Part 20

JOHN RIGNEY BARLOW.

John Rigney Barlow, a civil engineer, who in 1900 was appointed to the position of city surveyor of Montreal, has since served in that capacity and is one of her best known civic officials. A native of Scotland, he was born at Stornoway, Lewis, on the 29th of July, 1850, a son of the late Robert Barlow of the Canadian Geological Survey. The first five years of his life were spent in the land of hills and heather, after which the family came to the new world. John R. Barlow was reared in Montreal and started in the business world in the employ of the Canadian Geological Survey, with which he remained from 1872 until 1875. He then entered the service of the corporation of Montreal in 1876, and did important duty in that connection. He was engaged in the construction of water works in the town of St. Henri and did other important duties. He became assistant city engineer of Montreal in 1880 and was made deputy city surveyor in 1882. Further advancement came to him in his appointment to the position of city surveyor in 1900, and he is now acting in that capacity. He thoroughly understands the scientific principles which underlie his work as well as every practical phase of the business and now occupies an enviable position among the civil engineers of Montreal.

In March, 1877, Mr. Barlow was married to Margaret Coutts, a daughter of the late Rev. William Darrach, and they reside at No. 78 St. Luke Street. Mr. Barlow is a member of the Engineers Club and also of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, in which he was elected to membership in 1887. His fraternal relations are with the Masons, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. His professional relations have brought him an extensive acquaintance, while his sterling traits of character have gained him firm hold upon the affectionate regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

WILLIAM SMITH.

Clearly defined purposes and close application were salient features in the career of William Smith, who died in Montreal on the 14th of March, 1910, when nearly eighty-four years of age. He was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, September 20, 1826, and came to Canada when a young man. He practically spent his remaining days in this city. He at first engaged in the dry-goods business, which he followed for many years with good success. Eventually he became a manufacturing tobacconist and again prosperity attended his efforts in the commercial field. He also owned valuable real estate, having taken advantage of early opportunities for investment along that line. The soundness of his judgment and the clearness of his vision were indicated in the rise in his property values, making his holdings well worthy of consideration.

Mr. Smith was married in Montreal to Miss Margaret Watson, daughter of George and Margaret (Selkirk) Watson of Montreal. He continued to make the city his home until his life’s labors were ended in death, when he had reached a venerable age. He was a man respected by all and such was the regard entertained for his opinions, that his advice was frequently sought upon important questions. He was an attendant at Erskine church. Mr. Smith is survived by his widow, who resides in what has been for years the family residence, built by Mr. Smith at No. 56 Simpson Street and which home stands on the site of the former home of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, discoverer of the Mackenzie river and the first European to cross the Rocky mountains.

JOSEPH ARTHUR BOURGAULT.

Joseph Arthur Bourgault is one of the most prominent figures in real-estate circles in Montreal, his well defined and carefully executed plans constituting a potent force in the substantial development and improvement of various sections of the city. He is yet a young man but has already attained a position that many a one of twice his years might well envy. He was born May 30, 1887, at St. Louis de Bonsecours, Richelieu county, P. Q., his parents being Henri and Caroline (Loriviere) Bourgault, the former a native of Ste. Victoire, Richelieu county, and the latter of St. Judes in St. Hyacinthe county, P. Q.

Joseph Arthur Bourgault pursued his education in the schools at Sorel, P. Q., and was graduated from St. Bernard College on the 19th of June, 1905. He started in the business world as a bookkeeper and afterward was traveling salesman, but eventually turned his attention to the real-estate business, which he conducts under the name of J. A. Bourgault & Company with offices at No. 97 St. James Street in Montreal. His progress has been continuous, and his efforts have been constantly of greater public value, as he has developed and improved property which hitherto had been an unsightly waste or had little commercial value. In 1911 he developed and sold Montmorency Park including eleven hundred lots which brought three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars; and in 1912 he sold a part of Niagara Garden including thirty-two hundred lots, of which nineteen hundred brought four hundred and twenty thousand dollars. He also sold a subdivision on the south shore called Woodbine Park including over eleven hundred lots. All this extensive property has been sold exclusively by Mr. Bourgault. He is a wide-awake, alert, enterprising young man thoroughly in touch with the real-estate market. He knows what property is for sale, is conversant with values and seems never to make a mistake in his investments. He was graduated at the National Salesmen Training Association, which has its headquarters in Chicago, and he is a member of the Headquarters International Realty Company of that city.

On the 25th of November, 1912, in Montreal, Mr. Bourgault was married to Miss Berthe Daignault, a daughter of the late J. Daignault. They have gained many friends during the period of their residence here. Mr. Bourgault has attractive social qualities which render him popular socially and add not a little to his success in the management and control of an extensive and growing real-estate business.

