Ontario Canada

Biography of Robert P. Jellett

Robert Patterson Jellett, Judge of the county of Prince Edward, was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 15, 1827. His father, Morgan Jellett, left Ireland in 1832, settled at Port Hope, was a merchant there several years, afterwards clerk of the old Court of Commissions, and at the time of his death was clerk of the county council of the united counties of Northumberland and Durham, with residence at Cobourg. The Jelletts are an old and prominent family in the county Down, the great-grandfather of our subject, Morgan Jellett, was for many years a magistrate in that county, dying at Moira, … Read more

Biography of Rev. Joseph E. Sanderson, M.A.,

Joseph Edward Sanderson, Governor of Ontario Ladies’ College, Whitby, a descendant of an old English family, was born in Toronto, January 13, 1830. His father, John Sanderson, shortly after his arrival from England in 1820, purchased twelve acres on Yonge street, built a cottage and planted an elm tree in front, which gave name to “Elm Cottage” and Elm Street, and remained, until a few years ago, a marked memento of early beginnings in “York.” In 1822, he married Miss Margaret Crawford, then recently arrived from the County of Tyrone, Ireland. After a time they disposed of the city farm … Read more

Biography of James Speight

James Speight, the largest wagon manufacturer in the Province, and a very enterprising man, has always lived in Markham, being born here August 30, 1830. His father, Thomas Speight, from Yorkshire, England, left the old country a little more than half a century ago, and after spending a year or two in the Southern States, in 1830 came to Canada, settling in Markham, and carrying on the wagon business many years, dying in 1875. James’ mother, whose maiden name was Martha Drake, is still living. Mr. Speight attended the district school until in his fifteenth year; learned the wagon maker’s … Read more

Biography of Robert Gibbons

Robert Gibbons, sheriff of the county of Huron, belongs to an old Birmingham, (England) family, where his father, William Gibbons, and the ancestors for several generations, were born, though he himself dates his birth in Glasgow, Scotland, December 24, 1811. His father was an ingenious mechanic or machinist, engaged for years in turning, finishing and fitting up machinery. The maiden name of Robert’s mother was Margaret M. McDonald, who was born in Scotland. In June, 1820, the family left the old world for Canada, landing at Quebec in August, and settling on land in the county of Lanark. About four … Read more

Ottawa Tribe

Ottawa Indians, Ottawa First Nation, Ottawa Nation, Ottawa People (from ǎdāwe, ‘to trade’, `to buy and sell,’ a term common to the Cree, Algonkin, Nipissing, Montagnais, Ottawa, and Chippewa, and applied to the Ottawa because in early traditional times and also during the historic period they were noted among their neighbors as intertribal traders and barterers, dealing chiefly in cornmeal, sunflower oil, furs and skins, rugs or mats, tobacco, and medicinal roots and herbs). Ottawa Tribe History On French river, near its mouth, on Georgian bay, Champlain in 1615 met 300 men of a tribe which, he said, “we call … Read more

Biography of Alexander Craigmile

Alexander Craigmile. Of the men whose ability, industry and fore-thought have added to the character, wealth and progress of Champaign County none deserves better mention than Alexander Craigmile, a veteran of the Union army, long and successfully identified with agriculture, and now with his good wife living retired in a comfortable home at Rantoul. His public spirited citizenship has stood every test of time and service. Forty years he has known Compromise Township, and during that time has again and again been chosen to fill places of trust and responsibility. He was elected to serve as assessor, collector, supervisor and … 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 Hamnett Hill, M.R.C.S

One of the oldest medical practitioners in Ottawa is Hamnett Hill, son of John Wilkes Hill, many years a successful physician in the City of London, England, where the subject of this sketch was born, December 15, 1811. The maiden name of his mother was Mary Elizabeth Pinhey. He received his literary education at Albion House, Camberwell, a suburb of London, in the private school of Nicholas Wanostrocht, L.L.D., celebrated for his epitome of Blackstone’s Commentaries; and his medical education at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, receiving his diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1834. Dr. Hill practiced three … Read more

Biography of Chief Justice Robert Alexander Harrison

Honorable Robert Alexander Harrison, Q.C., D.C.L., and Chief Justice of Ontario, was a native of Montreal, where he was born on the 3rd of August, 1833. His parents were, Richard Harrison, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and Frances Hall, of Newtownbutler, County of Fermanagh. They immigrated to Canada soon after their marriage, and settled first at Markham, but afterwards removed to Toronto. Mr. Harrison received his education first at Upper Canada College. Received from University of Toronto the degree of B.C.L., and afterwards had degree of D.C.L. conferred upon him; began the study of law with Messrs. Robinson and … Read more

Biography of George W. Badgerow, M.P.P

The subject of this short sketch, George Washington Badgerow, very properly ranks among that younger class of Ontario’s deserving men, just entering public life, but whose previous career, though brief, gives promise of ultimate success. He is a native of the Province, and was born on the 28th of May, 1841, in the township of Markham. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Harrington) Badgerow. Martin Badgerow was a native of the State of New York, but came to Canada with his parents about the year 1810, and settled in Markham, engaging in farming. They were a well to do family, … Read more

