Ontario Canada

Biography of Thomas Kennedy

Thomas Kennedy. The door of opportunity is everywhere opened to the man of enterprise. The most characteristic industry in the State of Kansas was built up by a young machinist who came to Galena nearly thirty years ago and somewhat later established a factory for the manufacture of perforated metals. The Thomas Kennedy Company of Galens is the only concern of its kind west of the Mississippi River as far as the Pacific Coast. Mr. Kennedy created in his own mind the idea for the machines that are now at work in his plant. He realized the need of perforated … 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 John S. Larke

John Short Larke, editor and proprietor of The Oshawa Vindicator, an old and strong Conservative paper, is a native of Lancelles, Cornwall, dating his birth May 28, 1840. His ancestors, who belonged to the yeomanry of that part of England, were originally from Scotland, his parents being Charles and Grace (Yeo) Larke. When he was four years old the family emigrated to Canada West, settling near Oshawa, his father farming awhile, and then becoming a miller, being now still alive. The mother of John died in 1878, while on a visit to England. After passing through the grammar school of … 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 Major Andrew Patton

The Late Andrew Patton, Major in the 45th Regt., was descended from a military race, his father and grandfather having been Colonels in the British Army. Major Patton was born at Clatto, near St. Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland in 1771, and while comparatively young, and at school in France, received a commission as Ensign in the 6th Regiment, of which his father was Colonel. In 1794 he was appointed to a Lieutenancy in the 10th Regt., and in 1798 to a Captaincy in the 92nd, or Gordon Highlanders; in the last mentioned year he was also made A. D. C. to … Read more

Biography of John W. Loucks

John W. Loucks, clerk of the Division Court, is a son of William Loucks, a United Empire Loyalist, from the State of New York, settling in the county of Stormont, Ontario, soon after the American Revolution, and afterwards purchasing land in the township of Williamsburg, county of Dundas, where he died at a great age in 1863. There our subject was born May 15, 1796, and reared a farmer with very few opportunities for acquiring an education. At sixteen, when the second war with the United States opened, he enlisted in the Provincial cavalry; was at the battle of Crysler’s … Read more

Biography of Peter A. McDougald

Peter Archibald McDougald, mayor of Oakville for the last six years, was born at Port Glasgow, township of Alboro’, county of Elgin, January 4, 1823. His father, John McDougald, a native of Scotland, came to Canada in 1817, and was a farmer in that county, and also held the office of postmaster a long time, dying in 1858. The mother of Peter was Sarah Campbell, who was born and reared within eighty rods of the seat of the Duke of Argyle, Inveraray, she coming to Canada in 1817, and dying in 1864. She was the mother of eight children, our … Read more

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 Rev. Alexander Campbell

The trite saying “Truth is stranger than fiction” finds its fulfillment in the life of the Rev. Alexander Campbell, who was born in a log cabin in the Province of Quebec, three miles from any house, and nine miles from a settlement. His parents were puritanical enough to believe in work as a means of living in “Honesty as the best policy,” and in religion as essential to success in life. Hence his father, a farmer and a sturdy Presbyterian, taught his boys not only the “Decrees of God and His eternal Purposes,” but also the use of the spade, … Read more

Biography of John Sweetland, M. D.

John Sweetland, son of Simon and Jane (Norris) Sweetland, dates his birth at the City of Kingston, Ontario, August 15, 1835. He is a descendant of the Sweetlands of Exeter, Devonshire, England. He was educated at Queen’s College in his native city, and was graduated from its medical department in 1858. He opened an office at Pakenham, County of Lanark, Ont.; practiced there for eight years, and in 1866 removed to the capital of the Dominion, which has since been his home, and where he has an extensive practice in the several branches of his profession. Since entering the practice … Read more

Ransier, John Carl – Obituary

Wallowa County, Oregon Imnaha Rancher Dies Suddenly John Carl Ransier, a ranch superintendent who was employed on the Bentson ranch on the Imnaha, passed away Thursday, December 31, 1964 while at work in the feedlot. He had been in ill health for ten years. Funeral services, arranged by the Bollman Funeral Home were Tuesday in Garfield, Wash., with burial in the Garfield cemetery. He was born October 20, 1903 in Ontario, Canada, son of Samuel and Margaret Ransier and had lived in Oregon for the past 20 years. He had lived in Wallowa County for one year. He was a … Read more

