OBITUARY
The Late Thomas Priest
After a very brief illness
of three or four days duration, Thomas Priest passed peacefully
away on 13 Apr 1910, at the home of his son, James A. Priest of
Rockford, in the 89th year of his age.
Deceased was out and
around on Saturday as well as usual, but was taken ill on Saturday
night with kidney trouble. In spite of medical aid and all that
kind friends could do, he gradually grew worse, and passed
away to his rest Wednesday afternoon at the ripe old age of 88
years and 13 days. He suffered little and the end came without
even a struggle.
The funeral took place on
Friday afternoon last, a short service being conducted at the home
of his son James, by the Rev. J. W. Kitching, after which the
funeral cortage proceeded to St. Paul's Church, Jarvis, where a
more elaborate ceremony was conducted by an old and esteemed
pastor of the deceased, the Rev. John Francis of Dunn. After the
ceremony the remains were interred in the family plot, surrounded
by all the remaining children and some of the grandchildren. His
six sons acted as pall-bearers.
The relatives and friends
have the sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement.
The deceased was born at
Cattael Magnet, County of Yorkshire, near the city of York,
England, on 1 Apr 1822. He spent his childhood and worked with his
father and brothers at the brick and tile business at that place
until 23 years of age.
At the age of 21 he
married Mary Golden of York, and in the year 1845, with his wife
and one child, he set sail for Canada. The voyage at that time was
made in a sailing vessel, and after a voyage of one month, they
landed at Halifax. From there they came to Toronto, and he again
engaged in the brick and tile business near that place. The same
year came to the County of Halton, Township of Nasugiweya, and
worked in the harvest fields for a Mr. Findlay, a wealthy farmer.
He then moved to
Campellville and kept hotel until the year 1849, when he came with
his family to the Township of Walpole and settled near Hullsville,
now known as Garnet, which was at that time a dense forest,
roaming with wild beasts, and started in to make himself a home.
With hard work,
perseverance and economy, he cleared two farms, one now owned by
Sam Cherry and the other by Geo. Dales. He worked hard
swinging the cradle and scythe, and made many friends when
attending logging bees and raisings of buildings.
His first marriage was
blessed with 11 children. On
20 Apr 1867 he was bereft of his wife. In 1870 he was married to
Susannah Hull, widow of Richard Hull, by the Rev. John Francis of
Jarvis, who after a lapse of 40 years performed the last sad
rites.
In 1874 he moved onto the
John Rodgers farm on the 11th Concession of Walpole, now owned by
John Phillips, and worked this farm 20 [sic] years. In 1888
he moved onto the Harry Pearson farm near Rockford, and in the
year 1899 he retired from farming, purchasing a house and lot from
Martin Cook, at Rockford. He lived there until the fall of
1905, when he purchased a house and lot from Jonathan Porter of
Jarvis.
On 1 Jan 1908 he was
bereft of his second wife, and since that time had lived with his
sons, Marshall of Jarvis and James of Rockford.
Deceased was a life-long
Conservative in politics, and a member of St. Paul's church in
Jarvis. During his long life he made many friends, and was not
known to have an enemy.
Out of a family of 16
children only seven survive him, six sons and one daughter: Mrs.
Wm. Harris of Hagersville, Thomas of Hespeller, Walter of Appleby,
Harry and Chas. of Hamilton, Marshall of Jarvis and James of
Rockford. He lived to see nine of his children and his two wives
laid to rest.
