Part 9

Early in 1847, when the Montreal Telegraph Company was formed, his services were sought, and he was appointed its first General Manager. By the end of this year a telegraph line was in operation between Montreal and Toronto, and to Quebec the following year, and in time extended throughout the whole country.

Owing to Mr. Wood’s able administration the Company became one of the most important institutions in Canada.

After a long and successful career Mr. Wood retired in 1865, carrying with him the good will of the public and the respect and esteem of the directors and employees of the Company.

He subsequently engaged in other telegraphic enterprises in the United States, in all of which he was equally fortunate.

After amassing a considerable fortune he retired from active business pursuits many years ago, and is now spending the evening of his days at a quiet suburb of New York.

He is a man of commanding presence, tall, dignified and face bearing a very striking resemblance to Washington.

He possesses a highly cultured mind, a humane and benevolent disposition, coupled with an agreeable and attractive manner.

He is, and was always, a patriotic American citizen. During his sojourn in Canada he never relinquished his birthright.

The name of Orrin S. Wood will be long remembered by telegraph men as the first telegraphist on the continent of America, a distinction worthy of record in the annals of telegraphy, and is the oldest telegraph man living at the present time in America.

Long may he be spared is the fervent hope of the telegraph fraternity.

_Sir Hugh Allan._

The name of this gentleman will be remembered in connection with the Montreal Telegraph Company. He was its President from 1851 until the day of his death.

It was largely through his efforts in conjunction with Mr. Wood that the telegraph system was extended to the most remote points in Canada.

It may not be generally known that, although a very busy man, he acquired a knowledge of telegraphy and became an expert telegraphist.

He had a private wire erected from his palatial residence, Ravenscrag, and connected with the general telegraph office, and by this means kept in constant touch with the inward and outward movements of his large steamship fleet.

He was for many years a director of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and one of the early contributors to the first Atlantic cable, and for a time one of its directors, but Sir Hugh Allan will be better known as the originator of the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company (now known as the Allan Line.)

There was no limit to his superabundant energy; no important enterprise was thought of unless his name and influence was sought. He was president or director in nearly every financial or industrial company in Montreal. No one before or since has occupied such a commanding position in business life in Canada.

He received the honor of knighthood from the late Queen personally in recognition of his great public services; this honor was never more worthily bestowed.

Sir Hugh Allan was a native of Scotland, born at Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Sept. 29, 1810. His death took place in Edinburgh while there on a visit Dec. 9, 1882.

The wonder is that some enduring mark of public appreciation has not been formulated to perpetuate the name of one who has done so much for the land of his adoption.

A statue on Dominion Square would be a fitting momento.

“Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.”

_James Dakers, Esq._

Born in Forfar, Scotland, in 1811, on completing his studies at the parochial school, he served his apprenticeship in an attorney’s office in his native town, and came to Canada in 1840.

He entered the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company shortly after its organization as Secretary. When Mr. Wood separated from the Company in 1865, Mr. Dakers was appointed Manager of the Eastern division, acting as Secretary in addition. Owing to his faithful and energetic services the success of the company was greatly enhanced.

“Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might,” seemed to be his guiding principle. Like the restless sea, always moving, if not engaged at his own special work, he would repair to the operating department and give a helping hand, here and there, where most needed, then to the receiving counter attending to customers.

In the early telegraph days during a pressure of business, he not infrequently would take a handful of messages and deliver on his way to meals, and kept a vigilant eye on every department of the company’s operations.

When the Montreal Telegraph Company leased its business to the Great North Western Company, in 1881, he was not in accord with the directors in this move, and resigned, retaining, however, the good will of the shareholders, many of whom shared his views, and the respect of the business community by whom he was long and favourably known.

The following tribute to his worth by the late Rev. Dr. Ormiston in a letter to a friend is deserving a place here:

“James Dakers is in many respects a remarkable man. Notwithstanding many disadvantages, he has fairly earned the high position of influence, independence and usefulness which he now occupies. He is characterized by indomitable energy, great force of character, unyielding tenacity of purpose, his intellect is of a high order, and eminently practical, inflexibly upright in all his dealings, conscientiously faithful to all his obligations, punctual and thorough in the performance of all his duties, incapable of meanness, his word as good as his bond, he is a man universally trusted; his sympathies with the suffering and the struggling are wide and tender.

“Many bless him for his wise counsels and efficient aid; the extent and genuineness of his Christian charity is as manifest as the steadfastness of his religious life; as a true friend, he is one among a thousand.

