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Monument Inscription
ERECTED BY THEIR FAMILY
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
OUR DEAR MOTHER
JANET DOUGALL
WHO DIED AT CASTLEVIEW 8TH NOV. 1924
AGED 67 YEARS
DEARLY BELOVED WIFE OF
JAMES CONNELL
ALSO OUR DEAR FATHER
JAMES CONNELL
WHO DIED AT CASTLEVIEW 1ST MARCH 1925
AGED 73 YEARS
DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE SAID
JANET DOUGALL
“UNTIL THE DAY DAWN”
Family History
This monument commemorates two persons who served the community in Mearns over many years. The premises at 48 Main St, Newton were the equivalent of today’s modern 24 hour convenience store. Castleview Dairy, run by the Connell family, was renowned for its service in meeting the needs of its customers whatever the hour, day or night. With the family living beside the shop, even if it was closed, a knock at the house door would be all that was required to supply the necessary item. It was said locally that the shop only closed each Sunday morning for two hours to allow the family to attend church.
James Connell the proprietor was born in Dundonald, Ayrshire on 2nd January, 1851. His father David was employed as a stableman and had married a person named Helen Finlay.
Wife Janet Connell nee Dougall, known as Jessie, was born in Govan Parish on 14th February, 1875. Her father James Dougall was engaged in the work of cowfeeder and contractor. Her mother called Helenora McKean was known as Leonora.
A cowfeeder was an old term for a dairy farmer and went back to the days when many households, even in urban areas, owned their own cows and engaged the services of the cowfeeder to look after them on a daily basis. In more rural areas a cowfeeder was another name given to a dairy farmer.
Both James and his wife died of heart related conditions perhaps the result of the rich dairy diet they would have enjoyed through their business activities.