DANIEL WILSON.

In Montreal stand many evidences of the ability and skill of Daniel Wilson in a number of the larger and more substantial buildings of the city, where for a long period he engaged in the business of general contracting. He was born in Avoch, Scotland, March 2, 1827, and was in the seventy-ninth year of his age when he passed away. He had been a resident of Canada since 1853, having come to the Dominion to take charge of stone quarries at Pointe Claire for the construction of the Victoria bridge. After the completion of the bridge he entered upon the work of general contracting and erected many of the largest buildings of Montreal, including the Royal Insurance building, Molson’s Bank, the Merchants Bank, the Mutual Telegraph building, the Erskine church, the Windsor Hotel, and others. He retired from business about 1886, having met with notable success that brought him a gratifying income.

Mr. Wilson was prominent in public affairs. For eight years he represented St. Antoine ward in the city council and was interested and active in support of various projects which have had to do with the welfare and upbuilding of this city. He was also Protestant school commissioner for a number of years and aside from positions having to do with the public service he was connected officially with various charitable and benevolent projects. For six years he was on the board of the Outdoor Relief and the Protestant Hospital for the Insane, was a life governor of the General Hospital and a trustee of Mount Royal Cemetery Association. He was also one of the oldest members and for eleven years a deacon and twelve years elder of the Crescent Street Presbyterian church and when other interests left him leisure for sports, he enjoyed curling and became one of the founders of the Caledonia Curling Club.

Mr. Wilson was married in Scotland to Miss Margaret Stephen, who died in Montreal in 1856, being the mother of two children: James, a resident of Montreal; and Margaret, the widow of Henry Downs, of St. Paul, Minnesota. In Montreal, in 1858, Mr. Wilson married Miss Catherine MacGregor, a daughter of Daniel MacGregor, and to this union six children were born: Robert, a contractor residing in Vancouver; Lillias Ann, who died in young girlhood; Lillias Isabella, the wife of Peter C. Small, of Vancouver; Christina, who married James Sutherland and died in Montreal in 1896; Kate, who is Mrs. William A. Coates, of Montreal; and John William, a contractor of Montreal.

On the 14th of February, 1906, Daniel Wilson was called from this life, leaving behind him a record of many good deeds undertaken for the benefit of his fellowmen and consummated in following the highest ideals of manhood and responsibility toward those with whom and for whom he lived.

ARTHUR ECREMENT, B. A.

Arthur Ecrement, who for many years has figured prominently in the public life of the province and is a well known representative of the notarial profession, was born at St. Gabriel de Brandon, on the 29th of June, 1879. Liberal educational opportunities were accorded him and after attending Montreal College and Laval University he entered upon public life. In fact his activities have always been of a public or semi-public character and his labors have been of far-reaching and beneficial effect. For five years he was secretary to the Hon. R. Dandurand, speaker of the senate, and he was also secretary of the liberal organization of the district of Montreal. He was first elected to the house of commons in 1908, in the liberal interests, and his efforts as a member of that body have been pursued with a singleness of purpose in the interest of general progress and good government. He brings to bear in the discharge of his duties executive ability, keen insight into the situation and a loyalty to the public good that is above question.

REV. FRANK CHARTERS.

One of the most popular and able ministers in the Anglican church in eastern Canada is Rev. Frank Charters, who for the past seventeen years has done earnest and zealous work as rector of St. Simon’s church, Montreal. He is a man of force, experience and capacity, high in his ideals, earnest in his purposes and straightforward in his methods, and his labors have been potent forces in the spread of the doctrines in which he believes and in the promotion of the moral development of the community in which he resides.

Dr. Charters was born in Montreal, March 16, 1865, and acquired his preliminary education at Arnold school and Fettis College. He afterward entered McGill University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1888. In the same year he completed a course in the Montreal Diocesan College, and in 1911 he was given the honorary degree of D. C. L. from the University of Bishop’s College in Lennoxville. He is a governor of the Montreal Diocesan College and a member of the corporation of the University of Bishop’s College. He was ordained deacon in the Anglican church in 1888 and received full orders in the following year, going immediately afterward to Iron Hill and West Brome, Quebec, of which he became Incumbent. In 1896 he was transferred to Montreal, and here since that time he has done earnest and capable work as rector of St. Simon’s parish. This congregation was organized in 1892 and the church building erected in the same year by Dean Carmichael. Rev. Samuel Massey was first pastor and officiated until the spring of 1896, Dr. Charters succeeding him. The latter has proved a capable and efficient rector, fully conscious of the obligations and responsibilities which devolve upon him, and he has accomplished in the course of years a great deal of consecrated work among his people, whose love he holds in large measure. He is, moreover, a man of good business ability and foresight, and the affairs of his parish have been ably administered and the funds carefully conserved. Dr. Charters has two hundred and seventy-five families under his charge and manages a church property valued at fifty thousand dollars. He is very popular among people of all denominations in Montreal and his unostentatious life, filled with well directed and zealous labor and characterized by earnest personal service, has brought him the esteem and confidence of all who are associated with him.

