Death of Mr JP Bickell, Montreal 1900

Montreal Daily Star, 26 January 1900, page 11

 

Death of Mr JP Bickell

 

The death is announced of Mr John Palmer Bickell, who passed away at his residence here, aged 71 years.  Mr Bickell was formerly a resident ofQuebec, and one time prominent in the shipping business of that port.  The deceased was born inPlymouth,England, emigrating toCanadawhen still a young man, and entered into the ship chandler business atQuebec.  Later he formed a partnership with the late M I Wilson, and for a number of years the firm of Wilson, Bickell & Co, was one of the best known on this side of theAtlantic.  After amassing considerable wealth the firm removed toLiverpool,England, where they became ship owners, and at one time owned and sailed between fifty and sixty vessels.  Through the reverses the firm lost considerable of its wealth.  Mr Bickell was the father of Mr Henry Bickell, manager for McArthur Bros, Ltd ofQuebec, and of Mr William Bickell, of the firm of Whitehead & Turner, also ofQuebec, and of JP Bickell of Bickell & Marquis, ofMontreal.

 

 

 

Commemorating Tuffy’s Life, 2011

Tuffy in 1993

In May 1993 our precious dog, Ember died.  The whole family was greatly upset.  She had died the day after I returned from my second year of university. Dad was upset, but he was adamant about getting a new dog right away.  He started watching the SPCA show on tv to see what dogs they had there.  Mom and I were more cautious, we wanted to wait awhile before welcoming another dog into the home.  Grieving had to be done.  Did I say Dad was adamant?  Within a week he had visited the SPCA with Mom to find another dog.  He came back without one.  I was happy about that.  The next week he took me with him to the SPCA to “just look” at the dogs there. 

 

He saw Tuffy and it was love at first sight.  Tuffy came home with us, perched on my knees. 

According to the papers given to the society when he was turned over to them, he was one year old.  He was probably a bit younger.

 

I was hesitant to fall in love with another dog, I was still a bit upset about Ember’s death, and I was right ticked off at Dad for making the decision to replace her so quickly.  But Tuffy, well he was a charmer.  He liked me a lot, and hung around me for the first few weeks.  I was weak, and he had such compelling brown eyes!

 

Tuffy became Dad and Mom’s constant companion.  He was a delight with them.  He would come up to Mom and jump on her lap and give her lots of cuddle and kisses.  He adored her.  When he was not delighting the parents, he would sit on a chair at the window and bark at all and sundry on both sides of the road.  It was his territory and he would not be silent about their intruding in his space.  He also barked at all the visitors.  A bit of a terror.

 

When Mom died, Tuffy became Dad’s only company.  They would take long walks around the neighbourhood.  He was the man with the tiny black dog. Inseperable.

 

When Dad died 5 years later we were really worried that Tuffy would not take well to moving.  He was after all, an old dog, about 13 years old.  But he was a trooper.  He made the journey to Ontario by car with little complaint, and when faced with Titus, my brother’s dog, he was great.  They became buddies. 

 

What an adaptation for him, to move to a new house, become part of a two dog home, new rules, new life, and he did it wonderfully.  Old dogs do learn new tricks.

 

Tuffy did not save any kids from a burning building, he was not the dog you took to old age homes, or to aid the handicapped.  But he was loved and loving, and a special part of our family.  He lived an amazing 18 years (or thereabouts) and he was able up until the end, to live with a sense of dignity and personality.    His death on May 9th marked not only the end of an era, a connection to our parents, but the loss of a beloved friend to my brother, his wife, me and Titus.

 

  

Obituary of Robert Burry, Montreal, 1907

Montreal Daily Star, 25 January 1907, page 9

One of Montreal’s Oldest residents.

The death occurred yesterday of Mr. Robert Burry, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.  The deceased gentleman was born and brought up in St Ann’s ward, and has lived on Wellington Street for sixty-three years.

Last July he gave up the old homestead and went to live with his daughter, Mrs. WH Blair, in Westmount.  He was connected for over fifty years with the Caledonian Society, and was one of the few members who celebrated last year the fiftieth anniversary of their membership in that society.  The late Mr. Burry was a member of the Calvin Church and acted for many years on the board of management, and was an active churchman in the days when Sunday School picnics were held on what is now Beaver Hall Hill.

The deceased is survived by his wife, his daughter, Mrs. WH Blair, Montreal, and three sons, John and William of Chicago, and RW Burry of Montreal.  The funeral will take place on Saturday at 2:30 pm.

