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Archive for September, 2018

ANGELINE CONDON

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

The death took at her home at 247 South Main street on Monday afternoon of Angeline, wife of W.S. Condon. Mrs. Condon has been a sufferer for some time from cancer which was the cause of death. Deceased was in her 74th year. She had spent much of her life at Fenwick, where her first husband, William Garner, died some years ago. She is survived by four sons-Sidney, Burton, George and Frank Garner; and her husband W.S. Condon. The funeral takes place this afternoon with services held at the late home at 2 o’clock by the Rev. F.L. Austin, and burial at Fonthill.

ALICE H. GATES

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

Their passed into rest February 19, 1921, in Rochester, N.Y., Mrs. Alice H. Gates, aged 60 years, formerly of Wainfleet. She left to mourn her loss a loving husband, Joseph Gates, two daughters, Mrs. Fred Newman, of Jarvis, Ontario; Mrs. John Schrader, of Victor, N.Y., one sister, Mrs. John Farr, of Fenwick; and one brother of Welland, Ontario; and an aged father, William R. Smith, who was residing with her. The funeral services was held at her late residence, 128 Brock St., Feb. 22nd., and was largely attended by sorrowing relatives and loving neighbors. The floral offerings were many and beautiful which accompanied her to Mt. Hope Cemetery where she was laid to rest. Much sympathy is extended to the sorrowing family.

ALBERT A. NEFF

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

On Friday night, Feb. 18, at ten o’clock, one of Bethel’s well beloved citizens’ was called to his long reward in the person of Albert A. Neff.

He was a resident of Humberstone Township all his life and lived on the farm on which he passed away for forty-nine years. He was born Aug. 9, 1847, aged 73 years, 6 months and 9 days. Although Mr. Neff was ailing for years with that dreaded disease cancer, yet the end came very suddenly and was a great shock to his many friends. He was a devoted father and husband, and was loved and respected by all who knew him, and always willing to give a helping hand to any who were in need.

Deceased leaves to mourn his great loss, a sorrowing widow and two children, Milton, of the township, and Lottie, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and two grandsons, Theo M. Jones, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Mervin C. Neff, also one sister, Mrs. Daniel Johnson, of the Township, and three brothers, Emmanuel, of Dunnville; Lafayette, of Humberstone; and Jonathan, of Reno, Nevada.

His funeral was held from his late home, Monday afternoon, at 1.30, Feb. 21, 1921, thence to Bethel Methodist Church, where a very impressive service was held by his pastor, Rev. Mr. Creighton, who had the pleasure of baptizing Mr. Neff, he being converted in the quiet of his own home some months ago. In April 1872, he married Martha Vasbinder, of Wainfleet. He was the oldest son of Jonas Neff and Emeline Steele.

He was known by a large circle as he was sexton for thirty-six years of Overholt cemetery in which his remains were laid to rest in the hope of a glorious resurrection and reunion.

IMPERIAL MEDAL FOR BERT SNEYD

First One To Be Received in Welland- Recipient Served In Two Campaigns.

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 8 February 1921]

Sneyd’s store window on West Main Street is this week exhibiting an Imperial Army General Service Medal, the property of William (Bert) Sneyd, for services rendered in the Imperial Army overseas.

The medal has been forwarded to Mr. Sneyd by Col. Sickle, late commander of the East Kent regiment’ now in charge of the department for the distribution of war medals. Bert served two years with the Imperial Army, signing up in September, 1914, being discharged, after receiving wounds. He enlisted again shortly after with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, in whose service he remained until the signing of the armistice. He is at present employed in Galveston, Texas.

The medal itself, which arrived on Wednesday, is a handsome souvenir. On the one side is depicted a man seated on horseback, carrying a sword trampling underfoot the German coat-of-arms, the spread eagle, and a skull and crossbones. It very forcibly brings to our memory the various pictures of St. George and the Dragon. On the reverse side is a likeness of our present King, King George V, with a Latin inscription. On the edge is engraved the name of its receiver, Pte. W. Sneyd. The ribbon accompanying is colored blue, black, white and orange.

It is probably the only one of its kind in the city at present, although we are informed that there are others to follow, for service with the Imperial Army.

Bert is yet to receive the Imperial Army medal, having already received the 1915 star, for service in that year, and the second battle of Ypres. Two of his brothers, Archie and Alfred, are yet to receive a General Service medal, only from the Canadian Forces. Bert will also receive one from this source.

ACTION TO ANNUL THIS MARRIAGE

Seventeen-year-old Girl Married Youth of Nineteen and Now Repents

(Special to The Tribune-Telegraph)

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

Buffalo, N.Y., Feb 22-Claiming that his daughter, Iva, 17 years old, left home in the Elmwood Avenue district here last  November 11, while he was out of town with his consent or knowledge, Henry T. Buffum, as guardian for his daughter, has brought action to annul her marriage to Shook. Justice Pierce here in Supreme Court last Monday gave him permission to serve the complaint by publication because Shook lives in Canada. Buffum stated in the papers in the case that his daughter desired to return to him shortly after the marriage but was obliged to earn sufficient funds to defray her expenses. She returned to the father on January 29, this year, and 10 days ago the father was appointed guardian to bring the annulment action. The girl’s mother is dead. Shook is said to 19 years old.

