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- [S8] obituary.
Source- Orillia Packet and Times November 26, 1931
DANIEL JAMES MULVIHILL?S FUNERAL LARGEST EVER HELD IN MARA
TOWNSHIP CLERK DIES AFTER A GALLANT FIGHT AGAINST GREAT ODDS
Few deaths in recent years have so deeply stirred so wide a community as
that of D. J. Mullvihill, Clerk of the Township of Mara. From the time
he met with the accident near Brechin when his automobile struck a train
on the crossing on November 5, until his strength failed him and death
called him away, there was constant inquiry regarding his condition and
the chances of his recovery. The plucky way in which he fought the
results of the terrible injuries which he received gave his friends
fresh tour from time to time, though they knew that his chances humanly
speaking, were very slight.
D.J. Mulvihill was so much a part of the life of the Township of Mara
that one seldom thought of the Township with in the same way connecting
him with it. He was the son of John Mulvihill and Sarah Morris and was
born in Rathburn 47 years ago, where his father conducted a well known
blacksmith shop in the days when a centre such as Rathburn was quite a
metropolis in the pioneer settlement. Only a few weeks ago the Packet
and Times had an article on this village in which was recorded some of
the life of the community in the early days.. Mr. Mulvihill got his
education at the Rathburn School and the Orillia High School and later
built a larger store in Rathburn where he conducted an eaten general
store business.
He served five years as Councillor and two years as Deputy Reeve,
resigning from office when Mr. W.R McPhee of Brechin retired from the
position of Township Clerk. he never missed attending a meeting of
Council. Mr. Mulvihill had a good memory and soon obtained a mastery of
the details of the business of the Township Council and of municipal
law, which made him a valuable advisor to the Council when difficulties
had to be overcome or straightened out. New members of the body found
him a wise councillor and friend and his opinion was relied upon sought
in the conduct of all business. In county affairs too, he had his
influence and friends and was known throughout the length and breadth of
the County of Ontario.
No one could have known the people of Mara better than D.J. Mulvihill.
It was an odd person he did not know something of. The children of the
township knew him by the hundreds and not a few called him Uncle Dan.
He was passionately of children and was patient and kindly with them
whenever he met them. As a tribute to him a number of the schools were
closed on Monday, the day of his funeral.
Not only had he won the friendship of the children, but a wide circle of
his friends and neighbours came to him for advice and counsel. He drew
up deeds, made agreements, loaned money, often when he knew he would not
receive interest, backed notes which others would not endorse, all out
of the goodness of his heart, he had the great accomplishment of being
kindly and friendly to one and all. he did not show impatience when
approached on the street or wherever he might be. The happy way won for
him respect and kindly feeling which is accorded to few.
His death touch the heartstrings of the people amongst whom he resided
and a wide field besides and from the time the body was taken to his
residence at Atherley where he moved to live after leaving Rathburn
several years ago until the funeral there was a stream of people calling
to express sympathy and to take one last look at one whom they had
learned to love and respect. On Sunday alone 2,000 people called at the
house and sometimes during the afternoon several hundred were waiting
outside the house for an opportunity to go in. When the funeral left for
St. Columbkille\'s church 210 automobiles followed to the service and
the church was half full beefier the sortie arrived. Chairs had to be
placed in the aisles, at the rear of the church, in the choir loft and
some stood. Many cars did not get into the spacious grounds at the
church.
Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Father Coleman of Uptergrove, with
Father Ryan of Orillia as Deacon. Father Flanagan of Orillia was master
of ceremonies and Father McKenna of Toronto and Father Morrow of
Brechin, were in the Sanctuary.
After mass was celebrated, Father Coleman spoke for some time. It was
not the custom of the church to have orations at funerals, but on this
occasion when a man was known far and wide, and so many had gathered
from his own neighbourhood and distant parts, he thought special notice
could well be taken of the departure of the deceased. The attendance
testified to the popularity of the departed one and the greatest
sympathy had gone out to the family. Mr. Mulvihill had lived in
Rathburn and Atherley and it was rather a strange coincidence and added
to the sadness of the occasion that his wife had had rather a tragic
death and his adopted daughter and nieces Helen O\'Connell had been
drowned with in tow years and there months of his departure.
Father Flanagan then spoke for sometime on Christ and his doctrines.
Christ was above all things while on earth a teacher and a Saviour who
brought regeneration and the sanctification and purification of souls.
The epistles admonished people to live better lives and follow Christ\'s
footsteps.Christ had shown that prophecy had been fulfilled. He set
forth His authority to preach punishment in hell and the rewards of
heaven.He laid down principles and teachings that the apostles could not
wander from. He brought the purses of religion that the Jews never
attained and reached a power never before reached. His teaching was the
doctrine of true faith and no right living man will wander from it. He
brought a pureness of religion which the Jews never attained and reached
a power never before reached. His teaching was the doctrine of the true
faith and no right living man will wander from it. Christ taught us to
deny ourselves and the imitation of Christ was the truest form of
religion. All should try to imitate Christ\'s life. Without Christ man
can do nothing. Christ gave help to those who desired it and we had the
example of the rant to aid us in our life. The most glorious thing on
earth is Christ\'s Church which he had funded. All should praise God
unceasingly for this and all His mercies.
Amongst those from a visitant were: James Blanchard MPP, Reeve J. Ross
of Thorah, Warden Ross of Whitby Township, the County Engineer, Davis
Walls Toronto, eight or nine members of County Council, Messrs. Connors
of Toronto, Nixon of Barrie, Watterworth of Barrie, Hartmeet of Lindsay,
representatives of the Crown Life Assurance Company. The members of the
Mara and Rama Council attended and one from Orillia Council.
The pallbearers were Messrs. Peter Cox, Richard Mahoney, Edgar Dure,
James Read, Leo O\'Connell, Frank O\'Connell.
An immense number of spiritual offerings and floral tributes were
received. Amongst them were floral tributes from the Town of Orillia,
Rama Board of Health, Mara Council and the life underwriters, Ontario
East Centre of the Crown Life, Head Office Crown Life.
Mr. Mulvihill was a trusted and highly successful member of the staff of
Crown Life Insurance Co. who looked upon him as one of the best
producers on the staff. During the past year he came ninth of Crown
Life Agents in the United Sates and Canada and his record was ready for
the bulletin which was to have been printed and issued next month.
Mr. Mulvihill was a member of the Holy Name Society of Uptergrove and
of the Knights of Columbus of Orillia and both societies visited his
home in a body.
The deceased left his mother and two sisters, Julia and Mary who have
resided with him since Mrs. Mulvihill died on Christmas night 1929. He
has one brother P.J. Mulvihill of Toronto.
Interment was made in the cemetery of St. Columbkille\'s Church,
Uptergrove.
- [S1] Ontario- Marriages.
John Mulvihill
mentioned in the record of John Mulvihill and Sarah Morris
Name John Mulvihill
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 16 Apr 1877
Event Place Uptergrove, Ontario, Ontario, Canada
Gender Male
Age 26
Birth Year (Estimated) 1851
Father's Name Daniel Mulvihill
Mother's Name Johanna Connors
Spouse's Name Sarah Morris
Spouse's Gender Female
Spouse's Age 26
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1851
Spouse's Father's Name Patrick Morris
Spouse's Mother's Name Julia Grimes
CITING THIS RECORD
"Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMNN-3W1 : accessed 7 October 2015), John Mulvihill and Sarah Morris, 16 Apr 1877; citing registration , Uptergrove, Ontario, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,863,649.
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