Sylvanus Gemmill

1821 - 1909  (87 years)

• Name	Sylvanus Gemmill
  Birth	23 Oct 1821	Lanark Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  FindaGrave Memorial ID	236107310
  	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236107310
  _UID	19E0162B7C554101922FF291B7A0E7BF8EC0
  Death	23 Jan 1909	Lanark Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
  	Sylvanus Gemmill, Sr., at the age of 87 years and 3 months, was taken away by death last Saturday, January 23rd. Age had enfeebled him in body and for some time past his condition gave little hope that the journey would continue much longer. In the sere and yellow leaf he lived alone in a house on Mill Street where friends and relatives administered to his wants. The funeral took place on Monday at 2 o'clock to Lanark Village Cemetery, Rev. Wm. McDonald, pastor of St. Andrew's, conducting the services. Sylvanus Gemmill was a son of the late Rev. Dr. and Mrs. John Gemmill, who came from Dalry, Scotland, in 1821, and was born the same year on the hill where St. Paul's Church now stands. His birth marks an important era in the religious life of Lanark. The settlement was then in its infancy. The strongly inherent religious nature of the Scotch people found a deep want in the absence of church services. Petition after petition had been sent to the Old Country praying the church and Government there to send out a man who would conduct the worship of God at regular intervals. After repeated failure arrangements were made to send out the Rev. Dr. John Gemmill, who was to become pastor of St. Andrew's. Mr. Gemmill's boyhood and early manhood was spent in the village. In the year 1846 he bought the farm now occupied by his son John and engaged in farming there until the early seventies, when, attracted by the offer of free grant lands to settlers, he moved to North Hastings. Some years ago he returned to the village and spent the remainder of his life here. In 1848 he married Margaret Robertson of Bathurst township, and to them were born three children - John, Sylvanus and Margaret - all of whom reside in this vicinity and are well known in Lanark. Mrs. Gemmill also survives, besides two sisters - Mrs. John Smith and Mrs. Eliza Cameron, both of Renfrew. In religion deceased was an old-time Presbyterian and a strict observer of the fourth commandment. He was a life-long Liberal, and, although not a strong party man, always upheld the principles of the Reform party. Notwithstanding the fact that he was the son of a doctor, Mr. Gemmill had a strong aversion to medicine, and never partook of any from the time he had the measles in boyhood until a month before he died. The Lanark Era, Wednesday, January 27, 1909, page 1 Note: The death record states he was born in Scotland. The obituary indicates he was born in Lanark, Ont.
  Burial	Lanark Village Cemetery, Lanark, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I40824	Lanark County Origins
  Last Modified	7 Mar 2022

  
  

  Father	Rev. Dr. John Gemmill,   b. 15 Mar 1770, Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland d. 14 Apr 1844, Drummond Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Gilmour,   b. 15 Mar 1790, Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland d. 21 Jul 1850, Lanark Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada (Age 60 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1808
  Family ID	F13128	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Family ID	F16513	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 23 Oct 1821 - Lanark Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada Death - 23 Jan 1909 - Lanark Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth