Fonthill News
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 17 February 1921]
The sad news of the death of Arthur Haslem brought depression to neighbors and friends in this village last Friday morning. Mr. Haslem had apparently successfully passed the crisis of an attack of plural-pneumonia and recovery seemed assured, but about 6.30 o’clock a heart attack compelled the immediate attendance of his physician, Dr. Emmet, and from this attack the patient only slightly rallied for a brief time, passing away in less than an hour after its occurrence. Mr. Haslem was a native of Halifax Yorkshire England and came to Canada about 1911 locating at Hamilton, Ont. During the war he was among the first to respond to the call and went overseas with the 68th machine gun battalion. In France he served with the 15th machine gun company and later with the 3rd machine gun battalion. In service he suffered no wounds, but was gassed during the last months of the war, and as has been proved with many of our boys, this is believed to have superinduced the heart weakness which ultimately caused death. During the past season Mr. Haslem was employed on the Tanner Estate, he having come with his battalion companion, James Haley, to gain fruit and vegetable farming experience in order to obtain the Government land grant with which to purchase a farm. Mr. Haslem at the time of his death was in his 32nd year and is survived by his widow, Elsie Morris Haslem, daughter of Wm. Morris, of Shandonah, Ps., and also a young son of 6 months. Mr. and Mrs. Morris arrived from Pa. on Saturday morning. Prayer service was held on Sunday evening at the residence by the Rev. W.S. Weary, rector of Holy Trinity Church and burial and chapel service held in Hamilton on Monday, at 2.30 p.m.
Three Men Beat, Bind and Rob Night Attendant at N.S. & T. Power House
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
While at his duties in the N.S. & T. power house on Tuesday evening, Geo. Robinson, the attendant, a man over sixty years of age, was attacked by three men, and six dollars and his revolver stolen.
About eight o’clock that evening three men entered the power house and engaged in conversation with Mr. Robinson. He eventually turned his back on his visitors, and they, taking advantage of this move, one of them placed his hands over Mr. Robinson’s eyes, while another struck him over the head with a weapon, presumably a black jack, knocking him to the floor. He was immediately bound, hand and foot and robbed of six dollars, which he had on his person, and his revolver. He heard his attackers running away on the board sidewalk, in the direction of the station. It is suspected that they left by way of the N.S. & T., tracks, going south.
He remained bound for a period of about fifteen minutes and only succeeded in getting free with the assistance of his pocket knife, which he managed to open with his teeth.
Although he received only a slight wound from the blow, it was necessary to take him to the hospital to have some dressing. Mr. Robinson left on a late car for his home in St. Catharines.
Mr. Robinson’s wound was on the side of his head and it bled profusely. After receiving medical attention at the hospital he left for his home in St. Catharines. It is expected that he will be able to resume his position in a few days. He was not able to give a clear description of his assailants, though that may have been due to his dazed condition. He said they were large men and one wore a service overcoat. They were not foreigners.
When they stepped in they asked for Noble (A. Noble who alternates with Mr. Robinson as attendant at the power plant.) Mr. Robinson stepped to his table to write out Noble’s address, when he was grabbed from behind then beaten on the head, gagged, bound and laid aside. The visitors appropriated Mr. Robinson’s revolver which hung above the desk.
Mr. Robinson had a jack-knife in his hip pocket which he was able to extract though his hands were tied. Ultimately he succeeded in cutting the cords and freeing himself. Then he raised the alarm and Chief Crabb an Officer Truman were summoned.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
The death took at her home at 247 South Main street on Monday afternoon of Angeline, wife of W.S. Condon. Mrs. Condon has been a sufferer for some time from cancer which was the cause of death. Deceased was in her 74th year. She had spent much of her life at Fenwick, where her first husband, William Garner, died some years ago. She is survived by four sons-Sidney, Burton, George and Frank Garner; and her husband W.S. Condon. The funeral takes place this afternoon with services held at the late home at 2 o’clock by the Rev. F.L. Austin, and burial at Fonthill.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
Their passed into rest February 19, 1921, in Rochester, N.Y., Mrs. Alice H. Gates, aged 60 years, formerly of Wainfleet. She left to mourn her loss a loving husband, Joseph Gates, two daughters, Mrs. Fred Newman, of Jarvis, Ontario; Mrs. John Schrader, of Victor, N.Y., one sister, Mrs. John Farr, of Fenwick; and one brother of Welland, Ontario; and an aged father, William R. Smith, who was residing with her. The funeral services was held at her late residence, 128 Brock St., Feb. 22nd., and was largely attended by sorrowing relatives and loving neighbors. The floral offerings were many and beautiful which accompanied her to Mt. Hope Cemetery where she was laid to rest. Much sympathy is extended to the sorrowing family.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
On Friday night, Feb. 18, at ten o’clock, one of Bethel’s well beloved citizens’ was called to his long reward in the person of Albert A. Neff.
