DR. ALEXANDRE GERMAIN

Ex-Echevin. 1888-9-90-1-2-3.

Dr ALEXANDRE GERMAIN.

L'ex-échevin A. Germain, est né le 2 juillet 1851, à Saint- Vincent de Paul, P. Q., du mariage de Césaire Germain et de Zoé Pépin. Son père était un notaire bien connu dans le district de Terrebonne et à Montréal ; il fut maire de Saint- Vincent de Paul, inspecteur des écoles du comté et était un homme très estimé.

Le Dr Germain fit ses études au collège de Sainte- Thérèse, ensuite il suivit les cours à l'école de médecine de Montréal et fut gradué à l'université Victoria, 011 il reçut le diplôme de docteur en médecine, en 1874. Il s'établit immédiatement dans le village de Saint-Jean-Baptiste, devenu depuis un des quartiers les plus importants de Montréal, où il a toujours pratiqué sa profession depuis près de trente ans. Il possède une clientèle considérable et est estimé hautement, non seulement par le public, mais aussi par ses confrères ; son dévouement et sa charité pour les pauvres l'ont rendu populaire. Il est membre et médecin de plusieurs sociétés de bienfaisance, et il est leconnu comme un mutualiste distingué et enthousiaste.

Il fut élu échevin de son quartier, en 1888, et, en 1890, il fut choisi comme président de la commission d'hygiène. Dans l'automne de 1892, pendant que l'épidémie du choléra sévissait en Europe, il institua une enquête complète sur les conditions sanitaires et hygiéniques de Montréal. Il siégea au Conseil de Ville jusqu'en 1894. C'est un des hommes publics qui ont le plus contribué à l'avancement et au progrès de son quartier. Il a été membre pendant plusieurs années du conseil d'hygiène de la province. En politique, le Dr Germain est conservateur, et prend une part active dans les luttes électorales. D'un caractère affable et S3'mpathique, il a été

THE LATE EDWIN THOMPSON, Ex-Alrterman. 1888-9-90-1-2-3.

appelé par ses concitoyens à plusieurs positions importantes, •qu'il a toujours remplies à la satisfaction de ses commettants. Il a été commissaire d'école de la paroisse Saint-Jean-Baptiste pendant 15 ans. Il est syndic de l'église Saint-Jean-Baptiste •depuis sa construction, en 1899.

Il a épousé le 8 novembre 1882, Mlle Johanna Haggerty, fille de William Haggerty, marchand de Montréal, et il eut la douleur de perdre dans la même semaine, en octobre 1890, les trois seuls enfants issus de ce mariage, qui furent victimes de la diphtérie. Dans cette terrible épreuve qui l'affecta d'une manière si sensible, il fut l'objet de sympathies universelles •dans son quartier.

The Late EDWIN THOMPSON.

The late Ex-Alderman, Edwin Thompson who, for six consécutive years represented St. Gabriel's Ward in the Municipal Council of our City, was a native of the historical town of Coventry, County Northamptonshire, England. He was born on the loth December 1838, and came to Canada in 1870, and settling in Montréal, was employed as a foreman in the boot and shoe factor}^ of Messers J. & T. Bell. For thirteen years, he remained in that employ then established a factory under the name of " The Thompson Shoe Company ", on Visitation street. His rise to the Council Board was effected in 1888. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Board of Trade and a life governor of the Protestant Asylum for the Insane. He occupied a prominent place among the Mutual Fraternal and Benefit Societies. In the Order of Free Masons, he was Past Master, and was also a member of the St. George, the English Workingmen's Benevolent Society, and the

JAMES GRIFFIN

Ex-Alderman. 1887-8-9-90-1-2-3.

Sons of Englaiid Beiiefit Societies. While in the Council he was chairman of the City Hall Committee and member of the Water Committee. Mr. Thompson was also for several years a member of the Protestant Board of School Commissionners. In 1863, he married Miss Emma Reading, of London. Of this union seven children were born, six boys and one daughter. Four sons are still living^ George H., Alfred, Robert and Samuel Thompson. They are engaged in business, at Montréal.

Mr. Thompson died during the summer of 1903, deeply regretted by a large circle of friends.

JAMES GRIFFIN

Ex-alderman James Griffin, now in his seventy-eighth year and at the moment is just recovering from a long illness, due to a street accident, was born in 1827, ^^ Ireland, and is the son of Robert Griffin and Elizabeth Powell. During thirteen ^^ears, Mr. Griffin represented St. Lawrence Ward, in the Municipal Council of the City, but was compelled to leave his public duties in order to accord his full attention to his private affairs, in connection with the large confectionery house he conducted for fifty years, on St. Lawrence street. Mr. Griffin retired from the active business arena in 1901. He was educated in Québec, having come to Canada when still ver}^ young. He is a Justice of the Peace and a Trustée of the St. James Methodist Church. He occupies high rank in the Free Masons. He is an extensive real estate owner, and proprietor of several very important buildings of our Q\X.y, Mr. Griffin was joined in wedlock to Miss Annie Quinn, in 1852. He is the head

DANIEL WILSON

Ex-Alderman. 1886-7-8-9-90-1-2-3.

of a family, composed of ûve boys and six girls, of whom only three boys and a girl are still living. Mr. Griffin gave tlie cit}^ much useful service ; liis présence on the fire and market committees being particnlarly useful. Mr. Griffin is in politics a libéral, but lias always retained his freedom to criticize those of his own part}^ if he does not agrée with them.

DANIEL WILSON

Mr. Daniel Wilson, ex-aldernian, is one of the best known Scotsmen in Montréal. He came to the city, from the Land of Cakes, when still a young man, and has been ever since connected with the building trade of this well built city. As a mason and builder, he was engaged in the érection of nian}^ of the chief and most substantial buildings of the cit}^ He first entered the City Council as an alderman from St. Antoine Ward, in 1886, and held the seat until 1893, when on the réduction of the number of ward représentatives from three to two, he withdrew from municipal life, although strongly urged by his constituents to remain in the Council. While in the Council Mr. Wilson occupied seats on the Roads, Fire and Markets Committees, and w^as also during the last few years of his terni one of the Park Commissioners and a member of the Protestant Board of School Commissioners representing the City Council.

His practical expérience as a builder and contractor, and his Sound business judgment proved of great value to the City, particnlarly in the Road department and Mount Royal Park.

Mr. Wilson is in politics a conservative and in religion a Presbyterian, being in fact one of the leading members of that faith in the Cit3^ Mr. Wilson is also an ardent lover and gênerons supporter of the Scottish national sport of Curling. He is a member of the St. Andrews and Caledonian Societies.