Canada

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 Col. Adiel Sherwood

Adiel Sherwood, who was born near Montreal, May 16, 1779, and died in Brockville, March 25, 1874, was for many years a leading man in the County of Leeds, having been Sheriff of Leeds and Grenville from June 30, 1829, till his resignation of the office in 1864, and held the responsible office of Treasurer of the Counties from 1814 till 1842. His father, Thomas Sherwood, was a subaltern officer in one of the Provincial Corps in Lower Canada, under Sir John Johnson, and was stationed at St. John’s, twenty-five miles from Montreal, where he and his family resided until … Read more

Biography of Arthur Meighen

Arthur Meighen, many years a prominent business man in Perth, and now deceased, was born near the City of Londonderry, Ireland, in December, 1826. In 1839, having lost his father, he came to Perth, County of Lanark, clerked awhile in a store, and in 1848 went into business for himself. He traded alone until 1867, when he associated with him two younger brothers, William and Robert Meighen, who are still in business here, and among the leading commercial men of the town. He died on the 30th of May, 1874. As a merchant and general business man, Mr. Meighen was … Read more

Biography of Rev. Joseph E. Sanderson, M.A.,

Joseph Edward Sanderson, Governor of Ontario Ladies’ College, Whitby, a descendant of an old English family, was born in Toronto, January 13, 1830. His father, John Sanderson, shortly after his arrival from England in 1820, purchased twelve acres on Yonge street, built a cottage and planted an elm tree in front, which gave name to “Elm Cottage” and Elm Street, and remained, until a few years ago, a marked memento of early beginnings in “York.” In 1822, he married Miss Margaret Crawford, then recently arrived from the County of Tyrone, Ireland. After a time they disposed of the city farm … Read more

Biography of Henry Cunningham

Henry Cunningham, son of James Cunningham, farmer, and Margaret Ward, was born in the County of Monaghan, Ireland. He is descended from a Cunningham family that went from England about the time of the commotion connected with the Common wealth. Henry received a common school education; at fifteen years of age became a clerk in a hardware store at Monaghan, being apprentice for five years; then became a salesman; in 1852 went to Manchester, England, and in 1856 crossed the ocean and settled in Kingston. The next year he went into business with Edwin Chown, they purchasing the interest of … Read more

Biography of Hon. Alexander Vidal

Hon. Alexander Vidal, Senator, is a descendant of a family originally from Spain, removing thence to England in the 18th century. He is a son of Capt. Richard Emeric Vidal of the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Penrose nee Mitton, and was born in Berkshire, England, on the 4th of August, 1819. He was educated at the Royal Mathematical School, Christ’s Hospital, London; accompanied his father to Upper Canada in 1834; settled in Sarnia the next year; practiced the profession of a Provincial Land. Surveyor from 1843 to 1852; was Manager of the Sarnia branch of the Bank of Upper Canada, … Read more

Biography of Thomas N. and William H. Gibbs

Thomas N and William Henry Gibbs are sons of Thomas and Caroline (Tate) Gibbs, who emigrated from Kingsbridge, Devonshire, England, in 1819, and settled at Terrebonne, Province of Quebec, where both of the sons mentioned were born, Thomas Nicholson, March 11, 1821, and William Henry, November 29, 1823. In 1832 the family removed to Oshawa, where the father of our subjects engaged in the grain and flour trade, dying here in July, 1871. They are cousins of Frederick W. Gibbs, C. B., formerly tutor to the Prince of Wales. Thomas N. Gibbs was educated in England; and since his return … Read more

Biography of Robert J. Gunn, M.D.

Robert John Gunn, thirty-seven years a Physician and Surgeon in Whitby, was born in the parish of Watten, County of Caithness, Scotland, February 14, 1815, his father being Rev. Alexander Gunn, a Minister of the Kirk of Scotland, and his mother, Elizabeth nee Arthur. His maternal grandfather, Robert Arthur, was also a Minister of the same denomination. Robert was educated at a private school and at the University of Edinburgh; studied medicine in that city; became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; practiced two years at Thurso, in his native county; in the autumn of 1842 … Read more

Biography of John Page

The subject of this sketch, the Chief Engineer to the Department of Public Works, is a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, where he first saw the light of this world, on the 9th July, 1816. His father was John Page, a contractor. He received his early mental training in the University of Glasgow, not, however, completing the full college course. He was bred an engineer, and, before leaving his native land, served a while as Engineer of the Northern Lighthouse Board, under Robert Stephenson. Mr. Page crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1838, and was engaged for four years on the Erie … Read more

Biography of Matthew Sweetnam

For more than a quarter of a century the subject of this sketch has been intimately identified with the Postal System of Ontario, and during that time he has given such evidence of possessing high executive abilities and business qualifications as entitle him to a place in this record of eminent and self made men of this Province. Matthew Sweetnam, Post Office Inspector of the District of Toronto, as we are informed by that book, “The Irishman in Canada,” is of Irish descent, and first saw the light of day in Little York, now Toronto, on the 17th of October, … Read more

Biography of William Russell

William Russell, Manager of the Manufactory of Gurney, Russell and Co., of Dundas, was born in the Township of Ancaster, within one mile of Dundas, May 18, 1837. His father, John Russell, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, coming to Canada in 1835. His mother, whose maiden name was Janet Smillie, was also from Scotland. When William was a small child the family moved to another part of Ancaster, eight miles from Dundas, where our subject aided his father in clearing two farms in the dense forest, in what is now known as the “Scotch Block,” picking up, meanwhile, such knowledge … Read more

Biography of James S. Thorburn, M.D.

