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Event Date : Thursday, March 19, 1953
Event Type : Death

Description : A most highly esteemed and well known resident of the Bond Head district for a period of about sixty years, Charles William Watt passed away at his home, 1580 Bathurst St., Toronto, on Thursday, March 19. Mr. Watt had been in failing health for some time but had been up and around his home until two weeks before his death. Born at Beeton 82 years ago, the late Mr. Watt received his education in Beeton schools and resided there until twenty years of age when he came to Bond Head. In 1907 he married Kathleen Smith of that village and Mr. and Mrs. Watt lived and farmed in Tecumseth near Bond Head, until 1941 when they retired at Bond Head. A little over a year ago Mr. and Mrs. Watt joined their daughter, Miss Jane Fair (Fairy) in Toronto and with her took up residence in that city. Mr. Watt was always active in church and Sunday School work. In 1902 he was made an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Bond Head and continued in this office in the United Church, thus he was a church elder for fifty years. He was superintendent or a teacher in the Sunday School for over 60 years. He also served as secretary-treasurer of Bond Head Cemetery Board for a number of years. Possessing a kindly and friendly disposition, Mr. Watt had a wide circle of friends and though never aspiring to municipal office he took an active and helpful interest in affairs of the community. Mr. Watt is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, namely, Miss Jane Fair (Fairy) of Toronto; William of Bond Head; Anne (Mrs. Jack Hughes) of Churchill; and James of Hamilton.The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon from the home of his son, William, at Bond Head. The services were conducted by the present minister of the church assisted by a former minister, Rev. F. W. Newell, and Rev. W. J. Burton, now of Hillsdale. Interment was in Bond Head Cemetery.The pallbearers were W. E. Brooks, Gordon Brethet, Les. Holmes, Chas. Cerswell, Duncan McArthur and John Lloyd. The flower bearers were Elwell McKay, Jas. Smith, Percy Reynolds, Cardy McLean, Alf. McLean, Kenneth Holmes, Adrian Bateman, Roy Bell. Among those from a distance attending the funeral on Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Tomlin (sister of Mrs. Watt), Mrs. Chas. Davis, Mr. Allan Davis, Mr. Jack Davis, Mrs. Austin Faulkner, and two representatives of the Jenny Lind Candy Company, Messrs. Wm. Taylor, Larry Reid, and Jas. Bushey, of Hamilton.

Event Date : Saturday, October 17, 1953
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Toronto, Ont.

Description : One of the oldest practicing dentists in Ontario, being a 1900 graduate from the College of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Dr. Charles W. Ellis was instantly killed as he crossed the street to his son-in-law's car on the Queen Elizabeth Way at Haig Blvd. early Saturday evening. Larry Rutherford, his son-in-law of Applewood Rd., was waiting for him on the shoulder of the west-bound lane to take him home in his car. Dr. Ellis alighted from a bus and was crossing the west-bound lane when he was hit by a car driven by Edward Dinsmore of Toronto. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a Port Credit coroner.
Born in Bradford, Dr. Ellis received his High School education in Barrie. Graduated from the University of Toronto in 1900 he practiced in Beeton for a short time before he married the former Adelia Maude Rose, Syracuse, New York, who predeceased him 29 years ago, and began practice here where he has been for over 50 years. He was a life member of Bradford Lodge, A.F. & A.M., where he was Past Master. He was feted by the lodge recently on the occasion of his 50th year of membership. He was also a life member of the Ontario Dental Association. He was a member of Bradford United Church where he had taught Sunday School and was a former steward in the church and served for many years as church treasurer. He has also been a member of Bradford Lions Club for some years. During his younger days, Dr. Ellis was an athlete and won many medals as a bicycle racer and tennis player.He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Rutherford, Lakeview, and Mrs. R. G. Freyermuth, Iowa, and two grandchildren, Janet and Charles Freyermuth. He was predeceased by two brothers, Aubrey and Bert, and his only sister, Mrs. W. A. Pringle (Mabel). Dr. Ellis had given valued service to this municipality having served on the Board of Education and the Board of Health for a number of years. Through his long years of practice Dr. Ellis was one of the best known residents of the area. Possessing very definite opinions and the strictest code of honour and honesty of purpose himself, he expected the same high standards from those with whom he did business. His friends, especially in later years, were largely those who had been his patients over a long term of years, and a few of the older residents, and his tragic death was learned with sorrow by them all. A private funeral was held yesterday afternoon from his home, under Masonic auspices, with services being conducted by Rev. F. G. MacTavish. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Sunday, January 30, 1955
Event Type : Death

