Part 30

=Harper, John Murdoch= (Quebec City), the Canadian educationist and author, came to Canada in the year of Confederation, 1867, to take charge of an Academy in New Brunswick. He was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on the 10th of February, 1845, the eldest son of Robert Montgomery Harper, the founder of the first newspaper published in that town. His grand-uncle was Robert Montgomery, who was for many years a mill-owner and manufacturer in Johnstone. From school he entered the Glasgow E. C. Training College, after taking a Queen’s Scholarship, and graduated as a teacher from it with the highest certificate of his year granted by the Lords of the Council of Education, London, and with special certificates from the Science and Art Department, Kensington. After coming to Canada he became a graduate of Queen’s University, Kingston, and thereafter received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, from the Illinois University, after completing the three years’ post-graduate course in the section of metaphysical science. In 1881 he was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, an honor seldom conferred on teachers laboring outside of Great Britain. For a time he acted as principal of the Model Schools of Nova Scotia, and afterwards as principal of the Victoria High School of St. John, New Brunswick. While there he was asked by the Premier of Prince Edward Island to become Superintendent of Education in that province, which he declined to accept. But when the Victoria School buildings were destroyed in the great fire of St. John, he was induced to accept the principalship of the Provincial Normal School in Charlottetown and the Supervisorship of the City Schools, while St. John and its school buildings were being rebuilt. At the end of three years spent in inaugurating the new system of schools in Prince Edward Island, he was invited, in face of his inclination to return to his former position in New Brunswick, to take charge of the Quebec High School as its Rector; and, accepting the appointment, he thus became identified with the educational interests of the Province of Quebec, where he has labored ever since, closing his career as an educationist in active service as Inspector of the Protestant Superior Schools of that province. While holding that office he entered upon his vocation as an author, having been for many years editor-in-chief of the “Educational Record,” a contributor to the “Educational Monthly” of Ontario, the “Queen’s Quarterly,” and other periodicals, besides being associated with Dr. Thomas Morison, of Glasgow, one of the most distinguished of the educationists of Scotland, in the compilation of sundry text-books. His earlier essays and addresses on “The New Education,” and “Cause and Effect in School Work,” led to his issue of “A Manual on Moral Drill,” in line with his pleadings for an educative “Mental and Physical Drill” in the schools of the day. His plan for a definite moral training is thus spoken of by a New York educationist and author of high standing: “Dr. Harper’s work is entirely original. It is sound. It is eminently practical and it should be most heartily adopted by all who have the training of the young in hand, and who earnestly desire that the rising generation may develop into a ‘coming race,’ in whom moral rectitude will be natural and spontaneous.” As an author, Dr. Harper has had a career as full of the best kind of literary work, as has been his career as an educationist in advice with his co-workers in school progress throughout Canada. The list of the books he has written is all but incredibly large. His _chef-d’ouvre_ is unquestionably his drama of “Champlain,” which has given him rank, as one critic says, as the greatest of our Canadian dramatic poets since the days of Heavysege. The late George Murray, of Montreal, a writer of just discrimination, claimed that Dr. Harper is one of the most versatile and prolific of Canadian litterateurs. A partial list of his literary output from year to year includes the following: “The Development of the Greek Drama,” “The Chronicles of Kartdale,” “Sacrament Sunday and the Bells of Kartdale,” “The Earliest Beginnings of Canada,” “The Montgomery Siege,” “The Little Sergeant,” “The Seer of Silver Lake,” “_Domini Domus_, or the Chateau St. Louis,” “The Songs of the Commonwealth,” and “A Guide to Good Will in the Empire.” Three uniformly bound volumes of his series of “Studies in Verse and Prose,” have so far appeared, including “The Battle of the Plains,” and “The Annals of the War,” supplementary to his “Champlain, a Drama.” With the influence of his earlier years clinging to him, he has not failed to produce many pieces that depict the scenes of the land of his birth; and his poetic status as a versifier in the Doric of the Scottish Lowlands has been duly recognized by Dr. John D. Ross in his volume on “The Scottish Poets in America,” as well as by the gifted author of the book entitled “The Scot in America.” Dr. Ross pays a high tribute to the author of “Sacrament Sunday,” “Saint Andrew’s Day,” “The Old Graveyard,” “Auld Jeames and His Crack,” “Horace in the Doric,” and others of Dr. Harper’s Scottish odes, in such words as these: “Sweet as the note of a bird in the wildwood, strongly embued with patriotism, fervent in religious sentiment, eloquent in thought, pure in expression, and noble in purpose, form a few of the characteristics of Dr. Harper, the Canadian educationist and author.” In addition to all this, Dr. Harper is a loyal Canadian. In all his public utterances and in the pleadings of his prolific authorship in book or magazine or newspaper, he is a Canadian citizen who upholds as a British subject the ample patriotism of the British Empire. He has been twice married, his first wife’s maiden name having been Miss Agnes Kirkwood, daughter of William Kirkwood of Stanley Muir, near Paisley, and his second, Miss Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of Andrew Hastings, of St. John and step-daughter of William Nossack, a former Mayor of Quebec. His family has comprised two sons and five daughters. His grandson, Major John Harper Evans, has been a soldier at the front, after his training at the Kingston Royal Military College.

