Pacific Railway, Montreal.—Of the links that bind the old world to the
new, there is one which, whatever may betide in a future, near or far,
is not likely to give way. That link is the bond of race, and in itself
that bond is manifold. In Mexico, Central and South America, a group of
successive states perpetuates the memories of Spain’s dominion in the
continent that she helped Columbus to discover. Brazil is allied by
blood and crown to the enterprise of Portugal. North of the Gulf of
Mexico, the empire has, in the course of events, become the heritage of
men of Anglo-Saxon breed, whether the flag be the union-jack or the
stars and stripes, the men who raised it aloft were mainly from the
British Isles. Not all, however. Both in the United States and Canada
there are elements in the population—important elements—which it would
be stupidity to ignore. The foundations of the dominion were laid by the
valiant and pious sons of La Belle France, and notwithstanding the
change of rulership, the country is still, and must long continue to be,
to a large extent, administered by their descendants. In the United
States, among the first to sow the seeds of civilization in the
wilderness, were the hardy children of the land of dykes and fogs.
Hudson, though English born, was by adoption and service a Hollander,
and the commercial metropolis of the western hemisphere was founded by
Dutch pioneers. It is no wonder that in the great American republic
should have arisen the most sympathetic and popular historian of the
growth and independence of the United Netherlands. For if in that land
of constant warfare with the ocean—the well-known patronymic—which to
Platt Deutsch ears is as “Mac” to the Highlander, and “O” to the
Munsterman, has been borne by patriots like Van den Berg, Van der Does,
Van Tromp, and Van Hove, not less distinguished a place, in proportion
to their numbers, have the founders of Manhattan and their descendants
won for themselves in their new home. It is also worthy of remembrance
that, though the English, displaced the Dutch by the law of the
stronger, the Dutch won back their lost estates, and that in fact they
only submitted to the English crown, when that crown pressed the brow of
a compatriot of their own—William, Prince of Orange. Of the persons of
known Dutch origin who have since those days of struggle risen to proud
preeminence in the United States, the list is a long and honorable one.
There is no rank of life, indeed, in which they have not been and may
still be found, and as a rule, wherever the syllable “Van” is prefixed
to a name, it denotes the ancient fatherland of its possessor. It may be
almost taken for granted that he is above the average in those qualities
that win success and esteem. That this assertion is not made at random,
will be evident to any one who consults the “Biographical Directory of
the Railway Officials of America,” where the number of office bearers
bearing names beginning with “Van” is remarkable. In this list one name
is conspicuous as that of a gentleman who holds the supreme position
among the railway men of Canada—that of William C. Van Horne,
vice-president and general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The
name is one, moreover, of high renown in both continents, and has been
borne by soldiers, sailors, divines, and scholars, as well as by men who
made their mark in the ranks of commerce and industry. It was, it will
be remembered, a Garratt Van Horne, a valorous and gigantic Dutchman,
who led that resolute band of New Netherlanders who refused to bend
their necks to the English invader. One of the race did, indeed,
afterwards suffer discomfiture, being taken by surprise, and the
students of our history will recall the repulse of Major Thomas B. Van
Horne, near Detroit, in 1812. But a namesake of that gallant officer has
amply avenged him in the spirit of returning good for evil. The
rivalries of peace are more noble than those of war, and the benefit
that the subject of this memoir has conferred on the Dominion and its
people rebounds to the honor of the benefactor, as no conquest of his
military namesake, even had he advanced unchecked, could ever have done.
Mr. W. C. Van Horne is in career a type, not only as we have tried to
show, of the stamp of character with which Holland—trained there, too,
by long and fruitful conflict with nature—has endowed the new world,
but also of a class of men who have made North America what it is to
day. What the railway movement has done for civilization in the western,
even more than in the eastern, hemisphere, we need not pause to inquire.
Enough to suggest the inquiring; the answer lies all around us in the
network of lines which has brought the most remote and out-of-the-way
corners of the continent into communication with the great centres of
business, skilled labor, and varied culture. In effecting these splendid
results, Mr. Van Horne has had a share which, though a few dates may
indicate its general features, might be made the theme of an instructive
volume. Though he springs, as we have seen, from the old patron stock of
the Manhattan colony, he is a westerner by birth, having first seen the
light in Will county, Illinois, in February, 1843. He is therefore in
the very prime of life. His railway experience began some thirty-two
years ago, when he entered the service of the Illinois Central, as
telegraph operator, at Chicago. He afterwards served for six years more,
in various capacities, on the Joliet division of the Michigan Central.
From 1864 to 1872, he was connected with the Chicago and Alton Railway,
filling successively the positions of train-despatcher, superintendent
of telegraphs, and assistant superintendent of the railway; and in 1872,
he became general superintendent of the St. Louis, Kansas City, and
Northern Railway. From October, 1874, till October, 1878, he was general
manager of the Southern Minnesota line, being president of the company
from December, 1877, till December, 1879. From October, 1878, till
December, 1879, he was general superintendent of the Chicago and Alton
Railway. In January, 1880, he became general superintendent of the
Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul’s Railway, a position which he held for
two years. In January, 1882, he became connected with the Canadian
Pacific Railway, as general manager, and in 1884, he assumed the high
and responsible position, which he still holds, as vice-president of
that great company. This brief outline indicates a career of faithful
service and gradual promotion. From that time forward Mr. Van Horne’s
name has become a household one in Canada. His perseverance, pluck, and
skill in connection with that railway soon placed him in the fore rank
as one of the great railway managers of the present century, and the
work he performed, and the skill manifested in the construction of that
great national work, will ever link his name with the history of Canada.
The work was completed within six years of the period allowed by
contract, the last spike was driven by the Hon. (now Sir) Donald A.
Smith, at Eagle Pass, 340 miles from Port Moodie, on the 7th of
November, 1885, and the through train from Montreal passed on to the
Pacific terminus. The operation of the line since that date has
transcended the expectations even of the most sanguine.
* * * * *
=Bryson, Hon. George=, sen., Fort Coulonge, ex-Member of the Legislative
Council of the Province of Quebec, was born in Paisley, Scotland, on the
16th December, 1813. His parents were James Bryson and Jane Cochrane,
and both were born in Scotland. They came to Canada in 1821, and settled
in the township of Ramsay, Lanark county, Ontario. Hon. Mr. Bryson
received his education in the public schools of Ramsay. For about fifty
years he has been in the lumber business, and has seen the development
of this national industry from nearly its commencement. He was mayor of
the township of Mansfield, county of Pontiac, province of Quebec, for a
number of years, and for several terms served as warden of the county.
In the fall of 1857 he entered political life, and was returned to
represent Pontiac in the parliament of Canada; but parliament having
been dissolved a short time thereafter, he never took his seat in the
house. At the general election, which took place in 1858, he again
presented himself for election, but was defeated. In 1867, however, he
was called to the Legislative Council of the province of Quebec, and
occupied a seat in this branch of the legislature until the 17th of
August, 1887, when he resigned in favor of his son, George. Hon. Mr.
Bryson takes an interest in Masonry, and is a member of the Dalhousie
lodge, city of Ottawa. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian church, and
for a number of years has filled the office of elder in the same. In
politics he is a moderate Reformer. He is one of the directors of the
Bank of Ottawa. On the 4th March, 1845, he was married to Robina Cobb,
who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 20th September, 1815, and the
fruit of this marriage has been seven children, four of whom are still
living.
* * * * *
=Richey, Rev. Matthew=, D.D., an eminent minister of the Wesleyan
Methodist connection, was born at Ramelton, in the north of Ireland, in
1803 or 1804, and came to America early in life. In 1820 he gave himself
to the work of the ministry among the Methodists, and labored in New
Brunswick. In 1821 his name appeared upon the minutes of conference as
that of a probationer, and his first circuit was Newport, N.S. He was
ordained and married in 1825, and was then sent to Parrsboro’, N.S., and
subsequently he was appointed to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In
1830, on account of the impaired state of Mrs. Richey’s health, he
removed to Charleston, S.C., where the winter was spent. His popularity
there was so great that, owing to the crowded state of the church in
which he officiated, it was no uncommon thing for persons to go in the
afternoon to the church in which he was to preach at night, and to
remain supperless, for the evening service. He returned to Nova Scotia
in 1831 and spent three years in Halifax. In 1835 he was appointed to
Montreal, and here, as in his former spheres of labor, he speedily won,
and permanently held, the love and admiration of the people to whom he
ministered. In 1836, the “Upper Canada Academy,” since changed to
Victoria College, was to be opened, and Mr. Richey was proffered the
position of principal. He consequently removed to Cobourg, where he
remained until 1839; the academy, under his charge, acquiring a high and
influential character in the public estimation. While at Cobourg he
received from the Middleton (Conn.), Wesleyan University, the degree of
M.A., and it was here that he wrote “A Memoir of the late Rev. William
Black,” including an account of the rise and progress of Methodism in
Nova Scotia, etc. From Cobourg he was transferred to Toronto, remaining
there from 1839 to 1843, at which time circumstances led to the
severance of the connection between the British and Canadian sections of
Methodism, which had existed from 1834. In 1840 Mr. Richey accompanied
the Rev. Joseph Stinson, president of the Conference, to England, on a
visit rendered necessary by the new order of affairs; and in 1841 he was
again delegated to attend the British Conference, accompanied by the
Rev. E. Evans. The results of those visits were eminently satisfactory
to Wesleyans in connection with the British Conference. From 1843 to
1845, Mr. Richey was stationed at Kingston, then the seat of government.
In 1842 he was appointed chairman of the Canada West District and
general superintendent of Missions. In 1845 he was placed in Montreal as
minister of great St. James street church, and chairman of the Canada
East District. During this incumbency he received the honorary degree of
D.D. from the Middleton Wesleyan University. To the official
responsibilities of the Montreal district were added the superintendency
of Missions in the Hudson’s Bay territory. In 1846 Dr. Richey was a
Canadian delegate to the London Evangelical Alliance, and the following
year he again crossed the Atlantic to attend the British Conference. A
better understanding between the sections of British and Canadian
Methodists was being arrived at, and as the result, articles of union
were agreed upon in 1847. In 1848 he again removed to Toronto, attended
the General Conference of the M. E. Church at Pittsburg, and was
appointed president of the Canada Conference. In the autumn of 1849 he
was thrown from his carriage, and never entirely recovered from the
effects of the fall. Early in 1850 he removed to Windsor, N.S., and
enjoyed the repose of a country life until the following year, when,
after a visit to England and France, he again took up his residence at
Halifax, was appointed chairman of the Nova Scotia West District, and so
continued until 1855, when the Conference of Eastern British America,
comprising Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the
Bermudas, and Newfoundland, was formed, with the Rev. Dr. Beechman as
president, and Dr. Richey as codelegate. That year he visited
Newfoundland on official duty, and at a later period spent a short time
in Bermuda. In 1856 he was appointed president, and held that office
until 1860, when, as the result of an aggravation of his malady, it
became necessary for him to occupy a supernumerary relation. He again
visited England, and on his return in 1861, he was appointed to St.
John, N.B. From 1864 to 1867 was spent in Charlottetown, as chairman of
the Prince Edward Island District, and in the last named year he was
again president of the Conference of E. B. America. In 1868 he attended
the General Conference of the M. E. Church in Chicago, and in July of
the same year he again visited the British Conference. But his condition
now rendered it necessary for him to retire from active labor, and he
spent the remaining years of his life under the guardianship and
affectionate solicitude of family and friends. On the 17th October,
1883, he was seized by paralysis and lingered until the following
Tuesday, Oct. 24th. Thus passed away one of the foremost divines in the
great Methodist denomination, to whose ripe scholarship, rare
theological attainments, and commanding eloquence, as well as to his
abundant and useful labors, frequent reference is found in Methodistic
records.
* * * * *
=Desjardins, Lieutenant-Colonel Louis George=, M.P.P. for Montmorency,
Levis, Quebec, was born at St. Jean Port Joli, County of L’Islet, on
12th May, 1849. He is the son of the late François Desjardins. He
received his education at Levis college, where the training was of the
very best kind to fit a young man for the active duties of life. He
became a journalist, and in that profession has held a number of
positions of influence in relation to the newspaper press. He was for
several years editor-in-chief of _Le Canadien_ (Quebec), one of the most
influential of French-Canadian papers. On the 3rd February, 1873, he
married Aurélie, daughter of the late C. Lachance, of Levis. His
interest in militia affairs was always keen. He has his title of
lieutenant-colonel as commanding officer of the 17th battalion volunteer
militia. Lieutenant-Colonel Desjardins first entered active political
life in 1881, when he was elected to represent his present constituency
in the House of Assembly of the province. He gave a strong and able
support to the Chapleau ministry, which was then in power, and
subsequently to the different administrations following, until the
defeat of the Conservatives at the last general election. In that
election Lieutenant-Colonel Desjardins was again returned. As a
journalist and public speaker, Mr. Desjardins is possessed of remarkable
power. His knowledge of political affairs is both wide and accurate, and
his writing, especially, shows that conscious power which comes of full
knowledge of the subject with which he deals.
