William McCraney
Encyclopedia
William McCraney was an Ontario
businessman and political figure. He represented Halton
in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal
member from 1875 to 1878 and from 1882 to 1887.
He was born in Trafalgar Township, Upper Canada
in 1831, the son of Hiram McCraney and Louisa English. From 1852 to 1855, he was involved in lumbering and mining in California
. He owned several large farms near Oakville
and several sawmill
s in Halton County
. McCraney helped build several Methodist churches and supported temperance
. In 1857, he married Elizabeth Coote. In 1868, he sold his farm land and settled in Oakville. He served on the town council, serving as mayor in 1871 and 1872, and also served on the county council. McCraney was also president of the county agricultural society. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Halton in a by-election in 1875. He was defeated by William McDougall
for the Halton seat in 1878 and reelected in 1882.
His brother Daniel
was a member of the Ontario assembly. His daughter Susan married Alexander Henderson
.
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....
businessman and political figure. He represented Halton
Halton (electoral district)
Halton is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988 and again since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 100,055.-Geography:...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
member from 1875 to 1878 and from 1882 to 1887.
He was born in Trafalgar Township, 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 1831, the son of Hiram McCraney and Louisa English. From 1852 to 1855, he was involved in lumbering and mining in 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...
. He owned several large farms near Oakville
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
and several sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s in Halton County
Halton County, Ontario
Halton County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is also one of the oldest counties in Canada.-History:Halton County is named after Major William Mathew Halton who was appointed in 1805 as Secretary to the Upper Canada provincial Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis...
. McCraney helped build several Methodist churches and supported temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. In 1857, he married Elizabeth Coote. In 1868, he sold his farm land and settled in Oakville. He served on the town council, serving as mayor in 1871 and 1872, and also served on the county council. McCraney was also president of the county agricultural society. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Halton in a by-election in 1875. He was defeated by William McDougall
William McDougall (politician)
Sir William McDougall PC CB was a Canadian lawyer, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation.Born near York, Upper Canada...
for the Halton seat in 1878 and reelected in 1882.
His brother Daniel
Daniel McCraney
Daniel McCraney was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. He represented Kent East in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1879 to 1885 as a Liberal member....
was a member of the Ontario assembly. His daughter Susan married Alexander Henderson
Alexander Henderson (politician)
Alexander Henderson was a lawyer, judge and political figure in British Columbia and Yukon. He represented New Westminster City in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1898 to 1900...
.
