Ontario Canada

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 Alexander Scott

Alexander Forsyth Scott, Judge of the County of Peel, is a native of this county, and is living on the same lot on which he was born, July 1, 1828. His father, John Scott, was a manufacturer in Scotland, coming to Canada about 1817, living for a few years in the Township of Dumfries, near where Galt now stands, and then settled on land in that part of the Township of Chinguacousy where Brampton has since risen, here farming until his demise in 1853, The mother of our subject was Mary nee Lynch, a native of Vermont. She was the … Read more

Biography of Henry Carlisle

Henry Carlisle, Mayor of the City of St. Catharines, and a resident of the Niagara district since 1837, dates his birth at Whitby, Yorkshire, England, May 9, 1820. His father, George Carlisle, a pianoforte manufacturer, and his mother, whose maiden name was Ann Walker, were natives of the same county. His mother is still living, being in her 80th year; her residence, Montreal. His father died in 1856 at Stamford. Our subject was educated at a private school; worked a short time at the tailor trade in the old country; in 1837 came to Upper Canada; spent a short time … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Francis

Charles Francis, the leading barrister at Trenton, and a member of the county council, is a native of this place, and was born January 22, 1838. His father, Robert Francis, a native of Ireland, came to Canada, with his wife and older children, about 1835. Having a contract on the St. Lawrence canal, he moved his family for a short time to St. Anne’s, Province of Quebec. A little later the family removed to Huntington, county of Hastings, Ontario, returning to Trenton in 1850. Robert Francis was a member of the town council of Trenton until his death in December, … Read more

Biography of James Gillespie

James Gillespie, second son of James and Jane (Montgomery) Gillespie was born in James Ontario, January 6, 1824. Both parents were from Belfast, Ireland. His father was a baker by trade, and often changed his residence, living at different places in this Province and in the State of New York, settling in Picton in 1831, where James obtained such mental discipline, as the local schools of that period furnished. He worked with his father until fifteen years old; then learned the trade of a cabinet maker, and followed that business for himself until 1860, when he became a grocer and … Read more

Biography of Hon. William H. Draper, C. B.

William Henry Draper, late Chief Justice, who died at his residence in Yorkville, on the 3rd of November, 1877, was a native of Surrey, England, born March 11, 1801. In his youth he went to sea, and, as we learn from the Canada Law Reporter, showed the stuff he was made of, “when, alone at his post, a young cadet, he defended it from mutineers until assistance came, felling one of his assailants dead at his feet with a blow from a handspike, his only weapon.” At the age of nineteen he abandoned a seafaring life, and came to Canada, … Read more

Biography of George A. Clement

Soon after the close of the American revolution, several families of the name of Clement, being United Empire Loyalists, moved into British Provinces. The names of two of them, both Lewis Clement, are mentioned in Sabine’s “Loyalists,” though neither of them settled in Upper Canada. Another man of that name, John Putman Clement, of German descent, an officer on the royal side in the war of the revolution, and born in the District of New York, July 21, 1759, came from the Mohawk Valley, and settled in the township of Niagara, and married Mary Ball, who had thirteen children. He … Read more

Biography of Hon. David Christie

Senator Christie, son of Robert Christie, of the Christies of Durie, Fifeshire, Scotland, was born in Edinburgh, in October, 1818. His mother was Jean McGeorge, daughter of Rev. William McGeorge, minister of Mid-Calder, near Edinburgh, and granddaughter of Rev. John Hepburn, mentioned in Scotch church history. He was educated in the high school, Edinburgh; came to Canada in 1833, with his father, and after living twenty-five years in South Dumfries, removed to the township of Brantford, having been long engaged extensively in farming and stock raising. He has been a member of the Board of Agriculture and of the Council … Read more

Biography of Dixie Watson

Dixie Watson, clerk of the Division Court, dates his birth in the township of Westminster, adjoining London, Out., November 14, 1842. His father, Dixie Watson, senior, was a barrister, one of the first members of the profession in Huron county, and a member of the first town council of Goderich, where he died in 1856. The mother of our subject was Charlotte Williams, daughter of Judge Rowland Williams, of the London District. She died in 1868. In 1845, the family moved to Goderich, where young Dixie received a grammar school education, and studied law with Mr. John Bell Gordon, purposing, … Read more

Biography of David D. Hay, M.P.P.

