=Wilkes, Alfred John, LL.B. K.C.=, (Brantford, Ont.) is a distinguished member of the Ontario bar, and prominent in the commercial and social activities of his native City, where he was born on December 15, 1847. He is the son of the late Lieut.-Colonel James Wilkes, formerly City Treasurer of Brantford. His father was a native of Birmingham, England, who came to Canada in 1821, and carried on a mercantile business in the City of Toronto until 1823, (muddy Little York then had a population of 800 and only three brick houses), when he removed to the site of the present City of Brantford, continued his business as a general merchant, and was for twenty-six years City Treasurer. His mother, Eliza (Elliot) Wilkes, was a Canadian by birth. Educated at the Public and High Schools of Brantford until the age of sixteen, the subject of this sketch matriculated at Osgoode Hall, at the age of sixteen, and commenced the study of law, being articled to Hon. S. H. Blake, of the then legal firm of Blake, Kerr, and Wells, Toronto, and was called to the bar in 1869, heading the list, at the early age of twenty-one. Subsequently the degree of LL.B. was conferred on him by Toronto University on passing the usual examinations. Returning to Brantford on being admitted to the bar, he entered into practice with the late Daniel Brooke, for three years. Then, after practising one year alone, he formed a partnership with Hon. Arthur Sturgis Hardy, late Premier of Ontario, which continued from 1873 to 1898. In 1890 Mr. Wilkes was created a Queen’s Counsel by the Ontario Government, a distinction richly merited. In 1894 he became Acting County Crown Attorney, and five years afterwards was appointed to that office, and on the 3rd of January, 1885, was gazetted Deputy Judge of Brant County, acting for the late Judge Jones, once for three months and again for six months. Mr. Wilkes enjoys an enviable distinction in the legal profession and has long had a large and successful practice; was City Solicitor, in partnership with Hon. A. S. Hardy, and later also with Lt.-Col. Jones and the present Judge Alex. D. Hardy of Brant County from 1873, and only recently resigned on account of advancing years; was also solicitor for Waterous Engine Works Company and for late Bank of B.N.A., and was and now is solicitor for the Bank of Montreal, with which that bank is amalgamated, and many other corporations doing business in the City of Brantford. Always taking a deep interest in educational matters, Mr. Wilkes was for many years a member of the School Board of the City of Brantford, and for four years Chairman. He has had an extended military career, was an ensign in the Reserve Militia in his early years, and was also for many years a Captain in the 38th Dufferin Rifles. He assisted in forming the 25th Brant Dragoons, of which he was gazetted Lieut.-Col., retiring retaining the rank of Lieut.-Col. Mr. Wilkes is a Director of the Royal Loan and Savings