* * * * *
=Hamilton, Hon. Charles Edward=, Q.C., Attorney-General of Manitoba, was
born at Upnor Castle, near Chatham, England, on the 25th of March, 1844.
His parents came to Canada with their family when the subject of this
sketch was but four years old; his father, the late Captain Hamilton,
being commandant at Isle-aux-noix, Quebec. They settled afterwards in
St. Catharines, where he was educated. After receiving a sound
education, he entered upon the study of the law, being articled in the
office of Hon. J. G. Currie, then speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
He was so successful in his study of the law that when only twenty-one
he was called to the bar, when he entered actively upon the practice of
his profession. Mr. Hamilton was an ardent member of the volunteer
force, and even in his early twenties held a commission as captain in
the 44th Welland battalion. During the Fenian troubles of 1871, when it
was believed that the marauders from the American side of the river
would repeat their incursion of five years before, the 44th Battalion
was among those called out, and Captain Hamilton, on that occasion, was
given charge of two companies. Mr. Hamilton went to Winnipeg in
February, 1881, and was called to the bar of that province in May of the
same year. He took part in founding the firm of Aikins, Culver &
Hamilton, which quickly took a foremost place in the ranks of the legal
profession in Winnipeg. In 1885, Mr. Hamilton was elected mayor of the
city, and in the same year was nominated as the ministerial candidate to
contest Winnipeg South for the local legislature, his opponent being Mr.
W. F. Luxton, one of the leaders of the ex-opposition. The contest was
an exceedingly keen one, and one that attracted wide attention. Mr.
Hamilton was successful. He became a member of the executive council,
holding the portfolio of attorney-general in the same year. In the last
general election Mr. Hamilton was returned for Shoal Lake. Mr. Norquay’s
government resigned on the 23rd of December, 1887, and Dr. Harrison was
called upon to form a government. Mr. Hamilton was sworn in on the 26th
of December, 1887, as attorney-general of the new government. He was one
of the two representatives of the Manitoba government at the later
provincial conference, hon. John Norquay, then premier, being the head
of the deputation. In everything pertaining to the industrial
development of the city and the province, Mr. Hamilton has taken a deep
interest. He is a director of the Commercial Bank of Manitoba, and a
director also of the Manitoba Mortgage and Investment Company. In 1884
Mr. Hamilton married Miss Alma Ashworth, daughter of Mr. John Ashworth,
cashier of the Post Office department, Ottawa. His church relations are
with the Presbyterian denomination. In his profession, Mr. Hamilton has
been most successful, the call to the high position of attorney-general
being a deserved tribute to his legal attainments. His career as a
public man has been such as to win for him not only the enthusiastic
regard of his supporters, but also the esteem and respect of his
opponents, and, though in an arena so small as the political field of
Manitoba, personal issues are too apt to be forced to the front, those
who oppose him are compelled, by the purity of his record, to do so on
public grounds.
* * * * *
=Campbell, Hon. William=, Farmer and Millowner, Park Corner, Prince
Edward Island, was born at Park Corner on 12th January, 1836. He is the
eighth son of the late James Campbell, of Park Corner, New London,
P.E.I. His mother, Elizabeth Montgomery, of Princetown, was a sister of
the Hon. Senator Montgomery. Hon. Mr. Campbell is descended from the
Breadalbane Campbells on the paternal side, and from the Camerons of
Lochiel on the maternal side. His grandfather came to Prince Edward
Island in 1773, from Breadalbane, in Perthshire, Scotland, with Governor
Paterson, a military officer. Mr. Campbell received his education in his
native parish. He has taken a very active interest in military affairs,
and has held the commissions of captain, major, and is now
lieutenant-colonel of Queen’s county militia. On entering political
life, he was elected to the House of Assembly for Queen’s First Division
in 1873, on the resignation of the sitting member; and three years
later, he was re-elected as a supporter of free schools. In 1879, he was
sworn in a member of the Executive Council, and became a member of the
Sullivan cabinet, without a portfolio. In March following, he was
appointed minister of public works, and on appealing to his constituents
was elected by acclamation. He was also commissioner of the government
stock farm. Again, at the general election held in 1882, he was
returned, and continued a member of the government, as minister of
public works, until 1st February, 1887, when he resigned this office to
run as a candidate for the House of Commons at Ottawa for Queen’s
county, but failed to secure his election. While in parliament he took
an active part in the discussion of the leading questions of the
times—notably the land question, free schools, reduction of the
provincial expenditure, etc. Hon. Mr. Campbell, in religion, belongs to
the Presbyterian church, and to the Conservative party in politics. He
was married first, in 1864, to Elizabeth McLeod, of New London, and
second, in February, 1873, to Elizabeth L. Sutherland, daughter of the
late John S. Sutherland, of Caithness-shire, Scotland.
* * * * *
=Bowser, Rev. Alexander Thomas=, B.D., Pastor of First Unitarian Church,
Toronto, was born in Sackville, New Brunswick, February 20, 1848. His
parents, Robert and Jane (Kirk) Bowser were respectively of English and
Scotch descent. Alexander was the sixth child of a family of twelve (six
boys and six girls). In 1864 he left home to enter a store in the town
of Moncton, as clerk; but wishing for the greater advantages of life in
a large city, he soon afterwards went to Boston, Massachusetts, where,
in connection with business, he was able to pursue the course of study
at the Latin High School; and in 1873 was matriculated as Freshman at
Harvard College, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in regular
course, in 1877; and three years later (1880), on graduating from the
Divinity School, he received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. Mr.
Bowser’s first year in the ministry was devoted to mission work in St.
Louis, Missouri. Here, on 2nd May, 1881, he was ordained to the
Christian ministry in the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), the
venerable Chancellor of Washington University, Rev. W. G. Eliot, D.D.,
giving the charge to the young preacher and offering the prayer of
ordination, and the Rev. John Snyder, pastor of the Church of the
Messiah, giving him the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Bowser now spent
two years in Evansville, Indiana, as the representative of the American
Unitarian Association; but his influence soon extended beyond his
denominational work into public affairs, many of his Sunday evening
lectures being printed in full in the daily papers. The general
character of these lectures may be inferred from a few of the subjects
treated, such as “The need of Conscience in Public Affairs,” “Coffee
Houses versus Liquor Saloons,” “Why the Chinese should not be excluded
from the United States.” Having presented the Evansville Public Library
with a number of Unitarian publications, the trustees were so well
pleased with the books that they requested him to prepare a list of such
works as he would wish them to purchase for the library, and the result
was that nearly 300 volumes of the latest religious and scientific
thought were placed upon their shelves. In January, 1884, Mr. Bowser was
called to the pastorate of the Third Congregational (Unitarian) Church
of Hingham, Massachusetts, one of the oldest and most influential
Societies in New England, numbering among its members General Lincoln,
who was secretary of war under Washington; John Albion Andrew, who was
Governor of Massachusetts during the civil war, and ex-Governor John D.
Long, who is now (1888) member of Congress for that district. This
important position Mr. Bowser held for three years, winning the respect
and love not only of his own parish, but of the community at large; but
on receiving an invitation from the First Unitarian Congregation of
Toronto, he felt that it was a call from heaven to carry the beautiful
and soul-inspiring truths of Unitarian Christianity to his own people of
Canada, where these principles are not so well known as in
Massachusetts. Accordingly, he resigned, and on the last Sunday in
January, 1887, took charge of the church in Toronto. Mr. Bowser was
brought up in the Methodist church, and first became interested in
Unitarianism while pursuing his studies preparatory to entering Harvard
College. He was at the time an earnest worker in one of the Methodist
churches in Boston, when suddenly a charge of Unitarian heresy was
brought against him, though he had no idea himself, at the time, that he
was in sympathy with their peculiar views of religion. This, however,
awakened his interest, and he began to inquire about the principles of
this body, and was told by one of their ministers to read the New
Testament and see for himself what Jesus and the Apostles taught, and he
would find the Unitarian doctrine. This he did with earnest care for
several years, and having failed to find a single passage in which it is
distinctly stated that Jesus was God, or the Second Person in the
Trinity, but on the other hand, finding the essential principles of
Unitarianism stated in the most explicit language everywhere throughout
the Bible, he became a Unitarian, and claims that he is one simply and
only because it is the religion of Jesus Christ and the early
Christians. Mr. Bowser regards his residence in St. Louis as one of the
most important periods of his life, as it was there that he first met
Miss Adelaide Prescott Reed, to whom he was united in marriage in April,
1884. Mr. Bowser is a member of the Masonic fraternity, was Chaplain of
the Old Colony Lodge of Hingham, and is now (1888) Chaplain of St.
Andrew’s Lodge of Toronto.
* * * * *
=Black, Charles Allan=, M.D., Amherst, Nova Scotia, was born August
23rd, 1844, at Salem, Cumberland county, N.S. The family is Scotch
originally, the founder in this country being William Black, who came
from Huddersfield, England, to Nova Scotia in 1774. Our subject’s father
was Hazen Black, son of Thomas, who was grandson of William
above-mentioned. The pioneer, William Black, was born in Paisley,
Scotland, in 1727, whence he migrated to England and thence to Nova
Scotia. Upon landing in Halifax with his wife and five children he
travelled inland about one hundred and thirty miles, and settled on a
large fertile farming area near enough to Fort Cumberland to hear the
cannonading. This fort was one of the last military strongholds
relinquished by the French when Nova Scotia was ceded to the British.
The farm he selected is situated within one mile of the now large town
of Amherst, and is still occupied by some of his descendants. Hazen
Black, father of our subject, married Martha Ann, second daughter of
John Bent, Salem, in the above-named county, who was a farmer of some
note. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, whose names
were as follow: Charles Allan, John Botsford, Augusta, Laura, and Ada.
All are living except Laura, who died in her 13th year. Charles Allan,
the eldest and the subject of this sketch, was educated at the grammar
school of Amherst, finishing his studies at Sackville (N.B.) Academy,
now Mount Allison University. After leaving college he decided in favour
of the profession of a druggist and entered as a student under Dr.
Nathan Tupper (brother of Sir Charles Tupper), in Amherst, N.S., where
he remained throe years, when he decided to study for the medical
profession. He graduated from the Pennsylvania University, Philadelphia,
in March, 1867, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, being then in his
23rd year. He commenced practice at Sackville, N.B., but soon removed to
Amherst, N.S., where he had spent his early school days and student
life. Here he has continued to enjoy a successful practice for over
twenty years. He was appointed a coroner for the county of Cumberland in
1881. He became a member of the Orange society in 1863, and continued a
member in good standing while the society existed. He is an active
member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has great love and
attachment for that Order. He joined it in 1865, and has continued a
member ever since; held all the offices in the subordinate lodge. Is a
past grand counsellor and past grand treasurer in the grand lodge for
Nova Scotia; held the latter office for four successive years. He was
present at the grand lodge session at Liverpool, N.S., when this Order
split on the Negro question in 1876. Although the grand lodge carried
the resolution to secede by a large majority he was one of the small
minority of seven who decided to remain loyal to the original right
worthy grand lodge. Ten years after this, when the bodies became again
re-united he was present at the marriage. Prior to 1886 he had always
been in close sympathy with the Liberal-Conservative party, but at that
time he espoused the “Third Party” movement and is an uncompromising
supporter of it, believing that the prohibition of the liquor traffic in
Canada can only be obtained through the medium of a distinct political
party. When that party was organized in Cumberland county, in January,
1887, he was appointed on the executive committee, his colleagues being
such well known workers as C. R. Casey, E. B. Elderkin, J. W. Hickman,
J. A. Simpson, Rufus Hicks, Revds. Joseph Coffin, J. B. Giles, and
others. In the Dominion elections held in February of that year, J. T.
