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METROPOLITAN 

TORONTO 

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METROPOLITAN 

TORONTO 

CENTRAL 



L 




COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



OF THE 



COUNTY OF LAMBTON 



ONTARIO 



COMPILED BY 

J. H. BEERS & CO., TORONTO 



CONTAINING 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 
AND MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES 



ILLUSTRATED 



THE HILL BINDING CO. 
1906 






METROPOLITAN 
TORONTO 
CENTRAL 
LIBRARY 

Panadtott 

HISTORY 



INDBX 



PAGE 

Acton, Thomas 824 

Adams, Joshua 384 

Aiken, Robert 724 

Alexander, Andrew 360 

Alexander, William J 737 

Anderson, A. D 15 

Anderson, Andrew S 602 

Anderson Family 148 

Anderson, Frank S 766 

Anderson, John E 148 

Annett, James 784 

Archer. Edward 324 

Armstrong, James iQS 

Armstrong, James J 197 

Armstrong, John (Enniskil- 

len) 412 

Armstrong, John ( Moore) . . 545 

Armstrong, John B 198 

Armstrong, Orson 73 

Armstrong, William 197 

Atkinson, George 554 

Auld, Robert 748 

Bain. Mrs. Mary 788 

Bain. Robert A 788 

Baker Family 66 1 

Bannister. James E 712 

Barclay, Patrick 54 

Barnes, Samuel D 599 

Barrett, Joseph 660 

Barren. John 779 

Barwise. John 755 

Baskerville, Thomas 447 

Battice, John 607 

Baxter, Robert H 345 

Beaton, John B 365 

Beatty. William J 525 

Bedard, Alexander A 229 

Bedard. Charles 230 

Bedard Family 229 

Bedard, William 231 

Bell, George (Brooke) 756 

Bell, George (Enniskillen) . . 795 

Bell, John W 126 

Benner, Mary A 16 

Benner. Capt. William 15 

Bennett, John H ~i 

Bennett, Mrs. Mary J 71 

Bentley. David B., M. D., 

C. M 304 

Bentley. William J., D. D. S... 623 
Bindner, John C 107 



PAGE 

Black, Archie 309 

Black, John 823 

Blackstock, M. Frederick 165 

Blunden, Simon 700 

Boothman, Thomas R 656 

Boswell, Nathaniel 768 

Bourne, William J 745 

Bowlby, Nathaniel D 504 

Brake, Henry W 382 

Brandon, Mrs. Alison 364 

Brandon, Thomas 762 

Brandon, William 363 

Brannan, C. E 216 

Braybrook, William A 4 4 

Brennan. Rev. John 675 

Brison Family 5 2 5 

Britney, Henry 7 6 

Britney, Oscar L 791 

Brock, Charles 417 

Brock, Robert 416 

Brooks, Mrs. James N 648 

Brooks, William 289 

Brown Family 34 

Brown, Henry 128 

Brown, James C 226 

Brown, John (Dawn) 621 

Brown, John (Plympton) . . . 411 
Brown, Peter McG.. M. B... 616 

Brown, Robert. J. P 34 

Brown, Thomas 449 

Brown, Thomas W 765 

Brown, William 279 

Brownlee, Christopher 447 

Brownlee, Robert 740 

Brownlee, Robert H 318 

Burr. Joseph 825 

Butler, Frederick 637 

Cable, William 5" 

Cairns, James K 55^ 

Cairns, Joseph 3 T 4 

Callum, Duncan 44 

Calvert. David 326 

Cameron, Donald 61 

Cameron Families 62, 308 

Cameron. Malcolm D 308 

Campbell, Archie 243 

Campbell, Colin McK 104 

Campbell, Dougald 789 

Campbell, Duncan 83 

Campbell. Duncan (deceased) 103 
Campbell, Edward 733 



Campbell Family 

Campbell, James 

Campbell, John 

Campbell, Malcolm 

Campbell, Mrs. Margaret.... 

Campbell, Robert 

Campbell, Col. Robert 

Campbell. Mrs. Susanna 

Cann, John 

Cann, John W 

Capes, Henry 

Capes, James (deceased) 

Capes, James 

Capes. John 

Carr, George 

Carrothers, William 

Carruthers, Robert 

Carscaden, Mrs. Barbara 

Carscaden, Rev. David 

Carter Family 

Carter. John 

Casselman, Hiram M 

Chalmers, Alexander 

Chalmers Family 

Chamberlln, O. W 

Claris Family 

Claris, John A 

Clark, Daniel 

Clark Families 33, 

Clark, Mrs. Janet 

Clark, James C 

Clark. Orlando S 

Clark, Robert 

Clark. William B 

Clarke, Samuel L 

Clemens, Emery 

Clements, William 

Clysdale, James 

Clysdale, John J 

Code, Richard 

Cole, Mrs. Emily 

Cole Family 

Cole. George 

Cole, Samuel 

Colter, Charles F.. D. D. S.. . 

Colter, Mrs. Elizabeth 

Colter Family 

Colter, William 

Colter, Dr. William F. B. ... 

Conboy. David 

Conbov, Thomas 

Cook, Albert A 



PAGE 

. Si 
534 
527 
104 

- 44 
83 
483 
484 
208 
2(53 
390 
389 
390 
390 
556 
323 
782 
131 
131 
417 
417 
283 
65 
65 
89 
358 
358 
587 
558 
588 
559 
303 
686 
558 
147. 
801 
839 
834 
836 

424 
465 

464 
466 
466 
580 



i37 

211 
137 

577 
578 
397 



IV 



INDEX 



PAGE 

Cook, H. A 638 

Cooley, Hiram 349 

Cooley, Mrs. Louise .149 

Core, Thomas 7 S 

Corey, Harrison 88 

Cornell Families 109, 610 

Cornell, Jonas i9 

Cornell, Mrs. Sarah 611 

Cornell, Stephen 609 

Coulbeck, William 439 

Coultis, George 480 

Coultis, John 33 2 

Courtright, James M 204 

Cowan Family 3 2 

Cowan, John 3 2 

Cowan. William 077 

Cox, Oliver M 73 2 

Craig, Andrew W 45 2 

Craise, Mrs. Clara H 683 

Craise, Robert L 683 

Crawford Family 57 

Crawford, John A 613 

Crawford, Thomas 57 

Crockard, James H 495 

Crone, Francis 3 2 

Crosbie Family 5 1 

Crosbie, Gilbert S 51 

Crossley, George 49 2 

Cruickshank. James 817 

Currie Family 2 45 

Currie, Rev. Hector 2 44 

Curry, Robert 605 

Cushen, James 5 T 9 

Cuthbertson Family 143 

Cuthbertson, William 143 

Dale, William H 49t 

Dallas, John 628 

Dallas, John S 629 

Dallas, Robert G 629 

Dal ton, Patrick M 780 

Dalziel, John T 7 

Dandy, John 809 

Davidson, John 806 

Davidson. Mrs. Matilda .... 805 

Dawson, Archie A 455. 

Dawson, William R 7 2 7 

Delmage, Adam 676 

Denham, George 565 

Dennis, George 696 

Dennis, Henry 698 

Dennis, John S 629 

Dewar, Archibald 398 

Dewar. James 826 

Dier, Henry R 736 

Dobbin. John 634 

Dobbin, William S 634 

Dobbyn, Thomas 268 

Dodds, Peter 44 

Dodds, Peter J 405 

Dolbear, William 359 

Donald, George (Bosanquet) 694 
Donald, George (Plympton) . 306 

Donald, John F 369 

Douglas, Anthony 271 

Douglas Family 515 



PAGE 

Douglas, George 5 T 5 

Douglas, John N 604 

Douglas, Robert 598 

Downing, Mrs. Angelina 47 1 

Downing, Marshall M 47O 

Drader, Ernest 064 

Draper, Mrs. Mary 839 

Draper, Tronson 839 

Dressey, George 760 

Droupe, William 657 

Duffy, Francis 55 

Duggan, Dennis 3l6 

Duggan, Mrs. Frances 317 

Duggan, Michael 667 

Duggan, Thomas F 668 

Duncan, Albert 35 2 

Duncan, John R 797 

Dundas, Mrs.. Mary 278 

Dundas. William 278 

Dunfield, John. M. D 59 

Dunham, Daniel 543 

Dunham, David 559 

Dunlop, Alfred 580 

Eady, William 75 

Eccles, Mrs. Isabella 573 

Eccles, John D., J. P 57 2 

Edgar, Mrs. Annie E S3 2 

Edgar, Thomas E 531 

Edwards, James 819 

Edwards, Samuel W 603 

Elliot, Elliot G 171 

Elliott, Edward 271 

Elliott, J. F 363 

Ellis, Arthur W 590 

Ellis, William (Brooke) 620 

Ellis, William (Sarnia) 160 

Ellis, Mrs. William 620 

English, Adam 563 

English Family 563 

English. William (Brooke) . . 228 
English, William (Petrolia). 30 

English, Mrs. William II, 30 

Ewart Family 133 

Ewart, Thomas 133 

Ewing, Alexander 582 



Fairbairn, Henry K 290 

Fairbank, Charles O., M. D. . 123 

Fairbank, J. H 44 

Farr, Charles A 726 

Farr, William 156 

Farrell Family 432 

Farrell, John 432 

Fawcett, John 639 

Ferguson, Archibald B 556 

Ferguson, Mrs. Catharine.... 86 

Ferguson Family. 556 

Ferguson, John 681 

Ferguson, John I., M. D.... 246 
Ferguson, William (Point 

Edward) 365 

Ferguson, William (Sarnia). 86 

Finch Family SOT 

Finch, Judson G 501 

Fisher, James A 420 



Fitzgibbon, David 509 

Fitzsimons, George 387 

Fitzsimons. Thomas 389 

Fleck, Alfred R 242 

Fleck, Charles McN 2 43 

Fleck, Robert 24 

Fleming, Mrs. Annie 31 

Fleming, Michael 30 

Flintoft Families 24, 640 

Flintoft, James 640 

Forbes, Henry 393 

Foster, John 544 

Fowler, John A 799 

Fraser, Dr. A. S 125 

Freer, Albert W 614 

Fuller, George 53 

Fuller, William % 509 

Gammon, Mrs. Elizabeth .... 484 

Gammon, William 573 

Gammon, William (retired). 44 

Gardiner, Robert 367 

Gardiner, Stewart 366 

Gascoigne, Nicholas J 783 

German, George 79 

German. Mrs. George 708 

Gibb, John 566 

Gibb, Robert 790 

Gibson, John P 357 

Gillatly, John, Jr 210 

Gillatly, John, Sr 208 

Glover, James 627 

Gnam, Rev. Philip J 192 

Goold, Mrs. James W 524 

Gordon Family 642 

Goring, Lloyd 800 

Gorman. Henry 84 

Gould, Charles 735 

Govenlock, Thomas 684 

Graham, George 497 

Graham. Peter 498 

Graham, Peter (deceased) 496 

Graham, William A 31 

Growder, John 7 T 3 

Gubbins. Mrs. Robert 655 

Gurd, Alfred T 224 

Gurd, Norman 485 

Gurd, Robert S 168 

Gustin. Charles 247 

Gustin Family 247 



Hackney, William 054 

Hackney. William A 654 

Hales, Edward 645 

Hall, Charles 79 

Hall Families 79, 260 

Hall, Joseph (Enniskillen) . . 193 

Hall, Joseph (Warwick) 260 

Hammond, W. H 5 2 o 

Hand, John 382 

Harding. William H 560 

Hare, Albert 379 

Hare Family 379 

Hargin, John, Jr 828 

Harkness, James 811 

Harley, James 19 



INDEX 



PAGE 

Harrison, John 605 

Harrison, Mrs. Margaret C. . 605 

Hartley, George G 355 

Hastings, Thomas 3^7 

Hay, Rev. Robert 487 

Hayward, Charles 322 

Hayward. Joseph 327 

Heal. Robert 410 

Hendra, John 499 

Hescott, George 301 

Hicks, George, D. D. S 115 

Hicks, William H 829 

Hilborn Family 632 

Hilborn, Nelson 632 

Hill, Mrs. Ellen 54 

Hitchcock Family 184 

Hitchcock, F. B 787 

Hitchcock, Marcus A 184 

Hitchcock, Samuel 627 

Holbrook, John 329 

Holmes, Andrew 578 

Holmes Brothers 579 

Hoi well, George W 672 

Holwell, Mrs. Martha 654 

Hosie, James 774 

Hossie, David 438 

Hossie Family 379 

Houston. Mrs. Eliza 770 

Houston, James 723 

Houston, John 724 

Houston, King 604 

Houston, Thomas 769 

Houston, William 724 

Howard, George 591 

Hume. Arthur 350 

Hume. John 233 

Hume. J. H 579 

Humphries, Edward 142 

Hunt. L. I 409 

Hunter Family 248 

Hunter. John 248 

Hutton. James. M. D 188 

Hyatt, Mrs. Mary 781 

Hyatt, Solomon 781 

Hyde, Frank W 266 

Tngram, Henry 815 

Tngram. William 312 

Ironside. Adam R 341 

Ivinson. Edward 795 

Jaap, George 42 

Jackson, Robert 602 

Jackson. William (Sarnia) . . 689 
Jackson. William (Sarnia 

Township) 532 

Jackson. Zachariah 534 

Jacobs. Mrs. Frances 115 

Jacobs. Rev. John 114 

Tamieson, Alexander 134 

Janes Family 49 

Janes. William 49 

Jarmaine Family 642 

Jarmaine. John P 642 

Jarvis. Gilbert 744 

Jarvis, Joseph J 743 



PAGE 

Johnson, Alexander 274 

Johnson, David 183 

Johnson, Edwin 287 

Johnson Family 179 

Johnson, Hugh 180 

Johnson. James 181 

Johnson, Malcolm 315 

Johnson, Mary i S i 

Johnson, Thomas 662 

Johnston, Alexander 99 

Johnston, David M 803 

Johnston Families. .8, 99, 269, 803 

Johnston, James 703 

Johnston, Sutherland 547 

Johnston, Dr. Thomas G., 

M. P 8 

Johnston, Thomas L 463 

Karr, Richard 294 

Kaupp, Joseph 555 

Keating Family 643 

Keck. Peter W 532 

Kedwell, William 429 

Kells, William 533 

Kelly, Alexander J 813 

Kelly, James 680 

Kennedy, Alexander 483 

Kennedy, Caleb 25 

Kennedy, Edward 780 

Kennedy Family 25 

Kenny. Randal 630 

Kenny. Thomas 761 

Kerr, John 383 

Kesson Brothers 799 

Ketch, Albert E 648 

Kewley Family 584 

Kewley, Frederick C 584 

Kidd, Alexander 431 

Kimball, Norman 581 

Kingston. Paul 454 

Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Mary 422 

Kirkpatrick, Michael 422 

Kittermaster. Anthony B 469 

Kittermaster, Frederick W... 470 

Kittermaster. Tames H 470 

Knauff, John L 596 

Lamb, Alexander 310 

Lamb, Peter 310 

Lampman. Thomas A 665 

Lancey, Henry W TO 

Lang, John 400 

Lanpan. John 266 

La Pier. Peter 707 

Lawrence, Henry P 144 

Lawrence. William F 158 

Leach. George 450 

LeBel. E. A 174 

Leckie, Gilbert 500 

Leckie, John 325 

Leckie, Neil 477 

Leckie. Neil W 467 

Lee, Thaddeus D 20^ 

Leitch. Donald M 166 

Lemon. William 42 

Lett, John 518 



PAGE 

Lett, Robert 766 

Levitt Family 227 

Levitt, Robert 227 

Lewis. Frederick E (>_>_> 

Leys, Alexander 378 

Liddon, Henry _ 5>; 

Lindsay Family 252 

Lindsay, Lachlan 252 

Littleproud, Alfred W 223 

Lloyd, Ellis 659 

Lockie, John 570 

Logie. William, M. D 489 

Longhead. Fred J 753 

Longhead, James S 152 

Lovell. A. Leslie 57 

Lovell, Henry 50 

Lovell, Thomas H 371 

Lucas, David W. H 551 

Lucas, George 337 

Lucas, George (deceased).... 336 

Lucas, James 514 

Lucas, Wellington R. J 569 

Luke. John 833 

Lunham, Andrew 587 

Lunham. James 586 

Luscombe, William 400 

McAlpine Family 646 

McBean Family 262 

McBean, John A 262 

McBryan Family 430 

McBryan, Henry 430 

McCallum Family 90 

McCallum, John 90 

McCallum. Mrs. X 541 

McCallum. Peter 538 

McCart, Daniel 575 

McCleister. William 300 

McClemens, Richard 554 

McColl. Neil 658 

McConnell Family 689 

McConnell. Tohn 690 

McConnell. William D 691 

McCordic, Nathaniel 526 

McCorkindale. John 8?2 

McCormick Family 100 

McCormick, John 74 

McCormick. Robert J TOO 

McCrie. Matthew 724 

McCtitcheon, James W 739 

McDonald. Alexander T.... 403 

McDonald Families 75. 40. , 

McDonald. James 4-M 

McDonald. John 232 

McDonald. Murdoch 74 

McDonald. Robert G.. M. D.. 4*2 
McDonald. William (Bosan- 

quet) 76 

McDonald. William (Brooke) 403 

McDonald. William A 328 

McDougald. Robert T 386 

McDougall. Alexander 296 

McDnncall. Dugald 297 

McFarlane. Neil 374 

McGeachy. John ~2f) 

McGeachy. Margr a 73 



VI 



INDEX 



PAGE 

McGeachy. Mary 73 

McGill. Tliomas 337 

McGillicuckly, Eusebius 162 

McGillicuddy. James H 164 

McGregor Families 567.588 

McGregor, Peter 8l6 

McGregor, Peter (deceased). 616 
McGuire, James (Dawn, 1834) 517 
McGuire, James (Dawn. 1854) 461 

McGuire, Thomas D. M 517 

McGurk. Henry 821 

McHattie, John 479 

Mclntire, Joseph (deceased). 590 

Mclntosh, George 77 

McTntosh. Henry 288 

Mclntosh, John D 223, 

Mclntyre, Archibald IOO 

McTntyre. Dngal F . 079 

Mclntyre, Duncan 679 

McTntyre Families 108, 678 

Mclntyre, Malcolm 277 

McKay, Alpheus 35 

McKee. Frank J 742 

McKellar. Donald 427 

McKellar, Dougald E 462 

McKellar, James 44 

McKellar, Mrs. Mary 773 

McKellar, Neil 773 

McKenzie, John 807 

McKenzie, John S 808 

McKeune, Tames 399 

McKeune, Thomas 400 

McKinlay, Donald 3 

McKinley Family 202 

McKinlev, James 202 

McKitrick, Thomas 4O 

McLachlan. Duncan 568 

McLachlen. John 75 

McLean. Alexander 7"7 

McLean, Alexander D 625 

McLean. Charles 3i 

McLean. Donald G IQQ 

McLean Family ^07 

McT.ean, Hector 642 

McT.ean, Tames 4o6 

McT.ean. Mrs. Margaret .... 642 

McLeUv, Murdo 57 

McLeflan, Donald 439 

McMihan, Albert T/4 

MoMnlian, Tames 173 

MrMa -an. John 75 

MeMahan, Tohn (deroa-cd) . 173 

McMahas, William TT 72 

McMahm. l r rcderick J 75 1 

MfcMahen, Thomas A 175 

McMillan. \rchibald S 269 

McMillan. Mrs fsahella 260 

McMillan, Mm 177 

McMillan. Tohn P 178 

McMillan. II n. Xeal 47^ 

M (-Murphy, A rchie 338 

MrMurphv. DiMgald 6i7 

McMurphv. Di. .nran 678 

McNah. Capt. John 606 

McNabb. Angn 72f 

McNabb. Christina 722 



PAGE 



McNabb. Tohn 

McNeil. Hugh 

McNeil, John 

McPherson, Joseph 

McPherson. William 

McTagert, Donald 

McVicar, Mrs. Catherine 

Macalpin Family 

Macalpin, William J 

MacKenzie, Charles (de 
ceased) 

MacKenzie, Charles 

Mackenzie, Mrs. Charlotte... 

Mackenzie. Christopher 

MacKenzie, Daniel 

MacKenzie, Major Duncan.. 

MacKenzie, Hector 

Mackenzie, John 

MacKenzie, John A 

MncKenzie, Judge John A., 

B. A 

MacKenzie, Malcolm 

MacKenzie, Mrs. Margaret.. 
MacKenzie, Stuart D., M. D. 

MacKenzie. William L 

Mackesy, William 

MacLean, Archibald 

MacLean Family 

Maddock. Samuel 

Maidment. James 

Mannen, David 

Mannen, John 

Marsh, John 

Martin, Richard 

Martyn, John 

Matheson Family 

Matheson, George N 

Matthews, Charles 

Matthews Family 

M order Family 

Mercier, T=aac 

Merrick Family 

Metcalf Family 

Meyers. Alexander A 

Movers Family 

Miles Family 

Miles, John 

Miller. John 

Miller. Joseph 

Milhr, Mrs. Mary 

Miller. Walter 

Miller. William (Point Ed 
ward) 

Miller. William (Sarnia).. 

