John Ceburn West passed to the great silence at noon of Saturday last. He was within a month of completing his 74th year. He had been in failing health for two years.

Deceased was born in Dundas, but spent his early years in Walsingham, being engaged as a youth in the lumber business in the employ of the late John Charlton and others.

When about 21 years of age he came to Simcoe to work for the firm of John & George Jackson, contractors and builders, with whom he remained approximately ten years.

Something like forty years ago he formed a partnership with Mr. James Peachey, to engage in foundry work and machinery repairs. That connection, then formed, lasted until, the day before his death, the older man grasped the partner by the hand and in his last conscious utterance, whispered, "Good-bye, old boy."

Mr. Peachey's testimony to his deceased associate, given to The Reformer, was that he had lived and worked with John West for forty years and the first strained word had still to be exchanged between them.

Of course, as everyone here is aware, the original business has grown very greatly, and has become one of the valued assets of the town's industrial life. 

One of the principal articles of manufacture, the so-called alligator boats or warping tugs, have an international fame and have done much to solve the difficulties of lumbering in a new country.

 The design of the first of these boats was perfected by Mr. West from the suggestions brought to him by the late Sheriff Jackson, then cutting a big limit in Northern Ontario. Since then some two hundred of them have been built and sold.

No one at all familiar with the business and municipal life of Simcoe for years past need be told how greatly our community is indebted to John West for laborious tasks undertaken and accomplished for the town; kind and generous deeds done for friends and neighbors; for valued advice freely given whenever sought. 

In all the town's many problems involving machinery of construction work, he has been the court of final resort. Our admirable waterworks and comprehensive sewer system are monuments to his capacity and skill.

Mr. West was in politics a conservative; in religion an Anglican, in the activities of his church he always took a useful part and served the congregation of Trinity Church as Warden some years. 

His life's partner, who before her marriage was Miss Margaret Elliott of Simcoe, survives. Of their union seven children were born of whom four survive: John and Charles, and Mrs. J. M. Stalker of Simcoe, and Mrs. Wm. Cope of Toronto. Two grandsons, Charles and Jack, sons of Mr. John S. West, are at the war in France.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon to Trinity Church and Oakwood Cemetery, and was in charge of the Masonic Order. The pall-bearers were: Wm. Sutton, G. H. Luscombe, W. P. Price, G. A. Curtis, H. A. Carter and C. E. Boyd."