Fraser, Hon. Duncan C., B.A., Barrister, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, was born at New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, on the 1st of October, 1845. His parents were Alexander Fraser and Annie Chisholm. He received his primary education at the Normal School, and graduated B.A. at Dalhousie College in 1872. He also took a course of instruction in the Military School. He chose law as a profession, and has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative business. Mr. Fraser has taken an active interest in municipal affairs, and for some time was town clerk, and a school trustee. He was then elevated to the mayoralty of his native town, and occupied the office for two terms. In provincial politics, he has also participated, and during the administration of the Hon. P. C. Hill, which held the reigns of power from 1875 to 1878, he was a member of the Legislative Council, and held a position in the government without a portfolio, but he resigned his seat in the council and returned to private life. In politics he is a Liberal, and a pronounced free trader. He has been long connected with the temperance reform, and takes a deep interest in all societies having for their object the extermination of the traffic in intoxicating drinks. At present he is the chief of the Independent Order of Good Templars in Nova Scotia. He is connected with Masonic and Oddfellows orders; and has been a deputy-grand master of the Masonic body. Mr. Fraser is familiar with the Maritime provinces, and has twice taken a trip to the Pacific coast. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian church, and occupies the position of elder. On the 24th of October, 1878, he was married to Bessie G. Graham, daughter of William and Annie Graham, of New Glasgow.
Matheson, Colonel Roderick.—The Honorable Roderick Matheson, Senator, was born in the parish of Loch Carron, Ross-shire, Scotland, in December, 1793. He was descended from the last recognized Chief of Clan Mathan, Dugald Matheson, of Balmacara, Loch Alsh, Ross-shire, who joined Earl Seaforth in the Jacobite rebellion, and was killed in the action of Glen Shiel, Glenelg, on 10th June, 1719. Dugald Matheson left four sons. The three younger brothers went out to India, and did not return; the eldest, Roderick, remained at home and married Christina, daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie, with issue John, Dugald, and a daughter. John married Flora, daughter of Donald Macrae, of Strath Conan, who also fought in the Jacobite cause at Culloden, and was obliged to leave Scotland for some years after the rebellion. John Matheson had issue two sons, one of them the subject of our sketch, and three daughters. Col. Matheson’s father died while he was a boy, and while attending school at Inverness; he was brought out to Canada at the age of twelve, by his elder brother, and completed his education at a school in Lower Canada. When the war of 1812 broke out, a regiment was raised by the Imperial Government, called the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, and on the 6th Feb., 1812, Roderick Matheson was gazetted senior ensign, and in 1813, he was appointed lieutenant and paymaster. During the war he saw a great deal of active service, being present at the actions of York, Sackett’s Harbor, Cross Roads, Fort George, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie, and in nearly all the engagements on the Niagara frontier. He was twice wounded, once very severely at Sackett’s Harbor, where he was in command of his company. After the war, he was allowed a year’s leave on full pay on account of his wound, and in December, 1816, on the reduction of the army, he was retired on half-pay. In 1817, with a large number of his comrades in arms, he settled at the town of Perth, Ont., then founded, and continued to reside there up to the time of his death, on 13th January, 1873. During the rebellion of 1837, he volunteered with five hundred men for service in Lower Canada, and, as Colonel commanding the First Military District of Upper Canada, he took an active interest in the organization of many of the present volunteer companies in the Ottawa Valley from 1855 to 1863. In 1847, Col. Matheson was appointed a life member of the Legislative Council of Canada, and, on the confederation of the provinces in 1867, he was appointed a Senator of the Dominion. Previous to the appointment of county judges, he was also Chairman of the Quarter Sessions. He married first, Mary, daughter of Captain Robertson, of Inverness, Scotland, who died in 1825; second, in 1830, Anna, daughter of the Rev. James Russell, minister of Gairloch, Ross-shire, Scotland, by whom he had a large family. In politics Col. Matheson was a staunch Conservative.