Obituary of J Henry Joseph, Montreal, 1907

Montreal Daily Star, 1 March 1907, page 16

Mr. J Henry Joseph died last night

He was born at Berthier and came to Montreal in 1830.

An immense land owner

During Troubles of 1837-38 he made a reputation by carrying despatches through enemy’s lines

Mr. Jacob Henry Joseph died last evening after a short illness, at the advanced age of 92 years.  The deceased gentleman had not been in very good health for some time.

He was one of the most prominent members of the Jewish community, and held in high esteem by his race for the interest he always took in their welfare.  He was born in Berthier, and was a son of the late Henry Joseph, and came to Montreal with his parents in 1830.  After completing his education, he at once entered upon a business career, in which from the outset he was most successful, because of his untiring energy and integrity.  While occupied with his own extensive business affairs he still found time to take an interest in and assist other public enterprises for the development of this city and his native land.  On the introduction of telegraph lines in Canada, he became one of the largest shareholders of the first company formed, and was also among those deeply interested in the construction of the first line to the United States by way of Plattsburg. 

He was also one of the partners in the Newfoundland Telegraph Company that formed the connection link in the first Atlantic Cable line.  Mr. Joseph did not rest solely in aiding in the building of the telegraph lines, he also devoted a good deal of his time and means in the construction of many of our earliest railroads.  He was a director and shareholder of the Champlain Railroad Company, and the Rouse’s Point branch, until absorbed by the Grand Trunk System.  He was also associated with a few other wealthy merchants in building a railway from Joliette to Rawdon, in continuation of the Lanoraie and Joliette railway.  In the organization of several of our banks he played a prominent part.

A BOLD FINANCIER.

When the Union Bank was founded, a block of over a thousand shares, which had been allotted for Montrealers remained unsubscribed, hearing of this, Mr. Joseph unhesitatingly took up the shares to further the success of the Union.  He was also among the original stockholders of the Bank of British North America—a certain portion of whose capital was allotted to Canada.  Though he was largely interested in the Ontario Bank for many years, he became at least very dissatisfied with some of the actions of the directorate, and at once showed his disapproval of their course by selling out his stock. The financial world, for some time, was puzzled at this of one so well versed and clear-headed on finance, but subsequently his course of action was justified.  On a second occasion his foresight in banking saved many less wealthy people from much loss.  This was in his withdrawal from all connection with the Provident Savings Bank, of which he was one of the original founders.  He pointed out repeatedly that the policy pursued by the management must inevitably end in failure and loss, and his prophecy came true.  His capacity for financing large business concerns made his name known not only in the Dominion but the United States.

AN ACTIVE BUSINESSMAN.

Mr. Joseph was for yeas closely connected with the Montreal Elevator Company, of which he was for a time the president and one of the largest stockholders.  He ever took a deep interest in all things tending to the prosperity and development of the trade and commerce of this port and the country.  He was a very active member of the Board of Trade in the seventies and eighties, and was vice-president when such men as the Allans, Holtons and Cramps were at its head. 

While holding office on the Board he took the opportunity of putting through the appointment of a Port Warden and Harbor Inspectors’ offices, which, though objected to by many at the time, as unnecessary, experience has since shown the wisdom of their establishment.  The deceased gentleman was a life governor of the Montreal General Hospital, and was also an active member of many other institutions for the advancement of learning and culture, i.e. the Art Association, Natural History Society, Mechanics Institute, etc.  He was vice-president of the Natural History Society for some years, and very materially helped it along in days of stress.  In the early sixties he was one of the largest owners of real estate in the city, and many of the large wholesale houses in the business part of the city were erected by him, his business instinct was invariably sound on every occasion of the kind.  Though always taking a very keen interest in the political questions of the day affecting the country, he could not be persuaded to accept a nomination for Parliament or the City Council, though he was repeatedly solicited by his numerous business and social friends.  He was always a very strong and enthusiastic Liberal politician from the days of Lafontaine and Baldwin, and was among those brave men who defended those statesmen at the burning of the old Parliament Buildings in 1849.  Towards the end of 1890 he was offered the Liberal nomination for Montreal West, but declined.

DECLINED POLITICAL GREATNESS.

