Etc. -- Henry Bartholomew's 1932 obituary
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A lightly edited transcription of a page 1 article in the 10 Mar 1932 issue of the Waterford Star newspaper.

NONAGENARIAN PASSES

In the passing of Henry Bartholomew after a rather lengthy illness, Windham township loses one of its pioneer settlers and Norfolk a link with an historic past.

Mr. Bartholomew succumbed on Friday at his home at Vanessa, in his 91st year.

Born in the township on the same farm on which he died, Henry Bartholomew was of German stock.

His father came to this country when two years of age, and finally settled in Windham, becoming engaged in the lumber industry.

Henry Bartholomew was the youngest of a family of six and the last surviving.

He, too, has been a prominent figure in the lumber industry of this district, operating in his younger days, several sawmills in and around Vanessa.

His real estate holdings at the time of his death amounted to around 800 acres, no small amount for this district.

At various times he owned grist mills, a cider mill, a cooperage, a box factory, and a fruit evaporator. He was said to be the first man in Canada to take up the business of drying apples.

As well as taking a hand in these activities, he was an experienced builder, the Waterford public school having been erected by him.

He also had a hand in the the construction of the T. H. and B. Railway and all the ties used, as well as other necessary lumber, were supplied by him.

When Vanessa received its name in 1876 he was appointed its first postmaster and held that office up until his death. He is believed to have been the oldest postmaster in Canada.

In his later years he remained active and passed from industry to agriculture. The 800-acre estate was devoted  to mixed farming, but he also went in for tobacco growing, ginseng and turkeys, to say nothing of several fine herds of dairy cows.

Mr. Bartholomew remained alert and active to the time of his death. Up until a few years ago he drove his own automobile. In the winter months, it was his custom to go to Florida, where he has real estate holdings, but had not gone this year.

His wife, who was Emma McKerlie, passed away on 3 Sep 1925, and he had made his home with his daughter and her husband, Harvey Serles, at the family homestead on the outskirts of Vanessa.

He is also survived by a nephew, W. H. Bartholomew of Simcoe, and two nieces, Mrs. William Lake and Mrs. MacNicol of Brantford.

The funeral was held from his late residence at Vanessa on Monday, 7 Mar 1932 at 2 p.m., and was attended by a large number of friends and relatives.

The service was conducted by Rev. A. R. Johnson, pastor of the Vanessa United Church. A duet "Looking This Way" was sung by Lylla and Oscar Gibson. Interment was made in Vanessa Cemetery.

The pallbearers were: Messrs. Frank Baker, William Baker, George Boomer, William Hodgson, Albert McKerlie and Bruce Hill.

The profusion of floral pieces bore a silent tribute to the esteem in which deceased was held by a host of friends.
 

 
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