Biography:

Dr. William Albert Elgie was born in Dawn Mills, Ontario on the 19th of September, 1892.   Dr. Elgie was the 2nd of 5 children born to George Albert Elgie and the former Margarett Elizabeth Corlett.  At the time of his birth his family farmed on the 9th concession of Camden Twp (Chatham-Kent).  His mother was the former Margarett Elizabeth Corlett.  His siblings were; Earl Kenneth Elgie, Albert Clair Elgie (who died as an infant), Goldwin Corlett Elgie and a sister named Cora Gladys Elgie.  Dr. Elgie attended the local Dawn Mills School and he attended Albert College in Belleville, Ontario.

Dr. Elgie studied at the University of Western Ontario and obtained his medical degree in 1919, specializing in radiology.  In 1919, he set up his medical practice in Chatham and registered with the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 17th of June, 1919.  According to the 1920 Vernon’s City of Chatham Business Directory, his medical office was located at 36 Sixth Street.  According to the 1921 census, Dr. Elgie resided at 53 Joseph Street in Chatham with his parents.

Dr. Elgie married Marjorie Grace Westman in Chatham, on the 14th of September, 1921.  They were married at the residence of the bride’s parents.  Mrs. Elgie was born in London, Ontario on the 31st of December, 1893.  She was the eldest of 4 children born to Alfred Douglas Westman and the former Minnie Eden.  At the time of her birth, her family lived at 53 Gray Street in London.  Her father was a hardware merchant and her siblings were; Beatrice Evelyn Westman, Gladys Kathleen Westman and Henry “Harry” Douglas Westman (who died of Scarlet Fever on the 17th of November, 1903 at the age of 2 years and 8 months).  By 1899 the Westman family lived in Chatham at 411 King Street West.

Dr. and Mrs. Elgie had two sons both born in Chatham; William Albert Elgie was born on the 1st of August, 1927 and Douglas Westman Elgie was born on the 19th of July, 1931.

According to the 1929 Vernon City of Chatham Directory, Dr. Elgie’s medical office was still located at 36 Sixth Street.  Dr. Elgie was a member of the Kent Medical Society and for a number of years he was the Chief of Radiology at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham. Dr. Elgie, owned 1,800 acres of land near Bothwell. He grew evergreen trees and raised Hackney horses on his farm.  According to the 1941 Shepherds City of Chatham Business Directory, Dr. Elgie’s medical office was located at 53 Sixth Street.

Dr. Elgie was only 53 years old, when he suffered a heart attack and died at his residence, 220 Victoria Avenue in Chatham on the 6th of April, 1946.  It is indicative of his dedication to medicine, that the heart attack that Dr. Elgie suffered was attributed to “overwork” on his death record.  He worked up until the day he died.  His funeral was conducted at St. Andrew’s United Church in Chatham.  Mrs. Elgie died on the 11th of March, 1974.  At the time of her death, Mrs. Elgie resided at 411 King Street West in Chatham, the home she lived in with her parents in 1901.  Dr. and Mrs. Elgie were buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

The photo of Dr. Elgie is courtesy of the Elgie Family.