Larocque, Rt. Reverend Bishop Joseph, was born at St. Joseph, Chambly, the 28th August, 1808, of one of the most respectable families in that place, and from his earliest years gave evidence of unusual piety and talent. It was no doubt owing to this fact that in 1821 he, with his cousin Charles, who afterwards succeeded him as bishop, upon the recommendation of Mr. Mignault, was educated at the expense of Mr. de St. Ours, and other true friends of education, at the College of St. Hyacinthe, then in its infancy. Young Joseph Larocque was a model scholar, always first in his studies, and practising those virtues which distinguished him in all the varied phases of his after life. In 1829, after having terminated a very brilliant classical course, he entered the ecclesiastical state, and until 1847 we find him working zealously to conquer all difficulties and gain for the St. Hyacinthe Seminary the great renown which it now enjoys. He received the order of priesthood at the hands of his Lordship J. J. Lartigue, on the 15th of March, 1835, and occupied with distinction successively the posts of professor, director, and superior of the institution to which he owed so much. A priest of the merit of Abbé Larocque could not long remain without attracting the attention of Bishop Bourget, who at this time occupied the episcopal seat at Montreal. The eminent prelate summoned him, and conferred upon him the canonship, thereby procuring a most valuable auxiliary in the administration of his diocese, one who, in his manifold duties and work, exercised his natural talent, profound science, and indefatigable zeal. He was entrusted with the editing of Religious Miscellany, published under the auspices of Bishop Bourget. Mgr. Prince, then coadjutor bishop of Montreal, being delegated to take to the Holy Father at Rome the decree of the first council at Quebec, Canon Larocque received orders to accompany him as secretary. During his sojourn in the Holy City he was named Bishop of Cydonia, by his Holiness Pope Pius IX., and coadjutor of Montreal, in place of his Lordship J. C. Prince, promoted to the new bishopric of St. Hyacinthe. On the 28th of the following October he was consecrated in his native parish (Chambly) by Bishop Bourget, assisted by their Lordships Guigues, bishop of Ottawa, and Cooke, bishop of Three Rivers. During the next eight years Bishop Larocque fulfilled his numerous duties in a most exemplary manner, to the detriment of his health. In June, 1860, he was transferred to the bishopric of St. Hyacinthe, but owing to his constant suffering and infirmities, he asked the permission of the Pope to abdicate his charge, which was granted by a Papal decree, dated August 17th, 1865. In July, 1866, Mgr. Larocque was nominated by his Holiness Pope Pius IX., bishop of Germanicopolis. The principal work of the pious prelate during his short term as head of the diocese, was the founding of the Community of the Precious Blood, which in a few years became renowned for piety and virtue. This community owe to the venerable and devoted father the constitution which governs them, and several spiritual works, among others, “Manner of Devotion to the Precious Blood,” and “Meditations for each Month of the Year;” also, “The Liturgical Year,” comprising meditations for Sundays and all the notable feasts of the year. The Lord remembered this faithful and earnest worker in permitting him to see the success which crowned his many efforts, for which the diocese of St. Hyacinthe owes him a debt of gratitude, only to be repaid by continuing in the noble work so ably mapped out for them. Bishop Joseph Larocque died November 18th, 1887.
McDonald, Hon. James, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, was born at East River, Pictou county, N.S., 1st July, 1828. His family were among the first Scotch Highlanders who came to Nova Scotia one hundred years ago. They established at Pictou a thoroughly Scottish community which bears their impress legibly to this day. The chief justice had very few educational or inherited advantages to help him in his early days, but he possessed a splendid physique, unfailing good-temper and kindliness, great shrewdness and common sense, and laudable ambition. He obtained his preliminary education at New Glasgow, the second town in Pictou county, being the seat of valuable collieries, glass-works and other manufactories, and one of the most flourishing and progressive spots in the province. After completing his course, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He at once obtained a good practice, and gained a considerable reputation as a platform speaker. He always took a great interest in politics, being a staunch Conservative. He first came to the front as a political candidate in 1859 when he successfully contested Pictou county in the general election of that year. The Conservative party were fast gaining strength and bidding again for the political supremacy which had been denied them for many years. Among the rising men was Dr. Charles Tupper, a bold and fluent orator, and a man of great administrative force and tact. Hon. J. W. Johnson, attorney-general and facile princeps in his party for so many years, was getting old and unfit for a hard