Part 9
=Bender, Prosper, M.D.=, and Litterateur (Quebec City), was born in Quebec on July 30, 1844. He was the son of L. P. Bender, Advocate, his mother’s maiden name having been Miss Jane McMillan. His school education began at the Quebec Seminary and was continued at Laval University, where he went through a successful course in _belles lettres_ and collateral studies. Thereafter he entered McGill University, where in 1864 he took his degree of M.D. On the following year he entered upon his career as a medical man in his native city, where, in 1868, he married Miss Amelia Scott, daughter of A. S. Scott. At the time of his graduation, the Civil War between the Northern and Southern States of the American Republic was nearing its climax, and in the excitement of events an opportunity offered itself to the young student to mature his skill in surgery and the healing art on the battlefield. He was given employment in the army in North Virginia, which was then under the command of General Ulysses Grant. As an assistant surgeon he remained with that army up to the time of General Lee’s surrender, his faithfulness and skill bringing him to the notice of his medical associates and eventually to the notice of the General in person. After the war, Dr. Bender proceeded to New York to gain further professional experience in the hospitals, before entering upon the first period of his residence in Quebec as a medical practitioner. During that period he came into touch with several of the rising public men of the town, who made a kind of literary rendezvous of his residence, much as years afterwards the Circle de Dix used to hold their seances out at Spencer Wood, under the hospital auspices of Sir Adolphe Chapleau. The social gatherings at Dr. Bender’s had no doubt the effect of turning the attention of the successful physician to literary work, leading him to publish two volumes, respectfully titled, “Literary Sheaves,” and “Old and New Canada.” In 1884 he removed to Boston, where he practised as a homeopathist, and won a reputation among the literary men of that city, as a contributor to the magazines and reviews. Within the last ten years preceding his death in 1917, he had his residence again in Quebec. During these years he published in amplified form a series of sketches about the friends of his earlier comradeship. These sketches embodied the characteristics of the brilliant literary guests who had once met round his table, and were read with the greatest of interest by the public as they appeared from time to time, as an illustration of the author’s geniality of spirit and literary acumen. Altogether, Dr. Prosper Bender’s professional and literary career stood as a blend of duly recognized medical skill and critical literary insight, holding always the confidence of his patients and being widely esteemed for his bonhomie and intellectuality as a writer of books worth reading.
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=Girard, Joseph= (St. Gideon, Que.), son of Patrice Girard and Marie Tremblay, his wife, both French-Canadians. Born at St. Urbain, County of Charlevoix, Aug. 2, 1854. Educated at the Seminary of Quebec. Came to Lake of St. John in 1880 as a settler, cleared his land and lived on it all the time, and has been one of the most progressive and influential farmers of the district. Was President of the Dairy Society of Quebec Province and President of the School Commission. On April 5, 1875, Mr. Girard was married to Emma Cote, daughter of Vitol and Ursule Cote, and is the father of the following children: Meridee, Philippe, Tanevide and Marie Louise. First elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly for Lake St. John District at the general elections of 1892 and re-elected in those of 1897. In 1900 he was elected to the House of Commons at the general elections, for Chicoutimi and Saguenay, which includes the local riding of Lake St. John; he was re-elected for the House of Commons in the general elections of 1904, 1908 and 1911. Mr. Girard is a member of the following societies: Dairy Society of Quebec, Agricultural Society of Lake St. John and Farmers’ Club of St. Gideon; he is also a member of the Automobile Club of Chicoutimi. In religion Mr. Girard is a Roman Catholic and in politics is an Independent Conservative.
