Ontario Canada

Biography of Rev. Alfred B. Demill

Alfred Byron Demill, founder of the Ladies’ College at Oshawa, dates his birth at Northport, Prince Edward county, Ontario, July 10, 1831. His father, Isaac Demill, a farmer, was also a native of this Province. His grandfather, Isaac Demill, senior, was a Loyalist during the American Revolution, and came from New York soon after the close of that war, settling in Northport. The family was from Germany. The mother of our subject was Amelia Mills, from Herkimer county, N.Y. Alfred was with his father on the farm, until fifteen years of age, and was subsequently in the tin, stove and … 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 Joseph Van Norman

Joseph Van Norman is a native of New Jersey, a son of John and Sarah (De Pue) Van Norman, and was born May 12, 1796. His mother was of Huguenot descent, her ancestors escaping from France at the time of the persecution of the Protestants. When he was a small boy the family emigrated to Canandaigua, in Western New York, where he received a moderate education, picked up some knowledge of the iron manufacturing business, and having a talent, as well as a natural taste, for mechanics, he built a small furnace, and operated it for two or three years; … Read more

Biography of Robert Thompson

The oldest settler in Guelph, still living here, is Robert Thompson. He first saw the site of the place in 1827, the year it was started; and has been a constant resident here since 1828; has witnessed the rise of log shanties, the laying of the foundation stone of the first two stone buildings, the first celebration of the King’s birthday, the roasting of the first and only ox, and the first May Fair, when three cows and one yoke of oxen constituted the whole “show.” Most of these scenes were witnessed in 1828, when our subject was twelve years … Read more

Biography of Francis T. Frost

Francis Theodore Frost, reeve of the village of Smith’s Falls, and warden of the county of Lanark, is a native of this place, and was born December 21, 1843. His parents, Ebenezer and Caroline (Harwood) Frost, were natives of Vermont, and moved from Canton, New York, to Smith’s Falls, in 1839, soon after the Rideau Canal was dug. Here they lived and are buried. In addition to the knowledge obtained in the public and grammar schools of Smith’s Falls, Francis spent one year at school in Coventry, Vermont, and one at the St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, New York. His father … Read more

Biography of John P. Wiser, M.P.

John Philip Wiser, member of Parliament from South Grenville, is a native of Oneida county, New York, dating his birth at Trenton, October 4, 1825. He is a son of Isaac J. Wiser, who settled in that county in 1809, and opened a farm in the dense forest. The grandfather of Isaac was aid to General Herkimer, at the battle of Oriskaney. The mother of our subject was Mary Egert, a native of Philadelphia, his parents on both sides being of remote German descent. He was educated in the common school of his native county, and at Hobart Hall Institute, … Read more

Biography of Samuel Noxon

Noxon Brothers Manufacturing Company, the most extensive industry in the manufacturing line at Ingersoll, is composed of five brothers, Freeman C., James, Samuel, Stephen, and Thomas H., sons of Samuel Noxon, senior, who was born and spent his days in the County of Prince Edward, Ontario, and grandson of James Noxon, a United Empire Loyalist from Duchess County, N. Y. The grandfather settled in Prince Edward at the close of the American Revolution. The mother of these five sons was Rhoda White. They received a business education in the public schools of their native county, James, the second son, adding … Read more

Biography of John Dewar

John Dewar, County Attorney and Clerk of the Peace, is a son of John and Emily (Knight) Dewar, both being Perthshire, Scotland, families. He was born in that County August 22, 1829, and before he was a year old the family immigrated to Canada, and settled on a farm in the Township of Esquesing, four miles from Milton. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common and grammar schools, and Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, where he spent a few term; studied law in Toronto with John McNab, at one time County Attorney, and Angus Morrison, ex-Mayor of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas B. McMahon