Description : The death occured at York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Sunday, January 30, of Miss Alice Victoria Smith of Bond Head. Miss Smith suffered a broken leg and shock when struck by a car as she was returning from church on Sunday January, 9, three weeks before her death. Born at Queensville over 81 years ago, Miss Smith lived in Innisfil Township as a child and attended school there. Later she was a seamstress with a Toronto firm. In recent years she spent some time with Mrs. R. W. Glass, Cookstown, and with her sister and brother in Bond Head. She was a member of the United Church. Miss Smith is survived by a sister and two brothers, Miss Ida Smith, Bond Head; Mr. James Smith, Bond Head; and Mr. Lessley Smith of Victoria, B.C.The funeral was held on Tuesday, February 1, from the Hughes' Funeral Home, Cookstown. The services were taken by the ministers of Bond Head and Cookstown churches, Rev, F. W. Newell and Rev. J. C. Kellog. Interment was in Thornton Cemetery.The pallbears were Cookstown and Bond Head family friends, namely Robt. Eldridge, Arthur Glass and Arthur Cooper of Cookstown, and Wm. Watt, Cyril Drury and Harry Wilcox of Bond Head.

Event Date : Monday, October 03, 1955
Event Type : Death

Description : Percy Reynolds, life-long resident of Bond Head and member of West Gwillimbury township council during the past four years, was instantly killed on Monday afternoon, October 3, when his truck was struck by a C.P.R. freight engine at a Jane St. level crossing in Weston. Mr. Reynolds was driving at the time of the accident. With him was his 20-year-old son Walter, who miraculously escaped serious injury. Walter, who was asleep at the time, wakened by his father's shout just before the crash. He does not know whether the truck stalled on the tracks or whether his father saw the train too late.The cow catcher carried the truck for a quarter of a mile down the track before the engineer was able to bring the train to a stop. Mr. Reynolds was on the side of the truck struck by the train and he was dead when removed from the cab. Walter, bruised, cut, and in a state of shock, crawled through the back window of the truck's cab after the train was brought to a stop. He was taken to hospital in Weston where X-ray revealed no broken bones and he was released from hospital early that evening.The truck was completely demolished.Through unofficial channels the word reached Mr. Reynolds' family of the accident and his death, and a considerable time elapsed before a neighbour P.P.C. located the police in charge and through them were able to contact Walter. At once a neighbour friend went for and brought home the bruised and shocked young man.
Percy Reynolds was born in Bond Head, the son of Mrs. Reynolds of that village and the late Mr. Joseph Reynolds. After school days he started in business in Bond Head in 1924 and by 1926 he extended his business operations there from a butcher store, to a butcher store and transport business, both of which he operated continuously since that time. For more than twenty years he was secretary-treasurer of the Bond Head school board and with the greatest of care he had cherished the old records of the school, some of which were recalled in this newspaper at the time of the opening of the new Bond Head school. When West Gwillimbury formed a township School Area Board, Percy Reynolds was a member of that Board, a position he held until his becoming a township councillor four years ago.In November 1931 he married Elizabeth Lewis of Schomberg, who also was a native of Bond Head. They have twin sons, Walter and Wallace, and one daughter, Mildred. Also surviving are his mother; three brothers, William, Harry and Edward, all of Bond Head; and one sister, Mrs. Barnard (Olive), of Barrie. Mr. Reynolds was a member of the United Church and the funeral service will be held from Emmanuel United Church, Bond Head, on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock.

Event Date : Friday, June 15, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : Mr. James Henry Smith of Bond Head passed away in York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Friday, June 15, at the age of 84 years. Mr. Smith had led a very active life until about a year ago, being particularly interested in gardening. Born at Queensville, the eldest son in a family of the nine children of John and Mary Lazenby Smith, he moved with his parents to Concession 4, Innisfil, where he resided until moving to near Bond Head in 1920. In January 10, 1902, he married Hattie Morris of Essa Township who survives him with their two sons, Harold of Toronto, and Alvin of Bond Head, and their two granddaughters, Alice and Velma Smith of Bond Head. A sister, Miss Ida Smith of Bond Head, and a brother, Lessley of Victoria, B.C., also survive. Eleven years ago Mr. and Mrs. Smith retired to Bond Head where Mr. Smith's activities had been confined largely to his home garden which he enjoyed after his active life as a farmer. Formerly a member of the Methodist Church at Bethesda, he had been a member of Bond Head United Church and an elder in that church for a number of years. A friendly man, he was highly regarded among his neighbours. The beautiful flowers sent by Bond Head United Church, the people of Bond Head community, Bond Head public school, Girl Guides, as well as those from more distant points, attested him as a good neighbour and friend.The funeral was held on Monday afternoon from Bond Head United Church, with the services conducted by Rev. R. Love, assisted by Rev. W. J. Burton. Interment was in Thornton Union Cemetery.The pallbearers were Messrs. Harry Wilcox, Gordon Brethet, Jackson Glassford, Wm. Brooks, Wm. Watt and Arnold Rogers.