NORMAN KENNEDY RINKER

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

A few items from the personal life of the late Norman Kennedy Rinker are here recorded. Norman has been practically all his life a resident of Welland County, having been born in Pelham Township on October 24th, 1897. His grandparents and parents were long residents of Pelham. His great grandparents were United Empire Loyalists. He attended Welland High School for a number of years. Norman K. Rinker, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Rinker, Randolph St., was well-known in local and Detroit musical circles. He was a member of the Detroit Confederation of Music. He was a great lover of a piano and spent a large portion of his time at the keys. He was a member of the Firgels’ thirty-five piece orchestra in Detroit. He also played in and was a member of Cowell’s Orchestra of Detroit. He passed his musical examination in Toronto Conservatory. Though an electrician, by occupation, it had been his intention to adopt music as a profession. Of a studious nature he had taken out an extensive course in LaSalle University. He had lived in Detroit for two years, having returned to Welland only a short time previous to the tragedy which cost him his life.

Of a quiet and likeable disposition Norman was loved by the community. He was a great lover of the out-doors. He was a devotee of open-air sports and delighted in rambles in the woods. He was for three or four years a player on the Page-Hersey Baseball team, who more than once won honors on the field. He was one of the good basketball players on the Y.M.C.A. team. He revelled in the prospects of a good skate on the river, which so sadly caused his demise.

During the late war Norman, at the age of sixteen, attempted to enlist with the Second Dragoons under Major Sharpe, but was rejected in consideration of his age. He also attempted to enlist again before the age of eighteen but it was not until May 29th, 1918 that he was successful in joining the colors, when he enlisted with the Royal Air Force.

He was a lad who left behind him an untarnished reputation.

TELEGRAPH OF THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO HAS INTERESTING STORIES OF EARLY WELLAND

[Taken from Welland Telegraph October 18, 1912]

{Compiled by “S”}

An old copy of The Telegraph, published thirty-five years ago, was found in a tin box in the  walls of the old Episcopal Church a few days ago by workmen who were making alterations.

The Telegraph thirty-five years ago, it is interesting to note, published four pages a week. Last week, the week of the anniversary, the issue was twenty pages. The size of the paper was increased five times, labor costs have probably doubled, yet the price remains the same, one dollar per year.

The paper, composed of four pages, is a typical representation of the newspaper style of that period.
The biggest heading on the first page is what is known in newspaper offices as nonpareil, one of the smallest types.

Interesting stories of the Welland era of 1877 are found in the pages, however, many of these are now dead. Some of those who are still connected with the business life of today were then men in their prime and their names are to be found within the pages of the paper.

The Welland of 1877 was a far different place than the Welland of today and one needs but a glance to be assured of this.

The most exciting thing which the editors of this early paper, then just a weekly, found for their readers was a county fair, half-buried in mud, and a council meeting.

The publishers were Colcock & Durnan, and the office of publication was in the Griffith block, East Main Street. Politics in the year 1877 demanded a great deal of space and editorial matter occupied three columns, one column being placed on the first page. Free trade was under discussion at the time, Canada , having a one-sided agreement with the United States.

A three-line item on the first page tells the readers of the paper that a survey for the projected new Niagara, St Catharines Railway was to be started at once.

The legal advertisements on the first page contain the names of LD. Raymond, A, Williams and Miller, Miller & Cox. The latter had offices in St Catharines.

The doctors at that time did not possess such an antipathy to advertising as they now have. Four medical men used  very good advts They were: Dr. A.B. Cook (now of Toronto), Dr J.W. Schooley, Dr D.T. Scholfield and Dr J.B. Kennedy.

The Queen’s hotel contains an announcement that it would be continued as before, baring liquors. The Frazer House, what is now known as the Arlington, was the only other hotel that used the columns of publicity.

James McGlashan, manager of the Imperial Bank, advertised his branch of the bank in a two-inch space. The capital at that time was $1,000,000. with a reserve fund of $25,000.

J.W. Dawdy, father of William and Har-ey Dawdy, well known Wellanders of today, had a small space on the first page, telling that his new grocery was the best place to but at rock bottom prices. H.D. Lock was a clothing merchant at the time. Charles Stewart was a fashionable boot and shoe maker of the town. C.J. Page advertised for tenders for rooms in the Oddfellows’ new block.

J.H. Burgar, the present magistrate and treasurer, was then proprietor of Medical Hall.

Russia and Turkey were at war.
In an editorial article The Telegraph critizes the expenditure of $59,080 by the government on the Kaministiquia hotel, a shack composed of nothing more than slabs and old lumber, worth not more than  $200 at the most.

