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University of Waterloo Library
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Joseph Emm Seagram was born in 1841 to Octavius Augustus Seagram and his wife, Amelia Stiles, who had emigrated to the Galt area (now Cambridge, Ont.) from Wiltshire, England in 1837. Joseph and his younger brother Edward were orphaned in their teens, and lived for six years at Dr. Tassie's boarding school in Galt. After spending a year at business college in Buffalo, New York, Joseph Seagram returned to Canada, where he worked as a bookkeeper and manager at various mills in Galt and Stratford. In 1864 he went to work for William Hespeler at the Granite Mills in Waterloo, which was to be the foundation of his career as a distiller.
In 1869 J.E. Seagram married Stephanie Urbs, daughter of Jacob Hespler's sister Marie, thus connecting himself with some of the most prominent families in the area such as the Warnocks and Hespelers. Joseph and Stephanie had five children who lived past infancy. Their only daughter was Blanche Alexandrine (Adine), 1871-1919, who married G. H. Bowlby, M.D. in 1894. Their four sons were Edward Frowde, 1873-1937, Joseph Hamilton, 1875-195-?, Norman 1879-1963, and Thomas William, 1887-1965.
J. E. F. Seagram with the Seagram family trophies. Joseph Emm Seagram's passion was horse racing. A wealthy man, Seagram advanced horse racing in Canada and helped make it a popular and respectable pastime. He imported high-quality breeding stock from the United States and Britain. Horses from the Seagram stables were Queen's Plate winners for eight consecutive years, beginning in 1891. Seagram horses achieved fifteen plate wins in all. His enthusiasm was shared by his son Edward Frowde and grandson Joseph Edward Frowde who continued the family tradition to the 1970's.
News Clipping, K-W Record, Oct. 31, 1975. Until his death in 1919 Joseph Emm Seagram "social, political and business circles in Waterloo." Active in politics, he served on Waterloo Town Council from 1879-1886 and was Conservative Member of Parliament for Waterloo North from 1896-1908. Local organizations benefited from his involvement. He founded the Globe Furniture Company, was a founder of the Waterloo County Loan and Saving Co. and donated land for the K-W Hospital. His sons and grandsons continued the tradition of strong local participation in business and civic life. They also displayed a keen interest in and support of sports, ranging from golf to football to cycling.
News Clipping, K-W Record, Oct. 31, 1975. Until his death in 1919 Joseph Emm Seagram "social, political and business circles in Waterloo." Active in politics, he served on Waterloo Town Council from 1879-1886 and was Conservative Member of Parliament for Waterloo North from 1896-1908. Local organizations benefited from his involvement. He founded the Globe Furniture Company, was a founder of the Waterloo County Loan and Saving Co. and donated land for the K-W Hospital. His sons and grandsons continued the tradition of strong local participation in business and civic life. They also displayed a keen interest in and support of sports, ranging from golf to football to cycling.