Ontario Canada

Biography of John Creasor

John Creasor, twenty-five years a Barrister at Owen Sound, is a native of the County of Simcoe, being born near Barrie, January 21, 1833. He is a son of John Creasor, senior, farmer, and subsequently Division Court Bailiff, and Margaret nee Anderson. His father was from Yorkshire, England; his mother from Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated at the Barrie Grammar School; commenced studying law at Barrie with Hon. James Patton, and finished at Toronto with the late Judge Cooper; was called to the Bar at Michaelmas Term, 1854; soon afterwards settled in Owen Sound, and has here been in general … Read more

Biography of Francis L. Walsh

One of the oldest “land marks” in the County of Norfolk, is Francis Legh Walsh, who was born in Hartford County, Maryland, March 12, 1789. The branch of the Walsh family from which he sprang, went from Wales to Ireland centuries ago, with the forces that subjected that country under Strongbow. The progenitor in America, the grandfather of Francis, came from the County of Tyrone, Ireland, during the first half of the eighteenth century, settling in Philadelphia. The parents of our subject were Thomas and Mary (Mitchell) Walsh, the mother being of English descent. Thomas Walsh was a United Empire … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Robertson

Samuel Robertson, banker, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, dating his birth, March 31, 1831. His father, James Robertson, was a weaver in that city, and his grandfather had to flee from Scotland to Ireland at one time on account of political troubles. The mother of Samuel was Marion Harvie, also Scotch. In May, 1841, the family came to Upper Canada, and our subject went on the farm of Henry Widdefield, three miles from Newmarket, where he spent between one and two years, doing chores, and attending school three months; spent two and a half years in the village of … Read more

Biography of Alexander R. Stephen, M. D.

Alexander Richard Stephen, the pioneer Physician and Surgeon, at Collingwood is a grandson of Alexander Stephen, author of “Memoirs of John Horne Tooke,” and several biographies and obituaries, and son of Thomas Stephen, an Ensign in the First Regiment of Foot or Royal Scots at the battle of Waterloo, and was born at Tunbridge-Wells, Kent, England, February 24, 1827. His father was wounded at the battle of Waterloo, and the son has the original letter sent to his father, containing a remittance of twenty-five pounds, called ” blood money,” presented to him on account of the wound received. He has … 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 George Keefer

George Keefer, grandson of a loyalist during the American revolution, and son of George Keefer, senior, who was from Essex County, N. Y., was born half a mile north of where he now lives, February 25, 1799. This country was then a dense forest, with here and there a small opening, where an enterprising frontiersman had begun to make a farm. The father of our subject received 300 acres of land from the British Government, and most of that land is now embraced in the corporation of Thorold. George Keefer, senior, was originally a carpenter by trade; became a merchant … Read more

Biography of William R. Meredith

William Ralph Meredith, who represents the City of London in the Ontario Legislature, is a native of Middlesex County, in this Province, and was born in the Township of Westminster, March 31, 1840. His father, John Cooke Meredith, born in the City of Dublin, Ireland, and there graduated at Trinity College, is Clerk of the Division Court for the County of Middlesex. His mother, before her marriage, was Sarah Pegler. Our subject was educated in the London Grammar School and the University of Toronto, being graduated from the law department of the latter institution, and called to the Bar at … Read more

Biography of Abram William Lauder, M. P. P.

Abram William Lauder, Member of the Provincial Parliament for East Grey, is a native of England, and was horn at Bewcastle on the 6th of June, 1834, son of the late Thomas D. Lauder, Esq., of Durham, Ont., and grandson of the Rev. William Lauder, late of Bewcastle, Cumberland, Eng., one of the most popular preachers of his time in the border counties. A collateral ancestor was one of the claimants for the Roxburgh Estates in 1812. His mother was of an English family named Forrester. Came to Canada with the rest of the family in 1855, and spent the … Read more

Biography of Joseph Cawthra

Joseph Cawthra, Manager of the Newmarket Branch of the Federal Bank of Canada, is a descendant of an old prominent family in the County of York. His grandfather, Joseph Cawthra, a native of England, settled in Toronto, about the beginning of, the present century; was a druggist at first, then a general merchant; became one of the heaviest importers in Upper Canada, and died one of the richest men in the Province. John Cawthra, father of our subject, came from England with his father when about eight years old; settled in Newmarket, about 1822, and was a prominent man here … Read more

Dixon, Ida Cornwall – Obituary

Mrs. Ida Dixon, wife of John Dixon, deceased, died last night at the emergency hospital of pneumonia after a lingering illness died October 26, 1918 Mrs. Dixon was born in Ontario, Canada, November 3, 1871, where she lived until she was brought to this city by her parents. She was married to John Dixon in December 1891, who died about a year ago She is survived by two children, Myrtle Dixon, who is very ill at present, and Archie Dixon and her father, H. D. Cornwall, all of Ellensburg The Women’s Relief Corps, of which she was a member, were … Read more

