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Colquhoun, WiIIIam,
Cornwall, was born on December 23rd, 1814, at Charlotteburgh, within four
miles of Cornwall, Ont. He is a son of Robert Colquhoun and a grandson of
Walter Colquhoun, proprietor of Calico Print Works, on the banks of Kelvin
river, Gilmour Hill, Glasgow. Robert his father came to New York city in
1801, where he entered mercantile life. In 1803 be left New York, and came
to Canada, settling in Cornwall, where he cornmenced business as a general
merchant. A few years afterward he moved to the Indian reservation on the
front of Charlotteburg, in the County of Glengarry, where he carried on a
mercantile business and extensive farming operations. He also acted in the
capacity of Indian agent. He continued to reside here until his death,
which occurred in 1828. Robert Colquhoun married E]izabeth, a daughter of
John McNairn, a native of Galloway, Scotland, who moved to Pennsylvania,
on the banks of the Susquehana. After the revolutionary war, in which he
served as sergeant in the British forces. Mr. McNairnr was obliged to
leave his property, and like many other loyalists came to Canada, settling
near Cornwall. Here the mother of our subject first saw the light, and she
is said to have been the first female white child born in the settlement.
She died in 1873. in her eighty-ninth year. The issue of thus marriage was
four sons and two daughters, William being the third son. He received his
early education at the Cornwall Grammar school, conducted by the Rev. Mr.
Leith, under whom he received both an English and classical education.
When he was thirteen, he left home for Montreal, and entered mercantile
pursuits. He afterwards commenced business for himself at Dickinson’s
Landing; Ontario ; and in 1841 he was appointed the first postmaster of
that place —the post offices being then under Imperial control—and
this position he retained until 1863, when he retired, having served a
period of twenty-two years. His general mercantile business he continued
until 1876, when he. removed to Cornwall. When the Ontario Municipal Act because law,
Mr. Colquhoun became the first treasurer of
the township of Osnabruck, which position
he held until elected to the council in
1852. He was elected warden of the united counties of Stormont, Dundas
and Glengarry, in 1855, having previously served as reeve for his own
township. In 1863 he was a candidate for the parliament of Canada, but
in consequence of the too brief space of time for canvaas, he was
unsuccessful. In 1867 Mr. Colquhoun was returned for the County of
Stormont, for the first legislature of Ontario, as a supporter of the
Sandfield Macdonald administration . In 1871 he was elected again for
this constituency over the late James Bethune, Q.C. His
majority however, was narrow. and in
consequence was contested, this being the first protest under the controverted election
act. A compromise was finally agreed
upon, each party paying his own costs, and a
new election was ordered. This took
place in 1872, when Mr. Bethune was returned by a majority of thirty-four.
Mr. CoIquhoun triad conclusions with Mr. Bethune again in 1875, as no
other parson could be found to do so ; but he was again unsuccessful. In
1878 Mr. Colquhoun was elected president of the Conservative Association of
the Electoral Division of Cornwall, which position he held for some
time. After coming to Cornwall, Mr. Colquhoun took an interest in municipal
politics, and in 1879 was elected to the council. He filled the mayor’s
chair in 1881, 1882 and 1883, each year being returned by acclamation.
Mr. Colquhoun has erected some of the finest buildings in Cornwall, both
commercial and otherwise ; and he is unquestionably one of its most
enterprising spirits in the community. He has visited Great Britain and
the continent, and, of course, the greater portion of our own country and
the United States. He married in 1852, Hester, daughter of Martin
Bailey, of Massachusetts, U.S, whose mother came of U.E. loyalist stock.
There is a family of nine
children, four of whom are living, one son and three daughters. Mr
Colquhoun was appointed J.P. over a quarter of a century ago. In his
case the office was anything but a sinecure, the America border being so
near, and furnishing important and at the same time difficult cases for
adjudication.
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