Part 17

=Davey, James= (Ottawa, Ont). The Ottawa Manager of The Toronto General Trusts Corporation; has been with the Company since it was first established by the late J. W. Langmuir, in the spring of 1882, and was its first accountant. In April, 1917, he celebrated the 35th anniversary of his connection with the company. In length of service he is the oldest Canadian trust company officer. He has been manager of the Ottawa branch of Toronto General Trusts Corporation since 1905. Mr. Davey arrived in Canada in March, 1882, after having been for nearly ten years in the accountant’s office of one of the largest newspaper publishing houses in the West of England. For a period of 15 years he was chief accountant of The Toronto General Trusts Corporation, afterwards occupying the position of secretary for several years. Subsequently he was placed in charge, for a period of three years, of one of the largest loan company liquidations in Canada. In January, 1902, Mr. Davey was appointed manager of the newly opened branch of The Toronto General Trusts Corporation in Winnipeg, and in January, 1905 (shortly after the Corporation purchased the business of the Ottawa Trust and Deposit Company), Manager at Ottawa. Mr. Davey was born in Alderney, Channel Islands, on September 15, 1855, and was educated at the National Schools, Alderney, and the Grammar School, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England. His parents were James Davey and Mary Anne Davey. He married Caroline Grace Gerrans, daughter of Joseph Gerrans and Mary Gerrans, Cornwall, England, and is the father of six sons and daughters—Joseph Frederick, Marion Elizabeth, Herbert Gerrans (now deceased), Thomas Deslandes, Caroline Grace, Lillian James. Mr. Davey is a member of the Laurentian Club, Ottawa, is a Methodist in religion, and an Independent in politics. He resides at 430 Maclaren Street, Ottawa.

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=Tremeear, William J.= (Pasadena, Cal.), Counsellor-at-Law, a native of Bowmanville, Ont., received his primary education at the public and high schools at Oshawa, Ont., and matriculated at Toronto University in the class of 1881, taking honors in mathematics and modern languages. He afterwards attended the law school of Osgoode Hall, Toronto, and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1886, and practised in Toronto until 1918, when he removed to Pasadena, Cal., to take up legal literary work. He is the author of several legal works of recognized authority, amongst them three editions of an annotated Criminal Code of Canada. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias and the I.O.F.

[Illustration: COL. C.A. HODGETTS, OTTAWA R.A. STAPELLS, TORONTO]

=Briggs, William, D.D.= (Toronto, Ont.), was born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland, educated in Liverpool, England, and came to Canada in 1859. He preached successfully in Montreal, London, Cobourg, Belleville and Toronto. In 1879 he was appointed Book Steward of the Methodist Book and Publishing House, a position he holds until July, 1919, when, in conformity with a recent enactment placing an age limit on all Methodist General Conference officials, he became Book Steward Emeritus. Under his management great progress has been made, and the Book Room is, without a doubt, one of the most profitable publishing houses in Canada to-day. It has grown year after year on a steady basis, and the large number of employees engaged is an indication that business must be going on regularly to carry a staff numbering in the hundreds. The mechanical departments are manned with all the latest devices in machinery and everything has been so arranged that the largest publication can be turned out on the very shortest notice. To successfully carry so large an institution means that great care is exercised by the management. Among the trade throughout Canada, Dr. Briggs is credited as being one of the most economic and shrewd managers connected with the business. The name of William Briggs is a household word throughout the Dominion and wherever he goes at the week end to supply a pulpit he is always greeted with large congregations. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Victoria University. He is a member of the Toronto Board of Trade.

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=Gibbons, John Joseph=, Advertising Counsel (Toronto, Ont.), has taken a special interest in Patriotic work in connection with the Great War; being a member of the Organization of Resources Committee (Ontario), the Toronto and York County Patriotic Association, the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Belgian Relief Association, and the Canadian War Contingent Association. He is Vice-President of the Ontario Motor League; as also a member of the National Club, the R.C.Y.C. of Toronto; and the Brantford, Lambton and Caledon Clubs. Mr. Gibbons was born in Boston, Mass., March 15, 1877, and married, May 12, 1909, Helen E., daughter of James G. Cockshutt, founder of the Cockshutt Plow Co., Brantford, Ont., by whom he has three children—Kathleen, Mary and John Cockshutt. His recreation is golf.

