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[Welland Tribune, 1 December 1882]
Only a short time ago the death of one of our most respected residents, unfortunately occurred from the administration of chloroform to deaden the pain expected from a dental operation, and again on Friday great excitement was occasioned by a young lady named Nellie Shea (or Shane) going into convulsions whilst under the influence of some new-fangled process to deaden pain. Fortunately, however, in this case the results were not so serious.
[Welland Telegraph, 18 February 1910]
Elmer Merritt has a dog that certainly knocks the spots off every thing in local dogdom. He is a Great Dane and tips the scales at 165 pounds in his bare feet. The animal arrived from Hamilton on Wednesday.
[Welland Telegraph, 8 February 1910]
W.A. Gunton, Government Inspector of the Society of Neglected Children of the Province, was here on Saturday, and with Chief Jones rounded up the neglected children in Welland, the names of which are published elsewhere.
“You have your full share of neglected children here,” he said to the Telegraph. Asked what he attributed this to be he explained that the condition always prevailed in growing towns. Mr. Gunton went on to say that the children taken from here go to the shelter in Toronto, where they are adopted by people of means. He will address the St. Catharines Council Tuesday night relative to establishing a Shelter there.
[Welland Telegraph, 3 June 1910]
The present Halley’s Comet is being marveled at, but Deputy Registry Elliot of the Registry Office remembers distinctly a comet which ran within view of the earth about thirty years ago, which was much larger and plainer, and Mr. Elliot says more beautiful than Halley’s sky-wonder.
County Town a Mecca for Dead Beats
As Much Division Court Business in Welland as in Niagara Falls and the Rest of the County
[Welland Telegraph, 3 June 1910]
The annual report of the Inspector of Division Court is just to hand; and the Telegraph is forced to conclude after reading it that Welland is the favorite roost for the man who can not pay and the dead beat who will not pay.
There are six Division Courts in the county; Welland had 588 suits. The other five put together, and this includes Niagara Falls, mark you, had only 589. The claims made in the Welland court, moreover, totalled almost as much as the total claims of the other five. There were sixty-three judgment summonses in Welland and only fifty-eight in all the others put together. Twenty-five debtors in the six courts were ordered to be committed, and fifteen of those were from Welland.
To quote the phrase of an ex-Wellander, “the bonds of pecuniary obligation lie lightly in Welland.”
The following is taken from the report:
Number of suits entered
Amount of claims
Judgment Summonses Issued
Judgment debtors ordered to be committed
The number of debtors actually jailed, however, was only two, and both of these came from Welland.
Return of emoluments-
Clerks-
Bailiffs-
[Welland Telegraph, 3 March 1876]
Welland, Feb. 29
Pursuant to call of the President (Charley) a special meeting of the great Dog Convention of the town of Welland met in Dog alley, this a.m.
Present-The President; Uno, Secretary; Little Joe, Delegate; Ponto Skip, Towser, Prin, Bravo, Fred, Rover, Dr. Fly, Roger, Jim and Constable Sport.
On the reading of the minutes of the last meeting the Secretary displayed great nervousness. Little Joe shook his head, making the jewelry on his neck rattle, so as to attract attention from all. Lawyer Jimmy commenced rubbing his paws, evidently thinking there was fun ahead, which would bring grist to his mill.
A great pow-wow ensued, consequent on the astounding discovery that the Secretary had willfully altered the minutes to suit his political proclivities. At this juncture a wail of discontent arose, and Uno was summarily ejected from the convention, and was last seen entering the doorway at the head of the rickety stairs at the rear of that two storey brick block, which contains that great ear of Juggernaut, with his caudal appendage closely pressed to his nether extremities, and as he closed the door behind him a howl arose from the convention which bore unmistakable proof that his conduct received the entire disapproval of its members.
Ponto was the appointed Secretary pro tem.
