A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose
1869. Towards the close of the year 1869 he went to Switzerland, where,
673 words | Chapter 139
upon the invitation of the president of the Confederation he joined the
federal staff at Berne, and followed the army in its autumn manœuvres.
In 1874, inspired, doubtless, by the remembrance of the manœuvres of the
Swiss army, he published a pamphlet on the military organization of the
Canadian Confederation. He also was the first who, in 1867, suggested
the idea to his co-religionists to send military aid to the papal See,
and was instrumental in the decision of the movement which sent to Rome
more than 600 Canadian Zouaves. This expedition, which resembled, in
more respects than one, that of the first crusades, has, it is affirmed,
contributed more to make Canada known to Europe than many other things.
In 1883 he was sent, along with the other commandants of the infantry
schools, to England, by the Dominion government, to study the
organization of and follow the Imperial service, preparatory to taking
command of one of the infantry schools now in existence in Canada. Like
many other old families, the d’Odet family retains many souvenirs and
marks of appreciation from distinguished personages, such as autograph
letters from kings, princes, and others; amongst some of these in their
possession is a letter dated 8th of March, 1670, signed by Emmanuel, Duc
of Savoie, and King of Cyprus, in which the duke invites the family to
ask for favors in return for services rendered him. The Count d’Odet
d’Orsonnens was married in 1870, to Marie Louise Adèle Desbarats, and
has issue four sons and one daughter. The eldest, Viscount George Joseph
Gustave was born in 1872. ARMS: Azure, a lion, or, rampant, holding a
horn of plenty, of the same. COUNT’S CORONET; MOTTO: _Certa fides, certa
manus_.
* * * * *
=Guilbault, Edouard=, Joliette, Quebec, Mayor of Joliette, was born at
d’Aileboust, county of Joliette, on the 14th April, 1834. He is the son
of Charles Guilbault, and Marie Blanchard, whose ancestors came from
Normandy, France, in 1697, and were among the first settlers of
Charlesbourg, Quebec. The subject of this sketch was educated at the
College of Joliette, where he took a commercial course. He sat in the
Joliette town council for twenty years; was elected mayor in 1875, and
has continued to fill that responsible position since, having been
re-elected on the 10th January, 1888, for a further term of three years.
He is a Conservative in politics; is now president of the Conservative
Association, and has long taken an active interest in political affairs.
He was first returned to parliament at the general election, in 1882;
but resigned, and was re-elected, 7th December, 1882, and again, at the
general election of 1887. He organized the Agricultural Society of the
county in 1854; filled the position of secretary for twenty-five years,
and is now the president. He is the proprietor of several large farms,
in which he takes a deep interest, always working hard to improve
agriculture. In 1871 he formed a company which engaged in the lumber
business, and he continues as director of this company still; he is also
a director in a large foundry and agricultural implements works. In 1865
he established a boot and shoe factory, which he conducted under his own
name, and which he superintends personally, and has succeeded in
building up an extensive trade in that line. In the year 1884 he formed
a company to enter into the manufacture of Canadian tobacco, and is
president of this company, to which he gives considerable attention.
This is an industry which will bear a great deal of development. In 1885
he visited Europe, and made an extensive tour, with the object of
acquiring information as to trade and agriculture. He is a Roman
Catholic, but believes in liberty of conscience. He was married, in
1858, to Marie Hermine Lemaitre Auger, daughter of Major Desire Lemaitre
Auger, of Louisville.
* * * * *
=Dawson, Sir J. William=, C.M.G., LL.D., F.R.S., Principal of the McGill
University, Montreal, was born at Pictou, Nova Scotia, on October 13th,
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