Part 79

=Strothard, Rev. James=, Pastor of Grafton Street Methodist Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, was born at Tadcaster, a small market town in Yorkshire, England, on the 5th August, 1847. His parents were Joseph and Mary Strothard. His father held a position of trust under the first Lord Londesborough, of Grimston Park, Yorkshire; and his maternal grandfather was a person of considerable wealth and importance, and for many years was a surveyor of highways. As a lad the Rev. Mr. Strothard attended the National Grammar School in the village of Ulleskelf, and from a very early age developed a love for books, often pursuing his studies long after the rest of the family had retired to rest. He won his first prize at school when only seven years of age, and a few years later received as a prize a fine Reference Bible. After leaving the Grammar School he spent two years in study at two first class boarding schools, and by this means he secured a good English education. He was religiously brought up in the Episcopal church, but having been converted in his fourteenth year, joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church in his native town. After attending the Sabbath-school as a scholar and teacher for four years, he was sent out as a local preacher when eighteen years of age. For several years he continued his theological studies under the guidance and with the assistance of the several ministers who successively occupied the circuit. Moving to Barnsley in 1868, he had also the advantage for two years of listening to the theological lectures from the Rev. Thos. H. Leal, at that time stationed there. While pursuing his theological studies with a view of offering himself to the English Wesleyan Conference for the West African mission field, he received in November, 1870, a letter from the Rev. Humphrey Pickard, D.D., who was then president of the Conference of Eastern British America, informing him that he had been chosen for the ministry in the Maritime provinces, and urging him to come out and accept an appointment at once. Believing this to be a call of Providence, he responded by embarking at Liverpool for Halifax on the 17th of December, 1870. His clerical companions were the Rev. Caleb Parker, now at Souris River, Manitoba, and the Rev. W. H. Emsley, of the Toronto Conference. After a stormy voyage of sixteen days, the _City of Limerick_ steamed up Halifax harbor on Monday morning, 2nd January, 1871. His destination was Miramichi, New Brunswick. He labored on that circuit under the superintendence of the late Rev. Ingham Sutcliffe, until the conference of 1872; and was then appointed to take charge of the Charles Street Church in the city of Halifax, this being a small mission church at that time, and he was its first pastor. During his three years incumbency, the congregation and Sunday-school grew so rapidly as to necessitate an enlargement of the building. At the last session of the Conference of Eastern British America, held at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in 1874, presided over by the Rev. John McMurray, D.D., he was ordained to the Methodist ministry, together with twelve other candidates, among whom were Rev. W. W. Brewer, of Centenary Church, St. John; Rev. W. Dobson, of Fredericton, and the Rev. Ralph Brecken, of Sackville, New Brunswick. From the conference of 1875 to 1878 he was stationed at Avondale, Hants county. During this period the circuit was visited with a gracious revival, and a large number was added to the church. The next three years were spent in Canning, Kings county. From thence he removed to Granville Ferry, Annapolis county, where he remained the full term. In 1884 he was invited to take charge of Providence Church, Yarmouth; and after three years of successful work in Yarmouth, he is now back in Halifax, having received an invitation to the Grafton Street Church, of which he is now pastor and doing good work in the Master’s vineyard. As a youth the Rev. Mr. Strothard served seven years in the First West York Battalion of Rifle Volunteers. He was admitted when only fourteen years of age (the regulation age being seventeen), being exceptionally tall for his age. He is associated with the Independent Order of Oddfellows; with the Independent Order of Good Templars; and with the order of Sons of Temperance, and for two years filled the office of Grand Chaplain of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Nova Scotia. He has travelled a good deal, and has twice visited Great Britain and France _via_ Boston and New York. He was married on the 8th of July, 1874, in the old Centenary Methodist Church at St. John, N.B., by the Rev. Henry Pope, D.D., to Alice Eliza, second daughter of Henry S. Beek, bookseller and bookbinder. Mr. Beek was born in Cork; Ireland, but came to New Brunswick early in life, his father being connected with the Crown Lands office in the city of Fredericton. He was married to Olivia, the daughter of Dr. Smith, of the Royal navy, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