Lawyer Jim then seconded the platform, and said that all present were aware of the scandalous action taken by the late Secretary, and in moving for the appointment of a new one, he would simply draw attention to the evidence adduced at the last meeting from Ponto, Prin, Bravo and Fred, and for the information of those who were not present at the last meeting, he would read over the said evidence. He then proceeded in a clear distinct voice to read over the testimony of the above canines, commenting thereon as he went along. He summarized the whole by stating that all agreed that it was some kind of a workshop where they were enticed into by offers of cake, &c., but at times they were summarily dragged in by boys, (without any hair on their face) while the man with the dark hair was invariably present (bow-ow). The difficulty seemed to be to locate the exact spot where these dastardly acts had been committed, and to definitely describe the perpetrators. He had, since the last meeting been busy, with the aid of the evidence then adduced, endeavoring to ascertain the name of the shop where these cowardly acts were committed, and on enquiry had found there was only one such establishment in that neighborhood, and there has been only one there for over fourteen months, and hence the question was to his mind, satisfactorily solved (bow-ow). The late Secretary had willfully and maliciously misconstrued the evidence and has laid the fault at the door of the wrong party, and restitution should be immediately made (bow-ow). He was sorry to hear that the man with the dark hair had left the town, and he had heard through his (the speaker’s) master that a Government situation had been bestowed on him that he May Govern the customs to better advantage than he did those rascally set of imps in his employ here. He had also heard it said that this dark haired man had a partner-a boy, apparently some 16 or 18 years of age, who was, no doubt, one of those alluded to by Prin in his evidence, (bow-ow). The speaker concluded his remarks amid uproarious cheers, by moving that Ponto be appointed Secretary in place of Uno who had been expelled.
Dr. Fly, in seconding the motion, said he corroborated all that his learned brother of the bar had said, and would add that he considered any establishment what would allow tin pans to be attached to a canine’s extremity should receive the severe censure of the community. The guilt was, beyond doubt, fastened now on the proper party. The evidence was straightforward enough. There had only been one establishment of the kind in that neighborhood, and in fact, on that side of the street for over fourteen months and that was proof positive. And further, the dark haired man and the boy 16 or 18 years of age correspond well with the description given of the occupants of that one-horsed establishment, (bow-ow). He was happy to hear that they had made arrangements to leave the premises, and felt sure that after that convention would not be further troubled. The venerable doctor, who by the by, lost one of his feet in a battle for liberty, then resumed his position.
The motion was then put and carried.
Rodger, a new member of the convention who, though young, stood some six inches above any of the rest, then asked permission to address a few words. He said that on Monday last being called down to the Court House on business from his residence near the North School House, he was decoyed by a young man 16 or 18 years of age, who wore a light overcoat, up a flight of stairs in a two story brick building. As he was going up he heard a bell ringing violently on the street and a boy calling out loudly, something about an auction sale. Well, I was led through a doorway into just such a shop as has been described her today, where, a lot of type was lying around and soon a cord was attached to my narrative so tightly that I ran from his cruel grasp and bounded through the back door, which was open, and down the steps and thinking he was after me, I ran through Dog Alley and made for home. On my arrival there I found it was not he who was following me but a tin can daubed with, what my master said it was, printer’s ink was attached to the cord so as to strike my heels as I ran.
At this juncture the manifestation to lynch or tear the boy to pieces was so great that Constable Sport had his scierice taxed to the utmost while a vote was passed with authorizing each member present to bite that beardless boy of the Tribune.
The president then stated that this notorious practice would now be put a stop to, by reason of the guilty parties moving from the vicinity, he did not see the necessity of having such an organization, and would; therefore, on the dismissal of his meeting destroy the constitution by law and charter.
The members then dispersed leaving instructions with the Secretary to hand a copy of the proceedings to the Telegraph for publication.
Ponto
Secretary
INTERESTING NOTES AND COMMENT ON AN EARLY WELLAND COUNTY PAPER
THE “ACORN” PUBLISHED AT FONTHILL
[Welland Telegraph, 3 May 1910]
The Telegraph was shown an interesting paper by C.W. Price on Friday. The paper, which was published in Fonthill, was called the “Acorn”. It is believed to be the first paper published in the County of Welland. The first issue appeared from the office of publication in Fonthill in 1855 on August 10th.
There is a rival in the field, however, for first place, and that was the Fonthill Herald. Some say that the Herald was the first paper published.
At that time there were no papers in Welland, which was at that time called Merrittsville. Fonthill was much larger than Merrittsville, and as a consequence it was the centre of the county, and that is why the Acorn was founded there.
Its lease of life was very short, however, as it was only published six months. Mr. Price has every paper issued bound in a book.
The Acorn’s sub-heading was very suggestive but unfortunately it did not live to carry its policy out. The sub-heading referred to is, “The Acorn-Big Oaks from Little Acorns Grow.” In politics it was Independent. Politics were very seldom referred to in its editorials.
The Acorn was owned by and published by Hosmer L. Stone and D. Hobson. After three months in partnership Mr.Hobson sold his interests to Mr. Stone.
