Subscribe..
CRUSHED UNDER A LOAD
[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.
Add A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.