campaign. Sir William Young had been made chief justice, and other prominent Liberals were dropping out of the ranks. Railways were building and there was an impetus thereby given to the general hopefulness of the country. There were hot debates in the House of Assembly where such men as A. G. Archibald, Thomas Morrison, and Jonathan McCully strove for the reins of power. Hon. Mr. McDonald again offered, in 1863, when his party achieved a great victory at the polls. He was appointed by Dr. Tupper, provincial secretary and premier, to the position of chief railway commissioner for Nova Scotia, in June, 1863, and held this office until December, 1864. In December, 1864, he was appointed to a seat in the government with the portfolio of financial secretary. The celebrated conferences of Charlottetown and Quebec were held in the summer of 1864. There the preliminaries of confederation were discussed. At the latter conference Nova Scotia was represented by Dr. Tupper, Hon. W. A. Henry, now of the Supreme Court of Canada, Jonathan (afterwards Judge) McCully, and Hon. R. B. Dickey, senator. The next few months were times of fierce political debate in the maritime provinces. Confederation was consummated 1st July, 1867, and was shortly afterwards followed by general elections in the provinces and in the Dominion. The Conservatives were routed at the polls. Dr. Tupper won his election in Cumberland county, defeating Hon. William Annand by the narrow majority of 66. Not a single Conservative member followed him to Ottawa on his first appearance there. Among the defeated was the subject of this sketch, who stood for Pictou. But previous to this time, and during 1865 and 1866, he had been appointed a commissioner, representing his native province, to negotiate towards opening trade relations between the West Indies, Mexico and Brazil and the British American provinces. In prosecution of this mission he did some travelling in the Antilles. In 1867 he was made a Queen’s counsel. During the last years of his residence and practice at the bar in Halifax, the city barristers, on his attaining to the twenty-fifth year of his practice presented him with a silk gown accompanied by an appreciative and friendly address. In thanking the gentlemen of the long robe for their courtesy, he remarked that he was much touched by their kindness, but that the incident carried with it one element of regret in that it reminded him that he was growing old. The chief justice, however, enjoys robust health, and has probably many years before him. During these times he was working up one of the best-known practices in Nova Scotia. He had become associated in Pictou with Samuel G. Rigby (since Judge of the Supreme Court, a man who died two years ago greatly regretted while yet little over forty years of age), and removed to Halifax, establishing the firm of McDonald & Rigby. They generally had in their office six students and copyists, and their practice extended throughout the province. S. G. Rigby is believed to have been the peer of any nisi prius lawyer who ever held a brief in Nova Scotia. James McDonald was skilled in all the arts of a cross-examiner and jury lawyer, whilst as a chambers counsel he was unsurpassed by any. Mr. Rigby generally went the Midland and Eastern circuits, where he never wanted a client. At the general election held in the summer of 1872, Hon. Mr. McDonald again contested Pictou for the House of Commons, and this time successfully. He was a strong supporter of Sir John A. Macdonald. The Pacific Scandal burst out in 1873, and in the debate in the Commons he made one of the strongest defences of the government. He was defeated at the general election of 1874, when the Reform government seized the reins of power, but fought a hard campaign in Pictou. At the general election in 1878 he returned with his party to power, and was made minister of justice. This appointment he held with credit until 20th May, 1881, when the late Sir William Young having resigned, he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. He is also judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court. He resides at a pretty villa on the North-West Arm, Halifax, called “Blink Bonnie.” He is a member of the Halifax Club, the town resort of the elite of Nova Scotia. He married in 1856, Jane, daughter of the late William Mortimer, of Pictou, by whom he has a large family of children. One of his sons is in the North-West. Two are practising law in Halifax. Two of his daughters married sons of Sir Charles Tupper, viz., Charles H. Tupper, M.P. for Pictou county, and William J. Tupper, who saw service with the Halifax battalion during the North-West rebellion. The Chief Justice resides chiefly in Halifax but occasionally goes on circuit. His judgments are marked by great liberality and breadth of view. He has befriended many young men in their struggles to get a profession, and is an openhearted, openhanded man. No finer specimen of the Pictou Scotchman could be picked out than “Jim McDonald,” as he was familiarly, though respectfully called, during his long career, at the bar and in politics. Hon. Mr. McDonald is a member of St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church, Halifax.
