A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
History
A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
Canada -- Biography
=Edwards, Hon. William Cameron= (Rockland, Ont.), was born in Clarence,
May 7, 1844, and is a son of the late William Edwards, a native of
Portsmouth, Eng., who came to Canada about the year 1820, and settled in
the Township of Clarence, County of Russell, Ont., and his wife Ann
Cameron, a native of Fort William, Scotland. He was educated at the
Ottawa Grammar School. Upon the completion of his education he became an
extensive lumber manufacturer, and his business has grown to one of the
largest in Canada. He is known as a successful stock raiser, and takes a
keen interest in agriculture generally, having been President of the
Russell Agricultural Society for many years. He established the lumber
firm of W. C. Edwards & Co., in 1868; is a director of the Canadian Bank
of Commerce; a director of The Toronto General Trusts Corporation,
Toronto, and many other Toronto corporations and companies. After making
a success of his own business interests, he was induced to enter
politics by many of his closest friends, and became the Liberal
Candidate for the House of Commons for Russell at the general election
of 1882, and was defeated, but was later elected at the general
elections of 1891, 1896 and 1900, and became one of the foremost members
in Parliament, and a very close friend of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the then
Premier of Canada. In January, 1885, he married Catherine M., eldest
daughter of the late William Wilson, of Cumberland, Ont., and since
their marriage they have drawn many warm personal friends to them both
at Ottawa and their home town, Rockland. At the outbreak of the War in
1914, between Germany and her Allies, and the British-French-Russian
Allies, Mr. Edwards displayed much generosity, and gave freely both of
his time and money in the interest of the Motherland, and continued his
services until the close of the War. On March 17, 1903, he was summoned
to the Senate, as a reward for the many sacrifices made by him during
his political and business life, and has filled the position with marked
ability.
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