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=Trueman, Harmon Silas=, M.D., Sackville, New Brunswick, was born on the 20th August, 1858, at Point de Bute, Westmoreland county, N.B. His father, Martin Bent Trueman (now, 1887, aged seventy-four years) was a son of Harmon Trueman, whose father, William Trueman, came to Westmoreland, then part of Cumberland, Nova Scotia, in 1775, from Yorkshire, England. He came in company with his parents, his father being also named William, and he William, junior, the only son. He, the younger William, left, however, a large family, and those descended from him now number over six hundred. Dr. Trueman’s mother, who is also still living, and aged sixty-nine years, is Bethia Purdy, daughter of Samuel Purdy, and grand-daughter of the late Colonel Gilbert Purdy. This gentleman served in the British forces during the American revolutionary war. For his bravery he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and on the declaration of peace received a life pension. His home was for many years in New York state, where he married one Phœbe Wood, and from which place he with his wife and two of his brothers removed to Cumberland, Nova Scotia, at the close of the war, they being of the true loyalist stock. Dr. Trueman received his primary education in his native parish, and afterwards carried to partial conclusion a course in arts at Mount Allison Academy and College. He took the regular medical course at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, during the years 1877-1880 inclusive. In the autumn of 1880 he settled in Sackville, and having purchased the premises of Dr. A. Fleming, who was leaving for Manitoba, he began the practice of his profession, and has ever since carried on practice without any interruption. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a moderate Conservative, but takes no active part in political movements. He was brought up in the Methodist church, and still adheres to the same denomination. In 1880 he visited Europe, and travelled considerably in England and France. He has also visited most of the New England cities. The doctor takes an interest in military affairs, and has been a surgeon for two years in the 74th battalion of Canadian infantry. On the 22nd June, 1881, he was married to Priscilla Carlisle Bliss, daughter of the late A. A. Bliss, of Halifax, and closely connected with the Bliss family now largely distributed throughout America.

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=Dobson, Rev. William=, Methodist Minister, Fredericton, New Brunswick, was born at Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. His father, William Dobson, was a native of Yorkshire, and came to America in 1821, and settled in Prince Edward Island, where he began farming. In 1823 he married Ann Moys, the eldest daughter of Captain Thomas Moys, of Bedeque, and the subject of our sketch is the second son of this union. Rev. Mr. Dobson received his primary education at the public schools of his native place, and when about eighteen years of age entered the Grammar School, where he remained two years. He then went to Mount Allison College, where for a time he studied Greek, Latin, German, and theology. After leaving school he entered the ministry of the Methodist church, and since then he has occupied churches in Guysborough and Digby, in Nova Scotia; and Jacksonville, Sheffield, Albert, Potton, St. John, and Fredericton, in New Brunswick. He entered his present charge in Fredericton in 1886, and is very much respected by his congregation. Rev. Mr. Dobson takes an active interest in any movement calculated to advance the Redeemer’s kingdom on earth. On the 11th of August, 1874, he was married to Ella A. Morehouse, of Digby, N.S. Her parents were of the old loyalist stock, who settled in Nova Scotia during the American rebellion.

