Ontario Canada

Biography of Alexander Workman

The oldest iron merchant in Ottawa is Alexander Workman, a native of Lisburn, county of Antrim, Ireland, where he was born May 28, 1798. His father was Joseph Workman, who emigrated to America when a young man, and was a mathematical teacher in an institution in Philadelphia a few years, and then returned to his native place, and married Catharine Gowdey. Young Workman received his education at an institution which has since become Belfast College, and when about seventeen became a clerk in an iron store. In April, 1820, he came to America, landing at Quebec; and proceeding westward to … 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 James McMahon, M.D. M.P.P.

James McMahon, member of the Ontario Legislature, is a native of Dundas, being born here July 1, 1830. His father Hugh McMahon, many years a Provincial Surveyor, was from the County of Cavan, north of Ireland; and his mother, whose maiden name was Ann McGovern, was also from that county. James was educated by his father, who was a classical scholar; at fifteen years of age commenced to study medicine with Dr. James Mitchell, of Dundas; attended lectures in the medical department of the University of Toronto; became a Licentiate of the Medical Board of Upper Canada, and received the … Read more

Biography of James Dickson

James Dickson, registrar of the county of Huron, and a pioneer in the county, is a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and was born on the 26th of May, 1816. His father, Archibald Dickson, was the youngest son of Robert Dickson, farmer of Gladswood, near Dryburgh, on the River Tweed. His mother, Elizabeth Rutherford Turnbull, was the eldest daughter of James Turnbull, an enterprising and leading farmer in Teviotdale. Mr. Dickson, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the Jedburgh grammar school, and his education there was supplemented by one term at the Edinburgh University. In August, 1833, he with … 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 Thomas Jull

The subject of this brief notice is a descendant of a family of English agriculturists, and dates his birth in the County of Kent, February 17, 1817. His parents were Henry and Harriet (Farris) Jull. The name is not very common either in England or Canada; there are few families of that name in this Province. Thomas received an ordinary English education; did some farming with his father in boy hood; learned the trade of a millwright, and then abandoned it; in the autumn of 1835, left his fatherland; came to Trafalgar, in the County of Halton, and farmed and … Read more

Biography of Pierre St. Jean, M. D.

Pierre St. Jean, a native of Bytown (Ottawa), and now one of the oldest residents of this City, was born September 22, 1834, his parents being Sylvain St. Jean and Elizabeth, nee Causabon. His father, who settled in Bytown in about 1832, was from St. Sulpice, L’Assomption, Province of Quebec, and died at Ottawa in 1867. His maternal great grand-father was a French military officer. The subject of this biographical notice was educated at the Ottawa College; commenced the study of medicine in 1850; obtained his degree of M. D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (New Victoria College), … Read more

Biography of Henry Mittleberger

Henry Mittleberger, an early settler in St. Catharines, was born in Montreal, January 20, 1802. His father, John Mittleberger, a German by descent, and a Royalist, left Philadelphia for Canada, prior to the outbreak of the colonies in 1775. In 1817 Henry, came into the Niagara district, and four years later, at the request of William H. Merritt, came to St. Catharines to take charge of the post office, Mr. Merritt being postmaster at that time. A few years afterwards Mr. Mittleberger became a merchant, and also, in a short time a banker, being, at first, agent for the City … Read more

Biography of Alexander P. Cockburn, M. P.

Few men now living in Ontario have done more, by tongue, pen, and purse, to aid in bringing settlers into this Province, than Alexander Peter Cockburn, Member of Parliament for Muskoka. He is a son of Peter Cockburn, who left Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1815, and settled at Finch, Stormont County, Ont., where the son was born April 7, 1837. His mother was Mary McMillan, of Invernesshire, Scotland. He was educated in his native place, and was in the mercantile and lumber business with his father, until 1866, acting a small part of his time as Reeve of Eldon, County of … 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 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 William A. Willoughby, M.D.,

The subject of this sketch is a descendant of that branch of the Willoughby family that went from Somersetshire, England, to Ireland, about the time of Cromwell, his father George H. Willoughby, coming to Canada, and settling ona farm in the Township of Essa, County of Simcoe, about 1837. There William Armson Willoughby was born, February 2, 1844, his mother, before her marriage, being Sarah Armson. She died at Elmwood, Illinois, in 1866. George H. Willoughby is now living with his son in Colborne. Our subject received a grammar school education at Bradford, County of Simcoe; studied medicine with Dr. … Read more

Biography of William McGill, M.D.

