Capt. W. M. Alderson

Capt. W. M. Alderson was born near Weston, Ont., on March 7. 1844. None of his ancestors were mariners, but he early showed his inclinations by building toy boats. His boyhood and early manhood were spent on a farm near Summerville, County of Peel. In 1858 he was sent to the New York Conference Seminary at Charlotteville, N. Y. leaving there in 1861. In 1864 he joined the Governor-General's Body Guard and served through the Fenian raid. In September of the same year he went to the County of Haldimand, where in 1868 he married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. Henry Ivey, a prominent resident of Jarvis.

In 1873 Capt. Alderson entered mercantile life as a general store keeper at Nanticoke. He was appointed post-master the same year, and a Justice of the Peace for the county Haldimand the following year. In 1877 he sold out his business and located at Port Dover, where he began his experience on the water by wheeling the steamer Georgina from Port Dover to Erie, Pa. He subsequently acted as purser on the steamers Annie Craig,E. M. Foster, and W. M. Alderson. In 1884. at the solicitation of Mr. J. I. Mackenzie, then Secretary of the Long Point Company, he built the steamer Ivey Alderson, and for seven years he ran her on the Port Dover and Port Rowan route, carrying freight and passengers.

He received his certificate for minor waters in 1884. and for the Great Lakes in 1890. He was popular as a steamboat master, and prudent, having no accident costing a dollar.

He joined the 39th Battalion Norfolk Rifles in 1880 and was gazetted Lieutenant of No. 7 Company. Three persons he saved from a watery grave - W. J. Brunsill in the Humber River,William Franks in Port Dover harbor, and Mrs. Maria Shearer in Port Rowan Bay.

While a resident of Port Dover he built one of the finest residences in the village. He was elected a village councillor, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County of Norfolk. During 1889 and to 1895 he was a member of the extensive pine land and logging firm of Langley, Alderson & Co., of Merrill, Wis., he having a one-third interest.

He has not sailed much of late years, only acting a few months as master of the steamer Mazeppa, of the Hamilton Steamboat Company's fleet.

The only child of Capt. and Mrs. Alderson, Ida, graduated, taking honors in vocal culture, from Alma College in 1892. Capt. Alderson. his wife and daughter, have just returned from a two-year's tour in Arkansas,New Mexico and California.

For many years Captain Alderson has been a member of Lodge No. 103 A. 0. U. W. In religion he is a Methodist and in politics he is a staunch Reformer.

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