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=Dawson, Arthur Osborne= (Montreal, Que.), was born at New Borden, N.B., March 28, 1864, son of Richard Dawson and Mary Lockhart, his father being a farmer and a grindstone manufacturer. Rev. G. F. Dawson, M.A., St. John, N.B., and W. J. G. Dawson, M.D., Eldridge, Cal., U.S.A., are brothers, and Rev. James Henderson, D.D., pastor of the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto, is father-in-law of Mr. Dawson, who was educated at Campbellton, N.B., and Montreal. Married, June 30, Mary A. Le Rossignol, step-daughter of Rev. Dr. Henderson of Toronto, mentioned above. Five children are the fruit of the union, viz., Ruth, Howard, Katharine, Isabel and Olive. Mr. Dawson is a Methodist in religion, a Conservative, a member of the Montreal Club and a Justice of the Peace for the District of Montreal and connected with the following large business enterprises, Vice-President and Managing Director Canadian Cottons, Limited; President Belding, Paul, Corticelli, Limited; Vice-President D. Morrice Co., Limited; President Inter-provincial British Company of Canada, Limited, Toronto; Vice-President Gowland Optical Company, Limited, Montreal. Recreations, fishing, tennis and boating.
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=Douglas, James= (Hepworth, Ontario), son of James Douglas, Roxborough, Scotland, and Isabella Dixon, Lauderdale, Scotland, was born in the township of Brant, Bruce County, in August, 1858. Here he spent his early days, receiving his education in the public schools. For a time he followed farming as an occupation. However, he was inclined towards mercantile pursuits and gave up the farm to become a general merchant at Dobbington, in the township of Elderslie. The lumbering business attracted his attention and he gave up the store for that occupation, which was extensively carried on in those early days in Bruce. In 1902 he moved to the village of Hepworth, where he became Vice-President of the Hepworth Manufacturing Co., and also manager. Here he has resided ever since, successfully conducting the business he is connected with. Beside this he is interested in a number of other enterprises, being a director of the Canada Beds Co., of Chesley, and a shareholder in the Vincent Steel Process Co., of Detroit. He has always had a love for municipal life, and for eight years has served the village of Hepworth as reeve in a most competent manner. As a member of the County Council he has served on most of the prominent committees, but the Educational Committee has always been his favorite. Being a self-educated man, he strove hard for the vast fund of knowledge he has acquired. This has made him a warm friend toward all branches of education, and he is ever ready to forward its best interests. His ripe business judgment has ever been recognized by his colleagues in the County Council. He is a man of genial disposition and well liked by all. He is a member of Burns Lodge, No. 436, A.F. & A.M., Hepworth. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and in politics he is a Liberal. He was twice married, his first wife being Francis Bradley, daughter of John Bradley, of Greenock township.
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=Cross, Charles Wilson= (Edmonton, Alta.), Attorney-General for the Province of Alberta, was born in Madoc, Ont., November 30, 1872, the son of the late Thomas and Marie Cross. He was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto University and Osgoode Hall, graduating in 1895 as B.A., and the following year as LL.B. He married Annie Louisa, daughter of Frederick and Isabella Lynde, in 1900, by whom he has three children—Thomas, Helen and Margaret. Becoming a barrister in 1898, he has since practised his profession at Edmonton, and is a member of the firm of Short, Cross, Maclean, Ap’John & Laidlaw; his present office as Attorney-General of the province he has held since 1905, sitting as member for Edmonton and Edson in the Legislature. While at college he was a famous lacrosse player and is Vice-President of the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union for Alberta. He was a member of the Ottawa and Quebec Interprovincial Conferences in 1906, is a Liberal in politics and a Presbyterian in religion.
