Part 27

Alexander George Cameron is one of the younger representatives of the legal profession in Montreal. Since his admission to the bar in 1910 he has made continuous progress. He was born in Winchester, Ontario, May 11, 1884, a son of Alexander and Louise (Reddick) Cameron, the former a native of Inverness, Scotland, while the latter is of Canadian birth.

In the public schools of Winchester Alexander G. Cameron laid the foundation for his education. He was a student in the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute and received his law training in McGill University, from which he was graduated B. C. L. with the class of 1910. He at once entered upon the practice of law. His name is also well known in the business world, being a director of several commercial enterprises.

Mr. Cameron is known in military circles, being a captain in the Fifth Royal Highlanders of Canada. His political allegiance is given to the conservative party, and he is prominent in club circles, his membership being in the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, the Manitou Club, the Kaniwakee Golf Club, the Beaconsfield Golf Club, the University Club, the Montreal Club and the Montreal Art Association. He is a Presbyterian in religious belief.

GILBERT SCOTT.

Gilbert Scott was for many years a resident of Montreal and a witness of its development and progress. He came to rank prominently among the representatives of commercial and financial interests and for an extended period was a member of the Dow Brewery Company of this city. He was born at Chagford, Devonshire, England, April 16, 1820. In early life he was a clerk in a bank in London and came to Montreal in 1845. In the ’60s he entered into partnership with William Dow, a well known Montreal brewer and continued in active connection with the business until his life’s labors were ended on the 9th of June, 1891, when he was seventy-one years of age. The other members of the firm at various times were John Harris, A. C. Hooper, J. Philip Scott, son of Gilbert Scott, Angus Hooper and Major George Hooper. Capable management led to the continuous growth and success of the business until the year 1912, when the Dow Brewery became a part of the National Breweries Company.

Gilbert Scott was connected officially with many large financial and commercial institutions and was well posted upon financial and commercial matters, but his fund of knowledge went further and made him familiar with many other questions and interests of the day. He was a director of the Bank of Montreal; senior partner of the Dow Brewery Company; president of the Intercolonial Mining Company; vice president of the Shedden Company; a director of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company, and of the Canada Sugar Refining Company.

Mr. Scott was married to Miss Janet Cooper of London, England, who died in 1875. He was survived by one son, James Philip, who was a member of the Dow Brewery Company from 1876 until his death, in 1898, and four daughters.

Mr. Scott was a member of St. Paul’s Lodge of Masons and was always loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He had vivid recollections of the important points in the history of Montreal, from the time when he located here in 1845, until his death. As a man, he possessed many attractive social qualities and was beloved by a large circle of friends.

JOSEPH RIELLE.

In the long years of an active professional career Joseph Rielle has made continuous advancement until he stands today not only as a veteran civil engineer and surveyor, but also as one of the most capable representatives of his chosen calling in Montreal. Each year has found him in advance of the position which he occupied the previous year, because of his developing powers and growing ability. He was born at Laprairie on the 6th of October, 1833, and received his initial business training with the firm of Ostell & Perrault, architects and land surveyors, whose service he entered in 1850 when a youth of seventeen years. He continued with that firm for four years and then became assistant to Mr. John Page, chief engineer of public works. He next accepted the position of assistant engineer to the harbor commission and eventually entered upon the general practice of land surveying in Montreal and the surrounding district. He has been connected with extensive surveys for the Grand Trunk and the Canadian Pacific Railways and the harbor commissioners of Montreal and in addition to his general practice has made a number of important hydraulic surveys. In 1904 he was presented with a testimonial by members of the society of land surveyors to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his entry into civil engineering and land surveying.

While this has been his chief life activity, Mr. Rielle has done important work in other connections. He was formerly vice president of the Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway, and he has done much work of a public and semi-public character, whereby the general interests of the country at large have been greatly promoted. He was secretary and manager of the Montreal Turnpike Trust for about fifteen years. He was a member of the council of Verdun, Montreal, from 1875 until 1900 and was intrusted with many important public works. He is a life governor of the House of Industry and Refuge, also of the Montreal General Hospital, and is president of the Fraser Institute and Free Public Library of Montreal. His activities have been of a nature that have contributed largely to the general development and good, but he has never taken an active part in politics.