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=Bachand, Leonide Charles, M.D.= (Sherbrooke, Que.), son of the late J. C. Bachand, N.P. Registrar County of Bagot, Quebec, and nephew of Hon. P. Bachand, ex-Treasurer Province of Quebec. Was born at St. Pie, P.Q., October 6, 1854, educated at St. Hyacinthe and Victoria College, Montreal; graduated Victoria University, Cobourg, with degree of M.D., 1878; married, October 6, 1878, to Marie Agnes Georgine, daughter of late H. O. Camirand, of Sherbrooke, P.Q. Practised his profession at Coaticook, where he was mayor, President of Board of Trade, Chairman of School Commissioners, and also editor and co-proprietor of L’Etoile de l’Est; removed to Sherbrooke, 1899; elected Mayor there, 1908; appointed Coroner District of St. Francis; President of Medical Board of the Sherbrooke St. Vincent Hospital; Specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat. Is father of three sons, viz.: Dr. J. D. Bachand, of St. Johnsbury, C. E. Bachand, Joint Prothonotary, Sherbrooke, and Leonidas Bachand, Notary Public, and Secretary Board of Trade, Sherbrooke. Dr. Bachand is a Roman Catholic in religion, and formerly was a Liberal in politics.

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=Denis, J. Wilfred= (Nicolet, Quebec), son of Drendonne Denis, was born at St. Cuthbert, Cte. Berthier, January 21, 1871. Educated at the College of Joliette and Laval University, Montreal, graduating with the degree of B.A. Mr. Denis is a Notary Public and Registrar and Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. He has been married twice and is the father of four children, viz.: Berthe, Germaine, Jeanne and Laure. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and politically a Liberal.

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=Eddis, Wilton C.= (Toronto, Ont.), born in London, England, on September 15, 1855, and educated at Merchant Taylors School, Mr. Eddis has been a resident of Toronto for many years and is a prominent Chartered Accountant, holding the degrees of F.S.A.A. and F.C.A. He married Florence I., daughter of John Wyndham, of Dalwood, New South Wales, in 1883, and is the father of the following children: John Wyndham, Charles Sheppard, Dorothy Wyndham, Mrs. Muriel Greenwood, Mrs. Margaret Green, Mrs. Esther Lane. He is a member of the following clubs: Albany, Toronto Chess Club, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, also St. George’s Society and the Board of Trade, Toronto. In religion he is a member of the Church of England and a Conservative in politics. Mr. Eddis is also Justice of the Peace. His favorite recreation is chess.

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=Bowes, James Leslie Llewellyn= (Toronto, Ont.), Merchant, was educated at Oakwood Public School, Lindsay Collegiate Institute, and Toronto University. After graduating from the latter, he started in the wholesale produce business in 1902, with the firm of J. A. McLean Produce Co., Ltd., of which he assumed the management three years later. More recently he formed the Bowes Co., Ltd., which took over the parent business as a going concern and in addition to its produce business, developed the largest baker, confectioners, and ice cream manufacturers supply business in Canada. Its connections extend from Halifax to Vancouver, and they are both exporters and importers from all parts of the world, besides manufacturing many lines supplied to its own trade. Mr. Bowes was born in Oakwood, Ont., on February 26, 1877, the son of Margaret Ellen and Thomas Bowes, farmer, live stock dealer and exporter. He married Gladys Lansdowne, daughter of W. F. Barber, Guelph, Ont., September 22, 1908, by whom he has two children, Margaret Frances, born 1909, and Thomas Howard, born 1913. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Scarboro Golf and Country Club, Thistle Team Bowling Club, and Cold Creek Trout Club. In politics he is a Liberal, and in religion a Methodist.

