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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 28Section 2, Page 8 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973 OLDEST PRACTISING DOCTOR - This picture of Dr. J.W. Browning was taken in 1938 when he was 95 years old, He was the oldest prac- tising physician in Canada. He had to be wheeled to and from his of- fice, but continued to practice medicine until his death in his 100th year, He also started Browning's Drug Store. Four generations brought into world by Dr. Browning Real 'square' group JOTTINGS BY J.M.S. Dec. 23. 1957 There are a goodly number of Times-Advocate readers who will enjoy the Christmas season because there was a man like Santa Claus in the person of the late Dr. J. W. Browning who made practically all his medical calls during the hours of darkness when most persons were asleep and who brought more than two thousand babies into the world. It was 15 years ago this week that Dr, J. W. Browning, whose treasured memory will remain long with a great number of our readers, passed to his reward in his one hundredth year. From The Times-Advocate of December 24, 1942, we take the following obituary: "Dr. J. W. Browning, whose long and useful life has elicited a nation-wide interest, passed peacefully away at his home early Sunday morning in his one hundredth year, Up until a week before his death, Dr. Browning had been daily at his office, having been continuously in practice in Exeter for over 75 years. During the latter years he was brought to his office in a wheeled chair and was returned to his home at night. Dr. Browning was born in the Glastonbury district of Somer. setshire, England, on November 21, 1843, and came to Canada with his parents at the age of two. He spent his boyhood in Markham where his father was a watch- ` maker and in whose store the telegraph office was situated and operated by Dr. Browning's older sister, In his early teens, Dr. Browning mastered the key while watching his sister, at work. Secretly he learned the code and mastered it so completely that up until the last he was proficient at it. Three years ago at the Edison Centenary, Dr. Browning Was honored as the oldest living telegrapher and he was presented with a gold key. In his youth, although in frail health, his ambition was to become a doctor and at the age of 23 he graduated from Victoria University and at his death was the oldest living graduate from that institution. In 1866 he came to the Town- ship of Hay to open up a practice and the following year, three days after Confederation, he hung out his shingle in Exeter-. Along with his practice he con- ducted a drug store, which since his death has been operated by his son Percy. In his early years he was a ceaseless worker, in his office by day and doing much of his travelling by night. Night after night, in all kinds of weather, winter and summer, Dr. Browning travelled many miles behind old dobbin and many are the stories he could tell of hard- ships endured to bring aid to the sick anclthe suffering. His was a typical country practice and during his long years, to say that he has brought over two thousand babies into the world, is underestimating rather than overestimating the number. The conditions under which many of those babies were brought into the world in the early pioneering days would make most interesting reading. As many as four generations have come under the care of Dr. Browning. One son, Dr. William J. Browning, owned and operated a very successful hospital in Minnesota and predeceased his father by a few years. Mrs. Browning, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McDonnell, predeceased him in April, 1931. A private funeral service was held from the Hopper-Hockey Funeral Home conducted by Rev. N. J. Woods, of Main St. United Church assisted by Rev. J. W. Down, Interment Was in the Exeter cemetery. 13, HOOPER The Exeter Promenaders Square Dance Club has com- pleted ten seasons of modern square dancing with couples from Exeter and surrounding area participating. The club, which held its first dance in November, 1962, was formed from local dancers who had danced with 'The Centralia Twirlers at the former Forces Base. Organized under caller Earl and Marie Bowles who had started Square Dance calling in Europe while stationed there with the RCAF, the first executive consisted of Wayne and Marj Tuckey as Presidents along with Stan and Jean Leversedge, Bud and Betty Misner, Norm and Marg Whiting and Jack and Kay Blair. Through the years the Club has hosted the South Western Ontario SquareDance Association several times for their monthly dance as well as enjoying pony parties at the Frank Hicks' Farm and trips to the Tuckey Farms' sugar bush as well as Fun Dances, Masquerades, Corn roasts, family picnics, New Years Eve and Christmas parties. Among the bus trips that the group has taken, they enjoyed being guests on CBC-TV's Country Hoedown along with couples from other local clubs. The Chicken Barbeque in Cen- tennial year was a major project when they served 535 people prior Exeter Times, Feb. 25, 1875 IT THAWETH - Yes; on Tuesday last it thawed; on Monday night it rained. This may not seem of a newsy character to our readers but we are resolved since the unsettled state of the weather, to risk not even our sage opinion on the weather's future. T-A August 31, 1933 Wins aeroplane ride Master Bruce Cann was winner of the fourth prize in a contest for the collection of pop bottle tops put on by the United Bottlers, of London. The contest lasted one month and a half and Bruce collected 7,524 tops. He wins an aeroplane ride. to a dance with Johnny Davidson calling. Callers who have been dedicated to the club are Earl and Marie Bowles, Lawrence and Cora Mitchell, St. Marys, Norm and Marg Whiting, Exeter, Jack and Mary Fairfield, former Exeterites and Earl and Lillian Campbell of Exeter. Without these loyal folks the club could not have carried on. With the RCAF personnel the Whatever the style in vogue YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT AT . . . Doug Parker's BARBER SHOP Keeping up to date in new techniques to keep your hair style up to date. club swelled to ten squares in 1968, however now a group of three to four squares enjoy dancing twice a month at South Huron District High School, The club is anticipating a reunion dance September will be invited to and reminisce with past ten DOUG PARKER BRIAN HUDGINS Phone 235-1820 Exeter former come others the when all dancers and in former callers back associated the club in with years.