Thomas E. Alton, after a
short illness, died at his home in this village on Tuesday at the age of
66 years. Mr. Alton was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Alton, and
was born on the old homestead in the Township of Houghton. He married
Miss Laura Emrick, who survives him.
Two sons and five daughters also survive to mourn his loss:
Joseph, of Shannon, Sask., and Private T. Alton, now in France with the
C.E.F.;
Miss Maude Alton, Mrs. James Quinn and Mrs. Allan Knowles, of Wolsey,
Sask.;
Mrs. F. Kell and Mrs. A. F. Price, of Port Rowan.
After carrying on business for a number of years are Clear Creek and
Port Burwell, Mr. Alton moved to this village twenty years ago and ever
since his residence here took a very deep interest in municipal and
county matters.
He was elected Reeve on three occasions, and at the time of his death
was a village councillor. He was a Liberal and was one of the leaders of
that party in the county.
His business of stock buyer was the means of a very large
acquaintance with the farmers on the three adjacent townships to this
village.
Being a man of more than average ability, he was a useful citizen,
and it is probably due more to his efforts that to any other cause that
his part of the county enjoys the use of natural gas.
The funeral was held from the home, and the remains were interred in
the burying ground given by his father, close to the little English
Church on the Front Road, in Houghton. The services were conducted by
the Rev. J. M. Smith, pastor of the Baptist Church.