[Illustration: HON. ARTHUR L. SIFTON Ottawa]
=Pardee, Frederick Forsyth, K.C., M.P.= (Sarnia, Ont.), son of the late Hon. Timothy Blair Pardee and Emma K. Pardee, _née_ Forsyth, was born at Sarnia, Ontario, on December 29, 1867, and was educated at the Sarnia School and at Upper Canada College. He subsequently entered the study of Law and graduated at Osgoode Hall, being called to the Bar in 1890. He was created a King’s Counsel in 1908, and became head of the law firm of Pardee, Burnham & Gurd. In his student days and in the earlier years of his professional career he took a keen interest in various athletics and was a cricket player of note. He married, on December 31, 1892, Mary E. Johnston, daughter of Hugh Johnston, and to them was born one daughter, Pauline L. Early in life Mr. Pardee began to interest himself in public problems and public affairs, and in 1898, when but 31 years of age, he was chosen as Liberal candidate for the provincial riding of West Lambton, being elected to the Legislature of Ontario the same year. He sat in the Provincial House until 1902, when he was defeated by Hon. W. J. Hanna, who subsequently became Provincial Secretary in the first cabinet of Sir James Whitney. In the Dominion by-election of November 22, 1905, made necessary by the death of Dr. Johnston, the sitting member, Mr. Pardee was chosen by the electors of West Lambton to represent them in the Dominion House of Commons. He was re-elected at the general elections of 1908 and 1911. In November, 1909, on the nomination of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Prime Minister of Canada, he was unanimously chosen as Chief Government Whip, and still retains the important position of Chief Liberal Whip to the present time (1917). In the Dominion Parliament, as well as throughout the country, Mr. Pardee’s public work soon won him a position of usefulness and responsibility. He is a forceful and effective public speaker, and few public men are so universally popular and so highly esteemed. During his parliamentary career he has presided over, and served upon, many of the most important legislative committees of the House of Commons and Senate. In 1910 he was chosen by Sir Wilfrid Laurier to accompany him on his memorable tour through the Canadian West, making the first visit with the then Prime Minister to the new Pacific port of Prince Rupert. When, in 1911, the Administration of Sir Wilfrid Laurier was defeated at the polls upon the issue of reciprocal trade in natural products with the United States, and the Liberal party passed into Opposition, Mr. Pardee continued as Chief Whip and had a large share in the arduous parliamentary and organization work which ensued. Following the outbreak of the great war it was he who defined in Parliament, amid hearty approval from both sides of the House, the patriotic obligations which devolved upon Government and Opposition. He devoted his time and energy, both in the House and out of it, to patriotic endeavor, addressing recruiting rallies and contributing to the various national efforts of service and sacrifice. He moved in Parliament for the appointment of a special committee to consider national steps to recompense and aid returning wounded and maimed soldiers and was named by the House as a member of that committee. In 1918 he resigned the post of Liberal Whip and supported Sir Robert Borden on the question of Conscription, but declined a portfolio in the Union Government. In the general elections of that year he was again re-elected for West Lambton by a handsome majority. Mr. Pardee is strongly democratic in spirit, and during the parliamentary session of 1913-14, made a vigorous plea to the House against the indiscriminate bestowal of titles in Canada, and issued a warning against the danger of creating a pseudo-aristocracy in this young Dominion. In religion he is an Anglican and is a member of St. George’s Church, Sarnia.
