As often the case in early Ontario, cabinet making and undertaking were operated jointly. This was primarily because before modern machinery was in use cabinet makers were the natural choice for the manufacturing of coffins and this evolved into the providing of undertaking services.In 1838 Samuel Roadhouse, at the young age of fourteen, came to Newmarket to apprentice to John Botsford, cabinet maker and undertaker. The business was located at the corner of Main and Botsford Streets.
After the death of John Botsford, Samuel Roadhouse set up his own business in 1842. In 1853 Samuel built his own home and new woodworking factory on the north-east corner of Main and Queen streets. Typical of the time, horses were used to power the lathes and other machinery in the factory. Samuel Roadhouse was very active in municipal affairs, serving as school board trustee and as reeve. When Newmarket was incorporated as a town in 1880 Roadhouse’s business was represented by one of nine bees on the “town crest”, Newmarket being the “hive of industry”.
Samuel’s son, Neriah John “N.J.” Roadhouse who had apprenticed to his father, took over the business upon Samuel’s death in 1890. N.J. was civic-minded like his father and was considered one of the “fathers” of modern Newmarket. He was very active in municipal affairs, serving as on town council for 12 years and as mayor from 1905 to 1907, assisting in the implementation of electric lights, water supply and modern roads.
