Part 49

George Archibald Campbell, head of the legal firm of Campbell, McMaster & Papineau, of Montreal, was born in this city, September 26, 1875, a son of the Rev. Robert Campbell, D. D., an ex-moderator of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in Canada and for more than fifty years one of the foremost divines of that denomination. His mother was the late Margaret (Macdonnell) Campbell. Both parents were of Scotch descent and were members of families prominent in the clerical and legal professions.

George Archibald Campbell supplemented his course of study in the Montreal high school by a course in McGill University, where he was graduated with first rank honors in 1896, upon the completion of the arts’ course. In preparation for the bar he then entered the law department and won his B. C. L. degree in 1901. He received the Macdonald traveling scholarship in law and he supplemented his instruction received at McGill by attending lectures at the Universities of Paris, Grenoble and Montpelier, France. He received his practical legal education largely under the direction of Donald Macmaster, K. C., M. P., and was called to the bar in July, 1901. Subsequently he became a member of the firm of Macmaster, Hickson & Campbell and entered upon the active practice of his profession, in which he has now continued for thirteen years, his record being marked by an orderly progression that has brought him to an enviable position as a representative of the Montreal bar. He is now practicing as the senior partner in the legal firm of Campbell, McMaster & Papineau. In May, 1912, he was created a king’s counsel by Lieutenant Governor Langelier.

On the 20th of January, 1909, Mr. Campbell was married in Montreal to Miss Amy G. Dawson, elder daughter of William V. Dawson, head of the importing and manufacturing company of W. V. Dawson, Limited, of Montreal. Their religious faith is evidenced by their membership in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Campbell’s political views accord with the principles of the conservative party, and he is a member of the Liberal-Conservative Club. Something of the nature of his interests and recreation outside the strict path of his profession or in the field of citizenship is shown through his membership in the Montreal, University, Beaconsfield Golf, Hermitage Country and Canadian Clubs. He is also a member of the Montreal Art Association. He finds enjoyment in golf and in motorboating and also takes delight in amateur farming, all of which constitute an even balance to his intense professional activity.

WALTER JAMES PRENDERGAST, M. D.

Dr. Walter James Prendergast, a successful practicing physician, well read and holding ever to high professional standards, was born in August, 1857, at Cote des Neiges, before it became a part of Montreal. His father, Walter Prendergast, leaving his native Ireland, came to Canada in early life and for a number of years conducted a hotel at Cote des Neiges, but retired many years prior to his death. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Joanna Griffith, was a representative of an old family of Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Dr. Walter J. Prendergast pursued his education at St. Mary’s, from which he received the degree of B. A., and afterward spent three years as a student in McGill University, but finished his professional course at Bishop’s College, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1880. He remained throughout his later career a close student of his profession and thus his knowledge constantly broadened. Immediately following his graduation he began practice in Cote des Neiges and after ten years spent there removed to the city of Montreal, remaining in practice on St. Denis Street until his death. His widow and children returned to the old family home on Cote des Neiges road, where they now reside. Dr. Prendergast was a general practitioner and was much interested in his profession. In fact, anything which tended to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life was of interest to him and he ever read broadly upon subjects having to do with the safeguarding and restoration of health. In his professional capacity he did great good and was very charitable, for he would respond again and again to the call of the needy even when he knew there was no chance of remuneration for his services.

In Montreal, in 1892, Dr. Prendergast was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Scanlan, a daughter of Michael and Alice (Duggan) Scanlan. The latter, born in Montreal, was a daughter of Patrick Duggan, for many years a contractor of this city. For a half century Mr. Scanlan was connected with the growth of the import and export trade of this country. When seventeen years of age, or in 1857, he entered the service of David Torrance & Company and in 1872, when the Dominion line was established, he became wharf superintendent, which position he held until his death. During that period he was tireless in the faithful performance of his duty and in carrying out the wishes and furthering the interests of the corporation which he represented. Whether in Montreal, in Portland, Maine, or in Boston, Massachusetts, or wherever his duties called him he was the same genial, courteous gentleman, ever watchful of the interests under his care. He died October 20, 1907, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Dr. and Mrs. Prendergast became the parents of four children who survive, namely: Aileen, Walter Francis, Harold and Kathleen. Dr. Prendergast was a man of domestic habits, devoted to the welfare of his family. He was public-spirited and was interested in all those things which work for good and progress. In politics he was a liberal. He was a communicant of St. Agnes Catholic church, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.

