Escambia County AlArchives Biographies.....Proctor, Joseph A. October 13 1849 - June 25 1891 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 22, 2004, 11:58 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) JOSEPH A. PROCTOR, one of nature's noblemen, but now deceased, was a native of Mallerytown, Ontario, Canada, born October 13, 1849. His father, John P. Proctor, is also a native of Canada, born about 1820, and by occupation is a carpenter. He was united in marriage November 27, 1847, in lower Canada, to Miss Harriet Gardner, who became the mother of three sons, of whom the first born was Joseph A. The next in order of birth is John G., an architect residing in Tacoma, Wash., and the youngest is Grosvenor L., foreman of Fuller & Rice's planing-mill at Grand Rapids, Mich. This family was reared in Ingersoll, Canada, where Joseph A. Proctor assisted on the farm until he reached fifteen, securing, in the meantime, a good common-school education, and supplementing it with a course of study in the London (Ontario) commercial college, from which he graduated May 14, 1867. Returning to Ingersoll, he entered the employ of Christopher Bros. as bookkeeper in their planing-mill, and held the position four years. He then passed a year in Saginaw, Mich., as bookkeeper for a large lumber firm, returning to Christopher Bros. and keeping their books until 1876, when the firm dissolved. J. H. Ford & Co., an extensive iron firm of Detroit, Mich., next secured his services as their accountant, but a year later he went to Alleytown, Mich., and took charge of the books of J. Alley & Co., a lumber firm, and later became a partner in the business, which was carried on under the firm name of Alley, Proctor & Co. In 1884, he returned to Ingersoll, whence he started on a prospecting trip through the western states, which lasted until the fall of the same year, when he entered the employ of the R. G. Peters Salt & Lumber company, at Eastlake, Mich. In the spring of 1888 his eyes became overtaxed and he took a rest for a few months, the family returning to their home at Ingersoll. In the fall of the same year Mr. Proctor came to Alabama at the request of his former employer, Mr. R. G. Peters, and took charge of the books of the R. G. Peters Lumber company at Alco. In a short time he became a stockholder in the company, and retained his interest in the mill until his death, which occurred June 25, 1891, after an illness of but three days, at which time he was general manager of the business, as well as secretary and treasurer of the company. The Standard Gauge in its weekly issue of Thursday, July 2, 1891, under the heading "Death of Mr. J. A. Proctor-A useful and respected citizen passes away," has the following: "This entire community, including both the towns of Alco and Brewton, was sadly and most suddenly shocked last Friday morning, the 26th ult., to learn of the death of Mr. J. A. Proctor, general manager of the Peters Lumber company, which occurred the night previous, at about 8 o'clock, at his residence in Alco. Mrs. Proctor and her son, R. H. Proctor, who constitute the immediate family of the deceased, had left home a few days previous for Canada by way of the Mississippi river, and were overtaken by telegraph at Cape Girardeau, Mo. They immediately returned and reached home Sunday night. The body, which was placed in a metallic casket, was packed in ice and kept until the return of the loved ones, but sad it is, on account of the advanced stage of decomposition, they were denied the melancholy pleasure of a last fond look at the departed. The funeral was conducted from the residence, Monday, by Rev. R. A. Mickle, and in the presence of a large assemblage of friends and admirers the body was deposited in its last resting place by the side of his little daughter, May, who died about two years ago. And thus has passed away in the prime of life a prominent, upright, honorable man, unassuming in deportment, yet unflinchingly true to duty and to his convictions. He was a man whose character was well marked and whose influence was deeply felt. For the past three or four years he has held the very responsible position of general manager of the Peters Lumber Co., with credit to himself and satisfaction to the corporation. As a husband and lather he was affectionate, kind and indulgent. In every relation of life he came up to the full measure of a man, and his death is an irreparable loss to his family, a loss to the company he has so faithfully and ably served, and to the county at large, which it will indeed be difficult to replace." The same journal also contained the following: "At a meeting of the Ladies' Aid Society, of the Brewton Presbyterian church, called for the purpose, on the 29th of June, 1891, the following were adopted. "Whereas, In his all wise and mysterious providence, our heavenly father has sent the deepest sorrow and bereavement into the family of our beloved president, Mrs. J. A. Proctor, in the removal by death, of her devoted husband, the wise head of the household, the tender father, the strong arm on which they leaned, thus causing gloom and darkness to settle down upon the once happy home; therefore, be it resolved by us, her sisters assembled in society: "First, That we tender her and her son our profound sympathy and prayers, and the assurance that we feel for them in our very heart of hearts. "Second, That we can only commend them to Him who is the husband of the widow, and the father of the fatherless, praying that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may fill their hearts. "Third, That we inscribe these resolutions on a page in our record book, and instruct our secretary to furnish a copy to our worthy and esteemed president and her son." The marriage of Mr. Proctor took place in London, Ontario, May 24, 1871, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Cap. E. and Margaret (Boyd) Shaw. Mrs. Proctor was born on the shore of Lake Erie, opposite the city of Cleveland, Ohio, November 9, 1851, but when six years of age had the misfortune to lose her mother. She was, in consequence, reared by her grandparents, mostly at Morpeth, Ontario, and while on a visit to Ingersoll met with Mr. Proctor. The union was blessed by the birth of two children, Robert H., born May 27, 1872, in Saginaw. Mich., and May M., born in Alleytown, Mich., May 3, 1881, and died June 8, 1889, of diphtheria, after an illness of eleven days. Robert H. Proctor is possessed of an unusual talent as an artist, which developed itself while he was yet a child. At the age of thirteen years he painted a life-size portrait of his grandmother, which none but a professional would be able to criticize; he also painted a full-length portrait of his little sister May, and also a portrait of his mother. The deceased Mr. Proctor was very fond of his family and the home circle. In his earlier days he was an Odd Fellow, but withdrew from the order after the birth of his children, in order to have all his evenings to himself in the society of the family. He was careful to keep his life insurance premiums paid up, however, and thus secured to his widow quite a comfortable sum, and also left to his family considerable property. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 990-992 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb