Benjamin Percival Overholt Born: South Cayuga 1879 Master: 1920 Other: First Principal, Prince of Wales No. 72 R.A.M., 1918 Died: Sunday May 12, 1922

AMHERSTBURG HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DIES SUDDENLY

"When he died he took a man's life with him." This tribute paid to one of our national poets most fittingly applies to B. Percival Overholt, principal of the Amherstburg High School, whose tragically sudden death Sunday morning profoundly shocked the whole town and countryside. He arose at his accustomed time and was reading his bible in preparation of the lesson expected later to teach to his Bible class in Wesley church, when he was seized with angina pectoris , and within a short hour had passed away. The family physician, whom he telephoned for as soon as the seizure came, arrived just in time to see him breathe his last. When the word began to spread it seemed incredible that one who the night before was about his usual activities was no more, but as the realization grew, spontaneously loving friends gathered and minister to the sorrow of the bereaved and took charge of their household affairs, seeking in some slight measure to alleviate the distress into which they had been so suddenly cast. Coming to Amherstburg in January, 1910, Mr. Overholt became an essentially useful man about town. As Principal of the High School, he took an active part in its administration and all its enterprises. He was the prime mover in getting the new High School, which he looked forward with much hope to taking charge of. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the Board; he was one of the most active members of the Bowling Club and its secretary-treasurer; he organized the first corps of the Boy Scouts, in 1911, and was its first Scout Master. A clipping from this paper of that date contains a group picture of the boys and their leader and said: "Too much cannot be said in favor of B.P. Overholt, who so ably managed the club, last winter, and citizens who are interested in the boys will be pleased to hear that he is again in charge. He is a lover of good clean sport, tolerates no rowdyism, and is a most competent on to possess the title of Scoutmaster". That summed up the reasons for his popularity with the boys. He was active in Free Masonry, and was Master of Thistle Lodge in 1920 and First Principal of Prince of Wales, No. 71, in 1918. He possessed great dramatic ability and was leader and director of nearly all local theatricals in recent years. He was a polished speaker, and during his college career won the gold medal for oratory. In addition to all this he was a devoted member of Wesley Methodist Church, and teacher of a large Bible class there. Though engrossed in many activities he neglected no duty he had undertaken to perform and his loss will be keenly felt for a long time, and his place will be hard to fill.

The people made his death their personal affair and seldom has such a tribute been paid to a man's memory. The High School Board met the pupils and ex-pupils of the High school Monday morning and arranged that a memorial tablet should be placed in the new school for him; the flag over the new school flew for the first time at half mast. A gorgeous collection of floral offerings almost completely filled the room in which his remains, casket, enshrouded, lay, and almost day and night people from far and near came to extend their sympathy. Lodges, churches, scouts and other organizations expressed their sympathy in flowers. The funeral Tuesday afternoon was a genuine outpouring of affection and grief. Every business house closed for two hours and the whole town turned out. Both local Masonic lodges, under whose auspices the funeral was held with E.A. Patton, Director of Ceremonies, marched almost full strength in the procession. Windsor, Valley Lodge of Perfection, Scottish Rite, Free Masonry, was represented by Master Edwin Webster, Past Masters J.F. Reid and W.N. Gatfield with Excellent Bros. Clark, Boyce and Cunningham. Other county lodges also had representatives there. Wesley Church, in which the service was conducted, was filled to the doors and hundreds couldn't gain admission. Two beautiful hymns "Lead, Kingly Light" and "Asleep in Jesus" were sung by the choir, and Miss Vera VanVelso sang "There's a beautiful land on high" Rev. Mr. Donnelly's eloquence was tinged with grief as he spoke feelingly from the texts "Thou shalt be missed for thy seat shall be empty. The splendid personality of the man who never let the spiritual element out of his life and who stood for everything that was for the public wealth, was stressed by the speaker. The cortege to Rose Hill cemetery was large, and there he was laid to rest, the services of the Masonic Order which he had often so impressively intoned over others now being said over his remains by F.E. Wilson, Master of the Lodge. The active pallbearers were F.J. Maloney Jr., Dr. W.S. French, Capt. Chas. R. Hackett, S.E.M. Taylor, J.H. Lovegrove and A.W. Marsh. The High School Board F.M. Falls, Colin Wigle, S. Bertrand, I.S. Brown, A.F. Barron and Malcomb Mullen were honorary pallbearers. Marching with them were the High School staff accompanied by A.W. Massey, Principal Kingsville High School and A.C. Courtice, Principal Leamington High School.

Mr. Overholt was born 43 years ago April, in South Cayuga; a son of Isaac Overholt, who died last November in California, and who is remembered having spent four years here with his son. Only one sister, Mrs. Bessie, of California, is living. He was educated in Dunnville High school, taught three years in South Cayuga; graduated from the School of Pedagogy, Hamilton, and taught in the Elora Model School and Guelph Collegiate before coming to Amherstburg in January, 1910. He was married in August, 1912 to Miss Margaret Stallwood, of Beamsville, and she survives him with two children, Gwendolyn and Harold, who will have the most tender sympathy of the town in their severe trial.

