A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time by Rose

Gagnon, farmer. Throughout his life, Mr. Gagnon has taken the keenest interest in politics and has done yeoman service to the Liberal party with which he is identified, in numberless contests in both Provincial and Dominion affairs. He also directed considerable attention to municipal affairs, his knowledge of those being recognized by his appointment as secretary of the municipality, and, later, secretary of the Board of School Commissioners. He also fills the office of treasurer of the Fabrique. He was president of the board of liquidators of the late Stadacona Fire and Life Insurance Company of Quebec. In October, 1885, he was appointed president of the Board of Notaries, of the province of Quebec, and this position he still holds. In 1873 he was appointed valuator for the St. Lawrence District of the Intercolonial Railway, which was then under construction, and a year later was appointed receiver of wreck for the district of Kamouraska, holding those offices concurrently until March, 1878, when he resigned to contest Kamouraska in the Liberal interest. He was successful in the contest, as he was in the next election in 1881. He was unseated after this election, each party paying its costs, but was again elected in 1883, and has continued to represent the constituency ever since. He was one of the strongest and ablest supporters of the Joly administration during its short career, and when the Liberal party went into opposition he rapidly came to the front as a leading man in the small but resolute band which opposed the policy and methods of the Conservative government under its successive leaders. When the Nationalist agitation arose, he took the same position as his leader, Mr. Mercier, that the interests of the Dominion demanded that a fair field should be given to the people of Quebec, and that union on the part of those people was the best means of calling attention to their demands. Battling strongly on this line, it was natural that when the Nationalist cause triumphed under Mr. Mercier’s leadership, Mr. Gagnon should be called to a position of honor and responsibility. He was sworn in as Provincial Secretary and member of the Executive Council on 29th June, 1887. * * * * * =Reid, Rev. Charles Peter=, Sherbrooke, Quebec, was born at Cornwall, Ont., on the 14th of August, 1811. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. James Reid, D.D., for fifty years rector of Trinity Church, Freleighsburg. He was educated at the Grammar School founded by the Royal Institution in Montreal, and taught by the late Alex. Scakel, and for a while at the similar school in Quebec, taught by the Rev. R. R. Burrage. He took his Divinity course at the Theological Seminary at Chambly, at which the late Rev. J. Braithwaite, M.A., was the principal. He was admitted to the diaconate by the Right Reverend Dr. Stewart, bishop of Quebec, on the 23rd of June, 1835, and to the priesthood at the first ordination held by the late Right Reverend Dr. Mountain, bishop of Quebec, on the first of Nov., 1836. His first mission after his ordination was Rawdon, in the present diocese of Montreal, where he remained a short time. He removed from Rawdon to St. John’s, as curate to the Rev. D. Baldwin, and missionary at Laprairie. While at St. John’s he was married to Julia Gray, eldest daughter of John Gray of her Majesty’s Customs. He then removed to Compton, where he remained fourteen years, building two churches, and organizing the work of the mission on a secure basis. On the 1st of April, 1854, he was appointed to Sherbrooke, of which place he has been rector for thirty years. During this long ministry the church under his charge has grown into a strong and flourishing one, and he has been identified with every good work which has been accomplished in the town. Not only by active interest, but by liberal donations, he has helped to support various charitable institutions. Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, is specially indebted to him. There are few figures more widely known or more truly beloved throughout the whole District of St. Francis, than that of Dr. Reid. He is spending his ripe old age in Sherbrooke, and, still active in mind and body, is never so happy as when assisting in the services of God’s house or ministering in his old field of labor, to those who have become endeared to him by a life-time of loving intercourse. Dr. Reid has been one of the trustees of Bishop’s College from the foundation, in