A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose
1841. His father, John Alward, a successful agriculturist, was the son
4526 words | Chapter 25
of Benjamin Alward, a U. E. loyalist, who emigrated with his family from
the state of New Jersey, at the close of the American revolution, and
made his home in Queens county, New Brunswick, and there he died at the
age of ninety years. The mother of Silas Alward was Mary A. Corey, whose
family also settled in New Brunswick, at an early date. Silas received
his education at Acadia College, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and graduated
B.A. in 1860, standing at the head of his class. The following remarks
may be seen on the records of Acadia College, with regard to Mr. Alward:
“I now come to probably the most brilliant class that ever took
the prescribed course at Acadia, the class of 1860. * * * There
is Silas Alward, one of the most persevering, indefatigable,
attentive students who ever attended college. Of strong physical
frame, with great aptitude for study, a good linguist, an
ambitious young man, it is not improbable that in his daily and
terminal reckoning he stood in his class where the alphabet has
placed him dux.”
In 1871, he received the degree of A.M., from Brown University,
Providence, Rhode Island. After getting through with his college course,
he began the study of law in the office of the Hon. Charles N. Skinner,
Q.C., now Judge of Probate in St. John; was admitted to practice in
1865, and called to the bar in 1866, since which time he has steadily
applied himself to his professional duties, and is now noted for his
high legal attainments, and is without doubt an ornament to the bar of
New Brunswick. He has been on two occasions president of the St. John
Mechanics’ Institute, and is a trustee of the St. John School Board. In
1867, Mr. Alward took a tour through Europe, and spent some time in the
cities of Rome and Naples. He afterwards wrote for a St. John newspaper
some very interesting articles, descriptive of the various places of
note he visited on this occasion. He has since then twice visited the
old world. He is well versed in general literature, and occasionally
takes the platform as a lecturer. Amongst his favourite lectures we may
mention: “Our Western Heritage,” “A Day in the Heart of England,” “The
Permanency of British Civilization,” and “The Great Administration.” In
February, 1887, Dr. Alward was elected by acclamation to the legislature
of New Brunswick, for the city of St. John. In politics, Mr. Alward is a
Liberal, and in religious matters, he belongs to the Baptist
denomination. On October 12th, 1869, he was married to Emilie, daughter
of Peter Wickwire, of Nova Scotia, and sister of Dr. Wickwire, of
Halifax. Mrs. Alward died in 1879, leaving no children.
* * * * *
=Kellond, Robert Arthur=, Solicitor and Attorney for Inventors, Toronto,
Ontario, was born in Montreal, Quebec province, on 6th November, 1856.
His father belonged to an old Devonshire (England) family, and was the
only son of the name who emigrated to Canada about 1850. His grandfather
had the honour of fighting under Lord Nelson on board the _Victory_ at
the battle of Trafalgar. Robert Arthur received his education at McGill
Normal School, and under private tutors in Montreal, and also in
England. He was also a pupil of the late Charles Legge, C. E., and was
engaged with him in the preliminary surveys and work upon the lines of
railway between Montreal and Ottawa, now known as the Canadian Pacific
Railway and the Canada Atlantic Railway, of which Mr. Legge was chief
engineer. Mr. Kellond studied law while in the office of Charles Legge &
Co., and paid particular attention to the patent soliciting branch of
that firm, and on the death of Mr. Legge, he and his partner, F. H.
