Thorold News
[Welland Tribune, 9 July 1897]
A figure well known to Welland county residents passed away at Owen Sound on Sunday afternoon last in the person of James Canan, whose home for many years had been in this county. Death was caused by Bright’s disease. He was in many ways a remarkable man and an inventive genius of no mean reputation. His patents of bucket-door for dredge dipper, weight pull-back for dipper instead of steam power, hydraulic dredge improvements, novel bicycle gear, bottle stoppers and many others, were valuable to the public. It is said that he has received royalties on fourteen different patents. He was the first man who started cable drilling, and was among the pioneers in the local natural gas field. The old well near the railway track, at Port Colborne, was utilized by him, he having connected pipes with it and used the gas for both heating and cooking. Later he was one of the prime movers in sinking other wells in Port Colborne. For over twenty years he was superintendent of Contractor Brown’s extensive dredging plant. He worked on the first dredge ever built in Canada,-or rather converted from a steam shovel to a dredge. French & Carmichael owned this machine, and it was used to dig out the old aqueduct dam in the rear of the court house-nearly half a century ago. Deceased’s family came from Ireland at an early date, and James was born in New Brunswick in 1833. His father died shortly after this, and some time later Mr. Canan’s mother married John Roach, father of Maurice Roach. His step-father carried on a blacksmith shop at Reilly’s bridge for a time. A brother and sister are the only survivors of the Canan family-John Canan of Ashtabula and Mrs. David Roach of Port Colborne. The remains of deceased were brought to Welland from Owen Sound on Monday evening, and on Tuesday morning High Mass was celebrated in the R.C. church by Rev. Father Trayling; interment in the cemetery adjoining.
Thorold News
[Welland Tribune, 9 July 1897]
We regret very much to be obliged to chronicle in this issue the death, on Tuesday, after a short illness, of a familiar face in this district in the person of John Kelly, a lifelong resident of the township of Thorold, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years and four months. Mr. Kelly was born in the old homestead near the historic Beaverdams on March 6th, 1819. His father, Isaac Kelly, was the second child of white parentage born in the township; he took part in the battle of Chippawa and continued a prominent and respected resident of the township during his entire life.
The subject of this sketch also spent the greater part of his life amid the scenes and surroundings of his boyhood until, when, about 20 years ago the building of the new canal necessitated a removal from the old home, he purchased a farm nearer Welland, where he has since resided.
Respected and loved by all with whom he has come in contact, he will be sorely missed by a large circle of friends. Mr. Kelly was a lifelong reformer and was ever ready to uphold the principles of pure and honest government. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1860. He has long been connected with the Methodist church and always to the front in any effort put forth, towards the betterment both morally, physically and spiritually, on those with whom he came in contact.
He was married in 1848 to Rebecca, daughter of Jonathan Doan, and had a family of seven children. His wife dying he married a second time in 1870, Mary Jane, a daughter of Jas. Hare of Bridgeport, Ont. The widow, two sons and three daughters survive to mourn his death. We extend to the bereaved family our sympathies and condolence. They sorrow not without hope. Funeral will take place from the family residence to the Fonthill cemetery, this Friday morning, at 9.30 o’clock.
Port Colborne News
[Welland Tribune , 11 June 1897]
John Reeb has contracted with M. Vanderburgh of Welland to construct another limekiln at Limestone city. This will make three rig t in line by the enterprising Mr. Reeb. The contractor will begin work next Monday morning and push the work right along, finishing in probably six weeks. The largeorders being received by John Reeb cannot be filled promptly enough with the former facilities, but the new kiln will add fifty percent to the output and fill every demand for the present. The acetylene gas works are drawing heavily on the lime departments, and the extra good quality of Reeb’s lime makes it in constant demand. Limestone city is moving along, and in time will be quite a little town of its own. Last week Mr. Reeb sold a lot to a party who will build a residence thereon. The locality is pleasant, convenient and healthful, and more houses will soon be built in the same section. Limestone city is growing, and must continue to grow, with such work giving factories as the lime works and the glass factory.
