Part 60

Mr. La Badie has been an extensive traveler. As a young man he engaged in ranching in Colorado and during his sojourn in the west learned much of that section of the United States. He has also made many trips abroad. He is a great lover of nature and a student of botany. The library which he has collected contains more than six thousand volumes, many of which are rare editions. This is an indication of his cultured taste and wide interest in literary matters. His summer home for the past twenty-one years has been at Upper St. Lambert, where he has two fine farms and makes a specialty of cheese making. Mr. La Badie is very fond of hunting, a recreation in which he indulges every year.

Though over three score years of age, Mr. La Badie is of magnificent physique, his muscles as hard as iron, and he has the appearance of a man twenty years his junior. In his office is a long table, four feet wide, over which he can jump without touching it with his hands and he can lift a weight of one hundred and eighty-seven pounds with one hand. His interests have largely covered those things which are essential and valuable elements in life. He has been a student of many questions of public moment and has filled some offices, being now a commissioner of the superior court and a justice of the peace. For one hundred and ten years the La Badies of four generations have been notaries at the present location. The great-grandfather of Joseph A. O. La Badie died at the home where Joseph E. O. La Badie was born. The family is, indeed, one of the oldest and most prominent in Montreal.

Mr. La Badie is not a club man. His interest centers in his home and his family, which he prefers to club life. On the 7th of October, 1877, he married Aurelia de Lompré, of an old Montreal family, and to them have been born seventeen children: Raoul, a civic employe; Odilon, who is in his father’s office; Paul, a notary; Florida, deceased; Jeanne; Germaine; Marie Antoinette; Camile; Alice; Leo; Amanda; Adolphe; Alice; Emile; Pauline; Gabriel; and Cecile.

ARTHUR GIBEAULT, B. A., LL. L.

Arthur Gibeault, a Laval man, active in the practice of law since January, 1902, has been retained as counsel for the defense or prosecution in many notable cases heard in the Montreal courts. He was born on the 26th of February, 1880, a son of Arthur Alphonse and Elizabeth Emma (Morrissette) Gibeault. The father was for seven years provincial chief ranger of the Catholic Order of Foresters. The son was a student in Montreal College for eight years, from September, 1890, until July, 1898. In September of the latter year he entered Laval University, where he remained until December 21, 1901, winning the Bachelor of Arts and LL. L. degrees. He was admitted as a lawyer and barrister to the bar of Quebec on the 17th of January, 1902, and has since been actively connected with the profession, in which he has made steady advancement, already having won a place of equal rank with many an older representative of the bar. He was attorney and counsel for the school commissioners of Hochelaga for many years and as counsel tried many immigration cases. He was especially prominent in the case of Gaetanetta Imparato, who was deported to Italy and subsequently returned to Canada pursuant to an appeal made by Mr. Gibeault in her favor. He represented Sarah Kositzky in her appeal before the department of immigration of the United States and obtained a commission of three medical men to examine her. The decision of the first board was afterward reversed by this commission. Mr. Gibeault’s name appears in connection with other important cases which have attracted widespread interest not only in Canada but also in the United States.

Mr. Gibeault is a conservative and was prime minister of the mock parliament of Laval in 1899 and head of the conservative ministry, while the leader of the opposition was J. W. Pilon, a well known lawyer of Montreal. That Mr. Gibeault possesses marked histrionic as well as legal talent is indicated in the fact that during the year 1904-5 the Greek drama of Antigone by Sophocles was played in Greek, on which occasion he took the role of Ismene and the role of Antigone was taken by D. Lalonde, now Father Lalonde, P. S. S., one of the directors of Montreal College, while the role of Creon was played by J. F. St. Cyr, now district magistrate of St. Johns, Iberville. The production of the play in Greek created a tremendous sensation at the time because it was an achievement unheard of before.

On the 26th of June, 1905, Mr. Gibeault was married to Marie Jeanne Phaneuf, daughter of L. A. Phaneuf, notary public of Rigaud, and Marie Joseph Adam. Mrs. Gibeault is a niece of the Rt. Rev. Canon F. L. T. Adam, of Montreal, and Father J. Adam, S. J. Mr. and Mrs. Gibeault have three children, Yves, Marc and Madeleine. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Gibeault is a leading member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Possessed of natural oratorical ability, his power in that direction, supplementing the analytical trend of his mind and added to his broad knowledge of the law, has gained him distinction as one of the younger members of the Montreal bar.

