William Schmalz

W. H. Schmalz, 1912

William Henry Schmalz (December 31, 1862 – May 9, 1933) was an insurance company executive and politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as mayor of Berlin (later renamed to Kitchener) from 1911 to 1912.[1]

Early life and education

Schmalz's parents came to Canada West from Hesse in 1854. In 1878, at 15 years old, Schmalz joined the Economical Mutual Fire Insurance Company as a policy writer. In 1908, he became managing director. Schmalz worked for the company until 1933. Schmalz served 18 years on the hospital board, including three as president.[1] He was also a member of the Board of Trade. With W.J. Morris, he managed the Berliner Journal.[2]

Personal life

He married Eleanor Oelschlager. He then went on to have a son named William Henry Eugene Schmalz. His son was an architect and designed the first city hall for the city of Kitchener.[3]

Career

He was one of the foremost Canadian philatelists of his time, owning 45,000 stamps.[1] Schmalz was also a singer in a number of choirs and played cornet in the Berlin orchestra.[4] He died in 1933 and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener.[5]

References

1. "William H. Schmalz". Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.
2. "William Henry Schmalz fonds". National Archives of Canada.
3. "W.H.E. Schmalz collection". University of Waterloo.
4. Leibbrandt, Gottlieb (1980). Little paradise : the saga of the German Canadians of Waterloo County, Ontario, 1800-1975. pp. 196–198.
5. "Mayor William Henry Schmalz". Waterloo Region Generations. Region of Waterloo. Retrieved 24 May 2021.