Ontario Canada

Biography of George Graham

George Graham, County Treasurer of Peel, is a son of Thomas and Ann (Dixon) Graham, both from the north of Ireland, and was born in the City of Toronto, October 15, 1820. His father left Ireland in 1812, just in season to reach New York as war was declared between Great Britain and the United States, and he was obliged to remain there until the war was ended. In 1820 the father of our subject came into Upper Canada via Niagara, in a procession of twenty seven teams, the property of parties who had drawn land through the British Consul … Read more

Biography of Hon. Samuel H. Strong

Samuel Henry Strong is a native of Dorsetshire, Eng., and was born in 1825. His father, Rev. Samuel T. Strong, was at one time Rector of Bytown, now Ottawa. Our subject was educated in Ottawa and Toronto; was called to the Bar at Hilary term, 1849; practiced at Toronto, and soon distinguished himself as a Barrister. He was created a Queen’s Counsel in 1863; was elected a Bencher of the Law School of Upper Canada, in 1860, and was a member of the Commission for consolidating the Public General Statutes of Upper Canada and Canada respectively, from December 20, 1856, … 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 Lawrence Lawrason

In 1788, five years after the close of the Revolutionary War, Lawrence Lawrason, who was born in 1760, in the Province of New Jersey, then a British colony, emigrated to the Niagara district of Upper Canada, accompanied by his wife and Judge Nathaniel Pettit, her father, who was afterwards a member of the first Upper Canadian Parliament, which assembled in 1792 at Newark, now Niagara, then the capital of the Province. The family settled upon lands in the township of Ancaster, and had seven children, one of whom was Lawrence Lawrason, junior, the subject of this sketch, who was born … Read more

Biography of James Mitchell

James Mitchell, Deputy Clerk of the Crown and Pleas, and Registrar of the Surrogate Court, was born in the parish of Larbert, County of Stirling, Scotland, March 22, 1826. His father was James Mitchell, senior, M.D., a native of Lanarkshire, born in 1793; a graduate of the University of Glasgow, and a resident of the. County of Haldimand, from 1837 until his death in 1860. On his arrival in this country Dr. Mitchell purchased a bush farm in North Cayuga, and improved it, at the same time continuing the practice of his profession, being the first physician to settle in … Read more

Biography of James, T. Bell

James Thompson Bell, Clerk of the County of Hastings, and Professor of Mining and Agriculture, and Lecturer in Zoology in Albert University, Belleville, is a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and only son of Captain Wm. Bell, of H.B.M. Transport Service, and Mary his wife, née Henderson, his birth being dated January 8, 1811. On the Burgess Roll of Newcastle the name of the Bell family dates back for over 300 years. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Royal Grammar School of his native town, and assumed the profession of a private tutor at the early age of … Read more

Biography of John Burnham, MX.

The subject of this brief sketch is a son of Rev. Mark Burnham, and grandson of Zacheus Burnham, both of whom are elsewhere mentioned in this volume, and was born at St. Thomas, county of Elgin, Ontario, on the 3rd of December, 1842. He was educated at the grammar schools in Peterboro’ and Galt, at the latter town under Professor Tassie, now at the head of the Collegiate Institute at the same place; read law with Charles A. Weller, county attorney of Peterboro; was called to the Bar at Hilary term, 1865, and from that date has bee n in … Read more

Biography of Robert Beaty

The subject of this brief sketch is truly one of the representatives of the self made and successful business men of Toronto, and an eminent example of the rewards of industry and perseverance, when supported by upright and manly qualities. Robert Beaty, banker, broker, and real estate dealer, is a native Canadian of Irish descent, and was born at Ashdale Farm, township of Trafalgar, county of Halton, Ontario, on the 28th of July, 1824. His ancestors, parents, and items of interest relating thereto, will be found in the sketch of his brother, Mayor James Beaty, Jr., Q.C., D.C.L., which appears … Read more

Biography of John O’Donohoe

John O’Donohoe, barrister-at-law, and ex-member of the Dominion Parliament, justly occupies a prominent place in the foremost rank of those Irishmen, who, adopting Canada as their home, and closely identifying themselves with her manifold interests, have, through the exercise of industry, perseverance, and personal integrity, attained to considerable and well deserved eminence. He is fourth son of the late Malachy O’Donohoe and Margaret O’Neill, and was born at Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, in June, 1824. The family on the paternal side are a branch of the ancient family of the name known as O’Donohoe of the Glen, having their chief … 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. 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 Rufus M.P. Stephenson

