John Milne Browning

In the later years of his life John Milne Browning lived retired in Montreal. He was of Scotch birth, a native of Edinburgh, born in June, 1826. His father, Matthew Browning, died when the son was a young man and the latter, who had been educated in the schools of his native country, came to Canada in 1852, when twenty-six years of age. He located at Beauharnois, where he continued until 1873 and then removed to Montreal, where he resided through the succeeding fifteen years. In 1888 he went to British Columbia, where he lived for eleven years, but on the expiration of that period returned to Montreal, where he spent his remaining days in well earned and honorable retirement from business. He had been a land commissioner and was also connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway Townsite Company. He displayed excellent business ability in that connection and handled important realty interests.

In 1855 Mr. Browning was united in marriage to Miss Magdeline H. Norval, born in 1833, in Beauharnois, Quebec, a daughter of R. H. Norval, who came from Edinburgh when twenty-one years of age and remained thereafter a resident of Canada until his death in 1856. His daughter, Mrs. Browning, has seen Montreal develop from a comparatively small place into a wonderful city, being ever an interested witness of the changes which have occurred. It was on the 20th of December, 1906, that Mr. Browning was called from this life and his loss was mourned in the various localities where he was well and favorably known. He was a member of a number of clubs and won popularity in those organizations. His public spirit found tangible expression in many ways and his religious faith was evidenced in his membership in the Crescent Street Presbyterian church. His life was honorable and upright at all times and he left behind him an untarnished name.