James Trow

Who was James Trow?

James Trow was an Ontario businessman and politician. He was a member of the first legislature in Ontario and represented Perth South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1891 as a Liberal.

He was born in Newtown, Wales in 1826, was educated in Wales and came to Canada in 1841. He taught school for several years before becoming a broker in real estate. In 1847, he married Mary Moore. He was president of the Crown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, vice-president of the British Mortgage and Loan Company and the Perth Mutual Insurance Association. He was also a director for the Ontario Mutual Life Insurance Company of Waterloo. Trow was warden for Perth County in 1871 and reeve for the township of North Easthope for 21 successive years. Over the years, he served on several parliamentary committees dealing with the railway and printing. His election in 1891 was declared invalid and he did not run in the by-election that followed in 1892.

He died in Toronto later that year. His final resting place is in Stratford, Ontario, close to his riding.