Wilson, Rev. Robert, St. John, New Brunswick, was born on the 18th of February, 1833, in Fort George, Scotland. His father, Peter Wilson, was a sergeant in the 93rd Highlanders, and saw service during the reigns of Kings George IV., William IV., and Queen Victoria. He came to Canada with his regiment previous to the rebellion of 1837-38, and helped as a true British soldier to suppress it. At Toronto, in 1841, he got his discharge, and then went to Prince Edward Island, where he resided until his death. He was for many years a Methodist local preacher, and died on the 24th of April, 1883. Robert received his educational training at the public school, New Glasgow Road, and at the Central Academy, Charlottetown (now the Prince of Wales College). After leaving school he adopted the profession of teacher, and taught a district school for some years. During this time, and since, he has taken an active part in everything that has a tendency to elevate his fellow man—politics, temperance, and religion. He was foremost in the advocacy of the confederation of the provinces, using the platform and the press in its advocacy; of temperance, in divisions and the lodge-room, having held the position of W. P. in the Sons of Temperance, and W. C. and chaplain in the Order of Good Templars; and of religion by his pulpit ministrations and practical Christian life. Rev. Mr. Wilson is a warm advocate of Imperial federation, having been one of the first, if not the very first, in the Maritime provinces to press it upon the public attention. As a writer and lecturer on secular subjects he occupies a front position. His lectures rank high as thoughtful literary efforts, and his sermons are generally admired. In short, there is no minister of any denomination down by the sea who has more friends within and beyond his own church, or who so frequently and cheerfully responds to the calls of lecture committees. In politics, Mr. Wilson is a Liberal-Conservative, and had editorial charge of The New Brunswick Reporter, of The Albert County Advocate, and The Maple Leaf. He has also for years been a regular contributor to several newspapers. He has written and published several books, among others, “Tried but True,” 300 pages; and “Never Give Up,” 300 pages (works well spoken of by the provincial press), besides, “Judea and the Jews,” “British North America,” and “Britain among the Nations,” in pamphlet form. He has travelled extensively through Canada, New England, and as a Dominion immigration agent in Great Britain. Mr. Wilson was brought up in the faith of the Kirk of Scotland, but since 1851 he has been connected with the Methodist church. He entered the ministry in 1853, and has been chairman of the Sackville and St. John districts of the New Brunswick Conference, Secretary of the conference for five sessions, and first delegate in the General conference held in Toronto in 1886. He was strongly opposed to the basis of union by which the various Methodist bodies were made one, especially to the general superintendency, because of its tendencies to Prelacy, and its curtailment of the privileges of the Annual conference. He believed in the unification of the non-Episcopal Methodist churches, but thought it wiser to allow the Episcopal to work out their destiny in their own way, than to grant the concession demanded, which meant the complete revolutionizing of the Wesleyan economy. Rev. Mr. Wilson was married on the 7th of February, 1856, to Mary Anne Lane, daughter of William Ford, Prince Edward Island, formerly of Ring’s Ash, Devonshire, England. The fruit of this marriage is five daughters and one son. The latter, Albert Edward, is an officer in the postal service at Fredericton, New Brunswick. We may add that the Rev. Mr. Wilson was elected president of the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Conference in June, 1887.
Wallis, Herbert, Montreal, Mechanical Superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, was born at Derby, England, on March 10th, 1844, and comes of a family long resident in Derby, whose head was for several generations engaged in the business of stage-coaching. His father, William Wallace Wallis, abandoned the business on the advent of railways, and became one of the carriers or cartage agents of the Midland Railway, from which he retired, in favour of one of his sons, some years prior to his death. Herbert Wallis was educated at the Commercial College, near Halifax, England, and here he was specially trained in that branch of the engineering profession which he now follows. On the completion of his education he entered the service of the Midland Railway Company as a pupil of Matthew Kirtley, then locomotive superintendent, and was engaged in the drawing office and workshops of that railway at Derby till August, 1866, at which date he was appointed foreman of the locomotive and carriage departments at Bradford, Yorkshire. In March, 1871, he accepted the position offered to him by Mr. Richard Potter (the then president), of assistant mechanical superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway Company, and sailed for Montreal on May 4th of that year; and in January, 1873, he was appointed chief mechanical superintendent. Mr. Wallis is a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers of England, and one of the council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. He is a staunch supporter of the Church of England. He married Mary Ellen, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Walklate, formerly goods manager of the Midland Railway Company, in August, 1870.