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=Hinds, Leonard D’Arcy Bernard=, Judgment Clerk of the Supreme Court of Judicature for Ontario, born Oct. 19, 1868, at Barrie, Ontario. Educated at Barrie Collegiate Institute, St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and Osgoode Hall Law School, of Toronto. Past President of the Toronto Liberal-Conservative Club. Secretary of the Toronto Branch of the United Irish League. Appointed to present office by the Whitney Government in 1905. Son of the late Bernard Hinds of Barrie, a native of Omagh, County of Tyrone, Ireland (whose father, Bernard Hinds, Irish “Aidhne,” pronounced Aion, anglicized the name to Hinds, and settled with a large family in Vespra Township, Simcoe County, in the year 1842), and Anna Leonard, formerly a teacher in the French settlement public school at Penetanguishene. Married Pauline Matson, the daughter of R. H. Matson, founder of the National Life Insurance Co. of Canada. Holds commission as Captain and Paymaster in the 110th Irish Regiment, Toronto, which Regiment he was authorized to establish in 1914, by Sir Sam Hughes, then Minister of Militia. Captain Hinds largely helped to establish the 208th Canadian Irish Bn. C.E.F., in which he was also appointed Paymaster with the rank of Captain. He was forced to withdraw from the 208th, on account of an injury which he received at Camp Borden. He has one son, Paul I. Bernard, who is on active service as an officer in the British Expeditionary Force. Captain Hinds is an ardent student of Gaelic Literature, Language and Art, and possesses one of the best Erse Libraries in Canada. He is a Catholic in religion. Address: Osgoode Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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=Clute, Arthur Roger= (Toronto, Ont.), was born in Belleville, Ont., on August 24, 1874. He attended the Belleville Collegiate Institute, from which he matriculated with honors in 1892, and thereupon entered the University of Toronto, from which he graduated as Bachelor of Arts in 1896, with first-class honors, in the Department of Political Science and History, having been awarded during his course one of the Alexander Mackenzie Scholarships in that department. In 1901 he received from his Alma Mater the Degree of LL.B. He was articled as a student at law to his father, the Honorable Justice Clute, in 1896; and studied law at the Law School at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, where he obtained first-class honors and was awarded a scholarship in each year of his course, together with medal upon his call to the Ontario Bar in June, 1899. Since that time Mr. Clute has practised his profession in the city of Toronto, and has acted for several years as examiner at the University of Toronto, and at the Law School, and is now also a Lecturer at the University of Toronto. In politics he is a Liberal.
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=Goodeve, Hon. Arthur Samuel= (Ottawa), Dominion Railway Commissioner, English and Canadian origin, son of Arthur Henry and Caroline Goodeve, born at Guelph, Ont., Dec. 15, 1860, where he received his education at the Public Schools and Collegiate Institute. A graduate of the Ontario College of Pharmacy. Mayor of Rossland, B.C., 1889-1900. Appointed Provincial Secretary in the first Conservative Government in British Columbia, June, 1903, the McBride Administration; resigned portfolio, returned for Kootenay District, in the House of Commons, general elections 1908, appointed a member of Timber and Forestry Commission, B.C., 1909-10, a Conservative Whip, House of Commons, 1910; resigned seat on being appointed a Dominion Railway Commissioner. Married, April, 1884, Ellen Elizabeth Spence, daughter of James Spence, Toronto; father of four boys and two girls. Member of following clubs: Rideau, Ottawa, and Rossland, B.C.; and the Masonic order, Blue, Chapter and Commandery. A Presbyterian in religion. Before accepting his present office, Hon. Mr. Goodeve was recognized as a formidable campaigner and painstaking representative.
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=Guilbault, Joseph Pierre Octave, B.A., LL.D.= (Joliette), Notary, was born Sept. 3, 1870, at St. Paul de Joliette, Province of Quebec, son of Joseph Guilbault and Adelaide Renaud, French-Canadians; educated at L’Assomption College, P.Q., and Laval University, Montreal. Married, Sept. 20, 1898, Clementine, daughter of Urgel Richard, of St. Jacques de L’Achigan, has one son, Fernand, and one daughter, Germaine. For ten years Secretary-Treasurer of Commissioners for Schools in Joliette, where he practices his profession of a Notary. Elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Joliette in 1911. A Liberal-Conservative in politics. Mr. Guilbault has not been defeated—sickness prevented him from being a candidate in the election of 1917. In religion Mr. Guilbault is a Roman Catholic.
