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GEORGE CONSTABLE COWPER
The Passing of a Good Old Man who was Revered by all Wellanders
[Welland Telegraph, 25 April 1902]
A good man and true has passed away. For more than a score of years no form that walked the streets was better known or more respected than the venerable man who is the subject of this obituary. The aged loved him, the young respected him and the children smiled on him.
George C. Cowper was born in Glammis, Forfarshire, Scotland, nearly eighty years ago. He was of gentle family and of clerical stock and a descendent of the Tannahill family, famous in Scottish song. His father was a clergyman of the established church of Scotland. After obtaining a good classical education he went to Trinidad in the West Indies where he occupied an important government position for many years and acquired some wealth. Getting tired of that climate he returned to Scotland, where he married in 1852. Seven years later he came to Canada with his family, and settled in Owen Sound, where he engaged in journalism. When his oldest son, Mr. T.D. Cowper, settled down to the practice of law in Welland, Mr. Cowper and his family moved here.
He was a singularly unassuming man; and although one of the best read men in the Province, especially in English literature and poetry, few even of his fellow-townsmen, knew it. He was a cultured, scholarly man, without himself realizing it.
His best loved work was as an Elder of the Presbyterian church. This office he magnified in every deed. He was an example to the flock, and all knew that he was a man of God-an honored, revered and loved one.
His quiet and unassuming labors in the church were known and appreciated. He was for many years the superintendent of the Sunday school, the senior elder of the session and its stated clerk. In his earlier years he was much esteemed as a member of the Presbytery Synod, and more than once of the general assembly, and his wise and modest counsels and suggestions were much appreciated and frequently acted upon.
In no Christian duty was this good man more conscientious than in his liberality to the causes of God, and to the poor and needy; but never in these matters did his right hand know what his left hand did. A tenth of his income was solemnly dedicated to God. Such a life was a benediction –an irreparable loss to the community, and especially to the congregation which he loved, and loved him in return.
His wife, an exceptionally superior woman, highly connected in Scotland predeceased him about eleven years. His surviving family are all in Welland-Mr. T.D. Cowper, Crown Attorney; Dr. James Cowper; Mrs. Elgin Myers and Miss Cowper, who enjoyed the high privilege of ministering to her saintly father to the last.
His funeral will be held from the Presbyterian church tomorrow afternoon at 1.30 o’clock. He will be laid beside his wife at Fonthill. All who knew him, and knowing him, could not but love and honor him, will have the opportunity of paying their respect to the memory of a good man and true.
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