- Death of Mr. John Manion. After a painful illness of some weeks, Mr. John Manion died at his old homestead residence, 3rd line of Bathurst, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. He was the son of an old soldier who fought under Wellington in the Peninsular war, and with his regiment, the 49th, took part in the battle of Crysler's Farm, where British valor and discipline proved too much for the greatly numerical superiority of the United States forces in that conflict. The late Mr. Manion when a child of seven years witnessed this battle, and could tell to the last days of his life how he saw the U.S. files melt away under the terrible fire of the British regulars, until horse, foot and artillery were driven from the fiend. In 1837, Mr. Manion enlisted as a volunteer in the Hon. Henry Graham's company, Perth, and was one who took part in the battle of the Windmill at Prescott, where he was slightly wounded. He remained connected with the volunteer force of Canada and died a captain in the reserve militia. He learned the drill of a battery soldier in his younger days, and always took charge of the two small brass cannon in the Perth court-house yard when firing salutes on Queen's birthday, Dominion day or other occasions of the kind. He became a Justice of the Peace years ago, was an excellent forest-ranger, and knew almost every foot of ground in the townships about here, and in the neighboring ones of Leeds, Frontenac and Addington. He was also an active worker for the County Agricultural Society, and latterly became inspector of pedlars' licenses in the county. He was pre-eminently a hardy, vigorous man, and in the pride of his strength no doubt exposed himself too often to wet, cold and other privations in his travels around the back country, which in the end sapped his vital energies prematurely. He was born in Balinasloe, Ireland, and leaves one brother yet living, in Sherbrooke. He was an unbending Conservative, though all the others of his brothers were staunch Liberals. His funeral took place on Sunday afternoon from his late home, near Glen Tay, to the Roman Catholic cemetery in Perth, and such a funeral never left Bathurst before. The cortege numbered about 170 vehicles, headed by the two brass-bands and two fire companies in parade dress, from Perth, and the Perth volunteer company, and was increased on arrival in town by a large number of its citizens. The funeral service was conducted in St. John's Church by Rev. Father Duffus, and ended at the grave by the usual religious observances; and when the earth finally closed up the grave of the old man, the volunteer company fired three volleys over the remains, and the two brass cannon he had so often captained on gala occasions, blazed forth their grim farewell to the veteran just committed, "dust to dust." [Col. 3, Pg. 5; The Perth Courier, Friday, 9 Jun 1893; Vol. LIX, No. 40]
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