Newspaper Clippings - Book # 1 - Section 12

Keith Thompson, Clayton, Ontario - 23 March, 2001

A farming accident has claimed the life of former Almonte reeve and prominent citizen John Cochran, at his RR 4 Almonte farm. He was 49. The accident resulting in Mr. Cochran's death by asphyxiation happened some time between noon and 3:30 p.m. last Tuesday. He was operating a tractor alone on his farm on Lot 21, Con 6 in Ramsay township. Perth OPP who were called to the scene about 4 p.m. report that Mr. Cochran was trapped under a large piece of frozen silage. The silage appeared to have fallen off the front end loader on the tractor. The tractor was in reverse and continued to back up until it hit a tree. The silage pinned Mr. Cochran underneath it, pressing against his chest and abdomen. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Dr. Ralph Bach. Mr. Cochran's long list of community involvement included being past chairman of the Algonquin College Board of Governors and past president of the Ontario Association of Rural Municipalities. In addition to being a former Almonte reeve, he had been chairman of the Almonte General Hospital board and Almonte Lions Club president in previous years. Mr. Cochran owned Mississippi Travel in Carleton Place. "He was one of my very close friends. He will be sadly missed by ourselves and our community," said Dr Frank Murphy of Almonte, a close friend.

A well known and highly respected resident of Clayton, Alexander Caldwell (Sandy) Virgin, passed away at Almonte General Hospital, Saturday, November 2^nd, 1974, in his 79th year. Mr. Virgin was born at White, in Darling Township, a son of the late Nathan Virgin, and his wife the late Agnes Caldwell. On September 19th, 1917, he was married at Clayton, to Jennie May Rintoul. He is survived by his wife, one son, Nathan of Clayton, and two daughters, Jeanette. Mrs. Wm. J. Stewart and Edith, Mrs. Frank Hamilton of Almonte; eleven grandchildren and four grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Kate, Mrs. Albert McDougall of Lanark, and Abbie, Mrs. Walter Smith of Calabogie and one brother, Thomas of Espanola. He was predeceased by one sister Rosie, Mrs. John Wark, five brothers, David, Ira, William, Charles and Howard, and two grandchildren, Ivan and Pamela Hamilton. The funeral service was conducted from the Kerry Funeral Home, Almonte, on Monday November, 4th, by Rev. Dr. Gordon C. Smyth, minister of Guthrie United Church, Clayton, of which Mr. Virgin was a devout member. Interment took place at Clayton United Cemetery. The pallbearers were Arnold and Stuart Virgin, Allan and Sandy Hamilton, Donald Stewart and Lloyd Allinotte.

Following an illness of two and a half years. Mr. Ernest Foster of Clayton passed away at the Almonte General Hospital on Monday, July 2^nd, 1973. He was 81. Mr. Foster was a retired farmer, and was born at Galbraith, on April 29th 1892, a son of the late James Foster and his wife, Grace Scoular. He received his schooling at Galbraith School. He was married to the former Jeanie Della Price at the bride's home at Galbraith, on September 13^th, 1915. Surviving besides his wife are five sons and a daughter, James Boyd, Carleton Place; Eric E., Alvintson, Ont.; Melvin L., M. Carl, and Elmer R., of Almonte and Edna Jean, Mrs. Guy Yuill Almonte. One brother, Thomas Foster, of Almonte, and sisters; Rebecca, Mrs. Harold Munro of Clayton, Margaret, Mrs. Gilbert Munro, and Jessie, Mrs. John H. Munro, Almonte also survive. The funeral was held from the Comba Funeral Home, Church street Almonte, on Thursday afternoon, July 5, at 2.36, p.m., with interment at the United Cemetery, Clayton., Messrs. George Paige and Leslie Beddoe conducted the funeral services. Pallbearers were former neighbours, Nathan Virgin, John G. Rintoul, James Foster, Lauchlin Watt, Edwin McKirdy and Allan McKay.

