Noyes, John Powell, Prothonotary Superior Court (Cowansville, Ont.), was born at Potton, Brome County, Que., September 15th, 1842, the son of Herman B. Noyes and Sarah Powell. Receiving his education in Bangor and Fort Covington, N.Y., and St. Mary’s College, Montreal, from which last he graduated in 1866, he studied law with the late Hon. L. S. Huntington, Q.C., and the late Judge Laframboise. Mr. Noyes practised his profession at Waterloo, Que., where he was also editor of the “Advertiser,” and meeting with gratifying success became Batonnier of Bedford District and K.C. in 1886; also Batonnier-General for the Province of Quebec in 1887. In 1889 he was appointed a Royal Commissioner to investigate the claim of the Hereford Railway Employees, and in 1891 Joint Prothonotary Superior Court, Joint Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Joint Clerk of the Crown and Peace for the District of Bedford. In 1887 he was nominated for Shefford (Local) Constituency in the Liberal interest but withdrew before the contest; his name has also been mentioned as a candidate for the Judiciary. Mr. Noyes was the first Mayor of the Town of Waterloo and for an extended period Secretary-Treasurer of the Stanstead, Shefford & Chambly Railway Co., of which he is now a director. He is the author of “Canadian Loyalists and Early Settlers in the District of Bedford,” published in 1901, also of “Some Pioneers of Shefford,” is a director of the Historical Society of Missisquoi, and was elected President in 1904. He has been a Freemason since 1866, having been a member of and sat in the Grand Lodges of Canada and Quebec; he was grand Superintendent R. A. Masons, Eastern Township District, in 1883; Grand First Principal, Grand Chapter of Quebec in 1886-7; Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Quebec, in 1893, and Grand Master of the above in 1894. Mr. Noyes married Lucy A., daughter of Joseph Merry of Magog, Que., in 1867, and has six children—Egbert S., Jessie C., Laura M., Bertha A., Emily M. and Ralph M. Noyes, of whom four survive. In 1913 he was named sole Prothonotary of the District of Bedford and in 1916 was tendered a banquet by the Judges, Bar and Court Officials of the District on the anniversary of his admission to the Bar fifty years before, and of his appointment as Joint Prothonotary twenty-five years before.
Hughes, Brigadier-General William St. Pierre, D.S.O. (Ottawa, Ont.). On October 19, 1914, authority was granted to Lieut.-Colonel (now Brigadier-General) William St. Pierre Hughes to organize an infantry battalion to be absorbed into the Second Canadian Contingent for Overseas Service. On the evening of May 5, the 21st was given a rousing send-off by the citizens of Kingston, Ontario, and the following morning the battalion embarked at Montreal on the S.S. Metagama for overseas. Ten days later the 21st disembarked at Devonport, England, and on Sept. 15 it landed on French soil, and, in due time was under fire at Messines, Vis-en-Artois, Neuville Villasse, Mercatel, Amiens, Bouley Grenier, St. Eloi, Sanctuary Wood, Ancre, Vimy Ridge, Courcelette, Mosselmark Village and Polderhook Chateau, Passchendaele, Bapaume, Arras, Quichy-le-Chateau, the village of Damery and Parvillers, Cambrai, and was one of the first battalions to cross the boundary at Bonn into Germany. Before going overseas to serve in the Great War, General William St. Pierre Hughes held the position of Inspector of Penitentiaries, with headquarters in Ottawa. During his absence at the front that office was abolished by Act of Parliament, and the new office of Superintendent of Penitentiaries was established. The value to Canada of General Hughes’ services as Inspector and as a competent and fearless soldier during the war were well known to the Dominion Government, to the members of Parliament, and to the general public, and when the position of Superintendent was made public, members of Parliament, the Press of Canada and the public in general were unanimous in General Hughes’ favor, and he was appointed to the position. When he was appointed to the position the “Montreal Gazette” said: “One of the purposes of the Civil Service Commission is to select for appointment worthy and capable men...... A case in point is the selection of Major-General Hughes for the position of Superintendent of Dominion Penitentiaries...... General Hughes comes of a fighting family in a military sense, and the call of the colors has always found in him a quick response even in the relatively remote days of 1885...... His appointment is still more to be commended by reason of merit and experience. He had long service in the Penitentiaries Branch of the Department of Justice, in which he rose to the rank of Chief Inspector before donning the uniform in defence of the Empire...... The responsible duties of the office will be well discharged by one who never failed in duty.” Brigadier-General William St. Pierre Hughes, D.S.O., Superintendent of Penitentiaries, and brother of Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, was born in Durham County, Ontario, June 2, 1863, and is the son of John Hughes and Caroline Laughlin. From both sides of his family he inherited military tastes, his father being the son of a surgeon-major in the Imperial army who spent eighteen years in India, and his mother the daughter of Colonel Laughlin of the 10th Royal Irish Artillery and the granddaughter of Colonel St. Pierre, one of the most famous of Napoleon’s colonels. General Hughes was educated entirely by his father until his eleventh year, when he went to Toronto where he remained six years. After a year at home he went to Winnipeg, where in 1885 he enlisted with the famous “Little Black Devils.” During his stay in Winnipeg he won the amateur championship of Manitoba and