CLEOPHAS EDWARD LECLERC.
Cleophas Edward Leclerc, who for fifteen years was a member of the board of notaries of Quebec, his home being in Montreal, his native city, was born September 26, 1844. Almost his entire life was passed in Montreal, where he supplemented his early education by a classical course in the College of Ste. Therese de Blainville in the district of Terrebonne. Having determined to become a notary public, he entered upon his professional studies under the direction of Mr. F. Des Bastien, registrar of the county of Vaudreuil, and was admitted to practice on the 15th of October, 1866. For fifteen years he was a member of the Quebec board of notaries and for three years was its vice president. He stood high in his profession, and the clientage afforded him came in recognition of his superior ability.
On the 16th of November, 1875, Mr. Leclerc was married to Miss Caroline Eliza Archambault of St. Hyacinthe, and they became the parents of six children: Robertine; Rene, who is managing director of the Credit-Canada, Limited; Achille; Alice, the wife of Arthur Hubour, who is engaged in the drug business at the corner of Demontigny and St. Denis Streets; Ovide; and Rita. Death came to Mr. Leclerc at his home at No. 655 St. Hubert Street on the 23d of November, 1912, when he was sixty-eight years of age. He was a man of fine personal appearance, his broad forehead indicating strong native intelligence. He was of dignified appearance and mien and looked at life from the standpoint of one who recognized its obligations and duties as well as its privileges and opportunities. He had an extensive circle of friends so that his death was deeply regretted by many outside his own household.
GEORGE CAVERHILL.
Prominent on the roll of leading business men of Montreal stands the name of George Caverhill, a merchant who for an extended period has been connected with commercial life and figures prominently in connection with corporate interests having to do with the business enterprise and consequent prosperous development of the city. He was born October 18, 1858, at Beauharnois, P. Q., and is of Scotch descent. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Spiers (Buchanan) Caverhill, the latter a representative of the Buchanan family of Lenny, while the former was a member of the border family of Caverhills, residents of Scotland from 1200.
In the attainment of his education George Caverhill attended successively the Montreal high school, the Galt Collegiate Institute and McGill University. From the outset of his business career he has been connected with mercantile interests. In 1877 he entered the employ of Crathern & Caverhill, of Montreal, and, later ambitious to engage in business on his own account, utilized the opportunities of becoming a partner in a wholesale hardware firm, his partners being his brother, the late Frank Caverhill, J. B. Learmont and T. H. Newman. The four organized the firm of Caverhill, Learmont & Company, wholesale hardware merchants of both Montreal and Winnipeg. This by no means indicates the scope of his investments and his activities. That he is today one of the most important business men of the province is indicated in the fact that he is vice president of the Montreal Loan & Mortgage Company, a director of the Dominion Iron & Steel Company, Canadian Cottons, Ltd., Montreal Trust Company, Montreal Light, Heat & Power Company, and is identified with a number of organizations to promote trade and business relations. In 1904 he was chosen president of the Montreal Metal & Hardware Association, was made first vice president of the Montreal Board of Trade in 1906 and its president in 1907.
In 1887 Mr. Caverhill was married to Miss Emily Margaret, daughter of John Caverhill. She takes active interest in philanthropical and charitable work and is a member of the general committee of the Victorian Order of Nurses. Together with her husband, she is a life governor of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane. Both Mr. and Mrs. Caverhill were presented to the late King Edward at Windsor Castle in June, 1905.
In addition to his previously mentioned activities, Mr. Caverhill is a governor of the Montreal General Hospital, and is a life member of St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal. He has a great love of animals and has won fully two hundred and sixty prizes with his kennel of skye terriers. Mr. Caverhill’s political allegiance is given to the liberal party, and in 1911 he opposed the Taft-Fielding reciprocity compact. Prominent in club circles, he holds membership with the Mount Royal, St. James, Canada, Canadian, Forest and Stream, Lachine Boating and Canoe, Montreal Hunt, Montreal Jockey, Montreal Polo, Reform, Royal Montreal Golf and Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Clubs, all of Montreal. He is a man of liberal culture and broad general information, having largely promoted his knowledge through extended travel in the East Indies, South America, Japan, Egypt, Greece and Italy. His opinions carry weight on all questions in which he has become deeply interested, and his interest in any plan or project is ever the source of activity in its support.