Peters, Simon, J.P., Builder and Architect, Quebec, was born in Youghal, county Cork, Ireland, on the 18th September, 1815. His father, who died in 1837, had been color-sergeant in H. M. 1st Battalion 60th Regiment, and had seen active service in the memorable battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, and Pampalona. The family had come to Canada some years before the father’s death, and settled in Quebec. The subject of this sketch had but slight educational advantages, being entirely self-taught until over twenty years of age. He was apprenticed to the building trade at the age of sixteen, developing marked talent as a mechanic. In 1836 he left Quebec for New York, where he remained for four years. In 1838 he married Eliza Jane Lamoreux, daughter of the late Abraham Lamoreux, high constable of New York. In the same year he secured his first schooling in the form of a six months’ course of drawing lessons, during which he proved himself an apt and interested scholar. In 1840 he returned to Quebec, where winter was just setting in. Though possessed of little of this world’s goods, Mr. Peters was not dismayed, but by dint of natural ability and hard work, soon made a place for himself. In the winter of 1841-42 he finished his scholastic education with a season’s course in the night classes of the British-Canadian school, under the late Mr. Geggie. He also employed his evenings, for seven years, learning vocal music, and attained a good reputation as a tenor singer at St. Patrick’s Church, and also at concerts for charitable objects. He found good friends in the late Alexander Simpson, cashier of the Bank of Montreal, and Rev. Mr. McMahon. His worldly affairs prospering, he was able to take charge of his widowed mother, sister and four brothers. The brothers became in turn apprenticed to him at the building trade. In 1853 he built a steam sash, door, and blind factory, the first ever built in Quebec. This factory worked continuously until 1864, when it was destroyed, together with a large quantity of lumber. The proprietor’s loss was very heavy, as there was little insurance. Two years later he built the present works on the corner of Grant and Prince Edward streets, known as the St. Charles Steam Saw and Planing Mills, blind, door, sash, box, and car factory, a large and important industry. He constructed the joiner work of the first steamer Quebec, and the steamer Union, plying on the river St. Lawrence. Mr. Peters has reached the topmost round of success in his profession, having been engaged in the construction of a great variety of works, many of them most important. A mere catalogue of some of the chief ones will serve to indicate the wide range of contracts he has undertaken:—Upper Town market-house, gas works, St. Paul street market-house, Wesleyan church, St. Peter’s church, St. Sauveur church, Sisters of Charity church and buildings, Masonic hall, Lévis Episcopal church, music hall, jail and court house at St. Hyacinthe, and also at St. Thomas, Montmagny; Wellington barracks, at Halifax, Nova Scotia; hotel at Tadousac, and the Earl of Dufferin’s house, at the same place. He restored Quebec custom house after the fire; built the wharf and light-house at Point St. Laurent Island of Orleans; also the outer ballast wharf, and the Louise embankment connected with the same, at the mouth of the St. Charles river; the Allan wharf; also a large number of dwellings; notably, Hamwood, Cataraqui, Elmsgrove, Bandon Lodge, Bijou, Sans Bruit, and Sir George Stephens’ elegant house, at Grand Metis, lined and finished inside with British Columbia cedar, brought over by the Canadian Pacific Railway for the purpose. Of fourteen children born, four sons and four daughters remain, all the daughters and two of the sons being married. In religion, Mr. Peters is a Roman Catholic. He has been for years vice-president of the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway Company, as well as a member of the council of the Quebec Board of Trade. He has been a member of St. Patrick’s Society for over twenty-five years, and was its president for the year 1878-1879. He has won his success not by adventitious aids, but is emphatically a self-made man, an honor to Canada, and to the race from which he sprung.
