Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Doyle, Richard Judson |
Othernames |
R. J. Doyle (Senior) |
Born |
1834 |
Birthplace |
Hants County, Nova Scotia |
Places of residence |
Nova Scotia Buffalo (short while) Owen Sound, Canada West (Ontario) "Judsonville" [Sarawak Township, Grey County], Lot 15, Concession 3 (1872+) Mr. Doyle also owned property at Dundalk, Ontario and Shallow Lake, Ontario. |
Father |
Rev. John Doyle |
Nationality |
Canadian |
Notes |
In 1857, R. J. Doyle advertised a painting, paper-hanging and decorating business in Owen Sound, Canada West. In the 1865-1866 W. W. Smith GAZETTEER & DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY, Richard J. Doyle was listed as a general agent for the "Beaver Mutual Insurance Co." for the Saugeen Division, with his office at Rogerson & Ormiston's at Hill Street, Owen Sound. Listed on a Canadian Patent List from the early 19th-century to 1872, were the following Doyle items: Richard Judson Doyle of Owen Sound, re: How to build fire and water proof houses, etc., Jan. 20, 1857 Richard Judson Doyle of Owen Sound, Doyle's Double Lock Portable Fence and Trellis, Dec. 9, 1868 (as a crooked fence, it is self-supporting, no posts or stakes being required). Richard Judson Doyle of Owen Sound, improvement on sleighs and wheel vehicles, June 24, 1869 A book called OUR DOMINION (1887) has an article about R. J. Doyle and his work with the Dominion Grange Mutual Fire Insurance Association (established in March, 1887 with its head office at Owen Sound). It says that Mr. Doyle was born in Nova Scotia, the son of Rev. John Doyle. He lived for a while near Buffalo, and then returned to Canada. In 1887, he had 32 years of experience in the insurance business, with the exception of a few years where he was engaged in railway contracting. "He has represented as general agent and inspector, all the leading insurance companies of Canada". This source also mentioned that by 1887 he had sat on Owen Sound Town Council for twelve years, and was a representative of Sarawak Township Council for eleven years. In microfilmed editions of an Owen Sound newspaper from Sept/Oct. 1882, there is an illustration engraving of Mr. Doyle's patented fruit package (a sort of tall basket-like tapering barrel). It was called the "Ventilated Fruit Package", and it was patented on September 20, 1880. Mr. Doyle advertised that its advantages were: "1st.--You can see what you buy 2nd.--The Fruit has complete ventilation--hence does not sweat and decay. 3rd--Empties can be returned where the market is not a distant one 4th.-- The slope of the barrel prevents them being rolled in loading and unloading, and consequently so soiled as to injure the sale; and by being packed one inside another, when empty, they are more convenient for transportation. Dealers say this is the Package wanted to secure Good Prices everywhere. Every experienced dealer in Fruit, and many successful growers have learned the great secret of profitable sales, namely, to make fruit attractive to the eye. People do not expect to sell wheat, butter, cheese or any other commodity in closed packages (which prevents examination), unless at the lowest current price for articles of the kind. This Barrel enables the purchaser to see what he buys. Some of the largest exporters in America approve of this package, and are anxious to ship it to Britain. In their opinion 90 [or 20?] per cent higher prices may be obtained over the same fruit shipped in the ordinary way. Ends can be removed opening barrels, and again put in place almost instantaneously, without injuring [the] barrels. The Patentee is manufacturing at present 10,000 barrels at his factory at Dundalk, a town on the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. These barrels will be sold free on board at $80 per 100 by the car load of 500 barrels. Material---staves, hoops, heads and bottoms will be shipped, all ready to nail together, to those only who secure County Rights to manufacture barrels. An ordinary smart boy can make 60 barrels a day. The difference in the