Ontario Canada

Biography of Seneca Pitcher

Seneca Pitcher, reeve of Norwich, was born in Warren County, N.Y., December 27, 1825, his parents being Alva and Charlotte (Cunningham) Pitcher, both of New York. Losing his father when he was eight years old, his mother moved to Upper Canada, and settled in the township of Burford, county of Oxford, formerly in the District of Brock, Seneca having an older brother who accompanied them. He acquainted himself with the elementary branches of knowledge in the common schools of that day, supplementing it with private study; farmed most of the time in his youth; clerked a short time in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William M. Keith

The subject of this brief biographic sketch is a native of Dundee, Scotland, a son of Alexander and Helen (Roberts) Keith, and dates his birth September 17, 1841. He received a parish school education, including the classics; came to Canada West in 1859; taught public schools a short time in the counties of Bruce and Grenville; learned the printer’s trade at Prescott; started the Smith’s Falls Review, a Reform paper, afterwards called the News, in 1863, and conducted it until March, 1878, when he sold out. The year after starting the paper, he opened a book and fancy goods store, … 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 David Blain, LL. D.

David Blain, exmember of Parliament for the constituency of West York, Ont., is a native of Scotland, and was born on Brown Carrickhill, near Ayr, on the 15th of August, 1832. The Blain family were originally French, but sometime during the early wars between France and England, they settled on the border lands between Scotland and England, whence descendants have spread to different parts of the world. The grandfather of our subject spelled the name Blaine, and the final e is still retained by some branches of the family. David Blain was the fourth of six sons, his father being … Read more

Biography of Horatio C. Burritt, M. D.

Horatio Charles Burritt, son of Walter H. Burritt, M. D., and Maria nee Schofield, was born at Smith’s Falls, County of Lanark, Ontario, September 2, 1840. His grandfather, Daniel Burritt, was the first settler at Burritt’s Rapids on the Rideau river, the place being, named from him. He was a United Empire Loyalist, born in Connecticut, and was the second settler on the river mentioned above. He was a magistrate and Colonel of Militia. The family are remotely related to Elihu Burritt, the “learned blacksmith,” who died in 1879. Dr. Walter H. Burritt was born in September, 1809, in Grenville, … Read more

Biography of Rev. Anson Green, D. D.

Greatness being varied in its character, is not confined alone to him whose name stands high upon the record of statesmanship or military renown, but may with equal propriety be applied to him who preserves a spotless name, devotes himself to the welfare of his fellowmen, and develops in himself a true and generous manhood. A man’s principle is what he lives for, and his life takes its character and coloring from the principles that are born and cherished in his soul. The life work of him whose name heads this sketch, fifty-five years of which were passed in the … Read more

Biography of Holland V. Sanders

Holland Venton Sanders, Town Clerk of Port Hope since 1857, is a son of Emanuel and Sarah (Venton) Sanders, and dates his birth in the parish of Cookbury, Devonshire, England, September, 1823. His parents and grandparents belonged to the yeomanry of Devonshire, the family living in the same house more than a century; his mother died when he was about six years old; lie was reared in habits of industry; received a common English education; at sixteen years of age went to Buckland Brewer, in his native county, and served his time at the watch and clockmaker’s trade, and in … Read more

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 Moses Springer, M. P. P.

If there is a self made, self educated man, in the Town of Waterloo, that man is Moses Springer, who never had a year’s schooling in his life, who was left an orphan at ten years of age, and thrown entirely upon his own resources. He was a son of Benjamin Springer, merchant, and, afterwards, farmer, and Mary Rykeman, a prominent member of the Mennonite church, and was born in the Township of Waterloo, within five miles of where he now lives, on August 21, 1824. His father was born near Poughkeepsie, New York, and died of the cholera, at … 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 Creasor

John Creasor, twenty-five years a Barrister at Owen Sound, is a native of the County of Simcoe, being born near Barrie, January 21, 1833. He is a son of John Creasor, senior, farmer, and subsequently Division Court Bailiff, and Margaret nee Anderson. His father was from Yorkshire, England; his mother from Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated at the Barrie Grammar School; commenced studying law at Barrie with Hon. James Patton, and finished at Toronto with the late Judge Cooper; was called to the Bar at Michaelmas Term, 1854; soon afterwards settled in Owen Sound, and has here been in general … Read more

Biography of Joseph Charles Tache

Joseph Charles Tache was born at Kamouraska, in the Province of Quebec, on the 24th December, 1820. He is the elder son of Charles Tache, Captain of Voltigeurs in the war of 1812, and of Henriette de La Broquerie. The subject of this notice has two brothers, and no sisters, the elder of the former being Louis Tache, a Notary, and Sheriff of the District of St. Hyacinth; and the younger, His Grace the Archbishop of St. Boniface. Mr. Joseph Charles Tache received his classical education in the Seminary of Quebec, and his professional education also at Quebec, he followed … 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 John Barclay

Among the older merchants, still in business, in Oakville, is John Barclay, a son of Matthew and Mary (Fleming) Barclay, born in Paisley, Scotland, August 19, 1820. He is an older brother of Francis Barclay, of Georgetown, whose sketch also appears in this volume; received a grammar school education in the old country; came to Canada with the family in 1832; attended school at Markham six months, and there assisted his father in tilling the soil until 1847, when he came to Oakville. Here he was a clerk in the post office, and four years in the dry goods store … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Lewis Wallbridge

The subject of this sketch, one of the oldest and most prominent barristers, and an ex officio bencher of the Law Society, in the Province of Ontario, was born in Belleville. He is a grandson of Elijah Wallbridge, a United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Canada shortly after the War of Independence of the American Colonies; is a son of William H. Wallbridge, lumber merchant, who died in Belleville, March 12, 1832. Asa Wallbridge, an older brother of Elijah, erected the first house where the city now stands. The family were ‘from Dorsetshire, England, and took sides with the Duke … 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 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 Hon. Thomas Moss

Hon.Thomas Moss, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Ontario, is the eldest son of the late John Moss, Esq., of Toronto, and was born in Cobourg, this Province, Aug. 20, 1836. He was educated at the Toronto academy, Upper Canada college, and at the Toronto university; at the latter institution he was gold medalist in classics, mathematics and modem languages, and graduated MA. in 1859. In 1860, on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales, he was presented to His Royal Highness as the most distinguished alumnus of the university. Studied law with hector Cameron, … 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 Roderick McDonald, M.D.

The subject of this brief biography is of Scotch pedigree, both parents, John and Ann (McGillis) McDonald, being natives of Scotland. His father was a cattle raiser and dealer in the old country, coming to Canada a few years before the close of the last century, and settling on a farm on the Raisin river, in the township of Cornwall, dying in 1825. Roderick was educated at the Cornwall grammar school, and at a French college in Montreal, and was graduated in medicine at McGill college, that city, in 1834. Doctor McDonald Practiced at Cornwall nearly forty years, retiring only … Read more