The death of a well-known Almonte and area man, Mr. Earl Munro of 110 Christian Street, Almonte, occurred at the Almonte hospital on Wednesday morning, April 12, 1978, as the result of a heart attack. He was ill for three weeks prior to his death, and was in his 79th year. Prior to his retirement some five years ago, Mr. Munro was a mail courier. He drove the mail on Rural Route No. 2, Almonte for 48 years, and received a long-service medal from the Post office department at the time of retirement. Mr. Munro was extremely interested in the history of the area, and was at times a contributor to the columns of The Gazette, furnishing well-written and informative historical articles on the Clayton and Hall's Mills district. His "Gems of Wisdom" in The Gazette were enjoyed by many readers. Born at Clayton on February 27, 1900, he was a son of the late Robert Munro and his wife Ida Watchorn. His education was received at the Hall's Mills school. He was married at Renfrew on October 7, 1929, to the former Olive Smith, who survives. Also surviving are three sons, Carson of Ottawa; Delmer, at home, and Robert of London, and five daughters, Phyllis (Mrs. Lorne Dick), Arnprior; Elva (Mrs. Roy Wilson) and Blanche (Mrs. Doug Hogan), both of Smiths Falls; Doris (Mrs. Peter O'Connor), Ottawa, and Marilyn (Mrs. Robert Drynan) of Almonte. He is also survived by a brother, Wilbert Munro of Clayton, and three sisters, Eva (Mrs. James Fulton), Renfrew; Cora (Mrs. Arthur Yuill) and Florence (Mrs. James Watt), both of Almonte, and 18 grandchildren. The funeral was held from the Gamble & Comba Funeral Home, 127 Church Street, on Friday, April 14, at 2 p.m. Messrs. George Poole and Seldon Gillis conducted the service. Spring interment will be at Clayton United Cemetery. The pallbearers were five sons-in-law, Lorne Dick, Roy Wilson, Doug Hogan, Peter O'Connor, Robert Drynan and William E. Munro.

MARY CORA VIRGIN - The death of Mrs. Mary Cora (Whyte) Virgin, formerly of Almonte, occurred at Perth on Sunday, July 7, 1974, following a lengthy illness. She was in her 75th year. Mrs. Virgin was born in Ramsay Township, August 13, 1899 a daughter of the late John Whyte and his wife, Euphemia Pretty. She received her education in Lanark Township, and on November 21st, 1919, she was united in marriage to the late Charles L. Virgin. She is survived by one son, Jack Virgin of Almonte; and two daughters, Mrs. G. C. Warren, (Agnes) of Cardinal, Ontario, and Mrs. P. A. Jones (Doris), Chatham, Ont. She was predeceased by a sister, Mrs. James Machan (Ethel) of Lanark Township. The funeral was held from the Comba Funeral Home, 127 Church street, Almonte, on Tuesday, July 9 at 2 p.m., with burial at Clayton United Cemetery. Rev. Herbert Horsey of Carp conducted the services. The pallbearers were six grandsons, Robert and Charles Warren, Paul and David Virgin and Rick and Morris Jones.

Following a lengthy illness, the death of Mrs. Myrtle M. (Bennett) Duncan of Almonte occurred at the Almonte hospital on Saturday, February 25, 1978. She was 82. Born at White Lake, Ontario, on December 9, 1895, she was a daughter of the late Robert Bennett and his wife, Margaret Jane Ross. She received her education at White Lake. She was married at Carleton Place in 1919 to the late Bennett Duncan. Mrs. Duncan was a member of St. John's Presbyterian Church. She was a life member of St. John's Presbyterian Heather Club and a life member of the W.M.S. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Ken Kirk (Emeline) of Hollywood, Florida, and Mrs. Gerald Townend (Dorothy) of Carleton Place; a brother Gilbert Bennett of White Lake; and sisters, Mrs. Reta McLaren, Mrs. Clara Blakeley and Mrs. Sadie McDougall, all of Almonte, and Mrs. Ernest Yuill (Roberta) of Waba. Also surviving are four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The funeral was held from the Gamble & Comba Funeral Home to St. John's Presbyterian Church at 12.30 on Monday, February 27, to lie in state until 2 o'clock, when service was conducted by Rev. Ed Smith. Burial will be made in Auld Kirk Cemetery in the spring. Pallbearers were Carl Townend, Bob Townend, Mike Berry, Steve Gilmour, Lyle McLaren and Stuart McDougall.

