Part 63

=Neill, Charles Ernest= (Montreal, Que.), General Manager of the Royal Bank of Canada, with Head Office at Montreal, was born at Fredericton, N.B., on May 27th, 1873, the son of James Stewart and Eliza Caroline Neill. He was educated by Dr. G. R. Parkin in the Collegiate School of his native town and graduated in 1889. After receiving his education he entered the banking business, and has risen to his present high position by promotion. He was Manager of the Royal Bank at Vancouver, B.C.; Supervisor of B.C. Branches; Chief Inspector Montreal; in 1907 was appointed Assistant General Manager, and in 1916 to his present position. To gain such rapid promotion in one of the largest banking institutions in the British Empire means something, and no person will dispute the qualifications of Mr. Neill to fill the same. He is a man with a large vision, knows business life thoroughly and has keen foresight and action. In October, 1901, he married Mary Louise Crerar, daughter of John Crerar, K.C., of Hamilton, Ont., and has no issue. Mr. Neill is a member of the following clubs:—St. James, Mount Royal, Forest and Stream, Montreal Hunt, Royal Montreal Golf, Montreal Curling, M.A.A.A., all of Montreal. Since the outbreak of the war Mr. Neill has taken an active part in all Patriotic work and has devoted much time and given freely of his money on all occasions. In religion he is a Presbyterian and resides at 503 Sherbourne St. West.

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=Panet, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Louis= (Ottawa, Ont.), son of the late Colonel the Honorable Charles Eugene Panet, who was for many years Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, and one of a very distinguished French-Canadian family, which has given many distinguished soldiers, judges and legislators to the service of Canada. Born at Quebec City on December 15, 1870. Moved to Ottawa five years later, when his father, who had been a member of the Senate of Canada, resigned that position to accept the above-named office. Educated at Ottawa University, and at the age of nineteen entered the Civil Service of Canada as a junior in the Department of Militia and Defence. In 1904, Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Militia and Defence, appointed Colonel Panet his private secretary, in which capacity he acted for seven years, attending three Imperial conferences in London, Eng., with his chief. In 1898, he became Secretary of the Canadian Defence Committee. In 1908, he was appointed Secretary of the Department. The outbreak of the war added enormously to Colonel Panet’s responsibilities, and he was officially mentioned in despatches for services rendered in Canada during the war period, 1914-1919. At present he holds the office of Secretary of Department of Militia and Defence and of President of the Pensions and Claims Board. In 1912 he was appointed President of the Board of Enquiry _re_ claims of applicants for the Fenian Raid Volunteer Bounty. Among his brothers are Brigadier-General A. E. Panet, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Engineers, Imperial Army; Brigadier-General H. A. Panet, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Canadian Artillery; Brigadier-General E. de B. Panet, C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Canadian Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel A. de L. Panet, Canadian Ordnance Corps; and Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Panet, of the same branch of the service. A. P. E. Panet, another brother, is a barrister. The subject of this sketch was married on October 25, 1899, to Muriel, daughter of Major-General Sir D. A. Macdonald, Kt., C.M.G., I.S.O., etc., and has one son. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and his recreations are shooting, fishing, and golf. He is a member of the Royal Ottawa Golf, Ottawa Country, and Ottawa Hunt Clubs. His private address is “The Roxborough,” Ottawa.