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=Brennan, John Charles.= In 1854, when but a boy, when Ottawa (then By-Town) had only some 7,000 inhabitants, when the old Ottawa and St. Lawrence Railway was just built—the only line of railway connecting Ottawa with other towns at that time—when houses were few and far between and when there was no prospect of the place being selected by Her Most Gracious Majesty the late Queen Victoria as the Capital of the Dominion of Canada, the subject of this sketch became a member of the wholesale grocery firm of S. Howell & Co., with which he remained for twenty-seven years, retiring from business in 1881. While giving his untiring care to the affairs of the firm, and by his energy and business tact adding in a marked degree to its advancement—its commercial and financial success—Mr. Brennan, with full confidence in the future that he perceived was in store for Ottawa, never lost an opportunity to place his time, ambition and money in channels leading to its improvement and, with other enterprising citizens, exerted his every endeavor to stimulate its growth and importance. To-day, with marked pride, he sees the seven thousand population increased to one hundred and twenty thousand, the once fields and uncared-for lanes converted into beautifully paved streets, parks, and gardens, the costly Parliament Buildings, standing in all their grandeur upon the hill overlooking the Ottawa River; huge commercial, financial and office buildings and apartment houses galore facing the eye at every angle, and handsome modern residences in abundance. Aside from his other real estate holdings, Mr. Brennan, on the corner of Bank and Queen Streets, in the very midst of the Capital’s commercial and financial activities, has placed that large and solidly-constructed office building, “The Trafalgar.” Mr. Brennan has ever taken a keen interest in Ottawa’s hospitals, charitable institutions, churches, etc., and has unstintingly contributed to their support. Whenever called upon to help advance their interests he has freely contributed his quota, and more. During the great war, his moral, physical, intellectual and financial aid have ever been given to promote the successful operations of the Government, and to afford the war workers, the boys at the front and the returned soldiers, material help. Mr. Brennan has grown up with the city and together both he and it have prospered. Although solicited on many occasions to enter into public life he has steadfastly refused, being satisfied in his private capacity as a citizen to do his share in making general progress his goal. Mr. John Charles Brennan was born at Frankville, Ontario, January 23, 1839. He is the son of John and Amelia Maria (Howell) Brennan; he was educated in the Public Schools and private tuition. June 5, 1899, he married Alice Maud Wilson, daughter of Zachariah Wilson of “Clandeboye,” late Collector of Customs at the Port of Ottawa. He has one son and two daughters—John Charles, Amelia Elizabeth and Jocelyn Maud Wilson. He is a member of the Ottawa Hunt, Connaught Park Jockey, the Gatineau Fish and Game, and the Rideau Fish and Game Clubs. For recreation he indulges in hunting, fishing and travelling. In politics he is a Conservative, in religion a Methodist, and his place of residence is 150 Cooper Street, Ottawa.

[Illustration: W. BULMAN Winnipeg]

=Bulman, William John= (Winnipeg, Man.), one of the most prominent and progressive business men of Manitoba, was born at Toronto on April 5, 1870, the son of William and Frances (Cable) Bulman. He was educated in the Toronto Public Schools and, on leaving school at the age of sixteen, learned the art of the lithographer, in which he was employed in his native city for six years. In 1892 he went to Winnipeg and founded the business of Bulman Bros., Ltd., Lithographers, of which he is President and which is one of the most important firms of its kind in Canada. In promoting the advancement of Winnipeg he has been indefatigable. He was one of the founders of the Winnipeg Industrial Bureau, and was its President from 1911 to 1913. He was Hon. Secretary of the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Manufacturers’ Association for some years and subsequently became 2nd Vice-President for Canada. At the annual convention of the C.M.A., held at Winnipeg in the summer of 1918, he was elected President of that body, an office which is coveted by all Canadian business men. He is also a member of the council of the Winnipeg Board of Trade. Mr. Bulman has also been very prominent in educational affairs and was for a number of years a member of the Advisory Board of the Manitoba Education Department. He has been a School Trustee of Winnipeg since 1912 and Chairman of various Committees. During the great war he was very active in support of patriotic objects, and was Vice-President of the Manitoba Patriotic Fund. He is the originator of the Imperial Home Reunion Association, which aims at assisting the man who desires to make a home for himself in the West to bring the members of his family to this country. This idea has had the approval of many eminent Imperial thinkers. He is also the originator of the movement for citizenship through the schools, now a national one, with a National Conference to be held in August under the patronage of His Honor the Governor-General. Winnipeg possesses no citizen more popular with all classes of the community and he is Honorary President of the Manitoba Conservative Association. He is a member of the Carleton and Manitoba Clubs and the National Club, Toronto, and his recreations are motoring, motor boating, cruising and fishing at his summer home, Kenora, Ont. He is a Methodist in religion, and in 1894 married Lily, daughter of Samuel Thompson, of Toronto, and has five children, Eileen, Bessie, Dorothy, Lillian and John. He resides at 104 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg.

