W.
J. Clarke of Port Arthur dies suddenly
The Fort William Daily Times
Journal, a copy of which has been sent to this office, contains
particulars of the sudden death of a former resident of Simcoe,
still well remembered by many people here.
According to the account in
the Fort William paper, Mr. W. J. Clarke, one of the pioneers of
Port Arthur, was found dead in bed on Saturday, 14 Jul 1917, in his
room in the Campbell block. When found he was lying in bed, fully
dressed with the exception of his coat, his face buried in the
pillow.
At midnight Dr. Crozier was
called in to see Mr. Clarke as he complained of feeling
unwell, and after attending to him, advised him to go to bed, saying
he would all right in the morning.
In the morning a soldier who
has a room in the same block found him lying dead in bed.
William Joseph Clarke was 68
years of age, and had been a resident of Port Arthur for 44 years.
He was a pioneer druggist at
the head of the lakes, and built the block at the corner of Arthur
and Cumberland Streets, where the Royal Bank now is.
Some years ago he
disassociated himself from the drug business and lived
semi-privately, but lately he had been connected with the Witts Drug
Company, and was working in the store at 9;30 Friday evening,
apparently being in his usual state of health. He was seen
purchasing a newspaper at one of the local stores as late as 11
o'clock, and several citizens spoke to him.
The late Mr. Clarke's wife
pre-deceased him some eight years, being before marriage, Miss Lily
Louisa Mitchell, sister of R. E. Mitchell, J.P., division court
clerk of Port Arthur.
Mr. Clarke is survived by
three sons and one daughter, Gerold of Saskatoon, Jack who is
overseas with a local battalion, Arthur who resides in Port
Arthur, and
Mrs. Wall (Gladys) of Vancouver.
Mrs. W. W. Birdsall of Fort
William and
Mrs. W. M. English of Hamilton are sisters.
John Clarke of Hebert Street Port Arthur is a brother.
Two other brothers died years ago.
Mr. Clarke was the eldest
son of the late
Dr. John Fitzgerald Clarke, and was born in Simcoe.
The family moved to Port Arthur in the early 1870s, when Dr. Clarke
was appointed Sheriff of Thunder Bay District.
The late W. J. Clarke was a
past-master of Shuniah Lodge A. F. and A. M., and was deeply
interested educational matters. For 17 years without a break was a
member of the Port Arthur Public School Board. He was a member
of the public school committee almost all that time.
The funeral was conducted by
the Masonic fraternity.
