Northcott, William Walter
William Walter Northcott, the assessor of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, where he has resided for the past twenty-two years, dating his arrival on the 4th of June, 1883, was born in Bristol, England, on the 1st of June, 1846, and is a representative of old English ancestry. His father, John Northcott, was born in Devonshire, England, and with his son, John A., emigrated to Canada in the year 1853, the remainder of the family coming the following year. There he followed contracting and building, having in early life learned the carpenter's trade in his native country. He married Miss Fanny Parker, who passed away in the year 1855 in the fiftieth year of her age. He afterward married again and his death occurred in 1882, when he was in the seventy-sixth year of his age. John and Fanny (Parker) Northcott were valued members of the Episcopal church, and they were the parents of six children. By his second marriage he had five children, and two of the family now reside in Victoria, British Columbia: William W. and John A.
William Walter Northcott was only about eight years of age when brought by his parents to America. He resided in Belleville, Ontario, and was educated in its public schools, after which he acquired a knowledge of the builder's art by working with his father. Subsequent to his arrival in British Columbia he was for a number of years successfully engaged in building operations in Victoria, and on the 10th of February, 1890, he received the appointment to the position of city assessor and for the past fifteen years has filled the office most acceptably. He is also inspector of buildings and his knowledge of the building trade splendidly qualifies him for the duties of his office. In his political views he is Conservative, but as the office is one which affects all of the people he takes no active part whatever in politics at the present time.
In 1867 Mr. Northcott was married to Miss Olive Cronk, a native of Ernestown, Canada, and they have become the parents of five children: Alice, now Mrs. O. A. Earley; Orvilla, now the wife of J. H. Falconer; Elizabeth Parker, now Mrs. William Forbes Robertson; Joseph R.; and William Walter, Jr. The family are communicants of the Church of England and Mr. Northcott is an active and valued member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree. The sublime degree of the Master Mason was conferred upon him in Belleville, Ontario, in 1869, and he is now a past master of Victoria Columbia lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Northcott is widely and favourably known throughout the province, his abilities well fitting him for the position he now occupies. The terms progress and patriotism might be considered the keynote of his character, for throughout his career he has laboured for the improvement of every line of business or public interest with which he has been associated, and at all times has been actuated by a fidelity to his country and her welfare.
R. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 344-345.