Mr. Percy John Pearce passed away
Thursday at his home in the village of Waterford, in his 70th year. He was the oldest son of John
Pearce, who came from Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, when a young man.
Percy was born in the village of
Mount Pleasant, but the family left there when he was a small boy and
lived in the village of Colborne, just north of Simcoe for a short time,
after which they came to Simcoe.
He learned the printing business
with the late Reuben Thoroughgood in the office of The Norfolk
Reformer,
starting work there in the early sixties. After finishing his apprenticeship
he worked for some time in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. He
afterwards returned to Canada and worked for a number of years as
compositor and night editor in the office of The Hamilton Spectator. But
he was anxious for better things for himself.
The Express newspaper in Waterford,
conducted by B. L. Chipman, had ceased publication and Mr. Pearce thought it a good
opening for him. So about 40 years ago he founded The Waterford Star. Some
20 years ago his son Percy George assumed control of the Star.
Mr. Pearce was twice married. His
first wife, the mother of all his children, was Miss Jennie Rose, a
daughter of William Rose of Woodhouse, and a sister of Mr. A. George Rose of Simcoe. The second wife, who survives him, was Miss
Alice Wiggins of Eureka, Illinois.
The children are Percy George of
Waterford, Jennie, wife of John Collings of Chicago, and Muriel, wife of Harry Cox of LaGrange, Ill.
Miss Annie Pearce and Frank H.
Pearce of Simcoe, are a sister and brother, respectively.
While never taking a very active
part in politics, Mr. Pearce was a Liberal. In addition to his other business,
Mr. Pearce has made considerable money out of real estate.
So passes away a good citizen, a
hard-working, straightforward man, who has left his mark in the
neighborhood where he lived and who will be sincerely missed not only by
his family, but by a large circle of friends.
The funeral of the late Percy J.
Pearce took place Sunday at 2.30 p.m. from his late residence, St. James
St. to Greenwood Cemetery. The service was conducted by Rev. H. Caldwell, assisted by Rev. J. B. Moore, and the officers of the
Wilson Ledge No. 113 A. F. & A. M., of which up to the time of his
demise, the deceased was with one exception, the oldest member.
Many Mason of Wilson Lodge
and other Lodges as well as many others attended the funeral to pay the
last sad office of respect to one so well known and highly esteemed as was
their late brother. The pall-bearers were Messrs. Jas. Rose, Russell
Bowlby, D. P. Caley, L. L. Sovereign and Doctors A. J. Goold and R. W. Trotter.
