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

Mr. Harris, jr., received his education in his native town, and for the past thirty years has been a member of the firm of J. & C. Harris, general merchants. In 1877 he took an active part with his brother and partner, J. L. Harris, and others, in organizing the Moncton Gaslight and Water Company, and also in the construction of the works. He has held the position of a director and also treasurer of the company until the present time. In 1880 he took a similar part in the organization and erection of the works of the Moncton Sugar Refining Company, and has been its treasurer ever since. In 1882 he helped to promote the Moncton Cotton Manufacturing Company, and the construction of its works, and is now one of its leading directors. Although a busy mercantile man, he has found time to devote some of his leisure to Masonry, and has been connected with the order for over twenty-one years. He is a past-master and honorary member of Keith lodge; past-principal Z of Botsford Royal Arch Chapter; a member of the Union De Molay Commandery, of St. John, New Brunswick, and also of other Masonic orders. In religion Mr. Harris is an adherent of the Reformed Episcopal church; and in politics a Liberal-Conservative. He was married on the 8th of October, 1867, to Mary Landon Cowling, eldest daughter of Eben Landon Cowling, justice of the peace. Mr. Harris is a live business man, and has a bright future before him. * * * * * =Beckwith, Adolphus George=, Civil Engineer, Fredericton, New Brunswick, was born at Fredericton, on December 28th, 1839. His parents were the late Hon. John A. Beckwith, M.L.C., and Maria A. Beckwith. (See sketch life of Hon. Mr. Beckwith, in another part of this volume.) Mr. Beckwith was educated at the Collegiate School, Fredericton, and took a partial course at King’s College (now University of New Brunswick), where he studied civil engineering, and received his diploma from Professor Thomas Cregan. He joined the volunteers as a private on their first formation in Fredericton, in 1858, was gazetted ensign in 1st York Battalion, under Lieut.-Colonel Minchin, in 1861, was lieutenant in 1863, and captain in 1867. He was appointed adjutant of the 71st York Battalion in 1867, and held that position, with the rank of major, from July, 1876, until the retirement of Capt. J. W. Smith, paymaster, in 1881, when he exchanged to the position of paymaster, which he now holds. He holds first and second class certificates from the School of Instruction. Mr. Beckwith is a deputy surveyor of Crown Lands, and was draughtsman in the Crown Lands office from 1866 to 1871, when he was appointed engineer of Public Works, which position he now holds. He performed the duties of Provincial government engineer for two or three years, in addition to his other works. Is at present City engineer of Fredericton. He joined the Free Masons in 1861, in Solomon’s lodge, No. 764, E.R., was master of the lodge in 1865, and secretary of the same, and Hiram lodge, No. 6, N.B.R., for ten years, and on retiring from that office, was presented with a handsome piece of plate by the members. He is also a frater of the encampment of Knights Templar of St. John; a past grand senior deacon of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Beckwith has travelled throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. He is a member of the Church of England. He was married at Brooklyn (New York), in 1865, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the late M. B. Marckwald, a merchant of New York. He has only one child living—Freeman Berton, who is in an office in New York. * * * * * =Sutherland, Rev. Alexander=, D.D., Toronto. No man is more widely known throughout this Dominion as an able preacher, a keen debater, a leader in the church courts of his own denomination, and a man of general sympathies and influence in the community, than the subject of this sketch. And his high position he owes to no favouritism of friends or fortune, but, under God, to the native abilities which his strong will and consecrated heart have guided into channels of general usefulness. Alexander Sutherland was born in the township of Guelph, Ontario, September 17th, 1833. His father was Captain Nicholas Sutherland, born in Dundee, Scotland; and his mother, Mary Henderson, a native of Port Glasgow. The family settled in the township of Guelph in 1832. Amid the hardships of pioneer life, opportunities for scholarships were few, and the now learned doctor’s early education was confined to a few terms in a backwood’s school. His good Scotch parents, however, early planted within him a love of learning, and that process of self-culture was begun which has continued through life. As a child he was able to read fluently before ever going to school. When he was nine years of age his father died; and, at thirteen years of age, he was forced to leave home and earn his own living. For seven years he was a printer, and during those years, as indeed from earliest boyhood, he read with avidity whatever came in his way. Thus were those stores of information accumulated which have helped to make their possessor a ready speaker and a formidable opponent on so many diverse subjects and occasions. When about sixteen years old he became