Reynolds, succeeded to the business of the firm. Mr. Kellond has now in
successful operation offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.,
United States, and has representatives in nearly all the capitals of
Europe. By this means he does a large business as a solicitor and
attorney for inventors, and as counsel and expert in patent and trade
mark causes, his _clientèle_ including many of the largest manufacturing
firms and corporations throughout Canada. He served eleven years in the
3rd battalion Victoria Rifles, of Montreal, and retired in 1886 with the
rank of captain. As a Mason he stands high in the order, being past
master of Hochelaga lodge, No. 57, Q.R., Montreal; past grand orator of
Sovereign Sanctuary of Canada and Newfoundland, 33°, 96°, 90°; is a
member of Carnarvon Chapter Royal Arch Masons; Delta Rose Croix Chapter,
and Richard Cœur-de-Lion and Odo de St. Amand perceptories of Knights
Templar; and is a member of the Rosicrucian Society, and Baltimore Unity
of Oddfellows. Politically Mr. Kellond is a Liberal, but since 1878 he
has been a supporter of the National Policy and protection to home
industries. He has declined several public offices on account of
professional duties. In religious matters he is a supporter of the
Episcopal church, but nevertheless is an admirer of many of the methods,
and social efforts of the Methodist and other independent bodies. He has
travelled through most of the southern and western states of the
neighbouring Union, and also in England, having a large number of
clients and professional associates in both countries. He has two
brothers, the eldest of whom was an officer under Lord Wolseley when he
went to Fort Garry, and is now a resident of Kentucky, U.S. The other
brother is a prominent railroad official in Louisville, Kentucky state.
Mr. Kellond was married in 1880 to a daughter of the late Henry Ryan
Hurlburt, barrister, Prescott, Ontario.
* * * * *
=Maunsell, Lieut.-Col. George J.=, Deputy-Adjutant General district No.
8, New Brunswick, Commandant of Royal School of Infantry, Infantry
School corps, Fredericton, was born at Bally-William House, Rathkeale,
county of Limerick, Ireland, on the 25th of August, 1836. His father was
George Meanes Maunsell, J.P., of Bally-William House, Limerick county,
_vide_ “Burke’s Irish Landed Gentry.” His mother was M. Maunsell,
daughter of Rev. J. Stopford, son of the Bishop of Cloyne and Ross, Cork
county, and was a descendant of the Lord Courtown family, “Burke’s
Peerage.” Lieut.-Col. Maunsell, was educated at home and afterwards
studied for the profession of arms, and passed his final examination at
Sandhurst Royal Military College in May, 1855, and was gazetted ensign
in her Majesty’s fifteenth regiment on the 15th of the same month. He
attended a course of instruction in military engineering (branch of
senior department of the Royal Military College) at Aldershot in 1857,
and was subsequently employed, temporarily, on the staff at Aldershot in
connection with this course of instruction. On November 27th, 1857, he
was gazetted lieutenant in his regiment, and in 1858-9 attended the
course of instruction at the School of Musketry, Hythe, receiving a
certificate of the first class, on January 26th, 1859; and on February
10th following was gazetted as instructor of musketry. He was promoted
to a captaincy of the Fifteenth regiment on March 12th, 1861, and in
1861-2 was acting adjutant and instructor of musketry at the Eighth
Depot Battalion. He sailed for Halifax _en route_ to New Brunswick in
January, 1864, and soon embraced an opportunity that offered to see
active service in the field, for he was with the army of the Potomac
during the whole of the spring campaign of 1865, ending with the capture
of Richmond, and was at that time temporarily attached to General
Grant’s staff. On Nov. 22, 1865, he was gazetted adjutant-general of
militia of New Brunswick, and besides the organizing work was speedily
called upon to more arduous duties, for in 1866 came the Fenian
invasion, and Colonel Maunsell was engaged in the defence of the western
frontier of New Brunswick. In 1868, after confederation, the Militia Act
was passed and under it, on Jan. 1st, 1869, Colonel Maunsell was
gazetted adjutant-general of the military district No. 8, province of
New Brunswick. Between 1871 and 1880 he commanded tactical brigade corps
at Fredericton, Woodstock, and Chatham, and attended course of studies
at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich (certificate granted). On the 1st April,
1881, Colonel Maunsell was transferred from the command of military
district No. 8 to No. 4, with headquarters at Ottawa, and commanded the
brigade camps at Ottawa and Brockville, and the School of Instruction
(infantry) at Ottawa. On the 21st July, 1883, the Colonel sailed for
England, to be attached to her Majesty’s forces at Aldershot for
instructional purposes, and while in Europe he visited various towns in
Belgium, Germany and France, and also examined several of the battle
fields connected with the Franco-German war, in search of information.
He returned to Canada in November of the same year, and on 31st December
was gazetted commandant of the School of Infantry, Infantry School
corps. On the 16th May, 1884, he was re-appointed deputy adjutant
general district No. 8, New Brunswick, holding at the same time command
of the school and corps which he had successfully organized. In May,
1885, Colonel Maunsell formed a temporary battalion, composed of the
School corps and companies (6) active militia of New Brunswick, and (2)
of Prince Edward Island for immediate active service in the North-West
Territory, and proceeded with this battalion _en route_ to the
North-West, but on the 18th of that month was ordered into camp at
Sussex, to await further orders. On the 25th May he received the thanks
of the authorities, and the different companies were sent to their local
headquarters, their services not being further required. In addition to
the above Colonel Maunsell served with the fifteenth regiment in several
Mediterranean stations, when his regiment was sent to reinforce troops
during the Crimean war; and in the years 1855-6 he travelled on foot and
on horseback throughout Spain. He has been from youth up an adherent of
the Episcopal church. On the 9th August, 1862, Colonel Maunsell married
Miss Moony, elder daughter of the late F. E. Moony, J.P., D.L., of “The
Doon,” King’s county, Ireland, and has a family of seven children, four
sons and three daughters. His eldest son is captain in the 8th regiment
P.L. cavalry, New Brunswick, and his eldest daughter is married to J. W.
de Courcy O’Grady, of the Bank of Montreal, Ottawa.
* * * * *
=Baxter, Robert Gordon=, M.D., Moncton, New Brunswick, was born on 28th
April, 1847, at Truro, Nova Scotia. His father was John Irving Baxter,
born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in 1803; educated in Pictou,
Nova Scotia, and for years was the Presbyterian minister at Onslow, N.S.
His mother, Jessie Gordon, was a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Gordon, of
Prince Edward Island, whose mother afterwards married the Rev. Dr.
McGregor, Presbyterian minister of Pictou, N.S. Dr. Baxter received his
early education in Truro, and pursued his medical studies in New York
and Philadelphia, and in London, England. In 1868 he began the practice
of his profession in Philadelphia, and in the following year removed to
Tatamagouche, N.S., and in the summer of 1870 to Moncton, where he has
resided since. He has held a lieutenant’s command in the third regiment
Colchester County Militia since June 21st, 1865; and was the first
chairman of the Board of Health of Moncton. He takes a great interest in
public enterprises, especially in agriculture, and was the first to
introduce into New Brunswick and bring to public notice the system of
ensilage, now so popular in Great Britain, and of so much advantage to
stock raisers. He has travelled over the greater part of Canada and the
United States, and has visited England, Scotland and several of the
continental cities. The doctor is in religion a Presbyterian. On the
29th January, 1872, he was married to Jean McAlister, of Moncton, and
has two children, a son and a daughter.
* * * * *
=Branchaud, Moise=, Q.C., Beauharnois, Quebec province, was born at
Beauharnois, on the 6th March, 1827. His father, Jean Baptiste
Branchaud, _bourgeois_, of Beauharnois, and his mother, Louise Primeau,
were both descendants of two of the earliest colonists of the Seigniory
of Beauharnois. His father died in 1883, at the advanced age of
eighty-three, enjoying the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Branchaud was sent, at an early age, to the College of Sainte
Thérèse de Blainville, where he made a brilliant course of classical
studies. On leaving college he entered the office of the Hon. Lewis T.