Dr. Prendergast passed away January 21, 1910. Those who knew him--and he had an extensive acquaintance--entertained for him warm regard and many there are who have reason to bless his memory because of timely aid which he rendered them. His practice extended among the poor as well as the rich because of his benevolent nature and it is probable that he derived greater satisfaction from his ministrations to the former than to the latter, for his kindly spirit prompted him to reach out in helpfulness at all times.

EDOUARD BIRON.

Edouard Biron, a prominent representative of the notarial profession, having been appointed secretary of the board of notaries for the district of Montreal on the 10th of July, 1912, was born on the 20th of August, 1877, in the city which is still his place of residence, his father being Samuel Biron, who was a wholesale grocer, conducting business at the corner of McGill and Notre Dame Streets up to the time of his death in December, 1883. The mother was Dame Philomene Olivier.

Edouard Biron was a student in St. Mary’s College in Montreal until graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in June, 1897. He next entered Laval University, where he won the LL. D. degree in June, 1900. He became a notary in July of the same year, practicing alone until February, 1903, when he formed a partnership with J. A. Savignac under the name of Biron & Savignac, an association which was maintained for more than ten years, or until September, 1913. On the 1st of that month the present firm of Biron, Savignac, Coderre & Poirier was formed. In addition to the business of that firm Mr. Biron, as previously stated, is acting as secretary of the board of notaries for the district of Montreal, through appointment received in July, 1912. He stands as a prominent representative of his profession and one whose ability in this line is unquestioned. As he has prospered he has made investment in property and is holder of some valuable Montreal real estate.

On the 1st of September, 1902, Mr. Biron was married to Miss Blanche Fleury, a daughter of the late A. Fleury, who was a merchant of Montreal. Mr. and Mrs. Biron are the parents of four children: Germaine, ten years of age; Roger, eight years; Marcel, six years; and Suzanne, a little maiden of five summers. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Biron is general secretary of L’Association St. Jean Baptiste de Montreal and he belongs to the St. Denis and Canadian Clubs and the Club Canadien of Montreal.

EDMUND PHILLIPS HANNAFORD.

Edmund Phillips Hannaford engraved his name high on the roll of the promoters of railway interests in Canada. To no other single agency is progress so largely indebted as to railway building and thus it is that E. P. Hannaford deserves to be numbered among the public benefactors of his country. Throughout his entire life he was connected with railway projects and the superb engineering department of the Grand Trunk system is largely a monument to his skill, ability and sagacity. A native of Devonshire, England, Mr. Hannaford was born at Stoke Gabriel, on the 12th of December, 1834, and he was a youth of but seventeen years when he entered the railway service as draftsman and assistant under Sir I. K. Brunel. Through the succeeding four years he was a member of the engineering corps of the South Devon Railway and in 1856 he became identified with the development of railway projects in Canada. Following his arrival in the new world he became connected with the Grand Trunk Railway and acted as assistant engineer of the company from 1857 until 1866. In the latter year he was appointed chief engineer of the western division and further promotion awaited him in his appointment in 1869 to the position of chief engineer of the company. He remained in that connection for twenty-seven years, resigning from active work in 1896. He was in charge of the engineering department during the period of the greatest development of the railway and managed the construction of all new lines and stations of the company. His particular talent made him very successful in drawing up the plans of yards or overcoming any difficulty in the way of construction. No better proof of his work can be given than the fact that it is now generally admitted that the Grand Trunk has one of the best lines of any railway in Canada. The general offices at Point St. Charles were also erected under his direction.

In addition to his work in connection with the Grand Trunk Railway Mr. Hannaford in 1879 was named chief engineer of the Montreal & Champlain Junction Railway. Ten years before he had been chief engineer of the International bridge and in 1883 he became chief engineer of the Jacques Cartier Union and United States and Canada Railways.

It was in 1859, in Belleville, Ontario, that Mr. Hannaford was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Roy, a daughter of Robert Maitland Roy, of Scotland, who became a resident of Belleville in 1837. He served in the war of the rebellion in defense of his country’s interests and long held public office, serving for a quarter of a century as town clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Hannaford became the parents of seven children, of whom four survived the father: Elizabeth, who was Mrs. Harry B. Eastty, of Mount Vernon, New York, and died August 3, 1913; R. Maitland, assistant chief engineer of the Montreal Street Railway Company; Edmund P., who is located at Corpus Christi, Texas; and Miss Mary R. Hannaford, at home.

