[Welland Tribune June 13 1929]
Children and Grand Children Gather at the Home of Alfred Wiley
Salem and community, June 13-The children and grandchildren of Alfred Wiley gathered at the old home, now known as the Lorne Wiley home on June 9th, in honor of their father. Guests numbering 40 set down to well-laden tables. After all had done justice to the innerman the afternoon was spent in visiting and taking pictures of the different groups. Grandpa Wiley is in excellent health at the age of 71, and enjoyed the day. Guests were present from Hamilton, Rosedene, Welland, Doan’s Ridge, Wainfleet and Pelham.
[Welland Tribune June 27 1929]
Salem and Community, June 27- Mr and Mrs R. Henderson and Roy Chambers and family motored to Buffalo on Sunday, to visit Mrs Henderson’s sister, who is not in the best of health.
Johnson McCombs and family of Fonthill and Mr Hoffee of Niagara Falls, visited at Mr and Mrs C Bailey’s on Sunday.
Master Don Fisher of Stevensville spent last week at Grandpa Traver and Uncle Ray Traver’s and returned home with his parents on Sunday.
Mr and Mrs John MaWhinney Mrs Eveline Traver and Elliott and Margaret of Fonthill called on Grandma Traver and Mr and Mrs Byron Dell on Sunday evening, Mr Dell is very ill.
Mrs C. Carl of Welland visited Mrs Clarence Strawn’s on Thursday.
Mr and Mrs John Chambers and Amos Holmes and family motored to Hamilton on Monday.
Carmon Bailey and friend visited at Mr and Mrs Esembles at Fonthill on Sunday.
Mr and Mrs Edward Elliott of Welland, Mr and Mrs Jess Stickles of St Catharines, Mr and Mrs Hewlett Brown of Wainfleet, visited at Mr and Mrs Hampton Brown’s on Sunday.
Mr Johnson of Wellandport is remodelling Hampton Brown’s house.
Mrs J. Chambers of Welland has moved on her farm again.
Sunday school next Sunday afternoon at 2;church services at 3 o’clock.
[Welland Tribune June 6 1929]
Salem and Community, June 6-Mrs Lane of Silverdale visited last week at Mr ad Mrs Jerry Carr’s and Mr and Mrs Frank Blanchard’s.
The social held at Okeley Beamer’s on Monday night was a great success. The program was excellent. Mr Lampman of Wellandport, in his usual happy manner, acted as chairman.
Mr and Mrs McKeller and Mr and Mrs R Henderson spent a very pleasant Sunday afternoon at Victoria Patk, Niagara Falls.
Little Jean Dell had her tonsils removed last Wednesday and is getting along very nicely.
Mr and Mrs John Bradley, Mr and Mrs Clayton Booth and Clinton of Port Robinson road, and Mr and Mrs John Chambers visited on Sunday with Jacob Chambers and family.
Harry Robbins has installed a new Mowhawk radio in his home.
Miss Violet Cramp and friend of Fonthill visited at Mr and Mrs Cecil Chambers on Monday evening.
Amos Holmes and family visited at Dunnville on Sunday.
Willson Chambers attended the Antiques association at Beamsville last week and visited friends over the week-end.
Many Friends were sorry to hear of Mrs John Becken’s accident and wish for her a speedy recovery.
Many friends were sorry to hear of the death at Perry of Mrs Peter Disher. The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Tunkard church, Forks Road. Quite a number from this vicinity attended he funeral.
The Women’s association of Salem United church is holding a Scotch tea at Mrs R. Henderson’s next Wednesday afternoon, June 12th.
Sunday school next Sunday at 11 o’clock; go-to-meeting service at 7.30.
(Compiled by S)
Florence Ella Misener was born December 27, 1870 at Boyle, Ontario. Her parents were Jacob Misener and Rebecca (Disher) Misener. Rebecca was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rebecca died in 1874 when Florence was a small child.
In April 1874, Florence was sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Philadelphia. Her uncle was George T. Scheetz, born October 1841 in Philadelphia. And his wife Marina Scheetz, was born July 1840.
Florence went to school in Philadelphia.
On February 20, 1894 Florence married Norman Fleming Comegys, born October 19, 1865.
In the Philadelphia City Directory, 1890 Norman was listed as Comegys &Bro at 13N13th Philadelphia as a printer.
The marriage took place in Germantown, Pennsylviania at the Methodist church.
Norman became ill and died October 29, 1894 at Greensboro, Maryland.
He is buried Hughlett cemetery, Greensboro, Caroline City, Maryland.
