Ontario Canada

Biography of Hon. Rupert Mearse Wells

Rupert Mearse Wells, a prominent member of the Toronto Bar, and well known as Speaker of the Provincial Parliament since January, 1873, is descended on the paternal side from an English family, members of which emigrated to America, and settled in the old town of Scituate, in the State of Rhode Island, towards the end of the 17th century. His great-grandfather, James Wells, came to Canada during the Revolutionary War. James Pendleton Wells, Esq., father of our subject, was born in Montreal in 1803. While still quite a young man he removed to Prescott County, Ontario, where he has resided … Read more

Biography of Alexander Pattullo, M.D.

Alexander Pattullo, for twenty-five years a practicing Physician and Surgeon in the town of Brampton was born on the 26th of March, 1830, in the township of Caledon, in the county of Peel. His father, James Pattullo, was a farmer in that township, and his grand father was Alexander Pattullo, at one time a corporal in the “Loyal Tay Fencibles,” under Colonel Anstruther, and afterwards of the Forfar and Kincardine Regiment, under the Hon. Archibald Douglas, and subsequently a non commissioned officer in the 42nd Highlanders, better known as the “Black Watch,” and saw much service prior to his emigration … Read more

Biography of Joseph Fleury

Joseph Fleury, the principal manufacturer in Aurora, and warden of the county of York, is a native of the same county, being born in the township of King, December 7, 1832. His father, Joseph Fleury, senior, a farmer of French descent, was also a native of Canada. His mother, who was Mary, Sipes, before her marriage, was likewise born in Canada. Joseph received an ordinary district school education; learned the blacksmith’s trade, and followed it about fifteen years, including a few years of the time that he was manufacturing plows, which business he commenced at Aurora, in 1859. The first … Read more

Biography of John Cook

John Cook, clerk of the Division Court for North York, is a son of John and Hannah (Winter) Cook, and was born in Portsmouth, England, March 5, 1817. He received a fair English education; at thirteen years of age went to sea; sailed for six years on the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Mediterranean Sea; crossed to Canada in 1836, and was for seven years on the fresh water lakes. In the rebellion of 1837-38 he was a volunteer; was at the Windmill, and was one of the men selected to reconnoitre by daylight around Navy Island, and was fired … Read more

Biography of George S. Herod, M.D.

George Samuel Herod, Guelph, the senior medical practitioner in Guelph, was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, May 8, 1827, being a son of Rev. George Herod, of the Primitive Methodist church. He was educated at private and boarding schools in Mansfield and Birmingham; in November, 1840, came to Canada; studied medicine in the University of Toronto; was licensed to practice in 1847, by the medical board of the Province, and after practicing a few years at Georgetown, Halton county; settled in Guelph in April, 1845. In his earlier years in his profession, Dr. Herod had many very hard rides. The … 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 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 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

Biographical Sketch of Edward D. Morton, M.D.

Edward David Morton, a very successful physician and surgeon, was born in the county of Wicklow, Ireland, June 18, 1835, his father being Francis Morton, a gentleman farmer. He was educated in the ordinary schools of his native country and by private tuition; came to Canada in 1856; studied medicine with his brother, George Dean Morton, M. D., Bradford; attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Toronto; was graduated in 1860, and after practicing two short years in company with his brother at Bradford, settled in Barrie, soon building up a lucrative practice. He has a large … Read more

Biography of David Stirton

David Stirton, Postmaster at Guelph, and son of James and Janet (Crichton) Stirton, pioneers in the Township of Guelph, County of Wellington, was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, June 13, 1816. His parents were both natives of that county, and in 1827 emigrated to Upper Canada, and settled on a bush farm five miles from where the City of Guelph now stands. At that time, fifty-three years ago, there was not an acre of the present site of Guelph cleared, nor a finished house, nor a road formed. It was simply a dense forest of hardwood timber. The father of our … 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 Hon. Adam Crooks, L. I. D., Q. C.

Honorable Adam Crooks, Minister of Education, and member of the Executive Council of Ontario, is a native of this Province, having been born in the Township of West Flamborough, on the 11th of December, 1827. He was a son of the Hon. James Crooks, at one time a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, also of the Legislative Council, and of United Canada. Through his mother, daughter of Thomas Cummings of Chippewa, Mr. Crooks is the grandson of a United Empire Loyalist, who left the State of New York upon American independence being established. The education of Mr. … Read more

Biography of Hon. David Reesor

The subject of this biographical notice is of German desent, his great-grandfather, Christian. Reesor, a Mennonite minister, going from Menheim to Pennsylvania, as the leader of a small colony, and settling in Lancaster County, where some of the family yet reside, the original homestead, a splendid farm of three hundred acres, being still in their hands. In 1801, the grandfather of our subject, Christian Reesor, junior, his father, Abraham Reesor, and three uncles, settled in Markham, county of York, where David Reesor was born on the 18th of January 1823. His mother was Anna Dettwiler, who was also from Lancaster … Read more

Biography of Hon. Malcolm Cameron

No citizen of Sarnia filled so large a place in the public eye while living as the Hon. Malcolm Cameron, and no one who has passed away is more affectionately and proudly remembered. This would be readily inferred from the marks of public confidence placed on him while in active life, and from the eulogies which yet linger on the tongues of his survivors, Malcolm Cameron was born at Three Rivers, Province of Quebec, April 25, 1808. He was the son of Angus Cameron and Euphemia (nee McGregor) Cameron, both natives of Scotland, the former of Argyleshire, the latter a … 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 Reuben Smith Hamlin

Reuben Smith Hamlin, one of the leading manufacturers in the County of Ontario, is a native of Madison County, N. Y., being born in the town of Fenner, July 12, 1827. His parents, Solomon and Lucinda (Stannard) Hamlin, belonged to the thrifty farming community of that county, and his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution. Our subject spent his youth on the farm, finished his education at the Cazenovia Seminary, in his native county, and for eighteen years was engaged in the patent medicine business, traveling, during that period, in all the New England and Middle States, in most … 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 Malcolm C. Cameron, M. P.

Malcolm Colin Cameron, who represents the electoral division of South Huron in the Dominion Parliament, has his residence at the “Maples,” in the Town of Goderich, the seat of justice of Huron county, bordering on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. It is one of the largest, most populous, and most wealthy counties in the Province. The land is prolific, the climate salubrious, and the people industrious and thrifty, and the inhabitants of South Huron have an able representative whom they are proud to keep in Parliament. Mr. Cameron was born in Perth, County of Lanark, Ont., April 12, 1831, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Chambers

Among the early settlers and prominent citizens of Smith’s Falls, may be numbered John McGill Chambers, known far and wide as Captain Chambers. He comes of United Empire Loyalist blood on both sides, his grandsires removing from the United States to Canada about the time of the American revolution. His parents were James and Mary (Thurber) Chambers, both born in the State of New York. The Chambers family was originally from Derry, north of Ireland. Our subjects birth is dated at Edwardsburg, county of Grenville, Ontario, August 20, 1805. He received a common English education; in 1832, became Captain of … Read more

Biography of James Gooderham

The subject of this sketch was the second son of William Gooderham, senior, whose sketch appears on another page, and was born in Norfolk, England, December 29, 1825. At the age of seven years he accompanied the other members of the family to Canada, and was educated in Toronto. He was always an earnest, thoughtful, and conscientious youth, and his mind was early imbued with serious thoughts of religion. It was when he was about sixteen years old and during a short residence at the village of Thornhill, that he became converted, and the event left its impress upon his … Read more