Biography:

Dr. John Stalker was born in Kintyre, Scotland on the 14th of February, 1850.  Dr. Stalker was the 3rd of 6 children born to Duncan Stalker and the former Flora Stewart.  A young Dr. Stalker immigrated to Canada with his parents after his birth and prior to 1854.  The family settled in Aldborough Township (Elgin County), Ontario where his parents farmed. Dr. Stalker’s older siblings, Euphemia and Peter were born in Scotland and his younger siblings Archibald, Duncan (1856-1862) and another child named Duncan (born in 1863) were born in Ontario.

According to the 1871 census, Dr. Stalker was a school teacher in Aldborough Township and he was living with his parents.

Dr. Stalker graduated M.B. from The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine in 1876 and he settled near McKay’s Corners.

Dr. Stalker married Helena Ross “Lena” Archer on the 10th of July, 1877 in Newbury, Ontario.  Mrs. Stalker was born in June of 1857 near Wardsville,Ontario.  She was the youngest of 6 children born to Henry Ross Archer and the former Susannah M. Carpentier.  Her father was a merchant in Wardsville and her siblings were; Mary Margaret Archer, Elizabeth Young Archer, H.A.S. Archer, William Henry Archer and Frederick William Ross Archer.  Her brother William was born on the18th of June, 1851 and he died on the 08th of April, 1853 and her brother Frederick was born on the 1st of September, 1853 and he died on the 16th of November, 1853.  Mrs. Stalker’s brothers were buried at the O’Malley-Archer Cemetery in Wardsville.

Soon after their wedding Dr. and Mrs. Stalker moved to Ridgetown, Ontario and built a large brick home located at 71 Main Street East.

Dr. and Mrs. Stalker had 3 children all born in Ridgetown.  Lena “Winnifred” Stalker was born on the 18th of June 1883, Nita Susannah Stalker was born on the 14th of December, 1885 and Ross Stewart Carpenter Stalker was born on the 24th of November, 1890.

In his spare time, Dr. Stalker enjoyed curling.

He practiced medicine in Ridgetown until 1895 and he was completely retired by 1900.

By 1901 Mrs. Stalker was living near Toronto with their children. (Dr. Stalker is not listed on the 1901, 1911 or 1921 census’ with his family in Toronto.). In 1916, Mrs. Stalker resided at 86 Beatrice Street (Toronto).

Dr. Stalker died on the 28th of January, 1936 at Parkwood Hospital in London, Ontario. Mrs. Stalker died in 1950.  Dr. and Mrs. Stalker were buried at the Wardsville Cemetery.

Also listed on Dr. Stalkers tombstone are the names of his children, Winnifred 1883-1943, Ross 1890-1950 and Nita 1885-1969.

*Dr. Stalker’s son Ross Stewart Carpenter Stalker served with the Canadian Army during WWI.  His Theatre of War was listed as France.

Pictured below is the home that Dr. Stalker built at 71 Main Street East.