Bulmer, of Halifax, was the candidate of the new party. After a very
heated contest, Sir Charles Tupper, finance minister, being the
Conservative candidate, and Hon. W. T. Pipes, ex-Premier of Nova Scotia,
the Liberal, Mr. Bulmer polled 206 votes. These were recorded for a
“principle.” This was the first instance in Canada where a pure and
simple prohibition candidate was placed in the field for federal
parliamentary honours, but it did not remain so long. The election
alluded to having been set aside by the courts, Mr. Bulmer again
contested the constituency in the interest of the new party. Sir Charles
Tupper was his only opponent this time, November, 1887, the Liberal
party not putting a candidate forward. Dr. Black and others took the
field and the result was that the 206 votes of February became 1,026 in
November. Dr. Black is a member of the Methodist church, and has always
been an attendant upon its ministry, though it was not until 1884 he
identified himself as a member of that body. He married in January,
1871, Sarah E., second daughter of the Rev. George F. Miles, then pastor
of the Baptist church, Amherst, by whom he had one daughter. Two months
after their baby was born his wife contracted inflammation of the lungs,
which developing into consumption, caused her death in May, 1873. His
little daughter followed her mother when about five years old, being ill
only two days. On the 14th of September, 1881, he married Elizabeth B.,
eldest daughter of Capt. John K. Elderkin, ex-custos of the Court of
Sessions for Cumberland county, N.S. By this marriage he has issue one
son, Vaughan Elderkin Black, born September 28th, 1884. Dr. Black,
besides practising his profession, has indulged in outside speculations
with varying success. In 1877, by the death of a professional brother, a
valuable drug stand was put in the market. This he bought and fitted up
with all modern improvements putting a competent man in charge. Dr.
Black has given his profession that close and careful attention which is
always necessary to become a successful practitioner, and success has
abundantly crowned his endeavours. In his early days he made himself
acquainted with the facts as to how far alcohol or any of its compounds
were medicinal or required in the treatment of human ailments. From
study, experience, and observation, he was forced to the conclusions
that much of the previous medical teachings as to the therapeutical
powers of this drug were fallacious, that medical virtues were ascribed
to alcohol which it did not possess, and that in a very large percentage
of diseases it lessened the vital energies instead of giving tone and
strength as was taught in earlier days. Being independent in character,
and determined to act upon principle, in contradistinction to policy, he
frequently met with difficulty upon this point with his medical
_confrères_ in consultation, etc. Not only had he opposition from his
professional brethren, but the effect of this pernicious teaching among
the masses was so deep-rooted that no household in the early days of his
practice was thought complete without a little gin or whiskey “the
panacea for every ailment that the flesh was heir to.” Opinions have
changed since those days and are still rapidly changing, and the drug,
alcohol, is now prescribed more in accordance with scientific teaching.
Personally Dr. Black is a genial companion, a faithful friend and
self-sacrificing to a degree. It goes without saying that he is beloved
even by those who do not agree with all his opinions, and by those who
do he has their confidence and love to an unlimited extent.
* * * * *
=Richard, Rev. Canon Louis=, A.M., Prefect of Studies, College of Three
Rivers, Three Rivers, province of Quebec, was born on the 30th November,
1838, in the parish of St. Grégoire-le-Grand, county of Nicolet,
province of Quebec. His father, Jean Noel Richard, a farmer, was one of
the descendants of the unhappy Acadians exiled from their country by the
British, and whose sufferings have been so eloquently depicted by
Longfellow in his masterpiece, “Evangeline.” After the fall of
Beauséjour, in the eastern part of what is to-day New Brunswick, the
inhabitants left the smoking ruins of their humble homes, and took the
road to exile, with whatever chattels they were able to save from the
rapacity of the victors, rather than swear allegiance to the new
masters. A portion of the Acadians were sent to Louisiana, to Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, and the remainder, among whom
were his ancestors, emigrated to the province of Quebec. Jean Noel
Richard settled in the district of Three Rivers, and eventually married
Marie Madelaine Massé, a descendant of a French family which had settled
in the same district at the outset of the colony. The subject of our
sketch began a classical course of studies under the guidance of Moise
Laplante—a man remarkable for his learning and ability as a
teacher—and completed his course in 1859, at the seminary of Nicolet.
Being instinctively drawn towards ecclesiastical life, and feeling
convinced his vocation was in that direction, he studied theology in the
same seminary until 1860, when the College of Three Rivers was founded.
The attention of the Bishop of Three Rivers, Monseigneur Cooke, having
been called to the young divinity student, he appointed him a professor
in the new institution of learning, and henceforth his life was devoted
to the noble work of education, and his influence and energy were
exerted on behalf of the new College, in the golden book of which
establishment his name will be engraved. On the 25th of September, 1864,
he was ordained priest, and successively discharged the duties of the
following offices to the entire satisfaction of all concerned:—Director
in 1865; purveyor in 1867, and prefect of studies at the same time;
pro-superior from 1870 to 1880; from 1880 to 1886 we find him occupying
the responsible position of superior; at the present time (1887) he is
prefect of studies. His aim has ever been to place the college over
which he presided during so many years in the very front rank of the
institutions of learning in the country. On the 25th June, 1883, the
authorities of Laval University of Quebec, wishing to reward the
devotion displayed by the Rev. Mr. Richard, and the services he had
rendered as a teacher to the cause of education in Canada, granted him
the degree of A.M. His ordinary, Right Rev. Bishop Laflèche, in
recognition of his social qualities, honored him, on the 11th of
September, 1884, with the title of canon to the chapter of the Cathedral
of Three Rivers. In June, 1885, Rev. Father Richard conceived the idea
of calling together all the old pupils of the College of Three Rivers,
in order to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of
the institution. He met with a hearty response, and the result was a
brilliant gathering of men who had achieved success in the different
walks of life they had chosen. On that occasion Father Richard published
a very interesting book of 530 pages, entitled “Histoire du Collége des
Trois Rivières,” a work which should be in the hands of all those who
take an interest in the dissemination of good books. In common with the
clergy of the diocese of Three Rivers, Rev. Mr. Richard is an ardent and
devout believer in the integrity of the dogmas and fundamental
principles of the Roman Catholic church, believing that mankind can and
shall be saved only by coming into the church established by Jesus
Christ himself, i.e., the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman church,
represented on earth by his Holiness the Pope, and out of which there is
no possible salvation, no possible future state of bliss, either for
individuals or for society.
* * * * *
=Tourangeau, Adolphe G.=, Postmaster, Ex-Mayor, and Ex-M.P. for Quebec,
was born in Quebec city on the 15th January, 1831. He is the son of the
late Jean G. Tourangeau, J.P., of Quebec, notary public, who for many
years was elected alderman for Quebec, and grandson of Jean Tourangeau,
merchant, who left considerable property, still in the possession of his
descendants. One of these properties was purchased from the Dumont
family, and upon it there stood the historical Dumont’s mill at the very
place where is now the splendid monument erected to the memory of the
English and French heroes who fell at the celebrated battle of St. Foye,
1760. Mr. Tourangeau’s great grandfather emigrated from La Touraine,
France, to settle in Canada, after serving in the French navy. His
grandmother, on his father’s side, was a woman of superior intellect,
whose father, Bidégaré, had emigrated from Bayonne, France, and having
some means, built and opened a fancy leather factory (mégisserie) near
the place where Arogo street runs into St. Vallier street, Quebec. The
building being protected by the high cliff close behind, a body of
American troops took possession of it during the war of 1775, and
established their quarters there; but the constant firing and shelling
from the Palais batteries destroyed the building, and with it the
fortune of its proprietor. This attempt to manufacture leather may be
considered as the first serious one of the kind in Canada. The subject
of this sketch was educated at the Quebec seminary and Quebec High
School, studied law under the Hon. Louis Panet, and followed the law
course of Laval University from its opening to the time he was admitted
to the practice of the notarial profession, in 1855; was at different
times elected a member of the Board of Notaries for the province of
Quebec, and appointed notary for the corporation of Quebec by the vote
of the council. He executed the deed of transfer of the North Shore
railway, also the waterworks contract. He held this position until he
resigned, in 1883, to accept the postmastership of Quebec, offered to
him by the Dominion government. He is lieutenant-colonel of militia for
the electoral division of Quebec East, and a justice of the peace. Mr.
Tourangeau was elected mayor of the city of Quebec four times; first by
a very large majority of the council, and three times afterwards by the
people, twice unanimously, and the fourth time, in 1869, by a very large
majority. He was twice elected to represent Quebec East in the House of
Commons; first in 1870, after a spirited contest, and by acclamation at
the general elections of 1872. He was defeated by a small majority in
1864, when he was put in nomination, against his will, to represent the
Stadacona Division in the Legislative Council. He had been defeated by a
small majority in 1863, when put in nomination for the county of
Montmorency against the late Hon. Joseph Cauchon. He allowed himself to
be nominated for Quebec East in 1877 against the present leader of the
opposition at Ottawa, Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, then a minister in the
Mackenzie government, and was defeated by a small majority, after the
severest contest possible, wherein both political parties took a very
active part, it being considered as a test case between the two
political parties. He was a member of the Quebec Harbor Commission, and,
as such, did a great deal to improve the harbor, and later, when in
parliament, successfully recommended to the government, in a strong
business speech, the necessity of consolidating the debt and securing
the bonds, in order to raise more capital to proceed with the works,
without adding much to the interest that had then to be paid. He was a
director of the North Shore railway, and one of the few who attended the
first meeting held to revive the charter of that company; was a director
of the Gosford (afterwards the Lake St. John) railway; was a provisional
director of the Stadacona Bank, whose charter he had secured through
parliament. It was while Mr. Tourangeau was mayor, and with his
assistance, that the present steam ferry between Quebec and Levis was
established, by means of a contract, drafted by himself. During his
regime the street railway was first operated in Quebec, the contract
being drafted by himself, and the fire alarm telegraph was decided upon
after an inspection of the same in Montreal. All the acts concerning the
incorporation of the city of Quebec were consolidated and amended, the
city debt was consolidated, the fiscal year was made to agree with house
rents, and the finances of the city were placed on a sound basis. Other
important reforms were effected. Besides practising as a notary, Mr.
Tourangeau did business as a broker and insurance agent for some years
till he went back to politics, and having the advantage of being
favorably known, and of knowing personally the character and standing of
mostly every one in Quebec, met with great success. In 1865 and 1866 Mr.
Tourangeau went into the brewing business, under the name and firm of
Tourangeau, Lloyd & Co., but afterwards withdrew, owing to the sharp
competition, which brought ruin on those who persisted in it. Mr.
Tourangeau was married in 1861 to Victoria A. Jourdain, daughter of
Augustus Jourdain, who died in Quebec in 1840, after being for many
years the librarian of the then Executive Council of Lower Canada. Mr.
Tourangeau is a man with broad views, who always enjoyed the respect and
esteem of all classes, irrespective of creed or nationality. In politics
he gave his support to the Liberal party, either as a candidate or in
favor of Liberal candidates, until his fourth election as mayor, in
1869, when several of the Liberal leaders went with the Conservatives
against him, and from that date Mr. Tourangeau withdrew his confidence
in the Liberal party, and gave it to the Conservatives, but in an
independent way, voting against them when not in sympathy with his
principles. He was in favor of confederation at the time, and voted for
the admission of Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and
the North-West Territories into the Union. A great event in the life of
Mr. Tourangeau and the history of Quebec was the besieging of the city
hall while he was mayor. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to
substitute commissioners appointed by the government for the mayor and
council, elected by the people; but at the session of 1869 to 1870 the
adversaries of Mr. Tourangeau managed to get a majority of Parliament to
decide, notwithstanding the energetic protests of the citizens of
Quebec, that a new election must take place. The mayor and councillors,
who a few days before had been elected by the people, to be subject to a
new election, and the mayor to be elected by the councillors, who would
be the outcome of this new election. Acting upon the advice of the city
attorney, L. G. Baillairgé, Q.C., the Hon. G. O’Kill Stuart, Q.C., and
other prominent lawyers, Mr. Tourangeau kept possession of the city
hall, and allowed no one in, in order to prevent the new councillors
from entering the place and electing another mayor. An informal
election, however, took place outside, and for some time the city had
two mayors. A writ against Mr. Tourangeau did not succeed, and he
declared that he would rather be starved to death than give up his
rights. Thereupon the chief of police was ordered to break in the doors
and take possession of the city hall in the name of the new mayor and
councillors. The chief of police declared that he was legally advised
not to do this, but that he would obey if this order was given him in
writing. No one consenting to do this, twelve men belonging to the rowdy
element, were hired for the purpose, and did the work, to the great
disgust of the citizens, who had full confidence in Mr. Tourangeau, whom
they elected five weeks after to represent them in the House of Commons.
