Pugsley, Hon. William, D.C.L., St. John, Speaker of the House of Assembly of New Brunswick, is of Loyalist stock. One of his paternal ancestors was an Englishman, and was one of the earliest settlers on the Croton river, New York. After the Revolutionary war, John Pugsley, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to New Brunswick and settled on the Hammond river, in Kings county, but afterwards returned to New York, and subsequently removed to England. His son, Daniel Pugsley, settled in Cardwell, Kings county, N.B. Hon. William Pugsley is a son of William Pugsley, sen., who worked a farm with much success near Sussex, in one of the most fertile districts of New Brunswick. Like so many of our best men, Mr. Pugsley received his education in the common school. Having finished his preliminary studies at Sussex, he entered the University of New Brunswick, at Fredericton, and here he was highly successful. In his junior year he was gold medallist, and he also took several scholarships. About this time the Gilchrist scholarships, founded out of the savings of a wealthy and eccentric Scottish doctor, were thrown open to competition in the provinces of the Dominion. Mr. Pugsley was among those who tried for the coveted distinction, and in 1868 took second place in the list of competitors. He took his degree of B.A. in the same year. Shortly afterwards he began the study of the law, and was called to the bar the 27th June, 1872. He at once secured a large and lucrative practice, and soon after his admission to the bar was appointed reporter and editor of the decisions of the Supreme Court in banco. He held this position for ten years. Mr. Pugsley has always taken a warm interest in the politics of his native province. For some years back, in the local house, the government has been conducted by a virtually coalition cabinet. Mr. Pugsley is an Independent Conservative, and was elected to the House of Assembly in July, 1885, a vacancy having been created by the death of Dr. Vail, M.P.P. In the debates of the house, Dr. Pugsley at once came to the front, and was considered so well versed in parliamentary procedure, that on the 3rd March, 1887, he was elected speaker of the house. In this position his wide knowledge of law as well as his acquaintance with the personnel of the house and his unfailing tact and good judgment, have stood him in good stead. The office of speaker is one which calls for great patience and circumspection, and it is also one which is eagerly sought for by politicians of every degree of ability and popularity. A speaker must be also possessed of great swiftness and sureness of decision, as in the many turns of debate, and the inevitable clashing of opinion and personal jarrings, a delicate adjustment of the rights of members may come up for settlement. Mr. Pugsley has continued his early love of scholastic studies and associations, and holds the degree of D.C.L. of Fredericton University. In religious principles he is a Methodist. He married, on the 6th January, 1872, Fannie, daughter of the late Thomas Parks, of St. John. Though residing at Rothesay, Kings county, he practises his profession in St. John.
Slaven, John Wallace, Druggist, Orillia, Ontario, is a native Canadian, having been born in the county of Prince Edward, Ontario, on the 16th August, 1834. His father, P. Slaven, and mother, Eliza Walsh, both come from the county of Wexford, Ireland. Mr. Slaven received his educational training in the public and grammar schools of his native county. He holds a medical degree from an American medical school, but preferring business, he has never practised his profession. He first commenced the drug business in Wellington, Prince Edward county, in partnership with the late Dr. Archie Campbell, of that place, and in the fall of 1862 removed to Orillia, where he has continued the business with fair success up to the present. Mr. Slaven attended the Military School at Kingston, and in 1866 graduated from that institution. He afterwards became lieutenant and then captain of the 7th company Simcoe Foresters, which position he held for some time. He has served several years in the Municipal council of Orillia, and was deputy reeve of the same for two and a half years. He was elected once by a large majority and twice by acclamation. He was appointed a justice of the peace for the county of Simcoe by the Mowat government about eight years ago. Mr. Slaven is public-spirited, and takes an active part in every thing that tends to advance the town he has chosen as his home. He is a Conservative, and in 1882 was induced to enter the field of politics, and became a candidate of his party for the Ontario legislature, in opposition to Charles Drury, of Oro township, Simcoe, but failed to be elected. He at present is president of the Liberal-Conservative Association of the riding of East Simcoe. He has found some time to travel, and has visited the Pacific coast, the West Indies and many other parts of the North American continent. In religion Mr. Slaven belongs to the Roman Catholic church. He was married to Maggie McDonell, of Barrie, in June, 1867.
