My Great-Grandfather - David Franklin Middleton

While perusing the old archives of my local newspaper, I came across this obituary for my great-grandfather. It details a lot about his life, things I never knew. Here it is in its’ entirety, as well as a photo of him as a young man (not in the newspaper obituary)…

OBITUARY – Richmond Hill Liberal - September 25, 1947 - page 3

DAVID F. MIDDLETON: Carrville community sustained a deep loss in the death of David F. (Franklin) Middleton on Friday, September 19th in his 71st year. Mr. Middleton was born in 1877 in Pickering township but his parents dying at an early age he went to live with his uncle, George Topper of Humber Summit, Vaughan township.

In 1900 he married Sebbie Rowntree who predeceased him by seven months. They resided at Thistletown where Mr. Middleton was engaged in the milk cartage business, later farming in the Weston Thistletown district. In 1921 he purchased the Shell farm on concession 2, Vaughan township where he resided until 1928 when he built his home in Carrville and engaged in market gardening.

Mr. Middleton was a great lacrosse enthusiast and was a lifelong supporter and promoter of the national game, first at Weston, and later at Richmond Hill and district. He was a staunch supporter of the church, being a former member of Humber Summit Congregational Church, later transferring to Carrville United Church where he served as steward and elder.

Mr. Middleton was a Conservative in politics and a member of the I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). Surviving are one son Robert of Carrville, and two daughters, Mrs. J. Oliver (Sadie) of Mill Road and Mrs. J. Barton (Myra) of Carrville, three sisters, Mrs. White of Moose Jaw, Sask.; Mrs. Stonehouse of Reston, Man., and Mrs. Adamson of Ernfold, Sask., and one brother, Mr. Fred Middleton of Thistletown, also seven grandchildren.

Services were held in Carrville United Church Monday, September 22, Rev. Dr. J. S. Duncan, assisted by Rev. Kent, officiating. Pallbearers were Ernest Bone, Frank Scott, Dean Wilson, William Stott, Elmer Middleton, Robert Wilson.

I posted a previous blog post about my great-grandparents that you can check out (here). The one major discrepancy is the year of their marriage which official records list as 1901. Since I never met him as he was gone long before I was born, it put a real 'picture' of his life in my view.