Mrs. Agnes Jane (McMunn) Currie passed away at Lanark Lodge Perth, on Friday, December 10, 1976, in her 88th year. Mrs. Currie was the daughter of the late George McMunn and his wife, Abbigail McIntosh. She was married July 10, 1917, to the late Daniel Currie, who passed away July 2, 1964. Left to mourn her passing are Florence (Mrs. Bob White), Toronto; Wilma (Mrs. Ray Morrow), Almonte, and George at home. Also surviving are several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. Mrs. Currie was a member of Guthrie United Church, Clayton, the U.C.W. and also the Union Hall Women's Institute before moving to the Senior Citizens Home Almonte, in 1969 and from there to Lanark Lodge in September 1975. The funeral took place from the Kerry Funeral Home on Monday, December 13. 1976, at 2 p.m., Dr. Smyth officiating. Interment United Vault, Clayton, for burial in the spring. Pallbearers were nephews, John Currie, Donald Currie, Ronald Gunn and cousins Neil McIntosh, Maynard McIntosh and Norman Dunlop.

After two weeks illness, the death occurred at Carleton Place Memorial and District Hospital on Sunday, October 14, 1979, of Gladys Pearl (Munro) Closs, beloved wife of the late Everett Closs and mother of Helen (Mrs. Ted Gillan), Pakenham. She was born in Lanark Township on May 28, 1908, a daughter of John Henry Munro and Margaret Ellen Manarey and lived at the family farm home at Halpenny. She was the mail courier for R.R. No. 5, Almonte from 1924 to 1964 and also a member of the Registered Hereford Association for over fifty years. Also left to mourn her loss are Mary (Mrs. Jack Currie), Blakeney; Viola (Mrs. Dan Craig), Carleton Place, and Clifford of Dewitt's Corners. Predeceased are one sister, Edna (Mrs. Ernie Munro) and three brothers, Isaac, Dannie and William Munro. She was a member of St. John's Anglican Church, Innisville, where the funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Roger Young on October 17 at 2 p.m. Pallbearers were neighbours; Lloyd Dickinson, Frank Quinn, James Quinn, Bill Halpenny, John Bryant and a nephew, John Currie. Interment was in Clayton United Cemetery.

William J. Melanson died in Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital on December 15th, 1976, following a lengthy illness, He was born in Pakenham Township June 16, 1907, son of late Alexander Melanson and his wife the former Caroline Miller. He was a farmer in Clay Bank area and served as a councillor and deputy-reeve of McNab township for a number of years. He also was a member and chairman of McNab Township School Board. He was a member of the Independent Order Of Oldfellows, having served as past grand master and district deputy. He was also a member of Mons Rebekah Lodge 203 of Arnprior, past president of Arnprior Agricultural Society and past treasurer of McNab Parks and Museum Committee. He was an elder of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Arnprior, and chairman of the board of managers. He is survived by his wife, the former Alice Glenn; two sons, Stewart of Stewartville and Glenn of Guelph, also by daughters, Mrs. William (Evelyn) Johnson, Arnprior; Mrs. Douglas (Shirley) Ellison of Moose Jaw, and Mrs. Howard (June) Clough of Duncan, B.C. Three brothers, Joseph of Almonte, Clifford and Lorne of Pakenham; four sisters, Mrs. Agnes Currie, Mrs. Effie Fulton, Mrs. Rae Currie and Mrs. Jennie Fulton of Almonte, also nine grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive. Funeral service was held in St. Andrew's United Church with Rev. Leo Hughes conducting. Pallbearers were Howard Mitchell, Frank Russett, Jim Taylor, Milton Symington, Kenneth Campbell and Gordon Boal. Interment was in White Lake Cemetery.

