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- Picture of Wm. Kidd's 80th Birthday at "The Homestead" 1901
"History of Leeds and Grenville" by Thad. W.H. Leavitt, 1972
Thomas A. Kidd - Page 136
Mr. Kidd is the son of William Kidd, a wealthy farmer of Marlborough. Thomas was born Decemb er 14th, 1845, and married, January 29th, 1875, Esther Ennis, daughter of James Ennis(Jr.), o f Ennisville, by whom he has had one child, Edith Eveline. Mr. Kidd became a clerk in 1866 , and in 1871 bought out the mercantile business of John Meikle, at Burritt's Rapids, where h e carries on an extensive general store. In 1878, he was elected Reeve of Oxford. Joining t he militia in 1864, he secured a second class military certificate, and became Lieutenant o f No. 3 Company, 56th Battalion, in 1868.
"Burritt's Rapids - 1793-1993 - A Scrapbook"
Excerpts from this book.
John Meikle
The name John Meikle, and the buildings he occupied, have disappeared from the map of Burritt 's Rapids but should nevertheless be mentioned as all played an important part in its early h istory.
By 1851, at the age of only 30, Meikle has a l-1/2 story house and the '58 Canada Directory l ists him as "dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, crockery, patent medicines, etc." as w ell as "postmaster". Presumably he succeeded Stephen Burritt Jr., in this function, and th e POST OFFICE was in his store. His house was on the location of the present brick Kidd hous e and must have closely resembled the one owned by John French next door. On Walling's map h e owns several other properties, leased as 'Tennant Holdings'. He was on the building commit tee for Knox Presbyterian Church in Merrickville, In 1871, his clerk, T.A. Kidd, bought his b usiness and Meikle disappeared from the scene.
After T.A. Kidd, the store and post office were taken over by the latter's son J. Harold, wh o sold it in 1950.
When William Kidd built his stone house, his oldest son, Thomas A. Kidd, had married (Esthe r Ennis of Ennisville) and started a family which would eventually grow to 9 children. He mo ved into Carlow Lodge. After his discharge from the militia with the rank of Colonel, he bec ame clerk in the business of John Meikle. Five years later, in 1871, he bought the busines s and subsequently French's mills. He had become Postmaster in 1866, a position he held fo r 50 years, and Reeve of Oxford in 1878.
To suit his prosperity and his large family, he built the brick house, which he called RIDEAU VIEW in the centre of the village, on the site of John Meikle's former home, in 1895. (Pictu re on cover of book). Built of stretcher bond brick, it has many interesting features: brack etted eaves, keystones on the exposed sides of the house decorated with terra cotta heads, a n elaborate verandah with a second floor door, opening onto a sunken balcony and a taste of S econd Empire cresting on the hip roof.
After Thomas and his wife died, and the family had gone their separate ways, the house was re nted.
Obit:
The funeral of the late Thomas A. Kidd which took place on Friday last from his late residenc e at Burritt's Rapids, to Christ church cemtery, was one of the largest and most representati ve ever seen in this locality. A notice of Mr. Kidd's death and some incidents of his life a nd work were given in last week's Advance; and the large number of friends and acquaintance s from far and near, who gathered to pay the last token of respect and esteem bore evidence t o the honored place which had been won by the deceased in the hearts and minds of all who kne w him. In addition to being affiliated with the Masonic Body and a member of other fraterna l societies, Mr. Kidd had been a life-long member of the Orange Order, and the burial took pl ace under the auspices of L.O.L. No. 37, and District and County Lodges.
At 1:30 p.m. the funeral cortege proceedd to Christ church, where the funeral service was hel d. The following officiating clergymen assisting the Rev. Chas Ryan, resident rector, were p resent; Rev. Canon Woodcock of Brockville; Rev. Canon Smith of Cataraqui; Rural Dean Code o f North Augusta; Rev. Mr. Teskey of Oxford Mills; Rev. R.J. Dumbrille of Kemptville, who i s a few well chosen words paid tribute the the departed, making reference to the loss sustain ed by the church, the home, fraternal organizations and the community generally.
The floral tributes were many and beautiful and bore additional evidence to the esteem in whi ch deceased was held. The pall-bearers were: O.V. Landon, Grand Master of Ontario East; Gilb ert Davison, District Master of Oxford; Howard Mills, County Master of Grenville; Reeve Sande rson, P.C.M.; George Clarke of Manotic, County Master of Carleson; F.S.Evanson, R.C.M., Presc ott.
