Ellis, John F. (Toronto, Ont.), born at Mount Pleasant, Ont., on November 9th, 1845. Son of John R. Ellis and Janet Carlyle, niece of the famous Thomas Carlyle. Educated at local Grammar School and Toronto Normal School. Entered into business with John R. Barber in 1876, Paper Dealers and Envelope Manufacturers, which concern became subsequently known as the Barber-Ellis Limited, 71 Wellington Street West, Toronto, having branches at Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver, with the manufacturing plant at the city of Brantford, Ont. One of the Vice-Presidents of the Canadian Reconstruction Association. Was President of the Toronto Board of Trade 1902-1904; President of the Canadian Manufacturers Association 1898-1900. President of the National Club, 1901-1902; President, Caledon Fishing Club 1903-1905; Vice-President, Local Branch, Ontario Fish and Game Protective Association; one of the Founders of the Commercial Travellers’ Association; Delegate to the Sixth Imperial Trade Congress, London, England, July, 1906; presented to King Edward, 1906. He is a member of the National Club, Royal Canadian Yacht Club and Caledon Fishing Club. Mr. Ellis is a supporter of the Union Government. In religion he is a Methodist. He has given freely of his time and ability to the advancement of his home city. Married Emma Maughan, June 7th, 1877, daughter of Nicholas Maughan, Toronto Assessment Commissioner; has three sons.
McKeon, P. J., Very Reverend Dean, Rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral, London, Ont., one of the best loved clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church in this country, was born at Merlin, Ont., the son of James and Ann (Finn) McKeon. He was educated for the priesthood at the widely known seminary of the Basilian Order, Assumption College, Sandwich, Ont., whose graduates have rendered unselfish Christian service in many parts of the world. Father McKeon was Rector of St. Mary’s Church, London, Ont., for twelve years prior to his elevation as Dean and Rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral, and during that time established a reputation for kindliness, piety and zeal in all good works that was recognized by all classes of the community. He has held the responsibilities of the Chancellorship of the diocese since August, 1899, being appointed to that position by the late Archbishop McEvoy when he became Bishop of London. He is known also as one of the best organizers in the diocese of London. He willingly participates in the civic activities of his chosen city, and is a member of the local Canadian Club, the London Board of Trade and of the Knights of Columbus.
James, Edgar Augustus, a Consulting Engineer, was born in the County of York, at Thornhill, Ont., August 25, 1874, eldest son of David James and Francis M. Jackson. Both parents were also born in York County. His father, a nephew of the late Senator David Reesor, is a successful York County farmer, who has taken an active part in Grange and Farmers’ institute work. He represented the Township of Markham in the York County Council for some twelve years, and was for some twenty years Engineer for the Township of Markham. Educated at the Langstaff Public School, the Newmarket High and Model Schools, and the Toronto Normal School, the subject of this sketch taught public school at Don, Ont., for two years, after which he entered the Faculty of Applied Science of the University of Toronto, securing the degree of B.A.Sc. in 1904, and the professional degree of C.E. in 1913. As a student he was active in the work of the Engineering Society of the Faculty, and was the President of the organization in the years 1903-4. For the period of 1906 to 1914 he sat on the Senate of the University of Toronto as one of the elected representatives of the Graduates. On December 1, 1910, he was married to Mary Kate Smith, daughter of William Henry Smith, who for fifty years was Principal of the Public Schools, Port Dover, Ont. His professional experience includes two years on road work and drainage work in Western Canada, and four years on railway construction work with the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1908 he was appointed Managing Editor of the “Canadian Engineer,” which publication, under his direction, was developed into the leading Canadian Engineering Weekly. Since giving up active journalistic work he has been a frequent contributor to the technical press. In 1911 he resigned to take the position of Chief Engineer of the Toronto & York Roads Commission, an organization charged with the improvement of some two hundred and fifty miles of leading roads radiating from Toronto. In the Fall of the same year he became a member of the newly organized firm of Consulting Engineers, James, Loudon & Hertzberg, Ltd., which firm has had charge of important engineering works in connection with buildings, bridges, roads, waterworks, sewerage and railways, together with industrial plants. Moving up through the junior classes, he became, in 1914, a full member of the Engineering Institute of Canada, having been made, in 1913, a full member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a member of the original committee of six who met for the purpose of re-organizing the Engineers’ Club as a Social and Technical Club, and was a member of its first Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Ontario Club; the York Pioneer and Historical Society and a life member of the Ontario Historical Society; a P.M. of Patterson Lodge A.F. & A.M.; P.Z. Victoria Chapter, R.A.M., and a member of Cyrene Preceptory and Rameses Temple. In July, 1918, he was appointed D.D.G.M. for Toronto Centre District No. 116 A.F. & A.M., G.R.C. He is also a P.C.R. of Court Union, A.O.F. In religion both families are Methodist, as is the subject of this sketch.
