Obituaries - Perth Courier & Others

supplied by Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA.

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Bathurst Courier and Ottawa Gazette - January, 1835

Died, on the second Concession of Drummond on Sunday last, Mr. Edward James, aged about 78.  He was a native of Ireland and had been a long and respected farmer near this town.

Bathurst Courier and Ottawa Gazette - February, 1835

Died, at Carleton Place on Tuesday 10^th inst. Aged 16 years Agnes (McEwen), eldest daughter of  John McEwen, Esq.

In Toronto on Wednesday last Emily infant daughter of Thomas Baines, Esq.

Perth Courier April 28, 1898

Death of Rev. George Bell, L.L.D.  On Sunday Mr. James Bell received a telegram from Toronto stating that his brother, the Rev. Dr. Bell , whose death had for some time been expected, had passed away and that his remains would be brought to Perth for burial.  Preparation was therefore made for the funeral here on Tuesday and when the casket with the body arrived by the afternoon express a number of the citizens of the town, besides the relatives, were there to meet it and escort the remains to Elmwood Cemetery , where his parents were re-interred.  At the funeral, apart from these, the Senate of Queen’s University was represented by Prof. Marshall, the Trustees by Rev. Dr. Smith and the Alma Mater by Mr. James MacDonnell, of Toronto.  The Senate sent a beautiful floral pillow, and the Alma Mater an anchor.  Rev. J. Markie, pastor of St. Andrew’s Church, Kingston, accompanied the Kingston friends and the relatives from outside Perth, present were:  Mr. J.J. Bell and Mr. George Bell, son of the deceased, barrister, Toronto, and Dr. Bell, Peterboro.  The services at the grave were conducted by Rev. J. Mackie of Kingston and Rev. A. H. Scott, Perth .  The deceased clergyman was the only surviving brother of our townsman, Mr. James Bell, and was born here in the infancy of the Perth Settlement.  The Globe Monday contains the following obituary:  Rev. George Bell, L.L. D. died Saturday evening at the residence of his son, Mr. George Bell, St. George Street , Toronto .  Dr. Bell was the youngest son of Rev. William Bell, who came to Canada in 1817 and was one of the first Presbyterian ministers in this country.  Dr. Bell was born in Perth , Lanark County , in 1819 and was therefore 78 years of age.  Deceased enjoyed the distinction of being the first registered student and the first graduate of Queen’s University, Kingston .  He took the degree of B.A. in 1845, and his alma mater afterwards conferred upon him the honorary degree of L.L. D.   While in the active service of the ministry deceased was stationed at Cumberland on the Ottawa ; Simcoe, Clifton (now Niagara Falls ) and Walkerton.  In 1882 he was appointed registrar and librarian of Queen’s and when the work was afterwards divided he retained the registrarship which position he retained until 1897 when he resigned and came to Toronto to live. Dr. Bell was looked upon as an authority in Presbyterian church law and policy.  He was painstaking and careful in all his work, and his labors at Queen’s were most efficiently performed.   He was at one time a trustee at Queen’s and a lecturer upon “Science and Religion”.  For 31 years of his ministry he was also a public school inspector. Deceased leaves a widow and three children:  Mrs. R. S. Dodds, Kingston ; George Bell, of Thompson, Henderson , & Bell , city; and Mr. C. N. Bell of Winnipeg . His death resulted from a stroke of paralysis which occurred last summer.

Perth Courier, August 2, 1895

Ida J. M. McGregor

Only daughter of Mrs. Malcolm McGregor, Wilson Street , was laid still in death on Friday, 26^th July, after an illness of some months, with consumption, aged 22 years and 10 months.  Deceased was a bright and active young lady, and was a useful worker in the Young People’s Societies of Knox Church, having acted as an organist for the Junior Endeavor for a long time.  Her funeral on Sunday afternoon in Elmwood Cemetery was a very large one, all her former companions and friends assembling to pay their last tribute of respect to a departed friend.  The pallbearers were all cousins of the deceased.  Wreaths and other floral offerings were placed on the coffin from the Junior Endeavor Society  of Knox Church , from Mr. J. A. Allan; Mrs. A. Johnston; and Mrs. Nell McCallum. Miss Johnson of Smith’s Falls sent a bouquet of carnations and roses.  To her bereaved mother, who has lost her only comfort, the sympathy of friends will be extended.

John L. Mitchell

On Saturday last, John L. Mitchell, son of Mr. John Mitchell, Darcy Street , died after a long and lingering illness.  About a year ago, John contracted a cold after getting drenched in a rainstorm.  Like ninety-nine out of a hundred others, he did not pay much attention to it, as it was “only a cold” until it was too late, and not until it became deep seated in his lungs.  Having developed into consumption, he gradually failed until the final day came on Saturday.  Besides working at his trade as a carpenter, he was an enthusiastic florist, in which he was very successful until laid up with sickness.  His garden and greenhouses were models of beauty and floral display.  He was a member of Perth Camp Sons of Scotland in which he had $1000 insurance.  This Society took charge of the funeral on Monday afternoon.  Mr. Peter Sinclair arranged an estimable wreath of Scotch thistles which was placed on the coffin of the deceased.

