Honorable Timothy Blair Pardee, Commissioner of Crown Lands for Ontario, is a native of this Province, and was born Dec. 11, 1830, in the county of Grenville. His parents are A. B. Pardee and Jane nee Elliot. The name would indicate that the Pardee family were originally French, but the grandfather of our subject was from the Eastern States. The subject of this sketch was educated partly in his native county, and afterwards at Brockville, Ont., at which latter place he began the study of law with the Hon. W. B. Richards. Before finishing, however, he broke off his studies and departed for California, where he spent two years, going thence to the gold fields of Australia, where he remained for about five years. Returning to Canada, he settled at Sarnia, Ont., and revived his law studies, finishing at the office of Joshua Adams; was called to the Ear at Hilary term, 1861, since which time his home and practice has been at Sarnia. He is a forcible and fluent speaker, a sound and cautious lawyer, possessing a remarkably keen insight into human character, with accurate, quick, and discriminating perceptive powers. These qualifications, combined with indomitable energy, shrewdness and tact, soon secured him, after his call to the Bar, a large practice in the county of Lambton, and gave him a leading position in that county. His “magnetic” temperament and genial, kindly disposition made him many warm and constant friends. He was elected a Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, in 1871, appointed Q.C. in 1876, and was County Crown Attorney for Lambton for several years, resigning in 1867 to enter political life.
At the first general election after Confederation he was elected to the Ontario Parliament for West Lambton, a seat which he has retained ever since, being one of the few charter members now left in the House. In 1871 he was returned by acclamation, as he also was on accepting the office of Provincial Secretary in the Reform Government, Oct. 25, 1872. He held this office in the Executive Council until December 4, 1873, when he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands, in which office he still remains, and in the discharge of the duties connected therewith Mr. Pardee has displayed signal ability. He is a good parliamentarian, a strong debater, and an influential member whose opinions always claim the attention of both friends and opponents. His political views have always been Liberal, and he has been a member of the Mowat administration since its formation.
The wife of the Hon. Commissioner was Emma K., daughter of J. K. Forsyth, Esq., of Sombra; Lambton county, Ont., by whom he has six children.
