5 Mar 1946 William Stuart MacPhie
One of Antigonish County’s best known and most highly esteemed residents, William Stuart MacPhie, 86, died at his home at Cape George, March 5, 1946. He had been in failing health for some years past, following a paralytic stroke. William MacPhie was born at Cape George, March 31, 1860, his parents being the late William Stuart and Henrietta (Reid) MacPhie. The father, as a child, came out from Fort William, Scotland, with his parents Mr and Mrs William Stuart MacPhie, the first named becoming the pioneer school teacher at Cape George. A man of Sterling Christian character, upright and honorable in all his dealings with his fellowman, possessed of uncommon initiative and great industry, he won and retained throughout his long and useful life the abiding respect and affection of all who knew him. In recognition of his long associations with the Antigonish Highland Society, Mr. MacPhie was presented a few years ago with a life membership. He was present of the St. George’s Co-operative for several years, in the early years of its existence. Particularly will he be missed in St. David’s United Church, being a valued choir member for his lifetime. More than fifty years ago he was married to Catherine MacNair, daughter of the late William and Elizabeth (Copeland) MacNair, and they were but a short time separated in death, for Mrs. MacPhie died just one month before her husband on Feb. 4. Surviving members of Mr. MacPhie’s family are Mrs. Ernest Ballantyne (Bessie), Cape George; Mrs. John A Thompson (Kathleen, R.N.), Halifax; the Misses Margaret and Mable at home; and three sons; Irving, Boston; Leonard and Harold, Cape George. One sister, Mrs. Elizabeth MacPherson, survives, the last surviving member of a family of nine. The funeral service was conducted in St. Davi’s Church, Cape George, March 7, 1946, by Rev. E.B. Miller, Antigonish. The pallbearers were Colin F. MacDonald, Hudson Poole, James F. MacEachern, Alex MacDonald?, Raymond Taylor.