Garneau, Hon. Pierre, Quebec, Member of the Executive Council, and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the province of Quebec, was born at Cap Santé, Quebec province, on the 8th May, 1823. His ancestors came from France in 1636, and were a family held in high estimation. Hon. Mr. Garneau received his education in his native parish, and shortly after leaving school removed to Quebec city, where he entered into business, and after some years became a leading merchant and public spirited citizen. In 1870 he was elected mayor of the city, and performed the high and important duties of the office so faithfully that on the expiration of his two years’ term he was unanimously re-elected for another two years. He was chief promoter, and became president, of the Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship Company (now the Quebec Steamship Company); was president of the Quebec Street Railway for fifteen years, when he resigned in 1878; was a government director of the North Shore Railway for many years; and a member of the Canal Commission in 1870. He is a director of the Quebec and Lake St. John Lumber and Trading Company; of the Deléry Gold Mining Company; of La Banque Nationale; of the Quebec Fire Assurance Company; vice-president of the Quebec and Levis Electric Light Co.; and a member of the Quebec Board of Trade. In September, 1874, Hon. Mr. Garneau was appointed a member of the Executive Council, and became commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works for Quebec province; and shortly afterwards held the portfolio of Crown Lands. In March, 1878, the de Boucherville government, of which he was a member, having been defeated, he resigned with his colleagues. He was first elected to the Quebec legislature on the 11th March, 1873, for the county of Quebec, on the resignation of the sitting member; and was re-elected at the general election in 1875. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the general election of 1878, and remained out until 1881, when he was again returned by acclamation. At the general election, held in 1886, he was again forced to retire; but in January, 1887, he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council for De la Durantaye, and became commissioner of Crown Lands in the Mercier administration. Hon. Mr. Garneau was the head and only surviving partner of the well-known wholesale dry goods firm of P. Garneau et Frère, a firm that has been held in the highest repute for years throughout Canada and Europe, and is now senior partner of the firm of P. Garneau, Fils & Cie. In politics he is a Conservative, and in religion a member of the Roman Catholic church. In September, 1857, he was married to Cecilia Burroughs, daughter of the late Edward Burroughs, a well-known and highly respected prothonotary of Quebec. Two sons have been the issue of this marriage.
Beaton, Alexander H., Medical Superintendent of the Asylum for Idiots, Orillia. The province of Ontario makes generous provision for the part of its population that are unable to provide for themselves. The provincial asylums for idiots, for the insane, the deaf, the dumb, and the blind, are a credit to this young country. The proper management of these institutions entails heavy responsibilities, not only upon the government but upon the public servants who have them in charge. The subject of this sketch, Dr. Alexander H. Beaton, has for ten years occupied the position of superintendent of the Asylum for Idiots, at Orillia, and deserves a full share of the credit due to our asylum officials for the manner in which they discharge duties that are always responsible and often trying and difficult. He was born on the 20th of April, 1838, in the township of Pickering, county of Ontario, on the farm on which the village of Whitevale now stands. His father, Colin Beaton, emigrated from the Island of Mull, Scotland, in 1832, and was one of the pioneer settlers of what is now the splendid county of Ontario. His mother, Christina McKinnon, came from the same part of Scotland in 1820. In those early days Canadian boys usually worked on the farm during summer, and attended school in winter. Alexander H. Beaton was no exception to this rule. His parents, like many of the early settlers, could not afford to give their family a better education than that which could be obtained in their own school section. Fortunately for the Beaton family, the teacher in their section was generally one of the best in the township. Alexander and his younger brother, Donald, were among the best scholars in the school, and were usually found in a prominent place when the teacher wished to “put his best foot forward” on examination days. Both boys had resolved that farming was not to be their life work. At the age of eighteen Alexander obtained a second-class certificate and proceeded to take a place on that “stepping stone” about which so much used to be said by those who complained that many who are now among the most useful and prominent men in the province, merely taught school as a way into some other vocation. His first school was in the township of Vaughan, near Thornhill. In 1857 he taught at Duffin’s Creek, and in the following year entered the office of Ross, Crawford & Crombie, barristers, Toronto, with the intention of studying law. The way to the legal profession was, however, soon blocked. He had not sufficient means to maintain himself in Toronto for five years, and his father had suffered severely in the financial storm which swept over the country at that time. It became necessary to leave Toronto, mount the “stepping stone” again and earn more money. In 1860 and 1861 he taught in Claremont, in the township of Pickering, and in the following year in Ashburn, township of Whitby. During these years the intention of entering the legal profession was abandoned, and he prepared himself for the study of medicine. In the session of 1862 and 1863 he entered the Toronto School of Medicine, and attended the Rolph School in the summer of 1863, there being no summer session in the Toronto School. Continuing his studies in the Rolph School, he was graduated by that institution in April, 1864. Soon after graduation he began the practice of his profession, and continued in practice for twelve years. Nine years of the twelve were spent in Stayner, county of Simcoe, where he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, when appointed by the Ontario government to his present position. By birth and choice Dr. Beaton is a Presbyterian. Though in favour of wise progress in