Hamilton, Hon. Charles Edward, Q.C., Attorney-General of Manitoba, was born atUpnor Castle, near Chatham, England, on the 25th of March, 1844. His parents came to Canada with their family when the subject of this sketch was but four years old; his father, the late Captain Hamilton, being commandant at Isle-aux-noix, Quebec. They settled afterwards in St. Catharines, where he was educated. After receiving a sound education, he entered upon the study of the law, being articled in the office of Hon. J. G. Currie, then speaker of the Legislative Assembly. He was so successful in his study of the law that when only twenty-one he was called to the bar, when he entered actively upon the practice of his profession. Mr. Hamilton was an ardent member of the volunteer force, and even in his early twenties held a commission as captain in the 44th Welland battalion. During the Fenian troubles of 1871, when it was believed that the marauders from the American side of the river would repeat their incursion of five years before, the 44th Battalion was among those called out, and Captain Hamilton, on that occasion, was given charge of two companies. Mr. Hamilton went to Winnipeg in February, 1881, and was called to the bar of that province in May of the same year. He took part in founding the firm of Aikins, Culver & Hamilton, which quickly took a foremost place in the ranks of the legal profession in Winnipeg. In 1885, Mr. Hamilton was elected mayor of the city, and in the same year was nominated as the ministerial candidate to contest Winnipeg South for the local legislature, his opponent being Mr. W. F. Luxton, one of the leaders of the ex-opposition. The contest was an exceedingly keen one, and one that attracted wide attention. Mr. Hamilton was successful. He became a member of the executive council, holding the portfolio of attorney-general in the same year. In the last general election Mr. Hamilton was returned for Shoal Lake. Mr. Norquay’s government resigned on the 23rd of December, 1887, and Dr. Harrison was called upon to form a government. Mr. Hamilton was sworn in on the 26th of December, 1887, as attorney-general of the new government. He was one of the two representatives of the Manitoba government at the later provincial conference, hon. John Norquay, then premier, being the head of the deputation. In everything pertaining to the industrial development of the city and the province, Mr. Hamilton has taken a deep interest. He is a director of the Commercial Bank of Manitoba, and a director also of the Manitoba Mortgage and Investment Company. In 1884 Mr. Hamilton married Miss Alma Ashworth, daughter of Mr. John Ashworth, cashier of the Post Office department, Ottawa. His church relations are with the Presbyterian denomination. In his profession, Mr. Hamilton has been most successful, the call to the high position of attorney-general being a deserved tribute to his legal attainments. His career as a public man has been such as to win for him not only the enthusiastic regard of his supporters, but also the esteem and respect of his opponents, and, though in an arena so small as the political field of Manitoba, personal issues are too apt to be forced to the front, those who oppose him are compelled, by the purity of his record, to do so on public grounds.
Campbell, Hon. William, Farmer and Millowner, Park Corner, Prince Edward Island, was born at Park Corner on 12th January, 1836. He is the eighth son of the late James Campbell, of Park Corner, New London, P.E.I. His mother, Elizabeth Montgomery, of Princetown, was a sister of the Hon. Senator Montgomery. Hon. Mr. Campbell is descended from the Breadalbane Campbells on the paternal side, and from the Camerons of Lochiel on the maternal side. His grandfather came to Prince Edward Island in 1773, from Breadalbane, in Perthshire, Scotland, with Governor Paterson, a military officer. Mr. Campbell received his education in his native parish. He has taken a very active interest in military affairs, and has held the commissions of captain, major, and is now lieutenant-colonel of Queen’s county militia. On entering political life, he was elected to the House of Assembly for Queen’s First Division in 1873, on the resignation of the sitting member; and three years later, he was re-elected as a supporter of free schools. In 1879, he was sworn in a member of the Executive Council, and became a member of the Sullivan cabinet, without a portfolio. In March following, he was appointed minister of public works, and on appealing to his constituents was elected by acclamation. He was also commissioner of the government stock farm. Again, at the general election held in 1882, he was returned, and continued a member of the government, as minister of public works, until 1st February, 1887, when he resigned this office to run as a candidate for the House of Commons at Ottawa for Queen’s county, but failed to secure his election. While in parliament he took an active part in the discussion of the leading questions of the times—notably the land question, free schools, reduction of the provincial expenditure, etc. Hon. Mr. Campbell, in religion, belongs to the Presbyterian church, and to the Conservative party in politics. He was married first, in 1864, to Elizabeth McLeod, of New London, and second, in February, 1873, to Elizabeth L. Sutherland, daughter of the late John S. Sutherland, of Caithness-shire, Scotland.