Biography of Hon. James Skead

Among the eminently successful business men of Ottawa is James Skead, lumberman, who almost, in a literal sense, hewed his way to fortune through the dense forests of Canada, as a brief sketch of his life will show. He was born on January 31, 1816, near Moresby Hall, Cumberland, England. His father, William Skead, was born in Scotland. The Skeads are a race of agriculturists and gardeners, William Skead being classed among the number. The mother of our subject was Mary Selkirk, who was also of Scotch descent. She died before James was nine years old, having taught him to … Read more

Biography of Samuel Smith Mcdonell

A person happening to go into the Court room at Sandwich, in court time, will find the usual array of legal gentlemen looking after the interests of clients, and engaged in sharp encounter for the defense of their rights. The Ontario Bar, as represented here, embraces members who would be an ornament to the profession anywhere; men both wise to counsel and gifted in forensic display. Among the foremost and busiest of those in Windsor, who own allegiance to that “austere mistress,” the law, and who may justly be claimed as an ornament to the Bar, is Samuel Smith Macdonell, … Read more

Tuscarora Indians

Tuscarora Tribe, Tuscarora Confederacy: From their own name Skǎ-ru’-rěn, signifying according to Hewitt (in Hodge, 1910), “hemp gatherers,” and applied on account of the great use they made of Apocynum cannabinum. Also called: Ă-ko-t’ǎs’-kǎ-to’-rěn Mohawk name. Ani’-Skǎlǎ’lǐ, Cherokee name. Ă-t’ǎs-kǎ-lo’-lěn, Oneida name. Tewohomomy (or Keew-ahomomy), Saponi name. Tuscarora Connections. The Tuscarora belonged to the Iroquoian linguistic family. Tuscarora Location. On the Roanoke, Tar, Pamlico, and Neuse Rivers. (See also Pennsylvania and New York.) Tuscarora Subdivisions. The Tuscarora should be considered a confederacy with three tribes or a tribe with three subtribes as follows: Kǎ’tě’nu’ā’kā’, “People of the submerged pine tree”; … Read more

Biography of Robert Noble

This well known citizen of Reynolds, Owyhee county, is one of the largest sheep-raisers in Idaho and has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in the state. His efforts have therefore been of public benefit, for the improvement of stock adds to its market value, and the wealth of the agricultural class is thereby augmented. The rich pasture lands of the northwest provide excellent opportunities to the stock-raiser, and this industry has become a most important one in the commercial interests of Idaho. Mr. Noble, one of its leading representatives, is of English birth, a native … 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

Biography of Rev. William Williams

William Williams, pastor of the Norfolk Street Methodist Church, Guelph, dates his birth, in Stonehouse, Devonshire, England, January 23, 1836, his parents being William and Margaret Williams. His mother was a daughter of Robert Pearse, of Cornwall, member of a numerous Methodist family in that place. Mr. Mark Guy Pearse, author of “Daniel Quorn,” and other works, is a member of the family, and Rev. William Burgess, deceased, was connected with it by marriage. In 1842, William Williams, senior, brought his family to Canada, settled in Toronto, and was there engaged in mercantile pursuits, being still alive, and residing near … Read more

Biography of Daniel O’Connor

Among the earlier class of families that settled in Ottawa (then known as Bytown), was that of Daniel O’Connor, senior, who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1796. He was possessed of considerable scholastic attainments, his parents, being in comfortable circumstances, having intended him for the clerical profession. Like many more of a literary turn of mind, Mr. O’Connor kept a journal through life, and being permitted to peruse it, we are in a position to give correctly his early life and history. Not feeling the necessary disposition to comply with his parents wishes, he was allowed to follow his … Read more

Biography of Chief Justice Robert Alexander Harrison

Honorable Robert Alexander Harrison, Q.C., D.C.L., and Chief Justice of Ontario, was a native of Montreal, where he was born on the 3rd of August, 1833. His parents were, Richard Harrison, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and Frances Hall, of Newtownbutler, County of Fermanagh. They immigrated to Canada soon after their marriage, and settled first at Markham, but afterwards removed to Toronto. Mr. Harrison received his education first at Upper Canada College. Received from University of Toronto the degree of B.C.L., and afterwards had degree of D.C.L. conferred upon him; began the study of law with Messrs. Robinson and … 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