James Skead

He was born near Moresby, Cumbria, England in 1817 and studied there, coming to Jesus Island, Lower Canada with his father and two siblings, Robert and Mary Ann, in 1827 at ten years of age.

His lumber operations with his brother Robert expanded to include forests along the Mississippi River in Ontario.

Among extensive business interests he helped promote the Upper Ottawa Steamboat Company, later becoming its president.

Skead was president of the Ottawa Agricultural Insurance Company and the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association.

[citation needed] In memory of Skead, there is a street located off the Ottawa river parkway in Westboro.