HON. GEO. WASHINGTON STEPHENS

The Honorable George Washington Stephens whose name has been so conspicuously associated with local politics as well as with ninnicipal matters, servecl no less than seventeen years in the Municipal Council of the City, and during that long period of service, always upheld a prudent and economical administration and severely criticised wrong doing and dishonest3\ He was the second son of the late Harrison Stephens and Sarah Jackson, who came to Montréal from the state of Vermont, about the year 1828. G. W. Stephens was boni at Montréal, in 1832, and was educated at the Montréal High School with a view to enter upon a commercial career, but he abandoned this first vocation to embrace légal studies. He entered the University of McGill Collège and graduated a B. C. L., being admitted to the Bar in 1863. He at once entered in partnership with the late F. Perkins and at an early date in his career earned famé by winning the celebrated Connolly case, the outcome of which was the establishment of the validity of an Indian marriage performed according to the customs of the country. After some ^^ears of honourable practice at the Bar of Lower Canada, Mi. Stephens abandoned his professional career to administer his father's extensive estate. He was elected an alderman in 1868, and kept his seat alternately till 1892, winning the désignation of " The Corporation Watch Dog." In politics he is a libéral of the old school and during his terni as member of the Québec Législature, for Montréal Centre, from 1881 to 1886, he did much to further the interests of the Province.

In 1890, he unsuccesfuUy contested the provincial électoral District No 4, of Montréal, but, during the gênerai élections that took place two years later, in 1892, he captured his seat

TBE DATE WILLIAM KENNEDY, Ex-Alderman. 1872-3-4 1886-7-8-9-90 L

l)y a large niajority. He entered the Marchand Cabinet, in 1897, a minister without portfolio. In 1896, he introduced and passed an important bill respecting indécent theatrical posters. Hon. G. W. Stephens, was one of the chief organizers of the Montréal Good Government Association, and was for sometime a member of the Council of the Montréal Board of Trade. He is a life Governor of the Montréal General Hospital and of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane. He taarried, in 1865, ^^^ danghter of M. N. Mcintosh, of Edinburg^ ■Scotland. Mr. Stephens was for several years Président of the Montréal Décorative Art Association.

The Late Lieut.-Col. WILLIAM KENNEDY.

The late Lieut.-Colonel William Kennedy, ex-alderman, was born in Montréal, in 1822, being the eldest son of the late Wm. Kennedy, in his lifetime builder, of Montréal, and a native of Yorkshire, Eng. Both of Lieut.-Col. Kennedy's parents were English, his mother being a member of the Powell family. On leaving school, Mr. Kenned}^ learned his business as a builder, and also studied architectural designing. In 1842, he entered into partnership with his father and carried on the business for several years, until the retirement of the senior partner. Afterwards, he conducted the business on his own account, combining with it, the profession of architect, valuator and expert. During this time, he supervised and assisted in the erecti(m of many public and private buildings. In 1838, he was a member of the 2nd company of the Batallion of Volunteer Militia, under the command of Col. Maitland, which served during the rébellion of that period, being stationed to guard the approaches of the Cit}^ He afterwards

Tjj^ HISTOIRE DE MONTREAL

^erved in the Montréal Light Infantiy, while it was under command of Col. Dyde.

In 1865, he was a member and tlie librarian of the Choral Musical Society, which was organized under the direction of the late M. Maffre, the society giving many concerts at which they rendered the composition of the old masters. During the early struggles in establishing the Mechanic Institute, Mr. Kennedy becanie a life member of and actively assisted in placing the Institute on a permanent basis, being a member of the Finance and other committees. The grant from the government not being sufficient to enable the directors to engage professional teachers, Mr. Kennedy tendered his gratuitous services, and for several years successfuUy taught the classes in architectural drawing and designing, During the excitement of 1861, many volunteer corps were formed, and Mr. Kennedy actively assisted, being elected ist Lient, of the 2nd Company of Montréal Engineers. In 1864, he received a ist class certificate from the Military Board for proficiency in military duties and was also gazetted captain of his Company. In 1869, he was promoted to the rank of major in the Active Militia of Canada. During the Fenian Raid of 1870, he was at Huntingdon, and took part in the engagement at Trout River. In 1874, he was elected one of the Life Governors of the New Western Hospital. In Mardi 1872,. he was elected councillor for St. Lawrence Ward, and afterwards alderman, actively attending to his duties during the terni of three years, when he received an influential réquisition for renomination, but declined. While in the Council, lie was member of the Market, Water and Health committees, and also the sub-committee of the new City Hall. For 18 nionths he was chairman of the Health committee, and rendered essential service to the City by his activity in carrying out

sanitary nieasures in the Mountain Park and Ci vie Hospital which was visited daih'. House scavengering was also carried ont daily and regularly for the first tinie under his régime, and many useful sanitary laws were projected by him, which hâve since been established b}^ Parliament.

Mr. Kennedy died, in October 1898, aged 76 years.

MEDERIC LAURIER, Ex-Echevin. 1888-9.

MEDERIC LAURIER.

Au nombre des éclievins qui ont représenté le quartier Saint-Jacques au Conseil de ville, M. Médéric Laurier, entrepreneur, occupe une place marquante par les travaux qu'il a obtenus pour son quartier. M. Laurier a été élu par acclamation au Conseil de ville, le i8 juin 1888, et jusqu'à 1890, il a conservé vson mandat.

Au cours de son terme d'office, M. Laurier a pris une part active à la construction des ponts de la rue Ontario et de la rue Sainte-Catherine.

M. Médéric Laurier est né à Saint-Charles de Lachenaie, comté de l'Assomption, le 10 novembre 1836. Ses parents, Toussaint-Moise Laurier et Domithilde Gratton habitaient Saint-Charles depuis longtemps.

Après avoir fait un cours élémentaire à l'école paroissiale de cet endroit, M. Laurier vint à Montréal quelques années plus tard, et, en 1867, il s'associait à M. Jean Malo pour entreprendre certaines constructions dans l'ouest de la ville.

M. Laurier est marié depuis 1859, à Mlle Célina Gratton, et est père de huit enfants, qui survivent d'une famille de onze rejetons.

En politique, M. Laurier est ce qu'il a toujours été, un libéral convaincu. Il s'occupe encore d'entreprises malgré ses 67 ans.