EDITH MARLING KING
[Welland Tribune, 22 February 1947]
The death occurred at Wellesley hospital in Toronto yesterday, of a descendant of one of Welland County’s pioneer families in the person of Edith Marling King, native of Port Colborne, resident of St. Catharines for some years, and member of the staff of the Provincial Legislative Library at parliament buildings, Toronto, for the past 45 years.
The body is resting at the A.W. Miles funeral chapel, 30 St. Clair Avenue west, Toronto, where funeral services will be conducted at 1 o’clock, Monday afternoon. Interment will be in Victoria Lawn cemetery, St. Catharines at 4 p.m. Monday.
The late Miss King was the daughter of the late Col. Dr. Frank King, who for some years was a prominent Port Colborne physician and who moved to St. Catharines about 1893 or 1894. Geo. H. Smith, local historian, recalled this morning when advised of the death. The late Dr. King had his office and home in the residence at the south-west corner of Catharine and Clarence streets, more recently the home of Edward Monck. He was prominently identified with the old Welland Canal Field Battery.
Miss King was a granddaughter of the late Col. Richard King, of Port Robinson, who lost a leg in the Fenian raid.
A brother, Brig. General William King, resides in Toronto, and a sister, Mrs. Esten Fletcher, (Maude) resides in Cobourg. Another sister, Daisy, predeceased her.
[Welland Tribune, 21 February 1947]
Louis Jacques of 66 Patterson avenue brought a copy of the issue of The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, January 9, 1923 to The Tribune office yesterday, It proved to be an interesting document. One note of interest concerned County Judge D.B. Coleman of Whitby, one of Welland’s popular barristers of 10 years ago. There is on the editorial page under signature of “D.B. Coleman” announcing the annual general meeting of Welland Horticultural Society. Judge Coleman was at that time the retiring president.
It was noted in this issue that Mayor James A. Hughes ( Jim Hughes) is still one of Welland’s well known citizens took oath of office, and a mayor of another town. Mayor John Shriner of Thorold wrote the then Federal Minister of Justice a letter of protest against the commutation of sentence of death of Nick Thomas and Harry Rutka to life imprisonment. This news item also noted the reply of Sir Lomer Houin, Minister of Justice to the effect that this particular case was “disposed of on its merits.”
Another interesting item was the construction of the new cold storage plant at the intersection of Hellems avenue and Division street. It was then known as the St. Thomas Packing Company.
Harry Jones was Crowland’s police chief in those days, and the late Magistrate John Goodwin was on the bench.
Louis Blake Duff was the editor of the paper at that time.
Mr. Jacques found this newspaper in the desk at the offices of Macoomb, Macoomb and Street, East Main street, where he was doing a wood finishing job.
[Welland Tribune March 13, 1947]
Fonthill March 13-Mrs Grace Rowe, one of Fonthills older citizens passed quietly away early Sunday morning at the home of her sister Mrs F. Kinsman, Mrs Rowe who was in her 77th year was the second oldest daughter of the late Dr Jas O. Emmett and had made music her career through the efforts of her piano teaching which covered a span of 56 years. Her cheery smile and kindly disposition endeared her to the hearts of many in this and the surrounding community.
It is a well known fact that had many times taught piano to as many as three generations in the same family. Starting to play when she was five years old she practised diligently and taught her first lesson at the age of 16. In 1886 this was no easy task as she had to drive her own horse and buggy to the homes of her various pupils. From 1889 she studied two years at the Detroit Conservatory of Music and then continued her studies at the Toronto Conservatory where she obtained her A.T.C.M. and L.T.C.M. She continued her teaching in this village and taught for five years at the Conservatory.
In 1906 she married Arthur Rowe of Carduiff, Wales, England but still carried on with her profession. In 1909 she returned to Fonthill. This was the year the new Baptist church was built and Mrs Rowe lent her unceasing efforts to the organizing of the choir. She remained a church organist and choir leader for the next 21 years.
Mr Rowe died in 1914 and Mrs Rowe carried on her work of teaching until she reached her 72nd year.
More than a 1000 pupils came under her capable guidance during her lifetime. This monumental effort alone would make her one of the outstanding citations of the community. She lived a fine Christian life giving her all to the work she loved.
Mrs Rowe is survived by two sisters, Mrs F. Kinsman and Mrs K. Pitkin both residents of Fonthill.