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=Fielding, Hon. William Stevens, LL.D., D.C.L., P.C., M.P.=, one of the leading Liberal statesmen of Canada, was born at Halifax, N.S., November 24, 1848, the son of Charles and Sarah (Ellis) Fielding. He was educated in the public schools of Halifax, and at the age of sixteen entered the office of the “Chronicle” of that city as a reporter, and ultimately became managing editor, a post from which he retired in 1884. He early developed a rare talent as a public speaker, with a special aptitude for the handling of financial topics. At the Nova Scotia elections of 1882 he was elected to the Legislature for Halifax County as a Liberal, and two years later became Premier and Provincial Secretary. He was successful in carrying his party to victory in the general elections of 1886, 1890 and 1894, gaining an ever-increasing fame as an orator and administrator. When Sir Wilfrid Laurier, became Prime Minister of Canada, after the Federal elections of 1896, he induced Mr. Fielding to leave the provincial arena and become Minister of Finance in his cabinet. The new Minister was elected to the House of Commons for the riding of Shelburne and Queens by acclamation on August 2, 1896, and was re-elected at the general elections of 1900, 1904, and 1908. In 1911, he was personally defeated in the contest which resulted in the general defeat of the Laurier administration on the reciprocity issue. The great historic act of Mr. Fielding’s career as Minister of Finance was his establishment of an Imperial British trade preference in 1897, which has since become a permanent factor in Canadian tariff policies, and which won him fame throughout the Empire. In 1907, he also negotiated a reciprocity treaty in certain commodities with France; and during the fifteen years that he was Minister of Finance was a notable figure at Colonial and Imperial conferences in London. In 1910, he conducted on behalf of Canada the negotiations with President Taft to avert tariff war between Canada and the United States, and in the spring of 1911 was one of the commissioners who negotiated the reciprocity agreement with the United States, which, in the following September was rejected at the polls, and which became known as the Knox-Fielding pact. On the defeat of the Laurier administration, he re-entered journalism as President and Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of Commerce,” Montreal. In 1917, he returned to politics as an Independent Liberal, supporting the Union Government on the question of conscription, and was elected by acclamation for his old constituency. At the National Liberal Convention of August, 1919, his election to the party Leadership was strongly urged by supporters in all parts of Canada; and despite his reluctance to accept the honour he was only defeated by the narrow majority of 38 in a poll at which more than 900 votes were cast. In religion Hon. Mr. Fielding is a Baptist, and on September 7, 1876, married Hester, daughter of Thos. A. Rankine, of St. John, N.B., by whom he had four daughters and one son. He resides at 286 Charlotte Street, Ottawa.

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=Nash, Charles William= (Toronto, Ont.), Provincial Biologist, is an Englishman who came to this country to engage in farming, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1883. Since January, 1899, he has been a Lecturer in Biology of the Farmers’ Institutes Bureau, Department of Agriculture, Ontario, and is Biologist of the Provincial Museum, Department of Education. He has been a frequent contributor to Canadian Magazines, as also to “Farming World,” of which he was Associate Editor, writing regularly for many years under the title “Nature About the Farm.” Among other publications he is the author of “Birds of Ontario in Relation to Agriculture” (5th edition, 1913); “Check List, Birds of Ontario”; “Birds of the Garden”; “Ways of the Woodcock”; “Passing of the Pigeons”; “Migration of Birds”; “Humming Birds of Ontario”; “Wild Fowl of Ontario”; “The Bass of Ontario”; “Farmers’ Handy Book”; “Manual of Vertebrates of Ontario”; “Fishes of Ontario”; “Reptiles and Batrachians of Ontario”; “Mammals of Ontario”; and “Fishes of Toronto Region.” He has presented collections of Birds and Fishes of Ontario to the Provincial Museum, and is a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union; as also a Director of the Entomological Society of Canada. Mr. Nash was born at Bognor, Sussex, Eng., August 15, 1848, the son of Wm. H. and Louisa L. H. Nash, and received his education in England and the Isle of Jersey. He married Harriette B., daughter of Judge E. C. Campbell, Niagara, February, 1877, and has two daughters, Mrs. Eleanor E. Lacey and Mrs. Isabella L. Sweatman. He is an Anglican in religion, and a Conservative in politics.

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=Foran, Joseph Kearney, K.C., Litt. D., LL.B.=, Montreal and Ottawa, is one of the legal staff of the House of Commons, and also one of the leading litterateurs of Canada. He was born at Aylmer, Que., on September 5, 1857, the son of John Foran, a prominent lumberman, and his wife, Catharine F. Kearney. The latter was a lady of pronounced literary talent, and in her younger days was on the staff of the Dublin “Nation.” After coming to America, she for a time edited the “Ladies’ Literary Journal,” of Philadelphia. The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Joseph’s College, now known as Ottawa University, graduating in 1877. He then entered Laval University, Quebec, to equip himself for the practice of law, and in 1880 received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. During this three-year term he also obtained practical experience of his profession in the offices of Andrews, Caron, Andrews and Fitzpatrick, of which the late Sir Adolphe Caron and Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, formerly Chief Justice of Canada, were members. From 1880 to 1883, he practised law at Aylmer, Quebec, but in the latter year ill-health compelled him to spend three years in the woods of the north. In 1886 he was sufficiently restored in health to return to civic conditions, and for two years he acted as secretary to the Speaker of the House of Commons. He also became active as a writer of poems, essays and other forms of literary effort which were accepted by numerous Canadian and American publications, and in 1891 he became editor of the “True Witness,” of Montreal, which won an honorable place in Catholic journalism by the literary distinction of its contents and the breadth of its outlook. At the same time he began to acquire fame as a speaker and lecturer, and has been heard in many parts of Canada and the United States. His addresses are marked not only by rare eloquence, but by a spirit of toleration that makes them acceptable in all assemblages. In 1894, the University of Ottawa conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Letters, and his address on that occasion won tributes from the Earl of Aberdeen and other distinguished men who were present. He also speaks with equal facility in French and English. He has published a number of volumes, including “Obligations,” a legal treatise; “Poems and Lyrics”; “Simon the Abenakis,” a novel; “The Spirit of the Age,” an historical and philosophical essay; and “Irish Canadian Representatives.” The latter publication won high tributes from both Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He is a strong advocate of the cause of Irish freedom and in 1882 drafted the first Home Rule resolution presented in the House of Commons, for which the late Hon. John Costigan stood sponsor. In 1902 he entered the office of the Secretary of the Law Branch of the House of Commons as English translator; in 1908 he became Assistant Law Clerk; and in 1912, when the Parliamentary Counselship was created he was attached as Legal Officer to the Law Branch. In 1911 he was created King’s Counsel, and in 1914 appointed a Commissioner of the High Court of Ontario Dr. Foran is a Roman Catholic in religion; and in 1892 married Louisa, eldest daughter of the late Edwin Davis of Ottawa, who built many of the lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Mrs. Foran is a lady of literary culture who has been of great assistance to her husband in his work. They have two surviving children, Lieut. Herbert P. Foran, a student of McGill University, and Miss Ethel U. Foran.