Long, Thomas, Merchant, Collingwood, county of Simcoe, Ontario, was born in the county of Limerick, Ireland, on the 7th of April, 1836, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret Long. After procuring such education as he was able at the national school of his native village, he emigrated to this country when he was fourteen years old, arriving in the year 1850, and apprenticed himself to the general mercantile business with P. O’Shea, of Mono Centre, for a term of three years, during which he acquired such further educational advantages as could be obtained from time to time by attendance at the public school and by private study. On the expiration of his engagement with Mr. O’Shea, in the spring of 1853, Mr. Long came to Nottawasaga, and worked on the Northern Railway, then under construction, for about twelve months, after which he obtained another situation in a general store, which he held up to the 1st of December, 1858, when he embarked on his own account as a general merchant and buyer of grain and produce. In 1865 he was joined by his brother, John Joseph Long, and the firm thus formed traded under the style of T. Long & Brother. In 1868 a branch store was opened at Stayner, Simcoe county, and the business was carried on in this place under the name of Long Brothers & Gartlan, and in 1870 another branch was opened at Thornbury, Grey county. This enterprising firm, of which Thomas Long is now the senior partner, soon developed a wholesale trade, and they became large direct importers, which has since necessitated frequent visits of Mr. Long and his partners to the markets of Europe. In 1871 they erected fine new premises at Collingwood, which were unfortunately destroyed by fire in September, 1881, only, however, to be replaced by more commodious premises, in which the firm now carries on its principal business. In 1874 the firm erected, in connection with their business operations at Stayner, a flour mill, which proved a successful venture. Mr. Long has always taken the lead in all local enterprises carried on with the view of developing the business of the town and port of Collingwood. He was associated as stockholder and director with the late F. W. Cumberland, W. E. Sandford, and others in the establishment of the Lake Superior Navigation Company, which built the first steamer—The Cumberland—which traded with the Lake Superior ports. He was also one of the leading promoters of the Georgian Bay Transportation Company, and has otherwise greatly helped to promote the lake trade of his adopted country. Mr. Long served seven years in the town council, and eight years as a member of the Ontario legislature, in the Conservative interest, and is at present president of the North Simcoe Conservative Association. In addition to his business connection with the firm of T. Long & Bro., he has also the honours and responsibilities of the following public offices: vice-president and managing director of the Merritton Cotton Mill Company, Merritton; director of the Bank of London in Canada; secretary-treasurer of the Great Northern Transit Company; president of the Farmers’ North-West Land and Colonization Company; and president of the Great Northern Exhibition Company. Mr. Long is a member of the Roman Catholic church. He was married on the 13th of May, 1861, to Ann Patton, daughter of the late Charles Patton, builder, of Collingwood, by whom he has had fourteen children, of whom six are now living—three sons and three daughters.