Norman’s parents were William Hughlett (Col) Comegys born August 15, 1827, Greensboro, Maryland. His mother was Martha Fleming born 1843, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
[Denton Journal, Maryland November 3, 1894]
Mr Norman Comegys of Greensboro died at the residence of his father Col. William H. Comegys after a lingering illness. Aged thirty years. Until a few months ago he was actively engaged in the printing business in Philadelphia but, his health failed he was compelled to retire His death occurred on Monday.
Florence Comegys was a teacher and continued teaching in Philadelphia.
At age 57 Florence retired from teaching and February 6, 1929 she came back to Canada to live.
She went to live with her niece, Mrs R.A. Moll in Grimsby, Ontario. She resided here until her death.
{Grimsby Independent, May 1, 1935}
Florence S. Comegys (nee Misener)
April 29, 1935
A highly regarded citizen of Grimsby was called by death in the person of Mrs Florence S Comegys at the Grimsby Nursing Home on Monday April 29. The deceased lady had been in Hamilton hospital for a time but had returned home for a little over a week before her death. She was in her 65th year. She was born at Boyle, Ontario on December 27, 1870 and later lived in Philadelphia where her husband predeceased her 40 years ago. The late Mrs Comegys was a member of St Andrew’s Anglican church and was actively associated with the Women’s auxiliary and the Guild. She was also a member of the IODE being one of the most valued members of the Lincoln Loyalist Chapter of Grimsby
Left to mourn her passing are two brothers Walter Misener of Fenwick and Silas Misener of Wellandport. The funeral was held from the home of her niece Mrs R.A. Moll ,Stop 130 Main West on Wednesday afternoon at 2 O’Clock with Rev. J.A. Ballard officiating. Interment was made at Ridgeville, Ontario
The pallbearers were Messsrs William Smith, R.O. Smith, A.B. Bourne. G.G. Bourne, William Geddes W.H. Parsons.
[Welland Tribune 1929]
Lynn B. Spencer K.C. Host at Golf Club to Friends and Business Associates
An exceptionally pleasant social function took place yesterday at Lookout Point Golf and Country club when Lynn B. Spencer K.C.. .was host to over thirty of his friends and business associates in Buffalo and the Niagara peninsula. The guests were invited, during the afternoon, to play over the beautiful course for which the club is famous, and most of them took advantage of this privilege, particularly as the weather was ideal for such sport.
At 8.30 in the evening the company gathered in the spacious dining hall of the attractive new club house and after all had enjoyed the elaborate and appetizing menu provided, the genial host undertook to explain why he had asked his friends to partake of his hospitality.
“It is just 21 years since I commenced practicing in Welland,” said Mr. Spencer,”and I thought the anniversary worthy of some little celebration, particularly as I expect to leave on a trip to England within a few weeks. I am pleased to greet my friends here and to provide the occasion for those present to enjoy the opportunity of becoming acquainted with each other.”
Mr. Spencer then referred to his 21 years of partnership in the legal profession with Col. L.C. Raymond,K.C. which he said, had been without even a ripple of discontent.
Following adjournment to the cosy lounge, where coffee was served, the party was introduced to T. Halton, a prominent business man of Cleveland, who soon had all present agog with wonder at his amazing skill and dexterity as a sleight of hand artist and creator of illusions. He performed many mystifying tricks with an apparently innocent deck of cards, at the same time, with his amusing patter, keeping the company in a rollicking mood. Mr Halton does not claim the dignity of a professional but it was agreed on all sides that some of his experiments were more baffling than any seen behind the footlights.
Other guests, with recitation and story, made impromptu contributions to the entertainment of the evening. The pleasure of the guests and their indebtedness to Mr Spencer for his generous hospitality was greatly expressed by Frank B. Baird, president of the Buffalo-Fort Erie Bridge and others.
The Guests
The guests were: John W. Van Allen, Welles V. Moot, Frank B. Baird, Allan I. Holloway, all of Buffalo; T. Halton, Cleveland; R.M. Smith, R.C. Muir, R.C. Douglas, K. Bates, all of Toronto……..
{compiled by “S”}
John Phillips was born March 29, 1880 on a farm near O’Reilly’s Bridge.
His parents were Robert Henry Phillips, born January 19, 1858 in Wainfleet. His mother was Martha Robbins of Thorold Township, born July 11,1859. They were married March 16, 1874 in Welland.
Their children were: Nellie Jeanette Phillips born January 18,1875. She married William James Rae of Sault Ste Marie, September 18, 1899. They had 3 children: Margaret L. Rae, 1899. Helen Louise Rae, 1902; and Neal Rae, 1904.
Nellie Jeanette Rae died January 1907 in Port Colborne.
