Macdonald, Charles De Wolf, B.A., Barrister, Pictou, Nova Scotia, was born on the 23rd October, 1854, at Pictou, N.S. His father was the late Alexander Cameron Macdonald, Q.C., barrister, who, during his lifetime, represented the county of Pictou in the Nova Scotia legislature for eight years, and occupied the position of speaker in the House of Assembly, previous to the confederation of the provinces. His mother, who still survives, Sarah Amelia De Wolf, is a descendant of a well-known loyalist family, of German noble origin. Charles received his primary education at Pictou Academy; matriculated in 1869 at Dalhousie College, Halifax, when fifteen years of age, taking the first provincial scholarship, and, making the highest aggregate each year; graduated in 1873. He took first prizes throughout his course for Latin, Greek, French and German. Since leaving college he has made a special study of modern languages, and is now widely known as a linguist. He adopted law as a profession, and was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia in 1875, when only twenty-one years of age. For the past twelve years he has practised in Pictou, and is now one of the leading barristers in the county. Mr. Macdonald has always taken a deep interest in military affairs, and is a lieutenant in the 78th Highlanders, Colchester, Hants and Pictou volunteers. He is a Liberal in politics, and is an active politician. From 1882 to 1885, in addition to his usual law practice, he edited the Pictou News, which was the first paper to advocate the repeal of the federal compact, and ranks among the best conducted weeklies in the Maritime provinces. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Bethune, John Lemuel, M.D.C.M., M.P.P. for the county of Victoria, Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, was born at Loch Lomond, Richmond county, N.S., in 1850. His parents were Roderick Bethune, postmaster, and Mary Bethune, who came from the Highlands of Scotland to Cape Breton about fifty years ago. The Rev. Thomas McLauchlin, F.S.A.S., in his “Celtic Gleanings,” says that the descendants of the Beatons, or Bethunes, or as they styled themselves, McVeaghs (McBeths), in a family tree contained in an old manuscript of theirs still in existence, trace themselves up to Nial of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland. One Ferchar Bethune came into prominence by being the means of curing King Robert II. of Scotland of a painful and dangerous disease, and there is among the Scottish registers of charters a copy of a charter from that king conveying to Bethune, as an expression of his gratitude, possession of all the islands on the west coast of Scotland from the Point Store in Assynt to that of Armidale in Farr. How long Ferchar’s descendants were physicians is not known, but they can be traced back as such by means of existing documents for three hundred and fifty years from the middle of last century. However, the great progenitor of the race would seem to be a certain Fergus the Fair, probably the Fergus Bethune who lived in the year 1408, and was then physician to McDonald of the Isles of Islay. There are several MSS. belonging to this family in existence. One is a small quarto in vellum, now in possession of David Laing, of the Edinburgh Signet Library. It was written by John Beaton, who flourished in 1530. It is full of comments on the writings of Constantius and other medical continental writers of that period. It also contains a long treatise on astrology, and another on the phenomena of color as an indication of health or disease. This and other writings of theirs indicate an amount of cultivation in the Gaelic to qualify it for being the language of science from which it has sadly declined. Dr. Bethune, the subject of our sketch, was educated at the Normal School in Truro, and in Dalhousie University, where he took the degree of M.D.C.M. in 1875, and then began the practice of his profession. In 1881 he was appointed paymaster, with the honorary rank of captain, in the 94th battalion Argyll Highlanders, and the same year was made census commissioner. He is a justice of the peace, coroner, commissioner of schools, and is a commissioner for taking affidavits, etc., in the Supreme and County courts of Victoria county. He takes an interest in all movements for the good of his fellow men. He is a past master of St. Mark’s lodge of the Masonic brotherhood; and is also a member of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Nova Scotia. He occupied a seat in the municipal council from 1879 till 1886, when he resigned; and for three years from June, 1880, he was warden of the county. The doctor was for three years secretary of the Liberal-Conservative Association of Victoria county; and at the general election held in 1886 he was selected to represent his adopted county, as an Independent, in the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia. His religious views are in accordance with the teachings of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. He was married January 20th, 1885, to Mary C., only daughter of the late Robert A. Jones, registrar of deeds for Victoria county, who was a descendant of a Jones, a loyalist, who came to Cape Breton at the time of the American rebellion, and to whom was granted large tracts of land at Big Baddeck, Washabuck and other places in Cape Breton.