Millikin, Benjamin J 

Millikin. "Robert 

Mills. David B 

Mills Robert 

Mitchell. John 

Monroe. Reuben J 

Montgomery Family 

Montgomery, Hugh 

Montgomery, Tames A 

Montgomery. Robert 

Moore, Albert H 

Moore, James H- B 



335 



427 
425 
773 
646 

548 
548 

112 
114 
321 

494 
23 
3 

728 
320 
729 

3 

805 
23 
591 
729 
3/0 
24 
24 
250 
434 
595 
596 

3" 

291 

468 
. 60 
60 

299 
. 299 

191 
. 191 
, 655 
. 648 
. 69 
. 69 
. 612 
. 6t2 
. 480 



PAGE 

Moore, William ............ 313 

Moorhouse Family ......... 253 

Moorhouse, Robert ......... 253 

Morgan, George ............ 583 

Morris, Charles J. F ........ 13 

Morris Family .............. 13 

Morris, Mrs. Lydia ......... 14 

Morris, Mrs. Mary A ........ 195 

Morris, Thomas ............ 194 

Morrison, Alfred T .......... 443 

Morrison, Andrew ......... 78 

Morrison, Daniel ........... 764 

Morrison Family .......... 5 

ATorrison, John ............. 354 

Morrison, John (deceased).. 5 
Morwood, John A .......... 368 

Mowbray. William ......... 55 

Munns, William A.. M. D... 14 
Munroe, Neil .............. 650 

Murphy, Michael ........... 354 

Murray, Robert ............ 239 

Nash, Hutchinson J.. M. D. . 564 
Neal, Capt. Alvin C ......... 158 

Neal, Capt. William D ...... 157 

Neil, William .............. 176 

Nelson, John ............... 683 

Nelson, Mrs. John ......... 682 

Neshitt, Alexander D ........ 287 

Nesbitt, John .............. 285 

Nesbitt, Nathan K ........... 34 

Newell, Ezra ............... 749 

Nicholson, William ........ 4 T 3 

Nisbet Family .............. 280 

Nisbet, William ............ 280 

Noble, John D., Esq ........ 16 



573 
392 

573 
480 

348 
437 
5" 

4 87 

73" 
727 
140 
740 
257 
256 
804 
218 



Oakes, Thomas J ............ 47 

O Brien, Cornelius ......... 702 

O Brien, James ............. 732 

O Brien. James (deceased) . . 73 r 
Odell, George .............. 57 

Oliver, Edward. M. D ....... 512 

Oliver. Mrs. John H ........ 833 

Oliver, Robert S ............ 456 

O Neil, Mrs. Elizabeth ..... 188 

O Neil Families ........ 136, 187 

O Neil, Tohn ............... 693 

O Neil, Maj. John F ........ 736 

O Neil. Thomas ............ 187 

Orrange, Edward .......... 236 

Osborne, Joseph ............ 502 

Osborne. Peter ............. 7i 

Ovans, John ................ 687 

Ovans, William ............. 695 

Pa sre, John ................. 295 

Palmer Family ............. 344 

Palmer, Reuben C .......... 344 

Pardee. Frederick F.,M. P. P. 471 

Park Families ........... 68, 333 

Park. Hugh ................ 333 

Park, Tames ................ 436 

Park, Robert J .............. 521 

Parks, William H .......... 458 

Patterson, William ......... 814 



INDEX vii 



PAGE 



PAGE 



Pattinson, Joseph 609 Simpson, John 651 Symes, William 282 

Paul Family 597 Simpson, William, Sr 753 Symington, Edward G 122 

Paul John 597 Sinclair, John 204 Symington Family 116 

Payne, Joseph 57 1 Sisk, Dallas P 177 Symington, Mrs. Helen 48 

Pearce George 448 Sitter Family 5 2 3 Symington, Hugh 122 

Peat, James 396 Sitter, George 523 Symington, James S 48 

Perkins J Eli 518 Smith, Donald F 7 J 8 Symington, James W 98 

Pesha, Lewis 805 Smith, Duncan 531 Symington. Robert 120 

Peters Edward J 460 Smith Families 103, 343 Symington, Thomas (Ennis- 

Pettyp iece, Henry J 376 Smith, Finlay 53O killen) 808 

Pickering, Isaac 474 Smith, George 774 Symington, Thomas (Plymp- 

Pickering, Mrs. Margaret 475 Smith, Henry M 220 ton) 116 

Piggott, James 305 Smith, James 57^ Symington, Thomas J .. M . 1) 121 

Pitkin, G. S 148 Smith, John, Esq 74 6 Symington, William 121 

Porte, William J 176 Smith, John H 822 Symington, Thomas J.. M. D. 121 

Postil Charles 1 258 Smith, John R 771 Symington, William (de- 
Potter, James 688 Smith, J. W 457 ceased) 98 

Poussette, Dr. Arthur C 29 Smith, Robert 717 

Poussette Family 29 Smith, Robert S 624 Tait, Joseph 827 

Powell, Henry 752 Smith, Thomas 630 Tanner, Edwin 739 

Powell, John 752 Smith, Thomas W 58 Taylor, Mrs. Jane 57 

Powelli William 231 Smith, William B 774 Taylor, John (Bosanquet ) . . 342 

Pray, Mrs. Ada 543 Snider, Mrs. Elizabeth 42 Taylor, John (Enniskillen) . . 444 

Pray, Wesley C 543 Spalding, Alexander 630 Taylor, Peter 56 

Proctor, Edward M 80 Spalding, Isabella 630 Taylor, Thomas B 178 

Proctor Families 80,238 Sparling, Thomas 373 Temple, John H 831 

Proctor, George A 238 Sparling, William 207 Temple, Mrs. Mary A 830 

Proctor, Manfred B 81 Spearman Family 710 Tew, Henry E 548 

Proctor, Reuben 76 Spearman. Harris A 71 Thorn, John S 291 

Purvis, David L 792 Sproule Family 94 Thorn, William S 394 

Sproule, Walter 95 Thomas, Enoch W 759 

Radford, John 810 Sproule, William J 94 Thomas Family 758 

Rae, Robert 36 Squire, Thomas 278 Thomas, Francis T 93 

Rawlings, Albin 200 Steadman, Thomas 442 Thomas, George W 92 

Rawlings Family 200 Stephenson Family 91 Thomas, John- 114 

Reid, C. F 510 Stephenson, G. B 91 Thompson, Harrison 422 

Richardson, John B 45 Stevens, Robert 225 Tracy, Capt. John 478 

Richardson, John J 293 Stevenson, John 812 Tripp, Newton ill 

Richmond, Albert 222 Stevenson, Mrs. John 812 Trott, Walter T 793 

Richmond. William M......22I Stewart, George, Lt.-Col.... 128 Trotter, David 586 

Roane, Elizabeth 42 Stewart. James 611 Trusler Family 154 

Roane Family 41 Stewart, Maj. Robert G 130 Trusler, S. Wallace 154 

Roane, Thomas 41 Stewart, William 372 Turnbull Family 255 

Robairts, Benjamin 151 Stewart. William R 777 Turnbull, Joseph 255 

Robbins, John 445 Stinson, William 666 Turner, Robert 85 

Robertson, Joseph L 652 Stockdale, George C 5 2 9 

Robertson, Mrs. Phoebe .... 653 Stockdale. John 530 Van Tuyl, B. Blossom II 

Roche, David 107 Stockdale, Robert F 528 Van Tuyl, Maj. Benjamin S.. II 

Roche, John 105 Stockdale, Thomas 319 Vidal, Hon. Alexander i 

Ross, David 491 Stokes Families 21, 574 Vidal, Emeric A 794 

Ross Family 249 Stokes, Samuel C 21 Vidal Family I 

Ross, John 415 Stokes, William 574 

Ross, Thomas 674 Stonehouse, Amos 838 Walden, James 186 

Russel, William 708 Stonehouse. Robert 837 Walker, Colin 453 

Stonehouse, William S 834 Walker, Hugh 685 

Sanders, Marshall A 198 Stoner Family 459 Walker. John 55 

Scott, Alexander, M. D 473 Stoner, George 459 Wall, John 832 

Scott Families 54,402 Stoop, Samuel 696 Wallen, Alex C 70 

Scott, George 403 Storey, William 405 Wallen, Capt. John 138 

Scott, Gilbert 351 Strangways Family 670 Wanless. Robert 95 

Scott, Henry M 402 Strangways. Walter W 670 Ward, Duncan 820 

Scott, Reginald F 474 Streets, William 395 Ward, Georg. r_>_> 

Scott, Thomas R. K 53 Stutt, Richard 385 Warner, Eli 669 

Sharpe, Robert 570 Sutherland. Donald 46 Watson, Agnes W 273 

Shields. George 244 Sutherland. George 307 Watson, Charles C 214 

Shields. John S 418 Sutton, William D 626 Watson. Ebcnezer 273 



Vlll 



INDEX 



PAGE 

Watson Family 272 

Watson, James 212 

Watson, John C 215 

Watson, Robert S 274 

Watson, William 301 

Watt, William J 7^9 

Watts, George 235 

Webster, George 738 

Webster, Jonah M 216 

Weir, Archibald, LL. D 64 

Weir Family 64 

Wellington, Henry 588 

Wellington, Mark 609 

Wellington, William 298 

Wells Families 600, 608 

Wells, John N 600 

Wells, Samuel 608 

Werden, Spencer 161 

West, Herbert 634 

Westell, Dr. Edward P 5H 

Westgate, George 48 

Wheatley, Mrs. Elvira 189 

Wheatley, John 189 

Wheeler, Edward D 662 

Wheeler, Mrs. Sarah 661 



White Family 624 

Whitehead, James 220 

Whitsitt Family 264 

Whitsitt, James T 264 

Whittaker, David 644 

Wilcocks Family 346 

Wilcocks, Joseph 348 

Wilcocks, Samuel J 346 

Wilkinson, Robert II 

Williams Family 720 

Williams, Joseph 131 

Williams, Walter B. J 536 

Williams, William 720 

WilWamson, Henry 327 

Williamson, William (Bosan- 

quet) 328 

Williamson, William (Wat 
ford) 631 

Willoughby, William 251 

Willoughbv, William G 96 

Wilson, Mrs. Annie 7 

Wilson, David 641 

Wilson, George 206 

Wilson, Gustavus 7 12 

Wilson, John 641 



PAGE 

Wilson, Thomas 641 

Wolsey, Daniel 675 

Wood, Elgin 714 

Wood Family 7 ! 4 

Woodley, John 744 

Woodward, Martin J 647 

Woodwark, John 502 

Wooley Family 87 

Wooley, John N 87 

Wray Family 562 

Wray, William J 562 

Wright, David 836 

Wright, John D 339 

Wright, Mrs. Lizzie 836 

Wyant Family 704 

Wyant, George V 74 

Yates, Mrs. Ann J 127 

Yates, George C 127 

Young, George 692 

Young, William 691 

Younghusband Family 7 

Zavitz, Benjamin 636 

Zavitz Family 636 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



IDAL, HON. ALEXANDER, 
a distinguished resident of 
Sarnia, to whom his fel 
low-citizens refer with pride 
and admiration, is not only 
a conspicuous statesman and 
public official but also fulfills every ideal of 
the Christian gentleman. Now eighty-six 
years of age, he is, with but one exception, 
the oldest resident of Sarnia. having settled 
here in 1835, and he is the oldest senator 
from the Province of Ontario, and, with the 
exception of Senator Cowan, the senior sena 
tor in the whole Dominion of Canada. His 
public life began in 1863, when he was 
elected to the legislative council of Canada, 
which was then composed of Ontario and 
Quebec, and was called to the Senate in Jan 
uary, 1873. Although his eighty-sixth mile 
stone has been passed, in both physical and 
mental activity he looks like a man who 
entered life s race some twenty years later. 
The Vidal family is of Huguenot origin, 
and many members of it have been notable 
in various fields of endeavor. Emeric Vidal, 
the grandfather of Alexander Vidal, was 
born in 1749, and died in England in 1818. 
In that country he married Jane Essex, who 
was of English parentage, and they had three 
sons and one daughter born to them, namely : 
Richard Emeric. the father of our subject; 
Emeric Essex, who died at the age of sev 
enty years ; Alexander Thomas Emeric, who 
lived" in Ontario a few years, later returned 
to England, was distinguished in the Royal 
Naval service, and died an admiral (he 
married and had two sons : the older, Owen, 
died unmarried, the younger, Beaufort 



Henry, occupies a prominent position in the 
Canadian Militia, as Deputy Adjutant Gen 
eral) ; the daughter, Emma, died at the age 
of sixty, unmarried. For many years Em 
eric Vidal was secretary to an English ad 
miral. 

Richard Emeric Vidal (the father of 
Alexander Vidal) , being a commander in the 
Royal Navy, was always called Capt. Vidal. 
He was born in 1784, in England, and en 
tered the Royal Navy in 1799. In 1816 he 
married Charlotte Penrose Mitton, daughter 
of William Mitton, a prominent lawyer of 
the city of London, England. After active 
service on sea for thirty years, during which 
he was engaged in the capture or destruction 
of thirty war vessels, and sixty-eight mer 
chant ships, he made in 1832 his first visit 
to Canada, stopping at Quebec, his object 
being to place his eldest son, Aymerick, in 
a promising field, to learn the art of ship 
building. After satisfactorily apprenticing 
his son, Capt. Vidal started westward to look 
over the country, and was so pleased with 
the aspects of the County of Lambton and 
river St. Clair that he located 200 acres of 
land, the same now being within the corpo 
rate limits of the town of Sarnia. Proceed 
ing still farther, he became impressed with 
the land about Rondeau, on Lake Erie. This 
was during the bitter winter of 1832-33, and 
Capt. Vidal was not prepared for such rigor 
ous weather, and while exploring got badly 
frozen, the fingers of his right hand being 
so seriously affected that a portion of each 
had to be amputated, after which he returned 
to England. In 1834, accompanied by his 
son Alexander, he returned to Ontario, de- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



termined to settle here permanently, and 
bring his wife and other children. However, 
he was hastened in his determination by re 
ceiving a letter from her at Toronto, telling 
him she had sold their land property in Eng 
land, which was valuable, and intended to 
join him in the new land. She arrived safe 
ly in New York, with her aged mother, Mrs. 
Mitton, and three children, and their house 
hold effects, and in July, 1834, they located 
in Sarnia. Capt. Vidal was the first collec 
tor of customs in Sarnia, and remained both 
a valued public official and estimable private 
citizen until his death, in 1854. After this 
event his widow made her home with her 
married daughter, Mrs. Maria Charlotte Sal- 
ter, until 1873, dying in her eighty-fourth 
year. She was a woman of strong character, 
and nobly bore the exacting conditions of 
pioneer life in a strange land. 

The children born to Richard Emeric 
Vidal and his wife were seven in number, 
namely: (i) Aymerick Mitton. (2) Alex 
ander (the subject proper of this sketch). 
(3) Raimond died in England in 1831. (4) 
William Penrose, now deceased, was a law 
yer in Sarnia, where he married Eliza Ann 
Baby, and had seven children. (5) Town- 
send George engaged in the foundry, busi 
ness for some time, at Sarnia, and then be 
came a farmer on the lake shore; later he 
migrated to the Northwest, where he died 
in 1899. He married Agnes Wilson, a sis 
ter of the celebrated Judge John Wilson, of 
London, Ont., and had three daughters, un 
married. (6) Maria Charlotte (deceased) 
was the wife of Rev. G. J. R. Salter, and had 
a family of eleven children. (7) Emma 
Harriet (deceased), born in Sarnia, Ont., 
was the wife of the late Samuel Farrell, and 
left no family. 

Senator Alexander Vidal was born in 
Bracknell, Berkshire, England, Aug. 4, 
1819, and was educated in the Royal Mathe 
matical School, Christ s Hospital, London, 
England. On leaving it, in 1834, he re 
ceived from the governors of the school a 
fine chronometer watch as a reward for dili 
gence in study and perfect deportment. This 



watch Senator Vidal still possesses, in per 
fect working order, also a handsome Bible, 
presented at the same time ; these are count 
ed among his cherished belongings. His 
education had been conducted in a thorough 
manner, a specialty being made of mathe 
matics, and this knowledge proved of the 
greatest value to him in after life in the pio 
neer regions to which he accompanied his 
father soon after. From June, 1834, until 
April, 1835, he remained in Toronto, living 
with Col. Coffin, Adjutant General of Mili 
tia, and writing in his office, after which he 
joined his parents in Sarnia. The same year 
his services were sought and secured by the 
Hon. Thomas Clark, of Niagara Falls, Ont., 
and in the capacity of private secretary he 
went to that place and remained there until 
the death of his employer, in November, the 
same year. Mr. Vidal then returned to 
Sarnia, and in 1837 settled on a farm of 100 
acres in Sarnia township, located some seven 
miles from the present town. Here, with 
another young man, he established a bache 
lor home, remaining there for five years. 
This locality was so much of a wilderness at 
that time that wolves were numerous and 
very unwelcome neighbors, and the Senator 
relates that upon one occasion, on his return 
to his cabin carrying a round of beef which 
his mother had prepared for him, the wolves 
howling around quite near caused alarm, as 
he had no weapon with him but a pocket- 
knife. During his residence on his land the 
young man studied land surveying, his 
former mathematical education serving him 
very well here, and he adopted it as a voca 
tion. The government, noticing his profi 
ciency and skill in this work, employed him 
to survey parts of two townships near Owen 
Sound; to lay out the township of Saugeen, 
and the town of Sault Ste. Marie, and some 
eighteen mining locations along the north 
shore of river Ste. Marie and Lake Huron, 
from the Sault to Georgian Bay. In this 
work four years were fully occupied. 

On Dec. 8, 1847, m tne township of 
Moore, near Corunna. County of Lambton, 
Senator Vidal was united in marriage with 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Miss Catherine Louisa Wright, daughter of 
Capt. Wright, of the Royal Navy. She died 
in 1882, leaving children as follows: (i) 
Emeric Alexander married Jane Wilson, and 
died in 1894, having had five children: Em 
eric Alexander, who is married and 
has a son Emeric Alexander ; a daugh 
ter, Elizabeth J., married to T. G. 
Fletcher, who has two children ; Will 
iam W. (deceased) ; Herbert V., re 
cently married; and Frederick V. (2) Char 
lotte Jane (the second child of Senator Alex 
ander) married T. W. Nisbet, of Sarnia, 
and their children are Edith C., Kate Isobel 
and Henry Alexander. (3) Elizabeth Man- 
married D. B. Gardner, of Ottawa, and has 
had children Harry (deceased at the age 
of four years), Keith V., Catherine Isabella, 
Marjory E., Gwendoline, and Douglas B. 
(4) Alexander Keith died at the age of 
eighteen years. (5) William Malcolm 
(deceased) married Isabella Sinclair, and 
had two children, who died in infancy. (6) 
James Henry, living in British Columbia, is 
unmarried. (7) Herbert Penrose married 
Louisa Jones and has the following children 
Dorothy Kate, Charlotte Elizabeth, and 
Alexander Emeric E. 

In 1853 Senator Vidal opened the Agen 
cy for the Bank of Upper Canada, at Sarnia, 
of which he was the agent until its failure, in 
1866, by which both he and the family lost 
large sums. The Bank of Montreal then 
established a branch at Sarnia, and Senator 
Vidal was selected as manager and filled the 
position until 1874, when he resigned it, as 
his appointment to the Dominion Senate en 
gaged both his time and attention, and pre 
cluded other interests in many lines of activ 
ity, for he has been and still is an active 
member of that honorable body, and regards 
his high position as entailing conscientious 
labor. He is known as a supporter of the 
Conservative party, and his course as a 
statesman, covering so many years, has seen 
many triumphs of the principles he favors. 
His record has been one of unimpeachable 
integrity. He was the first county treasurer 
of Lambton, and held the position for thirty- 



eight years (being succeeded by his son Em 
eric Alexander, who died in 1894). 

In 1843 he became a member of the Pres 
byterian Church, in which he is an elder, and 
has been a regular attendant, and for over 
fifty years he was connected with the Sun 
day-school work. He has frequently occu 
pied the pulpit for an absent minister in 
other churches. For over sixty-four years 
he has been prominently known as an advo 
cate of total abstinence from intoxicating 
liquors and a consistent leader, both in Par 
liament and in public meetings, in the cause 
of temperance, and he was president of the 
Dominion Alliance for the suppression of the 
liquor traffic from its foundation, in 1876, 
for twenty-three successive years. He is in 
terested in all moral reforms and reputable 
commercial movements. 

Senator Vidal is of most pleasing person 
ality and genial attractiveness of manner, of 
gentlemanly bearing and dignified carriage, 
yet so thoroughly kind that not a humble citi 
zen of his town feels any doubt about the 
friendly salutation he will receive from this 
distinguished individual, who counts among 
his companions and friends some of the most 
eminent men in the Dominion of Canada. 

JUDGE JOHN A. MACKENZIE, B. A., 
of Sarnia, who entered into rest Nov. 16, 
1904, was a gentleman of culture and schol 
arly attainments. For forty years he was 
prominent in the county as a lawyer and poli 
tician, while for fully twenty years he served 
as judge of the County of Lambton, where 
his good common sense, decision of character 
and fund of legal lore won him a high repu 
tation in judicial circles, extending far be 
yond his immediate jurisdiction. 

Judge MacKenzie was of Scotch ances 
try. His grandfather, Alexander MacKen 
zie, was a Scotchman of note. He married 
and had four sons : John ; Donald, who died 
in India ; Alexander, who died in London 
township. County of Middlesex; and Dun 
can, who is mentioned below. 

Major Duncan MacKenzie, father of 
Judge John A., achieved distinction in mili- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tary affairs both in Canada and in England. 
Born in Scotland Aug. 12, 1787, he there 
passed the early years of his life. As a youth 
he could not but have been impressed with the 
turbulent state of all Europe, and in 1808 he 
felt impelled to join the English army and 
to share in the great contest. For about a 
year he remained in the volunteer service, 
and then joined the artillery, in 1815, with 
that branch of the service participating in the 
battle of Waterloo. In 1817, the year of his 
marriage, Major MacKenzie, impressed with 
favorable reports of Canada, came to the 
New World and located at Cornwall, where 
he remained one year. Finding a large tract 
of desirable land in Hyde Park, near Lon 
don, Ont, he there settled and began making 
improvements. By careful management he 
in time transformed the land into a highly 
productive farm, and thereon he made his 
home the rest of his life. He died Aug. 2, 
1875. Major MacKenzie was one of the most 
prominent men of his locality in both civil 
and military life. In 1823 he became cap 
tain of the local militia, and when the Re 
bellion of 1837 broke out he went to the front 
as commander of an artillery company, and 
during that struggle distinguished himself by 
assisting in driving the rebels from Navy 
Island. In 1841 he organized a company 
known as the Independent Volunteer Artil 
lery Company, and so keen was his interest 
in this organization that he defrayed its ex 
penses for fifteen years, when he retired from 
military service with the rank of major. As 
a civil officer he was equally efficient and 
faithful, and in 1827 was made justice of the 
peace. In 1817 Major MacKenzie was mar 
ried in Scotland to Margaret Barclay, who 
was born in that country in 1793, and who 
died in 1877. By this marriage there were 
seven children : Ann married William Mc 
Millan, a successful surveyor, who laid out 
the Huron District for the Canadian Com 
pany, and is now deceased; Mary married 
Alexander McDonald, a contractor; Mar 
garet married William Moore, who was for 
many years proprietor of the London Gore 
Mills, and was later connected with the In 
land Revenue service, and she is now de 



ceased ; Isabella is the widow of Alexander 
Paterson, of Delaware, Ont.; George was 
clerk of the County of Middlesex for many 
years, and died March 21, 1892; Sarah mar 
ried Dr. W. W. Hoare, of Strathroy; and 
John A. is mentioned below. 