He also refused all overtures to become a member of the Legislative Council.  He was, during their lifetimes, in very close touch with Messrs John Young, Holton, Kinnear, Huntingdon and Penny.  The deceased as a young man served his country during the troubles of 1837-38 and was entrusted by the General Commanding, Sir John Colborne, to carry important despatches to Brigadier Wetherall, the commandant of the troops at Chambly, in which perilous duty he was most successful.  He held at the time a commission in Colonel Dyer’s regularly enrolled militia battalion, which formed a part of the regiments garrisoning Hochelaga, Laprairie, Chambly and St Johns, held in readiness to resist any invasion of American sympathizers.  Mr. Joseph’s wife died a few years ago, and her demise came as a great shock to him and his family, for she was one of the most charitable ladies in the city, devoted to all times to doing good to suffering humanity.  Mr. Joseph is survived by his two sons, Mr. Henry J and Mr. Horace Joseph, and three daughters, who are in Europe.

Sympathy for the Queen, Montreal’s German Benevolent Society, 1862

Montreal Gazette, 14 March 1862, page 2

THE GERMAN BENEVOLENT SOCIETY

We have been requested to publish the following address of condolence to our gracious Queen, with the letters accompanying it- a request which we have much pleasure in complying with.

Address

(Translated from the German)

TO HER MAJESTY, QUEEN VICTORIA,

The German Benevolent Society of the city, representing the entire German population of Montreal, approaches your gracious Majesty with deep-felt sorrow, on account of the sad bereavement with which it has pleased Divine Providence to visit your Majesty.

When this Society was formed, we requested the much-lamented Prince Consort to become its patron and protector.

Throughout the vast dominions of the British Empire, the noble Albert was ever a model of public and domestic virtue to all your Majesty’s devoted subjects of German extraction.  The general respect and esteem in which the noble deceased- a German Prince- was held, was shared by his countrymen in all the British dominions.

This honour became their honour, and so has the mourning of the British people for the illustrious dead become their mourning; the general sorrow for your Majesty’s sad affliction, their sorrow.

May the God of love, in whose power it is to heal the wounds He has seen fit to cause, grant your Majesty’s strong heart, and the power to sustain this great calamity, and may your Majesty, happy yourself rule, for many and many a year, over your Majesty’s happy subjects.

Obituary, James Ramsay Orr, 1852.

Montreal Witness, 22 March 1852, page 108

The Late James Ramsay Orr

On Tuesday last, the 16^th inst., the gentleman above named departed this life, after a career of usefulness which has seldom been equaled, and, perhaps, never surpassed in Canada.  For nearly twenty years, Mr. Orr carried on extensive mercantile transactions in this city, with unblemished integrity, remarkable ability, and universal respect; and yet all the while was as laborious and useful in every religious and benevolent cause that claimed his aid, as if he had no other business to occupy his attention.  His habits of industry and method, in fact, enabled him to do in his own person the work of two first class men, viz: an accomplished man of business, and an energetic and perservering philanthropist; and all this, with a bodily frame never very strong, and latterly very feeble.  Nor did he confine his exertions and means to every legitimate call that came upon him—he actually devised new ways of doing good, and called forth the energies and means of others to cooperate with his own.  To such a character as this, we would earnestly ask the attention of young men, and especially young merchants, as a model worthy of close imitation.  Never hurried, he went from one thing to another with method, punctuality and a clear judgment, that accomplished results which less gifted men could scarcely understand.  He was always active, and all that he did told with effect.  Merchants knew him for an able, diligent, and successful man of business, as well as for a decidedly religious man, and, therefore, cannot excuse themselves for neglecting vital religion on the pleas that it is incompatible with the claims of business.  Mr. Orr was emphatically a Christian merchant, and it was , doubtless, in his prayerful Christian spirit that the secret of his great ability and usefulness lay.  With him, morning and evening exercises of prayer, in the closet an din the family, did not suffer.  He was accustomed to enter into his closet, and shut his door, through the day; and it is believed that every matter of importance in his business was made, separately, a subject of prayer. 

Viewed as a religious man, Mr. Orr was a promoter, and, probably, at one time or other an active manager of all our religious societies; but the Bible Society, of which he was for many years Recording Secretary, and latterly a Vice President; the French Canadian Missionary Society, of which he was from the beginning one of the most active managers and liberal supporters; and the late Mr. Osgood’s efforts for the religious instruction of seamen, immigrants, and poor children claimed his peculiar regard.  He also, in some respects, fulfilled the work of a Tract Society, by importing and putting into circulation good books.

