Jonathan Saxton Campbell Würtele
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Saxton Campbell Würtele (January 27, 1828 – April 24, 1904) was a Quebec
seigneur
, lawyer, judge and political figure. He represented Yamaska
in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
from 1875 to 1886.
He was born at Quebec City
in 1828, the son of merchant Jonathan Würtele
. He studied law with Jean Chabot
and was called to the bar in 1850. He practiced law at Montreal
with Henry Hague Judah. After the death of his father in 1853, he inherited the seigneuries of Deguire (also known as Rivière-David), Bourg-Marie-Est, Saint-François and La Lussaudière. He settled at Saint-David-d'Yamaska
, where he served as justice of the peace, chairman of the school board and mayor. He helped found the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste there and also served as its president. In 1854, he married Julia, the daughter of Wolfred Nelson
. He founded the Yamaska Navigation Company in 1858 which transported goods along the Yamaska
and Saint-François River
s. Würtele was chief clerk of the Seigneurial Commission, charged with settling the claims for compensation following the abolition of seigneurial tenure in 1854.
He returned to his law practice in partnership with John Abbott
from 1866 to 1868 and then with Frederick Thomas Judah. He also taught commercial law at McGill College
. In 1873, he was named Queen's Counsel
. He married Sarah Braniff in 1875, after the death of his first wife.
Würtele served as provincial treasurer from 1882 to 1884 and speaker for the legislative assembly from 1884 to 1886. In 1886, he was named judge in the Quebec Superior Court
, first for Ottawa district and, in 1888, for Montreal district. In 1891, he was named associate judge in the Court of Queen's Bench and, in 1892, puisne judge in the same court.
He died at Montreal in 1904 and was buried in the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, lawyer, judge and political figure. He represented Yamaska
Yamaska (provincial electoral district)
Yamaska was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Montérégie region, the district was formed in 1867 and later merged with Nicolet in 1973 to form Nicolet-Yamaska.-Members of Legislative Assembly:...
in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
from 1875 to 1886.
He was born at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1828, the son of merchant Jonathan Würtele
Jonathan Würtele
Jonathan Würtele was a seigneur, merchant and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Quebec City in 1792, the son of a merchant of German origin. He entered business at Quebec and took over the operation of his father's business when his father retired in 1819...
. He studied law with Jean Chabot
Jean Chabot
Jean Chabot was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada East.He was born in Saint-Charles near Lévis in 1806 and studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec. He articled in law with Elzéar Bédard and was called to the bar in 1834...
and was called to the bar in 1850. He practiced law at Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
with Henry Hague Judah. After the death of his father in 1853, he inherited the seigneuries of Deguire (also known as Rivière-David), Bourg-Marie-Est, Saint-François and La Lussaudière. He settled at Saint-David-d'Yamaska
Saint-David, Quebec
Saint-David is a municipality in the Pierre-De Saurel Regional County Municipality, in the Montérégie region of Quebec. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 794.-Population:Population trend-Language:Mother tongue language ...
, where he served as justice of the peace, chairman of the school board and mayor. He helped found the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste there and also served as its president. In 1854, he married Julia, the daughter of Wolfred Nelson
Wolfred Nelson
Wolfred Nelson, was from 1854 to 1856 the mayor of Montreal, Quebec.- Biography :Nelson was born in Montreal the son of William Nelson, an immigrant to Colonial America from Newsham, North Yorkshire, England...
. He founded the Yamaska Navigation Company in 1858 which transported goods along the Yamaska
Yamaska River
The Yamaska River is a river in southern Quebec, Canada.Its source is the Sutton Mountains region of the Eastern Townships of Quebec. It flows north-west to Farnham and from there north to the Saint Lawrence River at Sorel-Tracy. Altogether it is long with a drainage basin of 4784 square...
and Saint-François River
Saint-François River
The Saint-François River is a river in the Canadian province of Quebec.The Saint-François takes its source from Lake Saint-François in Chaudière-Appalaches, southeast of Thetford Mines...
s. Würtele was chief clerk of the Seigneurial Commission, charged with settling the claims for compensation following the abolition of seigneurial tenure in 1854.
He returned to his law practice in partnership with John Abbott
John Abbott
Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, PC, KCMG, QC was the third Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the office for seventeen months, from June 16, 1891 to November 24, 1892. - Life and work :...
from 1866 to 1868 and then with Frederick Thomas Judah. He also taught commercial law at McGill College
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. In 1873, he was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He married Sarah Braniff in 1875, after the death of his first wife.
Würtele served as provincial treasurer from 1882 to 1884 and speaker for the legislative assembly from 1884 to 1886. In 1886, he was named judge in the Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court
Quebec Superior Court is the highest trial Court in the Province of Quebec, Canada. It consists of 144 judges who are appointed by the federal government.Chief Justices : [partial listing]* Edward Bowen...
, first for Ottawa district and, in 1888, for Montreal district. In 1891, he was named associate judge in the Court of Queen's Bench and, in 1892, puisne judge in the same court.
He died at Montreal in 1904 and was buried in the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Founded in 1854, Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges is a 343-acre cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The entrance and the grounds run along a part of chemin Côte-des-Neiges and up the slopes of Mount Royal...
.