Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - HIGGINS, Gregory L

Wellington County GenWeb

return

Pioneer - HIGGINS, Gregory L.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

HIGGINS, Gregory L ., of Guelph City, is a son of John Higgins and Mary (O'Toole) Higgins. John Higgins was a native of Wexford County Ire., and came to Canada in 1847, and set. first at Preston. In 1856 he moved to Guelph. He was for over forty years connected with the Goldie Milling Co., and was foreman of the packing department when he retired in 1903. He had the following issue: Thomas, in Toronto, foreman of the locomotive and marine section of the G. T. R., from Toronto to Windsor; James and Joseph, in Toronto, and John with the Goldie Milling Co.; Gregory L. and Mrs. J. Merlihan, Guelph.

Gregory L., b. in Guleph, and there educated. In 1880 he entered the employ of the Bell Organ and Piano Co., and in 1890 became connected with the business department of the Guelph Mercury, and was later in the editorial department, leaving in 1902 and taking the management of the Royal Opera House in Guelph. The Opera House had not been a financial success under the several managers who preceded him, but Mr. Higgins soon placed it on a money-making basis, and in 1904 he became a joint owner of the Opera House block with J. C. Kelleher of Guelph, and it is said to be one of the best conducted opera houses outside of the city of Toronto. He is also lessee of the opera house at Berlin. Mr. Higgins is now serving his third term as Alderman of Guelph City. He is also a member of the Board of Health. He has been Chairman of Markets, Public Buildings, Parks and Shades, and is a member of the Finance Committee, also a member of the Board of Trade. He has held all the offices of the Young Men's Liberal Club of South Wellington, and was for two years City Convener of the Reform Association and Sec'y of the Reform Association of South Wellington for six years. He was tendered the Presidency in 1905, which he did not accept. He is Past President of the Guelph Catholic Union, and Past President of the League of the Cross. He has always taken an active interest in athletic sports and was President of the Maple Leaf Baseball Club when they won the championship of Canada in 1901. He was Sec'y-Treas. for one year, and President of the Canadian Baseball League two years, and Vice-President one year. He was President of the Western Ontario Hockey Association.

Mr. Higgins has been a member of the Advisory Board of the St. Joseph's Hospital

In 1895 he m. Mary Agnes Higgins of Oneida Tp. Issue: Aileen and Vera.

Mr. Higgins' portrait appears on another page of this work.

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