JOHN T. WILSON.

The life record of John T. Wilson spanned sixty-four years. He was born in Greenup, Scotland, February 9, 1841, and died in Montreal on the 23d of February, 1905. His parents were John and Mary (Thomson) Wilson, the former a sea captain. The youth of John T. Wilson was marked by events and experiences such as come to the lot of all. He reached a turning point on the journey of life, however, when he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for Canada. Settling in Montreal, in 1866, he became one of the city’s foremost business men, his name being engraved high on the roll of those who contributed most largely to the commercial greatness and consequent prosperity of the city. He was for forty years the senior member of the firm of Wilson, Paterson & Company, importers and general manufacturers’ agents, continuing in active business until his demise. The volume of trade developed with the growth of the city and had its inception in the progressive methods, initiative spirit and undaunted enterprise of the partners.

When business hours were over and the cares of the day were put aside, Mr. Wilson greatly enjoyed a game of golf or billiards. His interest, too, reached out to many of those projects which recognize the needs of the city and the claims of humanity. He attended St. Paul’s Presbyterian church. For ten years he was a member of the council of the Board of Trade and was ever keenly alive to the projects instituted by that society for the benefit and upbuilding of the city. He belonged to the Canadian and St. James Clubs of Montreal, and the Hunt Club. His business activity was evenly balanced with his honorable methods in trade; his interest in club life and in manly outdoor sports giving him the necessary rest and recreation from that line of work which takes strong hold upon the emotions and calls forth the more tender sentiment in nature. In a word, his was a well rounded character and his place as a representative citizen of Montreal none contest.

CHARLES BYRD.

Successful in business, Charles Byrd rejoiced in his prosperity not so much because of the opportunities which came to him from his wealth, but because it enabled him to again and again aid his fellowmen. In this he was prompted by no sense of duty but by a higher interest in humanity--a genuine regard for his fellow travelers upon life’s journey. His hand was ever downreaching to aid those who were struggling to raise and he shed around him much of the sunshine of life not only through his material assistance, but also through the words of encouragement and inspiration which he spoke.

Mr. Byrd was born at Lachute, province of Quebec, March 4, 1848, and was therefore sixty-three years of age when he passed away at Nassau, Bahama Islands, on the 3d of March, 1911. He had been a resident of Montreal from early manhood, embarking in the grocery business upon his arrival here. This he abandoned to enter the Munderloh firm in 1868, at which time its founder, William C. Munderloh was in control. After the death of this gentleman Mr. Byrd entered into partnership with Henry Munderloh, son of William C. Munderloh, in the continuation of the business. In 1909 the firm was organized as a joint stock company and Mr. Byrd had active voice in its control, assisting in formulating plans which had to do with its substantial growth and progress. It became one of the important enterprises of the kind in the city and through his connection therewith Mr. Byrd won notable, gratifying and enviable success.

Mr. Byrd was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Kate Macdonald, a daughter of the late Alexander Roy Macdonald of Montreal. During the last years of his life Mr. Byrd was in poor health and, accompanied by his wife, had spent two winters in the West Indies. He went again in February, 1911, in order to escape the rigors of the Canadian winter and there passed away on the 3d of March.

His memory is enshrined in a halo of good deeds, for he was continually active in support of organized charities or in individual assistance. He gave liberally to a number of the benevolent organizations of Montreal and served on the board of management of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane at Verdun to which he made a contribution of five thousand dollars. He was also one of the board of managers of the Montreal General Hospital to which he gave ten thousand dollars; was vice president of the Protestant House of Industry and Refuge at Longue Pointe, to which he gave ten thousand dollars; was vice president of the Moore Home and an officer of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, to which his contribution was five thousand dollars. He gave twenty-five hundred dollars to the Western General Hospital; two thousand dollars to the Alexandra Hospital; two thousand to the Montreal Protestant Orphan Asylum; five hundred dollars to the Boys’ Home; one thousand dollars to St. Patrick’s Society, a goodly sum to the Erskine church for home movements and a sum of twenty-five thousand dollars for foreign movements. He was an elder of the old St. Gabriel church on St. Catherine Street and afterward joined the Erskine Presbyterian church when it was amalgamated with the Chalmers church. A high-minded Christian gentleman, the principles of his religion permeated his life in all of its different connections and his contribution to the world’s progress along moral and religious lines was a valuable one.