In the death of Mr. John Matthews,
which we record this week, a very old and respectable resident of this
county has gone over to the vast majority.
He was born at Chippewa, in the
then Niagara District, but a little over 88 years ago, when he was three
years old, he was brought to this county with the other members of the
family by his father, who settled at Hay Creek, on the farm now owned and
occupied by Mr. Holmes Matthews, a younger brother of the deceased.
He always resided in this county,
and up till two days before his death his health and mental faculties were
both good, and he seemed as hale and strong as he had been for years; he
then lost all desire for food, his mind and body began to fail, gradually
both grew weaker until the end of the second day, when, apparently without
suffering and without a struggle he passed peacefully to rest.
He was a loyal subject, and in the
war of 1812 took up arms in defence of his country, and was present at the
taking of Detroit. He was one of the veterans for whom Parliament, a few
years ago voted a sum in recognition of past services.
He was a staunch Conservative, and
from the first day he became an elector until his death he never missed an
opportunity of recording his vote.
There are few of those of his early
times now remaining to miss him, and those few must soon follow him; one
by one they will pass away until all that will remain of him or them will
be cherished memories.
