The Honorable Mr. Justice Craig
James Craig, Q.C. of Renfrew, appointed Associate Judge
of the Yukon District
Some months ago, it was known to his intimate friends that our fellow-townsman, James Craig, Q.C., had been offered an important position – that of Associate Judge in the Yukon District, the appointment carrying also the ex officio position of Member of the Executive Council of Yukon District, charged with the general administration of the affairs of that comparatively new but yet important part of the Dominion.
Though the post was of sufficient honor and responsibility and emolument to make it worthy of the greatest consideration, it involved such a tearing up of old associations, and in a sense, so much of something like an exile, that it was not to be accepted off-hand. After due deliberation, Mr. Craig decided that he would take the proffered honor; that thereupon the Minister of Justice Hon. David Mills, recommended to the Cabinet of the Dominion Government that Mr. Craig be appointed, the Cabinet accepted the recommendation of the Minister, the Governor-General added his sanction, and on Tuesday evening of this week, Mr. Craig received the formal notification that he was now the Honorable Justice Craig; and The Mercury – which from a newspaper point of view would have been pleased to let its readers know of the possible appointment some time ago, but at Mr. Craig’s express request made no mention of the current rumours – had the pleasure of being the first to congratulate him upon the acquisition of the new title.
The office carries with it a salary of $4,000 a year, and $3,000 a year for living expenses.
While Mr. Craig’s neighbors in Renfrew will rejoice to learn that his ability for the post – as well as his services to the dominant political party – have been recognized by this appointment to a position which is a good one from a material standpoint, there will yet by general regret that one who has for nearly a quarter of a century borne a prominent part in the activities of the town and the county, and been a leader in many of its progressive movements, is little longer to mingle with us as a citizen.
In the municipal field, Justice Craig has been Councillor, Reeve, first mayor of Renfrew, and Warden of the County; member of the Board of Education, of the Public Library Board, and of Boards and Committees of a public character of kinds innumerable. Mr. Craig has also been a prominent member of many of the fraternal societies – and has been particularly active in the Masonic and Sons of Scotland organizations. In the Masonic body, he has held the highest offices in the local lodge, and is at present Grand Standard Bearer of the Royal Arch Masons.
In the realm of politics, he has always been a staunch Liberal, and a hard fighter. The son of a man who was one of the two or three who dared to be Liberals in a strongly Conservative town, when it was almost dangerous to be a Liberal, Mr. Craig has fought the battles of the Liberal party in South Renfrew with voice and pen and pocket-book through all its varying fortunes. And now that the party is in a position to reward the labors, and at the same time secure Mr. Craig’s abilities for the service of the country in a position to reward the labors, and at the same time secure Mr. Craig’s abilities for the service of the country in a position for which he is well fitted, there will be unanimity that the Government has done well.
No doubt in years of legal and political Hay, Mr. Craig has made opponents, but if they remained enemies it was their own fault. His is not a disposition to harbor ill-feeling; and we fancy that all who know him will at once admit that he is possessed of a judicial mind, and will deal out even-handed justice.
Mr. Justice Craig, was born at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 31st July, 1851. His parents came to Canada in 1851 and lived in Ottawa for three years. They moved to Arnprior in 1857, and there he attended the Public and High Schools. He graduated B.A. at McGill College in May 1874; entered the law office of Scott, Ross and Stewart in July, 1874; was called to the bar in May 1878; and went to Pembroke to practice in the same year, immediately after the call; and on the advice of some of Renfrew’s leading citizens came to Renfrew in October, 1878, and has since, as noted above, taken his fair share of the duties of citizenship. He was made a Q.C. in 1890. He was married in New York on May 22nd 1870, to Elizabeth Olivia MacPherson, daughter of Edward MacPherson, at one time a prominent lawyer and politician of New York Mrs. Craig has taken an active part in the social affairs of her Canadian home; and her musical talents have always been at the command of local charities and churches.
Judge Craig will leave for the Yukon, Dawson City – early in June. There has been such development of court business that Judge Dugas has not been able to attend to it all; and there will be much work for his associate to take up. Mrs. and Miss Craig will remain in Renfrew for a time. Mr. W.B. Craig, of Arnprior, will probably take the Judge’s place in the law firm of Craig and McNab.