Bowser, Rev. Alexander Thomas, B.D., Pastor of First Unitarian Church, Toronto, was born in Sackville, New Brunswick, February 20, 1848. His parents, Robert and Jane (Kirk) Bowser were respectively of English and Scotch descent. Alexander was the sixth child of a family of twelve (six boys and six girls). In 1864 he left home to enter a store in the town of Moncton, as clerk; but wishing for the greater advantages of life in a large city, he soon afterwards went to Boston, Massachusetts, where, in connection with business, he was able to pursue the course of study at the Latin High School; and in 1873 was matriculated as Freshman at Harvard College, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in regular course, in 1877; and three years later (1880), on graduating from the Divinity School, he received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. Mr. Bowser’s first year in the ministry was devoted to mission work in St. Louis, Missouri. Here, on 2nd May, 1881, he was ordained to the Christian ministry in the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), the venerable Chancellor of Washington University, Rev. W. G. Eliot, D.D., giving the charge to the young preacher and offering the prayer of ordination, and the Rev. John Snyder, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, giving him the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Bowser now spent two years in Evansville, Indiana, as the representative of the American Unitarian Association; but his influence soon extended beyond his denominational work into public affairs, many of his Sunday evening lectures being printed in full in the daily papers. The general character of these lectures may be inferred from a few of the subjects treated, such as “The need of Conscience in Public Affairs,” “Coffee Houses versus Liquor Saloons,” “Why the Chinese should not be excluded from the United States.” Having presented the Evansville Public Library with a number of Unitarian publications, the trustees were so well pleased with the books that they requested him to prepare a list of such works as he would wish them to purchase for the library, and the result was that nearly 300 volumes of the latest religious and scientific thought were placed upon their shelves. In January, 1884, Mr. Bowser was called to the pastorate of the Third Congregational (Unitarian) Church of Hingham, Massachusetts, one of the oldest and most influential Societies in New England, numbering among its members General Lincoln, who was secretary of war under Washington; John Albion Andrew, who was Governor of Massachusetts during the civil war, and ex-Governor John D. Long, who is now (1888) member of Congress for that district. This important position Mr. Bowser held for three years, winning the respect and love not only of his own parish, but of the community at large; but on receiving an invitation from the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, he felt that it was a call from heaven to carry the beautiful and soul-inspiring truths of Unitarian Christianity to his own people of Canada, where these principles are not so well known as in Massachusetts. Accordingly, he resigned, and on the last Sunday in January, 1887, took charge of the church in Toronto. Mr. Bowser was brought up in the Methodist church, and first became interested in Unitarianism while pursuing his studies preparatory to entering Harvard College. He was at the time an earnest worker in one of the Methodist churches in Boston, when suddenly a charge of Unitarian heresy was brought against him, though he had no idea himself, at the time, that he was in sympathy with their peculiar views of religion. This, however, awakened his interest, and he began to inquire about the principles of this body, and was told by one of their ministers to read the New Testament and see for himself what Jesus and the Apostles taught, and he would find the Unitarian doctrine. This he did with earnest care for several years, and having failed to find a single passage in which it is distinctly stated that Jesus was God, or the Second Person in the Trinity, but on the other hand, finding the essential principles of Unitarianism stated in the most explicit language everywhere throughout the Bible, he became a Unitarian, and claims that he is one simply and only because it is the religion of Jesus Christ and the early Christians. Mr. Bowser regards his residence in St. Louis as one of the most important periods of his life, as it was there that he first met Miss Adelaide Prescott Reed, to whom he was united in marriage in April, 1884. Mr. Bowser is a member of the Masonic fraternity, was Chaplain of the Old Colony Lodge of Hingham, and is now (1888) Chaplain of St. Andrew’s Lodge of Toronto.
Black, Charles Allan, M.D., Amherst, Nova Scotia, was born August 23rd, 1844, at Salem, Cumberland county, N.S. The family is Scotch originally, the founder in this country being William Black, who came from Huddersfield, England, to Nova Scotia in 1774. Our subject’s father was Hazen Black, son of Thomas, who was grandson of William above-mentioned. The pioneer, William Black, was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1727, whence he migrated to England and thence to Nova Scotia. Upon landing in Halifax with his wife and five children he travelled inland about one hundred and thirty miles, and settled on a large fertile farming area near enough to Fort Cumberland to hear the cannonading. This fort was one of the last military strongholds relinquished by the French when Nova Scotia was ceded to the British. The farm he selected is situated within one mile of the now large town of Amherst, and is still occupied by some of his descendants. Hazen Black, father of our subject, married Martha Ann, second daughter of John Bent, Salem, in the above-named county, who was a farmer of some note. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, whose names were as follow: Charles Allan, John Botsford, Augusta, Laura, and Ada. All are living except Laura, who died in her 13th year. Charles Allan, the eldest and the subject of this sketch, was educated at the grammar school of Amherst, finishing his studies at Sackville (N.B.) Academy, now Mount Allison University. After leaving college he decided in favour of the profession of a druggist and entered as a student under Dr. Nathan Tupper (brother of Sir Charles Tupper), in Amherst, N.S., where he remained throe years, when he decided to study for the medical profession. He graduated from the Pennsylvania University, Philadelphia, in March, 1867, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, being then in his 23rd year. He commenced practice at Sackville, N.B., but soon removed to Amherst, N.S., where he had spent his early school days and student life. Here he has continued to enjoy a successful practice for over twenty years. He was appointed a coroner for the county of Cumberland in 1881. He became a member of the Orange society in 1863, and continued a member in good standing while the society existed. He is an active member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has great love and attachment for that Order. He joined it in 1865, and has continued a member ever since; held all the offices in the subordinate lodge. Is a past grand counsellor and past grand treasurer in the grand lodge for Nova Scotia; held the latter office for four successive years. He was present at the grand lodge session at Liverpool, N.S., when this Order split on the Negro question in 1876. Although the grand lodge carried the resolution to secede by a large majority he was one of the small minority of seven who decided to remain loyal to the original right worthy grand lodge. Ten years after this, when the bodies became again re-united he was present at the marriage. Prior to 1886 he had always been in close sympathy with the Liberal-Conservative party, but at that time he espoused the “Third Party” movement and is an uncompromising supporter of it, believing that the prohibition of the liquor traffic in Canada can only be obtained through the medium of a distinct political party. When that party was organized in Cumberland county, in January, 1887, he was appointed on the executive committee, his colleagues being such well known workers as C. R. Casey, E. B. Elderkin, J. W. Hickman, J. A. Simpson, Rufus Hicks, Revds. Joseph Coffin, J. B. Giles, and others. In the Dominion elections held in February of that year, J. T. Bulmer, of Halifax, was the candidate of the new party. After a very heated contest, Sir Charles Tupper, finance minister, being the Conservative candidate, and Hon. W. T. Pipes, ex-Premier of Nova Scotia, the Liberal, Mr. Bulmer polled 206 votes. These were recorded for a “principle.” This was the first instance in Canada where a pure and simple prohibition candidate was placed in the field for federal parliamentary honours, but it did not remain so long. The election alluded to having been set aside by the courts, Mr. Bulmer again contested the constituency in the interest of the new party. Sir Charles Tupper was his only opponent this time, November, 1887, the Liberal party not putting a candidate forward. Dr. Black and others took the field and the result was that the 206 votes of February became 1,026 in November. Dr. Black is a member of the Methodist church, and has always been an attendant upon its ministry, though it was not until 1884 he identified himself as a member of that body. He married in January, 1871, Sarah E., second daughter of the Rev. George F. Miles, then pastor of the Baptist church, Amherst, by whom he had one daughter. Two months after their baby was born his wife contracted inflammation of the lungs, which developing into consumption, caused her death in May, 1873. His little daughter followed her mother when about five years old, being ill only two days. On the 14th of September, 1881, he married Elizabeth B., eldest daughter of Capt. John K. Elderkin, ex-custos of the Court of Sessions for Cumberland county, N.S. By this marriage he has issue one son, Vaughan Elderkin Black, born September 28th, 1884. Dr. Black, besides practising his profession, has indulged in outside speculations with varying success. In 1877, by the death of a professional brother, a valuable drug stand was put in the market. This he bought and fitted up with all modern improvements putting a competent man in charge. Dr. Black has given his profession that close and careful attention which is always necessary to become a successful practitioner, and success has abundantly crowned his endeavours. In his early days he made himself acquainted with the facts as to how far alcohol or any of its compounds were medicinal or required in the treatment of human ailments. From study, experience, and observation, he was forced to the conclusions that much of the previous medical teachings as to the therapeutical powers of this drug were fallacious, that medical virtues were ascribed to alcohol which it did not possess, and that in a very large percentage of diseases it lessened the vital energies instead of giving tone and strength as was taught in earlier days. Being independent in character, and determined to act upon principle, in contradistinction to policy, he frequently met with difficulty upon this point with his medicalconfrèresin consultation, etc. Not only had he opposition from his professional brethren, but the effect of this pernicious teaching among the masses was so deep-rooted that no household in the early days of his practice was thought complete without a little gin or whiskey “the panacea for every ailment that the flesh was heir to.” Opinions have changed since those days and are still rapidly changing, and the drug, alcohol, is now prescribed more in accordance with scientific teaching. Personally Dr. Black is a genial companion, a faithful friend and self-sacrificing to a degree. It goes without saying that he is beloved even by those who do not agree with all his opinions, and by those who do he has their confidence and love to an unlimited extent.
