Event Date : Thursday, November 30, 1967
Event Type : Death

Description : Bradford's oldest resident, Mrs. Sarah Caroline Cook, died recently. She would have been 95 next month. Born Sarah Mills in West Gwillimbury in 1874, she married John Gibson Cook who operated a piano and music business in Bradford in partnership with John Gilheeney. She lived on Moore Street. Mrs. Cook leaves a sister, Reita; two sons, deputy-reeve Fred Cook and Jack F. Cook of Windsor; a daughter, Mrs. Tom Gardner; two grandsons, Don Gardner, a teacher at Simcoe District High School, and Jack Gardner, a lawyer in Toronto; and four great-grandchildren. The funeral service was held at the Lewis Funeral Chapel, conducted by Rev. W. H. Warnica. Pallbearers were Jack Gardner, Don Gardner, Gordon Bateman, Robert Brown, Ruston Folliott and Edward Gapp.

Event Date : Wednesday, March 29, 1967
Event Type : Death

Description : Death came with startling suddenness last Wednesday evening to one of Bradford's prominent business men, when Mr. William Francis Compton died at his home here. Mr. Compton had been at his place of business, Compton's IGA Groceteria, that day and came home around 6 p.m. He told Mrs. Compton that he was going to have a bath before having his dinner. Later he was found dead in the bathroom by his wife. Death is attributed to a blood clot reaching his heart.
Born in Morell, P.E.I., 67 years ago, Mr. Compton spent his early years in that province, going to U.S.A. in 1922, where he joined the A & P Stores Ltd. He returned in May, 1928, when A & P opened stores in Canada, and continued with that firm until coming to Bradford in 1944, when he purchased the long-established Sutherland's Grocery, operating the business during the first few years as Compton's Groceteria. In 1951 he joined Oshawa Wholesale as a charter member of the IGA in Canada. He continued to operate the business in the old stand until last year, when the beautiful new Compton's IGA was opened on John Street West. He was justly very proud of this fine new store, which was really the realization of a long anticipated plan. A good business man, exceptionally well trained in the food marketing business, Mr. Compton succeeded in his private business and also found time to devote energy to his municipality. He had served both as councillor and reeve of Bradford, in the years before the municipality gained town status, and had also served as president of Bradford Lions Club. Mr. Compton was married at Laggan, Ontario, in September, 1928, to Normanda MacNeil, who survives him with their family of two daughters, Joan (Mrs. K. L. Pond), Ottawa; Norma (Mrs. R. D. Duffy), Toronto; Gordon William, Bradford; sisters and brother, Esther (Mrs. V. H. Dockendorf), Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Frances (Mrs. A. R. Graham), Mussoorile, India; Lydia (deceased); Robbins, Morell, P.E.I. and Elizabeth (Mrs. W. H. Reich), Port Washington, N.Y.; and five grandchildren, who were the delight of his life, Dianne and David Compton and Janet, Allison and Christine Pond.
The funeral was held on Saturday, April 1, from his church, Bradford United, with Rev. D. J. Lute conducting the services. Temporary entombment was in the vault, with interment to be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were Keith Collings, Robert Hanna, Robert Veale Jr., Joseph Alebeck, Wallace Holmes and George Allan.The flower bearers were James Patton, Harold Newns, Charles Davidson, Ronald James and Lester Woolven.

Event Date : Friday, November 11, 1966
Event Type : Death

Description : Although not enjoying the best of health for some time, the last illness of Mrs. James Armstrong, of 98 John Street E., Bradford, was not lengthy, when she passed away in York County Hospital on Friday, November 11. Mrs. Armstrong was a life-long resident of Bradford, where she received her schooling as the former Violet Jane Saint. With her marriage to the late James Armstrong she continued to reside in Bradford, where she enjoyed life with the company of her relatives and long-time friends.Her church was Trinity Anglican, Bradford. Mrs. Armstrong's husband predeceased her in 1956 and she is survived by one daughter (Shirley), Mrs. William Watson of Bradford and her grandchildren. One sister, Mrs. Sara Reeves of Bradford, and a brother, Mr. Leonard Saint of Bradford also survive. The funeral was held on November 14 from the Lewis Funeral Home, with her rector, Rev. W. H. Warnica, conducting the services. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.The pallbearers were Messrs. James Church, Gordon Church, Jack Church, Allen Hodgson, Mel. Saint and Roy Saint.

