Andrew Monteith
August 10, 1823 - February 2, 1896
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Andrew Monteith August 10, 1823 - February 2, 1896
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The following article appeared in the February 3, 1896 edition of the THE EVENING BEACON at Stratford, Ontario, Canada. ANDREW
MONTEITH DEAD A PROMINENT RESIDENT OF THE After an Illness of Several Months, the Treasurer of
Perth County Succumbs. The deepest sorrow was felt in the city and surrounding district yesterday when it was learned that Mr. Andrew Monteith ex M. P., treasurer of Perth County had died on Saturday night at his residence in Downie. Mr. Monteith was one of the oldest and respected residents of Perth and his serious illness for several weeks had caused his friends great anxiety. It was generally known that he could not survive very long and yet the wonderful way in which he rallied at frequent intervals led some to hope against hope that his robust frame and general health would carry him through and preserve him for another span of years. The primary cause which finally occasioned his death was a weakness of the heart. Over two years ago a clot formed in an artery above his left knee and stopped circulation through that channel. While his heart remained stronger his health was not affected by the formation but as the weakness of his heart grew, the blood ceased to circulate in his foot and gangrene set in. For months Mr. Monteith suffered incessantly the burning pain that attends this malady. Sometimes he improved temporarily but always relapsed. It was expected that his death would result from gradual exhaustion. Through the greater part of last week his condition suffered but little change but on Friday, an unexpected turn came. Mr. Monteith was stricken with apoplexy and became unconscious in the evening about eleven o'clock Twenty four hours later he died without having regained consciousness. Though a man of seventy-three years, Mr. Monteith was vigorous in every respect, save his heart. He was a man of fine physique and even on the day of his death looked strong and robust. His death is mourned by all as the passing away of a prominent citizen and a man whose sterling worth made him universally esteemed and respected. He will be buried tomorrow, the funeral leaving his residence, just beyond the corporation limits on the St. Marys road, at two o'clock in the afternoon and proceeding to St. James' Church. Andrew Monteith was born in the county Tyrone, Ireland, on August the tenth, 1823. His father was the late John Monteith. On July the twelfth, 1834, his parents with their whole family arrived in Canada after a voyage of five weeks in a sailing vessel. The family comprised the father and mother, four sons and one daughter. Not one of them now survives. John died in 1840, the mother in 1844, the father in 1860, James in 1887, Mrs. Robb in 1888 and Samuel in 1890. Andrew was the last. When the family came to this country, they all settled in Downie. Andrew remained on the farm with his father for some years, and then worked with his brother Samuel, who kept a general store in the premises now occupied by Hepburn and White's furniture establishment. A couple of years after retiring from that business, Andrew erected the building which is now known as the the old Herald block and is owned by Mr. J. J. O'Brian. This was one of the first brick buildings in the county of Perth. Shortly afterwards, he erected on his farm in Downie, the family residence which he has occupied ever since. In 1850 he married Mary Jane, second daughter of the late John Dunsmore, then of Huntingdon, Quebec. They had six children: four sons, John C., assistant county treasurer of Perth and ex-mayor of Stratford; William A., of Downie; Joseph D., physician, of Stratford and Samuel J. of Downie; and five daughters, two of whom survive, Mrs. Robert Hesson, Gore of Downie, and Tiny, at home; while three are dead. Mrs. J. Tucker, Mrs. H. Monteith, both of whom died within recent years and Isabella Ann, whose death occurred in 1876. Mr. Andrew Monteith's political career began in 1867, the year of Canadian confederation. For some time previous, he had taken an active part in politics in his own neighborhood, but in that year he was nominated for the Local House in the Conservative interest and contested North Perth, his opponent being Mr. D. D. Hay, now registrar of North Perth. Mr. Monteith was elected. In 1871, he ran against Hon. Thomas Ballantyne for the same riding and was again elected. Three years later he resigned his seat in the Local House to accept a nomination for the Commons. His opponent was James Redford the sitting member who had defeated T. M. Daly at Confederation. Mr. Monteith was elected but his election was voided on petition. In the bye election which followed, he was opposed by Mr. James Fisher of Winnipeg, now a member of the Manitoba Legislature, and was elected by a decreased majority. He retired from active political life in 1878. In his day he was one of the ablest and most active members of the Conservative party in this district. While a strong conservative, he was by no means a narrow party man. He aimed rather at independence of view and liberality towards both sides. During the time that Mr. Monteith was engaged in municipal matters, there was no more active worker than he. His personal popularity in the county was unequalled. His municipal career began in 1850 when the present municipal system was organized. During that and the two subsequent years, he was a member of the united counties council of Perth, Huron and Bruce which then held its meetings at Goderich and as such was also a member of the provisional council of Perth. He entered the Downie council as deputy-reeve in January, 1853 in which year Downie was organized under the Municipal Act. The history of Perth as a distinct and independent corporation began in that year. From 1854 to 1858 Mr. Monteith was not in the county council but from 1856 to 1861 both inclusive, he was a member of the Stratford Council. Stratford was a village in 1856 but in 1857 was incorporated a town. In 1860 Mr. Monteith was a member of the town council and also reeve of Downie. The latter position he held until 1865 and he was warden of the county in 1860, 1862, 1863 and 1864. In 1865 he was appointed county treasurer and was in office till the time of his death, a period of thirty-one years. His predecessor in the treasurer ship was the late Alexander McGregor, Stratford's first teacher. Mr. Monteith's municipal record was a long and honorable one. From 1850 to 1865 he was continuously a member of the county council and he was county treasurer ever since. The part played by Mr. Monteith in the educational development of Stratford was an important one. From 1838 to 1856 he was a member of the board of school trustees and was chairman of the board when the present Central School was built. He was afterwards a trustee for a term in S.S. No. 5 Downie. In 18__ the county of Perth was first given representation on the Stratford Collegiate Institute board and Mr. Monteith was one of the trustees elected to represent the county. In many other connections he was a well known citizen. In the early fifties he was a member of the Stratford volunteer fire brigade. When the British Mortgage Loan Company was instituted in Stratford, Mr. Monteith was its first president. At this morning's meeting of the directors a resolution of condolence was unanimously passed on motion of Messrs. S. S. Fuller and J. W. Scott (Listowel) and ordered to be sent to Mrs. Monteith, the widow of the deceased. For a time Mr. Monteith was managing director of the company. He was for years a director of the Perth Mutual Fire Insurance company and the holder of policy No. 1. The deceased was a prominent and influential member of St. James' Church from the time of its organization. In his time three churches were erected on the present site. He was a Low churchman. The length of his connection with the church will be seen from the fact that he was a member fifteen years before the late Canon Patter__ became incumbent. He was for some time a congregational warden of St. James'. The only society to which Mr. Monteith belonged was the I.O.L. No. __ in Stratford of which he was one of the foremost members. As we have said before, he was a man of magnificent physique. In his younger days he was known far and wide for his ability as a chopper and logger. Few could equal him in that kind of work and it is said that nothing gave him greater pleasure than a day's participation in a logging bee. 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