Black and white photograph of seated, three-quarter length, portrait painting of John Watson, of Ayr, Ontario. The photograph is believed to have appeared in the Waterloo Chronicle on 14 October 1930.
Returned from Doon Heritage Crossroads on 24 July 1987.
Scope and Content
Black and white photograph of seated, three-quarter length, portrait painting of John Watson, of Ayr, Ontario. The photograph is believed to have appeared in the Waterloo Chronicle on 14 October 1930.
Born in 1820 in Scotland, John Watson came to Canada in 1845. By 1847, he opened a foundry in Ayr which built farm implements. The success of the business was made evident when Watson received a gold medal from the Provincial Agricultural Association of Upper Canada in Kingston, but one of many accolades awarded to the company.
Beyond his business pursuits, Watson founded the Ayr Library in the late 1840's and was elected vice-president of the Waterloo Reform Association in 1855. He became magistrate in 1863 and served on the North Dumfries and South Waterloo Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company board in 1864. In 1880, he was appointed to the Ontario Agriculture Commission and served as Chairman of the Agriculture Education Division.
When Ayr was incorporated as a village in 1884, Watson was elected Reeve and Warden of the County by acclamation. He died on 14 December 1903.
Copyright Status
Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian law. No restrictions on use.
Reproductions
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