Cole, George M., President and Manager of the Plattsburgh Gas and Electric Company, Plattsburgh, N.Y., U.S.A., was born at Brockville, Ont., December 31, 1862, his father being W. H. Cole. Receiving his early education at the Brockville Public and High School, Mr. Cole migrated to the United States in 1887 where, as a contractor, he was connected with the construction of several early street railways in that country; building the first in Columbia, South Carolina; Ansonia, Connecticut; and Newburgh, New York; in addition to an extension to existing lines in Brooklyn, New York. Two years later, in 1889, he purchased the Plattsburgh Gas Works in partnership with a New York capitalist and became the Manager of the business, which position he still occupies. So successful was the undertaking that Mr. Cole was approached by the owners of the Plattsburgh Electric Lighting Plant with the result that the two works were amalgamated in 1890 and very considerably enlarged. By this time the old-fashioned horse cars had become a thing of the past and George Cole obtained a franchise for the construction of a modern street railway, which he built and managed for some years in addition to supplying the necessary power for its operation. This railway was later purchased by the Delaware & Hudson Railway Co., the present owners. To-day the Gas and Electric Company controls its particular field in Plattsburgh and vicinity, owning and operating two water power developments on the Saranac River, which is the outlet of the Upper and Lower Saranac Lakes, among the largest in the Adirondacks. Mr. Cole married Emma, daughter of W. H. Chappel, in 1891, by whom he has two sons, Eugene M. and Howard C. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a Republican in politics. Among the societies of which he is a member are Plattsburgh Lodge 828, A.F. &. A.M., Plattsburgh Chapter, No. 39, R.A.M., De Soto Cun. No. 49, K.T., Plattsburgh and Oriental Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Troy, N.Y.
Charlton, William Granville, Editor and Publisher (Aylmer, Ont.), the son of John R. and Emily J. Charlton, one of six children, one girl and four boys, all living except one, was born in the Township of South Dorchester, January 1, 1868; his earlier education took place at the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute, going from there to the Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and finally to Bethany College, Bethany, Va., where he graduated in 1893. He married Martha N. Black, the daughter of Martha M. Wells, widow of the late Noris Black and has one daughter, Eunice Eva Charlton, born May 13, 1901. Mr. Charlton was brought up on a farm and has practically devoted his energies to farming most of his life, and almost by his own efforts secured his education. He is a member of the Church of Christ, and for twenty-seven years has preached the Gospel with little intermission due only to illness. He is a great Bible School worker, and has been preaching and teaching prohibition for thirty years, and happy to be living to see the fruits of his labor in that direction. He has been connected with newspaper work since January 1, 1916, when he became editor and publisher of the “East Elgin Tribune.” In politics he is a Liberal and in 1913 was chosen by that party as a candidate for Federal honors to represent East Elgin at the next Dominion Elections.
Ball, Robert James, M.P. for South Grey, Ont. (Hanover, Ont.), was born at Allan Park, Township of Bentinck, Ont., on Jan. 15, 1857. Is the son of James Ball and his wife, Jane, formerly Jane Cain. Lived on his father’s farm till eighteen years of age. Was educated at Hampden Public School, Collingwood Collegiate Institute and Ottawa Normal School, from which latter institution he graduated with a Second-class Teacher’s Certificate, Grade A. On graduating, he taught school for ten years, then spent five years as an accountant, three years as a private banker, and two years in the life insurance business, when he became a furniture manufacturer, which business he has carried on for twenty-two years. He is managing director of the Ball Furniture Co., Limited, and also director in Morlock Bros., upholsterers; he is also President of The Reliance Investment and Developing Co., Ltd., of Hanover, Ont. Politically, Mr. Ball has been very active, being three years Municipal Councillor of the Town of Hanover, two years Commissioner for the County of Grey, two years Reeve of the town of Hanover, and, in 1908, was Warden of the County of Grey. In 1908, he was Conservative candidate for South Grey against H. H. Miller, and was defeated, but reduced Miller’s majority from 316 to 87. In 1911 he was elected to the House of Commons over H. H. Miller by a majority of 48. Mr. Ball was married August 11, 1882, to Mary Jane, daughter of Anthony and Mary Leonard, of the Township of Normanby, and is the father of six children: Milton Leonard, Austin Elmer, Ethel May, Elma Lilian, Captain Stanley Stafford Ball, M.D., and Mabel Lottie. He is a member of the Masonic Order and also of the Independent Order of Foresters. In religion he is a Methodist, and politically is a Liberal-Conservative.
