McIsaac, Colin F., Barrister, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, M.P.P. for Antigonish, was born at South River, Antigonish county, in 1856. He is of Scotch descent, his ancestors having come from Inverness-shire, Scotland, many years ago, and settled in Antigonish county. His brother, Angus McIsaac, now judge of the county court of Antigonish, sat in the House of Commons at Ottawa from 1873 to 1885. Colin F. McIsaac was educated at St. François Xavier College, in his native county. Having adopted law as a profession, he devoted some years to study, and on 12th January, 1880, was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia, since which time he has successfully practised his profession. In 1882 he was elected a governor of St. François Xavier College, and has occupied this position ever since. He entered political life in 1886, and at the general election held that year was elected by a handsome majority to represent Antigonish in the Nova Scotia legislature. In politics Mr. McIsaac is a Liberal; and in religion is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
Philp, Rev. John, M.A., Pastor St. James Street Methodist Church, Montreal, is a Canadian by birth, having been born in the town of Cobourg, in the province of Ontario. His father, the Rev. William Philp, a native of Cornwall, England, was for nearly forty years a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist church in Canada. His mother was a person of rare excellence of heart and life. Rev. Mr. Philp, the subject of our sketch, was educated at Victoria University, Cobourg, and graduated in the arts course in 1861, receiving the B.A. degree, and taking the Hodgins prize. Three years later the same university conferred upon him the M.A. degree. He entered the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist church in 1860, when in the twentieth year of his age, and while yet at college. In June, 1861, he received his first appointment. In June, 1865, he was married to Miss Maggie Grafton, of Dundas, Ontario, and has a family of four children, living, the eldest of whom will soon graduate in medicine in McGill University, Montreal. His stations in order have been Oakville, Dundas, St. Mary’s, Woodstock, Fairfield, Windsor, Paris, St. Mary’s, Queen’s Avenue Church, London; Wesley Church, Hamilton; Carlton Street Church, Toronto; St. James Street Church, Montreal, and few ministers in the denomination can show more work done in the Master’s vineyard during nearly twenty-eight years. Fairfield circuit, near Brantford, was his first superintendency, and here extensive revivals of religion took place. One of the finest country churches was erected on what is known as Fairfield Plain. At Windsor during his term, the small frame building in which the congregation had long worshipped was superseded by a new and attractive brick church. At Paris, the present beautiful sanctuary was built, and thus the interests of Methodism there greatly furthered. At St. Mary’s, a remarkable temperance movement took place, in which over two thousand signed the pledge. In this he took an active part. During his term in London, the Queen’s Avenue Methodist Church was modernised and beautified, at a cost of $14,000. And since he took charge of the St. James Street Church, Montreal, the congregation, by their spirit and liberality, have begun a signally important and greatly needed work—the erection of a representative church in a more central part of the city; which, when it is completed will be the most imposing and commodious religious edifice of Methodism in Canada. Mr. Philp has received many marks of esteem and confidence on the part of his brethren in the church. He has been the secretary of the London Conference; secretary of the Examining Board; delegate to the General Conference; Conference examiner for the Theological College, Montreal; preacher of one of the baccalaureate sermons for Victoria University, &c. Though greatly devoted to his ministerial duties, he has found time to go abroad a little, making a trip to Britain, and a tour through the Continent, sailing up the Rhine, lingering amid the glories of Alpine scenery, and viewing some of the principal cities of Europe. While in England, nothing affected the reverend gentleman more than a visit to the little Cornish town where his (now sainted) parents were born and spent their early days. From that unpretentious centre (Lostwithiel and its immediate vicinity) came eight young men who knew each other in their boyhood, and who entered the ministry of the Methodist church in Canada, doing blessed and effective service for Christ. Most of them have since passed to their reward. Rev. Mr. Philp is a firm believer in the great doctrines of truth as held by the Methodist church, not because they are the creed of the church, but because they are the vitalities of Christian life; preeminently, the divinity of the Son of God, the vicarious character and sufficiency of the atonement, free and full salvation alone through faith in Christ, regeneration, the witness of the Spirit, the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures. But, while strongly attached to the Methodist church, he would scorn all narrowness of thought and view, all servile devotion to mere dogma, all sectarian prejudice and caste, and would most fervently pray with the Apostle, “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” He believes that the pulpit should be progressive in its spirit and aim; abreast of the times in sanctified scholarship and power to teach, wisely conservative in its doctrinal tendency (by which he means not too eager to hail and foster new things), gospel in its character, never descending to the level of the mere lecture platform, or wasting its energy in mere speculative enquiry. Its one mission should be to preach Christ with all tenderness, simplicity, earnestness and directness as the sinner’s hope, the world’s saviour. The Montreal Daily Star, of the 24th October, 1887, thus kindly speaks of the Rev. Mr. Philp:—“He is a comparatively young man, although his ministerial work has been much greater and more varied than falls to the lot of men of his years. In the pulpit he presents the appearance of a man of great intellectual power, and his delivery bears out the impression, as his discourses are logical and keenly analytic. His elocution is easy, and increases in animation as he approaches the conclusion and application of his arguments. Mr. Philp is noted as a successful revivalist, and he has held in many places large meetings, and by his earnest, self-denying labors in every station in which he has labored caused large increases in the membership of his church. While especially active in forwarding the advance of the spiritual interests of his flock, Mr. Philp is not forgetful of the fact that the handmaids of religion, architecture, music, etc., have also their influence on the people. He has endeavored to promote their cultivation in available forms, and his efforts in the direction of improving the ecclesiastical structures over which he has had control, and the erection of others, have been peculiarly successful.”
