Truman Smith Baxter
Encyclopedia
Truman Smith Baxter was the 16th mayor of Vancouver
, British Columbia
. He was born on a farm near Carlingford, Ontario, part of Fullertown Township in Perth County
. He was the
son of Richard and Elizabeth Baxter, the former a native of Ontario, and the latter of Cornwall, England. The paternal grandfather came form New York to Ontario at the time of the American Revolutionary War
, being numbered among the United Empire Loyalists.
Truman was educated in the public schools in Perth County
Ontario and then attended High School in Stratford
Ontario. His mother, Elizabeth died when he was fourteen years old. His father Richard continued farming until his retirement in 1907 when he moved to Toronto. After graduation, Truman took up the profession of teaching, which he practiced for three years in Ontario. In the spring of 1890, at the age of 23, he moved to Vancouver. His first position was in the Leamy & Kyle mill on False creek
, one of the city's first sawmills, often referred to as the "Red Mill". After a time her went to the Royal City Planing Mills, and later the Heaps mill on False creek which was later destroyed by fire. During his first year of residence in Vancouver he was employed grading the streets and was also a longshoreman. He then began studying for a first-class teachers certificate in connection with J.A. Fraser
, who was at the time MLA for Cariboo
. After obtaining the certificate he worked as a teacher in the public schools in Vancouver, eventually becoming the first assistant at Mount Pleasant School. He then studied law and five years later was called to the bar. He practiced for three years in partnership with L.B. McLellan and William Savage. In partnership with Peter Wright he purchased the furniture store of G.W. Hutchins at the corner of Main and Hastings Street, and renamed it Baxter and Wright.
Baxter served on three occasions as an alderman for ward 5 in Vancouver (1900, 1905-6, 1912). In 1903, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the provincial legislature, as a Liberal. In 1913, he became mayor running as an independent, and was elected by acclamation. In 1914, he won a second term against L. D. Taylor
by 2091 votes. Baxter ran on his strengths as a business administrator, arguing that he had pulled the city’s finances
together out of the “financial chaos” caused by previous administrations. Baxter was said to be favoured by women voters,
Taylor by working men. In 1915, he lost to Taylor by 686 votes.
At Lulu Island, in 1893, Baxter married Miss Sarah Whiteside, a daughter of John Whiteside and a sister of Thomas Whiteside, who for two years also represented ward 5 in city council. They had four children together- Ernest, Fred, Harold, and Marguerite. Baxter was an enthusiastic motorist, and was one of the first car owners in British Columbia. He belonged to the Loyal Orange Lodge, and various civic and social clubs including the Vancouver Board of Trade, Progress, Terminal City, Commercial and Automobile clubs,
Baxter faced not only a time of economic decline, but also the circumstances surrounding Canada's involvement with World War I
. Two of his four children volunteered to serve overseas in that conflict. All civic departments were reorganized to adapt to the financial crisis and war priorities. At the outbreak of the war, city council voted a two per cent cut in pay of civil servants, but also formed a Charities and Relief Committee to look after those most in need. He worked hard to carry the Canadian Northern Railway
agreement to False creek, and was successful in that effort.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He was born on a farm near Carlingford, Ontario, part of Fullertown Township in Perth County
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
. He was the
son of Richard and Elizabeth Baxter, the former a native of Ontario, and the latter of Cornwall, England. The paternal grandfather came form New York to Ontario at the time of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, being numbered among the United Empire Loyalists.
Truman was educated in the public schools in Perth County
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
Ontario and then attended High School in Stratford
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
Ontario. His mother, Elizabeth died when he was fourteen years old. His father Richard continued farming until his retirement in 1907 when he moved to Toronto. After graduation, Truman took up the profession of teaching, which he practiced for three years in Ontario. In the spring of 1890, at the age of 23, he moved to Vancouver. His first position was in the Leamy & Kyle mill on False creek
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
, one of the city's first sawmills, often referred to as the "Red Mill". After a time her went to the Royal City Planing Mills, and later the Heaps mill on False creek which was later destroyed by fire. During his first year of residence in Vancouver he was employed grading the streets and was also a longshoreman. He then began studying for a first-class teachers certificate in connection with J.A. Fraser
John Anderson Fraser
John Anderson Fraser was a Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Shakespeare, Canada West and became a merchant and teacher....
, who was at the time MLA for Cariboo
Cariboo (provincial electoral district)
Cariboo was one of the twelve original electoral districts created when British Columbia became a Canadian province in 1871. Roughly corresponding to the old colonial electoral administrative district of the same name, it was a three-member riding until the 1894 election, when it was reduced...
. After obtaining the certificate he worked as a teacher in the public schools in Vancouver, eventually becoming the first assistant at Mount Pleasant School. He then studied law and five years later was called to the bar. He practiced for three years in partnership with L.B. McLellan and William Savage. In partnership with Peter Wright he purchased the furniture store of G.W. Hutchins at the corner of Main and Hastings Street, and renamed it Baxter and Wright.
Baxter served on three occasions as an alderman for ward 5 in Vancouver (1900, 1905-6, 1912). In 1903, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the provincial legislature, as a Liberal. In 1913, he became mayor running as an independent, and was elected by acclamation. In 1914, he won a second term against L. D. Taylor
L. D. Taylor
Louis Denison Taylor was elected the 14th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, he was elected seven times between 1910 and 1934, serving a total of 11 years....
by 2091 votes. Baxter ran on his strengths as a business administrator, arguing that he had pulled the city’s finances
together out of the “financial chaos” caused by previous administrations. Baxter was said to be favoured by women voters,
Taylor by working men. In 1915, he lost to Taylor by 686 votes.
At Lulu Island, in 1893, Baxter married Miss Sarah Whiteside, a daughter of John Whiteside and a sister of Thomas Whiteside, who for two years also represented ward 5 in city council. They had four children together- Ernest, Fred, Harold, and Marguerite. Baxter was an enthusiastic motorist, and was one of the first car owners in British Columbia. He belonged to the Loyal Orange Lodge, and various civic and social clubs including the Vancouver Board of Trade, Progress, Terminal City, Commercial and Automobile clubs,
Baxter faced not only a time of economic decline, but also the circumstances surrounding Canada's involvement with World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Two of his four children volunteered to serve overseas in that conflict. All civic departments were reorganized to adapt to the financial crisis and war priorities. At the outbreak of the war, city council voted a two per cent cut in pay of civil servants, but also formed a Charities and Relief Committee to look after those most in need. He worked hard to carry the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
agreement to False creek, and was successful in that effort.
External links
- Vancouver History: list of mayors, accessed 20 August 2006