Thomas J. Dawson

“Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success.” Judged by this standard, Thomas J. Dawson was a most successful man. His life measured up to the standard which all men acknowledge good. His record was as an open book which all might read and there were many who bore testimony to his kindness of heart and his generous spirit manifest in active effort for the alleviation of hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and for practical improvement along the line of civic and moral reform. Mr. Dawson was born at Knockmanoul, Ireland, April 29, 1843, and spent his early life in Dublin and Belfast. His parents, Rev. Abram and Anne (Graham) Dawson, were both natives of the Emerald isle. The father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and coming from Ireland to the new world engaged in preaching in Ontario near Kingston. Thomas J. Dawson came to Canada in 1864 and spent several years at Sydenham and Guelph, Ontario. In 1870 he arrived in Montreal, from which date until his death he was actively engaged in commercial pursuits. For fifteen years prior to his demise he was connected with the custom service and during the latter part of that period was the appraiser in the postoffice department.

Mr. Dawson was a splendid type of the Irish gentleman, possessing native wit and humor and scattering cheer wherever he went. His geniality and cordiality ever made him popular in social circles and his friends were almost as numerous as his acquaintances. His spirit of benevolence was one of his strongly developed characteristics and, again and again, found expression in tangible effort for the benefit of others. He was deeply interested in the Irish Protestant Benevolent Society, was a life governor of the Montreal Homeopathic Hospital, was for years secretary of the Old Brewery Mission and was an active member of the Westmount Methodist church, which numbered him among its earnest, helpful workers. Any movement tending to bring about civic or moral reform received his indorsement and cooperation. In 1866, upon its organization, he became a member of the Young Men’s Christian Association, retaining his membership until his death, and to the support of which he contributed liberally. He gave, too, of his time and efforts for its upbuilding and always took a most active interest in young men, realizing how necessary are uplifting influences in the plastic age. Life was to him purposeful and fraught with opportunity for good, which he did not neglect, and when he passed away October 21, 1910, he left behind him a memory that is a benediction to all who knew him.

In 1876 Mr. Dawson was married to Miss Louisa Holland, daughter of George A. Holland, who came from Ireland as a young man and was the active head of the G. A. Holland & Son Company, dealers in wall paper, established by him in 1843. He built up that business to large proportions and remained in close identification therewith until his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Marian Hutchins, was a native of Canada. He was one of the volunteer firemen of Montreal at an early day and he passed away in this city in July, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson had three children: Ralph H. of Montreal; Arthur B. of Calgary; and Mabel L., the wife of R. Macaulay Cushing, and they have two children, Dorothy M. and Arthur M.