Mr. Hannaford belonged to the Church of St. James the Apostle and his social nature found expression in his membership in the St. James Club. He was a public-spirited man, deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare and upbuilding of Canada, yet his tastes inclined him to domesticity and in the home circle he was a most devoted husband and father. He was a man of fine personal appearance and impressive manner, yet withal was most genial and affable, and, wherever he went and formed acquaintanceship, it constituted the beginning of warm and enduring friendships.

Mr. Hannaford died August 18, 1902.

ROBERT CARLYLE JAMIESON.

Robert Carlyle Jamieson, who stood as a man among men, ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities, was born in Glengarry, Ontario, in 1836. He was a cousin of Thomas Carlyle, philosopher and historian, and a son of William Jamieson, a gentleman farmer, who married Jean Brodie, also a native of Scotland, and on coming to Canada settled in Glengarry.

Their son Robert Carlyle Jamieson pursued his education in the place of his nativity to the age of sixteen years, when he left home and taught school at Hawkesbury. In 1856 he came to Montreal and thereafter to the time of his death, which occurred almost a half century later, he was a resident of this city. He built up a large and profitable business through his industry, thrift and unfaltering honesty. It was in 1858 that he began the manufacture of varnish on St. Thomas Street, there establishing a plant that is yet conducted by the firm. In 1882 he purchased the plant of the Baylis Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of paints and colors, and later bought the plant of P. D. Dodds & Company at St. Patrick and Island Streets, where the main office is now located. Thus the business has steadily grown and developed, Mr. Jamieson remaining the active head of the firm to the time of his demise. Year by year the trade has increased until it today extends all over Canada and a branch office is maintained in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Jamieson devoted his entire life to the upbuilding and control of this industry, which is still conducted by his sons under the style of the R. C. Jamieson Company, Ltd. It became one of the chief productive industries of the city and constituted and still remains a source of gratifying revenue to the stockholders.

In 1863, in Montreal, Mr. Jamieson was married to Miss Harriet Josephine McGowan, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of John H. McGowan, who on leaving his native place, Aberdeen, Scotland, settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, but during the early ’60s removed to Montreal. Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson had a family of seven children, all of whom survive: Harriet A., now Mrs. W. de M. Marler; Helen L., the wife of A. W. Cochrane; Dr. William Hoves; Walter Lockhart; Robert Harry; Frederick Carlyle; and Ernest Temple. The death of the husband and father occurred February 17, 1905.

Mr. Jamieson was a man who occupied an honorable and enviable position in the regard of his fellows. His life work was permeated by noble and upright principles and he was untiring in his efforts to do good. He was one of the original governors of the House of Industry and Reform and for twenty years he was treasurer of the Congregational College. He served as deacon in Emanuel church and was one of the first trustees when the house of worship was erected in 1875. At one time he served on the council of the Board of Trade and he was one of the first members of both the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and the Montreal Curling Club. He was solicited to accept many important offices, both city and provincial, but refused, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests and duties and his activities in behalf of his fellow men along the lines of reform, intellectual progress and moral development.

JOHN KEITH MACDONALD.

Although a native of Scotland, born in Kintyre, John Keith Macdonald spent almost his entire active life in Montreal, where he arrived when a youth of sixteen years. He believed that better business opportunities awaited him on this side of the Atlantic and he made his initial step as an apprentice at the machinist’s trade under his uncle, John Boyd. Applying himself closely to the tasks assigned him, his knowledge and skill developed day by day until he became an expert workman in that line. Laudable ambition prompted the development of his latent powers and awakened in him the desire to engage in business on his own account, so that eventually he organized the firm of J. K. Macdonald, general machinists and contractors for iron work. Mr. Macdonald continually added to his knowledge through experience, reading and investigation along his chosen line and he continued in the business until his death, becoming one of the well known and leading representatives of industrial activity in Montreal.

In Montreal, in 1867, Mr. Macdonald was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Mackay, a daughter of Norman Mackay, of Glengarry, where he was born and spent his life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald were born six children, five of whom are living, Mrs. Janette Macfarlane, Norman, Duncan, George and Margaret. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when Mr. Macdonald passed away at the age of sixty-three years. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith and his life was passed in consistent harmony with his professions, making him a man whom to know was to respect and honor.

COLONEL EDWARD ASHWORTH WHITEHEAD.