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=Thomson, Levi= (Wolseley, Sask.), Member of Parliament for Qu’Appelle, Sask., is the son of John Thomson and Sarah McMillan, formerly of Scotland. He was born near Hillsburgh, in Erin Township, Ontario, February 17, 1855, and was educated in common school and Rockwood Academy. After legal studies in Toronto he emigrated to the North-West Territories in 1882, and engaged in farming near Wolseley, Sask., where he now resides. Twelve years later Mr. Thomson commenced the practice of law at Wolseley and was appointed Crown Prosecutor in 1897, which position he resigned seven years later, but became Agent of the Attorney-General of Saskatchewan for Moosomin Judicial District in 1906. The future legislator was not long in making himself felt in the public life of his community, being elected a member of the Wolseley Rural Municipality in 1887, an office which he resigned after three years’ term only to become Councillor of the Town of Wolseley in 1902-3, and finally Mayor, in 1904. In the same year Levi Thomson was the Liberal Candidate for the Dominion House in Qu’Appelle constituency, but was defeated by the narrow margin of 28 votes. Contesting Wolseley constituency for the Saskatchewan Legislature a year later he was unsuccessful by the even smaller majority of 20; but finally achieved his ambition in 1911, being returned to the Federal House for Qu’Appelle, with a handsome majority. Despite political activities, Mr. Thomson has always retained his interest in farming and was the first President of the Wolseley Agricultural Society when it was organized in 1885, retaining office for three years, and also Vice-President of the Grain Growers’ Association of Saskatchewan in 1907. At present he is extensively engaged in farming on his own account, specializing in grain and the raising of Clydesdale and grade horses. In 1884 Mr. Thomson married Mabel Maud, daughter of the late Hon. W. D. Perley, by whom he has five children, Harold F., born in 1885; Allen P., in 1888; Edwin E., in 1890; Florence M., in 1896, and Arthur M., in 1901. Since 1908 he has been a member of the Board of Governors of Saskatchewan University, and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and the Royal Templars of Temperance. In religion Mr. Thomson is a Disciple of Christ or Christian.

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=Brock, Lieut.-Col. Henry=, son of William Rees Brock, M.P., and Margaret Anna Diamond. He was born at Guelph, Ont., May 14, 1859. Educated at Upper Canada College and The University of Toronto. B.A., B.C.L., D.C.L. Married, June 16, 1891, Anna Maude Cawthra, daughter of Henry Cawthra, “Yeadon Hall,” Toronto, Barrister-at-Law. One child living, Mildred Cawthra Brock. Is a Barrister-at-Law and for many years practised in Toronto as a member of the firm of Cassels, Brock, Kelley & Falconbridge. Elected a Director of the W. R. Brock Company, Limited, in 1904. Succeeded his father as President in 1918. Director of The Western and British America Fire Insurance Companies, The British America Coal Co., and President of The Stanstead Granite Quarries Company, Limited. Was a Member of the Council of the Toronto Board of Trade for eight years and President in 1913. On Council of Ontario Associated Boards of Trade since its foundation in 1911; President of the Canadian Military Institute, 1916, 1917, 1918. An advisory member of the Council of The Aviation Club of Canada. In religion he is an Anglican and for many years has been Churchwarden of St. James’ Cathedral. Lieut.-Col. Henry Brock has had a long period of service in the Canadian Militia and at the time of his retirement from the Command of the 10th Royal Grenadiers to take a Staff appointment as Chief Recruiting Officer in Toronto was one of the Senior Militia Officers in Canada on Active Service. He joined the University Company, Queen’s Own Rifles, in July, 1877, and was appointed a Lieutenant in October, 1882; Captain, November, 1888. He served as a Lieutenant in the North-West Rebellion, 1885, was mentioned in despatches for distinguished conduct in the field, and received the Medal and Clasp. In 1891 he was posted to the Reserve of Officers and in 1897 was appointed to the 10th Royal Grenadiers as Captain, becoming Brevet Major in 1899, Senior Major in 1907, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel in 1912, and took over the Command of the Regiment in 1913. He volunteered for active service for the Nile Expedition in 1886, and for South Africa in 1899. Received Long Service Decoration in 1907. For the late European Campaign he volunteered for active service “in any position the authorities thought him fit for.” Appointed Chief Recruiting Officer for Toronto, July, 1915; Chief Recruiting Officer 2nd Military District, October, 1915; Director of National Service 2nd Military District, September 30, 1916. Member of Selective Tribunal under Military Service Act, October, 1917. Recreations: Reading and, formerly, rifle shooting and riding, cricket and football. Clubs: The Toronto Club, Toronto Hunt, University Club, Canadian Military Institute, Toronto; The Constitutional Club, London, England. Residences: 174 St. George Street, Toronto, and Park Place, Oakville.

