[Welland Tribune, 22 January 1909]
General sympathy and regret are felt and expressed in this community respecting the recent demise of Miss Margaret Brandon of Wingham, sister of Rev. W.J. Brandon. Deceased was most favorably known and highly respected by all who became acquainted with during her stay of some months with relatives here. She passed peacefully to her heavenly home on last Sabbath evening at five o’clock, and with her dying breath expressed simple and perfect trust in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The memory of the just is blessed.
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1909]
The following is from “Oak Leaves,” a paper published in Oak Park, Ill:-
“Albert W. Giles, one of Oak Park’s oldest and most respected citizens, received on Christmas day a “Friendship Calendar.” Three hundred and sixty-five friends contributed to the gift, expressions of regard and wishes for a prosperous and happy new year. Mr. Giles has lived in Oak Park for thirty-one years, coming to the village in 1877. He was born in England seventy years ago, when but a small lad his parents moved to Canada. In 1864 he came to the United States, and was employed in the mustering office at Springfield in the closing days of the civil war. For twenty-eight years he was employed by Field Benedict and Co., wholesale clothiers. He is now in the house of Lindelhal and Sons. During the four years of Cleveland’s administrations, beginning in 1893, he was postmaster at Oak Park. He lives at 123 South Euclid avenue.”
Mr. Giles was well-known in Fonthill many years ago, and several old friends who remember his residence there were among the contributors to the “Friendship Calendar.” In 1859 he went to St. Catharines, and was engaged in the office of Mr. Frank Shanley, C.E., during the construction of the Welland railway. He was afterwards with a party of government surveyors who laid out two new townships in the Muskoka district. During his residence in St. Catharines, his singing, in company of Mr. Edward Gore, was prominent feature in all the entertainments of that day. Mr. Giles is a brother of Mrs. R.T. Burns, residing on North Pelham street, and a cousin of Mr. Alfred Giles of “The Chestnuts.”
[Welland Tribune, 29 January 1909]
It was just 50 years ago on January 16th inst., that they leaned over a little crying tot and the neighbors declared it a fine looking child.
Like Moses of old, the infant grew strong, and today he is James McKeown, warden elect of Welland county.
Warden McKeown has just passed the half century mark, as indicated. He was born in Willoughby on the shores of the Welland river, and afterwards attended school at section number 7, among his teachers being Mr. Reavely, now one of the county auditors.
Leaving school in this district the subject of this little sketch went to Bellville Business College, where he received a useful business training. This trip to the Eastern city was made in 1883.
He then returned to the county of his first love, and followed farming, living on the Sodom road, where he works a farm of 100 acres.
He was elected reeve by constituents of Willoughby in 1907, and has been returned by acclamation yearly ever since.
His ability has been shown by his excellent work on the Industrial Home committee, and last year he was appointed chairman of that body.
The warden may be classed among the bald heads, and always says that “you cannot have both brains and hair.” Blue of eye, sharp and alert of manner and with a pleasing personality. The council of the County of Welland for 1909 have indeed made a good choice.
[Welland Tribune, 22 January 1909]
The Niagara Times is giving an account of the wedding of Mr. K. Roy Teeple, son of Rev. Wm. Teeple, of this place, FONTHILL, and Miss Evelyn Louisa Carnochan of Niagara, which took place at Fonthill on Dec. 31st, speaks of the bride as one of the most charming of Niagara girls. It was Miss Carnochan who led the polls at the recent “Popular Girl Contest held by the Niagara Times. Rev. Mr. Teeple himself officiated at the marriage of his son. Mr. Roy Teeple is conducting a business in New Liskeard.
O’REILLY’S BRIDGE
Over time I have driven often across the old iron O’Reilly’s Bridge and canoed on the waterway that once was an important transportation route for early settlers. As an historical feature of the Welland River, I failed to acknowledge to myself that the bridge would disappear with time and be replaced by a modern, concrete structure. In my research I have read about so many old buildings disappearing from the landscape and wondered what the towns would have looked like in earlier days. Vintage postcards are an excellent way to view how life was. In the old newspapers there is references to O’Reilly’s Bridge and the community of people living nearby. Squire John B. O’Reilly farmed the land and it is documented that Pelham children used the bridge to reach their school.
