Edouard Napoleon Hebert

The house of Hébert has been one of the foremost families of the Dominion since the early dawn of Canadian history. One of the first Canadian farmers, Louis Hébert, arrived in Quebec with his family in 1617. Tradition has it that previously he passed some time in Acadia, where he “was the first to utilize the salt-water marshes of the Bay of Fundy by building dikes to keep out the tides.” He continued to cultivate the soil at Quebec and on February 28, 1626, as a reward to him and an encouragement to others, the Duc de Ventadour, viceroy of New France, issued a patent granting Hébert “in fief noble to him and his assigns forever” a seignorial domain on the River St. Charles, near Quebec, and confirming to him a concession made by the preceding viceroy, the Duc de Montmorency. It was expressly stated in the deed that these grants were made in consideration of Hébert’s “long and painful labors, perils and expenses, incessantly supported in the discovery of the lands of Canada and that he is the head of the first family which has settled and dwelt there since the year 1600 till now * * * having left his relations and friends to go and form this commencement of a colony of Christian people in those lands * * * which are deprived of the knowledge of God.” Charles Lecroix Hébert, a rich trader and the first farmer on the island of Montreal, built a residence in 1655 on Jean Baptiste Street, which is still standing and which is shown in one of the illustrations of this history. Hébert, named Larivière, was born in 1633 and was a companion in arms of Dollard and present at the massacre of Long Sault in May, 1660.

Edouard Napoléon Hébert was born in Montreal on March 10, 1874, and is a son of J. Napoléon Hébert, who was born January 14, 1850. His father, Louis Hébert, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Quebec in 1810 or 1812 and from that city removed to Montreal, while his father was the proprietor of the Boulangerie du Roi (bakery of the king) at Quebec. This establishment was subsequently continued by one of his sons, a brother of the grandfather of our subject.

E. Napoléon Hébert, in the acquirement of his education, attended Montcalm school of this city and subsequently improved his advantages by a commercial course. He entered upon active business life in connection with Hudon & Hébert, engaged in the grocery business, for whom he made customs entries and acted as assistant cashier. He is now treasurer of the “Twelve Companies” and largely engaged in the real-estate business, being a young man of very great ability, pleasant in manners and of sound judgment. In two years the “Twelve Companies” with which he is connected have disposed of properties to the value of eleven million dollars, which gives an indication of the magnitude of their transactions. Mr. Hébert is considered one of the best informed men as to realty values here and his advice and judgment are often sought by large investors and he has in many ways been instrumental in promoting the growth and furthering the welfare of his city. He is also interested in a cigar box factory which gives employment to eighty men.

On July 7, 1891, at Montreal, Mr. Hébert was united in marriage to Miss Cécilia Drolet and they have become the parents of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. The eldest son, Charles-Edouard, is married and the other three are Armand, Charles and Jean. The daughters are Gabrielle, Herminie, Adrienne, Cécile, Marie-Thérèse, Germaine, Gilberte and Paulette.

In his political affiliations Mr. Hébert is a liberal, stanchly upholding the principles of his party. He is well known in fraternal orders, in most of which he has held important offices, being connected with the Independent Order of Foresters and the Canadian Order of Foresters. He is a member of the L’Alliance Nationale, of the Club Canadien and the Club St. Louis. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and he is prominent in the church of the Immaculate Conception, in which for twenty-five years he has been organist. A man of great energy and vast information as regards his business, Mr. Hébert occupies a high place among the business men of Montreal and can ever be found in the front ranks of those who have at heart the welfare of their city. Although he has never cared to participate in official life, he gladly supports worthy public enterprises and enjoys the high respect and regard of all who come in contact with him in business or social relations.