Person Page - 933

RIDDELL, William Renwick, barrister, is the s. of Walter Riddell, of the family of Riddell of that ilk, Scot., and was b. near Cobourg, Ont., Apl. 6, 1852. Ed. at Cobourg Grammar Sch., at the Coll. Inst., and at Victoria Univ., same city (B.A., 1874; B.Sc, 1876; LL.B., 1878), he became Math. Master, Ottawa Normal Sch., 1875. Called to the bar, 1883, he v/on the Law Soc.'s gold medal and stood first in all his exams., both as barrister and solicitor. He commenced to practise at Cobourg, and has there and elsewhere taken a leading position as counsel in both civil and criminal cases. He is now a mem. of the firm of Beatty, Blackstock, Nesbitt, Chadwick & Riddell, Toronto. He has served as Crown counsel in several important cases, notably the Davis murder case and the Cynthia Bell case, and has successfully defended prisoners charged with capital offences. He represented the under-graduates before the Toronto Univ. Comn., 1895. He was elected a Bencher of the Law Soc, 1891, and has been re-elected at each subsequent election. In 1896 he was recommended by the Tapper Admn. for appt. as a Q. C. Mr. R. was for some yrs. Presdt. of the Educational Soc of Eastern Ont; was Chairman for an extended period of the Cobourg Coll. Inst. Bd; was Presdt. of the Alumni Assn. of Victoria Univ., 1894-95; became a mem. of the Bd. of Regents of Victoria Univ., 1895; and was elected a Senator of Toronto Univ. , the same year. He is a life-Fellow of the Botanical Soc. of Edin. , and a trustee of Toronto Western Hospital. On the death of Jas. Crossen, prop, of the Cobourg Car Manufacturing Works (whose dau., Anna Hester, he m. 1884), he organized the Crossen Car Manfg. Co., of which he became Presdt. Politically, he is a Lib. and a Free Trader, and has held the presidency of the West Northumberland Reform Assn. In religion, he is a Presb. - 109 St. George St., Toronto, Ont; Toronto Club.²⁵

Big Honor For Near Relative of DeKalbite
     The following clipping from a big Canada paper refers ot the brother of Francis Riddell of this city. Justic (sic) Riddell visited here several years ago and many local folks had the opportunity of meeting him. He is one of the big legal figures in the Dominion and has a great influence on legal affairs there. The honor that has been conferred upon him is explained thoroughly in the clipping:
     The Honorable William Renwick Riddell, justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario, has accepted the invitation of the authorities of Yale University to deliver the Dodge lectures on the Responsibilities of Citizenship in the coming year/ This lectureship has been held by the most prominent Americans, including ex-President Taft, Elihu Root, Charles E. Hughes, etc; but no one not an American citizen has heretofore been selected as lecturer, excepting Viscount Bryce, when he was ambassador at Washington.²⁶

Our Daily Birthday Party
     Justice William Renwick Riddell of the Supreme Court of Ontario, born in Northumberlandand (sic) county, Ont., 71 years ago today.
     Similar notices appear in newspapers across the U.S. during the early to mid-1920's - RGM.²⁸

Mr. Justice W. R. Riddell Dies at 92
     Member of Supreme Court for 39 Years
     TORONTO, Feb. 19.
     A member of the supreme court of Ontario for 39 years, Mr. Justice William Renick (sic) Riddell died at his home here early yesterday. He was 92 years old, and w as predeceased by his wife last Monday.
     BORN IN NORTHUMBERLAND
     Born in Hamilton township, Northumberland county, Ont., April 6, 1852, Mr. Justice Riddell was educated at Cobourg Collegiate Institute and Victoria University, Toronto. He was gold medallist at Osgoode Hall from where he graduated in 1883. Interviewed on his 92nd birthday last year, he said he had no intention of retiring from the bench and told newspapermen to "come back next year and each year after. I figure about another 24 years should be about right. HEALTH LEAGUE HEAD Last November he was elected to his 25th consecutive term as president of the Health League of Canada and took a leading part in that organization's fight against venereal disease. Officials of the league today expressed the deepest gratitude for the long years of continued interest Mr. Justice Riddell devoted to work in the field of health. Mr. Justice Riddell was holder of 11 honorary doctorates and was senior honorary member of the American Bar Association. He also was honorary member of 13 state bar associations, a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Though his position as justice of appeal in the Ontario Supreme Court took much of his time, he was working on an abridgement of Canadian law decisions, 47 volumes of which have already been published.
     WORKED HARD
     His one recipe for long life was work. On his 82nd birthday he said: I celebrate my birthday by doing as much work as I can. I think that is the best way one can keep alive. His favorite story "The funniest episode in my somewhat elongated career concerned the last report of my death. A certain United States medical record, to which he. had often been a contributor, addressed a letter to the estate of the late Justice Riddell asking an account of his early life. He wrote in reply that his executors declined to act unless they had been seated formally in their positions and had been appointed by the courts, which refused to act until I was dead. I pointed out that I was not yet 92, which is considered almost juvenile in my family, he chuckled.
     PUBLISHED WORKS
     
