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Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill

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Birth	:	31 Jan 1833 Almonte, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
Death	:	18 Aug 1929 London, City of London, Greater London, England
Burial	:	Auld Kirk Cemetery, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate	:	45.2120400, -76.2187300
Plot	:	Range A, Plot A
Description	:	1929, Friday August 23, The Almonte Gazette front page Lieut.-Colonel Jas Dunlop Gemmill Dies Sunday At His London Home At Great Age. Son of Pioneer Businessman From Scotland He Was the Oldest and Most Prominent Native of Almonte. It Was at the Suggestion of Lieut.-Col. Gemmill that this Town Received its Name of Almonte, In Honour of the Noted Mexican Soldier of that Time. Col Gemmill Was the Officer in Command of the Almonte Company Which Was Raised at the Time of the Fenian Raid. He Spent Many Years in Foreign Travel, Particularly in Europe, and Has Not Been Home... Read More	1929, Friday August 23, The Almonte Gazette front page Lieut.-Colonel Jas Dunlop Gemmill Dies Sunday At His London Home At Great Age. Son of Pioneer Businessman From Scotland He Was the Oldest and Most Prominent Native of Almonte. It Was at the Suggestion of Lieut.-Col. Gemmill that this Town Received its Name of Almonte, In Honour of the Noted Mexican Soldier of that Time. Col Gemmill Was the Officer in Command of the Almonte Company Which Was Raised at the Time of the Fenian Raid. He Spent Many Years in Foreign Travel, Particularly in Europe, and Has Not Been Home for a Long Period. Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill died on Sunday at his London residence, 38 Wilton Crescent. The funeral will take place at Almonte during the first week of September. his remains will be interred in the family burying ground in the Auld Kirk Cemetery. He was 96 years of age, and had been in indifferent health for some time. Col Gemmill was, so far as is known, the oldest native of what is now the Town of Almonte. He was born in 1833 in a house on the site of which the barns now stand, behind that gabled stone house of the Gemmill family which has been occupied for a number of years by Mrs Manasseh Patterson. He was a son of John Gemmill, a native of the Parish of Dunlop, Ayrshire, Scotland, who came to Canada in 1821, and settled in Ramsay within what is now the Town of Almonte. He opened the first general store in Ramsay Township. He died in Ramsay on April 23rd, 1852, at the age of 73. They has a son John A. Gemmill, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1816 and came to Canada with his parents in 1821. He died at Pakenham in 1876. He was the father of that well known Ottawa barrister, John A. Gemmill, who died there in 1905 in his 60th year. Mother of Col Gemmill John Gemmill's second wife was the mother of Col Gemmill. Her name was Margaret Muirhead and she was born in the parish of St Ninian's, Scotland, in 1790. She died in 1854. Col J.D. Gemmill was a twin, but his brother, Wm Muirhead Gemmill, died in infancy in February, 1833. Col Gemmill was married to Katherine Murdoch Knight and to them were born two daughters. Miss Margaret Edith Gemmill, the younger daughter, died in California in 1913 at the age of 31. Her remains were interred in the Auld Kirk Cemetery. Mrs Gemmill died in Rome, where the family resided for some years, and her remains were buried there. Miss Winnifred Dunlop Gemmill, the elder daughter, had been her father's constant companion during the last years of his long life, and will accompany his remains to Almonte for interment. Owned Much Property The late Col Gemmill, who was formerly an officer of the 42nd Regiment was always deeply interested in military matters. He was the officer in command of the Almonte Company which did duty at the time of the Fenian Raid. he organized rifle shooting corps in Almonte. His home was the gabled stone house which stands by itself on the south side of Country Street. That property which extends to and includes the Spring Bush, and the old Menzies House on the north bank of the Mississippi River, at present occupied by Mrs William Barker, are the only real estate here owned by Col Gemmill at the time of his death. He was formerly a very large landowner. He owned farms on the tenth line of Ramsay. On these is the famous Gemmill's Bush, a favourite resort for picnic parties. He was passionately fond of trees and, for the purposes of conservation, he preserved that Bush intact. Some years ago he sold it in two lots to the late William Thoburn and Mr Ernest Symington. He was also at one time a large property owner in Huntley. Has Travelled Extensively Col Gemmill had, by inheritance, large interest in the Hudson's Bay Company and other industrial concerns, and he travelled extensively. He was a great hunter. He had visited practically all parts of Europe. For forty years he had made his headquarters in London but, he always kept close connection with his native place. When the Great War broke out in 1914 he happened to be in Austria whither he had gone after leaving Almonte on the death of his daughter, and he had much difficulty in getting out of the enemy country. However, he succeeded and returned to Paris and later to London. It is interesting to remember that it was Col Gemmill who suggested the name of Almonte of this Town on its incorporation and the suggestion was accepted. General Almonte was a spectacular Mexican soldier of the time. He took deep interest in St Andrew's Church, the Auld Kirk, and was a pew holder and supporter of it in one form or another to the end. Due to his initiation and liberal assistance the old church on the eighth line was restored and preserved and stands there a fitting memorial to the faith and works of the pioneers. The last occasion of his visit home was at the time of his daughter's death and he remained here for some time before returning to Great Britain. He was a man of unusually powerful physique. He was over 6 feet 2 inches in height and of striking appearance. He was scholarly and has a wide acquaintance with men in all walks of life. He was a brilliant conversationalist and of charming manners. He will go down to posterity as one of the most attractive and imposting figures this district has known. 1929, Friday August 30, The Almonte Gazette page 4 Burial at Almonte The funeral of the late Lieut Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill, who died on Sunday, August 17th, at his home in London, England is expected to take place next week at Almonte. The remains are expected to arrive on the S.S. Empress of Australia, at Quebec, on Saturday, August 31, and will be accompanied by Miss Winnifred Dunlop Gemmill, his daughter. His remains will be interred in the family burying ground at the Auld Kirk cemetery. Contributor: Gary J Byron (49329383)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill's memorial?
Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill's memorial is located at: Auld Kirk Cemetery, Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Canada.
When did Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill death?
Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill death on 18 Aug 1929 in London, City of London, Greater London, England
Where are the coordinates of the Lieut.-Colonel James Dunlop Gemmill's memorial?
Latitude: 45.2120400
Longitude: -76.2187300