Judge John A. MacKenzie early gave 
evidence of high intellectuality. Born in 
Hyde Park, Jan. 12, 1839, he there passed 
the first years of his life. At an early age 
he was sent to school, where his keen interest 
in his studies, his readiness at grasping in 
formation, and his remarkable faculty for re 
taining it, enabled him to make rapid pro 
gress, and to enter Queen s College, Kings 
ton, Ont., at an early age. In 1856, when 
but seventeen years old, he was graduated 
from that institution with the degree of B. A. 
He then set about the study of law, taking up 
the work with Mr. James Daniels, of London, 
Ont., afterward county judge of Leeds, 
Grenville, and there he applied himself to a 
thorough investigation of every detail. For 
five years he remained in that office as a stu 
dent, and in 1861 he was admitted to the Bar. 
Eminently fitted to take up the active prac 
tice of his profession, he opened a law office 
in Sarnia, proving his worth from the start. 
In 1862 he entered into partnership with Mr. 
Gurd, forming the law firm of MacKenzie & 
Gurd. Their clientele increased from year to 
year, and the firm remained unchanged for 
twenty-five years, during which long period 
Mr. MacKenzie became well known for his 
ability and integrity. He was untiring in his 
investigation of cases entrusted to his care, 
and was always fair with his opponents. 
Skillful, keen and quick-witted, as well as 
most erudite, he was a foeman to be feared. 
In 1886 he was appointed Junior Judge of 
the County of Lambton. In that position his 
efficiency became even more pronounced. His 
alertness at discerning vice and treachery, 
and his equally keen appreciation of truth 
and virtue, coupled with his strength of char 
acter and high personal integrity, enabled 
him to render unbiased decisions. So gen 
eral was the satisfaction he gave that he was 
retained in office from the time of his elec 
tion until the end of his useful life. Some 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



four or five years ago he suffered from par 
alysis, and was partially incapacitated from 
discharging his duties as judge. Failing eye 
sight followed, and for a year or two he was 
unable to attend to his official duties. Dur 
ing his long illness he ever maintained a hope 
ful, cheerful disposition, and never despaired 
of recovering sufficiently to resume his ju 
dicial duties. 

In 1865 Judge MacKenzie married Miss 
Helen Crawford, daughter of the late John 
Crawford, a native of Scotland, who settled 
in Sarnia in 1856, and who died in Scotland 
while on a visit to his native land. Mrs. Mac 
Kenzie was born at St. Thomas, in the West 
Indies, but has passed the greater part of her 
life in Sarnia. Judge and Mrs. MacKenzie 
had five children : Norman is a barrister at 
Regina, Northwest Territory ; Helen St. 
Clair, who died Aug. 9, 1904. was the wife 
of Prof. H. R. Sidley, of Siclley. B. C. ; 
Harold, also a resident of Regina, North 
west Territory, who served in the artillery 
in the South African war, is connected 
with a large implement manufacturing 
agency ; George and Edith both died in 
childhood. 

Judge MacKenzie long figured promi 
nently in local affairs aside from those con 
nected with his profession. Interested in the 
advancement of education, he served on the 
school board for many years, putting aside 
some very busy moments to attend to the du 
ties connected with his office. Twice he ran 
on the Conservative ticket as a candidate for 
Parliament, first in 1878 against the Hon. 
Alexander MacKenzie. and again in 1882, 
for the East Riding of the County of Lamb- 
ton, against John H. Fairbank, a wealthy oil 
producer of Petrolia. In both cases, the Lib 
eral party being in the ascendancy, he was 
defeated by a small majority. 

Judge MacKenzie was a man of marked 
integrity, and of deep religious convictions. 
Fraternally he was affiliated with the R. A. 
and the A. F. & A. M. As a man of true 
philanthropy he took an active part in the 
building of the Sarnia Hospital, and was one 
of its efficient trustees. His death closed a 



well-spent life, devoted to the best influ 
ences for higher intelligence and strict mo 
rality. 

JOHN MORRISON (deceased) was, 
during a long and useful life, one of the 
most respected citizens of Plympton town 
ship, Lambton County, one of the pioneers 
who for over sixty years had been identified 
with the growth and prosperity of that local 
ity. He was born in a little log cabin in Dal- 
housie township, County of Lanark, Ont, 
Feb. 17, 1827, a son of John Morrison. 

John Morrison, the father, was born at 
Paisley, near Glasgow, Scotland, and there 
was brought up to the weaving trade. There 
he married Hannah Dallas and in 1820, with 
their four children, forming part of a com 
pany of emigrants on the vessel "Promp," 
they emigrated to the New World, 
after a voyage of eight weeks ar 
riving at Quebec. The British Govern 
ment at that time was encouraging 
the settlement of lands in Upper Can 
ada, and thither they came, locating in Dal- 
housie township, County of Lanark, where 
they built their log shanties, roofed with bark 
and hemlock boughs, and entered on their 
life of pioneer hardship in the wilderness, 
continuing there, without satisfactory re 
sults, for fifteen years. Then they sold their 
property and pushed farther west, where civ 
ilization had made greater strides and pros 
pects seemed brighter for the future of the 
growing family. They drove from Hamil 
ton with a yoke of oxen and wagon, contain 
ing all their worldly goods, and Mrs. Morri 
son, with Scotch thrift and prudence, filled 
every pot and pan with small potatoes for 
seed, which proved a great blessing to them 
in their new home. Mr. Morrison settled 
with his wife and children in the County of 
Lambton, on Lot 3, Concession 5, on what is 
now the London road, in Plympton township, 
having a tract of 100 acres on the north side. 
This was all bush at that time and presented 
many difficult problems as to its clearing and 
cultivation. A small log shanty had been 
erected by the son David, who preceded 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



them, but it had neither doors nor windows. 
Mr. Morrison was a man of energy and 
great industry, and was not dismayed at the 
fact that there were no roads yet cut through 
the forests, no ditching through the swampy 
lands, and no neighbors to call on in times 
of trouble or to visit for social -intercourse. 
There were no flour mills nearer than Lon 
don, and they used to grind wheat in a small 
coffee mill screwed to the wall, and made 
porridge from it. Prepared somewhat by his 
earlier experiences, Mr. Morrison soon had 
a comfortable log house and a log stable and 
started in to clear and cultivate, and in the 
course of time bought stock, eventually be 
coming one of the large stock raisers of the 
country. Here he lived a busy, useful life, 
and died in his eightieth year, his wife living 
to the age of eighty-six. Both were laid to 
rest in the Oban cemetery. They were faith 
ful members of the Presbyterian Church, 
but their house was always open to the pio 
neer preacher of any evangelical denomina 
tion, among others the "saddle-bag brigade" 
of Methodism. In politics Mr. Morrison was 
a stanch Reformer and always supported 
liberal principles. 

The children of John and Hannah 
(Dallas) Morrison were as follows: Robert 
died in Wisconsin; David (deceased) was a 
resident of Plympton; Nellie (deceased) 
married John Hamilton, of Aberarder; 
James died in young manhood and was bur 
ied in the cemetery at Oban, he being the first 
one interred in that cemetery, and he had 
given one-half acre from his farm for the 
purpose ; Isabella married John Waddle, and 
both are deceased ; Margaret is the widow of 
Dugall Ferguson, of Sarnia township ; John 
is the subject of this sketch; William died 
at San Salvador, Central America. 

John Morrison was but nine years old 
when he came with his parents to the County 
of Lambton. At that early day schools were 
few in the township and a long distance 
apart, and Mr. Morrison can recall how he 
walked a long distance through the lonely 
woods to the 2d Line of Plympton in order 
to reach the schoolhouse. Mathematics, in 
which he was an expert, he mastered after a 



few private lessons, in the chimney corner, 
by the lurid light from the fire place. Thus 
he was necessarily self-educated, became a 
man of observing mind and quick intelli 
gence, and, although his boyhood was passed 
on the farm where few events occurred to 
quicken his understanding, he knew, in ad 
dition to the practical rules of agriculture, 
many things pertaining to the woods and the 
soil, the beasts and birds and trees, which 
no books would have taught. He was espe 
cially well versed in history, being a lifelong 
student of the best authors, both ancient and 
modern, in that field. 

When he reached his majority John Mor 
rison settled on a tract of fifty acres of land, 
a part of the old homestead, and later bought 
fifty acres across the road, on the south side 
of the London road, which he cleared and im 
proved. In 1875 he disposed of the south 
fifty acres, settling on the homestead to oper 
ate the home farm and care for his parents 
in their old age. In addition to farming he 
served as an auctioneer, holding a license for 
over thirty years and crying sales all over the 
county. He was very popular in this voca 
tion, and there was much and constant de 
mand for his services. His honest and up 
right character made him universally es 
teemed. He took the first census of Plymp 
ton, and the work was done to the satisfac 
tion of every one. 

After his years of agricultural and public 
life Mr. Morrison sought enjoyment and 
recreation in travel, and, with his daughter, 
Mrs. Wilson, visited the World s Fair at 
Chicago, and later in the same year, with his 
wife, took a trip to the British Isles, she vis 
iting the scenes of her childhood after an 
absence of over fifty years, he visiting Eng 
land, Scotland and Ireland. He was a wide 
awake traveler and took a deep interest in 
natural scenery and in industrial develop 
ments, and in his own locality knew not only 
the points of interest, but the people. Prior 
to the days of their railroads, he had visited 
Manitoba and the great Northwest, in 1875, 
traveling for two weeks in company with the 
newly organized mounted police, having as 
his companion at that time a son of the great 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



novelist. Charles Dickens. He entered the 
country by the Red River of the North, and 
found Fort Garry a mere hamlet of about 
three hundred souls. Returning he trav 
eled over the Dawson route, and was thir 
teen days going from Fort Garry to Fort 
William. 

Mr. Morrison, like his father, was a 
stanch Liberal, and was honored in his young 
manhood in being selected as the right-hand 
helper to George Brown, with whom he cam 
paigned the north half of the new consti 
tuency of Lambton-Kent in 1851. Through 
his lifetime he took great pleasure in the 
knowledge that his efforts helped to win the 
first seat in Parliament for one who became 
a great statesman and one of the fathers of 
confederation. Mr. Morrison was a justice 
of the peace for a number of years, but it was 
often remarked that he was more of a peace 
maker than a magistrate. He had the gift of 
bringing about peace and friendship without 
contention, and many difficulties were placed 
in his hands for arbitration. Temperate in 
his own life, he asked the same in others, yet 
was never harsh or illogical, and even in his 
younger days, when he kept a store on the 
London road, had no difficulty in bartering 
with the Indians. They recognized his hon 
esty and placed trust in him. While broad 
and liberal in his theological views he was a 
loyal adherent of the Presbyterian Church 
the church of his fathers. 

In Port Huron, Michigan, the late John 
Morrison married Jane Younghusband, born 
at Richmond, England, daughter of John and 
Anna (Brass) Younghusband. Their chil 
dren were : Annie, the widow of William 
Wilson, residing in Plympton township; 
Hannah, deceased, who was the wife of 
George Paul; Rev. John, a minister in the 
Methodist Church; and William T. John 
Morrison was educated in Plympton town 
ship in the old Oban public school, and later 
attended Wesleyan College and McGill Uni 
versity at Montreal, where he studied theol 
ogy and took a special course in science. He 
was ordained to the ministry in 1892, at St. 
Thomas, and has spent the years of his min- 
istrv within the bounds of the London Con 



ference in the Methodist Church. He married 
Rose May Bloom, of Florence. William T. 
was educated in the district schools of Plymp 
ton township and at Strathroy Collegiate In 
stitute, after which he entered Bellevue Hos 
pital at New York and remained there as a 
trained nurse for several years. He then 
studied medicine at the Detroit Medical Col 
lege, where he was graduated in 1896. He 
is now engaged in practice at Midland, Mich 
igan. Dr. Morrison married Frances Bar 
bara Duttswilder, of Xew York City, who 
died at Midland, Michigan, in 1902, leaving 
one child, Lephe J., who resides with Mrs. 
Wilson. 

The death of Mr. John Morrison took 
place March 18, 1896, in Sarnia, and his wife 
resided with her daughter, Mrs. Wilson, 
until her death, on Oct. 3, 1903. Both were 
laid to rest in the cemetery at Oban, on the 
London road. She was brought up in the 
Church of England, but was for many years 
a member of the Methodist Church. For 
many years she had been a patient invalid, 
and was the center of the family s loving 
care and devotion. 

The Younghusband family is one of the 
old and distinguished families of England, 
and additional luster has lately been added 
by the successful entrance of the British 
army into Thibet under command of the gal 
lant soldier who belongs to one branch of this 
family. For more than fourteen hundred 
years this family has been one of note in 
Britain. From family records and from the 
standard, "Burke s Royal Families," it is 
learned that this family can be traced back to 
616, to Oswald, King of Northumberland. 
The prefix "young" was assumed at an early 
period by descendants of the Saxon Oswald, 
who gradually corrupted the original name 
to Osny and to Osborn, and finally, in early 
history, to Youngoswin, then Youngosbin, 
"Younghusban." Ida, King of Northum 
berland, father of King Oswald, built a castle 
at Bamborough. and early writers speak thus 
of it : "King Ida s castle, huge and square." 
In the same line, but many years later, King 
Ida built the famous abbey at Glastonbury. 
King Alfred the Great belonged to the same 



8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



line as did Edward the Confessor, of royal 
fame. By consulting " Burke s Royal Famil 
ies," Vols. I and II, we find that the descend 
ants of this family were blended by mar 
riage into the lines of Charlemagne, Em 
peror of the West; of Robert, King of 
of France ; and King William the Conqueror. 
The same line comes down from William 
through Edwards I, II and III. In the veins 
of the Younghusbancl family also mingles 
the best French blood. King Edward of 
England married Isabella, daughter of 
Philip VI of France, who was married to 
Joanna, Queen of Navarre. Also the best 
blood of Spain, for King Edward I was mar 
ried to Elenora of Castile, whose father was 
King Ferdinand III of Spain, better known 
as Saint Ferdinand. The Younghusbands 
also have royal Italian blood, from King 
Repin of Italy, who was the son of Charle 
magne. From the Italian sprinkling comes 
the name of Lancelot, which in Italian was 
Lancelotto. 

The family has been noted for military 
and naval prowess and to the present day 
has a long line of warriors. In 1854 Sir 
Charles Napier, K. C. B., whose mother be 
fore marriage was Miss Elizabeth Young- 
husband, was noted as a brave naval officer 
of courage and valor, and, including Col. 
Younghusbancl, the English commissioner 
who has penetrated to Lhassa, there are 
others of the name prominent in the order of 
Knighthood. 

The Claverings are also connected with 
this line. Robert Clavering (sixteenth cen 
tury) married Mary, daughter and co-heiress 
of Sir Thomas Grey, of Horton, in North 
umberland. Anna Clavering, wife of Sir 
John Clavering, was a daughter of Sir 
Thomas Riddell; also Anne, daughter of 
William Lord Widdington (1659), married 
John Clavering. 

There are many descendants of the fam 
ily in the United States, and in Canada and 
other British possessions. John Younghus- 
band, the grandfather of Mrs. Wilson, was 
born at Richmond, England, where he 
learned the trade of millwright. After com 
ing to Canada he followed his trade in differ 



ent parts of Ontario, and later in life he went 
to Michigan, where he followed his trade, 
giving it up only for the quiet retirement of 
a rural and agricultural life he loved so well. 
He married Anna Brass, who died some 
months after coming to Canada, and they 
became the parents of several children, one 
of whom was the well-known Dr. Young- 
husband of Detroit, and another, Jane, who 
married John Morrison and became the 
mother of Mrs. Wilson. 

DR. THOMAS G. JOHNSTON, M. P. 
Among the prominent citizens of Sarnia no 
one stood higher in the public esteem than 
Dr. Thomas G. Johnston, M. P., both as a 
physician and as a statesman. A native of 
the city, his home and interests were centered 
there throughout his life, and for a number 
of years he was identified with its best devel 
opment and prosperity. His death, which 
occurred at Ottawa July 4, I95> brought 
universal grief to the community where he 
had spent his life, and which he was at 
the time representing in the Dominion 
Parliament. 

Dr. Johnston was born Aug. 4, 1848, in 
Sarnia, son of Dr. Thomas William John 
ston, who for many years was a well-known 
medical practitioner of Sarnia, and who was 
a son of Hugh and Mary (Bell) Johnston, 
natives of Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland. 
In his native land Hugh Johnston was a 
merchant. In 1832 he came to Ontario, and 
located for a short time at London, but in 
1833 he settled in Moore township, Lambton 
County, and there died. The children of this 
pioneer were as follows : Thomas William ; 
George, a farmer in Moore township; Ann 
Jane, the wife of Dr. Hyde ; Marie, the wife 
of John McGlashan; Eliza, the wife of 
Froome Talfourd : Sarah, the wife of Archi 
bald Geikie; Stewart, a farmer in Moore 
township; Hugh, who served as clerk of the 
court of Huron County; Mary Ann; Isa 
bella ; William ; and John. 

Thomas William Johnston, the eldest of 
the family, was born in Omagh, County Ty 
rone, Ireland. He received his medical edu 
cation at Louisiana Medical College, gradu- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ating after a four years course in that insti 
tution, and entered upon practice prior to 
coming to Canada, continuing with Dr. 
Stone, at New Orleans. Settling in Sarnia, 
he there enjoyed a large practice until, in 
1866. he accepted the office of registrar of 
Lambton County, which position he credita 
bly filled until his death, in 1876. Dr. John 
ston most acceptably held other public offices, 
was the first mayor of Sarnia elected by the 
people, and managed municipal affairs for 
three years with marked ability. Politically 
he was a Reformer, and fraternally was 
prominent in the Masonic bodies. 

In 1847 Dr. Thomas William Johnston 
was united in marriage with Miss Grace 
Sutherland, daughter of Thomas Sutherland, 
of Edinburgh, Scotland. Thomas Suther 
land came from Scotland to Ontario in 1832 
and died in Sarnia in 1861. He was a Scotch 
Episcopalian, and he built the first Episcopal 
Church in Moore. Nine children were born 
to Dr. Thomas W. Johnston and his wife, 
as follows : Thomas G. ; William, de 
ceased ; Edward Hugh, deceased, who was at 
one time clerk of Sarnia ; Mary Grace ; 
Sutherland, of whom extended mention is 
made elsewhere; Eliza L. ; Alexander S., 
of the Northwest ; Catherine, wife of J. M. 
Monroe, of Port Arthur; and Malcolm, 
deceased. 

Thomas G. Johnston, the eldest son of 
his parents, received his early education in 
the public and grammar schools of his native 
city, and began his preparation for the medi 
cal profession with his father, completing his 
studies in the Medical Department of McGill 
University, in 1871. Soon after he settled 
in Sarnia, succeeding to his father s practice, 
and continued in successful practice ever 
afterward, extending the reputation which 
his father had established. He assisted in the 
establishment of the Sarnia General Hospi 
tal. Dr. Johnston took a very active part in 
political life. He was chairman of the first 
board of health in Sarnia, served as council 
lor for two years, as member of the board of 
education four years, and as mayor of the 
city in 1896 and 1897. In politics he was a 
Reformer and a stanch supporter of Sir 



Wilfrid Laurier. When a vacancy in the 
representation of West Lambton occurred 
owing to the elevation of the late Judge Lis 
ter to the Bench, Dr. Johnston was the unan 
imous choice of the Liberals of this constit 
uency, and on Dec. 14, 1898, he defeated the 
Conservative candidate, Mr. John Farrall. 
He was re-elected at the general elections of 
1900 and 1904, when he was opposed by Mr. 
W. J. Hanna and Mr. James Clancy, respec 
tively. Dr. Johnston always took an active 
interest in militia affairs, and served as mem 
ber of the Lambton Provisional Battalion 
during the Fenian raid of 1866-67, receiving 
a medal for this service. He was a member 
of the Church of England, and fraternally 
belonged to the I. O. F. and the Masons, 
belonging to the R. A. M., Knights Templar 
of St. Simon of Cyrene, Scottish Rite, and 
Consistory at London. 

In 1873 Dr. Johnston was married to 
Miss Frances, daughter of the late George 
Brown, of Goderich, and to this union were 
born five children, namely : Frances, who 
married William B. Ellsworth, of New 
York City; Marianne Sutherland; Kenneth 
G., who was a member of the First Canadian 
Contingent, in the South African war, serv 
ing from Oct. 23, 1899, to Dec. 25, 1901, 
and is now connected with the Imperial Oil 
Co. Works, at Sarnia (he married Miss 
Kate Macvicar, daughter of the late Stuart 
A. Macvicar, of Sarnia) ; Bertha H., Mrs. 
H. F. Holland, of Wetland ; and Geoffrey M. 
The family has always stood very high in 
public esteem, and is prominent in the social 
circles of Sarnia. 