Here is a sample of an event, 16 January 1909, documented in the Welland Tribune by One Who Knows, a correspondent for the early newspaper.
O’REILLY’S BRIDGE
Farewell and Oyster Supper
On Friday evening, Jan. 22nd, an oyster supper was held at the spacious home of Mr. and Mrs. R.A Phillips, who are about leaving the vicinity, having rented their farm to Mr. W.W. Dilts of Welland.
Although the night was dark and the roads bad, a large number of neighbors and friends were present to bid adieu to the inmates of the home, who have always been noted for generosity a kind hospitality.
The success of the evening was largely due to the untiring efforts of Mr. C. McCollum and Captain Hunter, who were the chief promoters of the very pleasant affair. After the oysters and other good things were disposed of, social chat and games, combined with selections on the piano, were enjoyed till the “wee sma hours,” when all wended their way homeward, after wishing Robbie and his family bon voyage in their future abode.
Mr. Phillips, we understand, intends moving on a fruit farm near St. Catharines.
O’REILLYS BRIDGE
[Welland Tribune, 29 January 1909]
Mrs. George Dochstader, who has been very ill, is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. Lounsberry of Canboro are visiting their son, P. Lounsberry.
Marcena Criegar, who insured his foot some time ago, is able to use it now.
The revival meetings, we are informed, have been postponed on account of the roads until next Monday evening.
We are glad to welcome Mr. Irwin and family, who are moving from Lindsay this week, to our neighborhood.
Miss Mable Woodwork of Binbrook arrived on Tuesday to spend several weeks with her sister, Mrs. Robert Murphy.
[Report of the oyster supper sent in by this correspondent has been published in a previous issue.-Ed.]
Stopped at St. John’s and Cook’s Mills
Interesting Reminiscences of Mr. D. G. Holcomb
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1909]
The following brief but intensely story of the escape of William Lyons Mackenzie during the troublous times of 1837-8, is from the pen of D. Grove Holcomb, who was then a lad. Mr. Holcomb is now a resident of Power Glen, a few miles from Welland. He says:-
It was early in December, 1837, that MacKenzie’s force at Toronto was broken up. He went from there to Lafferty’s and asked Lafferty to protect him, and he did so. It was about eight o’clock in the morning and Lafferty had just begun to tramp out peas with his horses. He (Lafferty) dug a hole in the centre of his stack, put MacKenzie in, and covered them with peas tramping them down. In about an hour a squad of men came along looking for the fugitive. They said, “Where is Mackenzie?” The answer was I don’t know. They pulled up the stable floor, looked under the barn, and then went out to the stacks and jabbed down their bayonets, striking MacKenzie in the side so as to draw blood, after which they left and went west. MacKenzie went from Lafferty’s to Reynolds’ where he got a horse and went down to the house of Thomas Hardy, who lived east of Hamilton on the mountain. Mr. Hardy was not at home, but Mrs. Hardy said he would be back in less than an hour. She then hid him and took care of his horse. In something less than an hour Hardy was back, and they went to Samuel Chandler’s at St. Johns. Chandler went with him to Cook’s Mills, crossing the Welland River west of Welland, then to the Junction where Mr. Carter kept a hotel. His son, Charles Carter, a young man about 18 years of age, went with them to Cook’s Mills. They arrived at D. Holcomb’s about eleven o’clock, and went to bed and slept about 2 ½ hours, while John Hardy and others were fixing to take him to Wm. Current’s, putting the horse that MacKenzie rode in J. Wilson’s barnyard. Current took him to Mr. Macafee’s, getting there about eight o’clock in the morning. Here MacKenzie went into the house, got on Mrs. Macafee’s dress and bonnet, while the others were getting the boat ready. The river was guarded by soldiers from Niagara to Point Abino, some of them being kept in Macafee’s house. MacKenzie got in the front part of the boat, Current in the back part, while a Dutchman pulled at the oars.
