Everything in order: northern forefather recognized with prestigious medal.

• Position: TEMISKAMING & REGION

Jake Englehart was memorialized as an important founding father of the town that bears his name, during an early July conferral of the Order of the North.

"The Order of the North is considered the most prestigious honour that can be bestowed on any resident of the North, living or deceased," reads a description of the award. "It was created as a tribute to Jack Munro and is intended to recognize those who demonstrate the highest level of achievement excellence in any field beneficial to the North."

The Town of Englehart, located north of Temiskaming Shores and southeast of Timmins, was incorporated in 1908 during the building of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario (T&O) Railway--now the Ontario Northland Railway--as a divisional point between North Bay and Cochrane.

An American businessman who hailed originally from Cleveland, Englehart found early success in the oil business as an original founder of the Imperial Oil Co. Ltd. while living in Petrolia in southern Ontario.

But residents of Northern Ontario know him best as the chairman of the T&O, a role he took on in 1906 as the Crown-owned company prepared to extend the railway 400 miles north through the wilderness.

It is said that Englehart was asked personally by Ontario Premier Sir fames Whitney to come north to overhaul the railroad's affairs, which were in shambles. He agreed and successfully turned the railway around, extending it by several lines, and turning its finances from red to black.

Englehart additionally played a key role in providing relief during the area's devastating 1911...