Part 16

=Cole, George M.=, President and Manager of the Plattsburgh Gas and Electric Company, Plattsburgh, N.Y., U.S.A., was born at Brockville, Ont., December 31, 1862, his father being W. H. Cole. Receiving his early education at the Brockville Public and High School, Mr. Cole migrated to the United States in 1887 where, as a contractor, he was connected with the construction of several early street railways in that country; building the first in Columbia, South Carolina; Ansonia, Connecticut; and Newburgh, New York; in addition to an extension to existing lines in Brooklyn, New York. Two years later, in 1889, he purchased the Plattsburgh Gas Works in partnership with a New York capitalist and became the Manager of the business, which position he still occupies. So successful was the undertaking that Mr. Cole was approached by the owners of the Plattsburgh Electric Lighting Plant with the result that the two works were amalgamated in 1890 and very considerably enlarged. By this time the old-fashioned horse cars had become a thing of the past and George Cole obtained a franchise for the construction of a modern street railway, which he built and managed for some years in addition to supplying the necessary power for its operation. This railway was later purchased by the Delaware & Hudson Railway Co., the present owners. To-day the Gas and Electric Company controls its particular field in Plattsburgh and vicinity, owning and operating two water power developments on the Saranac River, which is the outlet of the Upper and Lower Saranac Lakes, among the largest in the Adirondacks. Mr. Cole married Emma, daughter of W. H. Chappel, in 1891, by whom he has two sons, Eugene M. and Howard C. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Republican in politics. Among the societies of which he is a member are Plattsburgh Lodge 828, A.F. &. A.M., Plattsburgh Chapter, No. 39, R.A.M., De Soto Cun. No. 49, K.T., Plattsburgh and Oriental Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Troy, N.Y.

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=Charlton, William Granville=, Editor and Publisher (Aylmer, Ont.), the son of John R. and Emily J. Charlton, one of six children, one girl and four boys, all living except one, was born in the Township of South Dorchester, January 1, 1868; his earlier education took place at the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute, going from there to the Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and finally to Bethany College, Bethany, Va., where he graduated in 1893. He married Martha N. Black, the daughter of Martha M. Wells, widow of the late Noris Black and has one daughter, Eunice Eva Charlton, born May 13, 1901. Mr. Charlton was brought up on a farm and has practically devoted his energies to farming most of his life, and almost by his own efforts secured his education. He is a member of the Church of Christ, and for twenty-seven years has preached the Gospel with little intermission due only to illness. He is a great Bible School worker, and has been preaching and teaching prohibition for thirty years, and happy to be living to see the fruits of his labor in that direction. He has been connected with newspaper work since January 1, 1916, when he became editor and publisher of the “East Elgin Tribune.” In politics he is a Liberal and in 1913 was chosen by that party as a candidate for Federal honors to represent East Elgin at the next Dominion Elections.

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=Ball, Robert James, M.P. for South Grey, Ont.= (Hanover, Ont.), was born at Allan Park, Township of Bentinck, Ont., on Jan. 15, 1857. Is the son of James Ball and his wife, Jane, formerly Jane Cain. Lived on his father’s farm till eighteen years of age. Was educated at Hampden Public School, Collingwood Collegiate Institute and Ottawa Normal School, from which latter institution he graduated with a Second-class Teacher’s Certificate, Grade A. On graduating, he taught school for ten years, then spent five years as an accountant, three years as a private banker, and two years in the life insurance business, when he became a furniture manufacturer, which business he has carried on for twenty-two years. He is managing director of the Ball Furniture Co., Limited, and also director in Morlock Bros., upholsterers; he is also President of The Reliance Investment and Developing Co., Ltd., of Hanover, Ont. Politically, Mr. Ball has been very active, being three years Municipal Councillor of the Town of Hanover, two years Commissioner for the County of Grey, two years Reeve of the town of Hanover, and, in 1908, was Warden of the County of Grey. In 1908, he was Conservative candidate for South Grey against H. H. Miller, and was defeated, but reduced Miller’s majority from 316 to 87. In 1911 he was elected to the House of Commons over H. H. Miller by a majority of 48. Mr. Ball was married August 11, 1882, to Mary Jane, daughter of Anthony and Mary Leonard, of the Township of Normanby, and is the father of six children: Milton Leonard, Austin Elmer, Ethel May, Elma Lilian, Captain Stanley Stafford Ball, M.D., and Mabel Lottie. He is a member of the Masonic Order and also of the Independent Order of Foresters. In religion he is a Methodist, and politically is a Liberal-Conservative.