The funeral is being held on Tuesday afternoon from the late residence with interment in Fonthill cemetery
[Welland Tribune March 1, 1947]
Quaker Road, March 1-Funeral services for Ernest F. Shute who passed away at his home here on Saturday Feb. 22, after only a day’s illness, were held Tuesday from the late residence to Fonthill cemetery. Pastor Grover Gordon of the Church of God Cleveland, Ohio officiated
Mr and Mrs W. H. Holland of Thorold accompanied by Mrs Charles Page, sang two favorite hymns of the deceased “Beautiful Garden of Prayer” and “God Will Take Care of You”
The floral tributes were many and beautiful betokening the esteem of many friends. Pall bearers were Lloyd Rice, David Elliott, Francis Henderson, William Holland and William E. Brown.
Although Mr. Shute, a well known resident of Thorold township had not been in good health for some time his death came as a shock to the community. He was born in Swindon, Wiltshire England, on Jan. 28 1889, the youngest child the late of James and Louisa Shute. On March 11 1910 he came to Canada and on Oct 13 1913 he married Martha Ball of Thorold township. From that time on he lived at Quaker road carrying on the occupation of farming. For a number of years he was on the board of trustees of S.S. 5 the Quaker road school. He was a member of the Fonthill church of God.
Surviving are his widow Martha Shute; one daughter Mrs J.K. Brown (Margaret) of Welland and a son Howard at home. One son Fredrick Ernest predeceased him in infancy. He also leaves two sisters Mrs E. Hewer of Fonthill and Mrs E.J. Bridegeman, Swinton , England. Five brothers predeceased him.
It’s the last month yes December is here
And in a few days we will celebrate a new year
This month will go by like all the rest
Yes all the ones before that were the best
Snowmobiles will be out this winter once again
May no accidents happen and no one suffer pain
The wild geese are gone and will be back in May
And boats and summer things are now put away
Those who got a deer may they enjoy the meat
I hope they give thanks as they sit down to eat
A team was harnessed and hooked up to the sleigh
So folks got on for a ride on the winters day
All the trees were bare with snow all around
While the house was cozy as the moon shone down
Ride program is in effect to catch impaired drivers
I say change it to side and we’ll have more survivors
Christmas is coming and children are full of joy
Hoping they will get some more new toys
There were many presents there under the tree
But if times get hard not one there will be
Children will skate and play in the snow
As we done the same back many years ago
There isn’t much sun in December it will be back soon
Yes there will be more of it before we hit June
Others will ice fish if there is enough on the lake
And as they go home may the limit is all they take
Since its cooler out we’ll all spend more time indoors
So isn’t it a good time to do those put off chores
Christmas is the time we have a big celebration
But isn’t it Christ’s birthday were to celebrate in our nation
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
[Welland Tribune March 20, 1947]
The funeral of the late Mrs Annie Woram, who died suddenly at the home of Mrs. J. Goodwillie, 37th Griffith street, on Marc 17, in her 66th year was held on Wednesday afternoon from the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home, 153 Hellems avenue to the Church of England cemetery, Smith street. Many neighbors and friends attended, and among the many beautiful floral tributes noted at the graveside were those from neighbors and friends, McCormack street, the employes at the Joseph Stokes Rubber Company’s plant, the Foreman’s club, Joseph Stokes Rubber Company and Quaker Road W.I.
Rev A.H. Davis, rector of Holy Trinity church officiated both at the funeral home and the graveside. The casket bearers were N.F. Haist, Fred Tufts, Walter Emmons, C, Peskett, Jack Morwood and W. Lane.
[Welland Tribune March 20, 1947]
The remains of the late Harry Meyers, who died suddenly on Wednesday morning at his home, 185 East Main street have been conveyed from the J.J. Patterson ad Sons funeral residence 19 Young street, to Toronto, where the funeral will be held. Deceased was about 50 years of age and was employed at the plant of Atlas Steels Limited.
[Welland Tribune March 20, 1947]
Hugh C. Asher, Welland R.R. 1, died suddenly at 11 o’clock today at his home, the old Asher homestead East Main street from a heart seizure, in his 50th year. He had been in generally good health, but earlier in the morning had complained of feeling poorly and stayed at home. He was born on the Asher homestead. The original homestead was built east of the present one on East Main street 114 years ago by the first member of the family to come to the Welland area, Alexander Asher.
The late Mr. Asher was employed at the plant of Page Hersey Tubes Limited. His wife predeceased him many years ago. He is survived by his son Hugh Asher Jr. and grandchild at the homestead, also by other relatives among whom are Mrs. S.S. Wilson and Mrs. G.M. Pool.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed, In the meantime the remains are resting at the Sutherland-Thorpe funeral home 153 Hellems avenue.
