Guevrement, Hon. Jean Baptiste, Sorel, Senator of the Dominion of Canada, was born at La Visitation, Isle du Pads, P.Q., on the 4th September, 1826. He is a farmer, and has always taken an active part in the politics of the country. In 1854 he was elected to represent Richelieu in the Canadian Assembly, which he did till 1857, when he was defeated at the general election that year. In 1858 he was chosen to represent Sorel in the Legislative Council of Canada, which position he filled till confederation. In 1867 he was a candidate for Richelieu in the Quebec Legislature, but was defeated. In the same year he was called to the Senate of Canada by royal proclamation. The Hon. Mr. Guevrement is a Conservative in politics. On May 2nd, 1848, he married Marie Anne Parelhus.
Allan, Hon. George William, D.C.L., Toronto, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Chancellor of the University of Trinity College, Toronto, was born at Little York, now Toronto, on the 9th of January, 1822. His father, the late Hon. William Allan, was a pioneer settler who took up his abode in York, during Governor Simcoe’s term of office, and resided in Toronto till his death in 1853. This gentleman, in his day, held a very prominent place in public esteem, and being possessed of more than ordinary ability and a good education, he enjoyed advantages not so common in those early days as now. He was the first postmaster for York, and the first custom collector for the port. During the war of 1812-15 he served in the militia as lieutenant-colonel, and his son has still in his possession the flags of his old regiment. He figured prominently, too, in commercial life, and was the first president of the Bank of Upper Canada. He also held a seat in the Legislative Council of old Canada for several years, and a seat in the Executive during the administrations of Sir Francis Bond Head and Sir George Arthur. Our subject’s mother was Leah Tyreer, whose father was Dr. John Gamble, who belonged to a U. E. Loyalist family, and was a surgeon in the Queen’s rangers. His corps was raised in Upper Canada after the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe. George William was educated by private tuition during his earlier years, and was afterwards sent by his father to Upper Canada College. When the rebellion, headed by William Lyon Mackenzie, broke out in 1837, young Allan, then in his sixteenth year, left U. C. College, and entered as a private “the Bank Rifle Corps,” of which the present Chief Justice Hagarty, Judge Galt, and some others still living were also members. He returned to the college at the end of the following year, and remained there until he went up for his examination as a law student which he passed in the “senior class,” in Easter term, 1839. He was articled to and began his studies in the office of Gamble & Boulton, and was subsequently called to the bar of Upper Canada, in Hilary term, 1846. Before entering upon the active practice of the law, young Allan was sent by his father to travel abroad, and in addition to a very extended tour throughout Europe, he visited many countries which, in those days, were not quite as accessible as they are now. He went up the Nile to the borders of Nubia, and afterwards travelled through Syria and the Holy Land, Asia Minor, Turkey and Greece, meeting with not a few exciting adventures, arising more particularly from the lawless and unsettled condition, at that time, of many parts of Syria and Asia Minor. He was elected, not long afterwards, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of England. Mr. Allan early took a part in municipal affairs, his name appearing as one of the aldermen for St. David’s Ward in 1849. In 1865 he was elected mayor of the city and served in that capacity throughout the year. In May, 1856, before again leaving Canada for a lengthened tour abroad, he was presented by his fellow-citizens with a very complimentary address. It was done up in neat book form, and is now a most interesting document, as it contains the signatures of men of all ranks, parties and creeds, a large proportion of whom have now passed away. Mr. Allan, in the autumn of 1858, in response to a requisition from the electors of the York division, for which he was returned by a very large majority, took his seat for that division in the Legislative Council of old Canada, which he retained until confederation. Mr. Allan took a prominent part in the business of the Legislative Council, and filled the office of chairman of the Private Bills Committee in that body for many years. In May, 1867, he was called to the Senate by Royal proclamation, and has ever since taken an active share in its deliberations, as well as in the business of the Committee of the House, having been chairman, first of the Private Bills Committee, and subsequently of the Standing Committee on Banking and Commerce, which he has now filled for many years. In politics he is a Conservative. Mr. Allan has always taken a deep interest in the promotion of literature and science in his native country. He was one of the original members of the Royal Canadian Institute, and has filled the chair as president, besides being a contributor to the Journal of the Institute. He has always been a warm friend to the cause of higher education, and has been closely connected with Trinity College University (of which he is now the Chancellor, and from which he received his degree of D.C.L.), ever since the founding of that Institution in 1852. In