"So when a good man dies,
For years beyond our ken,
The light he leaves behind him lies
Upon the lives of men."

Fred E. Wilson Born: Tilbury Master: 1922 Died: Monday July 18, 1938

The adage that "Death loves a shining mark" was never more sorrowfully exemplified in Amherstburg than it was Monday night when the Death Angel came most unexpectedly and suddenly to Frederick E. Wilson, prominent among the younger good citizens of the town in fraternal, social, athletic and church circles.

Returning Sunday evening with Mrs. Wilson and little son from a delightful holiday week at Grand Bend, where they frequently visited, he was in perfect physical condition and resumed his work at the Brunner Mond Monday morning with that ambition that a recreational week of rest gives to one.

After dinner Monday evening he complained of severe stomach pains and before the family realized it a condition developed in the form of coronary thrombosis that no medical skill could cope with, and after suffering excruciatingly for a period he passed away about 10 o'clock. Only immediate friends of the family who were summoned know of the calamity until next morning, when the sad news fell like a pall upon the town where he was so well and favourably known. Tuesday was a sorrowful day in Amherstburg.

Funeral Services

The funeral has been arranged for this Thursday afternoon. Following brief services of the Masonic Order at the house, his remains will be taken to Christ Church of which he had been an official for some years, for services, conducted by the Rector, Rev. H.A. Wright and burial afterwards to be in Rose Hill Cemetery under Masonic auspices.

A large number of members of the Masonic fraternity were in attendance, as Mr. Wilson was Pastmaster of Thistle Masonic Lodge; the sitting First Principal of Prince of Wales Chapter, No. 71, R.A.M., Amherstburg; member of the Knights Templar of Windsor; of Mocha Temple Shrine of London, and was a Past D.D.G.M. of Windsor Masonic District. His friends in Masonry were numbered in the thousands.

Born in Tilbury

Frederick E. Wilson, was a native of Tilbury, who came to Amherstburg in 1905, and engaged as accountant in the office of Falls Bros. Later he joined the office staff of the John Currie Company, Detroit afterwards going to Vancouver and was in the office there for some time, of the Dominion Trust. Twenty-one years ago he returned to Amherstburg and entered the employ of the Brunner Mond, where his expert knowledge of accountancy made him a careful and valued employee; and the staff and employees of that industrial institution are grief stricken like the rest of the town at Mr. Wilson's untimely demise.

His Varied Activities

He not only took an active part in promoting Masonry in this town and district but he found time to enter into local sports playing golf, lawn and alley bowling as recreations, was a former secretary-treasurer of the Amherstburg Lawn Bowling Club, an expert and beloved member of the Club. He also assisted in the organization and management of the Tyrian Club of Pastermasters of Thistle Masonic Lodge and served one year as its president. In every way he was a man who gave great service in the town's organizations.

He was first married to Miss Alison Bailey of Amherstburg and some years after her death he was married in 1932 to Miss Gladys Scratch, daughter of Mrs. Scratch and the late F.P. Scratch. She survives him with a five-year-old son, Frederick Jr.

He also leaves his mother, Mrs. Eva Wilson of Tilbury, widow of Edward Wilson; two sisters, Mrs. P.C. Stevenson of Tilbury, mother of Douglas Stevenson of Amherstburg; Mrs. P. McKinley of Tilbury, and a brother, Charles Wilson of Coghlan, B.C. to all of whom deep sympathy is tendered.

J. Ernest McGee Born: 1884, Malden Township Master: 1926 Mayor: 1935-1938 Died: Saturday, February 23, 1958, Windsor, ON

Years of Service, J. Ernest McGee Former Mayor Dies in Windsor

J. Ernest McGee, 73, who played a prominent role in Amherstburg municipal affairs for many years, died Saturday in Metropolitan Hospital, Windsor. He had been ill for two months.

Mr. McGee was foreman of the machine shop at Brunner Mond Canada, Limited until his retirement in 1955. He was born in Malden Township and lived in this district all of his life.

Recognizing his responsibility to the community in which he lived Mr. McGee served his municipality well. He was a member of the Public School Board for many years and served as chairman. He entered municipal politics and became a member of the council. He held the position of mayor for two years, 1935 and 1936. Mr. McGee was also a member of the Utilities Commission and during his term of office on this body was chairman from 1949 to 1950.

Greatly interested in preserving the historical background of Amherstburg he was chosen as a member of the Fort Malden Management Committee and was chairman of that body during its entire existence. This group was in charge of the development of the Fort Malden National Historic Park.

He was a past master of Thistle Lodge No.34 A.F. and A.M. and had his 50 year and life membership in the lodge.

Surviving are his widow, Elva (nee Bonnett); three sons, Clarence, of Elliot Lake,; Robert and James, of Amherstburg; a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Breeze (Margaret), of Amherstburg; two brothers, Frank and Edward, both of Amherstburg; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The funeral was held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., at Christ Church, Amherstburg. Rev. D.S. Henry officiated. Burial followed in the Rosehill Cemetery.