The size of the paper was about eight by twelve inches. It comprised of two sheets each of three columns –there being twelve columns in all. The terms as printed on the first page were two pence currency per number. It was a very neatly printed paper and would put the papers of nowadays to shame in that regard. It contained correspondence from Port Colborne, Port Robinson and Merrittsville.
The paper was printed in the office of the Herald. This was in a concert hall near the present block owned by Mrs. Stone and was burned down twenty years ago. The block was three storeys high and the village of Fonthill at that time was much larger than it is now is.
Several items are taken from the quaint old paper by The Telegraph. They will be found below and are very interesting.
Narrow Escape-A little girl about four years old, daughter of Dilly Coleman of Port Robinson, while playing in front of a well fell in. A colored man, standing near, immediately descended into the well and saved the child from drowning.
A marriage notice reads as follows: Married-On August 10th, 1855 at the residence of the bride’s father in the township of Pelham, by the Rev. J.R. Lavelle, Mr. J. H. Berston, tobacconist to Miss Lucilla D. Haines.
The paper was published on Friday.
Riceville, which is now Upper Fonthill, is also mentioned in the Acorn’s columns. The first Pelham post office was situated at Riceville. John S. Price was postmaster.
A paragraph regarding Townsend, the noted murderer, who killed several people in this province, and who after a trial lasting four months at Welland, was allowed to go free, also appears.
The St. Catharines Post is also referred to in an editorial.
The following interesting note is also taken from its columns.
Lecture-Wm. Lyon McKenzie is expected to deliver a lecture in the concert hall, October 4th, 1855, on the subject of dissolution of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.
Despatches of Old Country news from steamers arriving in New York appear regularly in its columns and a scare heading is featured once in a while. As a whole it was a very interesting little sheet.
A notice of the first Pelham cattle show appears. It was held at Riceville. Prohibition was advocated in its columns.
Other interesting items gleamed from its columns by our reporter are:
Serious Accident at Merrittsville- On Wednesday at Merrittsville a platform at the side of Mr. Bald’s new house, upon which several carpenters were working, fell to the ground, injuring the men.
Drowned- Near Hellemsport, a sailor fell overboard and was drowned in the canal.
Fire- On Monday evening a barn belonging to Peter Price near the Chippawa creek was burned to the ground.
Married- At St. Catharines, on 30th November, by the Rev. A.L. Atkinson, Lorenzo D. Raymond to Mary Jane Cochrane.
The Acorn was not without its troubles with subscribers, however. The following is a very crude letter received from Merrittsville.
|
Merrittsville, 12 Nov., ‘55 Mr. Editor: Sir,- I am happy to observe in your last issue of the Acorn that the last quarter is up, please omit sending the Dwarf Nut to me as swine feed is plenty with us in those parts, the year; no more. but Remain yours Cincerely! true as you live Joseph P. Brown |
The Acorn replied to the above letter with great eloquence of nearby a column in length. The editor, even in this time of trouble, displayed a great deal of humor.
That the Mechanics Institute of Fonthill is a very old institution is evidenced by the following from the Acorn:
Mechanics Institute- According to notice, the annual meeting of the Institute was held on Monday, 3rd December. The attendance was exceedingly good. Officers were elected as follows:
John Frazer, Esq., M.D., M.P.P. –Pres.
Isaac P. Willson-1st Vice-Pres.
John Gore- 2nd Vice-Pres.
D.D’Everardo-Secretary
John B. Oxley-Treasurer
Gibson Gray-Librarian
J.S. Price, D. Kinsman, J.H. Burston, Henry Jiles and A Dinsmore were elected Associate Directors.
Pelham Municipal Council for 1856-Dr. Frazer, J. Scholfield, Lewis Willson, Parmer Buchner, Peter Beckett.
In February the editor made the announcement that he would have to suspend publication for some time. Later he announced he would again publish the paper on a much larger scale. We are informed that he did this and that until 1863 he published a very successful paper. In 1863 he again suspended publication.
Mr. Price also showed The Telegraph several issues of the Welland People’s Press of 1862 and 1863, published by A. Dinsmore.
