A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose
1873. He took first prizes throughout his course for Latin, Greek,
3984 words | Chapter 59
French and German. Since leaving college he has made a special study of
modern languages, and is now widely known as a linguist. He adopted law
as a profession, and was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia in 1875,
when only twenty-one years of age. For the past twelve years he has
practised in Pictou, and is now one of the leading barristers in the
county. Mr. Macdonald has always taken a deep interest in military
affairs, and is a lieutenant in the 78th Highlanders, Colchester, Hants
and Pictou volunteers. He is a Liberal in politics, and is an active
politician. From 1882 to 1885, in addition to his usual law practice, he
edited the Pictou _News_, which was the first paper to advocate the
repeal of the federal compact, and ranks among the best conducted
weeklies in the Maritime provinces. He is a member of the Presbyterian
church.
* * * * *
=Bethune, John Lemuel=, M.D.C.M., M.P.P. for the county of Victoria,
Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, was born at Loch Lomond, Richmond
county, N.S., in 1850. His parents were Roderick Bethune, postmaster,
and Mary Bethune, who came from the Highlands of Scotland to Cape Breton
about fifty years ago. The Rev. Thomas McLauchlin, F.S.A.S., in his
“Celtic Gleanings,” says that the descendants of the Beatons, or
Bethunes, or as they styled themselves, McVeaghs (McBeths), in a family
tree contained in an old manuscript of theirs still in existence, trace
themselves up to Nial of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland. One Ferchar
Bethune came into prominence by being the means of curing King Robert
II. of Scotland of a painful and dangerous disease, and there is among
the Scottish registers of charters a copy of a charter from that king
conveying to Bethune, as an expression of his gratitude, possession of
all the islands on the west coast of Scotland from the Point Store in
Assynt to that of Armidale in Farr. How long Ferchar’s descendants were
physicians is not known, but they can be traced back as such by means of
existing documents for three hundred and fifty years from the middle of
last century. However, the great progenitor of the race would seem to be
a certain Fergus the Fair, probably the Fergus Bethune who lived in the
year 1408, and was then physician to McDonald of the Isles of Islay.
There are several MSS. belonging to this family in existence. One is a
small quarto in vellum, now in possession of David Laing, of the
Edinburgh Signet Library. It was written by John Beaton, who flourished
in 1530. It is full of comments on the writings of Constantius and other
medical continental writers of that period. It also contains a long
treatise on astrology, and another on the phenomena of color as an
indication of health or disease. This and other writings of theirs
indicate an amount of cultivation in the Gaelic to qualify it for being
the language of science from which it has sadly declined. Dr. Bethune,
the subject of our sketch, was educated at the Normal School in Truro,
and in Dalhousie University, where he took the degree of M.D.C.M. in
1875, and then began the practice of his profession. In 1881 he was
appointed paymaster, with the honorary rank of captain, in the 94th
battalion Argyll Highlanders, and the same year was made census
commissioner. He is a justice of the peace, coroner, commissioner of
schools, and is a commissioner for taking affidavits, etc., in the
Supreme and County courts of Victoria county. He takes an interest in
all movements for the good of his fellow men. He is a past master of St.
Mark’s lodge of the Masonic brotherhood; and is also a member of the
Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Nova Scotia. He occupied a
seat in the municipal council from 1879 till 1886, when he resigned; and
for three years from June, 1880, he was warden of the county. The doctor
was for three years secretary of the Liberal-Conservative Association of
Victoria county; and at the general election held in 1886 he was
selected to represent his adopted county, as an Independent, in the
House of Assembly of Nova Scotia. His religious views are in accordance
with the teachings of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. He was married
January 20th, 1885, to Mary C., only daughter of the late Robert A.
Jones, registrar of deeds for Victoria county, who was a descendant of a
Jones, a loyalist, who came to Cape Breton at the time of the American
rebellion, and to whom was granted large tracts of land at Big Baddeck,
Washabuck and other places in Cape Breton.
