Stranica 264 [264]
of Halton, near which village the subject of this
sketch was born.
Nearly every male member of the Lucas family,
who had arrived at the age of maturity, took up arms
in defence of Canada during the war of 1812-15.
In 1837, Mr. Lucas’ father supported the govern¬
ment of the day, and was shortly after commissioned
as a captain.
Mr. Lucas was reared as a farmer’s son, working
for many years on his father’s farm. Having ob¬
tained a fair education at the public schools, he
guished himself as a close student. Subsequently
he received the degree of Master of Arts from an
American University. Entering the ministry of the
Wesleyan Methodist Church, he commenced public
life as the minister in charge of Farmersville, in the
County of Leeds. Such was his success that he
attracted the attention of the church authorities,
and was appointed to a mission at Victoria, Van¬
couver Island, British Columbia, where he remained
for two years, meeting with the most gratifying
success, which is attested by the flattering testi¬
monials which he received from the citizens of the
Pacific coast. Returning to Leeds County, his old
friends gave him a hearty welcome. He next
received the appointment of Travelling Lecturer
for the Stanstead Wesleyan College, and as such
fully established his reputation as one of the fore¬
most platform speakers in the lecture field of the
Dominion. The lectures have grown out of efforts
to advance local interests, coupled with a deep sym¬
pathy for the enlightenment of the lower classes,
the titles being suggestive of humanity in the
broadest sense of the term : “ British Columbia and
Indian Tribes,” "China and the Chinese,” “ Abra¬
ham Lincoln and American Slavery” —all are
themes worthy of the orator and philanthropist.
Mr. Lucas has won the highest enconiums from the
press, the pulpit, and the people, and even from so
practical a body as the Emigration Committee of
the House of Commons, for the tact, eloquence,
pathos, and humor with which he has treated his
respective themes At the present time he has
charge of one of the Canada Methodist Churches
in the City of Montreal.
Mrs. D. V. Lucas.
Mrs. Lucas was born at L’Orginal, she being the
only daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Reynolds, a
successful minister of the Methodist Church. She
received the greater portion of her intellectual
training at the High School, Farmersville, com¬
pleting her education at the Wesleyan Female
20
to fill the important position of the wife of a
Christian minister. An accomplished lady, she
possess a wide circle of friends in the United
Counties.
WALTER H. DENAUT.
Joachim Denaut, from Laprarie, Lower Canada,
settled at Johnstown, County of Grenville, about
the year 1800. The family was originally from
France, Bishop Denaut, of Lower Canada, being a
brother to the grandfather of Walter.
The subject of this sketch was born at Johnstown,
where he principally resided until the age of 16,
when he proceeded to Beverly in the capacity of a
clerk for Hartwell & Schofield. He next removed
to Brockville, where he entered the employment of
H.& S. Jones. Entering into partnership with Mr.
Hubbel, the firm built the mills at Hubbel’s Falls.
at Beverly by a man named Mattice. William Jones
erected the present mills, which were purchased by
Mr. Denaut in 1859. The first actual settlers of
Delta were Abel Stevens, Sr., and Mattice.
At the time of Forsyth’s raid upon Brockville,
during the war of 1812, Mr. Denaut was a little boy,
and visiting with his grandfather, Michael Cook, the
first gaoler of the Johastown District. On the night
of the attack, he was aroused from his slumbers by
the tramp of armed men, who appeared to be highly
amused to find themselves confronted by a child in
along night-gown, firmly grasping a wooden gun
which stood by his bedside, and with which he had
been accustomed to train other British juveniles of
the patriotic village of Brockville. Mr. Denaut
asserts that every prisoner confined in the gaol was
liberated, but that McSween, who was incarcerated
upon the charge of murder, refused to stir.
Mr. Denaut married, in 1843, Julia Easton, sister
of George Easton, Esq. The children from this
union were Roderick, George, Walter, and Julia,
His wife dying, he married Harriet Jones, of Con¬
She also dying, his third wife was Caroline,
daughter of Ephraim Dunham, by whom he has had
seven children.
Mr. Denaut was a member of the first District
Council, and has repeatedly represented the muni¬
in the Counties’
necticut.
cipality in which he resides
Council.
THE SEAMAN FAMILY, |
AND
STEPHEN SEAMAN,
Samuel Seaman was born in the State of Vermont,
and removed to Canada at an early date. He mar¬
ried Sarah Smith, of Elizabethtown, but a native of
Vermont. The young couple located in the Town¬