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=Coombs, Albert Ernest= (St. Catharines, Ont.), son of John and Susan Coombs. Was born on a farm near Richmond Hill in the County of York, April 2, 1871. Educated at the public and high school of Richmond Hill and at Toronto University, from which he received the following degrees: B.A. with honors in classics, 1892; M.A., 1895, and B.Paed., 1897. Principal Coombs began his teaching career in 1892 and was principal of Richmond Hill High School, 1895-99. Principal of Newmarket High School, 1899-1909, when he accepted the position of principal of St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, which he now holds. He served three years as examiner at Normal College, and set papers in History of Education and School Management. Is a Past President of the Classical Association of Ontario and has frequently acted as Association Examiner. Successively a director, Horticultural and Agricultural Societies; member Town Council and chairman Public Library Board, Newmarket. Has had considerable experience as a lecturer on a variety of subjects. Was formerly in the Militia and holds a Captaincy in the 19th Lincoln Regiment and served in that capacity on the Welland Canal Protective Force in 1914. Has always been opposed to the abolition of written examinations in our educational system, and is a strong friend of the Boy Scout movement, being Boy Scout Commissioner of St. Catharines district. Married in 1897, to Miss Beatrice Elliott, daughter of the late Wm. Elliott, V.S., of Palmerston, Ont., and is the father of three children: Alice, born 1899; Adele, born 1905; Margaret, born 1908. Is a member of the Canadian Club, St. Catharines, of which he is a Past President; also is Past Master of the Maple Leaf Lodge, A.F. & A.M., St. Catharines, and Past Principal of Mount Moriah Chapter; Member of the I.O.O.F. Principal Coombs was formerly a long-distance bicycle rider and association football player. He now takes a lively interest in lawn bowling. In religion he is a Methodist and a member of St. Paul Street Methodist Church, St. Catharines. Politically, he may be classed as an Independent-Liberal.

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=Anderson, James T. M., M.A., LL.B., D.Paed.=, Yorkton, Sask. One of the many graduates of the Ontario “little red school-house” who have achieved success in their chosen professions is Dr. James Thomas Milton Anderson, M.A., LL.B., of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Dr. Anderson, who has won many scholastic honors, is at present inspector of schools for the Yorkton district. Dr. Anderson was born at Fairbank, Ontario, July 23, 1878. His parents were Mary and James Anderson and the present inspector of schools had all the advantages of early life on a farm. One must consider it an advantage when one remembers the sons of farmers who have gone to the top in scholastic circles. The subject of this sketch began his education at Public School, S.S. No. 15, York, and went from there to West Toronto Collegiate Institute. Going west he won his degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Manitoba in 1911, when he was Silver Medallist in Classics. He gained his LL.B. at the same university in 1913, and his M.A. in 1914, completing his preparation for his present work by graduating as Doctor of Pedagogy in 1917. Dr. Anderson showed rare power of concentration in study as these three degrees were obtained extra-murally and he is also a medallist in penmanship and a clever cartoonist. His life for the last ten years has been devoted to teaching and working among the foreigners who have come to Canada’s great “melting pot.” Dr. Anderson is intensely interested in the work of assimilation which means so much to Canada’s future as a nation. He has published a number of articles on the subject and a book on the “Education of the New-Canadian” (J. M. Dent & Sons, Toronto). Dr. Anderson, whose mother resides in Saltcoats, Sask., was married on July 26, 1911, to Edith, daughter of Mrs. M. Redgwick, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, and has two children: Byron R., born October 10, 1913, and Edith Elaine, born March 31, 1917. In religion he is an Anglican, a member of the Orange Order, and President of the School Inspectors’ Association of Saskatchewan.