connected with a Methodist Sunday-school, and also with temperance organizations, in which he was repeatedly presiding officer. “The child” was indeed “father of the man.” In his nineteenth year he was converted and became a member of the Methodist church. His ability soon displayed itself in connection with the class-meeting and other services of the church, and before long he was licensed as an “exhorter” and then as a “local preacher.” In the year 1855 there was urgent demand for ministers in the Methodist church, and Alexander Sutherland was persuaded to go out “under the chairman,” Rev. L. Warner. He was sent to Clinton, at that time an old-fashioned circuit, thirty miles in length by perhaps eighteen in width, including about twenty preaching services every month. Travelling such an extensive round, preaching so frequently, and at the same time pursuing the Conference course of study requisite before ordination, the young preacher found written preparation for the pulpit impossible, but gained in this hard practical school of oratory an invaluable training in extempore utterance. The next two years were spent on the Berlin circuit. In 1858, young Sutherland enjoyed one year of college training at Victoria College, Cobourg. In 1859 he was received into full connection with the Conference and ordained. In June of the same year he was married to Mary Jane, eldest daughter of Hugh Moore, of Dundas. Of this happy union four sons and three daughters have been the issue. Of the sons, two died in early boyhood. After his marriage, Dr. Sutherland’s pastoral charges were in order—Niagara, Thorold, Drummondville, Hamilton, Yorkville, Richmond street, Toronto, and St. James street, Montreal. During his residence in Toronto he took a very active and efficient part in Sunday-school and temperance work. For some time he was president of the Ontario Temperance and Prohibitory League. His temperance sermons and other efforts in behalf of this cause will not be soon forgotten by those who came under their influence. In 1869 he was elected secretary of Conference, and was re-elected the following year. In 1871 he was appointed, with the Rev. Dr. Sanderson, fraternal delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the United States, which met in Brooklyn in 1872. On this occasion, and on all similar occasions, Dr. Sutherland has done great credit to his church and to his country. In 1873 he was appointed pastor of the St. James street Church, Montreal, and at the Conference of 1874 was elected chairman of the Montreal district. But the Montreal pastorate was brief. At the first General Conference of the Methodist church of Canada, September, 1874, Dr. Sutherland was elected general secretary and clerical treasurer of the Missionary Society, as successor to the Rev. Lachlin Taylor, D.D. This is one of the highest honours in the gift of the Methodist church; the office is one of arduous toil, but affords scope for high abilities. Since that day, Dr. Sutherland has travelled from Newfoundland and the Bermudas to British Columbia, superintending the missionary work and stimulating the missionary zeal of the Methodist church; has for several years published that admirable missionary journal _The Missionary Outlook_, and has succeeded in increasing the annual income of the society from $118,000 to nearly $200,000. The increased labours of his office have not prevented the missionary secretary from taking an active interest in all the enterprises of the church, and his voice has rung out clear and loud on every great question that has recently agitated the Methodist community. To him more than to any other man does the church owe the success of that mighty movement which culminated in 1883 in the union of all branches of Methodism in this dominion. With tongue and pen he eloquently, earnestly and constantly pleaded for consolidation; and, when all seemed hanging in the balance, his admirable generalship and eloquence in the memorable Union debate in the Toronto Conference, Peterborough, June, 1883, constrained victory to the union side. To have played such a part at such a crisis is no mean claim to grateful and unfading memory. In 1882 Dr. Sutherland was elected president of the Toronto Conference, and again in 1884. In 1881 he was one of the Canadian representatives at the great Methodist Œcumenical Conference, London, England, and was made one of the joint secretaries of that august body. In 1886 he was appointed fraternal delegate to the British Wesleyan Conference, in place of Rev. Dr. Rice, general superintendent, deceased. Dr. Sutherland’s literary activity has been, so far, confined to newspaper and magazine articles and brief pamphlets on questions of the day. His incisive style, his permeating humour, his wide information, his keen insight, render his writing and his speaking alike powerful. A man of immense energy, he has done much to mould the thought and guide the work of his church already, and bids fair to remain one of her most influential leaders for years to come. In May, 1879, the University of Victoria College conferred upon him the well deserved degree of Doctor in Divinity. * * * * * =Beckwith, Hon. John Adolphus.