[People’s Press, 31 July 1900]
Jack Hindson, (cousin of Mrs. S.J. Sidey) serving with the Cumberland contingent of the Imperial Veromanry in South Africa, was killed in a skirmish at Faber’s farm about June 9th. Three members-Hindson, Wright and Fenton-were exposed to a withering fire while crossing bare ground. Hindson and Wright were shot through the head, death being instantaneous. Fenton had his foot taken off and was shot through both hands. Twenty-three British and seventy-five Boers were killed in the engagement.
[People’s Press, 9 October 1900]
A sad death occurred on Tuesday of last week when Lawrence, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Doyle, passed away at 7 years of age. He was a clever little boy, and bore his long illness quite manfully. The body was taken to Cayuga on Thursday morning last, where interment took place. The parents have the sympathy of the community in their affliction.
Niagara Falls Town
[People’s Press, 31 July 1900]
The death of Richard Furness, which occurred last Tuesday, was quickly followed by that of another old citizen and employee of the Grand Trunk, William Bell of Queen street.
Mr. Bell had been suffering for nearly six months from the effects of a paralytic stroke and for some time it had been known that the end could not be far off. Last Monday his condition became decidedly worse, and he continued to grow weaker and weaker till death ensued on Friday afternoon.
Mr. Bell was born at St. Mungo, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on October 28th, 1824 and was brought up in that town. In 1848 he married Miss Jean Austin of St. Mungo, and six years later emigrated to America, settling at Galt. Here Mr. Bell entered the employ to the Great Western Railway and in 1857 moved to Niagara Falls, where he resided continuously till the time of his death. Mr. Bell was for some time fireman on the train on which Richard Furness was a brakeman. He retired from the road in 1897 and has since lived quietly at his pretty home on Queen street.
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 2.30 to Fairview cemetery, and was very largely attended
[People’s Press, 15 May 1900]
Harold, the five-month son of Mr. and Mrs. DeW Minor, who live west of the village, died a week ago. Mr. and Mrs. wish to thank all those who paid so much attention and kindness to them during the sickness and death of their son. He was a bright little boy, and his death is a terrible blow to his fond parents, who have the heartfelt sympathy of the community.
[People’s Press, 15 May 1900]
Many friends will be greatly grieved to learn of the death of Mrs. Hamilton Minor which took place on Monday night, May 7th, at her late residence, Low Banks Station. Deceased had been ill for about eight weeks, a sufferer from heart trouble. She was a woman well liked and widely known. She leaves a sorrowing husband and nine children living, among them a baby daughter two weeks old, to mourn the loss of a loving wife and kind mother. Great sympathy is extended by friends. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was conducted by the Mennonite minister.
Mrs. Isaac Michener, jr. has taken the infant daughter of the late Mrs. H. Minor.
[People’s Press, 3 April 1900]
It was with deep feelings of grief and regret that many friends throughout the county of Welland and elsewhere learned of the demise of George Hyatt, which occurred at his residence in Stamford on Tuesday last, March 27th.
Mr. Hyatt was born in Canada of E.U. Loyalist descent, and was one of the best known and most prominent residents of public trust. His last illness was of about two weeks duration; his age being 69 years. At the time of his death he was collector of taxes for the township of Stamford, and secretary treasurer of the Stamford township agricultural society with which he has been prominently associated for many years. In politics he was a sterling, lifelong and enthusiastic Liberal, seldom failing to attend the sessions of the County Reform association. He was a prominent and consistent member of the Methodist church, a prominent Mason, having held honors in both St. Marks’ Lodge and Mount Nebo Chapter, Niagara Falls Village. He was also a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance.
He leaves a widow; one son, Clinton Hyatt, Stamford; and two daughters-Mrs. Wm. Mason, Toronto and Mrs. George Deans, Stamford, to mourn the loss of an ever kind husband and father.
The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon, Rev. J.H. Dyke of Niagara Falls officiating. Interment at Fairview Cemetery. Prominent members of the Masonic fraternity from all over the peninsula attended the funeral, the members of St. Mark’s Lodge an Mount Nebo Chapter attending in a body.
In Mr. Hyatt’s death the community in which he lived, and the church and other societies have sustained a notable loss, and his family an irretrievable bereavement in which they have the sincere sympathy of all friends.
[People’s Press, 21 August 1900]
David Cook, who died a prisoner in Welland jail last Wednesday, was a well-known resident of this town. (Niagara Falls Town). He was a stone cutter by trade, and at one time was prosperous and respected. Of late years he had fallen entirely into the power of strong drink, and had been unable to follow his trade. He had been employed as hostler by different persons, and a few weeks ago the police magistrate sent him to the county jail to save him from an attack of delirium tremens. He was about sixty-five years old, and had no relations here.
[People’s Press, 21 August 1900]
John Frederick Crites, aged 62 years, died at his home in Lockport on Wednesday morning from the effects of injuries received some two weeks ago by falling from a scaffold. Deceased had been a resident of Niagara Falls, N.Y., for 30 years, and went to Lockport about three years ago. He leaves a widow (Alvira) and four daughters to mourn his loss. Mrs. Crites is a daughter of the late Richard Huff of this village. The funeral was held on Friday afternoon. The funeral party arrived via N.Y.C. & H.R.Ry and G.T.Ry., and proceeded to All Saints cemetery where the burial service was conducted by Rev. Canon Bull and the remains were interred.
[People’s Press, 21 August 1900]
One of the prettiest home weddings of the season was celebrated at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Dobbie, Victoria avenue, Wednesday afternoon at 5 o’clock, when their eldest daughter, Sara Elizabeth, was united to Mr. Fred Campbell McBurney, a well-known barrister of this town and president of the Niagara Falls, Wesley Park & Clifton Tramway Company.
The house was beautifully decorated with palms and flowers of all sorts and presented a very pleasing appearance. The wedding party entered the parlors a little after 5 o’clock to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Carlotta Spence, cousin of the bride and took up their position beneath a magnificent arch of similax ferns and roses. The bride was charmingly attired in white organdie and was supported by her sister, Miss Mary Dobbie who wore green organdie. The groom was assisted by Capt. Charles H. Mitchell. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Crawford, pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church in the presence of the immediate relatives of the bride and groom.
After the hearty congratulations of the assembled guests the party sat down to a sumptuous supper to which all did ample justice.
The happy couple left at 8 o’clock for a trip to the sea, followed by showers of rice and good wishes.
Upon their return Mr. and Mrs. McBurney will take up their residence at the corner of Walnut street and Victoria avenue at the centre.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
THOROLD TOWNSHIP
First White Male Child Born at St. Davids
[People’s Press, 21 August 1900]
The death of Mr. John Allison of Thorold township a few days ago, severs a link connecting the present with the rich historical past of this section. In this connection the People’s Press has been favored with the following biological and historical sketch of Thomas Allison, the father of John Allison now deceased. Thomas Allison died some twelve years ago, the following sketch being his own relation as taken down in the winter of 1886-7.
THOMAS ALLISON was born at St. David’s, county of Lincoln, on Sept. 4, 1799 the first white male child born in that place. His parents were John Allison and Rebecca Bertrand. His father was a native of Yorkshire, England, came to the Niagara in 1790, and died in December, 1812. He (John Allison, the father of Thomas), it was who, on October 13, 1812, guided the British forces to the top of the mountain, near where the quarries now are. At a later hour in the day, he assisted in driving the Americans from the Queenston Heights and in taking many of them prisoners.
We return now to our present subject-Thomas Allison, son of John Allison the elder and father of John Allison who died last week. Thomas, at the time a lad of about thirteen years of age, had seen the flash and heard the sound of the guns at the famous battle of Queenston Heights, and with young, Rich Secord, went to view the battle field. They saw the dead and wounded and the piles of arms surrendered by the Americans. Of this, Mr. Allison had a most vivid recollection at the time of this relations to the writer, he being then 87 years of age.
He also recollects that in the year 1813, some forty American soldiers lay upon his father’s floor one night, being en route for Burlington.
Later on he was sent with a message to the British at the Beaverdams, and arrived there in time to see the eight men buried who fell there. He remembered the laughable devices that about 40 British regulars and some Indians had to prevent the 500 Americans captured at the Beaverdams from recovering their arms and wiping out their captors. The battle took place near the tollgate and the American camp was on a knoll near what was afterward known as Shriner’s Pond.
He remembers quite distinctly hearing at the time of the clever way in which Col. Chapin of the U.S. army captured at the Beaverdams, passed himself off as a doctor and when with other prisoners in a small boat on Lake Ontario, turned the tables on his captors and took them to the American side.
As might be expected, Mr. Allison was often at Niagara and was familiar with the stirring events at that place.
Lundy’s Lane
He was at Lundy’s Lane at the opening of the battle on July 25, 1814. He was there taken from the ranks and employed to drive a team which carried eleven of the wounded to Niagara. In those heroic days young and old alike, with such arms as they could secure, rushed forward to meet the foe. Our subject was also at the battle ground after the battle, and saw the dead buried and burned.
When Lewiston was burned by the British he saw the flames. All the frontier was on the qui vive, and there was not much going on in the vicinity that as enterprising frontier lad of 14 or 15 did not.see.
Mr. Allison remembered Gen Isaac Brock. He was a stout man, and held his head to one side in consequence of a wound in the neck.
The year after the war closed Mr. Allison visited the site of what is now the city of Hamilton, which then consisted of one tavern. A block house and earth works at Burlington Heights were then conspicuous. The Ackman farm to the east of Hamilton was also occupied at the time.
In the year 1822 Mr. Allison bought a farm in Thorold township on the Stamford line, where he lived until he died. He married Elizabeth Smoke who predeceased him. Stamford and Thorold townships were partially settled, but there was not much money nor style in those days, with wheat at 37!/2 c per bushel, roads between the stumps, no carriages, railways or canal-style was secondary.
The Rebellion
The rebellion made lively times on the frontier again. Mr. Allison was at Port Colborne, Fort Erie, Chippawa and other points as needed. He teamed the mortar from Queenston to Chippawa which was used to dislodge William Lyon Mackenzie’s forces from Navy Island. He was a Conservative then, and always remained one. Speaking in his 87th year, Mr. Allison said he recognized the kindness of the Master who had permitted him to live so long, and enjoy so abundantly the fruits of his industry. He was a member of the Church of England and until an advanced age attended church at Port Robinson and his children followed in this footsteps.
Thomas Allison died 10 June 1887 and is buried at Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls.
Subscribe..
