fbpx
Wikipedia

John MacKay Yorston

January 01, 1970

John MacKay Yorston (11 October 1867 – 27 May 1937) was a farmer and political figure in British Columbia.

Early life edit

John (Jack) MacKay Yorston was born in Orkney, Scotland on 11 October 1867 to Robert and Mary Yorston. Leaving the Orkney Islands where educated,[1] John and younger brother Robert arrived in Canada during the 1890s.[2] By 1900, John was the BC Express (BX) superintendent and agent at 150 Mile House. In partnership with Robert, he bought the Australian Ranch in November 1903. In spring 1904, he resigned from the BX to work full time at the ranch.[3]

Political career edit

As Liberal candidate, he represented Cariboo 1907–1909 and 1916–1924. He was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1909 and 1924.[4]

A factor in Yorston being elected in 1907 was the ongoing unlikelihood of a railway line being constructed through the Cariboo in a timely manner, for which the early caution of the Conservative administration received much blame.[5] Despite railways being a major local issue, a general swing against the Liberals cost Yorston his seat in 1909.[6]

In 1912, he was elected vice-president of the Quesnel Liberal Association.[7]

Although the Conservative administration had promised late in the election to extend the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) northward to Quesnel, Yorston regained his seat in 1916.[8] On forming government that year, the Liberals appointed a select committee to investigate allegations of corruption regarding the PGE construction under the previous Conservative administration. Yorston, who during his election campaign had promised to fight such corruption, became a member of this committee.[9] The absence of a railway line in the North Cariboo hampered the transportation of agricultural produce. Local lobbying influenced Yorston and the minister of agriculture to provide BX with a freight subsidy of $10,000 annually from 1918 for the Soda Creek–Prince George steamboat run. Similar lobbying prompted Yorston to promise in 1919 that the government would build a creamery at Quesnel.[10]

The Liberal lack of a coherent railway policy cost Yorston his seat in 1924.[11]

In 1933, he was expected to receive the Liberal nomination for his old seat,[12] but it went to Donald Morrison MacKay.[13]

Marriage and children edit

In May 1898, he married Isabella Jessie Y. Fea,[14] who died in childbirth[3] that October.[1]

In March 1909, he married[15] Janet Mary Robertson (1888–1984).[16]

Their six children were John Raymond (c.1911),[17] James Keith (c.1915),[18] Margaret (?), Donald Robertson (?),[19] Kathleen Mary (c.1923),[20] and Eileen Jean (c.1924).[21]

Farming and death edit

The Yorston ranch, which was significantly larger than the average farm, played a key role in the regional agriculture. Being a developed farm at the time of purchase, the brothers could focus on productivity as the market expanded, while other settlers struggled to create capacity. Furthermore, the partnership arrangement provided flexibility, which allowed John to enter politics.[22]

John died in his home district on 27 May 1937.[23] H.G. Perry was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral.[24]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b Chambers, Ernest J. (1908). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. p. 411 – via archive.org.
  2. ^ Patenaude 1996, p. 176.
  3. ^ a b Patenaude 1996, p. 175.
  4. ^ "Canadian Elections Database: John Mackay Yorston". canadianelectionsdatabase.ca.
  5. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 51 (37).
  6. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 52 (38).
  7. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 19 Jan 1912. p. 18.
  8. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 55 (41).
  9. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 23 (17).
  10. ^ Malzahn 1979, pp. 100–101 (86–87).
  11. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 130 (116).
  12. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 12 Apr 1933. p. 3.
  13. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 23 Apr 1933. p. 6.
  14. ^ "Marriage Certificate (YORSTON/FEA)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  15. ^ "Marriage Certificate (YORSTON/ROBERTSON)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  16. ^ "Death Certificate (Janet Mary YORSTON)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  17. ^ "Marriage Certificate (YORSTON/MACALISTER)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  18. ^ "Marriage Certificate (YORSTON/GRIMMOND)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  19. ^ "Quesnel Cariboo Observer: James Keith Yorston obituary". www.quesnelobserver.com. 3 Jan 2007.
  20. ^ "Marriage Certificate (ENEMARK/YORSTON)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  21. ^ "Marriage Certificate (HIRSCHFIELD/YORSTON)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  22. ^ Malzahn 1979, p. 90 (76).
  23. ^ "Death Certificate (John MacKay YORSTON)". www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
  24. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 27 May 1937. p. 1.

References edit

  • Patenaude, Branwen Christine (1996). Trails to Gold, Vol 2, Roadhouses of the Cariboo. Heritage House. ISBN 11-895811-08.
  • Malzahn, Manfred R. (1979). Merchants and the Evolution of the North Cariboo, BC, 1908–1933. escholarship.mcgill.ca (MA).

