Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - SLEEMAN Family, The

Wellington County GenWeb

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Pioneer - The SLEEMAN Family

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

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

SLEEMAN Family, The . The first of this family to set. in Canada was the late John Sleeman, who was b. in Cornwall, Eng., in 1805, d. St. Davids, 1893. He came to St. Catherines in 1836, and opened a brewery and distillery at St. Davids, which he ran successfully for some years. In 1847, he came to Guelph, and leased the brewery of Mr. Hodgerts – now Hollidays – for three years, and in 1851, started his own brewery on Waterloo Ave. He had the following issue: John H., who is now living retired, with his sister on Glasgow St.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Wm. McHardy, William (d.), and George, who was b. at St. Davids, in 1841, and m. Sarah Hill in 1863.

George Sleeman has been prominently identified with the social and business interests of Guelph from early manhood. He first started business with his father, who retired in 1867, leaving him in sole charge. In 1876, he was elected a member of the Town Council, and the following year was elected 2nd Deputy Reeve, later, 1st Deputy Reeve, and in 1879, Reeve, also chairman of the Inauguration Committee when Guelph became a city. In 1880, he was elected the first Mayor of the city (being the last Reeve), and was re-elected in 1881-2. In 1883, he refused to run for Mayor, but was chairman of the local Provincial Exhibition held in Guelph. He has always taken a great interest in sports, and has been President of the Maple Leaf Base-Ball Club, which club, in 1874, he took to the tournament at Watertown, N.Y. , where they won every game to the surprise of their competitors, and incidentally bringing Guelph prominently before the sporting fraternity of the U.S. He has been, for twenty years, President of the Guelph Rifle Association. He was again elected Mayor in Feb. 1893, to fill the unexpired term of the late Thomas Goldie, and was again elected in 1905, by the old time majority, (278), and was elected in 1906 by acclamation. He is also President of the Wellington Mutual Fire Ins. Co. He was four years President of the Brewers and Malsters Association of Ontario, was one of the promoters of the Guelph Opera House, was President of the Wellington Hotel Co., and later owned that hostlery. Is Vice-President of the Guelph Junction Ry. Co. He initiated and practically built the Guelph St. Ry., no one being connected with it except members of the Sleeman family. He is a member of Progress Lodge, I.O.O.F., and was the first member initiated thirty years ago. He has been Treas, of the Lodge ever since. Mr. Sleeman is a numismatist of repute, having a large collection of coins, medals, etc. He has the following issue: Carrie, George A., Minnie (d.); Charles E., William H., Edwin A., Fred W., Lily, Harry, Rose, Flossie. His sons, George A., Wm. H., Edwin A., Fred. W., and Harry O., started the "Spring Bank Brewery," in 1903, and have since operated it..

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