Mr. Robert Bain

Mr. Robert Bain, brother of Mr. James Bain and Mrs. James Closs (?), left the residence of the latter, near Lanark Village , in the latter end of June last, to visit Ratbangan (?), the place of his birth, near twenty four miles from Dublin , Ireland .  He arrived in Dublin on the second day of July and proceeded directly to a hospital where a slight operation was performed on him.  He then went to the Clarence Hotel where he died on the sixth of July.  A letter to the relatives states that two medical doctors were in constant attention on him and every attention appears to have been given to him.  A solicitor was called in and his will was made.  Deceased was much respected and esteemed by those with whom he was acquainted and by his industry in his younger days had laid by quite a competency.

Mr. H. S. Leckie

Seldom in our remembrance has a citizen of our town laid aside from this life in so sudden a manner and with so little warning as was Mr. Henry Smith Leckie on Sunday evening last, 28^th July.  And how appropriate were the circumstances immediately preceding his death – he had just returned from the evening services of a Christian church, full of the Word of God, to which he had listened to for an hour with great delight.  There being no service in his own church he went to Knox Church and a few minutes after returning home, put his hands up to his head, complained of a pain in that region, and fell back to his chair.  His daughter was close with him.  A few minutes later he expired.  A sad thought was that Mrs. Leckie two days before had gone to Christie’s Lake to benefit her own feeble health and was still there when her husband expired.  Heart failure was the cause of death.  Deceased was born in Paisley , Scotland in 1822 and was therefore, 73 years old.  He was married in his native land, and came to this country with his wife, who survives him, in 1845.  The same year he settled in Perth and engaged in mercantile business in partnership with Mr. Stephen Green.  This partnership lasted only a few months, however, and he continued in business alone until 1860,  when he retired owing to poor health.  Since that time he has lived a retired life, devoting much of his time to church work.  He was an active member of the Baptist Church and was for 25 years its Treasurer and a more faithful Treasurer never had charge of church funds:  he was its Secretary for a number of years and Superintendent of the Sunday School and  Bible Class.  He was one of the principal promoters of the new church building and the liberality of his contributions to the building fund, as well as to all church schemes, has for many years been appreciated by the Baptist congregation.  In any emergency of this kind his name was always one of the first to help in clearing the way.  Besides his intense interest in church work, he has always been a warm temperance advocate and was for many years connected with the Sons of Temperance here, both as an officer and as an ardent worker.  In politics he was always a firm Liberal.  His funeral on Tuesday in Elmwood Cemetery was largely attended by a sympathetic community.

Died-Gilroy—At Smith’s Falls, on Friday, July 19, Mr. John Gilroy, aged 51 years.

Died—Ross—At Smith’s Falls, on Saturday, July 20, the infant daughter Laura (Ross) of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Ross, aged 5 months.

Died—Devlin—At Pembroke, Mr. Charles Thomas Devlin, third son of Mr. James Devlin, aged 23 years, one month and 14 days.

Perth Courier, October 25, 1895

Mr. Henry Richards

The late Henry Richards, Drummond, was 76 years of age at his death, which occurred last week.  He was married to Miss Catharine Campbell, who was a sister to Mr. Agnes Campbell of Prestonvale.  They had twelve of a family, nine of whom are living.  William resides near Renfrew; John in Drummond; George and Henry in Dakota and Robert on the homestead.  The daughters are Jane, who is married to Mr. Alexander Ferguson, Drummond; Flora, now Mrs. McIntyre of Renfrew; Almira, Mrs. Thomas Campbell of Dakota; Mary, Mrs. Archibald Affleck of Lanark.

