DANIEL WILSON.
In Montreal stand many evidences of the ability and skill of Daniel Wilson in a number of the larger and more substantial buildings of the city, where for a long period he engaged in the business of general contracting. He was born in Avoch, Scotland, March 2, 1827, and was in the seventy-ninth year of his age when he passed away. He had been a resident of Canada since 1853, having come to the Dominion to take charge of stone quarries at Pointe Claire for the construction of the Victoria bridge. After the completion of the bridge he entered upon the work of general contracting and erected many of the largest buildings of Montreal, including the Royal Insurance building, Molson’s Bank, the Merchants Bank, the Mutual Telegraph building, the Erskine church, the Windsor Hotel, and others. He retired from business about 1886, having met with notable success that brought him a gratifying income.
Mr. Wilson was prominent in public affairs. For eight years he represented St. Antoine ward in the city council and was interested and active in support of various projects which have had to do with the welfare and upbuilding of this city. He was also Protestant school commissioner for a number of years and aside from positions having to do with the public service he was connected officially with various charitable and benevolent projects. For six years he was on the board of the Outdoor Relief and the Protestant Hospital for the Insane, was a life governor of the General Hospital and a trustee of Mount Royal Cemetery Association. He was also one of the oldest members and for eleven years a deacon and twelve years elder of the Crescent Street Presbyterian church and when other interests left him leisure for sports, he enjoyed curling and became one of the founders of the Caledonia Curling Club.
Mr. Wilson was married in Scotland to Miss Margaret Stephen, who died in Montreal in 1856, being the mother of two children: James, a resident of Montreal; and Margaret, the widow of Henry Downs, of St. Paul, Minnesota. In Montreal, in 1858, Mr. Wilson married Miss Catherine MacGregor, a daughter of Daniel MacGregor, and to this union six children were born: Robert, a contractor residing in Vancouver; Lillias Ann, who died in young girlhood; Lillias Isabella, the wife of Peter C. Small, of Vancouver; Christina, who married James Sutherland and died in Montreal in 1896; Kate, who is Mrs. William A. Coates, of Montreal; and John William, a contractor of Montreal.
On the 14th of February, 1906, Daniel Wilson was called from this life, leaving behind him a record of many good deeds undertaken for the benefit of his fellowmen and consummated in following the highest ideals of manhood and responsibility toward those with whom and for whom he lived.
ARTHUR ECREMENT, B. A.
Arthur Ecrement, who for many years has figured prominently in the public life of the province and is a well known representative of the notarial profession, was born at St. Gabriel de Brandon, on the 29th of June, 1879. Liberal educational opportunities were accorded him and after attending Montreal College and Laval University he entered upon public life. In fact his activities have always been of a public or semi-public character and his labors have been of far-reaching and beneficial effect. For five years he was secretary to the Hon. R. Dandurand, speaker of the senate, and he was also secretary of the liberal organization of the district of Montreal. He was first elected to the house of commons in 1908, in the liberal interests, and his efforts as a member of that body have been pursued with a singleness of purpose in the interest of general progress and good government. He brings to bear in the discharge of his duties executive ability, keen insight into the situation and a loyalty to the public good that is above question.