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A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose

1840. On the 4th of January, 1839, Mr. Allison addressed a letter to the

1731 words  |  Chapter 15

chairman of the New Brunswick district of Wesleyan ministers, in which he proposed “to purchase an eligible site and erect suitable buildings in Sackville, in the county of Westmoreland, for the establishment of a school, in which not only the elementary, but the _higher_ branches of education may be taught, and to be altogether under the management and control of the British conference in connection with the Wesleyan missionaries in these provinces;” and he proposed to give £100 ($400) per annum for ten years towards the support of the school. This generous offer having been accepted, he made arrangements to proceed with the erection of a suitable edifice for the academy—the corner-stone of which was laid on the 9th of July, 1840, and from that time to the close of his life in 1858, he devoted a large share of his time and business talent to watching over and promoting the financial interests of the educational enterprise which, under his fostering care, developed wonderfully. In addition to the $20,000 which he had given to establish the older branch of the institution, he gave $4,000 to aid in the erection of the ladies’ branch, which was opened in 1854; and in his will he left $2,000 for the academies, and $1,000 for the college whenever it should be organized. So that of the moderate fortune which he had accumulated before retiring from mercantile life in 1840, at least $30,000 were employed in founding and establishing the educational institutions which bear his name, and which stand as the enduring monument of the far-seeing wisdom and liberality of this unselfish Christian patriot. Mr. Allison was married to Milcah, daughter of John and Anne Trueman, on June 23rd, 1840. Mrs. Allison survived him, but died on the 14th of June, 1884. Mary, their only child, was born 1st Sept., 1847, and died 1st Jan., 1871. At the date of Mr. Allison’s demise, _The Borderer_, a local weekly paper, thus kindly alluded to him: “Our sheet this week appears in mourning, because we are called to record the death of one whose removal is indeed a public loss, and one, too, of no ordinary magnitude. Almost every individual in our community feels the death of Charles F. Allison as a public bereavement. But far beyond the circle of personal acquaintanceship, everywhere throughout the lower British American colonies, Mr. Allison’s name has been known and his influence felt, as the most munificent public benefactor who has yet arisen in these provinces, to bless his country and benefit the world. Mr. Allison was a native of Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, but came to this place when a young man, and here carried on, in connection with his partner, the late Hon. Wm. Crane, an extensive business until 1840. In all his business transactions he was remarkable for diligence, promptitude, punctuality, and rigid honesty. He did not make haste to be rich by embarking in any rash speculation, being, doubtlessly, more inclined to the _safe_ than to the _rapid_ mode of acquiring wealth. He was, however, quite successful, so that when he was led, many years since, to the more earnest consideration of the fundamental doctrine of the Christian system of practical ethics, ‘_Ye are not your own, but bought with a price_,’ etc., he found himself in possession of a considerable amount of property, of which he evidently, thenceforward to the end of his life, considered himself but the steward; and as such he was eminently wise and faithful, so that, we doubt not, he has been greeted by his Divine Master with the commendation, ‘_Well done, good and faithful servant._’ A large portion of the last eighteen or twenty years of his life was most unostentatiously employed in various works altogether unselfish. The noble educational institutions which he founded, and which he has so largely helped to build up to their present state of pre-eminent usefulness, have occupied a great deal of his time and attention, for he not only cheerfully paid six thousand pounds and upwards to ensure their establishment, but without fee or reward discharged the onerous duty of treasurer, and watched and labored with parental kindness, solicitude and devotion, to promote their prosperity. These, we believe, will long stand, monuments of the wisdom as well as of the benevolence of the Christian patriot and philanthropist. We have not room to enlarge upon the modesty, gentleness, affability, and other traits of character which so endeared him to all who had the privilege of his personal acquaintance. Nor yet can we speak of the many ways in which his quiet influence will be so much missed in our neighborhood. ‘_He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him._’” In _The Provincial Wesleyan_, of the same week, published at Halifax, Nova Scotia, a similar notice of Mr. Allison’s death appeared, in which the writer said: “He was a benefactor to his race, a blessing to his country, an ornament to the age in which he lived. He lived not for himself, but for his generation and for generations yet unborn. Fortune, this world’s wealth, he sought and won; but lavished it not on personal pleasures or selfish aggrandizement. His time and his means were freely given to the noble cause of securing to the youth of these provinces a sound, liberal, and religious education. His humility equalled his munificence. He thirsted not for fame. But he has left a monument for himself more noble than sculptured stone in the institutions he has reared, and with which his worthy name must be forever associated.” The Mount Allison _Academic Gazette_, in its first issue after the death of Mr. Allison, said: “The relation which Mr. Allison sustained to the institution, and to all who were connected with it, was such as no other individual can ever sustain. His removal is, therefore, to it and to them an irreparable loss. The feeling of sadness and anxiety induced by this event must, therefore, with those who understand the matter, be altogether other than an evanescent one. But although we are sure that we shall find everywhere many to sympathise with us in our abiding sorrow as we think of the deep affliction which befell us and the institution when its father was taken from us, we think it more becoming for us to ask them to rejoice with us in gratefully acknowledging how much he was allowed to accomplish for it whilst he yet lived. Nearly nineteen years were added to his life after he had formed the noble design of founding such an institution, and during all these years he labored and studied and prayed for its prosperity, as its father only could do. The value of the services which he rendered to the institution, ‘not grudgingly, as of necessity,’ but ever most cheerfully, and, be it remembered, entirely gratuitously, cannot be estimated. Probably if an accurate account had been kept of them, charging for each item its fair business value, they would be found to amount to scarcely less than the sum of his princely money benefactions to the founding and establishing this institution. Certainly it may well be questioned whether the devotion of twice the six or seven thousand pounds, which he gave, would without such personal attention and services, have secured the establishment of such an institution as he has left to perpetuate the blessed memory of his name.” The board of trustees of the institution, at a special meeting held on 6th Jan., 1859, passed the following resolutions, among others: “1. That although we are deeply conscious that the academy has sustained an irreparable loss in the decease of Charles F. Allison, Esq., and although the remembrance that his work on earth is done, that the invaluable services which, as treasurer, chairman of building, furnishing, and executive committees of the institution, he has ever been wont so ungrudgingly to render, have now ceased, and that the board can no more hope to be aided in its deliberations by his eminently sage counsels, induces a feeling of sadness almost overwhelming; yet the board would recognize as ground for profound gratitude to Him without whom ‘_nothing is wise, nothing good_,’ the magnitude of the work which our departed brother was enabled and allowed so wisely to undertake and successfully to accomplish in founding, and so essentially helping to build up to its present eminently prosperous condition, the Mount Allison Wesleyan Academy in its two affiliated branches. “2. That in the judgment of this board, Mr. Allison, in devoting so large a portion of his time and wealth to the establishment of an educational institution which is of such wide-spread influence and usefulness, acted as a truly wise Christian steward, and fairly entitled himself to the pre-eminently honourable position which has been assigned to him as ‘_the noblest public benefactor which has yet arisen in these provinces to benefit his country and bless the world_;’ and believing that so long as this institution may continue in operation true to his design and worthy of its past history, it will stand the monument of the distinguished Christian patriot and philanthropist, perpetuating the memory alike of his wisdom and his benevolence, this board will, as performing a sacred duty, earnestly endeavour to maintain in ever increasing efficiency.” Resolutions of a similar character were passed by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of Eastern British America at its next ensuing annual session. See published minutes for the year 1859, pp. 21-22. * * * * * =Senkler, William Stevens=, Judge of the County Court of the