Ontario Canada

Biography of Goldwin Smith, M.A.,

Canada has had a rich heritage in both her native and adopted sons; many of them would add luster to a much older country, and some have made for themselves a lasting name on both sides of the Atlantic. Her jurists and statesmen, her scholars and divines, have been the jewels of her crown, and have gained for her, as well as for themselves, an enduring fame; and with pardonable pride she can point to her sons whose names, not she only, but the world itself, “will not willingly let die.” And no name that illustrates her annals is more … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alfred Beckett

Alfred Beckett a prominent citizen of Westminster, Orange County, was born in Ontario, Canada, June 7, 1830, a son of Stephen and Anna (Taylor) Beckett, and the sixth child in a family of nine. He received a good common-school education, worked at the mill and lumber business for several years and also did some farming, and in 1877 came to California and bought forty acres of laud in Westminster, which he has put under a high state of cultivation. Politically he is an intelligent supporter of the Republican party. Both himself and wife are highly respected members of social circles. … Read more

Biography of John R. Dickson, M.D.

John Robinson Dickson, one of the leading surgeons in the Province of Ontario, and son of David and Isabella (Robinson)Dickson, was born in Dungannon, County of Tyrone, Ireland, November 15, 1819. David Dickson was a prominent merchant in Dungannon for many years. His oldest son, David Dickson, Jr., was Major of the 95th Regiment, and William Dickson, another son, was Surgeon in the British Navy for a long time. Our subject was educated at a Belfast Institution; read medicine with Dr. McLean, of Dungannon; came to Canada in 1837; attended lectures at the University of New York, and there received … Read more

Biography of Dexter D’Everardo

Dexter D’Everardo, Registrar of Deeds and Registrar of the Surrogate Court, was born in Paris, France, December 28, 1814, his parents being Charles Augustus Cecil and Elizabeth Theresa (Dexter) D’Everardo. The D’Everardos are an old French family of the province of Evremont. The Dexters are also French. In 1817 the family immigrated to Nova Scotia, settling in the township of Aylesford, where the father was engaged in farming. Our subject received a thorough classical and mathematical education; studied law between three and four years in the Province of Nova Scotia; in 1834 moved to the Niagara District, and was, for … Read more

Biography of Robert Noble

This well known citizen of Reynolds, Owyhee county, is one of the largest sheep-raisers in Idaho and has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in the state. His efforts have therefore been of public benefit, for the improvement of stock adds to its market value, and the wealth of the agricultural class is thereby augmented. The rich pasture lands of the northwest provide excellent opportunities to the stock-raiser, and this industry has become a most important one in the commercial interests of Idaho. Mr. Noble, one of its leading representatives, is of English birth, a native … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Dunbar

In the person of the subject of this sketch we have one of the leading citizens and stockmen of Malheur County, and it is with pleasure that we chronicle the salient paints in his interesting and active career, wherein he has ever manifested integrity, ability and industry. David Dunbar was born in Ontario, Canada, near Kingston, on February 5, 1849, being the son of James and Eliza Dunbar. He was reared on a farm with his parents and gained his education from the common schools of that province. In July 186? he was called to mourn the death of his … Read more

Biography of William Grey

One of the oldest residents in Woodstock, and one of its most prominent citizens, is William Grey, who settled in Oxford County in 1825, two and a half miles from the present Town of Woodstock, before the place, as a town, had a name, except “Town Plot.” The spot on which his house now stands, a quarter-mile from the Post Office, was a sugar bush half a century ago. He saw a village start here, and gradually expand into a town of 6,000 inhabitants, industrious, thriving, and intelligent; and no man now living here has done more to build up … Read more

Biography of David Cancanfield

The subject of this brief sketch is a grandson of Samuel Canfield, senior, a United Empire loyalist, who resided in Connecticut at the time of the American Revolution, and who subsequently moved into the Mohawk valley. New York, and thence into the Genesee valley, same State, settling in the township of East Oxford, County of Oxford, Upper Canada in 1794; and son of Samuel Canfield, junior, who was born in Connecticut, and accompanied his father to this part of Canada. The mother of David was Catherine Lick. He was born in East Oxford, at the old homestead, November 12, 1806, … Read more

Biography of Robert A. Lyon, M.P.P.

Robert Adam Lyon, who represents the Algoma District in the Ontario Legislature, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, having been born October 21, 1829. His father, John Lyon, was a gardener in the old country, and a farmer in this, coming to Upper Canada in 1832, settling on bush land at Esquesing, county of Halton, and cultivating the soil until his death in 1877. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Catharine McFarlane, died in 1856. Mr. Lyon attended a common school until seventeen years of age, and then went into the general mercantile business at Milton, the … 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 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 Robert Hay, M.P.

