Obituary, Emma A. Wood Polson, 1860 - 1885:
Cobourg Sentinal-Star, July 3, 1885
"Obituary: Last week, the many friends of Dr. H. F. Wood and his estimable family
were
sorrow stricken at the announcement of the death of his beloved daughter, Emma A., wife of Mr. F. B.
Polson,
of the firm of Polson & Co., Toronto, at the early age of 25 years. The deceased lady was born in
the
village of Brighton in this County, and came to Cobourg with her parents in 1870, where, by her gentle
deportment and kindness of heart, she soon became a general favorite. In 1877, she made a public
profession
of her faith in Christianity under the ministrations of the late Geo. Glendenning, Disciple Minister,
and
subsequently became a member of the Church in Cobourg of which her father, Dr. Wood, is and has been an
efficient and highly esteemed Elder. In 1879 Emma was married to Mr. F. B. Polson. The union was a happy
one; and the new household was in time blessed with three little ones. The eldest (a boy,) is dead; the
other two are girls and survive their mother. Mrs. Polson was an obedient child, an affectionate wife, a
kind mother, and a faithful friend. She had, indeed, many friends, but no enemies. A tear to her
memory!"
Obituary, William Polson, 1834 - January 9, 1901
Cobourg World, January 11, 1901
"Mr. Wm. Polson, superintendent of Polson Iron Works and well known here, passed
away
on Monday night at his late residence in Toronto after a brief illness. In his death Toronto loses one
of
its most prominent business men. He was 67 years of age and was born in Montreal, where he spent his
early
days. Mr. Polson was mechanical superintendent of the Cobourg, Peterboro and Marmora Railway with
headquarters at Cobourg. In 1883 he moved to Toronto. He was a Past Master of St. John's Lodge, A.F. and
A.M. of this town. Besides a widow, who is a sister of Rev. A. J. Broughall, he leaves one son, Mr.
Frank B.
Polson, manager of the works, and one daughter, Mrs. C.J. Townsend. The funeral took place on Wednesday
to
St. James Cemetery, Toronto."
Obituaries, Franklin Bates Polson, 10 February, 1858 - October 28, 1907:
Cobourg Star, November 1, 1907
"The rather sudden death of Franklin B. Polson, president of the Polson Iron Works
of
Toronto, occurred on Monday about noon at his home in that city. He (was?) at his office on Saturday,
and
his illness, acute indigestion, lasted only two days. The deceased was born at Port Hope Feb. 10th,
1858,
and was consequently in his 50th year. When young he came to Cobourg, and received his education at the
Cobourg Collegiate Institute, and entered the engineering profession, and served a lengthy
apprenticeship.
He was first engaged in the service of the Cobourg and Peterboro Railway and Mining Co., and afterwards
with
the Peterboro Railway and Mining Co., and with other railway and manufacturing concerns. In 1883 he with
his
father founded the Polson Iron Works. He was first married to a daughter of the late Dr. H. T. Wood of
this
town, and later to a Miss Thompson* of Toronto, who survives him with five** children. He was an
enthusiastic yachtsman, a member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, the Engineers Club of New
York,
and many other clubs. His funeral took place in Toronto on Wednesday, and was largely
attended."
*The correct spelling is Thomson.
** four children, not five
Cobourg World, November 1, 1907
"DEATH OF MR. F. B. POLSON: The death occured at his residence in Toronto on
Monday of
Mr Franklin Bates Polson, President of the Polson Iron Works, Limited. Deceased was a son of William
Polson
and was born at Port Hope in 1858. Mr. Franklin Bates Polson was educated at the Cobourg Collegiate
Institue, and after completing his studes he entered the engineering profession to which he served a
lengthy
apprenticeship. In the service first of the Cobourg & Perboro Railway and Mining Company and
subsequently with the Peterboro Railway & Mining Company, the Hyslop & Ronald Company,Chatham,
and
the Stearns Manufacturing Company of Erie, Pennsylvania, he passed through various stages of the
engineering
profession and gained an experience which at the end of ten years fitted him for the position of
mechanical
superintendent of the Victoria Railway at Lindsay. This position he resigned in 1883 to found, with his
father, the Polson Iron Works, which under his direction developed into one of the most important
shipbuilding and engineering concerns in Canada."