* * * * *
=Hatt, Samuel Staunton=, Quebec, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod,
Legislative Council, province of Quebec, was born at Chambly, Quebec
province, on the 18th February, 1844. He is the eldest son of the late
Augustus Hatt, and of Charlotte Emelie de Salaberry, of Chambly. He is
also a grandson of Colonel de Salaberry, the hero of Chateauguay, and of
the Hon. Samuel Hatt, of Chambly. Mr. Hatt received his education at the
High School of St. Johns, and at St. Hyacinthe College. He received his
civil service certificate when only about sixteen years of age, and in
1861 entered the Militia department. He served on the frontier at St.
Albans during the time of the Fenian raids, with the rank of captain and
adjutant; and also commanded a detachment, at Huntingdon, of the 3rd
Administration battalion, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Taylor. While
Captain Hatt was stationed at Laprairie, he and the men under him
rendered great service in subduing a fire which endangered the whole
town, and were afterwards publicly thanked by the municipal council for
the important service rendered on the occasion. Mr. Hatt was appointed
under Royal commission Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for the Province
of Quebec, on the 23rd December, 1867, and still holds this office. He
was married in 1883, to Mrs. N. F. Hoole, of Philadelphia, United
States.
* * * * *
=McMaster, Hon. William.=—Senator McMaster, who died in Toronto, on the
morning of Friday, 23rd September, 1887, was a good representative of
that class on whom we bestow the title of merchant princes. He was born
in 1811, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and his father was the late
William McMaster, a linen merchant, who did business for many years in
the county where the subject of our sketch was born. His son’s early
education was a very careful one, he having attended a private school,
the best in the parish, presided over by Mr. Halcro, one of the most
eminent teachers in the north of Ireland. In 1833, Mr. McMaster left
Ireland, and on the 9th of August of the same year he came to Toronto.
Since then the town of seven thousand people, with only two brick houses
in it, has become the flourishing metropolis, with a population of over
one hundred thousand, and the social and commercial centre of the
leading province of a great dominion. In that time the young immigrant,
with his capital of only brains, energy, and good habits, had become one
of Canada’s most noted citizens, an object of emulation to all young
men, and of gratitude to the many who have been benefited by his
practical kindness. Landing in New York at the age of twenty-two, he was
advised to proceed to Canada to enter into business with a son of the
British consul, who had established himself in a trading business west
of Toronto. Proceeding by the old-time flying express route along the
canal, the young fortune-seeker found himself in Oswego, whence a trip
across the lake in a steamer brought him to Toronto. Life in Canada West
at that time was not altogether attractive to a young man conscious of
his ability to fill a large sphere, and it did not take young McMaster
long to decide that in Toronto, if anywhere in the province, he must
look for success. He entered the service of Mr. Cathcart, who at that
time kept a dry-goods establishment on King street, opposite the old
Court-house, now York Chambers. Before two years had passed his
assistant had grown so valuable to him, that Mr. Cathcart could not
afford to run any risk of losing him, so offered him a partnership. This
was accepted, and for ten years the firm went on prospering well. At the
end of that time the senior partner retired, leaving the whole business
in Mr. McMaster’s hands. The concern up to this time had been doing a
wholesale and retail business, but shortly after assuming control, Mr.
McMaster resolved to confine his attention solely to wholesale. New
premises were opened on Yonge street, below King, and here the success
which had attended the young merchant continued and increased.
Subsequently a handsome building was erected, adjoining the Montreal
Bank, on Yonge street. But other business connections which he had
formed demanded his whole attention, and in 1865 he sold out his
interest to his two nephews, who had been associated with him. These
continued the business until the death of A. R. McMaster and the
retirement of W. F. McMaster, when the firm was re-organised with the
accession to its ranks of H. W. Darling, under the title of McMaster,
Darling & Co. This was about eighteen months ago. The present firm
occupy handsome warerooms on Front street near Yonge. The causes which
contributed to the great success which Mr. McMaster met with in this
business are those which characterize the career of almost every
successful business man. Even during those times when there was the
greatest temptation to “display” and to bid for a large business, Mr.
