A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time. Various
where-ever he went. He had a personality so attractive, a character so disarming in its tenderness and self-abnegation; he was so clear and candid that he broke down all barriers of prejudice. Moreover, among his intimates he possessed that mysterious gift of attraction which in colloquial symbolism is called magnetism. On the 28th September, Mr. Dowdall first complained and was advised by his physician to take rest, which he did, but contrary to advice he went out on Tuesday and drove up to the Reform meeting, and died on the 27th October, 1885.” Richard J. Dowdall, barrister, has succeeded to the practice of the late James Dowdall. He had just completed his law course at the time of his brother’s death, and at once commenced practice in the old offices at Almonte.
Crocket, William, A.M., Chief Superintendent of Education for New Brunswick, Fredericton, was born in Brechin, in the north of Scotland, on the 17th of May, 1832. His parents were James Crocket and Martha Procter. William received his elementary education at the High School of his native parish, and then went to King’s College, Aberdeen, where he took the university course. His professional training he received at the Established Church Normal School in Glasgow. He came to New Brunswick in 1856, and from this date to 1861, filled the position of principal of the Superior School at Campbellton, New Brunswick. In 1861, he was appointed rector of the Presbyterian Academy, at Chatham, New Brunswick, and acted as such until 1870, when he was appointed principal of the Normal School of New Brunswick, and this office he held until 1883. On the 13th November of that year, he was appointed by the government of New Brunswick, its chief superintendent of education for the province, and this office he now holds, and is greatly respected by all with whom his official position brings him in contact. Mr. Crocket has been faithful to his profession; has laboured zealously to improve the method of teaching in the Public schools of the province, and has the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have not been barren of results. He has also taken a deep interest in the higher education of the province, and has been for over ten years one of the examiners for degrees in the University of New Brunswick, and is likewise a member of the University Senate. He belongs to the church of his fathers, the Presbyterian; and was married to Marion, daughter of William M. Caldwell, of Campbellton, New Brunswick, on the 13th of April, 1858.
Barclay, Rev. James, M.A., Pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Montreal, is a native of Paisley, Scotland, having been born in that town on the 19th June, 1844. His parents were James Barclay and Margaret Cochrane Brown. He received his primary education in Paisley Grammar School, and Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, and then went to the University of Glasgow, where he graduated with high honours. He was then called to St. Michael’s Church, Dumfries. On the occasion of his ordination, the Rev. Dr. Lees, of St. Giles, Edinburgh, who was present, spoke in the most kindly manner of the young minister, and said that during Mr. Barclay’s college course the presbytery of Paisley had great cause to be proud of him; he had carried off one prize after another—in fact, his name was seen on every list of honours published by the university. Rev. Mr. Barclay’s next charge was Canobie, Dumfriesshire; then he preached for some time in Linlithgow, and was afterwards induced to seek a wider field for his talents, and was chosen colleague of the Rev. Dr. McGregor in St. Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. Here he soon won for himself a name, and became one of the most popular preachers in the Scotch metropolis. St. Paul’s Church, Montreal, being without a pastor, it extended a unanimous call to Mr. Barclay, asking him to come to Canada and take charge of this church, which he consented to do, and was inducted as its minister on the 11th of October, 1883. Since then his ministry in Montreal has been eminently successful, and his influence among the young men of that city is greatly marked, so much so that they flock to his church in great numbers, and regard him in a special sense as their friend. The Rev. Mr. Barclay has great mental qualities, is an independent thinker, and never hesitates to enunciate the scientific and theological thoughts of the times we live in. His sermons are prepared with great care, and are delivered with earnestness and force. He is a good reader, an impressive platform speaker, and his prayers are solemn, reverential and spiritual, leading man up from self and earth and sin into the presence of God, the Father of all. Physically the Rev. Mr. Barclay is tall and muscular, giving one an idea of strength and power. He belongs to the Charles Kingsley