Thorold News
[Welland Tribune, 18 June 1897]
The death of Mrs. Knapp, a lady much respected by Thorold people, and a member of the Baptist church, took place suddenly at 3.15 Sunday afternoon. She had been unwell for a few days with bronchitis but nothing serious was expected, heart disease in some form being the immediate cause of her death. She and her youngest daughter Lottie have lived alone at Thorold for some years. Two sons, George and Willie, and her husband, being away in different parts of the States. Relatives from St. Catharines took charge of the arrangements for the funeral, which took place Wednesday afternoon, proceeding to the Baptist church, thence to St. Catharines cemetery. Rev. R. Garside conducted the service. Messrs. Grey, Darker, Durkee, McLeod, Thompson and J.H. Wilson were pallbearers.
[Welland Tribune, 4 June 1897]
On Wednesday, June 2nd, a very pretty home wedding was consummated at eh residence of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Hicks, Bald street, when friends and relatives to the number of about thirty assembled to witness the marriage of his eldest daughter, Allice Maud, to Charles KIngsley Hamilton. At 4.30 p.m. the bridal party entered the drawing room and stood beneath an arch of ferns and flowers, while the Rev. Dr. Johnstone, rector of Holy Trinity church, performed the beautiful and impressive marriage service of the Episcopal church, after which all repaired to the dining room, where a sumptuous repast, consisting of all the delicacies of the season, awaited their attention. The bride was attired in a dress of grey silk poplin, and looked charming, and was assisted by her sister, Miss Etta Hicks, who also looked handsome in a dress of light summer tweed. The groom was ably supported by Mr. Percy Hemmings. The presents to the bride were numerous and handsome, that of the groom being a gold watch and chain. The groom also presented the bridesmaid and groomsman each with a souvenir of the happy event. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, accompanied by the usual donations of rice and old shoes, left on the evening train for St. Catharines, and will also visit Toronto and other points of interest in Canada, and will be at home to their friends after the 14th inst., at their residence Division street. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are among Welland’s most popular young people, and have a host of friends, all of whom join in wishing them all happiness and success on their matrimonial voyage.
Pelham News
[Welland Tribune, 4 June 1897]
Robert Phillips, who had been ill of heart trouble for about five years, died at his home in Pelham township on Friday, May 28. Mr. Phillips was born in county Monaghan, Ireland, March 6, 1832, and came with the family to this country when only two years old. The family settled in the province of Quebec, where deceased was reared and where he was married to Miss McCullough, who still survives. Deceased also leaves four sons and one daughter-Richard, Robert and Martha on the farm; Thomas, who teaches school at Wellandport and John, who has charge of a school near Sherkston. He moved from Quebec to Gainsboro about 35 years ago, then lived in Peterboro for a time, finally settling in Pelham, where he resided until his death. Mr. Phillips never aspired to public office, but was a successful farmer and a good citizen, highly esteemed in the community where he lived so long. The remains were interred on Sunday last, at Fonthill cemetery, Rev. Mr. Bell of the Methodist church conducting the service.
[Welland Tribune, 4 June 1897]
{The editor regrets that, owing to a misunderstanding between correspondents, reference to the demise of the late John R. Swayze was omitted from the TRIBUNE last week}
John R. Swayze was a descendent of a U.E. Loyalist family, and was born in what is known as the “Beaverdams Settlement,” June 8th, 1832. His grandfather, Israel Swayze, one of the first pioneers of the place, came from the United States, about the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled on four hundred acres of land, granted to him for his attachment to the crown of Great Britain, where he passed the remainder of his life and where he died. At the time of his coming to this country it was an almost unbroken wilderness, small clearings having been made at a few places. The father of deceased, Hiram Swayze, was born in the United States and was three years old when he came to this country.
In 1857 John R. Swayze was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Burrett, who, with one son and four daughters, today mourn the loss of a most devoted husband and an affectionate, godly father.