McMaster steadily refused to allow his business to grow beyond the basis
of his own capital. His caution in this respect enabled him to tide over
the hard times of 1857 and other bad years, and even during the depth of
the hard times to do a profitable trade. Rivals overtaken by the
financial storm, with all canvas spread, were wrecked. Yet while
pursuing this cautious policy he showed, by the way in which he enlarged
his establishment, that there was nothing niggardly about his
management. Whenever he deemed the circumstances favorable for the use
of his capital he used it freely, and thus added yearly to the magnitude
of his returns. He left commercial life in order that he might make the
greater success of the financial operations in which he had become
interested. He had been for some time director of the Montreal Bank and
of the Ontario Bank, and now he purposed throwing himself, with all his
customary energy, into the organization of a new concern. The charter
was procured and the company organized on a sound basis, and Mr.
McMaster was chosen the first president of the new Bank of Commerce,
which was the title chosen. That was about twenty years ago, and the
position of honor and trust which he then achieved he retained until
about a year ago, when advancing years compelled him to relinquish the
presidency and simply to give to the bank as a director the benefit of
his immense business experience. He was succeeded in the presidency by
Henry W. Darling above mentioned. During all the time of Mr. McMaster’s
Canadian life, Toronto has been making, year by year, a strange
history-record. Four years after Mr. McMaster’s arrival came the
rebellion under William Lyon Mackenzie, which, with the tremendous
agitation leading up to and following it, naturally interfered very much
with the operations of peace-loving merchants. Immense political changes
took place, changing the province from a mere crown colony, with
practically no such thing as political freedom, to a self-governing
country with representative institutions, and manhood suffrage in the
near distance. The city itself had to expand north, east, west, and even
south, for the Esplanade works redeemed in all a great tract of land
from the bay, and made sites for some of the largest buildings in the
city to-day. Railway communication, then unknown, had to be made to all
parts of the province, and the city had to bear its share of the expense
of the facilities thus afforded. Though never afraid to express his
opinions in favor of a liberal policy, Mr. McMaster kept out of active
political life long after his friends would have had him a
representative of the people, had he agreed to put himself up for
election. At length, however, the crisis came which brought him out.
North York and South Simcoe were at that time united for the purpose of
elections to the Legislative Council of the province. There was a
vacancy in the constituency, and John D. Gamble became the Conservative
candidate. He was a strong man, and although it was known that York
would give a majority against him, it was fully believed that unless he
was opposed by the very strongest man who could be put up against him,
Tory South Simcoe would far more than neutralise this vote. In their
dilemma the Liberals applied to Mr. McMaster to act as their
standard-bearer. At first he strenuously opposed the idea, but seeing
that it was to the interest of what he believed to be true that he
should accede to their wishes, he finally did so. Though he prosecuted
his canvass with his characteristic energy, the Liberal candidate set an
example of moderation and forbearance in conducting the campaign utterly
unknown in those days, and (more’s the pity) very little practised
since. Though not pretending to any talent of oratory, Mr. McMaster
conducted himself while on the platform with such transparent honesty
that even the Tory stronghold was captured, and beside a majority of
1,100 in York, he came out with a majority of about 300 in Simcoe,
giving him such a sweeping victory that even his friends were astonished
and his opponents confounded. The elections for the Council then took
place once every eight years, and Mr. McMaster would doubtless have
stood for re-election, but that in the meantime confederation took
place, and under the new order of things he was called upon to take his
seat in the Senate. During the whole of his political life he gave close
attention to the duties devolving upon him. He never sought to move the
house by eloquence, but in committee, where measures are really
elaborated, and where most of the work, except the talking, is done, he
was found keenly alive to all that passed, and ever exerting an
influence in favor of liberal and progressive measures. But however
great his commercial success, Mr. McMaster’s name will be best
remembered on account of the many generous acts which have been
associated with it. For many years he has been the pillar and mainstay
of the Baptist denomination in Toronto. His own congregation—that now
worshipping in the beautiful building on the corner of Jarvis and
Gerrard streets—owes much to his vigorous initiative and substantial
pecuniary aid. Mr. McMaster and his present wife, contributed $50,000
toward the fund for building the church, and in addition to this, Mrs.