Dr. Johnston died at Ottawa, and the 
remains were brought to Sarnia for inter 
ment, Mr. Robert Stewart, M. P. for Ot 
tawa, accompanying the family. Many 
marks of respect were paid which showed the 
feeling of the community toward its late rep 
resentative in the highest legislative body of 
the Dominion. The following appeared in 
the Sarnia Observer of July 7, 1905 : 

"Formal expressions of grief are inade 
quate to express the feelings of the citizens 
of Sarnia over the sad event, and we feel 
that throughout the whole County of Lamb- 



10 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ton the news will fall with equally oppres 
sive sadness. The whole county mourns the 
loss of one of its distinguished and most re 
spected sons, one who, as its representative in 
the Parliament of the Dominion, had won a 
permanent place in its affections and of whose 
public career it felt justly proud. But the 
measure of the grief and sorrow of the com 
munity is small and weak in comparison with 
that of the heart-stricken wife and family 
who have to bear the full weight of the over 
shadowing affliction that falls upon those 
who suffer the irreparable loss of a beloved 
husband and parent. Such consolation as the 
deep-felt sympathy of the people among 
whom he lived, and to whom his genial na 
ture and many admirable qualities of head 
and heart were known, is offered to them 
with full hearts and self-evident sincerity of 
purpose. Lambton has suffered severe 
losses through the death of its public repre 
sentatives and most prominent citizens, but 
in no instance has the loss been more keenly 
felt or with more real sorrow than in the 
present instance. In the town of Sarnia, 
where he was born, educated, grew to man 
hood and earned the highest honors in his 
profession and in the preferments that are in 
the gift of the people, his death comes as a 
personal loss that is felt in every home and in 
every household. His memory will live long 
and pleasantly in the hearts of thousands of 
his fellow-citizens who have felt the genial 
warmth and fidelity of his friendship and the 
broad, whole-hearted generosity and charity 
that was characteristic of the man. Lambton 
has every reason to lament the loss of its dis 
tinguished son." 

HENRY WARREN LANCEY, whose 
death took place at his late home in Petrolia, 
Ont., Aug. 15, 1891, was one of the early 
settlers of that thriving city and was also one 
of her most capable business men. 

Mr. Lancey was born in the State of 
Maine, April 5. 1826, and was a son of 
Thomas and Susan (Wheat) Lancey, both 
natives of the same State. In his own lo 
cality he grew to manhood and there, in 1857, 



married Lydia Emeline Drummond, a 
daughter of John and Lydia (Emmons) 
Drummond. both of whom were born in the 
State of Maine. After his marriage Mr. 
Lancey engaged for some time in a retail and 
wholesale hardware business at Portland and 
continued to reside there until 1865, remov 
ing then to Petrolia to engage in the oil busi 
ness. That he was an able and thorough bus 
iness man was soon demonstrated by his suc 
cess in the new line, and from his entrance 
into it until his death he was one of the lar 
gest producers and developers of oil in this 
locality. With rare sagacity he became pos 
sessed of a number of the best fields and 
owned several hundred wells. In addition to 
his oil interests, Mr. Lancey invested exten 
sively in land and owned one of the most at 
tractive homes in Petrolia, known as the 
Lancey homestead. 

Mr. Lancey s complete and rapid com 
prehension of business propositions induced 
him to join with other prominent men in the 
erection of an oil refinery, which was suc 
cessfully operated for a number of years. In 
1 88 1, to meet the demands of the growing 
population, Mr. Lancey erected a commo 
dious brick business block on Petrolia street, 
the first one built here, his foresight enabling 
him to see the certain great future prosper 
ity awaiting this city. In acknowledgment 
of some of the criticisms of his friends he 
named the new erection "Lancey s Folly," 
and thus it appears on the capstone. In this 
building Mr. Lancey carried on a general 
mercantile business for seven years, dispos 
ing of it on account of failing health, at 
which time he gave up all business care. Al 
though deeply interested in the development 
of Petrolia, he was no politician and cared 
nothing for public office, consenting to serve 
on the council for only one year. His busi 
ness interested him, he closely devoted him 
self to it, and thus made it eminently a suc 
cess. Always honorable and upright, he de 
manded equal honesty from others and de 
manded justice on all occasions, as he never 
failed to award it. Few men in Petrolia have 
held larger interests and few were so thor- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ii 



oughly respected through a long and useful 
life. 

Mrs. Lancey died in 1899. She was born 
in 1832, and was the devoted mother of three 
children : Ella Warren, Mrs. William Eng 
lish, of Petrolia ; Emma, wife of Henry B. 
Sherman, of California, who died leaving 
children, Lancey and Louise; and Henry 
Warren, who died in infancy. 

MAJOR BENJAMIN " STODDARD 
VAN TUYL, who departed this life at Pe 
trolia, Dec. 19, 1900, was for many years 
one of the enterprising business men of that 
place. He w r as a native of New York State, 
born Nov. 29, 1840, son of Thomas and Sur- 
vina (Stoddard) VanTuyl, both of whom 
were born in the "Empire State," where 
Thomas VanTuyl was a prominent mer 
chant and lumberman, and an extensive 
landowner. 

Major B. S. VanTuyl was reared to 
manhood in tlTe" town of Prattsburg, in the 
State of New York. At the age of twenty 
he was an instructor in writing and book 
keeping in Eastman s Business College, 
Poughkeepsie, New York. 

The rank of Major was gained during 
the late American Rebellion, in which he 
served in the i6ist New York Volunteers, 
having charge of a company, and receiving 
promotion to Major before his honorable dis 
charge. In 1866 Mr. Van Tuyl, attracted by 
the oil boom at Petrolia, came here and set 
tled, and shortly afterward married Miss 
Kate Cheney, who was also a native of 
Prattsburg, New York. 

For many years Mr. VanTuyl was en 
gaged in contracting for the drilling of 
artesian wells, and also entered into oil 
operating. In 1875 M r - VanTuyl, together 
with Mr. J. H. Fairbank, entered into the 
"Hardware business" in Petrolia, under the 
style of VanTuyl & Fairbank. and he con 
tinued the active member of this firm until 
his death. 

In his political affiliations he was a Re 
former. Fraternally he was much interested 
in the K.- of P., and at one time was Vice- 
Grand Chancellor of this society in Canada. 



In municipal matters he took small part, but 
at all times was heart and soul for the wel 
fare of his adopted country and town, and 
for many years was a prominent-figure on the 
streets of Petrolia. In his death the town 
lost one of its most highly esteemed resi 
dents. 

To Major and Mrs. VanTuyl were born 
children as follows : Major Thomas W., late 
of Petrolia, who was an honor graduate and 
winner of the Governor General s Bronze 
Medal at the Royal Military College, Kings 
ton, in the year 1891, responded to the 
Mother Country s call during the South 
African War, and served in the Second Con 
tingent as First Lieutenant under Lieuten 
ant-Colonel Drury until its return to Canada, 
at which time he received an appointment as 
Captain under Colonel Girouard, in the Im 
perial Military Railways. He returned 
home in January, 1901, and died in August, 
1903. B. Blossom VanTuyl, who is en 
gaged in the manufacture of explosives in 
Petrolia. Louis G., a graduate in 1903 of 
the Royal Military College at Kingston, and 
since in the Intelligence branch of the Mili 
tia and Defence Department at Ottawa. The 
mother of this family passed away August 
n, 1886. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Van 
Tuyl married Mrs. Emma (Hovey) Will 
iams, who survives him. 

ROBERT WILKINSON, who is living 
retired in the village of Warwick, is a self- 
made man, the success he has attained being 
due to his own efforts honestly applied. He 
is a native of England, born in the parish of 
Marnham, Trent, Nottinghamshire, Oct. 23, 
1838. 

Joseph Wilkinson, the father of Robert, 
was a native of the same place, and was a 
farmer by occupation. He owned a small 
tract of land, and also carried on agricultural 
pursuits on rented land, thus supporting his 
family. He was married in his native place 
to Mary Chambers, who was born in the 
parish of Muskham, Nottinghamshire, and 
they became the parents of a large family of 
children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. 
The others were : Reuben, a resident of Ade- 



12 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



laide township, Middlesex County; Annie, 
who married Jacob Hull, and after his death 
James Gerrett, and now resides in Michigan ; 
Joseph, a resident of Metcalfe township, 
Middlesex County; Robert, our subject; 
George, a resident of Chicago ; Charles, also 
of Chicago ; Mary Jane, who died young, un 
married ; and Henry, who died in Michigan. 

Seeing his family growing up around 
him, and knowing that it would be a hard 
struggle to make a home, Mr. Wilkinson de 
cided to come to Canada, and, disposing of 
his modest holdings, left his native country 
in 1851, with his wife and eight small chil 
dren. Leaving Liverpool on a sailing vessel, 
after a five weeks passage they arrived in 
New York, whence they made their way to 
Ontario, sailing up the Hudson river to Al 
bany, and traveling to Buffalo by railroad, 
from where a little steamer was taken to Port 
Stanley. Thence the journey was continued 
by wagon to Strathroy, Middlesex County. 
There Mr. Wilkinson bought a small farm 
and rented 300 acres in Adelaide township, 
and started to make his own home. In 1855 
his faithful wife died, and he passed away 
shortly after, both being interred in the cem 
etery on the 4th Line of Adelaide township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson were attendants of 
the Methodist Church. 

The eight children, bereft of their pa 
rents, were obliged to make their own way 
in the world, and Robert, still in his teens, 
faced the problem of self-support promptly 
and cheerfully. His education had been lim 
ited to the parish schools of his native coun 
try and the district schools of his new home, 
and he had been reared to a life of hard 
work. He started to learn the carpenter s 
trade, at which he continued only one year, 
however, and then took up farm labor, work 
ing during the summer months at ten dollars 
per month and board, and during the win 
ter season for his board. Saving from his 
scanty earnings, and being also the posses 
sor of a little money left him by his grand 
father in England, in 1860 he had accumu 
lated enough to make a payment on sixty 
acres of bush land in Adelaide township. 
Mr. Wilkinson settled clown to the life and 



work of a pioneer, and clearing a part of his 
tract erected a log cabin. He married in 
London, Ont., in June, 1860, Eliza Lambert, 
who was born in Lobo township, Middlesex 
County, daughter of John and Mary 
(Smith) Lambert, natives of England, and 
old settlers of Lambton and Middlesex. Mr. 
Wilkinson brought his young bride to the 
little log cabin in the woods, where they 
worked together to make a home. By hard 
work and tireless energy he succeeded in 
clearing his farm, making many improve 
ments, and erecting good buildings, and later 
bought a fifty-acre tract in the same town 
ship, operating both places. He resided on 
his first farm for ten years, and when he sold 
this place removed to the fifty-acre tract, on 
which he continued for one year. He then 
located in Warwick township, Lambton 
County, and, buying 100 acres on the south 
side of the Egremont road, west of the vil 
lage of Warwick, settled down to finish the 
clearing, thirty acres having already been 
done. He then purchased the fifty acres west 
of this tract, where he made his home for 
some time, disposing of his fifty acres in 
Adelaide township. Mr. Wilkinson culti 
vated his farms with great success, and later 
sold his fifty acres, buying 100 acres on the 
north side of the Egremont road, opposite 
the first 100. Here he erected a fine brick 
dwelling-house and engaged in general 
farming, making a specialty of raising 
Shorthorn Durham cattle and Leicester 
sheep, and being very successful in this line. 
In 1900 Mr. Wilkinson retired from ac 
tive life, turning over the management of 
his farm to his sons. He and his wife moved 
to Watford, where they made their home for 
a time, but wishing to be near their children 
they came to Warwick in 1903, Mr. Wilkin 
son buying a residence, where they have 
since lived, happy in the knowledge of lives 
well and honestly spent. While retired from 
active business Mr. Wilkinson is still greatly 
interested in everything agricultural. For 
years he was a member of the Dominion of 
Canada Shorthorn Durham Breeders Asso 
ciation of Toronto. He is a lover of fine 
horses and cattle of all kinds and his fine 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



stock received many prizes at county and 
township fairs. He was one of the stanch 
supporters of the East Lambton Agricultural 
Society and the Warwick Township Agri 
cultural Society, of which societies he served 
as president. Mr. Wilkinson is in full pos 
session of all his faculties, and may be said 
to be sixty-seven years young, as his activity 
would suggest. He is a stanch Reformer, 
but not an office-seeker, and has alwavs 
taken a great interest in educational matters. 
He and his estimable wife are members of 
the Methodist Church in Warwick village, 
and have been since coming to Canada. 

Mr. Wilkinson has made two trips to 
Europe, the first in 1880, with a cargo of 
cattle, of which he had charge for Mr. 
James, of Bosanquet. This cargo was con 
signed to Liverpool, and while in England 
Mr. Wilkinson visited the place of his birth. 
In 1898 he made his second trip, taking a 
cargo of cattle for Thomas Branden to Lon 
don, on this trip making a visit to Edin 
burgh, Scotland. 

Mr. Wilkinson is strictly temperate in 
his habits, and has never in his life been ad 
dicted to the use of tobacco or strong drink. 
He has reared his sons to this belief, and 
they, like their father, believe that strong 
drink is the bane of the country. Mrs. Wil 
kinson, our subject s partner in all his trials 
and hardships, has proven a faithful and 
loving helpmeet, and now. in the evening of 
her life, is enjoying the fruits of her early 
labor. She was always a model housewife, 
and was noted as a buttermaker, her product 
always being among the list of prize winners. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilkinson the 
following children have beeen born : Delilah 
May, who married Charles Hawkins,; of 
Warwick township, has four children, Al 
bert, Edwin, Robert J. and Mary G. Will 
iam Henry, a farmer of Plympton town 
ship, married Agnes Montgomery, of 
Plympton township, and they have four chil 
dren, Marshall G.. Sarah, Elsa M. and Rob 
ert J. George Marshall died at the age of 
twenty-two years, of brain fever. John 
Charles is engaged in farming on the home 
stead in Warwick township ; he married 



Anna J. McRorie, and has four children, 
Yerna, Etta, Mina M. and Gordon H. 
Edith Butler, the adopted daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. Wilkinson, married William La- 
dell, of Wyoming, and they have two sons, 
Laverne and Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Wil 
kinson have fourteen grandchildren. 

CHARLES JAMES FISHER MOR 
RIS, who departed this life at his late resi 
dence in Sarnia, in 1895, was one of the most 
highly esteemed of the town s citizens, 
and for many years one of the leading 
business men of that place. He was engaged 
in the grocery, flour and grain business, and 
his excellent methods had much to do with 
the success of the latter industry at Sarnia. 

Mr. Morris was born in 1837, in Lon 
don, Ont., a son of Henry and Mary Ann 
(Fisher) Morris, and his ancestral line 
reaches back to some of the old-established 
families of England. In 1736 Col. Valen 
tine Morris founded Piercefield Park, at 
Chepstow, the county seat of Monmouth 
shire. England, this beautiful tract of land 
extending a distance of fourteen miles. This 
great estate was beautified by his son, Val 
entine, and the stately mansion was enlarged 
and remodeled, and at the same time fitted 
with elaborate and costly furnishings. The 
Morris homestead of old England is one of 
the beautiful private estates which the tour 
ist deems it a privilege to see. Valentine 
Morris was a man of education and culture 
and was appointed governor of the isle of St. 
Vincent, West Indies, which has lately be 
come of such melancholy interest to the rest 
of the world on account of the terrific erup 
tions of Mont Pelee. Valentine Morris, 
after a successful administrative career, died 
in his beautiful English home and was laid 
away with his ancestors. 

George Morris, son of Valentine, spent 
his life on his English estate, became a man 
of prominence in his locality, and reared a 
family of three children, one son, Henry, 
and two daughters, both of the latter be 
coming the wives of English bankers. 

Henry Morris, son of George, was 
reared in the old family home at Piercefield 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



14 

Park, enjoying every advantage of social 
life. In 1833 he emigrated with his \vife and 
two children to Canada, locating at London, 
Ont., where he lived a retired gentleman un 
til his death, in 1862. He married Ann 
Fisher, who passed away in 1840. The two 
children of this union were: Henry George 
Yearsley, who died in Toledo, Ohio, in 
which city he had for some years engaged 
in a hardware business, and Charles James 
Fisher, late of Sarnia. 

Charles J. F. Morris was carefully edu 
cated by private tutors in his native city, and 
there began his business career as a buyer 
of grain in 1867. Settling in Windsor he 
established himself in the flour and grain 
business, continuing there three years. After 
spending a year in London he then located in 
Sarnia, its favorable location for transport 
ing facilities making it desirable for the pur 
poses of the wholesale business in flour and 
grain, in which he embarked. Mr. Morris 
was a most careful man of business and 
prospered in his undertakings until his en 
ergy and health were broken by the grief he 
felt over the death of his eldest son, Charles 
Henry, a young man of great promise, at the 
age of twenty years. This bereavement fell 
upon Mr. Morris in 1888, and caused his re 
tirement from business until 1894, when he 
opened up a grain and seed business, and he 
was thus engaged when his life suddenly 
ended, death giving him little warning. He 
was a man of few words, of earnest, thought 
ful character, and of gentle, courtly man 
ner, and one who attracted only those of his 
own kind or permitted only such to become 
close friends. Among the most eminent in 
town and county he was esteemed and be 
loved. Politically he was a Conservative, 
and fraternally a member of the A. F. & 
A. M. He was reared in the Church of Eng 
land, and he never departed from its belief 
and customs. 

In 1867 Mr. Morris married Lydia Al 
len, a native of Middlesex, and a daughter of 
Robert Allen, who married a Broderick. To 
this union four children were born, namely : 
Charles Henry, deceased; Franklin, de 
ceased ; Stanley, deceased ; and Stella Fisher, 



who resides with her mother at the family 

residence in Sarnia. Both she and mother 

are valued members of the Methodist 
Church. 

WILLIAM ALEXANDER MUNNS, 
M. D., now the popular postmaster of Thed- 
ford, has for over thirty years been a leading 
physician in that place, and has by his keen 
personal interest in his patients, as well as 
by his effective cures, won for himself the 
lasting regard of his fellow-citizens. Hav 
ing now reached the far milestone of three 
score and ten he has retired from the profes 
sion, though his advice is often requested 
concerning critical cases. He also conducts 
a drug store. 

Dr. Munns conies of the best Irish stock, 
his grandfather, Squire John Munns, having 
been a lifelong resident of Ireland. He mar 
ried a Miss Moore, who was a cousin of Torn 
Moore. John Munns, son of Squire John, 
and father of Dr. Munns, was born in Ire 
land, and there in a well-ordered home re 
ceived careful rearing. Upon reaching 
manhood he married, in that country, Mar 
garet Morrison, who was born in Ireland, 
daughter of William Alexander Morrison, a 
commission merchant of Sligo, Ireland. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Munns were born four chil 
dren: John, Andrew and Mary, who died 
young; and William A., who is mentioned 
below. In the twenties, some time after his 
marriage, Mr. Munns and family came to 
Ontario, and located in Toronto. Here, for 
the most part, they spent the rest of their 
lives. He died in 1846 and his wife in 1859. 
Mr. Munns was a man of broad culture and 
varied experience, and was highly respected 
wherever he was known. He prospered in 
business and always provided a good home 
for himself and family. In the welfare of 
his children he took a keen interest. 

William Alexander Munns, named for 
his grandfather Morrison, was born in To 
ronto, Oct. 9, 1834, and there under the 
beneficent influences of well-established in 
stitutions grew to manhood. In the gram 
mar school of that city he cultivated his lit 
erary studies, and, possessed of a keen, ac- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tive intellect, laid the foundation of a solid 
education. The necessity of early shoulder 
ing life s responsibilities induced him, upon 
leaving school, to learn the trade of machin 
ist, which he afterward followed for about 
twelve years. In the meantime he did not 
give up his active interest in education, but 
determining to prepare for medicine passed 
his evenings after a hard day s work in the 
diligent pursuit of his studies. In this way 
he prepared himself for entering Victoria 
University, where after a very thorough 
course of work he graduated in 1864 with 
the degree of M. D. The progress of the 
Civil war in the United States at this time 
furnished an excellent opportunity for prac 
tice in surgery, and immediately after his 
graduation he enlisted as assistant surgeon. 
After a short period, however, he resigned, 
and in 1865 took up his residence in Thed- 
ford, where he has since continued. He won 
for himself the confidence of the public from 
the start, and his untiring devotion to his pa 
tients soon secured him a large practice. For 
many years he was one of the hardest worked 
physicians in his section, having a wide 
country practice, to which, on account of bad 
roads, he was obliged to attend on horse 
back. His work increased, and in time he 
confined himself more especially to his vil 
lage practice. He was always popular, how 
ever, and for fully thirty-eight years fol 
lowed his profession uninterruptedly in 
Thedford. Finally, in 1898, having per 
formed his share of hard work, he retired. 

In 1868 Dr. Munns married Miss Mary 
Chester, who was born near Scarborough, 
Jan. 5, 1841, daughter of Utrick and Mary 
(Divine) Chester, and granddaughter of 
John Chester. To Dr. and Mrs. Munns have 
been born six children : ( I ) John, now a res 
ident of the Northwest Territory, is there en 
gaged in the jewelry business and watch 
making; he married Susan Hall, and they 
have two sons and one daughter. William 
Alexander, Charles and Gertrude. (2) Mar 
garet May married A. M. Fenwick. public 
school inspector at Regina, N. W. T., and 
they have two sons, Hobart and Kenneth. 
(3) Miss Lucy is the assistant postmistress 



at Thedford. (4) William A. is a bookkeeper 
at Moosejaw, X. W. T. (5) Elizabeth Ches 
ter, who is at home, is a graduate of music 
of the Toronto College, class of 1903. (6) 
Gertrude is deceased. 

Dr. Munns, in spite of his heavy profes 
sional duties, has found time for public af 
fairs, and since 1896 has acted as postmaster 
of Thedford, filling the office with marked 
fidelity and ability. Fraternally he stands 
high, and is court deputy and physician of 
the I. O. F., with which he has long affiliated. 
As regular attendants of the Presbyterian 
Church he and his family are active in re 
ligious circles. Politically he is a strong 
supporter of the Conservatives. As a large- 
hearted, broad-minded, public-spirited man 
he has won for himself friends in all circles. 

CAPT. WILLIAM BEXXER (de 
ceased). The history of any community, as 
the history of any country, is written in the 
lives and accomplishments of those who 
bore their part in its settlement and develop 
ment. Nowhere is this more truly exempli 
fied than in Lambton County, where the now 
flourishing section had to be redeemed from 
the wilderness by hard work and through 
many dangers. Among those whose names 
are honorably enrolled with the distinguished 
men of this locality is the late Capt. William 
Benner, who was born in April, 1810, in 
Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, son of Henry 
and Ann (Stephens) Benner. 

