George Munns Barton

This biography is an excerpt of a larger project about the Mayors of Dundas developed and created by Judy Morphet, a Museum volunteer. It has been years in the making. The Museum is thankful for Judy’s hard work and perseverance in bringing these stories to light. To read more, click here.

George Munns Barton, born in 1829 in Ireland lost both his parents by age 16 and set out to find his way. Already well-educated, he made his way to Toronto and entered a law practice in 1847. Two years later, he joined the office of Colonel William Notman QC. By 1852, Barton was an attorney-at-law and became a partner with Notman, in what was considered the largest practice west of Toronto.

In 1851 George and Elizabeth Atkins wed and with a family of five children lived in a large house at the top of Albert Street, dubbed Barton Castle. It was to become an isolation hospital later for the Spanish Flu victims.

Barton, 25, was elected to Town Council in 1854 and to Mayor in 1855. The year 1855 was plagued with problem: the volunteer fire brigade was disbanded and another had to be organized, with proper equipment; the Canal was adversely affecting business interest; and Dundas had serious sewage and drainage problems, “pestilence flowing from cellarage on King Street”.

Perhaps due to his busy office or the politics on Council Barton chose not to stand again for election. He was called to the Canadian bar in 1859 and served for seven years as a trustee of the Hamilton Law Association and again declined other honours, including that of judge in Wentworth County.

George Barton passed in 1892.