Harry Johnston (Canadian politician)

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Harry Johnston
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
1937–1943
Preceded byWilliam Henry Sutherland
Succeeded byVincent Segur
ConstituencyRevelstoke
Personal details
Born(1883-11-05)November 5, 1883
Teeswater, Ontario
DiedJanuary 20, 1943(1943-01-20) (aged 59)
Arrowhead, British Columbia
Political partyBritish Columbia Liberal Party
SpouseJessie Whitbread
Children2
OccupationTimber producer

Harry Bruce Johnston (November 5, 1883 – January 20, 1943) was a Canadian politician, who served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Early life

Harry was born on November 5, 1883,[1] to James Johnston and Mary Victoria Ross in Teeswater, Ontario, where he completed his secondary education.[2] In 1906, he arrived in Arrowhead, British Columbia, becoming a merchant.[3] By 1905, Edward McGaghran owned a general store, carrying a wide range of products.[4] The next year, Jessie Whitbread became an employee,[5] and Harry Johnston became a partner in the renamed McGaghran & Johnston store, which expanded into men's furnishings,[6] while retaining a groceries line.[7] McGaghran, who trained as a millwright, was superintendent of the Arrow Lakes Lumber Co mill at Arrowhead at the time of his death in 1912.[8] In 1918, Johnston expanded into the lumber business.[3] He produced and retailed cedar poles and posts. By 1919, he was also secretary of the local school board.[9] His interest in the general store ceased around 1920.[10] Prior to entering politics, he managed Columbia River Timbers.[11]

Political career

Winning the Revelstoke seat for the Liberal Party in 1937 and 1941, he served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia until his death[3] on January 20, 1943, at Arrowhead.[12][13] Premier John Hart and several cabinet members attended the funeral.[14] This seat, which the Liberals had held since 1916, was lost in the June 1943 byelection.[3]

Marriage and children

In 1908, he married Jessie Whitbread[2] (1884–1971).[15] Their children were John Wallace (1911–1988)[16] and Effie Lorena Jean (1913–1989).[17] John unsuccessfully ran in the September 1962 byelection for his father's old seat.[18]

References

  1. ^ "The Canadian Parliamentary Guide: line 1". 1941. p. 411.
  2. ^ a b "The Canadian Parliamentary Guide: line 2". 1941. p. 411.
  3. ^ a b c d Bilsland, William Winstanley (1955). A History of Revelstoke and the Big Bend. library.ubc.ca (MA). pp. 212–213 (200–201).
  4. ^ "Kootenay Mail". library.ubc.ca. 7 Oct 1905. p. 4.
  5. ^ "Mail Herald". library.ubc.ca. 9 May 1906. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Mail Herald". library.ubc.ca. 29 Sep 1906. p. 8.
  7. ^ "1910 BC Directory". bccd.vpl.ca.
  8. ^ "Mail Herald". library.ubc.ca. 20 Jul 1912. p. 4.
  9. ^ "1919 BC Directory". bccd.vpl.ca.
  10. ^ "1920 BC Directory". bccd.vpl.ca.
  11. ^ "1937 BC Directory". bccd.vpl.ca.
  12. ^ "Death Certificate (Harry Bruce JOHNSTON)". royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  13. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 22 Jan 1943. p. 3.
  14. ^ "Daily News". library.ubc.ca. 27 Jan 1943. p. 3.
  15. ^ "Death Certificate (Jessie Lorena JOHNSTON)". royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  16. ^ "Death Certificate (John Wallace JOHNSTON)". royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  17. ^ "Death Certificate (Effie Lorena Jean McCULLOCH)". royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  18. ^ "Electoral History of BC 1871–1986" (PDF). www.elections.bc.ca. p. 293 (283).