James Pringle was born in Ontario around 1867 and, according to his marriage record, was the son of James Pringle and Mary Jane Walker. He is listed in the 1871 Seaforth census living with his parents and siblings.

James Pringle, 25, married Margaret Broadfoot, 24, in Seaforth on March 15, 1893. James had spent some time in the United States as his marriage records state that he was a resident of Chicago as well as a merchant.

In 1894 their first child, Annie Isabel, was born. James Pringle built the semi-detached house at 68/70 St. Vincent Street for his family in 1895. The couple had two more children, Thomas John in 1896 and Margaret in 1898.

James’ occupation is noted as being a grain dealer on the assessment role. His father, James Sr., had been listed previously as a grain dealer in the 1891 Stratford census. The assessment shows that James Sr. was living in the house on St. Vincent Street in 1900.

Margaret Broadfoot Pringle, 32, died in February 1901. The address in the record shows that the family was living on St. David Street at the time of her death.

The 1901 census shows James as being widowed and the young family has Margaret’s sister living with them as well as a servant. James, at this time, was still a grain dealer.

By the 1911 census, the first census to use street addresses, we see James is living at 313 St. David Street. He had changed his occupation and was now a clothing merchant.

Sometime before 1916, James and his family left Stratford. When his son, Thomas John, enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force that year, his attestation papers show his father, James, living in Hamilton.