We have here a copy of the minutes of Welland County Council of nearly sixty years ago. They reveal two points of great interest. (1) The councillors sat in those days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (2) Owing to the county treasury being depleted, the warden paid accounts out of his own pocket.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 March 1922]
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1865
The members of the County Council assembled today at the Court House and at Seven o’clock p.m. were called to order by the Warden, Edward Lee, Esq., when the following representatives answered to their names: M. Betts, Reeve of Welland, M. Climenhage, Reeve of Bertie, R. Coulter, Reeve of Thorold Township, N. Forsyth, Reeve of Fort Erie, Geo. Whiteman, Reeve of Humberstone, Thos. Greenwood, deputy Reeve, do., James Henderson, Reeve of Crowland, W. James, Reeve of Thorold Village, W. Kennedy, deputy Reeve of Pelham, John Pew, Reeve of Stamford, N. Willick, Reeve of Willoughby.
Absent Members: A.H. Biggar, Reeve of Clifton, Jos. Garner, Reeve of Pelham, Geo. Graham, deputy Reeve of Bertie, S. Haney, deputy Reeve of Thorold Township, J.C. Kirkpatrick, Reeve of Chippawa, W. Russell, deputy Reeve of Stamford.
Warden’s Address
The Warden, addressing the Council, said he had deemed this the most favorable time to summon the Council to consider the municipal business of the County, and to close up as far as possible, the business of the year. He was not aware of any matters of great importance that would engage their attention, but if any should present itself, he would bring such under their notice. The Council, had, at the June Session, ordered an audit of the accounts from 1st January to the time Mr. Thompson vacated the Treasurer’s office. While he, the Warden, did not think it necessary to have such an audit, he considered it his duty to carry out the instructions of the Council. The audit had been made, and the report would be laid before the Council, and from which it would be seen that the statement did not agree with his settlement with the late Treasurer. Mr. Thompson has paid back to the County the sum of $246, paid himself for the report made by Gavin Robertson on the books of the County, as well as $200 paid himself as salary, not authorized by the Council. When the present Treasurer, Mr. McGlashan entered upon the duties of his office, he found but $102 in the Treasury and had the unpleasant fact staring him in the face, of debentures nearly due, interest maturing and accounts amounting to $500 for the liquidation of all of which he had no funds. Under the circumstances, he, the Warden, had assumed the responsibility of supplying such funds as were absolutely necessary to meet pressing demands. At one time, he had borrowed $5000; at another $5000, and on a third occasion he had himself advanced $300 to be repaid on the 1st January next, and at a rate of six per cent, (hear, hear) which he trusted would meet the approbation of the Council. In compliance with another resolution of the Council, a sale of County lands was held at Port Colborne on the 24th of October last, and which, while not well attended, not much sold, had realized good prices, exceeding the appraisement of the committee on County Lands. He was happy to inform the Council that during no year since 1855 had there been a greater quantity of Count Lands sold, than during the present one, and the prices also were in excess of those received hitherto. (Hear). The quantity sold was 1971 acres, realizing $10,739-(Hear, hear) of which upwards of $2000 had been paid into the Treasury on the first installment. Much credit was due the County Clerk for the interest and good management he had evinced in the matter of the Lands. The Warden submitted a proposal from a Mr. Perry of Dunnville to forfeit the sum of $416.20 paid on 50 acres of County Lands, if the County would take back the land, as he was unable to redeem it. Mr. Dilly Coleman has written him, the Warden, asking for time in the payment of his arrears on County lands. He, the Warden, would earnestly recommend the payment of another investment on the amount due the government for the County Lands. The receipts from those lands would next year, exceed $3000, and he suggested the passing of a resolution authorizing the County Treasurer to pay as much as he could afford towards the liquidation of the original purchase. Since the last meeting of the Council he had received the resignation of the Rev. Charles Walker as Local Superintendent of Schools for the Township of Thorold. The School Act provides that in case of vacancy in these offices the Warden shall make new appointments. With the view of affording satisfaction in a nomination, he had consulted the Reeve of the Township who had recommended Mr. Issac P. Willson, who was accordingly appointed. The Warden then laid on the table a number of papers, among which were a circular from the Chief Superintendent of Education relative to the new Grammar School Act; a communication from the County Council of Simcoe, asking cooperation in urging upon the Legislature the adoption of the principle of free grants of public lands to actual settlers as being the only true one for a new country; a communication from the Council of the County of York on the subject of renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty. The Warden concluded by submitting a report from the County Clerk relative to the Bonds of Mr. McGlashan which had been all duly executed, and regretted the absence of so many Councillors, several of whom had been detained through illness.
Application for Extension of Time
Mr. James submitted a petition from the collector of Thorold village praying for an extension of time to the 25th of January in the collection of the taxes of that village.
