Person Record
Metadata
Name |
McLauchlan, James |
Othernames |
James H. McLauchlan Sometimes the surname is seen mis-spelt as McLaughlin |
Born |
Sept. 28, 1834 |
Birthplace |
Kirkcudbright, Scotland |
Places of residence |
Scotland Hamilton, Canada West Williamsford, Holland Township, Grey County New Orleans Brantford, Ontario (5 years) Williamsford Owen Sound, Grey County |
Titles & honors |
Mayor of Owen Sound (1894) |
Father |
William McLauchlan |
Mother |
________ McLauchlan (nee Murray) |
Nationality |
Scottish |
Education |
Apprenticed as a confectioner while he was in Scotland. |
Notes |
James McLauchlan was a civic-minded and very well-known businessman in Owen Sound. He was born in Scotland in 1834 and apprenticed there to learn how to make confectionery. He emigrated in 1854 (according to the 1901 census report). He moved to Hamilton, Canada West, in 1854, and worked with a confectioner named John McKillop. In 1854, he also walked to and fro from Hamilton in order to check out some property in the new County of Grey area. He married Hetty Dillane of Holland Township, Grey County, in 1855, and began a baking and confectionery business in Owen Sound. They left Owen Sound in 1857 so that Mr. McLauchlan could go to New Orleans in order to work with E. Turpin & Co., the largest confectioner's business in the south. The American Civil War prompted him to move back to Williamsford, Canada West (Ontario). He also worked in Brantford for five years, before he began his own confectionery business again. In the 1870s he had a candy wagon and had a travelling hard candy business based at Williamsford. He eventually re-located his business in Owen Sound because of the advantageous railroad facilities there, and he had a partnership with William Anderson (a biscuit maker) until 1876. McLauchlan's five sons became involved as officers of the business (which was known as McLauchlan & Sons Co. Limited after they incorporated in 1900). James McLauchlan became Mayor of Owen Sound in 1894. The McLauchlan firm was sold in 1925 to National Grocers. James McLauchlan had died a few years earlier, in February of 1921. In 1872, James McLauchlan had organized the Owen Sound fire brigade. At that time, firefighting was a voluntary job. He became Fire Chief in 18__. An 1875 poster advertising the first-ever Excursion for the No. 1 Fire Engine Company mentioned that tickets could be purchased from Mr. McLauchlan or from Mr. Anderson and others. The excursion was held aboard the steamer SILVER SPRAY. In the late summer of 1884 (or the early autumn), the Owen Sound Telephone Co. Limited started up. The President of this company was James McLauchlan. The Vice-President was S. J. Parker, the Secretary-Treasurer was John Parker, and a Toronto man, A. J. Pattison, was also involved. By October 20, 1884, the company had 20 telephones operating, and Miss Francis and Miss Simpson were the operators at the tiny switchboard. In the June 1,1886 telephone directory, "McLauchan & Sons" was listed. He became Mayor of Owen Sound in 1894. He was President of the General & Marine Hospital Board from 1899-1903. In 1915, he was still listed as an Honourary President of the hospital. An 1894 mercantile directory listed his business in Owen Sound as having been established in 1881. In 1900, the bakery/confectionary was incorporated as McLauchlan & Sons Co. Ltd. The company produced various products that were sold across the Dominion. A business postcard from July 21, 1892 (McLauchlan & Sons) is titled as "Owen Sound Steam Biscuit and Confectionery Works". Another one, dated 1901, is similar, but has dropped the "Steam" from the name. These cards were sent to a Holland Twp. storekeeper, Mr. Carson Price. These cards are at the Grey County archives at Grey Roots. Mr. McLauchlan was also President of the Grey & Bruce Cement Co. Ltd. Circa 1900, James McLauchlan had the Abbey Bros. Boatworks at Owen Sound built him a "lavish houseboat". Emma Naismith (nee Scott) recalled in 1927 that one of her fond memories was that of James McLauchlan twisting a piece of paper into a cornucopia and filling it up with "bull's eyes" (likely some sort of candy). Hetty/Hettie Dillane was born at Tarbot, Ireland in 1835, and emigrated to Canada with her parents, settling in Holland Township. Her obituary gives her name as "Hettie Delaine", but usually it is seen as Hetty Dillane McLauchlan. She passed away at Hamilton in March, 1904, and was buried at Owen Sound. In