Mr. Rielle married Miss Jeannie T. Goldie of Laprairie, P. Q., who was vice president of the Montreal Industrial Rooms and who died in June, 1904. Mr. Rielle has his home at No. 90 Union Avenue and is a member of the St. James Club. He has now reached the advanced age of more than eighty years, but is still active in his profession and in spirit and interest seems yet a man in the prime of life.

JOHN STUART BUCHAN.

No phase of life affecting the political and local status of the province or its educational or moral development fails to elicit the attention and interest of John Stuart Buchan and seldom fails to receive his hearty cooperation and support. He is ever willing to divide his time between his profession and public service, recognizing ever the duties as well as the privileges of citizenship and the obligations which devolve upon man in relation to his fellowmen. He is well known as a practitioner at the bar and his reputation as a capable lawyer has been well earned. He was born at St. Andrews, P. Q., October 28, 1852, the only son of the late William and Katherine (Stuart) Buchan, of St. Andrews. The family is descended from the old earls of Buchan. After attending public schools of his native city John S. Buchan entered McGill University and won his B. C. L. degree in 1884. He had determined to make the practice of law his life work, and following his graduation he became an advocate, since which time he has continued a representative of the Montreal bar. Here he has worked his way up to leadership and in 1899 was created a king’s counsel. For almost a third of a century he has been engaged in practice here, and his ability has long since placed him in a position of distinction among the leaders of the legal profession in Montreal. At one time he was a member of the editorial staff of the Canadian Jurist, and in 1904 he was a royal commissioner for the revision of the provincial statutes. Thus important governmental problems in connection with his profession have elicited his deep interest and called forth his abilities.

In 1885 Mr. Buchan was married to Miss Katherine McMartin, the second daughter of F. McMartin, of St. Andrews. She died in August, 1894, and in 1896 Mr. Buchan wedded Annie, the eldest daughter of the late J. H. Henderson, of Montreal.

Mr. Buchan is an attendant of Christ’s Church Cathedral, while his political faith is that of the liberal party. Political honors and emoluments have had no attraction for him. His activities, however, along other lines relating to the welfare and progress of city and province have been resultant. He acted as solicitor of the Lord’s Day Alliance of the province for a time. He was also chosen a life governor of the Montreal Boys Home in 1911 and many movements having broad humanitarianism as their basis have received his indorsement. He is likewise the vice president of the Natural History Society of Montreal. He is not unknown in literary circles for under the nom-de-plume of Douglas Erskine he has published “A Bit of Atlantis” and “Some Notes on Mount Royal,” and various other papers of a scientific nature. When questions of public welfare are at stake he is never weighed in the balance and found wanting, and his support of any project and measure is not the result of a hasty conclusion. On the contrary he brings to all vital questions the habits of the lawyer, carefully analyzing and weighing the points in a situation and then giving his support thereto as the result of a firm belief in the worth or righteousness of the case.

ARCHIBALD MURRAY CASSILS.

Archibald Murray Cassils, who as a wholesale leather merchant gained an enviable business standing, while attractive social qualities won him many friends, was but forty-eight years of age at the time of his death, which occurred March 6, 1891. He was born in July, 1843, in Renton, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, a son of John and Margaret (Murray) Cassils. His education was there acquired and he remained in his native land until 1856, when he came to Montreal where a brother was residing. For a number of years he was engaged in merchandising in connection with the wholesale leather business, and made for himself an enviable place in commercial circles, by reason of his enterprise, his progressiveness and his business integrity. Gradually his trade grew owing to his capable control of his interests, and success in a substantial measure rewarded his labors.

In September, 1873, in Montreal, Mr. Cassils was married to Miss Eva A. Shaw, and they became the parents of three children: Marcia A., the wife of George P. Butters; William A., who died in 1906; and Angus Shaw Cassils.

Mr. Cassils was a member of the Masonic order and the American Presbyterian church and his religious belief guided him in all the relations of life, making him a man of high principle and kindly spirit, straightforward in action and thoroughly reliable in all things. While more than two decades have passed since he was called from this life, he is yet kindly remembered by all who knew him owing to his gracious presence and his sterling worth.

GEORGE CAMPBELL MACDOUGALL.

