Campbell, Hon. William, Farmer and Millowner, Park Corner, Prince Edward Island, was born at Park Corner on 12th January, 1836. He is the eighth son of the late James Campbell, of Park Corner, New London, P.E.I. His mother, Elizabeth Montgomery, of Princetown, was a sister of the Hon. Senator Montgomery. Hon. Mr. Campbell is descended from the Breadalbane Campbells on the paternal side, and from the Camerons of Lochiel on the maternal side. His grandfather came to Prince Edward Island in 1773, from Breadalbane, in Perthshire, Scotland, with Governor Paterson, a military officer. Mr. Campbell received his education in his native parish. He has taken a very active interest in military affairs, and has held the commissions of captain, major, and is now lieutenant-colonel of Queen’s county militia. On entering political life, he was elected to the House of Assembly for Queen’s First Division in 1873, on the resignation of the sitting member; and three years later, he was re-elected as a supporter of free schools. In 1879, he was sworn in a member of the Executive Council, and became a member of the Sullivan cabinet, without a portfolio. In March following, he was appointed minister of public works, and on appealing to his constituents was elected by acclamation. He was also commissioner of the government stock farm. Again, at the general election held in 1882, he was returned, and continued a member of the government, as minister of public works, until 1st February, 1887, when he resigned this office to run as a candidate for the House of Commons at Ottawa for Queen’s county, but failed to secure his election. While in parliament he took an active part in the discussion of the leading questions of the times—notably the land question, free schools, reduction of the provincial expenditure, etc. Hon. Mr. Campbell, in religion, belongs to the Presbyterian church, and to the Conservative party in politics. He was married first, in 1864, to Elizabeth McLeod, of New London, and second, in February, 1873, to Elizabeth L. Sutherland, daughter of the late John S. Sutherland, of Caithness-shire, Scotland.
Bowser, Rev. Alexander Thomas, B.D., Pastor of First Unitarian Church, Toronto, was born in Sackville, New Brunswick, February 20, 1848. His parents, Robert and Jane (Kirk) Bowser were respectively of English and Scotch descent. Alexander was the sixth child of a family of twelve (six boys and six girls). In 1864 he left home to enter a store in the town of Moncton, as clerk; but wishing for the greater advantages of life in a large city, he soon afterwards went to Boston, Massachusetts, where, in connection with business, he was able to pursue the course of study at the Latin High School; and in 1873 was matriculated as Freshman at Harvard College, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in regular course, in 1877; and three years later (1880), on graduating from the Divinity School, he received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. Mr. Bowser’s first year in the ministry was devoted to mission work in St. Louis, Missouri. Here, on 2nd May, 1881, he was ordained to the Christian ministry in the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian), the venerable Chancellor of Washington University, Rev. W. G. Eliot, D.D., giving the charge to the young preacher and offering the prayer of ordination, and the Rev. John Snyder, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, giving him the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Bowser now spent two years in Evansville, Indiana, as the representative of the American Unitarian Association; but his influence soon extended beyond his denominational work into public affairs, many of his Sunday evening lectures being printed in full in the daily papers. The general character of these lectures may be inferred from a few of the subjects treated, such as “The need of Conscience in Public Affairs,” “Coffee Houses versus Liquor Saloons,” “Why the Chinese should not be excluded from the United States.” Having presented the Evansville Public Library with a number of Unitarian publications, the trustees were so well pleased with the books that they requested him to prepare a list of such works as he would wish them to purchase for the library, and the result was that nearly 300 volumes of the latest religious and scientific thought were placed upon their shelves. In January, 1884, Mr. Bowser was called to the pastorate of the Third Congregational (Unitarian) Church of Hingham, Massachusetts, one of the oldest and most influential Societies in New England, numbering among its members General Lincoln, who was secretary of war under Washington; John Albion Andrew, who was Governor of Massachusetts during the