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=Bronson, Henry Franklin= (Ottawa, Ont.), the one man, it has been said, who understood the feasibility of converting the large lakes and furious foaming falls of the Ottawa River into a channel for the driving of saw-logs, was born in the town of Moreau, Saratoga County, New York State, on February 24, 1817. His parents were Alvah Bronson and Sarah Tinker. Mr. Bronson is of mixed Scottish and Welsh descent, and the family, which is now scattered through most of the Northern States, at an early period settled in New England. Members of this enterprising and clever family were the Hon. Greene C. Bronson, of the New York bench, and the Rev. Asa Bronson, who was for many years pastor of the First Baptist Church, at Fall River, Massachusetts. The first of the family to find his way to Canada was the subject of our sketch, and shortly after he came here he led off in the lumber business. H. F. Bronson spent his youthful days at Queensbury, Warren County, New York, in the family of the late J. J. Harris, and he concluded his education at the Poultney Academy, of Vermont. “Young Bronson,” says a reliable authority, “became an apt scholar in agricultural sciences, but soon showed a preference for woodland foraging, pre-destined, as he was, to become a great marauder of pine forests.” In 1840, Mr. Harris, already alluded to, purchased extensive pine tracts, erecting mills on one of the upper Hudson lakes. He formed a partnership with his young and trusted friend, Mr. Bronson, “whose assets consisted of a sound constitution, a resolute will, unbending integrity, skill with the hand, and a mind to work.” The partnership continued for twenty-two years, and during the last ten years of the association, the greater portion of the business responsibility fell upon our subject, owing to the failure of Mr. Harris’ health. It soon became plain that the pine was rapidly disappearing from the upper Hudson; therefore, in 1848, Mr. Bronson passed over to Canada, proceeding along the Ottawa Valley till the thunder of the Chaudiere Falls burst upon his ears. At once he was satisfied that here was an excellent place to begin lumber operations; for the timber seemed inexhaustible, and the water power magnificent. He returned home, but in 1852 he persuaded Mr. Harris to accompany him to the Ottawa Valley. When they reached again the region of kingly pines and booming waterfalls, they were everywhere met with testimony from river experts, saying that the Ottawa was not suitable for the safe driving of saw logs, but Mr. Bronson recommended to his partner the purchase of hydraulic lots at the Chaudiere Falls, then held by the Crown. At the sale of the lots, made by Mr. Horace Merrill, general superintendent of the Ottawa River works, a purchase was made, and here, under the personal supervision of Mr. Bronson, their mills were built within sound of the thunder of the falls. The mills having been erected, Mr. Bronson removed his family to Ottawa, and there they were established permanently. The relation of Mr. Bronson to the sawn lumber trade of the Dominion of Canada will be better understood when it is learned that his was the first movement in the Ottawa District for the manufacture of sawn lumber for the United States market. The original mill embodied all the modern improvements of the times, including iron gates of novel model, a contrivance planned by Mr. Bronson himself, and afterwards used in most of the gang saw mills on the Ottawa River. Several other gentlemen, stimulated by the enterprise and success of Mr. Bronson and his partner, likewise set out for Ottawa; and, after a time, chiefly owing to the persistency of Mr. Bronson, a series of costly river improvements were constructed, which made the driving of logs upon the Ottawa a matter of greater convenience than upon many a smaller stream, which has no large lakes to act as a reservoir for checking the fury of the spring freshets. In 1864, Mr. Harris retired from the business, Mr. Bronson still continuing the extensive manufacture of sawn lumber, and owing to his splendid abilities as a manager, his operations not alone maintained their ground, but gradually increased. The present firm at Ottawa is known as The Bronson Company. Mr. Bronson married, on November 5, 1840, Editha E. Pierce, of Bolton, N.Y., and had four children. Gertrude, the only daughter, is the wife of Levi Crannell. The sons are Erskine Henry, Frank P., and Walter G. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bronson, like another great prince of business men, Sir Hugh Allan, did not care for political life, and held himself aloof from parties, but he was connected with several benevolent institutions and business enterprises. In 1889, death called this pioneer Canadian lumberman and high-principled citizen. His private and social relations had won for him everywhere good will and highest regard. Men had learned to esteem the man because of his tested and sterling worth. In the commerce of Canada Mr. Bronson’s name will go down in history as the first lumberman in the Ottawa Valley to manufacture sawn lumber for the American market, and as a pioneer in the development of the resources of that section of Canada to the point where its principal city was deemed worthy of being named as the Capital City of the Dominion. Business courage and keenness of perception were required to accomplish these ends, but in more ways than one Mr. Bronson had shown himself to be a man of practical vision and rare foresight. To men like the late Henry Franklin Bronson, Canada and in particular the business life of the Capital, must ever remain in debt.
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