Canada

Biography of James Hough

James Hough, a resident of Guelph since the first of June, 1836, and holding the offices of clerk of the County Court and deputy clerk of the Crown and Pleas, is a Derbyshire man, born July 4, 1804. His father was James Hough, senior, and his mother, before her marriage, was Mary Brooks. When he was about twelve years old the family moved to Nottingham, his father being a lace manufacturer. The son received a good English education; was apprenticed to the joiner and builder’s trade; worked at it in the old country until 1835, when he sailed for the … Read more

Biography of Alexander Meiklejohn

Alexander Meiklejohn, first reeve of the village of Harriston, first mayor of the town, and its oldest merchant, was born on the field of Bannockburn, near Stirling, Scotland, April 3rd, 1830, his parents being John and Janet (Muirhead) Meiklejohn. He was educated at a parish school; served apprenticeship to the grocery trade; in 1851, when of age, came to Canada; clerked two years in a grocery store at Toronto; went to Stratford, and was in a store one year with U. C. Lee, then went to Carrenbrook (now Dublin), in same county, and had charge of a branch store for … Read more

Biography of Frank Tyrrell

One of the best representatives of the legal profession in the county of Dundas, Ontario, is Frank Tyrrell, a young man who has risen with great rapidity since he became, an attorney and was called to the Bar, and who is successful in every branch of his profession. He was born in the township of Williamsburg (which includes Morrisburg), October 6, 1845, his parents being Francis and Mary (Plantz) Tyrrell, members of the agricultural class. His father came from Ireland about 1835, and settled in this country, and died in 1861. His mother, who is of German descent, is still … Read more

Biography of William J. Parkhill, M.P.P.

Willaim James Parkhill, the member of the Provincial Parliament for South William is a son of Matthew and Margaret Parkhill, dating his birth in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, November 27, 1839. His mother is still living in the old country; his father died between thirty and forty years ago. His mental drill in youth was limited to a common school; he was employed at farming until sixteen years old; in 1855, came to Canada; worked two years in a saw mill at Pine Grove, township of Vaughan, county of York; then removed to the township of King, in the … Read more

Biography of Walter Lambert, M.D.

Walter Lambert, mayor, and the oldest and most prominent medical practitioner in Amherstburg, his birth taking place on the 10th of April, 1832, in the township of Niagara, Ontario. His father, Robert Lambert, a farmer, was the son of Cornelius Lambert, one of the United Empire Loyalists, belonging to “Butler’s Rangers,” and living in New Jersey at the time of the Rebellion of the American Colonies. Walter spent his younger years exclusively in study. After receiving a grammar school education, he studied medicine with Dr. Theophilus Mack, of St. Catharines; attended lectures in the Medical Department of Trinity College, Toronto, … Read more

Biography of Peter R. Shaver, M.D.

Peter Rolph Shaver, one of the leading physicians in the county of Perth, and a county coroner, was born near Hamilton, Ontario, July 27, 1829. His grandfather, a United Empire Loyalist, from Pennsylvania, was in the war of the colonies, and his father, John Shaver, a native of the county of Wentworth, was in the war of 1812-14, and the rebellion of 1837-38. The mother of Peter was Catharine Hess. He received most of his literary education at Victoria College, Cobourg, where he spent three years in study in the department of arts; and subsequently gave four years to medical … Read more

Biography of Henry W. Day, M.D.

Henry Wright Day, son of Calvin W. Day, a farmer, and Elizabeth Wright, his wife, was born in the township and near the city of Kingston, Ontario, September 6,1831. His ancestors were United Empire Loyalists, his great-grandfather, Barnabas Day, once living on the present site of the city of New York. Near the close of the American revolution, this ancestor came to Upper Canada, selected Government lands four miles west of the present site of Kingston, on the Lake shore; then returned to New York State and brought his family in a canoe from Sackett’s Harbor. Barnabas Day, junior, grandfather … Read more

Biography of William Tassie, LLD.

William Tassie, one of the most successful educators in Western Ontario, is a native of Dublin, Ireland, dating his birth May 10, 1815. His father, James Tassie, an Engineer and Contractor, descended from a Scotch family that went to Ireland about a century ago; and his mother, whose maiden name was Mary Stewart, was also a descendant of a family which made a similar migration a little earlier. She belonged to the Garth family. Our subject spent his boyhood in study in his native city; in 1834 came with the family to Upper Canada, and taught and continued his studies … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles S. Hutchinson

Charles Hutchinson, County Crown Attorney, since 1858, a Son of Francis Hutchinson, a Physician and Surgeon, and Frances nee Losh, and was born at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, June 22, 1826. His grandfather, Charles Hutchinson, from whom he was named, was an officer in the East India Company’s service, there spending his life. Our subject was educated in the Royal Grammar School of his native town; came to London, Ontario, in 1846, and the next year was articled to Henry C. R. Becher, barrister; was called to the Bar at Michaelmas Term, 1852; was a partner of Mr. Becher for … Read more

Biography of Henry Michie

Henry Michie, the oldest merchant in Fergus, and one of the leading citizens of the place, was born in the parish of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, November 18, 1825. His father, James Michie, who was a farmer for many years, is still living, being about ninety years old. The mother, whose maiden name was Sophia Stuart, died a few years ago. Henry was educated at a parish school, and while securing his education, which was mainly during the winter season, he worked at farming, and as shepherd, teaching, also, two or three terms. In 1846 he came to Canada, and spent several … Read more

Biography of James Beaty, Jr.,Q.C., D.C.L.