Capt. Benner s ancestors came to Eng 
land with the Prince of Orange in the 
troublesome times of 1686-87, being soldiers 
to settle matters. They remained in Eng 
land and finally went to Ireland. The Cap 
tain s parents came to Canada as early as 
1832, settling near Hamilton, Wentworth 
County, where they died leaving nine chil 
dren, those besides William being as fol 
lows : Robert, for many years a teacher in 
Canada, died at St. Clair, Ont, leaving a son 
and a daughter; Henry returned to Ireland, 
engaged in the banking business, and there 
died; John died in Wentworth County in 
young manhood ; Richard died in Hamilton ; 
Samuel is a retired farmer of Toronto; 



i6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Eliza married Edward Donnelly, and they 
are now both deceased ; Jane, deceased, mar 
ried Dr. Robert Campbell, of Buffalo, and 
left six children; Margaret, who married 
Henry Morgan, for many years a magistrate 
at Port Dover, has seven children, all of 
whom are living. 

William Benner received a finished edu 
cation in the schools of Tralee and Trinity 
College, Dublin. During the war of the Re 
bellion in Canada he served as a captain, and 
had a fine army record. In 1840 he married 
Miss Mary Costello, born in Limerick, Ire 
land, daughter of William Paul Costello, 
who died in Ireland. Having lost her mother 
when a young girl, Miss Costello located in 
New York, where she lived with friends 
until her marriage to Capt. Benner. They 
settled near Hamilton, Wentworth County, 
the Captain carrying on farming, until 1852, 
when they removed to Lambton County, 
where he had received government land, ad 
joining the village of Alvinston, and he was 
one of the first settlers of Brooke township. 
He cleared up a home from the wild land, 
and remained until the time of his death, 
which sad event occurred Dec. 4, 1868. He 
was buried in the Alvinston cemetery. Mrs. 
Benner survived until Sept. 23, 1874. Capt. 
Benner was for several years engaged in the 
mercantile business in Alvinston, and in 
1859 was appointed superintendent of the 
public schools, which position he held for 
some years. This family were members of 
the Church of England, while politically 
Capt. Benner was an active Conservative. 

The following children were born to 
Capt. William and Mary Benner. Two died 
in infancy. Mary A., Henrietta and Geor- 
giana reside in Alvinston in their pleasant 
home, which has been purchased since their 
father s death. William R., a farmer of Al 
vinston, in partnership with T. H. White, 
C. E., of St. Thomas, and J. M. Courtnght, 
C. E., of Inwood, purchased a tract of land 
east of Alvinston, which they laid out in 
town lots in 1873, and this was the begin 
ning of the present site of the town of Al 
vinston ; he married Miss Sarah I. Rundle, 
and has children, Fred W., James M. C., 



Augusta Mary and Charles. Frederick J. 
resides in Alvinston, where for many years, 
with his brother William R., he was engaged 
in the hotel business, and he now owns a 
farm in Brooke township; he married Jen- 
nette McNeil and has two children, F. James 
K. and Wilhelmina Mary. 

Miss Mary A. Benner is an artist of no 
mean ability, and specimens of her talent line 
her studio and the walls of her home. While 
making a specialty of portrait painting, she 
has not confined herself to this branch of her 
art, but has produced some excellent figure 
and landscape work. The Benner family has 
always been held in high esteem, and al 
though many years have elapsed since the 
passing away of Capt. Benner his memory is 
kept green in the hearts of his fellow towns 
men, and his descendants have inherited 
those sterling traits of character which made 
him so prominent a figure during his life 
time. 

JOHN D OYLY NOBLE, ESQ., the 
present mayor of Petrolia, Ont, is one of 
the most prominent and enterprising oil oper 
ators in Canada, being managing director of 
the Petrolia Oil Company; vice-president of 
the Petrolia Crude Oil and Tanking Com 
pany; and vice-president and managing di 
rector of the Crown Warehousing Company. 
He is a large stockholder in each of those 
companies. 

Mr. Noble was born Nov. 17, 1835, at 
Athboy, County Meath, Ireland, son of Rev. 
Robert Noble, a prominent Church of Eng 
land clergyman, who for forty years was the 
revered rector of Athboy Parish. His 
mother was Catharine, daughter of the Rev. 
James Burrows, of Killanley, County Sligo, 
and sister of the late Judge Burrows, of 
Kingston, Ont. Mr. Noble came to Canada 
in 1862, and was a vessel owner on the Ca 
nadian lakes until 1866, when he located in 
Petrolia as an oil operator. His first well 
yielded 266 barrels per day for three months, 
when a disastrous conflagration, caused by a 
careless neighboring engineer, destroyed it 
and about twenty other wells. The flames 
spread over ten acre j of oil-saturated ground, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



reached 100 feet in height, and lasted two 
weeks. Mr. Xoble then, with others, inau 
gurated a system of underground storage 
tanks, connected by pipe lines with the dif 
ferent refineries and the producers wells. 
He has followed the example of J. Pierpont 
Morgan, having consolidated all the compa 
nies in which he is interested into one amal 
gamation, and in the year 1902 he formed a 
strong English Company, called Canadian 
Oil Fields Limited, to purchase and take over 
all these properties and operate them under 
one management, by which a considerable 
saving in the running expenses was effected. 
He has put down and operated over five hun 
dred wells, giving employment to hundreds 
of laboring men. 

Mr. Xoble is a stanch Conservative, and 
always a zealous and influential campaigner 
in the General Dominion elections. He is 
an Episcopalian, having been churchwarden 
and lay delegate to the Synod of Huron for 
years, and always extends a ready hand to 
every worthy cause. During many years he 
occupied a seat at the municipal board, and 
has always taken a practical interest in the 
improvement and prosperity of Petrolia. In 
1904 he was elected mayor of Petrolia, and 
was re-elected in 1905. 

On Aug. 26, 1869, Mr. Noble married 
Miss Helen Kirkpatrick, daughter of Judge 
Kirkpatrick, of Peterboro, uncle of the late 
lieutenant-governor of Ontario. Mrs. No 
ble has always ably seconded her worthy hus 
band in his philanthropic acts, her kindness 
to the poor being well known. Their four 
sons are Robert Kirkpatrick, Stafford 
D Oyly, James Burrows, and Ernest An- 
nesley. 

Mr. Noble was appointed a delegate to 
the first Petroleum Congress, at Paris, which 
was held in the year 1900, during the time 
of the Paris Exhibition, where in the great 
hall set apart for the Petroleum Congress he 
read a paper on the "Canadian Oil Industry" 
which was interesting and heartily appreci 
ated by the delegates assembled from all 
parts of the world, as it contained some fea 
tures which are unique, and only applicable 
to the peculiar formation of the Canadian 



oil regions in the County of Lambton. The 
following interesting account of the Cana 
dian oil regions is taken from a portion of 
the address delivered by Mr. Noble, and as 
it refers specially to the County of Lambton, 
and the inducement offered to men of capital 
to settle in this part of Canada, we think it 
will be appreciated by the readers of this 
work : 

"The Canadian Oil Region is situated in 
the Counties of Lambton, Kent and Essex, 
which is what may be called the Garden of 
Canada, being situated in a lovely peninsula 
lying between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. 

"In this district the farms have all been 
cleared up, houses, barns and stables have 
been built, the country has been drained of 
surface water, and the finest crops grown 
anywhere can be seen in this section of the 
country. The reason of this is that the sur 
face of the ground, for ten to fifteen feet, is 
a rich alluvial black loam, formed by the 
droppings of the leaves of the trees in this 
primeval forest for a great number of years, 
underneath which, at about twenty feet from 
the surface, is a solid layer of tallowy, waxy 
kind of blue clay eighty feet thick, perfectly 
impervious, so that no water can penetrate 
it ; this prevents the water from sinking into 
the earth in a dry season, and keeps the land 
mellow, damp and cool, and just in the right 
condition to raise perfect crops. 

"In this region apples, pears, peaches, 
plums, grapes, melons, tomatoes, and fruits 
of all kinds, grow and flourish in the open 
air, as the season between the months of May 
and November is most salubrious ; and in 
addition to this many farmers have struck 
oil wells on their farms, as the County of 
Lambton abounds in petroleum, at depth of 
four hundred and sixty feet below the sur 
face of the ground, and the remarkable sight 
can now be seen of farmers gathering luxu 
riant crops of wheat, oats, corn and hay from 
the surface of the ground, while the same 
fields are surrounded by a row of derricks 
and oil wells, diligently pumping oil from a 
depth of four hundred and sixty feet below. 
"The oil formation is very curious, and 
lies in a stratum of oil-bearing rock from five 



iS 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to ten feet in thickness, at a depth of four 
hundred and sixty feet from the surface of 
the ground. The first one hundred feet is 
clay, and this is bored through with an 
auger, and is so compact that it cuts into 
cones just like a cheese, \vhich is done by a 
horse inside the derrick turning the auger 
round. The auger, full of about five feet 
of solid clay, is then pulled out by the steam 
engine and by a rope and pulley going over 
the top of the derrick; the clay is then de 
posited on the surface of the ground and the 
auger lowered for another charge. This is 
repeated until the top rock is struck, at r; 
depth of one hundred feet down; the horse 
is then dispensed with, as this operation only 
lasts about one day, which is all the time it 
takes to bore through the clay. An octag 
onal wooden conductor, eight to ten inches 
in diameter, made out of one-inch pine 
boards, is inserted into the hole, to prevent 
the clay from caving in, and the drilling is 
then commenced. This is done by the Cana 
dian system of pole tool drilling, and so expe 
ditious have the workmen become at this 
business that it only takes one week, working 
night and day, to drill an oil well in Canada ; 
and there are ten thousand wells pumping 
oil now in the County of Lambton. After 
the wooden conductor is lowered down to the 
top rock the drilling is carried on by means 
of a heavy iron bar thirty-six feet long and 
three and a half inches in diameter, shod at 
the bottom with steel, which is called the bit, 
for cutting the rock; to this are attached 
white ash poles thirty-six feet long each, and 
two and a half inches in diameter, the Cana 
dian white ash timber being especially 
adapted for this purpose. These poles have 
a screw pin on one end and a screw socket 
on the other; they stand up in the derrick, 
and as fast as the drilling of the well pro 
ceeds they are screwed together, and lowered 
down into the hole, attached to the heavy iron 
bar which is called the sinker bar or drill. 
The driller stands or sits at the top of the 
well, holding the poles, which are attached 
by a chain and swivel to the working beam, 
which is moved up and down by the steam 



engine, and the weight of the tool cuts the 
rock. 

"The driller keeps turning the poles 
around all the time, so as to make a round 
hole. When the bit gets dull the poles are 
raised by the steam engine and unscrewed, 
and they stand up in the derrick; the bit : s 
then removed from the bottom of the bar 
and another sharp bit screwed on. The cut 
tings are removed from the bottom of the 
hole by a hollow tube, which is lowered into 
the well with a valve opening inwards at the 
bottom. The weight of the tube, with the 
poles attached, forces all the cuttings into it 
through the valve, and when it is raised the 
weight of the cuttings closes the valve, and 
they are all caught inside and raised to the 
top ; and so on, until the well is finished. The 
poles being thirty-six feet long each, the 
driller can easily tell how deep the well is by 
the number of poles he has on. 

"There are short poles at the top to con 
nect to the working beam. The top rock 
which lies below the one hundred feet of clay 
is limestone forty feet thick, then comes one 
hundred and thirty-five feet of soapstone, 
making two hundred and seventy-five feet 
which has to be cased off with iron casing 
four and five-eighths inches in diameter, as 
the upper soapstone sometimes caves ; then 
comes fifteen feet of middle limestone rock, 
then forty feet of lower soapstone which does 
not cave ; after this there is one hundred and 
thirty feet of lower limestone rock to go 
through, making four hundred and sixty-five 
feet in all. At this point, and sometimes 
above it, from five to ten feet of oil-bearing 
rock is found lying horizontal in the ground 
parallel with the surface, and this is found 
in every well sunk within the limits of the 
oil belt, so there is no such thing in this terri 
tory as sinking a dry hole. The wells all 
pump more or less oil, according to the thick 
ness of the oil rock and the porous nature 
thereof. A nitro-glycerine torpedo is low 
ered down into the well, and exploded in the 
oil-bearing rock, so as to shatter the rock and 
allow the oil more freely to flow into the 
well. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



"After this is done the wells are drilled 
down ten or fifteen feet below the bottom of 
the oil rock, so as to leave a pocket, which 
would make the well in all about four hun 
dred and eighty feet deep, and they are four 
and a half inches in diameter. 

"The expense of drilling the hole, which 
only takes about one week, working night 
and day, to accomplish, is very little. Drill 
ers who own their drilling rigs, and follow 
the business, can be found who will contract 
to furnish everything and drill a few wells 
on a man s farm for one hundred and fifty 
dollars to one hundred and sixty-five dollars 
each; to this must be added about fifty dol 
lars for shooting the well with nitro-glycer- 
ine, also the cost of the plant used in connec 
tion with the well for pumping the same. 
This consists of two hundred and seventy- 
five feet of iron casing four and five-eighths 
inches in diameter, to shut off the soapstone ; 
also four hundred and seventy feet of pump 
tubing one and one-quarter inches in diame 
ter, with a brass working barrel at the bot 
tom of it, containing the lower ball valve; 
also four hundred and seventy-five feet of 
three-eighths iron rods, to which is attached 
the upper ball valve, which works up and 
down inside the tubing in the brass working 
barrel, and by means of which the oil is lifted 
through the tubing from the bottom of the 
well, and forced into a tank on the surface of 
the ground. 

"This well plant costs two hundred and 
fifty dollars more, making the total cost of a 
well fully equipped for pumping about four 
hundred and sixty-five dollars; but this well 
plant can be removed to another well in case 
the well proves to be unproductive, so that 
the actual loss in sinking a dry hole is only 
about two hundred dollars. This, however, 
is a case of very rare occurrence in the Lamb- 
ton oil fields, as anywhere within the proved 
oil belt a well is obtained every time sufficient 
to pay interest at the rate of twenty-five per 
cent per annum on the capital invested in the 
sinking of each well. The very small cost 
of drilling these wells ; the shallow depth at 
which the oil is obtained, which enables two 
hundred wells to be grouped together and 



pumped so very economically from one cen 
tral power station by means of jerker lines; 
the low price at which the land can be ob 
tained, the title being perfect, having been 
handed down from the Canadian Govern 
ment without any royalty whatever to pay; 
and the cheap cost of pumping the oil, are in 
ducements which should commend the busi 
ness to any capitalist as a safe and profitable 
investment. 

"The manufacture and exportation of 
Canadian pole tools by the Oil \Yell Supply 
Company, of Petrolia, Canada, for drilling 
artesian wells, is an industry which is as 
suming large proportions, as the Canadian 
white ash is especially adapted for this pur 
pose. Many drillers and skilled mechanics 
from Petrolia, Ontario, have been sent with 
sets of these tools to all parts of the world, 
to drill artesian wells, either for oil in Gali- 
cia, Sumatra and Borneo, or for water in 
Australia. 

"A good new Canadian drilling rig, with 
a set of pole tools sufficient to drill a well 
four and a half inches in diameter and five 
hundred feet deep, including boiler and 
steam engine, is worth about two thousand 
dollars. 

"In pumping a well a little salt water 
usually comes up with the oil, and sinks at 
once to the bottom of the tank, from which 
it is drawn off, leaving the oil ready for ship 
ment. A number of wells are pumped into 
one tank, as about two wells can be drilled 
profitably on each acre of land. The oil is 
drawn away from these tanks by means of 
tank wagons containing eight barrels each, 
and delivered at the different receiving sta 
tions, or it is forced to those stations through 
pipe lines. 

"A company called The Petrolia Crude 
Oil and Tanking Company, which is now 
called Canadian Oil Fields Limited, has been 
in existence for many years, having a net 
work of pipe lines extending to most of the 
producers wells. 

"This company receives the oil from the 
producers and delivers it to the refiners at a 
small charge, or issues warehouse receipts 
for it deliverable on demand, and the pro- 



20 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ducer can hold his oil in perfectly safe under 
ground fireproof tanks, and sell it whenever 
he wishes to do so. 

"These underground tanks are circular 
in form and dug to any capacity required, the 
clay in the Canadian oil region being espe 
cially adapted for this purpose. There is one 
hundred feet of tallow-waxy kind of blue 
clay to go through before the top rock is 
reached a number of petrified cockle shells 
are found in the clay; this clay is perfectly 
impervious and is so compact that it will hold 
either oil or water without the slightest leak 
age. Expert workmen trim down the walls 
with their spades until they become smooth 
and shining, and when the hole is dug out 
they commence at the bottom and ring it 
up to the top with solid wooden rings. These 
rings are formed of kants, which are pieces 
of Canadian pine lumber cut in the form of 
the segment of a circle, and shaped just to fit 
the circular wall of the tank ; they are from 
three to four feet long, five inches wide and 
one inch thick. As the workman proceeds 
to nail them together and ring up the tank 
other workmen follow him, putting on the 
next piece so as to cover the joints, and so 
on until they ring up the tank to the top. 
When finished it is a nice sight to look at. 
This wooden lining is put in to prevent the 
possibility of any clay caving in, but not to 
stop leakage, as the solid blue clay holds the 
oil perfectly tight, and these tanks have been 
known to hold oil for ten years without any 
leakage whatever. Another great advantage 
of this system is that the oil is kept at an 
even temperature, and that there is no danger 
from lightning, which has caused so many 
disastrous fires in other places to oil stored 
in large iron tanks. The tanks for holding- 
crude oil are generally dug thirty feet in di 
ameter and sixty feet deep, and hold about 
eight thousand barrels in bulk of thirty-five 
imperial gallons to the barrel. It is only after 
sinking down about twenty feet that this 
peculiar formation of tallow-waxy kind _ of 
blue clay is found, the first twenty feet being 
a rich alluvial deposit, so well adapted for 
farming purposes. The blue clay is taken 
from the bottom of the tank and" puddled 



about one foot thick behind the wooden curb 
for the first twenty feet with heavy iron pud 
dling sticks, thus forming a perfect water 
tight tank, which is then covered with large 
oak timbers and two-inch planks with tar 
paper between and a coating of gravel on 
top. 

"The Canadian crude petroleum, when 
pumped from the wells, is of a dark green 
color, and the gravity is from thirty-two de 
grees to thirty-seven degrees by the Beaume 
hydrometer, according to the locality in 
which it is pumped. The finding of this oil 
is a great addition to the income of any 
farmer who is fortunate enough to strike oil 
on his farm. 

"Flowing wells are not often struck. The 
oil in the Canadian oil region at the present 
time is produced by pumping, but there is no 
reason why a flowing well should not be 
obtained if it is drilled in the right place, as 
there is a large extent of territory in the 
Canadian oil region waiting the advent of 
capital to develop it. The oil business now is 
a steady one, without any violent sensational 
fluctuations of being rich one day and poor 
the next on account of the well giving out, 
as these wells have been steadily pumping 
oil for the last thirty years, and the late Prof. 
Alfred R. C. Selwin, C. M. G., F. R. S., di 
rector of the Geological Survey of Canada T 
in his report said that the supply of oil from 
this district will continue for a long and in 
definite period of years. 

"Very little is known in Europe about 
the Canadian petroleum industry, for the rea 
son that the Canadian home market absorbs 
all the products which are manufactured 
from Canadian crude oil, and the demand 
for home consumption is constantly increas 
ing with the growth of the country, inso 
much that the present production of crude oil 
from the wells is only sufficient to supply 
two-thirds of the local demand, and the other 
third has to be imported from the United 
States. 

"There is ample room for the further de 
velopment of the Canadian petroleum indus 
try. Already there has been about twenty 
million dollars of capital invested in the bnsi- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



21 



ness in Ontario during the last thirty years, 
which has been principally provided by Cana 
dian and American investors; but the de 
mand is increasing so fast for petroleum that 
the introduction of more capital is needed, 
not only to increase the production suffi 
ciently to supply the demand for home con 
sumption, but also to develop an export mar 
ket for this product. 

"It is an industry capable of great exten 
sion, for the following reasons : 

"ist In consequence of the very small 
cost of drilling the holes. 

"2nd The lo\v average cost of produc 
ing the oil. 

"3rd The easy manner in which a num 
ber of wells can be grouped together and 
pumped from one central power station. 

"For these reasons it offers most remun 
erative returns to the capitalist. 

"When the oil is pumped out of the 
ground it is taken to a refinery, and pumped 
into an iron still, which is a cylinder ten feet 
in diameter and thirty feet long, set up on 
brickwork just like a boiler; fire is placed 
underneath, and the oil is all boiled away to 
steam or vapor, which is conveyed off the 
top of the still by means of iron pipes two 
inches in diameter ; these pipes run through a 
long box filled with cold water, and the ac 
tion of the water on the outside of the pipes 
condenses the vapor inside, so that it runs out 
of the end of each pipe a pure white stream of 
clear oil into a tank, which is the oil we burn. 
This distillate, as it is called, contains a 
superabundance of carbon, and it has to be 
pumped up into an agitator and given a 
washing of sulphuric acid, which precipitates 
all the extra carbon to the bottom and pre 
vents the oil from smoking the chimneys and 
crusting the wick. 

"Canadian crude oil contains about five 
per cent of benzine and forty-five per cent of 
illuminating oil. 

"After the illuminating oil is taken off. 
the heavy vapors are blown out of the still 
by an injection of steam and condensed, and 
this oil is sold for making gas or used for 
liquid fuel; the balance of the product left 
in the still is petroleum tar, which also can 



be used for liquid fuel, but it is very valua 
ble, as it is very rich in paraffin, and from it 
a large percentage of wax is obtained for 
making candles. It is also manufactured 
into lubricating oils of the very finest qual 
ity, and the residue makes a superior fuel, 
being very rich in carbon." 