= The late Hon. Mr. Beckwith was born at Fredericton, New Brunswick, on December 1st, 1800, and died November 23rd, 1880. His father, Nehemiah Beckwith, was a loyalist, settled in Fredericton, and built sloops in partnership with the celebrated Benedict Arnold, who, at that time, also resided in Fredericton. Nehemiah Beckwith was married at Fredericton, to Julie Louise LeBrun, a daughter of Jean Baptiste LeBrun, barrister, and proctor at law, etc., of Quebec. Miss LeBrun came to Fredericton from Quebec with the family of Sir Guy Carleton, in the capacity of companion and French governess to Miss Carleton. About 1813, Nehemiah Beckwith purchased a large tract of land in the suburbs of Montreal from Count du Chaillu (father of the great explorer and historian), but his death very soon after, before the deeds were completed, lost him the property and purchase money. This property is now a valuable part of the City of Montreal. Mrs. Beckwith (neé LeBrun) was cousin to Cardinal Richelieu, and aunt to L’Abbé Ferland, professeur d’Histoire, University Laval, Quebec. Hon. John A. Beckwith was cousin to l’Abbé Ferland. Hon. Mr. Beckwith commenced his studies in the old Fredericton Grammar School, and completed them in Montreal and Quebec, graduating as a surveyor and engineer. He was connected with the militia from early manhood, and was for some years in command of the 1st battalion York Militia. For several years he was deputy surveyor general, before responsible government, and was commissioner of the N.B. & N.S. Land Company, from 1860 till his death. He served as mayor of Fredericton in 1863 and 1864, and represented York county in the local legislature from 1866 to 1873, holding the office of provincial secretary and receiver general from 1868 to 1873, when he was appointed to a seat in the Legislative Council. Mr. Beckwith ever took an active interest in the advance of agriculture, and was always one of the committee in Provincial exhibitions. He was at one time grand master of the Orange body of New Brunswick. In religious matters he was a member of the Church of England. He was first married in 1822, to Ann Jewett; and married a second time in 1837, to Maria Ann Berton, whose father, a son of a loyalist, was the first sheriff of York county. His second wife survived him four years. * * * * * =Macfarlane, Thomas=, Chief Analyst, Inland Revenue Department, Ottawa, Ontario, was born on the 5th March, 1834, at Pollokshaws, parish of Eastwood, county of Renfrew, Scotland. His father, Thomas Macfarlane, was a native of Pollokshaws, and his mother, Catherine, was born in the adjoining parish of Mearns. Mr. Macfarlane, jr., was educated in Pollokshaws, at the Andersonian University, Glasgow, and at the Royal Mining School of Freiberg, in Saxony. In the latter school he studied chemistry, metallurgy, mineralogy, and geology. After leaving Freiberg in 1857, he travelled through the Erzgebirge and Bohemia, and then went to Norway, as director of the Modum smelting works and Cobalt mines. During his stay in Norway he visited most of the southern part of that country, including Ringerike, Nummedal, Thelemarken and Saetersdal. In 1860 he emigrated to Canada, and took charge of the Acton, and afterwards of the Albert mine in the Eastern Townships, province of Quebec. In 1865-6 Mr. Macfarlane became field-geologist under the late Sir William Logan, and helped that illustrious gentleman on the geological survey of Canada. In the volume of geological reports published in 1866, Mr. Macfarlane supplies reports on Hastings county and the Lake Superior district. In 1868 he explored the Montreal Mining Company’s locations on Lake Superior, and was the discoverer of the celebrated Silver Islet mine. In 1871 he paid a visit to the mining districts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada; and in 1873 he revisited England, and then travelled through Germany and Norway. On his return to Canada, in 1876, he visited Nova Scotia and Cape Breton; also Ecuador and Peru, and published a description of the latter journey under the title of “To the Andes.” In 1879 he spent six months smelting in Leadville, Colorado. In 1881, visited mining districts on the Lower Colorado and in Southern Utah, travelling from Fort Yuma to Salt Lake City. In 1884 he revisited England and Germany; and here we say, Mr. Macfarlane speaks the German, French and Danish languages fluently. In 1886 he was appointed by the Dominion government chief analyst for Canada, and is now settled down at Ottawa. In 1882 he was appointed a member of the Royal Society, Canada, and elected president of the Chemical section in 1886. In 1885 he became a member of the Imperial Federation League, and in February, 1886, and January, 1887, contributed articles to its “Journal.” Mr. Macfarlane has devoted nearly all his life to science, and as a chemist, metallurgist, miner, and explorer, he stands very high. His scientific papers are numerous, and by referring to the pages of _The Canadian Naturalist_, will be found there on: “Primitive Formation in Norway,” “Acton Copper Mine,” “Eruptive Rocks,” “Copper Extraction,” “Production of Soda and Chlorine,” “Copper-beds of Portage, Lake Michigan,” “Geological Formations of Lake Superior,” “Silver Ore of Wood’s Location,” “Origin of Crystalline Rocks,” “Canadian Geology.” In the pages of “Transactions of the Institute of Mining Engineers,” papers on “Slag