page_title: Thomas Ahearn
section_title: Family
hierarchical_section_title: Thomas Ahearn / Family
caption_attribution_description: English: Madame Emma Brodeur by William James Topley
context_page_description: Thomas Ahearn, PC was a Canadian inventor and businessman. Ahearn, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was instrumental in the success of a vast streetcar system that was once in Ottawa, the Ottawa Electric Railway, and was the first chairman of Canada's Federal District Commission in 1927. He held several patents related to electrical items and headed companies which competed for decades with Ottawa Hydro as providers for electricity in Ottawa. Ahearn co-founded the Ottawa Car Company, a manufacturer of streetcars for Canadian markets.
context_section_description: Thomas Ahearn's first marriage was to Lilias Mackay Fleck. In 1892, in his second marriage, he married Margaret Howitt (likely Margaret Howit Fleck). Margaret was the daughter of Alexander Fleck, President of the Vulcan Iron Works Co., Ottawa, and his wife, Lilias Walker. Margaret was born in Montreal, and was educated at the McGill Model School and at Bute House. The couple travelled in foreign countries with their family. She served as the President of the Victorian Order of Nurses. She was identified with the Local Council of Women, and the Woman's Canadian Historical Society. The couple lived at Buena Vista, 584 Maria Street, Ottawa.
  Thomas Ahearn's son Frank would become the owner of the Ottawa Auditorium and the Ottawa Senators professional ice hockey team.
  Ahearn's other child, Lilias Ahearn Southam(1888-1962) married Harry Southam in 1909.  Harry Southam, publisher of the Ottawa Citizen, was part of the Southam newspaper empire.
caption: Mrs. Margaret Ahearn by William James Topley c. 1900
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