An edited transcript of a page 1 obituary from 18 Sep 1889 British Canadian. [Some paragraph breaks inserted by the transcriber]
OBITUARY ELI ERWIN -- ALMOST A CENTENARIAN
On Monday, September 9th, at the residence of John J. VanEvery, Townsend, Norfolk County, passed away peacefully to his rest, one of the pioneers of Ontario, in the person of Eli Erwin or "Uncle Eli," as he was more generally known throughout all this community, at the advanced age of 98 years, 3 months, 18 days, so that if he had survived 21 months and 12 days he would have been 100 years old. One hundred years! What changes have occurred during the last hundred years. One hundred years ago there were no steamboats, no railways, no telegraph, no telephone, no mowers, reapers, binders and the thousand and one labor saving implements and machinery which are now in existence. One hundred years ago and Canada had not yet received her constitution, but was just merging in a sort of chrysalis form from French domination into an English colony. Deceased was born at New Haven, Connecticut, May 29th, 1791, and early was apprenticed and learned the trade of a mason, at which he worked for over half a century in various states of the Union and Canada. In 1816 he removed to and settled in the village of Ancaster, then the most enterprising and leading village of Upper Canada west of Toronto. Here he was married in 1818 to Mary McLaughlin, by whom he had eleven children, all of whom are dead but two. His wife died in 1847, and in 1849 he was again united in marriage to Catharine, widow of the late Wm. VanEvery, who survives him at the age of 84. Mr. Erwin was well known half a century ago throughout all this Long Point country, as a skilled and experienced workman his services were in great demand by builders and contractors from Normandale to Waterloo. He plastered the old Woodhouse Church as well as the old St. John's Church, [destroyed by fire some years ago.] He assisted the late Joseph VanNorman in erecting which was then called "The Big Furnace," at Normandale. Of a sturdy frame and strong constitution, it was no uncommon thing for him in one day to walk, [carrying his "kit" of tools] from Ancaster to Simcoe. In 1852 he with his family removed from Ancaster and settled on the farm on which he died, Lot 19 in the 5th concession of Townsend. This farm was then in its primeval condition. He moved in with the family of the late George Taylor until he built a house on his lot, and then he and his stepsons proceeded to clear and improve it. Mr. Erwin has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for over 60 years, having joined it in 1827, and at the time of his death and for many years previous was one of the trustees of the Bealton Methodist church and one of the most happy christians. The home of Uncle Eli and Aunt Kate was always open to the stranger and many a weary traveller [sic] have found a welcome there. In politics deceased was an ardent and zealous Reformer. By request of the deceased his funeral sermon was preached by his life long friend, Rev. Wm. Kelley, of Newport, from the text, 1st chapter of James, last verse, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affrication and to keep himself unspotted from the world." The large number of people who assembled on Wednesday, the 11th instant, to pay the last tribute of respect to his mortal remains [which were deposited in the Boston cemetery,] is, we think, an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by the community. So passes away one after another of those who link the forgotten past with the living present. -- Com.
On Monday, September 9th, at the residence of John J. VanEvery, Townsend, Norfolk County, passed away peacefully to his rest, one of the pioneers of Ontario, in the person of Eli Erwin or "Uncle Eli," as he was more generally known throughout all this community, at the advanced age of 98 years, 3 months, 18 days, so that if he had survived 21 months and 12 days he would have been 100 years old.
One hundred years! What changes have occurred during the last hundred years. One hundred years ago there were no steamboats, no railways, no telegraph, no telephone, no mowers, reapers, binders and the thousand and one labor saving implements and machinery which are now in existence. One hundred years ago and Canada had not yet received her constitution, but was just merging in a sort of chrysalis form from French domination into an English colony.
Deceased was born at New Haven, Connecticut, May 29th, 1791, and early was apprenticed and learned the trade of a mason, at which he worked for over half a century in various states of the Union and Canada.
In 1816 he removed to and settled in the village of Ancaster, then the most enterprising and leading village of Upper Canada west of Toronto. Here he was married in 1818 to Mary McLaughlin, by whom he had eleven children, all of whom are dead but two. His wife died in 1847, and in 1849 he was again united in marriage to Catharine, widow of the late Wm. VanEvery, who survives him at the age of 84.
Mr. Erwin was well known half a century ago throughout all this Long Point country, as a skilled and experienced workman his services were in great demand by builders and contractors from Normandale to Waterloo.
He plastered the old Woodhouse Church as well as the old St. John's Church, [destroyed by fire some years ago.] He assisted the late Joseph VanNorman in erecting which was then called "The Big Furnace," at Normandale. Of a sturdy frame and strong constitution, it was no uncommon thing for him in one day to walk, [carrying his "kit" of tools] from Ancaster to Simcoe.
In 1852 he with his family removed from Ancaster and settled on the farm on which he died, Lot 19 in the 5th concession of Townsend. This farm was then in its primeval condition. He moved in with the family of the late George Taylor until he built a house on his lot, and then he and his stepsons proceeded to clear and improve it.
Mr. Erwin has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for over 60 years, having joined it in 1827, and at the time of his death and for many years previous was one of the trustees of the Bealton Methodist church and one of the most happy christians. The home of Uncle Eli and Aunt Kate was always open to the stranger and many a weary traveller [sic] have found a welcome there. In politics deceased was an ardent and zealous Reformer. By request of the deceased his funeral sermon was preached by his life long friend, Rev. Wm. Kelley, of Newport, from the text, 1st chapter of James, last verse, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affrication and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
The large number of people who assembled on Wednesday, the 11th instant, to pay the last tribute of respect to his mortal remains [which were deposited in the Boston cemetery,] is, we think, an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by the community. So passes away one after another of those who link the forgotten past with the living present. -- Com.
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