Densities,” “Classification of Original Rocks,” “Silver Islet.” And some others in the “Proceedings of the Royal Society of Canada.” Mr. Macfarlane was reared a Presbyterian in the U. P. Church of Scotland, and while a young man adopted materialistic views, but has since abandoned them, and is now a member of the Anglican church. He married in September, 1858, Margaret Skelly, niece of Dr. John Litster, Pollokshaws, Scotland, and they have nine children, all living. * * * * * =Currey, Lemuel Allan=, M.A., Barrister-at-law, St. John, New Brunswick, was born at Gagetown, Queens county, on 11th July, 1856. He belongs to a very ancient family, and one of the founders being the Earl Currey, who lived in the time of Cromwell, and owned large estates in Leeds and vicinity, England. His son, John Currey, was born in Leeds in 1688, and came to the city of New York about the year 1700, where he married, and died young of an epidemic, leaving one son, Richard Currey, who was born 4th November, 1709. Richard married a lady of the name of Elizabeth Jones, and removed to Peekskill, on the Hudson, New York state, where he died on March 20, 1806. By this marriage there were three sons and seven daughters born. The eldest son was Joshua Currey, who married Eunice Travis at Peekskill. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, Joshua Currey sided with the British, but the rest of the family sympathised with the colonists. During these troublesome times Mr. Currey had several narrow escapes for his life. At one time he had to hide himself under the floor of his house to escape the fury of the revolutionists, and his son David was nearly killed by them by being buried in a sandpit. Joshua and his family managed to make good their escape, and, joining a band of loyalists, reached St. John, New Brunswick, in October 23, 1783, where he remained one year, and then removed to Gagetown, where he died in 1802. He left large estates in New York state, but he, however, succeeded in carrying away with him in his flight a large sum of money. He had a family of five sons and two daughters. His second son, David Currey, who was born at Peekskill, April 27, 1767, died at Gagetown, August 12, 1827. This gentleman married Dorothy Estey, by whom he had twelve children, one of whom, James Robert Currey, who was born in 1817, was the father of the subject of our sketch, and was by profession a barrister in Gagetown, and registrar of probates, and clerk of the Queens county court. His mother was Sarah Amelia, daughter of Reuben Hoben. Lemuel Allan Currey received his literary education at the Queens County Grammar School, and at the University of New Brunswick, where he graduated in 1876, with honours in the first division, taking a special prize for general proficiency. After graduating he entered as a student-at-law with his father, with whom he studied till 1880, and during said period taught the Queens County Grammar School for two and a-half years. In 1880 he entered Harvard Law School, where he remained one year, taking a special course. He then entered the office of S. Alward, D.C.L., barrister, St. John. Mr. Currey was admitted an attorney in 1882, and a barrister the following year. Since his enrolment he has practised law at St. John. In 1873-4 he attended the Military School at Fredericton, and took a certificate. He is a member of the Young Men’s Liberal-Conservative Club, of St. John, a member of St. George’s Society, and belongs to Union lodge, of Portland, A. F. and A. M. In religion he belongs to the Episcopal church, and in politics is a Conservative. * * * * * =Burwash, Rev. Nathaniel=, S.T.D., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, and Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Victoria University, Cobourg, Ontario, was born in Argenteuil, province of Quebec, on the 25th July, 1839. His father, Adam Burwash, was a descendant of an English family from Burwash, in Sussex; and his mother, Ann Taylor, was from Argyleshire, Scotland, and was the eldest sister of the late Rev. Lachlin Taylor, D.D. His great-grandfather was a United Empire loyalist. Nathaniel received his rudimentary education in the schools of his native place, and then entered Victoria University, where he took the arts course, and graduated B.A. in 1859. He then devoted his time for two years as a Public and Grammar school teacher; and in 1860 entered the ministry of the Methodist church. From this year to 1866 he filled the position of pastor in churches in Belleville, Toronto, and Hamilton. In 1866 he left Canada for a time, and entered Yale College, New Haven, U.S., for the purpose of studying the natural sciences, and having completed his course, he returned home in 1867, and was appointed professor of natural sciences in Victoria University, Cobourg. In 1873 he was promoted to the professorship of Biblical and Systematical Theology, and was also made dean of the faculty of theology in the same institution. This important position he still occupies, and since his appointment fully one-fifth of the entire ministry of the several Western conferences of the Methodist church have been his students. Professor Burwash some years ago took an active interest in the Volunteer movement, and was one of those who risked his life at Ridgeway, in repelling the Fenian