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=Fraser, George B.=, Dry Goods Merchant (Montreal, Que.), was born at Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 29, 1854, and was educated in the Old Deer Parish School. He married Rebecca, daughter of John Morrison, Montreal, May 11, 1880, their children being Helen Edith and James Morrison Fraser. As a Director of Greenshields, Ltd., Montreal, he is actively engaged in the largest and oldest dry goods house in Canada. He is also a Director of the Bank of Montreal, the Standard Life Assurance Company and Hudson’s Bay Insurance Company. Mr. Fraser’s public offices include the following: Member of the Montreal Board of Trade, President of the Grace Dart Memorial Hospital, Vice-President of the McKay Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, Life Governor of the Montreal General Hospital, Member of the Board of Management and Life Governor of the Western Hospital, Montreal. He is a member of the St. James, Montreal and Canadian Clubs, Forest and Stream Club, and of St. Andrew’s Society. Is a Presbyterian in religion and a Liberal in politics. His chosen recreation is golf.

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=Brock, William Rees=, the late, was born on February 14, 1836, in the Township of Eramosa, near Guelph, Ontario. His father Thomas Rees Brock, was of an ancient English family who were landed proprietors near Colchester in the County of Essex. His mother was Eleanor Thompson, daughter of Thomas Thompson, of Rusheen, Queen’s County, Ireland. The young couple, aged respectively 17 and 21 years, were married at the Parish Church in Guelph and after the ceremony rode on horseback to their new home five miles away in “the wild woods.” After a few years of life on the farm Mr. Brock was persuaded that a man of his education and attainments could do better in the town and he removed to Guelph where he held several appointments as Town Auditor, Secretary of the School Board, Superintendent of the Government Road and Surrogate Court Clerk. In the fall of 1850, while out shooting in the woods, he was accidentally shot and died at his residence, Park Place, a few days afterwards, aged thirty-eight years, leaving his widow with nine children surviving. The stone house he built on the York Road is still standing. The subject of this sketch was the second child and eldest son. He immediately left the Guelph Grammar School and went into the law office of the Hon. Ferguson Blair, where he remained about a year, deciding to enter commercial life, in which he achieved so conspicuous a success. His first employment was in a general store in Caledonia. About 1854 he located in Toronto, being engaged with Scott & Laidlaw. He married on the 23rd of September, 1857, Margaret Anna, second daughter of Captain John Segur Diamond, formerly of Clonenagh, Queen’s County, Ireland, who came to Canada in 1834, and served through the rebellion of 1837 as Adjutant of the 2nd Gore Regiment. Capt. Diamond was at one time in the Royal Irish Constabulary and after his arrival in this country was engaged in business with Colonel Chisholm, of Oakville, and others, as lumbermen and vessel owners. He had died some nine years previously to his daughter’s marriage. After his marriage, Mr. Brock went into business in Guelph, but later sold out and entered the service of McArthur & Co., of Bowmanville, where he remained about four-and-a-half years, subsequently went to Ogilvy & Co., Montreal, wholesale merchants, was English buyer for that firm for some years; was made a partner and came to Toronto in 1871, and opened Ogilvy & Company’s Toronto branch. In 1877, in partnership with his brother, J. H. Brock, he started the business of W. R. Brock & Brother, at the corner of Bay and Wellington Streets, Toronto. In 1879 a partnership was formed with Messrs. F. Wyld and H. W. Darling, as Wyld, Brock & Darling. Mr. Darling retired in 1883, and Mr. Wyld in 1887. The firm of W. R. Brock & Company was turned into a joint stock company in 1897. The Montreal branch was started in 1899, and the branch at Calgary in 1905. Besides being President of the W. R. Brock Company, Ltd., he was a director of the Dominion Lands Colonization Co., the British Canadian Loan and Investment Co., Toronto Electric Light Co., Electrical Development Co., Ontario Accident Insurance Co., Toronto General Trust Corporation and the Dominion Bank. He was also President of the British American and Western Assurance Companies, the Stanstead Granite Quarries Company, London Electric Light Company, and the Canadian General Electric Company. Mr. Brock was one of the founders of the “Empire” newspaper, Toronto, and served as President of the company until its amalgamation with “The Mail” in 1895. For years he was President of the Toronto Conservative Association and sat in the House of Commons for Centre Toronto in the Conservative interest from 1900 to 1904. Mr. Brock was also a director and a leading spirit in many philanthropic organizations. He was a founder and President of the Toronto Humane Society, a life member of the Council of Trinity University and of Upper Canada College, and benefactor of both institutions. He was a member of the congregation of St. James’ Cathedral, and from 1883 to 1890 was a churchwarden. His clubs were: Toronto Club, York Club, Albany Club, Toronto Hunt Club, Toronto; The Rideau Club, Ottawa; and St. James’ Club, Montreal. His surviving children are Lt.-Col. Henry Brock, Lt.-Col. R. A. Brock, Mr. W. L. Brock, and the Misses Lilian, Gertrude, and Muriel Brock. Mr. Brock died at his residence, 21 Queen’s Park, Toronto, on November 1, 1917. He was almost eighty-two years of age, and actively engaged in business up to within a few days of his death. Although advanced in years Mr. Brock retained his keen business acumen right through and served to the last in an advisory capacity to the directors of the W. R. Brock Company. By virtue of exceptional ability, organizing genius, hard work, adaptability, generosity and an appreciative attitude toward those in his employment, he was able to develop one of the outstanding mercantile houses of the Dominion. He held the esteem of the merchants in practically all the primary markets of the world. In Canadian industry he was declared to be an international figure. The memory of William Rees Brock will long live as a man noted for his commercial integrity, splendid philanthropy, and public enterprises. He was endowed with a winning personality, and his influence in public affairs was always for good. He was a staunch supporter of British Connection, and believed in promoting closer trade relations between Canada and the Mother Country. He lived a long, useful, and upright life, an inspiration to others, who would merit the approval of their fellows, and the close of a career so full of years and honors was regarded as a public loss.

