Part 38

Mr. Ship, however, continues his activities along other lines resulting directly in the benefit of his fellowmen. He is chairman of the building committee, governor, trustee, and member of the relief and cemetery committees of the Baron De Hirsch Institute. He is a life governor of the Montreal General Hospital. For a quarter of a century he has been a trustee of the McGill College Avenue synagogue, was vice president of the synagogue for four years and has always been chairman of the building committee. He is most loyal to his religious belief and at all times has been generous and helpful toward the unfortunate.

On the 10th of February, 1869, Mr. Ship was united in marriage to Miss Flora Blumenthal, a daughter of Phillip Blumenthal, who was the first owner of the coaches in Ozerkoff, Poland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ship have been born three children: Leah, now the wife of C. Sisenwain; Ray, now Mrs. S. P. Myers; Abe Phillip, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Montreal and who married Leah Sessenwain, of this city. In politics Mr. Ship has always been a liberal, nor has he sought office as a reward for party fealty. However, for the past sixteen years he has been justice of the peace for the island of Montreal and has discharged his duties with promptness, fidelity and impartiality. He is a veteran of the Odd Fellows Association and also a member of the Royal Arcanum. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and has gradually worked his way upward until he has won place among the substantial and highly respected citizens of Montreal.

RENE HEBERT, M. D.

Dr. René Hébert, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in Montreal, in which city he was born October 2, 1869, is a son of Charles P. Hébert, one of the founders of the wholesale grocery house of Hudon, Hébert & Company. He was educated at Plateau Academy, Montreal College and Laval University, being graduated from the last named with the degree of M. D. in 1892. During the succeeding year he was an interne at Notre Dame Hospital and then went abroad for further study, spending two years in study and research work in Paris, specializing in diseases of the heart and lungs.

In 1895 Dr. Hébert began active practice in Montreal, opening an office on St. Denis Street. He is superintendent of St. Paul’s Hospital, physician to Notre Dame Hospital, and a professor in the medical and dental departments of Laval University. His professional connections are important, and it is recognized that he is a thorough and discriminating student and most conscientious in the performance of his professional duties.

Dr. Hébert married Miss Alice Auger. Their religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Aside from his professional interests, Dr. Hébert is a director of the wholesale grocery firm of Hudon, Hébert & Company. In strictly professional lines he is connected with La Société de Médicine and Officier d’Académie. At all times he holds to high standards, and wide reading is constantly augmenting his skill and efficiency, manifested in the successful manner with which he copes with the intricate problems that are continually confronting the physician.

CLEMENT ANTOINE GUERTIN.

Of old and distinguished pioneer stock of French extraction Clément Antoine Guertin upholds the traditions of family prominence as one of the most able legal representatives of the Montreal and provincial bar. Although he has been in practice for not many years he enjoys a reputation second to none, as he has proven his ability in connection with important interests. Not only is Mr. Guertin well versed in the letter of the law and the principles that affect its administration, not only is he a deep thinker and logical reasoner, but he has an insight into the conduct of human beings which permits him to clearly define cause and effect in human actions, and he therefore readily penetrates to the root of such problems as demand legal help for solution. He has long been recognized as one of the able general practitioners in the city, and his services are in large demand, resulting in a gratifying measure of financial returns.

Clément Antoine Guertin was born at St. Antoine, in the county of Verchères, province of Quebec, on the 22d of November, 1870, a son of Léon Guertin, an agriculturist of St. Antoine, who was born in 1817 and passed away in 1876, and Marie Louise Euchariste (Geoffrion) Guertin, a native of Varennes. The first of the family in Canada was the famous and well known Guertin, called Louis Le Sabotier, who was born in 1635, a son of Louis and Georgette (LeDuc) Guertin, from Daumeray, near Angers, France. He married first at Montreal on January 26, 1659, Elizabeth Le Camus, and second, Catherine Roy. Among his children were Louis, Pierre, Paul and others. Paul Guertin, alias Chertin, alias Diertin, was a son of Louis, born in Montreal on the 2d of May, 1680. At Contrecoeur, on the 19th of March, 1702, he married Madeleine Plouffe and among their children were Pierre, Paul and François. The latter married Catherine Dudevoir at St. Antoine in 1745 and among their children were Pierre, Joseph, François and others. Joseph, born March 6, 1755, married Marie Louise Circé, called St. Michel, at St. Antoine in 1777 and among their children was Pierre, born October 9, 1781. He married Marguerite Duhamel, who bore her husband the following children: Pierre, Noël, Léon, Marguerite, Flavien, Alexis, Calixte, Zoé and Louis. Léon Guertin, third son of Pierre, was born March 12, 1817. His first union was with Théotis Brodeur, who bore him the following children: Octavie, Pauline, Léopold, Stanislas and Mélanie. His second wife was Marie Louise Euchariste Geoffrion and the children of this marriage were Joseph, Louis, Marie Louise and Clément Antoine. Léon Guertin, the father of our subject, is the sixth in direct descent from Louis Guertin, Le Sabotier. Pierre Guertin, the grandfather of our subject, and his sons, Pierre, Noël and Léon, took part in the battle of St. Denis, November 22, 1837. Louis Guertin, a brother of our subject, is father of the Holy Cross Congregation, a director of Memramcook University of New Brunswick, and took in Rome in philosophy and theology the degree of Doctor cum maxima laude, also taking scientific work at Harvard. A brother of the mother of our subject, Father L. Geoffrion, of the Holy Cross Congregation, was for fifteen years director of St. Laurent College, near Montreal.

