Catherine M. Williamson

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine M. Bailey
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-148363
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian
• Residence: 1883, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Catherine married George James Bailey 19 Apr 1883, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. George was born CALC 5 Apr 1854, Eramosa Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; died 8 Sep 1925, Morriston, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried 10 Sep 1925, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Robert George Bailey was born 2 Mar 1884, Elderslie Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; died 25 Jul 1956; was buried 30 Jul 1956, Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
2. Hattie May Bailey was born 7 Jan 1888, Elderslie Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; died 22 May 1962; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada.
3. Hugh James Bailey was born 23 Sep 1895, Elderslie Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario; died 9 Apr 1972, Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Crown Cemetery, Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario.

Other Events:

• Interesting: story, mason
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-148359
• Occupation: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian

Notes:

Death of Mr. Robert Williamson, of Beverly, Clyde Road.

The first paragraphs which detailed the injury to this well-known resident, must have prepared the public for the announcement which reached the town on Sabbath morning last, that at an early hour that morning, he had breathed his last, and that once more, in the dispensation of an all-wise Maker, a useful, valuable, honorable life, had been closed.

Mr. Williamson was born in Cromarty, Rossshire, Scotland, in the year 1822. In early life he learned the trade of a stone-cutter, and also studied architecture. Mastering much of the details, he received an appointment under the British Government, and while holding that appointment, was superintendent of the erection of the national monument to Sir Walter Scott, and the renovation and re-erection of several of the Cathedrals in Scotland, now historical, and monuments of the early builders art and the powers of the early Churches. Mr. Williamson was cousin and also brother-in-law of the world-famed geologist and writer, Hugh Miller, and from his intercourse with him undoubtedly arose in Mr. Williamson's mind that thirst for reading and information which through his afterlife characterized him. In the pursuit of his occupation he necessarily travelled much through Scotland and became almost, in himself, a history of its old records and its eminent men, and from the Press to the Bench or Pulpit, there was not a prominent man of those days with whom Mr. Williamson was not familiar, and one of the powers of his mind was the retentiveness with which he cold depict their powers and peculiarities. He threw himself with all his power into the discussion which led to the establishment of the Free Church of Scotland, and through the columns of the Witness, of which Hugh Miller was editor, contributed much that aided the great Church revolution and founded the powerful Presbyterian Free Church throughout the land. There was a coterie of strong minds engaged on this great question, Rev. Dr. Guthrie, Hugh Miller, Mr. Williamson, and a host of the leading liberal minds of the day. They fought for enfranchisement and they succeeded.

In 1854, with his family, Mr. Williamson came to Canada, his health necessitating his adopting a new life. He first came to Galt, where he left his family for a short time while he looked about for a location. Deciding to settle in the Township of Arthur, near the village of Kenilworth, he purchased land there, on which he remained for about three years. He soon became a man of mark there, and was frequently pressed to accept municipal honors, but while willing to give advice to those who filled these offices and render them every assistance in the discharge of their duties, he refused further public life. He was appointed a Magistrate and frequently served as arbitrator in the disputes natural to the early life of a township, and was selected once or twice as an expert to investigate municipal accounts, but his ambitions ended with these. Leaving Arthur, he purchased in Eramosa, pursuing there the same quiet life, only that in the support of his beloved religious views he took a prominent part in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church there and was elected an elder, a position which he held until he again removed to a farm he purchased near Mount Forest. Leaving there after a few years, he purchased the "Barnes" farm near Kossuth, where with his family, he resided for about fifteen years, and it was while resident there that he assumed the prominent position which he afterwards held in the political and agricultural history of this county. A few years ago he sold this farm and for a time retired, but the old desires were strong with him and he was never contented off the land which was not his own, and opportunity offering, by the retirement of Mr. Robert Turnbull to Galt, he purchased from that gentleman the valuable farm on which he was destined to end his days.

Before he left for Canada, he was married to a half-sister of Hugh Miller's. they spent forty-one years of married life together, and had as children six daughters and two sons. Three of their daughters are married, viz.: - Mrs. Wm. Brydon, of the Blair road; Mrs. George Bailey, of near Paisley, and Mrs. George McCulloch, of Mount forest. His two sons, Walter and Hugh, with their three unmarried daughters, resided with their parents on the farm.

The death of one so widely and so deservedly respected by all who knew him, caused widespread regret, and his funeral, which took place on Tuesday, to Mount View Cemetery, was largely attended, many coming from long distances to pay their last tribute of respect to one who in life had been their almost more than friend.

Galt Reporter Oct 26 1888 pg 1

Robert — Katherine Williamson. Katherine was born 12 Feb 1822, Cromarty, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; was christened 4 Mar 1822, Cromarty, , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland; died 7 Dec 1901, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Katherine Williamson
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-148361
• Residence: 1881, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presbyterian

Notes:

Katherine was half sister of Hugh Miller from her mother's first marriage.

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Hugh Miller. (2019). En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 20 July 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Miller

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Geologist, evangelical journalist and writer

Hugh Miller was apprenticed as a stonemason - an occupation which stimulated his interest in geology. He went on to edit the evangelical newspaper 'The Witness' and to produce many publications including 'Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland' (1835), 'The Old Red Sandstone' (1841) on fossils found in the Cromarty area and his autobiography 'My Schools and Schoolmasters' (1854).

His 6,500 fossils formed the basis of the National Museum of Scotland's collection. The National Library of Scotland holds the main body of his original manuscripts (some 13 bound volumes) on deposit from the National Trust for Scotland....

Hugh Miller (1802-1856) | National Records of Scotland. (2019). Nrscotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2019, from https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/learning/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-a-z/miller-hugh