Charles Chaput

It would be difficult to find a more active business man in Montreal and one whose labors are more gratifyingly resultant than Charles Chaput, who stands as one of the most successful merchants of the metropolis, ranks among its most substantial citizens and to quote the Montreal Gazette is “a man of unimpeachable integrity.” He was born in Montreal, November 14, 1841, a son of the late Leander Chaput, who came to Montreal from L’Assomption in 1832 and in 1842 founded what is now the well known wholesale grocery house of L. Chaput, Fils & Cie, Limitee. He lived to the age of eighty-four years, passing away in 1901. His wife was Helene St. Denis, a daughter of J. B. St. Denis of Montreal.

Charles Chaput acquired his education in the best French and English schools in Montreal of the time. In 1857 at the age of sixteen years he joined his father’s firm as a junior clerk, at which time the firm was L. Chaput & Cie, and on his being made a partner in 1862 the style was changed to L. Chaput, Fils & Cie. In 1875 upon the retirement of his father Charles Chaput became the head of the firm, where he has since remained, although there have been many changes since in its personnel. In 1884 L. E. Geoffrion was admitted a partner and for years was actively interested in the conduct and management of the business. In 1896 E. St. Denis retired after having been a partner for forty years and in the same year Ferd Prudhomme was taken into partnership. In 1899 Armand Chaput and in 1909 Emile Chaput, sons of Charles Chaput, were admitted as members of the firm, which was incorporated on February 1, 1912, under name of L. Chaput, Fils & Cie, Limitee, Charles Chaput becoming president, Armand Chaput vice president and manager and Ferd Prudhomme secretary and treasurer. The house of L. Chaput, Fils & Cie, Limitee, has attained a widespread, honorable and unassailable reputation in business circles by reason of the straightforward and commendable principles employed in the conduct of its large interests.

For many years Mr. Chaput has maintained an extremely active business interest not only in the large firm of which he is now the head but also as a director in many other firms, in banks and in financial institutions. As a member of the council of the Board of Trade he has played a very important part in the work of that organization. A governor of Notre Dame Hospital, he has been largely instrumental in strengthening the finances of that splendid institution. He was for several years a director of La Banque d’Hochelaga and also of the Canada Life Insurance Company. He has been a councillor of the Chambre de Commerce and president of the Wholesale Grocers Guild. He is a director of the International Mercantile Agency, also vice president of the Montreal Business Men’s League and president of the Montreal Citizens Association and has ever taken an active interest in business matters and all things tending to promote the welfare of the city and the uplifting of humanity.

His charitable instincts and activities are broad and varied. Aside from the institutions above mentioned with which he is connected he is also a governor of the Montreal General Hospital and a member of the Montreal Dispensary. He cooperates earnestly and effectively in many movements which have for their object the alleviation of hard conditions of life for the unfortunate. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic.

Mr. Chaput has never entered the political field, yet he has always maintained a deep and sincere interest in the political affairs of the country. Furthermore, he has played a very prominent part in municipal affairs and while not himself directly interested or a seeker of place he has been one of the leading figures in the organization of the Citizens’ Association and a sturdy exponent of municipal government through the medium of the Board of Control. He is progressive in all things, being ever ready to give his support to any movement that will tend to the improvement of conditions in Montreal.

Mr. Chaput married Rose Anne Smith, who died in September, 1883; he then married Clara Chevalier, who died in July, 1893; his third wife was L. Patoine in her maidenhood. He has a family of three sons and two daughters, all born to the first marriage. The eldest son, Rev. Father Charles Chaput, is a Jesuit priest and a professor of philosophy. The second son, Armand Chaput, is vice president of L. Chaput, Fils & Cie, Limitee. He married Juliette Auger, a daughter of J. C. Auger, formerly registrar of Montreal. The third son, Emile Chaput, is a director in the firm and married Rosalie Loranger, daughter of the Hon. Mr. Justice Loranger of Montreal. Rose Anna, the elder daughter, is the widow of Mr. Gabriel Marchand, M. P., son of the late Hon. F. G. Marchand, who was premier of the province of Quebec. Antoinette, the younger daughter, is the wife of Mr. E. Desaulniers, notary, of St. Lambert, P. Q.

Mr. Chaput holds membership in L’Association St. Jean Baptiste and in the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society—associations which show something of the nature of his interests and his delight in research work.