George Campbell MacDougall, recognized as one of the ablest members of the brokerage profession, had not passed the fiftieth milestone on life’s journey when death called him. He was born June 6, 1843, in Ringmore, Devonshire, England, a son of Major MacDougall, who belonged to the King’s Own Borders, and in 1857 came to Montreal. His son, George C. MacDougall, was educated in the schools of this city, passing through consecutive grades to the high school and afterward attending McGill University. Throughout his active business career he was identified with financial interests. He became a clerk in the Bank of Montreal, worked his way upward until his experience, combined with his recognized capability led to his assignment to a responsible position with the New York city branch of the Bank of Montreal. He remained in the American metropolis for a few years and while in New York won several prizes for horsemanship at horse shows there. He afterward entered the Lounsbury & Tenshaw Brokerage Company, acquainted himself with the brokerage business and returned to Montreal, where he formed a partnership with his brother, Hartland St. Clair MacDougall, continuing in the brokerage business until his death. The firm gained an extensive clientage that made the business one of large volume.

Mr. MacDougall was married twice. He first wedded Miss C. J. Bridges and they had one son, H. B. MacDougall. In 1887, in Montreal, Mr. MacDougall was married to Miss Mary L. Macdonald, a daughter of Hon. Donald Alexander Macdonald, a well known figure in public life, serving as postmaster general in the Mackenzie administration at Ottawa from 1873 until 1875, and as lieutenant governor of Ontario from 1875 until 1880. He married Catherine, daughter of Hon. Alexander Fraser, M. L. C., of Fraserville, Ontario. To George C. and Mary L. (Macdonald) MacDougall was born a daughter, Beatrice.

Mr. MacDougall was well known as a sportsman, was an expert rider and was the owner of some fine horses. He was likewise a prominent member of many clubs, including the St. James, Montreal, Jockey, Forest and Stream and Hunt Clubs. His death occurred March 31, 1892, and although he was then at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years, he had achieved distinction in his line of business and as a sportsman had gained wide friendship among many of the most distinguished citizens of the province.

JOSEPH CHARLES HECTOR DUSSAULT.

Joseph Charles Hector Dussault, a graduate of Laval University and thus carefully trained for the profession to which he has devoted his life, has been actively engaged in the practice of law in Montreal since 1899. His course has been marked by continuous progress until he has gained a creditable position among the forceful, capable representatives of the bar. He was born at Sherbrooke, Quebec, on the 19th of November, 1876, a son of N. T. and Malvina (Deseve) Dussault, the former a merchant of Sherbrooke, who was born there more than seventy years ago and is still engaged in business in that city. He is well known in the eastern townships and is recognized as a man of prominence in his community.

Liberal educational opportunities were accorded Joseph C. H. Dussault, who pursued commercial and classical courses in the Seminary of Sherbrooke. Reviewing the broad field of industrial, commercial and professional activity, he determined upon the practice of law as a life work and in preparation therefor entered Laval University at Montreal. On the completion of the regular law course he was graduated and in 1899 received the degree of Master of Laws. The same year he was admitted to practice at the bar of the province of Quebec and entered alone upon the active work of the profession. Advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, yet he had as the basis of success broad and thorough understanding of the principles of jurisprudence and gradually worked his way upward. After three years he formed a partnership with J. A. Mercier and in January, 1912, they were joined by a third partner, P. L. Dupuis under the firm style of Dussault, Mercier & Dupuis. Mr. Dussault has ever been very careful in the preparation of his cases. His mind is naturally analytical, logical and inductive and, therefore, his reasoning is clear, his argument sound and his deductions clear and convincing. He is also identified with financial activities as one of the organizers and directors of the Merchants & Employers Guarantee & Accident Company.

On the 1st of October, 1906, in Montreal, Mr. Dussault was married to Miss Alice Dupuis, a daughter of J. O. Dupuis, one of the founders of Dupuis Freres of Montreal. Her father is also widely known in political as well as commercial circles, his opinions carrying weight in party councils. He served as alderman of Montreal and has been active in molding public thought and opinion. That confidence is reposed in his business ability and integrity is indicated in the fact that he was one of the liquidators of the defunct Ville Marie Bank. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dussault have been born three children, Jeanne, Marcelle and Jacques. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Dussault is a conservative and strong protectionist. His interest in politics is not a superficial one, and he keeps well versed on the questions and issues of the day, yet political honors and emoluments have no attraction for him. He finds recreation through his connection with St. Andrew’s Curling Club, of which he is a charter member. He now has a wide acquaintance in his adopted city, where his developing powers have brought him professional success, while sterling traits of manhood have gained him place among the highly esteemed citizens.