Coombs, Albert Ernest (St. Catharines, Ont.), son of John and Susan Coombs. Was born on a farm near Richmond Hill in the County of York, April 2, 1871. Educated at the public and high school of Richmond Hill and at Toronto University, from which he received the following degrees: B.A. with honors in classics, 1892; M.A., 1895, and B.Paed., 1897. Principal Coombs began his teaching career in 1892 and was principal of Richmond Hill High School, 1895-99. Principal of Newmarket High School, 1899-1909, when he accepted the position of principal of St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, which he now holds. He served three years as examiner at Normal College, and set papers in History of Education and School Management. Is a Past President of the Classical Association of Ontario and has frequently acted as Association Examiner. Successively a director, Horticultural and Agricultural Societies; member Town Council and chairman Public Library Board, Newmarket. Has had considerable experience as a lecturer on a variety of subjects. Was formerly in the Militia and holds a Captaincy in the 19th Lincoln Regiment and served in that capacity on the Welland Canal Protective Force in 1914. Has always been opposed to the abolition of written examinations in our educational system, and is a strong friend of the Boy Scout movement, being Boy Scout Commissioner of St. Catharines district. Married in 1897, to Miss Beatrice Elliott, daughter of the late Wm. Elliott, V.S., of Palmerston, Ont., and is the father of three children: Alice, born 1899; Adele, born 1905; Margaret, born 1908. Is a member of the Canadian Club, St. Catharines, of which he is a Past President; also is Past Master of the Maple Leaf Lodge, A.F. & A.M., St. Catharines, and Past Principal of Mount Moriah Chapter; Member of the I.O.O.F. Principal Coombs was formerly a long-distance bicycle rider and association football player. He now takes a lively interest in lawn bowling. In religion he is a Methodist and a member of St. Paul Street Methodist Church, St. Catharines. Politically, he may be classed as an Independent-Liberal.
Anderson, James T. M., M.A., LL.B., D.Paed., Yorkton, Sask. One of the many graduates of the Ontario “little red school-house” who have achieved success in their chosen professions is Dr. James Thomas Milton Anderson, M.A., LL.B., of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Dr. Anderson, who has won many scholastic honors, is at present inspector of schools for the Yorkton district. Dr. Anderson was born at Fairbank, Ontario, July 23, 1878. His parents were Mary and James Anderson and the present inspector of schools had all the advantages of early life on a farm. One must consider it an advantage when one remembers the sons of farmers who have gone to the top in scholastic circles. The subject of this sketch began his education at Public School, S.S. No. 15, York, and went from there to West Toronto Collegiate Institute. Going west he won his degree of Bachelor of Arts at the University of Manitoba in 1911, when he was Silver Medallist in Classics. He gained his LL.B. at the same university in 1913, and his M.A. in 1914, completing his preparation for his present work by graduating as Doctor of Pedagogy in 1917. Dr. Anderson showed rare power of concentration in study as these three degrees were obtained extra-murally and he is also a medallist in penmanship and a clever cartoonist. His life for the last ten years has been devoted to teaching and working among the foreigners who have come to Canada’s great “melting pot.” Dr. Anderson is intensely interested in the work of assimilation which means so much to Canada’s future as a nation. He has published a number of articles on the subject and a book on the “Education of the New-Canadian” (J. M. Dent & Sons, Toronto). Dr. Anderson, whose mother resides in Saltcoats, Sask., was married on July 26, 1911, to Edith, daughter of Mrs. M. Redgwick, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, and has two children: Byron R., born October 10, 1913, and Edith Elaine, born March 31, 1917. In religion he is an Anglican, a member of the Orange Order, and President of the School Inspectors’ Association of Saskatchewan.