Biography:

Dr. James Page Rutherford was born in Richmond (York County), Ontario on the 11th of December, 1844.  Dr. Rutherford was the 2nd of 3 children born to John Rutherford and the former Mary Anne Robinson.  His father was a shoemaker and his siblings were;  John Robinson Rutherford and Mary A. Rutherford.

Dr. James Page Rutherford graduated M.D. from Victoria College of Medicine in Coburg, Ontario in 1867.  Upon his graduation, Dr. Rutherford began practicing medicine at McKays Corners.  He was the first physician to set up a medical practice there.

According to the 1882 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Rutherford joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 25th of March, 1869.

Dr. Rutherford married Jeannie “Jennie” Dunlop on the 24th of December, 1867, in Chatham-Kent. Mrs. Rutherford was born in Maitland, Quebec in 1848.  She was the youngest of 4 children born to James Dunlop and the former Margaret Patterson. Her siblings were; Margaret Dunlop, Mary Anne Dunlop and James Dunlop.

Dr. and Mrs. Rutherford had a daughter, Bertha Ann Rutherford who was born on the 13th of February, 1871.  Mrs. Rutherford died of complications from the birth 10 days later on the 23rd of February, 1871. Bertha Ann Rutherford died of scarlet fever on the 4th of May, 1874 when she was just 3 years old.  Mrs. Rutherford and her daughter Bertha Ann were buried at Shawbank Cemetery in Camden Twp (Chatham-Kent).

Dr. Rutherford advertised his practice in the 1870-1871 Sutherlands Gazeteer Business Directory under Harwich Twp (Chatham-Kent).

Dr. Rutherford, married Jennie’s older sister Mary Ann Dunlop at McKays Corners on the 13th of March, 1872.  Mrs. Rutherford was born in Maitland, Quebec on the 24th of June, 1843. Their first son, James Warren Rutherford was born August 22, 1875 at McKays Corners. In 1877 Dr. Rutherford moved his family to Chatham and he opened a medical office in the “Scane Block”, which was on King Street. A second son, Reginald White Rutherford was born September 21st, 1880. The family built a large mansion at 243 Wellington Street in Chatham.

On August 13th, 1884, Dr. Rutherford was named as the first President of the Chatham Board of Health. In 1886, he was elected as a Town Councillor and he was elected to the Public School Board. He was re-elected to town council in 1887 and went on to become the Mayor of Chatham in 1888. He declined to run again the following year. By now his medical practice had grown to include surgery.  A lengthy article appeared in the Chatham Daily Planet on the 5th of September, 1902.  Dr. Rutherford had spent the summer in England doing post graduate studies in surgery.  While in England, Dr. and Mrs. Rutherford witnessed the coronation of King Edward VII on the 9th of August, 1902.  He was quoted as saying, “it was the greatest sight” he had ever seen or expected to see.

According to the 1896 Chatham City Directory, his office was located at 21 King Street.

Dr. Rutherford belonged to the Sons of Scotland, the Odd Fellows, the Canadian Order of Foresters and he was a Mason.

Dr. Rutherford retired in February of 1918 after 51 years of practicing medicine. He became ill in September and died at his residence on Wellington Street on the 24th of October, 1918.  His wife Mary Ann Rutherford died at their residence, 102 Wellington St., in Chatham on the 1st of April, 1920.  Dr. and Mrs. Rutherford were interred in the mausoleum at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.

*Dr. Rutherford’s brother Dr. John Robinson Rutherford practiced medicine in Essex County.

**Both of Dr. Rutherford’s sons became doctors. Dr. James Warren Rutherford and Dr. Reginald White Rutherford also appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.