civil war, and ex-Governor John D. Long, who is now (1888) member of Congress for that district. This important position Mr. Bowser held for three years, winning the respect and love not only of his own parish, but of the community at large; but on receiving an invitation from the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, he felt that it was a call from heaven to carry the beautiful and soul-inspiring truths of Unitarian Christianity to his own people of Canada, where these principles are not so well known as in Massachusetts. Accordingly, he resigned, and on the last Sunday in January, 1887, took charge of the church in Toronto. Mr. Bowser was brought up in the Methodist church, and first became interested in Unitarianism while pursuing his studies preparatory to entering Harvard College. He was at the time an earnest worker in one of the Methodist churches in Boston, when suddenly a charge of Unitarian heresy was brought against him, though he had no idea himself, at the time, that he was in sympathy with their peculiar views of religion. This, however, awakened his interest, and he began to inquire about the principles of this body, and was told by one of their ministers to read the New Testament and see for himself what Jesus and the Apostles taught, and he would find the Unitarian doctrine. This he did with earnest care for several years, and having failed to find a single passage in which it is distinctly stated that Jesus was God, or the Second Person in the Trinity, but on the other hand, finding the essential principles of Unitarianism stated in the most explicit language everywhere throughout the Bible, he became a Unitarian, and claims that he is one simply and only because it is the religion of Jesus Christ and the early Christians. Mr. Bowser regards his residence in St. Louis as one of the most important periods of his life, as it was there that he first met Miss Adelaide Prescott Reed, to whom he was united in marriage in April, 1884. Mr. Bowser is a member of the Masonic fraternity, was Chaplain of the Old Colony Lodge of Hingham, and is now (1888) Chaplain of St. Andrew’s Lodge of Toronto.
Black, Charles Allan, M.D., Amherst, Nova Scotia, was born August 23rd, 1844, at Salem, Cumberland county, N.S. The family is Scotch originally, the founder in this country being William Black, who came from Huddersfield, England, to Nova Scotia in 1774. Our subject’s father was Hazen Black, son of Thomas, who was grandson of William above-mentioned. The pioneer, William Black, was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1727, whence he migrated to England and thence to Nova Scotia. Upon landing in Halifax with his wife and five children he travelled inland about one hundred and thirty miles, and settled on a large fertile farming area near enough to Fort Cumberland to hear the cannonading. This fort was one of the last military strongholds relinquished by the French when Nova Scotia was ceded to the British. The farm he selected is situated within one mile of the now large town of Amherst, and is still occupied by some of his descendants. Hazen Black, father of our subject, married Martha Ann, second daughter of John Bent, Salem, in the above-named county, who was a farmer of some note. They had five children, two sons and three daughters, whose names were as follow: Charles Allan, John Botsford, Augusta, Laura, and Ada. All are living except Laura, who died in her 13th year. Charles Allan, the eldest and the subject of this sketch, was educated at the grammar school of Amherst, finishing his studies at Sackville (N.B.) Academy, now Mount Allison University. After leaving college he decided in favour of the profession of a druggist and entered as a student under Dr. Nathan Tupper (brother of Sir Charles Tupper), in Amherst, N.S., where he remained throe years, when he decided to study for the medical profession. He graduated from the Pennsylvania University, Philadelphia, in March, 1867, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, being then in his 23rd year. He commenced practice at Sackville, N.B., but soon removed to Amherst, N.S., where he had spent his early school days and student life. Here he has continued to enjoy a successful practice for over twenty years. He was appointed a coroner for the county of Cumberland in 1881. He became a member of the Orange society in 1863, and continued a member in good standing while the society existed. He is an active member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and has great love and attachment for that Order. He joined it in 1865, and has continued a member ever since; held all the offices in the subordinate lodge. Is a past grand counsellor and past grand treasurer in the grand