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Pioneer - LEIGHTON, George
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
LEIGHTON, George
. The father of the subject of this sketch, whose name was also George
Leighton, was b. in Co. Tyrone, Ire., and emigrated to Canada in 1837, settling
in Vaughan Tp., York Co., and later removing to Peel Co. He m. Elizabeth Parr.
Their eldest son, George Leighton, the subject of this sketch, was b. in Peel
Co., in 1847, and brought up and educated there. After finishing school he
learned the carpenter's trade, which he later worked at in Huron Co. Young
Leighton, being of an adventurous spirit, and learning of the great
possibilities in California, concluded to go there. This was a short time
before the completion of the first trans-continental railway. He consequently
went to New York and took passage by water---via the Isthmus of Panama----and
after a thirty days voyage (5,200 miles) he arrived in San Francisco. Young
Leighton, after spending about three years in California, during which time he
visited the principal places in the State, concluded to return to he East, and
after spending some time in New Orleans and St. Louis, came on to Canada, and
went up to Harriston in 1871, and Immediately started the first planing mill in
the village in co-partnership with Richard Dowling, under the firm name of
Dowling & Leighton. The firm did a successful business, and the co-partnership
continued for about twenty years. Later Mr. Leighton joined John Howes in the
sawmill and electric light plant. Mr. Howes' interest was afterwards purchased
by Mr. Leighton, who still continues the business. He also carries on a large
coal and wood business, and is quite an extensive land owner. George Leighton
is considered one of the most successful, as well as enterprising business men,
in the north part of Wellington Co. He is a man of broad views, and able to
take hold of any proposition within reason. In politics he is a staunch
Conservative, and is active. For over ten years he held municipal office in
Harriston, being Councillor, Reeve, etc. He m. Rebecca A. Clark, of the Prince
Edward Co., pioneer family of that name. They have three dau.: Maud, Harriet
E., and Emma G.
From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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