3) Thaddeus W. Hooker: Elected reeve for the Village of Welland in 1861, 1866 & 1868

Vital statistics

Birth: November 8, 1823 at Vergennes, Vermont, USA

Death: November 2, 1892 at Welland, Ontario, Canada (age 68)

Burial place: Fonthill Cemetery (Find a Grave)

Spouse: Susan Melvina (née Seamans)

Children: Elleen / Susie / Bertha / Hortense / Carrie L. / Delos Daniel / Edward / Frank W.

Occupations: Farmer / Brickmaker

Religion: Baptist

Community affiliations: Pastmaster and treasurer at Merritt Masonic lodge / Public School Board

Profile

Thaddeus W. Hooker was born November 8, 1823 at Vergennes, Vermont, USA. His parent’s names are currently unknown, at least by this researcher. He grew up and received his education in Vermont. He was married in New York State in Niagara County (and where he afterwards resided), on January 18, 1846, to Susan Melvina Seamans. She was a daughter of Daniel and Amy (née Olin) Seamans, who were among the first settlers in that area.

He immigrated into Canada in February of 1855, moving to the village of Merrittsville (which in 1858 was incorporated and renamed to Welland). He obtained a contract from the company of John Baker Hellems and William A. Bald to manufacture the bricks to be used in the construction of the new Welland County Courthouse. He found the village suitable for his business and he decided to settle here, making the village of Welland his home. He constructed his brickyard on the west bank of the Welland Canal, south of what is now Hooker St., which was of course later named in honour of Thaddeus and his prominent brick-making business. In 1861 the brickyard produced 400,000 bricks. By 1902 the output had increased to one million bricks.

Between 1855 and 1912, many of the brick buildings in Welland were constructed of Hooker bricks. Among the buildings still standing today featuring these bricks are 73-77 West Main St., the Bogner building at 28 West Main St. (also known as the Rose Block), and 43-49 West Main St.

The house he built for his family in 1856 was at 33 Maple Ave., near his company’s brickyard, and made from his bricks. It was possibly the first brick home in Welland, and it was designated a heritage property in 1991.

Thaddeus was the first person to be elected three times as reeve, and also the first to serve non-consecutive terms. He additionally served the public five times as a councillor. After Welland became a town in 1878 he was repeatedly urged to accept the mayoralty but he persistently declined the proffered honour. However, later in his life he did represent the town of Welland as reeve within the county government. He also occupied a position on the school board for a period of over twenty years. He was also a Past Master Mason, having joined that society about 1867.

In 1898 his son Delos Daniel Hooker would be elected town mayor to become the 18^th person to be chief magistrate of Welland. Delos also served the public eight times as a councillor. Delos’ biography will be featured when we reach chief magistrate #18. Worth noting, a father and son both becoming the chief magistrate of Welland happened only one other time, with Jay Clarke Diffin (#28) and Harry Wallace Diffin (#38).

Interestingly, Thaddeus was Welland’s reeve in 1866 during the tumultuous period of the Fenian Raids. The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish American organization that fought against the British rule of Ireland. Many of them were Civil War veterans who believed that capturing Canada could be used as leverage against Britain. They did not have the support of the American government who had declared themselves neutral. On June 1, 1866 the Fenians invaded Canada just north of Fort Erie, and worked to secure the Welland Canal, the most strategic spot in the nearby area.

A report of what occurred in Welland during this time comes from the June 7, 1866 edition of the Welland Tribune: “Our town was one grand scene of confusion during the late two days’ raid. The excitement ran highest on Friday, when all manner of false reports were eagerly circulated and believed by many. To the reeve of the village, T.W. Hooker, Esq., the people are indebted for the active measures inaugurated for their defence and protection. A public meeting was called for on Friday and it was determined to appoint a Vigilance Committee, and the body kept in session night and day during the raid. No arms could be procured, and the operations of the committee were confined to directing the scouting and patrolling parties. By sending out messengers, reliable information was obtained, and the Committee were enabled to contradict the sensational reports and “extras” circulated throughout the town.”

Thaddeus was also reeve in 1868, a year that turned out to be a significant one in the village’s history. Municipal innovations from that year: councillors earning pay for their work ($8 annually), establishing committees (finance, assessment, streets and sidewalks, health, relief, standing rules, communications, licences and bylaws), and the council meeting one day every week (instead of at the call of the reeve, which was monthly but otherwise unpredictable).

Thaddeus died November 2, 1892 in Welland. His life and character was described in his obituary from the November 4, 1892 edition of the Welland Tribune: “Besides being of excellent judgment, T.W. Hooker was a man of sterling integrity and possessed of a character beyond reproach.  Although never a seeker after public office or distinction, he was chosen to fill the office of reeve of the town as early as 1860, and repeatedly since and until very recently held representative positions of public trust… He lived up to the golden rule – doing to others as he would be done by: in peace with all men; a good citizen, a good neighbor, a friend in deed as well as in name. No man could be missed more from our midst, none more sincerely mourned.”

Sources

• “First reeves Of Welland Were Named From Council Ranks.” Evening Tribune, June 29, 1963.
• “Late T.W. Hooker.” Welland Tribune, November 4, 1892.
• “Mrs. T.W. Hooker.” The People’s Press, July 12, 1910.
• The People’s Press, June 23, 1908.
• Roik, Richard. “House on Maple Avenue gets its niche in history.” The Tribune, August 27, 1992.
• The Tribune, October 5, 1991.
• Welland Tribune Printing House, “The History of Welland County” (1887), 565-566.