David Donalson Hay, member of the Ontario Parliament for North Perth, was born in Brought Ferry, near Dundee, Scotland, January 20, 1828. His father was Robert Hay, a contractor and superintendent of works, and belonged to an old Scotch family. His mother’s maiden name was Catharine McKiddie. He received a good English education including mathematics, at parish and private schools; at sixteen years of age crossed the Atlantic ocean to try his fortune in the new world, being alone and depending on his own resources. After spending a few months in a mercantile house in the City of Montreal, came … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Simpson

John Simpson, Senator, was a son of John Simpson, senior, who came from Scotland in 1815, and settled at first on the “Scotch Line” in the county of Lanark, subsequently removing to Brockville. The family in the old country county of Forfarshire were largely traders, builders, and physicians, our subject being a second cousin of the celebrated James Simpson, so eminent in surgery. Mr. Simpson was born at Rothes, near Elgin, Scotland, on the 12th of May,1812, his mother being Margaret Petrie Simpson, a native of the town of Elgin. He received a common school education; when between twelve and … Read more

Biography of Henry Cunningham

Henry Cunningham, son of James Cunningham, farmer, and Margaret Ward, was born in the County of Monaghan, Ireland. He is descended from a Cunningham family that went from England about the time of the commotion connected with the Common wealth. Henry received a common school education; at fifteen years of age became a clerk in a hardware store at Monaghan, being apprentice for five years; then became a salesman; in 1852 went to Manchester, England, and in 1856 crossed the ocean and settled in Kingston. The next year he went into business with Edwin Chown, they purchasing the interest of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Livingston

James Livingston, member of the Ontario Legislature, and a prominent manufacturer, was born in. Fast Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland, November 29, 1838. His father, Peter Livingston, was a weaver by trade, dying in the old country; and his mother was Barbara Bright; she died in Listowel, Ontario. James received a parish school education; worked at weaving until seventeen years of age; came to the county of Perth, Ontario, in 1856; worked one year at farming in the township of Mornington; then came to Conestogo, county of Waterloo, and commenced work for Messrs. M. B. and J. S. Perine, flax growers, being … Read more

Biography of James Fraser

James Fraser, is a son of the late Col. Alexander Fraser, formerly of the 49th regiment, and afterwards of the New Brunswick “Fencibles,” was born at Perth, county of Lanark, April 23, 1825. His father took an active part in the war with the United States, in 1812-14, and fought against General Scott, at Queenston Heights and Stony Creek, distinguishing himself especially at the latter place. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Perth grammar school; left there at twenty years of age; settled at Bytown, now the city of Ottawa, and first had an appointment with Messrs. … Read more

Biography of George McDonald

George McDonald, the first merchant in Clifford, and the leading business man of the place, was born in the county of Peel, June 14, 1835. His parents, John and Catharine (McDougall) McDonald, were from Argyleshire, Scotland, his father being a builder and contractor. His mother died when he was one year old. Partly on account of this loss, George received quite limited school privileges in his youth, but subsequently attended night schools, and acquired a fair knowledge of the elementary branches. He worked on his father’s farm until fourteen years of age, then spent four years at Brampton, in learning … Read more

Biography of George Elliott

George Elliott, formerly one of the leading merchants in Guelph, and largely indent , fled with its municipal history, is a native of Rochester, county of Kent, England, dating his birth February 27, 1819. His father, George Elliott, senior, a country gentleman, was descendant from an ancient Scottish family; his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Moulden, descended from an old Kentish family. Our subject received a good education, including the mathematics and classics; came to Canada with the family in the autumn of 1832; was in business in Toronto and Cincinnati, Ohio, for several years; came to Guelph in … Read more

Biography of Patrick Whelihan

Patrick Whelihan, Registrar of the South Riding of the County of Perth, was born in the County of Tipperary, Ireland, April 23, 1832. His father, James Whelihan, a farmer and land agent, died when the son was two years old, leaving the widowed mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth D’Arcy, with a family of eleven children, of whom he was the tenth child. He was brought up on a farm until sixteen years old, receiving, meanwhile, a national school education. In 1848 the family came to America, landing at New Orleans, La., where the mother and an older brother caught … Read more

Biography of Right Rev. Alexander N. Bethune, D. D., D. C. L.

Alexander N. Bethune, late Bishop of Toronto, was a son of the Rev. John. Bethune, Chaplain to the British forces, who settled in the County of Glengarry, Ontario, and that vicinity, and was born in the Village of Williamstown, in that county, August 28, 1800. That part of the Province was originally settled by United Empire Loyalists, most of who had fought for King George in the struggle of the American Colonies for independence, and were obliged to leave the United States at the close of the war, in 1783. The subject of this sketch was partly educated at the … Read more

Biography of Thomas H. Wright

Thomas Henry Wright, treasurer of Essex county, was born in Colchester, in the same county, and in the Province of Ontario, on the 19th of July, 1816. His father, Henry Wright, was a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1786, and was the third son in a family of eight children. He came with his father’s family by land route to Detroit, in 1796, and crossed thence into Canada. There being no roads or settlements for most of the distance at that time, the goods and persons of the family were carried on the backs of pack horses. The family … Read more

Biography of J. G. Worts

An historical record of the eminent and successful men of the Province of Ontario would most assuredly be incomplete, without a sketch of the members of this firm. Few men have been so intimately connected with, and interested in the development of Ontario, and more especially that part of it embraced in the City of Toronto, than Mr. William Gooderham and Mr. J. G. Worts. From the following extract from an article, published in 1877, in the Montreal Gazette, an approximate idea may be formed of the commercial importance of the firm: “The active season of this firm’s business is … Read more