Ontario Canada

Biography of Samuel Richardson, M.D.

Among the old “land marks” in the medical profession, in the county of Waterloo, is Dr. Samuel Richardson, forty years a practitioner in Galt. He is better known than almost any other man in the town, having been up and down the valley of the Grand river for a long period, a distance of twenty or thirty miles, and at an early day, much farther; and even now, with all the comparatively new settlers, there are very few families in a radius of ten or fifteen miles, that do not know the Doctor. He is a native of the county … 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 James Norris

James Norris, one of the successful business men and leading manufacturers of St. Catharines, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in February, 1820, his parents being James and Ann (Black) Norris. His father was a farmer on a moderate scale. The son was educated at a parish school, finishing at fourteen years of age, at which period of his life he immigrated with the family to Upper Canada, locating in the Township of Caledon, then in the County of Peel, now Cardwell. There the son aided his father in farming, until nineteen or twenty years of age, when he came to … Read more

Biography of Hon. C.F. Fraser, Q.C.

Hon. Christopher Finlay Fraser, Q.C., member for Brockville, and Commissioner of Public Works in the Executive Council of Ontario, is a native of Brockville, this Province, where he was born in October 1839. He is of Scotch Irish descent, his parents being John S. Fraser, a Scotch Highlander, and Sarah nee Burke, of Irish extraction. His father early emigrated to Canada and settled at Brockville, where he engaged in business, and where his home has since been. Our subject studied law with Hon. A. N. Richards, Q.C., of Brockville, and was called to the Bar, Upper Canada, Trinity term, in … Read more

Biography of Hon. Adam Crooks, L. I. D., Q. C.

Honorable Adam Crooks, Minister of Education, and member of the Executive Council of Ontario, is a native of this Province, having been born in the Township of West Flamborough, on the 11th of December, 1827. He was a son of the Hon. James Crooks, at one time a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, also of the Legislative Council, and of United Canada. Through his mother, daughter of Thomas Cummings of Chippewa, Mr. Crooks is the grandson of a United Empire Loyalist, who left the State of New York upon American independence being established. The education of Mr. … Read more

Biography of John Philp, M.D.

John Philp, the leading physician and surgeon in Listowel, and the first person ever licensed to practice here, was born in Cobourg, in this Province, November 24, 1838. His father, Rev. Samuel C. Philp, senior, a Canada Methodist minister, was from Cornwall, England, preached many years in the circuit, and is still living, his home being at Prince Albert, Ontario. His mother was Mary Collins, also English. She died at Frankford, County of Hastings, in 1872. Our subject finished his literary studies at Victoria College, in his native town; studied medicine with Dr. James A. Whiting, of Berlin; attended lectures … Read more

Biography of Rev. Henry Patton

The Rev. Henry Patton, D.C.L., Trinity College Toronto, and Archdeacon of the Diocese of Ontario, died at Belleville, April 30, 1874. He was born at Chelmsford, Essex, March 27, 1806, and received his early education in England; came to Canada with his father, the late Major Patton, 45th Regiment, in 1816; completed his education at the Brockville Grammar School; and studied Divinity at Chambly in Lower Canada. In 1829 Dr. Patton was ordained Deacon by the late Bishop Stewart in the Cathedral at Quebec, and the year following was made Priest by the same Bishop in St. James’ Church, York, … Read more

Biography of William Patrick

William Patrick, Sheriff of the united counties of Leeds and Grenville, is of Scotch descent, his grandparents being on their way through Massachusetts to Canada, when his father, Asa Patrick, was born. The family settled near Newmarket, Upper Canada, opening a farm there. In the war of 1812-15, Asa Patrick was connected with the Commissary Department, with head-quarters at Toronto. William was born in “Little York,” now Toronto, February 21, 1810, the maiden name of his mother being Belinda Gilbert. He was educated by Dr., since Bishop Strachan, then Rector, and the Principal of the grammar school at Toronto; there … 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

Hart, Helen Mildred Bell – Obituary

Mrs. Charles L. (Helen M.) Hart, 74 of 6810 South J St., died Monday [September 10, 1979]. Mrs. Hart was born in Ontario, Canada, and had lived in Tacoma since 1930. She was a retired nurse, and a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Steve (Michele E.) Hull of Gig Harbor; two sons, Duane Lee of Reno, Nev. and James A. of Bend, Ore.; a sister, Alice Mooney of Victor, B.C.; a brother, Doug Bell of Sidney, B.C.; and 10 grandchildren. Mountain View Funeral Home is in charge. Tacoma News … Read more

