Person Record

Metadata

Name

Eldridge, William

Born

1874

Birthplace

Ontario

Spouse

Jenanine? (1921 census), Mary Thompson? (BGOGS obituary)

Children

John? (1921 census, 3 years old)

Occupation

Sawmill Operations: In winter 1916, William Eldridge shipped from Southampton station over one thousand cords of pulpwood, about 80 carloads. "This has meant considerable to the people of this district, particularly to the Indians on the Reserve. They received $3.60 per cord for it last spring, piled on the roadside or in a field easy to be got at. Then this winter they were paid $1.00 per cord for hauling it to the station here. ... He has also been shipping some white birch to the bobbin factory at Walkerton. Mr. Eldridge sells all his pulpwood to an American firm, getting a stated price for it delivered. His territory is a large one covering all this district north from Goderich and east as far as Collingwood. Mr. Eldridge states there is still a lot of timber of this kind in his district and he ships from a number of points besides Southampton." (Source: Wiarton Echo, Mar. 22, 1916)
In 1920, William Eldridge and Mr. Beemer bought the Thomson sawmill [in the Southampton area?] They also bought installed a mill in Guelph (Wiarton Echo, Mar. 21, 1920).
Fish boxes were made of soft wood at the sawmill of Eldridge & Diebel.
Marine Operations: William and Walter Eldridge were joint owners of the tug "Gilphie" in 1907. In 1908, William sold his share to Walter.
Political Involvement: William was Reeve of Amabel Township from 1913-1914 and Council Member from 1907-1911.

Places

Township of Amabel. In the 1921 Census, he is listed as living in the Town of Wiarton with wife at Lot C W Gould.

Sources

Sources:
a) Weichel, John. "Forgotten Times: Marine history of Southampton & the Bruce Coast." Southampton: Bruce County Museum & Archives, [ca. 2002?]. Print.

b) Wiarton Echo newspaper, March 22, 1916

c) Amabel Township Historical Society. "Green Meadows & Golden Sands: the History of Amabel Township 1851-1982." Amabel Township Historical Society, 1984.