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

1873. He then commenced business by opening a general store, which he

still carries on. In connection with this he has a private bank, which he opened in the autumn of 1881. This institution was one that the citizens of Acton greatly needed, as they had no banking office nearer than Guelph. In politics Mr. Henderson is a Liberal-Conservative, and was elected during the bye-election in 1888 to represent Halton in the House of Commons. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian church. He married on Christmas Day, 1865, Alison Christie, daughter of Charles Christie, late of Nassagaweya, and has a family of six sons and one daughter. * * * * * =Payzant, John Young=, M.A. (Acadia College), Barrister, Halifax, N.S., is a native of Falmouth, Hants county, where he was born on the 9th February, 1837. He is the descendant of a prominent Huguenot, who fled from Caen, France, on the revocation of the edict of Nantes. The family came to Nova Scotia, under Governor Cornwallis, in 1754. After the death of the great grandfather in the Indian wars of that period, his widow and children were carried captives to Quebec, and were present at the fall of that fortress after the heroic attack of Wolfe. They subsequently returned to Nova Scotia, two of the sons, Louis and John, becoming eminent preachers in said province. He received his early education at the Academy and College of Acadia at Wolfville, N.S., his family being Baptists. Having finished his classical course and graduated at Acadia, he went to Halifax, N.S., and studied law with the late Hon. James W. Johnston, afterwards judge in equity of the Supreme Court. He was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia 7th December, 1864, and at once began to practise in Halifax, where his excellent reputation and family connections enabled him to work up a good business. He has a large conveyancing and real estate business. He has been for many years the solicitor of the Nova Scotia Building Society, which carries on an extensive business in Halifax. He is also an executor of the will of the late John Young, a leading broker and commission merchant, whose only daughter is the widow of Sir Albert J. Smith, ex-minister of marine, and who left a large estate. He married a daughter of William C. Silver, of Halifax, the well-known dry goods merchant, and has several children. His two eldest sons are taking the arts course at King’s College, Windsor. Some years ago Mr. Payzant took exception to certain regulations and practices of the Baptist church, and published a pamphlet explanatory of his reasons for severing his connection with it. He then connected himself with the Church of England and worships in St. Paul’s Church, in Halifax. He takes a strong interest in all matters pertaining to the Anglican church. He is a frequent lecturer in Halifax and other places in his native province. Mr. Payzant began his active political career in the bye-election of 1884, having reluctantly accepted the nomination of the Conservative party, opposing Hon. W. S. Fielding, provincial secretary and premier, who ran for Halifax county, this gentleman having undertaken to form a government when Hon. W. T. Pipes, of Amherst, the former premier, retired from the position. Hon. Mr. Fielding was elected by a majority of about two hundred and fifty. Mr. Payzant, however, stood so well with the people that his party determined to nominate him, together with W. D. Harrington, ex-M.P.P., and Alderman James N. Lyons, at the general election of May, 1886. Mr. Payzant was absent from Halifax city at the time of this caucus, and again reluctantly took the field. The question of repeal was the main issue before the country, and the Conservatives were unable to make much headway, although they conducted their campaign with great spirit and assiduity. The returns were a complete victory for Hon. Mr. Fielding’s government. In Halifax the vote stood, Fielding, 4042; Roche, 3931; Power, 3822; defeating Harrington, 2981; J. N. Lyons, 2866; Payzant,