“Were I asked by a young man for a model of a man, earnest and indefatigable, pure and firm in principle, exemplary and consistent in character, desirable and valuable in friendship, I would not hesitate to point him to James Dakers, of Montreal.”

This was a very high testimonial of the character of Mr. Dakers by one who knew him intimately for many years.

After giving up his connection with telegraph interests, with which he had been so long associated, he lived in retirement until his death, which occurred on April 15, 1887.

_H. P. Dwight, Esq._

For the long period of fifty-six years Mr. Dwight has been continuously engaged in the telegraph service, and only quite recently retired from the more active duties of his calling.

Born on December 23, 1828, at Belleville, Jefferson County, N.Y., he entered the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company in 1847, the year of its organization, and placed in charge of the Belleville, Ontario, Office, where he remained for a time, and afterwards employed at the Head Office, Montreal. When the wires connected Toronto he was appointed agent there and soon made superintendent of the Western Section. In 1881, when the Montreal Telegraph Company leased its business to the Great North Western Telegraph Company he was appointed general manager of the latter.

When Mr. Wiman resigned the presidency of that company, Mr. Dwight succeeded him and filled the dual positions until a few months ago, when he resigned the general managership, the duties being too onerous and exacting for one at his time of life.

Mr. Dwight is associated with many other enterprises. He is president of the Canadian General Electric Company and a director of the Toronto and London Electric Company, president of Birkbeck Investment Company and chairman of the Governors of the Royal Humane Society. He is a man of fine physique, has lived a regular and careful life, which accounts for the vigorous and evergreen appearance at his time of life.

He is a keen sportsman and a devoted disciple of Isaac Walton. Every year he finds time to spend a few weeks in the happy summer-time, in the wilds of Northern Ontario, in quest of the speckled beauties of that region, or in the lower St. Lawrence, seeking the haunts of the lordly salmon in the Restigouche or other famous streams. In closing we wish him long life and many years to indulge in this his favorite recreation.

_William Cassils, Esq._

Born in the village of Renton, Dunbartonshire, on June 25, 1832, after acquiring a rudimentary training in the parochial school, and equipped for a business career, he engaged in a commercial house for a time, but his prospects were not equal to his youthful ambition, and his attention was directed to Canada wherein he had relatives and was encouraged to join them. He arrived at Montreal in 1852. Shortly after his arrival he entered the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company; his abilities were soon recognized--within a short time he was appointed manager of the Quebec Office, the second in importance to Montreal, and later was made superintendent of the Eastern Division; while in this position he had the wires extended to Father Point, the extreme eastern limit of the Company’s system at that time.

In 1865 he left the telegraph service to engage in a wholesale business in Montreal, but his heart was never quite divorced from his first calling.

In 1876 he organized the Canadian District Telegraph Company and became its president.

When the telephone first made its appearance he foresaw its great possibilities, when he, in association with others, established in 1878 the first telephone exchange in Canada, which was afterwards merged with the Bell Telephone System.

He was a Director of the Montreal Telephone Company, President of the Canada Central Railway and administrator of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway, both of which are now linked to the Canadian Pacific Railway; he was also President of the Dominion Transport Company, but his interest and sympathies were always keenly directed to the progress and development of telegraphy. He himself was an expert telegraphist and always took a lively interest in the welfare and success of the telegraph fraternity. He was amiable in manner, kind in disposition and generous to a fault; his purse was ever open to the needy or unfortunate.

He possessed a fine tenor voice in his young days. When at social gatherings he rendered the songs of his native land with a sweetness and pathos few could equal. He took a great interest in young men, and many were indebted to him for advice and assistance in beginning the battle of life.

He passed away at a comparatively early age (in his fifty-ninth year) on December 25, 1891.

“Howe’er it be, it seems to me ’Tis only noble to be good Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood.”

_James Poustie, Esq._

Born at Montrose, Scotland, in 1830. While yet an infant, his parents came to Canada in the historic brig “Favorite,” owned and commanded by the father of the late Sir Hugh Allan.

Mr. Poustie is the pioneer telegraph line builder of Canada. He was engaged by the Montreal Telegraph Company shortly after its organization.

After the contractors had finished the line between Montreal and Toronto, all line extensions thereafter were under his personal supervision.

He would start early in the spring with gangs of linemen, equipped with tools and provisions, live under canvas during the building season and return in the fall to prepare for the next year’s operations. This continued on from one year to another until the whole country was covered with a network of wires.

In purchasing material Mr. Poustie was a shrewd and careful buyer, getting the very best to be had at the lowest figure. In hiring labor, while paying liberal wages, he took good care to receive in return a fair day’s work for a fair day’s wage from his men. Though stern and exacting, he was not unkind. His gangs of men were chiefly French Canadians; he knew their language and could apply it forcibly, if not elegantly, when circumstances required it.

