James Jolley

Who was James Jolley?

James Jolley, was born in 1813 in Argyllshire, Scotland, and died on 28 November 1892 in Hamilton, Ontario. He is buried in Hamilton Cemetery. Jolley was a saddler, harnessmaker, and politician. He funded construction of the Jolley Cut, a Mountain access road in Hamilton, Ontario.

Jolley came to Canada in about 1823, living first in Montreal for about twelve years before settling in Hamilton in about 1835. In 1843, he opened a shop selling saddles and harnesses on King Street East. Two years later, he expanded and moved to John Street South. By 1855, Jolley had one of the best equipped stores in western Ontario, selling saddles, horse-collars, harnesses, trunks, valises, whips, and horse-blankets. His son Charles became president of the firm in 1896.