The life history of William McGill, while in many respects very like that of many others, 1. is yet marked by a resolute determination, and will power that entitles it to a most careful consideration. He is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and was born December 20, 1814. His father, George McGill, was a jeweler and watch maker in the old country, emigrating to Upper Canada when William was a youth, and settling on a farm in the township of Whitby, near where Oshawa now stands. The mother of our subject, before her marriage, was Elizabeth Dick. Dr. McGill was … Read more

Biography of Archdeacon Lauder

John Strutt Lauder, Rector of Christ church, is descended from an old Scotch family, some of whose members emigrated to Ireland, two or three centuries ago. He was born in the town of Moate, county of West Meath, Ireland, March 22, 1829, his parents being Thomas Bernard and Harriet (Gilland) Lauder. His father was a Captain in the 11th regiment of Her Majesty’s army. The subject of this short sketch came to Canada in 1849; was educated at Trinity College, Toronto, where he graduated B.A., and M.A.; was ordained Deacon by Bishop Strachan, of Toronto, October 2, 1853, and priest … Read more

Biography of Col. Walker Powell

Colonel Walker Powell, Adjutant-General of Militia at Head-Quarters, for the Dominion of Canada, is of Welsh descent on his father’s side, and English on his mother’s. His paternal grandfather, a United Empire Loyalist, was born in the then Province of New York, in 1763, and at the Revolution adhered to the side of Great Britain. Afterwards, about the year 1783, removing to New Brunswick, he married Ruth Wood, on Long Island River, St. John, in 1784, and took up his permanent residence in the County of Norfolk, Upper Canada, in 1797, where he died in 1849. Our subject is the … Read more

Biography of Hon. Alexander Vidal

Hon. Alexander Vidal, Senator, is a descendant of a family originally from Spain, removing thence to England in the 18th century. He is a son of Capt. Richard Emeric Vidal of the Royal Navy, and Charlotte Penrose nee Mitton, and was born in Berkshire, England, on the 4th of August, 1819. He was educated at the Royal Mathematical School, Christ’s Hospital, London; accompanied his father to Upper Canada in 1834; settled in Sarnia the next year; practiced the profession of a Provincial Land. Surveyor from 1843 to 1852; was Manager of the Sarnia branch of the Bank of Upper Canada, … Read more

Biography of William Graveley

William Graveley, son of John Graveley, surgeon, and Martha Locock, cousin of Sir Charles Locock, physician to the Queen, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 17, 1814. In 1819, the family came to Canada, and settled in Quebec, and there the father died four years afterwards. William received a commercial education, spent two or three years in a merchant’s counting room, and leaving Quebec in 1831, settled at Cobourg, and has been a resident of this place from that date. Here he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, J. Vance Boswell, and was a mercantile trader until 1865, and was … 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 Thomas Benson

The subject of this sketch, one of the most public spirited and energetic men that ever lived in Port Hope, was Thomas Benson, son of James and Ann (Robinson) Benson, of Fintona, County of Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born January 11, 1804. The family came to America in 1816; settled at first at Lansingburgh, N. Y., three years later removed to Kingston, Upper Canada, and there James Benson died December 24, 1828, his widow dying at St. Catharines, August 30, 1854. They had a family of ten children, of whom only four are now living. Hon. James Rea Benson, … Read more

Biography of James S. Thorburn, M.D.

Dr. James Thorburn, is a native of Canada, and was born on the 21st day of November, 1830, at Queenston, Ontario. The names of his parents were David Thorburn and Isabel nee Thompson. Mr. Thorburn came from Scotland to this country, where he engaged for many years in merchandising, He also entered politics and became a prominent and influential leader of the Reform Party, holding various positions of honor and trust: For about sixteen years he sat for the Counties of Welland and Lincoln in the old Canadian Parliament, in which body he took a leading and active part during … Read more