| Notes |
- When when John Mooney was about fifteen, his uncle William Gillis who had settled in Inverness sent him money to come to Canada. All John had he packed in one little box. When a short way out, a storm at sea wrecked the boat. Later, William again sent money and John arrived safely. He stayed with William a year or more.
John Mooney was a progressive young man. He started buying cattle and shipping them to Quebec. As his business extended he bought in the United States and while there, he sent to Ireland for his mother and sister. His mother secured a position with General Butler as nurse to his small daughter, Blanche. Later his sister married John George of Inverness. His mother lived with the George's.
John Mooney met and wanted to marry Eunice Todd Wright, but her father wouldn't allow this until a husband was secured for his older daughter, Hannah. John went to Canada and took Uncle Tom Robinson back with him. Tom married Hannah, so John got his Eunice. They returned to Canada and settled on what has been known as the Mooney homestead.
John Mooney was a very successful man, both as a farmer and as a drover. He and Johnny George were the only two drovers there. There were just four families living there when John put up the Methodist Church in Inverness. The four families were William Lambly, John Mooney, John George and the Gillis family. They decided to build the church. Later William Lowry's family arrived. Some years later, when John Mooney's family was pretty well grown up, a farmer by the name of Johnson from Thetford Mines brought him a sample of asbestos which he had found on his rocky, barren farm near Thetford. Not knowing what it was, John advised him to go to Quebec and show it to Hon. George Irwin, then the MP for Megantic County. Mr. Johnson wanted Mr. Mooney to go with him, but Mr. Mooney said he was too busy haying. Mr. Johnson left to go alone. A few minutes later Mr. Mooney relented and left for the station, arriving there at the same time as Mr. Johnson. Both went to Quebec and interviewed Irwin who advised them to form a company, which they did. This company was composed of the three Johnson brothers - Andrew, John and William, John Mooney and Hon. George Irwin who served as legal advisor to Johnson Asbestos Mining Company. Andrew Johnson married Maria McCammon and afterwards became MP for Megantic County. This mine is said to produce one half of the worlds asbestos from the largest deposit ever discovered. This mine is still in possession of the original owners and has been working since its inception 60 years ago.
Acc. to notes by Mrs. Grace Cox's mother of Inverness, John came from Ireland to Inverness to be with his uncle William (John) Gillis when he was 17. He later sent for his mother, Rebecca Mooney and his sister Catherine. Acc. to Lee Robar (see Rebecca Gillis file notes) John Sr. was b. in Ireland, was a Methodist, had Irish origin, was a farmer at time of 1881 Megantic County census.
From Mr. William Baker, a Thomas McKenzie wrote some notes on "The Late John Mooney" (son of Rebecca Gillis Mooney, sister of John William Gillis), as follows:
"We regret to have to record the death of Mr. John Mooney, who passed away at his residence at the village of Inverness, on the night of May 15th, at the advanced age of 83 years. He was born in the county Monaghan, Ireland, on May 24th, 1818. He lost his father when only two years old, and resided with his grandfather until 1835, when he sailed for America in the good ship Canada. He arrived in Quebec on June 8th, and from thence he traveled on foot, by the Craig's Road, to Inverness, a distance of 60 miles, reaching his uncle, the late Wm. Gillis, on June 10th, with whom he resided one year.
"Leaving his uncle, he started on foot to seek his fortune in the Eastern Townships. He traveled alone through the 'long woods,' a wilderness, 23 miles in extent, without hesitation, and safely reached Sherbrooke, then a small village. He found employment as a 'chain-bearer' with the land surveyor. He then engaged in locating the lands of the British American Land Colony, in the Salmon River district, Compton County, where (as he often remarked) he spent two years of the hardest and happiest days of his life. At the expiration of his arrangement, he went to Craftsbury, Vermont, where he learned the millwright trade, under the 'Vermont Millwright,' Mile Sheppard; but he could not long be a servant of others, and he purchased a farm and mill site, near that place, and erected a saw mill. In the adjoining town of Greensboro, he met and married his devoted wife, Eunice Todd Wright, on April 6, 1844.