Biography of Lieut-Colonel David Wylie

David Wylie, generally called “the father of the Press,” and certainly a journalist of great experience as well as ability, is a son of. William and Mary (Orr) Wylie, who were married in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1804, and reared a family of five children, of whom David was the fourth child. Two of his brothers were sea captains, one of them of the Inman line of steamers. David was born in the village of Johnstone, parish of Paisley, March 23, 1811. Fortunately for him his father, who was a shoe dealer, was very fond of books, and encouraged David … 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 Rev. Potts, D.D.

Rev. John Potts, was born in 1838, at Maguire’s Bridge, county Fermanagh, Ireland. After an uneventful childhood, John Potts determined at an early age to leave the land of his birth, and try his chance in the New World. We accordingly hear that when only seventeen, the young man started for the Southern States of America, taking Kingston in route. As a straw will of times influence the current of a stream and direct it from its original course, young Potts’ sojourn amongst his Kingston relations, associated as it was with the pleasantest reminiscences, induced him on his return from … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Ward

One of the very early settlers in the township of Hope, was Thomas Ward, a prominent citizen of the place for more than fifty years. He was a son of Thomas Ward, senior, and was born in London, England, June 20, 1770. When Colonel, afterwards Governor-General Simcoe and Attorney-General White came out to Canada (about 1791), Mr. Ward accompanied them, and when Governor Simcoe, in search of a site for the capital, decided upon removing it from Newark (Niagara) to the old French fort Rouille, now Toronto, Mr. Ward was among the number who saw the soldiers clear away the … 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

Biographical Sketch of Archibald McDonald

Archibald Macdonald, senior judge of the county of Wellington, is a native of this Province, being born in Cobourg, county of Northumberland, on the 7th of August 1833. His father was Captain Macdonald, who was in the war against Napoleon, serving ten years in the British army. He was educated at Victoria College, in his native town; commenced the study of law there in 1840; practiced his profession there from 1845 to 1854, when he was appointed judge of the county of Wellington, and settled at Guelph. His knowledge of law is very extensive, and when sitting on the bench … Read more

Biography of Hon. Timothy B. Pardee

Honorable Timothy Blair Pardee, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Ontario, is a native of this Province, and was born Dec. 11, 1830, in the county of Grenville. His parents are A. B. Pardee and Jane nee Elliot. The name would indicate that the Pardee family were originally French, but the grandfather of our subject was from the Eastern States. The subject of this sketch was educated partly in his native county, and afterwards at Brockville, Ont., at which latter place he began the study of law with the Hon. W. B. Richards. Before finishing, however, he broke off his studies … Read more

Biography of Henry Hart

The oldest and most successful lawyer in Paris is Henry Hart, son of Phillip Dacres Hart, who was long connected with the East India Company, and retired in the prime of life with a competency, living in London, England, where the son was born, February 16, 1827. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Ann Chase. Both parents were English. When our subject was in his eighth year the family emigrated to Upper Canada; reached St. Catharines in I835, and the next year settled in Brantford. The father died in 1855, the mother in 1876. Young Hart was educated … Read more

Biography of Alexander Robertson

Alexander Robertson, Mayor of the City of Belleville, and one of its prominent barristers, is a native of the Province of Ontario, being born at Trenton, County of Hastings, December 5, 18 38. His father was William Robertson, lumber merchant, from Glenelg, Inverness-shire, Scotland, coming to Canada in 1827; his mother, Jane Simmons, a native of Canada, and daughter of a United Empire Loyalist. William Robertson, who died in 1861, was a descendant of the Robertsons of Strowan, “who were noted for their bravery and fine physique.” When James I. was murdered in Black Friars Monastery, in the presence of … Read more

Biography of Isaac Waterman

Isaac Waterman, of the Atlantic Petroleum Works, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, a son of Jacob Waterman, and was born August 16, 1844. He was educated in a common school till eleven years old; then spent two years in a mercantile college in the city of Fuerth, and in October, 1858, reached London, Ontario, his present home. Here, after clerking in a store for one year and attending a night school, he was sent by his employer to take charge of a store in Kingston. In 1864, after spending a few weeks in Watertown, N. Y., Mr. Waterman returned … Read more