Finnie, David Maclachan. The Bank of Ottawa, now amalgamated with the Bank of Nova Scotia, was established in December 1874, with headquarters in the Victoria Chambers, Cor. Wellington and O’Connor streets, Ottawa. Its authorized capital was $500,000 and its paid-up capital $343,875. An unique happening is connected with the founding of this bank, viz., that some twelve days before the head office in Ottawa was opened and ready for business, a branch office was established in Arnprior under the management of Mr. David Maclachan Finnie, who was then a young man of 25 years and who in 1903, 29 years later, became Assistant General Manager and in 1916, General Manager, which position he held up to the time, April 30th, 1919, of its amalgamation with the Bank of Nova Scotia. Mr. Finnie was, therefore, the first manager of the Bank of Ottawa to do business with the public in its solitary branch in Arnprior in 1874, when authorized capital of the bank was $500,000, and the last General Manager of the bank in 1919, when its Capital was $4,000,000; when its reserve fund was $4,750,000; when its branches numbered 95; when it had contributed 228 members of its staff to the great cause of liberty in the world’s great war; when its total assets were $70,243,000, and its liabilities $60,539,000, showing a surplus of just under $10,000,000; and when it was paying the shareholders over 12 per cent. on the par value of the stock. The Bank of Ottawa, from the start, established a high character which it always retained. Its management had a reputation invariably for generous dealings with its clients and never more than of the late years; and to Mr. Finnie’s affable manner, generous, yet wise, consideration of its clients’ requirements and his undoubted ability both as a banker and as a financier, the success achieved by the bank was considerably attributable. Mr. David Maclachan Finnie was born at Peterhead, Scotland, July 10th, 1849. He is the son of Robert and Mary (Smith) Finnie, and was educated in the Parish School, Peterhead. At an early age he acquired a business and banking experience in the office of A. & W. Boyd, Solicitors and Agents in the Union Bank of Scotland, Peterhead; in the office of Secretary, West of Scotland Wholesale Grocers Association; in the Bank of British North America, London, England; Montreal, Hamilton and Arnprior. He is a Director of the Home Building & Savings Association; was elected Vice-President of the Ottawa Board of Trade in 1909; is Vice-President of the County of Carleton Protestant Hospital, and in 1919 was elected by acclamation to the Presidency of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. At the opening campaign on behalf of the Canadian Patriotic Fund, Ottawa Branch, he was elected Honorary Treasurer, and has remained in that position ever since. There was subscribed over $2,000,000, nearly all of which has been paid in. In 1875 Mr. Finnie married Caroline Nicholson Sterling, daughter of George Sterling of Hamilton, Ontario. He was President of the Rideau Club for 1911-12-13, and is a member of the Country, Ottawa Golf, Ottawa Hunt Clubs. In religion Mr. Finnie is an Anglican. His residence is 329 Chapel Street, Ottawa, Canada.
Boudreau, L. N. H. Rodolphe, who from 1889 to 1907 was Private Secretary to the late Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, is a son of the late Dr. J. B. Boudreau of Doucet’s Landing, Quebec, and Sarah (Fortier) Boudreau. He was born at St. Gregoire, Quebec, Sept. 19th, 1865, and was educated at Nicolet College and Laval University. In 1893 he married Annie, daughter of Thomas Wensley, Ottawa. He accompanied Sir Wilfrid to Washington and to London and Paris on official missions. He entered the Civil Service in 1896, was appointed Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council in 1900, and Clerk of the Privy Council on May 6th, 1907. January 1st, 1918, he was knighted a Companion of St. Michael and St. George. In religion Mr. Boudreau is a Roman Catholic. He resides at 198 Stewart Street, Ottawa.