ARTHUR EDOUARD JOSEPH BISSONNET.
The name of Bissonnet has long been a distinguished one in this locality, the first member of the family having been one Pierre, a son of Jacques, who was born in 1626, and on the 3d of May, 1660, married Mathurène Des Bordes and who, as the records show, had seven children. A brother of Pierre, Jacques, was married in 1670 and sixteen children are credited to him. Arthur Edouard Joseph Bissonnet worthily upholds the honor of the family name, having gained a reputation along legal lines in Montreal, where he has successfully practiced since 1897. He was born at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, and is a son of Napoléon and Domithilde (Scott) Bissonnet. The father was a well known manufacturer of that city, where he passed away in 1887, the mother having predeceased him in 1882. The paternal grandparents were Jérome and Josephte (Courtemanche) Bissonnet, who died in 1870 and 1872, respectively.
Arthur E. J. Bissonnet received an excellent education. His preliminary courses were taken at the College of the Sacred Heart at Arthabaskaville, which was followed by a classical course at St. Hyacinthe that earned him the title of M. L. A. In 1894 he studied law at Laval University and in 1895 and 1896 at McGill University which he left in 1897 with the degree of B. C. L., being admitted to the bar of the province of Quebec in the same year. His advent in Montreal soon followed and here he has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession. No long novitiate awaited him for he soon demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the most intricate law problems and gained a reputation which connected him with much important litigation. He has represented some of the foremost firms and individuals as well as other interests, having attained a name for preparing his cases thoroughly and presenting them in an able manner. He has all the attributes of a successful lawyer, clearly sets forth his cause and by the weight of his character and his insight into human nature has won a high standing in his profession. In 1909 Mr. Bissonnet was appointed king’s counsel and as such handled important government cases which especially connected him with provincial law revenue on duties on successions. His prominence in fraternal circles has led to his election as legal adviser of the Council of St. Henry (for 1913), a branch of the Knights of Columbus at Montreal. Mr. Bissonnet is now at the head of the legal firm, Bissonnet & Cordeau, occupying suite 606, in the Royal Trust building.
On the 14th of February, 1905, occurred the marriage of Mr. Bissonnet to M. A. Ernestine Roy, a daughter of Amedée Roy and Hemma (Rocher) Roy. The family has been long established in the county of Bagot, in the province of Quebec, and her father was a prominent merchant in his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Bissonnet have the following children, Jean, Léon, Marie Laure, Louise Marie and Paul.
His political convictions lead Mr. Bissonnet to support the liberal party, and he is a member of the Montreal Reform Club and other political institutions. Although not an active politician, he takes a deep and helpful interest in the issues of the day that affect the Canadian people as a nation and his province as part of the Dominion and stands ever ready to support progressive measures making for advancement, either material or intellectual. His faith is that of the Catholic church. A distinguished and influential lawyer, he is highly respected in the profession and is esteemed by the general public as a public-spirited citizen who loyally acknowledges and fulfills his duties to his city and his country.
DUNCAN A. McCASKILL.
Duncan A. McCaskill was a factor in Montreal’s commercial development and progress, inasmuch as he was the founder and head of the house of D. A. McCaskill Company, later McCaskill, Dougall & Company, manufacturers of railway and carriage varnishes and japans. The extent and importance of his business made him well known in commercial circles, while his career demonstrated the possibilities for successful achievement on the part of any individual who must perforce start in life as he did, without any capital to aid him. He was born in Victoria county, Cape Breton, in 1845 and was a son of Murdo McCaskill, a justice of two counties of Cape Breton. His education was acquired in his native county, where the first thirty years of his life were passed. The year 1875 witnessed his arrival in Montreal, where he connected himself with one of the large business houses of the city. During the succeeding five years he steadily progressed and there awakened in him the ambition to enter commercial circles on his own account. He took his initial step in the direction in which his later labors brought him to the prominent position which he occupied as the head of the house of what is now McCaskill, Dougall & Company, manufacturers of railway and carriage varnishes. He was ever a most industrious man, close application and energy constituting the basis of his success. In 1902 he retired and spent his remaining days in those ways which afforded him recreation and enjoyment, traveling extensively in company with Mrs. McCaskill through the United States and Europe.
DUNCAN A. McCASKILL