DIOSCORE ALFRED BENOIT, M. D.

Dioscore Alfred Benoit, M. D., prominent in the field of medical practice, making a specialty of obstetrics and gynecology, was born in Montreal on the 26th of July, 1880, a son of Lucien and Albina (Bourdon) Benoit, the former a native of Contrecoeur and the latter of Lavaltrie, Quebec. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Benoit, was born in Geneva, Switzerland, a member of an old French family of rank established in Switzerland at the time that Louis XIV issued the revocation of the edict of Nantes. Some years after his arrival in Canada Isaac Benoit embraced the Catholic religion.

Dr. Benoit pursued a commercial course in a Catholic school and his classical course in St. Mary’s (Jesuit) College. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as his life work he entered Laval University wherein he completed the medical course with the class of 1906. During the succeeding year he was interne in Notre Dame Hospital and then went abroad to continue his medical studies in Paris, where he remained for two years, making a specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. Upon his return he was made demonstrator of anatomy in Laval University which position he occupied for a year. He next became adjoint professor in obstetrics and medicine to Laval University and adjoint professor to the Catholic Maternity Hospital. He is a member of the Medical Society of Montreal and the profession as well as the public recognize the high position which he has attained in the field in which he specializes. His reading and investigations have been deep and broad, and his opinions are largely accepted as authority upon points in question concerning the obstetrical practice. In politics Dr. Benoit is a conservative according to the views of Macdonald and Cartier with tendencies toward the nationalist. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. His entire life has been passed in Montreal, save for the period spent in study abroad. He there came under the instruction of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of Paris, returning well equipped for the arduous and responsible duties of a profession in which he has made continuous advancement. Dr. Benoit’s office is at 945a, St. Denis Street.

J. LOUIS MICHAUD.

J. Louis Michaud, district engineer of public works of Canada for the district of Montreal, was born November 27, 1851, at Rimouski, province of Quebec. He is descended from an old family of St. Denis, county of Kamouraska. His father was Tobie Michaud, a contractor and builder, and his mother was Felicitée Fournier.

J. Louis Michaud was educated at the Classical Seminary at Rimouski and studied engineering with Charles Baillarge, an eminent engineer of Quebec, for two years, and then for two years was connected with the engineering department of the Intercolonial Railway. On the 19th of April, 1878, he was admitted to practice as a licensed land surveyor at Quebec and the recognition of his skill and ability came to him in April, 1882, when he was made Dominion land surveyor at Ottawa. In 1883 he came to Montreal to reside, but his work for the Dominion in surveying the Canadian northwest continued until 1889. From that year until 1896 he was engaged in private practice in Montreal and an extensive clientage was accorded him. He is recognized as one of the best versed men in the science of his profession as well as in all the practical phases of the business. In 1896 he was appointed district engineer of public works for the district of Montreal and has since conscientiously and capably discharged the duties of that position.

In 1880 Mr. Michaud was married, at Matane, Rimouski county, Quebec, to Henriette Bradley, who died in 1910. They had eleven children, three of whom died in childhood. Two of the number, Albert, aged seventeen years, and René, aged fifteen, met death by drowning at Ste. Anne de Bellevue. The surviving six are: Alexander, who is with the Canadian Light & Power Company; Edouard, a missionary priest in central Africa; Juliette; Adolph; Grazielle; and Gabrielle. In a review of the life work of J. Louis Michaud it is self-evident that his advancement has come through the development of his powers resulting from broad study and active practice in the profession. He holds to the highest standards, and his progression has been continuous. He is a member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers and is a member of the Corporation of Land Surveyors in Quebec.

J. AUGUSTINE MANN.

J. Augustine Mann, one of the best known members of the Montreal bar, was born May 24, 1876, in the city where he still maintains his home, his parents being Eric and Agnes McWhirter (Bailey) Mann. For thirty-eight years Eric Mann was an engineer and architect of Montreal and in 1901 retired from business and returned to his native city of Edinburgh, Scotland, to live. Mr. and Mrs. Mann had two children: J. Augustine; and Mrs. Quincy Tucker, now a resident of Boston, Massachusetts.