Mr. Forsyth was under the impression that the local councils had in their own hands the power asked for.
Mr. James read from the U.C. Consolidated Statutes page 672, Cap. 55, 22nd Vic, Section 104, to show that the local council had not the power to extend the time.
Mr. Henderson desired to know if the council of Thorold would pay the interest on monies not paid as its apportionment to the County, if any such had remained unpaid since the 14th of the month.
Mr. James said certainly. We ask no relief from the County, but merely time to collect, by which we shall avoid the disagreeable duty of distraining the goods of the people who were unable to pay up to the present time.
Mr. D. D’Everardo, Clerk of the Council being asked for his opinion said that in a late case between the corporation of Kingston vs. Stevens, the Court held that so long as the poll remained in the hands of the Collector, that officer continued to be invested with all the powers vested in him.
The prayer of the petition was finally granted on motion to Mr. James seconded by Mr. Forsyth.
Hours of Meeting
On motion of Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. James, the sessional hours during the present session were determined upon as follows: Meet at 9 a.m.; adjourn at 12.30 p.m., meet again at 2 p.m.; adjourn at 6 p.m.; meet again at 7 and adjourn at 9 p.m.
The hour of adjournment having arrived, the Warden left the chair.
A Tale of The School Days of Long Ago
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 18 January 1923]
Boneless came into this world under very inauspicious conditions. His parents were not rich, but that mattered little, as no one was rich in those days. His father was a farm laborer receiving seven dollars and a half a month the year round and a hovel to live in free of rent. His mother was laid away beneath the sod of McColl’s cemetery when he was but five days old, and he was left to the care of a sister, eleven years old. True, for several weeks Aunty Sinclair, the neighborhood mid-wife, gave him her attention and quarts upon quarts of catnip and senna tea. Moreover, she never neglected an opportunity of visiting the home and rendering whatever of assistance as was necessary to the “wee bairns.” She was a kindly soul, who smoked her clay pipe beside the old fireplace in ecstatic enjoyment, when alone, and stuck its stem through her garter for safety and secrecy, when anyone approached her sanctuary. For the rearing of Boneless and numerous other newcomers to the neighborhood, she has her reward.
Boneless was as plump as a roll of butter, and that was prodigious in plumpness before the fifteen-ounce print was invented. He had a nose inclined to be “pug” and sleepy, blue, lack-lustre eyes, and with long struggles with the erstwhile “sugar tit” acquired the habit of sucking his tongue, which habit he retained until well on in boyhood years. He was finally persuaded to desist by Susie, his sister-mother, who, touching his tongue with a drop of turpentine whenever she saw it make its appearance in its wonted role. He was slow to learn the process of walking, owing to a certain looseness in his joints, and when he had learned to walk was very clumsy and would fall on the least pretense and on account of the smallest obstacle in his path. This gracelessness followed him through life and applied to his every joint as well as to those of his nether limbs. When he was sent to school this feature secured for him the nickname Boneless, and that, too, remained with him throughout his life. His every habit of mind was colored with the same deficiency of which his companions took decided advantage.
The school was a “tough” one, comprised of boys and young men (and girls too) whose only ambition was to learn to read a little, write their own names and “cipher” simple questions by simpler rules. Boneless was there to amuse their crude fancies and because of his easy disposition fulfilled their expectations. They made up races, the winner of which was to receive a jack knife worth about twelve cents. There were only two entries allowed. Boneless was one of these. The knife was buried deep in the earth at the finish of the distance and the best two in three to unearth it claimed it. The first two runs were a tie and the third was won by Boneless, but instead of the knife he plunged his hands into some sort of filth. He did not show anger or sorrow. He seemed to know instinctively that the whole thing was meant to be pleasant and went off to the pumps to wash his hands, laughing as loudly as any of them.
The teacher was showing sly, but determined addresses to a young woman whose home was just across the road from the school house. Boneless was sent to her with the request, from the teacher of course, for a needle and thread and a button for his shirt. These he dutifully handed the teacher during school hours and was compelled to explain where they came from and for what purpose they had been sent. The teacher’s chagrin was not lessened by the fact that the button was needed, or by the titter which went round the room. Several boys joined Boneless in a taste of “the hickory” for this prank.