Among his published works are found "legal profession in Upper Canada, The Constitution of Canada, William Kirby, F.R.S.C., "La Roche-foucault's Travels in Canada, 1795, The Salve in Canada, "Old Province Tales, Michigan Under British Rule, and many others. Beside writings in book form, Mr. Justice Riddell contributed many ai tides in literary, legal and scientific journals. His ability and scholarship were recognized by many universities which honored him with degrees. Among these were University of Toronto, Syracuse University, Trinity College, Hartford. Boston University. University of Edinburgh, McMaster University. Northwestern University, Yale University and others. He was also honored by the state bar associations of New York. Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri. Georgia, Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, Nebraska, Ohio, and the Law Academy of Philadelphia. As a student at Victoria University he specialized first in history, obtaining his B A. in 1876. He then turned to mathematical and natural sciences and obtained the degree of B.Sc. in 1876. His next academic pursuit was law and an LL.B. in 1878. As a judge he was equally at home handing down a stern judgment from the bench, delivering an official welcome to a distinguished visitor on behalf of the city or lecturing in a great American university on the superiority of the Canadian constitution. William Renwick Riddell was for a number of years mathematical master at the Ottawa Normal School. ' He was called to the Bar in 1883, and practiced law at Cobourg from 1883 until 1892. He then came to Toronto and was for a time with the firm of Fasken, Robertson and Company. Elected a bencher in the Law Society in 1892. he was re-elected every year until his appointment to the bench. He was made a Queen s Counsel In 1898. He enjoyed a very large practice and his opinion was much sought by other lawyers in important cases.
     APPOINTED JUDGE IN 1906
     In 1906 he was made a judge of the King's Bench division, and in October 1925 he was appointed a justice cf Appeal of the Second Divisional Court. As a judge he was very highly regarded by his colleagues and by the legal profession as a whole. Shortly after his appointment he created a precedent by sentencing a man to life imprisonment for negligence in connection with a railway accident. He was a member of the royal commission appointed in 1920 to enquire Into timber operations in Ontario. As a lecturer and writer Judge Riddell was widely known throughout Canada and the United States. He has delivered the Dodge lectures at Yale University and the Blumenthal lectures at Columbia. One of his favorite topics was the Canadian constitution, on which he was an authority.
     RESEARCH WORK
     
Justice Riddell did a great deal of research on Canadian history. Much of his spare time was spent poring over old records in the Dominion Archives at Ottawa or at Osgoode Hall Most of his published works have been the outcome of this research. They include: The Constitution of Canada in Its History and Practical Working, Old Provincial Tales. Travels of La Rochcfoucalt in Canada in 1795, The First Judge of Detroit and His Court, Life of Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe. and other works. Besides those writings published in book form Judge Riddell has contributed many articles to literary, legal and scientific journals. His ability and scholarship were recognized by many universities which have honored him with degrees. Besides those of his Alma Mater, Victoria University, he held honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, Syracuse University, Trinity College, Hartford, Boston University, University of Edinburgh and others. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Hociety (sic).
     GOOD FORM
     In court he was a great stickler for good form ana was always very-anxious to uphold the dignity of the court. He has often reproved barristers for what he regarded as improper or slangy language in the court room. The story is told that once while sitting as judge in a county town, in order to expedite business he consented to a night session. When the time came for the opening of court the plaintiff in the action was nowhere to be found. Judge, jury and counsel were all kept waiting. Judge Riddell began to grow impatient at the delay and every one expected that the tardy litigant would receive a stern rebuke on his arrival. When he did arrive he was most elaborately dressed and carefully groomed. The judge smiled at this deference to the importance of the occasion, and the plaintiff got off without a harsh word. Not content with being a popular judge and a great scholar. Judge Riddell took an active interest in fraternal, benevolent and educational affairs. He was a governor of the University of Toronto. At one time he was chairman of the board of trustee.-, of Cobourg Collegiate Institute, and president of the Educational Society of Eastern Ontario. He was president of the Toronto branch of the League of Nations Society, and did much to
make known in Canada the ideals and workings of the league. He was an active worker for the Toronto General Hospital. He was a Presbyterian and a Liberal. Funeral services will be held Tuesday from his home here with burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.¹⁶

