William James Parkhill
Encyclopedia
William James Parkhill was an Ontario
political figure. He represented Simcoe East
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1878 to 1883 as a Conservative
member.
He was born in County Tyrone
, Ireland
in 1839 and came to Canada West in 1856. He first settled in Toronto
but later worked at lumber camps near Parry Sound
. Around 1861, he was hired by William and Robert Henry who were timber merchants operating near King
. He was promoted to manager and later ran their sawmill
at Randwick. In 1862, he married Anne Jane Crossley, who later ran the general store in Randwick. Parkhill was the first postmaster for the village and served as reeve for Mulmur Township
in 1877.
Parkhill was elected to the provincial assembly in 1878 after William McDougall
resigned to take a seat in the federal parliament and was reelected in the general election that followed. He was Grand Master for the Orange Lodge of Ontario West and Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of British America. In 1899, he was named customs collector at Midland
and served in that post until his death in 1913.
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....
political figure. He represented Simcoe East
Simcoe East
Simcoe East was a federal electoral district in the province of Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1968...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1878 to 1883 as a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
member.
He was born in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1839 and came to Canada West in 1856. He first settled 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...
but later worked at lumber camps near Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
. Around 1861, he was hired by William and Robert Henry who were timber merchants operating near King
King, Ontario
King is a township in York Region north of Toronto, within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine are the most prominent visible geographical feature of King. The Holland Marsh, considered to be Ontario's "vegetable basket", straddles King Township...
. He was promoted to manager and later ran their 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....
at Randwick. In 1862, he married Anne Jane Crossley, who later ran the general store in Randwick. Parkhill was the first postmaster for the village and served as reeve for Mulmur Township
Mulmur, Ontario
Mulmur is a township in Dufferin County in Southern Ontario, Canada.-Demographics:Population trend:* Population in 2006: 3318* Population in 2001: 3099* Population in 1996: 2903* Population in 1991: 2591-External links:*...
in 1877.
Parkhill was elected to the provincial assembly in 1878 after 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...
resigned to take a seat in the federal parliament and was reelected in the general election that followed. He was Grand Master for the Orange Lodge of Ontario West and Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of British America. In 1899, he was named customs collector at Midland
Midland, Ontario
Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.Situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport. It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area...
and served in that post until his death in 1913.