by H.F. Holland for the Sarnia Gazette
(1960) James Flintoft Sr. came to Sarnia in 1844. He was the third son of Christopher Flintoft, a Yorkshireman who, in 1810, settled near Perth. It was from the district that Malcolm Cameron came and he was instrumental in bringing a number of new settlers such as the Flecks and Proctors to the new land.
James Flintoft disposed of his lumber interests and with capital in hand erected a flour mill on the west side of Front Street at “The Rapids.” This much-needed industry was welcomed by the early settlers and grew into a sizeable business. The King Milling Co. flourished on the original site.
In addition, Flintoft ran a sawmill and both plants were run buy the same engine. Later Flintoft formed a partnership with Malcolm Cameron and a general store was built on the present site of the Bank of Montreal.
Flintoft was one of the original group that formed the Lambton Loan Company and was an early President. He was also a member of the local School Board and active in church work. In 1848 he was made a Justice of the Peace and five years later when the Counties of Kent and Lambton were separated, was appointed the first Sheriff of Lambton.
James Flintoft Jr. was born in 1842. He was educated in the Sarnia schools and went on to Victoria College in Cobourg, which was the Methodist College. He studied law for three years under the Honourable T.B. Pardee and succeeded to the Sheriff’s office upon his father’s retirement in 1872.
He was interested in the development of Lake View Cemetery and was an early member of the Board of Management. He was President of the Huron and Lambton Loan Company. He was also an early President of the Sarnia Street Railway Company, where lines ran from the Tunnel Station to Point Edward and later to the Park on Lake Huron. He died in 1918 after years of faithful service to this community.