The death of Mary Malinda Drynan occurred suddenly at Almonte General Hospital on Tuesday, December 11th, 1973, following an accident at her home, 37 Farm Street, Almonte. She was in her 76th year. Born in Ramsay Township on January 17, 1898, the youngest daughter of James Drynan and his wife, Katherine Kilgore, she was educated at Clayton Public School and later moved to Almonte where she was married in 1943 to the late John (Jack) Kirk, who predeceased her in 1954. Mrs. Kirk attended Almonte United Church and was a member of the Almonte Senior Citizen Club. She is survived by one brother, Alex, of Sunningdale, Sask., and a sister, Violet (Mrs. Ed Bryan) of Toronto. She was predeceased by sisters Margaret (Mrs. Ed Shane), Frances (Mrs. Wm. Whalen), Ellen (Mrs. Charles Jessop), Katherine (Mrs. Peter Millar), and brothers William, John, George and Harold. Funeral services were held from the Kerry Funeral Home, Elgin Street, Almonte, on Friday, December 14th. Interment was in Clayton United Cemetery.

Entered into rest at the residence, of her daughter, Mrs. George W. Jones, 321 Ottawa St., Almonte, Ontario, on Tuesday, November 21, 1972, Edith Ethel Thompson, widow of David Munro. Born in Lanark Township on August 13, 1884, she was the last surviving member of the family of John Thompson and Mary Bain. Deceased sisters and brothers were; Martha Jane, Thomas, Daniel John, James, Welland, Laura, (Mrs. James Affleck) and Hilton. Endowed with a beautiful voice, she was a member of the Rosetta Church choir, while her sister Laura played the organ. On September 29, 1909, Edith married David Munro; they farmed on the third line of Ramsay Township. Mrs. Munro was an active member of the W.I. Her faith and outlook in living a life were such that she was always aware of others and anxious to render assistance in times of distress beyond the call of personal duty. Upon retirement in the Spring of 1952. Mr. and Mrs. Munro moved to the farm of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Thom. From 1962 on, she spent her remaining years with her daughter Ila. She is survived by daughters Ila (Mrs. George W. Jones), Almonte; Kathleen (Mrs. Gordon Thom), R.R. 2, Almonte; and Lottie (Mrs. Wilbert Belford), Pakenham; and one son, D. Raymond, Toronto; also seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her husband and one son, Hilton Elswood, predeceased her. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. R. V. Brown, Almonte Baptist Church, from the Comba Funeral Home, with Mr. Charles Tate rendering the solo "How great thou art." Interment Clayton United Cemetery. Pallbearers were five grandsons; Bill Belford, David Thom, Donald Thom, Mac Thom and Bert Thom, and a former neighbour's son, Charles Rath. The messages of sympathy, floral tributes and donations to the Bible Society and Heart Fund were an expression of the esteem in which she was held.

The death of William Irvine Dean of 49 John Street, Almonte, occurred after a short illness, on December 26th, 1975, in the Almonte General Hospital. He was in his 70th year. Mr. Dean was born on April 7th, 1906, in Pakenham, Ontario, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Emery Dean of Pakenham. Mr. Dean, who was retired a the time of his death, attended the United Church. He resided in Pakenham and in Arnprior before moving to Almonte. He married the former Mae Boal on May 25th, 1932, in Pakenham. Mrs. Dean survives her husband. Also surviving Mr. Dean is a son, Garry of Richmond, Ontario, and a daughter, Audrey (Mrs. Allan Fulton) of Almonte, Ontario. The funeral was held from the Comba Funeral Home, Almonte on December 28th, 1975 at 2:06 p.m. Entombment was made in the Auld Kirk Vault, with interment in spring in the Pakenham United Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jack Fulton, Terry Dean, Gordon Boal, Gordon Cameron, Lance Downey and Fred Somerton. The family flowers were carried by Mr. Dean's youngest grandson, Randy Dean.

