Canada

Biography of David Robertson, M.D., M.P.P.

David Robertson, the leading physician and surgeon in Milton, and a member of the Ontario Legislature for Halton, is a native of this county, and was born in the Township of Esquesing, July 9, 1841. His father, Alexander Robertson, was from Perthshire, Scotland; his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Moore, from New England. The father of our subject, born in Perthshire, 1785, was the grandson of Colonel Donald Robertson, of Woodshiel, who commanded the Clan Robertson at the battle of Culloden, April 16, 1746, in which he was severely wounded. On recovering he made his escape to France, and … Read more

Biography of David D. Hay, M.P.P.

David Donalson Hay, member of the Ontario Parliament for North Perth, was born in Brought Ferry, near Dundee, Scotland, January 20, 1828. His father was Robert Hay, a contractor and superintendent of works, and belonged to an old Scotch family. His mother’s maiden name was Catharine McKiddie. He received a good English education including mathematics, at parish and private schools; at sixteen years of age crossed the Atlantic ocean to try his fortune in the new world, being alone and depending on his own resources. After spending a few months in a mercantile house in the City of Montreal, came … Read more

Biography of Byron M. Britton, M.A. Q.C.

Byron M. Britton, one of the leading barristers in the eastern part of the Province of Ontario, is a son of Daniel and Nancy (Moffatt) Britton, and was born at Gananoque, County of Leeds, September 3, 1833. His father, a merchant in that place, was born in New Hampshire, as was likewise his grandfather. His mother was a native of the State of New York. Byron was educated at Victoria College, Cobourg, where he was graduated in 1856. He read law at first with Hon. P. M. VanKoughnet of Toronto, afterwards Chancellor, and finished at Belleville; was called to the … Read more

Biography of Rev. Michael Stafford

Rev. Michael Stafford, Priest of the Roman Catholic Church, Lindsay, is a native of the County of Lanark, Ontario, the son of a pioneer settler, Thomas Stafford, and was born March, 1, 1832. His father was from Wexford, Ireland; his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McGarry, from West Meath, same country. His family fought for Irish separation, and that was the reason Thomas Stafford came to Canada. Up to fourteen years of age our subject was educated at a district school near Lanark, his teacher, Robert Lees, still living, and filling the office of County Attorney of Carleton. The … Read more

Biography of Rev. James T. Bogert, M.A.

James John Bogert, Rector of Napanee, and one of the Rural Deans of Lennox and Addington, is a native of this Province, being born in Brockville, August 2, 1835. His father, John Bogert, Barrister, was a Captain of Cavalry during the “Patriot War” of 1837-38, and practiced his profession in Brockville, being known as the “honest lawyer,” dying in 1842. The father of John Bogert lived at one time in the United States. The mother of our subject, Mary Radcliffe before her marriage, was a native of Wales. Mr. Bogert was educated at Trinity College, Toronto; graduated BA. in 1835; … Read more

Biography of Henry Hart

The oldest and most successful lawyer in Paris is Henry Hart, son of Phillip Dacres Hart, who was long connected with the East India Company, and retired in the prime of life with a competency, living in London, England, where the son was born, February 16, 1827. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Ann Chase. Both parents were English. When our subject was in his eighth year the family emigrated to Upper Canada; reached St. Catharines in I835, and the next year settled in Brantford. The father died in 1855, the mother in 1876. Young Hart was educated … Read more

Biography of Robert Hay, M.P.

Robert Hay, member of the House of Commons for Centre Toronto, is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Henderson) Hay, and was born in the parish of Tippermuir, Perthshire, Scotland, May 18, 1808. His father was an agriculturist in moderate circumstances, with a family of nine children; and at fourteen years of age our subject had to leave school and rely upon his own small hands for support. He became an apprentice to a cabinet maker; learned the trade thoroughly in the town of Perth; worked at it as a journeyman in the old country until the summer of 1831, … Read more

Biography of Hon. George Sherwood, Q.C.

George Sherwood, Judge of the County Court of Hastings, was born in Augusta, County of Leeds, Ontario, May 29, 1811, his parents being Levius P. and Charlotte (Jones) Sherwood. His father was a Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench, Ontario, and a prominent man, dying May 19, 1850. His grandsires on both sides were United Empire Loyalists, and settled in the township of Augusta. He was educated at the Johnstown Grammar School; studied law at Brockville and Toronto; was called to the Bar at Michaelmas term in 1833; opened a law office at Prescott; was in partnership a year … Read more

Biography of George Stephens

George Stephens, late United States Consul at the port of Cobourg, was a native of Schoharrie County, N.Y., and was born December 27, 1805. His parents were George and Sarah (Wood) Stephens, his paternal ancestors being from England; his maternal from Wales, both great-grandfathers coming from the old world. His grandfather fought for the independence of the American colonies. Our subject received a common school education; at seventeen years of age came to Canada, located at Colborne, and manufactured furniture for several years, till he was burnt out, when he removed to Cobourg. With the exception of two or three … Read more

Biography of Stephen J. Jones

Stephen James Jones, Judge of the County Court of Brant, and Master in Chancery, dates his birth at Stoney Creek, County of Wentworth, December 21, 1821, his father being Stephen Jones, son of a United Empire Loyalist, and born in Duchess County, New York. A great-uncle of our subject, Augustus Jones, also a loyalist, was Government Land Surveyor in the old Niagara District his residence being at Stoney Creek. The mother of our subject was Mary Smith. He was educated in the district grammar school at Hamilton; studied law at first with Miles O’Reilly, of Hamilton, and afterwards with S. … Read more

Biography of Tecumseh K. Holmes, M.D.