the 1901 census of Owen Sound, James McLauchlan was 66 years of age, and listed as a "Manufacturer Confections". His wife was not listed. The household then included: Joseph K.McLauchlan (30), John H. (29), George D. (26), Hetty A. Stewart (37), Wm. J. Stewart(16), M____ Stewart (14), Lillian E. Stewart (13), John A. Stewart (9) and Cathleen M. Stewart (6). In 1914, there was a lot of concern during the First World War for the plight of Belgian civilians. James McLauchlan donated 500 tins of biscuits to the Belgian Overseas Fund that year. James McLauchlan passed away in 1921. His obituary in the Owen Sound Daily Sun Times mentioned that he was born on September 28, 1834, and states that he emigrated when he was eighteen, which is a mistake, as he would have been actually 20. Archival Items: 1961.038.045 Photograph of James McLauchlan & Dr. Charles E. Barnhart and 2 children on the 9th St. footbridge at Owen Sound 1961.038.036 Portrait photograph of James McLauchlan, c. 1895 1974.049.003 Scrapbook has portrait clipping of James McLauchlan, c. 1894, and shows his building 1974.057.005 Deed of Land between Estate of Mrs. Watlington and James McLauchlan 1980.101.001 Booklet, ILLUSTRATED OWEN SOUND ON THE GEORGIAN BAY, 1911, has advertisement for "McLauchlan Biscuit Works" 1980.281.001 Composite photograph of mayors includes James McLauchlan 1989.054.010 Photograph of McLauchlan & Sons storefront, c. 1906 1989.054.040 Negative of McLauchlan & Sons storefront (different view) 1990.057.019 Photograph of McLauchlan & Son storefront, c. 1892 1991.055.009 Photograph of James McLauchlan and his early store building, likely late 1870s [locale not confirmed] 1991.055.010 Photograph of McLauchlan's parlour, c. 1900 1991.055.011 Photograph of McLauchlan's dining room, c. 1900 1991.055.016 Unidentified residential photograph that was owned by the McLauchlans 1992.057.019 Newspaper, THE OWEN SOUND TIMES,Sept. 24, 1875, p. 3 has advertisement for "Anderson & McLauchlan" 1993.024.019 Souvenir booklet of Owen Sound shows McLauchlan & Sons storefront. 1993.024.028 Booklet, FACTS ABOUT OWEN SOUND, c. 1924, has image of the storefront of McLauchlan & Sons Co. Ltd., Factory and Wholesale house 1993.024.029 Souvenir booklet (1904), p. 8 has ad for McLauchlan's Cream Soda Biscuits, p. 11 mention of hospital board work and there is a p. 15 portrait of him 1994.018.004 Photograph of a parade on Main St. Owen Sound includes McLauchlan & Sons storefront, c. 1905 (ditto 1986.074.008) 1994.059.008 Annual Report of the General & Marine Hospital (1915), p. 3 lists him as Honourary President 1995.021.001 THE CANADIAN TRADE REVIEW, Aug. 1899, includes an image of James McLauchlan Note: There might be an article about James McLauchlan in the 1893 PLAIN DEALER newspaper article in the archives collection, but need to confirm this yet. |
Occupation |
Confectioner / Travelling Candy Wagon Merchant Grocer (c.1891) Manufacturer McLauchlan & Sons biscuit and candy company President of the Owen Sound Telephone Company Limited Mayor of Owen Sound Politician Cement Industry Grey & Bruce Cement Co. Volunteer Fireman / No. 1 Fire Engine Company / Fire Chief Masonic Lodge |
Publications |
-HISTORY OF ONTARIO (1907) has a biographical article about him -Croft, Melba, A PORT OF SOME IMPORTANCE, p. 50 (image of the McLauchlan Biscuit Factory storefront area) -Croft, Melba, FOURTH ENTRANCE TO HURONIA, p. 138 -Croft, Melba, GROWTH OF A COUNTY TOWN: OWEN SOUND 1900-1920, p. 206 (re 500 tins of biscuits) -McLauchlan, Gayle, THE McLAUCHLANS OF OWEN SOUND, 1991. -Naismith, Emma (Scott), I'M GOING HOME, 1927 -Obituary, Feb. 15, 1921, Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, "The Late James McLauchlan Had a Remarkable Career" -"Golden Jubilee of Telephone Service to Owen Sound", OWEN SOUND DAILY SUN TIMES, Jun or Jan? 14, 1934 THE CANADIAN TRADE REVIEW, August, 1899 |
Relationships |
Presbyterian Church member Masonic Lodge member Son-in-law: William John Stewart (a Confectioner), b. Sullivan Township, was 24 when he married 18 year old Hetty Alice McLauchlan at Owen Sound on Dec. 7, 1880. |
Role |
Business person |
Spouse |
Hetty Dillane of Holland Township (married c. 1855) |
Children |
Joseph Kent McLauchlan [1870-1963] William G. McLauchlan James McLauchlan John H. McLauchlan [later lived in New York & West Virginia] Hetty Alice McLauchlan [Mrs. W. J. Stewart, b. Jan. 22, 1864-d. Sept. 8, 1939] George Dillane McLauchlan [b. 1874-d. 1967] |