Richard, Rev. Canon Louis, A.M., Prefect of Studies, College of Three Rivers, Three Rivers, province of Quebec, was born on the 30th November, 1838, in the parish of St. Grégoire-le-Grand, county of Nicolet, province of Quebec. His father, Jean Noel Richard, a farmer, was one of the descendants of the unhappy Acadians exiled from their country by the British, and whose sufferings have been so eloquently depicted by Longfellow in his masterpiece, “Evangeline.” After the fall of Beauséjour, in the eastern part of what is to-day New Brunswick, the inhabitants left the smoking ruins of their humble homes, and took the road to exile, with whatever chattels they were able to save from the rapacity of the victors, rather than swear allegiance to the new masters. A portion of the Acadians were sent to Louisiana, to Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, and the remainder, among whom were his ancestors, emigrated to the province of Quebec. Jean Noel Richard settled in the district of Three Rivers, and eventually married Marie Madelaine Massé, a descendant of a French family which had settled in the same district at the outset of the colony. The subject of our sketch began a classical course of studies under the guidance of Moise Laplante—a man remarkable for his learning and ability as a teacher—and completed his course in 1859, at the seminary of Nicolet. Being instinctively drawn towards ecclesiastical life, and feeling convinced his vocation was in that direction, he studied theology in the same seminary until 1860, when the College of Three Rivers was founded. The attention of the Bishop of Three Rivers, Monseigneur Cooke, having been called to the young divinity student, he appointed him a professor in the new institution of learning, and henceforth his life was devoted to the noble work of education, and his influence and energy were exerted on behalf of the new College, in the golden book of which establishment his name will be engraved. On the 25th of September, 1864, he was ordained priest, and successively discharged the duties of the following offices to the entire satisfaction of all concerned:—Director in 1865; purveyor in 1867, and prefect of studies at the same time; pro-superior from 1870 to 1880; from 1880 to 1886 we find him occupying the responsible position of superior; at the present time (1887) he is prefect of studies. His aim has ever been to place the college over which he presided during so many years in the very front rank of the institutions of learning in the country. On the 25th June, 1883, the authorities of Laval University of Quebec, wishing to reward the devotion displayed by the Rev. Mr. Richard, and the services he had rendered as a teacher to the cause of education in Canada, granted him the degree of A.M. His ordinary, Right Rev. Bishop Laflèche, in recognition of his social qualities, honored him, on the 11th of September, 1884, with the title of canon to the chapter of the Cathedral of Three Rivers. In June, 1885, Rev. Father Richard conceived the idea of calling together all the old pupils of the College of Three Rivers, in order to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the institution. He met with a hearty response, and the result was a brilliant gathering of men who had achieved success in the different walks of life they had chosen. On that occasion Father Richard published a very interesting book of 530 pages, entitled “Histoire du Collége des Trois Rivières,” a work which should be in the hands of all those who take an interest in the dissemination of good books. In common with the clergy of the diocese of Three Rivers, Rev. Mr. Richard is an ardent and devout believer in the integrity of the dogmas and fundamental principles of the Roman Catholic church, believing that mankind can and shall be saved only by coming into the church established by Jesus Christ himself, i.e., the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman church, represented on earth by his Holiness the Pope, and out of which there is no possible salvation, no possible future state of bliss, either for individuals or for society.
Tourangeau, Adolphe G., Postmaster, Ex-Mayor, and Ex-M.P. for Quebec, was born in Quebec city on the 15th January, 1831. He is the son of the late Jean G. Tourangeau, J.P., of Quebec, notary public, who for many years was elected alderman for Quebec, and grandson of Jean Tourangeau, merchant, who left considerable property, still in the possession of his descendants. One of these properties was purchased from the Dumont family, and upon it there stood the historical Dumont’s mill at the very place where is now the splendid monument erected to the memory of the English and French heroes who fell at the celebrated battle of St. Foye, 1760. Mr. Tourangeau’s great grandfather emigrated from La Touraine, France, to settle in Canada, after serving in the French navy. His grandmother, on his father’s side, was a woman of superior intellect, whose father, Bidégaré, had emigrated from Bayonne, France, and having some means, built and opened a fancy leather factory (mégisserie) near the place where Arogo street runs into St. Vallier street, Quebec. The building being protected by the high cliff close behind, a body of American troops took possession of it during the war of 1775, and established their quarters there; but the constant firing and shelling from the Palais batteries destroyed the building, and with it the fortune of its proprietor. This attempt to manufacture leather may be considered as the first serious one of the kind in Canada. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Quebec seminary and Quebec High School, studied law under the Hon. Louis Panet, and followed the law course of Laval University from its opening to the time he was admitted to the practice of the notarial profession, in 1855; was at different times elected a member of the Board of Notaries for the province of Quebec, and appointed notary for the corporation of Quebec by the vote of the council. He executed the deed of transfer of the North Shore railway, also the waterworks contract. He held this position until he resigned, in 1883, to accept the postmastership of Quebec, offered to him by the Dominion government. He is lieutenant-colonel of militia for the electoral division of Quebec East, and a justice of the peace. Mr. Tourangeau was elected mayor of the city of Quebec four times; first by a very large majority of the council, and three times afterwards by the people, twice unanimously, and the fourth time, in 1869, by a very large majority. He was twice elected to represent Quebec East in the House of Commons; first in 1870, after a spirited contest, and by acclamation at the general elections of 1872. He was defeated by a small majority in 1864, when he was put in nomination, against his will, to represent the Stadacona Division in the Legislative Council. He had been defeated by a small majority in 1863, when put in nomination for the county of Montmorency against the late Hon. Joseph Cauchon. He allowed himself to be nominated for Quebec East in 1877 against the present leader of the opposition at Ottawa, Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, then a minister in the Mackenzie government, and was defeated by a small majority, after the severest contest possible, wherein both political parties took a very active part, it being considered as a test case between the two political parties. He was a member of the Quebec Harbor Commission, and, as such, did a great deal to improve the harbor, and later, when in parliament, successfully recommended to the government, in a strong business speech, the necessity of consolidating the debt and securing the bonds, in order to raise more capital to proceed with the works, without adding much to the interest that had then to be paid. He was a director of the North Shore railway, and one of the few who attended the first meeting held to revive the charter of that company; was a director of the Gosford (afterwards the Lake St. John) railway; was a provisional director of the Stadacona Bank, whose charter he had secured through parliament. It was while Mr. Tourangeau was mayor, and with his assistance, that the present steam ferry between Quebec and Levis was established, by means of a contract, drafted by himself. During his regime the street railway was first operated in Quebec, the contract being drafted by himself, and the fire alarm telegraph was decided upon after an inspection of the same in Montreal. All the acts concerning the incorporation of the city of Quebec were consolidated and amended, the city debt was consolidated, the fiscal year was made to agree with house rents, and the finances of the city were placed on a sound basis. Other important reforms were effected. Besides practising as a notary, Mr. Tourangeau did business as a broker and insurance agent for some years till he went back to politics, and having the advantage of being favorably known, and of knowing personally the character and standing of mostly every one in Quebec, met with great success. In 1865 and 1866 Mr. Tourangeau went into the brewing business, under the name and firm of Tourangeau, Lloyd & Co., but afterwards withdrew, owing to the sharp competition, which brought ruin on those who persisted in it. Mr. Tourangeau was married in 1861 to Victoria A. Jourdain, daughter of Augustus Jourdain, who died in Quebec in 1840, after being for many years the librarian of the then Executive Council of Lower Canada. Mr. Tourangeau is a man with broad views, who always enjoyed the respect and esteem of all classes, irrespective of creed or nationality. In politics he gave his support to the Liberal party, either as a candidate or in favor of Liberal candidates, until his fourth election as mayor, in 1869, when several of the Liberal leaders went with the Conservatives against him, and from that date Mr. Tourangeau withdrew his confidence in the Liberal party, and gave it to the Conservatives, but in an independent way, voting against them when not in sympathy with his principles. He was in favor of confederation at the time, and voted for the admission of Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and the North-West Territories into the Union. A great event in the life of Mr. Tourangeau and the history of Quebec was the besieging of the city hall while he was mayor. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to substitute commissioners appointed by the government for the mayor and council, elected by the people; but at the session of 1869 to 1870 the adversaries of Mr. Tourangeau managed to get a majority of Parliament to decide, notwithstanding the energetic protests of the citizens of Quebec, that a new election must take place. The mayor and councillors, who a few days before had been elected by the people, to be subject to a new election, and the mayor to be elected by the councillors, who would be the outcome of this new election. Acting upon the advice of the city attorney, L. G. Baillairgé, Q.C., the Hon. G. O’Kill Stuart, Q.C., and other prominent lawyers, Mr. Tourangeau kept possession of the city hall, and allowed no one in, in order to prevent the new councillors from entering the place and electing another mayor. An informal election, however, took place outside, and for some time the city had two mayors. A writ against Mr. Tourangeau did not succeed, and he declared that he would rather be starved to death than give up his rights. Thereupon the chief of police was ordered to break in the doors and take possession of the city hall in the name of the new mayor and councillors. The chief of police declared that he was legally advised not to do this, but that he would obey if this order was given him in writing. No one consenting to do this, twelve men belonging to the rowdy element, were hired for the purpose, and did the work, to the great disgust of the citizens, who had full confidence in Mr. Tourangeau, whom they elected five weeks after to represent them in the House of Commons.
