Another John Galt
_The Numismatist_ magazine of the ANA for April 2014 carried "Wherefore Art Thou Galt?" by Wendell Wolka. Wolka is a specialist in early American paper money. This $1 "Bill of Commerce" note was a "maverick", an undocumented issue. Wolka explained how he tracked it to the town of Galt, Ontario. The Internet has been a boon to those of us who usually chase mavericks through city directories archived in state and local libraries. Still, it took some finesse.
Founded as Shade's Mills in 1816, in 1825, the town was renamed in honor of John Galt, "Scottish novelist and commissioner of the Canada Company." By the late 1830s, the town was called "the Manchester of Canada" because of its broad range of high-quality industrial products. Galt held its status until the early 20th century, when it was overtaken by the town of Berlin, Ontario. (Berlin was renamed Kitchener about the same time that the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family became the Windors.) In 1973, Galt was merged under a county plan into a regional city government called "Cambridge."
The note in question, issued May 1, 1862, was signed "DSmrs" which Wolka deciphered to D. Spiers. David Spiers (1832-1917) owned many businesses and was active in the town's civic life, serving as mayor once from 1880-1882.
Wendell Wolka is the principal author of _Indiana Obsolete Notes and Scrip (Society of Paper Money Collectors, 1978), and _A History of Nineteenth Century Ohio Obsolete Bank Notes and Scrip_ (Society of Paper Money Collectors, 2004).
Founded as Shade's Mills in 1816, in 1825, the town was renamed in honor of John Galt, "Scottish novelist and commissioner of the Canada Company." By the late 1830s, the town was called "the Manchester of Canada" because of its broad range of high-quality industrial products. Galt held its status until the early 20th century, when it was overtaken by the town of Berlin, Ontario. (Berlin was renamed Kitchener about the same time that the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family became the Windors.) In 1973, Galt was merged under a county plan into a regional city government called "Cambridge."
The note in question, issued May 1, 1862, was signed "DSmrs" which Wolka deciphered to D. Spiers. David Spiers (1832-1917) owned many businesses and was active in the town's civic life, serving as mayor once from 1880-1882.
Wendell Wolka is the principal author of _Indiana Obsolete Notes and Scrip (Society of Paper Money Collectors, 1978), and _A History of Nineteenth Century Ohio Obsolete Bank Notes and Scrip_ (Society of Paper Money Collectors, 2004).
JOHN GALT BY R. K. GORDON, M.A. (TORONTO), B.A. (OxoN.)
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
MCMXX
TORONTO: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, CANADIAN BRANCH
http://www.archive.org/stream/johngalt00...