It is our melancholy duty to
chronicle the death of another old landmark this week. We mentioned in our
last issue that Mr. John McFarlane Wilson was ill; but little did we think
we would have this duty to perform this week.
Although he was ill, he was not
confined to bed, but was about most of the time. A gentleman from Hamilton
arrived on the morning train, and met the deceased in the hall of the
Dominion Hotel and shook hands with him. In five minutes after that he had
expired.
His death cast a gloom over the
whole village.
The deceased was born at Doan's
Hollow, about three miles west of this place [Port Dover], in the house
now occupied by Mr. Emanuel Doan, in the year 1813, just one year after
the Americans burnt Upper Dover mills [sic], and the principal homesteads along
the lake shore, the incidents connected with which were so implanted in
his young mind that he could sketch the progress of the war of 1812 as if
he had been a participator in the exciting events of those days.
Although the education imparted to
the young at this early period of our country's history was of the most
primitive kind, yet the subject of our sketch was a fair scholar, and
through his aptness in acquiring information on general subjects, was
thoroughly acquainted with the political changes and other public matters
that have transpired during the last fifty years.
In early life he removed with his
father to Simcoe, where they carried on business. He afterwards went to
Woodstock, which he did business as a general dealer. He built a block of
buildings at the east end of that town, and became one of the leading men
of the place.
In 1850, the gold fever having
broken out in California, he, with a number of others from the counties of
Norfolk and Oxford, anxious to participate in the auriferous deposits of
this golden Eldorado, went forth to search and risk success with thousands
of others.
During his sojourn in California
he became acquainted with a Polish gentleman, an exile, who, having some
business to settle in his native country, engaged the services of the
deceased. He spent about a year in Europe on this service.
On his return he went into
business with his brother J. G. Wilson, Esq. After the death of his
brother, he lived in Michigan, for a few years, and for the past two years
he has been doing a grocery business in this village, where he died.
A more even tempered or more
congenial friend could not be found. He had the universal respect of every
person who was acquainted with him. He was buried in St. John's Cemetery,
on Saturday, 17th instant.