the North-West as a one-mile foot runner. After the Rebellion he returned to Ontario, spending a year at college in Belleville; then a year in Orillia where he played lacrosse with the Orillia team when that team won the championship of Ontario; then to Cornwall, where he played with the famous Cornwall lacrosse team during its years of national triumph. In 1893, General Hughes became Warden’s Secretary and Clerk of Industries in the Kingston Penitentiary, taking up what has become his life’s work. After filling a number of different positions in penitentiary work, during which he took a deep interest in criminology, General Hughes became Inspector of Penitentiaries in 1913. With great earnestness he started to put into effect many cherished plans for prison reform, but the call of 1914 put an end for the time to this work. During all the years of prison work General Hughes has kept in close touch with military affairs. Starting as lieutenant in the old 14th Battalion of Kingston, he, in course of time, became lieutenant-colonel commanding it, and was also brigade-major of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. General Hughes was in the West when war was declared, and on his return in September, 1914, hurried to Valcartier, but was then unable to get a place in the 1st Contingent, which had already been mobilized. He then returned to Kingston and mobilized the famous 21st Battalion. He commanded this battalion continuously until July, 1916, when he was promoted to the command of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which he commanded in France until the spring of 1917. He then returned to England, where he commanded the Canadian area at Crowborough until it was taken over by the Imperial army. General Hughes then became president of a board for adjusting the financial differences between the Imperial and Canadian authorities as regards barrack damages, etc., and succeeded in writing off over $225,000 of charges made by Imperials against Canadians, and also saving an amount of almost $50,000 which was paid to Canadian Paymaster-General by various units in settlement of these charges. During his service in France General Hughes was awarded the D.S.O., and was twice mentioned in despatches. Owing to a reorganization of the Penitentiary Branch, General Hughes was forced to return to Canada in the summer of 1918, and was appointed Superintendent of Penitentiaries in April, 1919. Prominent relatives of General Hughes, besides Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, are Major John Hughes and Dr. James L. Hughes, brothers. February 5, 1900, General Hughes married Jessie Williams, daughter of William Macleod, of Cornwall, Ontario. He has one son and one daughter, Major Laughlin Macleod Hughes, R.C.H.A., and Mrs. John S. Gzowski, of Montreal, Quebec. General Hughes is a member of the following societies: Masonic, Orange, Odd-fellows and Foresters. For recreation he indulges in all-round sports and big game hunting. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and resides at 155 Stewart Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
Smart, Russell Sutherland, B.A., M.E., is a member of the firm of Featherstonhaugh & Smart, Patent Solicitors, 5 Elgin Street, Ottawa. He is the son of George A. and Louise Maud (Walton) Smart, of Toronto. His father was a well-known author. Mr. Smart was born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 20, 1885, and was educated in the Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Toronto; Toronto University, 1904; School of Practical Science; Queen’s University, 1907; honorary M.E. Toronto University 1913. In July, 1911, Mr. Smart was called to the Quebec bar, and to the Ontario bar in 1914. In May, 1904 he was admitted Patent Attorney. He is joint author of “Fisher and Smart on Patents,” and author of “Smart on Trademarks.” December 24, 1908, Mr. Smart married Emma Louise Parr, daughter of James A. Parr, lumberman, of Ottawa. He has three daughters—Helen Louise, Elizabeth, and Jane Clayton. Mr. Smart is a member of the Rideau, Rivermead Golf, University (Toronto), and Chemists (New York) clubs, and of the following societies: Engineering Institute of Canada, Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, and Patent American Law Association. For recreation, Mr. Smart indulges in golf and tennis. In religion he is a Presbyterian; in politics, independent; and he resides at 15 Linden Terrace, Ottawa.
McMahon, James Alexander (Hamilton, Ont.), Treasurer and Managing Director, Union Drawn Steel Company, Limited, conducted a Commercial College at Beaver Falls, Penn., 1887-1892; was employed with the Swan Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, 1892-1893, and with the Union Drawn Steel Company, of Beaver Falls, Penn., 1893-1905, coming to Hamilton in 1905, where he established the present business. He is a member of the Executive Committee, Hamilton Branch, Canadian Manufacturers Association, 1916-17; a member of the Membership Committee of the same for all of Canada, of which latter body he was Chairman in 1911; a member of the Technical Committee Hamilton School Board, and a member of the Hamilton Board of Trade. Mr. McMahon was born in Venango County, Penn., December 18th, 1859, the son of John and Margaret (Wolf) McMahon. He was educated at the Public Schools of Pennsylvania, and took a Commercial Course at Oberlin, Ohio. In 1889 he married Jennie G., daughter of Benjamin F. Beegle, by whom he has one son, Carl A., and one daughter, Alma. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M. also of the Commercial Club, Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, and Canadian Club, Glendale Golf and Country Club, all of Hamilton. In politics he is a Conservative, and a Methodist in religion.
