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IN MEMORIAM
The Late William Germain
William Germain, one of the oldest residents of Pittsburg, who
died at his house, July 12th, was a son of a tenant farmer, living
within three miles of Leeds, England, and was born 1808. At the age
of eighteen years he joined the army, and during the troubles in
Canada, in 1836-1837, was one of a detachment of regulars who
volunteered to cross the Atlantic to assist in quelling the
disturbances. When they landed in Halifax they were transferred to
_______(illegible) Canal boats which brought them up the St. Lawrence
as far as Montreal. They then took to marching and tramped through
the woods to Amherstberg. Mr. Germain saw the Carolina, the steamer
engaged in carrying food to MacKenzie, and his followers on Navy
Island, go over the Niagara Falls. While still very young he was
promoted to sergt.-major, and a short while later to quarter-master.
He was a good scholar and penman. After leaving the regular army he
received the commission of senior captain in the militia, and was
stationed at Niagara. After two years service in the militia he
tired ofmilitary life, and, removing to Pittsburg, engaged in
farming. He was married in 1841 to Mary A Hughes, eldest daughter of
Robert Hughes, of the Gore of Pittsburg, by whom he had eight
children. In February, 1860, he lost his beloved wife, but was
subsequently married to Elizabeth J McLean, daughter of John McLean,
Sr. of Pittsburg, and by this wife had also eight children. He was a
remarkably healthy man, very cheerful in disposition, being bright
and active, until within 36 hours of his death, the terrible heat of
the previous week brining on a prostration from which he could not
rally.
Politically, Mr. Germain was a strong liberal, but not a bigoted
one, and was always willing to defend his position by fair argument.
He scorned to pander to popular feeling, and only acted in what he
believed to be an honest way. A good specimen of the honest
independent yeoman he took the liveliest interest in the welfare of
his country, and was foremost in movements calculated to advance its
progress. He was cut off suddenly, but not before he had done his
duty to his country and family. He lived to see his large family
grow up and become prosperous, trained by him to be useful members of
society, and to be a pride and honor to him in his old age. His
memory will be held at large in grateful recollection by all who
cherish strict integrity, honest manly independence, and perservering
well-rewarded industry. (donated by Marsha Smith. mounted on
cardboard so unfortunately, do not know the newspaper not the date of
death.)