James Conmee
| James Conmee | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Algoma West | |
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In office 1885–1902 |
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Port Arthur and Rainy River | |
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In office 1902–1904 |
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Thunder Bay and Rainy River |
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In office 1904–1911 |
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| Succeeded by | John James Carrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 13, 1848 Sydenham, Canada West |
| Died | July 23, 1913 (aged 64) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations |
Ontario Liberal Party |
James Conmee (October 13, 1848 – July 23, 1913) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Algoma West from 1885 to 1902 and Port Arthur and Rainy River from 1902 to 1904 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Thunder Bay and Rainy River in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1911 as a Liberal member.
He was born in Sydenham Township, Canada West in 1848, the son of Irish immigrants Matthew Conmee and Rosanna O'Shaughnessey, the youngest of four children (three boys, one girl). Although his education was rudimentary and better educated political enemies mocked his grammatical skills, he became over time a skilled and formidable debater. James was underage when he and his brother John sought adventure and joined the 8th New York Cavalry Regiment 21 March 1865 at Rochester, New York. From about 1886, biographical sources like the Canadian Parliamentary Guide state that he served under General George Armstrong Custer, but the commander of the 8th New York Cavalry in 1865 was Colonel Edmund Mann Pope (1837-1906). The regiment was part of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, commanded by Brevet Major-General George A. Custer, from March 1865, and was disbanded 27 June 1865. In 1872, at the age of 22 he moved to Fort William to work at a sawmill on the Kaministiquia River. In 1874, he married Emily Florence Cox. From 1876 to 1877, he held the contract to deliver mail between Silver Islet and Pigeon River. He was a contractor involved in laying track for the Canadian Pacific Railway in northern Ontario, later working on contracts for the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway, Algoma Central Railway and other railways in the region. The Bell Telephone Company squeezed out his attempt to secure a municipal telephone franchise when he established the Port Arthur (Ontario) Telephone Company in 1885, in alliance with the Toronto Telephone Manufacturing Company. He would later be involved in setting up other utility companies, the only one of which succeeded was the Port Arthur, Water, Light and Power Company. He also served as first President of the Ontario Mining Institute.
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