SAMUEL C. STOKES, one of the 
leading men of Petrolia, is a native of Sar- 
nia township, Lambton County, and a son 
of one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. 
The family is of Scottish extraction and was 
founded in Ontario by Arthur Stokes, the 
grandfather of Samuel C. 

Arthur Stokes was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, about 1760, and married a native 
of Scotland. In 1812 they came to Ontario, 
locating in Dalhousie, County of Lanark, 
where Mr. Stokes engaged in farming and 
died about 1858. In his native land he was 
a mason by trade. He was twice married. 
By his first wife he had three sons, Arthur. 
John and William. Arthur died in Sarnia 
township, and William, when last heard 
from, was a merchant in New York. By 
the second marriage there were two chil 
dren : David, who married but left no fam 
ily ; and Mary, who became the wife of Mr. 
Brownlee, of Lanark County. 

John Stokes, the second son of the first 
marriage, was the father of our subject, and 
he was born at Glasgow, Scotland, in 1796. 
He came to Ontario in 1812. In 1827, in 
the County of Lanark, he married Mary 
Paul, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born in 
1809, who came to Canada in 1815 with her 
parents. Like his father he took up land in 
the County of Lanark and engaged in farm 
ing. Finding, however, after cutting down 
and burning up the timber, that the land was 
too rocky for successful farming, nothing 
daunted he decided to sell out and go west. 
Acting upon this wise resolution, and leav 
ing behind him for a time his wife and young 
children, John Stokes stoutly set his face 
towards the land of the setting sun. This 
was in the year 1834, before the day of rail 
roads and steamboats, and after walking 500 
miles he arrived at the present flourishing 



22 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



town of Sarnia, which at that time con 
tained some two or three houses. He pur 
chased a U. E. L. title to Lot 5, 2d Conces 
sion, of Sarnia township, and began to hew 
out a home for himself and family in the 
literally dense and howling forest. After 
clearing a few acres and building a comfort 
able log house he was followed by his wife 
and family, who came to Sarnia by boat in 
1835. She was met by her husband and 
conveyed through the woods by an ox-team 
to their future home. Here they lived hap 
pily until 1874, when a loving husband and 
a faithful father was removed by the hand of 
death. The trials and privations of the ear 
lier years of their sojourn here, retold so 
many times in the experience of the early set 
tlers, would form an interesting and profit 
able bit of reading for the rising generation. 
One of the most exciting and anxious of 
these, perhaps, was in the year 1837, when 
the husband left the providing of the children 
and their protection from the hungry wolves, 
which nightly serenaded their humble dwell 
ing, to the truly brave wife and mother, and 
himself with rifle on shoulder marched to 
the front in defence of home and country. 

In their religious belief Mr. and Mrs. 
John Stokes were Baptists. Politically he 
was a Reformer. To this pioneer couple 
the following children were born : Elizabeth 
married John Dennis; Arthur is deceased 
(he purchased 100 acres of land for fifty 
pounds and a yoke of oxen) ; John (de 
ceased) was a farmer of Sarnia township; 
David is a resident of Sarnia; James (de 
ceased) was one of the greatest ax men of 
his day, but contracted a cold after chopping 
in a race and died at Petrolia (he was six 
feet, four inches, tall) ; William is a resi 
dent of Petrolia; Mary Ann (deceased) 
married Thomas Drope; Samuel C. is men 
tioned later; Robert is of Petrolia; twins 
died unnamed ; George is deceased ; one died 
in infancy unnamed. 

Samuel C. Stokes was born Aug. 15, 
1848. At the age of eleven years he began 
to earn his own living, working as a laborer 
for farmers, and when he was fifteen he went 
to Oil Springs, and in two years became a 



contractor employing forty men. He cele 
brated his eighteenth birthday by giving a 
supper to his men at the log hotel of David 
Sheppard, at Oil Springs. On account of 
his youth he was known in those days as 
"the boy boss." 

In 1866 Mr. Stokes settled in Petrolia, 
and since then has been one of the leading 
contractors for the construction of under 
ground tanks in the county, and he is also a 
large oil producer. He took an important 
part in the construction of the Sarnia tunnel 
under the St. Clair river. Some expert en 
gineers had failed to accomplish this work, 
but he was very successful, and completed the 
sinking of a drainage shaft in feet deep 
and 1 6 feet, 4 inches, in diameter, and also 
completed other shafts in the tunnel. In 
addition to his oil business and contract work 
Mr. Stokes is a stockholder in the wagon 
works and the pork packing industries at 
Petrolia, and also attends to the large under 
ground oil tanks of the Imperial Oil Co., at 
Sarnia. In addition to attending to his busi 
ness affairs he has taken an important part 
in municipal matters in Petrolia, serving as 
a member of the town council, deputy reeve, 
and member of the county council, as well 
as of the school board. 

On March 8, 1871, Mr. Stokes and Miss 
Margaret Grieve, daughter of John Grieve, 
of Richmond Hill, near Toronto, were 
united in marriage, and to their union three 
children have been born: John is now a 
driller in California, and also operated for 
an English syndicate in Borneo; Jessie L. 
and Gladstone are at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stokes are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he is a Reformer, and 
he has always taken a deep interest in party 
affairs. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch 
Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. 
(belonging to Friendship Lodge, No. 65, 
of Petrolia), the S. O. S. and the A. O. U. 
W., being very popular in all these organiza 
tions. During all of his busy life Mr. Stokes 
has always found time to advance any meas 
ure he deemed would work toward the bet 
terment of his city, and he is consequently 
regarded as one of its representative men. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



DANIEL MACKENZIE died at his res 
idence in Sarnia Jan. 15, 1892, and is still 
deservedly revered by the citizens. For 
forty-five years prominent in business there, 
also officiating at different times as mayor 
and councilman, and serving the public in 
other capacities, he performed no insignifi 
cant part in drawing new industries into the 
place, furthering education, stamping out 
vice, and bringing law and order to bear 
upon the city government. 

Mr. MacKenzie came of a distinguished 
Scotch family. An uncle named Duncan, 
father of Judge John A. MacKenzie, as a 
soldier in the English army participated in 
the battle of Waterloo. Dr. John MacKen 
zie, father of Daniel, was a man of power in 
two prominent walks of life. A physician 
of no ordinary ability, he won for himself a 
deserved popularity. As a druggist he also 
conducted a large and profitable business for 
many years. His field of labor was Scot 
land, his native country, where for the most 
part he spent his life. His death occurred in 
1833. During his young manhood Mr. Mac 
Kenzie married Margaret Cameron, of a 
family prominent in the military annals of 
Scotland. She survived her husband, and 
in 1843 came to Canada with her children: 
Daniel, who is mentioned below ; Barbara, 
unmarried, of Wingham, Ont. ; Jane, de 
ceased wife of David Allen, of Beverley 
township, Ont. ; and Margaret, deceased, 
who married Hugh Ross. 

Both training and inherent ability pre 
destined Daniel MacKenzie for a business 
career. Born in Campbelltown Parish, Ar- 
desier. Inverness-shire, Scotland, March 4, 
1828, he there spent his early years. Gifted 
with an active brain and the student s power 
of application, in the parish schools of the 
neighborhood he obtained a thorough educa 
tion, and by keen observation in his father s 
drug store acquired practical knowledge of 
that business. In 1843, m his sixteenth year, 
he came with his mother and sisters to Can 
ada, and four years later, in 1847, to k up 
his residence in Sarnia. Here he for the 
most part spent the rest of his active life. In 
1849, m company with Thomas Houston, he 



opened a general store in Sarnia, which they 
conducted together, for five years. Then, in 
1854, Mr. Houston retired from the firm, 
leaving Mr. MacKenzie in full charge. Put 
ting in a large stock of dry goods, he in time 
confined his trade to that line exclusively, 
and he continued the business throughout his 
active life. What hard work, clear thinking, 
and persistence could accomplish Mr. Mac 
Kenzie did, and in a practical way reaped 
the rewards of his labor. From year to year 
he enlarged both his trade and stock of 
goods, gradually increasing his supply of 
high-grade goods, and his store was long 
considered one of the best and most reliable 
of its kind in the city. It brought in large 
money returns, which, as a public-spirited 
man, he invested in industries for the bene 
fit of his community. As a large stockholder 
in the Lambton Permanent Building and In 
vestment Society he served as president of 
that concern twelve years. 

On Sept. 27, 1858, Mr. MacKenzie mar 
ried Miss Margaret Flintoft, who comes of 
one of the old and prominent families of On 
tario. By this union there were five chil 
dren : James, now residing in Sarnia ; Alex 
ander Houston, a merchant at Dallas, Texas, 
who married Miss Minnie Poste, of Port 
Huron, Michigan ; Daniel George, . of Chi 
cago, Illinois ; Miss Margaret Rebecca ; and 
Mary Elizabeth, who married Edward Mc 
Donald, a merchant of Sarnia, Ontario. 

Mr. MacKenzie exerted an influence in 
many walks of life. During his residence in 
Sarnia there was scarcely a movement for 
the benefit of his community with which he 
was not prominently identified. Always 
evincing the keenest interest in educational 
matters, he served the city with marked effi 
ciency for twenty years on the school board, 
acting as chairman during the last year of 
that period. His accurate knowledge of 
business and his wisdom as a financier he 
turned to thoroughly good account in the 
city council, of which he was a member for 
many years. Through the merited esteem 
of his fellow-citizens he was elected mayor 
in 1878, and filled that office for one term to 
the entire satisfaction of his constituents. A 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



man of strong religious convictions, he was 
never tempted during his busiest hours with 
affairs of the world to shift his denomina 
tional responsibilities to the shoulders of 
others, but gave both his time and money 
toward the building up of St. Andrew s Pres 
byterian Church, of which he was long a 
member, devoting himself especially to the 
Sunday-school work. His large capacity for 
achievements, his philanthropy and his in 
tegrity of character won him the lasting re 
gard of his fellow-citizens. Fraternally he 
was a member of the Royal Arcanum. 

FLINTOFT. The Flintoft family, to 
which Mrs. MacKenzie belongs, numbers 
among its members several men of prom 
inence. Her uncle, James Flintoft, filled the 
office of sheriff of Lambton County for many 
years, and his son is the present incumbent. 
Christopher Flintoft, grandfather of Mrs. 
MacKenzie, came with his wife Mary 
Sanders and family to Canada as early as 
1811, finally settling in Sarnia. He died in 
that place at the residence of his son, Sheriff 
James Flintoft, mentioned above. 

John Flintoft, father of Mrs. MacKenzie, 
was born in England in 1805, and when but 
six years old, in 1811, came with his parents 
to Canada. During his early manhood he 
married Hannah Chambers, and after her 
death Miss Dazy Willis. By the first mar 
riage there was one child, Margaret, who is 
mentioned above. By the second marriage 
there were five children : James, now de 
ceased, was a farmer by occupation ; he mar 
ried and became the father of four sons, 
Albert, Herbert, Melzo and William. 
Ephraim, also deceased, likewise followed 
agriculture. Maria married Robert Culli- 
ford. Martha is the wife of John McNaugh- 
ton, a farmer near Beckwith, Ont. John 
now resides on the old homestead in Lanark 
Count}-, Ontario. 

ARCHIBALD MAcLEAX, registrar 
of deeds for the County of Lambton, was 
born at Leeds Village, County of Megantic, 
in the Province of Quebec, on the i6th day of 
August, 1837. He is of Highland Scottish 
ancestry. His father, Archibald MacLean, 



son of John, son of Neil, son of Hector, son 
of Farquhar, son of John Ban, son of Dun 
can, son of Alister, son of John Mohr, four 
teenth MacLean of Lochbuy, emigrated from 
Ross Mull, Argyllshire, Scotland, to Canada 
in 1809. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Mary MacKillop, daughter of Neil Mac- 
Killop and his wife, nee Mary MacKelvie, 
emigrated with her parents from Lochranza, 
Arran, Scotland, and settled in Inverness, 
Megantic, in 1829. To those parents were 
born four children, viz. : John MacLean, 
Esq., still living on the old homestead at 
Leeds; Mary, wife of Hugh Jamieson, de 
ceased; Neil, residing at Huntington, In 
diana, in the employment of the Pennsylva 
nia Railway system; and the subject of this 
sketch, whose early life was unmarked by 
any special circumstances. His parents 
taught their children both by precept and ex 
ample their duty to God, their country and 
their fellow creatures, and were before them 
a constant illustration of the virtues of indus 
try, temperance and self-reliance. He in 
herited from his parents a good constitution 
and a healthy frame, which was strengthened 
by abundance of open-air exercise in a brac 
ing climate, performing the strenuous and 
laborious operations incident to farming be 
fore labor-saving machinery was as plentiful 
as it is today. He attended the Provincial 
Normal School, Toronto, during its eigh 
teenth and twentieth sessions, and obtained 
therefrom a first-class certificate of qualifi 
cation as a teacher. He taught school for a 
time at London and afterward at Sarnia, 
Ont., entered McGill University, Montreal, 
as a medical student in 1864, graduated 
therefrom M. D. C. M. in 1867, and prac 
ticed his profession in the County of Lamb- 
ton from 1867 till 1891, when he was ap 
pointed to the office which he now holds. 

Dr. MacLean was married on the 2d of 
August, 1871, to Jane, second daughter of 
the late Alexander Leys, of Sarnia, and their 
surviving children are three daughters and 
four sons, viz. : Mary, at home ; Grace and 
Alice, teaching in the Sarnia schools ; J. 
Neil MacLean, M. D., member of the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario, prac- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ticing at Saginaw, Michigan ; Alex L. and 
Donald, hardware clerks. Sarnia ; and Fred 
W., attending school. Gordon (deceased) 
was accidentally drowned on his seventh 
birthday, June 5, 1891. 

CALEB KENNEDY, retired agricul 
turist of Bosanquet township, County of 
Lambton, and one of the well-known citi 
zens and leading public men of that section, 
is a native of Canada, born Feb. 10, 1836, 
in the township of Esquesing, County of 
Halton. 

The Kennedy family is of Highland- 
Scotch extraction, and the name in Scotland 
represented a small clan, which as far as can 
be traced was Protestant in faith. In heraldic 
symbols their crest was surmounted with the 
human arm, bearing in the hand an oaken 
branch with an acorn on it. Substantial in 
their faith, they were appropriately repre 
sented by this giant of the forest. Their kilt 
was the red and green. 

John Kennedy, the great-grandfather of 
Caleb, was born in Scotland. His parents, 
Presbyterian in faith, in times of religious 
persecution fled with him to the North of 
Ireland. When grown to manhood he came 
to America and was employed or connected 
with the Hudson Bay Fur Trading Com 
pany, in New Jersey. In the time of the 
French and Indian wars with Great Britain 
he was taken prisoner at what was then 
called Fort Schlosser, one and one-fourth 
miles above Niagara Falls, when he lost all 
he had and was carried a prisoner to Que 
bec, thence being taken to Paris, France, and 
later by exchange of prisoners to London, 
England. In this connection the following 
paragraph is of interest : 

"At present there is standing a chimney 
one and a quarter miles above the Niagara 
Falls, which history tells was built in 1750. 
It was in connection with the first stone 
structure built in that part of the country, 
and formed the chimney of the barracks of 
the French fort called Little Fort, which 
was burned by Joncaire when he was com 
pelled to retreat by the attack of the British 



in 1759. It was rebuilt two years afterward 
as an adjunct to Fort Schlosser, and 
though this last named fort has long since 
disappeared the chimney still stands in a 
perfect state of preservation, a most inter 
esting monument to the bygone days. From 
this point to Lewiston was the portage road 
known as the trail of travelers who went by 
water from lake to lake, but were obliged 
thus to travel to avoid the Falls and whirl 
pool rapids." 

In London John Kennedy married an 
English lady, and subsequently came to New 
Jersey and again entered the Fur Trading 
Company. He had four sons, John, William, 
Charles and Richard. John became the 
grandfather of Caleb Kennedy, and is men 
tioned below. Of William nothing can be 
learned. Of the other two, 

Charles Kennedy was a carpenter and 
joiner, and lived many years in St. Ann s or 
near John. He was a genius in wood carv 
ing, and made, in connection with his 
nephew, John Kennedy, the case for the cele 
brated "grandfather s clock" which stood so 
many years, and is still, in a house on the old 
farm at Middleport. This clock and also an 
apple-tree called the well-pole apple-tree, be 
cause it stood near a well, are still objects 
of great interest to the children and grand 
children and great-grandchildren, some of 
whom are dead, and some of whom still visit 
that place. 

Richard Kennedy was a blacksmith. He 
had located land in Canada, had purchased a 
house and made himself a tomahawk, and 
was about to start through the wilderness 
country for his family in New Jersey when 
another man proposed to make the journey 
with him. This man was afterward con 
victed and executed for the murder of an 
other man, at which time he confessed that 
when fording the Tonawanda river, he sat 
on the horse behind Richard Kennedy, hold 
ing the tomahawk in his hand, and that, 
having given a crushing blow, he then threw 
him into the river, and his lifeless body 
floated away. This information was learned 
through the newspapers, and was corro- 



26 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



borated by his never being heard of after 
this time. 

John Kennedy, grandfather of Caleb, 
was born May 8, 1761, in Essex County, 
New Jersey, and was pursuing his studies 
preparatory to entering professional life 
when the war of the Revolution broke out 
and prevented their continuance. He was 
old enough to have served in the army, but 
being small of stature passed unnoticed and 
was afterward excused by giving his serv 
ices, free of charge, to the government in a 
clerical capacity. He was a fine penman, 
being able to write in a legible hand the 
Lord s Prayer within the compass of an 
English shilling. When grown and married 
he became a professional school teacher. In 
those days feeling ran high against loyal 
British subjects who could not adapt them 
selves to the new order of things under the 
Republican government, and Mr. Kennedy 
finally decided to move with his wife and five 
young children to Canada. He started with 
a team of horses, but the horses dying on the 
way he turned to his old business, teaching 
school, for a while. He had a special talent 
for establishing discipline. There were a 
number of large booys who had previously 
ruled the school, and learning of a plot to 
close the door against him, he secreted him 
self in the loft, and when they were in wait 
ing, with door bolted, he came down upon 
them suddenly with a birch rod, with which 
he proceeded to establish authority, and 
proved himself an Abel Sampson. The 
people of the place offered him a houge and 
home if he would remain and settle among 
them permanently. Finally he started by 
boat or skiff, traveling by some river route 
until he reached Oswego, New York, thence 
proceeding by way of Lake Ontario to Niag 
ara, where he arrived June 8, 1795. From 
Niagara he went to a farm below St. Ann s, 
becoming the owner of a tract on the 
Twenty Mile Creek, near Smithville, in the 
Niagara district, where he was a pioneer, 
and one of the first U. E. Loyalists. He lo 
cated there in 1795, but remained only a 
short time, going to Middleport, where he 
remained until his death, on April 12, 1847. 



His remains were interred in the Presbyte 
rian burying-ground connected with the 
church a short distance below St. Ann s. On 
a white marble slab is the following inscrip 
tion : "In memory of John Kennedy, Sr., 
who was born in the State of New Jersey, 
came to this Province June 8, 1795, with a 
wife and five children. Died April 12, 1847. 
Aged 85 years, 1 1 months and four days." 
After settling in Canada he continued to 
teach school for a number of years, and he 
also did a great deal of the clerical work in 
his section, drawing up deeds, conveyancing, 
etc. He was twice married, first time in New 
Jersey to Charity Warts, who was born 
March 23, 1768, and raised two large fami 
lies of children, fifteen in all, to all of whom 
he gave a good common-school education, 
and whom he settled on farms of at least 
200 acres each. Three of the older sons, 
John, Charles and Morris, were volunteers 
or, as then called, flankers in the war of 
1812 with the United States. Charles took 
part in the battle of Lundy s Lane, and John 
at Queenstown Heights, and was one of the 
guards over Gen. Wadsworth and other 
American prisoners captured at that cele 
brated battle. Mr. Kennedy was particu 
larly anxious for the welfare of his family, 
and frequently admonished his grandchil 
dren to aim high in life, assuring them his 
ancestors were more than ordinary well-to-, 
do, intelligent and respectable people. 
Among the incidents of his younger life was 
his presence and assistance in erecting a log 
jail in Essex County, New Jersey, where he 
was born. It is worthy of note, too, that 
ninety years after his birth a grandson of 
his, who by birthright inherited the name of 
John, inspired by the tales he had heard of 
his grandfather s and great-grandfather s 
lives, returned to their native place and spent 
the most of his life in that vicinity. 

Seven children were born to John Ken 
nedy s first marriage, with Charity Warts, 
viz.: John, born March 4, 1787, was a sol 
dier in the war of 1812, and died on the 
homestead April 18, 1874. Elizabeth, born 
July 27, 1788, married Benajah Williams, 
the founder of Glen Williams, in the County 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



27 



of Halton, Ont. Ann, born March 30, 1790, 
died unmarried. Charles, born March 13, 
1792, was a sergeant in the war of 1812, be 
came a civil engineer and surveyor, and died 
on the old homestead June 12, 1854. Mor 
ris, born Nov. 4, 1794, died Oct. 12, 1886. 
Samuel, born May 12, 1797, entered the 
army toward the close of the war of 1812, 
and died March 7, 1879. George, born Sept. 
16, 1799, died Jan. 28, 1870; he was the 
founder of Georgetown, in Halton County, 
half of the town being built on his farm. The 
mother of these died on the home farm, and 
Mr. Kennedy married for his second wife 
Barbara Slough, who was born March 23, 
1773. Eight children were born to this 
union, namely: William, born Sept. 5, 1802, 
resided in Erin township, County of Well 
ington, and died Sept. 18, 1889. Charity, 
born March 29, 1804, married Darius 
Travis, who resided on Twenty Mile creek. 
Catharine, born Xov. 9, 1805, married a Mr. 
Hill, and removed to the United States. 
Phebe, born April 29, 1808, died young. 
Jacob, born April 29, 1809, was a resident of 
Smithville, Wentworth County, where he 
was quite active in public life, serving as 
reeve and warden of the county. Margaret, 
born Aug. 6, 1811, married Obadiah Roy, 
and resided in Erin township, Wellington 
County, dying June 17, 1887. Michael, born 
July 27, 1815, was a farmer of St. Ann s, 
Ont. David, born July 16, 1817, also made 
his home at St. Ann s, Ontario. 