The subject of this sketch, Mayor of Toronto for 1879 and 1880, was born at Ashdale Farm, township of Trafalgar, County of Halton, on the 10th of November; 1831. His father, John Beaty, emigrated from the County of Cavan, Ireland, to Canada, and engaged in agriculture, residing at Ashdale Farm for over fifty years. He died at the age of eighty years, in 1870. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Stewart, and early in the present century, while still a young woman, she came with her father, George Stewart, from Bundoran, Ireland, to New York. Mr. Stewart, after accumulating … Read more

Biography of Stanley Scott, M.D.

Stanley Scott, one of the leading physicians in Newmarket, is a son of Charles and Mary (Hodge) Scott, and was born in Whitby, county of Ontario, January 29, 1839. His father, who was a native of Lower Canada, is living in the town of Whitby his home for nearly fifty years, and is a man much respected. His grandfather was in the army under Wellington, and died when past eighty years of age. Our subject was educated in the common and high schools of Whitby; studied medicine with Dr. Bradford Patterson of that town; attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Saunders

James Saunders, reeve of the village of Paisley, and postmaster, is:a son of Robert and Jane (Wynn) Saunders, and was born in. the township of Beckwith, County of Lanark, Ontario, March 14, 1839. His parents came from Kilkenny, Ireland. James was reared on a farm; finished his education in the Normal School, at Toronto; received a first-class Provincial certificate when twenty years of age, and taught between twelve and thirteen years, all but part of a year, in the County of Bruce, and more than half the time in Paisley. During the period that he was thus engaged, he spent … Read more

Biography of John George Hodgins, M.S.,LL.D.,F.R.G.S.

With the single exception of Dr. Ryerson there is no other who has had as much to do with the development of the educational systems of Ontario as Dr. Hodgins. For nearly forty years he has been at the helm of the educational ship, and while all agree (and none more heartily than the subject of this sketch) that to his great captain, Dr. Ryerson, the credit is mainly due, it is certain that the perseverance, the faithfulness, and especially the administrative ability of Dr. Hodgins contributed very largely to the triumphant success which they so harmoniously accomplished. John George … Read more

Biography of Andrew Elliott

Andrew Elliott, a pioneer manufacturer of woolen cloths in Ontario, hails from Dumfriesshire, Scotland, his birth being dated April 3, 1809. His father, William Elliott, was a farmer under the Duke of Buccleuch. The maiden name of his mother was Jane Jardine. Both parents died in the old country at a good old age. He was partly educated, by a private teacher at home, until ten years old, and since eleven has “paddled his own canoe.” He worked a while with a farmer; was clerk in a store a few years; and in 1834 came to Canada, locating at Galt, … Read more

Biography of John Philp, M.D.

John Philp, the leading physician and surgeon in Listowel, and the first person ever licensed to practice here, was born in Cobourg, in this Province, November 24, 1838. His father, Rev. Samuel C. Philp, senior, a Canada Methodist minister, was from Cornwall, England, preached many years in the circuit, and is still living, his home being at Prince Albert, Ontario. His mother was Mary Collins, also English. She died at Frankford, County of Hastings, in 1872. Our subject finished his literary studies at Victoria College, in his native town; studied medicine with Dr. James A. Whiting, of Berlin; attended lectures … Read more

Biography of John H. Sangster, M.A.,M.D.

John Herbert Sangster, many years a prominent educator, and now one of the leading physicians and surgeons in western Ontario, is a native of London, England, dating his birth March 26, 1831. His grandfather, Alexander Sangster, was an officer in the British army, and served under Wellington in the Peninsular war; and his father, John Alexander Sangster, is a farmer, who married Jane Hayes, and emigrated to the United States in 1832, locating in the city of New York. In 1837 the family removed to Toronto, where our subject was educated in Upper Canada College and subsequently in the University … Read more

Biography of Rev. Edward B. Ryckman, D.D.

Edward Bradshaw Ryckman, pastor of the First Methodist Church, Brantford, is 4 of United Empire Loyalist stock on both sides, his paternal grandfather coming to Canada from Duchess county, New York, and his maternal grandfather from New Jersey, the Ryckmans settling at first in Picton, on the Bay of Quinte, where Abraham W. Ryckman, the father of our subject was born. In 1812 the family came to Flamboro’ West, where, on a farm near Hamilton, Edward first saw the light of day, March 22, 1830. The maiden name of his mother was Margaret Bradshaw, whose mother was a Vanderlip, she … Read more

Biography of Larratt W. Smith, D.C.L.

Jarratt William Smith, of Summerhill, Yonge street, in the county of York, barrister-at-law, of Osgoode Hall, Toronto, was born at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, England, on the 29th day of November, 1820. His father, Larratt Smith, Esq., in early life received a commission in the Royal Artillery, but subsequently entered the Field Train department on its organization, and rose to the head of it, and was for many years previous to, and during, the war of 1812 with the United States, and subsequently, stationed at Quebec in charge of the whole department in Canada, as chief commissary. After … Read more

Biography of Robert Armour

Robert Armour, Registrar of the West Riding of Durham, is a native of Donne, Perth. shire, Scotland, dating his birth March 10, 1818, his parents being Samuel and Margaret (Douglas) Armour. The Armours were Huguenots, driven from France in the times of Catholic persecution. His mother’s branch of the Douglas family descended in a direct line from “Black Douglas,” who figures conspicuously in Scottish history. In 1820, the father of our. subject, with his family, emigrated to Canada in company with the father of Sir John Alexander Macdonald, and one or two other families from the same part of Scotland, … Read more