Page 266 [266]
Moses Read, Jr., was born July rith, 1800, and
resides on the farm which his father drew as a
United Empire Loyalist, it being the farm adjoining
the one drawn by his grandfather. He was the
father of fourteen children, eleven of whom survive.
Samuel resides with his father; Isaac lives in Con¬
necticut ; Weston resides at Detroit; Moses resides
at Seaforth, Ontario. The daughters are Mrs. George
D. Ross, of Chatham; Mrs. William H. Ross, of
Brockville ; Mrs. Hiram Carpenter, of Augusta ;
Mrs. James Cooper, of Augusta; Mrs. William
Smith, of Elizabethtown ; Mrs. William Logan, of
Lucan, Ontario ; and Frances Louisa, unmarried.
When the Reads first settled in Augusta, they
were compelled to go to Kingston to have their
milling done. At the time the first mill was raised
at Ogdensburg, the Canadian settlers of Augusta
and Elizabethtown went to that place ez masse to
assist.
Among the early settlers of Augusta were Samuel
Landon, Daniel Shipman, Joseph Towsley, Adaniram
Burritt, Jehial Hurd, and Oliver Evertts.
FREDERICK WRIGHT.
Mr. Wright was born in Dublin, Ireland, November
qth, 1810. In 1832, he graduated from Trinity
lowing year. He settled near Kemptville, where he
was married January 18th, 1836. He removed to
Delta in 1853, and to Westport in 1867, where he
continued to reside until his death, September
11th, 1878.
In 1855, Mr. Wright published a volume of poems
entitled " Wayside Pencillings,”’ and in 1864, another
volume, “Lays of a Pilgrim.” He was for many
years an extensive contributor to the local press,
particularly the Brockville RECORDER, also furnishing
occasional poems for magazines and American pub¬
lications. His poems are characterized by a vein of
sadness, pointing to a half forgotten, yet well
remembered, past. Under more favorable auspices
and with leisure for literary pursuits, the “ Pilgrim
Poet would undoubtedly have stamped his name
permanently upon the literature of Canada. Many
of his minor poems possess a depth and pathos
which were buds of the fairest promise, but, alas!
destined to perish amid the multitudinous cares of
a life spent far removed from libraries and those
influences so indespensable for the highest develop¬
of the poetic faculty.
The following poem is from his pen :—
“WE ARE GROWING OLD.”
"" Fair youth is gone—the days are past,
With all their blithesome hours,
When not a cloud our path o’ercast,
So amply strewn with flowers ;
|
55
As time moves on its steady race
More solemn scenes unfold—
The bended form and sober face
Show we are growing old!
‘* The snowy sails that trimm’d our bark
And bore us gaily on
Are worn to tatters, soiled, and dark—
All but the main-sheet gone!
Of all our cables, tried and true,
But one is left to hold
Our drifting vessel still in view,
As we are growing old.
‘* The visions of our early age,
Where Hope’s gay pinions shone,
Like sunbeams, o’er our pilgrimage,
Hath left us, one by one!
The cheerful voices all are mute,
The loving hearts lie cold,
And scarce we trust the feeble foot,
As we are growing old.
(c Vet not without a lamp are we,
To cheer life’s dark’ning day,
Though time and churlish death agree
We must not longer stay :
We shall but close our eyes in this
Poor world, where all grows cold,
To wake in brighter scenes—’tis bliss
That we are growing old },
‘‘ Youth’s cherished friendships, frail and sweet,
With manhood’s closer ties,
Maturely joined by age, shall meet
Where friendship never dies !
How precious, then, the trusting faith
That can such scenes unfold—
All broken links unite in death—
Rejoice, were growing old!”
OGLE R. GOWAN,
Mr. Gowan was born in the County of Wexford,
Ireland, his father being Captain Gowan, of Mount
Nebo, Wexford. At an early age he entered upon
politics, becoming editor of the Dublin Advocate.
In 1809, he emigrated to Canada, settling in the
County of Leeds, where he was instrumental in
establishing the Orange Order. He was chosen
the first Master of Orange Lodge No. 1, Brockville,
and is generally regarded as the father of Orange¬
ism in Upper Canada.
Naturally a politician of the extreme school, he
won for himself many warm friends, and equally as
many bitter opponents. Previous to and during the
exciting times of 1837, his crusade against all who
were opposed to him politically was characterized
by a spirit nearly approaching the vindictive. He
regarded Reformers as rebels, and as such treated
them. In this connection it should not be forgotten
that William Lyon Mackenzie’s mad attempt at
rebellion met with no support east of Toronto, and
ir