John Wright Sifton
Encyclopedia
John Wright Sifton was a 19th century Manitoba
politician and the founder of an important political family in Western Canada
.
Sifton was the son of, Bamlet Sifton (1793-1876) and his wife Mary (née Evans), members of the Anglo-Irish
gentry who arrived in Upper Canada
in 1832 from County Tipperary
, Ireland
. Members of the Sifton family, including Sifton's grandparents, Charles Sifton (1752-1842) and his wife, Rebecca (née Wright), had already established themselves in around present-day London, Ontario, in 1818 and 1819. Born in London Township
, Ontario
, he was educated at local schools. He married Kate Watkins (d. March 1909), third daughter of James Watkins, of Parsonstown, Kings County, Ireland in October 1853. and became a farmer and oil producer in Lambton County.
Following the birth of his son, Clifford, in 1861, the elder Sifton became a railway contractor in Brant County and then a businessman in London, Ontario
. The Siftons went on to have five children in all.
In religion, Sifton was a Wesleyan Methodist
, and in politics he was a Reformer
, and supporter of and campaigner for George Brown
and Alexander Mackenzie
. When Mackenzie as Prime Minister
formed Canada
's first Liberal government in 1874
, Sifton was rewarded with contracts to build two sections of rail line between northern Ontario
and Manitoba
and telegraph lines in the latter province. In 1875, Clifton relocated to Manitoba, settling in Selkirk
, and became involved in the new province's political life.
Sifton was twice elected to the Manitoba legislature including in the 1879 provincial election
as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
for St. Clements, and served as the first Liberal Speaker
of the body from February to December 1879 when he left the legislature. He was elected again as MLA in 1881 representing the new constituency of Brandon, however, he was defeated in his bid for re-election. He attempted to regain a seat in the 1886 election
, but was defeated once again.
Sifton moved to Brandon, Manitoba
to take part in the town's land boom, but suffered when the boom turned into a bust. He operated a large farm there and served two terms as reeve for the Regional Municipality of Wallace. After his 1886 defeat he moved to California
for two years. He eventually returned to Manitoba and filled a series of patronage
positions serving as deputy minister of public works in the government of Thomas Greenway
and then as inspector of public institutions..
In 1902, Sifton became vice-president of the Manitoba Free Press Company and subsequently served as its president. He was also a strong supporter of prohibition
and advocated passage of the Canada Temperance Act
.
One of his sons, Sir Clifford Sifton, would subsequently be elected in the 1888 provincial election
, however, and served as Attorney-General of Manitoba and Education minister in the 1890s and would go on to have a successful career in federal politics under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
. Another son, Arthur Lewis Watkins Sifton, would serve as Premier of Alberta
.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician and the founder of an important political family in Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
.
Sifton was the son of, Bamlet Sifton (1793-1876) and his wife Mary (née Evans), members of the Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
gentry who arrived in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1832 from County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Ireland
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...
. Members of the Sifton family, including Sifton's grandparents, Charles Sifton (1752-1842) and his wife, Rebecca (née Wright), had already established themselves in around present-day London, Ontario, in 1818 and 1819. Born in London Township
Middlesex Centre, Ontario
Middlesex Centre is a township in south-western Ontario, Canada. It is located to the north and west of London and is in Middlesex County. The Corporation of the Township of Middlesex Centre, formed on January 1, 1998 with the amalgamation of the former Townships of Delaware, Lobo, and London...
, Ontario
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....
, he was educated at local schools. He married Kate Watkins (d. March 1909), third daughter of James Watkins, of Parsonstown, Kings County, Ireland in October 1853. and became a farmer and oil producer in Lambton County.
Following the birth of his son, Clifford, in 1861, the elder Sifton became a railway contractor in Brant County and then a businessman in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. The Siftons went on to have five children in all.
In religion, Sifton was a Wesleyan Methodist
Wesleyan Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was a Methodist denomination in the United States organized on May 13, 1841. It was composed of ministers and laypeople who withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church because of disagreements regarding slavery, church government, and the doctrine of holiness...
, and in politics he was a Reformer
Reform Party (pre-Confederation)
The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America . It agitated for responsible government....
, and supporter of and campaigner for George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
and Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie
Alexander Mackenzie, PC , a building contractor and newspaper editor, was the second Prime Minister of Canada from November 7, 1873 to October 8, 1878.-Biography:...
. When Mackenzie as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
formed Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's first Liberal government in 1874
Canadian federal election, 1874
The Canadian federal election of 1874 was held on January 22, 1874, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 3rd Parliament of Canada. Sir John A...
, Sifton was rewarded with contracts to build two sections of rail line between northern Ontario
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....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and telegraph lines in the latter province. In 1875, Clifton relocated to Manitoba, settling in Selkirk
Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located about 22 km northeast of the provincial capital Winnipeg on the Red River, near . As of the 2006 census, Selkirk had a population of 9,515....
, and became involved in the new province's political life.
Sifton was twice elected to the Manitoba legislature including in the 1879 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1879
This was the fourth Manitoba general election and was held on December 16, 1879....
as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for St. Clements, and served as the first Liberal Speaker
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature.-List of Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba:-References:* *...
of the body from February to December 1879 when he left the legislature. He was elected again as MLA in 1881 representing the new constituency of Brandon, however, he was defeated in his bid for re-election. He attempted to regain a seat in the 1886 election
Manitoba general election, 1886
This was the sixth Manitoba general election and was held on December 9, 1886....
, but was defeated once again.
Sifton moved to Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
to take part in the town's land boom, but suffered when the boom turned into a bust. He operated a large farm there and served two terms as reeve for the Regional Municipality of Wallace. After his 1886 defeat he moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for two years. He eventually returned to Manitoba and filled a series of patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
positions serving as deputy minister of public works in the government of Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
and then as inspector of public institutions..
In 1902, Sifton became vice-president of the Manitoba Free Press Company and subsequently served as its president. He was also a strong supporter of prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
and advocated passage of the Canada Temperance Act
Canada Temperance Act
The Canada Temperance Act was an Act of the Parliament of Canada in 1878, which provided for an option for municipalities to opt-in by plebiscite to a prohibitionary scheme...
.
One of his sons, Sir Clifford Sifton, would subsequently be elected in the 1888 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1888
This was the seventh Manitoba general election and was held on July 11, 1888....
, however, and served as Attorney-General of Manitoba and Education minister in the 1890s and would go on to have a successful career in federal politics under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. Another son, Arthur Lewis Watkins Sifton, would serve as Premier of Alberta
Premier of Alberta
The Premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. The current Premier of Alberta is Alison Redford. She became Premier by winning the Progressive Conservative leadership elections on...
.
External links
- RootsWeb: UPPER-CANADA-L (UPP-CAN) Early settlers at archiver.rootsweb.com (Sifton family history)