Hatt, Samuel Staunton, Quebec, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Legislative Council, province of Quebec, was born at Chambly, Quebec province, on the 18th February, 1844. He is the eldest son of the late Augustus Hatt, and of Charlotte Emelie de Salaberry, of Chambly. He is also a grandson of Colonel de Salaberry, the hero of Chateauguay, and of the Hon. Samuel Hatt, of Chambly. Mr. Hatt received his education at the High School of St. Johns, and at St. Hyacinthe College. He received his civil service certificate when only about sixteen years of age, and in 1861 entered the Militia department. He served on the frontier at St. Albans during the time of the Fenian raids, with the rank of captain and adjutant; and also commanded a detachment, at Huntingdon, of the 3rd Administration battalion, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Taylor. While Captain Hatt was stationed at Laprairie, he and the men under him rendered great service in subduing a fire which endangered the whole town, and were afterwards publicly thanked by the municipal council for the important service rendered on the occasion. Mr. Hatt was appointed under Royal commission Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for the Province of Quebec, on the 23rd December, 1867, and still holds this office. He was married in 1883, to Mrs. N. F. Hoole, of Philadelphia, United States.
McMaster, Hon. William.—Senator McMaster, who died in Toronto, on the morning of Friday, 23rd September, 1887, was a good representative of that class on whom we bestow the title of merchant princes. He was born in 1811, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and his father was the late William McMaster, a linen merchant, who did business for many years in the county where the subject of our sketch was born. His son’s early education was a very careful one, he having attended a private school, the best in the parish, presided over by Mr. Halcro, one of the most eminent teachers in the north of Ireland. In 1833, Mr. McMaster left Ireland, and on the 9th of August of the same year he came to Toronto. Since then the town of seven thousand people, with only two brick houses in it, has become the flourishing metropolis, with a population of over one hundred thousand, and the social and commercial centre of the leading province of a great dominion. In that time the young immigrant, with his capital of only brains, energy, and good habits, had become one of Canada’s most noted citizens, an object of emulation to all young men, and of gratitude to the many who have been benefited by his practical kindness. Landing in New York at the age of twenty-two, he was advised to proceed to Canada to enter into business with a son of the British consul, who had established himself in a trading business west of Toronto. Proceeding by the old-time flying express route along the canal, the young fortune-seeker found himself in Oswego, whence a trip across the lake in a steamer brought him to Toronto. Life in Canada West at that time was not altogether attractive to a young man conscious of his ability to fill a large sphere, and it did not take young McMaster long to decide that in Toronto, if anywhere in the province, he must look for success. He entered the service of Mr. Cathcart, who at that time kept a dry-goods establishment on King street, opposite the old Court-house, now York Chambers. Before two years had passed his assistant had grown so valuable to him, that Mr. Cathcart could not afford to run any risk of losing him, so offered him a partnership. This was accepted, and for ten years the firm went on prospering well. At the end of that time the senior partner retired, leaving the whole business in Mr. McMaster’s hands. The concern up to this time had been doing a wholesale and retail business, but shortly after assuming control, Mr. McMaster resolved to confine his attention solely to wholesale. New premises were opened on Yonge street, below King, and here the success which had attended the young merchant continued and increased. Subsequently a handsome building was erected, adjoining the Montreal Bank, on Yonge street. But other business connections which he had formed demanded his whole attention, and in 1865 he sold out his interest to his two nephews, who had been associated with him. These continued the business until the death of A. R. McMaster and the retirement of W. F. McMaster, when the firm was re-organised with the accession to its ranks of H. W. Darling, under the title of McMaster, Darling & Co. This was about eighteen months ago. The present firm occupy handsome warerooms on Front street near Yonge. The causes which contributed to the great success which Mr. McMaster met with in this business are those which characterize the career of almost every successful business man. Even during those times when there was the greatest temptation to “display” and to bid for a large business, Mr. McMaster steadily refused to allow his business to grow beyond the basis of his own capital. His caution in this respect enabled him to tide over the hard times of 1857 and other bad years, and even during the depth of the hard times to do a profitable trade. Rivals overtaken by the financial storm, with all canvas spread, were wrecked. Yet while pursuing this cautious policy he showed, by the way in which he enlarged his establishment, that there was nothing niggardly about his management. Whenever he deemed the circumstances favorable for the use of his capital he used it freely, and thus added yearly to the magnitude of his returns. He left commercial life in order that he might make the greater success of the financial operations in which he had become interested. He had been for some time director of the Montreal Bank and of the Ontario Bank, and now he purposed throwing himself, with all