January 01, 1970
john, mackay, yorston, october, 1867, 1937, farmer, political, figure, british, columbia, contents, early, life, political, career, marriage, children, farming, death, footnotes, referencesearly, life, editjohn, jack, mackay, yorston, born, orkney, scotland, o. John MacKay Yorston 11 October 1867 27 May 1937 was a farmer and political figure in British Columbia Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Marriage and children 4 Farming and death 5 Footnotes 6 ReferencesEarly life editJohn Jack MacKay Yorston was born in Orkney Scotland on 11 October 1867 to Robert and Mary Yorston Leaving the Orkney Islands where educated 1 John and younger brother Robert arrived in Canada during the 1890s 2 By 1900 John was the BC Express BX superintendent and agent at 150 Mile House In partnership with Robert he bought the Australian Ranch in November 1903 In spring 1904 he resigned from the BX to work full time at the ranch 3 Political career editAs Liberal candidate he represented Cariboo 1907 1909 and 1916 1924 He was defeated when he ran for re election in 1909 and 1924 4 A factor in Yorston being elected in 1907 was the ongoing unlikelihood of a railway line being constructed through the Cariboo in a timely manner for which the early caution of the Conservative administration received much blame 5 Despite railways being a major local issue a general swing against the Liberals cost Yorston his seat in 1909 6 In 1912 he was elected vice president of the Quesnel Liberal Association 7 Although the Conservative administration had promised late in the election to extend the Pacific Great Eastern Railway PGE northward to Quesnel Yorston regained his seat in 1916 8 On forming government that year the Liberals appointed a select committee to investigate allegations of corruption regarding the PGE construction under the previous Conservative administration Yorston who during his election campaign had promised to fight such corruption became a member of this committee 9 The absence of a railway line in the North Cariboo hampered the transportation of agricultural produce Local lobbying influenced Yorston and the minister of agriculture to provide BX with a freight subsidy of 10 000 annually from 1918 for the Soda Creek Prince George steamboat run Similar lobbying prompted Yorston to promise in 1919 that the government would build a creamery at Quesnel 10 The Liberal lack of a coherent railway policy cost Yorston his seat in 1924 11 In 1933 he was expected to receive the Liberal nomination for his old seat 12 but it went to Donald Morrison MacKay 13 Marriage and children editIn May 1898 he married Isabella Jessie Y Fea 14 who died in childbirth 3 that October 1 In March 1909 he married 15 Janet Mary Robertson 1888 1984 16 Their six children were John Raymond c 1911 17 James Keith c 1915 18 Margaret Donald Robertson 19 Kathleen Mary c 1923 20 and Eileen Jean c 1924 21 Farming and death editThe Yorston ranch which was significantly larger than the average farm played a key role in the regional agriculture Being a developed farm at the time of purchase the brothers could focus on productivity as the market expanded while other settlers struggled to create capacity Furthermore the partnership arrangement provided flexibility which allowed John to enter politics 22 John died in his home district on 27 May 1937 23 H G Perry was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral 24 Footnotes edit a b Chambers Ernest J 1908 Canadian Parliamentary Guide p 411 via archive org Patenaude 1996 p 176 a b Patenaude 1996 p 175 Canadian Elections Database John Mackay Yorston canadianelectionsdatabase ca Malzahn 1979 p 51 37 Malzahn 1979 p 52 38 Daily Colonist archive org 19 Jan 1912 p 18 Malzahn 1979 p 55 41 Malzahn 1979 p 23 17 Malzahn 1979 pp 100 101 86 87 Malzahn 1979 p 130 116 Daily Colonist archive org 12 Apr 1933 p 3 Daily Colonist archive org 23 Apr 1933 p 6 Marriage Certificate YORSTON FEA www royalbcmuseum bc ca Marriage Certificate YORSTON ROBERTSON www royalbcmuseum bc ca Death Certificate Janet Mary YORSTON www royalbcmuseum bc ca Marriage Certificate YORSTON MACALISTER www royalbcmuseum bc ca Marriage Certificate YORSTON GRIMMOND www royalbcmuseum bc ca Quesnel Cariboo Observer James Keith Yorston obituary www quesnelobserver com 3 Jan 2007 Marriage Certificate ENEMARK YORSTON www royalbcmuseum bc ca Marriage Certificate HIRSCHFIELD YORSTON www royalbcmuseum bc ca Malzahn 1979 p 90 76 Death Certificate John MacKay YORSTON www royalbcmuseum bc ca Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 27 May 1937 p 1 References editPatenaude Branwen Christine 1996 Trails to Gold Vol 2 Roadhouses of the Cariboo Heritage House ISBN 11 895811 08 Malzahn Manfred R 1979 Merchants and the Evolution of the North Cariboo BC 1908 1933 escholarship mcgill ca MA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John MacKay Yorston amp oldid 1180667445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.