Elson I. Rexford was born in South Bolton, Québec. After studies at the McGill Normal School, he taught in public schools from 1868 to 1871. He received his B.A. from McGill in 1876, and in the same year was ordained; he then joined the High School of Montreal staff, where he rose to the rank of assistant headmaster. From 1882 to 1891, he served as English Secretary of the Provincial Department of Public Instruction and later as Director of Protestant Education. Rexford returned to the High School of Montreal as Rector in 1891, in 1903, he left to take up the principalship of the Montreal Diocesan Theological College. In 1928, he retired as Principal Emeritus.