Life History

Notes

• [Good Robinson Ritchie Lee et al.FTW]
  
  The following biography is taken from the "History of The Province of Alberta" by Archibald Oswald MacRae and published by Western Canada History Co. in 1912.
  
  "JOHN GOODWIN WATSON"
  
  "The subject of our sketch, whose activity covers wide and varied fields of usefulness in business and political life, and is prominently associated with the industrial interests of Calgary. and identified in community affairs, has wielded a wide influence in support of many progressive and benefical public measures. He is also regarded as a well informed man of practical ideas and ready adaptibility , who has kept in touch with the trend of modem progress, especially in commercial and industrial lines.
  John Goodwin Watson was born in County Renfrew, Ontario, on May 30, I858, the son of William and Marguerite (Goodwin) Watson. The father was born in Montreal. and died in 1911 at the age of 79 years at his home at Clanwilliam, of which he was the founder. He fol1owed successfully the trade of millwright for many years in the early part of his life, but in later years, returning his attention to agricultural pursuits. The mother, who died when our subject was only thirteen years of age, was the granddaughter of Alexander Goodwin, who came to Ontario from Scotland in 1818, one of the colony of Chief McNab, who was prominent for his feudal rule here. Mr. Goodwin built the first habitation on thc east side of the Madwaska River, or where the town of Arnprior, Ontario now stands, and the grandfather of subject on his father's side built the first habitation on the west side. He died at the age of ninety eight years. after spending most of his active years in the upbuilding of this great commonwealth. He was married twice and was altogether the father of sixteen children, his second wife dying at the age of ninety-six years.
  Mr. Watson, our subject, left the old homestead at Amprior fourteen years ago and came west to Winnipeg. where he remained but a short time, and arrived in Calgary in 1897. He immediately engaged in general contracting, at which he bas been successful, his business record being such as will bear close investigation and scrutiny, for the dominant elements therein are energy , diligence and unfaltering integrity. He established the Sandstone quarry at what is now Brickburn, and was the first to handle rock in large quantities, which  he shipped by carloads throughout Western Canada. He also established the Red Brick Plant. at Sandstone village on the Calgary and Edmonton Railroad, twenty-two miles south of CaIgary, near Okotoks,which plant was sold to the Alberta Portland Cement Company, who obtain all their material for making cement from this point. Mr. Watson was one of the original stockholders in the Alberta Portland Cement Company before this sale. Since then he has organized the Aberta Terra Cotta Company Limited, located at the end of 9th avenue West.
  When the question arose in the City Council of municipal ownership, Mr. Watson was one of the three Aldermen who favored it. and the system has proved a great success since, He wanted the city to take over the power on the Bow River, now known as the Bow River Water Power Company and which the city could have had for the asking. It is now incorporated and is a valuable property. He traveled extensively to post himself on the gravity water system, and is the father of the gravity system of this city, as well as the putting in the foundation of a water works system,which is calculated to be one of the finest on the continent. He is known to many of his friends by the eulogistic name of "Gravity" Watson. He discovered an iron mine fifty-five miles south of Calgary, and brought seventeen pounds to Calgary, had it smelted at the Calgary Iron Works and the result was five pounds of pure grade iron from seventeen pounds of ore,
  Mr, Watson was married in Renfrew County, Ontario, in 1881, to Miss Annie Lee. the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Ritchie) Lee, both of whom were pioneers of the township of Ross. The father was born in Canada and the mother was a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents. of six children, three boys and  three girls:  Grace Edith, Wilfred Goodwin, Maggie Belle, Ernest William, Norman Lee and Annie Lillian.
  This is Mr. Watson's fifth term as Alderman of Calgary. He was first elected by acclamation n 1906 when a vacancy occurred after the death of Alderman Carter, and at the end of his term he wanted to resign, but in 1907 he was again elected by acclamation. In 1908 he headed the poll in Ward 4, as he did again in 1909. when he polled the record number of votes ever polled for any one civic official in Calgary. In 1910 he ran for City Commissioner, but was beaten, and in 1911 he beat his record of 1909 for Alderman. "