There
passed away at his home at 99 Stanley Street on Friday last, another
of Simcoe's fine old residents, in the person of Warren M. Widner, in
his 80th year. While the deceased had not been in good health for some
years he was not seriously ill until about a week before his death.
The late Mr.
Widner was born on March 12, 1836, on the farm now occupied by John
DeCou in Townsend and was one of ten children of the family of the
late John Widner. The family later moved to the farm in Windham, now
known as the Vanderburg farm, where the deceased spent his boyhood
days.
In 1867 he was
married to Sarah, the only daughter of the late George Robinson, who
survives him. They lived in Norfolk County until about the year 1879,
when they moved to Paris, where they conducted a large dairy
establishment for a great many years. About six years ago some of the
family having come to Simcoe and entered into business, the old folks
also returned to their native [home] and have lived in Simcoe ever
since, rounding out in all about a half century here.
Deceased's
brothers were Frank, Wesley, Lyman, Horace and Edwin, and his sisters,
Mrs. W. G. Sterling, Mrs. John Curtin and Mrs. A. Hart, who lives
about a mile and a half west of Windham Church, and is the only one
surviving. Hortense and Lazella died when young girls.
Of the deceased's
own family there are five, three sons and two daughters. The daughters
are Mrs. W. H. McCarthy (Edith), of St. Catharines, and Mrs. A. C.
Martin (Maud) of Detroit. The sons are: W. Arthur, who conducts a
butcher business on Robinson street; Geo. H. Widner, who has a grocery
store on Norfolk street; and John W. Widner, of Chapleau, Ont. There
are also five grandchildren.
The late Mr.
Widner was a staunch supporter throughout his long life of the
Reformer [sic] party in politics, and took a live [sic]
interest in public affairs at all times.
The funeral took
place from the family residence on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock,
interment being made in Oakwood Cemetery. The pall bearers were W. P.
Price, J. Millard, Wm. Sutton, Thomas Hambly, E. Matthews and D.
Matthews.