$82,434 Estate Left Bv Mr. Justice Riddell
     TORONTO, July 20. fCP)
     A [motion] for administration of the estate of the late Justice William Renwick Riddell of the Ontario Court of Appeal revealed he left property totalling $82,434. of whicch $76,678 is personal and $5.756 realty.
     The will was executed April 26. 1934, leaving the entire estate to Justice Riddell's widow. It contained a clause that the will should become null and void should she predecease him. which she did by a short time.
     Principal items of the estate are moneys secured by mortgage, $52,197; life insurance $5,960; stocks $1,814; cash $12,135.
     Application for letters of administration was made by William Crossen James, solicitor The heirs-at-law are stated to be three nieces. Jeanette Armitage, Maple, Ont; Mary Ford and Jessie Eagleson, Canborne, Ont; and two nephews. William A. Riddell, Vancouver, and Walter Riddell, Saskatoon, Sask.³⁵

William Renwick Riddell
1906-1913 King's Bench
1913-1925 High Court of Justice
1925-1931 2nd Division Appellate Division
1931-1945 Court of Appeal.¹⁴

Mr. Justice Riddell Bereaved of Wife
     5 O'Clock Edition Service. TORONTO, Feb. 13. CP)
     Mrs. Anna Kester Kirsop Grossen Riddell, wife of Mr. Justice W. R. Riddell, died yesterday (sic) at her home here after a brief illness. Born and, educated in Cobourg, Ont., Mis. Riddell had for the last 25 years been greatly interested in the work for blinded servicemen and under-privileged children. She was a member of many welfare organizations. She was married to Mr. Justice Riddell in 1884.¹³

DR. ROBERT RIDDELL
     Word has been received in the city of the death In Seattle on Thursday of Dr. Robert Riddell, former resident of Victoria. Dr. Riddell was well known among the early residents here. He served in the Riel Rebellion and in the South African War and was overseas as a captain in the Canadian Veterinary Corps. He is survived by his widow in Seattle.¹⁵

Survivor(s): Mrs. T Towers, Mrs. R. Fought, Rex Nisbet, Walter Nisbet, Jessie Nisbet and Hugh Nisbet.⁶

Malcolm McMurchy, Sr. was reared in his native land and there learned the carpenter's trade, an "occupation which he followed exclusively while yet residing in his native land. In an early day he crossed the ocean to Canada, and in 1845 came to Kane county and there worked at his trade. On the 29th of March, 1842. he married Jeannette Renwick, a daughter of Walter Renwick, both of whom were natives of Scotland. William Renwick. the paternal great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and was also a farmer by occupation He emigrated to America with his family, and in De Kalb county, Illinois, engaged in farming, a vocation at which he continued until his death at the age of eighty years. Malcolm McMurchy, Sr., came to De Kalb county in 1850, and located on his farm where our subject now resides in 1863, and there died, February 14, 1865, at the age of sixty years.²

According to the obituary and article published when her sister Agnes died, there were 4 boys and 2 girls in their family, so all of them have been identified.
     This would seem to indicate that Ellen who was included in the 1850 census was not a daughter.^3,9

