W. S. Loggie

W. S. Loggie, born on August tenth, eighteen fifty in Burnt Church, New Brunswick, was a prominent merchant and politician in the town of Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada. A dynamic figure, he established a significant business presence throughout the Miramichi River area, where he directly purchased fish from local fishermen, packing and exporting it to various markets.

In addition to his fishery operations, Loggie ran a large retail business that included hardware, clothing, footwear, and grocery stores in Chatham, as well as general stores in smaller communities surrounding the area. His entrepreneurial spirit extended to ship ownership, where he engaged in the lumber trade, further solidifying his status as a key business leader in the region.

Loggie's political career began as a representative of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick in the Legislative Assembly for the riding of Northumberland from nineteen hundred three to nineteen hundred four. He resigned to pursue a seat in the House of Commons, where he served from nineteen hundred four until nineteen seventeen. During the Conscription Crisis, he shifted his allegiance to the Unionist party, supporting Sir Robert Borden's government, but chose not to seek re-election in nineteen twenty-one, opting for a quieter life.

Upon his passing in nineteen forty-four, his legacy continued through his son, J. Kerr Loggie, who took over as president of W. S. Loggie and Sons. Following Kerr's declining health, his brother, Leigh Loggie, returned from Alberta to manage the company until his death in nineteen seventy-seven, after which the business was gradually wound down. Today, W. S. Loggie's three-story Victorian mansion on Wellington Street in Chatham stands as a cultural center, a testament to his enduring impact on the community.