Biography of Hammel M. Deroche

Hammel Madden Doroche, a member of the Provincial Parliament for upwards of eight years, dates his birth at Newburgh, county of Addington, August 27th, 1840. His father Pascal Deroche, a French Canadian, was born in Lower Canada; his mother whose maiden name was Elizabeth Jane Madden, is a descendant of a family of United Empire Loyalists, who left the United States about the time of the Revolution. Both parents are still living. He was educated at the Newburgh grammar school and in the art department of the University of Toronto, having graduated in 1868, as prize speaker, and with first-class … Read more

Biography of Alexander Samuel Abbott

In the Dominion of Canada when a man is appointed to a municipal or judicial office, he is usually allowed to remain in such office if he chooses to, during good behavior or life. Hence it is not an uncommon thing to find a man who has held a town, city, or county office twenty years or more sometimes more than thirty years. The subject of this sketch is one of that class of worthy officials, whom the public like to retain in the municipality of the city because of his faithfulness and his assiduous endeavors to serve the people. … Read more

Biography of James A. Macpherson

James Albert Macpherson, mayor of the town of Kincardine, and the leading solicitor of the place, was born in the town of Perth, county of Lanark, October 10, 1843. His father is Malcolm Macpherson, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, born June 1, 1806, coming to Canada in the summer of 1815, with his parents. The family were on the ocean when the victory at Waterloo occurred, June 18th. The grandfather of our subject settled where Perth now stands, and felled the first tree on its site. Malcolm Macpherson was reared there; learned the carpenter and joiner’s trade; built half the … Read more

Biography of James M. Wallace, M.D.

Dr. James Maclaren Wallace, medical superintendent of the Hamilton Insane Asylum, was born February 5, 1837, at Kirkintilloch, a place situated about six miles from Glasgow, Scotland. He is a son of Robert Wallace, a merchant and manufacturer, and Margaret nee MacLaren. His primary education was derived from the parish school in his native place, afterwards attending the grammar school, in Glasgow, passing thence to the University, where after passing a course of medical study he took the diploma in 1859. Very soon thereafter the Dr. left Scotland, and spent about a year in practice in the north of England. … 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 William Furby

One of the oldest journalists in the county of Durham, or this part of the Province of Ontario, is William Furby, a native of Bridlington, Yorkshire, England, and a son of John Furby, a school teacher, who, during the winter season, made a specialty of instructing sailors in navigation. Our subject was born September 5, 1799, and at the time of preparing this sketch is in his 80th year. He was educated by his father; learned the printer’s and cabinetmaker’s trade; in 1819 crossed the Atlantic ocean, and spent five or six years with an older brother, Robert Furby, at … Read more

Biography of James G. Cranston, M.D.

James Goldie Cranston, the leading physician and surgeon at Arnprior, was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., March 21, 1837. His parents were William and Jane (Goldie) Cranston, both from Roxborough, Scotland. His mother died in the State of New York, and when he was eight years old, his father, with two daughters and three sons, came to Canada West, and settled in Haldimand County, where he died in 1855. Dr. Cranston finished his education in the arts at the Grammar School in Toronto; entered the Toronto Medical School, then under the presidency of Dr. Rolph, spending two … Read more

Biography of James Stratton

James Stratton, Collector of Customs at Peterborough, and for years a prominent journalist, is a native of the County of Armagh, Ireland, dating his birth May 22, 1830. His parents were Robert and Mary (McElwain) Stratton; his paternal ancestors were originally from Cornwall, England; his mother was a native of Scotland. Robert Stratton was a linen merchant, the calling of the family for at least two or three generations farther back. Our subject was educated principally in the public schools of his native county, and in the County of Durham, Canada West; he coming to this country when only fifteen … Read more

Biography of Lieut-Col. James Moffat

James Moffat, Lieutenant Colonel and Brigade Major No. 1 Military District, Ontario, dates his birth at Lanark, Scotland, December 16, 1820, his parents being James and Rachel (Harrower) Moffat. He received a fair business education, farmed in his early youth, learned a trade, and, in 1841, immigrated to the New World, working at his trade nearly two years, in New York City, and a short time in Lockport, same State. In 1844, he found his way into Canada, tarrying a little time in Toronto, and, in 1845, settling in London, which has been his home since that date. He early … Read more

Biography of Hon. Oliver Mowat, Q.C., L.L.D.

Oliver Mowat, member of the Ontario Legislature for North Oxford, and Premier and Attorney-General of the Province; was born in Kingston, Ont., July 22,1820. His father was John Mowat, from Canisby, Caithness-shire, Scotland, a soldier in the British army during the campaign in Portugal and Spain, under Lord Wellington, coming to Canada in 1816, and settling at Kingston, where he died in 1860. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Helen Levack, of Caithness-shire. Professor Mowat, of Queen’s University, Kingston, is a brother of our subject, who was educated in that city, and commenced the study of the law there … Read more