On the 14th of February, 1865, Mr. Cleghorn was married to Miss Anna Spalding, of Port Hope, Ontario, who was born in Peterboro, Ontario. Five children were born to them: George S., connected with the W. R. Brock Company, Limited; C. Power, a general insurance broker, who married Florence Fechheimer, of New York, and to whom have been born two children, James Power and Helen Power; Emily C.; Helen G., who died at the age of thirteen years; and James Herbert, whose death occurred when he was eighteen years of age.
The family residence is at No. 256 Bishop Street, and their summer home, “Blinkbonny” is situated at Como in the province of Quebec. The death of Mr. Cleghorn left a gap in those circles where he had moved as a central figure. In business and social relations and in his connection with humanitarian interests he had established himself in an enviable position by reason of personal worth and capability, and his name is inscribed high on the list of Montreal’s valued citizens.
If one would seek a fitting poetical phrase to express the life work of the Hon. George Washington Stephens these lines might well be chosen:
“He leaves a patriot’s name to after times Linked with a thousand virtues and no crimes.”
For an extended period he was in public life, and whether connected with municipal, professional, or national affairs was always the same public-spirited, progressive citizen, ever seeking the welfare of the constituency which he represented. He was born in Montreal in 1832, the second son of Harrison and Sarah (Jackson) Stephens. The father removed from the state of Vermont to Montreal in 1828 and for years was a leading merchant of the city.
George W. Stephens was educated at high school, afterward entering business circles. He became identified with the firm of Law Young & Company, but after a time determined to enter upon professional activities, and with this end in view took up the study of law, following a law course at McGill University, which conferred upon him the B. C. L. degree. Called to the bar in 1863, he at once entered upon active practice and for some time was a partner of the late John A. Perkins, an eminent barrister of Montreal. Mr. Stephens personally conducted the cause celebre of Connolly versus Woolrych, which he brought to a successful conclusion. The case was a notable one, awakening widespread interest among the legal fraternity and establishing the validity of an Indian marriage, celebrated according to the custom of the tribe.