William Henry Uttley – 1858-1932
Katie Debus - 1866-1939

Birth

William Henry Uttley was born on September 14, 1858 in Waterloo Co, Canada West. He was the oldest child of Nathan Uttley and Lucinda Randall. The census data of 1891 and 1901 say that William was born on September 14 of 1861. Information from the family Bible and the birth date of his younger sister Sarah in November of 1861 tells us he was three years older than he said he was.

The baptism of William when he was just over two months old, further confirms the birth date as September 14, 1858. He was baptized by the Wesleyan Methodist church in Peel Township as recorded in the Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Registers, Vol 2 pg 368:

Catherine (Katie) Debus, born October 16, 1866, was the first child of Conrad Debus and Elizabeth Brenner. The date is recorded in the census of 1901. She had two sisters, Elizabeth, born 1866/67, and Christina, born 1868/69.

William Henry Uttley & Katie Debus

Marriage

Henry came to Zurich in Huron County from Berlin in 1881. It was here that he met Catherine Debus. William and Katie were married on December 27, 1882 in Zurich. The Ontario Marriage Archive for 1882, reference #004-523, for Debus, Catherine, shows:

   His name:     William Henry Uttley
   Age:          23
   Residence:    Zurich, Hay Township
   Born:         Elmira, Ont
   Occupation:   fireman
                 Bachelor
   Parents:      Nathan Uttley, mother's name blank
   Religion:     None

   Her name:     Catherine Debus
   Age:          18
   Residence:    Zurich, Hay Township
   Born:         Zurich
                 Spinster
   Parents:      Conrad and Elisabeth Debus
   Religion:     Roman Catholic

   Witness:      John & Catherine Brennen of Zurich
   Date:         December 27th, 1882
   By:           Rev. H. Dierlamm
   Location:     at residence of Rev. H. Dierlamm,
                 by Licence

The couple resided on Goshen Street South, moving later to Mary Street. They attended St Boniface Roman Catholic Church in town.

Henry worked for many years as a stationary engineer at the Zurich Flour and Feed Mill owned by John Williams. A diesel engine at the mill supplied electrical power for the village of Zurich which required Henry to work many evenings. William and Katie had eleven children.

Four and Feed Mill in Zurich, Ontario It burned to the ground in the 1960s and was not rebuilt

Deaths

William Henry Uttley died at 73 on Saturday February 6, 1932 at St Victoria Hospital in London. The Zurich paper reported in a local news item that "Hoffman's Motor hurse made the trip to London on Saturday to convey the remains of the late William Uttley to his home in town". His funeral was two days later on February 8 with an obituary in the Zurich Herald on page 1, Thursday February 11, 1939.

His wife, Katie Uttley, died of a stroke on Saturday October 21, 1939 at age 75 with the funeral on October 23. The Zurich Herald of Thursday October 26, 1939 printed her obituary on page 1. William and Katie are buried in unmarked graves at St Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery in Zurich near their daughter Alma V.

William H. Uttley Passes     One by one the older generation who have seen the development of Zurich as years passed along, are being called to their eternal reward. This week we cronicle the departure of a well know figure of the village in the person of Mr. William H. Uttley, who died in Victoria Hospital, London, early Saturday morning, February 6th, aged 73 years, 4 months and 23 days. On the previous Sunday he was rushed to the Hospital to be operated on for cancer of the bowels, and after the operation he gradually grew weaker till Saturday morning life ebbed away. He was born in Waterloo, and came to this district about 60 years ago, and was an employee of the Zurich Mill for over fifty years, during which time he was the fireman for the mill and electric plant until Hydro came in 1916. Mr. Uttley's health began to fail him about eight months ago and although always able to be around, he suffered considerable pain. Surviving him are, his widow, Mrs. Uttley, one brother, John of Waterloo, and his children as follows: Joseph Uttley of Ailsa Craig, Frank, Herbert, Milford and Ralph of Zurich, also Flora, and Alma of Zurich; Mrs. Birk of Mitchell, Miss Lucy of Toronto; Mrs. Clarence Wilds and Mrs. Jos. Wilds of Stephen. The funeral took place from the family home at Zurich, on Monday morning, to the Sa. Boniface, R.C. church for service and interment. Rev. Father Power the pastor, officiating. The family have the sympathy of their many friends.

OBITUARY Late Mrs. Wm. Uttley     Catherine Dabus[sic], relict of the late William Uttley of Zurich passed to her creator on Saturday morning, October 21st, 1939, after a few days illness with heart weakness. Deceased was well known in the community having lived all her life in Hay Township and Zurich. She was of a nice quiet disposition, ever striving after peace and good friendship, a very good morhter to her family, and also very much concerned about the welfare of her church, where she in her quiet way always did what she could for the good of mankind. Her husband predeceased seven years ago, and she had reached the age of being in her 76th year. A daughter Floro[sic] also predeceased, and those surviving are: five sons and five daughters: Joseph Uttley of St. Marys, Milfred of Toronto, Frank, Herb and Ralph of Zurich; Mrs. Mary Burke and Mrs. Lucy Ross of Toronto; Mrs. Minnie wife of Clarence Wild; Erma, wife of Joseph Wild of Stephen Township, and Miss Alma at Home; Two sisters, Mrs. Chas. Weber of Zurich, Mrs. J. Bigson of Goderich; two brothers, William Dabus of Hensall and John Dabus of Wesber Corner, Sask. Also 28 grandchildren and one great grand child. The funeral was held on Monday morning to St. Boniface church for service and cemetery for interment. Rev. Father L. W. Power officiating.

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Most recent revision October 2018