all proper directions, he is at the same time wisely conservative in ecclesiastical matters, and would readily be classed among the many “solid men” of the Presbyterian family communion. He has for many years been an office-bearer of his church, and takes a deep interest in all matters affecting the welfare of Canadian Presbyterianism. He is liberal in his support of the educational and other institutions of his church, his contributions always ranking with the highest given in his locality. In all his church relations Dr. Beaton is vigorously assisted by Mrs. Beaton, who, along with the family to which she belongs, is devotedly attached to Presbyterianism. Previous to his appointment to his present position, Dr. Beaton took an active part in politics. By birth, training and conviction he is a Liberal. Having a natural aptitude for public speaking and no special dislike to the “roar around the hustings,” as the late D’Arcy McGee once happily put it, his services were always in demand at election times, and were freely given. He took an active part in the exciting contests of 1872 and 1874, and whilst in political life was always ready to do his full share of work and take his full share of responsibility. In January, 1877, he was appointed to his present position, the duties of which have been quietly but faithfully and efficiently discharged. For the proper discharge of these duties Dr. Beaton has many excellent qualifications. He is firm yet kind-hearted, and has the faculty of seeing and appreciating honest worth and real ability in his assistants. The success of an asylum superintendent often depends as much on his tact in dealing with his assistants as on his ability to care for the unfortunates placed under his charge. He readily recognizes real worth, however humble the position of the employee who manifests it, and nothing affords him more pleasure than to see faithfulness and efficiency in his subordinates. In his dealings with the patients under his care he is uniformly kind, his intercourse with them savouring more of the paternal than of the official. He holds the theory that almost any idiot can be educated, at least, to a certain extent, and that it is the duty of the government, which in Ontario simply means the people, to give the idiot population all the education they are capable of receiving. It is assumed, Dr. Beaton argues, that the province should provide a free education for the children that have the proper use of their faculties of mind and body. How much more urgent and binding is the duty of educating those who have impaired bodily powers and the mere germ of an intellect? It is expected that in the new asylum buildings now in course of erection at Orillia, ample provision will be made not only for the care, but also for the training of the patients. The superintendent will then have ample facilities for carrying out his theory, and the unfortunates under his care will, in addition to the comforts of a well-managed home, receive such an education as their faculties permit. In 1870 Dr. Beaton was united in marriage with Margaret Ann McNiven, daughter of Donald McNiven, then a resident of Bradford, county of Simcoe, but at present residing in Harriston, county of Wellington.
Ross, Hon. William, Collector of Customs, Halifax, was born at Boulardarie, Victoria county, Cape Breton, on the 27th December, 1825. His parents, John Ross and Robina Mackenzie, emigrated from Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1816, and settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and after remaining there five years removed to Boulardarie, Cape Breton. William received his primary education in the public school of his native place, and afterwards was sent to Halifax, where he completed his studies in the Normal School of that city. In 1848 he began business as a merchant in Englishtown, Cape Breton, and in this he continued until 1874. During this period he was extensively engaged in prosecuting the mackarel, herring, cod, and salmon fisheries, and also did a large business in the cattle trade between Cape Breton and Newfoundland. For several years he was postmaster of Englishtown. In 1861 he passed his military examination, and was appointed colonel of the 30th regiment Victoria Militia of Nova Scotia, and retired from active service in 1874. In 1859 Mr. Ross entered politics as a Liberal, and was returned, under universal suffrage law, as a member of the Nova Scotian legislature by a majority of 516. Again, in 1863, when the property qualification law came into force, he was elected by a large majority, and conscientiously opposed the Johnstone-Tupper government from that time up to 1867, when he retired from local politics, and was elected by acclamation for the county of Victoria, Cape Breton, to the House of Commons at Ottawa, after having sat for eight years in the Nova Scotian legislature. In 1872, on the occasion of a general election, he was again returned by acclamation by his native county; and on the downfall of the Sir John A. Macdonald administration in November, 1873, and on the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie assuming the government, Mr. Ross was made Minister of Militia. After his acceptance of this responsible office, and on his presenting himself for re-election, he was stoutly opposed by the Conservatives in his county, but, nevertheless, he was returned for the third time, in February, 1874, to the Dominion parliament by acclamation. Shortly afterwards the Hon. Mr. Ross retired from active political life, and was appointed collector of customs for the port of Halifax, and this important and responsible position he still continues to fill. In 1852 he joined the Masonic fraternity, and for two years was worshipful master of Virgin lodge, No. 3, Halifax; and was also twice in succession elected high priest of Royal Union Chapter of Halifax. He is now past deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia; and although he has been repeatedly nominated as grand master, he has refused the honour. He has occupied the position of vice-president and president of the North British Society. He has travelled through Newfoundland, part of the United States, and has visited every important point in Canada as far west as Lake Harno. Hon. Mr. Ross is an adherent of the Presbyterian church, and in politics is a Liberal. In March, 1855, he was married to Eliza H. Moore, daughter of P. H. Moore, of the firm of Gammell and Moore, of North Sydney. The fruit of this marriage was eight children, six of whom now survive.
