Part 71

ERNEST NICHOLSON BROWN.

Ernest Nicholson Brown was born in Lower Newcastle, New Brunswick, on the 12th of July, 1867. His father, Robert Brown, went from Dumfries, Scotland, to Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1823, and settled as a young man in Miramichi, New Brunswick, in 1835. He married Ann Noble, of United Empire Loyalist descent. Her grandfather fought on the British side at the battle of Bunker Hill. James Nicholson, an uncle of Robert Brown fought at the battle of Trafalgar and the medal awarded him for his services on that occasion is now in possession of Mr. Brown.

After attending the high school at Chatham, New Brunswick, Ernest N. Brown entered Dalhousie University at Halifax, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He followed that course with post-graduate study at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, after which he was engaged for some years in teaching. In 1902 he won the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law upon the completion of the regular course in law in McGill University. He was admitted to the bar in the province of Quebec in 1902 and for two years was in practice in the office of Duncan McCormick, K. C., while subsequently he became a member of the firm of Patterson & Brown, and in 1908 he became a member of the firm of Brown & Staveley.

Mr. Brown is a liberal in politics, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. In 1904, Mr. Brown married Miss Elizabeth Malcolm Fraser, a daughter of the late John Fraser of Lachine Rapids, author of “Canadian Pen and Ink Sketches”, “Historic Canadian Ground” and various articles dealing with points of interest in Canadian history, especially those connected with the scenes of his boyhood in and about Lachine.

CHARLES BERNIER.

The name of Charles Bernier is a synonym for efficiency in architecture in Montreal. A native of the province of Quebec, he was born at St. Jean Port Joli, on the 17th of December, 1866. His father, Francis Bernier, was a contractor and builder at St. Jean Port Joli and there died. The mother bore the maiden name of Virginie Deschene.

Charles Bernier was educated in the schools of his native town and in the Christian Brothers school at L’Islet. When fifteen years of age he went to Quebec, where he entered the office of David Ouellet, a well known architect, with whom he remained as a student for three and a half years. Through the ensuing year and a half he was in the office of Ferdinand Peachy, a noted architect of Quebec, and then, splendidly qualified for the profession, he entered upon active practice, which he successfully followed alone in Quebec until June 24, 1903, when he came to Montreal. Here in connection with Charles Brodeur he formed the partnership of Bernier & Brodeur, which connection was maintained for seven years, and during that period their offices were removed to 70 St. James Street. Through the three succeeding years Albert Menard was associated with Mr. Bernier in the firm of Bernier & Menard, and since Mr. Menard’s death Mr. Bernier has continued alone. He is accorded a large clientage, for his ability places him among those foremost in the ranks of the profession. On all sides may be seen splendid evidences of his handiwork as exemplified in some of the most beautiful and substantial structures of Montreal.

Mr. Bernier was married in this city to Alma Dionne, daughter of Octave Dionne, of Quebec, and they are parents of three daughters, Adrienne, Alice and Anna. The religious belief of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Bernier belongs to Lafontaine Club and to the Royal Arcanum. He is a man of refined, cultured tastes, quiet in manner and a deep student of subjects relating to the profession, in which his standing is among the highest.

HON. AMEDEE GEOFFRION.

Hon. Amedee Geoffrion, one of the recorders of Montreal, was born at Varennes, in the province of Quebec, February 6, 1867, and was educated at L’Assomption and Laval University. Liberal training qualified him for the profession which he determined to make his life work and in 1889 he was called to the bar. He began the practice of law at the age of twenty-one and from the beginning made continuous progress. He was made King’s Counsel in 1905.

His activity, too, has been largely manifested along other lines. Not a little of the progress made on the south side of the river in recent years is due to his efforts and public spirit. A consistent supporter of the progressive policy of the government of Sir Lomer Gouin he has, since elected for Vercheres in 1908, been identified with many noteworthy public projects that have assisted materially in the development and improvement of the rural districts. The movement for the improvement of existing highways in the county of Vercheres has found in him a warm supporter. He has served the municipality of Longueuil with efficiency and manifest approbation, first in the capacity of recorder and afterward in that of mayor, holding the latter position since 1908. He stands for all that works for civic betterment and improvement and is a close student of the vital problems affecting the welfare of city, province and nation. During the years of his mayoralty he has been the head of a highly progressive administration. It has been during this period that the electric railway has been brought to the town and that electricity has been installed for lighting purposes, while cement sidewalks have been laid and the work of improvement has been otherwise carried on along most progressive and beneficial lines.

