Rev. Joseph H. Chant

Joseph must have only been a toddler when his parents emigrated to Canada. His early years were spent in Brockville, then in Niagara and finally he lived with his parents and elder brother's family in Cathcart until he was sent to live with his brother Christopher in Markham to learn the trade of cabinet making. There, he says, he was converted. Family legend has it that it hit him while he was hanging clothes on the line to dry. He then dedicated his life to the ministry and spent over 30 years moving every other year to a new church.

The Methodists thought it best at the time that no minister stay in the same place for long. He covered most of southern Ontario over the years. This career began in 1864 when he was received by the church on trial'. He attended Victoria college, but did not write his exams due to illness. While at the college, and during his first four years, while he was 'on trial' Joseph studied the following subjects: literature, history, scripture interpretation, natural philosophy, English grammar and composition, geography, rhetoric, arithmetic, church history, physiology, hygiene, theology, metaphysics, logic and ethics. He was ordained in 1868, the same year that he married Mary Matilda McKim, Tilly'. Joseph's salary began at $140 yearly, while he was on trial, and rose to $571 by 1885. This pay included amounts for fuel, horse keep, travelling expenses, board, moving expenses and children's allowance. His brother-in-law suggests in a letter written in 1880 that Joseph had been having difficulty getting his salary, but was doing better by that time. Joseph retired in 1896, but continued to preach regularly for a few more years.

The following is one of his granddaughter Doris Chant Cameron Werry's memories of Joseph:

As far as my Grampa is concerned, I know a lot of things because when he was the age I am now [89] and younger, a few years younger than this, we'd sit out on the back lawn, if he had things to do, and I'd help him if I was there, on the farm. And we'd talk and talk and talk. For that reason he told me a lot of things. One thing for instance, the day that Canada became a dominion which was 125 years ago the 1st of July, he asked Gramma to marry him. He suggested marriage to her, and apparently she must have accepted him, either then or later. But he said the said the young fellows all around teased him and said it was her red shirtwaist, that's what he used to call a blouse, a shirtwaist, said it was her red shirtwaist that attracted him. He said 'you know, it wasn't!'. I used to laugh about that. Every first of July, I think of Grampa. And that was the day Canada became a Dominion.

Joseph and Tillie's first 12 years together were full of heartache. Their first child, Lockwood Thornton was born in 1869 and died 11 days later. Their second child, born almost exactly one year later, was William Arthur McKim. One and a half years later another son was born only to die 8 1/2 months later. His name was Christopher Herbert. Another child was born to them three months after Christopher died, this time, a girl named Mary. She only lived 2 1/2 months. Next came twin boys Stanley Gladstone and Herbert Horatio in 1874. Herbert did not live to be baptised. In 1876 Charlotte Josephine was born. Lottie, only lived three years. In a letter he wrote to his sister Jane in 1880, he told of the death of his daughter Lottie (probably Charlotte). He said:

God has given us a very happy home, but in his wisdom he has seen fit to take to himself our dear little Lottie. She was such a dear good child. she had so many little winning ways, and was always so good natured and affectionate that we miss her very much indeed, but she is safe in the fold above and we expect to be there by and by. I send you one of her photographs.

Their last child, Harriet Ella May was born in 1881. Thus of seven children born to Joseph and Tillie, only three lived to adulthood.

After Joseph retired, he and Tillie lived in Newburg, Ontario until her death in 1914. After Tillie died, Joseph spent the rest of his life living with his children. Each year he would stay at Hampton with his son Stanley in the summer months, stop at Arthur's in Toronto for a short visit, and then go to North Bay for the winter with his daughter Ella Wager. While it might seem odd that he went north for the winter, there was a explanation. Stanley's farmhouse in Hampton was not well heated, whereas Ella's in North Bay was. So, at least inside, Ella's home was warmer. He died in 1928 an old man.

Here is what his grandson Ted Chant had to say about him when asked what Joseph did for fun:

"He was wrapped up in Biblical stories, he read his Bible everyday, he was a good living man, I don't think he had any fun, except, I guess he got satisfaction out of preaching a good sermon to a good full church. I don't know what else. I don't think he had any hobbies; he didn't drink, he didn't go to wild parties, he never danced or anything. Pretty staight laced in those days, preachers had to be. Their reputation, their living, their example was very important. In those days your whole life was wide open to everybody. He set and example with his life to the people that's the way they had to be. They've got to behave themselves or else."

Joseph Horatio Chant was a man of artistic temperament'. This was a pleasant way of saying that he had a fiery temper. He was known to be stubborn and strict. On the other hand, he wrote poetry and even published a book of poems called Gleams of Sunshine in which he wrote of his love for his departed wife Tillie and his sister Nell as well as many religious and political themes. Here are two of his poems.

MY LOT

My lot on earth is not all mirth,

 Nor is it constant gloom;

Some joys decay and fall away,

 But some leave much lasting bloom.

My wishes are not always met,

 And cares press hard at times;

Yet joyous strains ne'er sink to fret,

 Tho' dollars shrink to dimes.

My earthly lot boasts not a cot,

 No foot of land I own,

No bank account nor phosphate mount,

 Nor credit for a loan;

But I can read my title clear

 To mansion, robe, and crown;

I couple these with lot down here,

 And sing, tho' foes may frown. 

MY OLD SWEETHEART

My old sweetheart is away today;

 I feel as I did of old,

In my courting days, when far away

 I yearned for her more than gold.

I thought of her handsome, smiling face,

 Her noble and cultured brow,

Of her gentle ways, and charming grace;

 I missed her less then than now.

Through the long years of our wedded life,

 Now nearly a full two score,

She has proved herself a loving wife,

 And a sweetheart evermore.

Our love has grown with the flight of time,

 As the mountain stream may grow;

Or as a tree in a genial clime

 When free from the frost and snow.

The tempest may madly rage without,

 We have lasting peace within;

And confidence ne'er gives place to doubt,

 Nor concord to noisy din.

She will soon return again to me,

 From her visit in the West,

And the dear face that I long to see

 Will be nesting on my breast.

And I will feel as in olden time,

 With a love not dreamed of then;

No happier man in any clime

 Is known to the sons of men.

And when we part at the silent tomb,

 "Twill be but a passing day

Before we meet where there is no gloom,

 And sweethearts forever stay.

  *      *     *      *      *     *

Full forty-six years of wedded life,

 Enjoyed with my sweatheart here;

They were happy years, devoid of strife,

 And full of Christian cheer;

Then her Master called her spirit home,

And I am left to walk alone.

Ere long my journey, too, will end,

 And my spirit to God arise;

Perhaps he may my sweetheart send

 To escort me to the skies;

And there with our Saviour we shall be,

Yet sweethearts still through eternity.