Mrs. William Renwick
     Mrs. Mary Renwick, relict of William Renwick, died at the home of her son, Walter Renwick, on the Ryan farm just west of Sycamore, at 8 o'clock Monday morning, age 74 years. Deceased had long been in poor health and fell an easy victim to the grip. Her husband, William Renwick, died six years ago. Of the children surviving, Mrs. Jonathan Woodly resides at Cortland; Mrs. Matthias Belles, at Clinton, Ia; George at Freeport; Mrs. Jennie Gordon, at Kingston; Mrs. Sarah Anderson at Chicago; and Walter and Susie at Sycamore.
     The funeral services will be from the M. E. church, Thursday at 11 o'clock, with the interment at Ohio Grove.⁹

Why does her obituary not mention Abbie and Ida.⁹

Are William and James the same person? Need to reconcile sources.⁴

Obituary
     Mrs. James Maitland died at the home of her son George, in Sycamore, Wednesday, September 12, after an illness of ten days from cholera
     morbus.Sarah Renwick was born in Johnstown Parish, Scotland, April 16, 1822. At the age of 13 she came with her parents to Canada. On March 9, 1841, she was united in marriage to James Maitland, and with him came to DeKalb county in November, 1868. Mr. Maitland died May 7, 1875, and since that time she had resided in Sycamore.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Maitland were born fifteen children, eleven of whom survive them. The children are: Mrs. John Allen of Trenton, Canada; James Maitland, Sycamore; Mrs. Arthur Mead, Elgin; Walter, Robert, George, Sycamore; Herbert, Hitchcock, Dakota; Henry, Sycamore; William, Brighton, Canada; Thomas, Messervy, Iowa; and Mrs. Theodore Weitzel, Sycamore.
     Deceased was highly esteemed by her neighbors for many noble traits of character. Forty years ago she united with the Presbyterian church. She was one of seven sisters, and is the first of the number to be called by death.
     The funeral was from the Methodist church, Friday morning, at half past ten, the services being in charge of Rev. A. T. Horn. The interment was in the cemetery at Ohio Grove.¹⁶

...James Maitland, Sr., was a Highlander, born in Argyleshire, Scotland, July 20, 1812, and who emigrated to Canada in 1835, locating near Darlington. He was a carpenter and ship builder by trade, and about 1S54 moved to Colburn, Canada, where he was employed at his trade at Cole's wharf some eight years. He then returned to Darlington where he engaged in farming until 1868, when he removed to Malta, Illinois, where he again worked at his trade. He first married Mary Brown, of Darlington, and in 1841 married Miss Sarah Renwick, who was the mother of our subject. She was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, April 16, 1822, and who came to America in 1835, her parents settling near Darlington, Canada. She was the daughter of Walter and Mary (Guthrie) Renwick, also natives of Scotland. Her death occurred in Sycamore, Illinois, September 12, 1894. The paternal grandfather, William Maitland, was a native of Scotland, where his death occurred in 1814.²

ROBERT R. RENWICK
Among the prosperous and representative agriculturists of Mayfield township may be numbered Robert R. Renwick, who owns and operates one hundred and fifty-seven acres of well improved land on section 29. He was born on this place August 15, 1866, a son of George and Mary (Young) Renwick, who were natives of Scotland and Canada respectively. They came to the United States in 1835, settling on the farm which is now the home of our subject.

Robert R. Renwick pursued his education in the district schools near his father's home. He was early trained to the duties of the home farm, assisting his father in the cultivation of the land and the care of the crops, so that he was well fitted to continue work along this line when he started out in life on his own account. With the exception of a brief period of two years he has spent his entire life on this farm and during the years that have come and gone he has worked diligently and earnestly in his efforts to acquire a competence. He has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and each year harvests rich and abundant crops as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He is practical and progressive in all that he does, keeping everything about his place in a good state of repair, so that his property is numbered among the valuable farms of Mayfield township.

Choosing a companion and helpmate for life's journey, Mr. Renwick was married December 17, 1890, to Miss Alice Rote, a daughter of Samuel Rote, a farmer of Mayfield township, and his sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Two children, a son and daughter, have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Renwick : Clive Duaue, who was born July 19, 1892; and Gladys Irene, born May 11, 1900.

Mr. Renwick gives stalwart support to the republican party and has taken an active interest in its work, having served as tax collector of his township, while for the past twelve years he has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to camp No. 47, at Sycamore, while both he and his wife hold membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church in their township. They are a highly esteemed couple of their community, having a host of warm and lasting friends, while Mr. Renwick is everywhere known as a substantial and reliable man in his business transactions.¹³