Pierre-Chrysologue Lacasse, who follows the profession of notary in Montreal, is widely and favorably known in this city. He enjoys a representative clientele and his practice is extensive as he has gained a wide reputation on account of his extensive knowledge, which is based on a thorough education. The Lacasse family is an old and distinguished one in Canada, the first ancestor to come to this country being Antoine Lacasse, also called Casse or Cassé, who came to this country from Douai (French Flanders) about 1650, or more correctly, between 1639 and 1665. This statement is based upon a reference made in an appendix to the History of Canada by Abbé Ferland. The paternal grandfather, François Lacasse, was born at St. Vincent de Paul (Jesus Island) and the forefathers were born in the same parish. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Brissette, was a native of St. Cuthbert, of the county of Berthier, where his ancestors also were born. The father of our subject, Narcisse Lacasse, was born on February 5, 1821, of the marriage of François Lacasse with Thérèse Bastien and died on December 27, 1892. He was a notary, receiving his commission on June 15, 1849. The mother, Mathilde Brissette, was born on November 1, 1820, a daughter of Joseph Brissette and Marie Lavoie. She died in Montreal on August 29, 1911, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-one years. The father followed his occupation in the parish of Ste. Elizabeth, in the county of Joliette, where his wife was born.
Pierre-Chrysologue Lacasse was born on January 7, 1866, at Ste. Elizabeth, county of Joliette, in the province of Quebec, and in the acquirement of his education attended the model school of Ste. Elizabeth, also receiving private tuition. In furtherance of his knowledge he then attended Joliette College, now known as the Seminary of Joliette, and Laval University at Montreal, graduating with the Bachelor of Arts degree from the latter institution in 1885. From the same institution he received his degree of LL. B. in 1891. However, on June 3, 1890, he had already been commissioned a notary and has followed that profession ever since. On January 29, 1891, he was admitted to the study of law for the profession of advocate. His professional reputation is of the very highest character and he has also extensively engaged in real estate and in dealing in bank and insurance stock. Among important estates which he has handled as testamentary executor were those of John Pratt, Thomas Philippe Barron, L. C. Gravel and others.
The position conceded him by the profession is evident from numerous important official and semi-official positions which he has held. He was elected a member of the board of notaries for the district of Montreal in 1897, 1900, 1903, 1906, 1909 and 1912. He was a member and afterwards president of the committee of discipline and also of the committee of surveillance of said board and a member and afterwards president of the commission for the admission to the study of the notarial profession, which position he now holds. In his political views he is independent, giving his support to measures and candidates as dictated by his judgment. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Lacasse was connected with military life during a few years as lieutenant in Company 4, Eighty-third Battalion of Infantry of Joliette.
A man of wide experience and with a wide outlook upon life, he is interested along lines of endeavor that touch upon the progress of the city and can always be found among those who loyally support any movement undertaken for public betterment. He is highly respected and esteemed in the city where he is widely known and enjoys the confidence and good-will of the foremost citizens of Montreal.
ARTHUR A. BROWNE, M. D.
The tendency of the age is toward specialization and the professional man who achieves distinction usually concentrates his efforts not upon the broad field of his profession but upon some particular branch thereof, and thus develops a proficiency which he could not otherwise hope to attain. Such was the record of Dr. Arthur A. Browne, educator and practitioner, who gained eminence as an obstetrician. He practiced for more than forty years in Montreal, entering upon the active work of the profession in early manhood. He was born in Eastern township, in 1848, and was descended from Irish parentage, and of a family whose name figures prominently in military circles. His more specifically literary course was completed by graduation from McGill with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1866. A year or two thereafter was devoted to business but feeling that a professional career would prove more congenial, he entered upon the study of medicine and was graduated M. D., C. M., in 1872. He then spent a year abroad, during which time he investigated the methods of eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world, after which he opened an office in Montreal. The usual experiences of the professional man were his. He had to work his way upward in face of competition with men who had long been in the profession and had well established reputations. The conscientious care which he gave to the cases entrusted to him at length won him recognition and his practice grew until it became one of the largest in the city. As time passed he concentrated his efforts more largely upon obstetrical diseases until he gained a wide and most enviable reputation in that field, his opinions coming to be regarded as authority upon many involved and intricate questions relating thereto. In 1883 he was appointed professor of obstetrics at McGill University, succeeding the late Professor Duncan MacCallum, at the same time taking charge of the University Maternity Hospital. Three years later, however, owing to his growing practice, already extensive, and his distaste for the drudgery of teaching, he resigned his professorship. Yet, he was always intensely interested in McGill and her welfare, and no function held by the medical department was thought to be complete if Dr. Browne was absent. He was not only thoroughly informed concerning his chosen calling but possessed a fine literary mind and his broad reading made him one of the best informed men on general literature among the practitioners of medicine and surgery in Montreal. He was a student of the classics, and all these things had influence to make him a noble-minded man, whose life exemplified the high principles which constituted the basis of his character. He possessed an artistic taste that found expression in his intense admiration of the beautiful in both art and nature. Moreover, keen sympathy was one of his strongly marked traits and featured as one of the elements of his success. He might well be called “the beloved physician,” for his cheery presence as well as his scientific skill brought comfort and assurance to many households. He inspired and encouraged his patients and thus assisted them far on the road to recovery.
In Montreal, in 1878, Dr. Browne was married to Miss Jane Labatt, of London, Ontario, and their children were: H. Dalzell, of Montreal; R. Russell, of Bassano, Alberta; Captain G. Sackville Browne, of B Battery, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, of Kingston; and F. Dora.
Dr. Browne held membership with the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. He had passed the sixty-second milestone on life’s journey when his death occurred January 26, 1910. His eminent ability gained him honor, his kindliness and consideration won him gratitude and friendship; and thus it is that his memory is cherished and remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew him.