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Obituaries for Alfred James Masecar

Alfred James Masecar

The community was greatly shocked on Saturday morning to learn of the sudden and entirely unexpected death of Dr. Masecar at his home on Second Street in this city. For some months the cares of his profession had been wearing on him and the day before had been particularly exhausting one, but he arose Saturday morning apparently in his usual health and while conversing with this niece while awaiting breakfast expired without a moment’s warning. It was the end which he often wished might be his – a sudden summons while still in the harness.

Alfred James Masecar was born at Rockford, Canada November 23rd, 1839. After graduation at Portland, Me., he began the study of medicine in April 1854, and after graduating from the Buffalo Medical College in 1863, he took a years study at the University of Victoria Medical College of Toronto, Canada, and graduated with honors in May 1864.

He began the practice of his profession in the county of Oxford, Ontario, and remained there for fifteen years, during which time he was prominent in public as well as professional life. He was president of the Agricultural Society, member of the Municipal Council, mayor of the town and government coroner – a life position.
Owing to poor health, in 1879 he travelled for some months and, being attracted to Monroe by the mineral springs, he settled here and soon found his health restored and entered upon the practice of his profession.

He soon established a pleasant and lucrative practice and his unfailing kindness, as well as his unusual skill, made his patients his personal friends, and they join with his stricken family in mourning his untimely loss.

During his residence in the city he has been honored by an election to the Board of Education and the Common Council of the city, and his public duties were performed with that conscientious attention to detail which was characteristic of the man. He has been for many years connected with the Odd-Fellows Fraternity in which he has held many positions of trust and honor, having likewise been a member of the Grand Lodge organization of the state.

Dr. Masecar has been twice married, the first time, March 14th, 1860, to Mary J. Johnston, who died November 1875; the second time in April, 1877 to Appolona Van Patten, who survives him. By the first union there were six children five of whom survive: Mrs. D.A. Hagans, of Monroe; Mrs. H.L. Davis of Hamilton, Ont; Mrs. C.E. Vail of Cornell, Ont; Ebenezer in California; and Mrs. J.M. Raynor of Detroit. Of the second marriage there were three children, Joseph, Alfred and Pearl at home.

The funeral services were held from his late residence Monday afternoon at four o’clock, Revs. Allen and Balmer officiating. The Odd Fellows, of which he was a member for many years, took charge of the funeral at the grave and performed the last sad rites according to the order. The Monroe County Medical Society, of which the doctor was a member, turned out in a body.


The COMMERCIAL is called upon to chronicle the death of another widely known citizen of the city and county, that of Alfred James Masecar, M.D., of the third ward. Mr. Masecar was born in Norfalk county, Ontario, Nov. 23, 1839. He was the youngest of four brothers, of whom two are living. He was a graduate of the Toronto Medical College and pursued additional medical studies in Buffalo. In 1859 he wedded Miss Mary J. Hatch, who died in ’75, and by whom he had six children, five of whom are living, viz., : Mrs. D.A. Hagans, of Monroe; Mrs. H.L. Davis of Hamilton, Ont; Mrs. C.E. Vail of Cornell, Ont; Erwin of California; and Mrs. J.N. Raynor of Detroit.

He at first practiced his profession in Tilsonburg, Canada, but in ’79 came to Monroe, having found that the mineral waters of the city were beneficial to his health. In ’75 his first wife died, and in ’78 he married Mrs Apolony Van Patten, who survives him. In his second family there were three children – Joe, Allen and Pearl, all living. Mr. Masecar was a staunch Democrat and had represented his ward in the common council. He had an extensive practice, especially in the country, and on the day before his death he had ridden over twenty miles. On Saturday morning he was apparently in his usual health, had taken care of his horse and was sitting in his chair talking to friends whom he was entertaining when one of them notices that he seemed to make a gurgling noise in his throat and his eyes closed. His wife was called and at once saw that he was suffering from a dangerous attack. His feet were bathed in hot water, but he only breathed slightly and died without recognizing anyone or speaking. He was buried Monday afternoon with Odd Fellow honors, Messrs. J.B. Dewey, John Wahl, C. Neate, L. Mitchell, W. Hagans and L.J. Townsend acting as bearers. The funeral was from his late residence, Rev. W.J. Balmer officiating.


MONROE RECORD
September 20, 1900

Obituary – Alfred J. Masecar, one of the leading physicians of Monroe was born Nov. 23d, 1839 at Rockford, Ontario, he came to Monroe from Tilsonburg, Ont., Feb. 10, 1879 and practiced medicine here until the time of his death, which occurred Saturday morning at his home on Second street, supposedly from heart failure. He had been in poor health for a year or two but his death at this time was entirely unexpected. He had been actively connected with the democratic party in the city for a number of years and had been a member of the Board of Education and had represented the Third ward in the Common Council. March 17, 1869 Dr. Masecar was married to Mary Jane Hatch, at Charlotteville, Ont. By her he had seven children, five of whom are now living - : Mrs. D.A. Hagans, of Monroe; Mrs. H.L. Davis of Hamilton, Ont; Mrs. C.E. Vail of Cornell, Ont; Mrs. J.N. Raynor of Detroit and Ebenezer, California. April 12th, 1875 Mrs. Masecar died and on the 15th of January, 1877, the Dr. was married to Applona Van Patten at Aylmer, Ont. From this union there were three children – Alfred, Lewis and Pearl, who with their mother are living. He is also survived by two brothers, Hiram, of Walsingham, Ont., and Lewis of Charlotteville, Ont. Dr. Masecar had been prominently identified with the Odd Fellows organization of the city and state, and his funeral, which occurred Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock, was attended by that order in a body.