school, and is a lover of outdoor pastimes and sports, a champion cricketer and golf player, and a great admirer of the “roaring game”—curling. The Edinburgh Scotsman has spoken of him as being the best all round cricketer in Scotland, and a terrifically fast bowler who has won victory after victory for the west of Scotland. He was captain of the Glasgow University cricket and football clubs for some years, and also captain of the “Gentlemen of Scotland.” We are glad that in this matter of out-door recreation, and also in some other matters, he has shown the courage of his convictions, and we do not think he has lost anything by it. There is such a thing as being too professional and too priestly, and there can be little doubt but that this has done its full share in creating the somewhat general prejudice that exists among young men against religion. This popular divine has been honoured by being called on to preach before Queen Victoria on several occasions, and he stands high in her Majesty’s estimation as an expounder of the gospel of Christ. The congregation of St. Paul’s Church is large and influential. Its ministers have always been men of commanding intellect and gentlemanly bearing, and who held their several pastorates for a considerable number of years. Their names and good deeds are kindly remembered by the citizens and the members of the church and congregation. The regular communicants of the church number about six hundred, and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is administered three times a year. The several organizations of the church are doing good work for humanity, and there is a large and flourishing Sunday school. The Victoria mission, at Point St. Charles, is supported and carried on by this church; and it also supports a missionary in Central India. Its annual revenue amounts to about $22,000.00, and the pastor’s salary is $7,300.00, the largest paid to any minister in the dominion.
Watson, George, Collector of Customs, Collingwood, Ontario, was born on the 2nd of December, 1828, in the parish of Strathdon, near Aberdeen, Scotland, on a farm that had been occupied by his forefathers for over two hundred years, and which one of the family still occupies. The first of the Watson family, an aunt of the subject of our sketch, came to York, Upper Canada, in 1816, at the solicitation of Bishop Strachan, who came to Canada in 1812 from the same parish. His uncle-in-law, William Arthurs (father of the late Colonel Arthurs), was one of the first city councillors of Toronto, William Lyon Mackenzie, mayor. His father, Alexander Watson, emigrated to Upper Canada in 1832, and settled on a farm in the township of Chinguacousy, about twenty miles from Toronto, and died at Collingwood on the 30th of November, 1877, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years and six months. His mother was named Annie Watt, and died at the family homestead in Scotland when only twenty-nine years and nine months old. George received his early education in the parish school of Strathdon, and coming to Canada in 1843, finished his course of studies in the Grammar School at Toronto. He went on his father’s farm and continued there until 1855, when he took the position of passenger conductor on the Northern Railway, and continued as such for nearly twelve years. In October, 1866, in consequence of ill health, he gave up railroading, and in November of the same year received the government appointment of sub-collector at the port of Collingwood. In 1873, when the port was made an independent one, he was made collector, and this position he still holds. He has now resided in Collingwood over thirty-two years, and occupied the position of government officer of customs over twenty years. In 1867 Mr. Watson was elected mayor of Collingwood, and held the office for five consecutive years, and at the end of this time he declined to serve any longer; but in 1877, however, he was again induced to accept the office, and served another term. He is a justice of the peace; and has been chairman of the board of license commissioners for West Simcoe since the passing of the Ontario License Law in 1876. He is an enthusiastic Scot, and has filled the office of president of the Collingwood St. Andrew’s Society since its organization in 1880. Mr. Watson is also surveyor and registrar of shipping for the Collingwood district. He is an adherent of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Reformer, as were his forefathers. In June, 1865, Mr. Watson was married to Joanna, daughter of the late John Watson, of Chinguacousy, and has a family of three sons, George, aged twenty years, Lorne Mackenzie, aged four years, and Norman, aged four months. Mr. Watson is one of Nature’s noblemen, and has through life manifested a thoroughly independent spirit, and one well worthy of imitation by any young man starting out in life. He has earned for himself a competency “for