* * * * *
=Carswell, James=, Renfrew, President of the South Renfrew Agricultural
Society, was born in 1837, in the township of Pakenham, in the county of
Lanark, Ontario. His parents were Scotch, and emigrated from Glasgow,
settling in the above township many years ago. Mr. Carswell received his
education in the common school of his native place, and while still in
his teens started out in the lumbering business, first as foreman and
clerk to Jonathan Francis, whose rafts of square timber he frequently
accompanied to the port of Quebec. In 1866, he removed to Renfrew, and
embarked in business with Messrs. Thistle and Francis in the limits on
the Madawaska. This firm having sold out their business in this locality
to Jonathan Francis, purchased limits on the Petawawa, and there carried
on operations under the name of Thistle & Carswell. This arrangement was
continued for several years, when Mr. Francis became one of the
partnership, each of the partners being equally interested in the now
combined business on the Madawaska and the Petawawa. In 1884, J. H.
Francis purchased his father’s interest in the business, and then the
firm of Francis, Carswell & Co. built the fine saw-mill at Calabogie.
After two years, J. H. Francis sold out his interest to Edward Mackay,
of Renfrew, and the firm name was changed to Carswell, Thistle & Mackay,
and under this name operations are now carried on. Although thus busily
engaged in lumbering operations, Mr. Carswell has found time to devote
considerable attention, as a pastime, to the cultivation of the large
farm which lies around and below his handsome residence, which stands
prominently on the hill top, overlooking the village. The farm, by
purchase after purchase, has grown to large dimensions, and extends from
the residence right down to the banks of the Bonnechere. By careful and
judicious, though liberal, expenditure, Mr. Carswell has brought this
property into excellent producing condition; and by employing a number
of men and availing himself of all the improvements in machinery, is
able to enjoy the life of a “gentleman farmer,” with probably more
profit than usually falls to the fate of that class of agriculturists.
Mr. Carswell’s most active public duties have probably been in
connection with the Agricultural Society, to the advancement of the
interests of which he has devoted both his time and his money. And when
we state that he is ever ready to take vigorous hold of work in
connection with the institutions in which he holds either membership or
office, it will be readily understood why for the last eight years he
has been unanimously re-elected president. But he has also an open heart
for the general good in other ways. He gave to the Renfrew Lacrosse Club
at a nominal price five acres of valuable property adjoining the centre
of the village, on the condition that it was to be always and only used
for the purposes of healthful recreation by the young men of the
neighborhood. Mr. Carswell was for two years a member of the Renfrew
village council, but declined to act after that time, though hard
pressed to do so. He has been for years a valuable member of the
business committee of the Presbyterian church, and though offered he
declined the proffered position of elder in the same denominational
body. And in the matter of politics, if he has not taken any very
prominent part, it is certainly not the fault of his friends, who time
after time have pressed him to accept the nomination for both houses as
the candidate of the Conservative party. This honor, however, he has
steadily refused to accept, though his personal popularity would
undoubtedly have made him a very strong candidate. Altogether, Mr.
Carswell comes under the head of a “good citizen,” whose character and
heart have not been spoiled by the somewhat dangerous endowments of
riches and success in life. He was married, in 1865, to Jane White, of
Fitzroy, and the union has been blessed with nine children, six sons and
three daughters, six of whom, three boys and three girls, are living.
* * * * *
=Norquay, Hon. John=, Ex-President of the Council, Secretary of the
Railway Commissioners, and Ex-Premier of the province of Manitoba, was
born in St. Andrews, Manitoba, on the 8th of May, 1841. Mr. Norquay is
not only a native of Manitoba, but he has a strain of Indian blood in
his veins, and is all the more remarkable, therefore, as being not only
the greatest man the province ever produced, but as standing on a plane
in point of ability in public affairs high above that occupied by any
resident of the province up to this time. Mr. Norquay first came to the
front after the troublesome times of 1869-70 when the first Riel
rebellion set the whole country on fire with anxiety and excitement. His
peculiar position as one in whom both half-breeds and whites could have
confidence, together with a forcible way of stating sound and moderate
views made him the centre of the common ground upon which all soon
agreed to stand, and marked him out as a leader. He was made Minister of
Public Works in the first ministry after the settlement of the troubles
in 1871, and from that time until the present he has had an almost
uninterrupted career of ministerial successes. He stood for the Commons
in Marquette, in 1872, but was defeated. This contest, however, did not
affect his position as a provincial representative. In the Assembly, he
sat for High Bluff, from 1870 to 1874, but since then he continuously
represented St. Andrews, being three times elected by acclamation and
twice by large majorities. He resigned, with his colleagues, in 1874,
but became Provincial Secretary in the following year, in the Davis
administration, and resumed the office of Public Works in 1876. Two
years later he became Premier, being the head of what was known as the
Norquay-Royal Administration in which he held the portfolio of
treasurer. Mr. Royal, differing with his leader on a question of public
policy, resigned, as did also Mr. Delorme, Minister of Agriculture. Two
English-speaking members of the government were appointed, but after the
general election of 1879, in which he was sustained, Mr. Norquay was
able to fill the place with two French-speaking members. This
administration has held power since, though changes have been made in
its membership which leaves Mr. Norquay the only member who has held a
place in it from the first. Mr. Norquay has held several different
portfolios at different times, but always retained the lead, being
always the dominating power of the province. Under his rule Manitoba has
grown from a straggling settlement along the Red River to a province of
great size and marvellous industrial development. His vigorous and
far-sighted policy in relation to railways has caused the extension of
important lines to all parts of the province including the first forty
miles of the Hudson’s Bay road which Manitobans fondly believe some day
will give them access to their own sea coast on the “Mediterranean of
America,” the vast inland ocean of Hudson’s Bay. Within the last few
months the province has been in a ferment over the demand of a portion
of the people for the building of a line from Winnipeg southward to
connect at the American boundary with a branch of the Northern Pacific
Railway. Mr. Norquay, true to his record, championed this course and
sought, by every means in his power, to secure the construction of the
road. The Dominion government, with the general policy of which Mr.
Norquay is in accord, sought in every way to block this enterprise, and
the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, whose monopoly was threatened,
also opposed it. Notwithstanding Mr. Norquay’s utmost efforts, the
opposition he met from all sides prevented the sale on fair terms of the
provincial bonds, with the proceeds of which it was intended to
construct the road. The original contractors withdrew, but another firm
stood ready to assume the contract, on condition that a margin of cash
was placed in the hands of responsible parties. The citizens of Winnipeg
were appealed to for the necessary advance, and steps were taken to
raise the money, but owing to the intrigues of a faction, who adopted
this means to promote their own political ends, the negotiations were
rendered abortive, and the construction of the road is postponed, at
least until the summer of 1888. Mr. Norquay and Mr. Hamilton,
attorney-general, were the only delegates from Manitoba to the
Inter-Provincial conference, to whose deliberations he brought the
results of his long experience and great ability. Owing mainly to
complications arising out of the failure to build the railway within the
season, it was deemed inadvisable to attempt to carry on the government
as then constituted; Hon. Mr. Norquay and Hon. Mr. Lariviere therefore
resigned their places in the administration, which has since been
reorganized, with Hon. Mr. Harrison as Premier. Mr. Norquay announces
himself as a supporter of the ministry thus constituted. The ex-Premier
of Manitoba owes his long continuance in power to a combination of
talents, prominent among which are moderation, boldness tempered with
judgment, eloquence and the capacity for ceaseless work.
* * * * *
=Brock, Rev. Isaac=, M.A. (Oxford), D.D., Canon, of St. Luke’s
Cathedral, Halifax; President of King’s College, Nova Scotia, was born
near Winchester, Hants, England, in 1829. His father was the Rev.
William Brock, M.A., rector of Bishops Waltham, Hants, and a native of
the Isle of Guernsey; his mother belonged to the family of Gossett, and
was a native of the adjoining Island of Jersey. The father of
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock (the hero of Upper Canada), and father of
our subject’s grandfather (Rev. Thomas Brock, M.A., rector of St. Pierre
du Bois, Guernsey) were brothers, so that Sir Isaac Brock was first
cousin to our subject’s grandfather. Canon Brock was educated at Clifton
school, York, and Queen’s college, Oxford. He graduated, in 1851 with
first class honors in mathematics. He was ordained in the diocese of
Tuam, Ireland: deacon in 1852; priest in 1853; was missionary of the
Irish Church Missions in Connemara and Galway, 1852-1858. He was
secretary of the Islington Protestant Institute (London), 1858-1861;
incumbent of the Jews’ Episcopal Chapel, Palestine place, Bethnal Green,
1861-1866; rector of the Chapel of Ease, Lower Holloway, London N.,
1866-1868; principal of Huron College, London, Ontario, 1868-1872;
rector of Galt, Ontario, 1872-1873; assistant rector of Sherbrooke,
Quebec, 1873-1882; rector of Bishop’s College School, Lennoxville,
1882-1883; rector of Londonderry, N.S., 1883-1885. In August, 1885, our
subject was appointed by the Board of Governors of King’s College,
acting president of that institution and professor of divinity in the
same. May 1st, 1886, he was installed as canon of St. Luke’s Cathedral,
Halifax, N.S., by the late Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Right Rev. Hibbert
Binney, D.D., and on the 8th of June of the same year was made president
of King’s College, which position he now holds. Canon Brock is an
intensely loyal Churchman, and ever ready to defend and propagate the
principles of the English branch of the Holy Catholic church. He
married, in Dublin in 1855, Ruby Roberta, eldest daughter of Thomas
Crawford Butler, of Carlow, Ireland, and has issue living three sons and
three daughters. Canon Brock is known in the theologico-literary world
by a volume of sermons, published in England, on the Apostles’ Creed,
and which attracted considerable attention. Since his arrival in Canada
he has also published several detached sermons and addresses upon the
following, amongst other, subjects, viz.:—“The English Reformation,”
“The Two Records; or, Geology and Genesis,” “The Modern Doctrine of
Force and Belief in a Personal God,” “Apostolical Succession,” “The
Anglican Doctrine of Holy Baptism.” That Canon Brock possesses peculiar
fitness for the position he now so worthily fills may readily be
imagined, for, to profound scholarship he adds a ripe experience, gained
by contact with a variety of classes of his fellow beings in many
quarters of the British dominions. The University of King’s College, of
which he is president, is the oldest university of British origin in the
colonial empire of our Queen, being founded by the first Bishop of Nova
Scotia, the Right Rev. Charles Inglis, D.D., in A.D. 1788, the year
after the latter’s consecration to the episcopate. Canon Brock
apparently has yet many years of usefulness before him, being full of
vigor and gives promise of reaching a ripe old age.
* * * * *
=Fournier, Hon. Telesphore=, Ottawa, Judge of the Supreme Court of
Canada, was born in St. François, Riviére du Sud, Montmagny county,
P.Q., in the year 1823. He received his education at Nicolet College,
and was called to the bar of Lower Canada in 1846. He practised his
profession with success, having remarkable gifts, not only as a speaker,
but in the mental grasp necessary to understand the bearings of the law
upon any case brought to his attention. He held the honorable position
of _Bâtonnier_ of the Quebec bar, an office which has been an object of
ambition with some of the greatest men the province has produced, and
afterwards was made president of the general council of the bar of the
province of Quebec. In 1863 he was made Queen’s counsel. Judge Fournier,
like so many of the politicians of Quebec, had the training, not only of
a legal practice, but also of editorial experience. From 1856 to 1858
inclusive, he was one of the editors of _Le National_ newspaper, of
Quebec, his writing attracting wide attention, because of its clear,
original thought and vigorous method. In 1857, Mr. Fournier was married,
his bride being Miss Deniers, of Quebec. He entered the arena of
Dominion politics in August, 1870, when he was nominated as the Liberal
candidate for Bellechasse, on M. Casault, the sitting member, being
appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec. No other nominations
were made, and Mr. Fournier was returned by acclamation. He continued to
represent the same constituency as long as he remained in the House of
Commons. Beginning his parliamentary career before dual representation
was abolished, Mr. Fournier held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of
his native province while still a member of the Dominion parliament. In
1871 he was elected to the Assembly for Montmagny, and held that
position until 7th November, 1873, when he resigned. His resignation was
made necessary by his being called to the Privy Council of the Dominion
as a member of the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie’s cabinet. He took first, the
portfolio of inland revenue, but on 8th July, 1874, was given a place of
greater usefulness, to succeed the Hon. (now Sir) A. A. Dorion on the
appointment of that gentleman to be chief justice of Quebec. As minister
of justice, he introduced and conducted through Parliament the bill
establishing the Supreme Court. This was no light task, for the measure
was attacked, not only as being undesirable, but as being
unconstitutional. In his defence of the measure, Mr. Fournier exhibited
remarkable breadth of knowledge as well as great power as a debater. The
Insolvent Act of 1875, one of the ablest efforts ever made to settle the
vexed and complicated question of dealing with insolvent debtors, was
also conducted through parliament by him. In May, 1875, he became
postmaster general, but resigned that office in October following to
take a judgeship in the Supreme Court. Judge Fournier is recognised by
his colleagues and the public as one of the ablest men on the bench. His
wide and accurate knowledge of the law of his native province, makes him
a particularly valuable addition to the Supreme Court bench. He does not
feel the trammels of legal traditions so much as to cause him to regard
these rather than the ends of justice which they are intended to serve.
