William Valores "Ben" Uttley – 1865-1944
Sara Matthews – 1867-1955

Birth

William Valores Uttley was born in Elmira on January 1, 1865 to Samuel Uttley and Mary Baxter Taylor. The first name of "William" may have followed the custom of naming the first son after the paternal grandfather. His middle name however was a truly unique choice.

William attended public school in Elmira and highschool in Berlin. By 1888 until 1891 when the family lived in Doon, he was teaching public school across the Grand River. This was also the period when he was married.

Sara Matthews was born January 8, 1867 in Great Rissington, Glouster, England, a daughter of John Matthews and Mary Baker. The family came to Canada in 1874 and settled in Doon, Ontario. The dates are found in the 1901 census and her parents are named in her marriage record.

Marriage

William and Sara were wed in Doon, Ontario on September 11, 1889. William was the school teacher at Limerick School across the Grand River from Doon. The Vital Statistics of 1889 tell us more, #012-143:

Groom: William Uttley Age: 24 Residence: Doon, Ont Born: Elmira, Ont bachelor Occ: School Teacher Parents: Samuel & Mary Uttley Relig: Presbyterian Bride: Sarah Matthews Age: 22 Residence: Doon, Ont Born: England spinster Parents: John Matthews, Mary Baker Relig: Presbyterian Witnesses: Geo. E. Matthews, Lizzie Marshal, Doon, Ont Place: Sept 11, 1889, Doon, Ont

Home built by W.V. Uttley in 1891 20 Ellen St East, Berlin Taken 1978 and since demolished

The census in the spring of 1891 records William and Sara living in Doon with a six-month old daughter named Vera. He was employed as a "Scool Teacher". On January 30 1893 William purchased the Berlin Daily Telegraph which began a twenty-five year association with local newspapers. In 1919 he retired from the Record in Berlin and moved back to Elmira where he bought The Elmira Signet. He sold the Signet several years later but continued his pursuits in the field. In 1937 he published The History of Kitchener, the definitive work on that subject at that time.

Deaths

The Elmira Signet, a weekly paper, published a brief death notice on the day Ben died:

W.V. Uttley Dies at Elmira Home Was Former Publisher of Kitchener Record     Elmira, May 27 (Special) -- Following a short illness, W.V. "Ben" Uttley died at his home in Elmira yesterday afternoon at the age of 79.     Mr. Uttley was the former owner of the Kitchener Record, selling the paper in 1919. Later he purchased the Elmira Signet, but disposed of it in later years, spending the greater part of his time on a story of Kitchener.     Son of the late Samuel Uttley and Mary Taylor Uttley, he is survived by his widow Sara Matthews, two daughters, Mrs. B.H. Tanner of Toronto and Mrs. Mary Weichel of Elmira, and two sisters, Miss A. Uttley of Kitchener and Mrs. Mary Parr, of Detroit, Mich.

The K-W Record followed on Saturday May 27, 1944 with an obituary on page three:

W. V. Uttley Dies at 79 In Elmira     William V. (Ben) Uttley, 79, one of Kitchener's pioneer publishers, died last night at his home in Elmira following a brief illness. He was born at Elmira Jan. 1, 1865.     He received his early education in Kitchener, qualifying as a school teacher. After three years of classroom work at Doon, he entered the newspaper business as an employee of the Berlin Publishing Company, later becoming the editor of the News-Record. He developed the publication as a daily paper and in time became majority stockholder of the company. PUBLISHED SIGNET     In 1919 he sold out his interest and moved to his native Elmira where he purchased the Signet which he edited for a few years before going into retirement. In his later years he compiled and published a history of Kitchener.     As a journalist he took an active interest in civic affairs and served on the City Council for a number of terms, during which time he was chairman of the Finance Committee.     A member of the Masonic Order, he was presented last week with the 50-year membership jewel by the members of the Grand River Lodge to which he belonged. He was one of the original members of the Waterloo County Historical Society in which he displayed an active interest since its founding. FUNERAL ON MONDAY     Surviving are his wife, formerly Sara Matthews of Doon; two daughters, Mrs. B. H. (Vera) Tanner of Toronto and Mrs. Harry (Kathleen) Weichel of Elmira; one grandchild and two sisters, Miss A. Uttley of Kitchener, and Mrs. Mary Parr of Detroit.     The funeral service will be held from the Dreisinger Funeral Chapel, Elmira, Monday, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Frank Malinsky of Elmira will officiate. Burial will be made in the Elmira Union Cemetery.     The remains are resting at the Dreisinger Funeral Chapel.

The Elmira Signet printed their obituary on the front page of the first issue after his death, Thursday June 1, 1944:

W. V. Uttley Former Signet Editor Passes   NEWSPAPERMAN WHO DEVELOPED KITCHENER DAILY-RECORD. FIFTY YEARS A MASON.       In his eightieth year, William V. Uttley, passed away at his home in Elmira on Thursday evening, May 25th. Up until the past few months he had enjoyed very good health, but recently he began to fail, until his passing last week. For the past twenty-five years he was a continuous resident of Elmira and he was a familiar figure about town as he enjoyed taking long walks daily when the weather was fine.    Born in Elmira, Jan. 1, 1865, he received his early education in Kitchener and went through as a school teacher and taught for three years at Doon. At this time he entered the newspaper business with the old Berlin Publishing Company and later was its editor. It was through his efforst and business administration The News-Record became a daily newspaper twenty-five years ago.     In 1919 he sold out his controlling interest in the News-Record and came to Elmira to live and on Dec. 1st, 1919 he purchased the Elmira Signet from George Klinck and became editor and proprietor of his home town newspaper. He retained the Signet only for a few years and sold out to Mr. Kester. Since that time he has lived retired.     He was an outstanding writer in his time and through all his years of retirement was intensely interested in newspaper work and development. His writing ability during retirement was chiefly directed to collecting historical data. He compiled and published a history of Kitchener which has been used as a reference book by many, tracing early historical events. An original member of the Waterloo Historical Society much credit can be given to the late Mr. Uttley for its present high standing and collection of historical data.     A Mason for fifty years, he was signally honored the week previous to his death by being presented with a fifty-year memberhsip jewel by members of the Grand Valley Lodge, Kitchener. A fitting ceremony had been planned by the lodge but due to Mr. Uttley's very poor health at the time, he was unable to attend.     The late Mr. Uttley was popularly known about Elmira as "Ben" and held in the highest esteem by a host of friends both young and old. While living to eighty years of age, he kept in close touch with world affairs and was well read on many subjects. Except for his hearing, he was in posession of all faculties to the last. One fact might be mentioned which was a characteristic of the man was that his word once given in trust was strictly adhered to, as this seemed to be a very important side of his character. While engaged in newspaper work in Kitchener, he took an active interest in the city's welfare and served on the city council for a number of terms.     Those left to mourn their loss are his wife, formerly Sara Matthews of Doon; two daughters, Mrs. B. H. (Vera) Tanner of Toronto and Mrs. Harry (Kathleen) Weichel of Elmira; one grandchild and two sisters, Miss A. Uttley of Kitchener and Mrs. Mary Parr of Detroit.     Funeral services were conducted from Dreisinger's Funeral Chapel on Monday afternoon with Rev. F. Malinsky of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating.

SARA UTTLEY 1867 -- 1955 AT REST St James Cemetery, Elmira

WILLIAM V. UTTLEY 1865 -- 1944 AT REST St James Cemetery, Elmira

Sara died on August 11, 1955 and is buried beside her husband in St James Cemetery. No obituary has yet been found.

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Most recent revision June 2019