Harvey Morris Switzer
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Photographs
- Description
- Harvey Switzer, Captain and Paymaster in the 20th Halton Battalion, the volunteer militia of Halton County.
Harvey Morris Switzer moved to Palermo in 1844 to become a general merchant. He married Martha Solomon in 1845. Harvey was one of the prominent successful businessmen in Trafalgar Township. He was Postmaster at Palermo, a County Magistrate and Commissioner in the Court of Queen's Bench. He held the positions of Captain and Paymaster in the 20th Halton Battalion, the volunteer militia. He was a founding member of the Halton Agricultural Society which started in 1853. He was a member of the Conservative Party and also a trustee of the Hamilton and Northwestern Railway. He and his family attended St. Luke's Anglican Church in Palermo.
Prior to 1868, he and his family lived in a residence connected with his general store and post office. In 1861 he purchased 24 acres of Lot 30, Concession 1 N.D.S. and the new family house was completed in 1868. The house address is 2507 Dundas Street West which is on the north side of Dundas between Old Bronte Road and Bronte Road. In 1993, a Town of Oakville by-law designated this house as a "property of historical, architectural, and contextual value and interest". - Notes
- The 20th Halton Battalion of Infantry was formed on September 20, 1866 as per the "The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)" website linked here for your further information.
A watercolour painting of Captain Switzer is linked in this record. As well, photographs of the home of Harvey and Martha are linked to this record for your further information, as well as a studio photograph of Harvey Switzer.
A transcription of his obituary is below here. - Inscriptions
- Switzer-At his residence, Palermo, Oct. 17th, Major H.M. Switzer, of the 20th Battalion, Lorne Rifles, aged 68 years.
Major Switzer was one of Halton's most prominent and respected residents. He emigrated to Canada from the County of Limerick, Ireland, in 1832, with his parents, William and Eliza Switzer. They settled in the Township of Albion and cleared a farm there. Mr. Switzer, at the age of twenty one, left home and entered mercantile life as a clerk with J.M. Chaffee, at Tullamoro, Gore of Toronto, where he remained eighteen months, when he entered the dry goods establishment of the late J.A. Smith, Toronto. There he remained five years, and in 1844 removed to Palermo, when he commenced the business which he continued up to the time of his death. He was married in 1845, and Mrs. Switzer and six out of their seven children survive him. He was appointed postmaster of Palermo in 1846, and justice of the peace at the time of the separation of Halton from Wentworth, and retained both positions until his death. He served as a loyalist in the rebellion of 1837, and the love for military matters which he acquired then accompanied him through life. He was a cadet in the Military School at Toronto, and ever since the organization of the 29th Battalion, Lorne Rifles, held a position on the staff as paymaster. A few years ago he was gazetted to the Brevet rank of major, granted him in consideration of his long and efficient service. At the annual meeting of the Township of Trafalgar Agricultural Society held at Oakville, on the 20th day of January 1886, he following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Whereas the success of the Society depended in a great measure for many years on the indefatigable labours and untiring zeal of H.M. Switzer, Esq., it is therefore further resolved that he be and is hereby appointed a member for life of the said Society, having on a former occasion been presented with a service of plate." Deceased took very great interest in every thing connected with the welfare of the village and township in which he lived. He was a member of the Church of England and always took an active part in matters connected with the church. In 1845 he worked hard for the erection of St. Luke's Church, and many of the trees which ornament the grounds were planted by his hands. For the past year he was actively engaged in promoting the building of the handsome parsonage which is just completed, and to the very last his interest was unabated. In politics he was a Conservative. Whoever sought his advice found in Mr. Switzer a good friend, and his death leaves a blank which it will be hard to fill. His remains were buried yesterday at St. James's cemetery, Toronto, a number of his fellow officers of the Lorne Rifles attending the funeral in uniform. - Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Harvey Morris Switzer, b.October 9, 1818 d.October 17 1886. Martha Solomon, b.March 19, 1817 in Cornwall, England d.January 30, 1887. Both are buried in the cemetery at St. James in Toronto, Ontario.
- Local identifier
- TTWJM000451
- Collection
- Trafalgar Township Historical Society
- Geographic Coverage
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.43341 Longitude: -79.78293
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- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Harvey Morris Switzer
- Contact
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Trafalgar Township Historical Society Sponsor: Jeff Knoll, Local & Regional Councillor for Oakville Ward 5 – Town of Oakville/Regional Municipality of Halton