[Welland Tribune March 1, 1947]
Nancy Elizabeth Snider, wife of Albert Snider of Humberstone township, passed away at her home early this morning in her 79yj year She as born in the township, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs Jeremiah Neff and resided in Welland county all her life, she was a member of First Lutheran church, Humberstone.
Surviving relatives include deceased’s husband, Albert Snider and their son Grant at home; five grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday March 4 at 2pm from the late residence, Humberstone township, to First Lutheran church for the service with interment in Overholt cemetery.
[Written by Milton M. Sundy, unknown date]
The 81st anniversary of the Bismark Evangelical Brethren church was observed with a good attendance on October 25,, Rev. J.C Weller in charge the history of the church was written by Charles Swingle at the morning service.
On October 22nd, 1933 we celebrated the 100 anniversary of the Sunday settlement, as many you will remember. The occasion also marked the 50th anniversary of the building of the present Evangelical church.
Following is the history of the Sundy Settlement, read by the Mr. Milton Sundy, at the Sunday night meeting. There were 175 people, past 50 years of those with us who were residents of Bismark 50 years ago :There in Mr. Sundy words.”
Mr Pastor, Ladies and Gentleman I am very glad to be with you here to-night at the large gathering of people to do honor for the one hundreth anniversary of the beginning of the Sundy Settlement.The occasion also marked the Fiftieth anniversary of the building of the church. I am glad of the opportunity to meet so many of the old friends and schoolmates and neighbors of long ago. There are many recollections of olden times that I would like to recall, but time will not permit. We have with us to-night, Pastors of this church of 30 to 50 years ago and I know they have plenty words to say to us. I will therefore keep my talk as short as possible. Mr Sundy said I believe the part that I am to take in the program is to go back into the past 100 years and bring the past 50 years forward the present or up until the building of the church in 1833
I would like to say that anything that I may say to you upon the subject is gleaned from information of things that were told to me by my parents and grandparents and the older people of my neighborhood days but more particularly by my grandfather. He and I were pals I had the benefits of his companionship for 13 years. I was the oldest grandson and lived in the same house with him, and we were constantly together. As we worked side by side and as we drove along the road together, going to and from Beamsville, Smithville and Wellandport, to the store or to the mill he told me many things of his early life here, and of his childhood days. In the old land. By piecing together all these things that I have bee told in my boyhood days I can tell you the following story. In the year 1830 there came to this country from Germany, a man, his wife and children, seven girls and two boys also a brother named Jacob. This man’s name was Christian Sundy. “My great grandfather.” and he was I believe the founder of the Settlement in this vicinity which was afterwards known far and wide as the Sundy Settlement. They landed in somewhere along the Niagara Frontier and by working here and there at short intervals, they in the course of a year. They worked themselves back to the township of Pelham near where now is situated the village of Ridgeville. They remained there two years but not being
satisfied with the light land of Pelham they set out in search of heavier land and in the search came here and settled upon the block of land upon part of which this church now stands and extending north for the next wood 200 acres of dense and very heavy timbered land. I never heard that they ever complained of this land not being heavy enough to suit them.
Mr Sundy said”Now I am not going to claim for my ancestors that they were the only people in a vast and endless wilderness because I do not believe that is a fact. We all know that in the settlement of a new country where there are no railroads or colonization roads, that the settlements almost always follow the lakes and streams and I believe that is what occurred in the settlement of this territory. We all know that long before the war of 1812 the country all around lake Ontario was settled from around old York to Burlington and Stoney Creek an in Niagara and Queenston. Along the river to the Falls, Lundy Lane and Chippawa and so on up the shores of Lake Erie. These settlements followed back to the Chippawa Creek and on to the 20 mile creek and there were people then living in St Ann’’s and Wellandport. (which was then known as The Narrows) because the narrow strip of land between the two creeks. This was a block of unsettled land lying between these two small settlements and was known at the time as the “Big Bush.” The present highway was then a trail or path connecting the two settlements. The eldest of the children was a girl of about 18 years and the boys were aged 16 and 14 when they came for this land. They at once started to hew out for themselves a home in this solid and densely timbered bush. I would like to say just here that I do not think it is all possible for the people of the present day who have never seen the original virgin forest as it stood here 100 years ago this summer when these people first set foot upon it, to realize the enormity of the task they were facing. I do not think it is possible for the people of today, to recognize the toil the hardships the suffering and deprivations these people endured in the building of their home and cutting and logging burning grubbing and clearing of the land . They built their buildings of logs of course a house and a stable. They were located just over here where now stands the old frame home and barns I remember seeing the old log building still there when I was a small boy. After they had cut enough trees to build the buildings they continued to cut and piled and burn as many as they could to clear the land for wheat. In burning they buried over pulled and dragged out what few stumps they could and sowed wheat between the stumps