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REV. CHARLES CRICHTON, one
of the leading men of Highgate, Orford township, County of Kent, public
librarian and police trustee, was born in Scotland November 26, 1847, a
son of James and Abigael (McClyment) Crichton. His parents were of
Scottish birth, came to Canada in 1850, and settled in the town of Ayr,
County of Waterloo, Ontario, but after one year removed to Burford, County
of Brant. Some years afterward they settled in Acton, County of Halton,
where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died at the
home of his son, James C. Crichton, at Moose Mountain, N.W.T., April 6,
1902, aged 86 years, and the mother died in 1881, aged 64 years. They
were members of the Presbyterian Church. The children born of their union
were: Peter, who died in Scotland at the age of six years; William, a
farmer of Iowa; Rev. Charles; and James C., a farmer of Moose Mountain
District, North West Territory.
Charles
Crichton was but three years of age when he was brought to the New World
by his parents. He early turned his thoughts toward higher matters, and
when 19 years of age untied with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
ability being soon recognized, he was received on probation into the
Hamilton Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1871, and two
years later was ordained deacon by the late Bishop James Richardson. Upon
the completion of his course of study he was ordained elder, by Bishop A.
Carmen, in 1874. Mr. Crichton entered into his ministry with great ardor
and energy, and carried it on in a pure, elevated spirit, which seemed to
animate everything that he did or said, and he met with marked success in
advancing his work. In 1900, however, owing to a general breakdown, he
was obliged to retire from the active ministry, and so turned his
attention to newspaper work, for which he has always had great ability; he
is now publishing the Highgate Monitor, which he purchased in
October, 1902, and is building up a very good business, and making his
organ one which advocates high thinking and moral living. He is an
excellent example of the true self-made man, having been dependent upon
his own efforts since he was twelve years of age.
In April, 1875,
Rev. Mr. Crichton was married to Miss Sarah Whitlock, of St. Mary’s, and
three children were born of this union: Fred, who died at the age of four
and one-half years; Maud L., who married Hamilton Galt, of Alameda,
California; and Jennie I., at home. Mrs. Crichton died in 1887, aged 35
years. She was a daughter of Thomas and Ann Whitlock, of Devonshire,
England, who died at St. Mary’s, Ontario.
In April, 1899,
Mr. Crichton was married in Orford township, to Mary L. Gosnell, of that
township, a sister of Ernest Gosnell, who is mentioned elsewhere. Two
children have been born of this union: Mary, who died in infancy; and
Belle, at home.
Few men are
more highly respected than Mr. Crichton, either as a minister of the
Gospel or as an individual. Two years ago he was elected police trustee,
and last year (1903) he was made public librarian. He and his wife and
family are important factors in the social and church circles of the
village, and have many friends throughout the neighbourhood. |
