MATTHEW DEVINE
RENFREW MERCURY
DECEMBER 5, 1924
Renfrew lost one of its oldest and most respected citizens on Wednesday. News of his passing came as a shock to the community for although it was generally known that for more than a year past he had not been enjoying his usual good health, few were aware that serious illness had again seized him. It was only on Tuesday morning that he was stricken. Unconsciousness ensued in which state he remained until the end came at 9 o’clock Wednesday morning. There then ended an active useful life which had its beginning in the township of Horton 75 years ago last August.
The deceased was the son of the late Andrew Devine and his wife, Mary Kenny, who had come out from Ireland. Growing up, Matthew and his elder brother John engaged in the meat business in Ottawa; later he came to Renfrew and entered the hardware store of his uncle, the late Patrick Devine. A number of years afterward he and Mr. E.J. McGarry formed a partnership in the hardware business as Devine & McGarry. After the death of the late George Eady, Mr. Devine received appointment as police magistrate and Division Court clerk, which offices he continued to till up to the time of his demise. He was generally regarded as a man of much efficiency in both roles. For a number of years Mr. Devine held membership on the Board of Education. Fond of the out-of-doors he for many years had a summer cottage on Calabogie Lake. He was a patron of athletic sports of various kinds. The curlers long counted him as one of their number. The higher class of entertainments usually found him present. He was a member of St Francis Xavier Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Maccabees. ln politics he was a Conservative. The late Mr. Devine is survived by his wife who before her marriage was Miss Nellie Fitzmaurice. There are four sons and two daughters – Andrew and Michael of British Columbia, Felix in the Bank of Nova Scotia at Kempville, Paul in attendance at the collegiate institute here; Bessie Sister Mary of the Angels of the Good Shepherd community, Toronto and Miss Clare at home. In addition, there are brothers and sisters – John and Patrick Devine of Renfrew, Rev. Mother Victoria and Sister Cresentia of St Joseph’s order, Toronto, Mrs. T.W. McGarry and Miss M.A. Devine of the same city. The late Rev. Father Devine of Osceola was a brother; another brother was the late Andrew Devine of Ottawa. The funeral is to take place this (Friday) morning from the family home on Hall street, to St Francis Church and cemetery.