Paton, Hugh, General Manager and Secretary of the Shedden Company, Montreal, was born at Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on the 5th October, 1852. His parents were William Paton and Mary Shedden, of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland. Mr. Paton received his education in the Grammar School of Paisley, Scotland. In 1871 he came out to Canada, to reside with his uncle, the late John Shedden, railway contractor, Toronto. He entered Mr. Shedden’s office in Toronto, and remained there until that gentleman’s untimely death in 1873, he having been killed by a train on the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, when celebrating the opening of that line, which he had built. Mr. Paton then removed to Montreal, where he has since resided, and became secretary-treasurer of the Shedden Company, general forwarders and carriers, and cartage agents for the Grand Trunk Railway, which succeeded to the business of the deceased Mr. Shedden. This position he occupied until 1879, when he became manager and secretary, and this office he still holds; and we say here that Mr. Paton is now the principal proprietor of this company. He was honorary secretary-treasurer of the Province of Quebec Turf Club for four years; and honorary secretary-treasurer of the Montreal Tandem Club for two years. From 1879 to 1886 he was honorary secretary-treasuror of the Montreal Hunt; and this year (1887) he was elected master of the fox hounds, and that position he now holds. He has always taken an interest in racing and in agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of a farm near the city of Montreal where he resides during the summer months, and where he indulges in his favorite pursuits. He has owned several “Queen’s platers” and “steeple-chasers.” Since Mr. Paton took charge of the Shedden Company he has considerably extended its ramifications over the Dominion of Canada and the Western States of America, carrying on the business of contractors, forwarders, and carriers, owning about eight hundred horses, and grain and general storage warehouses at several points. In 1879 he made an extended tour over the continent of America, visiting nearly all the western states, and among other places of note Salt Lake City, the Yosemite valley, and San Francisco. Since then he has twice travelled over the continent of Europe. Mr. Paton is a Liberal-Conservative in politics; and in religion is an adherent of the Presbyterian church. He was married in 1884 to Bella Robertson, daughter of Andrew Robertson, formerly merchant, Montreal, and now chairman of the Montreal Harbor Commission.
De Wolfe, Charles Edgar, Windsor, Barrister, Judge of Probate, and Revising Barrister for the county of Hants, Nova Scotia, was born in the town of Windsor, the shire town of the county of Hants, Nova Scotia, on the 22nd of July, 1845. His parents were James Lovitt De Wolfe, and Margaret A., daughter of the late Thomas Lovett, of Cornwallis, Kings county, Nova Scotia. Their children were Charles Edgar, Sarah Frances, widow of the Rev. H. P. Almon; Amelia Isabella; Benjamin Arthur, who died 17th February, 1845; James Lovitt, a doctor, residing in England; Benjamin Alfred, who died 17th August, 1851; Perez Morton, head of the well-known book firm of De Wolfe, Fiske & Co., Archway Book Store, 365 Washington street, Boston; Annie, wife of W. I. Fenwick, broker, Montreal, and Mary Agnes. J. L. De Wolfe was a lawyer, studied law in the office of the late Judge L. M. Wilkins; and subsequently, and for many years, Mr. De Wolfe was engaged in mercantile business in the town of Windsor, in the widely-known firm of B. De Wolfe & Son, in which he was junior partner. He died on 16th April, 1863, and his wife died on 23rd November, 1886. Benjamin De Wolfe, grandfather of C. E. De Wolfe, was the senior partner in the before-mentioned firm. He was member for Hants county in 1827-31. He married a Miss Lovitt, of the city of St. John, New Brunswick. They had four children, James Lovitt, Benjamin, lost at sea when acting as supercargo of a vessel; George, a medical student, also dead; and Sarah L., who now resides in Windsor. Benjamin De Wolfe, senior, died 9th December, 1863. Loran De Wolfe, the father of Benjamin, was born at Say Brook, Connecticut, 7th April, 1754. He resided in Windsor, or about three miles from it, the greater portion of his life. He married Mary Fox, of Cornwallis, Kings county. They had five children, viz., Benjamin, Phœbe M., George, Hannah, and Isaac. In 1791 Loran De Wolfe was assessor for the town of Windsor. The “Baptist Missionary Magazine” for April, 1835, in an obituary notice of him remarks: “As an instance of the public confidence in this worthy man, we may remark that he was elected in 1812 by