Charles William O’Neill (1881-1963) was a charter member of Tzouhalem Chapter, No.26 in 1928 and, according to his 1963 obituary in the Cowichan Leader, the meetings called to discuss formation of the Tzouhalem Chapter, No.26 were held in Charles O’Neill’s house at 1087 Islay Street, which is still standing.
Charles William O’Neill was also a Past Master of Temple Lodge, No.33 (Worshipful Master in 1919) and a member of St. Andrew’s Lodge, No. 49 in Victoria. He was a past Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a charter member and past president of the Duncan Rotary Club and was active in the Duncan Elks Chapter.
Charles W. O’Neill’s house at 1087 Islay Street, Duncan, B.C., as it appears today
Here is a brief biographical sketch of Charles William O’Neill taken from the local newspaper obituary reports of his death and funeral in 1963:
“One of the early residents of Hospital Hill section of Duncan, Charles William O’Neill, died on Monday after more than 42 years residence in the home on Islay Street, built when he moved to Duncan in 1920.
He had worked in Duncan from 1911-14, being brought here originally to audit the books of the former Cowichan Merchants Ltd., by a Victoria auditing firm by whom he was employed.
Mr. O’Neill was born at Port Colborne, Ontario, in 1881, and as a young man studied stenography at Shaw Business College, Toronto. He went on to accountancy, had a particular liking for setting up bookkeeping requirements for individual businesses and was employed in law offices, gaining knowledge that served him well in later years
In the fall of 1913 he married the former Flora Jane Seator from Chicago. She predeceased him in 1939.
Last July Mr. O’Neill sold his business to J.H. Whittome and Co. Ltd., and was honored at a dinner by officials of the Phoenix of London insurance group whose agent he had been since 1938. He was an ardent fisherman and golfer and although over eighty he still enjoyed gardening.
His associations with lodge life were many and varied. He was instrumental in forming Tzouhalem, RAM, and lived according to the premise that whatever gifts he had were to be shared with others. The chapter was formed by a group of men meeting at his home. [emphasis added]
Mr. O’Neill’s interest in the Rotary Club gave him the office of past chairman of the Canadian advisory committee of Rotary International. He was the last resident charter member of the Duncan club which he served as president in 1936-37.
The Order of the Eastern Star also benefitted from his membership and interest. He served as past grand patron of the grand lodge of B.C., and was chairman of the jurisprudence committee of the grand chapter as well.
Mr. O’Neill had no children.
He leaves one brother, Dr. John J. O’Neill, Ottawa; one nephew, Melville H. O’Neill, Ottawa, and two nieces, Mrs. Warren C. Riegle, Memphis, Tenn.; and Mrs. Nicholas Pahlen, Oakville, Ontario.
Funeral services will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday from Hirst Funeral Chapel under Masonic auspices, assisted by Revs. Robert McMillan and R.F. Stephenson. Burial will be in the family plot at Ross Bay Cemetery.”
