Hon. James Young

The field of politics, local, provincial and national, was a lifelong interest of James Young of Galt.

From 1853 to 1863, as editor and publisher of the Dumfries Reformer , he could express his political opinions in print. He represented the riding of South Waterloo as a Liberal in the Canadian Parliament from 1867 to 1878. Young’s suggestion to have a Canadian Hansard received approval from both sides of the House. In 1879 and 1880 he was a member of the Ontario Legislature, representing North Brant, and was appointed Provincial Treasurer in 1883. Ill health compelled him to resign his post four months later, but he remained as a member of the Legislature until 1886.

Young was an excellent speaker, writer on commercial affairs and a historian, publishing a number of books, including Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries and Public Men and Public Life in Canada.