[Illustration: THE LATE M. F. BEACH]

=Dwyer, William Henry=, President of W. H. Dwyer Co., Ltd., general grain and produce dealers and exporters, 49 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, is one of the capital’s busiest and most active men. His early life was spent on the farm at Thurso, Que., entered the employ of W. C. Edwards & Company, Limited, at Rockland, Ont., in 1882, to learn the lumber business, in whose employ he remained until May, 1890, when he left this company and removed to Thurso, Que., where he operated, successfully, a steam ferry and cartage business, which developed in 1902 into a hay and grain business, in a small way. The growth of this business made it necessary in 1898 for him to move to Ottawa. The increased business, occasioned principally by the South African War in 1900 and 1901, made it necessary to form a limited company, viz., the W. H. Dwyer Co., Ltd., which was formed in 1901, and since that time has developed to such an extent that some years ago offices were opened at Montreal and Fort William and, in 1917, a subsidiary company was formed in Winnipeg under the name of McGaw-Dwyer, Limited, to take care of the Western business. Mr. W. H. Dwyer was born at Bell’s Corners, County of Carleton, Ontario, May 6, 1861. He is the son of Dennis and Jane (Hall) Dwyer, and was educated at Thurso, Quebec. In 1885 he married Sara McDonald, Cumberland, Ontario, and has four daughters. He is President the Dwyer Elevator Co., President and Managing Director the Slinn-Shouldis Co., Ltd., Ottawa; President Forwarders, Ltd., Ottawa; Vice-President the Saskatchewan Lumber Co., Ottawa; Vice-President Prince Rupert Timber and Lumber Co., Ottawa; Vice-President and Managing Director Continental Bag and Paper Co., Ottawa; Vice-President Lawrence Dairy Supply Co., Ottawa; Vice-President Ottawa Contractors, Ltd., Ottawa; Director McKellar Townsite, Ltd., Ottawa; Vice-President McGaw-Dwyer Co., Ltd., Winnipeg; Vice-President J. W. Hennessy, Incorporated, Buffalo, N.Y. For the years 1913-1914 he was President of the Ottawa Board of Trade, and is a life Governor of the Protestant Hospital. He has supported the Red Cross and Patriotic causes in many ways during the war. He is a member of the Laurentian, Canadian and Rivermead Clubs. In politics he is Independent. In religion a Methodist, and his address is 91 McLaren Street, Ottawa, Ontario.

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