Jabez Bunting Snowball
Encyclopedia
Jabez Bunting Snowball was a businessman, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
, Canada
, and politician from the Town of Chatham, New Brunswick
. He operated a number of businesses in the eastern part of the province
and was one of its most prominent citizens.
from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
when his father, a Methodist Minister, answered a call to St. Luke's Church in Chatham.
Snowball attended Wesleyan Academy in Sackville, New Brunswick
, and was dissuaded by his family from going to California
to seek his fortune.
In 1871, he was a founder of the Miramichi Steam Navigation Company which soon built and operated six small steamers on the river. On his own account he purchased and operated several others. The next year he built the largest steam sawmill in the Province, milling some 170,000 board feet (400 m³) of lumber per day. He soon opened sawmills in Tracadie, Bay du Vin
and Red Bank
, operating a grist mill in the last community as well.
Fish attracted his attention as well, and soon Snowball had canneries on Shippegan Island and Miscou Island
. In 1879, he sent 200,000 lb. of lobster to the United Kingdom
.
Snowball was a tough master, hard working and expecting the same from all his employees. He vigorously put down any attempts to unionize.
In 1886, Snowball constructed the Chatham Branch Railway connecting the town with the Intercolonial Railway some six miles away. Along with Alexander Gibson
, Snowball constructed an extension of the railway
to Gibson, N.B., some 95 miles away. In 1893, he sold his interest to Gibson.
In 1887, he was a founding member of the Chatham Telephone Exchange which was later expanded into nearby Kent, Gloucester and Restigouche counties. This enterprise was sold in 1905 to the Central Telephone Company. Next was the Chatham Electric Light Company, founded in 1888.
as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
from 1878 to 1882. After a period in the Canadian Senate
, he served from 1902 – 1907 as Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
.
Snowball was active in securing incorporation for the town of Chatham, and when he ran to be its first mayor in 1896, he was defeated by a local doctor by two votes.
Snowball's mill in Chatham was caught up in the postwar depression of 1919 and closed.
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick or Lieutenante-gouverneure du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the viceregal representative in New Brunswick of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and politician from the Town of Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
. He operated a number of businesses in the eastern part of the province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
and was one of its most prominent citizens.
Early life
Snowball came to the Miramichi ValleyMiramichi Valley
The Miramichi Valley is a Canadian river valley and region located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. It extends along both major branches of the Miramichi River and their tributaries, however it is generally agreed that the much larger Southwest Miramichi River forms the majority of this...
from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
when his father, a Methodist Minister, answered a call to St. Luke's Church in Chatham.
Snowball attended Wesleyan Academy in Sackville, New Brunswick
Sackville, New Brunswick
Sackville is a Canadian town in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.Mount Allison University is located in the town...
, and was dissuaded by his family from going to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to seek his fortune.
Entrepreneur
Snowball started his working life as a clerk in a dry goods store in Chatham, owned by John MacDougall whose daughter he married. When MacDougall died in 1866, Snowball, at the age of 27, took over the business and expanded it.In 1871, he was a founder of the Miramichi Steam Navigation Company which soon built and operated six small steamers on the river. On his own account he purchased and operated several others. The next year he built the largest steam sawmill in the Province, milling some 170,000 board feet (400 m³) of lumber per day. He soon opened sawmills in Tracadie, Bay du Vin
Bay du Vin, New Brunswick
Bay du Vin is a small but picturesque unincorporated community located on the south shore of Miramichi Bay, 24 km east of the former town of Chatham , New Brunswick, Canada...
and Red Bank
Red Bank, New Brunswick
Red Bank, New Brunswick is a small rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is located approximately 20 km west of Miramichi, New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Little Southwest Miramichi River, at its confluence with the Northwest Miramichi River...
, operating a grist mill in the last community as well.
Fish attracted his attention as well, and soon Snowball had canneries on Shippegan Island and Miscou Island
Miscou Island
Miscou Island is a Canadian island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the northeastern tip of Gloucester County, New Brunswick.It is separated from neighbouring Lamèque Island to the southwest by the Miscou Channel with both islands forming Miscou Harbour....
. In 1879, he sent 200,000 lb. of lobster to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Snowball was a tough master, hard working and expecting the same from all his employees. He vigorously put down any attempts to unionize.
Magnate
By the 1880s, Snowball was the second largest exporter of lumber in New Brunswick, and employeed 1,000 men in his various enterprises.In 1886, Snowball constructed the Chatham Branch Railway connecting the town with the Intercolonial Railway some six miles away. Along with Alexander Gibson
Alexander Gibson (industrialist)
Alexander "Boss" Gibson was an industrialist in New Brunswick, Canada.He was born near Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, the son of John Gibson and Jane Neilson. In 1862, Gibson bought a sawmill and forest land in the Fredericton area...
, Snowball constructed an extension of the railway
Canada Eastern Railway
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
to Gibson, N.B., some 95 miles away. In 1893, he sold his interest to Gibson.
In 1887, he was a founding member of the Chatham Telephone Exchange which was later expanded into nearby Kent, Gloucester and Restigouche counties. This enterprise was sold in 1905 to the Central Telephone Company. Next was the Chatham Electric Light Company, founded in 1888.
Political life
He represented his area in the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
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...
from 1878 to 1882. After a period in the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, he served from 1902 – 1907 as Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick or Lieutenante-gouverneure du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the viceregal representative in New Brunswick of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada...
.
Snowball was active in securing incorporation for the town of Chatham, and when he ran to be its first mayor in 1896, he was defeated by a local doctor by two votes.
Local Grandee
Snowball and his wife (called "Lady Snowball" by the locals) maintained a splendid town residence called "Wellington Villa" at the town's most important intersection, and lived in great style, entertaining often with lots of servants and fine furniture.Legacy
Snowball died in 1907 at the age of 69, a wealthy and influential man. But, changing fortunes and a lack of the same great entrepreneurial flair in the next generation prevented a dynasty being established. His businesses were divided among his children and gradually frittered away.Snowball's mill in Chatham was caught up in the postwar depression of 1919 and closed.