Senator Rodier was united in marriage in 1848 to Miss Angelique Lapierre, a daughter of Andre Lapierre. The death of Mr. Rodier occurred January 26, 1890, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, while his wife survived until March 24, 1907. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters.
ALEXANDER C. HENRY.
In business circles of Montreal the name of Alexander C. Henry was well known, for from 1899 until his death, three years later, he was purchasing agent for the entire system of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the magnitude and importance of his duties making his position a most difficult and responsible one. He was born at Beamsville, Canada, in 1849, and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he attended the Upper Canada College, at Toronto. Subsequently he removed to Montreal, and gradually working his way upward in business connections became, in 1884, assistant purchasing agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and in 1899 was made general purchasing agent for the entire system. His ability, fidelity, indefatigable energy and enterprise brought him to the prominent position which he occupied. At the time of his death Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, paid high tribute to his memory and bore testimony to his honesty, which was manifest in his careful accounting for every penny, although in his capacity of purchasing agent he expended over one hundred and two million dollars.
On the 30th of November, 1882, in Montreal, Mr. Henry was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Wilson, of England, and to them were born three children, two of whom are living, H. Gordon, being a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and the other, A. Wilson, of Montreal. Mr. Henry held membership in St. James the Apostle church. He was a public-spirited citizen, active in support of any movement which he deemed of vital worth in the upbuilding and progress of the community. He belonged to St. James Club, the Forest and Stream Club and others, and he had an extensive circle of friends who held him in the highest esteem. Mr. Henry passed away on February 2, 1902.
GEORGE FREDERICK BENSON.
In manufacturing and commercial circles of Montreal the name of George Frederick Benson is well known. Important business concerns have profited by his cooperation, have felt the stimulus of his energy and enterprise and have been quickened by his close application and careful control. Many of Montreal’s best known and most successful business men are numbered among her native sons, to which class Mr. Benson belongs. His father, William T. Benson, a native of Kendal, Westmoreland, England, was a member of the federal parliament for the constituency of South Grenville, Ontario, in which county the village of Cardinal (formerly called Edwardsburg) is situated. There the late W. T. Benson resided for twenty-seven years, after establishing there in 1858 the industry, so well known for many years throughout the Dominion of Canada as The Edwardsburg Starch Company and now forming the Edwardsburg Works of The Canada Starch Company, Ltd. The late W. T. Benson married in England, before coming to Canada, Helen Wilson of Acton Grange, Cheshire, England, and their only son was George Frederick Benson, the subject of this review.
He was educated in England at Uppingham School and Oxford University, but returned to Canada, after the sudden death of his father in 1885, to take charge of his father’s varied interests. After first confining his work to the management of the firm of W. T. Benson & Company, importers of foreign wools and chemicals at Montreal, he was elected president of The Edwardsburg Starch Company in 1894, and since the formation of The Canada Starch Company in 1906 he has been its president and managing director. He is likewise a director of the West Kootenay Power & Light Company, and thus his interests have become extensive and important, connecting him with leading manufacturing, commercial and industrial interests, not only in the east but also in the west.
In October, 1890, Mr. Benson was united in marriage to Miss Etheldred Norton, a daughter of the late George Frothingham of the well known firm of Frothingham & Workman, and they reside at No. 15 Ontario Avenue, Montreal. Mr. Benson gives his political allegiance to the conservative party and in religious faith is an Anglican. He has been an active member of the Montreal Board of Trade, and was treasurer for the year 1913. He has a wide acquaintance among leading club men of the city, holding membership in a number of the most important clubs of Montreal, including the St. James, Mount Royal, Canadian, Canada, Forest and Stream, Montreal Hunt, Montreal Racquet, Royal Montreal Golf and Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Clubs. He is also a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club of Toronto and an active member of the Thousand Islands Yacht Club in the Thousand Islands district, where he has a most attractive summer residence.