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Pioneer - HEWER, James
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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HEWER, James
, was b. Farnham, Gloucester, Eng., in 1791; d. 1878, age 87. He was a
shoemaker in England, and came to Canada in 1831, bringing his father and
mother with him, on the representation of John Arkell, and took up 100 acres,
part of lots 7, 8 and 9, con. 10, which he later sold, reserving a lot upon
which he built a hotel, and ran it for some years. Later he purchased about 24
acres, at Farnham, where he had an hotel for a short time and then retired. He
was a member of the English church, and a Conservative in politics, and held
the office of Magistrate. He m. Miss Hill. Issue: William, Guelph; Ann (d.), b.
first Mr. Thatcher, and afterwards John Askett, and John.
John Hewer, d. 1886, age 64. He was about nine years of age when he came to Arkell. As a young man he did threshing in the neighborhood, before coming to Guelph. In 1852 he came to Guelph and bought the Fountain House Hotel, which at that time was one of the best in the town. He also built and ran the Priory Hotel, where he died. He had a contract for constructing a cellar for the present Wellington Hotel; and also conducted the old Western Hotel, where the C. P. R. office now is. He had a tannery at Crewson's Corners , also the Gow tannery in Guelph, which he rented for a number of years. He was a great sportsman and pigeon shooter, and old residents well remember the game suppers that he used to give. Mr. Hewer was Town Constable for seven years, at the time of the feud between the Catholics and Orangemen. He was one of the strongest men physically for miles around. He was an active worker in the Conservative party, and a member of the English church. He m. Ruth, dau. of the late James Carter, of Arkell. Issue: James, William , Guelph; John Roger, Toronto; Roland and Thomas, Guelph; Mrs. Charles Jordon (d. Guelph), Mrs. Geo Forester and Mrs. Andrew McPhee, Medina, N.Y. Of these, James was b. in Arkell, 1847, and started to work early in life, assisting his father. In 1868 he commenced to buy grain of the Guelph market, and in 1871 he purchased his present business site on Macdonnell Street, where he has since been conducting a seed and flour business. Formerly he shipped a great deal of grain to the U. S. A. , being in partnership with John McCrae, with elevators in Acton, Lebanon and Guelph. Mr. Hewer was Alderman of the city for eighteen years, and served two years as Mayor, and was only once defeated. He was President of the South Wellington Agr. Society when the Provincial Exhibition was held in Guelph, and was Director 25 years. He was also Superintendent for the building of the Guelph Central Exhibition for a number of years, and a Director of the Fat Stock Club. He has always taken an active and leading part in sports, and was for some years President and Secretary of St. George's Society, and Manager, Secretary and Director of the Maple Leaf Baseball Club, at the time they won the Ontario championship. He has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for thirty-four years, and served as Secretary and twice as Noble Grand of Progress Lodge. He has represented the I.O.O.F. at High and Supreme Court. He was District Deputy Grand Master of the Royal City District (13 lodges), A.F. & A.M. He is a Conservative in politics and has always been on committees. He m. Celia Barett, of Pilkington. Issue; Mrs. H. Christman, Beachburg; Mrs. Dr. Rose, North Dakota;. Albert J. and Leonard, Winnipeg. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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