HISTORY OF BOWMANVILLE
Part 42
By Mr. J. B. Fairbairn, P. M.
DR. JOHN HOSKIN, K. C., TORONTO
There is one gentleman who must be mentioned in connection with those reminiscences of the semi-early Bowmanville days-Dr. John Hoskin, K.C., who for the last fifty years has been in touch, and kept in close touch with this place and the township of Darlington. I question very much if there has been any matter of special importance to the inhabitants during this long period in which he has not taken a more than passing interest. It is so unusual to find a busy man clinging so tenaciously to the place of his earlier struggles that it is worth mentioning-one instance at any rate where a sentiment of gratitude and affection exists for the many with whom he came into immediate contact, and to whom he became attached. It is a rare virtue, and is only found in the hearts of the nobler specimens of our race.
Dr. Hoskin immigrated from the famous county of Devonshire, England, and struck this celebrated spot in 1854. Coming from gentle-people in the home land, he had a superior education. In casting about for some employment suitable to his condition, he concluded to do what many another, who afterwards became eminent has done-teach school. It is remarkable how many of our leading citizens in all the varied phases of life started out in this noble calling. I will name two: the Hon. George W. Ross, and the Hon. Geo. E. Foster, both of whom are among the finest public speakers in the Dominion.
Dr. Hoskin’s first effort to instill instruction into the minds of the youth was at Zion, Darlington, near where the late Steven Washington lived. His engagement in that rural section took place almost immediately after he struck this new country. He did not spend any time idling and dreaming, but put his hand to the plow and started the first furrow in the large field he has so successfully tilled. For two years he taught in this delightful locality. No wander when "fond recollection recalls" the time he spent among the good and kindly.
The four years he spent here before he left for the city was the most important period of his life. He did not, as alas so many of our promising young men are doing now, trifle away the precious hours and days of early manhood. He knew that if there was to be a joyous harvest festival, the seed had to be sown, and perseveringly and diligently he attended to it. To improve his education was of first importance. The soil was productive and he soon gained a first place in his studies and even at that early date he felt called upon to interest himself in the welfare of his fellow townsman. We find him taking part in the educational questions of the day. It is rather amusing to recall his first effort to have a say in the doings of the school board. He offered himself for the position of trustee in the southward, and was defeated. He humorously referred to this addressing a meeting in the Town Hall some months ago. Little did the electors suppose that so great a future of usefulness lay
before the young aspirant who modestly asked them to give him a chance to help on the educational work of the town. But so it was-another instance of how true merit is overlooked and swallowed up in local jealousies. They were rife where at the time. The people in Saxon settlement as it was long known, that it calls up the liveliest feelings of pleasurable emotion. After leaving there he taught for a time in Bowmanville. He looked upon all this as a denier resort. He felt that he had power to rise to higher things.
Next we find him articled as a law student to the late Robert Armour. By strenuous application he qualified himself for this position. I must say here that in after years he was the steadfast friend of that gentleman. His next move was to Toronto, leaving in the summer of 1860, going into the office of the late Sir Matthew Crooks Cameron. Afterwards he pursued his work under Mr. Strong, now Right Hon. Sir Henry Strong, formerly Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and finally completed his studies in law with the late Sir George Burton, formerly Chief Justice of Ontario. Dr. Hoskin was called to the bar in 1863. Dr. Hoskin’s reputation was such combined with excellent judgement as to give him a high place in the then growing city of Toronto. He became a partner of the late Mr. Justice Gyone, who is an uncle of Mrs. Hoskin. I need not follow his subsequent course as a noted lawyer. It was a success from first to l
ast, money flowed rapidly into his coffers, and he stands to day one among Fortune’s favorites. And while this is in his case an untold blessing, there are other things connected with his life of greater importance still. It is said of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, that when he became famous and was lionized by the noblest of the land, he never forgot the friends of his earliest days. He clung to them with unswerving loyalty. His own views on the point he has put into the immortal lines of-"A man’s a man for a’ that. The rank is but the guinea’s stamp;" "The man’s the gowd for a’ That".
He felt that one might wear hodden gray and be in the humblest circumstances, and yet have the true ring of sterling worth. If Dr. Hoskin was stripped of his wealthy surroundings to-day, he would be the same man still. He has through all these years never forgotten the associates of his boyhood and time and again he has revisited those scenes and people, where and among whom many happy days were spent. He has literary gifts of a high order, and several times he has delighted his old friends by lecturing on religious topics. Once he spoke at some length to a large and deeply interested audience on his trip to the Holy Land. I regretted very much that I was unable to be present to enjoy with the others his vivid discriptions of the sacred places he visited when there, and I will here thank him for the beautiful little souvenir that he sent me in a photograph taken on the spot by his niece, Miss Carpmael, who accompanied him on the trip. His addresses were always marked by
careful preparation, showing that much thought had been exercised in arriving at the truth. I wonder how many prominent lawyers in Toronto would give the time, even if their hearts were in the work, to thus aid in helping on others to the better life? He has travelled a great deal and enriched his cultivated intelligence by contact with eminent men, by seeing and learning from the works of art which are so extensively stored in the museums of the Old World. His exquisite taste has been displayed I his beautiful home, "The Dale," in Toronto. The grounds and conservatories, I am told, are worth going far to see. He has given a great deal of attention to the cultivation of flowers of all kinds and everything connected with high class Horticulture. He has I believe, the finest collection of Orchids on this continent.
In this money getting age where everything is weighed in a golden balance, and that the only standard by which one’s success In life is gauged, it is like a draught of clear sparkling water to a thirsty soul to find one who has large means so unselfish and generous. The late gathering in Toronto at his place (The Dale) where everything possible was done to make the guests feel at home and enjoy the boundless hospitality offered them by the Dr. and his estimable lady, is only another instance of his genuine kindness and consideration for others less fortunate in life’s warfare. I refer to the fete given to the teachers o this county and others. I believe exclusive of them there were six hundred present that afternoon. If one desires to live in the esteem and recollection of their fellow mortals and I think this is a laudable thing to wish, surely Dr. John Hoskin’s name will go down to posterity as one who so lived as to merit the affection of his fellows.
His benefactions to the High School is a standing monument to his munificence and sympathy with this branch of our school system. His gifts in connection with the town, and West Durham Agr. Society as well, will perpetuate his merits for all time. It may be a platitude that his name is a household word, but it is nevertheless true as far as this town and Darlington are concerned, and both he and Mrs. Hoskin will always receive a true hearty welcome from all classes of the people whenever they visit this locality. It only followed the natural order of things, that a gentleman of his high standing should command the confidence of his fellow Torontonians. He is identified with the following large corporations: A director of the Canadian Life Assurance Co., of the Bank of Commerce, of the British American Assurance Co.; vice president of the Canadian Landed and National Investment Co, and President of the Toronto General Trusts Co., and also on the Directorate of the Toronto Gas Co. The h
ighest honor of all was conferred on him by his being appointed chairman of the Board of the University of Toronto. This is a marked appreciation of his scholastic attainments and his untiring efforts to help on the cause of higher education in his adopted city, which has become the great centre of intellectual culture for this rich province on Ontario.
Personally to me it has been a delight, to in this humble way pay this tribute to one who took his first flight upwards from the quiet little village of Bowmanville.
Next - Bowmanville and Darlington History Part 43
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