James P. Dawes, Sr., another son of Thomas Dawes, the founder of the family in Canada, married a Miss Leishman, who died in 1856, leaving three sons, James P., Andrew J. and Thomas A. James P. Dawes, Sr., was prominently identified with the business during his active life, and contributed his part towards its progress and expansion. He died in 1878. His son, Andrew Joseph Dawes is now at the head of the mammoth business, which had its inception in the brain of his grandfather and took on material form through his efforts, and grew and developed through the labor of representatives of the family in intermediate generations to the present.
To accumulate a fortune requires one kind of genius; to retain a fortune already acquired, to add to its legitimate increment and to make such use of it that its possessor may derive therefrom the greatest enjoyment and the public the greatest benefit, requires another kind of genius. Mr. Dawes belongs to that generation of business men called upon to shoulder responsibilities differing materially from those that rested upon their predecessors. In a broader field of enterprise they find themselves obliged to deal with affairs of greater magnitude and to solve more difficult and complicated financial and economic problems. Such is the position in which Andrew J. Dawes found himself and he has proven at all times equal to the occasion and the demands made upon him.
Born in Lachine, June 15, 1846, he received his education in that town, and also in Montreal. His business career began early in connection with the interests of his father and on the death of that parent he assumed additional responsibilities in the business, which have been continued to the present time. Mr. Dawes has been a prominent factor in the development of the business. With its gradual growth facilities were increased, new buildings were added and the plant has thus expanded until it is represented by immense blocks of buildings, covering several acres on each side of the main street in Lachine. Aside from his extensive interests in the brewery business, Andrew J. Dawes is prominently identified with various projects and organizations for the development and improvement of the province along horticultural and agricultural lines, being especially interested in the subject of fruit growing.
He is a director of the Montreal Horticultural and Fruit Growing Association; is president of the Council of Agriculture of the Province of Canada, and at one time was president of the Lachine Horticultural Association. He is a director of the Merchants Bank and holds the same official position in regard to the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company, Ltd. He is well known in social and club circles and was president of the Auto Club of Canada from 1903 to 1906, while his membership relations extend to the Mount Royal, St. James, Forest and Stream, Royal Montreal Golf, Royal St. Lawrence Yacht, Montreal Hunt, Auto and Aero, Montreal Jockey, Montreal Polo, and St. George Snow Shoe Clubs and to the Rideau Club of Ottawa.
Mr. Dawes married Miss Mary O. A. Wilgress, of Lachine, and they have two daughters: Rachel M., the wife of F. L. Bond, of Montreal; and Frances H., the wife of B. Hazen Porteous, of Montreal.
A man of unusual energy whose exceptionally well preserved physical condition enables him to display a capacity for business more becoming to one twenty years his junior, success has made possible for Mr. Dawes the enjoyment of many social pleasures and interests. Yet prominent club man, that he is, Mr. Dawes’ first interest is the extensive business of which he is the controlling head and he is everywhere recognized as a forceful, resourceful man, ready to meet any emergency and ever looking beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities and possibilities of the future.
T. STERRY HUNT, LL. D., F. R. S.
It is a trite saying that there is always room at the top, for while the lower ranks of life are crowded, comparatively few have the ambition and the energy to climb to the heights in connection with business or professional interests. Recognizing and utilizing his opportunities and wisely employing his time and talents, T. Sterry Hunt became recognized as one of the eminent Canadian scientists, his ability winning for him the unusual honor of being made a fellow of the Royal Society of London. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut, September 5, 1826, a representative of an old New England family. It was his parents’ desire that he should become a representative of the medical profession, but a strong inclination toward the study of chemistry, mineralogy and geology prevented him from becoming a physician. In 1845 he pursued his studies under Professor Benjamin Silliman of Yale University and later became his assistant. His constantly expanding powers marked him a man above the ordinary and distinguished honors came to him as the years passed. As early as 1846 the result of his original research work was published in an article which he wrote for the American Journal of Science. When the Geological Survey of Canada, then recently organized by Mr. (later Sir) William E. Logan, required the service of a competent chemist and mineralogist, Mr. Logan applied to Professor Silliman to supply the man and Mr. Hunt was recommended for the position, which he accepted early in 1847. His connection with the survey continued until 1872, when, much against the wish of the government, he resigned. His work embraced a large amount of field geology. The most difficult problems presented by the geological formation of Canada are those of its crystalline rocks. To this study Mr. Hunt addressed himself from the beginning and made the first clear exposition ever presented of the earlier rocks of the country. He afterward gave the names of Laurentian and Huronian to these rocks and in his investigations, analyses and scientific research laid the foundation of what he regarded as his life work. He also gave constant attention to the economic and practical departments of the survey and was the first to make known the deposits of phosphate of lime in Canada and call attention to its commercial value for fertilizing purposes, collecting and sending specimens of the same to the foreign exhibits of 1851, 1855 and 1867. He analyzed soils, investigated the petroleums of Canada and their distribution, and his studies of the mineral waters of the Dominion were the first and most complete ever made. His work in many respects constituted the foundation, basis and stimulus of all later investigation.
