Photos Linda Seccaspina 1981 Thoburn House

Anyway, this was researched and written by me, and published in “Lanark County Legends”

by the Lanark County Genealogical Society in 2020.

I’ll send it in the content of the message as I would like to get it to you and also to the North Lanark Museum as they were requesting more information.

Thanks FRAN!!!!! we love you!!

Fran Cooper.

Bits and Pieces of William Thoburn and the House on Union Street photo

William Thoburn

William Thoburn was born in Portsmouth, England on April 14, 1847 to John Thoburn and Mary Elliott. He came to Canada with his parents in 1857. The family first settled in Carleton County near Fitzroy Harbour. A few years later the Thoburn family moved to a farm in Pakenham Township and William helped his father on the family farm. He received his early education at the Pakenham School, Pakenham, Ontario. At the age of fifteen, he became a farm hand at neighbouring farms at a wage of $4. per month. William came to Almonte in 1867 and at the age of twenty he worked in the B. & W. Rosamond woollen mill for two years at a wage of 60 cents per day. Then for the next eleven years he ran his own grocery business. William knew how to make friends and attract customers to his store. He also acquired knowledge of the woollen industry while a storekeeper by buying small quantities of wool.

            After eleven years in the grocery business, William had accumulated enough money and he decided to start his own woollen business. He sold his grocery business and bought an abandoned furniture factory near the railway tracks. He outfitted this building with the appropriate machinery and began to manufacture fine flannels. Mr. Thoburn added to his factory at the original location with many additions and Improvements. He was president and managing director of the Almonte Knitting Company. He was a director of the Trust and Guarantee Company of Toronto. His products were known as “Thoburn’s All-wool Flannels.” In this business he succeeded.

            The first entry in Thoburn’s Ledger on January 31, 1881 showed 2 employees. By April, there were 16 employees producing felt. All these employees were women and the ledger entry states
“Twelve workers earned between 40 cents and $1.75 a day for a 60-hour week, while weavers were paid by the yard for finished work.”

            From an article entitled “Almonte, – One of the Great Centers of the Woolen Industry in Canada & a Progressive Town, the Ottawa Citizen, dated March 29, 1913 states that “Mr. William Thoburn who is one of the most influential citizens of the town….”

            In 1887 William was so impressed by the design of the new stone Methodist Church that had been designed by Toronto architect, Mr. M.B. Aylesworth that he contracted this same architect to design his family home, a beautiful residence at a cost of $10,000. at 161 Union Street. The builders were Messrs. Cameron & McKechnie, contractors from Almonte. The home was 2 ½ storeys high with 12 spacious rooms, a full basement, and the exterior constructed of blue limestone with white sandstone trimmings. The home was heated by a hot water system and included every modern convenience. This shows that William had prospered in his new business venture. A plaque on this property shows that William Thoburn’s family home has been designated as a heritage property.

            William Thoburn was interested in the affairs of his community. He began his municipal service by serving on the school board for five years. Then he served on the town council of Almonte for seven years; followed by serving as Mayor for seven years. An article in the Ottawa Journal, dated September 1, 1911 states,

“ Men with records like that of Mr. Thoburn are not easily found. His public career has been one of honest and capable administration of the very considerable funds over which he has control. There has been no scandal, no fuss of any kind, but the record of work well done, and countless practical evidence of it.

            He had a major influence in the building of the Almonte Town Hall during his term. This building is still considered a model of municipal architecture. He was also interested in the Rosamond Memorial Hospital where he was a director for several years and he always gave a large donation to the hospital and set up an endowment fund of $5,000. for this institution in 1909. In religion he was a Methodist and was a member of the Trinity United Church and served on its board for many years. He was also a member of the Canadian Club and the Rideau Club of Ottawa.

