John Flesher
| John Flesher | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1875–1879 |
|
| Preceded by | George McManus |
| Succeeded by | Charles Robinson |
| Constituency | Cardwell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 8, 1833 Duffield, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | March 5, 1910 (aged 76) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann Fowler (m. 1855) |
| Children | 9 |
| Occupation | Merchant |
John Flesher (June 8, 1833 – March 5, 1910) was an Ontario merchant and political figure.
Flesher was born in Duffield, Derbyshire, England in 1833, the son of Rev. John Flesher, a Methodist preacher and Jane (née Cawood) Flesher. He was educated in a collegiate institute at Ramsgate.
Flesher emigrated to Canada West in 1847 at the age of 14 with his older brother William, who was to become an MP and a prominent figure in the settlement of Grey County. John first settled in Flesherton, the village that his brother had founded, where he helped his brother operate a grist mill and saw mill. In 1855, he married Mary Ann Fowler, the only daughter of Rev. William Fowler of New York City; together they would raise twelve children, nine of whom survived infancy.
In 1857, he became the Flesherton post master, a position his brother had also held, but after six months, he resigned and moved his family to Albion, Ontario to open a store. He returned almost immediately to Grey County, then the following year, he purchased a mill property owned by his brother in Adjala Township, where for the next ten years he manufactured flour and lumber. He also started his political career, serving as a school trustee.
In 1868, he moved to the village of Orangeville, Ontario, where he operated a store for a few years before switching to brokerage and conveyancing. He also became a Master Mason.
When Orangeville was incorporated as a town in 1874, he was elected to the first town council, and served as councillor for several terms.
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