His men were devoted to him and worked like beavers. It is no exaggeration to say that owing to inherent shrewdness in handling his men and purchasing supplies the lines were constructed at half the cost of similar work in the United States; this fact the Company soon became cognizant of.

Finally the system became so extensive as to demand a division of labor and responsibility when foremen were placed in charge of important sections of the line, and Mr. Poustie directed operations from headquarters at Montreal and became General Superintendent of Construction.

This position he held for many years. At length he resigned to rest for a while. He is at present associated with R. G. Reid & Co., of Newfoundland, in their Montreal office.

Mr. Poustie is a man liberally endowed with good common sense, dislikes humbug or insincerity, a keen observer of men and possesses a retentive memory and a happy vein of dry caustic humor with a merry twinkle in his clear penetrating greyish blue eyes. He can relate many interesting tales generally, from a humorous point of view, in reference to his own varied experience, all of which are well worth listening to. He is still vigorous and hearty, and we hope has many years before him. Like Yorick, “A man of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.”

_Charles R. Hosmer, Esq._

“Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them.” It is no difficult task to determine to which class Mr. Hosmer belongs.

Born some fifty years ago in the little French Canadian village, Coteau Landing. On receiving an elementary training at the village school he turned his attention to telegraphy, and, instructed in its mysteries by the operator and agent at the railway station there, qualifying as an operator he secured a position with the Montreal Telegraph Company and was in its employ for some years.

When the Dominion Telegraph Company came into being he entered the service and rose step by step to the highest position attainable. When that Company merged with the Great North Western, Mr. Hosmer was offered and accepted the offices of President and General Manager of the Canada Mutual Telegraph Company, then recently organized. A few years later when the Canadian Pacific Railway Company were about to establish a commercial telegraph business, he was made General Manager, and held this for some thirteen or fourteen years, during which period he was very successful in organizing and carrying on this branch of the Company’s business. He was also a leading factor in exploiting the Commercial Cable and the Postal Telegraph Cable Companies; he is a Vice-President of the former and a director of the Canadian Pacific Railway, director of the Merchants’ Bank and many other financial concerns; President of the Ogilvie Milling Company, said to be the largest of the kind existing; a member of St. James’ Club and at one time President; he is also a member of Mount Royal (yclept the millionaires’ club).

Mr. Hosmer is a recognized leader in financial circles in Montreal; he is possessed of a cheery, bright and winning personality, affects no airs, gracious in manner with a pleasant word for all.

Although not actively connected with the Canadian Pacific Telegraph System, his guiding hand is always reached.

He is yet a young man, full of life and energy, there is no saying the number and kind of activities may further engage his busy and restless mind.

His motto seems to be:

“Still achieving, still pursuing, And a heart for any fate.”

_Hon. George Albertus Cox._

Born at Colborne, Ont., May 7, 1840, he commenced business life there as an operator in the service of the Montreal Telegraph Company.

After two years spent in the office of his native town he was in May, 1858, placed in charge of the Peterboro office of the Company and in addition a few years later was made agent of the Canadian Express Company.

He took an active part in the municipal, educational and commercial interests of the town and was for seven years its mayor.

In 1888 he left Peterboro, and from that time has resided in Toronto where there is a wider scope for his energies.

He was appointed to the Senate in 1896 by Lord Aberdeen.

Mr. Cox is a strong temperance man and a warm supporter of the Methodist Church, of which he is a member; is Bursar of Victoria University and President of the Ladies’ College, Whitby; President of the Bank of Commerce, the Canada Life Insurance Company, the Western Fire Insurance and on the directorate of many other companies; is one of the leading financiers in the Dominion.

His name has been publicly mentioned as one likely to receive honors at the hands of the King at no distant date. As “coming events cast their shadows before,” this is not at all improbable.

Senator Cox was one of a syndicate to build the Canadian Pacific Railway in opposition to the syndicate formed at Montreal. His name is now prominently connected with the Grand Trunk Pacific project.

His success in life has been phenomenal when his humble beginning is considered, and is a tolerably fair model for young Canadians to imitate in the battle of life.

_Sir William Cornelius Van Horne._

Born near Joliette, Ill., February 3, 1843. On quitting school he began life as an office boy at the Railway Station there, and later became telegraph operator on the Illinois Central Railway. He was afterwards despatcher then superintendent of telegraph, and in a short time was made divisional superintendent of the Chicago and Alton Railway, and in 1872 general superintendent of the St. Louis and Kansas City and Northern Railway; from there he went, in 1874, to the Southern Minnesota Railway as its general manager.

