Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

David Douglas

Male 1801 - 1883  (82 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name David Douglas 
    Born 1801  , England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261883264 
    Interesting life story, accident 
    Occupation 1852  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Farmer 
    Residence 1852  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Church of England 
    Residence 1861  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Ch. of England 
    Occupation 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Farmer 
    Residence 1881  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Church of England 
    Misfortune Sep 1883 
    killed by train 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-114652 
    Died 25 Sep 1883  North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Cause: Struck by Train 
    Buried Cedar Creek Cemetery, North Dumfries Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I114652  Generations
    Last Modified 7 Nov 2024 

    Father Douglas,   b. Abt 1770, of, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F26024  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Helen,   b. 1796, , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2024 
    Family ID F30404  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Died, In North Dumfries, on Tuesday, 25th inst., at half past 9 o'clock, a.m., David Douglas, Aged 81 Years. Funeral, On Wednesday afternoon, 26th inst., at 3 o'clock, from the residence of his Brother, (Wm. Douglas), 11th Con. North Dumfries, to Cedar Creek Cemetery, Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend. North Dumfries, Sept. 25th, 1883

      Funeral Card of David Douglas 25 Sep 1883

      ______________________

      Killed on the Railway
      Sad End of an Old Resident of the Township


      We regret this week to be called upon to record the sad death of Mr. David Douglas, a very old resident of the Township of Dumfries, which occurred on the line of the Credit Valley Railway about half-past 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning last. The circumstances attending the death of Mr. Douglass are to a certain extent a matter of conjecture; but his mind has been unhinged for many years, and it is supposed that he was walking or standing on the track, and notwithstanding the warnings of the engineer, refused to leave it in time to save his life. With certainty it is known that on the morning in question he walked across the farm towards the railway trace - which it seems he was almost daily in the habit of doing - and that on this occasion he was followed by his brother, Mr. Wm. Douglass. While proceeding on his way, the latter heard the engineer on the express going west, leaving Galt at 9: 16, give an alarm whistle, and afterwards bring his train to a stand. When William reached the line, however, the train had gone on the Dumfries station, and when he reached there he found that a man had been killed, and on viewing the body recognized it as that of his brother David. The accident took place between the farms of Mr. Cavers and Mr. Scott, and the hat of the unfortunate man was afterwards picked up near Mr. Scott's gate. From the appearance of the body, it would not appear that the wheels had passed over it, but rather that the victim had been struck while standing on the track. Several of his limbs were broken, but as we have heard it they were not crushed.

      Mr. Wm. Douglass and Mr. James E. Douglass at once came to Galt and notified Dr. Vardon, corner, of the occurrence, but on learning the particulars that gentleman decided that it was not necessary to hold an inquest. The deceased was 81 years of age, and, as we have said before, had been of unsound mind for many years. It is just possible that his malady that day might have led him to believe that he could stop the train by work of command, for the was given to the hallucination that he was possessed of immense powers, and that in testing it he lost his life.

      Galt Reporter Sep 28 1883 pg 1

  • Sources 
    1. [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, Div. 1 Page 8.

    2. [S233] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1852, Div. 3 Page 12.

    3. [S1778] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1861, Div 10 Page 82.

    4. [S355] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 3.

    5. [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Obituary of David Douglas - Sep 28 1883 pg 1.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1801 - , England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1852 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1852 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1861 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Ch. of England - 1871 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Struck by Train - 25 Sep 1883 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Cedar Creek Cemetery, North Dumfries Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth