From Pinery through Petrolia, and Sarnia, and Windsor, down to Point Pellee National Park, and then to Wheatley Provincial Park.
Petrolia’s First Member of Parliament, J.H. Fairbank in Ottawa : 1882-1887
John Henry Fairbank, born in New York in 1831, emigrated early in life to Upper Canada.
In 1861 he settled at Oil Springs, and in 1866 moved,to Petrolia. He rose to prominence as Canada’s foremost producer of crude oil during his fifty years in Lambton County. He also founded a bank and engaged in several other business enterprises in Petrolia. When the federal riding of Lambton was divided in 1882, and Alexander Mackenzie,
(Canada’s Prime Minister from 1873 to l878) retired,Fairbank ran for the East Lambton seat in the House of Commons. Although he was a Liberal in an area that was basically Conservative, he won the election on the strength of his
local appeal. His opponent was a relatively unknown lawyer from Sarnia. In 1887, however, the local Conservative won East Lambton from Fairbank, and the Liberals with a strong local candidate, George Moncrieff. Retiring from politics, Fairbank remained active in business. He died at Petrolia in 1914.”
from: http://www.petroliaheritage.com/fairbankStory.html
Birdie’s Perch bustaurant.
