Andrew Leamy
Encyclopedia
Andrew Leamy was a pioneer industrialist and community leader in Wrightstown, Lower Canada, which became Hull, Quebec
and is now incorporated into the City of Gatineau
in the National Capital Region
of Canada
.
Andrew Leamy was the son of Michael Leamy and Margaret Marshall, who emigrated to Wrightstown with Andrew, his two brothers James and Michael and his two sisters Catherine and Anne in the 1820-1830 time frame.
. Like most of the other illustrious names of that pioneer era - names like Nicholas Sparks
and J.R. Booth - Andrew Leamy began his business life as an employee of the Old Squire Wright, in 1830, living and working on Wright's Columbia Farm and learning his future trade as a lumber baron.
In 1833, his close ties with the Wright family - and Nicholas Sparks
no doubt - led to his eventual marriage to Philemon Wright Jr.'s daughter, Erexina, who had become Nicholas Spark's adopted daughter after Wright Jr.'s death.
In 1835, after a few years of frugality and good economy in Wright's employ, Leamy had saved enough to purchase 200 hectares of land from Philemon Wright - land that included Wright’s original Gatineau Farm. In 1853, Leamy began his own enterprise as a lumberman by building a mill on the south shore of Columbia Pond, as it was first named, and the lake became known as Leamy Lake thereafter. Leamy dug a canal to connect the lake to the Gatineau River to facilitate the transportation of logs to his sawmill. The mill, which was the first steam powered mill in the region - one of only two - and it was entirely destroyed when a boiler exploded and was never rebuilt.
Andrew Leamy was also devout Catholic and, in the tradition of the Wright family, gave much of his time to the social and cultural development of the small developing village of Wright's Town. He worked hand-in-hand with Père Reboul to achieve the emancipation of school governance for the county. The result was the creation of the county's first independent School Commission in 1866, of which he was elected its first President.
. The long road that led from the farm went all the way to the intersection of Chelsea Road (now St. Joseph Blvd.) and Brigham's Road (now St. Raymond Blvd.). The whole road still exists to this day, although a good part is blocked to traffic, but it now ends at Carrière Blvd. At some unknown time, with people no longer living on it, the Leamy Road’s name became francicized by the city to its current designation: Chemin du Lac-Leamy. The Leamy road was identified in all city directories up until the middle 1950s when the Leamy home itself was moved from its foundation to parts unknown in Hull. Today the lake, the park and the very popular Casino du Lac-Leamy still carry his name.
The foundations of his home became buried over time and were the subject of an archeological dig in 2006, commissioned by the National Capital Commission
. What was found was a significant structure, quite remarkable in its construction because of the substantial width of the stone walls.
A log building that was still standing in 1884 on Leamy's farm was probably the first home Philemon Wright
built on the banks of the Gatineau River
when he first arrived in the area in 1800. The Wright family called that home "The Wigwam". It was the conclusion of another archeological dig at that site that the foundations of that house dated from the early 19th century. The location was reburied for preservation and protection and the NCC has plans for future commemoration of the site.
John Lowrey Gourlay wrote:
In 1874, William Pittman Lett, Ottawa's first City Clerk, in his epic poem "Recollections of Bytown and Its Old Inhabitants" has, perhaps, the last word:
Andrew Leamy is buried in a piece of land that he had donated to the Church for the purpose of creating Notre Dame Cemetery in Gatineau
, Quebec
. His resting place can be found in a rear portion that overlooks the lake that today still bears his name. At his feet lie the remains of a young man named George Smyth. The stone that marks his grave is inscribed with the words:
Andrew Leamy happened to be on the banks of the Ottawa River opposite the Rideau Falls, when the young man's body was found, in 1828 or 9. Leamy, a staunch Catholic and charitable man, had his remains buried in a beautiful, quiet corner of his property. Leamy must have either known who he was or found out later. In any event, Leamy had a stone engraved with the above inscription. Today, we know that George Smyth was the youngest son of Lieutenant Thomas Smyth, esq, the man who gave his name to Smiths Falls on the Rideau River.
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
and is now incorporated into the City of Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
in the National Capital Region
National Capital Region (Canada)
The National Capital Region, also referred to as Canada's Capital Region, is an official federal designation for the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, the neighbouring city of Gatineau, Quebec, and surrounding urban and rural communities....
