Col. David Wylie, Journalist, Publisher & Local Politician [1811-1891]

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David Wylie was a Scottish journalist who came to Brockville in 1849 to take over the ownership of the “Brockville Recorder“.

This portrait engraving of David Wylie was taken from”The History of Leeds & Grenville” written by Thaddeus Leavitt.

About David Wylie

From 1849-1875 and 1879-1885, David Wylie was the owner and editor of the “Brockville Recorder“.

A native of Scotland, he was born in the town of Johnstone, Renfrewshire on March 23, 1811, the son of William Wylie and his wife, Mary Orr. William, his father carried on a boot and shoe business in Renfrewshire, but emigrated to Montreal in 1819. He died in Canada before he was able to send for his wife and three sons. His mother was left the task of bringing up her young family in the village of Paisley where they had moved.

David at the age of fourteen (1826) was apprenticed to the printing trade for seven years with Stephen Young, a printer in Paisley. He completed his term with the University Printing Office in Glasgow where he was able to take courses in Latin, French and stenography.

Wylie began his work in journalism with the “Greenock Advertiser“, after which he went to the “Glasgow Guardian“, then the “Liverpool Mail” in England where he was engaged as a reporter and proofreader. His career moved ahead and he took charge of the office of the “Fife Herald” in Cupar, Scotland where he remained a while and developed his writing skills.

In 1845 he came to Canada as had his father, and accepted an offer to take charge of the office of a Mr. John C. Becket in Montreal. He was convinced of the benefits of responsible government from an early age and began to write on the subject while in Montreal. His next job was as a parliamentary reporter for the “Montreal Herald” which lasted until the burning of the parliamentary buildings in 1849. His last work there seemed to be a long report on the subsequent recalling of the Upper House which took up 18 columns in the Herald.

It was at this point that David Wylie came to Brockville to take charge of the “Recorder“, formerly owned by William Buell, Jr. He had as his partner for a short time, a printer named William Sutton who later went on to the “Victoria Chronicle” in Belleville. A staunch “Reformer” himself, Wylie carried on the traditions of the paper as established by the Buell family since its early days.

David Wylie soon became involved in the public life of his new town. During his first year’s residence in Brockville he was elected to the office of public school trustee. He spent about thirty years on the School Board working to better the educational system. He was chairman for many years.

Previously while in Montreal (1847) Wylie had became a member of Captain Lyman’s Rifle Co. Later in Brockville he held every rank up to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Brockville Rifle Co. from which he became known as Col. Wylie. In 1875 he was appointed Paymaster of Military District No. 4 by the Alexander Mackenzie government and held this position until the Liberals lost power in 1878. He was allowed to retire with his rank of Lt. Col.

This portrait of David Wylie was copied from a small carte de visite taken ca.1865 by the photographic studio of A.C. McIntyre in Brockville.

Wylie was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge since his early years in Liverpool when he joined the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. He took up membership again in Montreal and was elected Grand Master of the Order for Canada.

In party politics, he always worked for the reform party, and once stood for election for Parliament in South Leeds, but was defeated. He was, however, an elected member of Brockville Town Council for the years 1867-72.

David Wylie was married twice. Records do not make mention of his first wife’s name. On October 5, 1865, he secondly married Sophronia (Holden) Craig, a widow who was a native of Augusta Township. They had a son and a daughter. His wife outlived him, dying in 1912.

He ran the Recorder successfully for many years. The launch of the daily Evening Recorder on November 10, 1873 was something of which he was especially proud. He ran this company up until 1875 when he decided to give up his holdings and sold out to Dr. S.S. Southworth and Thaddeus W.L. Leavitt. Their tenure was short-lived, and Wylie resumed the editorial chair four years later. Finally he sold his interest to J.J. Bell who then teamed up with Thomas Southworth in partnership.

Col. Wylie continued to live in Brockville until his death on December 21, 1891, a well-respected member of his community.

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Tags: Wylie, "Brockville Recorder", newspaper, printing, "Thaddeus W.L. Leavitt", Oddfellows