Labelle, Captain Jean Baptiste, Montreal, M.P. for the county of Richelieu, was born at Sorel, province of Quebec, on 27th May, 1836. He is descended on the paternal side from a very old French-Canadian family, the first of whom came from France as a soldier, and after getting his discharge settled in the country. On the maternal side the family also came from France, and has been many years in the country. His father, Toussaint Labelle, was a navigator, and his mother was named Marguerite Genton Dauphine. Captain Labelle received his education in the parish school at Sorel; and as he grew up took to sailing craft on the St. Lawrence river. He soon became an expert navigator, and for over twenty-five years commanded one of the finest of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company’s passenger steamers, sailing between Montreal and Quebec. In 1880 Captain Labelle gave up sailing, and received the appointment of passenger agent at Montreal, of the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway Company; and in 1883 he was made general manager of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company, which position he still holds. In 1868, at the general election then held, Mr. Labelle presented himself as a candidate for the Quebec Legislature for Richelieu county, but was defeated by the small majority of nine against him. At the general election held in 1887, he again presented himself to the same constituency, and was returned as a member of the House of Commons at Ottawa. As a commander, Mr. Labelle was one of the most popular who ever sailed the St. Lawrence. He was noted for his courtesy and forbearance; his ability, and his coolness and intrepidity, which he exhibited on several occasions, especially during the inundation of the Island of Sorel in 1865, and on the occasion of the burning of the steamer Montreal, in 1857. In politics, Captain Labelle is a Conservative; and in religion, a member of the Roman Catholic church. In 1856, he was married to Delphine Crébassa, daughter of Narcisse Crébassa, notary, of Sorel, a remote descendant of a Spanish family that at first emigrated to Holland, and from thence came and settled in Canada.
MacCoy, William Frederick, Q.C., Barrister, M.P.P. for Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Halifax, is a native of Ireland, he having been born at Lysrian, in the county of Longford, on the 15th May, 1840. His father, Thomas MacCoy, emigrated to Nova Scotia when William was only eight years of age. His mother, of whom he has no personal knowledge, died a few hours after giving birth to her boy; and his father died about twenty-four years ago. William Frederick MacCoy commenced his educational studies at the National School in Halifax, and graduated at Sackville Academy, New Brunswick. He adopted law as a profession, and was called to the bar of Nova Scotia, in 1864. On the 11th October, 1880, he was appointed a Queen’s counsel. He practised his profession in Shelburne for about nine years, and then removed to Halifax, and is now the head of the firm of MacCoy, Pearson, Morrison, and Forbes, barristers, notaries and solicitors in Admiralty. The firm does a large and lucrative law business. He was elected one of the aldermen of the city of Halifax, in 1881, and in 1882 was offered the position of attorney-general in the Liberal government of that day, but declined the honour, considering that his colleague had a prior claim. Mr. MacCoy was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia at the general election of 1878, but at the next general election, he succeeded in securing his election by 247 of a majority, and in January, 1887, he was again elected to his old seat. He is a Liberal in politics, and in religion an adherent of the Methodist church. In 1864, he received a commission as captain in the militia, and takes a lively interest in our citizen soldiers. The year after he joined the Masonic order, and is now a past master of St. Andrew’s lodge, Halifax. He, we are glad to say, is a strong temperance man, and for years, has taken a deep interest in the advancement of temperance legislature, and is the author of the present Temperance Act of Nova Scotia. He is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and his eminent legal knowledge renders him a very useful member of his lodge, when constitutional questions come up for discussion. In the legislature he has won a position of prominence, and has aided in shaping to a great extent the progressive measures introduced of late years, and is one of the recognized leaders of his party. On the 14th July, 1868, he was married to Maud L., daughter of Robert P. Woodill, merchant, Shelburne, and has a family of two children.