Pope, Hon. John Henry, Minister of Railways and Canals for the Dominion of Canada, M.P. for Compton, Quebec province, was born in 1824, and received his educational training in the High School at Compton, P.Q. The earlier period of his life was directed to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Pope was fond of military life, and took a lively interest in the volunteer movement. He commanded the Cookshire Volunteer Cavalry for many years, and retired in 1862, retaining his rank as major. He is president of the International Railway Company of Maine, and also of the Compton Colonization Society. He takes a deep interest in education, and for many years has been a trustee of the St. Francis College, Richmond, P.Q. He is also a director of the Eastern Township Bank. In 1854, at the general election of that year, Mr. Pope offered himself as a candidate for the Legislative Assembly of Canada, for Compton, and was defeated; but in 1857 he succeeded in carrying his election, and sat in this legislature until the union of the provinces under confederation. He was then elected a member of the House of Commons by acclamation, and has been returned ever since by his old friends each time he has appealed for their suffrages. On the 25th October, 1871, Hon. Mr. Pope was sworn in a member of the Privy Council, and made minister of agriculture, and this office he held until the defeat of the Macdonald ministry, on the Pacific scandal question, in November, 1873, when he retired with his leader. On the return of his party to power, on the defeat of the Mackenzie administration, he was, on the 17th October, 1878, reinstated into his old office of minister of agriculture. On the 25th September, 1885, he was made minister of railways and canals, and this office he still retains. During the summer of 1880, Hon. Mr. Pope in company with Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Charles Tupper, visited England, and took an active part in the negotiations which led to the Pacific railway contract, subsequently ratified by parliament. He is a Liberal-Conservative in politics. The Hon. Mr. Pope is not given to debate, but whatever he has to say, in or out of parliament, he says with a terse vigor and conciseness of language that make a mockery of ornate phrases. He has the disposition to work, an intelligent appreciation of the wants of the country, and a well-studied parliamentary experience of nearly half an average lifetime.
Shorey, Hollis, Wholesale Clothier, Montreal, was born in Barnston, Eastern townships, Quebec province, on the 2nd December, 1823. His father, Samuel E. Shorey, who was of English descent, was a native of the United States, but came to Canada when a lad of eight years of age. On reaching manhood, he married Fanny Jones, of Three Rivers, Quebec province, who was of Welsh descent, and to this couple was born the subject of our sketch. Hollis Shorey was sent to the academy at Hatley, Eastern Townships, where he took a commercial course of education. On leaving school, having reached the age of sixteen years, he entered himself as an apprentice to a local tailor, and having faithfully served the allotted term, he began business on his own account, at Barnston, his capital amounting to a very small sum. Just as he had reached his nineteenth year, his father died, and the responsibility of assisting to bring up a family of eight children was thrust upon him. Mr. Shorey’s first essay at his trade was the making of men’s, boys’ and youths’ clothing for customers who found their own cloth. He then took in a partner, and for four years they worked together amicably, keeping a general store as well as a tailoring establishment, but at the end of this period he made certain discoveries not at all to the credit of his partner, and a dissolution of the partnership ensued. This threw Mr. Shorey again back to his starting-point, but he was not discouraged. A short time after this event he entered into partnership with F. & J. H. Judd, which continued for four years, when he left the place and came to the city of Montreal. This was in 1861. Here he found employment, and for six years travelled for the firms of Macfarlane & Baird and Wm. Stephens & Co. (the now Sir George Stephens being then a member of the latter firm), soliciting orders for ready-made clothing, dry goods, etc. His field of operation was chiefly in the Eastern Townships, and he made many friends during his journeys. Getting thoroughly tired of travel, he resolved to begin business again on his own account, and then was laid, December 1866, the foundation of one of the largest wholesale clothing establishments in the Dominion. After two years he took in as a partner his son-in-law, E. A. Small, to assist him. This partnership lasted for about eighteen years when it was dissolved, and Mr. Shorey then associated with him as partners his two sons, S. O. Shorey and C. L. Shorey, who before this time had been very successful travellers for the old firm. They now employ as outside hands, tailors, etc., 1450 persons, and 150 more in the establishment. The firm, we are told, deals very liberally with their employees, and the most kindly feelings exist between them and their employers. For about fifteen years Mr. Shorey has been a member of the Board of Trade of the city of Montreal, and takes a deep interest in all its proceedings. During the small pox epidemic, in 1885, he was chairman of the citizen committee, which did so much to alleviate the sufferings of those afflicted by the pest, and remove the causes that produced it. Mr. Shorey has travelled a good deal, and found time to visit the continent of Europe, as well as the United States. In religion he is an adherent of the Episcopal church. He has been twice married. First, in 1844, he espoused Fanny Wheeler of Barnston, province of Quebec, who, dying in 1850, left two children, a boy and girl, and since then he has been united to Clara Gilson, of Vermont, who has also borne him a boy and a girl. His four children are all married, and he has now fourteen grand-children.
