Canada

Biography of Liut.-Col. John M. Gibson

John Morison Gibson, Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario, representing the city of Hamilton, is son of the late William Gibson, of the township of Toronto, farmer, who came to this country in 1827, from Glamis, Forfarshire, Scotland, and who married Mary Sinclair, whose family belong to the township of Nelson, in the county of Halton, and cousin of the late David Gibson, of Yonge Street, near Toronto, who formerly represented North York in the old Parliament of Canada, and who was prominently associated with W. Lyon Mackenzie in the troubles of 1837. He was born on the 1st … Read more

Biography of Henry Macpherson

The subject of this biographical notice, Judge of the County of Grey, and Surrogate Judge of the Maritime Courts, is a grandson of Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Macpherson, who had command of the Fort at Kingston at the commencement of the war of 1812, and was removed to Quebec, where he remained until the close of the war in 1814. Donald Macpherson was the son of Evan Macpherson, of Cluny, Chief of the Clan Macpherson, who joined Prince Charles with his Clan in 1745. Henry is a son of Lowther P. Macpherson, barrister, who was born in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, … Read more

Biography of Peter White, M.P.

Peter White, son of Peter White, senior, was born at Pembroke, county of Renfrew, on the 30th of August, 1838. His father was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, born December 31, 17 94; at fourteen years of age went to sea, and during the war with the United States, in 1812-14, was on a British vessel, fighting on the American lakes, remaining connected with the service until the close of that contest, and then concluding to make his home in this country. He commenced lumbering on the Ottawa river, below where Pembroke now stands, and in 1828 moved to this … Read more

Biography of William Henry Waller

The Wallers now found in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, are all descendants of the Waller who came to England, from Normandy, with William the Conqueror in 1066. The subject of this sketch is a direct descendant of Richard Waller, of Groombridge, who went to Ireland in 1641, thus being of Norman-Irish extraction. He left two sons. The elder, Richard Waller of Cully, County of Tipperary, married Elizabeth Redmund, and, dying in 1701, was succeeded by his eldest son, Edmund Waller, who, dying without issue, in 1711, was succeeded by his brother, William Waller, of Cully. The latter … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Hossie

John Hossie, sheriff of the county of Perth, is a native of the Province of Ontario, being born in the township of Moore, county of Lambton, July 5, 1836. His father, Andrew Hossie, a farmer, was from Scotland, and his mother, whose maiden name was Janet Wilson, was from the same country. Young Hossie received a common school education; farmed till fourteen years old, and then became a clerk in a store at Bayfield. In 1856 he entered the sheriff’s office at Stratford to take a similar position; became bailiff a few years later, then deputy-sheriff, and was appointed sheriff … Read more

Biography of Hon. Donald, A. Macdonald

Aside from being for many years a prominent public character, and one who has filled many offices of trust and emolument, with honor and credit to himself and his native province, the subject of this sketch is deserving of a conspicuous place in this volume, as an eminent example of a man who has successfully fought his way from a comparatively small beginning, to his present high position, by the employment of his own resources, and almost wholly relying upon integrity of purpose and the indomitable energy bequeathed him from his Highland forefathers. The Hon. Donald Alexander Macdonald, Lieutenant-Governor of … Read more

Biography of Hon. J. Sandfield Macdonald

Descended from an old Highland family which had early settled in Glengarry, Ontario, John Sandfield Macdonald was born at St. Raphael’s, December 12, 1812. A sketch of his younger brother, Hon. D. A. Macdonald, Lieut.-Governor, appears on another page in this volume. The younger days of the subject of this sketch were tinged with a spice of romance. Early chafing under the restraints of paternal control, he made several ineffectual attempts to escape from home. Finally, after a brief experience in merchandising, he was induced, by a lawyer who had become interested in him, to begin the study of law. … Read more

Biography of William Bucking

William Buckingham, late Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada, was born in Crediton, Devonshire, England, being a son of Robert and Jane (Ellis) Buckingham, both natives of the same county. When about twenty years of age he removed to Yorkshire, and became shorthand reporter for the Halifax Guardian. In 1857 Mr. Buckingham came to Toronto, Canada, and took a position as Parliamentary reporter on the Toronto Globe. Two years later, in company with William Coldwell, he established the Nor Wester at Fort Garry, the first newspaper published in what has since become the Province of Manitoba. Shortly afterwards … Read more

Biography of Thomas M. Nairn, M. P. P.

Thomas Macintyre Nairn, son of James and Agnes (Macintyre) Nairn, dates his birth at Balloch, at the foot of Loch Lomond, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, June 16, 1830. His father was a builder and contractor. Thomas attended public schools until thirteen years old; was connected with his father’s office for about two years, and then spent five years in the office of a writer and land agent in Dumbarton, there receiving a practical business training, which has since been of very great value to him. In May, 1850, Mr. Nairn started for the Western World; spent a short time as a clerk … Read more

Biography of Hon. George Crawford

The Late George Crawford, who was in the Parliament of Upper Canada, a member of the Legislative Council of Canada, and of the Senate of the Dominion, was born about 1795 in the county of Leitrim, Ireland, his father being Patrick Crawford, a farmer. His mother was Miss Jane Manse, of the county of Sligo, same country. He received only an ordinary English education; was in business for himself as a cloth merchant until 1820, when he left the “Emerald Isle,” came to Canada and halted at Trafalgar, county of Halton, Ontario. After farming there a few seasons, he removed … Read more

Biography of Frederick Earl of Dufferin Temple, K.P., K.C.B.