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=Elliott, John Campbell, D.C.L., M.L.A.= Middlesex West (Glencoe, Ont.). Son of George Campbell (Irish descent), and Jane Elliott (Scotch descent); both parents were born in Canada. Was born at Ekfrid Township, Middlesex County, on July 25, 1872; educated at Ekfrid Public School, Glencoe High School, and Trinity University, B.C.L. 1898, and Toronto University, D.C.L. 1905. Mr. Elliott’s early days were spent on the farm where he was born; he took a third-class certificate in 1890; second-class in 1891, and Matriculation 1892, and was called to the Bar in 1898, having taken a high standard at the Law School at Osgoode Hall. First elected to the Ontario Legislature at the general elections in 1908; re-elected 1911-1914. He is a member of the Ontario Club, and the Masonic Order, of which he was Past District Deputy, Erie District; of the Sons of Scotland and the I.O.O.F. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Liberal in politics. Mr. Elliott is recognized as a clever lawyer and an able speaker, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the members on both sides of the House. He is unmarried.

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=Bronson, Hon. Erskine Henry=, was born at Bolton, Warren County, New York, September 12, 1844. He is the son of the late Henry Franklin and Edith (Pierce) Bronson, the one man who, coming to Ottawa, Canada, in 1852, understood the feasibility of converting the large lakes and furious and foaming falls of the Ottawa River into a channel for the driving of saw-logs, and erecting mills on its banks, placed in operation a lumber industry that soon had in its employ hundreds, and afterwards thousands of employees. Having received a good education at Sandy Hill, N.Y., and at the Grammar School, Ottawa, when quite a youth, the Hon. Erskine Henry Bronson, joined his father’s company, The Bronson-Weston Lumber Company, and in 1867 acquired an interest in the company. In 1870 he became a member of the Ottawa City Council and chairman of the Finance Committee, and continued as such until 1878, when he retired. For fourteen years he was a member of the Ottawa School Board. He is ex-Trustee of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. Unlike his father, who never interested himself in politics, in 1882 Mr. Bronson was an unsuccessful candidate to the House of Commons for Carleton County, Ontario; but in 1886, having had presented to him a petition signed by thousands of the best and most influential residents in the Capital urgently soliciting him to become a candidate for the local Legislature, he consented to run and was elected by a large majority, and re-elected at every succeeding election until 1898, when he retired from active political life. In 1890, September 10, four years after he was first elected, he joined the Mowat Government without Portfolio and held a similar position when the Hardy Government was formed. Had he so desired he could probably have remained a member of the local Legislature even to this date, as few, if any, in Ottawa were or are more appreciated or ever received more popularity than the same Hon. Erskine Henry Bronson. The poor of the city, to whom his firm in winter time never failed to extend the helping hand in furnishing them with winter fuel and in other ways, could never forget, nor overlook, his kindly and substantial consideration of their needs and his name was, and is to-day, cherished in every home. To others, with whom he came in contact, he was always a valuable friend and counsellor, and his advice on financial and other matters was eagerly sought and freely given. On his father’s decease Mr. Bronson succeeded him as President of the Bronson-Weston Lumber Company, in 1889. He was one of the inaugurators of the Ottawa Electric Company. Mr. Bronson is President of the Bronson Company, Water Power and Manufacturers of Ground Wood Pulp, 150 Middle Street, Ottawa; President, Ottawa Improvement Company; Vice-President, Ottawa Light, Heat & Power Company; President, Ottawa Power Company, and a director of the Ottawa Electric Company. In 1874 Mr. Bronson married Ella H. Webster, of Norfolk, Va. He has one son and one daughter. In religion he is a Presbyterian. In politics, a Liberal. His residence is 75 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa.