He was a resident of Humberstone Township all his life and lived on the farm on which he passed away for forty-nine years. He was born Aug. 9, 1847, aged 73 years, 6 months and 9 days. Although Mr. Neff was ailing for years with that dreaded disease cancer, yet the end came very suddenly and was a great shock to his many friends. He was a devoted father and husband, and was loved and respected by all who knew him, and always willing to give a helping hand to any who were in need.
Deceased leaves to mourn his great loss, a sorrowing widow and two children, Milton, of the township, and Lottie, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and two grandsons, Theo M. Jones, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Mervin C. Neff, also one sister, Mrs. Daniel Johnson, of the Township, and three brothers, Emmanuel, of Dunnville; Lafayette, of Humberstone; and Jonathan, of Reno, Nevada.
His funeral was held from his late home, Monday afternoon, at 1.30, Feb. 21, 1921, thence to Bethel Methodist Church, where a very impressive service was held by his pastor, Rev. Mr. Creighton, who had the pleasure of baptizing Mr. Neff, he being converted in the quiet of his own home some months ago. In April 1872, he married Martha Vasbinder, of Wainfleet. He was the oldest son of Jonas Neff and Emeline Steele.
He was known by a large circle as he was sexton for thirty-six years of Overholt cemetery in which his remains were laid to rest in the hope of a glorious resurrection and reunion.
First One To Be Received in Welland- Recipient Served In Two Campaigns.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 8 February 1921]
Sneyd’s store window on West Main Street is this week exhibiting an Imperial Army General Service Medal, the property of William (Bert) Sneyd, for services rendered in the Imperial Army overseas.
The medal has been forwarded to Mr. Sneyd by Col. Sickle, late commander of the East Kent regiment’ now in charge of the department for the distribution of war medals. Bert served two years with the Imperial Army, signing up in September, 1914, being discharged, after receiving wounds. He enlisted again shortly after with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, in whose service he remained until the signing of the armistice. He is at present employed in Galveston, Texas.
The medal itself, which arrived on Wednesday, is a handsome souvenir. On the one side is depicted a man seated on horseback, carrying a sword trampling underfoot the German coat-of-arms, the spread eagle, and a skull and crossbones. It very forcibly brings to our memory the various pictures of St. George and the Dragon. On the reverse side is a likeness of our present King, King George V, with a Latin inscription. On the edge is engraved the name of its receiver, Pte. W. Sneyd. The ribbon accompanying is colored blue, black, white and orange.
It is probably the only one of its kind in the city at present, although we are informed that there are others to follow, for service with the Imperial Army.
Bert is yet to receive the Imperial Army medal, having already received the 1915 star, for service in that year, and the second battle of Ypres. Two of his brothers, Archie and Alfred, are yet to receive a General Service medal, only from the Canadian Forces. Bert will also receive one from this source.