Thomas William Phillips was born April 18, 1876, he became a teacher and married L. Farr January 30, 1907 in Welland
Margaret Ann Phillips was born July 17, 1878 and married Henry Chambers , December 25, 1907.
Dr. John Phillips immigrated in 1903 to Ohio. He married Cordelia Sudderth on September 18, 1907.
Dr. John Phillips died May 15,1929 in Cleveland.
Cordelia died December 4, 1963 in North Carolina.
Dr. John Phillip’s funeral service was held at Amasastone Memorial Chapel, Western Reserve University, Saturday May 18 at 2.30pm. Burial was at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland.
John Edward Phillips (1908-1983)
He was the son of Dr. John Phillips and Cordelia Sudderth Phillips. John was born in Cleveland. He graduated from Yale University with a Science Degree in 1932. He travelled to many foreign countries. He was a Field Engineer for Archer Daniles Midland Company which dealt in vegetable oils and chemicals
In W.W. II, he served as a naval officer and then returned to Cleveland.
He compiled genealogy files for Philiips, Sudderth and Southard families. The collection of records can be found at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
He died April 9, 1983 in Cleveland.
Cleveland Clinic Beginnings
{Compiled by “S”}
A sense of cooperation shared by three friends of the clinic, Bunts, Crile and Lower acted as a unit. All were medical doctors and acted in the war. They were surgeons and in order to develop a broader field of medical service, they needed to add an internist to organize and head a department of medicine.
Dr. John Phillips was at the School of Medicine of Western Reserve, he had served in military hospitals during the war and held the same broad concept of what might be possible in a clinic organization.
John Phillips raised on a farm near Welland, was a serious minded person with a keen sense of humour. He obtained a teaching certificate, taught for three years, entered the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto. In 1903 he received the M.B. degree with honours. After graduation he served for three years as an intern and resident in medicine at Lakeside Hospital in Cleveland. He then entered practice as an associate n the office of Dr. E.F. Cushing, professor of Pediatrics at Western Reserve. Dr. Phillips was assistant professor in Medicine and Therapeutics at the Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He also held appointments at Babies’ Dispensory. He was also consulting physician at St John’s Hospital. He had a large private and consulting practice. He was highly regarded as a clinician and teaching in internal medicine and diseases of children. During WW I he served as a captain in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army.
The four founders of the Cleveland Clinic were all professors of medical schools,all highly regarded in the community and well established in the community hospital.They all had been in the military and were committed to the practice of medicine.
The first meeting of the incorporation was February 21, 1921. Designated founders were Bunts, Crile, Lowe and Phillips.
8pm on February 26, 1921 was the grand opening of Cleveland Clinic with 500 of the medical profession attending.
The clinic was located in a four storey building at East 93rd St. and Euclid Ave.
Dr. Phillips was trustee of the Cleveland Medical Library Association and a member of Allen Memorial Medical Library building committee.
Cleveland Clinic Disaster
On Wed. May 15, 1929 at 11.30am was the first explosion of toxic gases. X-ray films were stored in the basement in manila envelopes in file cabinets. It is believed 70,000 films were stored there. A leak was discovered in the steam line earlier, a jet stream flowed to where the film was stored. A cloud of yellow smoke was in the room. When firemen arrived the building was in a dense yellow brown cloud. The ground floor entrance was blocked by fumes.
Dr, Phillips had reached the ground by a ladder on the east side of the building. He sat on the steps of the church across the road and was taken to his apartment at the Wade Park Manor East 107th St. His condition worsened; at 7pm Dr. Crile went to his room and performed a transfusion. Dr, Phillips died at 8;30pm, he was 50.
The clinic disaster resulted in worldwide adoption of revised safety codes for storing films and making use of safety film that would not explode.
One hundred and twenty three people lost their lives. Dr Phillips was a posthumous inductee of the Medical Hall of Fame.
[Welland Tribune Thursday, May 16, 1929]
Ninety-Five Known Dead as the Result of Two Explosions.
Poisonous Gas Rushes Through Building When X-ray Films Burned
Cleveland, May 16—Poison gas and two explosions which followed burning the X-ray films in the Cleveland clinic yesterday claimed nearly 100 lives.
There were 95 known dead and hospital authorities worked desperately to administer artificial respiration to 43 more who were overcome. Victims of the disaster were dying at short intervals and physicians sent out appeals for addition oxygen in the fear that the supply in the city might prove insufficient. Oxygen is declared the only effective means of overcoming gas burns.
Nearly all of the deaths were attributed to the deadly gas which filtered through the four-storey brick building slowly at first and then augmented by a second and greater explosion than the first, rushed up from the basement and cut off escape down the stairways and elevators.