County of Lanark, Perth, is an Englishman by birth, having been born at Docking, Norfolk county, England, on the 15th of January, 1838. His father was the Rev. Edmund John Senkler, M.A., of Cains College, Cambridge, a clergyman of the Church of England; and his mother was Eleanor Elizabeth Stevens, daughter of the Rev. William Stevens, M.A., Oxon, of Sedberg, Yorkshire, England. The parents of Judge Senkler, with their family of nine children, came to Canada in May, 1843, and resided in the city of Quebec, where the Rev. Mr. Senkler occupied for some time the position of rector of the High School. He then moved to Sorel, and in September, 1847, to Brockville, at which place he died on the 28th of October, 1872, Mrs. Senkler following him to the grave on the 16th of March,
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1. Chapter 1 2. introduction of many other distinguished families in every department of 3. 1647. There were three brothers, Petrus, Balthazer and Nicholas; one 4. 1874. His diaconate he spent in Massachusetts, preaching in several 5. 1873. The doctor has taken an interest in various companies, and is at 6. 1834. His father, Matthew MacFarlane, was born in the parish of Dramore, 7. 1. Moved by Henry Stuart, seconded by Gédéon Ouimet, M.P.P., 8. 2. Moved by Andrew Robertson, seconded by C. A. Leblanc, That as 9. 3. Moved by the Honourable T. J. J. Loranger, seconded by J. C. 10. 1. Moved by J. H. Filion, seconded by Mr. Boisseau, that Mr. 11. 2. Moved by Mr. Wilfrid Prévost, seconded by J. A. H. Mackay, 12. 3. Moved by J. A. H. Mackay, seconded by J. H. Filion, That the 13. 1853. Judge Berthelot was appointed in 1875, as above mentioned. In 14. 1878. The 18th being nomination day in Manitoba, and the news reaching 15. 1840. On the 4th of January, 1839, Mr. Allison addressed a letter to the 16. 1873. Judge Senkler was educated by his father, and commenced life in 17. 1874. In the same year he was articled to W. A. Ross, then barrister in 18. 1885. Mr. Falconbridge is a pronounced and steadfast Conservative in 19. 1886. Judge Kelly is a Roman Catholic, and was married, first, in 20. 1884. Dr. Reddy held many offices of the highest trust and honour in 21. 1837. He is the third son of Michael Spurr Harris and Sarah Ann Troop. 22. 1882. He is a member of the New Brunswick Medical Society and of the 23. 1880. He still continues his membership in, and is physician to, each of 24. Introduction to the Talmud,” displayed a deep and broad acquaintance 25. 1841. His father, John Alward, a successful agriculturist, was the son 26. 1839. He is son of Thomas Harrison, by his wife Elizabeth Coburn, and 27. 1840. After a three years’ course at the Grand Seminary he was, on the 28. 1732. He was a staunch and persistent friend and advocate of political 29. 1827. In 1831, he was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church, 30. 1834. His father, John Palmer, grandson of Gideon Palmer, a U. E. 31. 1825. By descent Dr. MacCallum is a pure Celt, being the son of John 32. 1863. The capitular degrees were received in the New Brunswick Royal 33. introduction of the English Medical Registration Act in 1860. He has 34. 1681. Since then the family has multiplied considerably, and is now 35. 1878. In 1882, Mr. Church was elected a member of the Nova Scotia 36. 1844. He is the fourth son of Charles G. Buller, of Campbellford, 37. 1840. His mother, Sarah Ann Williams, was born at Port Dover, Lake Erie 38. 1856. His father, Alexander Robb, the founder of the works he manages, 39. 1874. In 1859 Mr. Ross entered politics as a Liberal, and was returned, 40. 1812. His mother, Elizabeth Coulson, was a native of Stockton, near 41. 1772. His father, John Macdonald, of Allisary, and his mother, Ellen 42. 1851. He studied law in the office of Thomas Kirkpatrick, Q.C., of 43. 1874. Upon his removal to Orillia, he set to work to erect the handsome 44. 1837. His parents, William and Mary Smith, are both alive, and residing 45. 1875. Mrs. Archibald was re-appointed chief preceptress of Mount Allison 46. 1844. In the same year he was offered and declined the office of 47. 1855. His mother, Ann Evans, was a native of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 48. 1881. He was married again on 29th November to Miss Nealis, daughter of 49. 1876. He has travelled a good deal in Britain and on the continent of 50. 1876. Messrs. Angers and de Boucherville worked harmoniously together, 51. 1873. And Laval again, in 1878, presented him with the degree of LL.D. 52. 1872. The entrance of Mr. Mathieu into political life dates from that 53. 1870. By his first marriage he has three children, one son and two 54. introduction of denominational colleges, and their partial endowment by 55. 1880. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, whom he 56. 1750. His son, Pierre, was lord of the Seigniories of Rivière Ouelle and 57. 