Lovers of the Horse 73 



l)iit faiK-ied getting further west, so he hought property on WelHngton St., lietween 

 Simcoe and John Sts. He built hirge stables on iNlercer St. and also erected a comfortable 

 residence near by. This j)roperty he occupied for nearly forty years. About fourteen 

 years ago he sold out to the \'crral Co.. of which his two sons, George and Charles, are 

 the guiding spirits of to-day, and arc in control of an enormous business. 



]Mr. ^'erral was for years active in municipal politics. His fellow-citizens appre- 

 ciated his energy and ability to give the nuinicij)ality good service, and for ten years, 

 continuously, honored him by returning him as Alderman. For seven of these years 

 he sat for old St. George's Ward, and then, when that district was incorporated in the 

 new system of wartls and was part of Ward Four, he was elected for each of the next 

 three years. For several years he was chairman of the Market and License Com- 

 mittee and also sat upon the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Though now out of 

 all kinds of politics, he is yet an ardent champion of every matter he considers in the 

 welfare of the city and country, and he still has a fondness for his old friends, the horses, 

 and the livery business in particular. 'Sir. Verral says that he never had time to go in 

 for show horses. His fancy was a good, strong livery horse, and there is no better 

 judge of such anywhere. INlr. Verral has been an enthusiast in Masonic circles and is 

 a member of the Sons of England. He is an energetic adherent of the Church of Eng- 

 land and was for several years a meml)er of the Anglican Synod. He was married 

 in Toronto, fifty-three years ago, to Miss Anne Farley, and the union has proved a 

 most happy one. It is a source of congratulation that the hand of death has not nuide 

 any gaps in his large family. Mr. Verral mentions with pride that he was himself one 

 of a family of twelve — nine girls and three boys. Only two survive, himself and a sister 

 eighty-nine years of age, resident in London, Englantl. Mr. \'errars eldest son. George, 

 is well known in Ontario political circles. In the Provincial election of lOO-i, he was the 

 Liberal candidate defeated in West York by the late Hon. J. W. St. John, Speaker 

 of the Local House. Both he and his brother are bright business men, with an in- 

 herited capacity for work and keen business instinct bound to culminate in success. 

 Recently they have added to their facilities half-a-dozen hue motor tallyhos, which 

 are very popular with tourists on the rounds "Seeing Toronto.'" Mr. Verral is justly 

 proud of his boys, and their ivish that the old gentleman may still be spared for many 

 years is echoed by thousands of people who have enjoyed his acquaintance. He says 

 his working davs are over. but. nevertheless, he alwavs hmls somethino; useful to do 



somewhere. 



