Neil, Murray (Died)

A large circle of friends of the late Murray Neil in Saltfleet, Binbrook, Caistor and Grimsby learned with deep regret of his sudden demise at his home in Hamilton on Tuesday, Feb. 16 [sic], from heart failure. The deceased had been in his usual health up to within a few hours of his death. He had been attending to business as usual up to the afternoon of Tuesday. When not feeling well he went to his home and although medical aid was immediately called, he passed away in a very short time. The late Murray Neil was probably one of the most widely known and popular men in the entire district. He had been on account of his business in close touch with the public all his life and being of a friendly nature and of an accommodating disposition he numbered his friends by the thousand. A great part of his life had been spent in the hotel business, first in his father's hotel on the town line between Saltfleet and Binbrook, then in the Accadian Hotel, Stoney Creek, and later in the Court House Hotel, Hamilton. Few men were so qualified by nature and disposition to make a model hotel keeper as was Murray Neil. His dining room, sleeping apartments, barns and stables were always run in first class style and received a liberal patronage from farmers and travellers. Murray Neil was a model host. He had a glad hand and a genial word for everybody and during the time that he ran the Court House hotel he was favored with a very heavy patronage of farmers and farmers' wives, because they always felt at home in his house and received first class accommodation at a very moderate price. He was a keen horseman and all his life dealt in horses to a considerable extent. After leaving the Court House hotel he engaged in the horse business, doing the contracting team work for the Bell Telephone company and the Westinghouse company as well as providing accommodation for a large number of farm horses on market days. The deceased was always a strong supporter of the agricultural societies and fall fairs, and his name always figured on the list of contributors in the prize lists of all the fairs in the district. For many years he acted as judge at Binbrook and Caistor fairs and his genial smile and hearty handshake will be missed by all his old friends when they meet again at the annual fairs. Although Murray Neil was in his 63rd year, he still seemed to be but a boy to most of us, so little did the advancing years affect his sprightly spirit. Although the greater part of his life was spent in the hotel business, he was a man of strict temperance principles and although the writer was associated with the deceased for over 37 years, he has no recollection of seeing him indulge in even one drink of intoxicating liquor. This is proof that he was a man of exceptionally strong character. He is survived by a widow and two daughters who have the deep sympathy of a large circle of friends.