Deceased was for several years a member of the Thorold township council. He was a reformer in politics, and has filled the position of president and director in both the township and county Agricultural societies. He also served several terms on the board of license commissioners for the county of Welland. As a farmer Mr. Swayze might be copied after to advantage. His buildings and farm stock showed a neatness and thrift unexcelled in his township.
During the ministry of Rev. J.H. Starr on the Thorold circuit in 1866, Bro. Swayze was converted to God, and ever after continued a faithful member of the Methodist church. His conversion took place in connection with a four days meeting held in the old Beaverdams church. The first sermon was preached by the late Rev. John Carroll. Mr. Swayze was an earnest, active Christian, and entered with his whole soul into temperance and moral reform work. On the night of his conversion he erected the family altar, and continued it as long as he was able to attend to its duties. He was a member of the quarterly and trustee boards for many years, and his place was never vacant in the house of God till his affliction rendered it impossible to attend. His last illness was paralysis, which, though lingering for years and at times very painful, was yet borne with Christian fortitude. He died in great peace, May 20th, 1897. The funeral took place on the Sunday following, interment at Beaverdams cemetery. We expect to meet our brother in the “Homeland,” when the day breaketh and the shadows flee away.
[Welland Tribune, 28 May 1897]
When Dr. Whybra and his bride returned from their wedding trip, the boys met them on the highway with a loaded glass revolver and demanded sufficient coin to buy the health of the bride and groom. “Doc,” smiled and drove on, but the carriage had halted long enough for some wag to attach a pair of long rubber boots (in lieu of the proverbial slippers) to the axle. The happy couple enjoyed the joke as much as anybody, and when the Lafayette was reached the boys found that refreshments had been ordered for them Mr. and Mrs. Whybra will reside at Stevensville, where the doctor has a good veterinary practice. The TRIBUNE joins in the congratulations being extended.
Attercliffe News
[Welland Tribune, 16 April 1897]
There passed away at his home near this village on Friday last, one of our oldest and most respected neighbors, in the person of the late Andrew Laidlaw. Esq., whose death was a surprise to many outside of his own neighborhood, although not wholly unexpected by his immediate family, as he had been considered dangerously ill, but only for about three days.
Mr. Laidlaw had been a resident of this vicinity since his first visit to Canada, about 45 years ago from his homestead in Deleware county, N.Y., where he was born in 1825. He left home without means, but being of an industrious and energetic turn he soon began to make money and concluded to settle here. He married Mrs. Andrew Miller (widow) who owned a farm near here, upon which they lived for some years, and being very successful he subsequently purchased two of the best farms in the neighborhood. He has been an untiring member of the Methodist body for many years, toward which he was extremely liberal, never forgetting to donate handsomely in aid of the church of his adoption, and his generosity toward the deserving poor will be long remembered. He was life-long Liberal, and for a number of years represented this part of the township in the municipal council; and upon request of a large number of his friends was appointed magistrate, but owing to the pressure of work, and other cares of the farms, the appointment was never completed. He leaves, besides two brothers and two sisters, a family of five-two sons and three daughters-his wife having passed away nearly two years ago. The service were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Grandy of Caisterville, who preached a very feeling and instructive sermon from Psalms 31,15: assisted by Rev. James Asher, also of Caistorville. The pallbearers were: R. Killens, O. Teefte, J.H. Tice, R. Merritte, J.H. Merritte and J.H. Snider. Interment at the Bristol cemetery. A large number of people turned out to pay their last respect to one whose familiar face will long be missed as an honest Christian man, and respected neighbor.
Niagara Falls Centre News
[Welland Tribune, 16 April 1897]
Miss Kate Kendall, the popular saleslady at Anderson’s store during the last season, is to be married on Wednesday next to W.A. Galbraith, a prominent resident of Dunwich township, near St. Thomas. While some will regret that the bride was not captured by a citizen of the Falls, the congratulations to the happy couple will indeed be hearty and sincere. Mr. Galbraith is clerk of the municipality, and, we are glad to add, a staunch Liberal. Married: 21 April 1897
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