Former Master Thistle Lodge Conrad Christiansen Dies At Home Of His Son

During the summer of 1933, when the World's Fair at Chicago was at its height, the name of a local man blazoned out most prominently in these parts, was that of Capt. Conrad Christiansen, who for many years had been associated with marine matters on the Detroit River. He was commissioned by the government of his native land, Norway, to pilot the Norwegian training ship carrying hundreds of midshipmen through the lakes and canals from Montreal to Chicago, where it was one of the outstanding exhibits, and where the Norwegian lads were given a few weeks outing. The Norwegian government sent Capt. Christiansen a citation for his excellent work. Tuesday morning Capt. Christiansen died at the home of his son, Dr. George Christiansen, at Grosse Point, Detroit.

He had been ill for several months with complications arising from heart trouble, and while making occasional brief recoveries gradually went down the stream.

Captain Christiansen spent nearly his whole life on the water. He came out from his native land at 13 years of age and joined world wide shipping companies for seven years, sailing the seven seas. He later settled at Cleveland and sailed the Great Lakes, afterwards joining lightship service of the United States marine force. Some forty years ago he was stationed at the Lime Kiln Crossing, and made his home here with Mrs. Christiansen. Mrs. Christiansen died some 25 years ago. Later, Capt. Christiansen was transferred to the lightship in Lake St. Clair off Peche Island. He went successively to positions in Lake Huron and Upper Lakes and was retired some time later.

In the meantime Amelia took a nurse's course in Detroit, and graduating from there, was employed on the staff of the Brunner Mond Hospital at Amherstburg, afterwards doing private nursing. She married a Mr. Franks of Long Island, New York, became the mother of two children and died four years ago of pneumonia, which she contracted at the birth of her third child. George took a course in dentistry at Ann Arbor, graduated from there and established a specialist's practice in Detroit. He studied medicine in his leisure hours and last year graduated as a medical doctor, with much credit, and has taken another degree since.

After Captain Christiansen's retirement he decided to return to his native country to spend the rest of his life, but not finding things to his liking, after so many years in this land, returned and for three years lived in Detroit with his son.

While in Amherstburg his one outstanding hobby was Free Masonry. After joining Thistle Lodge, No. 34. A.F. & A.M. he quickly worked through the chairs and was Master of this Lodge in 1904. He was an enthusiastic member and took part in all the functions of the lodge while resident in this district. He knew the ritualistic work perfectly, and was called upon to assist in degree work both at home and among county lodges . He also became First Principal of Prince of Wales Chapter.

Captain Christiansen was a citizen of a superior type. He was full of vitality, was a hearty and likable sailor man, and had many warm friends wherever known, who will miss him and mourn his departure for years to come.

His remains were brought home to Sutton's funeral home at Amherstburg, and the funeral took place from there to Christ Church for services Thursday afternoon, with burial in the Masonic plot at Rose Hill cemetery, under the Masonic auspices, officers of Thistle Lodge being joined by many members who paid a fitting farewell tribute to a very worthy brother.

Amherstburg Echo, May 24, 1935

Arthur Wesley Marsh Born: February 11, 1872 Master: 1905 Died: October 24, 1940

A. W. Marsh Publisher of The Amherstburg Echo
Dies of Injuries Thursday
Was Prominent In Local And National Newspaper Work
Took Active Part In Civic Life of Community

Funeral To Be Held Saturday Afternoon

A.W. Marsh, publisher of The Amherstburg Echo, died in the Chatham General Hospital at one o'clock Thursday morning. Death was due to complications which set in from injuries he had received in an auto accident the previous Friday. On admittance to the hospital, Mr. Marsh was in a serious condition and he hovered between life and death for several days. Late Wednesday evening his general condition was somewhat improved but shortly after midnight he took a turn for the worse and quietly slipped away.

Mr. Marsh has been in newspaper work for the last 43 years. He was born in Moore Township, Lambton County of February 11, 1872, son of John and Jane (Courtney) Marsh. He was educated in the Sarnia High School and the Strathroy Collegiate Institute. For several years he followed the profession of a teacher and taught at the Kimball School, Moore Township, for one year and later was principal of the Public School at Mooretown, Ontario.

Came to Amherstburg in 1897

By arrangement between the late James Lister, M.P. for West Lambton and the Late John A. Auld, M.P.P. for Essex South, Mr. Marsh came to Amherstburg in July 1897, and was sent to The Essex Free Press for experience. In May the following year he became permanently associated with Mr. Auld on the Echo and at the time of Mr. Auld's death in 1924 was half-owner of the paper. In August of that year he was joined by his son John A. Marsh and a year later assumed full control of the newspaper.

Mr. Marsh was a useful citizen and was vitally interested in everything which was for the benefit of the district served by his paper. He was a capable executive and organizer, a man who would work hard to promote projects, do most of the ground work and then quietly drop into the background. He loved newspaper work and was constantly striving to improve his publication. He had the happy faculty of being able to see the other person's point of view and paid a great deal of attention to suggestions which were made to him by members of his staff.

Community Service

As mentioned above, Mr. Marsh did not seek any personal glory for any of his community achievements. It is a little known fact that he was the one who contacted the late Andrew Carnegie and made arrangements for the money to build the Carnegie Library in Amherstburg. He also arranged with the Amherstburg Stone Quarries (later Brunner Mond Canada, Limited) to furnish the stone for his building. He was a member of the Amherstburg Continuation School Board when the Amherstburg High School District was formed. He was a past-master of Thistle Masonic Lodge No. 34 A.F. & A.M., past chairman of the Amherstburg Public School Board and Amherstburg Horticultural Society. He served one year as a member of the Amherstburg Town Council but retired from municipal life when he found that it conflicted with his newspaper work. He was also a past president of The Amherstburg Business Men's Association, now the Chamber of Commerce.

The late Echo publisher was keenly interested in the development of the Town of Harrow and the whole district. He took an active part in the original plans for the Harrow Municipal Building, making several trips with the original promoters to see like buildings in other parts of Western Ontario. He also was a great booster for the Harrow Fair and served on that board for a number of years. As a matter of fact he had purposely gone to the St. Thomas Plowing Matches on the day of the accident to learn how it was run and to see if a smaller similar match could not be held in connection with the fair. He was elated when Mr. Lockie Wilson and Mr. J.C. Carroll outlined a plan for him to follow in this connection

The late Mr. Marsh was well known among the newspaper fraternity from coast to coast for the reason that he was a past president of the Canadian weekly Newspaper's association; a past president of the Ontario - Quebec Division of the C.W.N.A.; a past president of the Lake Erie and St. Clair Publisher's Association. At the time of his death he was secretary of the latter organization. He was married in November 1899, to Miss Bessie M. Hicks, eldest daughter of the late John M. Hicks of Essex. Mrs. Marsh survives him with one daughter, Miss Helen M., on the staff of Amherstburg Public School, and one son, John A., who was associated with him on The Echo. He has two sisters, Mrs. Robert F. Baxter of Seattle, Washington, and Mrs. Harold Hitsman of Scobey, Montana. Two brothers, William and Hilliard, of Moore Township, died some years ago.

Funeral Services

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, October 26, at the family home, Dalhousie street North, at 2:30p.m. The service will be conducted by Rev. Enos Hart, pastor of Wesley United Church. Interment will take place in Rose Hill cemetery.