price will pay for barrels." (OWEN SOUND ADVERTISER, September 21, 1882). Rutherford's Directory of Owen Sound (1892) listed Richard J. Doyle as Manager of "D.G.M.F.I. Co., 222-224 Poulett Street (a main street location), with his residence as "Sarawak" [Sarawak Township]. In an 1894 source, R. J. Doyle's nursery business was listed as having been established in 1873. However, an advertisement has been seen for "R. J. Doyle's Nursery" in the Sept. 26, 1872 edition of THE OWEN SOUND ADVERTISER. At that time, Mr. Doyle had 200,000 fruit trees in stock at his nursery, and had a free catalogue. The SATURDAY GLOBE (Toronto), Sat. August 24, 1889, had an advertisement for "A New Industry. The North American Mining and Manufacturing Co. The above company have opened at Shallow Lake, near Owen Sound, a pure deposit of Carbonate of Lime. The Cement produced is equal in purity and strength to the best Portland Cement. The attention of Pavers, Builders, Etc. is directed to this inexhaustible supply of Canadian cement. Full particulars sent on application to R. J. Doyle, President, or Wm. Robinson, Sec.-Treasurer, Owen Sound." Another section says: ""But the most important discovery of the last decade, and one that will be hailed with satisfaction by engineers and builders all over Canada, is the finding of a large tract of land near Owen Sound containing all the necessary ingredients for the manufacture of the best Portland cement. Hitherto it has been necessary to import this article from England, the cements made on this side of the Atlantic being of an inferior quality. All this bids fair to be reversed now, and the probability is that before very long Owen Sound will be the centre of the cement trade of Canada. The find is situated in the bed of Shallow Lake, in the Township of Keppel, nine miles west of Owen Sound. This lake is remarkable from the fact that during the fall and winter it covers an area of one by nearly two miles to the depth of four feet and entirely disappears in the dry season, leaving the ground with very little trace of its occupancy. The water departs by means of sink holes, and is said to issue from the ground again at different places and empty into Lake Huron. The bed of this lake to the extent of 400 acres is covered with a rich deposit of carbonate of lime, underlying which is a deposit of clay, which by analysis has disclosed all the qualities necessary for making a very high grade of cement. Beneath this again is a strata of excellent fire brick clay, so that the proprietors of this enterprise may be said to possess a veritable gold mine. Tests and experiments were made, the Portland Cement Works on the Medway River, were visited, a company was formed, buildings were erected and machinery procured, and the company is now in a position to turn out cement equal to anything in the world at a rate of 130 barrels per day." A Dundalk, Grey County history book mentions that the trustees of the Dundalk Methodist Church purchased lots 2 and 3 of Block C of Dundalk from Richard Judson Doyle and his children, Richard Judson Doyle Jr., Winnifred, Eva and Ida, on Feb. 28, 1895. In the 1870s, R. J. Doyle also had property near Dundalk that was purchased by the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway line. An 1882 edition of the DUNDALK HERALD listed Dundalk businesses and industries, and included "R. J. Doyle's barrel factory" [he also had a sawmill]. He also gave land to the Orange brethern in December, 1875, so that they could build an Orange Hall at Dundalk. On an 1886 Dundalk Collector's Roll, R. J. Doyle is listed, with his address as Owen Sound. The 1902-1904 Vernon's Directory of Owen Sound listed R. J. Doyle, Manager, of the R. J. Doyle Mfg. Co., at 30 Poulett Street (main street). Mr. Doyle had a lime kiln south of Balmy Beach on his farm (see the newspaper article OWEN SOUND SUN-TIMES, May 3, 1952). 