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=Bain, John=, Journalist, private secretary, civil servant, promoter, and now financial broker and departmental agent and customs specialist, Castle Building, Ottawa, came to Canada in 1888 and engaged in law and newspaper work. Later he was engaged as expert shorthand writer in the New York law courts. When the Liberal Party was returned to power in 1896 he was appointed Private Secretary to the Minister of Customs, Hon. Wm. Patterson, and accompanied the Minister to England in 1902, doing the secretarial work there connected with the trade questions that were discussed at the Colonial Conference. His services were also utilized in connection with the trade negotiations with the French Government at Paris. He held the position of Assistant Commissioner of Customs of Canada for five years, and was Secretary of the Tariff Commission of 1906-07. He promoted and organized the Canadian Western Natural Gas, Light, Heat and Power Company, Calgary. He was appointed Imperial Trade Correspondent for Ottawa District for the British Board of Trade in 1909. Although one of the old, steadfast and prominent Liberals in the capital, he joined and became active in the ranks of the Unionist Party during the general elections in 1917, and, as publicity director, rendered valuable service to the Unionist cause. His pithy paragraphs and pointed questions, such as “How would the Kaiser Vote?” which were printed in the campaign literature and in the press throughout Canada, attracted widespread attention and were used with telling effect by the various public speakers during the campaign. Mr. Bain is the son of Robert and Agnes Bain and was born at Paisley, Scotland, June 8, 1869, where he received his education. April 5, 1899, he married Maude Buckley, daughter of P. Buckley, Paris, Ontario, and has two daughters—Audrey Maie, born 1900, and Alison Muriel, born 1903. In politics Mr. Bain is a Liberal, in religion a Presbyterian. His residence is 167 James St. He is a member of the Laurentian Club, Ottawa, and the Ranchman’s, Calgary.

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=De Celles, Alfred Duclos, LL.D., F.R.S.C., C.M.G.=, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, General Librarian of Parliament, was born at St. Laurent, near Montreal, in 1844, and was educated at Laval University, Quebec, where he graduated in letters. He is the son of Augustin D. De Celles, a prominent notary, and Agnes Holmes, an American lady. Abbé John Holmes, a noted preacher in Quebec, related to O. W. Holmes, was his uncle. In October, 1876, he married Eugenie Dorion, daughter of Eugene Dorion and Mary Panet, and has one son, Alfred Eugene De Celles. He is a distinguished Canadian litterateur and publicist. For a time he was a member of the Board of Civil Service Examiners. In 1867, Mr. De Celles, on account of ill-health, left the Laval University to take up the editorial chair of “Le Journal de Quebec” during Mr. Cauchon’s absence in Europe. On the return of the latter he remained connected with the paper until 1872, when he entered the “Minerve”, chief Conservative paper of the province of Quebec, as editor-in-chief. He remained there until 1880, when he was appointed assistant librarian of the Parliamentary Library of Ottawa. In 1886, he became joint librarian with Mr. Martin J. Griffin. For several years after he entered the Library he had charge of “L’Opinion Publique,” a weekly paper published in Montreal, chiefly devoted to literature and history. Mr. De Celles, in 1896, published a History of the United States under the following title: “Les Etats-Unis, origine—institutions—development.” For this work he received a prize from the Academie des Sciences Morales et Politiques of France. A few years later he wrote in English, the Life of Papineau and Cartier, in “The Makers of Canada.” This work was subsequently published in French, in an enlarged form, together with a Life of Cartier, the three volumes forming a political history of Canada. Reviewing Mr. De Celles’ Papineau, the London “Outlook” (Jan. 13, 1906) summed up this work as follows: “Mr. De Celles has traced this out through the quarter of a century in which Papineau was the most brilliant, if not the most wise figure in French-Canadian politics, with the natural sympathy of a compatriot, though by no means without due recognition of his hero’s failings. . . . He has given us an admirable picture of a strange and picturesque career. Everyone has heard of Papineau, and most Canadians have some idea of his achievements, but little probably of his personality.” Mr. De Celles has also contributed to “Canada and Its Provinces,” a synopsis of the History of Quebec under Confederation and an extensive history of colonization under this title: “The Habitant”: and an outline of the municipal system in Lower Canada. He has contributed to The Chronicles of Canada the “Patriotes of 1837,” a history of the Canadian Rebellion. In 1904, he was named Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, and in 1907 received the title of C.M.G. In 1884, he was received Member of the Royal Society, and since 1903 he has occupied the post of President of l’Alliance Française. Mr. De Celles is in religion a Catholic, and he resides in Ottawa.

