JOSEPH A. DESCARRIES
His public work, too, has been of an important character and has indicated his loyalty to the highest standards of government. For nine consecutive years he was mayor of Lachine, giving to the city a businesslike and progressive administration. In 1892 he was elected for Jacques Cartier county to the legislative assembly, but resigned in 1896, in which year he unsuccessfully contested a seat in the house of commons. Since that time he has taken no active part in politics aside from exercising his right of franchise and standing stanchly in support of principles and measures in which he believes. He is now president of the Lachine Conservative Club and is also president of the St. Jean Baptiste Society of Lachine.
Mr. Descarries is the largest private owner of real estate in Lachine, his holdings including some of the finest residential properties surrounding Montreal. Some years ago he purchased a tract of land eleven acres in width from the Allan family, comprising a most attractive piece of property, which he developed and thus added greatly to the upbuilding of the district. He is the owner of one hundred and fifty-two houses, erecting all of them save one, and in their building substantiality has always been a feature. Unlike the usual structure built merely to sell, Mr. Descarries has aimed at the creation of an estate the ultimate value of which cannot help but become immense. As an illustration of the change in realty values, caused by improvements and transformation of surroundings, it may be cited that Mr. Descarries some years ago purchased a tract of land of four hundred acres, on which the taxes were at that time approximately eighty dollars, while today for less than one-third of this land which he owns the taxes are more than three thousand dollars. It would be difficult to estimate the value to a community of operations of this character. Mr. Descarries has taken an active part in the upbuilding of industrial interests, and his influence has been an important factor in securing for Lachine a number of valuable industries, all of which have materially contributed to growth and development for the city, enabling it to take a prominent rank among Montreal’s suburban cities. Among his other business connections Mr. Descarries is president of the Wealthy Mines Company, Limited, and a director of Les Champs d’Or Rigaud Vaudreuil.
In 1881 Mr. Descarries was married, at Chateauguay, Quebec, to Miss Marie Celina Elmire, a daughter of A. N. Le Pailleur, a notary public of Lachine. The marriage ceremony was performed by Monseigneur Charles Edward Fabre, archbishop of Montreal. Mrs. Descarries is a graduate of Mount St. Marie Convent and is a lady of superior intelligence and high qualities of mind. Their children are as follows. Joseph A. P., who was graduated from McGill University, specializing in chemistry, founded the Lachine Gas Company, of which he is now the head. He married Miss Oliva Forgues, of Outremont, a graduate of St. Anne’s Convent at Lachine. They have two children, Olivette and Marcelle. Theophile N., who was graduated from Laval University, is an advocate, associated with his father under the firm name of Descarries & Descarries. He married Miss Marie Anne Huot, a daughter of Dr. G. Huot, of Beauharnois, and they have one child, Anne Marie. Aimee, a graduate of St. Anne’s Convent of Lachine, is a young lady of unusual artistic taste and skill. Her work as a painter on china shows exceptional merit and includes some of the finest specimens of this decorative art exhibited by Canadian artists. Adelard, a graduate of Mount St. Louis College, is now a student at l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes. Marie Rose will graduate from St. Anne’s Convent of Lachine in the class of 1914. Auguste, a student at St. Mary’s College, is a young man of unusual talent and promise, whose ability as an organist is well known.
Mr. Descarries’ pleasure and recreation have always been greatly augmented when in the company of his family, whose entertainment, like their rearing and education, has never been neglected. Estimating highly the value of education, he has extended to his children exceptional opportunities for intellectual development and they constitute a family that would be a distinct credit to any parentage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Descarries have always maintained a companionship with their children and have been so close to their interests, thoughts, purposes and plans that there has been little need for that parental discipline which is often a too pronounced feature in households. Confidence and mutual understanding have been the basis of the family relation, rendering this a most attractive household. The religious belief of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Descarries has for several years been president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He is also a member of the Club Lafontaine, the Lachine Snowshoe Club and the Auto and Aero Club of Montreal.
No history of Mr. Descarries would be complete without mention of the fact that he is a very public-spirited man, liberal and generous in his support of any movement for the public good and ever ready to lend his assistance to such movements as will contribute to the advancement of the city, province and Dominion. He has been a very successful business man, not only as regards the accumulation of property but as well in the high esteem in which he is held. He has all the elements of a man in whom to have confidence, dependable in any relation and in any emergency. His quietude of deportment, his easy dignity, combined with an innate courtesy and politeness, all contribute to a strong personality. The splendid use he has made of his time, talents and opportunities has equipped him for the important and valuable work he has been doing and which has given decided impetus to the city’s progress and improvement, upholding as well its legal, political and moral status.
LOUIS GUYON.
Capability and loyalty are the essential attributes of the man who would fill the office of chief inspector of industrial establishments and public buildings and properly perform the arduous and responsible duties thereby devolving upon him. Such a man is found in Louis Guyon, who has closely studied the subject of construction and all that relates to accidents which may occur in building operations. He is a native of the state of New York, having been born at Sandy Hill, Washington county. Boyhood, however, found him located in Montreal where he pursued his education, taking special courses in preparation for a commercial career. Almost throughout his entire life he has been in the public service. In April, 1888, he was appointed factory inspector and made a most capable official. He studied in every available way in order to know what should be required of factory owners and operators and just how far their responsibility extended in the protection of employes. He traveled widely in order to promote his knowledge of that character and he was a delegate to the Paris convention on accidents in 1889 and again in 1900. His qualifications were so thoroughly recognized that he was made chief inspector of industrial establishments and public buildings in January, 1901, and has since occupied this position, covering a period of thirteen years, his entire course being one which commends him to the continued confidence and support of the public. As inspector he has studied not only to find where fault may lie in the erection of buildings or in the care of employes, but has also studied the best methods of safeguarding the workers and in 1903 he founded the museum of appliances for the prevention of accidents. His reputation for efficiency in his special field continued to grow and in 1910 he was made president of the International Convention of Inspectors of Factories. No one is more deeply interested in this important work or realizes more fully the obligations which devolve upon the employer in his connection with his employes, and his work has constituted a campaign of education whereby the public has come to know what are the needs and demands of the hour and how best to meet them.