John Dillon

John Dillon, for many years one of the best known merchants of Montreal, was a member of the firm of Reford & Dillon. He was born in Chambly, March 18, 1836, a son of John Dillon, Sr., a native of Belfast, Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and for some years resided in Toronto and Montreal, his death occurring in the latter city in 1875. He was father of two sons, George Graham and John Dillon. The former passed his active business life in Toronto, where he was connected with the retail dry-goods house of George Bowes & Company. He died in Toronto, while his widow, Mrs. Catherine Jacques Dillon, passed away in Montreal. They were survived by a daughter, Miss Elisabeth J. Dillon, who for many years lived with her uncle, John Dillon, who never married.

It was in Toronto that John Dillon formed a partnership with Robert Reford under the firm name of Reford & Dillon, wholesale grocers, and in 1867 the business was moved to Montreal. This association continued for about forty years and the business was most successfully and capably conducted according to modern progressive methods. A few years prior to his death Mr. Dillon retired from the firm, but maintained his interest in other industrial and commercial institutions. Up to the time of his death he was a director of the Mount Royal Milling and Manufacturing Company and was also vice president of the Gould Cold Storage Company. His business judgment was sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering. He could see farther than many a man in business circles, foretelling the outcome of any enterprise from the beginning and, moreover, he had the power to coordinate and unify forces into a harmonious whole.

Mr. Dillon was much interested throughout his lifetime in charitable work and among other institutions with which he was actively associated was the Old Brewery Mission. He was an active member of the Dominion Square Methodist church, which he joined as a charter member upon its organization.

The Montreal Star in announcing his death on the 15th of May, 1908, said, “In the death of Mr. John Dillon which took place this morning very suddenly at his residence, 19 McGregor Street, Montreal loses one of its oldest and most respected citizens. Mr. Dillon, who had been in good health, was speaking to a relative about 11:30 today, when he was overcome by heart failure, his death taking place almost immediately. Thus passed onward one who always strove to do his duty by his fellowmen.”