Clarence Williams Douglas

   Cause of his death was Blood poisoning (septicaemia).

  General Notes:

Clarence Douglas was born on February 9, 1867, the youngest son of John Douglas and Louisa Williams. The Scottish-origin Douglas family was one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Owen Sound. Clarence spent most of his life living in Owen Sound.

Clarence first learned the trade of cutter by apprenticing to a tailor in Toronto. He then came back to Owen Sound where he was employed by his brother, T.W. Douglas. He worked in his brother's store for seventeen years before moving back to Toronto to become a partner in a tailoring establishment there. He later worked as a commercial traveller for several years.

In 1904, he became associated with George Marron to manage the Paterson House, which they co-owned until Clarence's death in 1923. Clarence Douglas was one of the best known hotel men in Western Ontario at the time of his death. He was well known all over the province of Ontario as an ideal host and a favourite of the travelling public.

According to his obituary, Clarence was a member of the Knights of Pythias and a life member of the Commercial Travellers Association of Ontario.

Clarence's death occurred under unusual circumstances. One night he suffered a fainting spell when entering his room at the Paterson House and fell to the floor. He may likely have been drinking as he was known to be a bit of a drinker. During the fall he cut his leg on the door-hinge and evidently knocked over an oil space heater which led to blood poisoning setting in. He was found lying in the doorway. A physician was called immediately. A few days later, Clarence sank into unconsciousness and never awoke.

He was survived by his daughter, Muriel May Douglas (Mrs. Lester Wright Brown) and granddaughter, Frances Brown (who used to refer to him as 'Big Daddy') as well as two brothers, T.W. and J.J. Douglas and two sisters, Helen Douglas (Mrs. George Milford) and Mary Douglas (Mrs. Knight).

His funeral was held at the residence of his daughter, 1104 4th Avenue East. The pall bearers were John Wilfred and Dr. N.K. Douglas, nephews, Lester Brown, son-in-law; George Milford, brother-in-law, and George Marron.
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  Medical Notes:

Clarence died from blood poisoning, caused by burns from a fire which he started by knocking over an oil space heater.

According to the death record the primary cause of death was injury to the leg - fell and cut let open at calf. The secondary cause was septicaemia (blood poisoning). ⁵²²

  Noted events in his life were:

• Religion: Presbyterian, 1871, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁷¹

• Occupation: Cutter Tailor, 1881, St Andrew's Ward, Toronto, York, Ontario. ⁷⁵

• Religion: Presbyterian, 1888 Dec 27, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁵²¹

• Occupation: Merchant, 1888 Dec 27, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁵²¹

• Occupation: Cutter, 1889 May 21, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ³⁹¹

• Occupation: Co-proprietor of Paterson House Hotel, 1904-1922, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada.

• Residence: 1104-4th Ave East., 1923 Dec 22, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁵²²

• Obituary: Owen Sound Sun-Times, 1923 Dec 24, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁵²⁴ Prominent Hotel Man Passed Away Quite Suddenly

Clarence W. Douglas of Paterson House was Well Known to Ontario Travellers

Well known all over the Province of Ontario as an ideal host and a general favorite with the travelling public, Clarence William Douglas associated with George Marron in the operation of the Paterson House passed away at 5 o'clock Saturday evening.

The late Mr. Douglas was a member of one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Owen Sound. He was born in this city 57 years ago, the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Douglas. Practically all his life he had spent in Owen Sound. For seventeen years he had been employed with his brother T.W. Douglas in the tailoring business. After being a commercial traveller for several years, the deceased then became associated with George Marron in the management of the Paterson House. This hostelry they had conducted for the past eighteen years. Mr. Douglas was one of the best known hotel men in Western Ontario.

The death of Mr. Douglas occurred under quite unusual circumstances. Some time Thursday night last Mr. Douglas suffered a fainting spell when entering his room at the Paterson House and fell to the floor. In the fall he struck his leg on the door-hinge, the door nut being attached, and a deep gash was inflicted on the member. He was found lying in the doorway and a physician was called immediately and attended the injury.

Everything posible was done to make the injured man comfortable, but blood poisoning had set in. He took a turn for the worse early Saturday morning, and sank into unconsciousness. Mr. Douglas never regained consciousness passing away late Saturday afternoon.

One daugther, Mrs. Lester Brown, survives to mourn his loss. His wife who before her marriage was Miss May Leach predeceased him 25 years ago. Two brothers and two sisters also survive to mourn his loss - T.W. and J.J. Douglas, Owen Sound; Mrs. George Millford, Owen Sound, Mrs. Knight, Toronto.

Deceased was a member of the Knights of Pythias and a life member of the Commercial Travellers Association of Ontario.

The funeral takes place Monday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock from the residence of his daughter, 1104 4th Avenue East, to Greenwood Cemetery, Rev J.L. McInnis officiating. The pall bearers will be Messrs. John Wilfred and Dr. N.K. Douglas, nephews, Lester Brown, son-in-law; George Milford, brother-in-law, and George Marron.

• Cemetery: Greenwood Cemetery, 1923 Dec 24, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. ⁵⁰ Greenwood Cemetery Listing G-S9-1-8
Clarance W Douglas
1865-1923
Do unto others as you wish to be done by

Clarence married Mary Louisa Leach, daughter of Charles Joshua Leach and Margaret J. Delehaye, on 1887 Dec 27 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.⁵²¹ (Mary Louisa Leach was born on 1868 Oct 20 in Ontario, Canada,³¹⁵ died on 1896 Feb 26 in Oakville, Halton, Ontario, Canada ⁵²⁵ and was buried on 1896 Feb 28 in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada ⁵⁰.) The cause of her death was Rupture of bowels.

  Marriage Notes:

Note: Clarence's age listed as 22 on wedding registration

Witnesses:
Albert W. Joyce, Owen Sound
Bertha A Leach, Toronto
⁵²¹