John Flesher
John Flesher | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1875–1879 | |
| Preceded by | George McManus |
| Succeeded by | Charles Robinson |
| Constituency | Cardwell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1833 Duffield, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | March 5, 1910 (aged 76) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Mary Ann Fowler (m. 1855) |
| Children | 9 |
| Occupation | Merchant |
John Flesher (June 8, 1833 – March 5, 1910) was an Ontario merchant and political figure.
Early life[edit]
Flesher was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, England in 1833,[1] the son of Rev. John Flesher, a Methodist preacher and Jane (née Cawood) Flesher. He was educated in a collegiate institute at Ramsgate.[1]
Settler and businessman[edit]
Flesher emigrated to Canada West in 1847 at the age of 14 with his older brother William, who was to become an MP and a prominent figure in the settlement of Grey County.[2] John first settled in Flesherton, the village that his brother had founded, where he helped his brother operate a grist mill and saw mill. In 1855, he married Mary Ann Fowler, the only daughter of Rev. William Fowler of New York City;[1] together they would raise twelve children, nine of whom survived infancy.[1]
In 1857, he became the Flesherton post master, a position his brother had also held,[3] but after six months, he resigned and moved his family to Albion, Ontario to open a store.[1] He returned almost immediately to Grey County, then the following year, he purchased a mill property owned by his brother in Adjala Township,[1] where for the next ten years he manufactured flour and lumber. He also started his political career, serving as a school trustee.[1]
In 1868, he moved to the village of Orangeville, Ontario, where he operated a store for a few years before switching to brokerage and conveyancing.[1] He also became a Master Mason.
Politician[edit]
When Orangeville was incorporated as a town in 1874, he was elected to the first town council, and served as councillor for several terms.[4]
Flesher was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the Cardwell district as a Conservative from 1875 to 1879, and was lauded as "a conscientious and earnest advocate of the principles of that party..."[1]
Electoral history[edit]
| 1875 Ontario general election: Cardwell | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Conservative | John Flesher | 1,208 | 52.80 | |||||
| Liberal | T.O. Bowls | 1,080 | 47.20 | +10.36 | ||||
| Turnout | 2,288 | 66.82 | −0.31 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 3,424 | |||||||
| Conservative gain from Liberal–Conservative | Swing | −5.18 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[5] | ||||||||
| 1879 Ontario general election: Cardwell | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Charles Robinson | 1,261 | 50.60 | +3.40 | ||||
| Conservative | John Flesher | 1,231 | 49.40 | −3.40 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 2,492 | 70.94 | +4.11 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 3,513 | |||||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.40 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[6] | ||||||||
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Canadian biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men: Ontario Volume. Chicago: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1880.
- ^ Hubbard, Mildred Young (1986). Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township. Owen Sound: Historical Society of Artemesia Township. Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ^ "Affichage du document". Bureaux et maîtres de poste. Bibliothèque et Archives Canada. 2007-01-31. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ Shain, F. (1913-12-11). "Orangeville Town Origins". Orangeville Banner. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved April 17, 2024.