Botsford, Hon. Bliss, Moncton, N.B., was born on the 26th November, 1813, at Sackville, N.B. The Botsford family have taken a prominent part in New Brunswick and Canadian history. He is the seventh son of the late Hon. William Botsford, who was speaker of the New Brunswick Assembly, and one of the judges of the supreme court of the province. His grandfather, Amos Botsford, was a United Empire loyalist, from Newton, Conn., and was the first speaker of the New Brunswick Assembly after it became a separate province, and held that office for twenty-eight years. Hon. Lieut.-Col. Amos E. Botsford, senator from New Brunswick, is an elder brother of the subject of this sketch. Hon. Bliss Botsford was educated at King’s College, Fredericton; studied law with the late William End, of Bathurst; was admitted as an attorney in 1836; called to the bar of New Brunswick in 1838; and practised his profession at Moncton from 1836 to 1870. During those thirty-four years he had a fair share of criminal as well as an extensive civil practice, and gained well-merited distinction at the bar of his native province. He was brought into special prominence by the celebrated Albertite suit, in which he was the defendant’s attorney, and won the case. While at the bar, his vigorous, earnest, and persuasive style of delivery always made a favorable impression on a jury, being, like most of the members of his family, of commanding presence, with a personal magnetism that was often irresistible. He sat for Westmoreland in the New Brunswick Assembly, from 1851 to 1854, from 1857 to 1861, and from 1865 to October 24th, 1870, when he was elevated to the bench. As a judge, he is held in high esteem by the profession, being very painstaking, carefully weighing in his mind all cases presented for his consideration, and is logical and concise in his charges to the jury. He is not over-exacting in his requirements of younger members of the profession, generally allowing them considerable latitude and freedom; but when called upon to decide any point of a relevant or irrelevant character, he is prompt and firm in his decision. He was appointed surveyor-general in 1865, and was a member of the executive council during the administration of the late Hon. Sir Albert Smith, and speaker from 1867 until the general election in 1870, his politics being Conservative. Judge Botsford was married in 1842, at Moncton, to Jane, daughter of John Chapman, from Cumberland, England, and has had five children, three daughters and one son living, all married, and another son who died. Sarah L., the eldest daughter, is the wife of William J. Croasdale, civil engineer, Moncton; Eliza is the wife of George C. Peters, son of Dr. George Peters, deceased, St. John; Robert L. married Emily C., eldest daughter of Lewis Carroll, and is a physician and surgeon, practising at Richibucto, N.B.; and Florence is the relict of the late Thomas Byers, Moncton.
Bain, James William, St. Polycarpe, Quebec, M.P. for Soulanges, was born at St. Polycarpe, Quebec, on the 22nd June, 1838. Mr. Bain is one of that very large class of French Canadians who, though thoroughly identified with their fellow-countrymen, are partly of Scottish blood. The father of the subject of this sketch was Daniel Bain, from Caithness-shire, a thorough Scot, having all the best characteristics of his race. The mother was Adelaide Lantier, a descendant of an old French Canadian family, sister of the late J. P. Lantier, M.P. for Soulanges. The son has the Scottish cast of countenance, and might readily be mistaken for a native of the “land of the mountain and the flood.” He was educated in his native town, where he has ever since resided. On arriving at man’s estate, he entered business with his father, who carried on a large trade as a merchant in Polycarpe. Though taking an active and prominent part in public affairs in his own district from an early age, he has continued to devote his attention to his business, extending it in every way, until it has brought him a large amount of worldly prosperity. Mr. Bain first devoted attention to school affairs, and when elected to the school board was soon made president of that body, a position which he has retained for ten years. At the death of J. P. Lantier, in 1882, the Conservatives of the county chose Mr. Bain as their candidate in the election which was to follow. The contest was a keen one, and resulted in the election of his opponent, G. R. S. De Beaujeau, by a majority of two votes. Mr. Bain protested the election, and an appeal being made to the Supreme Court, Mr. Beaujeau was unseated. A new election followed in February, 1885, and Mr. Bain was returned by a majority of twenty-six votes, and took his seat in the House of Commons at Ottawa. The lot of the French Conservative member of parliament was not altogether a happy one during the contest in 1887, owing to the prejudice stirred up in relation to the unfortunate Riel affair; but Mr. Bain did not shrink from the contest, and again accepted the nomination of his party. The struggle was one of the keenest ever known in the district; but the people had faith in their old representative, and so he still sits in the house as the representative for Soulanges. Though differing from the younger school of French Canadian politicians, in that he lays little claim to being an orator, and makes no effort to shine in the theatrical way so many of them affect, Mr. Bain performs the duties of a representative of the people faithfully and well. He is strictly regular in his attendance, and brings to bear upon the legislation of the house practical experience in business affairs, and good common sense. In 1877 Mr. Bain married Georgiana, daughter of the late J. O. Lantier, well known in Montreal for many years as a prominent merchant.
