James Noxon Lapum (July 1819 – 26 July 1879) was a Canadian merchant and Conservative politician who represented the riding of Addington in the 1st Canadian Parliament.
Early life and family
Born in Erneston, Upper Canada (present‑day Ontario), Lapum was the son of Robert Lapum. In 1844 he married Martha Fisk.
Career
- Merchant and postmaster: Lapum operated a general store in Centreville and served as the community’s postmaster for two decades.
- Local government: He held the position of reeve of Camden Township for seven years.
- Agricultural enterprise: In 1870, together with John Stewart Miller, he established a cheese‑manufacturing operation.
Federal politics
In the inaugural federal election of 1867, Lapum was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Addington, receiving 1,120 votes (52.98 % of the total). He served in the House of Commons until 1872, when he was defeated by Liberal‑Conservative candidate Schuyler Shibley, who won 1,495 votes (64 %).
Death
James Lapum died on 26 July 1879 in Centreville, Ontario, at the age of approximately 60.
Legacy
Lapum’s contributions to local commerce, municipal administration, and early Canadian parliamentary history are documented in contemporary parliamentary directories and regional histories.
References
- Parliament of Canada biography of James Lapum.
- “The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867‑1967,” Public Archives of Canada, 1968.
- Lennox and Addington Historical Society, Papers and Records, Vol. I (1909).
- Election returns, Canadian Elections Database.