Family Members:

Parent

John Gemmill

(1777 - 1852)

Margaret Muirhead Gemmill

(1790 - 1854)

Spouse

Katherine Murdoch Knight Gemmill

(1846 - 1908)

Siblings

William Muirhead Gemmill

(1833 - 1833)

John Alex Gemmill

(1816 - 1876)

Children

Margaret Edith Gemmill

(1882 - 1913)

Eric Ferguson Gemmill

(1892 - 1892)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Auld Kirk Cemetery
Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2120400, -76.2187300

2. Saint Pauls Anglican Church Cemetery
Almonte, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2173380, -76.2087260

3. Saint Marys Roman Catholic Cemetery
Almonte, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2119800, -76.1931000

4. Wesleyan Methodist Cemetery
Mississippi Mills, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2081040, -76.1889840

5. McDonald Cemetery
Almonte, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2564500, -76.2247840

6. Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery Old
Almonte, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2449920, -76.1645940

7. Fulton Burial Ground
Pakenham, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2446500, -76.3088060

8. Saint James Cemetery
Carleton Place, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1571400, -76.1472900

9. Clayton Methodist Cemetery
Clayton, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1845060, -76.3210730

10. Saint George's Anglican Cemetery
Union Hall, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1591600, -76.3027210

11. Baird Family Plot
Carleton Place, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1659683, -76.1214453

12. Robertson-Kellough Cemetery
Union Hall, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1537780, -76.3027740

13. Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery
Clayton, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2012630, -76.3414960

14. Clayton United Church Cemetery
Clayton, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1868740, -76.3380900

15. Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery
Beckwith, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1288890, -76.1716670

16. Morphy Family Burying Ground
Carleton Place, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1383090, -76.1465250

17. Cedar Hill Cemetery
Cedar Hill, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2797260, -76.3021820

18. Willis Family Cemetery
Carleton Place, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1317640, -76.1508170

19. Saint Peter Celestine Roman Catholic Cemetery
Pakenham, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.3010030, -76.2835560

20. St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery
Corkery, Ottawa Municipality, Canada
Coordinate: 45.2828000, -76.1009100

21. United Cemeteries
Beckwith, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1410550, -76.0799730

22. Rosetta Cemetery
Rosetta, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.1194900, -76.3333300

23. Boyd's Methodist Cemetery
Boyds, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.0912450, -76.2522420

24. Saint John's Anglican Cemetery
Innisville, Lanark County, Canada
Coordinate: 45.0860977, -76.2448807