Seventeen-year-old Girl Married Youth of Nineteen and Now Repents
(Special to The Tribune-Telegraph)
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
Buffalo, N.Y., Feb 22-Claiming that his daughter, Iva, 17 years old, left home in the Elmwood Avenue district here last November 11, while he was out of town with his consent or knowledge, Henry T. Buffum, as guardian for his daughter, has brought action to annul her marriage to Shook. Justice Pierce here in Supreme Court last Monday gave him permission to serve the complaint by publication because Shook lives in Canada. Buffum stated in the papers in the case that his daughter desired to return to him shortly after the marriage but was obliged to earn sufficient funds to defray her expenses. She returned to the father on January 29, this year, and 10 days ago the father was appointed guardian to bring the annulment action. The girl’s mother is dead. Shook is said to 19 years old.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
A few items from the personal life of the late Norman Kennedy Rinker are here recorded. Norman has been practically all his life a resident of Welland County, having been born in Pelham Township on October 24th, 1897. His grandparents and parents were long residents of Pelham. His great grandparents were United Empire Loyalists. He attended Welland High School for a number of years. Norman K. Rinker, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Rinker, Randolph St., was well-known in local and Detroit musical circles. He was a member of the Detroit Confederation of Music. He was a great lover of a piano and spent a large portion of his time at the keys. He was a member of the Firgels’ thirty-five piece orchestra in Detroit. He also played in and was a member of Cowell’s Orchestra of Detroit. He passed his musical examination in Toronto Conservatory. Though an electrician, by occupation, it had been his intention to adopt music as a profession. Of a studious nature he had taken out an extensive course in LaSalle University. He had lived in Detroit for two years, having returned to Welland only a short time previous to the tragedy which cost him his life.
Of a quiet and likeable disposition Norman was loved by the community. He was a great lover of the out-doors. He was a devotee of open-air sports and delighted in rambles in the woods. He was for three or four years a player on the Page-Hersey Baseball team, who more than once won honors on the field. He was one of the good basketball players on the Y.M.C.A. team. He revelled in the prospects of a good skate on the river, which so sadly caused his demise.
During the late war Norman, at the age of sixteen, attempted to enlist with the Second Dragoons under Major Sharpe, but was rejected in consideration of his age. He also attempted to enlist again before the age of eighteen but it was not until May 29th, 1918 that he was successful in joining the colors, when he enlisted with the Royal Air Force.
He was a lad who left behind him an untarnished reputation.
Bradley Chambers Had a Trip to New York and Phil. On Nine Dollars.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 24 February 1921]
W.B. Chambers, who operates a plumbing and tinsmithing establishment on North Main Street, made rather a unique find among his possessions recently, in the way of a stub of a railway ticket, dated August 26th, 1876-forty-five years ago this coming August.
The ticket in question was issued by the Great Western Railway, which was the old Grand Trunk, and was for passage from Hamilton to Philadelphia, by way of New York City, and return. The total cost of this ticket was exactly nine dollars.
The ticket was issued for the centennial which was held in Philadelphia that years, to the first World’s Fair ever held in the United States.
Mr. Chambers also discovered at the same time a directory and map of the World’s Fair grounds in Philadelphia, as well as a diary which contains some rather interesting information. One think that the diary recalls is that Mr. Chambers started off on that eventful trip with $57 in his pocket-and he had a wonderful time and brought home quite a chunk of it. Now the same trip could not be started without at least $570 in your pocket. In those days the best of meals could be obtained for 35 cents and a room in a hotel for 50 cents, or a dollar.
Fire work displays and night recreation in the grounds at the centennial were unknown. You could enter the grounds at nine o’clock in the morning and if you were not out by six p.m., chances were that you would be locked in.
All of these conditions are recalled by items in the diary of forty-five years ago.
It is interesting to note that this ticket purchased forty-five years ago at nine dollars, if purchased today, would cost in the vicinity of forty-two or forty-three dollars.
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 10 February 1921]
Mary Poth, nee Miller, relict of the late Daniel Poth, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 3, 1837, and died in Pelham, February 2, 1921, in her 84th year. About 62 years ago she was married to Daniel Poth. Eleven children were born to them. For a time they lived in Gainsboro Township where she united with the Church of the Evangelical Association of which she remained a faithful and highly respected member to the day of her departure. Ten years ago her husband preceded her in death. One son, John at Chantler, where she had her home in recent years and one daughter, Harriet, Mrs. Torrence, Niagara Falls, N.Y., survive. She also leaves five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A memorial service was held at the home of her son, at Chantler last Saturday, Feb. 5th, 1.30 p.m., conducted by the pastor, Rev. W.E. Beese. Interment was made in the Dawdy cemetery.
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