David Reesor
Encyclopedia
David Reesor was an Ontario
businessman and political figure. He was a Liberal
member of the Senate of Canada for King's division from 1867 to 1901.
He was born in Reesorville (later the Village of Markham
), Upper Canada
in 1823 to parents Abraham Reesor (1755-1823) and Anna Dettwiler (d. 1857), descended from Pennsylvania Dutch
Mennonite
immigrants who first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
. David was the nephew of Abraham Stouffer
, founder of Stouffville, and of Peter Reesor
, co-founder of Reesorville (later Markham) and Cedar Valley. In 1848, he married Emily McDougall, who was the sister of politician William McDougall
. Reesor was editor of the Markham Economist
. He was also a magistrate and notary public, reeve of Markham, Ontario
(1851, 1856-57 and 1859-1860) and served as warden for York
and Peel
counties. Though Reesor came from a pacifist Mennonite
background, he became a lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
for King's division in 1860 and served until Confederation
, when he was named to the Senate. During the debates preceding Confederation, Reesor supported an elected Senate. He resigned in 1901.
He died at Rosedale
in north Toronto
in 1902. His home at 166 Main Street North in Markham (built 1876) still stands.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
businessman and political figure. He was a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
member of the Senate of Canada for King's division from 1867 to 1901.
He was born in Reesorville (later the Village of Markham
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
), Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1823 to parents Abraham Reesor (1755-1823) and Anna Dettwiler (d. 1857), descended from Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
immigrants who first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
. David was the nephew of Abraham Stouffer
Abraham Stouffer
thumb|right|Abraham Stoufferthumb|right|Gravestones for Elizabeth Stouffer and Abraham Stouffer, located in Altona, OntarioAbraham Stouffer is the founder of the town of Stouffville, Ontario....
, founder of Stouffville, and of Peter Reesor
Peter Reesor
Peter Reesor is the founder of Markham, Ontario.Peter Reesor was born December 25 1775, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Christian Reesor and Veronica Reiff .- Peter's First Visit to Canada :...
, co-founder of Reesorville (later Markham) and Cedar Valley. In 1848, he married Emily McDougall, who was the sister of politician William McDougall
William McDougall (politician)
Sir William McDougall PC CB was a Canadian lawyer, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation.Born near York, Upper Canada...
. Reesor was editor of the Markham Economist
Markham Economist and Sun
The Markham Economist & Sun is a newspaper published two times per week serving all communities of Markham, Ont., a town of 261,573 in York Region. The Economist & Sun is one of six York Region Media Group newspapers, a division of Metroland Media Group.-Coverage:The Economist & Sun covers local...
. He was also a magistrate and notary public, reeve of Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
(1851, 1856-57 and 1859-1860) and served as warden for York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
and Peel
Peel County, Ontario
Peel County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1851 from a portion of York County. In 1973, Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, as a result of the Ontario provincial government's regionalization of the rapidly developing counties...
counties. Though Reesor came from a pacifist Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
background, he became a lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
for King's division in 1860 and served until Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, when he was named to the Senate. During the debates preceding Confederation, Reesor supported an elected Senate. He resigned in 1901.
He died at Rosedale
Rosedale, Toronto
Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis, and so named by his wife, granddaughter of William Dummer Powell, for the wild roses that grew there in abundance....
in north Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1902. His home at 166 Main Street North in Markham (built 1876) still stands.