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Paterson, William, M. P.,
Brantford, Ontario, one of the most brilliant of our public men, was born
in Hamilton, Ontario, on the 19th September, 1839. He is a son of James
and Martha Paterson, who came to Canada from Aberdeen, Scotland. He
received his education at the schools of Hamilton and Caledonia, and his
studies embraced, besides the ordinary branches, English, French, Latin
and general classics. He entered public life as deputy reeve of Brantford,
which position he occupied from 1869 to 1871 inclusive, and was likewise
mayor of Brantford in 1872. He was elected member of the House of Commons
for South Brant in 1872, and again in 1874, in 1878, and in 1882. His
opponent in the first contest was Sir Francis Hincks, then Finance
Minister, and his opponent in the last three contests was Alfred Watts, of
Brantford. he has been connected in his time with most of the public
enterprises of Brantford, and has always shown a genuine and unselfish
concern for the interests of the people. In religion he is a member of the
Independent church, but his parents were strict Presbyterians. He married
on September 10th, 1864, Lucy Clive Davies, daughter of T. C. Davies, of
Brantford township, and by this union there are 5 children, three whom are
alive. Our subject lived with his parents in Hamilton till they died in
1849. It is strange to remark that they died on the same day in August,
his mother being in Hamilton and his father in Port Dover, where he had
gone a day or two before on business. The cause of death was cholera. Two
days after his parents' death, young Paterson was adopted by Rev. Andrew
Ferrier, D. D., of Caledonia, a Presbyterian minister and an old friend of
his parents. He lived with this worthy man as his son till he was nearly
fifteen years of age, when he became a clerk in a large grocery store in
Brantford, in which situation he remained for about nine years, leaving it
to enter business for himself in 1863. In this year he formed a
partnership with Henry B. Leeming, of Brantford, under the firm name of
Leeming & Paterson, and began the manufacture of biscuits and
confectionery. Mr. Leeming retired in 1876, and since that time Paterson
has been sole proprietor of the factory. The business has grown steadily
under his management, and is now one of the most thriving industries in
the Dominion. Mr. Paterson has always been a champion of the Reform cause;
and we may now, in summing up, add that in the entire Liberal ranks there
is not a more worthy man to be found than Mr. William Paterson. His
ability is of the very highest order, and he has no peer in the House of
Commons as a flashing, witty pithy speaker. A warm, sunny humour pervades
many of his speeches, and though he can be and often is severe, there is
never any malice in his utterances. We believe that we should be justified
in saying that in the House of Commons Mr. Paterson has not the ill will
of any man, and this, notwithstanding that not other member upon his side
of the House, has more frequently or more effectively arraigned the
occupants of the Treasury benches. The write, speaking for himself, would
rather listen to a speech from Mr. Paterson, when at his best, than from
any other member of the legislature. |
