did not have the authority to permit a saloon in a village at the time. Ontario legislator The Legislative Assembly of Ontario was established with Canadian Confederation, and Paxton became the first person to represent the Ontario North electoral district. He was elected as an Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 1867 Ontario general election, carried through a bill for the settlement of tax titles, and served in the legislature until 1881. Throughout his entire tenure in the legislature, he was a member of the Standing Committee on Railways, the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, and the Standing Committee on Standing Orders. Paxton and Bigelow began efforts in late 1867 to construct the Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway, which was chartered in March 1868. Bigelow became the railway's president and Paxton was named to its board of directors. During the 1st Parliament of Ontario, Paxton sat on a committee for Bill 89 which made provisions for the registration of brands used in marking timber, and on a committee to explore the international export of Ontario timber products. Paxton was returned to the legislature in the 1871 Ontario general election. During the 2nd Parliament of Ontario, he sat on a committee to study protecting Ontario's timber resources from forest fires. Construction of the Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway was completed in early 1872, and it operated as a branch line for transporting grains and other goods during a period of growth in Port Perry. During the mid-1870s, Paxton built his private residence, "Buena Vista", which was one of the largest houses in Port Perry and featured a tower and large front porch on a property of . Paxton was returned to the legislature for a third term in the 1875 Ontario general election. The validity of many results for the 3rd Parliament of Ontario were challenged on charges of bribery or corruption. Charges were dismissed in the Ontario North electoral district but a by-election was held. Paxton won the original election by 129 votes, and won the by-election by 185 votes to retain his seat. He was appointed secretary of the Port Perry United School Section in January 1878. Paxton was returned to the legislature for a fourth term in the 1879 Ontario general election. While serving in the 4th Parliament of Ontario, he was appointed sheriff of Ontario County upon the death of Nelson G. Reynolds in