In 1878 he returned to the Chicago and Alton Railway as general superintendent, but two years later he was called to the position of general superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway, and in 1881 he was asked to take control of the Canadian Pacific Railway, then in process of construction. Under his vigorous and energetic direction the line was built in one-half of the time required by the contract between the government and the Company.

He has been successively Vice-President and President of the Company and is now Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The construction and successful management for years of this great enterprise has not impaired his wonderful energies. He has built a railway in the Island of Cuba some four hundred miles in length in the usual expeditious manner. This work being completed, he is now, it is said, turning his attention to the distant Philippines in order to provide Railway facilities for the people of that country.

He is a director of many companies, including the Postal Telegraph and Commercial Cable Company, and a member of St. James and Mount Royal Clubs.

Sir William Van Horne is not only a famous railway man, but possesses artistic talents of a high order. Had he followed art as a profession he would have taken high rank. He is looked upon as one of the best art connoisseurs in Canada.

He was created a K. C. M. G. by the late Queen in acknowledgment of his public services in connection with the Great Transcontinental Railway and Imperial Highway.

Sir William is a man of fine presence, wears his honors with ease and dignity, affable and courteous in manner, and approachable to all.

“Honour and shame, from no condition rise, Act well your part, there all the honor lies.”

_Andrew Carnegie._

Born in the ancient Royal Burgh Dumfermline, Fifeshire, in 1837. His father and mother emigrated to the United States in 1848, settling in Alleghany, Pa.

The senior Carnegie was a master weaver and a man of exceptional intelligence, who was obliged to relinquish his business owing to the development of steam mills with which the handicraftsmen could not hope to compete.

At the age of fourteen young Carnegie began work as a messenger in the office of the Ohio telegraph company; in a short time he became an operator.

When the Pennsylvania Railway was carried to Pittsburgh he received an appointment as train despatcher and rose to be superintendent of the Pittsburgh division of the system.

At the outbreak of the American civil war Carnegie was made Superintendent of military roads.

After the war he went into numerous ventures, in all of which he was eminently successful.

His first big manufacturing venture was the organization of the Keystone Bridge Company. Iron bridges were coming into fashion, and he got the lead everywhere. He soon acquired other manufacturing plants in the iron line.

By 1888 he had control of the Homestead Steel Works and many other plants which were capitalized at about one hundred million dollars.

Some ten or fifteen years ago Mr. Carnegie began to feel the oppression of wealth and its responsibilities and made arrangements by which his employees became sharers in his profits. After getting free of the greater part of the personal care of the properties in which he was the chief owner, Mr. Carnegie has devoted himself largely to philanthropic objects, his gifts being chiefly in the line of building public libraries.

He takes a warm interest in everything relating to telegraphy and telegraph men, and is rather pleased to be remembered as an old-time telegraphist.

His chief place of residence is Skibo Castle, Scotland, but he pays frequent visits to the United States.

“Ring in the valiant man and free The larger heart, the kindlier hand. Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.”

_Sir Sandford Fleming, C.E., LL.D._

Was born at Kircaldy, Fifeshire, Scotland, on the 7th day of January, 1827. He left school at the age of 14, and was immediately articled as a student of surveying and engineering. At the age of 18 he came to Canada.

In 1852 he was appointed one of the engineering staff of the Northern Railway then known as the Ontario and Lake Huron road.

In 1863 he went to England as a representative of the Red River settlement to invoke the aid of the Imperial Government toward the construction of a railway to connect with the Canadian railways, but the scheme was not carried out.

When the Intercolonial Railway was projected he was made Chief of Surveys and Construction. When nearing its completion he was called upon by the Government to undertake the survey of the proposed route to the Pacific.

After exhaustive surveys had been made and the construction of the Canadian Pacific had been well advanced and some six or eight hundred miles of the heaviest sections built, political exigencies arose, and in 1880 he resigned. In that year he was elected Chancellor of Queen’s University, and in 1882, while on a visit to Scotland, was presented with the freedom of Kircaldy Burghs, and in 1884 received the honorary degree of LL.D., from St. Andrew’s University.

In 1881 he went as a delegate from the Canadian Institute and the American Meteorological Society to the International Geographical Congress at Venice, and in 1884 he was appointed a delegate of Great Britain to represent the Dominion of Canada at the International Prime Meridian Conference at Washington, where he had the pleasure of finding his views which he had been pressing on the public for years with regard to Cosmic time and a prime meridian for all nations, accepted by the representatives of the civilized world.