A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
History
A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography: Being Chiefly Men of the Time: A Collection of Persons Distinguished in Professional and Political Life, Leaders in the Commerce and Industry of Canada, and Successful Pioneers
until December of that year, when he moved to Toronto, and accepted the
position of clerk in the office of a wholesale news company. In 1863 he
went to New York, and from November of that year until January, 1867, he
had the management of the publishing house of T. W. Strong, of that
city, and through his perseverance and industry gained the highest rung
of the ladder of fortune in Mr. Strong’s establishment. While Mr. Wilson
resided in New York he was a great favourite among the Canadians
visiting there, and helped many of them when they were in need. A
deep-seated love for Canada, and a special inducement brought him again
back to Montreal in January, 1867, and he at once assumed the position
of cashier and bookkeeper in the office of Angus, Logan & Co., paper
manufacturers (now the Canada Paper Co.) He remained with this firm
until September, 1870, when he went into business on his own account. He
began the manufacture of paper bags by machinery, and was the first in
Canada to supply the grocers all over the Dominion with this very useful
article. This proving, by energy and ability, a prosperous business, in
1880 he built a large paper mill at Lachute, province of Quebec, and in
1885 had to double its power so as to be able to make six tons of paper
per day. In 1880 Mr. Wilson was elected an alderman for the city of
Montreal, and was again returned by acclamation in 1883. For six years
he represented St. Lawrence ward in the city council, and for four years
was chairman of the light committee. He was president of the Fish and
Game Protection Club of the province of Quebec for two years; president
of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society for two years; and has
occupied the principal chairs in several other societies in Montreal.
Mr. Wilson is a life governor and vice-president of the Montreal
Dispensary; a governor of the Protestant Insane Asylums of the province
of Quebec; one of the board of Protestant School Commissioners of
Montreal; principal and head of the firm of J. C. Wilson & Co., paper
and paper-bag makers, Montreal; and at the general elections held
February 22, 1887, he was elected to represent the county of Argenteuil,
province of Quebec, in the House of Commons at Ottawa. Mr. Wilson is an
ardent fisherman, fond of lakes and brooks, and never hesitates to drive
thirty or forty miles over a rough road to enjoy a few hours’
trout-fishing, and thoroughly enjoys camp life. In business he is
active, pushing, hard-working, and far-seeing in his plans, and never
puts off until to-morrow what can be done to-day. With his employees he
is a favourite, and is looked upon by them as most generous and kind.
Mr. Wilson has adopted as his motto, “It pays to think.” In politics he
is a Liberal-Conservative, and in religion an adherent of the
Presbyterian form of worship. On the 6th of November, 1865, he married
Jeanie, third daughter of the late William Kilgour, of Beauharnois,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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