Among the men of high distinction whose names are associated with the Dominion, and who have added impulse to its progress, the Right Honorable Sir Frederick Temple holds an eminent place. Before the appointment of Lord Dufferin to the administration of Canadian affairs, there had been at different times confided to him many important trusts, all of which were honored with a large measure of success. He had also rendered valuable service to his Sovereign in foreign countries; but his labors were so quietly performed, and all his movements in the execution of his work were so free from ostentation, … Read more

Biography of Rev. Charles J. S. Bethune, M. A.

Rev. Charles James Stewart Bethune, Head Master Of Trinity College School, Port Hope, and a noted Entomologist, as well as English and classical scholar, was born at West Flamboro’, Ontario, August 11, 1838, being a son of the late Lord Bishop of Toronto, whose sketch is in preceding pages. He was educated at Upper Canada College, and Trinity College, Toronto, graduating B.A. in 1859, with first class classical honors, and honorary fourth in mathematics, and M.A. in 1861. He was ordained Deacon the same year, and Priest in 1862, by the Bishop of Toronto. Between the latter year and 1866 … Read more

Biography of William Bannerman, M.P.

The subject of this notice, the member of Parliament for South Renfrew, is of full Scotch blood on both sides of the family, being a son of Thomas and Barbara (McCoy) Bannerman, and born in the parish of Kildonan, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, on the 5th of November, 1841. His father was a seafaring man, and after the son had received a fair drill in a parish school, he served an apprenticeship at the same business. Not caring to continue this precarious aquatic life any longer, in the autumn of 1857, our subject came to Canada West, and for seven years was … Read more

Biography of Robert Simpson

Robert Simpson, the first mayor of the town of Barrie, and many years a prominent man in the municipalities of the town and county, is a native of Yorkshire, England, being born in Salton, March 16, 1817. His father, John Simpson, who was a yeoman, was from Fifeshire; his mother, Mary (Richardson) Simpson, was English. Robert received a parish school education; farmed in the old country until 1835; then emigrated to Upper Canada; attended school one winter after learning the brewing business at Newmarket; carried on that business for himself at Kempenfeldt, three miles from Barrie, about two years, when … Read more

Biography of Hon. Sir William Buell Richards, K. T.

The late Chief Justice of the Dominion of Canada is descended from a family that left Staffordshire, England, in the early part of the 18th century, and settled at Norwich, Conn. Our subject was the eldest son of Stephen Richards, of Brockville, Ontario, the mother being Phoebe, daughter of William Buell, a United Empire Loyalist and an officer in the “King’s Rangers,” who represented Leeds in the Upper Canada Assembly, from 1801 to 1804, and was born in Brockville, May 2, 1815. He was educated at the Johnstown Grammar School, and at Potsdam Academy, N.Y.; read law with Andrew Norton … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David S. Bowlby, M.D.

David Sovereign Bowlby, the leading physician and surgeon in Berlin, is a son of Adam Bowlby, whose sketch appears in this volume, and Elizabeth, nee Sovereign, and was born in Townsend, county of Norfolk; September 5, 1826. He received his literary education in Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto; studied his profession at first in the Toronto School of Medicine, and then in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York city, receiving the degree of M.D. at the former institution in 1852, and at the latter in 1853. He is one of the most thoroughly educated … Read more

Biography of Hon. Robert Lyon

Robert Lyon, one of the judges for the county of Carleton, born July 6, 1829, is a son of the late George Lyon, a native of Scotland, an officer in the British army, and one of the founders of the town of Richmond, which was named for the duke of Richmond, then Governor-General of Upper Canada. It was made a military settlement, and Mr. Lyon cut the first tree there when it was decided to start a town. That was a few years before the birth of our subject, who was educated in the common schools of the village of … Read more

Biography of Hon. William A. Henry

William Alexander Henry, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the Dominion, is a son of Robert N. Henry, merchant, holding a variety of local offices, and was born in Halifax, N. S., December 30, 1816. His mother was Margaret Hendriken. He received his education in the Government High School in his native city; studied law there with Hon. Alexander McDougall; was called to the Bar of Nova Scotia in November, 1840, and practiced first at Antigonish, and then at Halifax. From the very start it became evident that he had talents of no ordinary stamp, and that … Read more

Biography of John Henry Wilson, M.D.

John Henry Wilson has been for many years one of the best known men in the county of Elgin. He was born near the city of Ottawa on the 14th of February, 1833. His father, the late Jeremiah Wilson, was a native of Vermont. His grandfather was an United Empire Loyalist, and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. In 1835 the family removed to the township of Westminster, county of Middlesex. The homestead is on the London and Port Stanley Road, and in one of the richest farming districts of the Province. Here young Henry attended the common school, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Home Lizars

Daniel Home Lizars, Judge of the County of Perth, is a son of Daniel and Robina (Hutcheson) Lizars, and was born in the County of Renfrewshire, Scotland, February 11, 1822. When he was eleven years of age the family immigrated to Canada, and settled at Goderich, County of Huron, the father of our subject subsequently holding the office of Clerk of the Peace in that county for several years, dying in March, 1876. The son was educated in the Goderich Grammar School; studied law in that town with John Strachan; was called to the Bar at Hilary term in 1853; … Read more