Chaplin, James D., M.P. (St. Catharines, Ont.), was born at Toronto on March 20, 1863. Son of William and Harriet Chaplin. Educated at the Public Schools and St. Catharines Collegiate Institute, and after a thorough business training became a prominent manufacturer in St. Catharines. His business interests are very extensive and the companies with which he is connected are widely known throughout Canada. He is President of the Welland Vale Manufacturing Company, Ltd., which makes hand agricultural implements; President of the Chaplin Wheel Company, Ltd.; President of the Canada Axe and Harvest Tool Company, and President of the Wallingford Manufacturing Company, Ltd. Despite his commercial activities he has found time to take a prominent part in public affairs. He was a municipal councillor for four years, and in the autumn of 1917 was selected as Unionist candidate for the riding of Lincoln. At the ensuing Federal elections in December he was elected by a handsome majority as a supporter of Sir Robert Borden, and is regarded as one of the ablest members of the Ottawa House. Previously he had been known as a Conservative and a few years ago was appointed a member of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park Commission, which has charge of the Canadian side of that famous international waterway. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M. and of the St. Catharines Club, and Canada Club, Montreal. In religion he is a Presbyterian and in 1888 married Edna E., daughter of the late Colin Burgess of Toronto, by whom he has one son and two daughters.
Creelman, Lieut.-Colonel John Jennings, D.S.O., Advocate and barrister, Montreal, is one of the most distinguished, of the Canadian soldiers who won honors in the late war and also holds high rank in the legal profession. He was born in Toronto on Feb. 14th, 1881, the son of the late Adam R. Creelman, K.C. one of the leaders of the Canadian bar, who became Chief Counsel of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and one of the directors of that corporation. His mother was Margaret Jennings, daughter of the late Rev. Dr. John Jennings of Toronto, one of the best known pulpit orators of his day. The subject of this sketch was educated at Upper Canada College, Toronto, and the University of Toronto, from which he graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1904. Subsequently he qualified for the law at McGill University, Montreal, and obtained the degree of B.C.L. in 1907. This was supplemented by a post-graduate course at the University of Grenoble, France. Subsequently he became a member of the legal firm of Casgrain, Mitchell, McDougall & Creelman, and is now in practice alone with offices in the Dominion Express Bldg., Montreal. He was also Lecturer on Railway Economics at McGill University in 1913 and 1914. From early manhood Col. Creelman took an active part in military affairs and was a member of the Canadian Coronation Contingent in 1911. He was gazetted a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Field Artillery on Oct. 26th, 1912. On the outbreak of the war he at once placed his services at the disposal of the Government and went overseas as Lieut.-Colonel, commanding the Second Brigade, C.F.A., and continued in service until Sept. 9, 1917. During twenty-five months’ service in France he took part in many notable engagements with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was twice mentioned in despatches. He was once officially reported wounded (shell shock) on April 29th, 1915. His services were recognized by the coveted Distinguished Service Order and the Russian Order of St. Stanislas (3rd class with swords). A movement having arisen in Montreal for the betterment of municipal politics, he was induced in April 1918, to run for the city council and was elected. He has since proven a very valuable member of that body. In June, 1918, he was appointed a member of the Protestant Board of School Commissioners. His business interests are also extensive, and he is a director of several companies. In religion he is a Presbyterian and in politics a Liberal, and his recreations are golf, curling and fishing. He is a member of the following clubs: Mount Royal, University (Montreal), Royal Montreal Golf, Montreal Thistle (curling), Reform (Montreal), University (Toronto), and Junior Army and Navy (London, Eng.). On June 24th, 1908, he married Katherine Melanie Weekes (died Dec. 13, 1918), daughter of Nicholas Weekes of Galveston, Texas, retired banker and railway president. He has two children, John Ashmore Creelman, born 1912, and Katharine Margaret Creelman, born 1918.
Fisher, His Honor Walter George (Orangeville, Ontario), County Judge of the County of Dufferin, was born in Township of Tossoronto, County of Simcoe, and is the son of John Fisher. Educated at Collingwood High School and McGill University, Montreal. On being called to the Bar in 1886, he at once commenced the practice of his profession at the Town of Alliston, in partnership with W. A. J. Bell, K.C., and continued to do with much success until his appointment to the bench in September, 1913. Judge Fisher took an active part in the municipal politics of his home town, of which he was Mayor. He married Mary Towler and is the father of two children, Allan, a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the front, and Dorothy, at home. Judge Fisher is a member of the Masonic Order and in religion is a Methodist. He has been prominent in all movements of a Patriotic and National nature and took a lively interest in recruiting the battalion which was identified with the County of Dufferin (the 164th). His services have been in great demand at all public meetings intended for the purpose of promoting recruiting and the national welfare. He is also a member of the Canadian Club of Orangeville. The Judge is an ardent motorist and a keen curler, and a member of the Orangeville Lawn Bowling Club.