Drummond, to study law, and he was admitted to the bar on the 27th
February, 1849. Immediately after his admission he took up his residence
in Beauharnois, where he has practised his profession to this day. At
that time there was only a circuit court sitting in the district of
Beauharnois, with a jurisdiction of $80.00; this was increased, in 1851,
to the sum of $200.00. In consequence of this limited jurisdiction, his
professional advancement was but slow. However, when the “Act relative
to the division of Lower Canada into districts for the administration of
justice” came into force, there was a decided change. By virtue of said
act, a Superior Court was established in the district of Beauharnois,
with an unlimited jurisdiction in all civil and commercial cases; as
well as a criminal court and a circuit court. His practice then took
such an extension that, after a few years of assiduous toil, he
possessed a competency which enabled him to look tranquilly to the
future of his young family. His zeal and honesty in the exercise of his
profession was never challenged, either by his numerous clients or his
_confrères_. In 1858 he formed a partnership with Sir John Rose, for the
administration of the legal business of the seigniory of Beauharnois,
which was then very important and extensive. This partnership existed
until the departure of Sir John for London, England. The following
letter, written by Sir John before his departure, shows the high esteem
in which the baronet held his young partner:
“MONTREAL, 30th September, 1869.
“MY DEAR BRANCHAUD,—A thousand thanks for your kind note, the
contents of which affect me very deeply. Every recollection
associated with our intercourse is, I can assure you, of the
most pleasant character, and I look with great regret at having
to say good-bye to so many attached friends. I would have been
deeply gratified to have seen you at the dinner, but the
expression of your kind wishes will long be remembered by me.
That every good thing may attend you is the earnest wish of your
sincere friend—=John Rose=.”
This affectionate letter, coming from such an eminent man as Sir John
Rose, who attained such a high position among the most eminent men in
England, is preciously preserved by Mr. Branchaud, and the feelings of
friendship and esteem he always held towards the baronet are still warm
in his heart. During his sojourn in Beauharnois, in the summer of 1858,
the Right Honourable Edward Ellice, then proprietor of the seigniory of
Beauharnois, showed special marks of honour to Mr. Branchaud. He was
invited to all the dinners which he gave, whether to the principal
citizens of the place, or to his distinguished visitors from England. On
one of these occasions he met Lord Frederick Cavendish, the victim of
the Phœnix Park murder, Dublin, and Lord Grosvenor, now Duke of
Westminster. They were both very young then, and were going on a hunting
expedition to the western prairies. On returning home Mr. Ellice tried
to induce him to accompany him, and made him very flattering promises,
but the extended practice Mr. Branchaud had acquired did not permit him
to accept such an agreeable invitation. He regrets having declined now,
for he will never have an opportunity, if he should take a trip to
Europe, of forming acquaintances which the high position of Mr. Ellice
could have facilitated. He nevertheless keeps a grateful remembrance of
the old gentleman, who had so much regard for him. In 1859 Mr. Branchaud
married Marie Elizabeth Henrietta Mondelet, a daughter of the Hon. Judge
Charles Mondelet, of the city of Montreal, one of the judges of the
Superior Court for Lower Canada, and of Dame Maria Elizabeth Henrietta
Carter, a daughter of the late Dr. Carter, of Three Rivers. Madame
Mondelet was the niece of Captain Brock, a nephew and _aide-de-camp_ to
General Brock, and of Dr. Johnston, in his lifetime inspector general of
military hospitals in the Ionian Islands; and a first cousin of the late
Judge Short, of Sherbrooke. Mr. and Madame Mondelet died many years ago.
The Hon. Dominique, Mondelet, a judge at Three Rivers, was the elder
brother of Mr. Branchaud’s father-in-law. They were the sons of
Dominique Mondelet, a member of the old Legislative Assembly of Lower
Canada, and also a member of the Executive Council under the
administration of Lord Aylmer. In politics M. Branchaud was an advanced
liberal in his youth, but his opinions have greatly changed during the
last few years. Experience and age always exert a soothing influence on
the ideas and sentiments of the generality of men, and Mr. Branchaud did
not form an exception to the rule. He would not be so willing, to-day,
to endorse the political and social principles formulated in the
programme of _L’ Avenir_, and which were so enthusiastically adopted by
the young men who founded that paper. However, Mr. Branchaud thinks one
may be liberal without sharing the opinions of the nineteenth century
philosophers, and without believing in the omnipotence of universal
suffrage to save society—such safety being more certain in the hands of
the few than in those of the greater number of its members. The
democratic ideas carried to extreme limits will cause the fall of modern
empires, as they have produced the fall of the older ones, and what is
happening to-day in Europe is only their natural consequences. The
actual opinions of Mr. Branchaud do not find favour with either party.
