Page 253 [253]
with conscientious zeal. He died in January, 1876,
sincerely mourned by many friends.
_ Robert Earl was born in 1837, and is one of the
most enterprising farmers in the municipality, taking
a deep interest in agricultural matters. Mr. Earl
was married in 1856, and has a family of two
children.
Reuben Earl, Jr., was born in 1840, and now
occupies the homestead.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
THE STRUTHERS FAMILY.
JAMES STRUTHERS was a Sergeant-Major in the
Royal Artillery, and came to Canada at the close
of the American Revolution. He removed to Leeds
County in the year 1800, together with his brother
John, both settling in the Rear of Leeds. Mr.
Struthers was for several years in the employ of
William Wells, the leading lumber merchant at
that time. In 1812, he enlisted in the Marines at
Kingston, and being well acquainted with the St.
Lawrence, assumed an important command on the
gunboat Spit /ire, which was on duty between
Prescott and Kingston. He was present during
the unsuccessful attack upon Ogdensburg, made
under a brigade of boats, and also at the capture,
when the troops crossed on the ice. Subsequently
he was taken prisoner, the gunboat and a brigade
of batteaux being captured by the Americans at
Simmon’s Point, above Brockville. His captors
conveyed him to Greenbush, United States, where
he languished in prison for nine months, but finally,
with several companions, made his escape, and
travelled by night through Vermont, finally reaching
Lower Canada. His next appointment was that of
conductor of batteaux from Montreal to Kingston,
in which capacity he served until the close of the
war. He then married, and settled in Lansdowne,
where he died at the age of 80. His services were
rewarded by a grant of 500 acres of land from the
Government under the administration of Governor
Simcoe. |
A. A. WRIGHT.
Among the successful young men of the County of
Leeds, Mr. Wright deserves an honorable place.
Born near Farmersville, June 6th, 1840, the subject
of this sketch received his rudimintary education at
the public and also a select school kept by John B.
Holmes, After teaching school for some -months,
Mr. Wright entered the Normal School at Toronto
in 1864, receiving a first-class certificate; he then
became the Head Master of the Gananoque Public
School. In 1865, he proceeded to Berthier-en-haut,
near Montreal, where he studied the French langu¬
age; the following year he entered the Military
School at Montreal, obtaining a first-class military
certificate of the highest "grade. The next step
taken resulted in securing a first-class Model School
certificate for French and English for Lower Canada.
In 1866, Mr. Wright became Principal of the Model
School at Lachine ; while at that place he organized
a company of volunteers, receiving the appointment
of captain, a position which he held until his re¬
moval to Renfrew, Ontario, where he entered into
the mercantile business in 1870. In 1871, Mr. Wright
married Jane Harvey, of Lachine, and at present re¬
sides in Renfrew, where he conducts an extensive
business and, has won for himself a handsome com¬
petency.
EDWARD S. THOMAS,
Mr. Thomas was born October 7th, 1801, in the
Township of Augusta, his father being Samuel P
Thomas, of United Empire Loyalist stock. In early
life, Mr. Thomas pursued the calling of a farmer, but
subsequently engaged in the mercantile business at
Mallorytown, carrying on a general store for up¬
wards of twenty years, from 1832. Discontinuing
business, he devoted his entire attention to farming.
In October, 1834, he married Miss M. Mallory,
daughter of Jeremiah Mallory. She died in March
1862, leaving no issue. Mr. Thomas is one of the
wealthiest citizens in the United Counties, and con¬
tributed in the most liberal manner towards the
erection of the new Methodist Episcopal Church at
Mallorytown. In fact, without his generous assist¬
ance the projected building could not have been
erected. Being adverse to public life, Mr. Thomas
has always pursued “the noiseless tenor of his way "
as a respected private citizen.
HIRAM NORTON.
This gentleman for many years occupied a very
prominent position in the County of Grenville.
Originally from Vermont, he arrived in Prescott
with an axe on his shoulder, and not a cent in his
pocket. He married the daughter of Mr. Morey,
of Augusta, and at once opened a carriage shop.
In company with Mr. Dickinson, he started a line
of stages from Montreal to Toronto. He was elected
a member of the Upper Canada Parliament for the
County of Grenville. During the Rebellion he
removed to Lockport, Illinois, where be acquired
avery large fortune, _ T diag