THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF MR GEORGE EADY JR.
Renfrew Mercury
June 21, 1912
On Sunday afternoon, in a bright few hours, between the clouds, there gathered and marched on the main street of Renfrew, the largest concourse ever assembled here to pay their last respects to a fellow-citizen George Eady Jr., had dwelt in this district practically all of his 72 years; for close on to a full half century resident within, the borders of what is now the town itself; and for all of that time one of Renfrew’s most useful citizens; touching the social interests of the place perhaps more than any other single individual. He was a native of the neighbouring Township of Horton, from which in 1858 the village of Renfrew was framed; son of that Robert Eady who came to this district from Huntley and Goulbourn in 1837 with William Burwell, and who in the following year was joined by his father, Robert Eady Sr., an old soldier, and his other sons George, John, Thomas, Richard, William and James. Of the life of that George Eady who was laid to rest on Sunday last we cannot do better than reproduce the picture sympathetically drawn by the late Rev. Dr. Campbell in his portion of The Mercury’s “Story of Renfrew”.
Renfrew has no better known or more thoroughly respected citizen than George Eady Jr., whose early life was spent on the old farm in the township of Horton where, as has already been recited, his parents settled about 1837. As George grew up, he took his share in farm work; but, at the same time eagerly seized every opportunity of securing a useful education. Thus, when he was about fifteen, he went to Burnstown as a clerk with Douglas, then a well-known trader, in whose employ he remained seven years. Going then to Quebec for two years, he came to Renfrew in 1864 to take a partnership with his brother William, who had shortly before begun business in premises on the present site of Stevenson’s furniture store. There was no early closing then, but George evidently found time for certain evening strolls, as he brought them to a climax, with which the passing years have made him ever better satisfied by marrying in 1866 a daughter of James Stewart, one of the Second Line of Horton pioneers. That he gained favor in other directions as well is shown in this, that in 1867 he was appointed to the position of Clerk of the Township of Horton, which office he still holds. The partnership business was sold in 1869, at which date he purchased the site of his present holdings from John Bums, continuing, also, in business alone, and for some years, running a photographic gallery in connection with the move, gradually became more and more immersed in the work of the various offices which where thrust upon him as a trusted and capable man. In 1872, he was appointed Division Court Clerk, Treasurer of the village and secretary-treasurer of the School Board. Later, he was appointed a magistrate and, as, about that time we had not many legal lights, he developed into a Conveyancer, was made a Commissioner in B.R. and gradually wrought into an extensive office business with the result that he closed down the other businesses mentioned, since which time he has been perhaps the most hard wrought office man in town.
In 1904, he was appointed Police Magistrate, in which capacity he dispenses even-handed justice, tempered with mercy and guided by strong common sense, to the great satisfaction of our peace-loving citizens. Life tenure, is that by which he holds all his offices, so thoroughly is he trusted and so faithful is the service he renders. His friends sometimes point out to him, was his two faults, that he is too obliging and too generously hospitable, but he only laughs at them.
Amidst all the pressure of wearing work, there are certain places at which he seldom fails to put in an appearance – at St Andrew’s Church and at the head of the family pew there, generally at both services on Sunday; at the Division of Sons of Temperance, on Thursday evening, and at the Loyal Orange Lodge, especially the County Lodge of which he has been several times Master and Secretary for 40 years. Fresh and vigorous yet, he exercises himself in his fine garden on Thomson Hill and, as often as he can make it convenient, runs out on hunting and fishing or camping excursions for a few days. Thus he has all appearance of seeing many years yet – his parents were long livers – and all his friends hope that will be the case for him.
The foregoing was written in 1907, and at that time it did seem that Mr. Eady was so well preserved that there were indeed many years of usefulness yet before him. But early this spring there were indications that he was not well. Yet one who has during a long lifetime hardly known an ailment or needed a doctor’s care is both to admit illness or to consult a physician, and so it came that he was seriously affected with Bright’s disease before he or any of his family or friends realized the gravity of his condition. On Victoria Day, following, his wented custom, he went out to his summer cottage at Calabogie, and getting his feet wet returned home admittedly ill. The following Sunday afternoon instead of his usual walk in his garden and the cemetery on Thomson’s Hill he drove out. Next day he became seriously ill, and from that time to the end, early on Friday morning, June 14th, suffered a great deal of pain except when alleviated by opiates; though despite his years, his frame might well have been envied by a younger man.
