Murphy, Owen, Quebec, M.P.P. for Quebec West, was born at Stoneham, in the province of Quebec, on 9th December, 1829. He is descended from a long line of illustrious ancestors, as may be seen on referring to the “Chronicles of Leinster.” This authority says; “The O’Murphys, the O’Murchoes, or Murphy, are descended from Henry Feling, chieftain of the Murroes, now called Macamores, in the Barony of Ballaghkeen, in the county of Wexford. They were in possession of it before the English invasion. This Feling was son of Cuma-Kinsellagh, King of Leinster, in the fifth century. The head of the family, in 1634, lived in Tubberlimmach. He was Connell O’Murchoe, gentleman, the eldest son of Donnell More, ‘The O’Murchoe,’ son of Art, son of Tiege. This Connell died in 1634, and was buried in Castle Ellis [the burial-place of Mr. Murphy’s family in the county of Wexford.—Ed.]. He left five sons: Tiege was the eldest, he remained in Wexford; also James, who possessed an estate in Killincoolly, taken from him by Cromwell. Art went to county Louth in 1641; his descendants remained in the north. Another, named Laughlin, lived in Ballyoughna.” The Murphys of Ballainonlart House, in Wexford, have been known for generations as one of the most popular families in that district, and we believe we are correct in affirming that Owen Murphy’s father was the only member of the family who settled in this country, which he did in the early part of the present century. Many people still living in the city of Quebec remember well the generous and liberal spirit that at all times actuated him, and this, combined with his peculiarly rich attainments and cultivated mind, rendered him a highly popular citizen, and when death came, caused him to be greatly regretted. None the less eminent were his three brothers, all of whom attained for themselves very high ecclesiastical honors and dignity, one of whom being for many years bishop of Ferns, in Ireland. Owen Murphy was educated under Robert H. Scott, of Edinburgh, a gentleman of high culture, with a reputation far above ordinary as a tutor. His commercial training was received in the offices of Ross, Shuter & Co., and H. J. Noad & Co., two of the most important lumber, ship-owning, produce and milling firms then in the city or province of Quebec. Mr. Murphy’s aptitude and zeal in his profession gained for him the commendation of his employers, and the result was that he soon became not only a favourite with them, but with the public generally. He was elected to serve in the city council, as representative for St. Paul’s ward, the most important business section of the city, and for several years faithfully served the citizens in that capacity. In 1874, as a mark of the high esteem in which he was held, he was chosen mayor of the ancient capital; and as a further mark of esteem he was again, in 1876, elected for another term of two years. During the period he occupied the position of chief magistrate he exhibited such zeal for the city’s welfare that on his retirement from office he carried with him the esteem and best wishes of his fellow citizens. And here we may say that the improvements suggested by Lord Dufferin, when he was governor-general of Canada, and which have made Quebec one of the most beautiful places for the tourist in which to spend a few days, were suggested when Mr. Murphy was mayor, and through combined efforts they were carried out to a successful conclusion. In August, 1875, while Mr. Murphy was mayor of Quebec, he paid a visit to Britain, and of course to the land of his forefathers. The Wexford Independent thus kindly alludes to the event:
The Mayor of Quebec at Wexford.—This respected functionary, accompanied by the mayoress of Quebec, arrived here on Saturday last from Dublin. His worship is staying at the West Gate Hotel, and is a nephew of the late Right Rev. Dr. Murphy, the estimable and lamented bishop of the diocese, the truly apostolic divine, the scholar, and in every sense the well-bred Irish gentleman. He is also a nephew of the ci-devant pastor of Castlecomer, in the diocese of Ossary, the late Very Reverend Lawrence Murphy, and of the late Rev. Michael Murphy, for many years the zealous collaborateur of Father Corrin in the pastoral charge of Wexford. Although born on a foreign soil, Mr. Murphy ardently loves the land of his ancestors—not with wild and misdirected enthusiasm, but like his estimable uncles, with judgment, discretion and sincerity; and in saying that he has inherited many of their distinguished characteristics, we pay him the highest compliment in our power to bestow. At the great international banquet given by the corporation of London (England) lately to the great municipal chiefs of the whole civilized world, the mayor of Quebec was chosen to return thanks, not only for the Dominion of Canada, but for the municipalities of the United States, and the other rising nations of the western world.