Biography of John G. Stevenson

John Gustavus Stevenson, Judge of the County of Haldimand, was born in the Township of Niagara, County of Lincoln, June 1, 1818, being a son of John A. Stevenson, a native of Dublin, and an officer of the 99th Foot, dying at “Oakwood,” Niagara, in 1832. The mother of our subject was Mary Allison, daughter of Rev. Robert Addison, who was established at Niagara in 1792, being a pioneer in his profession in Upper Canada. Judge Stevenson was educated chiefly at Upper Canada College, Toronto; studied law with Judge Campbell, of Niagara; was called to the Bar at Trinity term, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Col. John Walker

Col. John Walker, a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, was born in 1832. He was educated in Stirling, and began business first in Leith, but subsequently removed to Glasgow where he continued until 1864 when he came to Canada. Being a man of excellent business qualifications he was selected by Scotch capitalists to come out here to take charge of the Bothwell property which they had acquired from the Hon. George Brown, for the purpose of farming the lands and developing the oil interests. During the oil excitement subsequent to Col. Walker’s arrival at Bothwell, the population being greatly augmented by … Read more

Biography of Richard Blain

Richard Blain, for the last four years Mayor of Galt, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Little) Blain, both natives of the County of Cumberland, England, where the son was born January 26, 1821. His father was in general business. In 1839 he came to Upper Canada, and at Dundas learned the millers’ trade with James B. Ewart, for many years a prominent manufacturer in that town. Mr. Blain worked for him five years in Dundas and ten in Galt, settling in the latter place in 1844. In 1854 he commenced milling with his brother, James Blain, leasing and … Read more

Biography of Lieut.Col. John Stoughton Dennis

Lieut: Colonel John Stoughton Dennis, Deputy Minister of the Interior, was born at Kingston, Ontario, in 1820. He is the eldest son of Joseph Dennis and Mary Stoughton, his wife, and grandson of John Dennis, a United Empire Loyalist, who, living in Philadelphia at the time of the American rebellion, cast: his fortunes in with the Crown. At the close of the war, Mr. Dennis, with other expatriated Loyalists, settled in Shelburne, N. S., whence he moved to Beaver Harbour, N. B., and finally, in 1792, settled in Upper Canada on a tract of land given him by the Government … Read more

Biography of Charles E. Chadwick

Charles Eli Chadwick, son of Rev. Eli Chadwick, a Baptist minister and school teacher; was born at Preston, Lancashire, England, August 13, 1818. His father and grandfather were born in the same county. His mother was Margaret Weal, a native of Dumfries, Scotland. In 1820 the family came to Canada, the next year went back to England, and in 1827 returned to this country, and settled near Vittoria, County of Norfolk, Upper Canada. There our subject was educated by his father, who taught a public school several years, having also a farm, on which the son was reared. In 1843, … Read more

Biography of James Young

James Young, member of the Dominion Parliament from 1867 to 1878, and now of the Ontario Legislature, is a son of John and Jeanie (Bell) Young, and was born in Galt, May 24, 1835. Both parents were from Roxburghshire, Scotland, his father coming to Galt the year before the son was born. Our subject was educated in his native town, and chose the printing business as a trade. Before he was 18 years of age, he purchased the Dumfries Reformer, Galt, which he edited from 1853 to 1863, and is the author of two prize essays: “The Agricultural Resources of … Read more

Biography of David Stirton

David Stirton, Postmaster at Guelph, and son of James and Janet (Crichton) Stirton, pioneers in the Township of Guelph, County of Wellington, was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, June 13, 1816. His parents were both natives of that county, and in 1827 emigrated to Upper Canada, and settled on a bush farm five miles from where the City of Guelph now stands. At that time, fifty-three years ago, there was not an acre of the present site of Guelph cleared, nor a finished house, nor a road formed. It was simply a dense forest of hardwood timber. The father of our … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Robertson

Samuel Robertson, banker, is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, dating his birth, March 31, 1831. His father, James Robertson, was a weaver in that city, and his grandfather had to flee from Scotland to Ireland at one time on account of political troubles. The mother of Samuel was Marion Harvie, also Scotch. In May, 1841, the family came to Upper Canada, and our subject went on the farm of Henry Widdefield, three miles from Newmarket, where he spent between one and two years, doing chores, and attending school three months; spent two and a half years in the village of … Read more

Biography of John F. Dewar, M.D.

John Forrest Dewar, physician and surgeon, was a son of John Dewar, advocate, Edinburgh, Scotland, and was there born, May 3, 1834. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Burnet. The Dewars are an old MidLothian family. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a surgeon in Edinburgh. Dr. Dewar received his literary and medical education in his native city; walked several hospitals on the continent, with a special view of witnessing surgical operations; practiced a short time at Turin, Italy, and in 1859 emigrated to Canada and settled in Port Hope, here practicing until his demise, August 8,1877. … Read more

Biography of Sir William P. Howl, C. B. K. C. M. G.,

Among those who have achieved eminence solely by excellence of character, without any of the modern appliances by which unworthy persons seek an undeserved and transient popularity, the subject of this sketch occupies a prominent place. Modest and unassuming in disposition, courteous and suave in manner, self-poised and dignified in demeanor, thoughtful of the feelings of others, and respectful toward their opinions, honorable in the highest and best sense, possessing those delicate instincts which characterize the true gentleman, he affords a fine example of a successful career, as deserved as it is conspicuous. The Howlands are of English descent, their … Read more