Isaac Hillock Weldon
| Isaac Hillock Weldon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1874-11-17 near Bowmanville, Ontario |
| Died | 1928-10-17 Toronto, Ontario |
| Occupation | Industrialist, paper company executive |
| Father | |
| Mother | |
| Partner | |
Isaac Hillock Weldon (17 November 1874 – 17 October 1928 (aged 53)) was a Canadian industrialist and paper company executive who played a central role in building the Canadian pulp and paper industry during the early twentieth century, including as president of Port Arthur Pulp and Paper.[1]
Early life
Weldon was born on 17 November 1874 near Bowmanville, Ontario, to James Weldon and Derenda Rooney, Irish immigrant farmers.[1] The family later relocated to a farm near Woodstock, where Weldon completed his secondary schooling.[1] He subsequently moved to Toronto intending to pursue a career in medicine, but instead joined his brother Thomas Andrew Weldon at the Toronto office of the E.B. Eddy Company.[1]
Career
In 1899 Weldon took a position with Laurentide Paper in Grand-Mère, Quebec, working as a sales agent.[1] He later moved into a sales management role with Burgess Sulphite, covering New England markets.[1]
In 1909, Weldon partnered with a group of American industrialists, including Smith Frederick Duncan, to found St. Lawrence Paper Mills in Toronto, taking on the presidency of the new firm.[1] The group expanded quickly, acquiring Montrose Paper in Thorold and Barber Paper and Coating Mills in Georgetown in 1910, and incorporating Provincial Paper Mills in 1913.[1] Under Weldon's leadership, Provincial grew into one of the largest producers of book, writing, and coated papers in Canada.[1][2]
Weldon also served as vice-president of Interlake Tissue Mills, established in 1911, a position he held until his death.[1]
Port Arthur Pulp and Paper
In 1916–17, Port Arthur Pulp and Paper was established as a subsidiary of Provincial Paper Mills, with Weldon serving as its president.[1] Port Arthur — now part of Thunder Bay — was a significant centre of pulp and paper activity on the north shore of Lake Superior, and Weldon's direction of this enterprise represented one of his key contributions to northwestern Ontario's industrial development.[1]
Industry leadership
Weldon was active in a number of business and industry organisations. He was a member of the Toronto Board of Trade and the Canadian Manufacturers' Association.[1] In 1913 he co-founded the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, serving as its first vice-president in 1914 and as president in 1915.[1][3] He also joined the Canadian Paper Trade Association in 1918.[1]
Personal life
In 1905 Weldon married Georgia Jones of Alexandria, Indiana; the couple had no children.[1] He maintained Summit Farm north of Richmond Hill and was a member of the National, Granite, Lakeview Golf, and Royal Canadian Yacht Club clubs.[1][4]
Weldon directed the Hospital for Sick Children and supported the Art Gallery of Toronto, the Toronto Playgrounds Association, and the Boys' Industrial Home in Bowmanville.[1]
Dominion Securities acquired control of Provincial Paper Mills in 1927, ending Weldon's tenure with the firm he had built.[1]
Death
Weldon died in Toronto on 17 October 1928 and was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.[1][5]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 Mark Kuhlberg."Mark Kuhlberg, "WELDON, ISAAC HILLOCK," Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15."[website].Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15 (University of Toronto/Université Laval).2005.University of Toronto/Université Laval.Link.(Rights: copyrighted | Access: open)
- ↑ "Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada, vol. 26 (1928): 1477–78; vol. 27 (January–June 1929)."[newspaper].Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada.1928.Gardenvale, Quebec.(Rights: unknown | Access: open)
- ↑ Canadian Pulp and Paper Association."A handbook of the Canadian pulp and paper industry."[book].1920.Montreal.(Rights: unknown | Access: open)
- ↑ "Who's Who in Canada, 1925/26."[directory].(Rights: unknown | Access: open)
- ↑ "Obituary notice."[newspaper].Globe.1928-10-18.Toronto.(Rights: unknown | Access: open)