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Andrew Leamy was the son of Michael Leamy and Margaret Marshall, who emigrated to Wrightstown with Andrew, his two brothers James and Michael and his two sisters Catherine and Anne in the 1820-1830 time frame.
His Life
The name Andrew Leamy is as commonly associated with the commercial and industrial development of the City of Hull as is the name of Philemon WrightPhilemon Wright
Philemon Wright was a farmer and entrepreneur who founded Wrightstown, the first permanent settlement in the National Capital Region of Canada...
. Like most of the other illustrious names of that pioneer era - names like Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks (politician)
Nicholas Sparks was an early landholder of Ottawa, Canada who owned most of the lands in the present day commercial core of Downtown Ottawa.Sparks was born in Darrah parish, County Wexford in Ireland and came to Canada in 1816...
and J.R. Booth - Andrew Leamy began his business life as an employee of the Old Squire Wright, in 1830, living and working on Wright's Columbia Farm and learning his future trade as a lumber baron.
In 1833, his close ties with the Wright family - and Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks (politician)
Nicholas Sparks was an early landholder of Ottawa, Canada who owned most of the lands in the present day commercial core of Downtown Ottawa.Sparks was born in Darrah parish, County Wexford in Ireland and came to Canada in 1816...
no doubt - led to his eventual marriage to Philemon Wright Jr.'s daughter, Erexina, who had become Nicholas Spark's adopted daughter after Wright Jr.'s death.
In 1835, after a few years of frugality and good economy in Wright's employ, Leamy had saved enough to purchase 200 hectares of land from Philemon Wright - land that included Wright’s original Gatineau Farm. In 1853, Leamy began his own enterprise as a lumberman by building a mill on the south shore of Columbia Pond, as it was first named, and the lake became known as Leamy Lake thereafter. Leamy dug a canal to connect the lake to the Gatineau River to facilitate the transportation of logs to his sawmill. The mill, which was the first steam powered mill in the region - one of only two - and it was entirely destroyed when a boiler exploded and was never rebuilt.
Andrew Leamy was also devout Catholic and, in the tradition of the Wright family, gave much of his time to the social and cultural development of the small developing village of Wright's Town. He worked hand-in-hand with Père Reboul to achieve the emancipation of school governance for the county. The result was the creation of the county's first independent School Commission in 1866, of which he was elected its first President.
Leamy Lake, Leamy Road and the Leamy Farm
Leamy's farm, including his home, contained several buildings located on the north side of Leamy’s lake between the lake and the Gatineau RiverGatineau River
The Gatineau River is a river in western Quebec, Canada, which rises in lakes north of the Baskatong Reservoir and flows south to join the Ottawa River at the city of Gatineau, Quebec...
. The long road that led from the farm went all the way to the intersection of Chelsea Road (now St. Joseph Blvd.) and Brigham's Road (now St. Raymond Blvd.). The whole road still exists to this day, although a good part is blocked to traffic, but it now ends at Carrière Blvd. At some unknown time, with people no longer living on it, the Leamy Road’s name became francicized by the city to its current designation: Chemin du Lac-Leamy. The Leamy road was identified in all city directories up until the middle 1950s when the Leamy home itself was moved from its foundation to parts unknown in Hull. Today the lake, the park and the very popular Casino du Lac-Leamy still carry his name.
The foundations of his home became buried over time and were the subject of an archeological dig in 2006, commissioned by the National Capital Commission
National Capital Commission
The National Capital Commission , is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.The NCC was created in 1959, replacing the Federal District Commission , which had been...
. What was found was a significant structure, quite remarkable in its construction because of the substantial width of the stone walls.
A log building that was still standing in 1884 on Leamy's farm was probably the first home Philemon Wright
Philemon Wright
Philemon Wright was a farmer and entrepreneur who founded Wrightstown, the first permanent settlement in the National Capital Region of Canada...
built on the banks of the Gatineau River
Gatineau River
The Gatineau River is a river in western Quebec, Canada, which rises in lakes north of the Baskatong Reservoir and flows south to join the Ottawa River at the city of Gatineau, Quebec...
when he first arrived in the area in 1800. The Wright family called that home "The Wigwam". It was the conclusion of another archeological dig at that site that the foundations of that house dated from the early 19th century. The location was reburied for preservation and protection and the NCC has plans for future commemoration of the site.