all matters connected with Canadian art Mr. Allan has ever evinced a lively interest. He is the president of the Ontario Society of Artists, and chairman of the Art Union of Canada, and is the possessor of a large and valuable collection of paintings by a Canadian artist, the late Paul Kane, illustrating Indian life and customs, and the scenery of the great North-West. Attached to horticultural pursuits himself, Mr. Allan has labored as president of the Horticultural Society of Toronto, for more than twenty-five years, to foster a taste for the study and cultivation of flowers and fruits among his fellow-citizens, and it was with that object that he presented to the Society, in 1857, the five acres of land which, with the subsequent addition made fifteen, now forming the Society’s Gardens. As we have already mentioned, Mr. Allan performed his first military duty at a very early age. He has always taken a warm interest in all matters connected with the Volunteers and Militia, and is himself Lieut.-Colonel of the Regimental Division of East Toronto, and an honorary member of the Queen’s Own Rifles. A member of the Church of England, Mr. Allan has for many years borne an active part in the Synod and other assemblies of his church. He has also filled the chair as president of the Upper Canada Bible Society for more than twenty years. In business affairs Mr. Allan fills more than one post of considerable responsibility and importance. He has been for many years chief commissioner of the Canada Company as well as president of one of our largest and most successful loan companies, the Western Canada Loan and Savings Company. In 1888, on the death of the Hon. Josiah B. Plumb, Speaker of the Senate, the Hon. Mr. Allan was elected to the office. While in his twenty-fourth year he married Louisa Maud, third daughter of the late Honourable Sir John Robinson, Bart., C.B., chief Justice of Upper Canada, and she died while sojourning at Rome, in 1852. He married again, in 1857, Adelaide Harriet, third daughter of the Rev. T. Schreiber, formerly of Bradwell Lodge, Essex, England, and has a family of six children, three sons and three daughters.
Futvoye, Isaac Booth, Railway Superintendent Northern Division Central Vermont, and Waterloo and Magog Railway, St. John’s, Quebec province, was born in London, England, on the 28th November, 1832. His father was Lieutenant-Colonel George Futvoye, who was for many years deputy minister of militia, and a resident of Ottawa. The subject of our sketch, Isaac Booth Futvoye, received his education at the High School of Quebec, and entered the railway service 1st May, 1857. From that time until 1st May, 1859, he served in the capacity of roadman (Engineer corps), on the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly Railway, when he was appointed station agent at St. John’s, P.Q. From February, 1865, to May, 1876, in conjunction with this office, he also acted as agent for the Montreal and Vermont Junction Railway, at the same place. From 24th May, 1876, to the present, he has acted as superintendent of the Stanstead, Shefford and Chambly and the Montreal and Vermont Junction Railways. These two railroads are now operated as the northern division of the Central Vermont Railroad. On the 1st January, 1878, he also became superintendent of the Waterloo and Magog Railroad. Mr. Futvoye is considered one of our best authorities in his particular sphere, and is respected and esteemed by all for his sound, practical judgment in matters pertaining to railways. In religion, he is a Protestant, belonging to the Episcopal church. He married, October 20th, 1860, Mary Anne Doyou, of Granby, P.Q.
Leblanc, Pierre Evariste, Montreal, M.P.P. for Laval, was born at St. Martin’s, in the county of Laval, 10th August, 1853. His ancestors came to L’Isle Jesus from Acadia in 1757, after the conquest and dispersion of its inhabitants by the British army. His father was Joseph Leblanc, and his mother Adéle Belanger. The subject of our sketch commenced his education at the Academy of St. Martin’s, leaving it to enter the Jacques Cartier Normal School, from which he went to McGill University. He entered into the study of law, deciding to make it his profession, and was called to the bar of the province of Quebec 11th July, 1879. Mr. Leblanc has always taken an active part in the politics of his country; and in 1882, when the Hon. L. O. Loranger was elevated to the bench, he was elected in his place to represent the county of Laval in the Quebec legislature. The election being protested, he was unseated on petition, but was re-elected, and was again elected at the last general election. In politics he is a Conservative, and is held in high esteem by his many friends. On the 12th January, 1886, he married Hermine, daughter of the late Theodore Beaudry, of Montreal, and Catharine Valée.
Davis, Donald Watson, Merchant, Macleod, district of Alberta, M.P. for Alberta, North-West Territory, was born in the town of Londonderry, state of Vermont, United States, in 1849. His father and mother were both natives of the state, but of English and Scotch descent. He received his education in his native town. He came to Canada, and settled in Macleod about 1870, where he conducts business as a merchant and general stock dealer. He was elected to the House of Commons as representative for Alberta at the last general election, and is a supporter of the Conservative party. In 1887 he was married to Lillie, daughter, of James Grier, J.P.