Robert Hay, member of the House of Commons for Centre Toronto, is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Henderson) Hay, and was born in the parish of Tippermuir, Perthshire, Scotland, May 18, 1808. His father was an agriculturist in moderate circumstances, with a family of nine children; and at fourteen years of age our subject had to leave school and rely upon his own small hands for support. He became an apprentice to a cabinet maker; learned the trade thoroughly in the town of Perth; worked at it as a journeyman in the old country until the summer of 1831, … Read more

Biography of Stanley Scott, M.D.

Stanley Scott, one of the leading physicians in Newmarket, is a son of Charles and Mary (Hodge) Scott, and was born in Whitby, county of Ontario, January 29, 1839. His father, who was a native of Lower Canada, is living in the town of Whitby his home for nearly fifty years, and is a man much respected. His grandfather was in the army under Wellington, and died when past eighty years of age. Our subject was educated in the common and high schools of Whitby; studied medicine with Dr. Bradford Patterson of that town; attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio; … Read more

Biography of Thomas Kennedy

Thomas Kennedy. The door of opportunity is everywhere opened to the man of enterprise. The most characteristic industry in the State of Kansas was built up by a young machinist who came to Galena nearly thirty years ago and somewhat later established a factory for the manufacture of perforated metals. The Thomas Kennedy Company of Galens is the only concern of its kind west of the Mississippi River as far as the Pacific Coast. Mr. Kennedy created in his own mind the idea for the machines that are now at work in his plant. He realized the need of perforated … Read more

Biography of William Reynolds

William Reynolds, on the west coast of Ireland, on the 9th of February, 1831. At the early age of eight, shortly after the death of his father, he was sent to London, England, to be educated under the eye of his uncle, Rev. Henry Reynolds, rector of Henley-on-Thames. It being determined that he should enter the royal navy, and having passed a satisfactory examination, he received a cadetship in the year 1845. After cruising a short time in the Channel, he was ordered to India. The inactive life at that time on board a war vessel, did not suit his … Read more

Biography of Sir John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell,Marquis Of Lorne,

The successor of so popular a Governor-General as Lord Dufferin had before him a difficult task, if he would occupy as high a place in the estimation of Canadians as did that distinguished Irish Peer. Under the circumstances, therefore, the appointment of one so closely allied to the Throne as the Marquis of Lorne, was one of the wisest selections that Her Majesty could have made, especially in view of the fact that he would be accompanied by Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise. Endowed with excellent qualities of mind and heart, of varied and extensive knowledge, he will doubtless … Read more

Biography of William V. Hutton

William Veal Hutton, one of the most successful business men in St. Mary’s, is a son of George Martin and Ann Austin (Veal), Hutton, and was born in Ringwood, Hampshire, England, April 16, 1825. He belongs to an old Somersetshire family. His father was a linen draper, and a successful business man. William received an ordinary education in a private school, acquired a knowledge of his father’s business, and in the autumn of 1850 emigrated to Canada, and settled at St. Mary’s, then a very small village. Here he purchased a mill, and was engaged in the manufacture of flour … Read more

Biography of Right Rev. Isaac Hellmuth, D. D., D. C. L.

Isaac Hellmuth, Bishop of Huron, and founder of the Hellmuth Colleges, was born near Warsaw, Poland, December 14, 1817. He is of Jewish extraction; was educated at the University of Breslau; in 1841, having abandoned the faith of his family, made a public profession of Christianity, and three years later, as we learn from the Clerical Guide and Churchman’s Directory, he came to Canada, ” bearing the highest commendations from many eminent men, including the Most Reverend Dr. Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury.” Our subject was ordained Deacon in 1846, and the same year Priest, by the Bishop of Quebec; served … 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 John Butterfield

John Butterfield, barrister, editor and proprietor of the Weekly News, and warden of the united counties of Prescott and Russell, is a native of Glengarry, this Province, being born in the township of Lancaster, May 4, 1844. His parents were Richard Butterfield, a school teacher, from England, who died on Good Friday, 1853, and Elizabeth, nee Tracy, of Irish descent, she dying in 1867, leaving eight children. Two others had preceded her to the spirit world, and one daughter has since joined her. Our subject was the eighth child. He was educated at the public schools of Lancaster and the … Read more