His independence of character and his well-known frankness are obstacles
which would prevent his success in politics. So for many years he has
not engaged actively in them. However, he does not conceal his opinions
when called upon to express them. Thus he desires the continuation of
Sir John A. Macdonald’s administration because he thinks the national
policy would run great dangers in the hands of Mr. Blake, and the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company would find very little sympathy with
him, in case of necessity. This company, being still in its infancy, may
yet want the support of the government, and Mr. Branchaud thinks it
would be to the interest of the country to grant such help. It is hardly
to be expected that a man who has tried to arrest its progress in each
phase of its existence would be kindly disposed towards it at a given
moment. At all times he has repudiated the Rielite movement in Lower
Canada, as tending to arouse prejudices and race hatreds, and to retard
the progress of the country, and the conduct of the government in
letting the law take its course, has had his entire approbation, as the
only practical way of restoring peace and harmony, which would have been
threatened as long as Riel would have lived. In conclusion we may state
that Mr. Branchaud has been the promoter of the Beauharnois Junction
Railway Company. The road is intended to run from Ste. Martine to
Dundee, where it will connect with the American system. The building of
this railway will place Beauharnois—undoubtedly a town of future
importance, on account of the beauty of her site on the St. Lawrence,
and the extent of her water powers—in the first rank among the
important cities of the Dominion. Mr. Branchaud has worked for several
months to organize the company, and he is confident that his efforts
will soon be crowned with success. He was ever ambitious to see his
native place prosperous, and in the evening of his life he is happy in
the hope that the earnest wish of his heart will soon be gratified. The
Hon. James Ferrie is president of the new company, and Mr. Branchaud
vice-president.
* * * * *
=Irving, James Douglas=, Major, and Brigade-Major of Military District
No. 12, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was born at Charlottetown,
on the 12th February, 1844. His father, Robert Blake Irving, was born in
Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and emigrated to Prince Edward Island
about the year 1832. Here he engaged in the profession of teaching, and
in addition took an active interest in politics on the Liberal side
until the confederation of the provinces, when party lines having been
broken, he became a supporter of the Liberal-Conservative party. He was
of a literary turn of mind, and contributed largely to the columns of
the _Examiner_ newspaper when it was under the editorial management of
the late Hon. Edward Whelan, writing strongly in support of responsible
government, free schools, the settlement of the land question by the
government purchasing from the proprietors and reselling to tenants, and
for confederation. He married in 1843 Joanna Charlotte, a daughter of
Thomas Rhodes Hazzard, a U. E. loyalist, who came to Prince Edward
Island from Providence, Rhode Island, with his father and family at the
conclusion of the war with the revolted colonists. Major Irving received
his education in his native parish in the private school taught by his
father. On the 26th of March, 1867, he was appointed a lieutenant in the
Active Militia of P. E. Island, and was shortly afterwards promoted to a
captaincy. After confederation he was given a commission in the Canadian
Artillery Militia, and subsequently commanded the P. E. Island
provisional brigade of Garrison Artillery. On the 1st of April, 1885, he
was appointed brigade-major of Military District No. 12, and this
position he at present holds. He was deputy-prothonotary of the Supreme
Court of P. E. Island from 1st March, 1871, to 1st April, 1885;
registrar of the Court of Chancery, and also that of the Vice-Admiralty
Court from 28th March, 1876, to 1st April, 1885; and Clerk of the Crown
for P. E. Island from 1st August, 1883, to 1st April, 1885. For many
years Major Irving has been an active member of the Caledonian Society,
and in general takes a deep interest in all that appertains to his
native island.