Clément Antoine Guertin received a thorough and varied education. He attended the St. Antoine village school, the St. Denis Commercial College and also took courses in commercial English, French and classical studies at St. Laurent. He received the degree of B. L. in 1893 from the law faculty of Laval University, in 1896 became LL. B. and in January, 1897, was made an advocate. He has ever since followed his profession successfully in Montreal and as his experience has expanded has become one of the few successful lawyers whose reputation marks them for distinction.

On the 24th of April, 1901, at Montreal, Mr. Guertin was married to Miss Marie Anne Josephine Lamontagne, a daughter of G. A. Lamontagne, a merchant tailor of Montreal and Malvina (Beauchamp) Lamontagne. They had one daughter, Simonne, born April 16, 1902, who died July 2d of the same year. The mother passed away on June 26, 1912.

From September, 1910, to May, 1912, Mr. Guertin was a member of the Montreal council of the bar and from May, 1911, to May, 1912, a member of the provincial council. His club relations are with the St. Denis, Délorimier and the Union du Commerce of Montreal. His faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. He has secured one of the most exclusive and representative practices in Montreal, his success being the best evidence of his capability. His pleas are always characterized by terse logic and lucid presentation, and he always has a decisive conviction as to the rights of the question he represents. It is his ambition to make his native talents subserve the demands of the social and business conditions of the day, and he stands today as a splendid representative of a lawyer to whom personal prosperity is but secondary in importance and who considers many ideal elements more vital in the making up of human existence. His industry and energy have found a reward which is based on a distinguished name and accomplishments rather than incidental prosperity.

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND MAXWELL.

William Sutherland Maxwell, an architect of Montreal, whose high professional standing is indicated by the large number of fine structures which stand as monuments to his skill and ability, brought to bear at the outset of his professional career the broad knowledge gained from comprehensive and thorough training. Montreal numbers him among her native sons, his birth having here occurred on the 14th of November, 1874, his parents being E. J. and Johanna (MacBean) Maxwell. In the acquirement of his education William Sutherland Maxwell, after attending the Montreal high school, went to Boston, Massachusetts, for professional training and afterward entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris, France. His training was thus received from men eminent in the profession in America and in Europe, and in 1898 he was admitted to the Quebec Architects Association. Beginning the practice of his profession he formed a partnership with his brother, Edward Maxwell, and in his chosen life work he has made steady advancement, his unfolding powers and increasing ability gaining for him distinction and success. In 1909 he was elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy and in 1908 was chosen a councillor of the Association of Architects of the province of Quebec. He is president of the Province of Quebec Association of Architects for 1914. While practicing his profession in association with his brother there stand as monuments to their skill and ability many fine structures not only in the east but also in the west. Among the works executed by them are the Hotel Alexandra at Winnipeg, for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Canadian Pacific Railway station at Winnipeg, the residence of C. R. Hosmer, the Alexandra Hospital for Infectious Diseases, the Nurses Home for the Royal Victorian Hospital, the monument to Lord Strathcona and South African soldiers of which George W. Hill was the sculptor, the monument to the Hon. John Young, of which Philip Hébert was the sculptor, the bank buildings for the Bank of Montreal, Molson’s Bank, the Royal Bank and the buildings of the Montreal General Hospital. They were also the architects of the Government House in Regina, Saskatchewan, the Calgary Hotel for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, at Calgary, and the Montreal Art Association’s new building in Montreal. No more definite indication of Mr. Maxwell’s high professional standing can be given than the list of these buildings which have become tangible factors in the improvement of various cities.

In May, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Maxwell and Miss Mary Ellis Bolles, of New York, who is well known in connection with charitable and philanthropic work, being now a councillor of the Children’s Aid Society. He is a member of the St. James Club, the Arts Club, the Pen and Pencil Club and the Kanawaki Golf Club. The family residence is at No. 716 Pine Avenue, Montreal. Mr. Maxwell has concentrated his energies upon his profession, and he has every reason to be proud of the fact that he has been elected to membership in the Ecole des Beaux Arts Society of Paris. He was president of the Arts Club of Montreal for 1913 and is so serving for 1914.