1990.054.012 is a 1952 photograph of the ruins of R. J. Doyle's pilot cement kiln at what had been his farm in Sarawak Township. Page 529 of the UNION PUBLISHING COMPANY (OF INGERSOLL) FARMERS AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR THE COUNTIES OF BRUCE, GREY AND SIMCOE, 1903, Vol. X111. lists the R. J. Doyle Manufacturing Co. as brick manufacturers. His 1903 obituary in the OWEN SOUND SUN newspaper mentioned that he had become quite wealthy, as he received a royalty for each barrel of cement that came from the Shallow Lake cement factory. Mr. Doyle was pre-deceased by his wife, who passed away at their farm residence (Judsonville) in Sarawak Township, on Feb. 2, 1892. The Doyles are buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound. Mary Stephens Doyle was a former teacher who had met Mr. Doyle at Owen Sound when he was an agent for the Beaver Mutual Fire Insurance Association. They were married in 18__. Mrs. Doyle was an active member of the Disciples of Christ Church at Owen Sound, and also was instrumental in the founding of the Women's Prohibition Society at Owen Sound in May of 1874. This would become Canada's first branch of the W.C.T.U. (Women's Christian Temperance Union). SARAWAK SAGA mentions "Judsonville", and has an image of the second Doyle residence as it looked c. 1973. "Among the early settlers in Sarawak deserving, from his talents and enterprise, of more than a passing notice, was Mr. R. J. Doyle (Sr.). He bought a farm, Lot 15, Conc. 3, in 1872, and a little while later added 42 more acres of Crown Land to the place. In 1872 and 1873 he built a beautiful white brick home. Mr. Doyle was very interested in farming. He had a large fruit farm and he encouraged other farmers to plant trees. He also had a nursery for some time. In 1936 the home was burned, but the Misses Doyle rebuilt it using the same plan as the original house. The third Judson Doyle who owned this house sold it to Mr. Ernest Fray in 1950." 1990.057.012 Reproduction photographic image of R. J. Doyle Sr. (copied from the May 14, 1892 edition of THE SATURDAY GLOBE). 1990.057.014 Reproduction image of the Dominion Grange Insurance building where R. J. Doyle Sr. worked c. 1892 1992.057.004 THE OWEN SOUND TIMES, Oct. 23, 1857 (advertisement on page 4) 1975.095.027 Photograph of Richard Arthur Doyle (little boy), a grandson of R. J. Doyle Sr. 1999.025.019 Newspaper edition, THE OWEN SOUND ADVERTISER, June 16, 1903, has an ad for R. J. Doyle re shorthorn cattle for sale |
Occupation |
Insurance Man / Business Inventor Cement Industrialist Portland Cement Manufacturer President of The North American Mining and Manufacturing Co." (c. 1889) Bricks / Brickmaking / R. J. Doyle Manufacturing Co. Railway Contracting Owen Sound Town Council (12 Years) Sarawak Township Council (11 Years) Fruit Trees / Nursery Business / Ventilated Fruit Packages (Barrels) Portable Fences and Trellises Barrel Factory (Dundalk) Sawmill (Dundalk) Orangeman? (gave land at Dundalk to create an Orange Hall there, 1875) Farming / Cattle |
Publications |
-McLeod, Rose, SARAWAK SAGA, 1973, pp. 236-237. -Smith, W. W. GAZETTEER & DIRECTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GREY, 1865-1866 -OUR DOMINION, 1887, has a brief biography of Mr. Doyle (and an image of him) -Cake, Sharon, EMINENT WOMEN OF GREY COUNTY (has some info re Mary Stephens Doyle) -Sept. 26, 1872 edition of THE OWEN SOUND ADVERTISER (advertisement re nursery business). -Sept. 21, 1882 edition of THE OWEN SOUND ADVERTISER (advertisement re Ventilated Fruit Package (patented Sept. 20, 1880). -"Kiln Where First Cement Made in Canada is Still Standing On Farm South of Balmy Beach" (re Doyle Farm), THE OWEN SOUND SUN TIMES, Sat. May 3, 1952, page 12. |
Relationships |
Disciples Church (The Stephens family belonged to it, and Mr. Doyle's father, Rev. Doyle, also was involved with the Church of Christ Disciples) |
Role |
Business person |
Spouse |
Mary Stephens (b. 1829-d. 1892), m. 18__ |
Children |
-Richard Judson Doyle Jr. (known as "Juddy", served as County Commissioner, wife was Kate L. Coulson), and later married Hannah Lister in 1928 -Ida Doyle (Mrs. Arthur Burrows or Burroughs of Westport) -Miss Eva Doyle -Miss Winnifred Doyle ("Winnie" Doyle) d. 1942? |