Merritt, Jedediah Prendergast, St. Catharines, Ontario. The subject of this biographical sketch is the eldest son of the late Hon. William Hamilton Merritt, the well-known pioneer of the most prominent part of the peninsula of western Canada, and the originator and principal actor in obtaining the completion of the Welland and St. Lawrence canals, now connecting the upper lakes with the Atlantic ocean. Mr. Merritt was born at St. Catharines, county of Lincoln, on the 1st of June, 1820, and the whole of his life has been devoted to the material and æsthetical occupations which make history for the western hemisphere. At an early period he represented his native country as a student at Cambridge, England, and upon his return his further representation consisted in being familiar with English and continental society as it was associated with scholastic and political economy. His father, by the force of daily events, was engaged in promoting public important Canadian interests, whether included in commercial, political, or educational enterprises; and his son, being well qualified by natural and acquired attainments, gave these enterprises the advantage of his presence both at the desk and by his advice in the halls of the legislature. In 1860 he was appointed by a vote of parliament to a position now known as archivist. He collected the ten thousand folio pages of historical matter as put upon record by the lives of pioneers in Canada prior and subsequent to the revolutionary war. Whether, accordingly, information of large or small moment to families of the United Empire class or its government, or to families generally of Canada or the United States be required, it is derivable through the labors of the gentleman whose name is before us. Such a task as this brought into requisition varied talents and an unceasing industry for a number of years, and so suggestive of utility was his report that parliament renewed an engagement with him. The qualities of patriotism and generosity characterised his proceedings, for he not only gave his assistant the appropriation made for the purpose, but without opposition he permitted the adoption of a title which directs a searcher after knowledge formulated under his guidance to go to the Coventry Documents. On the 1st of May, 1845, he was appointed postmaster at St. Catharines, an office which he retained for a period of eighteen years. Mr. Merritt has distinguished himself both in poetry and prose. At an early age, and while at school, a taste for literature and science distinctly spoke out. And subsequently his poetical genius shone out in many effusions relating to his own and other countries, and in such as passed fitting encomiums upon the noble qualities of patriotism and valor. A poem written as a memento of the visit of the Duke of Kent to Canada received a distinguished acknowledgment from the Prince of Wales, his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and the Earl of St. Germans. Many odes are also well known; among them may be found that “On the Opening of Victoria Bridge” by the Prince of Wales; “Ho, for Manitoba;” “Ontario;” those on the battles of “Lundy’s Lane”—“Crook’s Mills”—“River Rasin;”—that read by the Loyal Canadian Society at its anniversary picnic at Queenston Heights; “The rise and progress of St. Catharines,” in prose, and concluded in verse. Besides others in number to fill a volume, which fail to receive a notice here. The public journals of the day, for many years past, evidence by their columns that Mr. Merritt’s study and influence upon subjects of administrative policy and scientific economy have given to the public as much of instruction as of entertainment. An ingenious historical chart published by Mr. Merritt met with the approval of the British North American Historical Society, and commendation from the Prince of Wales, who sent him an appropriate medal. When decimal currency was introduced into Canada, Mr. Merritt brought before the legislature a system of weights and measures known as the “metric.” With these it is as easy of calculation as that of by tens with money. The government voted in its favor $50,000 to be used if necessary. Mr. Merritt’s life has been an unceasing application of advantages derivable from a patrimony, for the promotion of plans equal to the dignity and character of Canada; and his family promise to wear his mantle. He married on the 17th of August, 1864, the eldest daughter of the late George Prescott, for many years secretary and treasurer of the Welland canal, by whom he has six sons and two daughters.
Scott, Lieut.-Col. Thomas, Collector of Customs, Winnipeg, was born in Lanark county, Ontario, 16th February, 1841. He is of Irish parentage, and has proved in all the departments of activity in which he has been engaged throughout an unusually active life that he has inherited the best qualities of the Celtic race braced with the increased vigor which a fine climate and free institutions give to Canadians. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public and high schools of his native county, and at an early age entered on journalism, and when only twenty he founded a journal to advocate the principles of the Conservative party. This journal was the Perth Expositor, which under the energetic management of its founder soon became a power in the county. Two years later he married Miss Kellock, second daughter of Robert Kellock. Born with the instincts of a soldier, young Scott joined the volunteer corps of his town, at the time of the Trent affair, and shortly afterwards became its captain. No better commanding-officer or more enthusiastic militiaman was to be found in the province than he. When the Fenian raid of 1866 set the country in a ferment, Capt. Scott was one of the first to ask on behalf of himself and his company to be assigned for active service. They were ordered to the St. Lawrence frontier, where they were kept on duty for four months. For his services he was raised to the rank of major. He was next called into active service in 1870, when he was placed in command of a company of the Ontario Rifles, part of Col. (now Lord) Wolseley’s expedition to the North-West to suppress the first Riel rebellion. In the toilsome journey Major Scott distinguished himself by his power