Lawson, John A., Manager Post Office Money Order Department, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was born July 23rd, 1842, at Covehead, in that province, and belongs to one of its oldest families. His great-great-grandfather, David Lawson, settled there, coming from Scotland about 1770, his business being the management of the Montgomery estate. David left two sons, and from these spring the Lawsons of Prince Edward Island. The subject of this sketch is the son of William David Lawson, and who lived on the original homestead of the family, where also our subject was born. William David married Isabella, daughter of John Auld, of Covehead, also of Scotch extraction, and the issue of this union was six boys and three girls. Four of the former are now living, the eldest being Rev. S. G. Lawson, a minister of the Presbyterian church and also well known in newspaper circles; Charles Lawson, a merchant of Charlottetown; James D. Lawson, in the civil service, and our subject. John A. received a good English education in the Common and Normal schools of his native province, and upon reaching the age of twenty-one years commenced the arduous life of a teacher, which profession he followed till about twenty-four years of age. The next five years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Mountstewart, relinquishing them only to accept the position which he still holds under the Dominion Government, and which he has filled for fifteen years. In 1864 Mr. Lawson joined the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has always been an energetic and consistent member of that organization. He has held the highest positions in the gift of that body, being Grand Secretary from 1872 to 1884 inclusive. In 1885 he was elected Grand Chief Templar and re-elected to that position in 1886. He is a member of the Masonic craft, being initiated in Victoria Lodge, Charlottetown, in 1876, and for six or seven successive years being its secretary. Politically, Mr. Lawson is a Prohibitionist, although originally belonging to the Conservative party. In religious matters Mr. Lawson has for many years taken an active interest, being identified with the church of his fathers, viz., the Presbyterian, and is an elder in the church he attends. Our subject married in 1865 Sophia, daughter of Charles Coffin, of Savage Harbour, of United Empire Loyalist stock, the family settling in Prince Edward Island about 1780. His family consists of nine children, two boys and seven girls, none of whom have yet arrived at man’s or woman’s estate. Mr. Lawson is a man of kindly disposition, quiet habits, and generous hospitality, consequently he is a general favourite with all who know him.
Tyrwhitt, Lieut.-Col. Richard, Bradford, Ontario, M.P. for South Simcoe, was born in Simcoe county, Ontario, on the 29th of November, 1844. He is of an old English family, his grandfather, whose name he bears, last of Nantyr Hall, Denbighshire, barrister of the Inner Temple, and recorder of Chester. The subject of this sketch was educated at home, under private tutors, until well advanced in the rudimentary branches, and at Barrie Grammar School. He was sent to France to complete his education in the best college there. He spent some years as a collegian at Dinan and Rouen, returning to Canada at the age of eighteen. He engaged in farming, and having the advantage of health, education, and capital, besides an enthusiastic liking for the profession, he has been successful. At the age of twenty-six Mr. Tyrwhitt married Emma Whitaker, second daughter of the former provost of Trinity College. At an early age Mr. Tyrwhitt took an interest in military affairs, and joined the Simcoe (35th) Battalion. In 1864 he took a first-class certificate at the military school, Toronto; in January, 1865, attended the cadet camp at Laprairie, and in 1866 served on the Niagara frontier, during the Fenian raid, as lieutenant. He also took a first-class certificate at the cavalry school, under Colonel Jenyns, in 1870. He soon attained the rank of major, with the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel; is now lieutenant-colonel of the 36th Peel battalion, and commanded the Wimbledon team in 1886. On the death of W. C. Little, who had represented South Simcoe for years, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt was nominated by the Liberal-Conservatives as a candidate for the House of Commons, and was returned by a majority of 900. The Redistribution Act of 1882 so changed the boundaries of South Simcoe that, instead of being, as it had formerly been, a Conservative stronghold, it became a most evenly balanced constituency. Nevertheless, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt’s personal popularity, and his clean record, won for him a second time the confidence of the electors. In parliament he proved himself a most painstaking and conscientious representative. When the second North-West rebellion broke out, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt was among the first to offer his services to the government to assist in suppressing the outbreak. Though doubtless, had he so desired, he might have been named to the command of a battalion, he proved that his sole desire was to serve his country and not to gain applause, by acting as second in command of the York-Simcoe battalion, of which his parliamentary colleague, Lieutenant-Colonel O’Brien, was in command. His soldier-like conduct during the campaign won for Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt the praise of his superiors in rank, and the enthusiastic regard of his men. In the general election of 1887, so great was the popularity of Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt that not only was he nominated to contest his own riding of South Simcoe, but he was deemed the strongest man to contest North York against Mr. Mulock, one of the ablest and most popular men on the Liberal side. Though he was unsuccessful in North York, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt carried his own riding by a majority of 1050. There is no man in the House of Commons who is regarded by both friends and foes as more fair-minded, independent and patriotic than Mr. Tyrwhitt. Though a strong partisan, all believe that his course is dictated by conscientious conviction, and an earnest desire to serve the best interests of the country.