William Hendry

William Hendry, who was deeply involved in the beginnings of the Mutual Life of Canada, was born in Scotland and came to Winterbourne, Ontario, as a child. He eventually started a business at Neustadt where he also operated a flax mill and a farm.

In 1870 Hendry was appointed Manager of the Ontario Mutual Life at a salary of $1,000.00 a year. He went to Boston to consult a noted actuary and to obtain a table of sound premium rates. He later toured Western Ontario, giving lectures on the value of mutual insurance. At the end of the week he returned to Waterloo to do bookkeeping and banking. He was a man of strong convictions, courageous and kindly, whose chief aim was the best interests of the policyholders. He resigned in 1898 at the age of 64 for reasons of health.

Hendry also served as a member of the first Berlin-Waterloo Hospital Board of Trustees and at one time was a member of the town council.