Transcript

Transcript for "Death of a Waterloo Veteren: Mr. Joseph Westwood Quietly Passes Away at the Advanced Age of 95 Years," Nanaimo Free Press, 1 February 1888

We are called upon to-day to announce the death of Mr. Joseph Westwood, of Rockhall Farm, East Willington, which took place on Sunday, at his residence. The deceased gentleman had reached the advanced age of 95 years and 7 months.

He took part in the famous battle of Waterloo, and his death marks a period in that struggle that resulted in England's supremacy. the late Mr. Westwood was born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England, on June 16, 1792, and when quite young entered one of the British regiments as a drummer. With this regiment he took part in the glorious battle of Waterloo, in which the famous Duke of Wellington led the British army to fame and glory and routed the French army under the leadership of the Great Napoleon.

After leaving the army he worked at his trade- blacksmith - in England until 1850, when he went to St. Louis. Remaining there for four years he became imbued with the gold fever, and crossed the plains with many other hardy adventurers. He settled in Valejio, California, and remained there six years, and then went to Victoria, British Columbia, and remained there a little over a year, and during that time he lost his wife by death. He then came to Nanaimo and entered the employ of the Vancouver Coal Company as a blacksmith. Shortly afterwards, he took up the land in the Millstream Valley, now known as the East Wellington Colliery, which he sold to Mr. R.D. Chandler, of San Francisco a few years ago for over $100,000.00.

The deceased was a remarkably healthy and strong man and continued working at the anvil until a very few years ago. He was able to get about until about nine days before his death when he was confined to his room but not to his bed. He passed quietly away on Sunday morning, surrounded by his daughter-in-law and grandchildren.