At the same time, his fine legal insight enables him to decide upon
broad grounds of principles or long-established practice points which
minds less fully trained could only deal with by slavish following of
precedent.
* * * * *
=McHenry, Donald C.=, M.A., Principal of the Cobourg Collegiate
Institute, Cobourg, Ont., was born in Napanee, Ont., in 1840. He is son
of Alexander McHenry (from county Antrim, Ireland), and Ellen Campbell,
daughter of Archibald Campbell, Adolphustown, county of Lennox, a
descendant of the Campbells of Argyleshire. Mr. McHenry, senr., was for
some years engaged in the timber business on the Ottawa, but
subsequently he was in the dry-goods business in connection with his
brother-in-law, Alexander Campbell, Napanee. He died in 1847, leaving a
widow and three children, the eldest, the subject of this sketch; a
daughter, now Mrs. Alexander Henry, Napanee, and Miss Nellie, still
living with her mother in their native town. The father, about the time
of his marriage, united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, of which he
remained a faithful member until his death. Upon Mrs. McHenry devolved
the arduous task of bringing up her three children; and any success they
have attained, they are proud to say, they largely owe to their devoted
Christian mother. D. C. McHenry received his early education in Napanee.
When thirteen years of age he went to learn the printing business, soon
became fairly acquainted with its details, and rose to the position of
foreman in the office of the _Standard_. The printing office proved,
indeed, a second school to him, and his spare hours were given to
reading and study. He longed for a higher education, and when about
nineteen years of age, he closed the door of the printing office to open
that of the academy, as an eager student, under R. Phillips, head
master, a man beloved by all who have ever been under his instruction.
After remaining here a year or two, he was induced to undertake the
management of a new paper started in Napanee by the McMullen Bros., of
Picton. At the end of one year the paper was removed to Newburgh, seven
miles distant, but after eight months Mr. McHenry returned to Napanee. A
vacancy having occurred in the second position in the Grammar school, he
was advised to apply for the appointment. He did so, and was soon an
occupant of a teacher’s chair, in the school where he had lately been a
pupil. The work of teaching proved congenial, and he was soon fixed in
this as his probable life-work. His ambition led him to desire a
university course, and with this in view he devoted himself assiduously
to the study of classics, being aided in Latin, but getting up his Greek
with very limited assistance. After six years of very successful work in
this position, he resigned, in 1869, and left for Victoria College, from
which he graduated in 1873. His course was one of close application and
uniform success—first-class honours in classics and moderns—receiving
the second Prince of Wales’ medal for general proficiency, and the
scholarship for excellence in moderns. Five months prior to graduation
he was offered, and accepted the classical mastership of Cobourg
Collegiate Institute—a substitute being accepted in the meantime. After
one year he was promoted to the principalship, which position he has
filled for the past thirteen years. It was at this time (1874), that he
was united in marriage to Alice, daughter of John Grange, of Napanee.
His school was, for many years, about the only one that prepared
students for Victoria, and notwithstanding the multiplication of
institutes (from four to eighteen), it has held its own, and sent up for
arts alone about two hundred and fifty during Mr. McHenry’s thirteen
years, besides a large number for teachers’ examinations, for law,
medicine, theology, etc. In regard to Mr. McHenry’s personal and
professional qualities, we quote from testimonials of well-known
educationists:—
(1.) REV. CHANCELLOR NELLES.—“He is an accurate scholar, a good
disciplinarian, and a most successful teacher, and, indeed, has
few if any equals in the general management of High school
work.”
(2.) REV. DR. BURWASH.—“It is not too much to say that in the
teaching profession he has few equals in this province. Both as
an editor of classical literature and as a writer on the science
of teaching, he has proved himself a master in his work; while
in the instruction of a class and in the organization and
government of a large school he stands in the foremost rank of
teachers. As a Christian gentleman, his life and personal
character are a model for young men; while his quiet, dignified
independence and energy commend universal respect.”
(3.) DR. HAANEL.—“His advice and counsel as a member of our
senate has always been highly appreciated as sound, and
calculated to advance real scholarship. Energetic and zealous in
every good cause, Mr. McHenry has long been an important factor
in educational and social circles here.”
(4.) DR. BURNS, HAMILTON.—“One of the most successful educators
of our country. His scholarship is broad and reliable. Although
a comparatively young man, he has secured a status among
educators that he may well be proud of. His record is an
exceedingly honourable one, both for talent, success, and
personal character. Socially, he would be an acquisition to any
circle.”
Mr. McHenry’s is one of those cases where a boy or young man has had the
advantages arising from being early thrown upon his own resources. What
he has accomplished or attained is evidently the result of personal
energy and self-reliance.
* * * * *
=Allard, Joseph Victor=, Berthierville, Quebec, was born at St.
Cuthbert, county of Berthier, 1st February, 1860. His father, Prosper
Allard, was a most successful agriculturist, who cultivated his farm
until 1884, when he sold his rural belongings and removed to
Berthierville. His wife (the honored and beloved mother of the subject
of our sketch), Genevievre Aurez Laferriere, died in 1881, when he
married a second time—12th September, 1887,—the lady of his choice
this time being a most estimable lady, the widow of Captain Romuald
Fauteux, who himself had been a merchant at Berthier. Young Allard was
educated at L’Assomption College, receiving an excellent classical
training. From there he entered Laval University, Quebec, and in the
years 1878-9 passed his examination successfully and took the degree of
bachelor of arts. In 1881 he entered on the study of law at Sherbrooke
and was called to the Quebec bar in 1884. Mr. Allard is one of the
rising young men and a lawyer of repute in the town of Berthierville. In
religion he is a devout Roman Catholic; in politics he is a consistent
Liberal-Conservative, and there is but little doubt that in the future
he will be found advocating the cause of his party in the local
legislature or on the floor of the Dominion parliament. He is the legal
representative of the Legal and Commercial Exchange of Canada for the
county of Berthier. On 21st January, 1885, Mr. Allard was married to
Blanche Doval, daughter of Alexandre Damase Doval and Amilié Lengendre.
Mr. Doval in his life-time was a well-known advocate, as well as
inspector of schools for the counties of L’Assomption, Berthier and
Joliette. Mrs. Allard is niece of our celebrated French-Canadian writer,
Napoleon Lengendre, F.R.S.C.
* * * * *
=Dessaulles, George Casimir=, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, President of the
Bank of St. Hyacinthe and of the St. Hyacinthe Manufacturing Company,
and an enterprising citizen, was born in St. Hyacinthe, on the 29th of
September, 1827. His father was Jean Dessaulles, seigneur of St.
Hyacinthe, one of the founders of the place, a member of the Lower
Canada parliament for years, and at the time of his death, in 1835, a
member of the Legislative Council of the province of Quebec. The father
of Jean Dessaulles was from Switzerland, coming to Lower Canada in the
latter part of the last century. The mother of our subject was Rosalie
Papineau, sister of the Hon. Louis J. Papineau. She died in 1867. Mr.
Dessaulles was educated at the College of St. Hyacinthe, taking a
complete classical course, and studied law, but never engaged in its
practice. His time has been largely employed in looking after his
seignorial estate and other property, and attending to the various
municipal and other offices which he has held, or still holds. He was
councilman for twelve years, mayor of the city for ten years, making
twenty-two consecutive years’ service in the municipality, and then
declined the chief magistracy against the wishes of the people; was a
school commissioner at one period; a justice of the peace, and the
second president of the bank of St. Hyacinthe, taking that position in
1878. The manufacturing company, of which he is president, is a large
institution, and doing a variety of business—carding wool,
manufacturing flannels and cloths, flour for custom market, etc. It is
such enterprises as this that have helped to build up the city of St.
Hyacinthe; and in efforts made in that direction no man has done more
than the subject of this sketch, whose energies and business tact and
talent are thoroughly devoted to the interests of his native city. He is
connected with the Catholic church, and was at one time president of the
St. Jean Baptiste Society. His moral character is unblemished. Mr.
Dessaulles was first married, in 1857, to Emma Mondelet, third daughter
of the Hon. Dominic Mondelet, of Three Rivers, she dying in 1864,
leaving one son and two daughters; and the second time, in 1869, to
Frances Louise Leman, daughter of Dr. Dennis S. Leman, an English
physician, and by her has two daughters and two sons.
* * * * *
=La Roque, Gedeon=, M.D., Quebec. Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative
Assembly of the Province of Quebec, is not only a conspicuous
contemporary figure in that province, but a gentleman who has taken an
active part in its politics, and contributed in no slight degree to the
development of its resources and material prosperity. He was born at
Chambly, in the province of Quebec, on the 22nd December, 1831. He
springs from a stock as remarkable for its fruitfulness and attachment
to the soil, as for the eminent positions to which some of its members
have attained. Originally from France, in the early days of the colony,
and mostly farmers, his ancestors were among the pioneers of settlement
and civilization in Chambly county, P.Q., locating along the banks of
the little river “Montreal,” about a mile from Chambly basin, tilling
the soil, raising large families, and laying the foundations of what is
to-day one of the most populous and thriving agricultural communities in
Lower Canada. The family of Dr. La Roque’s paternal grandfather,
composed of eleven brothers and three sisters, nearly all occupied
adjoining farms in the parish of Chambly. His uncle, the late
Monseigneur Joseph La Roque, formerly Roman Catholic coadjutor bishop of
Montreal, and afterwards bishop of the diocese of St. Hyacinthe, who
died in November, 1887, was the last survivor of a family also composed
of fourteen members. Another deceased bishop of St. Hyacinthe,
Monseigneur Charles La Roque, previously for many years parish priest of
St. John’s, P.Q., was also a near relative of the subject of this
sketch. Both these prelates were in their day men of high standing,
great learning and marked ability, and their names are still venerated
as among the most illustrious in the Lower Canadian hierarchy. Dr. La
Roque began his classical education at Chambly College, so ably presided
over at the time by its zealous founder, Rev. P. Mignault, parish priest
of Chambly. Subsequently young La Roque was entered at the St. Hyacinthe
College, where he continued and completed his studies under the
immediate eye of his uncle, Rev. Joseph La Roque, the superior of the
institution, and afterwards bishop of St. Hyacinthe. On leaving college
he decided to study medicine, and was accordingly indentured for the
purpose to another of his uncles, Dr. Luc Eusebe La Roque, of St.
Jerome, Terrebonne, P.Q., now the parish of Father Labelle, the great
apostle of colonization in the province of Quebec. It was while pursuing
his medical studies that young La Roque first became interested in the
cause of colonization, to the advancement of which he has so
patriotically devoted so much of his subsequent career. His uncle, Dr.
L. E. La Roque, who had then but lately returned from the gold fields of
California, and who was one of the few survivors who had crossed (both
ways) the deadly swamps of the Isthmus of Panama, had become largely
interested in the settlement of the wild lands in the upper part of the
River du Nord, in the county of Terrebonne, and in the fall of 1851
young Gedeon La Roque was despatched by him, in charge of a squad of
men, to open up a settlement at _Lac à la Truite_, some forty miles from
St. Jerome. The youthful pioneer and his companions only succeeded in
reaching their destination, after enduring the greatest hardships and
suffering. It took them two days to accomplish the last twelve miles of
their fearful journey through the wilderness, but the result must be
regarded as a fitting reward of the heroism displayed on the occasion.
