J. G. Brennan, Ottawa
John L. Garland, Ottawa
Easson, Robert Henry (Toronto, Ont.), is one of the most prominent figures in the musical manufacturing industry of Canada. He is Vice-President of the Otto Higel Company, Ltd., manufacturers of piano actions and keys and pneumatic actions for player-pianos, with factories at King and Bathurst Streets, Toronto, and also Vice-President of the Otto Higel Company, Inc., of New York City, N.Y. With its Canadian and American branches, this enterprise is one of the largest industries of its kind in America. He is also President of the Canada Action & Key Company, Ltd., Toronto. Mr. Easson was born in Toronto, January 10, 1873, the son of Robert F. Easson, one of the pioneer telegraphers of this country, identified with the Great Northwestern Telegraph Company from its earliest days, and his wife, Millicent Easson. He was educated at the Toronto public and high schools, and began his business career as cashier and office assistant in the firm of M. & L. Samuel, Benjamin & Company, wholesale hardware merchants, Toronto, in 1890. He continued with this firm for ten years when he became manager of the Audit Department of Jenkins & Hardy, assignees and chartered accountants, Toronto. In 1904, he retired from that position to associate himself with the growing business of the Otto Higel Company, and became Vice-President in 1906. Since then the business of the Company has been greatly extended. The musical industries of Canada are now splendidly organized institutions for the development of music in the home, and Mr. Easson has been one of those most influential in bringing about this spirit of co-ordination. He is a member of the National Club and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, and also of the Masonic order. In politics he is a Liberal, in religion a Presbyterian, and his recreations are bowling and motoring. On December 28, 1904, he married Winnifred, daughter of the late John Garvin, and has two sons and one daughter. He resides at 407 Palmerston Boulevard, Toronto.
Hunter, Major W. E. Lincoln, of Hunter & Deacon, Barristers and Solicitors, 2 Toronto Street, Toronto, was born in London, Ont., January 13, 1870, the son of Rev. W. J. Hunter, M.A., D.D., and Mary J. (Robinson) Hunter. He was educated at Hamilton Collegiate Institute and Osgoode Hall, graduating as barrister at the age of twenty-one. He joined the firm of Ince & Hunter, 1891, continuing this connection for four years, when he became associated with former Mayor A. R. Boswell, K.C., who is now Superintendent of Insurance for the Province of Ontario. He formed his present partnership in 1900. In 1901, he was appointed Census Commissioner for Centre Toronto. He married June 1, 1904, Mary Edith, daughter of Henry Smith, Superintendent of Colonization Roads, Toronto, and has four daughters—Kathleen, Madeline, Norah and Aileen. He is an ex-Vice-President of Centre Toronto Reform Association, and ex-President North Toronto Liberal Club. He is the author of “The Woman in Blue,” a satirical novel published in 1895. His military career began at an early age, and he was gazetted Lieutenant in the 10th Regiment, Royal Grenadiers, in 1901, became Captain in 1907, and Major 1915, being now second in command. When war broke out, he at once became active in every way at his command, speaking constantly at recruiting meetings, associating in many other military and patriotic activities. For two years he was constantly in khaki, and for nearly a year was in command of Filtration Guard, with over 300 men under him. In his patriotic work, he had a most enthusiastic associate in Mrs. Hunter, who is Regent of the Royal Grenadier Chapter, I.O.D.E., whose efforts on behalf of the boys overseas were unceasing and indefatigable. On August 18, 1919, a formal ceremony took place in the Armouries, when the colors of the Regiment were handed over to Major Hunter, who accepted them on behalf of the Regiment, from Major Andrew Duncanson, D.S.O., commander of a guard of 100 men, all of whom had been overseas. These colours were carried by the guard of honour for the Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief of the Regiment, on his visit to Toronto in August, 1919. Major Hunter has large real estate interests in the city. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the Ontario Club, Military Institute, Mississauga and Scarboro Golf Clubs, Lake Shore Country Club, Toronto, and the Junior Army and Navy Club, London, England. He is a Liberal and an Anglican. The family reside at 113 Walmer Road, Toronto.
Henry, Hon. George Stewart, M.P.P., B.A., LL.B., Minister of Agriculture for the Province of Ontario, is not only a practical farmer but an agricultural expert of wide academic training. He was born at King Township, York County, Ont., on July 16, 1871, the son of William and Louisa Henry, the mother’s parents being from Ulster, as was also his father. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools of Toronto, Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto, of which he holds the degrees of B.A. and LL.B. He also spent a year at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ont., and though equipped for a professional career decided to adopt the vocation of farmer in East York, near Toronto. In this field he proved himself extremely successful, and as a young man took an active part in the public affairs of his district. He was a member of York Township Council from 1903 until 1910, holding the position of Reeve during the last four years of that interval. This carried with it membership in the York County Council, and in 1909 he was elected by his colleagues warden of York, an old and historic office. A vacancy in the Ontario Legislature for the riding of East York necessitated a by-election, and he was nominated in the Conservative interest. He was returned at the head of the poll on September 8, 1913, and at the general elections of the following June was again successful. In the spring of 1918, Sir William Hearst, Prime Minister of Ontario, invited him to enter the Ontario cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, a portfolio he had himself filled for some months after the death of the late Hon. James Duff. This necessitated a by-election in the summer of that year. Mr. Henry was again elected for East York, for the third time in five years. In that office he has pursued a vigorous progressive policy, not only with regard to the development of agriculture in the outlying districts, but in stimulating production in the older settlements. He has also been a leader in the Good Roads Movement; he is a member of the Toronto and York Roads Commission, and is Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Good Roads Association. He was also a prominent figure in the All-Canada Roads Conference held at Quebec under the Presidency of Sir Lomer Gouin in May, 1919. In addition to conducting a farm of a model character, Mr. Henry is President of the Farmers’ Dairy Company, Ltd., of Toronto. He is a Methodist in religion, and on January 29, 1902, married Anna Ketha, daughter of Rev. F. W. Pickett, of the Toronto Methodist Conference. He resides at Todmorden, on the outskirts of Toronto.
Butler, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Page, K.C., B.C.L., is one of the leading advocates of Montreal, where he practises at 81 Union Avenue. He was born at Kingsey, Que., on August 3, 1845, the son of the Rev. John Butler, M.A., and educated at the University of Toronto and McGill University, Montreal, taking the B.C.L. degree in 1865 and receiving that of D.C.L. in 1880. During 1862 and 1863, he acted as Private Secretary to Sir John Abbott, afterward Prime Minister of Canada, and at that time Solicitor-General of Quebec Province. He was called to the Quebec Bar in August, 1866, and created Queen’s Counsel in 1887. He was first associated with the firm of Rose (late Sir John Rose) & Ritchie, Advocates, Montreal, and later with the late E. J. Hemming, Q.C., at Drummondville, Que. After residing at Melbourne, Que., for a time, he returned to Montreal in 1870, where he has ever since practised. Until 1881 he was in partnership with the late John Monk, and since then has practised for the most part alone. He was Councillor for the municipality of Longueuil from 1874-77, and also served as School Trustee there. Col. Butler long took an active part in military affairs, and commanded the Prince of Wales’ Regiment from 1889 to 1898. He organized and became the first president of the Montreal Amalgamated Rifle Association and the Montreal Military Institute. In politics he is a Conservative, and in religion an Anglican, having been a member of the Diocesan and Provincial Synods over thirty years. In Free Masonry, he was Grand Master in 1894, and has been for many years Chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence of the Grand Lodge of Quebec. In August, 1870, he married a daughter of the late Valentine Cooke, of Drummondville, Que., and his home address is 52 Fort Street, Montreal.