The sudden death of Captain Freeman W. Horton on Christmas morning
has
removed one of Guysboro's oldest and most esteemed citizens,
at the
age of seventy-nine years.
Captain Horton went to sea at a very early age
and followed the sea
for thirty years or more.
Since then his numerous activities have been
mostly on land.
In 1885 he married Isabelle Maud Crane of Harbor
Grace, Newfoundland,
and brought his bride from Harbor Grace to Nova
Scotia in a sailing vessel
of which he was mate and his brother George
A. Horton, Captain
The deceased is survived by his sorrowing wife,
two daughters, Mrs.
Hilda M. DuBois of Clayton, New Jersey
and Mrs. Maud DeLucas of
Philadelphia;
three sons, Captain Isaiah W. Horton, of Halifax,
Aubrey
F. Horton, of Belmont Mass,
and A. K. Morley Horton of Philadelphia;
also six grandchildren.
The eldest daughter, Gertie E. Horton
predeceased him twenty years ago.
Although old in years, Captain Horton remained young in spirit
and
full of energy until the day of his death.
He was a life-long Liberal,
a member of the United Church;
a member of Eastern Light Lodge No. 72,
A.F. and A.M.
and a member of Chedabucto Chapter, No.21, Royal Arch
Masons.
For sixteen years Captain Horton had held the position
of
Pilot for the Port of Guysboro
and notwithstanding the intricacies of
the harbor entrance and channel
he always successfully piloted the
numerous large ships and pulp boats
without an accident.
Although
sixty years a age at the time of the Great War
he volunteered for
active service
and was given the post of Examining Officer at the Port
of Sydney
where he remained until demobilization in 1918.
Always deeply interested in civic and community affairs
he was a
member of the Guysboro Board of Trade and the Guysboro Yacht Club
and
last year built a new yacht himself from his own model
and competed
personally in this year's races.
The largely attended funeral was conducted today by the Masonic Order
and interment made in Evergreen cemetery.
Typed and submitted by Douglas Stobbs
Dec, 30 1938
OBITUARY
CAPT. FREEMAN HORTON
Guysboro,---At 4 a.m. on Christmas morning
there passed to his Eternal rest a well known
and beloved character in the person of
Captain Freeman Whitefield Horton,
at the ripe age of 78 years.
As a young man Capt. Horton sailed the “Seven Seas,”
in all makes, and rigs of ships,
and was well known in the Nova Scotia shipping circles.
During the war he served his country
in the Canadian Navy and was appointed Inspector of Shipping
at Sydney, C.B., with the rank of Lieutenant R.C.N.V.R.
In later years he resided at Guysboro,
and was the Harbour Pilot, a duty which he performed
till within a few days of his death.
He was a valuable member of the Guysboro Nautical Club,
and in the winter of 1937-38 he built, rigged and did all the sailmaking
on an 18 ft. boat, which he sailed in the races
in Guysboro Harbour, and in spite of his age,
sailed the boat he built and won races with her,
which was no mean feat for a man of his years.
Capt. Horton was one of the oldest members
of the Eastern Light Lodge No. 72 A.F. & A. M. at Guysboro.
He was born at Lower Salmon River, Guysboro County,
son of the late Charles and Eliza Horton.
Capt. Horton was taken ill in a down town store
on Christmas Eve, with a heart attack.
He was taken home, and all the medical care
and attention possible was given to him,
but he never fully regained consciousness.
Left to mourn his loss is his wife Isabelle,
nee Isabelle Maude Crane of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland.
Three sons Capt. I.W. Horton of the Horton Co. Halifax;
Aubrey J. of the Sun Life Assurance Co. Boston;
and Morley A. of the Philadelphia Auto Accessories, Phil;
two daughters, Mrs. John De Lucis of Philadelphia;
Mrs. John Des Bois, New Jersey, U.S.A.;
one daughter, Gertrude predeceased him in 1918.
The sympathy of the community goes out to his family
in their bereavement, and they feel keenly the loss
of a man who cannot easily be replaced.
Typed and submitted by Maureen Taylor
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