To-day the beautiful and populous parish of St. Agathe des Monts, in the
county of Terrebonne, surrounds the spot where young La Roque and his
men felled the first trees, and erected the first log hut on the western
shore of _Lac à la Truite_. To the late Hon. A. N. Morin, then
provincial secretary for Lower Canada, under the newly formed cabinet of
Hincks-Morin, and Dr. Luc Eusebe La Roque, undoubtedly belonged the
honor of being the instigators of the first great movement of
colonization in that section of the country, but the credit of actually
opening up the first settlement in the township of Abercrombie
(Terrebonne) must be awarded to Gedeon La Roque, who, after this
incident, resumed and completed his medical studies at the School of
Medicine and Surgery at Montreal, finally passing as a licentiate in
medicine on the 9th October, 1855, before the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Lower Canada, of which the late Dr. Fremont was then
president, Drs. Landry and Pelletier, secretaries, and Dr. Jones,
_actorum custos_. After his admission, Dr. Gedeon La Roque settled down
to practise his profession at Longueuil, opposite Montreal, where he met
with early and gratifying success. By 1863 he had so grown in the
confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, that in that year he was
elected mayor of Longueuil, after a hard contest with Mr. F. X. Valade,
N.P., and was subsequently re-elected three times to the same office
without opposition. He also filled the responsible position of warden of
the county Chambly during four years. At the time of confederation, in
1867, Dr. La Roque was pressed by his many friends to accept the
candidature of the county for the Quebec Legislative Assembly, in the
interests of the Conservative party, but, though he declined the honor
for himself, he worked and secured the election, for the party, of Mr.
J. B. Jodoin, against Mr. F. David, who was not only supported by the
Liberal party, but by his brother-in-law, Mr. L. Betournay, a man of
great influence in the county, and a member of the same legal firm as
the late Sir George E. Cartier (Cartier, Pominville & Betournay). At the
general elections of 1871, Dr. La Roque, being again solicited by his
friends to stand for the county for the Local House, decided to come
forward, and was put in nomination against Mr. P. B. Benoit, M.P. This
was before the abolition of dual representation. Dr. La Roque was
supported both by Conservatives and Liberals, and elected by a large
majority, his opponent resigning after the close of the first day’s
polling. His parliamentary career was marked by much independence of
thought and action, especially during the Chauveau and Ouimet
Administrations, when he spoke and voted against the Government on the
questions of the lease of Beauport asylum, dual representation, and some
matters concerning teachers and education. After the so-called
Tanneries’ scandal, and the resignation of the Ouimet ministry, the
member for Chambly, believing that a vigorous railway policy was
essential to the opening up and development of the province, gave an
unhesitating support to the railway programme of their successors the De
Boucherville cabinet, and was invited by the premier, Mr. De
Boucherville, to move the address in reply to the speech from the
throne, on which occasion he was very ably sustained by the member for
Huntingdon, Dr. Cameron, as seconder of the resolution. As a friend of
colonization, Dr. Larocque was an ardent advocate of railway building,
and as such the proposals of the De Boucherville government in the house
regarding the construction of the Northern Colonization (so called at
the time) and the North Shore Railroads, not only met with his warm
approval and active support, but during 1874 and 1875 he even gave his
services as agent to the contractors of the Northern Colonization road,
Messrs. McDonald & Abbott, in order to purchase the right of way from
River des Prairies to Aylmer. On the 15th June, 1875, a vacancy having
occurred in the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative
Assembly, he was appointed to fill it, and this important and
responsible appointment he still continues to hold with general
acceptance, enjoying not only the confidence and regard of succeeding
ministers and parliaments, but the respect of the public as well, for
his tact and firmness in the discharge of the regular duties of his
office, as for the energy, ability and taste with which he has at
different times supervised and carried out works that had to be executed
at short notice, including the fitting up and decorating of both Houses
of the Legislature on such occasions of mark as the receptions of the
Marquis of Lorne and H.R.H. the Princess Louise, in 1878, of the
lieutenant-governors of the province, of the speakers of the Legislative
Assembly, and last, but not least, of Madame Mercier, wife of the
premier of the province, on the occasion of the Interprovincial
Conference, in October, 1887, and in honor of the delegates to that
important congress, of which Dr. La Roque was also named accountant.
Another distinctive feature of his life-work, and one which does
infinite honor to his intelligence and patriotism, is the ardor which he
has ever shown in endeavouring to ameliorate the system of agriculture
pursued in his native province. In and out of the legislature, no man
has done more to advance that important cause in Lower Canada, both by
preaching and personal example. His published treatises on agriculture
and horticulture have become handbooks among his fellow countrymen, and
his valuable little work on “The Culture of Tobacco,” has contributed
largely to the promotion and improvement of that industry in the
province of Quebec. He also owns a large farm at Beaumont, below the
city of Quebec, which is actually under the management of his son, and
is deservedly regarded as a model establishment of its kind. Dr. La
Roque was married three times—firstly, on the 30th June, 1856, to Miss
Marie Felicity Thibault, a sister of the late Rev. Messrs. George and
Amable Thibault, parish priests respectively of Longueuil and Chambly,
in the diocese of Montreal; secondly, in May, 1870, to Miss Rosalie
Brauneis, of Montreal; and lastly, in January, 1874, to Miss Marie
Asilda Davignon, daughter of Simon Davignon, N.P., of Belœil, P.Q. By
these three marriages he has had eighteen children, of whom ten are
still living.
* * * * *
=Robillard, Alexander=, M.P.P., Russel, was born in the township of
Gloucester, county of Russel, in 1843. He comes of the best
French-Canadian stock, his father having been a man of extensive
business as a contractor in Ottawa. His father died at the ripe old age
of 87 years, his mother being still alive and in the enjoyment of good
health at an equally advanced age. Young Robillard had the benefit of a
sound commercial education at St. Joseph’s College, Ottawa, and this
education he has used to such advantage that he is now one of the
heaviest operators in contracting work and quarrying. He was the
contractor for the construction of the Model School, one of the most
substantial buildings in the city, which was put up by the Ontario
Government. His career in business has been one of steady advance, his
record having been throughout such as none could find fault with. Being
of adventurous disposition, Mr. Robillard has travelled extensively and
in places which, when he saw them, were new and strange. He made
extensive tours in the West, especially on the Pacific coast from Panama
to British Columbia. He has crossed the Isthmus of Panama twice and has
been through a great portion of South America. He has also visited
Europe several times, making it a point to see all the out-of-the-way
places his time would permit him to visit, and has crossed the Pacific
to the Orient twice. These travels have been undertaken at various times
and the effect of them is plainly to be seen in his toleration of
opinions differing from his own and his great knowledge of foreign
lands. Mr. Robillard was married at the age of twenty-two, to Miss
Sophia Lafleur, who died in May, 1885. The children of the union are
seven in number, of whom six are boys. Political affairs have always had
great attraction for Mr. Robillard, and he has taken an active part in
all the municipal and political contests of his district since he was
entitled to vote. His record as a municipal councillor is a long and
honorable one, he having been elected Deputy Reeve of Gloucester for
five years and afterwards Reeve for three years. In 1886 he was elected
to represent his native county in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
In that capacity he has served only one session, but he enters upon his
career with the confident belief on the part of his constituents that he
will certainly make his mark. He is a Liberal in politics.
* * * * *
=Rexford, Rev. Elson Irving=, B.A., Secretary of the Department of
Public Instruction, Quebec, was born at South Bolton, Brome County,
P.Q., on the 17th June, 1850. He is the eldest son of Orrin Rexford,
(who married Eliza Dimond), and a grandson of one of seven brothers who
came from the shores of Lake Champlain about 1790, and settled in the
County of Stanstead, on the shores of Lake Memphremagog. The Rexford
family on this continent are descendants of Arthur Rexford, who was
master of a trading vessel between England and the West Indies and the
New England colonies, and who died in New Haven, Conn., in 1727. The
Rev. Elson I. Rexford attended the elementary and superior schools of
his native county until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the
McGill Normal School, Montreal, where he obtained a Model School diploma
at the end of a two years’ course of training, taking first place and
the Prince of Wales’ medal. He held the positions of assistant master in
the model training school of the McGill Normal School and head master of
one of the city schools under the Protestant Board of School
Commissioners, Montreal, for three years. During this time he took an
active part in the local association of Teachers, of which he held the
position of Secretary for some time. He entered upon the Arts course of
McGill University, Montreal, in September, 1871. He graduated with
honors in mental and moral philosophy in 1876, having dropped out for
one year when he entered upon the study of theology; this study he
continued during the last two years of his arts course. He was ordained
by the Right Reverend Ashton Oxendon in 1876, and immediately entered
upon the charge of St. Luke’s Church, Montreal. This charge he was
obliged to resign after a few months, in consequence of ill-health, by
which he was deprived of the use of one leg for about two years. On
account of this he returned to the work of teaching, first as
head-master of his former school in Montreal, and afterwards as
assistant head master of the Montreal High School. During this time he
was President of the Local Association of Montreal Teachers, and
Secretary of the Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers, Quebec.
In 1882, he was called from the High School to fill the position of
English Secretary of the Department of Public Instruction, Quebec,
rendered vacant by the retirement of Dr. Miles, which position he still
holds. He was elected several times Representative Fellow on the
Corporation of McGill University, and on his removal to Quebec, he was
appointed Governor’s Fellow of the University. In September, 1882, he
married Louisa Norris, of Montreal.
* * * * *
=Derbishire, Stewart.=—If variety in the career of a man tend to render
his life—other things being equal—more interesting than those of his
fellows, who maintain an even tenor on their way, following the
profession through life in which they have been brought up and educated,
then will our readers find this element of interest not wanting in the
life of the subject of the following sketch. Beginning life as a
soldier, the late Mr. Derbishire soon turned to the study of the law,
and though he found himself on the high road to distinction in this
profession, he relinquished it for the more exciting pursuit of
journalism, which led him to Spain during the Constitutional war, where
he drew his sword on behalf of Queen Isabella. When however, the
decisive action, which ended in the defeat of Gomez, placed the crown
upon her head, he embarked in the very opposite mission of endeavouring
to bring peace to a distracted country, in the train of Lord Durham.
Unlike his master, however, he did not leave this country on the
apparent failure of that nobleman’s truly humane and generous efforts on
behalf of the people; but being drawn into the political life of the
country, after executing some very delicate missions of a diplomatic
character, he was elected the first member for Bytown, now Ottawa; which
constituency he continued to serve in parliament for several years,
until, after the passing of the Independence of Parliament Act, he gave
up his seat, having become Queen’s Printer for united Canada in 1841. So
slight are the causes to which we are sometimes led to attribute the
direction given to our current of life, that Mr. Derbishire was often
heard to say, that it was owing to his belief that the rebellion was by
no means finally quelled, but that there would be another spurt before
long, and wishing—to use his own words—“to see the fun,” that Canada
finally became his home—a home to which he accorded a loyal affection
and admiration, and whose fluctuating course, after he had retired from
the political arena, he watched with anxiety and interest to the end of
his life. Stewart Derbishire, born in London, in the year 1800, was the
third son of Philip Derbishire, M.D., and Ann Masterton, daughter of
Allan Masterton, of Edinburgh, an intimate friend and companion of
Burns, whose verses he was fond of setting to music. Miss Masterton, who
was gifted with great personal charms, and of more than average mental
ability, was the subject of those lines by Burns, entitled “Beware o’
Bonnie Ann.” At the age of sixteen, Mr. Derbishire commenced life as an
ensign in the Eighty-second regiment, but very soon afterwards, the
peace having caused the reduction of the army to one half its strength,
he became a student of law of the Honorable Society of Gray’s Inn, about
the year 1824. He was engaged in several cases of much public interest,
in the conduct of which he distinguished himself, and amongst which was
that of the Dorsetshire labourers, prosecuted for machine-breaking in
1832. The case created great interest throughout England, and was
reported at unusual length in the _Times_ of that period. From an early
age Mr. Derbishire was of very strongly pronounced Liberal views in
politics, and being drawn into the vortex of political journalism, aided
very effectually the movement which ended in the passing of the Reform
Bill. Having gained the warm regard of Sir de Lacy Evans, commander of
the British Legion, which championed the cause of Queen Isabella in
1837, and having become much interested in the struggle going on in
Spain, Mr. Derbishire proceeded to the troubled scene as special
correspondent of the _Morning Chronicle_. Not satisfied, however, with
using his pen only in the cause, and desiring to be more actively
engaged in the struggle, he volunteered at the assault of Irun, and for
his personal bravery received a medal, as well as a very flattering
letter from Sir de Lacy. He also earned the high approbation of Narvaez,
under whom he served in the campaigns of Castile, Valladolid and
Sagovia, for which services he was made a Knight of the Christian and
Military Order of San Fernando, and received several medals for his
gallantry. The honor of saving the life of Narvaez in a mutiny, has been
attributed to him, and he is also said to have been the first to point
out to the Melbourne ministry—then active champions of the Quadruple
Alliance—the inefficiency of Espartero, and to foretell the rise of
Narvaez. In 1838, the subject of our sketch came out to Canada as
attaché to the Earl of Durham. He held this nobleman in high esteem, as
well for his personal qualities as for his generous and large-hearted
statesmanship, and like him, he considered a lenient policy the only one
to be pursued towards the recently insurgent population, amongst whom he
acted as an emissary of mercy, visiting in the Montreal district the
localities, which, like Saint Benoit and Saint Eustache had been
desolated by the flames of civil war, carrying consolation and
assistance to the victims of the strife. He continued after the troubles
had ceased, to have a warm corner in his heart for the rebels, some of
whom became his personal friends, and towards whom—more especially Dr.