hordes who attempted to desecrate Canadian soil. He has travelled a good deal, and has visited several of the universities and educational institutions of Great Britain, France and Germany. The professor has not been an idle man, as the record of his life amply testifies, and to those who would like to peruse some of his literary productions, we recommend them to examine his works on: “Nature, Genesis and Results of Sin”; “Relation of Childhood to the Fall, the Atonement and the Church”; “Wesley’s Doctrinal Standards”; and his “Commentary on Romans.” On the 25th December, 1868, he was married to Margaret Proctor, only daughter of E. M. Proctor, registrar of Lambton, a graduate of the Ladies’ College, Hamilton. * * * * * =Currie, John Zebulon,= A.B., M.D., &c., Fredericton, New Brunswick, was born at Keswick, parish of Douglas, York county, New Brunswick, January 3, 1847. He is the second son of Thomas Gilbert and Patience Currie. Both parents belonged to old loyalist families. His father’s family is descended from John Currie (Currey), who came from Leeds, Yorkshire, England, and settled in New York about A.D. 1700. At the outbreak of the American revolution, Joshua, a son of Richard, refusing to join the insurgents, escaped to the British army, served as a lieutenant in that force, and at the close of the war came to St. John, New Brunswick, with the fall fleet. He brought three sons with him, of whom Richard, the eldest, having married Barbara Dykeman, became the founder of this family in New Brunswick. Dr. Currie’s mother is a daughter of the late Major Abraham Yerxa, who lived at Keswick, York county, N.B. John Yerxa, father of Abraham Yerxa, came from Holland to New York, with his parents, at the age of fourteen years. He was married to Katie Gerow, and throughout the American revolutionary war served as a volunteer in the British army. At the close of the war he came to St. John, N.B., being a member of one of the two regiments that were disbanded and given lands in New Brunswick. When he came to St. John there was but one house where the city now stands. Subsequently he settled upon lands on the Keswick stream, York county, and remained there until his death. Dr. Currie remained at Keswick until about fifteen years of age, and received his preliminary education in the schools of his native parish. When in his sixteenth year he attended the Provincial Normal School in St. John, and at the close of the term of study there, received a second class teacher’s certificate. In 1864, he became a student at the Baptist Seminary, Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he remained two years. In September, 1867, he matriculated at the University of New Brunswick, and pursued the regular course of study there. During his undergraduate course at this institution he was the successful competitor for the scholarship in English Language and Literature, besides taking honours in this and other departments. Having completed the course of study he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1870. He at once began the study of medicine, entering the medical department of Harvard University, Boston, the same year. Having completed the regular course of study in this institution he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D., Harvard) in 1873. At the same time he passed the required examination for, and was admitted a fellow of, the Massachusetts Medical Society. He then went to Scotland to complete his professional studies, and matriculated at the University of Edinburgh, and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh. At the completion of the course in the University of Edinburgh he was awarded the first medal in midwifery and diseases of women and children, with the highest standard which had at that time been attained. He also received a special license in the same department. In the College of Physicians and Surgeons he was the successful competitor for the second prize in surgery under Prof. Patrick Heron Watson. He then went to London, England, where he spent some time in visiting the different hospitals and in further professional study. In the latter part of 1874 he returned to Fredericton, N.B., began the practice of his profession, and has remained there ever since. Dr. Currie’s student life was marked by careful study and constantly advanced standing. On June 15, 1881, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the 71st York battalion of the Active Militia of Canada, and on the 25th of December, 1883, was promoted to be surgeon of the same corps, which office he still holds. Dr. Currie is secretary and registrar of the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, and has constantly held this office since the organization of the council in July, 1881. He is a member of the Provincial Board of Health of New Brunswick, and also secretary of the board; both appointments date from June 1st, 1887, when the Public Health Act went into operation. In virtue of his position as secretary of the Provincial Board of Health, he is chief health officer for the province. Dr. Currie is at present a member of the council of the Associated Alumni of the University of New Brunswick, and has been since June, 1885. He is also a coroner for York county, N.B. This appointment dates from October 17,