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Bertram Freeman Souch (1877 ~ 1957)

4.4.2.1. First child of Samuel E. Souch and Harriet P. Bradley, Bertram Freeman Souch, was born October 23, 1877, in Enfield, Darlington Twp., Durham Co., Ontario.

He married (1) Helen Stevens Kennedy, daughter of John Richard Kennedy and Susan Guinn, December 29, 1903, in Medicine Hat, Alberta and had three children:

(4.4.2.1.1) Edythe Vair (1907 ~ 2005)
(4.4.2.1.2) Bertram Elford (1908 ~ 2001)
(4.4.2.1.3) John Kennedy (1912 ~ 1977)

He married (2) Bernice Peregine Emes Cuyler, daughter of Thomas Ronald Emes and Florence Hayes, November 11, 1947, in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Bertram F. Souch died February 18, 1957, aged 79 years and Helen S. Kennedy Souch died July 19, 1944, aged 66 years in Medicine Hat, Alberta and are interred at

----- OBITUARIES -----

Bertram F. Souch

October 23, 1877 ~ February 18, 1957

One of the really early business leaders of Medicine Hat and a man who had a considerable hand in shaping many business activities was Bertram Freeman Souch, 79, whose death occurred on Monday, February 18, 1957.

A graduate of the Ontario College of Pharmacy, Toronto, in the “Century Class” of May, 1900, with first class honours Mr. Souch was also a gold medal winner in botany. He had before graduation decided that his future could best be found in the Golden West and arrived in Calgary on June 15, 1900, when that city had a population of but 5,000 and was but little bigger than Medicine Hat.

He immediately started to work in his profession there; removed to Fort MacLeod on August 28, 1900 where he remained but two months and then selected Medicine Hat, arriving here on October 1, 1900, to work with Mr. Hughes who had established the first drug store in the Gas City.

Those were the days when the cowboy and the horse were king in Alberta and Mr. Souch liked to recall many of those early experiences which were grim, amusing and stimulating.

FIRST BUSINESS.

On April 1, 1901, in association with E. M. Cawker he bought the Hughes’ drug store, his first business venture in partnership and fulfilling an ambition to “get ahead” within a year of his graduation from college. The store was then located on South Railway St. Within a few months he had bought the business outright and was well launched on a successful business career which continued for more than half a century.

Mr. Souch carried on his first drug store until 1913 when he sold to his brother, but he was also busy in many other enterprises in those early years, including establishment of a branch drug store in Coleman in 1906. In September, 1902, he also bought a quarter section of land in the Dunmore district which he homesteaded, and which he owned until his death. In 1911 he opened another branch drug store in the growing Hill district and there also operated his optometric trade. This was located at the corner of Fourth Ave. and Aberdeen St., known as the Souch Block, and which is now occupied by the Aberdeen Pharmacy. In January, 1912, he opened still another branch drug store on North Railway St.

SOLD IN 1946.

Later Mr. Souch opened on Sixth Ave. for a short time and in 1941 constructed a building for this purpose on Second St., next to the city hall, now James and Findlay optometrists, which he sold to Dr. Stan James in 1946.

Mr. Souch was married to Helen Stevens Kennedy on December 29, 1903. She predeceased him on July 19, 1944. During those early years Mr. Souch was also active in real estate, and the encouragement of other business enterprises, and owned the second motor car even to come to Medicine Hat. He purchased it on March 21, 1908.

In December, 1914, Mr. Souch was first elected to Medicine Hat School Board and served continuously as a trustee until 1934. On October 1, 1917, he was appointed as an alderman for Ward 3, when the city was then on the ward system, and as an alderman was one of the official party which welcomed the Duke of Devonshire on his visit to Medicine Hat on December 4, 1917.

In this other fields of service Mr. Souch was a very active meber of Fifth Avenue United Church for many years and served on the Session, official governing board of the church, as well as representative to several conference assemblies.

He was a charter member of Medicine Hat Kiwanis Club; served on the executive and also as president (1923) of the Alberta Optometrical Association; on the senate committee of the University of Alberta, 1933; president of the Canadian Club 1941 through to and including 1943; member of the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce, and of the Cypress Club.

Mr. Souch was born near Enfield, Ontario, on October 23, 1877, a son of Samuel Elford Souch, who was born July 26, 1850, near Enniskillen, Ont. His mother was Harriet Pamela Bradley, born April 17, 1855, near Enfield.

On January 31, 1946, Mr. Souch retired from active business as an optometrist. He married Mrs. Bernice Cuyler on November 11, 1947, and in addition to his widow, is survived by one daughter, Edythe (Mrs. J. F. McDonald), of Milford, Mich., and two sons, Bertram E., of Sudbury, Ont. and John K., of Montreal; brothers Mark and Gordon Souch, both of Edmonton; one sister, Dorothy (Mrs. Dr. Sarvis), of Hawaii; three grandchildren, and three step-children: Rilla (Mrs. Victor Mohl) of Hanna, Alta.; Marion (Mrs. D. R. Meales) of Nelson, B.C.; Rev. Robert Cuyler of Vancouver, B.C. and eleven step-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Bertram Freeman Souch were held last Thursday afternoon, February 21, 1957, from Fifth Avenue United Church with Rev. H. A. Meadows conducting the service. The hymns selected were: “Abide with Me” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”. The honorary pallbearers were: Dr. F. W. Gershaw, W. M. Goode, T. E. Osborne, R. E. Keating, R. Gond, Charles E. Peasley, L. J. Williams and W. J. Perry. The active pallbearers were: James Brown, Thomas Dutton, George Davison, George Crockford, A. R. Bull and Stewart Sinclair. Interment was made in the family plot of Hillside Cemetery with the Pattison funeral home in charge. Medicine Hat News, Feb. 26, 1957.

Helen S. Kennedy Souch

February 22, 1878 ~ July 19, 1944

Bernice P. Emes Cuyler Souch

September 16, 1896 ~ December 21, 1984