his customary energy, into the organization of a new concern. The charter was procured and the company organized on a sound basis, and Mr. McMaster was chosen the first president of the new Bank of Commerce, which was the title chosen. That was about twenty years ago, and the position of honor and trust which he then achieved he retained until about a year ago, when advancing years compelled him to relinquish the presidency and simply to give to the bank as a director the benefit of his immense business experience. He was succeeded in the presidency by Henry W. Darling above mentioned. During all the time of Mr. McMaster’s Canadian life, Toronto has been making, year by year, a strange history-record. Four years after Mr. McMaster’s arrival came the rebellion under William Lyon Mackenzie, which, with the tremendous agitation leading up to and following it, naturally interfered very much with the operations of peace-loving merchants. Immense political changes took place, changing the province from a mere crown colony, with practically no such thing as political freedom, to a self-governing country with representative institutions, and manhood suffrage in the near distance. The city itself had to expand north, east, west, and even south, for the Esplanade works redeemed in all a great tract of land from the bay, and made sites for some of the largest buildings in the city to-day. Railway communication, then unknown, had to be made to all parts of the province, and the city had to bear its share of the expense of the facilities thus afforded. Though never afraid to express his opinions in favor of a liberal policy, Mr. McMaster kept out of active political life long after his friends would have had him a representative of the people, had he agreed to put himself up for election. At length, however, the crisis came which brought him out. North York and South Simcoe were at that time united for the purpose of elections to the Legislative Council of the province. There was a vacancy in the constituency, and John D. Gamble became the Conservative candidate. He was a strong man, and although it was known that York would give a majority against him, it was fully believed that unless he was opposed by the very strongest man who could be put up against him, Tory South Simcoe would far more than neutralise this vote. In their dilemma the Liberals applied to Mr. McMaster to act as their standard-bearer. At first he strenuously opposed the idea, but seeing that it was to the interest of what he believed to be true that he should accede to their wishes, he finally did so. Though he prosecuted his canvass with his characteristic energy, the Liberal candidate set an example of moderation and forbearance in conducting the campaign utterly unknown in those days, and (more’s the pity) very little practised since. Though not pretending to any talent of oratory, Mr. McMaster conducted himself while on the platform with such transparent honesty that even the Tory stronghold was captured, and beside a majority of 1,100 in York, he came out with a majority of about 300 in Simcoe, giving him such a sweeping victory that even his friends were astonished and his opponents confounded. The elections for the Council then took place once every eight years, and Mr. McMaster would doubtless have stood for re-election, but that in the meantime confederation took place, and under the new order of things he was called upon to take his seat in the Senate. During the whole of his political life he gave close attention to the duties devolving upon him. He never sought to move the house by eloquence, but in committee, where measures are really elaborated, and where most of the work, except the talking, is done, he was found keenly alive to all that passed, and ever exerting an influence in favor of liberal and progressive measures. But however great his commercial success, Mr. McMaster’s name will be best remembered on account of the many generous acts which have been associated with it. For many years he has been the pillar and mainstay of the Baptist denomination in Toronto. His own congregation—that now worshipping in the beautiful building on the corner of Jarvis and Gerrard streets—owes much to his vigorous initiative and substantial pecuniary aid. Mr. McMaster and his present wife, contributed $50,000 toward the fund for building the church, and in addition to this, Mrs. McMaster paid for the organ, one of the finest instruments in the country; and about four years ago the worthy Senator surprised his co-trustees, at a meeting called for the purpose of considering the best means of providing for the church debt, by pulling out of his pocket a deed, showing that a few hours before the meeting he had discharged all the debt. The Baptist book-room and The Canadian Baptist were purchased mainly with his money, and put in such a form that the enterprises now practically belong to the denomination. To his munificence is due the successful condition of the Superannuated Ministers’ Society of the Baptist Church. Upper Canada Bible Society, a non-sectarian institution, owes much to him. To add to all these instances there could be brought forward a long list of public and private benefactions, but the whole of them are overshadowed by the magnificent gift which he has presented to his fellow-Christians in the Baptist College, now one of the chief ornaments of Toronto. During the last years of his life Mr. McMaster devoted much attention to the development of his plans for the advancement of education. When he founded Toronto Baptist College, at a cost of $100,000 paid to the Toronto University authorities for the ground, and $90,000 for furnishing the building, he only thought of putting up a structure at his own expense, and endowing the presidency, looking to the denomination to provide the means, through