considered one of the best experts in Canada in lettering with pneumatic tools. Harry is a designer of no small merit, and Albert is book-keeper, so all of the firm are practical men. Mr. Hamilton in all of his marble business, has never sued a customer, and has never had a law suit with one. He was 15 years Alderman, and under Thomas Goldie, was Chairman of the Board of Works, and is largely responsible for the present fine city streets for which Guelph is noted. He was two years Mayor, and during his term had the honor of receiving the Duke and Duchess of York, and Lord and Lady Minto. Mr. Hamilton is an honorary member of the Guelph Fat Stock Club, one year Director, and two years Vice-President of the Guelph Junction Railway, and is a permanent Director of the Guelph and Goderich Railway. He as been a member of the Board of Trade for years, and was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1903. Mr. Hamilton is a strong advocate of municipal ownership, and in his term of Mayor, the city took over the street railway, light and power, and gas works, He is an active worker in the Conservative party, and a Presbyterian. He m. Jennie, dau. of the late Lt.-Col. Jas. Armstrong.

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