- 1909, Friday July 9, The Almonte Gazette, page 4
?b?Robert Cameron Passes Away?/b?
Almonte Loses a Worthy Citizen, Who Enjoyed the Respect and Esteem of His Fellows in a Marked Degree Almonte has not, perhaps, in her whole history sustained the loss of a citizen whose life meant more to the town in a quiet way than did that of Mr Robert Cameron, who answered the inevitable call on Sunday morning, the 4th inst. Mr Cameron returned about three weeks ago from Magog, Que, where he had a contract for the erection of a post office, and had just completed the work. A few days after reaching home he was taken ill of heart trouble, to which he succumbed, notwithstanding the attendance of a specialist from Montreal and the best medical skill of the town. The deceased was born in Beckwith township seventy-two years ago, and in young manhood he went to Perth to learn carpenter work with the late Duncan Kippen. He afterwards came to Almonte, and here his home has been ever since. He prospered in his chosen calling, and earned a reputation which won for him important contracts in different parts of the province, and there stands today in many Ontario towns monuments to his skill and industry as a successful builder. Among these are St Paul's church, St Luke's hospital, and a number of other building in Ottawa. In Belleville he erected the Baptist church and remodelled the residence of Hon C.F. Fraser's; at Almonte, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Picton, Fort William, St Mary's, Hawkesbury and Magog he built post offices and customs houses, and in other towns smaller contacts passed through his hands. But while he will be remembered for these substantial visible tokens a more lasting memory will remains to those who enjoy the privilege of communion sufficiently intimate to enable them to sound the depths of his genial disposition and the wealth of his intelligence and erudition. After establishing a home in Almonte Mr Cameron was married to Janet Scott, who lived only a few years. Some time later in 1872, he was married to Jessie Anderson, daughter of the late Matthew Anderson and to them five daughters were born, one of whom, Sarah, died in 1895. Those living are: Mrs R. Chisholm (Jessie) and Misses Elizabeth and Mary of the post office department, Ottawa, and Isabel at home. Mrs Cameron and one brother of deceased, Mr John Cameron, of Beckwith, are also still living. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon to the eighth line cemetery, and was largely attended by those of all classes who had assembled to do honour to the memory of one of whom a fellow-citizen truly said ? " I always felt that when Mr Cameron was in town it was the better ? richer intellectually and stronger morally by his presence in it." The pallbearers were Dr D.P. Lynch, Mr T.B. Caldwell of Lanark, Dr J.T. Kirkland and Messrs P.C. Dowdall, Adam Scott and J. McLeod. Among those present from outside the town were Mr John Cameron, Beckwith; Mr R. Chisholm -331- of Amherst, N.S.; Messrs W. Anderson, R. Fotheringham and H. Forgie, Ottawa; M.M. Anderson, Cache Bay; Arch Cameron, Beachburg, and Thos Cameron, St Paul, Minn. The late Mr Cameron was for years one of the most enthusiastic supporters, and, before his business called him so much from home one of the most useful directors of the Public Library. In politics he was a Liberal, not a slave to partyism, but from conviction a supporter of those principles he in his mature judgement believed were for the best interest of the country. He was a member of the Baptist church, and one of the most liberal supporters of the activities of that body. He possessed in a marked degree the confidence, respect and esteem not only of the citizens of the town he claimed as home but wherever he became known, and there are many today who sincerely regret the passing away of life so full of usefulness an genuine worth as was that of Mr Cameron.
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1837 - 1909 (72 years)
