A transcription of a page 1 article from 2 Dec 1915 Simcoe Reformer
[Some paragraph breaks inserted by the transcriber]

Mr. G. F. Counter Died Suddenly
WAS LONGER IN BUSINESS HERE THAN 
ANY OTHER MAN IN SIMCOE

George Forest Counter, who had been in business in Simcoe for a longer period that any other merchant, died at his home at the corner of Talbot and Chapel streets Sunday morning after an illness of only a few days.

He had been at his store as usual on Monday, but was not in the best of health, and stayed home on Tuesday. Wednesday he took to his bed, but was not thought to be seriously ill until late Saturday night, when he seemed to fall away very rapidly.

The late Mr. Counter was born in Widdecombe Parish, Devonshire, England, on November 19, 1835, and came to Canada with his father, the late Richard Counter, when he was 12 years old, and settled near London.

At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a jeweler, the late Mr. Wyckoff, and went to London to work. In 1854 he made his first visit to Simcoe, coming on that occasion to visit one of the Collver families who lived to the north of the town.

Later the same year he came back to Simcoe, this time to take charge of a jewelry store for his employer, who had purchased a business from the late David Allgeo, brother of John Allgeo, the present bailiff of the first division court.

Here young Counter worked hard and faithfully  and in a few years was able to purchase the business for himself, which he has continued through the long years while his associates have passed on gradually until for a number of years back deceased has had the distinction of being the oldest merchant in point of continuous service in the whole town.

The deceased was a man that was respected by all, being of a quiet, peaceable nature and steadfast in righteousness and fair dealing. He was for more than thirty years organist and choir leader of the Methodist church, and September 12, 1879, was elected a trustee of St. James, and has been in office continuously since that date. T. R. Nelles, who was elected a trustee on the same evening, is now the oldest living trustee in continuous service.

He outlived his wife only a few months and leaves to mourn the loss of a good father, two sons and three daughters. The sons are: William R. Counter of Goderich and G. Norman Counter, who will carry on the business here. The daughters are: Mrs. Frank Collins, Brantford; and Misses Marion and Alma at home. The deceased also leaves twin brothers, Edwin of Detroit and Edward of Wayne County, Mich.

The funeral took place from the Family residence to Oakwood cemetery, on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, Rev. Dr. Benson officiating, and was conducted under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. Roy McIntosh of Hamilton sang a solo at the house service.

G. F. Counter

The following
gentlemen acted
 as pall bearers:
Col. T. A. Atkinson
Dr. W. A. McIntosh
J. D. Christie
Wm. Sutton
Frank Reid
A. H. Smith

Also see:
his brother James
his brother Moses
his cemetery stone