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James Whalen facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

James Whalen (born in 1869, died in 1929) was a Canadian business leader. He was an entrepreneur, which means he started and ran many businesses. He lived in Port Arthur, Ontario, which is now part of Thunder Bay.

James Whalen was interested in several important industries. These included cutting down trees for wood, building ships, digging up riverbeds (called dredging), and towing boats. He started his career in the 1890s by contracting timber. This means he managed projects to cut and supply wood.

Building a Business Empire

James Whalen built a very successful group of businesses. Many of these businesses were focused on the Great Lakes. He worked with ships and water transportation.

He had some brothers who helped him. Together, they tried to get into the pulp and paper business in British Columbia. This business makes paper from wood pulp. However, this venture was not as successful. Their company went bankrupt in 1925. This means it ran out of money and had to close.

Early Life and Family Connections

James Whalen was born on April 29, 1869, in Collingwood, Ontario. His parents were Joseph Whalen and Alice Broad. He passed away on June 4, 1929, in Duluth, Minnesota.

In 1896, James Whalen married Laurel Conmee. Her father was James Conmee. He was an important politician and contractor in Ontario. This marriage helped connect James Whalen to an influential family.

The Whalen Building

In 1913, James Whalen built a large, eight-story building. This building was located in Port Arthur. It was named the Whalen Building after him.

Companies James Whalen Was Involved With

James Whalen was connected to many different companies. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

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