Augustine, Albert William

Albert William Augustine was born to Albert Benjamin Augustine and Caroline Margaret Barbara Breithaupt in Racine, Wisconsin on October 26, 1890. As a young man, Albert attended North-Western College in Naperville, Illinois but he never graduated. After the death in 1909 in Racine of his father, Albert Benjamin, the remaining family members moved to Kitchener, Ontario.

On August 22, 1918, Albert married Edna Louise Kaufman in Kitchener, Ontario and together they had four children; Albert Jacob Augustine, John Ross Augustine, David William Augustine, and Mary Caroline Augustine.

In 1919, Albert acquired the Doering Trunk Company in Waterloo, Ontario. This company was renamed the Superior Box Company in 1932. In 1924, he purchased the Forewell Foundry in Kitchener, Ontario. This company was renamed the Augustine Foundry Company. The Superior Box Company and the Augustine Foundry Company did not survive the Great Depression during the 1930s.

In 1938, Albert developed the White Valley Chemical Company which extracted calcium carbonate from the bottom of a lake near Bobcaygeon, Ontario. This company closed in 1941.

From 1942-1946, Albert worked as a government inspector in manufacturing centres across Quebec and Ontario. During the war, he checked the quality of rubber rafts and survival gear. After the war, Albert worked as an agent for the Staminite Company. He retired in 1951.

On March 7, 1972 Albert died from a heart attack and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. On February 25, 1973, a pulpit drape and book mark were given to the Zion United Church in Kitchener, Ontario in his memory.

Revised by NM in September 2018.

• English

• "Augustine, Albert". Waterloo Region Record. May 8, 1972. p. 25.