Canada

Biography of Frederick Merner

Frederick Merner, a prominent manufacturer, is a brother of Samuel Merner, M.P., mentioned on preceding pages, and was born in the same place, Canton, March 22, 1829. In 1837, when the family settled near New Hamburg, the country in this part was almost a dense forest; schoolmasters were scarce, and not of the highest grade, and Frederick acquired the best education he could, under the circumstances, at literary browsing. By additional application to books out of school, he obtained a fair knowledge of the several branches necessary for the transaction of ordinary business. His father raised no children to fill … Read more

Biography of John H. Wilson, M.D.

John Henry Wilson, who for many years has been recognized as one of the most eminent physicians and surgeons in the County of Elgin, and for eight years a member of the Ontario Parliament, was born near Ottawa, Canada, February 14, 1833. His father, Jeremiah Wilson, was from Vermont, and his father was a United Empire Loyalist, and a veteran of the American revolutionary war. When our subject was two years old the family moved to the Township of Westminster, County of Middlesex. He supplemented a Common and Grammar School education with a liberal drill at the Normal School, Toronto, … Read more

Biography of James Somerville

One of the early settlers at Lucknow, and a leading business man, is James Somerville, who was born in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland, January 31, 1826. His parents are Robert and Christian (Bennett) Somerville, his father being a builder, and yet living, his home being in Dundas, Ontario. James received a good high school education; at sixteen, came, with the family, to Dundas; there worked one year in a cabinet shop; ran an oatmeal mill two years; learned the trade of a millwright; worked at it, with head-quarters at Dundas, until 1851; then removed to the township of Wawanosh, five miles … Read more

Biography of James Ingersoll

James Ingersoll, for forty-five years Registrar of the County of Oxford, is a son of J. Thomas Ingersoll, from whom the town of Ingersoll was named, and Sarah Whiting, sister of General John Whiting, of Great Barrington, both natives of Berkshire county, Mass., and was born in the township of West Oxford, now Ingersoll, September 10, 1801. In the Sentinel Review, of Woodstock, in January, 1879, Mr. Ingersoll published a sketch of the early settlement of the County of Oxford, and from that sketch we learn That his father came to Upper Canada in 1793, being induced to come hither … Read more

Biography of Daniel Clark, M.D.

Daniel Clark, M.D., was born in Granton, Invernessshire, Scotland, August 29, 1835. His father, Alexander Clark, was a native of Knockando, Morayshire, Scotland, and a farmer by occupation. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy-four years, near Port Dover, County of Norfolk, Ontario, on the old homestead. His mother, whose maiden name was Anne McIntosh (or hack in Gaelic) was born near Tomintoul, Banffshire, Scotland, in the year 1804, and is still living on the old farm near Port Dover. The family immigrated to Port Dover from the city of Dundee, Scotland, via Quebec, in 1841. Dr. Clark … Read more

Biography of John White

John White, one of the leading men in the County of Halton, and for years a member of the Canadian Assembly and Dominion House of Commons, was born near Omagh, County of Tyrone, North of Ireland, June 8, 1811. His father, Thomas White, was a carpenter and joiner and farmer. His grandfather was from Perth, Scotland, and his ancestors on both sides were Scotch. When our subject was eleven years old the family came to “Little York,” and settled on a farm in Etobicoke. He was educated in a common school in. the old country, and a Grammar School in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George R. Van Norman, Q.C.

George Robinson Van Norman, Q.C., County Crown Attorney and Clerk of the Peace, is a son of Joseph Van Norman, whose sketch appears on preceding pages, and was born in Canandaigua, New York, March 12, 1821, the family removing to Canada before he was a year old. He finished his literary education at Cobourg Academy, now Victoria College; studied law two years with William Salmon, of Simcoe, and three years with Hon. Robert B. Sullivan, of Toronto, afterwards Judge of the Superior Court; was called to the Bar at Hilary term, 1847, and created a Queen’s Counsel in February, 1873. … Read more

Biography of Richard Blain

Richard Blain, for the last four years Mayor of Galt, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Little) Blain, both natives of the County of Cumberland, England, where the son was born January 26, 1821. His father was in general business. In 1839 he came to Upper Canada, and at Dundas learned the millers’ trade with James B. Ewart, for many years a prominent manufacturer in that town. Mr. Blain worked for him five years in Dundas and ten in Galt, settling in the latter place in 1844. In 1854 he commenced milling with his brother, James Blain, leasing and … Read more

Biography of John Field

One of the oldest men in Cobourg, and for more than thirty years prominent in business, and in municipal affairs, is John Field, who was born at Wiviliscombe, Somersetshire, England, July 10, 1793, hence at the time of writing he is in his 86th year. His parents were John and Myra (Collard) Field, his father being engaged in the general mercantile trade in Somersetshire for many years. The subject of this notice received an academic education; then served an apprenticeship of six years at Taunton in the mercantile business; was subsequently an assistant in stores at Exeter, Bath, Bristol and … Read more

Biography of Charles Raymond

Charles Raymond, one of the leading manufacturers in Guelph, is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Greene) Raymond, and was born in Ashburnham, Mass., January 6, 1826. He acquired his education in the district schools of his native village and Fitchburg, and the Dracut (now Lowell) Academy. His father was a carpenter and joiner, and later in life a carriage maker, and the son early showed marked skill in handling tools. Specimens of his juvenile manufacture, exhibiting decided mechanical talent and ingenuity, are still preserved as keepsakes, by his friends in his native town. At the age of seventeen, Mr. … Read more

Biography of George W. Badgerow, M.P.P

The subject of this short sketch, George Washington Badgerow, very properly ranks among that younger class of Ontario’s deserving men, just entering public life, but whose previous career, though brief, gives promise of ultimate success. He is a native of the Province, and was born on the 28th of May, 1841, in the township of Markham. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Harrington) Badgerow. Martin Badgerow was a native of the State of New York, but came to Canada with his parents about the year 1810, and settled in Markham, engaging in farming. They were a well to do family, … Read more

Biography of John R. Dickson, M.D.

