One of the oldest and most respected landmarks of the county passed away on Saturday, January 9^th. His funeral was largely attended on Monday, the 11^th inst. The "Squire" was a son of John Whelan, an old Waterloo veteran, who settled in the early days of Little York upon land now near the heart of the present City of Toronto. He sold this land and located in the Township of Camden, where the subject of this sketch was born. The following biography of the late Squire appeared in The Beaver about six years ago.

"William Whelan, of the Township of Camden, County of Lennox and Addington, is one of Ontario's grand old men, and is distinctively a Canadian production. He was born at the Village of Centreville, in the Township of Camden, on Nov. 23^rd, 1819, and is just six months younger than her Majesty Queen Victoria. When a mere lad, he displayed great proficiency as a marksman, and at the early age of seventeen was promoted to the rank of Captain in one of the first companies of the old Addington Militia. During the rebellion of 1837, Capt. Whelan was among the number summoned to Kingston to form a battalion to reinforce the garrison at Prescott. After arriving in Kingston, the commanding officer addressed the battalion, which was made up of members of the different companies from the adjoining counties and neighbouring towns, and pointed out to them the duty and dangers that lay before them, and asked for volunteers to go to Prescott to assist the garrison. Young Capt. Whelan was the first to step forward and volunteer his services. Before the regiment was despatched, however, news arrived of the victory of the Battle of the Windmill, so the Addington boys, with Willie Whelan at their head, returned to their homes, proud of the victory of the Canadian troops, but regretting that they had no opportunity to share in the glories of the battles.

Mr. Whelan claims the distinction of being the oldest acting Division Court Clerk in the Province, having received his commission in January, 1854. He was also appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1865, and in both of these official capacities, he has won the enviable reputation of being a peacemaker, and many a would-be litigant has, through his kind influence, been induced to settle his difference amicably with his neighbour instead of fighting it out in the Magistrate's or Division Court. For nine years, Mr. Whelan was a member of the Municipal Council of Camden, and in 1850, was a member of the first County Council of Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, which position he filled with marked ability for eight years. Squire Whelan, as he is popularly called, is one of the pioneers of the cheese industry in Eastern Ontario, and has always taken a deep interest in the Dairyman's Association and all that pertains to the improvement of the advancement of all agricultural pursuits. At the World's Fair, the Squire's cheese received the highest award, and he now points with pride to the medal presented to him. William Whelan is a Roman Catholic and a warm sympathizer with the Liberal party. In his younger days, he took a very active part in politics and was always found enlisted under the Reform banner, and delights today in relating many amusing incidents in connection with the political battles he has fought."

The Squire was in his 85^th year, and had been actively engaged in business until two years ago, when he began to fail, and had since, until the time of his death, been gradually wearing away. There survive him one son Charles, and four daughters, namely Mrs. Thomas Jordan, Mrs. M.J. Conway, Mrs. John McKenty, and Miss Theresa Whelan.