Mr. Jacob Abbott died on Thursday
morning about ten o'clock after an illness of several months. He was a man
of many good qualities, and in his lifetime of sixty-five years make a
multitude of friends. He was popular in town and country and was a member
of the South Walsingham council for a long time, and of the Port Rowan
council also for a couple of years, and could have remained in office if
he would.
His funeral on Sunday afternoon
was one of the largest in the history of Port Rowan. The Methodist church
was not large enough to accommodate all who wished to hear the last words
of the distinguished preacher, the Rev. Dr. McCrimmon, of McMaster
University, concerning him. The church was crowded and hot and yet the
people listened eagerly to the scholarly and sympathetic sermon of the
learned doctor. After the service the remains were put away in the family
plot in Bay View cemetery.
He was a son of the late Timothy
Abbott, and was born on the old homestead near Port
Royal, at present
occupied by Mr. H. M. Abbott. After his marriage to Miss Miller, about
forty years ago, he built the brick house on the farm right across the
sideroad from the old homestead, and there resided until their removal to
Port Rowan, fifteen years ago. They had two children who survive, Mrs. J.
W. Dedrick, of Port Rowan, and Mr. Ben Abbott, of Vanessa. The only surviving
brother is Mr. Peter Abbott, of the Front Road. Four sisters survive --
Mrs. Oliver Franklin, Mrs. Byron Franklin, Mrs. Wellington Franklin and
Mrs. Henry Anderson. Besides these there are many nieces and nephews and
good friends everywhere throughout the country among who he will be
missed.
During his life he set a good
example of honor and honesty, which in itself is a valuable legacy to the
community. He was a good and industrious farmer, and a good businessman
also, and so was always amply provided with means. He was able to maintain
all the traditions of the historic families of Norfolk, and to leave an
untarnished name to his descendants.