[Illustration: J. G. Brennan, Ottawa John L. Garland, Ottawa]

=Easson, Robert Henry= (Toronto, Ont.), is one of the most prominent figures in the musical manufacturing industry of Canada. He is Vice-President of the Otto Higel Company, Ltd., manufacturers of piano

## actions and keys and pneumatic actions for player-pianos, with factories

at King and Bathurst Streets, Toronto, and also Vice-President of the Otto Higel Company, Inc., of New York City, N.Y. With its Canadian and American branches, this enterprise is one of the largest industries of its kind in America. He is also President of the Canada Action & Key Company, Ltd., Toronto. Mr. Easson was born in Toronto, January 10, 1873, the son of Robert F. Easson, one of the pioneer telegraphers of this country, identified with the Great Northwestern Telegraph Company from its earliest days, and his wife, Millicent Easson. He was educated at the Toronto public and high schools, and began his business career as cashier and office assistant in the firm of M. & L. Samuel, Benjamin & Company, wholesale hardware merchants, Toronto, in 1890. He continued with this firm for ten years when he became manager of the Audit Department of Jenkins & Hardy, assignees and chartered accountants, Toronto. In 1904, he retired from that position to associate himself with the growing business of the Otto Higel Company, and became Vice-President in 1906. Since then the business of the Company has been greatly extended. The musical industries of Canada are now splendidly organized institutions for the development of music in the home, and Mr. Easson has been one of those most influential in bringing about this spirit of co-ordination. He is a member of the National Club and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, and also of the Masonic order. In politics he is a Liberal, in religion a Presbyterian, and his recreations are bowling and motoring. On December 28, 1904, he married Winnifred, daughter of the late John Garvin, and has two sons and one daughter. He resides at 407 Palmerston Boulevard, Toronto.

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=Hunter, Major W. E. Lincoln=, of Hunter & Deacon, Barristers and Solicitors, 2 Toronto Street, Toronto, was born in London, Ont., January 13, 1870, the son of Rev. W. J. Hunter, M.A., D.D., and Mary J. (Robinson) Hunter. He was educated at Hamilton Collegiate Institute and Osgoode Hall, graduating as barrister at the age of twenty-one. He joined the firm of Ince & Hunter, 1891, continuing this connection for four years, when he became associated with former Mayor A. R. Boswell, K.C., who is now Superintendent of Insurance for the Province of Ontario. He formed his present partnership in 1900. In 1901, he was appointed Census Commissioner for Centre Toronto. He married June 1, 1904, Mary Edith, daughter of Henry Smith, Superintendent of Colonization Roads, Toronto, and has four daughters—Kathleen, Madeline, Norah and Aileen. He is an ex-Vice-President of Centre Toronto Reform Association, and ex-President North Toronto Liberal Club. He is the author of “The Woman in Blue,” a satirical novel published in 1895. His military career began at an early age, and he was gazetted Lieutenant in the 10th Regiment, Royal Grenadiers, in 1901, became Captain in 1907, and Major 1915, being now second in command. When war broke out, he at once became active in every way at his command, speaking constantly at recruiting meetings, associating in many other military and patriotic