* * * * *
=Creed, Herbert Clifford=, Fredericton, was born at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, September 23rd, 1843. His father, George John Creed, of
Faversham, Kent, England, was clerk in the Royal Engineer department
(with rank of lieutenant), at Halifax, N.S., for thirty-five years. He
was the eldest son of Richard Creed, who also was in Her Majesty’s
service, as clerk of works, R. E. D., with the rank of captain. Both
father and son were, at the time of their decease, retired from active
service upon ample pensions. Richard Creed’s youngest daughter was the
wife of the late Hon. Jonathan McCully, senator of Canada, and
afterwards judge of the Supreme Court. The mother of the subject of this
sketch was Susan, eldest daughter of John A. Wellner, of Halifax, N.S.,
a manufacturer and at one time owner of extensive property in that city
and in the county of Hants. He was of a family that came out from
England among the original settlers of Halifax, with Governor
Cornwallis. Herbert Clifford Creed received his academic education
chiefly in the High School connected with Dalhousie College, Halifax. He
matriculated in the earliest class of undergraduates in Dalhousie
College in 1857, studying till 1860, the college proper having in the
meantime been discontinued. In 1861 he entered Acadia College,
Wolfville, N.S., and took the regular four years’ course there under the
presidency of the late Rev. J. M. Cramp, D.D. He graduated in 1865 with
honours in classics, having also held the highest place in his class
throughout the whole course. From August, 1860, to June, 1864, Mr. Creed
was teacher of French at the Collegiate Academy and Ladies’ Seminary at
Wolfville, N.S.; from the autumn of 1865 till the spring of 1869, he
filled the position of head master of the County Academy at Sydney, C.
B.; and from 1869 till June, 1872, was principal of the Seminary at
Yarmouth, N.S. In 1869 the degree of A.M. was conferred upon him. In the
following autumn he accepted the principalship of the English High
School, Fredericton, N.B., but resigned it at the close of 1873, in
order to take a position offered him in the Provincial Normal School of
New Brunswick, and here he has continued, with various changes of work,
down to the present time. His position now is officially designated as
“Mathematical and Science Master, and Instructor in Industrial Drawing,”
the term “Professor” not being applied to the instructors or teachers in
this Normal school. Mr. Creed was elected a member of the Board of
Governors of Acadia College in 1883; a senator of Acadia College in
1882, and secretary of the Senate in 1883; all of which offices he now
holds. In 1871 he was made one of the examiners of the college, and
filled the position for several years. He is secretary of the
Educational Institute of New Brunswick, having been re-elected every
year from its organization in 1877; vice-president of the Baptist
Convention of the Maritime provinces for the current year; a director of
the Baptist Annuity Association of New Brunswick and of the Maritime
Baptist Publishing Co. He was at one time president of the Associated
Alumni of Acadia College; president of the Fredericton Young Men’s
Christian Association, and for eight years secretary of the Fredericton
Auxiliary Bible Society. Mr. Creed has been connected with the following
among other Temperance societies:—The Sons of Temperance since 1857,
and is a P.W.P.; the Temple of Honour and Temperance from 1871 to 1875,
and is a P.W.C.T. and past deputy G.W.C.T.; the Temperance Reform Club;
the New Brunswick Branch of the Dominion Prohibitory Alliance. He has
also been connected with the Masonic order, in which he is a past
master; the Independent Order of Oddfellows as a P. G. and a P.D.D.G.M.,
Independent Order of Foresters, and is at present H.C.R. (presiding
officer) of the High Court of New Brunswick; and is a past commander in
the American Legion of Honour. Mr. Creed has written largely for the
press, for the most part anonymously, on educational topics; on the
temperance question; on matters of Christian doctrine and practice, etc;
and has also prepared a variety of matter for school texts and other
books. On November 4th, 1867, he was married to Jessie S., third
daughter of John F. Marsters, of St. John, N.B., customs broker and
forwarding agent, and has a family of four children, three sons and a
daughter. Mr. Creed has been a member of the Baptist church since he
attained his seventeenth year.
* * * * *
=Harrison, Thomas=, LL.D., President of the University of New Brunswick,
Fredericton, was born at Sheffield, New Brunswick, on the 24th October,
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