lodge for Nova Scotia; held the latter office for four successive years. He was present at the grand lodge session at Liverpool, N.S., when this Order split on the Negro question in 1876. Although the grand lodge carried the resolution to secede by a large majority he was one of the small minority of seven who decided to remain loyal to the original right worthy grand lodge. Ten years after this, when the bodies became again re-united he was present at the marriage. Prior to 1886 he had always been in close sympathy with the Liberal-Conservative party, but at that time he espoused the “Third Party” movement and is an uncompromising supporter of it, believing that the prohibition of the liquor traffic in Canada can only be obtained through the medium of a distinct political party. When that party was organized in Cumberland county, in January, 1887, he was appointed on the executive committee, his colleagues being such well known workers as C. R. Casey, E. B. Elderkin, J. W. Hickman, J. A. Simpson, Rufus Hicks, Revds. Joseph Coffin, J. B. Giles, and others. In the Dominion elections held in February of that year, J. T. Bulmer, of Halifax, was the candidate of the new party. After a very heated contest, Sir Charles Tupper, finance minister, being the Conservative candidate, and Hon. W. T. Pipes, ex-Premier of Nova Scotia, the Liberal, Mr. Bulmer polled 206 votes. These were recorded for a “principle.” This was the first instance in Canada where a pure and simple prohibition candidate was placed in the field for federal parliamentary honours, but it did not remain so long. The election alluded to having been set aside by the courts, Mr. Bulmer again contested the constituency in the interest of the new party. Sir Charles Tupper was his only opponent this time, November, 1887, the Liberal party not putting a candidate forward. Dr. Black and others took the field and the result was that the 206 votes of February became 1,026 in November. Dr. Black is a member of the Methodist church, and has always been an attendant upon its ministry, though it was not until 1884 he identified himself as a member of that body. He married in January, 1871, Sarah E., second daughter of the Rev. George F. Miles, then pastor of the Baptist church, Amherst, by whom he had one daughter. Two months after their baby was born his wife contracted inflammation of the lungs, which developing into consumption, caused her death in May, 1873. His little daughter followed her mother when about five years old, being ill only two days. On the 14th of September, 1881, he married Elizabeth B., eldest daughter of Capt. John K. Elderkin, ex-custos of the Court of Sessions for Cumberland county, N.S. By this marriage he has issue one son, Vaughan Elderkin Black, born September 28th, 1884. Dr. Black, besides practising his profession, has indulged in outside speculations with varying success. In 1877, by the death of a professional brother, a valuable drug stand was put in the market. This he bought and fitted up with all modern improvements putting a competent man in charge. Dr. Black has given his profession that close and careful attention which is always necessary to become a successful practitioner, and success has abundantly crowned his endeavours. In his early days he made himself acquainted with the facts as to how far alcohol or any of its compounds were medicinal or required in the treatment of human ailments. From study, experience, and observation, he was forced to the conclusions that much of the previous medical teachings as to the therapeutical powers of this drug were fallacious, that medical virtues were ascribed to alcohol which it did not possess, and that in a very large percentage of diseases it lessened the vital energies instead of giving tone and strength as was taught in earlier days. Being independent in character, and determined to act upon principle, in contradistinction to policy, he frequently met with difficulty upon this point with his medical confrères in consultation, etc. Not only had he opposition from his professional brethren, but the effect of this pernicious teaching among the masses was so deep-rooted that no household in the early days of his practice was thought complete without a little gin or whiskey “the panacea for every ailment that the flesh was heir to.” Opinions have changed since those days and are still rapidly changing, and the drug, alcohol, is now prescribed more in accordance with scientific teaching. Personally Dr. Black is a genial companion, a faithful friend and self-sacrificing to a degree. It goes without saying that he is beloved even by those who do not agree with all his opinions, and by those who do he has their confidence and love to an unlimited extent.