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=Robertson, George=, Merchant, St. John, New Brunswick, was born on the 30th January, 1844, at Kingston, Kent county, N.B. His father, the late Duncan Robertson, ship-builder, was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, whose forefathers had come from Perthshire and settled in Aberdeen. The mother of the subject of our sketch was Georgina Jardine, a native of Wamphray, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Both parents first settled in Kingston, about the year 1834. Mrs. Robertson’s brothers, J. & T. Jardine have had a long and successful career as ship-builders and ship owners in Kingston; and her mother, Janet Paterson, came of a family which has provided some men of historical note: among others, William Paterson, the founder of the Bank of England, one of the promoters of the disastrous Darien scheme, etc., and Sir Walter Scott’s “Old Mortality,” etc. Mr. Robertson was educated in the English branches at the public schools, and at Sackville Academy, and spent the greater part of his boyhood in Moncton and Cocagne. He acquired some general knowledge of ship-building, shop-keeping, and farming; and in 1858-9 lumbered in a small way on his own account. The family having returned to Moncton in 1860, he shortly afterwards left for St. John in search of employment, and to make his way in the world. On his arrival in that city he found an opening in the establishment of James Macfarlane, then a leading grocer, and this gentleman he served in the capacity of clerk for seven years. In 1868, Mr. Robertson having saved some money, he began business on his own account, and continued to prosper until 1877, when the great fire occurred in St. John, and swept away a considerable portion of his property. He then retired from active business for about a year, in the meantime putting his affairs in order. In 1878 he made a fresh start, and since that period the world has gone well with him. He is now at the head of the firm of George Robertson & Co.,—having taken S. A. Corbitt, a few years ago, into partnership,—carrying on a large wholesale and retail business in groceries, and as importers of West India and Mediterranean produce. Their office is at 50 King street, and their warehouse at 17 Water street. Like all men in business, Mr. Robertson has had the usual amount of losses and worries, but has now the satisfaction of feeling that he has nevertheless succeeded, and also gained the esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens, and others, who have done business with him for many years past. Mr. Robertson was a captain in the St. John city light infantry militia. He is also a member of the St. Andrew’s Society of St. John; the Board of Trade, and a director of the Maritime Warehousing and Dock Company. He has taken part in various political discussions, and has strongly advocated trade reciprocity with the United States; St. John as a winter port for the Dominion; the short line railway with Montreal; St. John Harbor Commission, etc. In religion he is in accord with the Presbyterian form of worship, and is an elder in St. Andrew’s Church. In politics he is a Liberal-Conservative. He was married to Agnes Turner, a lady of Scotch descent, on the 18th June, 1873, and has a family of six children.

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=Hopper, Rev. John Elisha=, M.A., D.D., Pastor of the Brussels Street Baptist Church, St. John, New Brunswick, is a native Canadian, having been born in Salisbury, Westmoreland county, N.B., on 18th December, 1841. He is son of Robert Hopper, whose father came from Hamilton, Yorkshire, England, among the earliest settlers in New Brunswick. He married Sarah Peck, a descendant of Joseph Peck, of Hingham, Norfolk county, England, who, with his brother, Rev. Robert Peck, in 1636, fled from persecution with other Puritans to New England, and settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, where, in addition to being a representative of the general court, he held other important offices. John Elisha Hopper completed his academic studies in the Baptist Seminary, Fredericton, N.B., and matriculated in Acadia College, Wolfville, N.S., taking its course of study, save that of the junior year, which he spent at Madison University, New York, and graduating A.B. in June, 1862. His theological studies were pursued in part under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Cramp, of Acadia College, and in part at Regent’s Park College, London, England, with Rev. Dr. Angus and Rev. Dr. Ben. Davis, the celebrated Hebraist. Here we may say Dr. Hopper comes of Baptist parentage, and was baptized by the Rev. W. A. Coleman, at Harvey, Albert county, N.B., in December, 1858, and preached his first sermon, 29th April, 1860, in Greenfield, N.S. In 1865, after completing his theological studies, he for a short time preached at Shediac, Petitcodiac, and Sussex Vale. At the latter place the first regular services in connection with the Baptist denomination were held by him, and resulted in the establishment of one of the strongest churches in the place. In the same year he accepted an invitation to become associate principal with Rev. Dr. Spurden, of the Baptist Seminary, Fredericton, and the following year he succeeded him as principal. In September, 1868, Dr. Hopper was ordained a minister at Fredericton. In 1869 he resigned the principalship of the Baptist Seminary, and on the invitation of the Baptists of St. Stephen, began there the work of organizing a Baptist church. A handsome church edifice and parsonage were erected, and a good congregation and Sabbath-school gathered; and then in 1872 he accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Burlington, Iowa, and remained there six years, receiving into the fellowship of the church in that time over two hundred persons. In April, 1878, Dr. Hopper having purchased a half interest in the _Christian Visitor_ newspaper, published in St. John, N.B., returned to Canada, Rev. Dr. George Armstrong becoming associated with him. In 1879 he bought the other half of the paper, and enlarged the printing, publishing and book business, editing and publishing the _Christian Visitor_, _Canadian Record_, _Youth’s Visitor_, _Gem_, and International Sunday school lessons. This business he carried on until 1885, when he sold it out, and assumed the pastoral charge of the Brussels Street Baptist Church. His relationship with this church began in 1880, and is still continued. He, however, still edits and publishes the _Canadian Record_ and Sunday school papers. In 1870 Rev. Mr. Hopper received the degree of M.A. from Acadia College; and in 1882 that of D.D., from Morgan Park Theological Seminary, Chicago. In August, 1867, he married Emma, daughter of Deacon John Smith, of St. John.