Soldiers ordered them to come back but a man on shore said Mrs. Macafee was going to Buffalo to do some trading, so they let them go. So that is the way MacKenzie got to Buffalo. This was related to me by my mother, who also told me MacKenzie had lodged at our place the preceding night. My father went to Chippawa about ten o’clock, and the word came in that Mackenzie was captured. Mr. Jas. Cummins had the cannons fired off. My father told him that MacKenzie had passed through about four o’clock. Mr. Cummins came to my father and told him that MacKenzie was in Buffalo. By the way, Cummins was a friend of Mackenzie. This ended for a time, in Canada, the career of one of her greatest men. His friends were all true, and God protected him and got him through safely.
D.G. HOLCOMB
Power Glen, Jan. 4, 1909
[Welland Tribune, 22 January 1909]
Homer Buchner of Fullerton, who was committed to the Northern Ohio hospital, Newburg, Nov. 18, died in that institution of paralysis of the brain, de. 15. Funeral services were held in the Briar Hill church, Russell, Ohio, Thursday, Rev. H.A. Vernon, officiating.
Homer A. Buchner was born in Welland county, Ontario, March 11, 1852, and was aged 56 years, nine months and four days.
He was the youngest of four children born to Lewis and Margaret Buchner, two of whom survive him-Brock Buchner of Crowland, Ont., and John Buchner of Russell, Ohio.
On Nov. 14, 1875, he married Hulda A. Case of Ripley, N.Y. Three children were born to them: Wesley L. of Perry, Mae, Yent of Seattle, Wash., Warren M. of Chesterland. His wife died March 21, 1881, at Ripley. After a few years he came to Ohio and purchased land near Fullerton Station, and built thereon in 1890. H ran a huskster wagon sixteen years.
In 1900 he closed his Fullerton house and went to Cleveland to work remaining there two years. He returned to Fullerton and on April 12, 1901 was united in marriage to Elizabeth V. Painter of Chesterland. August 2nd he received a shock which left him insane, causing his committal to the hospital.
[Welland Tribune, 19 January 1909]
The Brantford Expositor has an extended reference to the father of George Scace, West Main St., who died suddenly in Brantford, and was buried on Thursday. It reads in part:
The late Mr. Scace was born in Ipswich, England, and came to Canada in early manhood, settling at Dundas, where he married Miss Emma Bickell, who predeceased him some five years ago. He settled in Brantford, where he had continuously resided since. He was prominent in St. Jude’s church, where he held the wardenship for a number of years. He was also a member of Wolfe Lodge, S.O.E. A large family is left to mourn his loss, as follows: George, Welland; W.R., Brockville; Fred, of Toronto; Charles, at home; W.B. and James, of the Cockshutt Plow Company, city; Mrs. Hall, Calgary; Mrs. Jos. Broadbent, city; and Miss Emma at home. A sad feature of the death is the critical illness of Chas. Scace at home. To the members of the family the sympathy of a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances will be extended in their hour of bereavement. The funeral takes place on Thursday afternoon.
A kind father, an upright and sterling citizen, and a faithful adherent of St. Jude’s church has been called home.
Niagara Falls South
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Stricken with paralysis, it is thought, at the time he was found lying on Park St. by Officer Macnamara and others, on the evening of Jan. 7th., George Crandall, a resident of Niagara Falls South, was taken to the hospital, where he had a second attack, from which he died on Saturday. Deceased was about 50 years of age, married, and leaves a small family, besides his parents and a brother. It is thought that the effects of the exposure may have been a contributory cause to his death.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Walter E. Campbell, the only person who ever swam the rapids of Niagara River, died last week at the county hospital at Lockport. He was 39 years old. He went through the rapids in 1889. Campbell was born in Youngstown, N.Y., and had served in the regular army in the Philippines. He went to the county hospital two weeks ago suffering from alcoholism.
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