acclamation, to represent the township of Windsor in the General Assembly. He retained his seat until ill health obliged him to retire from public life.” Nathan De Wolfe, father of Loran, and great-great-grandfather of C. E. De Wolfe, was born in Say Brook, Connecticut, in 1720, graduated A.M. in 1743, at Yale College, New Haven, and was engaged in the practice of law. He had previously “owned the covenant,” or joined the Congregational church, 7th June, 1741. He married, first, about 1748, Lydia Kirtland, daughter of John Kirtland. His second wife was Lydia Beldon, born at Say Brook, October 28th, 1721. Their children were Lucilla; Edward, born 1752; Loran, born 7th April, 1754; Elisha, born 5th May, 1756, and Nathan. Nathan, senr., came to Horton, Kings county, Nova Scotia, in 1760. He was a successful farmer. The Nova Scotian census returns of 1770 give a detailed account of his farm produce and stock. His residence was on the east side of the main post road, opposite to the present Baptist church, in Wolfville (1887). His legal practice did not interfere with his agricultural pursuits. He was for many years senior justice of the peace for Kings county. He was also registrar of probate, and took an active part in public affairs. He died at Horton on the 21st of March, 1789, aged sixty-nine years. Charles Edgar De Wolfe, the subject of our sketch, after receiving the usual course of education, entered upon the study of law in the office of the solicitor of the city of Portland, Maine, U.S., and continued his studies in the office of S. L. Morse, Q.C., Bridgetown, Annapolis county, Nova Scotia, and completed them in the office of the Hon. James Macdonald, Halifax, the present chief justice of Nova Scotia. He was admitted to the bar on the 19th of July, 1870. In 1880 he was appointed judge of probate for Hants county; and in 1886 was made revising barrister for the same county, under the Electoral Franchise Act, and both offices he still continues to hold. Previous to his becoming a law student, Mr. De Wolfe owned and edited a weekly newspaper in Bridgetown, and for five years he was proprietor and editor of the Windsor Mail, published at Windsor, N.S. He has taken a deep interest in the temperance movement, and on various occasions, and in different places in his native province, delivered strong addresses on its behalf. In politics he is a Liberal-Conservative, and has been an active party man in his county. On the 12th of October, 1887, he was married to Cassie H., daughter of Samuel Grey, of New Annan, Colchester county, N.S. Mrs. De Wolfe was, before her marriage, a captain in the Salvation Army, and a very zealous worker for God and humanity in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, but through ill health, had to retire from active service in the army. Mrs. De Wolfe has a sister in India, working there as a missionary, under the direction of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, of Nova Scotia.
Killam, Amasa Emerson, Moncton, Manager of the St. Martin’s and Upham Railway, M.P.P. for Westmoreland county, New Brunswick, was born on the 25th of August, 1834. His parents were born in New Brunswick, his father on the 26th of March, 1811, and his mother on the 10th of May, 1812. His paternal grandfather was an officer in the British army, and served during the American war of independence, and on the declaration of peace came to New Brunswick and settled at Sackville. His grandparents, on the mother’s side, were U. E. loyalists, and also became settlers in the Maritime provinces. Mr. Killam received his education at the common schools of his native place. He held the position of postmaster for a number of years, and is now manager of the St. Martin’s and Upham Railway, and in 1884 purchased the Elgin, Petitcodiac and Havelock railway, from Petitcodiac to Elgin, and in 1885 built the extension of the road to Havelock, and became managing director, and in 1886 took an interest in building the Central Railway, from Norton to Fredericton, and is managing director of the company: also managing director of the Buctouche and Moncton railway. He first entered the House of Assembly after the general election held in 1878, as representative of Westmoreland county. At the following general election he failed to be returned; but in September, 1883, on the resignation of P. A. Landry, who was elected to the House of Commons at Ottawa, Mr. Killam was chosen to fill the vacancy. At the general election held in 1886 he again came before his constituents, and was once more chosen their representative in the local house. In politics he is a Liberal-Conservative. On the 25th July, 1857, he was married, at Sackville, to Millicent Wheaton, and the fruit of the union has been seventeen children.