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Toronto, the well-known Contractor and
Builder, was born in the town of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in
the year 1840. His father was George Gall, a gentleman of sterling
qualities, who pursued the occupation of architect, contractor, etc., in
his native country, his mother's name was Isabella Chalmers. His father
died in 1872. George Gall, the subject of this sketch, received a common
school education, and remained under tutors till he reached his fifteenth
year. Then he was apprenticed to John Chalmers, to learn the trade of
carpenter and joiner. He served an apprenticeship of four years, and he
then left and went to the City of Aberdeen. Here he worked at his trade
until 1861, when he left Scotland, and came to Canada, settling in St.
John, New Brunswick. He afterwards made trial of his fortune in Woodstock,
a town just then budding on the banks of the St. John river; but he was
not attracted by the prospects that the place held out for him. In 1863 he
had grown somewhat sick of New Brunswick, and sailed for Boston, which was
only a short passage by boat from St. John. Here he remained a year and a
half, and then he felt a yearning to go home again to Scotland. In a
little while we find him on board ship, homeward bound. In 1864 he landed
in the City of Aberdeen, where he remained, and worked at his calling, for
the next seven years. But in the year 1871 the desire re-arose in him to
see what fortune had to bestow upon him in the new world. So he went on
board a vessel once more, and took passage for New York. In this active
and rapidly expanding metropolis he plied his trade for three years; but
at the end of this period he turned his face towards Canada. Arriving in
Toronto he resolved to establish a business; and he began as builder and
contractor. He was a man of good judgement, and being ever on the alert,
everything began to fare well with him in his new undertaking. Success had
been his in so liberal a measure that in 1880 he bought out the planing
mills and factory belonging to the estate of William Elliot. In 1883 he
entered into partnership with Thomas McCraken, but this partnership was
dissolved two years later (1885); and Mr. Gall, our subject, found himself
manager and proprietor of the entire concern. Mr. Gall has travelled
through the principal cities of the United States as well as Scotland. He
is a member of the Presbyterian faith, and is manager and elder of the
College street Presbyterian church, Toronto. He has never concerned
himself much with politics; but he is nevertheless a staunch Reformer. He
was married in 1871 to Maria Mark, daughter of George Mark, of Strichan,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. By his marriage there is a family of six
children. For integrity in business, and for success, he is esteemed as
are all worthy men.
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