The Late
Patrick Mealley.
Hagersville News --
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Ireland in 1831, and
came to Canada with his parents in 1840, settling near Prescott
Six years later he moved
to Walpole, taking up a small tract of land.
In 1849 he married Miss
Eliza Phibbs and Mr. Mealley soon after purchased a farm in
Townsend Township, Norfolk County.
Then began the weary work
of clearing up the forest, the primitive roadmaking, the long
trips to mills and stores and the privations which the early
settlers endured.
The worthy couple, after
years of industry and economy, found themselves in comfortable
circumstances and in their declining years enjoyed the fruits of
their labors.
In 187[9] Mr. Mealley had
the misfortunate to lose his faithful partner by death but since
that time his daughter Margaret has attended to the household
duties and taken the place, as far as possible, of the mother.
Of a family of four
children, three survive him. They are Mrs. Alex. Charters of
Hagersville, Miss Margaret Mealley, Mr. Geo. Mealley of Nober.
In politics he was a
staunch Conservative and in religion, a consistent Methodist.
Mr. Mealley was well-known
and highly esteemed throughout Walpole and Townsend for his
sociability, kindly disposition and upright character.
His remains were interred
in St. Paul's cemetery in Jarvis, Rev. P. L. Spencer officiating.
