James Jolley (1813 – 28 November 1892) was a Scottish-born Canadian

saddle The saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not kno ...

r, harnessmaker, and politician. He funded construction of the Jolley Cut, a mountain/lower city-access road in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. Born in

Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, Jolley first arrived Canada in about 1823, living first in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

for about twelve years before settling in Hamilton in about 1835. In 1843, he opened a shop selling saddles and

harnesses A harness is a looped restraint or support. Specifically, it may refer to one of the following harness types: * Bondage harness * Child harness * Climbing harness * Dog harness * Pet harness * Five-point harness * Horse harness * Parrot harness * ...

on King Street East. Two years later, he expanded and moved to John Street South. By 1855, Jolley had one of the best equipped stores in western

, selling saddles, horse-collars, harnesses, trunks, valises, whips, and horse-blankets. His son Charles became president of the firm in 1896. Jolley died in 1892 in Hamilton at the age of 79. He is buried in Hamilton Cemetery.

References

1813 births 1892 deaths People from Hamilton, Ontario Pre-Confederation Canadian businesspeople Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Quebec Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario Immigrants to Lower Canada Immigrants to Upper Canada {{Canada-business-bio-stub