Wolfred Nelson and Dr. Rolph—he entertained, not only feelings of
affectionate regard, but of high respect and admiration, as towards men
who had taken up a course detrimental to their own interests, in the
hope of gaining for the country that which, in a short time, all but an
insignificant minority agreed the country must have. For some of the
less fortunate among their brethren, who remained in exile, he used his
influence with the Canadian government. Later in the day, when many of
the former rebels were serving their country in honourable positions,
and it was no singular thing to be in friendship with them, one of Lord
Metcalfe’s aides was heard to say, “How are your friends the rebels,
Derbishire?” “Oh,” was the reply, “I can’t get to see them now, you keep
them at government house; when Viger was in jail we could get to him,
now we can’t.” Viger was then president of the council. In the course of
Mr. Derbishire’s diplomatic duties, he brought up from New York the news
from Britain that, as he expressed it, “would make his lordship kick and
throw up his commission,” as indeed it did, and shortly after the Earl’s
departure, the rebellion again breaking out, as all along he had
predicted it would, he was asked, as one who knew the country and the
people, to undertake the dangerous service of carrying despatches to New
Brunswick and Halifax, demanding immediate re-inforcements of troops;
this he did, travelling in mid-winter from Quebec to Halifax by sleigh
and on horse-back, and resting neither night nor day till his mission
was fulfilled. Finding everything tranquil on his return to Lower
Canada, he endeavoured to regain his native land, but owing to the
badness of the roads, arrived in New York too late for the packet, by
which he intended sailing. There were at that time matters of great
interest in agitation at Washington, and Mr. Fox—then British minister
there—engaged his services to draw up several papers upon the
international relations between Great Britain, the United States and the
Canadas, which were sent home to the Foreign office with high
commendations, and Mr. Derbishire was just on the eve of embarking with
strong recommendations to Lord Palmerston, when a letter reached him,
stating, that Mr. Poulett Thompson, afterwards Lord Sydenham, wished him
to join his government, whereupon he once more turned his footsteps in
the direction of the country which appeared fated to become his home.
Before leaving the United States, however, Mr. Fox commissioned him to
travel leisurely through Maine, on his way from New Brunswick to Canada,
and endeavor to find out the feelings of the people of that state upon
the vexed question of their northern boundary; he did so, and found the
Mainites in a highly irritated, and what he considered to be, wholly
unreasonable frame of mind on that subject, and he drew up a somewhat
lengthy paper on the knowledge gained through his enquiries, which Mr.
Fox spoke of as containing some extremely valuable information, and the
gist of which would form a useful addition to the history extant upon
the subject. In 1841, Mr. Derbishire was elected member of Parliament
for Bytown, having been personally recommended by Lord Sydenham, as “a
friend of my own, qualified by his ability to do honor to any
constituency.” Sir Charles Bagot’s administration, Mr. Derbishire
considered in the highest degree successful, and full of promise to the
young country, whose factions were beginning to coalesce and work in
harmony under the straightforward, wise and honorable policy of that
governor. If, however, he was so fortunate as to have his political
sentiments at one with those of each governor-general who had ruled in
the country since his arrival in it—during whose administrations had
been developed and brought into action that principle of responsible
government which was to release the youthful limbs of the country from
the bands that had hitherto confined them, allowing them to gain
strength within the bounds of legitimate freedom—responsible
government, “without which, British rule in this part of the empire must
have become a monument of cruelty, injustice and folly”—it was far
otherwise when Sir Charles Bagot’s unfortunate successor came upon the
scene—the former happy unity of sentiment ceased. Admiring, as he did,
Lord Metcalfe’s benevolent _heart_, it could only be with a sorrowful
foreboding that he watched the reversion, by this nobleman’s want of
_head_, of all that the three former governors had striven to establish.
Lord Metcalfe was only “fighting again a battle which had been already
fought and lost; but fighting it with diminished forces, and positions
considerably less favorable, reviving a contest lost by Sir F. B. Head.”
Believing, that until prepared with other ministers, granting a
reasonable time for the construction of a cabinet, it is out of all rule
of representative, responsible, or any government short of a despotism,
to dismiss, or what is the same thing, promote the resignation of an
existing ministry, his vote condemned the claim advanced by the
governor-general, to make appointments without the knowledge of the
cabinet, although a threat of dismissal from the office of Queen’s
printer—which had been bestowed upon him in 1841—was held over his
head. It was a question to him whether the country should progress in
that development, which seems to be the lot of all new countries where
free play is given to the instinct of the Anglo-Saxon race for
self-government, or whether the irritation caused by the frustration of
this instinct, should break out again into civil war, bringing anarchy
and annexation in its train. Being a man of honor, of course all
personal considerations were dwarfed beside the gigantic proportions
assumed by this question, in view of the future welfare of the country.
Not long after this critical period, Mr. Derbishire gave up his seat in
parliament, on the passing of the Independence of Parliament Act, but
after retiring from active politics, as was to be expected of a man, the
bias of whose mind was toward political life, his interest in the
destinies of his adopted country did not grow dim with years. He watched
her course with keen sight, and continued to champion what he considered
her best interests in the press, both of the colony and of the mother
country. In 1849, when financial ruin stared the country in the face,
and Britain, by her oft-repeated neglect, seemed callous to her fate,
he, with many others, sorrowfully believed that annexation was
inevitable, and with much bitterness of spirit, expressed himself to a
friend in England, who had for many years been a public servant in this
country: “In view of annexation, I feel, as I suppose a man feels who
knows that one of these coming days he is to be led out to the scaffold
to be strangled in presence of numerous spectators who come to enjoy the
sport, and so feel a good many, I fancy.” His feelings towards Canada
had been one of peculiar loyalty—in the first years of his residence in
it he wished people to believe that he had taken root and identified
himself with its interests, and with a lavish hand, spent the large
income he received, that they might know that it was not riches he
sought in making Canada his home. United to his talents in public life,
Mr. Derbishire possessed those qualifications which make a man the
admired favorite of society. A wide range of sympathies, rare
scholarship and artistic taste, joined to a warmth and geniality of
disposition, which caused him to help with heart and hand and purse all
those who appealed to his sympathy, made the domain in which he ruled by
affection, a wide and varied one. One, a friend from the time he first
came to the country, says of him, “Coming within the vast pale of those
whom he admitted to sympathy, from the highest to the lowest, to whom he
extended the generous helping hand, and knowing him better, I believe,
than those with whom he was intimate, or the public, I was deeply
impressed with the depth of his philosophy and his accomplished literary
power and taste.”
* * * * *
=Adam, Lucien Alexandre Samuel=, Sheriff of the District of St.
Hyacinthe, in the Province of Quebec, was born at Coteau du Lac, county
of Soulanges, district of Montreal, the 10th day of November, 1847. His
parents were Louis Adam, notary, and Henriette Bourgeois, third daughter
of the late Captain François Louis Bourgeois, who came to Canada with
the title of captain, in a company of the regiment of the Meurous. He
was a native of Neufchatel, in Switzerland. Before the recall of his
regiment, Captain Bourgeois remained in this country, which he made his
retreat, and died in 1860, at the home of his son-in-law, Louis Adam, at
Coteau du Lac, aged ninety-one years. Madame Bourgeois was a daughter of
the late Dr. Stubenger, surgeon, etc., who died in this country several
years ago. In 1837, Louis Adam was among the number of patriots who
assisted and took part with his father, Augustin Adam, at St. Charles.
He was then only fourteen years of age. Lucien Samuel Adam took his
classical course at the Grand Seminary of St. Hyacinthe, which he left
the 15th June, 1866, after having been admitted as a law student. He
studied his profession with the late Louis Taché, then notary and
sheriff of St. Hyacinthe, and acted as deputy sheriff during six years.
In April, 1870, at the time of the Fenian invasion, Mr. Adam was
attached to the staff of the St. Hyacinthe regiment, then under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel Romuald St. Jacques. The regiment was called
out on duty and set out for the frontier to suppress the insurrection,
with others from Montreal, where the subject of our sketch was appointed
paymaster. In May, 1871, he was admitted as a member of the legal
profession, by the Assembly of Notaries at Laval University, Quebec, and
on the 14th of July he commenced the practice of his profession at St.
Hyacinthe, which he continued until May, 1881, when he was made sheriff
by the Chapleau government, in place of the late Louis Taché, deceased,
the 1st April of the same year. Mr. Adam took part in several election
contests, provincial as well as federal, and was always a staunch
supporter of Conservative interests. On the 15th of May, 1872, he was
married at St. Hyacinthe, to Miss Marie Zoé Boivin, second daughter of
the late Leonard Boivin, merchant and importer, of St. Hyacinthe, and in
later years collector of inland revenue for the said place, whose wife
was Madame Marie Zoé Lagorce and who died in August, 1872. Mr. Adam has
three brothers, the Rev. F. L. T. Adam, of Hochelaga, Montreal; A. A.
Adam, advocate of Ottawa, and the Rev. Father Adam, Jesuit, of Montreal.
In religion, it is needless to say, Mr. Adam is an earnest and devout
Roman Catholic. He was appointed sheriff at the early age of
thirty-three, and to-day is but forty years of age. Possessing all the
necessary requirements—talent, industry and integrity—of success, Mr.
Adam has undoubtedly a brilliant career before him.
* * * * *
=McConnel, William George=, Berthierville, Quebec, was born in the city
of Quebec, on the 12th of July, 1838. His father, John McConnel, and his
mother, Margaret, were both born in the north of Ireland, in the good
old county Derry, but both parents died while the subject of this sketch
was still a mere youth. Thrown thus on his own resources, William George
found his way to the New World, and received a good commercial education
at the Protestant Orphan Asylum, Quebec. At the age of thirteen he was
bound to a clergyman of the Church of England, for the sum of $100, to
learn farming. He soon found, however, that his talent lay in another
direction, and in a short time he was sent to Mr. J. S. Dixon, merchant,
of Berthier, and here he obtained that thorough knowledge of mercantile
affairs which has been so useful to him in later years. He remained with
Mr. Dixon for thirteen years, when his entire savings, some $1,300, were
swept away by the failure of his master. Mr. Dixon, however, resumed
business, and, nothing daunted, Mr. McConnel entered into partnership
with his former master, and they continued in business together for
three years. On October 1st, 1868, Mr. McConnel entered into business on
his own account as a general produce merchant, but making flour his
chief business, and he still continues to make a specialty of this
indispensable article. In 1881 he entered into partnership with Mr.
Robillard, M.P.P., in the wholesale grain business, but this partnership
was dissolved in the fall of 1886. Mr. McConnel is a member of the
Montreal Corn Exchange, which he joined in 1879. He is a staunch Liberal
in politics, and has always thrown his influence heartily into every
contest, so as to make that party successful in the county of Berthier.
He has been an alderman of the town since 1881; and the esteem in which
he is held by his fellow-townsmen is shown in the fact that his election
is always by acclamation. In 1888 he was appointed a justice of the
peace for the county of Richelieu. He is a faithful adherent of the
Church of England. In 1881 he was elected people’s churchwarden, and
since that time the church has been independent of outside support. He
is also one of the trustees of the Berthier Protestant Academy. He was
married on December 1st, 1872, to a French lady, Miss Amelia Mailloux,
daughter of Antoine and Marie Louise Mailloux, of Berthier, by whom he
has a family of nine children, of whom seven only are living. All of
them speak the French and English languages fluently. Mr. McConnel is a
good conversationalist, with an intimate knowledge of men and places
acquired in the course of constant travel in the United States and
Canada.