His Character
Anson A. Gard, author and historian, wrote this about Andrew Leamy:- "It is told of him, as showing his strength and endurance, that when repairs were needed for the mill, that he would mount a horse and carry the part – often of heavy iron – to Montreal, get it mended and without stopping to rest, would ride back to Hull, making a journey of 240 miles through a wild country, under the most tiring conditions."
- "I recently met an old resident of the Township, who remembered many of the pioneers. He was one of those rare beings who seemed to remember only the good qualities of the men he had known. "Another kind hearted man" said he "was Andy Leamy. I’ve known him to be driving along the road with a load of supplies for his lumber camp, and passing the hovel of a family in need, throw off a barrel of flour and pass on as though he thought nothing of it. Andy didn’t make much pretense of being a saint, but he did a whole lot of good all the same."
John Lowrey Gourlay wrote:
- “A man of fervor, (Reverend) Burwell, declared to his people from the pulpit, and in the parlor, shop and store, his newly-found views that struck most people with the force of all new ideas. His success in Hull seemed considerable, several influential people becoming obedient to the new faith. … Nevertheless the mob in Hull undertook to dictate to those who took up the new opinions, or at least to greatly disturb their meetings. … The late Andrew Leamy, a famous old warrior, took sometimes an active hand in these troubles. Often from sharp and angry words they went to blows, marking each others face's very picturesquely. ... Rev. Adam Hood Burwell eloquently and ably propagated these notions, and one or two Presbyterian families or heads of families were pleased with the views he advanced and for a time joined the party. Mr. Ruggles Wright opposed these views and refused his hall for their propagation. Mr. Alonzo Wright did not join them, but fiercely opposed the mobs, sometimes led by his uncle, Mr. Andrew Leamy who handled them roughly.”
In 1874, William Pittman Lett, Ottawa's first City Clerk, in his epic poem "Recollections of Bytown and Its Old Inhabitants" has, perhaps, the last word:
- "And Andrew Leamy in his time.
- Was head of many a stirring "shine;"
- A man of mark he might be singled,
- In whom the good and bad commingled,
- In equal balance in such a way,
- That each in turn had its sway.
- He's gone! The grass grows o'er his head,
- The Muse deals gently with the dead."
His Death
Through the night of April 21, 1868 on the Leamy Road, the road that led to his home, Andrew Leamy’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances, which, despite an inquest, remained shrouded in mystery for ten more years. In an article that first appeared in the Toronto Globe on August 15, 1878 and reprinted in the New York Times four days later, it was learned that a Henry Maxwell and his unnamed brother-in-law were arrested for the murder and robbery of Andrew Leamy.Andrew Leamy is buried in a piece of land that he had donated to the Church for the purpose of creating Notre Dame Cemetery in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. His resting place can be found in a rear portion that overlooks the lake that today still bears his name. At his feet lie the remains of a young man named George Smyth. The stone that marks his grave is inscribed with the words:
- Here
- Lies the
- Boddy of George Smyth
- son to Thomas Smyth esq. of Eli
- zabeth Town, DE of
- Jonstown, Upr. Provence
- dround at the three roks
- upon the River Redo born 6 May 1809
- Aged 20 years & 6 months(sic)
Andrew Leamy happened to be on the banks of the Ottawa River opposite the Rideau Falls, when the young man's body was found, in 1828 or 9. Leamy, a staunch Catholic and charitable man, had his remains buried in a beautiful, quiet corner of his property. Leamy must have either known who he was or found out later. In any event, Leamy had a stone engraved with the above inscription. Today, we know that George Smyth was the youngest son of Lieutenant Thomas Smyth, esq, the man who gave his name to Smiths Falls on the Rideau River.
Other Sources
- Family Search http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/PRF/individual_record.asp?recid=1414316200&lds=2®ion=-1®ionfriendly=&frompage=99
- The Family of John and Priscilla Wright http://www.wrightfamily.ca/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I679&tree=wright1
- "The Wrights", Patrick M. O. Evans, (National Capital Commission, 1978), Table 35, Page 57
- "The Wrights", Patrick M. O. Evans, (National Capital Commission, 1978), Table 100, Page 149