[Welland Telegraph September 10, 1903]
Thomas Willson, of Wainfleet, Meets a tragic death on the banks of the feeder.
Word was received here on Tuesday morning of the death of Thomas Willson of Marshville, one of the former partners of Willson & Reavely, owners of a large tract of marsh land, Mr. Willson was in Welland on Monday evening, and about eleven o’clock left Cooper’s mill for home, with a load of chops. That was the last seen of the unfortunate man alive. On Tuesday morning about nine o’clock his corpse was found beneath the load of feed, which was overturned on the bank of the feeder, about a mile above the lock. Early in the morning a milkman, on his way to town, came across the upturned load, and thinking it was a runaway, he extricated the horses which were still there, badly tangled in the harness, and tied them to the fence, never thinking for a moment that their driver lay dead within a few feet of him. It is supposed that Mr. Willson was asleep at the time of the accident, for in several places the wheel tracks ran very near the edge of a deep ditch which runs parallel with the feeder for some distance on the opposite side of the road. When found the body was in a stooped position, the head being bent down nearly to the knees, and it is supposed that the deceased’s neck was broken in the fall. Messrs. Lawrence & Sutherland, undertakers, were notified; they brought the body to Welland, prepared it for burial, and took it to Mr. Willson’s home on Wednesday morning.
Thomas Willson was one of the best known men in Welland county. In 1882 he and Mr. Reaveley purchased 5000 acres of marsh lands from the county. They put in over fifteen miles of ditching and draining through the land, and a few years ago leased about 4000 acres to the Peat Co., at an annual rental of $1500. Messrs. Willson & Reaveley cleared up about 250 acres of land each, which is now first-class farm property. Deceased was a hard working and enterprising man, and has many warm friends who mourn his demise. He leaves a family of six children all at home. They are; Annie, Joseph, Charlotte, Rachel, Cameron and Cecil. His wife predeceased him. The family have the heartfelt sympathy of all.
The funeral will be held today from the home in Wainfleet to Willson burying ground.
[Welland Telegraph September 17, 1903]
Immediately after buying a ticket at the Michigan Central depot last Friday evening about five o’clock, Mrs. E. McMahon dropped dead. Mrs. McMahon had been visiting her niece, Mrs. Arrowsmith of Stamford for about a month, and was about to return to her home in Boston. She had received her ticket and was walking across the floor towards Mrs. Arrowsmith when she collapsed. Drs McGarry and Walker were immediately summoned but nothing could be done, death came instantly. heart failure being the cause, brought on probably by the excitement of leaving. Mrs. McMahon was 67 years of and had enjoyed the best of health for the last two or three weeks. A son who resides in Detroit was telegraphed for and arrived Saturday afternoon. Undertaker Morse took charge of the body. The remains were afterwards taken to Somerville, a suburb of Boston for interment.
[Welland Telegraph July 3, 1903]
Elizabeth Walker, widow of the late Samuel Horner, passed away at her late residence, Stratford, Ont., on Saturday night at twelve o’clock. She had been unwell for some time, and this, together with her advanced age, made death not altogether unexpected. Deceased was born in Portadown, County of Armagh, Ireland, in the year 1819. When only twenty years of age, she in company with some relatives, came to this country settling in the United States, spending a year in the Southern States. One year after coming to this country, in 1840, she was married in New York, to the late Samuel Horner, for many years a school teacher in Niagara district, after which they moved to Brockville in Eastern Ontario. In the year 1866 her husband after a short illness passed away. Two years later, she, with her children and relatives went to Stratford, where she has since resided. Her whole life has been one of retirement, always living among flowers and plants. By her own enterprise, she had grown flower gardens and trees, where before was a vast bed of weeds.. Her late residence is now a very pretty one, adorned with ferns and flowers and surrounded with trees, all of which she herself planted and looked after. Her casket was covered with beautiful roses of her own cultivation. She was eighty-three years of age and is survived by five daughters and four sons.
The remains were taken to Brockville for burial, and were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Homer, son and daughter of the deceased of Reed City, Mich. Mrs. J.H. Ball of this town is a daughter of the deceased.
[Welland Telegraph October 1, 1903]
The many friends of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown will regret to hear of her demise on Monday the 28th day of September, 1903, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Walter Grenville, St Catharines. She was the widow of the late Amos Brown, who formerly lived in Thorold township near Fonthill. The deceased had been an invalid for more than twenty years, and was in the 53rd year of her age. Her remains were interred in Fonthill cemetery on Wednesday.