Gwatkin, Major-General W. G. (Ottawa, Ont.), has been connected with the military system of Canada since 1905. Except for rather less than two years—between 1909 and 1911—his service with it has been continuous, and he has been intimately concerned alike with the preparations which were made for the Great War and with the staff work at Headquarters during the course of the war. A Cambridge University man, he joined the Manchester Regiment in 1882, and served as Subaltern, Adjutant, Company Commander and Second in Command; in 1894 he passed the Staff College; and in 1898 he began a long career on the Staff. Early in 1899 he went to the War Office to work in what ultimately became the Mobilization Section, the organ of the War Office which had a great deal to do, first, with the rapid and efficient supply of troops to South Africa, and afterwards with the careful preparations which enabled the regular army to show to such advantage in France. In the War Office during this period he served under Colonel (now Lieut.-General) Sir Percy Lake. In 1904, General Lake came to Canada to be the first Chief of the General Staff, and in 1905 he brought Colonel Gwatkin (who had been serving with his regiment in South Africa) to Ottawa to serve as Director of Operations and Staff Duties—in other words, to be his principal technical assistant. The reorganization of the Canadian Militia which followed the South African War was beginning. In the years between 1904 and 1914 the Militia force was remodelled, and a staff system was founded which proved able to carry through the work of raising and sending overseas an army of half a million men. Colonel Gwatkin’s services were so highly regarded that the Minister of Militia specially asked the War Office for an extension of his services, and he remained in Canada, not for the regulation three years, but for four. After a period of staff service in England his services were again requested by the Canadian Government, and he came to Canada early in 1911. At that time the military authorities of the Empire had become seriously apprehensive of war with Germany, and Colonel Gwatkin’s work largely comprised such measures of organization for this emergency as were undertaken in the circumstances. In particular he drew up complete plans for the raising and despatch of a contingent to England in the event of a war in Europe in which Canada might wish to participate. The plan drawn up anticipated a large number of the points which arose when the war actually came. In November, 1913, he succeeded Major-General C. J. MacKenzie as Chief of the General Staff. He was filling this post when the war came. The work done in the Militia Department in preparation for such an eventuality proved of the utmost service. Cable censorship was established, harbours were closed, dangerous points were guarded, the transition from peace to a war which the general public had not expected was made with remarkable smoothness. When the first contingent sailed General Gwatkin was desired by the Government to stay at Militia Headquarters to keep the machine working. During the entire course of the war he performed enormous labours. To recruit, give preliminary training to and ship overseas so large an army meant administrative ability of a very high order and the discharge of an immense amount of thankless labour. He has done his work to the high satisfaction of the Government of Canada, whose principal military adviser he has been. It showed its appreciation of his services by insisting on retaining him, though the Imperial Government repeatedly expressed a desire to recall him for service in Great Britain or France. The details of his career are as follows:—Major-General Willoughby Garnons Gwatkin, C.B., C.M.G., born August 11, 1859; was appointed Lieutenant Manchester Regiment May 10, 1882; Adjutant, Manchester Regiment, April 18, 1888, to April 17, 1892; Captain, Manchester Regiment, January 17, 1890; Major, Manchester Regiment, April 7, 1900; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel, January 6, 1904; Brevet Colonel November 20, 1907; Major-General, October 21, 1914. Staff appointments—Staff Captain Egypt, January 24, 1898, to April 20, 1898; Staff Captain, Headquarters of Army, March 11, 1899, to January 10, 1900; D.A.A.G., H.Q. of Army (temp.) January 11, 1900 to January 21, 1901; Staff Captain (Mobilization) H.Q. of Army, January 22, 1901, to October 14, 1902; D.A.Q.M.G. (Mobilization) H.Q. of Army, October 15, 1902, to October 31, 1903; Director of Operations and Staff Duties (General Staff Officer 2nd Grade) Canadian Militia, October 5, 1905, to October 20, 1909; General Staff Officer 1st grade Eastern Command, March 5, 1910, to February 28, 1911; General Staff Officer (Mobilization) 1st Grade Militia H.Q., Canada, July 14, 1911, to October 31, 1913; Chief of the General Staff and 1st Military Member of the Militia Council, Dominion of Canada, November 1, 1913. General Gwatkin is the fourth son of the late Frederick Gwatkin of New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London, W.C., and Grove House, Twickenham, and Louisa Isabella, younger daughter of the Rev. Ambrose Stapleton, vicar of East Budleigh, Devonshire. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, at King’s College, Cambridge, and at R.M.C., Sandhurst. In 1916 he was created C.B. (Civil), C.M.G. in 1918 and Order of St. Sava of Serbia in 1918.