Alfred Thomas Gurd
Encyclopedia
Alfred Thomas Gurd was an Ontario
farmer, entrepreneur and political figure. He represented Lambton West
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1894 to 1898 as a Conservative-Protestant Protective Association
member.
He was born in Moore Township, Lambton County
in 1846, the son of William Gurd, an Irish
immigrant, and was educated in Sarnia
. He was an oil producer and also manufactured explosives. In 1879, he married Dell Shaw. Gurd was mayor of Petrolia
in 1890, 1891 and 1894. He defeated Charles MacKenzie in the 1894 provincial election. Gurd was a master in the Masonic Order. In 1902, he drilled in Raleigh Township, producing the so-called "Gurd gusher". In 1910, Gurd moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
, where he continued to be involved in the oil industry.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
farmer, entrepreneur and political figure. He represented Lambton West
Lambton West
Lambton West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1883 to 1968. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1894 to 1898 as a Conservative-Protestant Protective Association
Protestant Protective Association
The Protestant Protective Association was an anti-Catholic group in the 1890s based in Ontario, Canada, associated with the Orange Order. Originally a spinoff of the American group the American Protective Association, it became independent in 1892...
member.
He was born in Moore Township, Lambton County
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
in 1846, the son of William Gurd, an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrant, and was educated in Sarnia
Sarnia
Sarnia is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.Sarnia may also refer to:* Sarnia, the Roman name for the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands** Sarnia Cherie, its national anthem**A piano suite by John Ireland, written about Guernsey....
. He was an oil producer and also manufactured explosives. In 1879, he married Dell Shaw. Gurd was mayor of Petrolia
Petrolia, Ontario
Petrolia is a town in Ontario, Canada, near Sarnia. The town, an enclave within Enniskillen Township, is billed as "Canada's Victorian Oil Town" and is often credited with starting the Oil industry in North America....
in 1890, 1891 and 1894. He defeated Charles MacKenzie in the 1894 provincial election. Gurd was a master in the Masonic Order. In 1902, he drilled in Raleigh Township, producing the so-called "Gurd gusher". In 1910, Gurd moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, where he continued to be involved in the oil industry.