11) Stewart Lamont: Elected mayor for the Town of Welland in 1882

Vital statistics

Birth: June 22, 1832 at Kilmood, County Down, Northern Ireland

Death: February 8, 1897 (age 64)

Burial place: Fonthill Cemetery (Find a Grave)

Spouse: Elizabeth George (née McMaster)

Children: None

Occupation: Shoemaker

Religion: Presbyterian

Political affiliation: Reform

Community affiliations: Town Councillor

Profile

Stewart Lamont was born on June 22, 1832 at Kilmood, County Down, Northern Ireland. His parents names have not been recorded or discovered using the currently available digitized records on Ancestry or FamilySearch. Interestingly, the first reeve of Welland Daniel McCaw was also born in Ireland, and he shares the occupation of shoemaker along with Stewart. Ireland was historically known for its shoemaking and handcrafted footwear.

Stewart was well-travelled, in fact in his obituary it was stated that hardships from travelling were credited to making him appear older than he really was (along with his unremitting hard work on his boot and shoe business). He left Ireland at about 14 years old, and spent seven years in Australian wilderness (his reasons were not recorded but it may have been a sense of adventure motivating him). He then lived for a time in Hudson, N.Y., then finally settled in Welland with a boot and shoe business. In 1866 when he was 34 years old, he travelled back to Ireland for a visit. There he met and married Elizabeth; they had been friends when they were youths in Ireland. They moved back to Welland to start a life together, though they never had children.

Stewart was credited as being a very industrious and capable business man, and he acquired considerable property including a business block and a house in Welland, and a farm of 640 acres near the city of Brandon, Manitoba. The included picture is an ad for his boot and shoe business from an 1870 edition of the Tribune, as unfortunately no pictures of Stewart have been found.

Due to his scrupulous integrity he was privileged to hold the confidence of his fellow townsmen, being elected as councillor in 1866, 1876, 1877, and 1896, and as mayor in 1882. It was said that he tried to avoid public office rather than seek it out. His election in 1882 is especially impressive as he defeated incumbent Richard Morwood, who as mentioned in his profile may have been the most revered citizen of Welland all time, it also being Richard Morwood’s only electoral defeat.

Stewart earned a reputation for independence and care in guarding the interests of the town by vetoing a resolution of the council to exempt from taxation the property of a private bank that was operating in Welland. Up to that point, it was the only time the mayor’s right of veto had been exercised.

Of note, by 1882 when Stewart was mayor the population of Welland was near 2,000. Just 10 years prior the population was at 1,110, so it had nearly doubled in 10 years. The population increasing in the 1870s was mostly due to construction of the Third Welland Canal (built between 1872 and 1881). Such a rapid increase in population could theoretically lead to slapdash increases in spending, so Stewart’s careful reputation may have made him the right man for the job at that point.

In 1893 Stewart and Elizabeth made a trip to their old home in Ireland, considering moving there in their retirement. They ultimately decided not to stay, as Ireland had changed from what they remembered, and that “We liked Ireland firstrate, but we like Canada better.” When he returned there was talk of him running for mayor again but he decided against it, likely due to failing health. He was a councillor in 1896, but he was unable to take the interest in the work as he formerly did. “In fact for a long time he had been hovering between life and death, and it was only through good nursing and close attention that he survived so long.”

Also from his obituary: ”It can be truly said that he was a good citizen, living an upright and honorable life, ever ready to assist his brethren and to further all improvements in the town. As a merchant he was very successful, accumulating several lots of property in some of the best positions in the town.”

Sources

  • “Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Lamont...” Welland Telegraph, December 8, 1893.
  • “Mrs. Lamont Dead.” Welland Telegraph, August 17, 1905.
  • “Old Ireland.” Welland Tribune, October 27, 1893.
  • “Stewart Lamont.” Welland Telegraph, February 12, 1897.
  • “Stewart Lamont.” Welland Tribune, February 12, 1897.
11) Stewart Lamont: Elected mayor for the Town of Welland in 1882