Survivors said those asphyxiated were dead, their faces turning a sickly yellowish-brown color, within two minutes after inhaling the gas.
Like War Gas
The fumes were given off by fire of an undetermined origin which destroyed X-ray films in the basement. Some pharmacists said it was bromine gas, while Dr. William E. Lower, one of the founders of the clinic, said it resembled the deadly phosgene gas employed in the great war.
It was ironic that the disaster occurred in the very place where the most advanced instruments and laboratories of science had been turned against pain and death. The clinic was owned principally by Dr. George W. Crile, nationally-known physician, who was too occupied with relief work to comment on the catastrophe.
Despite the heavy loss of life, firemen estimated the property damage at only $50,000.
The first explosion occurred in the basement. On the floors above, waiting rooms were crowded with clinical patients. Many of them died where they sat, some in wheel chair unable to move, as the deadly fumes rapidly penetrated to all floors.
The hollow centre of the building first was filled with gases.The intense heat below sent the fumes swirling upward. Before any one had opportunity to escape, a second blast blew out the skylight and filled the entire building with the deadly fumes. Occupants had no way to escape by the windows and few were able to reach them. These were enveloped by the fumes which hung about the building and they collapsed.
The two street entrances were choked, and the stairways leading to the roof were heavy with the fumes. Every piece of fire apparatus available was centered at the clinic and every vehicle possible was commandeered to remove the bodies.. An hour and a half after the first explosion all had been taken to nearby hospitals.
The first blast was heard by policeman Henry Thorpe, walking two blocks away. He immediately turned in an alarm and ran to the building at Euclid avenue and 93rd street.
[Welland Tribune May, 1929]
Native Son of Welland County was one of the Founders of Famed Institution—Born at O’Reilly’s Bridge, Received Education Here Before Graduating From Toronto University—Made Great Contribution to United States Medical Science—Relatives Reside in Fenwick.
According to later word received by The Tribune at edition time, Dr. Phillips died late last evening from his injuries.
The terrible explosion and fire which Wednesday took a toll of 91 lives at the Cleveland Clinic hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, came home with full force to this city and Welland county when it became known the Dr. John Phillips was among the injured and is not expected to live.
Some years ago Dr. Phillips former resident of Welland city and native son of Welland county became associated with the famous surgeon, Dr, George W. Crile, and together they founded the Cleveland clinic, which has been known all over the continent as an institution of the very first rank.
Relatives here of Dr. Phillips said late Wednesday night following long distance conversation with Cleveland that Dr. Phillips was seriously injured and dispatches this morning report him as being gassed.
Dr. Phillips was born at O’Reilly’s Bridge, a few miles from Welland, the son of the late Robert Phillips. He attended school at O’Reilly’s Bridge and later was a student at the Welland high school, residing with his parents on West Main Street. From there he went to University of Toronto and on leaving that institution started a practice in Cleveland under the late Dr. Cushing of that city.
Studious Character
Dr. E.E. Binns, class mate of Dr. Phillips at Toronto University in 1903 their year of graduation, in an interview with The Tribune last night described Dr. Phillips while a student college as quiet and studious and though he did not then show a marked brilliancy nevertheless displayed an intense application and perseverance. “He was one of the most industrious students at Toronto University,” was Dr. Binns’ characterization. “We all knew he would make good but no one thought he had it in him to reach the heights that he speedily scaled. His association with Dr. Cushing, one of Cleveland’s foremost physicians and consultants the latter’s interne at Cleveland gave him an introduction to the finest of professional intercourse in the city, and his close application to work soon bore fruit.
Reached National Fame
Dr. Cushing gradually worked in as a sort of personal assistant and from that moment with John’s industry and conscientiousness his future was assured. Not long after Dr. Cushing died rather suddenly and so great was the impression that John Phillips had made upon the hospital staff and the medical faculty the great city in his few years serving among them, that he was offered chair of assistant professor of medicine and associate lecturer in the medical schools. His work as a clinician soon became known outside the limits of Cleveland, and as the years passed he reached a national fame. He was recognized as one of the most capable, conscientious and reliable members of the healing profession.
“Welland county is justly proud to have given to the United States a man made so valuable a contribution to the realms of medical science,” was Dr. Binns’ tribute.
Dr. Phillips and his wife, Cordelia, have one son John, now at Yale. Who is looked upon as an electrical genius and a most gifted boy. He has three brothers in Welland county, Thomas of Wainfleet, Robert of Fenwick and Richard of O’Reilly’s Bridge and one sister Mrs. Henry Chambers of Fenwick. A niece is Miss Lillian Phillips of O’Reilly’s Bridge. He last visited Welland a little more than a month ago.
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