Rev. J. A. McConnell

It becomes our painful duty at this time says our Watson’s Corners correspondent, to chronicle the sudden death of our late pastor, the Rev. J. A. McConnell.  Deceased was spending a few days among some of his people in the Duncan neighborhood, and was paying a farewell visit to Mrs. William Storie when the messenger of death came.  Suddenly, silently, swiftly, in a moment the silver cord was loosed and his spirit took its flight to be with God who gave it.  When the family were chatting at the table, Mr. McConnell’s head was seen to drop and though all that human hands could do was done, all was in vain, the vital spark had fled.  It was Mr. McConnell’s intention to have started for his home at Varna Co. Huron on Thursday but being unavoidably detained, intended to start this Monday morning.  His unexpected death has cast a gloom on the neighborhood.  Mr. McConnell has been pastor here during the past two and a half years and during that time had endeared himself to many hearts.  He was an energetic worker and like to set every one round him to do something.  He organized societies of Ladies’ Aid in the different sections of the congregation which are doing much to help the church both spiritually and financially.  He was instrumental in a great measure in building the beautiful manse and church in our village which stands as a monument to his push and energy.  He was expected to have been present at the Anniversary Services in our church on Sabbath last, but the Lord called him home on Saturday evening.  The ladies of the congregation had decorated the church with home plants and wreaths for the Sabbath services, but the flowers were removed and the church draped with mourning.  A funeral service was held in the church on Monday at 10 a.m. after which the body was taken to Perth to be sent by rail to the former home of the deceased.  The funeral was, I think, the largest ever seen in our neighborhood.  The following rev. gentlemen were present and took part in the services:  Mr. Leach, the resident pastor and successor of  Rev. J. A. McConnell; Mr. Smith of Middleville; Mr. McIlrey of Poland ; Mr. Rinnie of McDonald’s Corners; Mr. Buchanan of Lanark Village ; and Mr. Currie of Peru , who conducted the Sunday services.  Mr. Buchanan took for his text Rev. 2-10 “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”.   Many tributes ere paid to the memory of the departed brother in the ministry.  Mrs. McConnell and family have the sympathy of the entire community in this their hour of bereavement.  The events of the last few days will not soon be erased from the memories of the people of this village.  Never, I think has there been a sadder scene that was depicted today when the people took a last look at their departed pastor and bid farewell to the sorrowing family.  That this disposition of God’s providence may be blessed to each one of us is my prayer.

Mrs. Thomas Purdon

Our Watson’s Corners correspondent also writes:  It also becomes our sad duty to announce the death of another well known and dearly loved person, Mrs. Thomas Purdon, formerly Miss Mary A. McArthur, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McArthur, in her 19^th year.  Deceased leaves a young husband who is bowed down with grief and a little helpless babe, of two weeks old, besides father, mother, brothers and sisters to mourn for her untimely death.  Does it not become each of us to prepare to meet our God.  

Mrs. William Code

A well known and respected resident of Drummond, Mrs. William Code, passed away at her residence, Innisville, on Wednesday at the age of 75 years.  Deceased, whose maiden name was Elisabeth Hicks, was born at Enniskillen, in the North of Ireland, in the year of 1820, and came to Canada with her brothers in 1842, landing at Kingston on Halloween.  The family removed to Perth in December, first setting their foot here on Christmas eve. In 1849 the deceased was married to the late Mr. William Code of Innisville and for 46 years lived in that village, many years of which she was a widow.  She was the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters:  John, County Treasurer ; T.A., proprietor of the Perth Knitting Works and ex mayor of Perth ; R.C. barrister, Ottawa ; W. A. in the Civil Service, Ottawa ; J.R. barrister Toronto ; Mrs. Margaret Code, Drummond and Miss Mary E. Code, Perth .  Deceased was sister of Mr. William Hicks, of this town.  Her remains will be interred at Elmwood on Friday, Rev. Mr. Muckieson of the Anglican Church, presiding.

Perth Courier, Friday, November 1, 1895

Elphin:  It is with feelings of regret that we record the death of the oldest landmark in this township, Mrs. Henry Thompson, who passed quietly away on the 12^th inst.  She was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, having emigrated from Paisley in the year 1821, at the age of sixteen.  She settled North Sherbrooke with her parents, in which township she lived all her life.  She had been very helpless for a considerable time and bore severe pain, but endured it with Christian fortitude to the end.

The late Dugald Sinclair, Jr.  The Carleton Place Herald of Oct. 30 records the death of one of Beckwith’s farmers, Mr. Dugald Sinclair, Jr., brother of Mr. Peter Sinclair of this town:  A very sad death occurred on Sunday evening at Scotch Corners, Beckwith, when Mr. Dugald Sinclair was called to his last home after a brief illness, something akin to Bright’s disease.  Deceased was a son of the late Collin Sinclair, a brother of Dr. J. M. Sinclair of this town and was born in the township 59 years ago.  He was a quiet, unostentatious man of upright character and highly respected.  In religion he was a Presbyterian and a member of the Zion Church .  He leaves a wife, two sons and a daughter, who with the other sorrowing relatives have our deepest sympathy in their bereavement.

The Late Rev. John Raine

The C. Canadian of Oct. 31 announces the death of Rev. John Raine, once Principal of the Perth Public School .  He was an Englishman by birth.  The C.C. says:  Word reached town Sunday of the death at Verona of Mr. John Raine, formerly of Carleton Place .  Mr. Raine grew old in Perth and this place as a teacher in the public schools and retired to congenial Verona as a Methodist local preacher, with his school pension as a standby.  There are only two children—Robert—the long lost and Annie, who married a well to do farmer and is living in contentment and plenty at Verona .  Mr. Raine had been ill many months, even years, but it was dropsy that engraved the End on his brown.  The service in the Church at Verona was conducted by the Rev. W. S. Jamieson.  The body was deposited in the vault at Harrowsmith, seven miles away.  The deceased had attained to his 67^th year.

Posted: 7 February, 2003.