Another Land
Mark Removed
To the Editor of The
Reformer:
Dear Sir: -- Kindly permit
me, on the principle of "Honor to whom honor is due" to
use the columns of your valued paper in giving a brief sketch of
Delhi's foremost citizen, who so recently passed away, to the
great loss of family, church, and municipality of Delhi.
To used a commonplace, an
old landmark has been removed, and yet what word would express the
fact more clearly for who is there of Delhi's citizens of any age
who has not had to do with Mr. Whitside, either in his official or
business capacity. No more familiar figure was there in the public
life of Delhi.
The subject of our sketch
was born in the county of Armaugh, Ireland, in the year 1832 and
died in Delhi
11 Sep 1910. He came to Canada with his parents while still an
infant, and when but a lad was left an orphan.
The career that followed is
abundant proof that
Mr. Whitside possessed qualities rarely seen: the ability to
recognize and seize an opportunity then successfully grapple with
the business problems which that opportunity presented.
Mr. Whitside always had a
prominent place in the business enterprises of Delhi. At an early
age he entered into mercantile life, in which he continued for
upwards of 50 years.
In the early days he did a
large business in the lumber trade, owning and conducting saw
mills in different places. He also did a large business in buying
and shipping grain, all of which in the early years had to
be teamed to Port Ryerse for shipment, there being no railroad
facilities at that time. At times this required a great many
teams.
Mr. Whitside continued in
the seed and grain business to a greater or lesser extent, right
up to the close of his life. He also operated and owned a tannery
and a planning mill for a number of years.
But perhaps the position
which brought him more widely before the public, was in his
official capacity as Postmaster, first at Fredericksburg,
afterwards known as Delhi, which position he faithfully and
honorably filled for over half a century.
His kind and genial
disposition, his strict adherence to the principles of truth and
righteousness, made him the friend and commanded the esteem of
child and adult.
For nearly 60 years he was
a faithful member and trustee of the Delhi Baptist Church, and for
many years was superintendent of the Sunday School.
A funeral service was
conducted in the Baptist Church and the interment took plac in the
Delhi cemetery, Tuesday, 13 Sep 1910.
It is needless to say that
the whole community and all who knew Mr Whitside, sympathize with
the beloved family, who have been called upon to suffer so great a
loss.
J. F. DINGMAN.
Mount Forest, Ont.
12 Oct 1910.