Helen Elizabeth (Nellie) Munro passed away after a lengthy illness July 13, 1979 at the Almonte General Hospital. She was 53 years old. Born in Clayton, Ontario July 3, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Edward Munro and the late Lillian Hankin of Clayton. Nellie Munro, who was raised and educated in Clayton, lived at 56 St. James St., Almonte at the time of her death. She is survived by her brothers Gordon of Toronto; Archie of New Westminster, B.C.; Edward Lewis of Almonte and Williard E., Munro, as well as by her sister Mrs. Martha Craig of Almonte. Rev. H. Brown presided over the funeral services held at the Gamble & Comba Funeral Home July 14, 1979. Burial took place at the Clayton United Cemetery. The pallbearers were Robert Green, Richard Green, Cliff Pierce, Keith Stanley, Alton Box and Moe Desjardins.

Friends and neighbours were grieved at the sudden death of John F. James on Saturday, March 15, in his 74th year. Son of John R. James and Clarinda Halpenny, he was born in Ramsay Township, where he farmed until 1959, when due to ill health he retired on the Third Line Huntley Township. He took an active interest in Community affair, and was a member of Mississippi Lodge No. 147, A.F. and A.M., and Granite Chapter, R.A.M. He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Rothwell, and seven children; Elizabeth (Betty) Anne (Mrs. A. I. Toop), Clinton, Ontario; John Rothwell, Winnipeg; Benjamin Robert, Calgary; Herbert Ennis, Portland, Ontario; William Warren, Vienna, Austria; Frances Audrey (Mrs. D. MacDonald), of Clayton and Franklin Winston of Winchester. Also surviving are five sisters, Alice, Mrs. Stephen York, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Ellen, Mrs. Geo. York, Garden City, Long Island, N.Y.; Ethel, Mrs. George Nichols, Holyoke, Mass.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Charles Biddle, York, Penn.; Florence, Mrs. Alton Henry, East Grenville, PA., and one brother, Dr. Herbert James, Butte, Montana. Two sisters and one brother are deceased. The body rested at the Kerry Funeral Home, Almonte, where a Masonic service was held on Wednesday evening. The funeral service was held at St. George's Anglican Church, Clayton, conducted by the Rev. Herbert A. Horsey, assisted by the Rev. J. B. Owens, of Carp. Interment was at St. George's Cemetery. Pallbearers were three neighbours, Mel Barker, Wilbert Paterson and Grant Gunn and three cousins, Alfred James, Harold James and Frank James.

The death of Mr. Clifford Robertson occurred suddenly on Thursday, May 1st, while doing his regular evening's work at the Almonte General Hospital. He was 73. Born at Black's Corners in 1896, he was the last member of the family of the late James Robertson and Elizabeth Scott. He received his education in Beckwith schools. The late Mr. Robertson worked in the mills in Carleton Place and Almonte. Later becoming a mechanic, he owned and operated the business now known as Burns, Pontiac. During World War II he was an inspector of guns at Montreal, and was also a mechanic for Producers Dairy for a number of years. In 1963 he became an engineer at the Almonte General Hospital. He retired in the fall of 1966, but still remained on call should the need arise. Mr. Robertson was twice married. In 1922 he was married to the late Lena M. Watchorn, who predeceased him in 1952. In 1958 he was married to Effie (Cooper) Dunlop, who survives. He was a Past Master of Mississippi Masonic Lodge, No. 147 in 1927-28, and of Granite Chapter Royal Arch Masons No. 61. Funeral service was held at the Comba Funeral Home, Church street, on Sunday afternoon, May 4th, at 2 p.m., interment in, Auld Kirk Cemetery. Many beautiful floral tributes were received from neighbors, family, friends and organizations. Pallbearers were two nephews, Ross Shail and Robert Barclay, Carman Craig, Howard Lowe, Hugh McClymont and Millar Struthers. Owing to the arrival of Cpl. David Cooper from Germany at Uplands at 4 p.m., committal service took place in the Auld Kirk Church.