* * * * *
=Maynard, Rev. Thomas=, M.A., D.D., Rector of Christ Church, Windsor,
and Canon of St. Luke’s Cathedral, Halifax, Nova Scotia, was born in
Halifax, N.S., on the 8th of November, 1814. His father, Thomas Maynard,
a post-captain in the British navy, was a native of Devonshire, England,
who, after seeing a great deal of service, settled in Halifax, and
became high sheriff of the county of Halifax; he was a man of great
integrity, and died at the advanced age of 87 years. His mother was Lucy
Creighton, of Halifax. Her father, J. Creighton, belonged to
Somersetshire, England, and was among the first English settlers in Nova
Scotia. Mr. Creighton owned the Cathedral Hill, and sold it to the Duke
of Kent, and received, in part payment, a house called Grenadier Fort,
where Trinity church now stands. There was a small wooden fort at the
gate of this property, built to keep off the Indians. Rev. Dr. Maynard
received his educational training at the Collegiate School, and at
King’s College, Windsor, N.S., where he graduated in arts in 1832. He
studied law, and was afterwards admitted a barrister; but, changing his
mind, he determined to devote himself to the work of the Master, and
accordingly, in 1841, was ordained deacon by the Right Rev. John Inglis,
bishop of Nova Scotia, and priest by the same bishop a year later. He
was curate, for a year, of Dartmouth, and after, about the same length
of time, of St. George’s Church at Halifax. Afterwards he occupied the
position of rector of Rawdon, and subsequently of Digby, for five years
each; then of Sackville, near Halifax, four years; and was appointed
rector of Windsor in 1859, where he has since administered his holy
office. Canon Maynard has often held the position of examiner in
divinity in King’s College, and has on several occasions been a delegate
to the Provincial Synod, held in Montreal, as well as to the Diocesan
Synod. King’s College has conferred upon him the degrees of M.A. and
D.D. In his ministration, Dr. Maynard is free from display, but
constantly shows a yearning love for the best welfare of his hearers. He
has a rare faculty of attracting the young, and he is held in very high
respect by his people. He is withal possessed of a genial disposition,
and has a keen sense of humor. His preaching corresponds with his life,
and is highly calculated to impress and deepen the spiritual life of
those under his care. He has done good work in the Lord’s vineyard. He
was married on the 8th March, 1843, to Sarah Wilkins, daughter of the
Hon. Lewis Morris Wilkins, at one time speaker of the House of Assembly,
Nova Scotia, and subsequently judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
Miss Wilkins was a woman of very superior intellect and literary
attainment, and was a great favorite wherever she was known. She was a
great aid to her husband in all his efforts to do good in the church.
She died on the 30th September, 1884, aged 70 years. The family of
Wilkins was one of the most important in this county. Dr. Isaac Wilkins
represented the county of West Chester, in the State of New York, before
the American Revolutionary war; he sided with the British, and gave up
wealth and power to live under the British flag. He came to Nova Scotia,
and settled at Shelbourne; he represented that county in the provincial
legislature. Some years after the peace he returned to the United
States; having formerly studied for the Christian ministry, he was
ordained by Bishop Leabury, and was rector of the parish of West
Chester, where he died at an advanced age. His son, Lewis Morris
Wilkins, and his grandson of the same name, both became judges of the
Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. His grandson, Martin Isaac Wilkins, was a
distinguished lawyer and prothonotary of the Superior Court. Judge
Wilkins had three daughters, Sarah Wilkins, the wife of Canon Maynard,
being the youngest. The fruit of the union has been a family of eight
children.
* * * * *
=Stevenson, Major Samuel Cottingham=, (B.A.), was born in Montreal, on
the 7th August, 1848. He attended the high school in that city and
afterwards graduated at McGill University, taking the degree of Bachelor
of Arts. His father was Mr. James Stevenson, a native of Campbellton,
Argyleshire, Scotland, and his mother was Elizabeth Cottingham, a
descendant of the Cottinghams, of County Caven, Ireland. When a youth
Mr. Stevenson entered the ranks of the Victoria Rifles, Montreal, and
not long afterwards he saw active service in the Fenian raid of 1866. He
afterwards held a commission in the 1st, or Prince of Wales’ Rifles, and
was present in the engagement at Eccles’ Hill, on the Vermont border, in
1870. In the year 1881 Mr. Stevenson retired from the force with the
rank of Major. For over fifteen years Mr. Stevenson has taken a very
prominent part in the exhibition affairs of the Dominion. He entered on
the work in 1872, as assistant at the first large provincial exhibition
held at Montreal. Mr. Stevenson worked so efficiently, and made himself
so useful everywhere at this time, that his services were called into
requisition at the next provincial exhibition, held in the following
year on the new grounds at Mile End, Montreal. On this occasion he
showed himself so energetic and capable that he was placed in entire
charge of the industrial department of the exhibition. We next find that
in the preparations made for the representation of Canada at the great
Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, in 1876, Mr. Stevenson was
appointed secretary to the advisory board, in succession to Mr. H.
Beaugrand, mayor of Montreal, and when the exhibition opened he was
appointed special commissioner there for the province of Quebec. He had
secured a magnificent display of products and manufactures from
Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, and the province generally. The services
he rendered at the great American Centennial were of a most important
character, not only in the amount of well-directed labor he performed,
but for his good influence in promoting the commerce and interests of
his native country generally. On Mr. Stevenson’s return, his practical
services were acknowledged by the gift of a splendid gold watch and
chain and an address. In the next year a permanent exhibition committee
for the province of Quebec was named, and Mr. Stevenson was unanimously
chosen secretary, and has held the position till the present time. In
that capacity he originated and managed the first of the series of
Dominion exhibitions which have been held in various parts of Canada
ever since, and which have been the means of greatly fostering the
inter-provincial relations of the country. In fact, it was at this
exhibition that the attention of that large portion of the people of the
older provinces who had never troubled themselves much about it, became
earnestly concentrated upon the great North-West, Mr. Stevenson having
obtained a most interesting collection of exhibits from Manitoba and the
adjoining territories. Till now all the principal exhibitions in Canada
had been provincial in character, but a new era was opened by this
event, and the Dominion government, having voted a special grant of
$5000, have maintained the exhibition ever since, it being held in
different cities and different provinces each year. Mr. Stevenson was
the chief organizer and manager of all the exhibitions held in Montreal
since 1872, and in 1883 contributed much to the success of the Dominion
exhibition at St. John, N.B., by the contributions he raised in Quebec
and Ontario, as he did also to the success of the International
Exhibition at Antwerp in 1885, at which Canada was well represented. His
work in connection with the Colonial and Indian exhibition is too well
known to the public of Canada and England to need an extended reference
here. From the moment the idea was started Mr. Stevenson entered heart
and soul into the work, and organized the largest collection of exhibits
ever sent out of his province. He gave many suggestions of value to the
Dominion government, and at the request of Sir Charles Tupper, was
dispatched to London to assist in arranging the details of the Canadian
section, alloting the spaces, etc. That Mr. Stevenson worked well, and
that he rendered the most valuable service in the interests of all parts
of the Dominion, is admitted on all sides, and that he triumphed
successfully over the difficulties of want of space and the inconvenient
arrangement of the building will also be most readily admitted by those
who best understood the nature of the task before him, as well as by
those who had an opportunity of seeing the admirable arrangement of the
Canadian court. He took the initiative in the formation of the
Exhibitors’ Commercial Exchange at the exhibition, established for the
purpose of developing and fostering closer commercial relations between
the various British colonies, and was its provisional chairman. Mr.
Stevenson is secretary of the Council of Arts and Manufactures of the
Province of Quebec, under whose direction is placed the technical and
art education of the province. He is director of technical and art
instruction, and has taken a warm interest in the work of the schools
under the control of the council. He has contributed several valuable
articles on technical education. Mr. Stevenson took a prominent part in
inducing the American Association for the Advancement of Science to hold
its sessions in Montreal in 1882, and was also one of the local
secretaries, in conjunction with Hon. Thomas White, ex-Mayor Rivard and
Mr. S. E. Dawson, on the occasion of the famous meeting of the British
Association for the Advancement of Science, held there in 1884. Mr.
Stevenson’s wide and varied experience in exhibition matters is well
appreciated and recognized by those who know him in America, and he was
consequently elected vice-president of the International Association of
Fairs and Expositions at the annual convention of that body held in St.
Louis, Mo., in 1884. He was also appointed honorary commissioner for
Canada for the Boston Foreign exhibition, held in 1883. That the people
of his own city have confidence in his judgment in exhibition matters is
evidenced by the fact that the Montreal Board of Trade desired to have
his views and his advice before commiting itself to any line of action
in connection with the proposed permanent exhibition, as suggested by
the London Chamber of Commerce, in 1886. It is pleasing to notice that,
notwithstanding the calls on Mr. Stevenson’s energy, he can still find
time to promote the athletic sports of Canada. He was for some years
secretary of the old Dominion Lacrosse and Snow Shoe Club, and has
several good records to his credit; was president of the Independent
Lacrosse Club and of the Wolseley Snow Shoe Club, and in 1880 he was
elected president of the National Lacrosse Association of Canada. Mr.
Stevenson is thoroughly acquainted with the French language, which is of
great advantage in the province of Quebec, and has travelled extensively
through Europe, United States and his own country. He is a member of the
Presbyterian church of Canada. Mr. Stevenson is a member of the “Societé
de Géographie Commerciale,” of Paris, and a corresponding member of the
Industrial Education Association, of New York. He is also a director of
the Great Northern Railway Company. In 1878 Mr. Stevenson was married to
Gertrude, daughter of Col. Caldwell, of Delaware, a relative of the late
Bayard Taylor on her mother’s side, and whose great grandfather was a
general in the Revolutionary war.
* * * * *
=Keirstead, Rev. Elias Miles=, M.A., Professor of English Literature and
Psychology in Acadia College, Wolfville, N.S., is a native of New
Brunswick. He was born at Collina, Kings county, in that province,
February 11th, 1850. His father, Rev. Elias Keirstead, was a Baptist
minister, well known in the maritime provinces, his mother being
Margaret Ganong, of a family also equally well known. The family of
Keirstead is originally of German extraction, but for six generations
our subject’s branch has resided on this continent. John Keirstead, of
New York, is the first of the family of whom we have any record, as far
as the new world is concerned. He had a son, Jacobus, and he was the
father of James, who, with five of his brothers and one sister, came to
New Brunswick as loyalists. Isaiah, our subject’s grandfather, was born
in the United States, and came to Kings county, New Brunswick, when a
child. He (Isaiah) married Lydia Gray, a daughter of Captain William
Gray, who was also a loyalist. Our subject’s mother was the daughter of
James Ganong, also of loyalist stock, he being a son of Thomas, who
founded the family in New Brunswick. Thomas was of Irish descent on his
father’s side, and English on that of his mother. Thomas had two
brothers, officers in the English army, and who were with Wellington at
Waterloo. James’ wife, and grandmother of the subject of this sketch,
was Margaret, a daughter of Captain William Cox, who was also a
loyalist. Prof. Keirstead was educated primarily at the common and
superior schools of his native parish, when he entered the University of
New Brunswick, and subsequently Newton Theological Institution, Newton,
Massachusetts. He graduated at the head of his class in 1873, at the
university, and at the Newton Theological Institution in 1876, and
subsequently obtained the degree of M.A. from Acadia College. At the
university he took all the studies in the prescribed course for B.A.,
and, in addition, took honors for special work in mathematics, English
language and literature, and French language and literature. At the
Theological Institution he followed the regular course of three years
for full graduation. The course embraced among other studies, New
Testament interpretation (Greek), Old Testament interpretation (Hebrew),
systematic and biblical theology, pastoral theology, homiletics, church
polity, church history, and history of doctrines. He also took special
lectures in Hebrew. As might be expected, from the position Professor
Keirstead occupies, he holds strongly the views of the Baptist
denomination. As a controversialist he is one of no light calibre,
having great force of character, and intellectual gifts, both natural
and acquired, of the highest order. He married, June 21st, 1877, Mary
J., second daughter of the late Joel Fenwick, of Millstream, Kings
county, N.B. The Fenwicks are of English descent, Matthew, the father of
Joel, coming from that country and settling in New Brunswick. Matthew
Fenwick’s wife was Miriam, a daughter of William Freeze, who settled in
Amherst, N.S., from England, and afterwards migrated to New Brunswick.
Mrs. Keirstead’s mother was Ann, daughter of Robert McLeod, whom it is
not necessary to state was of Scottish extraction. Professor Keirstead
was ordained a pastor of the Baptist church at Milton, Yarmouth, N.S.,
December 5th, 1876. In 1877 he was installed as pastor of the church of
the same body at Windsor, Nova Scotia, which pulpit he occupied until
called upon to fill his present high position. He is secretary of the
Baptist Convention of the maritime provinces, and has occupied that
relation to the body for nine years. Professor Keirstead is also known
in literature, more particularly, of course, in that connected with the
church to which he is such an ornament. At the present writing his
family consists of two children; one boy and one girl, both of whom are,
of course, still young.
* * * * *