McMaster paid for the organ, one of the finest instruments in the
country; and about four years ago the worthy Senator surprised his
co-trustees, at a meeting called for the purpose of considering the best
means of providing for the church debt, by pulling out of his pocket a
deed, showing that a few hours before the meeting he had discharged all
the debt. The Baptist book-room and _The Canadian Baptist_ were
purchased mainly with his money, and put in such a form that the
enterprises now practically belong to the denomination. To his
munificence is due the successful condition of the Superannuated
Ministers’ Society of the Baptist Church. Upper Canada Bible Society, a
non-sectarian institution, owes much to him. To add to all these
instances there could be brought forward a long list of public and
private benefactions, but the whole of them are overshadowed by the
magnificent gift which he has presented to his fellow-Christians in the
Baptist College, now one of the chief ornaments of Toronto. During the
last years of his life Mr. McMaster devoted much attention to the
development of his plans for the advancement of education. When he
founded Toronto Baptist College, at a cost of $100,000 paid to the
Toronto University authorities for the ground, and $90,000 for
furnishing the building, he only thought of putting up a structure at
his own expense, and endowing the presidency, looking to the
denomination to provide the means, through annual collections, for the
support of two other chairs. But with the development of the college and
its increasing prosperity from year to year, he saw the necessity of
adding two more professors to the staff, and subsequently two additional
professors, making a staff of six besides the president. Seeing that the
denomination was sufficiently burdened with its large home and foreign
work, he relieved it of all responsibility for the support of the entire
staff, whose aggregate salaries amount to $14,500 annually; and by his
will it is provided that McMaster University will ultimately receive,
subject to the payment to the Home Missionary Society of $2,000, about
$800,000, in addition to what the testator gave for the same object
during his lifetime. At the beginning of the discussion of the
university confederation question, on the recommendation of some of the
educational leaders in the Baptist denomination, Mr. McMaster proposed
to found an arts college in Toronto, in affiliation with Toronto
University, on condition that the denomination would raise the amount of
$88,000 for the more thorough endowment and equipment of Woodstock
college, which was to continue as a preparatory school. Of this sum he
himself proposed to contribute $32,000. After considerable effort had
been made to secure the sum proposed, it was found that the denomination
was not in hearty sympathy with the scheme, for very little of the
necessary amount was ever subscribed. However, in the spring of 1886, at
a time when, to all appearances, the confederation scheme had failed
through the refusal of several of the more prominent colleges of Ontario
to enter confederation, it was proposed to Mr. McMaster that he should
transfer to Woodstock college the amount which he had intended for the
establishment of an arts college in Toronto. After mature consideration
he cheerfully acceded to the proposal, believing that the preservation
and enlargement of Woodstock college, with its traditions and
associations, were of more importance to the welfare of his people than
the establishment of the arts college in Toronto. Within a few weeks of
the announcement of Mr. McMaster’s donation, nearly $50,000 was secured
by the Rev. Drs. Rand and MacVicar for new buildings and equipment at
Woodstock, from members of the denomination. It was then felt by the
leaders of the denomination that Woodstock had the prospect of
sufficient funds in the near future to warrant the development of its
curriculum into a full university course. Accordingly a committee was
appointed to obtain the charter, which was granted by the Ontario
Legislature at its session in 1887, and in accordance with a universal
feeling amongst the Baptists of the country, the name of McMaster
University was given to the new institution. This charter embraces both
Woodstock and Toronto Baptist colleges. The Hon. Mr. McMaster during his
lifetime held several important financial and other offices. As well as
being a director of the Bank of Commerce, he was a member of the
University Senate, president of the Freehold Permanent Building and
Savings Society, vice-president of the Confederation Life Association,
director of the Toronto General Trusts Company; of the Wellington, Grey
and Bruce Railway Company, etc. His whole estate is valued at
$1,200,000. He had been twice married—first, in 1851, to Miss
Henderson, of Hew York, who died in 1868; secondly, in 1871, to his
present wife, Susan Molton, widow of James Fraser, of
Newburgh-on-the-Hudson, N.Y. He had no children.
