Biography:

Dr. Thomas “Arnold” McCormick was born in Colchester Township near Harrow, Ontario on the 25th of October, 1870.  Dr. McCormick was the 9th of 11 children born to Mathew William McCormick and the former Elizabeth Jane Taylor.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were;  Walter Hubert McCormick, Sara Ann McCormick, John Colburn McCormick, Mathew Melbourne McCormick, Melinda Jane McCormick, Mary Ocena McCormick, Adelaide McCormick, William McCormick, Judson Arthur McCormick and Eliza McCormick.

Dr. McCormick attended Potley Public School, Essex High School and the Windsor Model School.  He taught school in Harrow in a one-room school house, prior to attending Trinity Medical College.

After completing medical school around 1895, Dr. McCormick set up his medical practice in Wheatley.  He was listed in the 1900 Business Directory.

Dr. McCormick married Edith Hartley Woodbridge on his 28th birthday, October 25th, 1898 in Detroit, Michigan.  Mrs. McCormick was born in Colchester South Twp, Essex County on the 2nd of October 1869.  She was the youngest of 4 daughters born to William Warden Woodbridge and the former Elizabeth Anne Hartley.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Adella J. Woodbridge, Wilhelmina Harriett Woodbridge and Anna L. Woodbridge.  Mrs. McCormick’s mother died on the 28th of October, 1869 when she was just 26 days old.  Her father married Hannah Ryerson Aikman in Windsor on the 30th of January, 1872 and 5 more children were born; Norah Amelia Woodbridge, William Rhea Woodbridge, Mary Alexander Woodbridge, Charles Oliver Woodbridge and Mabel Vera Woodbridge (who died at the age of 3 months).

Dr. McCormick appears in the 1900 Farmers and Business Directory for Essex, Elgin, Kent and Lambton Counties under the Wheatley subtitle.

Dr. and Mrs. McCormick had one son, Norman Arnold McCormick who was born on the 14th of June, 1901 in Wheatley.

Dr. McCormick practiced medicine in Wheatley for 7 years and left for post-graduate studies in London, England from 1902 until 1903.  In 1904 he practiced medicine in Detroit, Michigan for several months before moving back to Ontario and settling in Walkerville (Essex County).

Dr. McCormick served as the Medical Officer of Health for Walkerville between 1910 and 1915.

According to the 1921 census, Dr. McCormick and his family were residing at 25 Wyandotte in Walkerville.  Dr. McCormick was the first Director of the Windsor Clinic of the Ontario Cancer Foundation.  In 1949, Dr. McCormick was listed as residing at 2032 Willistead Cres., in Windsor.

Dr. McCormick enjoyed the studies of history and literature and he enjoyed travelling.

Dr. McCormick died at his residence on the 18th of July, 1953.   He was buried at the Windsor Grove Cemetery in Windsor.  After his death, Mrs. McCormick established the McCormick Scholarship at the University of Toronto in memory of her husband.

Mrs. McCormick died at her residence on Willistead Crescent in Windsor on the 2nd of August, 1959 and she was buried at the Windsor Grove Cemetery next to her husband.

*Dr. McCormick’s son Dr. Norman McCormick practiced medicine in Windsor and specialized in cancer treatment.  Dr. Norman McCormick died on the 11th of November, 1967 and he was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Walkerville.  After the death of Dr. Norman McCormick, his name was added to the scholarship at The University of Toronto.

**Mrs. McCormick’s brother Dr. Charles Oliver Woodbridge practiced medicine in Michigan.  He died in Detroit on the 24th of January, 1937.

***Dr. McCormick has a great-grandson who bears his name.  The webmaster wishes to thank Mr. Karrow for his input.