Carswell, James, Renfrew, President of the South Renfrew Agricultural Society, was born in 1837, in the township of Pakenham, in the county of Lanark, Ontario. His parents were Scotch, and emigrated from Glasgow, settling in the above township many years ago. Mr. Carswell received his education in the common school of his native place, and while still in his teens started out in the lumbering business, first as foreman and clerk to Jonathan Francis, whose rafts of square timber he frequently accompanied to the port of Quebec. In 1866, he removed to Renfrew, and embarked in business with Messrs. Thistle and Francis in the limits on the Madawaska. This firm having sold out their business in this locality to Jonathan Francis, purchased limits on thePetawawa, and there carried on operations under the name of Thistle & Carswell. This arrangement was continued for several years, when Mr. Francis became one of the partnership, each of the partners being equally interested in the now combined business on the Madawaska and thePetawawa. In 1884, J. H. Francis purchased his father’s interest in the business, and then the firm of Francis, Carswell & Co. built the fine saw-mill at Calabogie. After two years, J. H. Francis sold out his interest to Edward Mackay, of Renfrew, and the firm name was changed to Carswell, Thistle & Mackay, and under this name operations are now carried on. Although thus busily engaged in lumbering operations, Mr. Carswell has found time to devote considerable attention, as a pastime, to the cultivation of the large farm which lies around and below his handsome residence, which stands prominently on the hill top, overlooking the village. The farm, by purchase after purchase, has grown to large dimensions, and extends from the residence right down to the banks of the Bonnechere. By careful and judicious, though liberal, expenditure, Mr. Carswell has brought this property into excellent producing condition; and by employing a number of men and availing himself of all the improvements in machinery, is able to enjoy the life of a “gentleman farmer,” with probably more profit than usually falls to the fate of that class of agriculturists. Mr. Carswell’s most active public duties have probably been in connection with the Agricultural Society, to the advancement of the interests of which he has devoted both his time and his money. And when we state that he is ever ready to take vigorous hold of work in connection with the institutions in which he holds either membership or office, it will be readily understood why for the last eight years he has been unanimously re-elected president. But he has also an open heart for the general good in other ways. He gave to the Renfrew Lacrosse Club at a nominal price five acres of valuable property adjoining the centre of the village, on the condition that it was to be always and only used for the purposes of healthful recreation by the young men of the neighborhood. Mr. Carswell was for two years a member of the Renfrew village council, but declined to act after that time, though hard pressed to do so. He has been for years a valuable member of the business committee of the Presbyterian church, and though offered he declined the proffered position of elder in the same denominational body. And in the matter of politics, if he has not taken any very prominent part, it is certainly not the fault of his friends, who time after time have pressed him to accept the nomination for both houses as the candidate of the Conservative party. This honor, however, he has steadily refused to accept, though his personal popularity would undoubtedly have made him a very strong candidate. Altogether, Mr. Carswell comes under the head of a “good citizen,” whose character and heart have not been spoiled by the somewhat dangerous endowments of riches and success in life. He was married, in 1865, to Jane White, of Fitzroy, and the union has been blessed with nine children, six sons and three daughters, six of whom, three boys and three girls, are living.
Norquay, Hon. John, Ex-President of the Council, Secretary of the Railway Commissioners, and Ex-Premier of the province of Manitoba, was born in St. Andrews, Manitoba, on the 8th of May, 1841. Mr. Norquay is not only a native of Manitoba, but he has a strain of Indian blood in his veins, and is all the more remarkable, therefore, as being not only the greatest man the province ever produced, but as standing on a plane in point of ability in public affairs high above that occupied by any resident of the province up to this time. Mr. Norquay first came to the front after the troublesome times of 1869-70 when the first Riel rebellion set the whole country on fire with anxiety and excitement. His peculiar position as one in whom both half-breeds and whites could have confidence, together with a forcible way of stating sound and moderate views made him the centre of the common ground upon which all soon agreed to stand, and marked him out as a leader. He was made Minister of Public Works in the first ministry after the settlement of the troubles in 1871, and from that time until the present he has had an almost uninterrupted career of ministerial successes. He stood for the Commons in Marquette, in 1872, but was defeated. This contest, however, did not affect his position as a provincial representative. In the Assembly, he sat for High Bluff, from 1870 to 1874, but since then he continuously represented St. Andrews, being three times elected by acclamation and twice by large majorities. He resigned, with his colleagues, in 1874, but became Provincial Secretary in the following year, in the Davis administration, and resumed the office of Public Works in 1876. Two years later he became Premier, being the head of what was known as the Norquay-Royal Administration in which he held the portfolio of treasurer. Mr. Royal, differing with his leader on a question of public policy, resigned, as did also Mr. Delorme, Minister of Agriculture. Two English-speaking members of the government were appointed, but after the general election of 1879, in which he was sustained, Mr. Norquay was able to fill the place with two French-speaking members. This administration has held power since, though changes have been made in its membership which leaves Mr. Norquay the only member who has held a place in it from the first. Mr. Norquay has held several different portfolios at different times, but always retained the lead, being always the dominating power of the province. Under his rule Manitoba has grown from a straggling settlement along the Red River to a province of great size and marvellous industrial development. His vigorous and far-sighted policy in relation to railways has caused the extension of important lines to all parts of the province including the first forty miles of the Hudson’s Bay road which Manitobans fondly believe some day will give them access to their own sea coast on the “Mediterranean of America,” the vast inland ocean of Hudson’s Bay. Within the last few months the province has been in a ferment over the demand of a portion of the people for the building of a line from Winnipeg southward to connect at the American boundary with a branch of the Northern Pacific Railway. Mr. Norquay, true to his record, championed this course and sought, by every means in his power, to secure the construction of the road. The Dominion government, with the general policy of which Mr. Norquay is in accord, sought in every way to block this enterprise, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, whose monopoly was threatened, also opposed it. Notwithstanding Mr. Norquay’s utmost efforts, the opposition he met from all sides prevented the sale on fair terms of the provincial bonds, with the proceeds of which it was intended to construct the road. The original contractors withdrew, but another firm stood ready to assume the contract, on condition that a margin of cash was placed in the hands of responsible parties. The citizens of Winnipeg were appealed to for the necessary advance, and steps were taken to raise the money, but owing to the intrigues of a faction, who adopted this means to promote their own political ends, the negotiations were rendered abortive, and the construction of the road is postponed, at least until the summer of 1888. Mr. Norquay and Mr. Hamilton, attorney-general, were the only delegates from Manitoba to the Inter-Provincial conference, to whose deliberations he brought the results of his long experience and great ability. Owing mainly to complications arising out of the failure to build the railway within the season, it was deemed inadvisable to attempt to carry on the government as then constituted; Hon. Mr. Norquay and Hon. Mr. Lariviere therefore resigned their places in the administration, which has since been reorganized, with Hon. Mr. Harrison as Premier. Mr. Norquay announces himself as a supporter of the ministry thus constituted. The ex-Premier of Manitoba owes his long continuance in power to a combination of talents, prominent among which are moderation, boldness tempered with judgment, eloquence and the capacity for ceaseless work.
