When the telephone first made its appearance he foresaw its great possibilities, when he, in association with others, established in 1878 the first telephone exchange in Canada, which was afterwards merged with the Bell Telephone System.
He was a Director of the Montreal Telephone Company, President of the Canada Central Railway and administrator of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway, both of which are now linked to the Canadian Pacific Railway; he was also President of the Dominion Transport Company, but his interest and sympathies were always keenly directed to the progress and development of telegraphy. He himself was an expert telegraphist and always took a lively interest in the welfare and success of the telegraph fraternity. He was amiable in manner, kind in disposition and generous to a fault; his purse was ever open to the needy or unfortunate.
He possessed a fine tenor voice in his young days. When at social gatherings he rendered the songs of his native land with a sweetness and pathos few could equal. He took a great interest in young men, and many were indebted to him for advice and assistance in beginning the battle of life.
He passed away at a comparatively early age (in his fifty-ninth year) on December 25, 1891.
“Howe’er it be, it seems to me
’Tis only noble to be good
Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood.”
JAMES POUSTIE.
James Poustie, Esq.
Born at Montrose, Scotland, in 1830. While yet an infant, his parents came to Canada in the historic brig “Favorite,” owned and commanded by the father of the late Sir Hugh Allan.