Chisholm, Mrs. Addie, Ottawa, President of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Ontario, is a native Canadian, having been born in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. Her early life was spent there, excepting a few years devoted to study in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, New York, where she was distinguished for diligence, aptitude, and general proficiency. Both before and after her marriage she was known as an enthusiastic worker in every religious and charitable movement, and many benevolent institutions had the advantage of her wise counsel, gentle sympathy and bright encouragement. As an infant class teacher in one of the Methodist Sunday schools of Hamilton, she was remarkably successful in developing on right lines the tender minds that were entrusted to her care, and here she passed through just the training to fit her for the broader sphere of usefulness that was waiting her riper talents and attainments. Sympathizing very deeply with the temperance reformation, she could not but be drawn strongly towards the crusade work which was so successful in the United States some years ago, and when that great uprising of loving, ill-treated womanhood, was crystalized into the effective and permanent form—the Women’s Christian Temperance Union organization, Mrs. Chisholm at once came to the front as one of its enthusiastic supporters, warmest advocates, and most efficient directors. Mrs. Yeomans was the first president of the Ontario Union, and was succeeded by Mrs. Chisholm, several years ago, and has held the position up till to-day, being annually reinstated by the unanimous vote of her appreciative sisters. Her success in this sphere of responsibility must be judged by the facts already so well known in regard to the results attained by this great organization—results that were only possible through the united, prayerful, determined work of many loving hearts and heads, as well as a skilful leadership possessed of the faculty to govern, and guided and blessed by the wisdom and strength without which all labor is in vain. Not merely in the many organizations with which she has been connected, chief among which, of course, is the Union, has Mrs. Chisholm shown her genius and skill. For near four years she has been publisher and editor of the Woman’s Journal, the Canadian organ of the White Ribbon Army. She has also written tracts and pamphlets that have blessed and helped the temperance cause everywhere. She has visited, spoken, organized, and worked with an untiring energy that could only come from deep sympathy and fervent zeal; while every act has been characterized by Christian gentleness and kindness, that won where more openly aggressive methods would be sure to fail. We earnestly hope that our good sister may long be spared to aid with her tongue, her pen, and her brain, the cause that is so near to our heart, and that under the management and direction of such as she, and “the blessing that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow,” the Women’s Christian Temperance Union may continue a mighty power for good, until the end for which it was organized has been fully attained.