Rufus Stephenson, member of the Dominion Parliament since the Dominion’s formed, representing the County of Kent; is a native of Springfield, Mass., dating his birth January 14th, 1835. His parents are Eli and Chloe (Chapin) Stephenson, his father being still alive, and in his 94th year. His mother is a descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, a Puritan who came to Roxbury (now in Boston) Mass., prior to 1640, and settled at Springfield, same State, in 1642. His descendants form one of the most numerous families in the United States, embracing many names of a national reputation. Among them are Hon. … Read more

Biography of James Hough

James Hough, a resident of Guelph since the first of June, 1836, and holding the offices of clerk of the County Court and deputy clerk of the Crown and Pleas, is a Derbyshire man, born July 4, 1804. His father was James Hough, senior, and his mother, before her marriage, was Mary Brooks. When he was about twelve years old the family moved to Nottingham, his father being a lace manufacturer. The son received a good English education; was apprenticed to the joiner and builder’s trade; worked at it in the old country until 1835, when he sailed for the … Read more

Biography of Joseph C. Woodruff

Among the prominent business men of Drurnmondville none stands higher than Joseph Clement Woodruff, an old citizen who has grown up with the town, and by doing a legitimate trade has won the confidence of the people. He belongs to one of the families that settled at an early day in the Niagara district, and was born at St. Davids, near Queenston, December 9, 1808. His father, Richard Woodruff, from New England, and at one time a member of the Upper Canada Parliament, was one of the first merchants at St. Davids, where he married Ann Clement, and had eight … Read more

Biography of John McCleod

The subject of this sketch is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was born on the 13th of September, 1816. His father, John MacLeod, senior, was a type founder, and foreman for years of the only foundry of that class in the City of Edinburgh. The family were from the Highlands. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Ann Gordon. He was educated in part in the common schools of Edinburgh and Inverness; in 1832 came to Nova Scotia, finished his literary studies at Pictou, and there read law; went to New York city, having the legal profession … Read more

Biography of John Doran

John Doran, stipendiary magistrate, registrar, and judge of the Division Court in the District of Nipissing, dates his birth at Perth, county of Lanark, Out., January 10, 1826. His parents were John Doran, senior, who came from Wexford, Ireland, alone, when quite young, and was a merchant at Perth; and Mary McGarry, who was from the county of West Meath, Ireland. His father died at Perth in 1850; his mother is still living, being in her 76th year. Judge Doran was educated in the Perth grammar school; at an early age became a clerk in his father’s store, holding that … Read more

Biography of Sir Charles K.Tupper, C.M.G., C.B., M.D.

Sir Charles Tupper, Minister of Railways and Canals, and member of Parliament for Cumberland, Nova Scotia, is descended from a family originally from Hesse Cassel, and which settled on the isle of Guernsey, going thence to Virginia, long prior to the outbreak of the American colonies. At the close of that war the family being loyalists, moved to Nova Scotia, where members of it continue to reside. It is connected with Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, K.B., who fell, bravely fighting, at Queenston, in October 1812. Our subject was born at Amherst, county of Cumberland, N.S., on the 2nd of July … Read more

Biography of Robert Henry

Robert Henry, ex-mayor of the city of Brantford, and a leading business man here of the younger class, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, November 30, 1844. His father is John Henry, a carpenter and contractor; his mother, Jane Dow, both Scotch. He was educated in the parish schools of Perthshire until nine years of age, came with the family to Canada West in 1853; finished his studies in the Brantford public schools; when in his twelfth year entered the new stationery and news store of Andrew Hudson; was with him three years, and then became an apprentice to the grocery … Read more

Biography of George Hilliard, M.P.

George Hilliard, lumber merchant and manufacturer, and member of Parliament for the west riding of the county of Peterboro,’ is a native of the county of Dundas, Ontario, and was born at Morrisburg, on the 28th of May, 1826. The family went into Great Britain from Normandy with William the Conqueror. Christopher Hilliard, the father of our subject, was a native of Ireland, born the 25th December, 1789, at Tralee, county of Kerry. He had three brothers, all of whom, with himself, obtained commissions in the army. William, the eldest brother, had a commission in the 63rd regiment; Robert, the … Read more

Biography of Louis Breithaupt

Louis Breithaupt, mayor of Berlin, and one of the most successful business men in the town, was a son of Liborius and Catherine (Goetze) Breithaupt, and born in Allendorf, Kurhessen, Germany, on the 8th November, 1827. He received a common German education; partially learning his father’s business, that of a tanner, in the old country, and in November, 1843, came with the family to the United States, settling in Buffalo, N. Y., the next spring. There they built a small tannery on Seneca street, at the ” Hydraulics,” making it of slabs, and commencing to tan sheep skins on a … Read more