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MARKHAM FAIR PRESIDENT 1910

James McCreight Armstrong

By Myra Chepack

Captain William Armstrong and Esther Reesor were the grandparents of the Markham Fair President of 1910. Capt. Armstrong was a very prominent farmer and member of the community. He was involved in local development, including roads, land and agriculture and provided the land for the first home of the Markham Fair, as well as serving as the Fair President in 1844. He was instrumental in establishing the first Church of England in Markham (Grace Anglican Church). As a member of the militia he held the rank of Captain and retained this as an honorary title. He operated a distillery and the Wellington Hotel in Markham. William and Esther both died in 1878 and were predeceased by five of their eight children.

William Armstrong, the 4th son of Capt. Armstrong was born in the Wellington Hotel in 1842, on the Main Street of Markham. The family later moved to the new stone house on lot 10 Conc. 8 (approximately ½ mile east of Markham Main Street, on the south side of Hwy. # 7).

As a young man he farmed land at conc. 10, lot 10. In 1866 William purchased thirty-five acres adjacent to the fifty acres his father had owned since1844 at this same location. At the time of William’s death in 19l5 the farm had grown to 300 acres. It was known as Locust Hill farm, where the trees of the same name, flourished. The area was called Belford but was ultimately renamed Locust Hill, after the farm in 1886. William and Maria McCreight were married on Sept. 18th, 1866 and resided on lot 10 conc.10 in the century house pictured here. Maria died at the age of 39, having borne eight children, the eldest a daughter and the youngest son being only nine months of age at the time of her death in 1880. William married Jane McCreight in 1886, the children’s aunt, who likely had cared for them since her sister’s passing. All of the above noted Armstrongs are buried at Grace Cemetary on Princess Street in Markham.

William was one of the first farmers to introduce and promote the Holstein breed of cattle, in Canada. He was also President of the Standard Fire Insurance Company and Treasurer of the Locust Hill Creamery. William and his brother Robert Goodfellow Armstrong both served on the executive of the East Riding of York Agricultural Society.

The third child and second son born to Wm. and Maria Armstrong was James McCreight Armstrong. He was born at the Locust Hill Farm Lot 10 conc. 10, on July 9th, 1870. He attended Markham High School and became a member of the board of directors in his adult years. James was a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. His degree as a Veterinary Surgeon was conferred, with honours, by the University of Toronto. He was a highly regarded member of the community and was fondly referred to as “Doc” Armstrong. He was a highly regarded member of the Markham Union Masonic Lodge, served in the South African War and is credited with being very active in all matters pertaining to Markham Fair resulting in his presidency in 1910. On December 2nd, 1914, at the age of forty-four, James and Anna Aldora Jarvis were married. They were to enjoy only twelve years together, as James passed away at the age of 56, in 1926, leaving no children. James father Capt. William died in 1915, leaving the Locust Hill farm to James’ brothers. James residence and surgery are listed as the rear of lot 12, conc. 10. Perhaps James re-located at the time of his marriage, as his wife’s Mother was a Reesor and lot 12 was a Reesor property. James’ brother Robert Peter Armstrong, the 6th of the 8 children, ultimately bought out his siblings and bequeathed the Locust Hill farm to his sons. He also served as Markham Fair President in 1933, 1934 and 1935.

James McCreight Armstrong was named for his maternal grandfather James McCreight who lived in Cherrywood. A busy farmer, he was also Reeve of the Township, a county councilor and a justice of the peace.

The Markham Fair President of 1910 came from an illustrious family and participated professionally and personally in his community and was held in high esteem. It is unfortunate his efforts were cut short at the early age of 56 years. He did, however, leave a legacy of commitment and service.