1883. He represented the Crown in Quebec with the late Judge Alleyn, at 58. introduction to Professor Pillans, who treated him very kindly and 59. 1873. He took first prizes throughout his course for Latin, Greek, 60. 1858. His brother, John W. Kerr, who was appointed county attorney and 61. 1887. In 1885, Mr. Shakespeare was elected to the presidency of the 62. 1866. In the Limestone City he found employment as a teacher, and for 63. 1846. The family, on the paternal side, came originally from the county 64. 1877. This work has been exhaustively and very favorably reviewed by Dr. 65. 1878. This enumeration does not include various papers published in the 66. 1884. He was chairman of the Western Judicial District Board of 67. 1814. He is a son of William Nyren Silver, of Port Lee, Hampshire, of 68. 1838. He went early into business, and only of late years relaxed his 69. 1886. He is also a member of the Board of Management of the Church 70. 1877. Mr. Kennedy was made a freeman of the city of St. John in 1839, 71. 1841. He is son of Robert Hopper, whose father came from Hamilton, 72. 1883. In 1879 he was appointed agent of the Commercial Union Assurance 73. 1833. He is the fourth son of Hon. Joseph Masson, a member of the 74. 1833. He is the second son of Michael Spurr Harris, who came to Moncton 75. 1882. He is representative in Quebec of the Grand Lodge of California 76. 1846. His father, John McConnell, served under Mr. Howard, of High Park, 77. 1880. He has been for some time a member of the Board of Education of 78. 1887. He leaves four sons. He was for many years the leading member of 79. 1841. About the time of Dr. Strachan’s appointment as councillor, began 80. 1856. In 1858 he was elected to the parliament of Canada, subsequently 81. 1878. His attention to the duties of his office won general approbation. 82. 1665. His grandfather, Stephen Jones, a graduate of Harvard College, was 83. 1865. Second, to Emma, daughter of Edward Albrough, of Halifax. 84. 1836. His parents were Robert McKnight and Eliza Gray. He received a 85. 1887. He was a son of John Torrance, in his lifetime one of the leading 86. 1845. His parents were Thomas E. Oulton and Elizabeth Carter, both 87. 1870. In 1880 he was appointed judge of probate for Hants county; and in 88. 1859. In the latter year he successfully contested the county of 89. 1810. Being poor working people, they were only able to give their son a 90. 1834. Mr. Moffat, the subject of our sketch, is the eldest son of this 91. introduction of responsible government, was reappointed to the Executive 92. 1835. The Synod appointed Dr. John Rae, principal of the Grammar school 93. 1879. He was elected leader of the government by the unanimous vote of 94. 1870. He took an active part in agitating for the construction of the 95. 1885. He is now a director of the Coaticook Cotton Company; of the 96. 1789. He was of Norman and Saxon descent, claiming kindred with Michael 97. 1739. His father and his father’s brothers were gentlemen of 98. 1882. His politics are Conservative, and though younger than the 99. 1865. Haliburton first became known as an author in 1829, when he 100. 1840. He was educated at Fredericton. Mr. Peck is the youngest son of 101. 1878. He sold his life insurance policy, some real estate, and, in fact, 102. 1844. He is of an old English family, his grandfather, whose name he 103. 1814. He was the only son of John Jennings, manufacturer, of that city. 104. 1873. After Confederation this office was merged in that of postmaster 105. 1884. Mr. Bowser is a member of the Masonic fraternity, was Chaplain of 106. 1881. He became a member of the Orange society in 1863, and continued a 107. 1760. Mr. Tourangeau’s great grandfather emigrated from La Touraine, 108. 1878. The manufacturing company, of which he is president, is a large 109. 1832. The case created great interest throughout England, and was 110. 1870. In the year 1881 Mr. Stevenson retired from the force with the 111. 1841. He is a member of a family for many generations resident at 112. 1826. His father was John Emmerson, who at an early age came from 113. 1881. He is also the author of a paper entitled, “Vinland,” an account 114. 1837. He is also a nephew of the late William Walker, advocate, of 115. 1843. His father was the late Major Pope, who was for many years 116. 1796. He was formally thanked by parliament. A succession of honors 117. 1837. The second had been a student in the office of this young lawyer, 118. 1850. His father, Richard Clarke, was a general merchant and flax buyer, 119. 1843. His father, William G. Archibald, was a native of the same county, 120. 1719. John is the fourth child, in a family of five, and was educated in 121. 1869. In 1870 he married Marie Malvina, third daughter of Francis 122. 1843. He received the honorary degree of M.A., in 1855, and of D.C.L., 123. 