This is where you will find interesting TALES of the various people that lived in and around Welland during the 1800s and 1900s.
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[Welland Tribune, 23 June 1905]
Judge W.W. Fitzgerald after a long illness, passed away peacefully to rest on Wednesday at his home at London, Ont. Deceased filled the office of county judge of Welland county for several years, and until ill-health prevented, about two years ago. After leaving here he spent some time in Virginia, partially recovering his health; and for the past year he has been in London. He had a stroke about a month ago, the results finally proving fatal. He was a prominent Orangeman and Forester. His widow, two sons-Dr. Fitzgerald of New York City, and C.E.T. Fitzgerald, practicing law at Winnipeg-and one daughter, Miss Amy, survive. Judge Fitzgerald had a wide circle of warm friends in Welland County, who deeply regret his demise.
Since the above was in type we learn that late William Weir Fitzgerald was appointed county judge of Welland on April 3, 1893, and nominally held the office until September 8, 1903, when his successor, Judge Wells, was appointed. For the last eighteen months his health was so bad that the office was filled by T.D. Cowper , who was appointed deputy judge for that purpose.
[Welland Tribune, 1 Sept. 1905]
Treasurer of Haldimand County for 20 years-A Prominent Liberal
Cayuga, Aug. 28-By the death of Mr. Adam Davis the county of Haldimand has lost one of its earliest settlers and most respected citizens. The deceased had for twenty years been treasurer of the county of Haldimand, and previous to accepting that office was reeve of the township of Seneca for a long period and warden of the county. At the general elections of 1986 he contested Haldimand in the Liberal interest against the Hon. Dr. Montague. In his earlier years Mr. Davis was an enthusiastic militiaman holding the rank of captain in the Haldimand Rifles, and an expert rifle rifle shot. In religion he was a member of the Church of England and took a very active part in its welfare. For many years Mr. Davis was an able and fearless magistrate. He will be greatly missed.
[Welland Tribune, 7 April 1905]
A very pretty wedding was solemnized at high noon, on Wednesday, the 5th inst, at the home of A. Angle, about three miles west of the village, when their adopted daughter, Miss Etta Robins, was united in marriage to Andrew Dalrymple, eldest son of John Dalrymple, Esq., of Gainsboro, the officiating pastor of Presbyterian church of this place. The young couple were very popular in church and social circles and they have the congratulations and best wishes of a host of friends. The presents were very numerous and costly.
[Welland Ttribune, 7 April 1905]
Mrs. Geo. Snyder, relict of the late Geo. Snyder, Gainsboro, died quite suddenly at the home of her son, Adam Snyder, on Wednesday morning. The funeral will be held from her late residence on Saturday at the Methodist church of this place, and interment in the Heaslip cemetery.
[People’s Press, 25 April 1905]
Niagara Falls lost one of its well-known and wealthy citizens by death on Friday morning at 6 o’clock when James Barry passed away at his residence at the corner of Welland avenue and Morrison street. Mr. Barry had been suffering for some weeks with pneumonia and complications, but was generally supposed to be recovering and his death came as somewhat of a surprise to most citizens.
Deceased was born in Bathurst, N.B., fifty-seven years ago, but has been a resident of this place for about 25 years. He married Miss Margaret Rennie, formerly of Aberdeen, Scotland, who with the following children survives-William, Beatrice, Jessie, Ida, James and Grace. He also leaves an aged mother in Janesville, N.B., three sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Mersevey of Boston, Miss Bessie Barry and Mrs. Scott of Bathurst, N.B., George of Boston, and Harry of Bathurst.
Mr. Barry was one of the best known public works contractors in Canada. With Messrs. Ross and McRae, he had large contracts on the Canadian Pacific, the Canadian Northern and Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo railways. Later becoming senior member of the firm of Barry & McMordie, he was engaged in the building of the great coffer-dams of the Ontario Power Company and Electrical Development Company of Ontario, which are among the marvels of the power development works.