It was, however, in his private life, and as an elder in the Cote Street Church, that his religious character shone most brightly, but at these relations we may merely glance,– suffice it to say, that his minister, fellow elders and Christian friends, will not easily, if ever, find his place filled up.  Into his relations as a husband and parent, we do not enter, but they were as near an approach to the fulfillment of the injunctions of the New Testament, as the writer of this notice, who resided for years in his family, ever saw or expects to see.

As a philanthropist, Mr. Orr was a warm and steady friend to, and diligent and liberal promoter of the temperance cause, education, moral reform, and other benevolent objects; whilst no private opportunity was, it is believed, omitted to relieve real distress, or help forward real merit; though such charities were so numerous, and so carefully did he observe the Scripture rule respecting privacy, that each of his most intimate friends knew only a small part of them, and that only incidentally.

As a patriot and citizen, Mr. Orr took a deep interest in every public improvement, and especially rendered most important services to Canada, in encouraging by an extensive and influential correspondence, a wholesome emigration, and, by his acquaintance with the country and public men, aiding the emigrants when they came.  Many a family which came poor, ignorant, and friendless to our shores, now settled comfortably, in the newly opened parts of Canada, has reason to be thankful for Mr Orr’s kind efforts in their behalf.  In fact, his heart and hand were ever open to any deserving object in need of aid, and all his efforts in behalf of such objects were guided by rare judgment and intelligence.

It only remains to add, that the foregoing testimony is that of one who enjoyed the very great privilege of an intimate and unbroken friendship with the deceased for a long series of years, and a more unwavering, disinterested, self-denying or amiable friend, we believe, remains not on earth.

That the foregoing are not merely the partial opinions of a personal friend, however, will be obvious, from the following paragraph, copied from Saturday’s Herald:–

“In our last issue we recorded the death of James R Orr, Esq., merchant of this city, universally esteemed and regretted by all classes of the community.  There are few amongst us whose removal will be so deeply felt.  In him charity had its perfect work—no Christian enterprise but received his warmest support—while the poor and the needy found in him an able friend.  A large portion of his means, acquired by unceasing diligence and steady enterprise, was freely dispensed in the furtherance of every good object.  His life was one of increasing usefulness, where Christian virtues of the highest order were exemplified in a remarkable degree.  Being interested in a fine fleet of ships trading to this port, he rendered essential service to the community, by giving free passages to ministers and others engaged in benevolent enterprise.  The vast concourse of mourners that followed his remains to the grave, testified to the sacred regard in which his memory is held.

We would say more upon such a rare opportunity of calling public attention to an example of deep, vital religion, united to diligence and ability in the affairs of this world, were it not, that the following notes of the Address of the pastor of the deceased, on the occasion of his funeral, (one of the largest ever seen in Montreal,) express better than we can, what we feel on the subject.

Obituary for Susanna Lyman Corse, Montreal, 1852

Montreal Witness, 19 April 1852, page 140

The Late Mrs Corse

In our obituary will be found a notice of the death of Susanna Lyman, wife of Roswell Corse, Esq., of this city.

The deceased was a native of Northampton, Mass., and removed to this place on her marriage, in 1820.  In early life she devoted herself to the service of her Redeemer, and for nearly fifty years has been a constant and devoted follower of her Divine Master.  Her religion was that of a sinner deeply convinced of the evil of sin, and her own unworthiness; she gloried only in the cross of Christ, and viewed with pain any form of error which tended to obscure its brightness.  Loving Christ, she loved his people and his cause.  This affection was constantly manifested by active efforts in various benevolent enterprises.  She was one of the twenty-eight persons at first united to form the “American Presbyterian Church,” in this city, and with the exception of her sister, the last survivor of them; she was deeply interested in the welfare of that church, and an active promoter of its “Dorcas” Society, which for many years met statedly at her house for the clothing of the destitute children in the Sabbath School.  The “Protestant Orphan Asylum” had an early interest in her sympathies and prayers.  The “Ladies French Canadian Missionary Society” owes its existence mainly to her efforts and those of her surviving and aged sister.

Although of late years increasing infirmities prevented participation in the active engagements of benevolent effort, she never lost her interest in them, while all who have had intimate intercourse with her, have noticed her increasing spirituality and love.  The most perfect resignation and child-like submission marker her last illness; she had no choice as to the event,– “God will do what is best; I am perfectly resigned to his will,” was her repeated expression.  Her life was that of the righteous, her death that of the disciple falling sweetly asleep in Jesus.

