Another
of the pioneer settlers of this part of the county, in the person of
Mrs. John Lewis, passed away on
Wed 13 Feb 1918, in her 80th year, at the home of
her son, W. J. Lewis.
The deceased, whose maiden
name was Maria E. Park, was born and spent all her live [sic]
in Townsend Township or its vicinity.
In the early years of her
life she was a successful school teacher and among her former pupils
were two of Waterford's present residents, Mrs. Robert Gardner, and
Mrs. Isaac Lefler.
The late Mrs. Lewis, with
her husband, who predeceased her by nearly a year, settled at
Townsend Centre, and by hard work became very prosperous farmers.
To them was born a family of
one daughter, Alice,
who died at the age of 18 years, and three sons,
Levi of Port Burwell, William J. of Waterford,
and Leman of Villa Nova.
Deceased was a woman of
sterling worth and cheerful disposition. For years she was a member
of Townsend Centre Baptist Church, but on coming to Waterford
about 14 years ago, transferred her membership to the Baptist Church
here.
Since the death of her
husband, Mrs. Lewis, who naturally wanted to remain in her own home
as long as possible, lived alone most of the time, until last
December, when she went to live with her son.
There, last Tuesday, she was
seized with pneumonia, and even while the doctor was in attendance,
before members of the family could by summoned, she passed away.
Although in failing health
the late Mrs. Lewis was able to be up and about her room to within a
few hours of her death, and to the very last retained possession of
all her faculties.
The funeral took place on
Friday at 2.30 p.m.
Services were conducted by Rev. E. R. Fritch, assisted by Rev. J. B.
Moore. Interment took place in the family plot in Greenwood
Cemetery, one of the promoters of which was the late John Lewis.
The bereaved have the
sincere sympathy of their many friends.