Bertie and Willoughby fall fairs had been held and brief reports were published. Bertie fair was then held at Ridgeway.

The county fair was just being held as the paper went to press. A herd of cattle, shown at the exhibition, by J.K. Crawford, were ambiguously described in the report as being “a perfect sight”.

Members present at the council meeting held a week before publication were Messrs. Sidney, Page and Lamonte. The heading of the report is as follows: “The fathers succumb to the wishes of the people. They appoint a fire warden. Promises to do better in future. T.W. Hooker won’t face the music. Baits for January election. Unparliamentary proceedings.” It may be seen from this that the council of Welland of 1877 was a very strenuous one.

Marcus Vanderburg, an items states had just been awarded the contract for a new brick house for Charles Loesch.

Five “boarders” at Castle Coulson were announced. Stamford’s fair was highly praised by the scribe who reported it.

A prisoner escaped from Welland jail and was re-captured by Gaoler Baxter. “He was to serve six months but probably will now get more.” is the prophesy of the paper.

Among the local news items there is one announcing the return home from their wedding trip of Mr and Mrs Wm Gainer.

Some of the advertisers, the names of whom will be familiar to Welland’s older generation, are:

  • White Bros, liverymen
  • Jas Jackson Co., dry goods
  • F. M. Hagar, coal.
  • Thomas Brown, degtist
  • D.D’Everardo, registrar
  • Thomas Cumines, druggist
  • Geo Cronmiller, furniture
  • H.W. Hobson, drugs
  • Merchant’s gargling oil, for man or beast, is advertised in a prominent space on the back page.

CHEAP TRAVEL 45 YEARS AGO

Bradley Chambers Had a Trip to New York and Phil. On Nine Dollars.

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]

W.B. Chambers, who operates a plumbing and tinsmithing establishment on North Main Street, made rather a unique find among his possessions recently, in the way of a stub of a railway ticket, dated August 26th, 1876-forty-five years ago this coming August.

The ticket in question was issued by the Great Western Railway, which was the old Grand Trunk, and was for passage from Hamilton to Philadelphia, by way of New York City, and return. The total cost of this ticket was exactly nine dollars.

The ticket was issued for the centennial which was held in Philadelphia that years, to the first World’s Fair ever held in the United States.

Mr. Chambers also discovered at the same time a directory and map of the World’s Fair grounds in Philadelphia, as well as a diary which contains some rather interesting information. One think that the diary recalls is that Mr. Chambers started off on that eventful trip with $57 in his pocket-and he had a wonderful time and brought home quite a chunk of it. Now the same trip could not be started without at least $570 in your pocket. In those days the best of meals could be obtained for 35 cents and a room in a hotel for 50 cents, or a dollar.

Fire work displays and night recreation in the grounds at the centennial were unknown. You could enter the grounds at nine o’clock in the morning and if you were not out by six p.m., chances were that you would be locked in.

All of these conditions are recalled by items in the diary of forty-five years ago.

It is interesting to note that this ticket purchased forty-five years ago at nine dollars, if purchased today, would cost in the vicinity of forty-two or forty-three dollars.

MARY POTH

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 10 February 1921]

Mary Poth, nee Miller, relict of the late Daniel Poth, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 3, 1837, and died in Pelham, February 2, 1921, in her 84th year. About 62 years ago she was married to Daniel Poth. Eleven children were born to them. For a time they lived in Gainsboro Township where she united with the Church of the Evangelical Association of which she remained a faithful and highly respected member to the day of her departure. Ten years ago her husband preceded her in death. One son, John at Chantler, where she had her home in recent years and one daughter, Harriet, Mrs. Torrence, Niagara Falls, N.Y., survive. She also leaves five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A memorial service was held at the home of her son, at Chantler last Saturday, Feb. 5th, 1.30 p.m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. W.E. Beese. Interment was made in the Dawdy cemetery.

GEORGE ETTLING

[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 10 February 1921]

One of Humberstone’s oldest residents in the person of Geo. Ettling, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 6th, after a very brief illness. Mr. Ettling suffered a stroke on the previous Monday and never rallied. Deceased w 85 years, 6 months and 18 days. He was born in Humberstone township, and has resided here all his life. His father, John Ettling, was also born in Humberstone.

He was in the best of health almost until the time of his death. He retired from the farm about 12 years ago, and for six years he carried the mail between Humberstone P.O. and the station.

He was one of the pioneer members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and also the last living charter member, being always a faithful member of his church. He was a staunch Reformer in politics.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs Ellen Kiehl, of Hamilton, and Mrs. Chris Deterling, of Humberstone, and three sons, Henry in Chicago, Alex of Lowbanks, and John on the old homestead. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The funeral was held from his late residence, Victoria St., on Wednesday, February 9, at 1.00p.m., proceeding to St Paul’s Lutheran Church, where service was held at 1.30. Interment at Overholt’s.