Harry Stuart Binks

Harry was born December 24, 1882 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

He married Janet Smith Baird (born November 27, 1890 in Partick, Glasgow, Scotland) on July 16, 1912 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The following addresses are known to be those of Harry and Janet: 189 Fourth Avenue (in 1922) and Java Street (in 1955).

Harry is described in the 1901 Canada census as an Insurance Clerk earning a salary of $200.

The following information is from Diana Proulx-Binks in Canada and concerns the early life of Harry's wife, Janet:

Janet Smith Baird was born on the 27th day of November 1890, in Partick, Glasgow SCT. The family moved shortly after to Kilmarnock, and her earliest recollection is of going to a private academy at the early age of 3-1/2 years, accompanied by her eldest sister Mary. Another recollection is of being presented with a large and most beautifully dressed doll at a bazaar by a then prominent member of Parliament Mr. Cameron Corbett.

The family moved back to Glasgow in 1898 & she continued at Lorne Street Public School, where at the age of 12 years she wona scholarship of 20 pounds and free tuition at Hillhead High School. She had only attended high school two years when the serious illness of her sister Mary necessitated her staying at home to help Mother. Mary was ill for a long time, her husband having died in 1905 of the disease, which she contracted & finally died in August 1906.

Instead of going back to school, Janet's father decided to let her go ahead with her music. She first sang in public at 6 years as Red Riding Hood in a little operetta. She started taking singing lessons at 12 years, just so that she would start in the right way. A favourite expression of her father's was "learn young, learn fair". The illness of Mary for a time held singing and piano lessons back, but she later studied with Andrew H. Picken who proved a wonderful teacher.

She gained her first choir experience at Pollokshields Parish Church and at the age of 17 was appointed as contralto soloist of St. Luke's parish church, the same year winning honours at the Trinity College of Music intermediate examinations. Janet owed much to her father, who, while proud of his family, found it at times hard to give all the advantages he was eager to provide.

On the day of her arrival in Ottawa, Janet was asked to sing on trial for the position of contralto soloist of All Saints Church in Ottawa - which position she has held ever since. In the first years after her arrival in Canada she sang at many Scottish concerts and other affairs.

In June 1911, she and Harry Stuart Binks met for the first time and were married in Stewarton Church July 16th, 1912.

Harry died on December 5, 1956 and Janet on September 7, 1955. Both died in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.