William McCraney

William McCraney
William McCraney with long beard
Source: Library and Archives Canada
Mayor of Oakville
In office
1871–1872
Preceded byJohn Barclay
Succeeded byGeorge King Chisholm
Member of Parliament
for Halton
In office
1875–1878
Preceded byDaniel Black Chisholm
Succeeded byWilliam McDougall
Member of Parliament
for Halton
In office
1882–1887
Preceded byWilliam McDougall
Succeeded byJohn Waldie
Personal details
Born(1831-12-15)15 December 1831
Trafalgar Township, Ontario
Died21 June 1911
Bellingham, Washington[1]
Resting placeOakville, Ontario[1]
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada
Occupationlumber merchant

William McCraney (15 December 1831 – 21 June 1911) was a businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Halton in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal member from 1875 to 1878 and from 1882 to 1887.

Biography

He was born in Trafalgar Township, Upper Canada in 1831, the son of Hiram McCraney and Louisa English.[2] From 1852 to 1855, he was involved in lumbering and mining in California.[3] He owned several large farms near Oakville and several sawmills in Halton County.[3] McCraney helped build several Methodist churches and supported temperance.[3] In 1857, he married Elizabeth Coote. In 1868, he sold his farm land and settled in Oakville.[3] He served on the town council, serving as mayor in 1871 and 1872,[4] and also served on the county council. McCraney was also president of the county agricultural society. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Halton in a by-election in 1875. He was defeated by William McDougall for the Halton seat in 1878 and reelected in 1882.

His brother Daniel was a member of the Ontario assembly. His daughter Susan married Alexander Henderson.[citation needed]

Electoral record

1882 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William McCraney 1,822 51.2
Unknown Geo. C. McKindsey 1,739 48.8
Total valid votes 3,561 100.0
1878 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal–Conservative William McDougall 1,708 50.3 +2.3
Liberal William McCraney 1,690 49.7 -2.3
Total valid votes 3,398 100.0

On Daniel Black Chisholm being unseated, on petition, 8 December 1874:

By-election on 25 January 1875
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William McCraney 1,704 52.1 +2.5
Liberal–Conservative Daniel Black Chisholm 1,569 47.9 -2.5
Total valid votes 3,273 100.0

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Wm. McCraney, Ex-M.P." The Canadian Champion. Milton. 29 June 1911. p. 3.
  2. ^ Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  3. ^ a b c d Illustrated Historical Atlas of Halton County. Toronto: Walker and Miles. 1877. p. 84. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  4. ^ "Chronology of Oakville Mayors Since 1857". oakville.ca. Town of Oakville. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2009.