Thomas Bain (abt. 1834 - 1915)

Ancestors

Biography

Thomas Bain was the Liberal M.P. for the Ontario riding of Wentworth South for 27 years. In 1899 he became the first farmer to be elected Speaker of the House of Commons.

Thomas, born about 1834, was the son of Walter Bain and Jean Reid who emigrated to Canada in 1837 and settled in West Flamborough, Upper Canada (Ontario). Thomas was educated in Canada.

In 1851 Census of Canada West, Thomas 15, is living with his mother Jean and father Walter. Also with Jane Hendersen, an ophaned cousin and listed as domestic servant.

In 1861 Census of Canada West, he is listed as Farmer in West Flamborough Township, Wentworth, aged 27 and living with Jean Bain 48 (his mother) and William Bain 11. All of Scottish birth. Living in a 2 story brick house. William may be cousin. Son of William Bain born ~1850.

For several years he was a municipal councillor and on two occasions elected Reeve of the township of West Flamborough and in 1870 Warden of Wentworth North. Canada’s Parliamentary records show that he was MP for Wentworth North/South from 1872 – 1900.

In the 1871 census he was living in North Wentworth as a farmer. Ontario Land registry lists two adjacent plots of land belonging to Thomas in 1875.

On 25 June 1874 he married Helen Weir, second daughter of John Weir of West Flamborough.

In the 1881 census he was still living in North Wentworth as a farmer. With him was his wife Ellen (37), daughter Mary (5). Also in the house are Lanson James Bain (16) - we are not sure who he is - and Jean Bain (66) a widow, his mother.

Later that year, on 26th July 1881, Thomas and Helen had another daughter Helen Dawson.

On the 1st August 1899 he became Speaker of the House of Commons and remained in this role until 5th February 1901.

In the 1901 Census he was living in Dundas, Wentworth North, with his wife Helen and daughters Mary Bain (25) and Helen Dawson Bain (19). At this time he is shown as a retired farmer with an income from other trades as 1000 pounds per annum.

Canadian Parliamentary information gives the Salary of 4000 pounds to the Speaker of the House during this time period compared to 1000 pounds for an MP, so he must have just retired as Speaker at the time of the Census.

Sources

• "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDVJ-6QQ : 27 April 2019), Thomas Bain, 18 Jan 1915; citing Dundas, Wentworth, Ontario, yr 1915 cn 36074, Registrar General. Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,862,176.
• Wikipedia contributors, "Thomas Bain," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Bain&oldid=745232167 (accessed April 10, 2017).
• Parliament of Canada, The Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons