was loyal and faithful. He was a member of the Philharmonic Club.
He manifested the qualities of good citizenship and was devoted
to the welfare of his family, who, when he passed away in April,
1903, lost a loving and generous husband and father, while his
associates mourned the death of a loyal, faithful friend.
ALEXANDER COWPER HUTCHISON.
The history of Montreal’s architectural development would be
incomplete were there failure to make reference to Alexander
Cowper Hutchison, who, though in his seventy-seventh year, is yet
active in his profession in which he has long been a recognized
leader. His position today is that of consulting architect
and his utterances are accepted as words of wisdom by younger
representatives of the profession. Mr. Hutchison is one of the
old-time residents of Montreal. In fact, his entire life has
here been passed with the exception of a period of three years
spent in Ottawa, Ontario. He has seen this city develop from less
than forty thousand to a metropolitan center of over six hundred
thousand inhabitants.
Mr. Hutchison was born April 2, 1838, on the east side of Queen
Street between Wellington and William Streets, at Montreal
and many years later it fell to his lot in the course of his
business, to tear down the old house in which his birth had
occurred, this being done to make room for the Ives and Allen
warehouse which was erected upon that site. He comes of old
Scotch ancestry. His father was William Hutchison who came from
Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a builder in Montreal and afterward
was connected with the public works department. The mother,
whose maiden name was Helen Campbell Hall, was also a native of
Ayrshire, Scotland.
[Illustration: ALEXANDER C. HUTCHISON]
Such schools as existed in Montreal during his youthful days
provided Alexander Cowper Hutchison with his educational
opportunities. When but a boy of twelve years he began to learn
the stone-cutter’s trade under the direction of his father and
during the winter months for two or three years after he had
commenced work he attended the school conducted by the late C.
P. Watson. Subsequently he became a student in night school and
devoted all of his spare time to study, having come to a full
realization of the value of education. He possessed an inherited
talent for drawing and to develop his powers in that direction he
attended drawing classes that were conducted at the Mechanics’
Institute. He had made rapid progress from the very first as a
stone-cutter and displayed exceptional ability and skill in that
direction.
When scarcely out of his teens he was placed in charge of the
cut stone work on Christ Church Cathedral and some of the finest
stone work around the altar in that edifice was cut by him before
he had attained his majority. After the completion of that
building he was placed in charge of the cut stone work of the
eastern block of the parliament buildings at Ottawa during their
erection, his efforts in that connection continuing through the
year 1862. While engaged in that work he successfully conducted
classes in drawing which were largely attended. On the completion
of the government buildings he was called to Montreal to conduct
classes in connection with the Mechanics’ Institute, giving
instructions in architectural and geometric drawing. These
classes were afterward transferred to the Board of Arts and
Manufacturers and it was while connected therewith that he took
up the active practice of his profession which he followed for
many years. The beauty and utility which have always been salient
features of his designs are evident in many of the principal
buildings of Montreal.
Among the many structures designed by Mr. Hutchison independently
or in a partnership relation, and which stand as monuments to
his skill and ingenuity may be mentioned: Redpath Museum; McGill
University; Erskine church; Crescent Street Presbyterian church;
Warren Memorial church at Louisville, Kentucky; St. Andrew’s
church, at Westmount; Montreal high school and a number of other
school buildings; Royal Insurance building; London & Liverpool &
Globe Insurance Company’s building; Canadian Express Company’s
building; La Presse building; Queen’s Hall block; Henry Birks &
Sons’ building; Lord Strathcona’s residence; Macdonald College
buildings at Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, as well as a large
number of residences in Montreal and elsewhere together with many
warehouses, factories etc. One of the most recent expressions
of his architectural skill is seen in the Chalmers church at
Ottawa. He has not only practiced his profession as one of its
active followers, but has also gained renown as an educator in
his special field. He has lectured on ecclesiastical architecture
before the Presbyterian College of Montreal and he was one of
the original members, selected by its founder, the Marquis of
Lorne, of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, and remained its
vice president until 1907, when he resigned. He has likewise
been honored with the presidency of the Quebec Architects’
Association, of which he was one of the founders, and thus
has come to him direct recognition of the honor and respect
entertained for him by the profession.
In political affairs Mr. Hutchison has taken a prominent part
but never as a party leader in the commonly accepted sense of
the term. With him men and measures have ever been considered
before partisanship, and the public welfare has ever stood
before personal aggrandizement. For years he was a member of
the council and was the second mayor of Cote St. Antoine, now
Westmount. His deep interest in and loyalty to the cause of
education was demonstrated in his eighteen years of service as a
school trustee. For a number of years he was a member of No. 5
Queen’s Company Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was likewise a member
of the First Company Rifles which was originally an independent
company and afterwards became the First Company of Prince of
Wales’ Regiment. He was also an officer in a rifle company in
Ottawa, while subsequently he became an officer of the Montreal
Engineers, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. He took part in
the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 and was accorded the Queen’s
medal.
Mr. Hutchison manifested great interest in church work. He
was formerly an elder in Erskine church, but afterward became
connected with St. Andrew’s church at Westmount, which had
previously been known as Melville church but differences of
opinion caused a split in the congregation and the portion
that left took the name with them. St. Andrew’s church was
then organized and remained on the old site, at the corner of
Stanton and Cote St. Antoine road. Mr. Hutchison was one of its
founders and since the organization of this church has taken
a most prominent part in its affairs. He has been an elder
for many years, was superintendent of the Sunday school for
thirty years and since 1886 has continuously served as session
clerk. He is a member of the board of managers of the Montreal
Presbyterian College and was a member of the national committee
of the Presbyterian Laymen’s Missionary movement in 1909. He has
likewise served as president of the Provincial Sunday School
Union of Quebec.
No good work done in the name of charity or religion has ever
sought his aid in vain, and his broad humanitarianism has been
manifest in his helpful support of many movements to benefit
the poor and needy or ameliorate the hard conditions of life
for the unfortunate. He is a life governor of the Montreal
General Hospital, of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane,
governor of the Western Hospital, and president of the Protestant
House of Industry and Refuge. He is an ex-president of the
Canadian branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and of the
Montreal Caledonian Curling Club, being now honorary president
of the latter and an ex-president of the Heather Curling Club
of Westmount. He was a warm personal friend of the late Hon.
Alexander Mackenzie and he counts among his close associates
many of the most distinguished and eminent residents of Montreal
and the province. The Ottawa Free Press has termed him “one of
Montreal’s best known and most honored citizens.” He has long
occupied positions of distinction, not only by reason of what he
has accomplished along professional lines, but also owing to the
fact that he has made his life of signal service and benefit to
his fellowmen in his support of benevolent and religious plans
and projects. His life has ever been actuated by the highest
principles of honor and no citizen of Montreal is more worthy of
high regard.
On the 10th of July, 1862, in Cobourg, Ontario, Mr. Hutchison was
united in marriage to Miss Margaret Burnet of that place, and
they celebrated their golden wedding in July, 1912. Mr. and Mrs.
Hutchison have two sons and one daughter: William B., of the firm
of Hutchison, Wood & Miller, architects, who is married; Charles
Alexander, engaged in ornamental iron work, who is married
and has two children, Margaret and Lorne; and Helen, the wife
of George W. Wood of that firm. She has three sons: Alexander
Campbell, George Arthur and Douglas Fletcher.
Mr. Hutchison resides at No. 240 Kensington Avenue and has lived
in that immediate vicinity for nearly fifty years. During his
boyhood his parents resided on the north side of St. James Street
just a short distance west of Bleury Street which was then one of
the attractive residential sections of the city and Mr. Hutchison
relates some highly interesting incidents of those early days.
In 1865 when he took up his residence in what is now Westmount,
that district was supposed to be far out in the country. In
fact, the nearest residence, other than homes of farmers, was
on Dorchester West near what is now Greene Street. While Mr.
Hutchison has passed the seventy-sixth milestone upon life’s
journey, he is a well preserved man, active in mind and body.
Regular in his habits, he has never tasted intoxicating liquors
or used tobacco in any form. His great vitality has enabled him
to withstand three very serious operations since reaching the
age of seventy years and his complete recovery has attracted the
attention of members of the medical profession. He is a splendid
type of a high-minded gentleman of the old school, whose natural
politeness and courtesy are in evidence at all times.
DAVID W. CAMPBELL.
David W. Campbell, prominently connected with marine
transportation interests, is now general agent in Canada for the
Elder-Dempster Company in the South African and Mexican service.
He was born in Montreal in 1861, a son of the late John and Sarah
(Evans) Campbell, of this city. His youthful days were spent in
his parents’ home and his education was completed in the Montreal
high school. He comes of Scotch ancestry and in his career has
manifested many of the sterling traits characteristic of the land
of the heather. His initial step in business was made in the
service of Thompson, Murray & Company, then managing agents of
the Beaver line of steamships in Canada. Fidelity, industry and
capability won him promotion from time to time and after twenty
years’ continuous connection with the company he was appointed
to the position of general manager in 1895. While acting in
that capacity he was the first to establish a direct steamship
service during the winter months to a Canadian port--that of St.
John, New Brunswick. It was through his instrumentality that
the vessels of the Beaver line were sold to the Elder-Dempster
Company in 1898 and two years later, or in 1900, he became
Canadian manager for the latter company. His efficiency in the
field of steamship service management led to his selection, in
1903, for the position of general superintendent of the Canadian
Pacific Railway Company’s Atlantic fleet of steamers at Montreal,
in which position he remained until June, 1905, when he resigned
in order to take control for Canada of the interests of the
Elder-Dempster Company in connection with the South African and
Mexican service. He subsequently became general agent in Canada
for the same company, and his efforts have greatly furthered
its interests. He readily recognizes the possibilities of a
situation, utilizes the opportunities that are presented and
accomplishes substantial and gratifying results. He is a director
of several shipping companies and is on the board of the Montreal
Sailors’ Institute and the Shipping Federation of Canada, all
of which are more or less directly connected with the line of
business in which he has so long been engaged. Moreover, he has
done much to popularize the St. Lawrence route. He is serving on
the executive committee of the Canadian Shipping Federation, and
his long experience with maritime interests well qualifies him
to speak authoritatively upon matters with which the federation
deals.
Mr. Campbell has for some years been a member of the Montreal
Board of Trade, in 1910 was elected one of its councillors and in
1914 a vice president. He is also Cuban consul at Montreal.
In November, 1900, Mr. Campbell married Miss Emily Maud Baird, a
daughter of the late H. N. Baird of Toronto. They hold membership
in the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Campbell belongs to the St.
James Club. He favors free trade with the Empire and has been a
close student of many political situations and questions having
to do with the welfare and progress of the Dominion. His opinions
upon such questions are never lightly valued, for experience has
developed in him sound judgment and keen discrimination.
LOUIS DUFOUR DIT LATOUR.
Louis Dufour dit Latour, member of the real-estate firm of Latour
& Guindon, with offices in the Versailles building, Montreal,
was born in this city, June 15, 1867, a son of François Xavier
Latour dit Dufour of Lavaltrie, P. Q., where he followed farming,
and of Elizabeth (Prud’homme) Latour of St. Sulpice, P. Q. His
great-grandfather was Michel Dufour dit Latour, a church builder,
and his great-grandmother was Charlotte Du Moulin from France.
In the acquirement of his education Louis Dufour dit Latour
attended the College of Chambly--the Brethren of Christian
School, pursuing a commercial course. His early experience in
business lines came to him as office boy with the Thomas Davidson
Manufacturing Company, tinware and granite ware manufacturers
of Montreal. He was in the employ of the company for twenty-six
years, gradually working his way upward as his developing
powers and ability prepared him for further activities and
responsibilities. He served successively as custom house clerk,
cashier, bookkeeper and as manager of the Montreal branch of
the business, continuing in that position of responsibility for
twelve years. No higher testimonial of his business integrity,
enterprise and fidelity could be given than the fact that he
remained with one company for over a quarter of a century. He
left them in 1909 to open a real-estate office in connection
with J. M. Guindon, a hardware merchant of Montreal, under the
firm style of Latour & Guindon at No. 1202 Mount Royal East
Street, where they remained from 1909 until 1913. They then
transferred their business to No. 52 St. James Street, retaining
the old office, however, as a branch. In May, 1914, the offices
were removed to the new Versailles building on St. James Street.
[Illustration: L. D. LATOUR]
On the 28th of May, 1888, in Montreal, Mr. Latour was united
in marriage to Miss Marie Joseph Leblanc, a daughter of
Alphonse Leblanc and Aveline Amirault of L’Epiphanie, P. Q. Her
grandfather was a pioneer of L’Epiphanie. Mr. and Mrs. Latour
have three children: Lydia, the wife of Eugene Brissette, who is
with La Patrie Publishing Company; René, a hardware merchant of
Montreal; and Ernest, who holds a responsible position with The
Mark Fisher Sons & Company, Limited.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic
church, and the political allegiance of Mr. Latour is given to
the conservative party. That he is today one of the successful
real-estate brokers of the city is attributable entirely to his
own labors and his laudable ambition. Step by step he has worked
his way upward, the trend of his orderly progression being easily
discernible.
REV. NATHAN GORDON.
A man of deep learning, broad knowledge and scholarly
attainments, of force, experience and capacity, Rev. Nathan
Gordon has become known as one of the most able educators in
Quebec province, and as one of the successful and consecrated
workers among the Jewish people of Montreal. He was born in
Odessa, Russia, and took his arts course in the Cincinnati
University, from which he was graduated, B. A., in 1906. He
is also a graduate of the Hebrew Union Theological College of
that city and in 1909 received the degree of M. A. from McGill
University.
Mr. Gordon came to Montreal in 1906, having been appointed in
September of that year Rabbi of Temple Emmanu-El, and since that
time he has accomplished a great deal of earnest and zealous
work among the people of his congregation, who recognize him as
a sincere, upright and God-fearing man. The church property is
valued at one hundred thousand dollars, and the business affairs
connected with its administration are ably conducted, Mr. Gordon
assisting his associates by his executive skill and sound and
practical judgment. Combining religious zeal with the ability
necessary to make it effective among his people, he has indeed
been a force for good at Temple Emmanu-El and an able propagator
as well as a conserver of the doctrines in which he believes.
A scholar, a deep thinker and a broadly educated man, Mr. Gordon
has long been an ardent student of Oriental languages and
literature and has paid particular attention to the language
of his own race, in which he is thoroughly proficient. In 1909
he was appointed lecturer on rabbinical and mediæval Jewish
literature and instructor in Semitic languages at McGill
University and in this position has done a great deal to promote
a more general interest in these subjects and a more widespread
knowledge of the customs, language and traditions of the Jews. An
ardent champion of his race and an upholder of its creed, a foe
to the injustices and wrongs which have continually oppressed it,
he has supported the cause of the Hebrew people on every occasion
and one of the most eloquent and telling appeals on behalf of
the nationalization of the Plains of Abraham came from him. The
people of Temple Emmanu-El are fortunate in having at their
head a man so fearless in conviction, so able in argument, so
uncompromising in support of his professed beliefs, and the city
of Montreal is fortunate also, having in Rabbi Gordon an upright,
public-spirited and loyal citizen.
EDOUARD CHOLETTE.
Edouard Cholette, a member of the notarial profession of
Montreal, is a representative of one of the oldest French
families of the city, tracing his ancestry back to Sebastian
Cholette, who was born in 1679 and was married in Montreal on the
19th of October, 1705, to Miss Anne Hard. They became the parents
of a large family. Edouard Cholette, born in Montreal on the 3d
of April, 1880, is a son of L. E. A. and Marie Antoinette (Le
Sieur) Cholette, and in the acquirement of his education attended
St. Mary’s College, from which he was graduated in June, 1899.
He completed a course in Laval University in June, 1903, winning
the Bachelor of Arts degree for work done in the classical course
and the Master of Laws degree, indicative of his preparation for
the profession which he now follows. Since his graduation he has
practiced in Montreal as a notary public and has been accorded
liberal support.
In religious faith Mr. Cholette is a Roman Catholic. He is well
known socially in the city where his entire life has been spent
and is a valued member of the Canadian and St. Denis Clubs.
CARL RIORDON.
As vice president and managing director of the Riordon Pulp
& Paper Company, Ltd., Carl Riordon occupies an important
position in the commercial life of the city. He was born June
3, 1876, at St. Catharines, Ontario, and is a son of Charles
and Edith (Ellis) Riordon. Carl Riordon was educated at Upper
Canada College, Bishop Ridley College and Toronto University,
where he took the degree of B. A. in 1896. He entered business
fields in the Merritton mill, a property of the Riordon Paper
Mills in St. Catharines, becoming connected with the sulphite
department. He did work in the various departments of the concern
and subsequently took charge of the repairs which were made on
the Hawkesbury mill, of which he later became superintendent. In
1902 he returned to the Merritton mill in the capacity of manager
and in 1906 was made general manager of the Riordon Paper Mills,
which concern absorbed the business of G. H. Perley & Company in
1910, the firm adopting the name of the Riordon Paper Company and
establishing headquarters at Montreal. In 1912 the Riordon Pulp
& Paper Company took over the business of the former company.
It is one of the foremost concerns of its kind in the Dominion.
Mr. Riordon is vice president and managing director and is also
director of The Mail Printing Company of Toronto and the Niagara
Falls Suspension Bridge Company.
Mr. Riordon has an interesting military record to his credit,
being gazetted second lieutenant in the Nineteenth St. Catharines
Infantry Regiment in 1898. He was made captain in the following
year and in 1901 became quartermaster with the honorary rank of
captain. For some time he led B Company of that regiment. He
retired in 1904.
Carl Riordon married on June 23, 1900, Miss Amy Louise Paterson,
a daughter of the late Rev. Charles Paterson, of Port Hope,
Ontario. To this union have been born five children: Charles
Harold, Edith Amy, John Eric Benson, Mary Kathleen and Peter
Hamilton.
In his religious faith Mr. Riordon is an Anglican. He is
prominent in clubdom, being a member of the Mount Royal, the St.
James, the University and the Hunt Clubs of Montreal; the Toronto
Club of Toronto; and the British Empire Club of London, England.
He also is a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Club of New York city.
His political views incline him toward the conservative party and
although his commercial interests are so extensive as to prevent
active participation in governmental affairs, he shows great
interest in matters of public importance. In the world of paper
making his name is well known and he is considered one of the
foremost authorities along that line. At a comparatively early
age he has attained a position of importance and distinction.
He is shrewd, able, energetic and technically highly trained
and his success therefore is but natural, being typical of the
younger Canadian business men of the most modern and progressive
tendencies.
LAWRENCE LEOPOLD HENDERSON.
Among the successful business men of Montreal is Lawrence Leopold
Henderson, general manager of the Montreal Transportation
Company. He was born in Kingston, Ontario, March 5, 1866, a son
of Peter Robertson and Henrietta Jane (Sweetland) Henderson, the
former a merchant of Kingston, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and
the latter of English ancestry. The father died in 1895 and the
mother in 1896.
Lawrence L. Henderson received his education in private schools
and in the collegiate institute at Kingston. In 1884, at the age
of eighteen, he entered the employ of the Montreal Transportation
Company as a clerk. Devoting himself assiduously to the work at
hand, he was promoted from position to position in the various
departments of the institution until he became in 1896 agent at
Kingston. In January, 1909, he was made general manager and at
that time left Kingston for Montreal, having since occupied this
important position. Mr. Henderson is a director of the National
Real-Estate and Investment Company of Montreal, the Montreal
Transportation Company, the Montreal Dry Docks and Ship Repairing
Company, the Rothesay Realty Company, and president of the
Dominion Marine Association. He is also a member of the Montreal
Board of Trade.