Brock, Rev. Isaac, M.A. (Oxford), D.D., Canon, of St. Luke’s Cathedral, Halifax; President of King’s College, Nova Scotia, was born near Winchester, Hants, England, in 1829. His father was the Rev. William Brock, M.A., rector of Bishops Waltham, Hants, and a native of the Isle of Guernsey; his mother belonged to the family of Gossett, and was a native of the adjoining Island of Jersey. The father of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock (the hero of Upper Canada), and father of our subject’s grandfather (Rev. Thomas Brock, M.A., rector of St. Pierre du Bois, Guernsey) were brothers, so that Sir Isaac Brock was first cousin to our subject’s grandfather. Canon Brock was educated at Clifton school, York, and Queen’s college, Oxford. He graduated, in 1851 with first class honors in mathematics. He was ordained in the diocese of Tuam, Ireland: deacon in 1852; priest in 1853; was missionary of the Irish Church Missions in Connemara and Galway, 1852-1858. He was secretary of the Islington Protestant Institute (London), 1858-1861; incumbent of the Jews’ Episcopal Chapel, Palestine place, Bethnal Green, 1861-1866; rector of the Chapel of Ease, Lower Holloway, London N., 1866-1868; principal of Huron College, London, Ontario, 1868-1872; rector of Galt, Ontario, 1872-1873; assistant rector of Sherbrooke, Quebec, 1873-1882; rector of Bishop’s College School, Lennoxville, 1882-1883; rector of Londonderry, N.S., 1883-1885. In August, 1885, our subject was appointed by the Board of Governors of King’s College, acting president of that institution and professor of divinity in the same. May 1st, 1886, he was installed as canon of St. Luke’s Cathedral, Halifax, N.S., by the late Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Right Rev. Hibbert Binney, D.D., and on the 8th of June of the same year was made president of King’s College, which position he now holds. Canon Brock is an intensely loyal Churchman, and ever ready to defend and propagate the principles of the English branch of the Holy Catholic church. He married, in Dublin in 1855, Ruby Roberta, eldest daughter of Thomas Crawford Butler, of Carlow, Ireland, and has issue living three sons and three daughters. Canon Brock is known in the theologico-literary world by a volume of sermons, published in England, on the Apostles’ Creed, and which attracted considerable attention. Since his arrival in Canada he has also published several detached sermons and addresses upon the following, amongst other, subjects, viz.:—“The English Reformation,” “The Two Records; or, Geology and Genesis,” “The Modern Doctrine of Force and Belief in a Personal God,” “Apostolical Succession,” “The Anglican Doctrine of Holy Baptism.” That Canon Brock possesses peculiar fitness for the position he now so worthily fills may readily be imagined, for, to profound scholarship he adds a ripe experience, gained by contact with a variety of classes of his fellow beings in many quarters of the British dominions. The University of King’s College, of which he is president, is the oldest university of British origin in the colonial empire of our Queen, being founded by the first Bishop of Nova Scotia, the Right Rev. Charles Inglis, D.D., in A.D. 1788, the year after the latter’s consecration to the episcopate. Canon Brock apparently has yet many years of usefulness before him, being full of vigor and gives promise of reaching a ripe old age.