Morris Kennedy, son of John and Charity 
(Warts) Kennedy and father of Caleb Ken 
nedy, was born Nov. 4, 1794, in New Jer 
sey, and was but an infant when brought by 
his parents to Canada. While they were wait 
ing at Oswego they met some Indians, who 
greatly admired Morris on account of his 
large black eyes and dark hair. A squaw 
asked the mother s permission to hold the 
child, and, watching her opportunity, made 
off with him into the woods before her 
treachery was suspected. A resolute man 
gave successful chase, however, and rescued 
the child, finding him with the squaw, who 
was in hiding. In Canada Morris Kennedy 
grew to manhood on the paternal homestead 



previously mentioned, receiving a good 
common-school education under his father s 
tuition. During the war of 1812 he joined 
the British army, and among other engage 
ments served at the battle of Lundy s Lane, 
the taking of Buffalo and Queenstown 
Heights, where he was shot through his big* 
toe. He moved to Halton County, where he 
obtained a soldier s right to 200 acres of land 
near Georgetown, adding 100 acres to the 
original tract, and acquiring in all 600 acres 
400 in one block. He continued to reside 
there, engaged in farming, until 1854, when 
he moved to Lambton County, locating on 
the 6th Line of Bosanquet, where he bought 
from the Canada Land Company, and set 
tled down to farming. After some time he 
rented that place and returned to George 
town, where he remained five years. Going 
back to Bosanquet he passed the remainder 
of his life there, engaged in successful farm 
ing operations. 

However, though a prosperous farmer, 
Mr. Kennedy did not devote all his time to 
agriculture. He was an ordained minister 
of the Methodist Church, was a local 
preacher in Bosanquet township for several 
years, and also did ministerial work in other 
sections. He died on his farm Oct. 12, 
1886, and was laid to rest in Ward s ceme 
tery, in Bosanquet township. In politics Mr. 
Kennedy was a lifelong Liberal, and he was 
a stanch advocate of the principles of George 
Brown. 

On Oct. 4, 1815, Morris Kennedy mar 
ried, at Smithville, Ont., Sarah Travis, who 
passed away April 28, 1874, in Bosanquef 
township, and was buried in Ward s ceme 
tery. Children as follows came to this union : 
Allen, born Jan. i, 1817, was a farmer in 
Halton County, and in Bosanquet township, 
Lambton County, and died at Muskoka, 
Ont. ; he was quite a prominent man in pub 
lic life, and served as reeve of Bosanquet 
township when Kent and Lambton met at 
Windsor to transact county business, and he 
was a justice of the peace for over fifty years. 
George, born Sept. 23, 1818, died in 
Georgetown. Ont. Luray, born Nov. 19, 
1819, married Robert Lyman. Susan, born 



28 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Jan. 3, 1822, married Calvin Lyman, and 
died in Michigan. Morris, born May 20, 
1824, resided on the old homestead at 
Georgetown, Ont. Elizabeth, born Aug. 22, 
1826, married Elijah Bailey, and lives with 
her daughter in Thedford, Ont. John, born 
Nov. 22, 1828, was a lumber manufacturer. 
Jacob, born April 14, 1831, was engaged 
with his brother Allen in lumber milling and 
was the owner of the first flour-mill in Thed 
ford ; he was township deputy reeve on sev 
eral occasions; he now makes his home in 
Flint, Mich. Martha, born Sept. 18, 1833, 
married Thomas Willsie, and makes her 
home at Owen Sound. Caleb was born Feb. 
10, 1836. Aquilla Smith, born Aug. 9, 
1839, died young. 

Morris Kennedy married for his second 
wife Caroline Shea, who died at the home of 
Mr. Caleb Kennedy March 2, 1886, and is 
buried in Ward s cemetery in Bosanquet 
township. 

Caleb Kennedy grew to manhood on the 
home farm near Georgetown, in Esquesing 
township, County of Halton, but was still in 
his teens when he came with his parents to 
Bosanquet township. He continued at home 
until 1859, when he commenced farming for 
himself on Lot 26, 6th Concession, afterward 
in all acquiring a tract of 300 acres, where 
he also engaged in stock raising and dealing 
until 1867, in which year he commenced 
merchandising. He was in business at Sea- 
forth, Huron County, for two years, at the 
end of which time he sold out and came to 
Thedford, where he started in the same line, 
remaining there for six years, during which 
time he was also engaged in operating the 
flour-mill in company with his brother Jacob 
and also carried on a drug store, being the 
owner of the first drug store in the place. At 
the end of the six years he sold out and re 
turned to farming. Selling his own farm 
later on he bought his father s homestead of 
100 acres in 1874, and there he has made his 
home ever since, carrying on general agri 
cultural pursuits and stock raising. He has 
been largely engaged in cattle dealing, buy 
ing and feeding for the Toronto market. In 
1904 he retired from active business pur 



suits, turning over the management of the 
farm to his youngest son. He was uni 
formly successful in all his business ventures, 
making them prosper by dint of hard work 
and close application, and had the faculty of 
making friends among his business associ 
ates wherever he was located. He is held in 
the highest esteem by all who know him, and 
has many warm friends in the neighborhood 
where his home has been for so many years. 

In political sentiment Mr. Kennedy is a 
strong Liberal and a stanch supporter of the 
principles of his party. He has held a num 
ber of important public positions, having 
been a member of the township council for 
three years ; reeve of the township seven 
years, sitting as a member of the county 
council by virtue of that office ; and about 
thirty years ago was appointed justice of 
the peace, which office he still holds. His 
interest in the welfare of his township and 
county has been productive of much good 
to the community. Fraternally he is a Blue 
Lodge Mason, belonging to Cassie Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., of Thedford, and a member 
of the Loyal Orange Association, belonging 
to Lodge No. 819 (of which he is past mas 
ter) and Scarlet Chapter, and also to the 
county organization. He is a prominent and 
active member of the Methodist Church of 
Thedford, of which he is serving as steward 
and trustee, and is also an earnest worker in 
the Sabbath school. Though active in all the 
various interests of his community Mr. Ken 
nedy is a home-loving man, of decidedly do 
mestic tastes, temperate in his habits, and a 
thoroughly good citizen. 

Mr. Kennedy was married Feb. 2, 1860. 
by Rev. William Woodward, to Catherine 
Guffin, who was born in Madoc, Hastings 
County. Ont., daughter of Horatio N. and 
Lucy (Moshise) Guffin, he a native of Ire 
land and an old settler of Madoc. Mrs. Ken 
nedy was a woman of intelligence and de 
voted to her home and family, and her 
death, which occurred Oct. 10, 1901, was re 
garded as a loss to the entire community. 
Her remains rest in Ward s cemetery, in 
Bosanquet township. During her young 
womanhood she taught school in Hastings 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



29 



County, Aladoc township, for some time. 
Like her husband she was a member and 
zealous worker in the Methodist Church. 
The following children were born to Air. and 
Mrs. Kennedy : Herbert and Herman, twins,, 
born Jan. 30, 1862, both died young; Ida- 
nett, born May 29, 1863, is married to W. 
H. Bell and resides in Ripley, Bruce county ; 
Emma Catherine, born Feb. 23, 1865, mar 
ried Joseph Clark, of Bosanquet township; 
Sarah Lucy, born Aug. 21, 1866, is at home; 
Harvey Caleb, born Oct. 26, 1867, is a 
stock broker at Wireton, Ont. ; Merritt Hil 
ton, born June n, 1869, married Almira 
Rayan and they reside in the Northwest Ter 
ritory, at Saskatoon; Lester, born June 25. 
1871, died young; Mary Amelia, bom July 
12, 1872, resides at home; Albert Franklin 
Charles, born July 21, 1878, now cultivates 
the homestead farm. 

DR. ARTHUR COURTHOPE 
POUSSETTE. One of the oldest and best 
known members of the medical fraternity of 
the County of Lambton is Dr. A. C. Pous- 
sette. who resides at Sarnia and enjoys a 
large practice among the leading people of 
that town. 

Dr. Poussette is of Anglo-French extrac 
tion. His grandfather, Richard Poussette, a 
retired gentleman and resident of the Isle of 
Jersey, married Mary Maddox. These two, 
with two daughters, were drowned on a voy 
age from France to the Isle of Jersey. Their 
children were : Alary ; Sophia ; Sarah Ann ; 
Peter Taylor, father of Dr. Poussette ; Rich 
ard Franklin. British minister of the Island 
of Hayti. where he died of yellow fever; 
Louisa; Emily; William Maddox. deceased, 
a gentleman in London, England ; and John, 
also of London, England. 

Peter T. Poussette was born in London, 
England, Oct. i. 1802, and studied law in 
his native city, there practicing his profes 
sion until 1839, when he emigrated to On 
tario. Before emigrating, he married 
Martha Courthope, fourth daughter of 
Thomas and Alary Courthope. of the County 
of Surrey, England. Upon his arrival in 
the New \Yorld. Air. Poussette purchased 



Lots II and 12, Concession 9, township of 
Sarnia, Lambton County, and here he re 
sided until 1852. At that time he was ap 
pointed postmaster of Sarnia, and held this 
position for two years. In 1853, upon the 
erection of Lambton into a separate county, 
he was made clerk of the peace, master in 
chancery, clerk of the First Division Court 
and clerk of the town of Sarnia, and he re 
tained these positions of trust until the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1877, his 
wife surviving him until 1892. Both he and 
his wife were members of the Church of 
England. Mr. Poussette was a Conservative 
in his political opinions. To himself and 
wife were born the following children : 
Arthur Courthope ; Henry Maddox, general 
agent for The Canada Life Insurance Com 
pany, at Sarnia ; Edward Waldo, deceased, a 
druggist in Sarnia ; Fannie, widow of the 
late E. H. Bucke, late of Sarnia, Ont. ; 
Alary, unmarried, residing in Sarnia ; A. P. 
Poussette, K. C., of Peterborough, Ontario; 
Florence, wife of Rev. Joseph Last, of 
Switzerland. A brother of Airs. Poussette, 
William Courthope. was Somerset Herald 
and deputy Garter King in the Heralds Col 
lege, of London, England. 

Dr. A. C. Poussette was born in London, 
England, Dec. 7, 1835, and was only a boy 
when brought to Ontario by his parents. 
His literary education was obtained in the 
grammar school of Sarnia, under the late 
John Walker, and in 1857, he entered AIcGill 
College, from which institution he was grad 
uated in 1860, with the degree of M. D. Im 
mediately after graduation, Dr. Poussette 
settled in Alooretown, Lambton County, 
where he remained until January. 1864, and 
then removed to Sarnia, and has been in ac 
tive practice in that town ever since. 

Dr. Poussette has always taken an active 
part in municipal affairs, and during the 
years 1871, 1872 and 1873, was a member 
of the town council. In 1877, 1879 and 1880 
he was reeve of Sarnia, whereby__he was a 
member of the county council. In 1886 he 
was elected mayor of Sarnia, and in August, 
1892, was elected reeve by acclamation to fill 
the place of the late Alichael Fleming. The 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Doctor has ever been a strong supporter of 
the Conservative party. 

In 1 86 1, Dr. Poussette and Miss Alicia, 
the second daughter of Captain George 
Hyde of the Royal Navy, were united in 
marriage. To this marriage were born the 
following children, now living: Julia Bux- 
ton; Maude Georgina, wife of Harold Wil- 
loughby, now of Cape Town, South Africa; 
Guy Frederick Champion of Winnipeg, 
Man. ; and Blanch Helen, at home. Dr. and 
Mrs. Poussette are members of St. George 
Church, Sarnia. The fraternal affiliations of 
Dr. Poussette are with the I. O. O. F., the 
Sons of England, and the Medical and Sur 
gical Association of County Lambton. He 
is at the present medical superintendent of 
the County of Lambton House of Refuge, 
and medical health officer of the town of 
Sarnia. 

WILLIAM ENGLISH, manager of the 
Crown Savings & Loan Company of Pe- 
trolia, one of the leading oil producers of 
that locality, and also president of the Pe- 
trolia Wagon Works, is a native of London 
township, Middlesex County. He is a son 
of Adam English, whose sketch appears else 
where. 

William English was born March 4, 
1860, and his literary training was received 
at London and Sarnia. In 1881 he came to 
Petrolia as bookkeeper for that prominent 
citizen, the late Henry Warren Lancey, a 
history of whose life will be found elsewhere. 
Mr. English continued in the capacity of 
bookkeeper for Mr. Lancey s large enter 
prises, and after the latter s death took 
charge of the settlement of his estate. At the 
conclusion of this work he engaged in a 
mercantile business, and in 1896, with J. H. 
Fairbank as president, he became manager 
of the Crown Savings & Loan Company. 
He is also largely interested in the oil pro 
ducing business and owns many of the pro 
ductive wells near Petrolia. Other enter 
prises in which he is actively interested are 
the Lambton Creamery Company (in part 
nership with J. E. Armstrong), organized 
in 1902, and the Petrolia Wagon Wofks, 



which were opened for business in October, 
1902, and promise to rank among the lar 
gest industries of the place. 

Mr. English is not only one of the most 
prominent business men of Petrolia, but he 
is also one of the most public-spirited, and 
active in municipal affairs. In 1898 the 
water commission was established in this city 
and Mr. English served most acceptably on 
the board for four consecutive years. In 
1902 he was chosen mayor of the city, and 
proved one of its best executive officers; he 
was re-elected in 1903. 

On Jan. i, 1891, Mr. English was united 
in marriage with Miss Ella Warren Lancey, 
daughter of the late Henry Warren and 
Lydia Emeline (Drummond) Lancey. Mrs. 
English was born in the State of Maine, but 
has been a resident of Petrolia since child 
hood, and is the only surviving member of 
her family. Mr. and Mrs. English have no 
children of their own, but the only daughter 
of Mrs. English s only sister finds a welcome 
place in their home and hearts. They are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Po 
litically Mr. English is a Conservative. 

MICHAEL FLEMING (deceased), 
one of the best known and most highly re 
spected business men and public-spirited citi 
zens of Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario, 
passed away at his late residence in this city, 
in 1892, leaving behind him many warm 
friends to mourn his loss. Few men have 
stood higher in the community in which they 
made their home, than did Mr. Fleming, and 
Sarnia lost one of its best citizens, and most 
earnest workers, when he died. 

Michael Fleming was born in Ireland 
Feb. 14, 1841, and when a small child was 
taken by his parents to New York City, 
where he soon became a messenger boy in a 
telegraph office. This first position decided 
his future career, for being naturally very 
quick, it was not long before the messenger 
boy had mastered the art of telegraphy, and 
when he was sixteen years of age, he went to 
Hamilton, Ontario. Here he secured a posi 
tion as telegrapher, and was placed in full 
charge of the office. This was a very un- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



usual occurrence, but although he was only 
sixteen, Mr. Fleming was so expert that he 
was deemed competent to attend to the busi 
ness of the office. Later, he went to Illinois, 
but soon returned to Ontario, and was made 
the chief operator for the Great Western 
Railroad at Sarnia, having full charge of the 
office at that point. Later the G. W. T. Co. 
was started and as his ability was recog 
nized, he became chief operator for same at 
Sarnia, holding this position from 1859 until 
his death. In connection with this position, 
Mr. Fleming had charge of the express bus 
iness at Sarnia, and was largely interested in 
various other enterprises. He -as one of 
the promoters of the Huron Lambton 

Loan Association, of which ,as manager 
until his death. Mr. Fleming also estab 
lished a private bank, which he successfully 
operated, continuing it during his lifetime. 
The first thirty miles of telegraph line built 
out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, were con 
structed by him. He was always foremost 
in promoting any enterprise he deemed likely 
to result in benefit to his city or county. 

Mr. Fleming was not only prominent as 
a business man, but he was one of the most 
active workers in a political way that Sarnia 
has ever known. For many years he was in 
the city council, was reeve of the place, and 
for four years was mayor of the city. There 
is no doubt that Mr. Fleming materially 
shortened his life by his close attention to his 
business and other duties, but he has left be 
hind him results which are recognized and 
appreciated by his grateful fellow-townsmen. 
In political faith Mr. Fleming was a most 
stanch and enthusiastic Reformer, and did 
much to make that party a factor in Sarnia. 
Although not a member of any church, he 
was a regular attendant upon the services of 
the Presbyterian Church, to which he con 
tributed liberally, and of which his wife is a 
member. 

In 1869 Mr. Fleming and Miss Annie 
Leys were united in marriage. Mrs. Flem 
ing is the daughter of Alexander and Jane 
(Hossie) Leys, an extended sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere. Eight children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming : Mich 



ael, deceased ; Jennie, a trained nurse of Chi 
cago; Edward, deceased; Annie, at home; 
Charles, in the Inland Revenue service at 
Sarnia; Hugh, with the Imperial Oil Com 
pany ; Kathleen and Nora, both at home. 

In 1876, Mr. Fleming built a beautiful 
home on the corner of Charlotte and Vidal 
streets, where Mrs. Fleming and her daugh 
ters now reside. 

WILLIAM A. GRAHAM has won by 
long years of efficient service not only many 
personal friends but the honest respect of all 
men, regardless of political party. He was 
born in Lanark County, Ont, Feb. 9, 1857, 
son of Thomas and Ann (Mclnnes) Gra 
ham, and grandson of Armour Graham, who 
died in 1881, aged eighty- four years. 

Thomas Graham was born in December, 
1830, on the Lanark farm which his father 
drew from the government in 1821, and 
lived there until he removed to Lambton 
County in 1881. There he still resides. He 
has been actively interested in the develop 
ment of the country, and has been an im 
portant factor in municipal affairs, serving 
ably as a member of the Lanark village coun 
cil. His wife, Ann Mclnnes, was born in 
August, 1835. They are members of the 
Church of England. Of their children all 
but two are living: William A., is mentioned 
below; Jessie A. married Wilson Bowen, a 
farmer in Dawn township; George is a 
farmer in Enniskillen township ; Rev. James, 
a clergyman in the Church of England, died 
at Owen Sound in 1894; Thomas A. is a car 
penter in Dakota ; Ida married George Bris- 
tow, a farmer in Assiniboia, N. W. T. ; Ema- 
line married A. W. Adams, a grain mer 
chant in Assiniboia ; Catherine married Irbin 
Briton, a Minnesota farmer. 

\Yilliam A. Graham received his prelim 
inary education in the schools of Lanark 
township, and then entered the Carleton 
Place high school, in 1876, receiving there 
from a third class certificate. He graduated 
from the Ottawa Normal School in 1880, 
and that year came to Lambton County. For 
seven and a half years he taught in School 
Section No. 19, in Warwick; during 1889-90 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



32 

was principal of the Wyoming public schools; 

and n 1891-02 was principal at Oil Springs, 

In 1892 Mr. Graham left the school room 

to en-aS in the oil business in partnership 

vtoR Whittaker, of Sarma, and so con- 

Sued until 1895. The next year marked 

ebeg^ning of his career as a public of- 

ficial He wfs made deputy reeve of Ennis- 

knkn and was a member of the county coun- 

c at the time of the abolition of the old sys- 

tern In 1898 1 899 and 1900 he was reeve, 

nd in IQO? he was elected to the county 

unS from Division No. 4, by the largest 

ma or it y sSen any candidate in the county 

that year and afterward was elected for an- 

oKrm by acclamation. In : 90 5 he was 

re elected county councillor by acclamation, 



finance, his sound judgment, and relentless 
energy in pushing the claims ot his clients, 
have given him prestige with business men 
and he is now solicitor for the County of 
Lambton and for a number of corporations. 
Mr. Cowan comes ot good Scotch ances- 
try. His grandfather Hector Cowan, 
passed a peaceful, contented life m the steady 
pursuit of one industry. Born among he 
hills of Scotland, he there early imbibed the 
spirit ol a pastoral Me. As a young man, 
looking for an occupation, he naturally de- 
cided upon that of a shepherd, which he con- 
tinued for the most part throughout his life 
He died in his native country. During hi, 
yomg rn^ootte^ A g nts W^ 
a woman of Scottish ancestry. After the 



At 



he is chairman of John is mentioned below Walter and An- 



he represented United States, where they settled and died, 



a 

and he has been looked upon and her husband are now deceased 



La bt0 "- led 

William and George. 



died in Huron County, Ont, in 1896, at the 
^ residents of Toronto> have never mar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Reports of the excellent agricultural op 
portunities open to one in America induced 
Mr. Cowan to come with his family to On 
tario in 1849. After a short residence in 
Gait he settled in 1850 upon a farm in Huron 
County, and engaged in agriculture. As 
much of the land was ne\v he had the unde 
sirable task of clearing and breaking it, but 
hard work and well-directed efforts soon ac 
complished this, and in time he had as good 
a farm as any in his vicinity. Here he en 
gaged in general farming extensively 
throughout his active life, dying at the home 
stead in 1895. Mr. Cowan was a progres 
sive man, ambitious alike for himself and his 
family. He kept well informed upon ques 
tions of public interest, and was influential 
in his community. 

