Matthew Teefy

Matthew Teefy

Matthew Teefy (April 18, 1822 - December 19, 1911) was postmaster, a general merchant, village clerk and a justice of the peace in Richmond Hill, Ontario.[1]

Born in Tipperary, Ireland, Teefy came to York, Upper Canada with his family at the age of two.[2] He began his career by apprenticing as a printer.

In 1846 he married Betsy Clarkson with whom he would go on to father nine children, six of which survived to adulthood. Teefy was appointed postmaster of Richmond Hill on December 3, 1850. The couple's first child was born March 2, 1847.[3] Their second child, John Read Teefy was born August 21, 1848.[4] J.R. Teefy would be the namesake of Teefy House at the University of Toronto. Another son, Robert Baldwin Teefy, emigrated to California and became one of the founders of Bank of Italy, predecessor to the Bank of America.[5]

Teefy was appointed the village's treasurer in 1873. He resigned his position as village treasurer in 1904. He remained the village postmaster until his death in 1911. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving postermaster in Canada. He was buried in St. Luke's Catholic church cemetery in Thornhill, Ontario.[6]

Teefy Avenue in Richmond Hill is named in his honour.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Description of the Matthew Teefy fonds". Archives of Ontario.
  2. ↑ Robert M. Stamp (1991). "Who Was Who in the 1873 Municipal Elections". A Brief History of Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  3. ↑ "Teefy". Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  4. ↑ The Very Rev. Henry Carr, C.S.B. (1940) [1939]. "The Very Reverend J. R. Teefy, C.S.B., LL.D.". Report 7. The Canadian Catholic Historical Association. pp. 85–95.
  5. ↑ San Francisco Blue Book & Club Directory 1924
  6. ↑ "Teefy". Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  7. ↑ Robert M. Stamp (1991). "Appendix A. Settlers". A Brief History of Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930. Town of Richmond Hill Public Library.
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