[Welland Telegraph May 15, 1903]
The funeral of the late Mrs Thos. White took place last Friday. The esteem in which the deceased and her family is held by the public was evidenced by the exceptionally large attendance of friends and acquaintances from Port Colborne and the surrounding country. Many were they who mourned her loss and showed heartfelt sympathy for the bereaved ones. The funeral cortege proceeded from the late residence to the Bethel church, east of the village. About sixty vehicles formed the solemn procession when it left town, and at the church as many more were waiting. Hardly more than half could find accommodation in the church. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Theo A.J. Huegli, the new pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He preached excellent and sympathetic sermons in both English and German, and spoke words of encouragement to the family who had lost a dear mother. Many handsome and beautiful floral offerings were made by the relatives and friends of the deceased, including a large “Gates Ajar” pillow, an anchor and wreaths. The pallbearers were Messrs John Reeb, Wm. Mehlenbacher, Ed. Wegerich, J.C. Jordan, Chas Reichman and John Schneider. On Sunday evening last beautiful memorial services were conducted in Holy Trinity church by Rev. Huegli, and many who wished to attend, were unable to gain admittance. Among the relatives and friends present from a distance were ; Mr. and Mrs Albert White Stratford; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. White, Charles White, Henry White, Mr. and Mrs George Weikert, Mrs. Catherine Pellman, Mr and Mrs Chas. Kuehner, Mrs. George Cronmiller, Mrs. John Rasher, Mrs Ida Buchanan, Elmer White, Mrs. Dorothy White, Buffalo; Mrs. Henry Suess, Niagara Falls; Mr. and Mrs Geo. Cronmiller, Mr. and Mrs N. Reichheld, Mrs. M. Hill, Miss Cronmiller, Welland; Mrs. N. Reichheld, sr; Rainham; Mr. and Mrs N.E. Reichheld, Nelles Corners; Mr. And Mrs. C. Helts, Chas. Reichheld and daughter Ethel of Fisherville.
[Welland Telegraph September 24, 1903]
Tuesday on River Road, Nelson N, Bigham, aged 84, died after an illness of about three months: Mr Brigham’s home was originally at Woburn, Mass., but he had ived 20 years at the Falls. He was married twice, and leaves a wife, three sons and a daughter to mourn his death.
The sons are Edward and Royal of the Falls and Byron of Massachusetts. The daughter, Miss Beatrice, lives at home. He was a Conservative in politics, and a member of the Methodist church. The funeral took place Thursday at 4 p.m. Interment at Woburn, Mass.
[Welland Telegraph September 24, 1903]
St Catharines, Sept 17-A very sudden death occurred about noon today, when Mr N.A. Lindsay, the well-known insurance and real estate agent, while on his way home to dinner, fell to the ground dead near the corner of James and Raymond streets. Deceased was about 75 years of age and was born in Scotland. He came to Canada when a lad, and was at one time in the law office of Sir John McDonald’s father at Kingston. He was a prominent Mason and Oddfellow. Heart disease is supposed to have been the cause of death. He had not been feeling well for a few days, but continued at his work. He leaves a widow, one daughter, Mrs H.M. Blight of Toronto, and one son, Albert of St Catharines.
[Welland Telegraph June 26, 1903]
A sad drowning accident occurred Thursday of last week in the river about three-quarters of a mile below Queenston, when Andrew Donald, of this town lost his life. Along with some companions from the Falls, Andrew was picking strawberries on the farm of a man named Armstrong. At noon all went to the river for a swim. It is not known just at present how the accident happened, but Andrew was not a very expert swimmer and probably got beyond his depth. There is a strong undercurrent in this part of the river and it may have drawn the lad down. The other boys could give him no assistance, and they hurried away for help. At the time of writing the body had not been found. Andrew Donald was 14 years old and resided with his mother on Park street. Much sympathy is expressed for the bereaved family in their sudden loss.
[Welland Telegraph July 3, 1903]
Another old resident of Port Colborne in the person of Mrs Wilcox passed away on Wednesday morning last, after a distressing illness of about three weeks. Deceased was the relict of the late David Wilcox, who died eight years ago in August. She was a native of Ireland, coming to this country with her parents, Mr and Mrs Elkins, when six years of age. Ever since then she has lived in Port Colborne, and she has seen many come and go and many changes in the neighborhood. She was married in 1846 and leaves three children. They are-Mrs Wm Armstrong, Geo Wilcox and Mrs A.H. Neal of Idaho. She had a pretty home on the lake front, but for some years past she has lived with Mrs Wm Armstrong. About three weeks ago she was taken seriously ill, complication of diseases having set in from the grip and the disease having settled in her throat she was unable to take nourishment. Deceased was a member of St James church and as an estimable woman had many friends around her neighborhood,
The funeral will take place to-day from the residence of Mr Armstrong to St James church at two o’clock, where service will be held. The interment will be at Overholt’s cemetery.
[Welland Telegraph November 12, 1903]
This week is our sad duty to chronicle the death of a highly esteemed young woman of the village, in the person of Grace, the beloved wife of Mr Hugh Leaney, at the home of her parents, Mr and Mrs George Ross, on Saturday afternoon last, after a lingering illness borne with most patient fortitude, The funeral, which was attended by a large circle of sorrowing friends and relatives throughout the county, took place on Tuesday at 11.30 a.m. from her late residence to St Paul’s church, where the deeply impressive burial services of the Church of England were conducted by the rector, the Rev. F.C. Piper, assisted by G.V. Gwilym, of Trinity University, Toronto, who is in charge of the congregation here. The sermon of the rector was one of the most comforting hope to the mourners and friends.
The last mortal remains of the deceased were reverently conveyed to their resting place in the Coleman burying plot in the adjoining cemetery, by her two brothers, Charles and George, cousin Hugh Ross, of this village and three cousins William, Frank and Russell Ross of Niagara Falls Centre. The floral offerings were both numerous and beautiful, among which were those from St Paul’s church Sunday school, in which school the deceased always took a most active interest; Mr and Mrs W.E Phin, of Welland; Mr and Mrs Arthur Abbey, of Buffalo, and from relatives in St Catharines and Niagara Falls Centre. To the young husband and infant son, father, mother, brothers and sisters is extended the most sincere sympathy of the whole village and community.
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