Robert A. Becket had made his initial step in business as bookkeeper for his uncle, J. C. Becket, on St. James Street in Montreal, but in the year of his marriage, removed to Belleville, Ontario, where he embarked in business on his own account conducting a music and stationery store, for about eight years, or until 1866, when he returned to this city and became manager for the D. Morris Ice Company. Some time passed and he became owner of this enterprise, in which connection he built up a large and profitable business. He organized a joint stock company called the City Ice Company, Limited, and devoted all of his time to the conduct of his business, carefully directing its interests. He was a progressive man and was especially active along musical lines, doing much to help young musicians. He was also a prominent figure in quartet and choir work and there was perhaps, no one who did more to stimulate among the young, a love for music of the higher class, than Mr. Becket.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Becket were born twelve children, of whom five are living: Christina A.; Dr. George C., of East Orange, New Jersey; Ralph A., of Montreal; Fred M., of Niagara Falls, New York; and Frank W., of New York. The family attend the Erskine church, of which Mr. Becket was a prominent member and elder, his religious faith constituting the root from which sprang his many good deeds, wrought along lines of continuous benefit to his fellowmen.
HAROLD EARLE WALKER.
Harold Earle Walker, practicing at the bar of Montreal as a member of the law firm of Chauvin, Baker & Walker, was born in Westmount, Quebec, in 1882. His father, James Robert Walker, a native of the city of Quebec, became senior partner of the well known firm of J. R. Walker & Company of Montreal and is not only well known in business circles but also through his active connection with public affairs. At one time he was mayor of Westmount and has taken an active part in furthering matters of civic virtue and civic pride. He married Agnes Cooper Earle.
After attending the Abingdon school, Mr. Walker became a student in McGill University, completing the arts course in 1904 and the law course with the class of 1907. His standing is indicated by the fact that he won the Elizabeth Torrance gold medal and the Macdonald scholarship. Following his graduation with the class of 1907, which was indicative of the completion of the thorough course of law prescribed by McGill, he was admitted to the bar and after a year spent in France returned to Montreal to enter upon the active practice of his profession, which he now follows as a member of the law firm of Chauvin, Baker & Walker. An extensive practice is fast adding to his experience and developing the powers with which nature endowed him.
In Montreal, in 1911, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Hazel A. Hart, a daughter of R. A. Baldwin Hart. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, and something of the nature of his recreation is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Beaconsfield Golf Club. He is a typical young professional man of the age, alert, energetic, watchful of opportunities. His friends anticipate for him future success, and the record he has already made shows that he has taken a far step in advance since entering upon the active practice of law.
JOSEPH BOWLES LEARMONT.
The history of a country is no longer an account of wars and conquests, but is a record of notable business activity, of intellectual, aesthetic and moral progress and political management and control. While never active in the field of politics, Joseph Bowles Learmont was not only highly successful where his tastes led, but was as well one of the foremost merchants of the city, and well known in the business community of Montreal. He cooperated in various interests having broad humanitarianism as their basic principle, and he was a connoisseur on rare books and engravings. His interests were wide and varied and brought him into close connection with many of the leading citizens of the Dominion.