Biography:

Dr. Henry ‘Harry’ Ardagh Kingsmill was born in London, Ontario on the 2nd of July, 1867, the day after Canada’s Confederation.  Dr. Kingsmill was the 5th of 6 children born to Thomas Frazer Kingsmill and the former Anne Ardagh.  His siblings were; Mary Kingsmill, Annie Kingsmill, Alice Maude Kingsmill, Thomas Frazer Kingsmill and Arthur Robert Kingsmill.  His father, Thomas Kingsmill was a dry goods merchant on Dundas Street in London.  As a youth, Dr. Kingsmill worked in the family’s mercantile business.

Dr. Kingsmill attended the University of Western Ontario in London graduating M.D. in 1895.  He furthered his medical studies in England, before setting up his medical practice in London.  Dr. Kingsmill’s medical office and residence are listed as 443 Park Ave (London) in the 1899 Foster’s London City and Middlesex County Directory.  He listed his office hours as 1 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. and his telephone number was 210.  Dr. Kingsmill is known to have attended to patients in the Highgate area, for his name appears on birth and death records.

Dr. Kingsmill’s brother Arthur Kingsmill had set up a dry goods business on King Street in Chatham, Ontario opposite the market.  He had married Jane Alexina ‘Jennie’ King of Chatham on July 1st, 1891 and Dr. Kingsmill was his best man.  (Arthur died in 1898 at the age of 28 of blood poisoning, leaving a wife and 3 children.)

Dr. Kingsmill married Inez Ethelyn Smith on the 28th of May, 1902 in Ionia, Michigan.  Mrs. Kingsmill was born on the 29th of September, 1870 in Carthage, Missouri.  She was the only child of Sidney and Ann Smith.  According to the 1880 census, the Smith family resided in Evergreen, Michigan.  By 1900 they lived at 736 W. Lincoln Ave., in Ionia, Michigan.  Mrs. Kingsmill’s occupation was listed as a musician on their marriage record.

Dr. and Mrs. Kingsmill had 2 children.  Sidney Ardagh Kingsmill was born in London, on the 26th of March 1903 and a daughter Eleanor Alice Kingsmill was born in London on the 15th of September, 1906. When the children were born, the Kingsmill family resided at 219 Queens Avenue in London.  Sadly Eleanor Kingsmill died of diphtheria on the 15th of July, 1909.  She was buried at Woodland Cemetery.

Dr. Kingsmill enlisted in World War I on the 10th of April, 1918 in London.  Dr. Kingsmill was already attached as an active militia member with the 1st Hussars.  He served as the 7th Regimental Medical Doctor and Combatant Officer.  On his Medical History Sheet, he was listed as 5’11”, 185 lbs. with brown eyes.

Dr. Kingsmill died of influenza on the 11th of February, 1920 in London, Ontario.  His death was attributed to his service in the 1st World War.  He had attained the rank of Major.  Mrs. Kingsmill died on the 15th of August, 1956.  Dr. and Mrs. Kingsmill were buried at Woodland Cemetery in London beside their baby daughter Eleanor.

*Dr. Kingsmill’s son Sidney Ardagh Kingsmill served with the United States Military in World War II.