Obituary
The sudden death
of Mr. Ephraim Wheeler, which occurred at his home in Lynn Valley on
11 Nov 1907 has cast a gloom over the friends and neighbors who have
been associated with him for so many years, both in business and in
social life.
He had been in his usual
health, had eaten his dinner at noon, then gone to the barn as
was his custom. He started to thrash by hand a small quantity of
beans which had been gathered and put into the barn.
After he had been at this
work for a short time Mrs. Wheeler happened to step out of the
house, and imagined she heard a strange sound like someone moaning
in pain.
On hastening to the barn she
found Mr. Wheeler very ill and helpless, but still conscious.
They were alone. Powerless
to get the stricken man to the house without assistance, she was
compelled to go nearly a quarter of a mile to Mr. McCall's, [then]
on to Quanbury's mill.
Mr. Quanbury and Mr.
Boughner, who happened to be at the mill, went immediately to her
assistance, first telephoning Dr. Stanton to come without delay.
Mr. Wheeler was carried to
the house and placed upon the bed. Soon after he lost consciousness,
falling into a deep sleep from which he never awoke.
In about two hours he passed
peacefully away, just a few minutes before the arrival of Dr.
Stanton, who had been out of town and unable to leave immediately
for the home on being summoned.
Mr. Wheeler was born 4 May
1823, in the township of Woodhouse, on a farm a short distance west
of Port Dover, and was in his [..]th year.
When he was about a year old
his parents moved to Michigan, driving all the way, the greater
portion of the road being through an almost trackless forest.
At the age of 29 years he
came back to Canada and settled at Lynn Valley where he has for the
past 49 years constantly resided.
He was a man of unobtrusive
character, never taking an active part in political life, but always
a staunch Liberal. During the years, in which he was a resident of
Norfolk, there has never been an election, municipal, provincial or
dominion, in which his vote has not been cast for the Liberal party.
He was an adherent of the
Methodist church, and with his wife was a faithful attendant of the
church in Simcoe as long as health would permit.
He was a generous,
kind-hearted neighbor, doing good whenever an opportunity came, was
ever a kind and loving husband, and a good provider of the comforts
of the home.
He was strictly upright and
honest in all his dealing, never allowing himself to get into debt.
He was married twice, his
first wife being Martha Potts, eldest daughter of the late George
Potts of Woodhouse, and a sister of Messrs, Samuel and George Potts,
both of whom are so well and favorably known in and around Simcoe.
His second wife was Miss Jennie Walker, sister of Mrs. Darling Smith
of Rockford.
There are left to mourn his
loss his aged partner in life and one son, Walter, who now resides
near Selkirk, in the County of Haldimand.
The funeral took place on
Thursday afternoon and was attended by a large concourse of people
who realized that they were laying away a faithful friend.
The services were conducted
at the home by the Rev. J. J. Liddy, and the text from which he
spoke a few works was "We all do fade as a leaf."
Solemn and impressive were
the remarks made by Mr. Liddy, full of hope and comfort to the
sorrowing ones.
Mr. Wheeler was laid to rest
in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery, there "to rest until the
resurrection morn."