Tecumseh Kingsley Holmes, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Kent County, Ontario, is a son of Abraham and Jane Louisa (Gibson) Holmes, and was born at Euphemia, County of Kent, January 17, 1839. His father, many years a farmer, is still living, being in his 84th year. The family is of Irish descent, the great grandfather of our subject coming over when the father of Abraham Holmes was a child, and settling at Montreal. The grandfather of our subject, on reaching manhood, removed to Sandwich, Upper Canada, and was there Principal of an Academy many years. The Gibsons … Read more

Biography of William Buck

William Buck, one of the leading manufacturers in Brantford, and President of the Board of Trade of this city, dates his birth at the old town of Ancaster, August 22, 1828, his parents being Peter and Hannah (Yager) Buck. Both are still living, and they reside in Brantford, the father in his 88th year, and the mother in her 76th. Mrs. Buck, as her name would indicate, is of German pedigree. Peter Buck was a soldier in the rebellion of 1837-1838, and was wounded at the battle of Chippawa, still carrying a ball received on that occasion. Both parents of … Read more

Biography of Rev. William Cochrane, D.D.

William Cochrane, pastor of Zion Presbyterian Church, Brantford, dates his birth in Paisley, Scotland, February 9, 1832, his parents being William and Mary (McMillan) Cochrane. The family is from Ayrshire, and descended from Thomas Cochrane, of the Dundonald branch, afterwards Earl of Dundonald or Lord Cochrane. The mother of our subject was from the Island of Arran, Scotland. He attended the parish schools of his native town until twelve years old, when he was placed in a bookstore, where he remained between ten and eleven years. So great was his thirst for knowledge during the latter part of that period, … Read more

Biography of John Stevenson

One of the older class of residents in the County of Lennox, and one of its most prominent citizens, he having been Speaker of the Provincial Parliament, is John Stevenson, who’s born in the State of New Jersey, August 12, 1812. His parents were Edward and Mary (Large) Stevenson, members of the agricultural community, and both of Quaker descent, his mother dying in the faith of that religious sect. The Stevensons were English, and first settled in Pennsylvania, soon after William Penn went there, the pioneer settler being Surveyor-in-Chief of the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One branch of … Read more

Biography of Rev. John S. Clarke

John Stokes Clarke, Pastor of the Canada Methodist Church, Oshawa, and son of John and Rose (Stokes) Clarke, was born in the town of Clones, in the north of Ireland, February 8, 1833. His father was a merchant and Clerk of the Peace, the ancestors leaving England about the time of William III., the family holding various civic and important positions in the County of Monaghan, Ireland. Our subject received his literary education in the old country, his tutor being the Rev. William White, a Presbyterian Minister. In his seventeenth year he came to Canada West; studied Theology in the … Read more

Biography of James Stratton

James Stratton, Collector of Customs at Peterborough, and for years a prominent journalist, is a native of the County of Armagh, Ireland, dating his birth May 22, 1830. His parents were Robert and Mary (McElwain) Stratton; his paternal ancestors were originally from Cornwall, England; his mother was a native of Scotland. Robert Stratton was a linen merchant, the calling of the family for at least two or three generations farther back. Our subject was educated principally in the public schools of his native county, and in the County of Durham, Canada West; he coming to this country when only fifteen … Read more

Biography of James McMahon, M.D. M.P.P.

James McMahon, member of the Ontario Legislature, is a native of Dundas, being born here July 1, 1830. His father Hugh McMahon, many years a Provincial Surveyor, was from the County of Cavan, north of Ireland; and his mother, whose maiden name was Ann McGovern, was also from that county. James was educated by his father, who was a classical scholar; at fifteen years of age commenced to study medicine with Dr. James Mitchell, of Dundas; attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Toronto; became a Licentiate of the Medical Board of Upper Canada, and received the … Read more

Biography o fHon. W. J. Christie

We first saw “Edgar Place,” the residence of Hon. W. J. Christie, in the month of March, 1879. Deep snow still covered the ground, and the trees, with the exception of ever greens, were destitute of leaves; but it hardly required a poet’s eye, “in a fine frenzy rolling,” to picture the beauties of the spot, when clothed in all the pomp of mid summer. An artist had just been there, sketching “Edgar Place” and other beautiful points of scenery with which Brockville abounds, and the Canadian Illustrated News of May 17, 1879, contained views of “Villas at River’s Cliff” … Read more

Biography of John McCleod

The subject of this sketch is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was born on the 13th of September, 1816. His father, John MacLeod, senior, was a type founder, and foreman for years of the only foundry of that class in the City of Edinburgh. The family were from the Highlands. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Ann Gordon. He was educated in part in the common schools of Edinburgh and Inverness; in 1832 came to Nova Scotia, finished his literary studies at Pictou, and there read law; went to New York city, having the legal profession … Read more

Biography of Alexander Scott

Alexander Forsyth Scott, Judge of the County of Peel, is a native of this county, and is living on the same lot on which he was born, July 1, 1828. His father, John Scott, was a manufacturer in Scotland, coming to Canada about 1817, living for a few years in the Township of Dumfries, near where Galt now stands, and then settled on land in that part of the Township of Chinguacousy where Brampton has since risen, here farming until his demise in 1853, The mother of our subject was Mary nee Lynch, a native of Vermont. She was the … Read more