            Mr. Thoburn was encouraged to run for the House of Commons for Lanark North by Judge Jamieson, former M.P. for this constituency and by Bennett Rosamond who was his personal friend. He represented the Conservative party in the House of Commons from 1908 to 1917. He won his first election by a slim majority. In the House of Commons, Mr. Robert Borden, Prime Minister regarded William Thoburn as a reliable man who could be counted on to show good judgement as an important member of the Conservative government. For example, when the Nationalist Conservatives in the House, led by Mr. Monk moved a motion condemning the naval policy of the government, the Quebec Conservatives left the House and refused to return. Robert Borden had a similar motion which had a slightly different point of view and the Quebec Conservatives needed time to return to the House in order to vote. As soon as the clerk had announced the voting results, Mr. Thoburn jumped to his feet and began to speak on the naval situation. He was jeered and laughed at for his speech but he kept on and delayed the proceedings long enough for the Quebec Conservatives to get back into the House . Mr. Thoburn’s action saved the day for the Borden government.

            Hansard minutes of the House of Commons, shows that Mr. Thoburn took an active part in debate on the tariff question. He was an authority on the issue as he had dealt with tariffs as a mill owner. In fact, his first speech in the Commons was made on this subject. There are many other examples of issues that William Thoburn spoke about in Hansard. He used his knowledge of business to speak up for the workers and the business owners.

         In 1912 during his time as an MP, he was credited with having the clock tower and bell added to the Old Almonte Post Office and also the town clocks in the towns of Carleton Place, Perth and Smiths Falls.

            From his obituary in The Almonte Gazette from January 27, 1928, “Mr. William Thoburn is regarded as one of the foremost business men of Eastern Ontario.”

His funeral address was given by Dr. S. D. Chown, Superintendent of the Methodist Church with assistance from his own pastor, Rev. Dr. J.T.F. Blanchard and Rev. J.R. MacCrimmon and Rev. H.H. Hillis, chairman of the Renfrew Presbytery of the United Church.
Dr. Chown states

“He was a man who rendered very valuable public services. He was a town councillor for some years, he was mayor during three different periods. As a member of parliament, he worthily represented his riding. He was not a man of violent political prejudices, but a man who served the people. He always carried his principles into practice. He tried to do his best and he tried to do his best with God’s help. There is a great difference. …..“ was a successful man of business. He was not a dabbling speculator. He so managed to comport himself as a businessman that he carried respect. He was a family man. He loved his children and grandchildren dearly. “

References

1.     1871 census, Ontario, Lanark North, Almonte page 20, family 83

2.     1881 census, Ontario, Lanark North, Almonte page 34 family 157

3.     1891 census, Ontario, Lanark (North(, Almonte (Town) page 44    family 211

4.     1901 census, Ontario, Lanark (North), Almonte (Town) page 2 family 15

5.     1911 census, Ontario, Lanark North, Sub-District 18, Almonte page 7 family 75

6.     1921 census, Ontario, Lanark, Sub-District 41, Almonte (Town) page 1 family 12

7.     A cyclopædia of Canadian biography : brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century edited by Hector Charlesworth, Toronto, The Hunter-Rose Company, Limited 1919 page 135

8.     Family Home, The Almonte Gazette January 22, 1892 The Residence of Ex-Mayor Thoburn

9.     In the Public Eye   Ottawa Journal September 1, 1911 page 5

10. Almonte – One of the Great Centers of the Woolen Industry in Canada & a Progressive Town, The Ottawa Citizen March 29, 1913, page 18

11. Was Prominent in Affairs of Town Almonte
William Thoburn Represented North Lanark In Commons For Two Terms
The Ottawa Evening Journal , Monday, January 23, 1928 front page

12. Former Mayor, M.P., and Town’s Leading Citizen
Mr. William Thoburn Died January 23, 1928, the Almonte Gazette page 4
Wednesday, February 1, 1928

13. Well Known Manufacturer Climbed Ladder of Success From Very Small Beginnings
The Almonte Gazette Friday, January 27, 1928   front page

14. Almonte Man Leaves Estate of Million, The Ottawa Evening Journal April 2, 1928
front page headline

15. Digging Into Almonte Past – Discovery of 6 of Thoburn’s original ledgers & correspondence copy books, The Ottawa Citizen, July 29, 2002