Hall, Francis Alexander, Barrister, Perth, Ontario, was born in the town of Perth, county of Lanark, Ontario, on 9th August, 1843. His father, Francis Hall, was a native of Clackmannanshire, Scotland, who came to Canada in 1831, and settled in Lanark. His mother, Mary McDonnell, was also a native of Scotland, having been born in Greenock. Francis Alexander Hall received his education at the Perth Public and Grammar schools. After leaving school he spent about a year and a-half as a clerk with a general merchant, but disliking the business he resolved to make law his profession, and with this object in view entered, in 1860, the law office of the late W. M. Shaw, of Perth. Here he prosecuted his studies, and in August, 1866, was admitted as an attorney, and in May, 1868, was called to the bar. In November, 1867, he entered into partnership with Mr. Shaw, but this gentleman having died in December 30, 1868, Mr. Hall continued the business. In October, 1875, he formed a partnership with Edward Elliott, under the name of Hall and Elliott; but this arrangement only continued until October, 1878, when Mr. Elliott retired. In April, 1885, he took J. W. Berryman into partnership, but this partner dying in November, 1885, he once more conducts the business on his own account. Mr. Hall was made a Mason in True Britains’ lodge, No. 12, A. F. and A. M., in April, 1872. He is one of the charter members of Perth lodge, No. 190, A.O.U.W., and was elected master this year (1887). Mr. Hall has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and was elected a High School trustee in 1870. He has been a member of the Board of Education of Perth since 1870, and is now chairman of that board. He has also taken an interest in municipal matters, and occupied a seat in the town council in 1873, 1874, 1875 and 1876, and was mayor of Perth in 1881 and 1882. Mr. Hall has always been a Conservative in politics; and in religion he belongs to the Episcopal denomination. He is married to Harriet Frances, daughter of Lewis Dunham, a descendant of a U. E. loyalist who settled near Maitland.
Wild, Rev. Joseph, M.A., D.D., Pastor of Bond street Congregational Church, Toronto, was born at Summit, Littleborough, Lancashire, England, on the 16th of November, 1834. He was the youngest of five children. His father, Joseph Wild, was one of the best of men—a thorough practical Christian, who was respected by all classes of the community in which he lived. It was a notable fact that no one passed from time to eternity without the prayers of Joseph Wild first being sought, and no funeral was considered complete without his being present at the ceremony. He dressed plainly, following the style of Bourne and Clowes, and other noted founders of the Primitive Methodist church. In manner he was simple, easily approached, kind, sympathetic, generous, and affectionate. His greatest concern seemed to be for children and aged people, and on all occasions he had a kind word to say to them as he passed through the streets or from his home to the chapel. As a preacher he was plain and conversational, his object seeming to be to show the best and nearest way to Heaven without the interposition of too many stiles. When he died his funeral was the largest ever seen in the village, and to this day his memory is revered. Rev. Dr. Wild’s mother was a kind and quiet woman, and lived to do her duty to God and her household, set her children a good example, and died in the favour and affection of her neighbours and kinsfolk. Coming from such a stock, we need not wonder that the doctor should now possess such a power in the pulpit and among the people. At an early age he began to earn a livelihood, and was apprenticed to the business of iron moulder and machinist. It is perhaps in consequence of the knowledge acquired in the workshop that he is now enabled to give occasionally such plain and practical illustrations, as the following will show: While he resided in Belleville, a fire having broken out, the fire engine would not work, and every one in the neighbourhood got alarmed and feared an explosion of steam—even the engineer deserted his post, and left the machine to its fate. The doctor, however, felt no alarm, and going to the engine made an examination and found that the piston rod had stuck, and at once put it to rights amidst the applause of the multitude, and for this the mayor and corporation passed him a hearty vote of thanks. Rev. Dr. Wild, although he had not all the educational advantages the young people of this country have, yet he was always considered sharp and intelligent, and when first licensed as a local preacher, was able to give the people something worth listening to. He was possessed of indomitable perseverance, and early adopted the motto, “What man has done, man can do again.” Possessed of an active brain, quick perception, a strong physical constitution, and a warm heart, England became too contracted for him, and he felt that Canada alone would be sufficient to satisfy his wishes and desires for thorough usefulness in the cause of God and humanity. Therefore, in 1855 he left fatherland, and made his home among strangers. Few men have landed in America under more unfavourable circumstances. He had no friends to meet him, and very little money in his pocket when he landed in New York. Shortly after his arrival he started on a tramp through some of the western and southern states, and having satisfied his curiosity