Obituary for William Rutherford Jr.

From the Montreal Gazette, February 29, 1932.  Page 4.

"WESTMOUNT LOSES PROMINENT CITIZEN IN W. RUTHERFORD / Former Mayor and Alderman of Suburban City Dies in 68th Year / LEADING INDUSTRIALIST / Was Director of Lumber Business Bearing Family Name--Had Various Sporting Associations.

Over the city hall of Westmount a flag flew at half mast yesterday.  It signified that the municipality is  mourning one of its most distinguished sons--William Rutherford, ex-alderman, former mayor, and widely known business man, who died on Saturday evening at his home, 458 Mount Stephen avenue.  He was 67 years of age and had been ill for a long time.

Always interested in civic affairs, Mr. Rutherford was elected by acclamation to the highest post the municipality could offer, that of chief magistrate.  He occupied the mayoral chair for the term of 1911-12 and previous to that had been an alderman for three years.

His business activities were centred in the Rutherford Lumber Company, formerly known as the William Rutherford and Sons, Company, Limited.  This firm was founded by Mr. Rutherford's father.  At the time of his death he was a director of this firm having served for many years as treasurer.  

Mr. Rutherford had wide business interests and was called upon to serve on the board of many business associations.  He was a past president of the Quebec branch of the Canadian Manufacturers Association, a past president of the mechanics institute and a former councillor of the Montreal Board of Trade.  

Following his term as mayor of the city of Westmount he was elected chairman of  the board of school commissioners of the municipality, a post he filled with distinction for many years.

Keenly interested in sports, Mr. Rutherford was a life member of the Montreal Athletic Association, and, as a younger man, he belonged to many curling and bowling clubs.  

He was a lifelong member of St. Andrews Church, Westmount. 

BORN IN MONTREAL.

William Rutherford was born in Montreal on April 22, 1864.  His father, William, was a native of Scotland, locating here in 1852, and he established his lumber business in 1856.  He was one of the pioneers in the development of the Province of Quebec, and was of that famous old Scotch and Presbyterian strain which produced many of the sturdy men of Canada.  His mother was Elizabeth (Jackson) Rutherford, also a native of Scotland.

Mr. Rutherford received his education in the high schools of the city, later taking a course at the private school of the late Professor Edward Springrice.

He is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Ida Bulmer;  three sons,  William Jackson, John Bulmer and Andrew Scott Rutherford;  two daughters, Mrs. H.G.D. Ross of Larchmount, New York, and Mrs. R.H. Wallace, of Shawinigan Falls;  four brothers,  Andrew Rutherford and Stewart S. Rutherford of Montreal, Forest Rutherford of New York, and Gordon S. Rutherford, of Painesville, Ohio, and two sisters, Mrs. William Dunlop of Ottawa, and Mrs. Thomas McIntosh, of Montreal.  

The funeral service will be held at 2:30 o'clock in St. Andrews United Church, Westmount.  Internment will be made in the Mount Royal Cemetery."  

The more I read about William Jr., the more I picture him as a vigorous, active and successful man, comfortable with leadership, and interested in making a mark on his city, which he certainly seems to have done.  I'm still trying unsuccessfully to find out more about his mother, Elizabeth Jackson, and her family.  Hopefully I'll get a breakthrough soon.

William Rutherford and Sons at the National Archives of Quebec

Every other province in Canada has a provincial archive, but not Quebec...search around for the Quebec provincial archives and you'll find something called Archives Nationales du Quebec.   It is a very nice website, I must admit.  And it has a snazzy blue online engraving of the industrial headquarters of Wm. Rutherford and Sons, the company that made William Rutherford Senior a minor baron of Montreal industry!  Here it is:

Dated 1894, it comes from a publication called Montreal Illustrated 1894, published by the Consolidated Illustrating Co.  I find it a rather spartan building, especially for the time period.  I'd love to know if it still stands.

I think this is text from the same publication.

It's not easy to read online, so I'll transcribe the significant parts.

"This is the house conducted by Messrs. Wm. Rutherford & Sons, manufacturers of sashes, blinds, stair-work, and general mill-work, and hardwood finish of every description, occupying the site, No. 85 to 95 Atwater avenue.  This flourishing concern was originally established by the present head of the firm, Mr. William Rutherford, some forty years ago.  His operations were primarily of a comparatively modest character:  year after year, however, widening the scope of his endeavors until to-day the house ranks as one of the leading industrial establishments of its type in the province of Quebec.  Mr. Rutherford's first efforts were restricted to the business of contractor and lumber merchant:  in 1880 the trading title became William Rutherford & Co., and in 1887, being joined by his sons, Messrs. Thomas J., William Rutherford Jr., and Andrew Rutherford, the present firm style was assumed.  The spacious premises occupied (which, by the way, are about to be enlarged in the spring of 1894, in order to meet the demands of an increasing trade connection) cover a ground area of 338 x130 feet, with lumber yards on the canal bank, having dimensions of 800 x120 feet. The working plant consists of mills, drying kilns and storage sheds.  The mills for sawing, planing and general wood working are abundantly supplied with the newest and best machinery in use, operated by a steam engine of one hundred horse power.  The kilns have a holding capacity of 60,000 feet of lumber, and a force of from ninety to one hundred skilled workmen is employed in the various departments of the business.  The range of manufacture embraces an extended range of wood work, including, as it does, sashes, doors and blinds, stair-work and turning, prepared lumber of all descriptions,  packing cases and boxes, besides many specialties in hardwood finish and interior work peculiar to this house.  These are produced in great quantity and variety....Noted for its enterprise, probity and business integrity, the firm of Messrs. William Rutherford and Sons possesses most deservedly the confidence of Montreal's leading commercial and financial circles in the highest degree."  

The article also mentions that William Rutherford Sr. was a member and ex-president of the Mechanics' Institute of Montreal.