HENRI ROY.

With intense activity well directed, with untiring energy, business ability, resourcefulness and controlled ambition, Henri Roy has reached a position of importance in the affairs of La Société des Artisans Canadiens-Français, of which he has been secretary and treasurer since 1892.

His influence has affected the policies and the direction of developments of this great fraternal insurance company of Montreal, and the years of his connection with it have proven mutually useful and beneficial.

Mr. Roy was born September 11, 1864, in St. Alexandre, near St. Jean, Quebec, and acquired his education in the public schools and in St. Cesaire Commercial College, fitting himself in the latter institution for the business career which he had determined upon.

When he left his native city he went to Quebec where for some years he was connected with a wholesale firm. In 1888 he came to Montreal and until 1899 was associated with the wholesale house of Hodgson, Sumner & Company.

Upon coming to Montreal in 1888, Mr. Roy began his connection with La Société des Canadiens-Français as an accountant, employing his evenings in this capacity. Advancement came rapidly, for Mr. Roy proved himself a farsighted, resourceful and discriminating business man who could be relied upon to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. In 1892 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the society, positions which he has filled with ability and distinction since that time. The work has made continued demands upon his tact, his versatility, his administrative ability, and these demands have been met fully and completely, Mr. Roy being today one of the most prominent and widely known officials of the company he represents.

In 1888 when he became associated with the society it had accumulated funds of ten thousand seven hundred thirty-one dollars and ten cents, and a membership of one thousand three hundred thirty-two, limited to the island of Montreal; today (1914) its accumulated funds are two million three hundred thirty-seven thousand three hundred eighty-two dollars and seventy-two cents, its membership numbers thirty-nine thousand ninety-four and its field of action covers all American territory where there are French-Canadians.

May 6, 1896, Mr. Roy married Miss Celina Canty of Bathurst, New Brunswick, and to them have come a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living, Berthe, Pierre, Olive, Jeanne, Celina, Louis and Victoria.

Mr. Roy is well and favorably known in Montreal, where for more than a quarter of a century he has made his home. His success and the standards by which it has been obtained have gained for him the respect of his business associates, and his sterling qualities of character the esteem and good-will of many friends.

LUDGER GRAVEL.

Ludger Gravel is well known in business circles of Montreal as a dealer in carriage maker’s and blacksmith’s supplies, as president of Société des Artisans Canadiens-Français and also as a successful manufacturer’s agent, connected in this way with some of the most important industrial concerns in Canada, the United States and Europe. The industry and the spirit of enterprise, progress and initiative which have brought him success have also been factors in his conduct of his extensive interests and place him today among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in this community.

Mr. Gravel was born in 1864, at St. Raphael, Ile Bizard, Canada, and acquired his education in Montreal, beginning his business career immediately after laying aside his books. He was for eight months with Thomas Wilson & Company of this city and at the end of that time became connected with P. P. Mailloux at 223 St. Paul Street, with whom he remained over twenty years, rising during that time to a position of weight and responsibility and proving himself a farsighted, capable and progressive business man. Having shown his worth and his capability, Mr. Gravel eventually engaged in business for himself, establishing the extensive business which he now conducts. Under his able management this has become a large and important enterprise and it is still growing, for Mr. Gravel is constantly extending the field of his activity and forming new commercial relations. In addition to his retail business he is also acting as exclusive agent in Montreal for a number of manufacturing firms in Canada, the United States and Europe, and his important connections along this line are conclusive proof of his prominence and high standing in business circles. Among the firms which he represents may be mentioned the following: Ontario Asphalt Block Company, Ltd., Walkerville, Ontario; The Standard Paint & Varnish Works, Ltd., Windsor, Ontario; The Frank Miller Company, New York, New York; Windsor Turned Goods Company, Ltd., Windsor, Ontario; The Conboy Carriage Company, Ltd., Toronto, Ontario; The Neverslip Manufacturing Company, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Sem. Lacaille, Nominingue, Quebec; Meilink’s Home Deposit Vaults, Toledo, Ohio; Propriétaire de l’Huile Balmoral; James Boyd & Brothers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Jacob Maas & Company, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mr. Gravel became connected with Société des Artisans Canadiens-Français in 1903 when he was elected a director, and his ability and executive skill soon commanded for him a place of power in this organization. He was made second vice president in 1904 and first vice president in 1906 and in 1910 was elected president, a position which he has held since that time. The demands which it has made upon his energy, his enterprise and his executive ability have been completely met, and the fortunes of the society under his hands have been constantly prosperous. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since its organization and at present is one of its directors. His membership in mutual, charitable, antiquarian, social, political and sporting clubs is extensive and in a number of them he holds official position. However his business never suffers from these connections and his time and attention are so distributed that he proves a valuable member in all of the organizations.