* * * * *
=Rutherford, John=, Justice of the Peace for the County of Grey, Owen
Sound, Ontario, was born at Toronto, on the 9th February, 1839. His
parents were Peter Rutherford and Martha Henderson, who died when he was
a mere lad—the mother in 1844 and the father in 1846. The late James
Lesslie, who then published the Toronto _Examiner_, adopted the orphan
and educated him in the Toronto Academy. In this benevolent gentleman’s
family he remained until 1851. During this year he was bound out as an
apprentice to Christie & Corbet to learn the trade of iron moulder at
Owen Sound, and at this trade he worked for six years. In 1857, business
becoming very depressed throughout the country, especially that in iron,
Mr. Rutherford was forced to look for some other means to earn a
livelihood. Having fortunately learned during his boyhood, in the
_Examiner_ office, the art of setting type, he found temporary
employment as a compositor on the old _Comet_ newspaper; and some time
afterwards got on the staff of _The Times_. A few years later on, he, in
conjunction with David Creighton, now M.P.P. for North Grey, bought out
this paper, which was conducted by them, under the firm name of
Rutherford & Creighton, until 1868, when the partnership was dissolved
and the plant divided, Mr. Creighton retaining _The Times_ and Mr.
Rutherford the job department. Since then his business has steadily
grown, bookbinding has been added, and his office is now one of the
institutions of the thriving town of Owen Sound. He was a member of the
town council in 1875, ’76, ’77 and ’79; High School trustee in 1884,
’85, and ’86, and has been re-appointed to fill the office for another
term. He was chosen by acclamation to fill the office of mayor for 1885
and 1886, and faithfully served the people during his term. In August,
1866, he joined the Masonic brotherhood, and is now a past master of St.
George’s lodge. He is also second principal of Georgian Chapter, No. 56,
R.A.M. He takes a deep interest in the Ancient Order of United Workmen,
and is one of its past district deputy masters of the Georgian district.
Mr. Rutherford is an adherent of the Methodist church; and in politics
is a Liberal-Conservative. He has been twice married, and has had a
family of ten children, nine sons and one daughter; two of his sons have
died.
* * * * *
=Kerr, William=, M.A., Q.C., LL.D., Barrister, Cobourg, Ontario, was
born in the township of Ameliasburg, in the county of Prince Edward. He
is a son of the late Francis Kerr, formerly of Enniskillen, in the
county of Fermanagh, Ireland, who for some years taught school in Prince
Edward, and afterwards removed to the county of Hastings. After the
death of his father and mother, which occurred when he was a child, Mr.
Kerr removed with his half-sister and her husband to the township of
Clarke, where he worked on their farm and went to school. He prepared
for college under Dr. William Ormiston, now of the Collegiate Reformed
(Dutch) Church, New York, who at that time was the Presbyterian minister
at Newtonville, and kept a private academy. He entered Victoria College
at Cobourg as a senior matriculant in 1852, and graduated in the arts
department in 1855. The class consisted of four, all now living, viz.,
Dr. Carman, senior superintendent of the Methodist church; Dr. Moses
Aikins, the well-known physician in the county of Peel; Dr. E. B.
Ryckman, ex-president of the London Conference; and the subject of this
sketch. He studied law in the office of Smith and Armour at Cobourg, and
began the practice of his profession in the town of Cobourg, September,
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