Event Date : Sunday, January 30, 1966
Event Type : Death

Description : A former Bradford businessman and long-time respected resident here, Mr. Archie Hammell, passed away at York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Sunday, January 30, 1966, after four months of declining health and a long period of hospitalization. Mr. Hammell was born in the Tottenham area, coming to Bradford as a young man, when his parents purchased the farm on the outskirts of town, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Metcalfe. He joined the staff of the store long operated by the late Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Douglas and when they retired he opened his own grocery business on the south side of Holland
Street. He retired from business a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hammell (the former Minnie Spence) were married in Bradford in September, 1916, and would have had their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year, had he been spared. Early in life Mr. Hammell joined the IOOF here, and in more recent years has been a member of that Lodge in Aurora. He was also a member of Simcoe Masonic Lodge No. 79, Bradford, and services were conducted by these lodges on the evening before his funeral. Mr. Hammell was a member and elder in Bradford United Church. The funeral services were held last Wednesday afternoon from the Lewis Funeral Home in Bradford. Rev. D. J. Lute conducted the services and temporary entombment was in Sixth Line Cemetery Vault, with interment to be made later in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. Mr. Hammell is survived by his wife and two brothers, Harry of Newmarket and Frank, who spends winters in Florida and summers at Victoria Harbour, Ontario. The pallbearers were Messrs. D. Arthur Evans, Robert L. Brown, C. T. S. Evans, Ivan Daniels (Aurora), Seward Lee and William Jelly.

Event Date : Sunday, January 30, 1966
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at York County Hospital, Newmarket. Of Bradford, husband of Minnie Spence, and brother of Frank and Harry. Rested at the Lewis Funeral Home, Bradford. Service Wednesday at 2 p.m. Temporary entombment 6th Line Cemetery Vault. Final resting place Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Friday, December 04, 1964
Event Type : Death

Description : A resident of West Gwillimbury Township since childhood, Mr. Frank L. Brown did not rally from a heart seizure after his return home from attending a meeting held by the congregation of Bradford United Church on the evening of Wednesday, December 2. He was moved to York County Hospital where he passed away on Friday, December 4, at the age of 79. Mr. Brown was born in Whitchurch Township, York County, coming to West Gwillimbury in boyhood. He attended White Rose School in Whitchurch Township and later Mount Pleasant School in West Gwillimbury and there began his life as a farmer, on Concession 10, later in 1931, purchasing the farm on Concession 5, in the Scotch Settlement, where he spent the rest of his life. In 1931 Mr. Brown married Agnes May Patience, in Toronto, who survives him, with their two sons, George and Stanley, both of R.R. 1, Bradford. Also surviving are two brothers, Walter E. Brown and Harry W. Brown, both of R.R. 2, Bradford, and two sisters, Ella (Mrs. Wesley Adair) of Newmarket and Jessie (Mrs. Ivan Metcalfe) of Bradford. He was predeceased by a daughter, Frances, and three sisters. Mr. Brown was a devout member of Bradford United Church and had been an elder of that church for the past twenty-three years. The funeral was held from the church on Monday, December 7, with interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Rev. D. J. Lute conducted the services. The pallbearers were Murray Faris, Walter Lloyd, Clarence Brown, Lorne Metcalfe, Chas. T. S. Evans and Thos. Gardner.

Event date: Monday, June 5, 1933
Event type: Death

A beloved mother and most respected friend and neighbour, Mrs. William Selby, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw, on Monday, June 5, following a long illness. Mrs. Selby whose maiden name was Hannah Ney, was born in 1853 and had lived all her life in this community. She was a quiet, gentle, home-loving woman, her interest, outside of her home, being centred about St. Paul's church, Coulson's Hill, where she was a most faithful and active member. Her husband, William Selby, of U E. Loyalist stock, died eleven years ago on the farm on the 9th of West Gwillimbury where he was born and where he and the late Mrs. Selby came to reside with her daughter, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw, where she made her home for the past nine years. The bereaved members of the family have the sympathy of the community in their grief. Those left to mourn her loss are three sons, Percy and Cyril on the home farm, and Dr. E.R. Selby of Calgary, Alta., three daughters, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw of Bradford, Mrs. E.G. Thomas of South Orange, N.J., and Miss Lena of Orange, N.J., one sister, Mrs. John Robinson of Aurora, also Mr. John Wright of Onaway, Mich. She was predeceased by two brothers and three sisters. The pioneer families of West Gwillimbury as well as those of more recent residents were represented in the very large funeral cortege which proceeded from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw to St. Paul's cemetery, Coulson's Hill, on Wednesday afternoon, June 7th.