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=Freiman, Archibald J.=, who conducts one of the leading department stores of Ottawa, at 73 Rideau Street, was born at Wirballen, Poland, on June 6, 1880, the son of H. and Hannah Freiman. His early education was received in Poland, which was supplemented on his coming to this country in 1893, by courses in the public schools of Hamilton and at Hamilton Business College. He commenced his business career in 1899, by establishing the Canadian House Furnishing Company, at Kingston, Ont., in partnership with M. Cramer. In 1902 the business was removed to Ottawa owing to the limited possibilities for development in Kingston. In 1905, Mr. Cramer’s interest was purchased by Mr. Freiman, Sr., who remained in partnership with his son until 1910, when Mr. A. J. Freiman bought his father out and has since conducted the business in his own name. He has been a pronounced success from the outset and is recognized as one of the leading retail merchants of Eastern Ontario. He is an orthodox Hebrew in religion and president of the Congregation Adath Eshuroon. He is vice-president of the Zionist Federation of Canada; a member of the A.F. & A.M., Knights of Pythias and I.O.O.F.; a director of Perley Home for Incurables; director of Central Canada Exhibition Association; director of Protestant Hospital; member of Laurentian Club and Kiwanis Club, Ottawa; and Montefiore and Maimondis Clubs, of Montreal. Is an enthusiastic motorist and member of the Ontario Motor League. On August 18, 1903, he married Lillian, daughter of Moses Bilsky, and has one son and two daughters. He resides at 149 Somerset Street, Ottawa.

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=Breadner, Robert Walker=, Commissioner of Taxation of the Department of Finance and Dominion Appraiser, Department of Customs, Ottawa, is one of the leading economic experts of the Dominion of Canada. He was born at Athelstan, Quebec, on January 13, 1865, the son of the late Major Joshua and Beatrice Dudgeon (Walker) Breadner. He was educated at the Protestant Separate School of his native village, and later at the High School of Port Henry, N.Y. He entered the civil service of the Dominion in 1884 as a clerk in the Post Office Department, Ottawa. He was transferred to the Customs Department in 1892 and in 1894 became chief Check Clerk of that branch, a post he continued to hold in connection with other duties until 1908. From 1898 to 1906 he also held the position of Dominion Appraiser and in the latter year became Inspector of Customs, holding the position until 1908. Throughout this period he was also a member of the Board of Customs. It will be seen that few men had had such a detailed experience in dealing with all the manifold questions relating to tariffs, and in 1908 the Canadian Manufacturers Association induced him to leave the service of the Government and become manager of their Tariff Department. In this position he remained for four years. In 1912, because of his expert knowledge, the newly formed Borden Government induced him to return to the Civil Service as Confidential Tariff Officer, also appointing him to his old position as Dominion Appraiser and member of the Board of Customs. When during the war the Government decided on its policy of taxing business profits, Mr. Breadner was put in charge of the details and has given great satisfaction by his efficient organization of the difficult task. In addition to his many other duties Mr. Breadner found time to serve on the Ottawa Board of Education for four years. He is a member of the following clubs: Laurentian, Ottawa; Canada Bowling (Toronto), and these societies: I.O.O.F., I.O.F., L.O.L., A.O.U.W., Royal Arcanum. He is a Presbyterian in religion and on September 7, 1887, married Nellie, daughter of Andrew D. Fraser, Ottawa. He has one son and four daughters, and since his duties compelled his removal to Toronto has resided at 41 Albany Ave. in the latter city.

[Illustration: Gordon Grant, Ottawa Stewart McClennaghan, Ottawa]

=Black, Henry=, 2322 St. John St., Regina, Saskatchewan, one of the large realty owners of that city; was born in Grenville County, Ontario, on February 14, 1875, the son of William John and Elizabeth Black. His father, who was a farmer, died when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old. His education was obtained in the Grenville Township Public School, and as a youth he removed to British Columbia, finally settling down in Regina, as a builder and contractor. He is now the owner of two blocks of apartments and of a business block in the capital of Saskatchewan, and is counted one of her most solid and progressive citizens. He has taken an active part in municipal affairs, was alderman in 1915-6-7 and Mayor in 1918 and 1919. On Dec. 15, 1910, he married Jennie Lanona, daughter of C. W. Barker, and has three children, Henry Kenneth, Charles Russell and William Franklin. In religion he is a Presbyterian.

