(Simcoe
Reformer)
Norfolk lost its oldest resident
early yesterday morning, when John Saville of Lynn Valley died at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Martin, 34 Lynnwood Avenue.
John Saville was 97 years old on
Christmas Day, 1924, having been born in Norfolk, Essex County, Eng., on
25 Dec 1827. He came to Canada in 1832, and had resided in Norfolk
County ever since.
For the past 30 years he had
lived on his farm at Lynn Valley with his son Roy. He was possessed of a
strong and vigorous constitution, and although somewhat feeble in his
declining years, even as late as the summer of 1924 he could be seen
daily working in the garden that was his constant pride and care.
His bright and active mind was a
storehouse of interesting reminiscences of pioneer days in Norfolk, and
his stories were always a source of keen delight to his host of friends,
scattered throughout the county.
He was a man of sterling
character, industrious and passionately loyal to his home county. His
death marks the passing of one of the real old landmarks of Norfolk.
Mr. Saville was thrice married
and he leaves to mourn three daughters and two sons: Mrs. Rhoda Black of
Charlevoix, Mich., Mrs. Herbert Stickney of Port Ryerse, Mrs. Charles
Martin of Simcoe, Edward of San Francisco, and Roy of Woodhouse. One
sister, Mrs. Martha Winters, of Coniston, Ont., who has attainted the
ripe old age of 91 years, also survives.
The funeral services will be
held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Martin, Lynnwood Avenue, on
Friday 23 Jan 1925 at 2.30 o'clock, with interment at Oakwood Cemetery.
From a sketch of the life of
John Saville, published in the
2 Oct 1924 Simcoe Reformer, the following excerpt is taken:
"One of a family of four
girls and two boys, John Saville came across the ocean with his parents,
John and Rhoda Saville, when only five years of age. That was a
memorable trip. At one stage of the journey a sweeping hurricane drove
their sailing vessel out of its course, and prolonged the irksome trip
to six weeks.
"Landing at Montreal, they
came overland to Norfolk and settled on the farm once owned by Colonel
Salmon, a pioneer resident of Woodhouse. That was in 1832. One year
later they moved on to the farm of Holmes Matthews, another early
settler. Soon afterwards, the family went to Lynn Valley for a time and
finally removed to the historic village of Vittoria, at that period the
capital of the London district.
"But Mr. Saville Sr. was
not yet content. Windham Township next attracted his attention, and the
family belongings were transferred thence, where they remained until
young John was 12 years old.
"Some years later they
moved to Townsend, where John Saville, now a young man of 25, thoroughly
versed in agriculture, set up for himself. In partnership with his
father he bought a farm just east of Colborne, on the 13th Concession of
Townsend.
"Since then, John Saville
has moved about the county considerably but never has he forsaken the
pursuit of agriculture."
