Oldal 264 [264]
OCR
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 government 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 obtained 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, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where he remained for two years, meeting with the most gratifying success, which is attested by the flattering testimonials 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 foremost platform speakers in the lecture field of the Dominion. The lectures have grown out of efforts to advance local interests, coupled with a deep sympathy 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,” “ Abraham 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, completing 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 ConShe 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 muniin 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 married Sarah Smith, of Elizabethtown, but a native of Vermont. The young couple located in the Town
