- 1933, Friday January 6, The Almonte Gazette front page
Prominent Ramsay Farmer Dies While Driving Homeward
James Syme of Appleton Succumbs In His Cutter Wednesday Afternoon
His many friends in the Almonte district were deeply shocked, Wednesday evening, to learn of the sudden death in the afternoon of Mr James G. Syme of Appleton. Mr Syme was one of the best known farmers in this part of Lanark County having been a member of Ramsay Council for upwards of 28 years and having served his township as Reeve on the County Council of Lanark. Death came suddenly while Mr and Mrs Syme were driving to their home near Appleton after visiting his niece, Miss Kate Syme, of Blakeney, since Monday of this week of this week. While driving along the 11th line of Ramsay in his cutter, using the side of the road where enough snow and ice remained to make sleighing, the cutter upset, at a point between the homes of James Finlayson and Wm Neilson. The horse started back in the direction of Almonte and was stopped by Hubert Fee of Appleton who was driving home in an automobile. A motorist going in the direction of Almonte, drove Mr Syme back to the cutter. Mr Syme thanked him for the ride and seemed to be none the worse for the shaking up he sustained. He drove back to where Mrs Syme was waiting, with Mr Fee following in his car. It was decided that Mrs Syme would ride home with Mr Fee and that Mr Syme would drive ahead of them. He had barely started when the two in the car noticed him slump over in the seat of his cutter. He passed away without speaking again. Had he lived Mr Syme would have been 75 years old this Thursday. He and Mrs Syme celebrated their golden wedding last spring. Although going about as usual he had not been in the best of health lately but none of his friends had the slightest idea death was so close at hand. It is thought the shock of being thrown from the cutter may have brought on the seizure that proved fatal. Left to mourn him are his widow, formerly Miss Jessie Lockhart of Almonte, two sons, Hubert of Appleton and Peter in the West and one daughter Irene, a nurse in Receiving Hospital, Detroit. Mrs Ed James of Almonte, is a niece and Messrs Jack and Albert Syme are nephews. Mr Syme was one of the most popular residents of this section and his passing came as a great shock to his many friends. He was a familiar figure in Almonte and will be greatly missed by the people here. He had a kindly affable manner and preserved a cheerful outlook on life that made him a desirable man to meet. A more extended account of his life will be printed in the next issue of The Gazette. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at two o'clock.
1933, Friday January 13, The Almonte Gazette page 4
News of Almonte And District
Funeral of Mr James G. Syme
The funeral of Mr James G. Syme was held Saturday afternoon from his late residence, 11th line of Ramsay, to the Auld Kirk Cemetery. Mr Syme died suddenly while driving home the preceding Wednesday. He would have been 76 years of age on January 5th, the day after sudden death. Friends from all parts of the local district and from Smiths Falls, Lanark, Perth, Merrickville, Munster, Carleton Place and Stittsville assembled at the home to pay a last tribute to one who had served his community well as a neighbour and as a public servant. Services were conducted at the house and cemetery by members of Alpha Lodge I.O.O.F., Almonte, of which deceased was a member and by Rev Mr Foote of Carleton Place and Rev Mr McLellan of Almonte. The pallbearers were: Messrs James Symington Jr., Allie Horton, Ed Dowdall, Jas E. Turner, George H. Doucett and Oliver Dezell. He is survived by his widow, formerly Miss Jessie Lockhart of Almonte and by two sons and one daughter, namely, Peter T. of Viking, Alta, who was unable to get home for the funeral; Hubert at home and Miss Marion Irene of Detroit. He was the last of a family of twelve to pass away. Those who predeceased him were: Isabella Syme, Mrs Clementine Tosh, Mrs Jane Rose, Mrs Ann Woodward, Mrs Jessie Laws, Mrs Agnes Drynan, Mrs Kate McIntyre, Mrs Mary Graham, Miss Flora Syme, Mr Jno Syme and Mr Peter T. Syme. Among the floral offerings received were:-- wreaths, the family, Mr and Mrs T.A. Thompson, Village of Appleton, Alpha Lodge, Almonte: Ramsay Council, Mr and Mrs P.T. Syme, Viking, Alta; Mr L. Persman, Detroit, Miss Kate Syme, Blakeney, Mrs E.A. Beach, Carleton Place and School Section No 11, Ramsay. Mr Syme served his township for 28 years as a councillor and never missed a meeting during all that time which constitutes an unique record. He was reeve for four years and for a long time acted as chairman of the Conservative Association of Ramsay.
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1858 - 1933 (74 years)
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