Fournier, Hon. Telesphore, Ottawa, Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, was born in St. François, Riviére du Sud, Montmagny county, P.Q., in the year 1823. He received his education at Nicolet College, and was called to the bar of Lower Canada in 1846. He practised his profession with success, having remarkable gifts, not only as a speaker, but in the mental grasp necessary to understand the bearings of the law upon any case brought to his attention. He held the honorable position ofBâtonnierof the Quebec bar, an office which has been an object of ambition with some of the greatest men the province has produced, and afterwards was made president of the general council of the bar of the province of Quebec. In 1863 he was made Queen’s counsel. Judge Fournier, like so many of the politicians of Quebec, had the training, not only of a legal practice, but also of editorial experience. From 1856 to 1858 inclusive, he was one of the editors ofLe Nationalnewspaper, of Quebec, his writing attracting wide attention, because of its clear, original thought and vigorous method. In 1857, Mr. Fournier was married, his bride being Miss Deniers, of Quebec. He entered the arena of Dominion politics in August, 1870, when he was nominated as the Liberal candidate for Bellechasse, on M. Casault, the sitting member, being appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec. No other nominations were made, and Mr. Fournier was returned by acclamation. He continued to represent the same constituency as long as he remained in the House of Commons. Beginning his parliamentary career before dual representation was abolished, Mr. Fournier held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of his native province while still a member of the Dominion parliament. In 1871 he was elected to the Assembly for Montmagny, and held that position until 7th November, 1873, when he resigned. His resignation was made necessary by his being called to the Privy Council of the Dominion as a member of the Hon. Mr. Mackenzie’s cabinet. He took first, the portfolio of inland revenue, but on 8th July, 1874, was given a place of greater usefulness, to succeed the Hon. (now Sir) A. A. Dorion on the appointment of that gentleman to be chief justice of Quebec. As minister of justice, he introduced and conducted through Parliament the bill establishing the Supreme Court. This was no light task, for the measure was attacked, not only as being undesirable, but as being unconstitutional. In his defence of the measure, Mr. Fournier exhibited remarkable breadth of knowledge as well as great power as a debater. The Insolvent Act of 1875, one of the ablest efforts ever made to settle the vexed and complicated question of dealing with insolvent debtors, was also conducted through parliament by him. In May, 1875, he became postmaster general, but resigned that office in October following to take a judgeship in the Supreme Court. Judge Fournier is recognised by his colleagues and the public as one of the ablest men on the bench. His wide and accurate knowledge of the law of his native province, makes him a particularly valuable addition to the Supreme Court bench. He does not feel the trammels of legal traditions so much as to cause him to regard these rather than the ends of justice which they are intended to serve. At the same time, his fine legal insight enables him to decide upon broad grounds of principles or long-established practice points which minds less fully trained could only deal with by slavish following of precedent.
McHenry, Donald C., M.A., Principal of the Cobourg Collegiate Institute, Cobourg, Ont., was born in Napanee, Ont., in 1840. He is son of Alexander McHenry (from county Antrim, Ireland), and Ellen Campbell, daughter of Archibald Campbell, Adolphustown, county of Lennox, a descendant of the Campbells of Argyleshire. Mr. McHenry, senr., was for some years engaged in the timber business on the Ottawa, but subsequently he was in the dry-goods business in connection with his brother-in-law, Alexander Campbell, Napanee. He died in 1847, leaving a widow and three children, the eldest, the subject of this sketch; a daughter, now Mrs. Alexander Henry, Napanee, and Miss Nellie, still living with her mother in their native town. The father, about the time of his marriage, united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, of which he remained a faithful member until his death. Upon Mrs. McHenry devolved the arduous task of bringing up her three children; and any success they have attained, they are proud to say, they largely owe to their devoted Christian mother. D. C. McHenry received his early education in Napanee. When thirteen years of age he went to learn the printing business, soon became fairly acquainted with its details, and rose to the position of foreman in the office of theStandard. The printing office proved, indeed, a second school to him, and his spare hours were given to reading and study. He longed for a higher education, and when about nineteen years of age, he closed the door of the printing office to open that of the academy, as an eager student, under R. Phillips, head master, a man beloved by all who have ever been under his instruction. After remaining here a year or two, he was induced to undertake the management of a new paper started in Napanee by the McMullen Bros., of Picton. At the end of one year the paper was removed to Newburgh, seven miles distant, but after eight months Mr. McHenry returned to Napanee. A vacancy having occurred in the second position in the Grammar school, he was advised to apply for the appointment. He did so, and was soon an occupant of a teacher’s chair, in the school where he had lately been a pupil. The work of teaching proved congenial, and he was soon fixed in this as his probable life-work. His ambition led him to desire a university course, and with this in view he devoted himself assiduously to the study of classics, being aided in Latin, but getting up his Greek with very limited assistance. After six years of very successful work in this position, he resigned, in 1869, and left for Victoria College, from which he graduated in 1873. His course was one of close application and uniform success—first-class honours in classics and moderns—receiving the second Prince of Wales’ medal for general proficiency, and the scholarship for excellence in moderns. Five months prior to graduation he was offered, and accepted the classical mastership of Cobourg Collegiate Institute—a substitute being accepted in the meantime. After one year he was promoted to the principalship, which position he has filled for the past thirteen years. It was at this time (1874), that he was united in marriage to Alice, daughter of John Grange, of Napanee. His school was, for many years, about the only one that prepared students for Victoria, and notwithstanding the multiplication of institutes (from four to eighteen), it has held its own, and sent up for arts alone about two hundred and fifty during Mr. McHenry’s thirteen years, besides a large number for teachers’ examinations, for law, medicine, theology, etc. In regard to Mr. McHenry’s personal and professional qualities, we quote from testimonials of well-known educationists: —