## activities. For two years he was constantly in khaki, and for nearly a

year was in command of Filtration Guard, with over 300 men under him. In his patriotic work, he had a most enthusiastic associate in Mrs. Hunter, who is Regent of the Royal Grenadier Chapter, I.O.D.E., whose efforts on behalf of the boys overseas were unceasing and indefatigable. On August 18, 1919, a formal ceremony took place in the Armouries, when the colors of the Regiment were handed over to Major Hunter, who accepted them on behalf of the Regiment, from Major Andrew Duncanson, D.S.O., commander of a guard of 100 men, all of whom had been overseas. These colours were carried by the guard of honour for the Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief of the Regiment, on his visit to Toronto in August, 1919. Major Hunter has large real estate interests in the city. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the Ontario Club, Military Institute, Mississauga and Scarboro Golf Clubs, Lake Shore Country Club, Toronto, and the Junior Army and Navy Club, London, England. He is a Liberal and an Anglican. The family reside at 113 Walmer Road, Toronto.

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=Henry, Hon. George Stewart, M.P.P., B.A., LL.B.=, Minister of Agriculture for the Province of Ontario, is not only a practical farmer but an agricultural expert of wide academic training. He was born at King Township, York County, Ont., on July 16, 1871, the son of William and Louisa Henry, the mother’s parents being from Ulster, as was also his father. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools of Toronto, Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto, of which he holds the degrees of B.A. and LL.B. He also spent a year at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ont., and though equipped for a professional career decided to adopt the vocation of farmer in East York, near Toronto. In this field he proved himself extremely successful, and as a young man took an active part in the public affairs of his district. He was a member of York Township Council from 1903 until 1910, holding the position of Reeve during the last four years of that interval. This carried with it membership in the York County Council, and in 1909 he was elected by his colleagues warden of York, an old and historic office. A vacancy in the Ontario Legislature for the riding of East York necessitated a by-election, and he was nominated in the Conservative interest. He was returned at the head of the poll on September 8, 1913, and at the general elections of the following June was again successful. In the spring of 1918, Sir William Hearst, Prime Minister of Ontario, invited him to enter the Ontario cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, a portfolio he had himself filled for some months after the death of the late Hon. James Duff. This necessitated a by-election in the summer of that year. Mr. Henry was again elected for East York, for the third time in five years. In that office he has pursued a vigorous progressive policy, not only with regard to the development of agriculture in the outlying districts, but in stimulating production in the older settlements. He has also been a leader in the Good Roads Movement; he is a member of the Toronto and York Roads Commission, and is Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Good Roads Association. He was also a prominent figure in the All-Canada Roads Conference held at Quebec under the Presidency of Sir Lomer Gouin in May, 1919. In addition to conducting a farm of a model character, Mr. Henry is President of the Farmers’ Dairy Company, Ltd., of Toronto. He is a Methodist in religion, and on January 29, 1902, married Anna Ketha, daughter of Rev. F. W. Pickett, of the Toronto Methodist Conference. He resides at Todmorden, on the outskirts of Toronto.

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=Butler, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Page, K.C., B.C.L.=, is one of the leading advocates of Montreal, where he practises at 81 Union Avenue. He was born at Kingsey, Que., on August 3, 1845, the son of the Rev. John Butler, M.A., and educated at the University of Toronto and McGill University, Montreal, taking the B.C.L. degree in 1865 and receiving that of D.C.L. in 1880. During 1862 and 1863, he acted as Private Secretary to Sir John Abbott, afterward Prime Minister of Canada, and at that time Solicitor-General of Quebec Province. He was called to the Quebec Bar in August, 1866, and created Queen’s Counsel in 1887. He was first associated with the firm of Rose (late Sir John Rose) & Ritchie, Advocates, Montreal, and later with the late E. J. Hemming, Q.C., at Drummondville, Que. After residing at Melbourne, Que., for a time, he returned to Montreal in 1870, where he has ever since practised. Until 1881 he was in partnership with the late John Monk, and since then has practised for the most part alone. He was Councillor for the municipality of Longueuil from 1874-77, and also served as School Trustee there. Col. Butler long took an active part in military affairs, and commanded the Prince of Wales’ Regiment from 1889 to 1898. He organized and became the first president of the Montreal Amalgamated Rifle Association and the Montreal Military Institute. In politics he is a Conservative, and in religion an Anglican, having been a member of the Diocesan and Provincial Synods over thirty years. In Free Masonry, he was Grand Master in 1894, and has been for many years Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence of the Grand Lodge of Quebec. In August, 1870, he married a daughter of the late Valentine Cooke, of Drummondville, Que., and his home address is 52 Fort Street, Montreal.

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