Boneless was studious-he need be, and acquired a liking for history. One day the teacher had labored at considerable length and with much care to explain the why and the wherefore of the Gunpowder Plot. At the noon hour while he was absent to his dinner, the queries of Boneless concerning the how of the “plot” led to a practical demonstration. Some giant powder was secured and placed in a heavy earthenware ink bottle, a fuse was inserted and the neck of the bottle filled with brick dust well ‘tamped” into place. This was fastened under the teacher’s desk and the fuse run through a mouse hole in the floor. The arrangement was only completed when the teacher returned and seated himself at the desk. Boneless with unabated curiosity crawled under the floor to investigate the fuse and its influence on the fixture. “Six-foot” gave him a match with instructions and a warning to “come out lickety scoot.” He followed directions and the result was fearful. Several girls fainted; the desk was blown to fragments. But the teacher escaped personal injury. He was scared but not scarred, only loosing about two thirds of the left leg of his trousers. There were two or three suspensions over this affair, but Boneless was not one of them.
Boneless had ambitions, though one could hardly guess it, they were so well controlled. But he had. He continued to attend at the old blue school house during the reign of some half score teachers- until his rosy features were hidden by a tawny beard, somewhat between a butternut and a sumac brown, curled up at the ends to match his pug nose. Then he taught school for two hundred dollars per annum, and saved so much of it and studied so persistently that with the aid Suzie’s savings gave him, and urged on by her encouraging faith in his powers, went to college, where he was still the same Boneless to his classmates. He shared a room with another and lived frugally, studying early and late. The only occasion which gave him a moment’s worry came to him during his college days. His room mate used to complain of his habit of studying audibly. His college mates knew of this complaint and urged him that the only manly course was for him to settle the difference by the use of arms. A challenge was prepared, which he signed, all arrangements were made with the complaint, who, of course, was in the secret. A lonely spot was found, pistols were secured, seconds were named, distances were measured, the combatants were stationed in their places and the word was given. Boneless closed his eyes and fired-a blank charge. His opponent fell. His vest was torn open, a bottle of red ink was spilled upon his shirt front, and when Boneless looked upon the work of other hands, he fled for safety. It was several days before he was located. Hunger drove him from cover. The joke was explained to him, and he returned to his studies.
Oh, yes, I forgot. You wanted to know what became of Boneless. Well, he made a very good lawyer and is still practicing his profession. No doubt much of his success lies in his habit of mind being “Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
CHARLTON
Old Wellanders will Welcome Word of Old Page Family
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 27 March 1923]
The Tribune and Telegraph is indebted to an old friend of the paper and of many of the older generation of this city and vicinity, A. Wright Page of New York City for the following clipping from a Michigan newspaper regarding the 95th birthday celebration of his brother, once a Quaker Road boy and, before his departure for the West, proprietor with another brother, William Page, of a store which A. Wright Page describes as being located “on the old Sawdust Road, now your North Main Street, at the second north-east corner from the Chippawa Bridge.”
A cut of Robert W. Page, which illustrates the Michigan story, is not reproduced here, but in referring to same, Mr. Page says, “The cut makes Robert look somewhat old, but they write me that he is quite active for a young fellow of 95 years of age.”
What was written at Ionia, Mich. follows:
Ionia, Feb. 16, Uncle Robert W. Page, Ionia’s oldest male citizen celebrated his ninety-fifth birthday Friday, in the best of health. He was born in Canada, on Quaker Road, a few miles from Niagara Falls, and came to Ionia at the close of the Civil War and has resided here ever since. He saw the big kite that carried the rope from the Canadian side to the American to get the lines for the first suspension bridge at Niagara Falls, and was in the employ of the bridge company much of the time while the bridge was under construction. “Many a time,” said Uncle Robert, “I crossed from one side to the other in a basket running on a wire, and after the bridge was completed, I rode across on the first engine, and even away back in those days when it was far more daring I walked under the falls. Know how far it is from the Niagara to the Detroit river? Just 229 1-2 miles. I know, because I helped survey the Great Western railroad across Canada. When the Welland Canal was made I drew many a load of grub to the army of workmen.
Mr. Page kept a hotel in the Niagara Falls vicinity for some years then came to Michigan in the face of his father’s offer to give him 310 ? acres of land to remain at home. After he came to Ionia he was in the hotel business many years as proprietor of the old River House and then the Eagle hotel.
As he took his box of fine cut from his pocket for a bit of chew, he remarked that he had used it ever since he was 15 years old. “Might have lived to a ripe old age if I hadn’t used it,” he said, “but I can’t get along without it now.”