John Robinson Dickson, one of the leading surgeons in the Province of Ontario, and son of David and Isabella (Robinson)Dickson, was born in Dungannon, County of Tyrone, Ireland, November 15, 1819. David Dickson was a prominent merchant in Dungannon for many years. His oldest son, David Dickson, Jr., was Major of the 95th Regiment, and William Dickson, another son, was Surgeon in the British Navy for a long time. Our subject was educated at a Belfast Institution; read medicine with Dr. McLean, of Dungannon; came to Canada in 1837; attended lectures at the University of New York, and there received … Read more

Biography of William S. Campbell

William Sternberg Campbell, son of Archibald Dougall and Catharine (Stern berg) Campbell, who came from the United States at the close of the Revolution, and settled in the County of Glengarry, where the father of our subject lived until 1818, when he came westward to the County of Kent, where he had drawn land on account of the loyalty of his mother, afterwards moving to Hamilton. In 1838 Archibald Campbell settled in the town ship of Brantford, on a farm of 170 acres, four miles from the present city of Brantford, where William was born, February 2.5, 1840. His mother … Read more

Biography of A. Herriman Elbridge, M.D.

Among the best read and most skilful physicians and surgeons in Lindsay is Elbridge Albert Herriman, son of Luther Herriman, also a physician, who is still living, and a resident of Port Hope. At the time of Elbridge’s birth, August 27, 1834, the family were residing at Haldimand, County of Northumberland, Ont. His mother, before her marriage, was Abigail Dean. He received his literary education at Toronto, his medical, in the medical department of Victoria College, Toronto, being graduated M. D., in 1860. After practicing two years in Durham county, the civil war being in progress on the American side, … Read more

Biography of Hon. Telesphore Fournter

Telesphore Fournter, who took his seat on the Supreme Bench of the Dominion in October, 1875, is a son of Guillaume Fournier and Maria A. nee Morin, and was born at St. Francois, Riviere Du Sud, Montmagny, Province of Quebec, August 5, 1823. He was educated at Nicolet College, graduating in 1842; studied law at Quebec with the Lieutenant Governor Caron; was called to the Bar of Lower Canada in 1846, and created a Queen’s Counsel in 1863. As a lawyer, Mr. Fournier was admitted by his colleagues to have won his place at once in the foremost rank, and … Read more

Biography of Daniel B. Chisholm

Daniel Black Chisholm, barrister, ex-member of Parliament for Halton, and for many years one of the leading citizens of Hamilton, is a native Canadian, as was his father before him, and was born in the township of E. Flamboro’, County of Wentworth, Out., on the 2nd of November, 1832. He is a grandson of George Chisholm, a Highlander, who emigrated from Inverness, Scotland, as early as August, 1772, to New York, whence he afterwards removed to Nova Scotia, where he lived for about seven years. In 1781 he settled at Niagara, but removed thence in 1791, to the north shore … Read more

Biography of Francis Barclay

Francis Barclay, one of the leading merchants in Georgetown, is a son of Matthew Francis. Mary (Fleming) Barclay, and was born in Paisley, Scotland, May 15, 1822. His father in early life was a soldier in the British army under Sir John Moore in Spain, and was at the taking of Copenhagen in Denmark; and in middle life was a silk and muslin manufacturer, largely in the line of shawls. In 1832 the family, consisting of the parents and six children, came to Upper Canada, and the father was engaged in farming at Markham and Trafalgar, dying about 1867. His … Read more

Biography of Malcolm Campbell

The first merchant in Lucknow, was Malcolm Campbell, from Inverness-shire, Scotland, where he was born on the 4th of April, 1819. His parents were Donald and Ann (McGregor) Campbell. Malcolm was educated in the parish schools of his native town; aided his father on the farm until 1846, and then came to Canada, locating at first in the township of Blenheim, County of Oxford, where he taught school two years, and then kept a store one year. He sold out, went to Kirkwall, in the County of Wentworth, where he dealt in merchandise until 1859, when he settled at Lucknow. … Read more

Biography of Thomas Jull

The subject of this brief notice is a descendant of a family of English agriculturists, and dates his birth in the County of Kent, February 17, 1817. His parents were Henry and Harriet (Farris) Jull. The name is not very common either in England or Canada; there are few families of that name in this Province. Thomas received an ordinary English education; did some farming with his father in boy hood; learned the trade of a millwright, and then abandoned it; in the autumn of 1835, left his fatherland; came to Trafalgar, in the County of Halton, and farmed and … Read more

Biography of George W. Ross, M.P.

Geroge William Ross, member of the House of Commons for the West Riding of Middlesex, and one of the leading temperance men in that legislative body, dates his birth on the 18th of September, 1811, in the township of Williams, county of Middlesex, his parents being James and Ellen (McKinnon) Ross, both natives of Rossshire, Scotland. His father came to Upper Canada in 1834. The subject of this notice was educated at the public schools, and the Provincial Normal School, Toronto; taught school in his native county for ten years, ending in 1867; was editor of the Strathroy Age and … Read more