- 1930, Friday June 6, The Almonte Gazette front page
William Fender
The people of Almonte and the surrounding district will hear with regret of the passing of one of Ramsay's pioneers in the person of William Fender. Born 82 years ago in Perthshire Scotland, the late Mr Fender came to Canada at the age of four years with his parents, the late Mr and Mrs David Fender who settled on the 5th line of Ramsay, on what is now known as the James Watt Farm. One of a family of 14 children, 6 boys and eight girls, all of whom have pre-deceased him with the exception of his brother John, of Clayton, who is two years older than himself, he has enjoyed to quote his own words "A good innings." A gentleman of jovial disposition he has long been regarded as something of a romantic figure by virtue of his travel and varied experiences in the United States and Western Canada. The deceased was married in 1872 to Miss J. Giles, of Ramsay, who died in 1877. To this union was born one daughter Eliza Jane (Mrs H. Curtis) with whom he has been living and one son William Edward, who died in December, 1901, at Courtney, North Dakota. About 1879 the late Mr Fender left the homestead in Ramsay and for a short time lived in Rochester, N.Y. state. During the period of twenty-seven years from 1879 to 1906 when he returned to Almonte, many and varied were the experiences of pioneering in Minnesota, North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Alberta, where the deceased staked, homesteaded and pre-empted land, during the building up of both the American and Canadian West. The winter of 1928-1929 was spent with relatives in Mississippi state, U.S.A. Although having enjoyed an active life with good health he has recently been under doctor's care for heart trouble common to a man of his advanced years. It was the result of such an attack that he passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, June 3rd. The funeral was held from the residence of his son-inlaw, Mr H. Curtis, on Thursday, June 5th, at 2.30, to the Auld Kirk Cemetery Almonte. The service was impressively conducted by Rev J.R. MacCrimmon, of Bethany United Church. The large concourse of friends was eloquent testimony of the respect in which the deceased was held by those whose privilege it was to know him.
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1849 - 1930 (81 years)
