The oldest and most successful lawyer in Paris is Henry Hart, son of Phillip Dacres Hart, who was long connected with the East India Company, and retired in the prime of life with a competency, living in London, England, where the son was born, February 16, 1827. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Ann Chase. Both parents were English. When our subject was in his eighth year the family emigrated to Upper Canada; reached St. Catharines in I835, and the next year settled in Brantford. The father died in 1855, the mother in 1876.
Young Hart was educated in the schools of Brantford, and in Upper Canada College, at Toronto; studied law with Daniel Brooke, of Brantford; passed examinations at Toronto at Easter term, May 23, 1860, and has been in practice at Paris from that date. He does a general business, Common law, Chancery, Conveyencing, &c., and is one of the most industrious, professional men in the town. He had a good business almost from the start; has the utmost confidence of the people in his integrity as well as his ability, and his profession is quite remunerative. Whatever he undertakes to do, he does thoroughly, and looks well to the interests of his clients.
Mr. Hart has held but few offices, his law business being usually about as exacting on his time, we presume, as he cares to have it. He has been a Councilman, Deputy Reeve and Reeve, and we cannot learn that he has held any other office. His ambition seems to be satisfied with being a good and successful attorney at law. His character, in a moral as well as legal sense, stands well.
In politics Mr. Hart is known as a staunch Reformer, and he appears to be more willing to help his friends to office, than to accept them himself.
In 1856 he married Miss Caroline Perkins, of Brantford, niece of Colonel Charles C. Dixon of that city, and they have three children, all sons.