annual collections, for the support of two other chairs. But with the development of the college and its increasing prosperity from year to year, he saw the necessity of adding two more professors to the staff, and subsequently two additional professors, making a staff of six besides the president. Seeing that the denomination was sufficiently burdened with its large home and foreign work, he relieved it of all responsibility for the support of the entire staff, whose aggregate salaries amount to $14,500 annually; and by his will it is provided that McMaster University will ultimately receive, subject to the payment to the Home Missionary Society of $2,000, about $800,000, in addition to what the testator gave for the same object during his lifetime. At the beginning of the discussion of the university confederation question, on the recommendation of some of the educational leaders in the Baptist denomination, Mr. McMaster proposed to found an arts college in Toronto, in affiliation with Toronto University, on condition that the denomination would raise the amount of $88,000 for the more thorough endowment and equipment of Woodstock college, which was to continue as a preparatory school. Of this sum he himself proposed to contribute $32,000. After considerable effort had been made to secure the sum proposed, it was found that the denomination was not in hearty sympathy with the scheme, for very little of the necessary amount was ever subscribed. However, in the spring of 1886, at a time when, to all appearances, the confederation scheme had failed through the refusal of several of the more prominent colleges of Ontario to enter confederation, it was proposed to Mr. McMaster that he should transfer to Woodstock college the amount which he had intended for the establishment of an arts college in Toronto. After mature consideration he cheerfully acceded to the proposal, believing that the preservation and enlargement of Woodstock college, with its traditions and associations, were of more importance to the welfare of his people than the establishment of the arts college in Toronto. Within a few weeks of the announcement of Mr. McMaster’s donation, nearly $50,000 was secured by the Rev. Drs. Rand and MacVicar for new buildings and equipment at Woodstock, from members of the denomination. It was then felt by the leaders of the denomination that Woodstock had the prospect of sufficient funds in the near future to warrant the development of its curriculum into a full university course. Accordingly a committee was appointed to obtain the charter, which was granted by the Ontario Legislature at its session in 1887, and in accordance with a universal feeling amongst the Baptists of the country, the name of McMaster University was given to the new institution. This charter embraces both Woodstock and Toronto Baptist colleges. The Hon. Mr. McMaster during his lifetime held several important financial and other offices. As well as being a director of the Bank of Commerce, he was a member of the University Senate, president of the Freehold Permanent Building and Savings Society, vice-president of the Confederation Life Association, director of the Toronto General Trusts Company; of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway Company, etc. His whole estate is valued at $1,200,000. He had been twice married—first, in 1851, to Miss Henderson, of Hew York, who died in 1868; secondly, in 1871, to his present wife, Susan Molton, widow of James Fraser, of Newburgh-on-the-Hudson, N.Y. He had no children.
Rutherford, John, Justice of the Peace for the County of Grey, Owen Sound, Ontario, was born at Toronto, on the 9th February, 1839. His parents were Peter Rutherford and Martha Henderson, who died when he was a mere lad—the mother in 1844 and the father in 1846. The late James Lesslie, who then published the Toronto Examiner, adopted the orphan and educated him in the Toronto Academy. In this benevolent gentleman’s family he remained until 1851. During this year he was bound out as an apprentice to Christie & Corbet to learn the trade of iron moulder at Owen Sound, and at this trade he worked for six years. In 1857, business becoming very depressed throughout the country, especially that in iron, Mr. Rutherford was forced to look for some other means to earn a livelihood. Having fortunately learned during his boyhood, in the Examiner office, the art of setting type, he found temporary employment as a compositor on the old Comet newspaper; and some time afterwards got on the staff of The Times. A few years later on, he, in conjunction with David Creighton, now M.P.P. for North Grey, bought out this paper, which was conducted by them, under the firm name of Rutherford & Creighton, until 1868, when the partnership was dissolved and the plant divided, Mr. Creighton retaining The Times and Mr. Rutherford the job department. Since then his business has steadily grown, bookbinding has been added, and his office is now one of the institutions of the thriving town of Owen Sound. He was a member of the town council in 1875, ’76, ’77 and ’79; High School trustee in 1884, ’85, and ’86, and has been re-appointed to fill the office for another term. He was chosen by acclamation to fill the office of mayor for 1885 and 1886, and faithfully served the people during his term. In August, 1866, he joined the Masonic brotherhood, and is now a past master of St. George’s lodge. He is also second principal of Georgian Chapter, No. 56, R.A.M. He takes a deep interest in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is one of its past district deputy masters of the Georgian district. Mr. Rutherford is an adherent of the Methodist church; and in politics is a Liberal-Conservative. He has been twice married, and has had a family of ten children, nine sons and one daughter; two of his sons have died.