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=Evanturel, Gustave, M.P.P.= for Prescott Co. (Alfred), was born March 19, 1880, at Ottawa, son of the Hon. Alfred Evanturel and Louisa Lee. Father was Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 1898 to 1902 and Minister in the Ross Government from Nov. 22, 1904, to Jan. 25, 1905. Educated at Bourget College, Rigaud, and Seminaire de Ste. Therese, P.Q., and Laval University, from which latter institution he graduated with the degree of B.L. Married, Sept. 26, 1910, Marie Emelia, daughter of the late Paul Chevrier, of Vaudreuil. Notary public by profession; was President of L’Alliance Nationale, a mutual life insurance company of the Court of Alfred, which is called “Cercle Evanturel.” Mr. Evanturel has taken an active part in politics since the age of 17 years, especially in the County of Prescott, which his father represented from 1884 until 1905, being the first French-Canadian to enter the Ontario Legislature, the first representative of that race to be Speaker of the Ontario Assembly, and the first French-Canadian to enter the Ontario Government as Cabinet Minister. The subject of this sketch was first returned to the Ontario Legislature to represent the County of Prescott on December 11, 1911, with a majority of 284, and re-elected on June 29, 1914, over two opponents by an increased majority of 350, defeating the Conservative candidate by over 1,000. Was Civil Servant in the Privy Council Department in 1908, and, on his election as a member for Prescott County, when he succeeded his late father, was the youngest member of the Assembly. He is an eloquent speaker in both French and English, and has been a strong supporter of bi-lingualism on the floor of the Ontario Legislature, being the first member of the House to open the discussion on the bi-lingual school question during the Session of the Legislature in the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916. He has all the fire and dash of his race and is extremely popular on both sides of the House, and throughout Eastern Ontario, where he is well known.

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=Fraleck, Edison Baldwin=, was born in the township of Sydney in the County of Hastings on the 6th day of February, 1841, being descended from United Empire Loyalist stock. His grandfather, Lewis Fraleck, a Loyalist, came to Canada; his father, Thomas Tillotson Fraleck, served on the Loyalist side throughout the whole period of the war 1812-15, being engaged on the Niagara Peninsula. His maternal grandfather was Robert Nicholson, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a Major in a Highland Regiment, served throughout the American Revolutionary War; came to Canada about 1793. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Public and High schools and Queen’s University, Kingston, from which he graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1863, and was called to the Bar 1868. Successfully practised his profession at Belleville for many years and was appointed Junior Judge for the County of Hastings on December 28, 1881, which office he filled for some thirty-five years, when he retired. Was revising officer for East and West Hastings, and a Judge of the Surrogate Court for the County of Hastings for ten years, and a member of Queen’s University Council for over twenty-five years. Served as Lieutenant in the 49th Regiment 1868-74, and retired retaining rank. He was noted as a strong and active writer on all political subjects before his elevation to the Bench. Being a keen sportsman, taking a lively interest in hunting, fishing, camping and canoeing, Judge Fraleck contributed frequently to the “Canadian Magazine,” “Canada Sportsmen,” “Forest and Stream,” the result of his experience. He has always been an ardent Imperialist and Protectionist. Judge Fraleck has won distinction as a ready and fluent speaker, and rendered splendid services as such during the Confederation campaign and subsequently. Married August 14, 1874, to Jane E., daughter of William Judd, of Stirling, County of Hastings, and five children were the result of the union: Ernest Leigh (died 1909), Charles Cecil, Madeliene, Jessie, and Helen. He is a member of the Masonic Order and Orange Order, and in religion is a Presbyterian. Politically, the Judge was before his elevation to the Bench, a member of the Conservative Party.

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