136 EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



construction of some public buildings; but, meeting with financial loss, 

 he determined to emigrate to j\Iontreal. The vessel in which he crossed 

 the Atlantic called at Pictou, Nova Scotia, for supplies. Hearing here 

 that cholera was epidemic in Montreal, Bain abandoned his intention of 

 proceeding thither and determined to remain in Pictou, working at his 

 trade. Here he made the acquaintance of Mr. J. William Dawson, after- 

 wards Sir William, and after the expiration of two years he sent for his 

 parents, removing with them to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. 

 Later he bought a farm at Caithness Cove, West Eiver, opposite Char- 

 lottetown on the west, and here lived with his father and mother except 

 when emplo3^ed in the city as stone cutter, mason and builder, in which 

 last capacity, associated with a Mr. Watts, he built the provincial gov- 

 ernment building. 



In 1839 he married Ellen, youngest daughter of William Docken- 

 dorff, owner of the farm adjoining his own. Of this marriage were born 

 four children, William, [1840], Francis, [February 25th, 1842], Jane, 

 [1843], and Jacob [1845], of whom the eldest died at the age of 

 twenty-two years, and the remaining brother and sister survive the sub- 

 ject of this sketch. 



Daniel Bain, died in 1851, three years after the demise of his wife, 

 and in the following year AVilliam died, leaving his widow to manage 

 the farm until her sons were able to share her responsibilities. 



The children all attended first a school taught in her own house by 

 Mrs. Eoss, wife of the Baptist minister of North Kiver, and afterwards 

 the school established in the district by the provincial government. At 

 the age of thirteen or fourteen years, Francis attended, for one winter 

 term. Dr. Leeming's class in the Infants' School-rooin in Charlotte- 

 town. Four or five years later he attended the Central Academy for 

 one term, living in Charlottetown while engaged in his studies; but at 

 the expiration of this time, the illness of his elder brother forced him 

 to return to his work on the farm. By the death of the latter in 1862, 

 and the marriage of his sister, (the younger brother, Jacob, having 

 meanwhile removed to a home of his own), Francis was left alone to 

 manage the affairs of the farm. In 1876 he married Caroline, daughter 

 of David Clark, farmer, of Cavendish, to whom were born six sons 

 and three daughters. 



As a boy Francis Bain was of a retiring disposition and fond of 

 reading and study. After he had been forced to abandon his attendance 

 at school he continued his study of the classics and mathematics, to 

 which, in later years, he added the study of French and German. He 

 early developed a liking for natural history, and every opportunity 

 found him at his favorite pastime of collecting entomological, concholo- 