Captain T.A. Kidd Dead
Prominent Resident of Burritt's Rapids
Well-known Throughout Leeds and Grenville Counties
(The following appreciation of the late Captain T.A. Kidd is taken from the columns of the Ke mptville Advance, issue of May 9th, 1918)
Wednesday morning the news of the death of Capt. T.A. Kidd was telephoned to emptville, and n eedless to state, caused sorrow and regret in many hearts. It is not exaggerating to say th e late Captain Kidd was the best known character in the township and one of the most prominen t figures in county circles, official, social and commercial. He had been a life-long reside nt of the township and had actively associated with every progressive movement for years. I n his prime he was a power to be reckoned with, capable, forceful, courteous and courageous , an alert business man, a keen enthusiast, quick to understand, and understanding an efficie nt executive. These were the qualities which drew to the late Capt. Kidd many offices of hon or and positions of trust. In all movements for improvement of conditions his co-operation w as sought and his services enlisted. So many phases of local, county and province-wide polit ical, social religious and fraternal life have been bettered by his efforts one cannot but ex pect the machinery of progress to turn a bit slower on account of his departure.
Captain Kidd was born in the township of Oxford, 72 years ago, and lived all his life in th e locality. He was married at Ennisville, Lanark county, January 28, 1875, and his wife - we ll remembered by residents of the township-predeceased him only six months. He is survived b y three sons and four daughters, siz: Maj. Rev. William Kidd, M.C., with the 21st Battalion , France; Harold Kidd at home; Major Thomas A. Kidd, D.A.A., G.M.G., KIingston, who receive d his promotion from Captain to Major, and later other honors, in Canada after sustaining wou nds in active service; Mrs. A. Longstaff, of Kemptville; Misses Alberta, Mary and Bessie Kidd , at home.
Deceased played an active part in military operatins consequent upon the Fenian invation in 1 866, at the time a captain, he and his comrades of the 56th Lisgar Rifles (Merrickville Co. ) were hurried to the frontier. In face of the terrific struggle now raging in Europe, Canad ians may well be graeful for such forbears, trained, as was Capt. Kidd, in actual warfare. D uring the Fenian Raid it would have been difficult to prophesy that history then in the makin g would inspire and spur to patriotic achievement the very sons of participants. Major T.A . Kidd and Major William Kidd had an enviable family record to uphold, and the result of suc h safe-keeping has demonstrated there could have been no better custodians chosen. Father ag ainst the Fenians, sons against Huns; two generations aiding in protection of Canada from des truction.
In 1866 Captain Kidd was appointed acting postmaster of Burritt's Rapids, and faithfully perf ormed the duties of that office to the time of his final illness. Through many changes of go vernment, he held this positon. Incumbents dependent upon political patronage went down an d out with the administrations they supported, but Burritt's Rapids office was an exception , the ---- there proving to have other qualities to recommend retnetion. His business --, in augurated at Burritt's Rapids in 1871, with the establishment of the first Kidd store, has be en, successful, although, in common with other business venture, subjected to fluctuations o f commercial condition. Qualities which even then enabled Captain Kidd to impress his wort h upon instigators and exponents of activities in a broader sphere, stood him in good stead , and the business today is what he made it - proof against all illwinds. A number of year s later, it was realized that opportunity offered elsewhere, and in 1887 the Oxford Mills sto re was started. The recent ware-made conditions have tried the stability of other concerns , but the Kidd stores displayed the solidarity of conscientious foundation building.
Fraternal honors were accorded Captain Kidd. He was a life-member of the Masonic order; Pas t Grand Master of Ontario East L.O.L., and while engaged in the duties of that office, accomp anied by the late Clarke Wallace, Grand Master British America, as fellow delegate, represent ed Canada at the conference of the Orangement of the World, at London, England. His first ap pearance at the Counties Council Board was in 1873, when as representative of Oxford, he perf ormed his duties in such a manner that on two different occasions he was elected Warden and s erved both terms with honor to his county and himself. The 56th Lisgar Rifles retained his s ervices as paymaster until the recent re-organization in 1914. For years he represented
Christ Church at the district Synod. He had been appointed President of Merrickville Agricul tural Society and until the inroads of his health forbade, took an active interest in all aff airs pertaining thereto. Af the time of his death he was the occupant of that office.
Since last November, Captain Kidd's health had not been as robust as usual and relatives asso ciated with him in family life, though tendering every assistance in allthat human endeavou r could encompass, were obliged to realize the subject of their solicitude was not making a s rapid progress as could be desired. Sympathetic attention was freely and lovingly given, b ut the course of his malady, liver trouble, could not be stayed. Two weeks ago the approac h of the end was perceived, and from this sinking spell Captain Kidd never recovered.
It is not often a district is called upon to face the loss of a man of such personality, an d his heath is regretted throughout the county. Fortunately - because of the agonizing wrenc h of parties ties in the final great deprivation - ment of the late Captain Kidd's type are f ew and far between. Countries, provinces and districts of more restricted bounds are occasio nally obliged to bid farewell to prominent and useful ment and do the best they can without t hem, but seldom has the grim angel caused more sincere grief than that resulting from the dea th of the late Captain T.A. Kidd.
The funeral service will be held at Christ Church, on Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock unde r the direction of the Orange Society, and interment will be made in the church cemetery.
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1845 - Yes, date unknown
, d. Yes, date unknown 