In May, 1907, Dr. Nicholls was married to Miss Lucia Pomeroy, the youngest daughter of the late William H. Van Vliet of Lacolle, P. Q., and they have three sons, George Van Vliet, John Van Vliet and Robert Van Vliet. Dr. Nicholls is a conservative and an ardent imperialist. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the University Club, Montreal, and the Authors’ Club, London.
Those life forces which work for betterment, for progress and improvement elicit his attention and receive his support, and he is today recognized as a man of splendidly developed talents and well balanced powers, so that he has become a forceful factor in the world’s work.
Success in business resulting entirely from capable management, keen discrimination and unfaltering enterprise came to Captain George Hillyard Matthews, who for many years was president of the Sincennes-McNaughton Line. His birth occurred in Montreal on the 14th of August, 1846, and he passed away at the comparatively early age of fifty-seven years, dying on the 19th of January, 1904. He was a son of George Matthews, of Mount Victoria, Hudson and Montreal. The father came to Canada from Essex, England, as a young man and in this country married a Miss Hudson, also a native of England. They became the parents of six children, including Captain Matthews, who received his military education at Sandhurst, England, in 1871. The following year he entered the army and served for a period of eight years, when he resigned. He was an honorary member of the officers’ mess of the Third Victoria Rifles and also honorary president of the Army and Navy Veterans Association. He never ceased to feel a deep interest in military affairs and believed in the maintenance of a high standard of service in connection with the army and navy.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN GEORGE H. MATTHEWS]
Captain Matthews’ business affairs also brought him prominently before the public. For many years he was president of the Sincennes-McNaughton Line and during his term of office the major portion of the harbor fleet of tugs was built under his supervision. As opportunity offered he made judicious investments in real estate and became the owner of a large amount of property in Montreal. Following the death of Baron de Longueuil, he took charge of his estate, which he wisely managed.