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=Irvine, Matthew Bell=, C.B., C.M.G., Commissary-General, Quebec, was born on the 7th January, 1832, in Quebec city. He is descended from an ancestry that have left their mark on Canada. Adam Irvine, son of Adam and grandson of Peter Irvine (spelt Irving in the Orcadian records of 1730), of Garson, in the Orkney islands, North of Scotland, came to Canada soon after the conquest, and was accidentally killed at Quebec, on the 7th May, 1776. His son, James Irvine, born in England in 1766, was a member of the mercantile firm of Irvine, McNaught & Co., of Quebec, and for a number of years was a member of both the Executive and Legislative councils of Lower Canada. In 1822 this gentleman was commissioned president of the Court of Appeal of the Executive Council in the absence of the chief justices of Montreal and Quebec; and in 1824 was nominated by letters-patent under the Great Seal, arbitrator for Lower Canada to adjust the duties between Upper and Lower Canada. He served in the militia of the province from 1803 until 1822, when he retired with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. James Irvine married on the 13th July, 1801, Anne, eldest daughter of John George Pyke, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and had issue two sons, John George and James. The latter died young; and the Hon. James Irvine died at Quebec on the 27th September, 1829. John George Irvine, the father of the subject of our sketch, was born at Quebec on the 31st December, 1802, and passed his early life in the firm of Irvine, McNaught & Co. In 1837, on the outbreak of the rebellion, he was appointed a captain in the Royal Quebec Volunteers. In 1838 he was gazetted a lieutenant-colonel and deputy-quartermaster-general of militia; and on the 5th November of the same year was commissioned major of the Queen’s Volunteers, a regiment raised for active service. He was appointed extra Provincial A.D.C. to the governor-general of Canada on the 14th November, 1851; Provincial A.D.C. on the 1st November, 1852; and principal A.D.C. on the 2nd October, 1868. On the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1860, Colonel Irvine was nominated acting adjutant-general to attend on his Royal Highness during his official tour in Canada. He married, on the 4th February, 1826, Anne, third daughter of the Hon. Matthew Bell, of Three Rivers, and had issue four sons and four daughters. He died at Quebec on the 1st November, 1871, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Of this family three sons and two daughters still survive; namely, Hon. George Irvine, judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court, Quebec; Acheson Gosford Irvine, lieutenant-colonel and late chief Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police; Matthew Bell Irvine, commissary-general, Quebec; Eliza Inglis Irvine, and Frances Isabella Irvine. Commissary-General Irvine was educated at the High School of Quebec. On the 30th March, 1848, when a mere lad, he joined her Majesty’s Commissariat department of the army, and in this branch of the service he remained until the 1st of April, 1881, when he retired with the honorary rank of commissary-general. During this period he served in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia. He was present in Turkey and the Crimea during the latter part of the Eastern campaign, in 1855-56. He was created a companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, for services as senior control officer on the Red River expedition of 1870, under Colonel (now Lord) Wolseley; and was also created a companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath in 1874, for services as senior control officer during the Ashantee campaign under Major-General Sir Garnet Joseph (now Lord) Wolseley, K.C.M.G., C.B. In religion he is an adherent of the Church of England. He was married at Bayswater, London, England, on the 2nd June, 1875, to Charlotte Feodore Louisa Augusta, only child of the Rev. N. Guerout, of Berthier, _en haut_, Quebec, and widow of George A. L. Wood, of Quebec.

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