Dr. James Thorburn, is a native of Canada, and was born on the 21st day of November, 1830, at Queenston, Ontario. The names of his parents were David Thorburn and Isabel nee Thompson. Mr. Thorburn came from Scotland to this country, where he engaged for many years in merchandising, He also entered politics and became a prominent and influential leader of the Reform Party, holding various positions of honor and trust: For about sixteen years he sat for the Counties of Welland and Lincoln in the old Canadian Parliament, in which body he took a leading and active part during … Read more

Biography of Hon. Thomas Galt

The subject of this sketch, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Ontario, is worthy a place in these annals, aside from his distinction as an eminent Judge, as an old settler in Toronto, having resided there continuously since 1833. He is a native of London, England, and was born August 12th, 1815. He is descended from an old Scotch family, and some of his ancestors were well known men of eminence in their day. His father was John Galt, Esq., whose name many will recognize as that of a well known and popular novelist. Some of his … Read more

Biography of David Glass, Q.C

David Glass born on the 20th July, 1829, at the township of Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Province of Ontario. His parents are from the North of Ireland. He is a brother of Sheriff-Glass, mentioned in a preceding sketch of this volume. At the age of sixteen he, in partnership with his brother William, opened a branch of the grain business, in which their father had for many years been engaged. At eighteen, having accumulated some money, he dissolved partnership with his brother, and for about a year attended the grammar school (of which Benjamin Bagley, M. A., was … Read more

Biography of Nathan Choate

One of the highest authorities on agricultural and horticultural matters in the Township of Hope, is Nathan Choate, many years a member of the Council of Agriculture in the Province of Ontario. He is a son of Jacob Choate, farmer and lumber merchant, who was born in the Shaker town of Enfield, N. H., moved to Glandford, Upper Canada, in 1798, and a little later to the Township of Hamilton, County of Northumberland, where our subject was born, March 9, 1805. Seven years later the family removed to the Township of Hope, County of Durham. Nathan picked up such an … Read more

Biography of Thomas C. Patteson

Thomas Charles Patteson, Postmaster of Toronto, is a native of Patney, Wilt shire, England, where he was born on the 5th of October, 1836. He is the son of Rev. Thomas Patteson, and Rose Sewell Deane, his wife, and nephew of Rt. Hon. Sir John Patteson, a Judge of the Queen’s Bench, and afterwards on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Judge Patteson was father of John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia, who was murdered by the natives in 1870. Mr. T. C. Patteson was educated in England, being a Ring’s scholar at Eton, and captain of his division. … Read more

Biography of Andrew H. Baird

Andrew Hugh Baird, Mayor of Paris for the last three years, is a son of Nicol Hugh Baird, Civil Engineer, and Mary Telfer nee White, and was born in Montreal, March 1st, 1834. Both parents were from Scotland. His father spent some time in Russia, as a Civil Engineer, coming to Lower Canada three or four years before Andrew was born. The latter was educated in private; at fourteen years of age left Montreal for Paris, where he became a clerk for Charles Whitlaw, the leading flour and grain dealer in that town. While the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway … Read more

Biography of Daniel Mackenzie

One of the oldest and most substantial merchants in Sarnia, county of Lambton, is Daniel Mackenzie, who has been in business here more than thirty years, and has weathered every financial storm. He is a native of the village of Campbelltown, parish of Ardersier, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and was born on the 4th of March, 1828. His parents were John and Margaret (Cameron) Mackenzie, his father being a druggist. Both families, were military. Daniel received a parish school education; lost his father about 1833, and in 1843 came to Canada with his mother and two sisters locating at London, where he … Read more

Biography of Rev. Micail Boomer, LL.D.

Dean Boomer, son of George Boomer, a linen manufacturer of Huguenot descent, and Mary Knox, of Scotch ancestry, was born at Hill Hall, near Lisburn, County of Down, Ireland, January 1, 1810. The name was originally spelt Bulmer, and the progenitor of the family in Ireland was Rene Bulmer, who with his wife fled from France about the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and settled at Lambeg, in a house now called the Priory. The name was finally changed from Rene Bulmer to Rainey Boomer. An interesting anecdote is told of him in the Ulster Journal … Read more

Biography of James Brown

One of the oldest settlers in Western Ontario, now living, is JamEs Brown, the first Mayor of Kincardine. He was born in Nova Scotia, October 15, 1797, and hence is in his 83rd year. His father, Alexander Brown, came from the City of Perth, Scotland, and was at one time chief engineer of the King’s Works at Halifax, dying when James was three years old. In 1811 our subject, in company with four families, started for Upper Canada, going by boat from Maine to New York; and drove a team for Elias Moore from Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to the County … Read more