Burgoyne, William Bartlett (St. Catharines, Ont.), one of the best known newspaper editors and publishers of Canada, was born in the city where he resides, on August 2, 1855, the son of Henry and Martha Burgoyne. His father was a builder and contractor and the son was educated at the Public Schools of St. Catharines. Leaving at the age of 12, he shortly afterward entered the printing business, with which he has now been connected for upwards of 50 years. In January of 1887 he founded the St. Catharines “Evening Star,” and in 1892 became proprietor and publisher of the St. Catharines “Daily Standard,” one of the livest and most influential newspapers to be found in the smaller cities of Canada. Apart from his journalistic activities Mr. Burgoyne has been a very active factor in the civic life of his native place. He was Alderman in 1895-6, 1898, 1900, 1912-3-4-5, Mayor of the city in 1903, and later, in 1916 and 1917. He was also Chairman of the local Hydro-Electric Commission, 1916-7, and also of the Local Board of Health for the same years. He was Chairman of the St. Catharines Roads Commission, 1918, and a member of the Collegiate Institute Board. In all efforts in behalf of temperance he has been active for many years. He was G.W.P. of the Grand Division of Ontario, Sons of Temperance, 1898-9; M.W.A. of the National Division of North America in the same organization, 1902-4, and M.W.P. in 1904-6. He represented the National Division of North America, S. of T. at the fifty-first session of the National Division of Great Britain and Ireland at Hull, England, June, 1906. His chief hobby is illustrated by the fact that he has been President of the St. Catharines Horticultural Society for fifteen years (1904 to 1918) and was the first President of the Ontario Horticultural Association, 1906-7. He was Chairman of the Daily Newspaper Section of the Canadian Press Association in 1908; President of St. Catharines Board of Trade, 1911; and a member of the Executive Council, Associated Boards of Trade of Ontario, 1914-15. In politics he is a Conservative and in religion an Anglican. He was lay delegate to the Synod of Niagara, 1917-19 and is a member of the Standing Committee of that body. He is a member of many fraternal and benevolent societies, including the A.F. & A.M., L.O.A.B.A., C.O.C.F., C.O.H.C., and A.O.U.W. On June 16, 1880, he married Mary Lavinia, daughter of George and Margaret E. Darker, of Thorold, Ont., and has had three children, Clara E., Mary Estelle (deceased), and Major Henry B. Burgoyne, O.C. of the 71st Battery, Canadian Field Artillery.
Drysdale, William, Appraiser with His Majesty’s Customs, Montreal, Que., was born in that city, April 17th, 1847. His father, Adam Drysdale, a native of Dunfermline, Scotland, settled in Canada during the first half of the nineteenth century and for a long period held a post in the civil service conferred on him by Lord Elgin, during the period when that celebrated British pro-consul was Governor of the old Province of United Canada. The father of Adam Drysdale was one of the first persons to engage in the shipping trade between Canada and Scotland and was one of the earliest shippers to make use of the Port of Montreal. The subject of this sketch was educated at Montreal in the private school of Mr. Hicks (who later became the first principal of the Normal School in that city), and received a thorough commercial training. On leaving school he entered the employ of the late John Dougall, who was at that time publishing the “Weekly Witness” and also engaged in the book business. The aptitude of young Drysdale was such that he was almost immediately placed by Mr. Dougall in charge of the book department. After a short time his services were sought by Mr. Grafton, another bookseller, with whom he remained as confidential manager until 1874 when he founded a book business of his own, which became a celebrated institution in Montreal. Owing to his excellent training and personal popularity he soon built up a business second to none in the Dominion. Mr. Drysdale also rendered a public service in publishing a number of Canadian works which are now of great historic value. Later he retired from business to accept his present post with the Customs Service. As a citizen he gave his support to all movements looking to public betterment, and to philanthropic institutions. He is a Life Governor of the Boys’ Home and a member of the executive of the Natural History Society, Prison Aid Association, Charitable Committee of St. Andrew’s Society Canadian Club, Montreal Art Association, Imperial Home Re-union Association, Numismatic and Antiquarian Society. He is a life member of the Mechanics’ Institute, Governor of the Montreal Dispensary, and one of the most active supporters of the Protestant Home for the Insane. He has long been a member of the Montreal Board of Trade and an elder of the Presbyterian Church, who has frequently been commissioner to the General Assembly. Mr. Drysdale was first married in 1880 to Miss Mary Maltbee Wales, daughter of the late Charles Wales, merchant of St. Andrew’s East. The first Mrs. Drysdale died in 1891 leaving him two sons, William Flockhart Drysdale, Mechanical Engineer with the American Locomotive Sales Corporation; and Charles Wales Drysdale, Geologist to the Dominion Geological Survey, Ottawa. He was married a second time in 1893 to Miss Mary McIntosh of Sherbrooke, who died in 1907; and thirdly in 1916 to Miss Jean Parker, daughter of Archibald Parker of Glasgow, Scotland. He resides at “The Grosvenor,” 756 Sherbrooke St., Montreal. Duncan MacGregor Crerar, a New York poet, sums up Mr. Drysdale’s character in the following lines:—
Some are while careful of their own affairs,