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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.)