1860. On the 23rd May, 1862, he joined the British army as ensign, 124. 1818. Her mother, Mary Magdalen McKay, was born at St. Cuthbert, Quebec, 125. 1829. The family came to Canada in 1834, and settled in the city of 126. 1886. In this a monster chorus of over nine hundred voices, accompanied 127. 1884. Immediately thereafter steps were taken, by the same trustees, to 128. 1866. He held the office of master of Poyntz lodge, at Hantsport, from 129. 1842. His father was Alexander Shields, a farmer from Fifeshire, 130. 1880. He then entered the law office of his brother, Ernest Pacaud, well 131. 1819. His parents were James Kelly and Margaret Crosby, both natives of 132. 1766. The Lovitts have always been identified with the best interests of 133. 1857. Mr. Cartier was the only Lower Canadian minister who belonged to 134. introduction into New Brunswick, and for the past twenty years has been 135. 1862. In 1866 he married Helen E., daughter of Thomas Barlow, a member 136. 1862. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Victoria 137. 1888. Dr. Courtney is tall, erect, and well formed. He has greyish blue 138. 1841. His ancestors came from France, and settled in the county of 139. 1869. Towards the close of the year 1869 he went to Switzerland, where, 140. 1820. His parents had come from Scotland several years before, and, if 141. 1885. In September, 1883, he went to Europe, and in the course of his 142. 1884. He was the son of J. B. Proulx and Magdalen Hébert. His great 143. 1872. His mother, Rosalind E. Bernard, was born in Montreal, educated at 144. 1838. The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Mary’s College, 145. 1873. Promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel in June, 1874, and appointed to 146. 1840. His ancestors emigrated from France, and were among the early 147. 1877. He has occupied a distinguished position at the bar; was elected 148. 1843. On his return he began the practice of his profession, and soon 149. 1886. At the close of 1887 he was appointed by the Imperial government 150. 1868. Being too young for ordination, he remained in the school, 151. 1872. In 1872 he received the degree of hon. M.A. from Trinity College, 152. 1878. He is a Roman Catholic in religion. He was married on the 12th 153. 1702. The bishop’s nephew, James Molony, of Kiltanon, the first 154. 1815. He is a son of John Haythorne, a wool merchant of Bristol, and who 155. 1873. The following autumn Mr. Haythorne was summoned to the Senate, and 156. 1875. Immediately upon entering into business, he obtained a large 157. 1877. The point was raised by J. Norman Ritchie, now one of the judges 158. introduction of responsible government into Canada for any length of 159. 1841. This gentleman took an active part in the troubles of 1837-’38, 160. 1854. Mr. Unsworth left four sons, one of whom, Joseph, is 161. 1875. He was also surgeon of police from 1863 to 1875. Besides these 162. 1873. He brought with him a stock of ready-made clothing, and shortly 163. 1822. His father was Robert Boak, of Shields, in the county of Durham, 164. 1809. He received his education at the Seminary of St. Hyacinthe, where, 165. 1826. From 1826 to 1830 he was director of St. James Grand Seminary at 166. 1866. In September of that year he retired with the rank of captain, and 167. 1823. In Nova Scotia, since confederation, the legal affairs of the 168. 1860. His career as a school trustee will not soon be forgotten, as it 169. 1600. His mother, Anne Whiteway, is descended from a Devonshire family 170. 1856. In 1857 he removed to Toronto, Ontario, being employed by Paterson 171. 1859. His parents were Theophile Chênevert and Mathilde Filteau. His 172. 1871. He spent the years 1872 and 1873 at Edinburgh, Scotland, and 173. 1829. His parents were Neil Sinclair and Mary McDougall, first of 174. 1832. He received part of his education in that town and also pursued 175. 1854. In 1856-7 he was provincial secretary, and became premier of the 176. 1878. He was inspector of the post offices of the Dominion of Canada in 177. 1846. He went through the elementary schools of his parish, then was 178. 1873. He then commenced business by opening a general store, which he 179. 2816. The result was similar throughout the province. Mr. Payzant took 180. 1850. He is a descendant of one of the oldest and most honorable 181. 1876. He was for some time a valued and progressive member of the city 182. 1775. The following verses, contributed by “E. L. M.,” a 183. 1878. Since then he has successfully practised his profession in 184. 1856. Complete withdrawal from mercantile cares for a year having 185. 1882. He has been prominently connected with various other societies and 186. 1857. In 1859 he went to the Red River settlement, where he remained 187. 1887. (See sketch of his life on page 40.)

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