In September, 1912, Mr. Geoffrion was appointed by Quebec to the position of recorder of the city of Montreal and is now filling that office with the same capability and fidelity that he has displayed in other positions. None question his public spirit nor his knowledge of the law, and he stands today with those whose success has been builded upon the foundation of ability and laudable ambition.

LYON COHEN.

Lyon Cohen, merchant and contractor, of Montreal, Quebec, is a member of L. Cohen & Son, coal merchants, and of W. R. Cuthbert & Company, brass founders, and is proprietor of the Freedman Company, wholesale clothiers, the Hibbard Company, Ltd., railway contractors, and General Improvement & Contracting Company, Ltd., dredging contractors.

This has been termed the age of commercialism and it is the old world’s belief that new world residents are engrossed in money-making to the exclusion of almost everything else. There are many examples, however, to the contrary, and the life record of Lyon Cohen is one which proves that while successfully conducting business affairs, time may also be found for active cooperation in movements that tend to promote intellectual and moral progress, or which relieve distress among the unfortunate ones of the world, for he has done much philanthropic and charitable work, while at the same time he has wisely and capably managed important mercantile interests. He was born in Poland, Russia, May 11, 1868, a son of Lazarus Cohen. In early childhood he was brought to Canada and attended the McGill Model School and also the Catholic Commercial Academy of Montreal. He became a member of the firm of L. Cohen & Son in 1891, and from the time when he put aside his text-books and entered business circles his progress has been continuous.

Mr. Cohen has attained a prominence in Montreal social and business circles that necessitates a mention of him in any publication undertaking to represent the leading citizens of the city. He has been prominently identified with almost every movement looking to the betterment of Jewish conditions in this country, and his labors have been effective forces in promoting the welfare of those of his faith. He was one of the founders of The Jewish Times of Montreal, and he was president for three years, 1904-5-6, of Shaar Hashomayim congregation, the largest and most prominent Jewish congregation in Canada. Interested in the welfare of his people wherever they are found, he is treasurer of the Canadian committee of The Jewish Colonization Association of Paris, and was secretary of the Jewish rights committee. He is a life governor of The Montreal General Hospital and of The Western Hospital, and was elected president of The Baron de Hirsch Institute of Montreal in 1908. He did such splendid work in that connection, that he was four times reelected, serving until the end of 1912. Upon his voluntary retirement he was presented with an illuminated address and handsome silver service. He is prominently identified with a number of movements; is member of juvenile court committee; member of executive of Child’s Welfare Association, and was chairman of publicity of Child’s Welfare Exhibition, 1912; member of executive of Montreal improvement committee; honorary chairman of North End Synagogue; honorary president of Young Men’s Hebrew Association; and chairman of Committee to Federate Jewish Charities.

Mr. Cohen is a member of The Montefiore Club, of which he is a past president; he is also an ex-president of The Montreal Reform Club, being a liberal in politics. A love of progress actuates him in all he does. He could not be content to move forward at the pace which many men assume. He must all the time be up and doing, for he is a man of action rather than theory, and at all times the end accomplished indicates the wisdom of the methods he has followed.

Mr. Cohen was married in February, 1891, to Miss Rachel Friedman, a daughter of the late Noah Friedman. They have four children, Nathan Bernard, Horace Rives, Lawrence Z. and Sylvia L. Mrs. Cohen is also interested in charitable work and is the founder and president of The Jewish Endeavor Sewing Society. The family residence is at 25 Rosemount Avenue, Westmount, Quebec.

ZIGMOND FINEBERG.

Under the name of Zigmond Fineberg & Sons is conducted a growing real-estate and brokerage business. Mr. Fineberg was born in March, 1863, in Poland, Russia, his parents being Moses Nathan and Agnes Fineberg, the former a merchant. Among his ancestors were rabbis, physicians and lawyers and capable business men. He pursued his education in Suvalk, Russia, and became a government roads contractor of that country.

Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, and prompted by laudable ambition to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, Mr. Fineberg came to Canada, settling in Montreal, where he embarked in business as a clothing merchant in 1887. About seventeen years were devoted to that undertaking, years which brought him a substantial measure of success and led to his activities along still broader lines. It was in 1904 that he turned his attention to real estate, becoming a real-estate broker and finance agent, business being now conducted under the firm style of Z. Fineberg & Sons at No. 62 St. James Street. He is thoroughly informed concerning property values, knows the real estate that is upon the market and has himself been a large investor, not only in real estate, but in railway shares, so that his stocks and property holdings make him one of the prosperous citizens of Montreal. Moreover, in 1910, he founded the Montreal Free Loan Association, of which he is the president. He belongs to the Montreal Board of Trade and is connected with many institutions of a public nature, being formerly a director of the Baron de Hirsch Institute, a life governor of the Baron de Hirsch Institute, a life governor of the Montreal General Hospital, of the Hertzl Dispensary and of Mount Sinai Sanitarium. He likewise belongs to the Montreal Citizens’ Association. He is an ex-member and vice president of the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, and he now holds membership in the McGill College Avenue Synagogue.

In his native city of Prenn in 1885, Mr. Fineberg was married to Miss Jennie Kirschberg, a daughter of the late Abraham Kirschberg. The children of this marriage are: Joseph, Nathan Samuel, Aaron Harry, Moe Newton, Agnes and Max. The second son has won the degrees of Master of Arts and Bachelor of Common Laws and is now engaged in the practice of the legal profession.

Mr. Fineberg has held the offices of justice of the peace and commissioner of the superior courts since 1903. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fellows society and the Canadian Order of Foresters, and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit underlying those organizations, recognizing the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations of mutual helpfulness and kindliness.

MATTHEW A. SAMMETT.

Matthew A. Sammett, one of the most competent electrical engineers in Canada, was born at Baku, Russia, on the 2d of November, 1872. He was educated in a technical school in his native land and in 1893, when a young man of twenty-one years, came to the new world. He continued his education by attendance at night schools for a time and afterward entered the University of California, where he pursued a four years’ course, which he completed by graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree in 1899. He immediately put his theoretical training to practical test and joined the staff of the General Electrical Company of Schenectady, New York, in which connection he obtained thorough familiarity with modern electrical machinery and general engineering practice. The ability which he displayed in that connection won him promotion to the engineering department and in that position he made a close study of the design of some of the alternating current machinery now in universal use. Each step in his career has been a forward one, and each change in his business connections has marked an advance. In 1902 he joined the engineering staff of the Lachine Rapids Hydraulic & Land Company and after its amalgamation with the Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company was given charge of the testing department of the new organization, his work embracing the testing of the various kinds of electrical apparatus used in the transformation, control and measurement of electrical energy. He also designed a complete line of highly efficient transformers for lighting and power service.

During 1905 and 1906 Mr. Sammett conducted a popular course in applied electricity at the Montreal Young Men’s Christian Association.

In 1908 Mr. Sammett opened an office as consulting engineer in Montreal and in this connection has gained a large and distinctively representative clientage, including the Amalgamated Asbestos Corporation, Ltd.; The Asbestos & Asbestic Company, Ltd.; The St. Francis Hydraulic Company, Ltd.; The Brompton Pulp & Paper Company; The Maritime Coal, Railway & Power Company, Ltd.; The Dominion Marble Company, Ltd.; The Smart-Woods Company, Ltd. He has also been retained in connection with municipal electrical undertakings. The practice of his profession now makes heavy demands upon his time and energies, and in addition he is well known as a contributor to the technical press of the United States and Canada. He has also prepared and read many scientific papers before engineering bodies and is known personally or by reputation to the entire electrical profession on the American continent. He has formed many warm friendships by keeping in close touch with the progress of his profession as a member of the Canadian Electrical Association, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Mr. Sammett married Miss Eleanor Horwitz, and their children are four in number, Frank Edward, Hazel, Helene and Pearl. Mr. Sammett is a member of the Canadian Club and possesses a genial cordial nature that has made him popular, but he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has attained notable success. He is a self-made man. Commendable ambition pointed out to him the way to success. He followed the path indicated and is today occupying an advanced position as an electrical engineer.