"Being intensely loyal to British laws and British institutions, he never could become a citizen of a foreign country. He disposed of his property in Vermont and returned to Inverness, where he purchased from Wm. and Charles Lord, the place, where now stands the beautiful Mooney homestead, at the foot of Lake Joseph, now occupied by his eldest son, H. R. Mooney.
"Besides being an extensive farmer, he entered largely in the cattle trade, and for some time was the partner of the Hon. John Henry Pope, and also for many years the partner of the brother-in-law, John George, of Inverness. (Ed. note: John George was husband of John Mooney's sister, Catherine).
"About the year 1879 he, along with the Johnston brothers of Clapham, and the Hon. George Irvine, purchased the asbestos lands in the township of Thetford, and formed the Johnson Asbestos Company, which has developed to its present vast proportions under the management of Mr. Mooney as president, and Mr. A. S. Johnson as manager.
"In 1860, he with the late Thomas McKenzie, built the old court house at Inverness. Some years ago, he retired to the village of Inverness to enjoy a well-earned rest, and, although he gave up the active business, he always took great interest in the affairs of the county up to the day of his death.
"In politics, he was thoroughly independent; he left the Liberal party with whom he identified himself for years, at the time of the Biel agitation in the ranks. He was always ready to place country above party, and believing that the policy of the Conservatives was best for the Dominion, he has since given them his loyal and active support, and the change in the vote in Megantic was in great measure due to his influence. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and to the example of his life, as well as to the financial aid he was always ready to give, the prosperity of the Inverness Methodist congregation is largely due. The number of his neighbors who attended his funeral bore testimony to the esteem in which he was held, and the tears of the poor, whose wants his generosity had relieved, watered the grave of their benefactor.
"He did not appear any worse during the day of his death, and just before he died, he expressed a wish to leave his bed for his armchair, and did so without assistance. His son, while arranging his chair, noticed a change and summoned the family, but before they could come, the 'Black Winged Angel' had done his work and he had passed away with scarcely a sign, to be with the Savior in whom he for years had placed his trust.
"The funeral service was held in the Inverness Methodist Church and was conducted by the pastor, Rev. R. Corrigan, assisted by the Rev. Mosers, Deeprose, Easor, Satherland, and Hanron. The casket was borne up the aisle by his sons to the strains of the Dead March, and an impressive service was held amidst the tears and sobs of his sorrowing friends and neighbors.
"After the benediction, the casket was opened, and those present took a farewell look on the peaceful face of their dear old friend. The procession, which extended over a mile, was then formed and proceeded to the Boutelle Hill Cemetery, where he was laid to rest in the family lot, beside his mother. (Ed. note: Rebecca Gillis Mooney, whom John brought over from Ireland himself). All present felt, as one of the ministers remarked, that a 'man had fallen.'
"His beloved and faithful wife, his only sister, five sons and two daughters, survive him. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the whole community. His favorite quotation was 'my grace is sufficient for you.'"
by Thos. McKenzie, Inverness, May 18, 1901.
(Ed. note: written 3 days after the death of Mr. Mooney).
Additional notes from SMA, of British Columbia (re. family MOONEY notes) received 4/21/01:
Three years after he married Eunice (c. 1847), they moved from Vermont back to Inverness (Quebec) - legend has it that it was because John was being pressed to take an American citizenship. He purchased the farm of William and Charles Lord, which was between range 3 and 4 on the northern shore of Lake Joseph. The farm remained in the Mooney family for about 100 years.
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SEE letter from Harvey and Shirley M. Aaberg, written by Thomas Gillis in 1943 to his sister "Katie" (Catherine) regarding John Mooney and the Thetford Mines business.
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See Rebecca Gillis Mooney file - G.Barry research 3/06: John was a surveyor in the region of La Riviere aux Saumons and also spent five years building mills in Vermont. He returned to Inverness in 1847. He was municipal councillor of Inverness and a fervent Methodist. He and his wife Eunice Todd Wright provided funding, along with the Hon. George Irvine, that aided the Johnson brothers in launching their Asbestor Mines at Thetford, Quebec. John was also President of Johnston Asbestos Co. [3]
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Ernest Benjamin Gillis Family History
1818 - 1901 (82 years)
[3, 6]