William E. Niles
Encyclopedia
William E. Niles was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Coeymans, New York in 1799 and came to Upper Canada
to live with his uncle Willet Casey
in Adolphustown Township
. He later moved to Detroit and then settled on a farm in Upper Canada near the current location of Nilestown, which was named after him. Niles built a sawmill
there and opened a store. He served on the council for London District (later Middlesex County
) from 1842 to 1854, serving as warden from 1847. In 1849, he became a justice of the peace and, in 1851, was named lieutenant-colonel for the local militia. In 1854, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for East Middlesex as a moderate Reformer
. He served as director for the Great Western Railway
. Niles was originally raised as a Quaker but later became an Anglican
. He was also a Freemason.
He died in London, Ontario
in 1873.
His daughter Annie Maria married Ellis Walton Hyman, a London businessman; their son Charles Smith Hyman
later represented London in the Canadian House of Commons.
He was born in Coeymans, New York in 1799 and came to 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...
to live with his uncle Willet Casey
Willet Casey
Willet Casey was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Rhode Island in 1762. Casey was a Quaker and was viewed with hostility because he would not join in the combat. His father Samuel had been killed during the American Revolution. He first settled near Lake Champlain in...
in Adolphustown Township
Adolphustown, Ontario
Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, at on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists. The original Loyalist Landing site is now the U.E.L...
. He later moved to Detroit and then settled on a farm in Upper Canada near the current location of Nilestown, which was named after him. Niles built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
there and opened a store. He served on the council for London District (later Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
) from 1842 to 1854, serving as warden from 1847. In 1849, he became a justice of the peace and, in 1851, was named lieutenant-colonel for the local militia. In 1854, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature 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...
for East Middlesex as a moderate Reformer
Reform Party (pre-Confederation)
The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America . It agitated for responsible government....
. He served as director for the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway (Ontario)
The Great Western Railway was a historic Canadian railway that operated in Canada West and later the province of Ontario, following Confederation...
. Niles was originally raised as a Quaker but later became an Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He was also a Freemason.
He died in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in 1873.
His daughter Annie Maria married Ellis Walton Hyman, a London businessman; their son Charles Smith Hyman
Charles Smith Hyman
Charles Smith Hyman, was a Canadian businessman, and notable politician and sportsman.-Early life and business:...
later represented London in the Canadian House of Commons.