that were left right on the burned soil and made it in a homemade wooden rake . When this crop had ripened, they cut it with a sickle, threshed it with a fail and then threw it up against the wind to separate the wheat from the chaff. When they wanted flour they took this wheat all the way to Niagara to mill. This work of home building and clearing covered a period of 15 to 20 years, and during that time many other people some friendly and some relatives came over from the fatherland and settled here. The children had grown up married and started home building themselves. The girls of the family, all but two married husbands who settled in close by the old homestead, so by that time they had quite a large settlement with better implements an d more comfortable ways of living They had saw mills near by and a flour mill at St John’s or Effingham. It was at this time that the second set of buildings, which wee of frame construction. This farm was divided between the two boys John got the south half and built the old frame house and barns yet standing over here and Christian my grandfather got the north hundred acres he also built frame buildings. The shingles in those days they split out of blocks of pine and tapered them down with a draw knife. In the settlement at this time were tradesmen of all kinds carpenters, masons black smiths, cabinet makers and joiners, coopers, weavers, taylors and shoemakers. The wool as it was taken from the sheep was taken to the carding mill, which was in Pelham township and carded made into strips about 3 feet long and a half inch thick. These were brought home to the farm and the women spun in into yarn. Knitted stockings, mittens or other garments. When they had the family supplied they knitted for sale to the stores and traded them for groceries. What they did not knit they took the weaver and had it woven into cloth and when the boys needed new suits or the girls needed the dresses they did not jump into a car and drive to a big department store and dig up 25 to 50 dollars for a suit. They sent for the taylor or the dressmaker, who came to the house and mother out the large bolts of beautiful cloth which was made in dresses and suits. U believe the people were well and comfortably dressed at least I know they were effieciently dressed in those days. The boots were made in the same way. The hides were taken to small tanners and the leather brought home. The shoemaker also came to the home and made shoes for the whole family. During all this time of strenuous clearing and building these people’s religious duties were never neglected quarterly meetings were very largely attended, by people from Pelham, Campden Worship was held in the homes or in warm weather in groves. There was always some one among them who was capable of taking charge of the services. The quarterly meetings were very largely attended, by people from Pelham, Campden and South Cayuga and was usually held in my ancestors barn. Throughout the years they felt the need of a church very keenly and somewhere about the year 1850 they decided to build one, but were in the same fix in those days.
That we find ourselves today. They had very little money. At that time however they had plenty of timber, they had a carpenter made out a bill of all the material they would require to build the church they so much wanted and each member who would not give money, agreed to supply so many sticks of timber or lumber or sand. My grandfather’s brother John gave the land and grandfather being a good shingle shaver made most of the shingles required in this way they got their first church.During the next 29 years, in the natural course of events the settlement grew and prospered, In this period thev next generation, the children’s children grew up and married and started home building. They then stared the third set of buildings fine large accommodation houses and barns many of them still standing here today.
About 1871 my grandfather built the large brick house part of which my father and mother occupied when they started life together. Mr Sundy said I can now speak of events that happened with in my own memory and my if you could only see his head and shoulders. There was a row of long seats on each side and just one centre aisle about eight feet wide. It might be amusing you people to know that the women all sat in the left hand row of seats and the men in the right hand row. This was not only a custom it was a rule of the church which was very strictly enforced and I can remember upon several occasions that young men who attempted to sit by their best girl were quietly escorted to the other side. About the time there began to spring up much dissatisfaction from the younger people as to the use of the German language exclusively in the church services. They had learned the English at school and talked it much of the time. A large number of English speaking families had moved in and in order to satisfy these young people the pastor spoke both English and German. After a year or so it was changed t o Germany every other Sunday. Then to German once a month then to English every Sunday with about five minutes in German and finally shortly after the new church was built the German was cut out altogether, but it was a struggle that lasted 8 or 10 years. For several years to 1883 the agitation for a new church arose. This grew stronger year by year in face of much opposition but finally early in 1883 a meeting was called and a vote taken which resulted in a majority for a new church A subscription list was started right there and several hundreds of dollars were subscribed. They had the money this time. The plan as drawn the contract let and the church completed that fall. This brings me to the end of fifty years that I was to talk about. I believe other speakers will take the story up from there and bring it up to the present. Just in conclusion I would like to remind you that this fifty years tells of the evolution of a densely timbered wold and and inhabited territory to a well settled well cleared well farmed happy contented and prosperous country side and believe at no time within my memory was this district better farmed and most productive tan right now.
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