Noyes, John Powell, Q.C., Advocate, Waterloo, Quebec province, was born at Potton, county of Brome, Quebec, on the 15th September, 1842. His father, Heman B. Noyes, was of English descent, coming to Canada from Tunbridge, Vermont, where six generations of the family are buried. His mother, Sarah Powell, is also of English descent, but was born at Potton, Quebec. The subject of this sketch was educated at Bangor, Franklin county, N.Y., and at Fort Covington Academy. In 1861 he settled at Waterloo, studied law first with Huntington & Lay, and afterwards with Hon. Mr. Laframboise; graduated at the law school connected with St. Mary’s College, Montreal; was admitted to the bar in October, 1866, and was created a Queen’s counsel in 1879. He has held the offices of secretary-treasurer of the township of Shefford and village of Waterloo, chairman of the Waterloo school board, special commissioner of Bolton lands, bâtonnier of the Bedford bar, and is at present bâtonnier-general of the bar of the province of Quebec. He has been secretary-treasurer of the Stanstead, Shefford, and Chambly Railway for more than ten years. In 1864 he became editor of the Waterloo Advertiser, and continued to be so until 1875, making the paper a strong exponent of the principles of the Liberal party, as well as a very readable general newspaper. He is a leading member of the Masonic Order in his district; was worshipful master of his lodge for three terms; first principal of the R.A. Chapter; and grand Z. of Grand Chapter of R.A.M., of Quebec, for 1885 and 1886. He has taken part in all political contests, and in municipal affairs, since 1860; has been secretary, and later chairman, of Shefford County Reform Club for many years; and this has kept him in politics a great deal, as it has been remarked that this county seems to have a political contest always on hand. As if to make good our words, a contest is now (February, 1888) going on, and Mr. Noyes has been selected by the Reform or national convention of the county as its candidate; but in a county where the parties are so evenly divided, it is always difficult to tell in advance who will be elected. In religion, he is Protestant, and belongs to the Church of England; has often been a delegate to the Synod, and a valued member of various committees there. He was married, in November, 1867, to Lucy A., daughter of Joseph Merry, of Magog, Quebec, whose father was one of the early pioneers there, by whom he had issue six children, only four of whom are now living. Mrs. Noyes graduated before her marriage, at McGill Normal School, with academy diploma, and is at present provincial superintendent of the department of physiology and hygiene of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of the province of Quebec.
Pope, Hon. James Colledge, was born at Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, on the 11th June, 1826. He was the second son of the Hon. Joseph Pope, and his mother was Lucy Colledge, daughter of Capt. Colledge, of the 1st regiment of foot, who married a daughter of the Hon. Thomas Wright, several times administrator of the government of the island, and who was one of the commissioners appointed to administer the oath to the members of the first parliament which met in Charlottetown in 1773. The subject of this sketch received his early education on the island, and was afterwards sent to England to complete it. In early manhood he entered upon a mercantile career, as merchant, shipbuilder and shipowner, at Summerside, P.E.I., where he lived for many years, and which he was largely instrumental in building up. He was one of the passengers by the brig Fancy to California, when the gold fever broke out there in 1849. In 1863 he took up his residence in Charlottetown, where he remained until 1878, when his acceptance of the portfolio of minister of marine necessitated his removal to Ottawa. The last three years of his life he spent at Summerside, his old home, where he died on the morning of the 18th May, 1885; and was buried at St. Eleanor’s, in St. Mary’s churchyard (Episcopal), where a very handsome granite obelisk, erected as a tribute from his many friends, marks the last resting-place of one of Prince Edward Island’s most gifted and patriotic sons. Mr. Pope entered political life in 1857, and from that time onwards he was engaged in a constant turmoil of political excitement, having his ups and downs like most politicians. On the 10th September, 1870, he became leader of a coalition government, which, however, only lasted two years; but he was, on the dissolution of the house, triumphantly returned for Charlottetown, although he failed to secure a majority in the new house. On the 19th October, 1878, he was sworn a member of her Majesty’s Privy Council for Canada, and received the portfolio of minister of marine and fisheries, a position he held but a short time, when in 1881 he was forced, to the inexpressible grief of his many friends, by a general breaking up of his mental and physical powers, to retire from the active duties of his office, never, as the sequel proved, to resume them again. He always occupied a foremost place among those with whom his lot was cast. In his early life he took a very active interest in the volunteer movement, and passed through the various grades, retiring with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Besides being one of the most prominent merchants, he was also one of the largest landholders on the island, and farmed more extensively than any other man on it. He was also engaged in fishing industries, besides being interested in many other business ventures. He, however, attempted too much for his powers of endurance, and thus brought a useful life to an early close. In everything that he undertook, however, whether political, commercial or agricultural, he had the interests of the island at heart, and his memory will ever be revered by his countrymen, who possess monuments of his energy and worth more enduring than brass. The Prince Edward Island Railway is a memento of his public career that will ever serve to keep his memory green. In 1852 he married Eliza, second daughter of Thomas Pethick, of Charlottetown, by whom he had issue eight children.