Deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Innes 
of Strath Lynn

Mrs. William P. Innes passed quietly away on Friday evening at her 
home, "Strath Lynn," in Simcoe. Deceased had been ill for some time, 
and gradually growing weaker, her death was not unexpected. 
All of her six children were with her when the end came.

Mrs. Innes was born in Scotland but moved to Simcoe in her young girlhood with her parents. Her father, Rev. Martin W. Livingstone, 
came here to be the pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. 
She was married a little over 50 years ago in her father's church 
by her father, to Mr. W. P. Innes, at that time of Dundas, but who 
soon afterwards became a resident of Simcoe.

The six children born of that union are:
William L. Innes, local manager of the Dominion Canners
Hugh P. Innes, K.C., barrister, Simcoe
Mrs. W. R. Drynan of Hamilton
Robert L. Innes, general manager of the Dominion Canners, Hamilton
Major Charles E. Innes of Simcoe, and
Mrs. Howard Nelles of Toledo, Ohio. There are 29 grand-children.

Of Mrs. Innes' own family, two brothers and a sister survive. One of 
her brothers was Robert Thompson Livingstone, the brilliant lawyer 
and County Judge of Norfolk.

The funeral took place to Oakwood Cemetery on Monday afternoon and was private. The pall-bearers were her four son and two sons-in-law. Among the outsiders present were Judge L. B. C. Livingstone of Welland, Mr. Sidney Livingston [sic] of the Molsons Bank, Amberstburg, 
Mr. Gordon Brander of Brantford, nephews of the deceased, 
and Mr. J. J. Navin of Aylmer, president of the Dominion Canners.

A few hours after the mortal remains of his life's companion had been laid to rest in Oakwood, the spirit of William P. Innes also took its flight.

Mr. Innes had suffered a series of carrebral hemorrhages and had been lying in a comatose condition for several days. At about 10:30 Monday evening the flickering spark of life went finally out -- and a family that in half a century had known no break, was deprived of both its principals almost simultaneously.

Mr. Innes was born in Scotland onwards of 85 years ago. He had reached this advanced age in a state of singularly well preserved physical rigour. Up almost to the last, those who came in contact with him saw a cheek as fresh, an eye as flashing, an intellect as keen as at half his age would be esteemed fortunate. But there is but one ending to the unequal  struggle in which we are all engaged. All earth's victories end in Here He Lies.

William Patrick Innes, in the commercial life of Canada, Simcoe's foremost citizen, is now only a memory. For almost half a century he had gone in and out among us and had been a potent factor in the growth of the town. He may be said to have almost been the Dominion Canners, an organization that in the the past eight years has invested nearly a million dollars in Simcoe in extensions to its plants.

The unique Innes Town Charity Trust owes its existence to his generosity. To the church of his choice (St. Paul's), and to many worthy causes he has been a splendid support.

His funeral takes place this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from St. Paul's Church.

 
A lightly edited transcription of a page 1 article in the 28 Mar 1918 issue of the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.

Impressive Funeral

The mortal remains of Mr. William P. Innes were laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery last Thursday afternoon with all those marks of respect accorded to the obsequies of those men who have deserved well of the communities in which they have lived and labored.

A very brief service was held shortly after two o'clock at the late residence, for the family and the friends from a distance, Dr. Dey officiating.

Coming out of the Strath Lynn grounds the funeral passed through two long lines made up, one on either side of the street, of the public school pupils, Mr. Innes having been for a generation a member of the Simcoe Board of Education, and for a time its chairman.

The cortege proceeded to St. Paul's Church, which when all had gotten within its walls, was comfortably filled, while several hundred stood about in the adjacent streets.

Rev. Scott Fulton read the burial service. Dr. Dey pronounced a brief appreciation of the late Mr. Innes, founding what he had to say on the text: "Know ye not, that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel." Dr. Dey eulogized Mr. Innes as a successful business man, a progressive citizen, a convinced Christian, and an exceedingly generous giver.

The procession left the church to the strains of the organ and the tolling of the town bell. Interment took place in the family plot at Oakwood. 
The pall-bearers were: J. J. Nairn, president of the Dominion Canners, and Messrs. H. H. Groff, Geo. J. McKiee, J. B. Jackson, H. B. Donly and Frank Reid of Simcoe.

Immediate members of the family present were 
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Innes and children of Simcoe; 
Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Innes and family of Simcoe; 
Mr. and Mrs. Robt. L. Innes and children of Hamilton; 
Major and Mrs. Charles E. Innes and children of Simcoe; 
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Drynan and sons of Hamilton; 
Dr. Howard and Mrs. Nelles and children of Toledo, Ohio.

Other relatives from a distance were 
Mr, Martin Livingstone of Tillsonburg; Mrs. Johnson of Ottawa;
Mrs. Carnegie of Peterboro; George Geddis of St. Thomas;
Sydney T. Livingstone of Amherstburg; and Gordon Brander of Brantford.

Members of the board of directors of the Dominion Canners attending:
J. J. Nairn of Aylmer, President; Senator Richardson of Kingston;
David Marshall, M.P. of Aylmer; Frank Lalor, M.P. of Dunnville;
Samuel Nisbett, M.P.P. of Brighton.

Other officers: Thomas Hobson, K.C. of Hamilton, solicitor;
C. L. Marshall of Toronto, J. Laing [......] of Toronto,
Cecil T. Gordon [of Montreal], sales managers;
E. C. Kidder of St. Catharines, E. Todd of Grimsby,
L. E. Kidder of Waterford, Sherman Strout of Delhi,
J. Lowery of St. Davids, W. H. Smithson of Hamilton,
Alex. Leitch of Burlington; branch managers;
T. J. Smith of Toronto, former manager of the Simcoe Litho Co.;
John C. Dannheisar of Burford, former processor at Simcoe;
G. E. Smith, chief accountant, Hamilton; and the following friends: 
John Counsell of Hamilton, W. G. Lambers of Toronto, 
St. Clair Balfour of Hamilton, and J. Scott Innes of Toronto.

The Town Council attended as a body, the Board of Education was officially represented, as were the office bearers of St. Paul's Church.

A goodly sprinkling of prominent men of the county were also present. Senator McCall, T. R. Nelles, and Flight Lieut. Douglas Nelles accompanied the members of the family, as did Warden John L. Buck of Port Rowan and ex-Warden Henry Wallace of Middleton. 

Port Dover sent a deputation to represent its Board of Trade in the persons of C. W. Burwell, F. M. Bond and W. F. Tibbetts.
 
 

Marion Livingstone


William P. Innes

 
Copyright 2015-2016 John Cardiff