Mr. Ogilvie was the first to introduce into Canada the patent
process of grinding by rollers. In 1868, he visited Hungary where
this system originated, for the purpose of investigating it.
He saw at once its value and adopted it. He invented improved
machinery used in the milling business, and was always ready to
adopt the improvements of others that were practical.
It was said that he had better knowledge of wheat and wheat lands
than any man in Canada. His business furnished a market for wheat
growers and proved a stimulating influence in the agricultural
development of the great wheat-raising section of middle and
western Canada. His labors were directly responsible for much of
the growth, progress and prosperity of Manitoba and the provinces
farther west, and his worth as a business man and citizen was
acknowledged by all.
Mr. Ogilvie’s identification with commercial interests was large
and diversified. He was a director of the Bank of Montreal;
the Montreal Transportation Company; the North British and
Mercantile Insurance Company; the Old Dominion Board of Trade;
and the Sailors Institute. He was president of the Corn
Exchange Association; St. Andrew’s Society; and the Montreal
Horticultural Society; governor of the Montreal General and
the Royal Victoria Hospitals; president of the Manufacturers’
Association, and served as a member of the Harbor Board.
In regard to agricultural and horticultural interests he
manifested an interest and enthusiasm that were contagious,
his efforts constituting an example that many others followed.
He served both on the council and board of arbitration of the
Montreal Board of Trade and was president of that body in 1893-4.
In matters of citizenship he was extremely public-spirited and
what he accomplished represented the fit utilization of his
innate talents and powers. His political belief is indicated
in the fact that in 1896 he was president of the Liberal
Conservative Club of Montreal. He was a forceful speaker in both
French and English and frequently, in his earlier days, addressed
public meetings during political campaigns.
As a young man he served as lieutenant and subsequently as a
captain in the Montreal Cavalry under his brother, being thanked
in brigade orders by Colonel Pakenham in 1866.
He was one of the prominent members of St. Andrew’s church.
Mr. Ogilvie always gave with a free hand toward various public
institutions, and there was no movement of importance to which
he did not contribute. His benefactions were liberal, varied and
by no means local. He gave thirteen thousand dollars, towards
making up a deficit for completion of the Jubilee wing of the
Winnipeg General Hospital. He was one of the first to subscribe
to the patriotic fund for the families of those who went with
the Canadian contingent to the Transvaal war. Mr. Ogilvie was a
man of great business capacity and to a most remarkable extent
maintained a personal knowledge of his diversified interests.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account