Truman Smith Baxter

Who was Truman Smith Baxter?

Truman Smith Baxter was the 16th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia. He was born on a farm near Carlingford, Ontario, part of Fullertown Township in Perth County. He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Baxter, the former a native of Ontario, and the latter of Cornwall, England. The paternal grandfather came from New York to Ontario at the time of the American Revolutionary War, being numbered among the United Empire Loyalists.

Truman was educated in the public schools in Perth County Ontario and then attended High School in Stratford Ontario. His mother, Elizabeth died when he was fourteen years old. His father Richard continued farming until his retirement in 1907 when he moved to Toronto. After graduation, Truman took up the profession of teaching, which he practiced for three years in Ontario. In the spring of 1890, at the age of 23, he moved to Vancouver. His first position was in the Leamy & Kyle mill on False creek, one of the city's first sawmills, often referred to as the "Red Mill". After a time he went to the Royal City Planing Mills, and later the Heaps mill on False creek which was later destroyed by fire. During his first year of residence in Vancouver he was employed grading the streets and was also a longshoreman. He then began studying for a first-class teachers certificate in connection with J.A. Fraser, who was at the time MLA for Cariboo. After obtaining the certificate he worked as a teacher in the public schools in Vancouver, eventually becoming the first assistant at Mount Pleasant School. He then studied law and five years later was called to the bar. He practiced for three years in partnership with L.B. McLellan and William Savage. In partnership with Peter Wright he purchased the furniture store of G.W. Hutchins at the corner of Main and Hastings Street, and renamed it Baxter and Wright.