William Struthers

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188334406
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-123197
• Occupation: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; United Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presb.
• Occupation: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian

Notes:

MR. WILLIAM STRUTHERS, a man kind and friendly, delighting in a quiet conversation on topics of more than temporary interest, and having no sympathy with anything that was merely for show. The blood of his ancestors ran in his veins, he came from a good old stock. His grandfather was a Covenanter, hunted by Claverhouse, and on one occasion hidden from the eyes of his soldiers by his comrades in the harvest field causing him to lie down in a furrow, where they covered him over with the cut wheat, so that he escaped. "He was brought up in the strictest way as a Christian and as a Presbyterian." In 1840 he married Mary Gilchrist, who was born on the Stockwell farm near Carhike in the year 1819.

Her father was educated under the late Dr. Owen and was one of the principal men in the church with which he was connected. Having a large family, and being the owner of a large farm, he required many servants to overtake the work that was to be done. These had all to learn the Shorter Catechism, and to repeat the answers to the questions in turn every Sabbath evening ; and every morning even in the busiest times all had to he present at family worship. On the Sabbath day no one was allowed to mention any secular affair because it was the Lord s Day. That direction in Isaiah 58. 13, 14 was carried out to the letter. There is in possession of the family still a Bible which was given as a wedding present to their great grandmother, Margaret Warnock, in the year 1770.

Mr. Struthers was born near Carluke, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1817. He came with Mrs. Struthers to Canada in 1849, with their three children, Mary, Archibald and William two in addition to these had been born to them, but they died in infancy. Mr. Struthers engaged with the Hon. David Christie for one year, and at that time was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, Brantford. The following year, 1850, he purchased a farm four and a half miles from Ayr on Sprague's Road. He united with what is now Stanley Street Church and remained a member of it for thirty-five years. Here, too, all the members of the family save one, being nine in all, made profession of their faith in Christ: the highest ambition of the parents being the spiritual welfare of their children. Great attention was paid to this. Mrs. Struthers went over the Sunday School lessons with the children, so that they would be fitted to profit by it when it was taught. She assisted them, too, in the work of proving a doctrine, and also in writing an essay on some subject in connection with the lesson of the Sunday School.

Though they had to walk to church they were regularly in their place. The older members remained to the Sabbath School, which was held after service and did not get home till four o clock, which made a long day, especially for children. Mrs. Struthers being asked on one occasion by her minister, "How it was that she was so successful in getting all her family to remain in the Sunday School until they were grown up? "made answer: "They were never consulted." It was the law of the house; and no one ever thought of doing otherwise.

In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Struthers retired from the cares and toils of the farm and came into Galt Some of the members of the family had preceded them. On their settling here the parents and three of the children united with the Central Church. And in August of the same year Mrs. Struthers passed to her reward. She was a large-minded and large-hearted woman. Her memory was well stored with precious truth and was remarkably tenacious. She was highly intelligent and of large experience and left her mark on the religious character of her children, who unite in calling her blessed. In 1887 Archibald, the eldest son, died also. In 1889 Mr. Struthers was called home. He was one who embodied in his quiet, comely, circumspect life the truth of the Gospel. He was devoted to his children, and he also took a large and living interest in the church and its work.

To him, as to the religious Scot everywhere, the Church and the Sabbath and the services of the house of God were central; controlling all the rest of life, and giving to it color and character and consistency. He left his impress on the hearts of all who came into close contact with him as a kind, generous, true friend, and made his children feel that he was a loving father.

Ebenezer: A History of the Centrall Presbyterian Church, Galt, Ontario, with brief sketches of some of its members who have passed on the the other side, The Rev. James A. R. Dickson

_________________________

Died, In Galt, on Monday morning, Aug. 13th at 11.15 o'clock, William Struthers, in his 73rd Year. Funeral Will take place on Tuesday afternoon, 14th inst., at 4 o'clock, from his late residence, Queen St., to Mount View Cemetery. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend. Galt, August 13th , 1888^.

Funeral Card

William — Mary Gilchrist. Mary was born CALC 13 Jan 1819, Carluke, , Lanark, Scotland; died 7 Aug 1886, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 9 Aug 1886, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Mary Struthers was born 22 Dec 1841, , Scotland; died 15 Nov 1913, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Archibald Struthers was born CALC 16 Mar 1845, , Scotland; died 4 Jun 1887, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 6 Jun 1887, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. William Struthers was born 1848, Carluke, , Lanark, Scotland; was christened , Carluke, , Lanark, Scotland; died Yes, date unknown.
4. Agnes Struthers was born 1850, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
5. Margaret Arbuckle "Maggie" Struthers was born CALC 29 Oct 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 5 Oct 1885, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
6. Robert Gilchrist Struthers was born 3 Feb 1855, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 27 May 1929, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
7. John Struthers was born 9 Jun 1857, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 15 Jun 1930, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 17 Jun 1930, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
8. Andrew Wilson Struthers was born 15 Jan 1860, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 18 Jan 1930, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 21 Jan 1930, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
9. James Struthers was born 25 Aug 1864, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.