Biography:

Dr. Robert Russell Waddell was born on the 28th of September, 1899 in Hamilton, Ontario.  He was the second of 5 children born to Frank Russell Waddell and the former Maud Eliza Lister.  Dr. Waddell was named after his paternal grandfather.  His father was a lawyer and his siblings were; Lister Norris Waddell, Fredrick Francis Waddell, Frances Maud Waddell and Wilfred Alexander Waddell.   According to the 1911 census, the Waddell family was living at 195 Hughson Street South in Hamilton.

Dr. Waddell was educated in local schools and graduated from Hamilton Collegiate Institute before attending The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.  He graduated M.B. in 1924.  Dr. Waddell joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 14th of June, 1924.

After he graduated from medical school he practiced medicine in Merlin.

According to the 1928 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Waddell was living and practicing medicine in Hamilton.  His office was located at 195 Hughson St, South.

He married Irma Mildred Hague on the 7th of December, 1946 in Niagara Falls, New York.  Mrs. Waddell was born in Berlin, (now known as Kitchener) Ontario on the 5th of September, 1909.  Her parents were Clair Hague and the former Mildred Adelaide Bassett. She had an older brother named Arnold Edward Hague who was born on the 16th of June, 1908 in Brant County and she had a younger brother named Raymond Clair Hague, who was born on the 27th of April, 1911 in Toronto, Ontario. At the time of her birth, Mrs. Waddell’s fathers occupation was listed as an electrician. Her mother died in Toronto on the 26th of May, 1917 at the age of 32.  She was buried at St. Johns Cemetery in Toronto.  Her father married Thelma Fredrica Hartman on the 3rd of September, 1920 in Toronto.  They had 2 more children: Gwendolyn Darrell Hague was born on the 1st of July, 1921 and Nathalie Hague was born on the 19th of December, 1925.  Clair and Thelma Hague moved their family to Toronto in 1910.

Clair Hague became the General Manager of the Canadian Universal Film Company when film making in Canada was in its infancy.  In 1935, Mr. Hague purchased the property on the southwest corner of Dixon Road and Islington Avenue in Etobicoke.  He hired architect Frank Ridley to build a sprawling home fashioned after an English manor.  The home was called Briarcrest.  Mr. Hague resided in the home until his death in 1945.

Dr. Waddell died on the 1st of January, 1956.  Mrs. Waddell died on the 30th of June, 1995.  Dr. and Mrs. Waddell were buried in the Waddell family plot at the Hamilton Cemetery in section A4-B4, lot 51.

*Dr. Waddell’s brother Lister Norris Waddell served with the Canadian Military during WWI.

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.