The former was educated in Montreal, completing a course in McGill University with the class of 1901, at which time the B. C. L. degree was conferred upon him. While in McGill he was also a student in the office of Foster, Martin & Girouard. Upon his admission to the bar in 1901 this firm became Foster, Martin, Girouard & Mann and is now Foster, Martin, Mann, MacKinnon & Hackett. Mr. Mann was created a king’s counsel in 1911. His practice has been extensive, and his high reputation has been well won. Aside from his practice, he is now in business connections as a Canadian director of the N. K. Fairbanks Company.

Mr. Mann is a member of the Montreal Art Association, the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, the Montreal Club, the Montreal Jockey Club, the Montreal Curling Club and the Beaconsfield Golf Club. These associations indicate much of the nature of his interests and indicate him to be a broad-minded, cultured gentleman and also one of social nature.

Mr. Mann was married in Montreal to Miss Evelyn Gertrude Mann, and they are parents of two children: Dorothy and Audrey. The family residence is at No. 822 University Street and their summer home, Dornal Hall, is at Beaurepaire, Quebec.

JOSEPH WILFRID MICHAUD.

Joseph Wilfrid Michaud, senior member of the firm of Michaud & Des Rosiers, public accountants at 55 St. Francis Xavier Street in Montreal, is a native of the province of Quebec, his birth having occurred at St. Barthelemi on the 2d of August, 1872, his parents being Olivier and Stephenie (Paquin) Michaud. He was educated in the schools of his native town and in St. Viateur Academy. He began his business career as an accountant for the Western Loan & Trust Company, Ltd., and later became associated with Mr. A. W. Wilks as a member of a firm of public accountants under the style of Wilks & Michaud. For a number of years this firm occupied a prominent place in professional circles in Montreal. In 1911, following the dissolution of the partnership, Mr. Michaud joined Mr. Des Rosiers in forming the firm of Michaud & Des Rosiers. Their clientage is now extensive, and the volume of their business is justified by the capability of the members of the firm. Mr. Michaud is a director of the National Loan & Trust Company, Ltd., and also of the Sapho Manufacturing Company and thus along several lines has become closely associated with the business interests of the city.

In 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Michaud and Miss Rose Lafreniere, a daughter of Joseph Lafreniere. They have four children, Yvonne, Gerard, Paul and Lionel. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Michaud holds membership in Club St. Denis. Identified with the interests of Montreal throughout the entire period of his business career, he has become well known, and enterprise and laudable ambition have brought him to his present enviable position.

JOSEPH ULRIC EMARD, K. C.

One of the distinguished members of the legal profession in Montreal, whose years of active practice extend through more than one third of a century, is Joseph Ulric Emard. Well versed in the science of his profession, a deep thinker, logical reasoner, he has long since occupied a foremost place among the strong and forceful Montreal bar.

Mr. Emard comes from one of the old and prominent families of the province of Quebec. His father, Medard Emard, was one of the best known and successful educators of his day, while his mother, previous to her marriage, was Mathilde Beaudin. His brother, Monseigneur J. M. Emard, now bishop of Valleyfield, was for years prominent in church work in Montreal and was attached to Archbishop Fabre’s personal staff at the Palace.

Joseph Ulric Emard was born March 27, 1855, at St. Constant, Laprairie county, Quebec. Reared in a home where education was valued at its true worth, he attended St. Hubert grammar school, then conducted by his father, and was afterward a student in a private school conducted by Abbé Villeneuve.

His entrance into business life was first as a clerk, but after a short time he entered Laval University, where he pursued his law course and was graduated LL. B. in 1881. He was called to the bar that same year, and at once entered upon active practice as an advocate, which he has followed ever since, with brilliant success. Mr. Emard has been connected with a number of important cases, among them being the famous Lachine Bridge case, which he won after a notable legal battle, making it the cause celebre of the day. He was appointed king’s counsel in 1903.

For some years Mr. Emard was associated in practice with Hon. J. Ald Ouimet, who is, at present, counsel in the firm of Emard & Emard, composed of Joseph U. Emard and son, Charles.