of inspiring enthusiasm in the men under his command, which won such high encomiums from the brilliant young commander of the expedition. When, just after his return, it became necessary to send another expedition to the North-West to resist the threatened Fenian invasion of Manitoba, Major Scott, raised to the rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel, was chosen to command the force. A considerable part of the journey through what was then an almost untrodden wilderness was made in winter, and the men suffered great hardships, but made their way through to Fort Garry with wonderfully few mishaps. Liking the country, and appreciating the opportunities it offered for men of pluck and energy, Col. Scott sold out his newspaper business and removed to Manitoba. He at once took a prominent part in public affairs. He first essayed in 1874 to be elected to the Legislature of Manitoba against the then premier, Hon. R. A. Davis, but was unsuccessful. Three years later, however, he became mayor of Winnipeg after a keen electoral contest, but administered affairs so satisfactorily to the people, during his year of office, that he was elected by acclamation for a second term. While still occupying the place of mayor, he was nominated for a seat in the Legislative Assembly, and was elected. The general election came on in the following year, and Col. Scott was again successful. In 1880, the seat in the House of Commons for Selkirk becoming vacant by Hon. (now Sir) Donald A. Smith being unseated, Col. Scott resigned his place in the legislature, and ran in the Conservative interest, defeating Sir Donald by 169 majority. In the general election of 1882 he again was the Conservative standard-bearer for Winnipeg, in some respects the most important political division of the province. He was triumphantly returned and served throughout that parliament. He was appointed collector of customs in 1887, which position he still holds. Lieut.-Col. Scott, while always a strong party man, and almost fiercely active in a political contest, has those qualities of generosity and kind-heartedness which make men who are his opponents his friends. He is a man beloved by the people because of his strong sympathy with them, and his manifest desire to do all in his power to defend their interests.
Ogden, William Winslow, B.M., M.D., one of the leading medical practitioners of the city of Toronto, was born in the township of Toronto, county of Peel, 3rd July, 1837. His parents were William J. Ogden, an officer in the militia of York county in those days, and Rebecca Ogden. His father was descended from old English stock, traceable as far back as the time of Charles the Second. One of his ancestors, performed distinguished services for this fickle monarch at a critical period of his career, and received at his hands in return important recognition, and the coat armor now held by his descendants. The doctor’s mother was from Ireland, and has been dead over twenty years, but his father, now in his eighty-sixth year, is still alive, and resides near Port Credit. Dr. Ogden received such primary education as the schools of his native place supplied in those early days, and then went to the Toronto Academy (since extinct), at that time connected with Knox College. He afterwards attended, until he was eighteen years of age, Victoria College, taking the ordinary arts course, and from this until he reached the age of twenty-two, he attended the Toronto School of Medicine, taking at the same time several special subjects in natural science in the University of Toronto. He graduated in honors in medicine from Toronto University in 1860, and at a later date in the same science from Victoria College, Cobourg. He then settled in Toronto, in which city he has ever since successfully practised his profession. In 1869 Dr. Ogden was appointed lecturer on medical jurisprudence and toxicology in Toronto School of Medicine, and lectured on these subjects, and that of diseases of children, from that date until 1887, when, on the creation of the medical faculty of Toronto University, he was appointed professor of forensic medicine, which includes toxicology and medical psychology. He takes a deep interest in all educational matters, and has been a member of the public school board continuously since 1866, a period of twenty-two years. He is always found at his post, is generally a member of all important committees, for two years was chairman of the board, and no one rejoices more than the worthy doctor at the great progress our schools have made since he first began to take an active interest in their management. Being a public spirited gentleman, he is deeply interested in everything that helps to improve the social and material condition of his countrymen. He is a member of the Middlesex lodge, Sons of England Benevolent Society, and its medical examiner in the beneficiary department, is president of the Royal Oak Building and Savings Society, and of the Sons of England Hall Company of Toronto. For many years, till recently, he was an active member of the Toronto Reform Association, and for a long time was its vice-president. Ever since the Brown-Cameron struggle, in 1858, he has taken an active part in all the political contests held in Toronto, and had the distinction of being nominated as the Reform candidate for the Ontario legislature in 1879, but, although he succeeded in greatly reducing the majority generally polled against the Reform candidate, he failed to secure his own election. In religion, Dr. Ogden was brought up in, and has always taken a deep interest in, the Methodist form of worship, and for over thirty years has held the office of leader in the Methodist church. He has been a member of all the general conferences save one, and of the annual conferences up to the present. He supported and voted for the union of the several Methodist bodies, and was well pleased when the union took place. In politics, it is almost needless to say, he is a staunch Reformer, and has during his long and useful life sacrificed largely in time and labor to advance the cause he has so much at heart. On the 27th May, 1862, he was married, to Elizabeth Price, daughter of the late William McKown, and niece of the late George Price, who died in 1880.