Edward Wilkes Rathbun

Edward Wilkes Rathbun (October 4, 1842 – November 24, 1903) was an American-born entrepreneur and political figure in Ontario, Canada.

In 1862, Rathbun came to Mill Point (later Deseronto) in Canada West where his father had established a sawmill operation.

Rathbun became president and general manager of the company in 1883; following the death of his father in 1886, he became sole owner.

The Rathbun company paid close to half of the municipal taxes in Deseronto; the family donated land for the town cemetery, concert hall, park and church.

Although he never ran for provincial or federal office, Rathbun maintained close ties to powerful players in the governments of Ontario and Canada, such as Richard John Cartwright, Alexander Campbell and Oliver Mowat.