Tomkins, Rev. John.—The late Rev. Mr. Tomkins, during his lifetime a minister of the Methodist church, was born Nov. 12th, 1797, in the county of Stafford, England. His father, James Tomkins, and also his grandfather and great grandfather were natives of the city of Hereford, and as his parents returned thither shortly after his birth, he was accustomed to speak of that ancient cathedral town, as his native city. His parents were devout members of the Established church, and in that church his early religious training was received. He was naturally serious and thoughtful, and while still a lad was led through the preaching of a devout Anglican clergyman, the Rev. C. Glasscott, to turn his attention earnestly to religious concerns. It was, however, through the preaching of a Wesleyan Methodist minister, the Rev. Wm. Adams, that he found that rest of spirit which he had sought in vain for several years, in attendance upon the ordinances of his own communion. He immediately united with the Wesleyan society, and soon began to exercise his talents as a local preacher. Feeling called to devote himself wholly to the work of the ministry, he abandoned his worldly pursuits, and after due training, sought and obtained ordination in the old Spitalfields Chapel, London, at the hands of that distinguished divine, the Rev. Richard Watson, on the 18th of April, 1827. A few days after he left his native shores forever, to engage in missionary labor, first in Newfoundland and after in Canada. After a tedious voyage of nine weeks, he reached St. John’s on the 22nd of June, 1827. His first appointment was to Hants Harbor, a small fishing station, with less than three hundred inhabitants. Here he labored one year, and was then removed to Bona Vista, and the year following to Trinity, where he spent two years. Two more years were spent at St. John’s and Harbor Grace. During these six years of arduous toil among the scattered fishermen of Newfoundland, he endured many hardships, and on one occasion came near perishing of cold and hunger, having lost his way in a snow storm, while travelling on foot with another missionary, the Rev. Mr. Knight, from one station to another. In June, 1833, he was removed to the city of Quebec, where he remained two years. At the expiration of this time he received his first appointment to the Eastern Townships, where he spent forty-three years of his active ministry and thirteen years in a superannuated relation. His first circuit was the St. Armand, extending from the Richelieu river to Sutton, a distance of about fifty miles. The Rev. John Borland was associated with Mr. Tomkins on this field of labor, which has since been divided into about seven circuits. In the year 1836 the Wesleyan Methodist church had in Lower Canada, including the cities of Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, fourteen circuits, and a membership of about as many hundred. At the time when Mr. Tomkins closed his ministry, there were within the same territory eighty-one circuits, or stations, and the number of members had increased fivefold. From St. Armand Mr. Tomkins was removed to Odelltown, where he spent two years. His subsequent appointments were as follows:—In 1838, he went to Shefford, where he spent three years, in 1841 to Compton, where he remained three years. In 1844 he returned to Odelltown, and spent three years. In 1847 to Dunham, three years, and in 1851, he was moved to Stanstead where he spent four years. In 1854 he was chosen chairman of the Stanstead district, which office he held during the following six years. In 1855 he removed to Clarenceville, and thence, in 1858, to Dunham, for a second term of service. In 1861 he was re-appointed to Shefford, and during the two years of his pastorate there he held the office of Financial Secretary of the district. In the year 1863 he was again appointed to Stanstead, and re-elected to the chairmanship, which he held, with an interruption of a little more than a year, till the time of superannuation. In 1866 Mr. Tomkins removed to Hatley, where he spent three years, and in the summer of 1869 he retired from active work and took up his residence at Stanstead, where he remained till the close of his long and useful life, and where he continued to assist by every means in his power in advancing the interests of his Master’s cause. As a man, Mr. Tomkins was of a mild and equal temperament, of a most affectionate disposition, and of a character marked by singular transparency and simplicity. His judgment was reliable in matters connected with the interests of the church, his conclusions being generally justified by the event. As a preacher, he was clear in exposition, sound in doctrine and happy in expression, often rising into true eloquence as he kindled with his theme. All his ministrations were marked by deep and serious feeling, and he impressed his hearers by being so evidently impressed himself. As a pastor he was at once tender and faithful, and his name and memory are still loved and honored wherever he exercised his ministry. He departed this life September 21st, 1881, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, having been a Methodist preacher for fifty-three years. In February, 1836, he was married to Maria Whitcher, daughter of Dr. Isaac Whitcher, of Stanstead, Quebec province. His son, Edwin F. Tomkins, is at the head of the Cascade Narrow Fabric Company, Coaticook, P.Q., and was the first to introduce into Canada the manufacture of mohair braid, etc.