Obituary for Hugh Brodie, Montreal, 1852

Montreal Witness, 12 January 1852, page 13

Mr Hugh Brodie

On Saturday morning last, one of the oldest, most generally known, and highly respected Scotch residents of Lower Canada, Mr Hugh Brodie, of Cote St Paul, departed this life at the mature age of 72 years, 49 of which he had spent in the vicinity of Montreal.  A native of the parish of Lochwinnoch, in the west of Scotland, his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he became a pattern to his French Canadian neighbours, and more recent immigrants; and in which he acquired an independent competence.  Mr. Brodie was emphatically the friend of his fellow men, ever ready to assist with his counsel, his personal labour, and in deserving cases with his purse.  He especially took pleasure in giving information and counsel to his countrymen newly arrived for whom his house was ever open, and many, in various parts of Canada, can look back to their visit to Mr. Brodie, as one of the first and most profitable they paid on Canadian soil.  The deceased was an elder in Dr. Mathieson’s church, and took a lively interest in the establishment of good schools in Lower Canada.  His fame as an agriculturalist extended beyond Canada, and he was several times appointed a judge at the New York State Agricultural exhibitions.  Though without the advantages of early education, few men were more intelligent than Mr. Brodie, and still fewer surpassed him in sagacity.  He took every opportunity to store his mind with knowledge, and, though eminently practical, did not disdain book knowledge in farming.  He took several Agricultural and other papers, and was a very warm friend of the Montreal Witness through its whole career.  On the whole, we doubt if Mr Brodie has left behind him in Lower Canada, another agriculturalist so extensively known and respected.

For anyone interested, there is a brilliant PhD thesis written about the Brodie family by Sarah Gibson.

Mary Jane Cashion’s monument, Williamstown, Ontario

Mary Jane Cashion's monument, Williamstown.

I am beginning a new theme on my blog called family monuments.  Now at first glance it must seem like the most morbid of things, the photographing of family tombs and so forth, but in reality it is not.  Grave markers are marvelous sources of information for historians, as they represent what the family wanted to be remembered about their dead loved ones.  Cemeteries may be built on the bones of our dead, but they are above all monuments for the living.   It is there where the survivors go to honour their dead.

I will begin this series with my Great-grandmother who is buried in Williamstown, Ontario at St Mary’s Catholic Church.  Jean Nicholas Leitch was Mary Jane’s daughter, and Rachael was her sister.

IHS

In loving memory of Mary J Cashion

Born Sept. 11, 1868

Died May 4, 1960

Beloved wife of the late

William C Leitch

Jean Nicholas Leitch

Born Apr. 23, 1894

Died Feb. 24, 1924

RIP

LEITCH

Back

Patrick Spink

Aug 1857-Apr 1941

Rachael Cashion

Oct 1864- Jan 1942

Photographs taken August 1993.

Back of Mary Jane Cashion's monument, Williamstown.

Obituary, WJ Whitehead, Montreal, 1888

Montreal Daily Star, 19 January 1888, page 4

The Late WJ Whitehead

His close ~~~~ with the Canadian Cotton industry

The late WJ Whitehead, who died yesterday forenoon, at his residence “Rosemount” Summerhill Avenue, had been closely linked with the cotton manufacturing industry of this Dominion, and was most active and energetic in promoting the development of the business.  He was what might be said born with the genius for manufacturing.  Although not brought up to it in his early life, few if any knew better than he the minutest detail of the process from beginning to end.  He mastered everything that was connected with it: he was keen to see and had an intuitive knowledge of what ought and should be done.  His grasp of the business was really wonderful and was the surprise of his friends.  He had an indomitable spirit; no difficulty daunted him.  He was full of energy and industry, working early and late.  His first essay in manufacturing was at a small mill in the town of Hastings, Ontario.  From there he moved to Cornwall, as he felt that there would be a larger field there.  He superintended the building of the then Stormont Mill, which unfortunately was burnt soon after it commenced running.  Then he was for a time manager of the Canada Cotton Company’s mills, which position, he resigned to assume the management of the “Hochelaga Mills” and of which he has been the manager for some ten years past.  Since he became manager of these mills, they have grown under his care immensely, and are now about four times the size when he took charge.

Mr. Whitehead was a native of this city, having been born here in 1841.

He was a kind and indulgent husband and father and a sincere friend.

Mr Whitehead leaves behind him a wife and two children, a brother (Col Whitehead) and two sisters, who will have the sympathy of a large circle of friends.