Richard, Rev. Canon Louis, A.M., Prefect of Studies, College of Three Rivers, Three Rivers, province of Quebec, was born on the 30th November, 1838, in the parish of St. Grégoire-le-Grand, county of Nicolet, province of Quebec. His father, Jean Noel Richard, a farmer, was one of the descendants of the unhappy Acadians exiled from their country by the British, and whose sufferings have been so eloquently depicted by Longfellow in his masterpiece, “Evangeline.” After the fall of Beauséjour, in the eastern part of what is to-day New Brunswick, the inhabitants left the smoking ruins of their humble homes, and took the road to exile, with whatever chattels they were able to save from the rapacity of the victors, rather than swear allegiance to the new masters. A portion of the Acadians were sent to Louisiana, to Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, and the remainder, among whom were his ancestors, emigrated to the province of Quebec. Jean Noel Richard settled in the district of Three Rivers, and eventually married Marie Madelaine Massé, a descendant of a French family which had settled in the same district at the outset of the colony. The subject of our sketch began a classical course of studies under the guidance of Moise Laplante—a man remarkable for his learning and ability as a teacher—and completed his course in 1859, at the seminary of Nicolet. Being instinctively drawn towards ecclesiastical life, and feeling convinced his vocation was in that direction, he studied theology in the same seminary until 1860, when the College of Three Rivers was founded. The attention of the Bishop of Three Rivers, Monseigneur Cooke, having been called to the young divinity student, he appointed him a professor in the new institution of learning, and henceforth his life was devoted to the noble work of education, and his influence and energy were exerted on behalf of the new College, in the golden book of which establishment his name will be engraved. On the 25th of September, 1864, he was ordained priest, and successively discharged the duties of the following offices to the entire satisfaction of all concerned:—Director in 1865; purveyor in 1867, and prefect of studies at the same time; pro-superior from 1870 to 1880; from 1880 to 1886 we find him occupying the responsible position of superior; at the present time (1887) he is prefect of studies. His aim has ever been to place the college over which he presided during so many years in the very front rank of the institutions of learning in the country. On the 25th June, 1883, the authorities of Laval University of Quebec, wishing to reward the devotion displayed by the Rev. Mr. Richard, and the services he had rendered as a teacher to the cause of education in Canada, granted him the degree of A.M. His ordinary, Right Rev. Bishop Laflèche, in recognition of his social qualities, honored him, on the 11th of September, 1884, with the title of canon to the chapter of the Cathedral of Three Rivers. In June, 1885, Rev. Father Richard conceived the idea of calling together all the old pupils of the College of Three Rivers, in order to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the institution. He met with a hearty response, and the result was a brilliant gathering of men who had achieved success in the different walks of life they had chosen. On that occasion Father Richard published a very interesting book of 530 pages, entitled “Histoire du Collége des Trois Rivières,” a work which should be in the hands of all those who take an interest in the dissemination of good books. In common with the clergy of the diocese of Three Rivers, Rev. Mr. Richard is an ardent and devout believer in the integrity of the dogmas and fundamental principles of the Roman Catholic church, believing that mankind can and shall be saved only by coming into the church established by Jesus Christ himself, i.e., the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman church, represented on earth by his Holiness the Pope, and out of which there is no possible salvation, no possible future state of bliss, either for individuals or for society.
Tourangeau, Adolphe G., Postmaster, Ex-Mayor, and Ex-M.P. for Quebec, was born in Quebec city on the 15th January, 1831. He is the son of the late Jean G. Tourangeau, J.P., of Quebec, notary public, who for many years was elected alderman for Quebec, and grandson of Jean Tourangeau, merchant, who left considerable property, still in the possession of his descendants. One of these properties was purchased from the Dumont family, and upon it there stood the historical Dumont’s mill at the very place where is now the splendid monument erected to the memory of the English and French heroes who fell at the celebrated battle of St. Foye, 1760. Mr. Tourangeau’s great grandfather emigrated from La Touraine, France, to settle in Canada, after serving in the French navy. His grandmother, on his father’s side, was a woman of superior intellect, whose father, Bidégaré, had emigrated from Bayonne, France, and having some means, built and opened a fancy leather factory (mégisserie) near the place where Arogo street runs into St. Vallier street, Quebec. The building being protected by the high cliff close behind, a body of American troops took possession of it during the war of 1775, and established their quarters there; but the constant firing and shelling from the Palais batteries destroyed the building, and with it the fortune of its proprietor. This attempt to manufacture leather may be considered as the first serious one of the kind in Canada. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Quebec seminary and Quebec High School, studied law under the Hon. Louis Panet, and followed the law course of Laval University from its opening to the time he was admitted to the practice of the notarial profession, in 1855; was at different times elected a member of the Board of Notaries for the province of Quebec, and appointed notary for the corporation of Quebec by the vote of the council. He executed the deed of transfer of the North Shore railway, also the waterworks contract. He held this position until he resigned, in 1883, to accept the postmastership of Quebec, offered to him by the Dominion government. He is lieutenant-colonel of militia for the electoral division of Quebec East, and a justice of the peace. Mr. Tourangeau was elected mayor of the city of Quebec four times; first by a very large majority of the council, and three times afterwards by the people, twice unanimously, and the fourth time, in 1869, by a very large majority. He was twice elected to represent Quebec East in the House of Commons; first in 1870, after a spirited contest, and by acclamation at the general elections of 1872. He was defeated by a small majority in 1864, when he was put in nomination, against his will, to represent the Stadacona Division in the Legislative Council. He had been defeated by a small majority in 1863, when put in nomination for the county of Montmorency against the late Hon. Joseph Cauchon. He allowed himself to be nominated for Quebec East in 1877 against the present leader of the opposition at Ottawa, Hon. Wilfrid Laurier, then a minister in the Mackenzie government, and was defeated by a small majority, after the severest contest possible, wherein both political parties took a very active part, it being considered as a test case between the two political parties. He was a member of the Quebec Harbor Commission, and, as such, did a great deal to improve the harbor, and later, when in parliament, successfully recommended to the government, in a strong business speech, the necessity of consolidating the debt and securing the bonds, in order to raise more capital to proceed with the works, without adding much to the interest that had then to be paid. He was a director of the North Shore railway, and one of the few who attended the first meeting held to revive the charter of that company; was a director of the Gosford (afterwards the Lake St. John) railway; was a provisional director of the Stadacona Bank, whose charter he had secured through parliament. It was while Mr. Tourangeau was mayor, and with his assistance, that the present steam ferry between Quebec and Levis was established, by means of a contract, drafted by himself. During his regime the street railway was first operated in Quebec, the contract being drafted by himself, and the fire alarm telegraph was decided upon after an inspection of the same in Montreal. All the acts concerning the incorporation of the city of Quebec were consolidated and amended, the city debt was consolidated, the fiscal year was made to agree with house rents, and the finances of the city were placed on a sound basis. Other important reforms were effected. Besides practising as a notary, Mr. Tourangeau did business as a broker and insurance agent for some years till he went back to politics, and having the advantage of being favorably known, and of knowing personally the character and standing of mostly every one in Quebec, met with great success. In 1865 and 1866 Mr. Tourangeau went into the brewing business, under the name and firm of Tourangeau, Lloyd & Co., but afterwards withdrew, owing to the sharp competition, which brought ruin on those who persisted in it. Mr. Tourangeau was married in 1861 to Victoria A. Jourdain, daughter of Augustus Jourdain, who died in Quebec in 1840, after being for many years the librarian of the then Executive Council of Lower Canada. Mr. Tourangeau is a man with broad views, who always enjoyed the respect and esteem of all classes, irrespective of creed or nationality. In politics he gave his support to the Liberal party, either as a candidate or in favor of Liberal candidates, until his fourth election as mayor, in 1869, when several of the Liberal leaders went with the Conservatives against him, and from that date Mr. Tourangeau withdrew his confidence in the Liberal party, and gave it to the Conservatives, but in an independent way, voting against them when not in sympathy with his principles. He was in favor of confederation at the time, and voted for the admission of Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and the North-West Territories into the Union. A great event in the life of Mr. Tourangeau and the history of Quebec was the besieging of the city hall while he was mayor. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to substitute commissioners appointed by the government for the mayor and council, elected by the people; but at the session of 1869 to 1870 the adversaries of Mr. Tourangeau managed to get a majority of Parliament to decide, notwithstanding the energetic protests of the citizens of Quebec, that a new election must take place. The mayor and councillors, who a few days before had been elected by the people, to be subject to a new election, and the mayor to be elected by the councillors, who would be the outcome of this new election. Acting upon the advice of the city attorney, L. G. Baillairgé, Q.C., the Hon. G. O’Kill Stuart, Q.C., and other prominent lawyers, Mr. Tourangeau kept possession of the city hall, and allowed no one in, in order to prevent the new councillors from entering the place and electing another mayor. An informal election, however, took place outside, and for some time the city had two mayors. A writ against Mr. Tourangeau did not succeed, and he declared that he would rather be starved to death than give up his rights. Thereupon the chief of police was ordered to break in the doors and take possession of the city hall in the name of the new mayor and councillors. The chief of police declared that he was legally advised not to do this, but that he would obey if this order was given him in writing. No one consenting to do this, twelve men belonging to the rowdy element, were hired for the purpose, and did the work, to the great disgust of the citizens, who had full confidence in Mr. Tourangeau, whom they elected five weeks after to represent them in the House of Commons.