Thomas Babington McMahon, judge of the county of Norfolk, was born in the town of Dundas, county of Wentworth, Ont., June 15, 1837. His father, Hugh McMahon, many years a provincial land surveyor, was from Ireland. Judge McMahon was educated by his father, who was an English and classical scholar; studied law at Dundas and Brantford, and at the University of Toronto, and was graduated at that institution with the degree of LL.B., in 1862. He practiced in Brantford from that date until 1875, holding the office of Crown counsel three or four years, and conducting several criminal cases, one … Read more

Biography of George B. Smith

Among the younger wholesale houses in Toronto which are yearly growing in importance, and which, judging by their constantly increasing trade, are rivaling the old established firms in pushing business with energy, foresight and success, the importing dry goods house of Messrs. G. B. Smith and Henderson is deserving of mention in a work which treats of self made men. George Byron Smith, the senior member, very justly ranks in this class of citizens. He is a native of Ontario, and was born in the village of Newtonville, county of Durham, on the 7th of March, 1839. His paternal grandfather … 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 John Prain

John Prain, warden of the county of Wellington, is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and was born May 29, 1830, his parents being George and Ann (Sim) Frain. Frain is a rare name in Scotland, except in some parts of Perthshire and Forfarshire, it there being common. John was educated at a parish school in his native country; farmed until about twenty years of age; worked for a few years for a company engaged on public roads, and in the spring of 1858 came to Canada West, and settled in the township of Minto, four miles from Harriston, where he … 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

Biography of William I. Robinson

Mr. Raymond practiced his profession at Chippawa until the close of the rebellion in 1838, acting as a soldier during that exciting period, and then moved to St. Catharines, where he continued his practice and his connection with the military, being promoted, step by step, to a Captaincy in the 5th Lincoln, Lieut. Colonel John Clark, commander. From 1845 to 1853 he again resided in Chippawa; and returning to St. Catharines he remained there until the separation of the Counties of Lincoln and Welland in 1856, when he was appointed Clerk of the Peace for Welland, and removed to his … 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 Rev. Matthew W. Maclean, M.A.

Matthew Witherspoon Maclean, pastor of St. Andrew’s church, Belleville, was M born at Glasgow, Scotland, June 11, 1842. While studying at the University there, his father, who had filled several positions of trust and responsibility, died in the prime of life, after a long illness, leaving behind him little more than the heritage of an honest name. Our subject, notwithstanding, continued to attend college for a considerable time afterwards, holding a good position among his fellow students, taking the whole arts course, comprising classics, mathematics, and philosophy, and, passing the requisite examination before the established Presbytery of Glasgow, became a … Read more

Biography of Rev. John S. Clarke

John Stokes Clarke, Pastor of the Canada Methodist Church, Oshawa, and son of John and Rose (Stokes) Clarke, was born in the town of Clones, in the north of Ireland, February 8, 1833. His father was a merchant and Clerk of the Peace, the ancestors leaving England about the time of William III., the family holding various civic and important positions in the County of Monaghan, Ireland. Our subject received his literary education in the old country, his tutor being the Rev. William White, a Presbyterian Minister. In his seventeenth year he came to Canada West; studied Theology in the … Read more

Biography of John Gilchrist, M.D.

More than sixty years ago, John Gilchrist moved from New Hampshire into Upper Canada, and practiced his profession in Northumberland, Peterborough and Durham counties about forty years, educating meanwhile two of his younger brothers for the same profession. Thirty, forty and fifty years ago, he was one of the best known men in this part of the Province, and as widely esteemed as known. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Aiken) Gilchrist, who, at the time of his birth, February 5, 1792, were living in Bedford, N.H. His, father was a farmer and miller, and afterwards moved to … Read more

Biography of Thomas Hodgins, M.A.,Q.C.

he subject of this sketch is a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he was born on the 6th of October, 1828, being the fourth son of the late William Hodgins, Esq., of that city, and formerly of the County Wicklow. His mother’s maiden name was Frances Doyle, daughter of the late James Doyle, Esq., Newcastle, County Wicklow, Ireland. Mr. Hodgins was educated in his native city, and at Bristol, England; and in 1848 immigrated to Canada, coming to Toronto, where he entered the public service as a clerk in the Educational Department, In 1852, he matriculated in the University of … 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