Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Sloan, John |
Othernames |
John Sloane John Sloan |
Born |
b. 1834 |
Birthplace |
Co. Cavan, Ireland |
Places of residence |
County Cavan, Ireland Owen Sound, Canada West (later Ontario) Toronto, Ontario |
Father |
W. Sloane (sic) |
Mother |
Ellen Sloan (nee Galbraith) |
Nationality |
Irish |
Notes |
The Grey Roots Museum had a hard-cover music book in the museum collection long ago that had the J. Sloan Melodeon factory name on it. It is an 1877 copyright book. The book apparently was sold in Owen Sound, Ontario by the "Sloan Manufacturing Co." This Owen Sound company made melodeons still. J. Sloan also had agents in Orangeville, Meaford, and Mount Forest at that time. It may be in the archives area now, it used to be boxed with the music sheets? Mr. Sloane's name is also hand-penned on a framed 1867 testimonial to W. H. Smith, from when a group of Owen Sound businessmen wanted to thank Capt. Smith for building his ship, the S.S. Frances Smith (the testimonial is 1970.089.002 and is at Grey Roots). John Sloan had a melodeon factory in Owen Sound, Canada West, that was located at Scrope Street (now the part of 3rd Ave. East just east of main street, between 10th and 9th St.). He had a printed advertisement in W. W. Smith's Gazetteer & Directory of the County of Grey (1865-1866). He was the proprietor: "Sloan's Melodeon Factory Scrope St. Owen Sound This business has been established several years in Owen Sound, and the Subscriber can confidently refer to many parties throughout the Province, who are using his instruments, as to their DURABILITY, TONE, FINISH, AND PRICE "CANADIAN INSTRUMENTS FOR CANADIAN USE" J. SLOAN" This advertisement has a printed melodeon illustration (but it likely was just a stock printer's illustration cut rather than an exact depiction of their wares). This advertisement though would be an excellent one for copying and enlargement as a display graphic to go with the melodeon. Melba Croft mentions in the 1856 section of her book, Fourth Entrance to Huronia (about early Owen Sound) that John Sloan had opened a melodeon shop that year (p. 72). Later on in her book, she mentions seeing an advertisement for melodeons at J. Sloan's factory in the Jan. 11, 1867 edition of the Owen Sound Times. In the 1871 census, John Sloane (age 32), "Melodian Maker" (sic) and his wife Wilhelmina (age 24) are listed. They were married in 1871. A very brief newspaper clipping wedding announcement read: "In Durham, on the 15th ult., at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. W. B. Evans, John Sloan of Owen Sound, to Williamina Jane, oldest daughter of Sir. W. H. Colies." The 1884-1885 Farmers & Business Directory Vol. 1, Union Publishing Co., p. B92 and 194, lists "Sloan, John, melodian manfr." There is also an ad "Music & Musical Instruments Sloan, John, Owen Sound". In the 1901 census the Sloane family is residing at Lot N P Poulett St. East (somewhere on main street). John Sloane is listed in the census as having a birthdate of October 21, 1838, born Ireland, and he emigrated in 1852. Presbyterian. His wife was no longer alive in 1901, but the following still lived with him: daughter Jennie Sloane, age 28, music teacher, daughter Corrina Sloane, age 22, music teacher, daughter Anna Sloane age 20, son John Sloane age 19 and son Barrasford Sloane, b. Nov. 8, 1886, age 14 (he worked as a book-keeper). In 1906, the son, John Colles Sloane, age 27, married Minnie Gertrude Tennyson, age 23, at Drayton. According to his death record (001136), John Sloane, died at Toronto on January 1, 1916, age 83 and 3 months. He was buried at Owen Sound. His Irish parents were listed on the death record as W. Sloane and Ellen Galbraith. Greenwood Cemetery at Owen Sound is where he was buried. The transcript of gravestones in our archives has John Sloane b. 1834 - d. 1916 of Co. Cavan Ireland and his wife Wilhemina Colles b. 1844-d. 1896 (she was a native of Dublin, Ireland). Buried near them is S. J. B. Sloane b. 1888-d. 1931, Jane E. Sloane b. 1871, Corinna P. Downer (b. 1873-1961), Anna B. Sloane 1876 and John C. Sloane b.1873-d. 1961 and his wife Gertrude 1882-1931. There is a red brick residence (1870s) on the eastside in Owen Sound that has a small plaque on it reading "Sloan House". It had a broom-making machine in its basement area where J. C. Sloan's broom and whisk factory was. Still in operation into the 1950s? |
Occupation |
Melodeon Factory Owner |
Publications |
Croft, Melba, FOURTH ENTRANCE TO HURONIA, p. 72 Marriage Record 020163 (for John Colles Sloane to Minnie Tennyson, July 25, 1906 |
Relationships |
Father-in-law: Sir W. H. Colies |
Role |
Business person |
Spouse |
Wilhelmina Colles, m. |
Children |
Jennie Sloane daughter Corrina/Corinne Sloane m. Samuel Whitney Downer in May, 1920 Anna Sloane John Colles Sloane (b. May 24, 1879-d July 21, 1922), m. Minnie Gertrude Tennyson on July 25, 1906 Barrasford Sloane (b. Nov. 8, 1886-d. ___) |