Mr. Murphy is a justice of the peace for the city and district of Quebec; a director of the Quebec Central Railroad; has been president of the St. Patrick’s Society; president of St. Patrick’s Literary Society; for four years president of the Quebec Turf Club, and was one of the committee of management of St. Patrick’s Church, prior to the change being made in the temporal administration of that church. In 1880 he was elected president of the Quebec Board of Trade, and the following year was again unanimously elected for another term. At the general election held in 1866 he was elected to represent Quebec West in the local legislature. In politics he is a Liberal, but is in favour of the national policy. In religion he is an adherent of the Roman Catholic church. He was married in 1857 to Elizabeth, daughter of the late James Loughry.
Smith, Rev. H. Percy W., Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Dunnville, Ontario, was born at Islington, London, England, on the 13th September, 1837. His parents, William and Mary Smith, are both alive, and residing in Canada. Rev. Mr. Smith received his early education at private schools in his birthplace, and when thirteen years of age entered a wholesale drapery establishment, where he continued for about seven years. This business not being entirely in accordance with his taste, he abandoned it, and entered St. Augustin’s College, Canterbury, to study for the ministry. In February, 1864, he bade farewell to England, and set sail on the Bohemian steamship for Canada. When eighteen days out the Bohemian struck the rocks near Portland, and became a total wreck, and through this mishap he unfortunately lost his library and outfit. Shortly after reaching Canada, in 1864, he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Ontario, and two years afterwards, priest by the Bishop of Montreal. For the past ten years he has been rector of St. Paul’s Church, at Dunnville, and is very much respected by his parishioners. He was married in 1866 to Lizzie, third daughter of the late Colonel Edwards, of March, Ontario.
Mackay, Alexander Howard, B.A., B.Sc., F.S.Sc. (Lond.), Pictou, Nova Scotia. Alexander Mackay, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and the progenitor of a numerous family, many of whom are favourably known in Canada as members of the learned professions, was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1762. He emigrated to Mount Dalhousie, in the county of Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1822, took up several hundred acres of land for farming, and in 1847 died, loved and revered by a large community who looked up to him as a patriarchal chief. His second son, John Mackay, was born in Sutherlandshire, in 1810, and emigrated with his father and the rest of the family in 1822. In 1836 he travelled through a portion of the United States of America, and Ontario, in Canada, where he took up some land; but finally settled down on the old homestead. In 1847 he married Barbara Maclean, who was born at Roger’s Hill, in the county of Pictou, in 1823. Her father, John Maclean, was born in the west of Scotland, about 1758, and died at Roger’s Hill in 1848. From this marriage came a family of seven boys and three girls. The eldest, Alexander Howard Mackay, was born on the 19th May, 1848. His father was a man of remarkable probity of character, of very superior intellectual powers, and enthusiastically patriotic. In addition to the farm, a mechanic’s shop, with a turner’s and cabinetmaker’s tools and machinery, supplied the ways and means. There was no luxury, however. Hard manual work, alternated with study, was used in developing the various and versatile powers of the whole man. The play of mechanical ingenuity, original constructive effort, and acute investigation, filled the hours of recreation. This family discipline was a perfect success. The father, John Mackay, died February 22nd, 1879. The mother is living in good health at the date of writing, August, 1887. Young Alexander could read and write before he went to the public school, which was two miles distant. The farm and the school divided his time; but the leisure hour found him constructing a sextant, theodolite, or transit instrument, which he never previously saw, and with which he made remarkably accurate measurements; or making some apparatus to demonstrate a law in physics or chemistry; or exploring the natural history of the picturesque glen running through the homestead. In 1865 the trustees of the school section pressed him to take charge of their school. Although he had no license, never having thought of becoming a teacher, he accepted the position. In 1866 he graduated at the head of his class from the Provincial Normal School at Truro. In 1867 he attended the Pictou Academy, and at the provincial examination of teachers following, won the first place. In the fall of 1869 he matriculated in Dalhousie College, and for four years was a leading prizeman in his classes. He graduated a B.A. in April, 1873, with special honours in mathematics and physics. He was also the valedictorian of his class, and was for the last three years of his undergraduate course an editor of the college paper, The Dalhousie Gazette. He also took classes in the School of Science in the Provincial Museum, under the provincial geologist, Dr. Honeyman; and in the Medical College, then affiliated with Dalhousie. After graduation he was appointed principal of the County Academy at Annapolis Royal, and a few months later received the unsolicited appointment to the principalship of the Pictou Academy and public schools of Pictou, which position he holds at present. He assumed charge of the Pictou Academy, November 1st, 1873, since which time the staff and attendance of the institution