Burton Dyas Mosher (1898 - 1961)

Born 17 Oct 1898 in Apple River, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Louella Lovitt (McQuaid) Mosher — married 2 Oct 1920 in Hopewell, Albert, New Brunswick, Canada

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1961 at age 62 in Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sara Mosher [send private message]

Biography

Burton Dyas Mosher was the eighth child of of Havelock Mosher and Ada May Green. He was likely named in honour of Bert Dyas whose wife Julia Myers was the daughter of Havelock's sister, Annie (Mosher) Myers.

Burt was born at Apple River, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia on October 17, 1898. He married Louella "Lu" Lovitt McQuaid on October 2, 1920 at Hopewell, Albert Co., New Brunswick.^[1] Burt and Lu had three sons, all of whom served in the Second World War, and a daughter.

In the early days of his marriage, Burt was a lawbreaking independent, a man who made sure the hungry didn't go thirsty. Rum runners smuggled alcohol along Nova Scotia's shores when it was prohibited. Canada was subject to Prohibition for only two years, 1917 to 1919, but the temperance movement, to which Bert's brother, Hance, was dedicated, ensured that alcohol was banned in all provinces except Quebec for some time after.

Prohibition came into effect in the United States in 1920. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected on a promise to end Prohibition, which he did in 1933. Meanwhile, an American named Bill McCoy, reputedly a non-drinker, was a boat builder in Florida. A boat was exactly what he needed to get into the lucrative rum-running business. Bill always provided his customers with the very best liquor available, hence the expression "the real McCoy".

Burt once asked Lu, a very religious woman, to drive a sack of potatoes to Halifax. When she made the delivery, Luella was furious to learn it wasn't potatoes at all, but the real McCoy.

Burt died of lymphosarcoma a week before his 63rd birthday and is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Lower Sackville, Halifax County, Nova Scotia.^[2]

Obituary of Burton D. Mosher

The death occurred Tuesday at the Victoria General Hospital of Berton (sic) D. Mosher after a lengthy illness. He was born at Apple River 63 years ago, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Havelock Mosher.

Surviving are his wife, Louella Mosher, of Alma, New Brunswick, one daughter (Mona) Mrs. Nat Sanford, Alma; three sons, Ft. Lt. Kenneth B. Mosher, RCAF Station Goose Bay; Lloyd Mosher, Toronto; Cpl. Stanley K. Mosher, Gagetown; one sister (Sue) Mrs. S. A. Walsh, Halifax; five brothers, Tom, Truro; Hance, New Minas; Harry, Sydney; Lawson, Halifax; Hugh, Truro.

Funeral Services will be held from Cruickshank’s Funeral Home this afternoon at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. George McGray. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Certificate http://archives.gnb.ca/Search/VISSE/141B7.aspx?culture=en-CA&guid=F7142700-8D11-4AEA-8BF7-6054BAE140F9
2. ↑ Death Certificate: https://www.novascotiagenealogy.com/ItemView.aspx?ImageFile=1961-5669&Event=death&ID=433651
3. ↑ The Chronicle Herald (Halifax), 11 October 1961, Page 9