George Thomas Marks
Encyclopedia
George Thomas Marks was a businessman and politician in Ontario
, Canada. He was mayor of Port Arthur, Ontario
(later Thunder Bay
) from 1893 to 1899.
He was born in Bruce Mines
, Canada West, the son of George Marks and Mary Traynor, and was educated at Trinity College School in Port Hope
. In 1873, he settled in Prince Arthur's Landing (later Port Arthur). He worked in various companies owned by his uncle Thomas Marks
, before becoming a partner in Thomas Marks and Company in 1884. Marks was married twice: to Jennie Laird in 1881 and to Mary Elizabeth Rowan in 1898. Marks was treasurer and councillor for Shuniah
and then served on Port Arthur town council from 1885 to 1887. He established a municipal electric-lighting plant and helped consolidate town debt associated with earlier public works projects. He also supported a power generation plan for the Kaministiquia River
and helped promote the Ontario and Rainy River Railway. In 1894, he became a partner in the St Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Company and in 1903, with others, formed the Canadian North West Steamship Company and Neebing Navigation Limited. He was also vice-president of the Dominion Marine Association. He was defeated when he ran for reelection as mayor in 1900. Marks ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons in 1904. He was one of the earliest proponents for amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William
. Marks died in Toronto
at the age of 50.
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....
, Canada. He was mayor of Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
(later Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
) from 1893 to 1899.
He was born in Bruce Mines
Bruce Mines, Ontario
Bruce Mines is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located on the north shore of Lake Huron in the Algoma District along Highway 17. The town of Bruce Mines has a population of 584 residents. The current mayor of Bruce Mines is Gordon Post.- History :...
, Canada West, the son of George Marks and Mary Traynor, and was educated at Trinity College School in Port Hope
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
. In 1873, he settled in Prince Arthur's Landing (later Port Arthur). He worked in various companies owned by his uncle Thomas Marks
Thomas Marks
Thomas Marks was an Irish-born Canadian businessman who served as the first mayor of Port Arthur, Ontario ....
, before becoming a partner in Thomas Marks and Company in 1884. Marks was married twice: to Jennie Laird in 1881 and to Mary Elizabeth Rowan in 1898. Marks was treasurer and councillor for Shuniah
Shuniah, Ontario
Shuniah is a municipal township bordering the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada on the east. Shuniah was incorporated by an act of the Ontario legislature in 1873, and at that time included much of present-day Thunder Bay and its predecessor and surrounding municipalities...
and then served on Port Arthur town council from 1885 to 1887. He established a municipal electric-lighting plant and helped consolidate town debt associated with earlier public works projects. He also supported a power generation plan for the Kaministiquia River
Kaministiquia River
The Kaministiquia River is a river which empties into western Lake Superior at the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Kaministiquia is an Ojibwe word meaning " with islands" due to two large islands at the mouth of the river...
and helped promote the Ontario and Rainy River Railway. In 1894, he became a partner in the St Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Company and in 1903, with others, formed the Canadian North West Steamship Company and Neebing Navigation Limited. He was also vice-president of the Dominion Marine Association. He was defeated when he ran for reelection as mayor in 1900. Marks ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons in 1904. He was one of the earliest proponents for amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
. Marks died in 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...
at the age of 50.