have been more than doubled. In 1874 he was elected president of the Education Convention of Nova Scotia, a position to which he was re-elected. From this time he has taken a very active and forward part in promoting educational reform through the press and otherwise. In 1876 he spent a portion of the year in studying the educational appliances in the leading cities of the eastern United States. His efforts culminated in 1881, in the erection of the present Pictou Academy, one of the finest and best equipped academic buildings in Canada. Its facilities for scientific teaching are greater than are those of many colleges. In 1880 he graduated a B.Sc. from the University of Halifax, with first class honours in biology. In addition to his educational work, he has also found time to engage in original scientific investigation. His papers or work may be found in the “Proceedings” of several scientific societies. His popular scientific writings have been numerous and widely diffused. In 1884 he was elected a member of committee of the Biological section of the British Association meeting in Montreal. In 1886 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Science, Letters and Art, London. And the same year he was elected president of the Alumni of Dalhousie College and University; and also, president of the Nova Scotia Summer School of Science. He knows no rest, for at the same time he is a member of a multitude of local societies, and in every sense an active citizen. He is a member of the Kirk Session of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Pictou; but also contributes to other denominations. He believes in a catholic union of all Christian effort, and a scientific expansion of religious philosophy. In local politics he independently supports educational reform. In Dominion politics he avows a preference for the policy of the Liberal-Conservative party. He is a Britisher, first, against the whole world; and a Canadian all the time, and will fight. He has just started the “Educational Review” (of which he is Nova Scotian editor), in company with G. U. Hay, Ph.B., of St. John, New Brunswick, and Principal Anderson, of the Prince of Wales College, Prince Edward Island. In 1882 he married Maude Augusta Johnstone, only daughter of Dr. George Moir Johnstone, M.R.C.S., London, and his wife, née Sarah Mortimer Smith, of Pictou town.
Archibald, Abram Newcomb, was born in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, June 2nd, 1849, and died in Halifax, November 27, 1883. He was the seventh son of Daniel Archibald, J.P., and Rebecca Newcombe, his wife, both of whom are still living (December, 1886). Daniel Archibald is a great grandson of Samuel Archibald, the second of four brothers from Londonderry, Ireland, who settled in Colchester county, in 1762. This family has produced many distinguished men, including among others the late S. G. W. Archibald, Master of the Rolls, and his two sons, Sir Thomas D. and Sir Edward M. Archibald, Sir Adams G. Archibald and Senator T. D. Archibald. Mr. Archibald attended the schools of his native place in his boyhood, and subsequently pursued his classical studies for a couple of years under the tuition of his brother, the Rev. E. N. Archibald, M.A. In 1867 he took charge of the public school at Musquodoboit, Halifax county; in May, 1876, he was appointed principal of Richmond School, Halifax city; and in November, 1879, principal of Albro School. He resigned this latter position in July, 1881, on his appointment to the office of secretary and superintendent, of colportage for the British American Book and Tract Society, with headquarters in Halifax. In the discharge of his new duties, Mr. Archibald visited all the centres of population in the lower provinces and addressed public meetings. Early in 1883 he proceeded to Britain, on business connected with the society, and to present its claims to the British public, being accompanied on this tour by his wife and son. Mr. Archibald was invited to speak in many of the principal churches in Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as before the United Presbyterian Synod and the Free Church Assembly, which met in Edinburgh in May. He was also present by invitation and spoke at the annual missionary breakfast of the Religious Tract Society, held in the Cannon Street Hotel, London. The interest awakened by Mr. Archibald’s addresses was very gratifying, and resulted in his obtaining liberal subscriptions to the funds of the society. On his return to Halifax in the autumn, Mr. Archibald was able to present a most satisfactory report of his mission, and received the warmest thanks of the committee. Shortly after resuming his work in Nova Scotia, he was seized with typhoid fever, and although a very strong man, he finally succumbed to the attack. Many public bodies, as well as private individuals on both sides of the Atlantic, gave formal expression to their deep sense of the loss sustained in his death. Mr. Archibald was a ready and persuasive speaker and a good writer. Many of his essays and addresses have been published. He always took a leading part in educational, temperance, Sabbath-school and all religious work. As president of the Halifax Sunday-school Union, he occupied the chair at the great centenary meeting held in Halifax, July 3rd, 1880; and at the time of his death he was a member of the executive committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Halifax. Mr. Archibald married, December 14th, 1874, Mary Mellish, third daughter of James L. Mellish, of Pownal, P.E.I. They had one son, Raymond Clare, born October 8th, 1875. Mrs. Archibald was re-appointed chief preceptress of Mount Allison Ladies’ College, Sackville, N.B., in 1885, having held that position previous to her marriage.