Mr. Barry took a lively interest in local affairs, was a former town councillor, treasurer of the Niagara Falls Building & Savings Association, a promoter of the old Niagara Falls Metal Works Company and engaged in many other enterprises.
He was a member of Clifton Lodge, No. 254, A.F. & A.M. The funeral was held yesterday (Monday) afternoon from his late residence to Fairview cemetery.
[Welland Tribune, 22 January 1909]
General sympathy and regret are felt and expressed in this community respecting the recent demise of Miss Margaret Brandon of Wingham, sister of Rev. W.J. Brandon. Deceased was most favorably known and highly respected by all who became acquainted with during her stay of some months with relatives here. She passed peacefully to her heavenly home on last Sabbath evening at five o’clock, and with her dying breath expressed simple and perfect trust in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The memory of the just is blessed.
[People’s Press, 22 August 1905]
Mrs. Daniel Robbins died at Niagara Falls, N.Y., on Sunday morning, aged 52 years, two months and two days. Deceased was a former resident of Port Colborne and the body was brought here yesterday morning to the home of her mother, Mrs. Flemming. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins moved from Port Colborne to Niagara Falls, Ont. a few years ago. And two months ago went across the river to the American side. Deceased had been ailing quite a while, death being due to asthmatic bronchitis. She is survived by her husband, two daughters-Mrs. Bement and Sophia Robbins at home; her mother, Mrs. Flemming of Port Colborne, and the following brothers and sisters;-Frank and Ed. Flemming and Mrs. Wm. Rooth of Port Colborne, John and Sam Flemming of Hamilton, and Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Reilly of Buffalo. The funeral will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) from the residence of her mother, Mrs. Flemming, where service will be held at 2 p.m. to Overholt’s cemetery, where interment will take place.
[Welland Tribune, 25 July 1905]
There occurred at Allanburg on Friday, July 21, the death of Mrs. Margaret Rogers, aged 89 years, 4 months and 19 days. Mrs. Rogers was born in Ireland, county Caven, and died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. James Williams, after an illness of about four weeks. Interment was made on Sunday at Fonthill.
[Welland Tribune, 19 September 1905]
A very quiet wedding took place here on Thursday afternoon at 5.30 o’clock, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ott, when their daughter Katherine L., was married to Mr. Ira S.K. Weber of Berlin, Ont. The ceremony was performed by the brother-in-law of the groom, Rev. A. D. Gischler of Goderich.
Mr. and Mrs. Weber left for New York and other eastern cities. They will reside on Queen street, Berlin, Ont.
[Welland Tribune, 19 September 1905]
To the Number of 200 Meet in Joyful Reunion in Pelham, at the Old Hansler Homestead.
Our childhood home, our happy home
We never shall forget
The peaceful hours we then enjoyed
E’re time or vain regret
Had stole the flush from off our cheek
An dimmed our cheerful eye,
Or cast a shadow o’er the years
That passed so quickly by.
Would George Hansler have been proud of disappointed with the group of his descendants gathered in reunion at his old home on Tuesday, Sept., 11th could he have been present to witness the happy throng? The question is intense in its absurdity. He would most assuredly would have been highly satisfied with the showing made, because those present represented the thriftiest, most highly respected and one of the largest families in this country, also because peace and harmony reign supreme over the entire family.
Although the day previous was a most disagreeably rainy one, and the early morning hours of the same day threatened storm, relatives from both far and near began pouring into the old home in the early morning and the procession was a steady one until the middle of the afternoon. One would imagine it the migration of a small town to some other most prosperous and happy land, so dense was the march, and so mirthful the participants therein.
Relatives, who had been absent for years, and who probably will be again for years to come, met in the loving handshake which only the dearest and nearest of kin can give, and a feeling of happy contentment soon spread. The old were once more young, and the young were younger still. While the older friends indulged in quiet conversation, of the happy times in bygone days, the youth and maidens exchanged the lively chitchat of the present age, and the children “played upon the green”.
As the morning faded to the afternoon and as the merrymakers began to feel the results of their pleasures-the inner man beginning to grumble-baskets, aye, dozens of baskets, began to appear on the scene, and such baskets, too, m-m-m! The tables were spread on the broad and well-shaded lawn in front of the house, and fairly mourned under their bounteous and seasonable load of the most wholesome fruits, vegetables and other toothsome delicacies, in which the much favored land of Pelham and surrounding district richly abounds. The floral decorations were most profuse and well-selected, and tinted richly the long lines of tables. They were the gift of Mr. B.E. Secord of the township, and included fine clusters of hydrangeas, asters, dahlia, and in fact as fine a collection of the later flower family as could be wished for or found. The present was most highly appreciated by the many present.
After all had done full justice to the many good things offered, (the tables being set the second time) and the usual toasts, jokes and funny savings were concluded, a group photograph was taken by Photographer Chas. Willson of Welland, and many will be the orders for the finished product of that day’s “snapshot”.
The Hanslers are among the oldest settlers in Pelham, and although few in the beginning, have, from generation to generation, been so blessed as to, at the present day extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Mexico to Alaska, as it were; in fact they now represent one of the largest families of today in the new world.
George Hansler, U.E. Loyalist, was born on the ocean in 1756, while his parents were en route from Germany to America. He lived a number of years in New Jersey, and later, with many another true-hearted Britisher, left the U.S. and came to Canada before the war at the beginning of the eighteenth century broke out; he settled in the then unbroken front of the country, the homestead title dated 1786 to George Hansler, which has since for four generations been the home of an Andrew Hansler-the name of the present owner. The guardian of the Hansler home has always been a advocate of temperate habits. None,-no not one-ever used spirituous liquors or tobaccos in any shape or form and were clean-mouthed in the extreme. The homestead has never been under mortgage, has always been improved with advancing years, and today stands out one of the most modern and up-to-date homes in Pelham township. The Hanlsers are proud of their name and proud of their race. By their steady and untiring perseverance, they have attained prosperity, by their honesty and upright characters, they have innumerable friends and by their worthy Christian lives have but the grandest hopes of the future. What more can man want? What more can man acquire?
Among those of the elder generations present-Esther Hansler, widow of the late Andrew Hansler who passed from this earth about two years ago; D.J. Hansler, brother of Andrew Hansler, now deceased; Andrew Hansler, Isiah Hansler, Mrs. Stirtzinger and Mrs. Alcock, brothers and sisters, children of late Andrew Hansler; while the number of younger generations was so numerous as to make it impossible to repeat the list.
The gathering dispersed in the evening well pleased with the day’s events, and wishing for the “Hanslers” still greater growth and prosperity. May they hold many more such unions.
Among some of those from a distance were-Miss Ruby House, New York City; Dr. W. Thompson, Cleveland, O.; Miss C. Thompson, Buffalo; V.H. and Mrs. Robinson Niagara Falls; W.T. and Mrs. House, Bridgeburg; Mr. and Mrs. J. Merritt, Fulton; Clark Saure, Jordan; Nelson Moore, St. Catharines; Henry Wills, Winger; Andrew Bradt and family, Grimsby; Mrs. Laws and family, St. Catharines; Mrs. Sherk, Ridgeway; and many others of which room will not permit mention.
The saddle-bags of the late pioneer George Hansler, which are much coveted keepsakes in possession of the present Andrew Hansler, were on exhibition during the day, and are in a state of good preservation, as are also his diaries kept therein. The books were many written in the 17th century with the old goosequll.
The old German bible brought from Germany by the parents of the late George Hansler, is also still in the hands of the family and is highly prized.
The thanks of the entire gathering are due Andrew Hansler and family for their trouble in preparing the house and grounds for the event erecting the tables and many other thoughtful acts during the day.
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