This section is from the year 1890, authored by J.B. Kerr and published by Kerr and Begg. It is no longer held under copyright.

Muirhead, James, (Victoria),

son of the late John Muirhead, contractor and builder, of Glasgow, Scotland, was born at Castle Carey, Stirlingshire, Scotland, on November 20th, 1837. When he was twelve years of age his parents removed to Glasgow and Mr. Muirhead was educated in that city, attending the Normal school on Renfield street. After leaving school he was apprenticed to a joiner and after serving his time at this trade he left the old country in 1857 and came to Canada. He went first to Stratford, county Perth, then to Paris, and finally settled in Gait, where he remained for two years working at his trade. At the end of this time he went to New York, and during his stay there worked on the Fifth Avenue hotel which was then in course of construction. From New York he i-emoved to New Orleans where he spent the winter and part of the summer and then visited South America. He remained for two years in Lima, Peru, and during that time was employed by the English "Waterworks Company. In 1862 he was attracted to British Columbia by the reports of the wonderful discoveries of gold in Cariboo. When he reached Victoria, how- ever, the excitement to a large extent had calmed down, and Mr. Muirhead instead of going to the mines -concluded to follow his trade. In 1863 he began a contracting business and among other large buildings for which he obtained the contract was the Oddfellows' hall. In 1870 his present partner Mr. Mann joined him in the business, and in 1875 they began the manufacturing business which they now conduct. Mr. Muirhead does not take any active part in politics and has not stood for any public position. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Oddfellows' order and the Pioneer society and an adherent of the Presbyterian chui'ch. In. November, 1868, he married Rebecca Fleming, of Victoria.