with regard to those places, he resolved to see what Canada was like, and visit some friends who had lately arrived from the old country. With this desire he started, and soon reached the country of his successes and his triumphs. Here he became the subject of impressions convincing in their tendency, that it was his duty to thoroughly consecrate himself to the work of the ministry, and from that time he resolved to devote himself to the preaching of the gospel. He was denominationally connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, and received from it his first station in the city of Hamilton. After having served about a year in this place, he began to feel the great importance of the “high calling”—wished to be a minister of power, “rightly dividing the word of truth,” and believed that God’s work was a grand work calling for good, holy, and educated men. Being poor, he had not the means at his disposal to enable him to carry out his aspirations, but a friend kindly aided with money. He then made all the necessary arrangements, and went to the Boston Theological Institute, where he remained several years, and completed his course of literary, classical, and theological studies, graduating from that institution. On leaving college, he made arrangements to enter the Methodist church, South, but in consequence of the breaking out of the southern rebellion he was forced to abandon the idea. He then returned to Canada, and after having preached at Goderich for a year, he sailed for Europe, determined to gather up information from the various learned institutes of the eastern continent, and thereby prepare himself for a wider sphere of usefulness. In England, after his return there, he lectured and preached on many occasions, and was a wonder to the friends who had known him before he went to America. On his return from Europe, he received a station at Orono, where he preached for two years, and from this place he moved to Belleville, the seat of Albert University, where he remained about eight years. At this time the Genesee College conferred upon him the degree of M.A., and the Ohio Wesleyan University that of D.D. While stationed at Belleville, Rev. Dr. Wild did double work, acting as pastor of the Methodist Church and professor of Oriental languages in the university. At the time he went to Belleville the university was greatly embarrassed for want of funds, but he undertook the position of treasurer, and through preaching and lecturing succeeded in raising $20,000, and put the institution on a firm footing. During the years he was engaged at this work he refused to take one cent as remuneration for his services as professor or treasurer. Belleville to this day remembers him with pride, and the poor of the place with gratitude for the many kindnesses he showed them while he went in and out among them. Too close application to his many duties, and the loss of his valuable library and manuscripts by fire, wrought heavily on his mind, and he resolved to leave Belleville and re-visit Europe. In 1872, while preparing to leave, he was appointed a delegate from the Church in Canada to the conference of the Methodist church of the United States, which was to be held in the city of Brooklyn the same year. While attending this conference the doctor was invited to preach in the Seventh avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and having done so, the congregation decided on giving him a call, which he accepted. Having served them three years, he then accepted a call from the Union Congregational Church, remaining with them for nearly six years. During the years he occupied the Brooklyn pulpit he was honoured with overflowing congregations. In 1880 he was invited to take charge of the Congregational Church, Bond street, Toronto, and decided once more on making Canada his home. When the Rev. Dr. Wild took charge of this work the congregation was small, an immense debt was on the handsome edifice which graces the corner of Bond street and Wilton avenue, and things generally wore a very discouraging aspect, but he had no sooner put himself at the head of affairs than a new impulse was given, and to-day it is one of the most thriving churches in Toronto—having a membership of nearly eight hundred, about a thousand seat-holders, the Sunday night congregations numbering often three thousand souls, and the debt on the sacred edifice reduced to a minimum. Without doubt the Rev. Dr. Wild is the most popular preacher at this moment in the Queen City of the West, and it is wonderful how he succeeds in holding the attention of the great numbers of people who come to hear him. The grand secret, however, is that the doctor never enters his pulpit unprepared. He honours his audience by refusing to foist on them a subject at hap-hazard. His very tread indicates confidence in his preparations, and his voice and gesture indicate the force of his own convictions upon himself. Rev. Dr. Wild is a little above the medium height, is very strongly built, has an erect and dignified carriage. His face is a remarkable one, and his features easily play to the run of his thoughts. He has a large brain, and a high and prominent forehead, and with his hair worn long and his flowing whiskers, he presents the picture of a man of careful thought and great physical endurance. He loves his friends, and is most kind, free and open to all, and, it may be added, he is the friend of all and enemy of none.