Following an illness of two or three weeks known to be serious, his demise can hardly be said to have come with a shock; but it did bring a deep sense of loss, a feeling that the community had lost one of its best citizens, one who had “lived uprightly, loved mercy and walked humbly with his God”, and to the wide extent that opportunity had given him had brought kindness and brightness to the lives, of those among whom he had so long sojourned. There seemed little more than one way in which the general regard for the deceased could be expressed – and that was in floral tributes. And so it was that there was a floral display about the casket of this kindly, unostentatious man such as has never been seen here. The Town Council, the Board of Education, the Public Cemetery Committee, the County Orange Lodge, the local Orange Lodges (1384 Renfrew and 15, Horton) the Sons of Temperance, the Chosen Friends, the Corporation of Horton, and the lawyers of town were all represented in this way, besides a large number of private friends.
The funeral service was held on Sunday afternoon, and was, as was to be expected, very largely attended. Those participating in the service at the house were Rev. Mr. Horne, who was the clergyman of the day at St Andrew’s Church, as well as Rev. Messrs. Quartermaine, Ellis and McEwen; the visitor asking Rev. Mr. Quartermaine to make the address which from long acquaintance Mr. Quartermaine was able to do with appreciation of the worth of the friend who had been taken from them.
As was becoming for Mr. Eady had been a member of the managing committee of nearly every Band which the town has had since 1870, the Citizens Band headed the funeral procession, being followed by 150 or so of the Orangemen from town and neighbor lodges, by mourners 125 or so vehicles, and by a large number of citizens on foot. From Railway Street to the creek bridge both sides of the street were lined with carriages and people. And slowly on a Sunday afternoon to the strains of “The Dead March in Saul” the sad procession proceeded on the way which Mr. Eady had trod nearly every Sunday during the summers of many years. At the cemetery, Rev. Mr. Quartermaine first conducted the service of commitment to the grave; of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. And then the Orange Brethren paid their last token of respect to one who had been for so many years looked up to as a beloved leader among them; the expressive religious service being read by Bro. James Moore of Eganville, County Master, and Bro. Alex Fraser Sr., of Renfrew, acting as county chaplain; the brethren there after as they marched past the grave depositing on the casket sprigs of evergreen. And then as the grave was being filled, there came from the Band the notes of “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” and “Safe In The Arms Of Jesus”.
The pallbearers were James A. Eady (brother), James Stewart of Pembroke (brother-in-law), Adam Lindsay, A.A. Wright, John Devine and W.E. Smallfield, not one of whom had known Mr. Eady for less than forty years.
A large number of the citizens of Pembroke and Cobden and of the district thereabouts had prepared to come down on the Sunday noon C.P.R. express, but a wreck in the West had delayed that train for five hours.
The flag of the local L.O.L. draped in mourning, hung from the windows of their hall in the McAndrew block as the funeral procession passed beneath.
Mr. Eady was a staunch Conservative; in his early days militant in the service of the party; yet always maintaining the friendliest personal relation with his political opponents; and, when as was often the case when his party was in power, he was chosen returning officer, the Liberals were content, for they knew that they would get fair play and that every effort would be exerted to see that there was an honest count. Similarly, though an ardent Orangeman – the most popular and influential man among them for many years in this county – he numbered some of his warmest friends among his Roman Catholic neighbours. They knew that whatever his political opinions might be as affecting their church, there was no bitterness in his heart towards them nor even hatred of their faith; and so many a heartfelt “May God Rest His Soul” fell from their lips when they read the announcement of his death.
And in all that has been written this has not been brought out – that Mr. Eady not only helped the people in official ways, but he was the personal adviser in business and family matters of a host who realized his integrity, recognized his kindness of heart and valued his judgement.
There survive one son R.W. Eady of Renfrew, and four daughters – Mrs. H.S. Bowden of Pembroke, Mr. M. McKinnon and Mrs. H.D. Scott and Miss Belle of Renfrew. Mrs. Eady was laid to rest in May a year ago, and two children predeceased them in early childhood. Of Mr. Eady’s own generation there survive four brothers – William B., Robert B., John R., and James A., and one sister Mrs. Thos. Clarke Sr. all of Horton.
In 1908 in its jubilee issue The Mercury close its biographical sketch of Mr. Eady as follows:
– He has been Clerk of Horton since 1866, treasurer of Renfrew since 1872, secretary-treasurer of the Board of Education since 1872; Clerk of the Division Court since 1872, Justice of the Peace since 1881, and Police Magistrate of the town of Renfrew since 1905.
It can be surmised from this record that he has not had many idle moments for some years. Possibly the people will give him a monument when he is gone; they have never paid him enough while he is alive. His epitaph will be “A Just Man – And Merciful”.