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=Dargavel, John Robertson= (Elgin, Ont.), is the son of Robert Dargavel and Miriam, his wife, both Scotch, was born May 3, 1864, at the Township of Crosby, in the County of Leeds. Educated at the public schools of South Crosby. Is a successful merchant, dairyman and farmer. Married, September 26, 1870, to Mary Jane, daughter of the late Robert Hopkins, merchant, of Newboro. Is President of the Eastern Ontario Dairymen’s Association; Clerk of the Township of South Crosby for the past 30 years; a member of the Elgin School Board for the past 20 years. Is a member of the Masonic Order being P.D.D.G.M. for Frontenac District, also a member of the I.O.O.F. Mr. Dargavel has three children, viz.: Helen, James Sawtell, and Mary. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislature as a Conservative at the General Elections of 1905, and re-elected at the general elections of 1908, 1911 and 1914. Has been Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Legislature, where his knowledge of agriculture and dairying has been very valuable to the Assembly. Has also served on the Prison Labor Committee and the Provincial Milk Commission. Is a member of the Church of England and a delegate to the Diocesan and General Synods.

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=Ethier, Joseph Arthur Calixte=, was born at St. Benoit (Two Mountains), Quebec, May 26, 1868. Son of J. B. Ethier and wife, Julie Boyer. Educated at Montreal College. Married, first, Therise Fortier, daughter of Dr. L. A. Fortier, and secondly, Hedwidge Fortier, also daughter of Dr. L. A. Fortier, and is the father of the following children: Marie Therese and Marcelle. Deputy Prothonotary of the District of Terrebonne, 1888-1895. Crown Prosecutor for the District of Terrebonne; Mayor of the Village of St. Scholastique for six years; Secretary-Treasurer of Schools, rural municipalities of St. Scholastique and St. Columbin; Secretary of “La Compagnie d’Assurance Mutuelle de la paroisse de St. Scholastique.” Is a brilliant Advocate and King’s Counsel; is President of the Ontario Cobalt Mining Co., Ltd. First elected to the House of Commons, June 13, 1896, for the constituency of Two Mountains, Quebec; re-elected in 1900-1904 and re-elected by acclamation in 1911. Appointed Chairman of Committee on Miscellaneous Private Bills during the Session of 1907. Mr. Ethier was again re-elected at the General Election held in 1917. He is a Liberal and a Roman Catholic.

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=Grierson, Hon. George Allison=, Minister of Public Works, Winnipeg. Born, April 11, 1867, at Brantford, Ont. Son of George Grierson and Margaret Edmundson. Educated at Brantford, Ont., and Winnipeg Public School and Collegiate Institute. Went to Manitoba in 1879, attending the Winnipeg Collegiate Institute, 1883-4, obtaining First Class Teacher’s Certificate; attended Normal School, 1885, and was the first candidate to pass newly authorized First-Class Teachers’ Professional Course, 1886. Was Principal Minnedosa Public School, 1887-90, 1892-1902. Married, December 28, 1892, to Christina, daughter of Samuel Matheson, of Kildonan, Manitoba. A member of the Masonic Order and a Veteran Oddfellow. Was interested in lacrosse in the earlier days, and at present finds recreation in curling. Member of the Presbyterian Church. Was Councillor of the Town of Minnedosa for some years and Mayor, 1914-1915. Was a Liberal candidate for Marquette for the House of Commons in September, 1911, but was defeated by Hon. W. J. Roche. First elected to Legislature for the Province of Manitoba, in the general elections, 1914, as a Liberal candidate for Minnedosa, and re-elected in 1915. Was Liberal Whip in the Manitoba Legislature during the sessions of 1914-15-16. Was re-elected for the Constituency of Minnedosa at the last elections and is at present Minister of Public Works in the Norris Government. The Honorable Mr. Grierson is a gifted speaker and an indefatigable worker, and thoroughly versed in the details of his department.

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=Gale, George Charles=, Secretary Gale Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Manufacturers, Toronto, was born in Toronto, where he has for some years successfully carried on business, on the 26th of April, 1874. Son of James William Gale and Matilda Sophia Pitt. Educated at Jarvis Street Collegiate Institute, and Upper Canada College. Married, February, 1907, Etta F., daughter of T. B. Taylor, and is the father of one son, George Taylor Gale, born May 19, 1913. Mr. Gale always takes a prominent part in Amateur Athletics and was actively identified for many years with the Toronto Lacrosse Club, being one of the players of that famous organization. He is a member of the National Club, Lambton Golf and Country Club, and the Victoria Club and also the Masonic Order, being a member of Ashlar Masonic Lodge, St. Paul’s Chapter. In religion he is an Anglican.

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