OBITUARY.
The decease of Charles W. Matheson, elder brother of the Editor of this paper, was briefly announced in the Champion of last week. Mr. Matheson was born in Kirkalday, in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1833. He was for many years engaged in the practice of Law in Simcoe as partner of the Hon. M. H. Foley, Ex-Postmaster-General, with whom he studied his profession, but latterly he was practising on his own account. Mr. Matheson always took a deep interest in Volunteering, and rose to be major of the 39th Battalion, one of the most efficient in the Dominion, and about the time of the Border raid he was stationed with his Battalion at Niagara for several months. Although but a young man, he was widely known throughout his own and adjoining counties, and highly esteemed by all for his kind and generous heart, and his genial qualities. The following notice of his funeral, from the Norfolk Reformer, will serve to show the esteem in which he was held:-
"The announcement of the death of Major Charles W. Matheson, of this town, will not take many of our readers by surprise, as he had for many months been in a very bad state of health. For two or three weeks previous to his decease he was confined to the house, and about midnight on Thursday night he began to sink and he breathed his last about two o'clock on Friday morning. His remains were conveyed to their last resting place, the Woodhouse burying ground, on Monday afternoon. The members of the 39th Battalion of Volunteers, of which he was Major, and the brethren of the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, turned out in large numbers to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed. The procession was an unusually large one, and was headed by the band of the battalion, the solemn tones of the "Dead March in Saul" adding solemnity to the occasion. Six officers of the battalion acted as pallbearers and these were accompanied by Col. Tisdale the remaining officers, and the firing party, which was commanded by Captain Walker. There was a large attendance of Masons, the Ezra Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and the Norfolk of Simcoe, Erie, of Port Dover, Wilson of Waterford, Walsingham, of Port Rowan, Scotland of Scotland, and other Lodges being represented on the occasion. Arrived at the grave, the impressive Masonic rite was performed, a volley was fired by the volunteers, and the remains of Major Matheson were committed to the silent tomb. During the funeral the stores and places of Business were closed.