James Livingston
Inducted In
1972
James Livingston arrived penniless from Scotland in the 1860s but eventually became a leading industrialist known as A The Flax and Linseed Oil King. He also manufactured Livingston cars but produced only five.
After a year at the trade of weaving he became foreman for the Perine Conestogo flax mill and later processed flax for linen and linseed oil in his own plant at Baden, owning most of the village in 1877. He bought out competitors, forming Dominion Linseed Company, and had plants throughout Canada and holdings in industries producing linen and hemp in the USA and England.
He was reeve of Wilmot Township for several terms. In 1879 he was Liberal member of the Ontario Legislature for South Waterloo, and later, as a federal member, served as Minister of Mines and Northern Affairs in Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s cabinet.
Always community-minded, he promoted the Baden Band and built the Livingston Presbyterian Church.