John Cowan, son of John, Sr., started 
life as an ordinary farm boy, but with a dim 
ideal of greatness before him which has be 
come clearer and more pronounced as, with 
a dogged persistence, he has continually pur 
sued it. He was born in midocean, July 8. 
1849, during his parents voyage to America, 
and was reared for the most part in Huron 
County, Ont. At an early age he was sent 
to the public schools of his county, where his 
acquisitive mind and close attention to his 
studies marked him as a promising pupil. 
Availing himself of every opportunity within 
his reach for obtaining knowledge, upon at 
taining years of maturity he was thoroughly 
competent to teach. So ambitious was he 
that in 1872 he hired out as schoolmaster in 
the township of Hibbert, and besides follow 
ing his profession spent his spare moments 
in the study of law. For three years he thus 
busied himself; then he went to Stratford, 
and secured a chance of articling with John 
Idington, now Justice Idington. From the 
first it was evident that he possessed a legal 
mind, and he remained there for three years. 
The following year he was articled to Mr. 
Beaty, and at the time attended Osgoode 
Hall, Toronto, from which institution he 
graduated in 1879. The same year he was 
admitted to the Bar and, at Dresden, Kent 
County, began the practice of his profession. 
The outlook in this place, however, seemed 



33 

not the most desirable, and after six months 
he moved to Watford. Here conditions 
proved favorable, and he remained in that 
place until 1883. By this time he had met 
with considerable success, and was consid 
ered a lawyer with excellent prospects. He 
had made the acquaintance of a large num 
ber of men in his own profession, and on 
Feb. i. 1883, termed a partnership with Mr. 
Lister, of Sarnia. whither he soon afterward 
moved. For co-operative work he seemed 
eminently fitted, and the partnership was 
continued until 1898, when Mr. Lister was 
called to the Bench. The same year the firm 
of Cowan and McCarthy was formed, and 
the following year it was changed to Cowan, 
McCarthy and Towers. For two years it 
thus continued; then, in September, 1901, 
upon the withdrawal of Mr. McCarthy, it 
took its present name, Cowan and Towers. 
Since coming to Sarnia Mr. Cowan has had 
an extensive practice, which has steadily in 
creased from year to year. As a solicitor lie 
has been eminently successful, and is now 
acting in that capacity for the townships of 
Sarnia, Moore, Warwick, Brooke, Dawn, 
the town of Sarnia and other municipalities, 
also for the Traders Bank, the Industrial, 
Mortgage & Savings Co., and several other 
institutions. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Cowan married Eliza A. 
Mclntire, daughter of John Mclntire, of 
Huron County, and of this union there 
have teen eight children : Carrie, Kate, 
John, Stewart, Annie, Sussie, Hector and 
Frank. 

Mr. Cowan is strong in his profession. 
He not only has the confidence of the Bar 
in the County of Lambton, but has won a 
reputation extending beyond his locality. He 
is an indefatigable worker, and spares him 
self neither time nor strength in his investi 
gation of cases falling to his lot. He has 
been a lifelong student, and his legal lore <s 
thorough and extensive. As a citizen he is 
active in social, religious and public affairs. 
Both he and his wife belong to the Presby 
terian Church, and fraternally he affiliates 
with the Sons of Scotland and the Canadian 
Order of Foresters. 



34 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ROBERT BROWX, J. P., a prominent 
citizen of Moore township, is one of its old 
est living pioneers, having been a resident of 
the township for over seventy years, during 
which time he has seen what was once a 
great wilderness transformed to a fertile, 
well-populated region. When he first came 
here, wolves, bears, deer and other wild ani 
mals were numerous, and there were no 
roads, churches, schools or, any other evi 
dences of civilization, and only Indian trails 
to guide the traveler. The substantial farm 
ers now settled here, the offspring of the 
hardy Scotch, English and Irish settlers, 
have highly cultivated farms, good homes, 
fine churches and schools, and Mr. Brown 
has done his part nobly in bringing about this 
prosperous state of affairs. He has reared a 
family which reflect credit on the Christian 
training they received, and the lesson of in 
dustry and economy instilled into them in a 
well-regulated home. 

Mr. Brown was born in Edinburgh, 
Scotland, Oct. n, 1831. The Brown fam 
ily has been established in Scotland for gen 
erations, residing in and near Edin 
burgh. Peter Brown, the grandfather of 
Robert, was born there, and was a carpenter 
and joiner by occupation, following his trade 
in Edinburgh, where he spent his life. He 
was a firm adherent to the Established 
Church of Scotland, and lived and died in 
that faith. He married Ann Stuart, a woman 
of culture, who was a descendant of the 
Royal House of Stuart. She, too, was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. They 
became the parents of seven children, name 
ly : Jean, Margaret, James, Peter, Mary, 
Robert and Ann, all of whom lived and died 
in Scotland, except Robert. 

Robert Brown, son of Peter, and father 
of Robert, was born in the city of Edinburgh, 
where he was educated and learned the trade 
of carpenter and joiner. He followed that 
business in Edinburgh mostly as a con 
tractor, and was quite successful. There he 
married Janet McDuff, and they became the 
parents of six children, five of whom were 
torn in Edinburgh. Mr. Brown gave up 
his trade, due to a bad speculation in a part 



nership contract with two others, who had 
deceived him, so he turned to the New 
World, where he hoped he could improve his 
financial affairs and find a home for his fam 
ily, who were growing up around him. Tak 
ing passage at Greenock, Scotland, on a 
sailing vessel, with his wife and children, 
they landed in New York in 1836, after a six 
weeks voyage. Making their way to On 
tario, they sailed up the Hudson river to 
Albany, New York, and from there by way 
of the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence on Lake 
Erie to Detroit, where they embarked on 
the little steamer "Greshet, r which brought 
them up the St. Clair river to what was Suth 
erland s wharf, near Mooretown, in the 
township of Moore, Lambton county. They 
remained along the river front for two and a 
half years, during which time the Mackenzie 
Rebellion broke out, and Mr. Brown had to 
do his part as a loyal British subject, carry 
ing arms in defense of his king s rights. In 
1839 he moved his family to a place on Bear 
Creek, Moore township, where he bought a 
tract of 100 acres on Lot 9, 5th Concession, 
owned by a Mr. Sturdevant, and on which 
was a small log house but no clearing. There 
was only an Indian trail in lieu of a road, 
and here he settled his family, and set out 
to make a home for himself in which he 
succeeded with the help of his growing sons. 
They cleared up the land, and in time put 
up a brick dwelling house, substantial barns, 
and made other improvements on the land. 
Mr. Brown later bought 1,000 acres of land 
at $i per acre, which he afterward sold for 
$2.50 per acre. He was a hard working man, 
and spent the rest of his life upon the farm 
and was quite active up to the time of his 
death, possessing all his faculties except his 
eyesight, which he lost some time before. 
He passed peacefully away at his home in 
1892, at the ripe age of ninety-six years and 
one month, and was laid to rest in the Bear 
Creek cemetery. Like his family he was a 
consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church, attending at Bear Creek. While in 
Edinburgh he was an elder of the Estab 
lished Church of Scotland. He always en 
deavored to live a true upright life, and died 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



35 



a Christian s death. His wife, who for sixty 
years was his faithful helpmate, followed 
him to the grave on the icist anniversary of 
her birth, April 6, 1902. She was active to 
the last, and during her young womanhood 
did much to help her husband in his strug 
gles for triumph over the hard conditions of 
life in the new country. She was a devoted 
wife and mother, and a true Christian, a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Her 
earlier days in this region were full of toil, 
for she had much to do to clothe and provide 
for her children : but her later years passed 
in comfort and peace, and she was carefully 
cared for by her family. The children of 
Robert and Janet (McDuff) Brown were as 
follows : Peter died in Moore township. 
Janet married William Young, of Moore 
township. Robert is mentioned below. Ann 
resides on the homestead. John died in 
Moore township. Margaret, the only one 
bom in Moore township, married Peter Dun 
can, and is now deceased. 

Robert Brown was but six years old 
when he left his Scotland home for the New 
World with his parents, settling in the wil 
derness in Moore township, where he grew 
up. They had few neighbors within miles 
of the home, and there were neither churches 
or schools. Desiring to get some education, 
he hired out at the age of thirteen years to 
George White, near Mooretown, on the river 
front, working and attending school for 
three years. Returning to the homestead, 
he worked with his father on the farm until 
he was nineteen years old. But he had a 
longing to see the world and get some prac 
tical knowledge, so he started for the West, 
going to Missouri, making a location at 
Weston, where his uncle, Peter McDuff, re 
sided. Here young Brown spent five and a 
half years, during which time he learned the 
trade of carpenter and joiner, and attended 
school for a short period during winter sea 
sons. Coming east again he located in De 
troit, Michigan, where he found work at his 
trade and where he spent two years. From 
there he went to Sarnia, where he remained 
one year, engaged in the carpenter and joiner 
trade, after which he returned to Moore 



township, and bought a tract of 100 acres on 
Lot 10, 5th Concession. Here he erected a 
small frame house to which he brought his 
wife, and they settled down to pioneer life. 
He succeeded by hard work in transforming 
his land to a well-cultivated farm, erected 
fine barns and other buildings, including 
\vhat is considered one of the finest frame 
dwellings in the township. Here he has 
raised and educated his family, fitting them 
to fight life s battles. He and his wife spent 
here forty-five years of happy married life, 
until death separated them, Mrs. Brown 
passing away July 12, 1899, after quite an 
illness, from cancer of the stomach. She 
was buried in Bear Creek cemetery. Mrs. 
Brown was a model helpmate and an earnest 
Christian woman, a consistent member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and beloved by all 
who knew her. Mr. Brown is now spending 
his declining years in the home which he 
made, and where he has lived for half a cen 
tury, cared for by his two devoted daughters. 
He has always led an honorable, upright 
life, honest to the core, through all the ups 
and downs of fortune which he experi 
enced in the accumulation of a competence. 
In politics he has been a stanch Reformer all 
his life, always supporting the principles of 
the Liberal party as laid down by its mem 
bers. He is no office seeker, but was ap 
pointed by the Ontario government a jus 
tice of the peace of the county, the duties of 
which office he has discharged with an even 
hand. Like his father and grandfather, he 
is a firm adherent of the Presbyterian Church 
and was one of the founders of the Bear 
Creek Church, being a member of the build 
ing committee and manager. When the 
church in Brigden was organized he became 
a member, and has been an elder of the 
church for many years. He takes a deep in 
terest in religious matters, and his daughters 
are quite active also in church work, choir. 
Sabbath-school, etc. Mr. Brown is still act 
ive and in good health, and his active intel 
lect shows no sign of impairment. 

Mr. Brown was married in Sarnia, Oct. 
ii, 1854, to Miss Jane Magdalene Kerr, of 
Goderich, Huron County, daughter of Capt. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



36 

Thomas and Magdalene (Bell) Kerr. Her 
father was a sea captain both in Scotland and 
on the Great Lakes of North America, and 
was lost on Lake Huron. The mother after 
ward married William Stokes, a blacksmith. 
Mrs. Brown became the mother of twelve 
children, viz. : Thomas Kerr, a resident of 
Petrolia, where he is a farmer ; Robert Bruce, 
a merchant of Brigden, Out. ; William Wal 
lace, a mason, residing in Brigden; Gilbert 
McDuff, a groceryman of Sarnia; Jane 
Magdalene, who married David McDonald, 
a merchant of Brigden; Jessie McDuff, at 
home ; Peter, who was killed by the fall of a 
tree at the age of five years ; John, a com 
mercial traveler, who resides in London; 
Laura Bell, married to John Grimes, station 
agent at Brigden, of the Michigan Central 
railroad; Carrie, at home; Melville, a rail 
road man with the Grand Trunk road, who 
was killed in February, 1905; and Garnett, 
who died in infancy. 

ROBERT RAE, of Thedford, was born 
Nov. 1 6, 1826, in the village of Lesmaha- 
gow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of Robert 
and Agnes (Hamilton) Rae. Both his 
grandfathers, Robert Rae and Robert Ham 
ilton, were natives of Scotland. Our subject 
was the second in the family of four chil 
dren born to his parents, viz. : Janet, now 
the widow of William Purdie, a farmer re 
siding in Malvern, Ont. ; Robert ; Margaret, 
deceased, who married Amos Thomson, a 
farmer now living in Scarborough, Ont.; 
and Archibald, a farmer who died in Bosan- 
quet township, unmarried. 

Robert Rae, our subject, remained in his 
native place until he was five years and four 
months old, when his parents emigrated to 
Canada. There were no railroads at that 
time in Scotland and no steamship lines 
crossing the Atlantic ocean. After having 
disposed of the greater part of their furniture 
and household effects they secured the serv 
ices of two carts to carry the balance of the 
household and personal effects, along with 
themselves and the members of their little 
family, composed of four children, to the city 
of Glasgow, about twenty-two miles distant, 



where they embarked at the Broomielaw on 
a small steamer for Greenock, with a view 
of taking immediate passage on the good 
ship "The Nailer." On arriving at Gree 
nock it was ascertained that the ship had been 
recently painted, and on that account it be 
came necessary to engage quarters for about 
a week in the town until the ship was in 
proper condition to receive her living freight. 
In due course a favorable breeze sprung up, 
the anchor was weighed and the sails hoisted 
to the wind, and the heather hills, the bosky 
dells and the wimpling burns of Caledonia 
were soon left behind in the distance and dis 
appeared from view, as the noble ship headed 
westward to face the billows of the western 
ocean. After a somewhat tedious voyage of 
seven weeks, during which time they encoun 
tered a number of severe storms and lay 
four days in a vast field of ice, they arrived 
at Quebec, the ancient capital of Lower Can- 
ada7 where they were transferred to the 
steamer "Chambly" and proceeded to Mon 
treal. They were then transferred to a craft 
called a"Durham boat," and continued their 
perilous journey up the river St. Lawrence 
until they reached Prescott, where they em 
barked on the steamer "William the Fourth," 
which brought them to Toronto, then named 
-York," the capital of Upper Canada; there 
they landed after a tedious passage of three 
weeks between Quebec and Toronto. About 
the ist of June, 1832, after landing in To 
ronto, they were met by Airs. Alexander 
Gibb, who lived on a farm about five miles 
from the city, up Yonge street, and she gave 
the party a cordial invitation to go home 
with her for a few days, which they gladly 
accepted. But as their destination was the 
township of Scarborough they only re 
mained at the Gibbs homestead for a short 
time, and then took their departure to visit 
an uncle, Robert Hamilton, who had settled 
in Scarborough township about two years 
before. As Mr. Hamilton was at this time 
engaged in chopping a fallow the father went 
out to assist him one afternoon. He had had 
no experience in felling timber, the first large 
tree that he undertook to cut down fell in 
the opposite direction to what he had in- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



37 



tended, and in attempting to get out of the 
way he ran in the wrong direction and was 
struck by the body of the tree and instantly 
killed, just four weeks after landing in To 
ronto. This was on June 28, 1832, and he 
was only about thirty years old at the time 
of his death; he was buried at St. Andrew s 
Church, in Scarborough. He left a widow 
and four small children wholly unprovided 
for, the eldest seven years old, the youngest 
a little over one year old. They remained in 
a small house on the uncle s place, Lot 25, 
in the 3d Concession of the township of 
Scarborough, until the fall of that year, when 
they removed to a small place of about fif 
teen acres which was rented from one Rob 
ert Stobo, situated about ten miles east of 
Toronto on the Kingston road. There they 
remained about eight years, during which 
time the widowed mother by hard work and 
rigid economy made a fairly comfortable liv 
ing for herself and young family, and accum 
ulated a sufficient amount of money to pur 
chase thirty acres of land, comprising part 
of Lot 1 8, in the 2d Concession of the town 
ship of Scarborough, near where the village 
of Malvern now stands. The desirable ob 
ject of purchasing land for a permanent 
home made it necessary that the children 
should commence work at an early age, even 
before they had acquired the ordinary com 
mon school education that was available 
under the very imperfect system that existed 
in the country at that time. When our sub 
ject was sixteen years of age he was unable 
to write his name, and at that time had ac 
quired no knowledge of arithmetic or gram 
mar, but he had completely mastered the 
shorter catechism at the age of seven, and by 
studying at home and attending the Sabbath- 
school and Bible class, conducted by the late 
Dr. George, he was fairly well grounded in 
Scripture subjects and doctrine. About the 
year 1840 the family moved from the Kings 
ton road and settled on the thirty acres of 
bush land they had purchased on the east side 
of the Markham road. Robert Rae was then 
fourteen years old, and although small for 
his age was able to do a good deal of work, 
so that the thirtv acres of bush land were in 



due time converted into a fairly productive 
little farm, within easy reach of Toronto 
markets, about fourteen miles distant, where 
the widowed mother and family were able 
to make a good comfortable living. After 
Mr. Rae was sixteen years of age he attended 
school about six weeks each winter until he 
was nineteen years old, during which time 
he acquired a fairly good common school ed 
ucation, which seemed to create in his mind a 
desire to study for one of the learned profes 
sions. Consequently he commenced the 
study of the classics, and made rapid pro 
gress in the study of the Latin and Greek 
languages, but after pursuing the study of 
these languages for about a year he decided 
to turn his attention to mercantile business. 
However, it was three or four years before 
an opportunity occurred for him to enter that 
line, during which time he continued to work 
on the farm and also to work out more or 
less, during "harvest, doing cradling and 
other work, until he was about twenty-four 
years of age. Then he engaged as a clerk 
in a grocery store, just west of the Market 
square in Toronto, carried on by the firm 
of Strachan & Reford, in order to acquire 
some knowledge of the grocery business. In 
the following spring he opened a small gen 
eral store on the Markham road, the site of 
which is now included in the village of Mal 
vern. But as the small farm of thirty acres 
had been disposed of, and 200 acres of unim 
proved land had been purchased from the 
Canada Company, in the township of Bosan- 
quet, it was decided, more particularly for 
the benefit of his younger brother Archibald, 
to remove to the County of Lambton. Con 
sequently the general store business was sold, 
and in the month of January, 1852, his 
mother and younger brother with him left 
the township of Scarborough and proceeded 
to the township of Bosanquet, settling upon 
Lot 23, in the gtii Concession of said town 
ship, when that part of the County of Lamb- 
ton was almost a complete wilderness. The 
journey at that time occupied five days by 
team, as the Great Western railroad the 
first railway west of Toronto built through 
western Ontario was not then constructed. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



They occupied an old log shanty on Lot 26, 
in the 6th Concession, until they had time to 
construct a shanty on Lot 23, in the gth Con 
cession, although they found it a difficult 
undertaking to build in the winter when the 
snow was over two feet deep, and in order to 
accomplish the task had to travel three miles 
morning and night until the work was com 
pleted. However, in due time the structure 
was raised and covered with basswood 
troughs, which although they are not very 
artistic make a good tight roof, bidding defi 
ance to wind and weather, and when the in 
terstices are carefully closed with moss one 
would be surprised to find how warm and 
comfortable one of these pioneer shanties can 
be made. After the rustic dwelling was com 
pleted they purchased a yoke of oxen and two 
cows and commenced chopping a fallow, and 
the branches of the trees that were cut down 
furnished fodder for the cattle that had been 
purchased. The land was heavily timbered, 
and all the operations of felling the trees and 
cutting them into suitable lengths for log 
ging were performed with the axe. Our sub 
ject and brother spent about two years in 
clearing up and fencing about twenty acres 
of the bush land fit for crop, and during this 
time all the members of the family had 
severe attacks of fever and ague and suffered 
great annoyance from the swarms of mosqui 
toes that were so prevalent in the township 
in those early days of pioneer life. They 
were situated a considerable distance from 
stores and post offices. The land on the 8th 
Concession was sold, and other land pur 
chased in the vicinity of Pine Hill, where 
greater facilities existed for getting neces 
sary supplies and corresponding with the 
outside world. 

In 1854 Mr- Rae opened the second gen 
eral store at Widder, in company with James 
Harrower, and a good business was done. 
In the year 1855 he was married to Rachel 
Jane Smith, of the township of Warwick, at 
the city of London, Ont., on the 3Oth day of 
July. He sold his interest in the firm of Rae 
& Harrower to Murdo McLeay, of the 
township of Warwick, and shortly afterward 
opened a general store on his own account. 



engaging as clerk William Brown, who was 
appointed postmaster at Pine Hill till 1856. 
in which year Mr. Rae was elected a membet 
of the municipal council of the township of 
Bosanquet, an office he held four years, when 
he was elected reeve in 1860. He held that 
position continuously until the end of the 
year 1887, with the exception of the year 
1876, when he left the village of Thedford 
for the purpose of opening a general store in 
Forest in company with Alfred Lofft, now 
of St. Mary s. At the municipal elections 
for the year 1877 he was again elected reeve 
for the township of Bosanquet by acclama 
tion during his absence in Forest, and he re 
turned to the village of Thedford in the early 
part of the year 1877. In all he served twen 
ty-eight years as reeve. He was also elected 
to the position of warden of the County of 
Lambton by a unanimous vote of the county 
council, for the year 1863, and was again 
elected to that position for the years 1864, 
1867, 1868, 1869 and 1887, being the only 
person who has held that office for more than 
two terms. After that he retired from the 
reeveship of the township of Bosanquet, but 
was elected reeve of the village of Thedford 
for the year 1892 and was also elected county 
councillor for Division No. 6, County of 
Lambton, for the term of two years, com 
mencing with the year 1897, under the New 
County Council Act of 1896. He also filled 
the position of school trustee for Section No. 
n, in the township of Bosanquet, for a con 
siderable number of years, during which time 
he held the office of secretary and treasurer. 
On July 17, 1856, he received the appoint 
ment of postmaster for the village of Wid 
der, which at that time was a very important 
center for business, having the principal 
trade of the township of Bosanquet and also 
of West Williams. On the completion of the 
Grand Trunk railroad, in the fall of 1859, 
a village was laid out at Widder Station, now 
Thedford, and gradually the greater part of 
the business of the surrounding country was 
transferred from Widder to Widder Station. 
Having sold out his interest in the general 
store at Widder carried on in the firm name 
of Rae & Duffus, to his partner, Adam Duf- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



39 



fus, in whose favor he resigned the postmas- 
tership at Widder, also, he shortly afterward 
opened a general store in the new village at 
the railway station, and in the year 1862 was 
appointed the first postmaster at Widder Sta 
tion. He was appointed a justice of the 
peace during the Macdonald administration, 
previous to the confederation, and is one of 
the oldest magistrates in Ontario. 

Mr. Rae was an officer in the Reserve 
Militia for many years. He received a com 
mission as ensign in the 5th Battalion, of the 
Lambton Militia, dated the 2Oth day of 
March, 1856, and was advanced to the rank 
of lieutenant on the loth day of October, 
1 86 1 ; he was appointed captain of No. 7 
Company, in the Reserve Militia of Lamb- 
ton, on the 1 2th day of February, 1869. 
About the only military duties, however, that 
he was ever called upon to perform, were the 
enrolling of the Reserve Militia for the town 
ship of Bosanquet for the years 1869, 1871 
and 1873, tne militia being at that time en 
rolled each alternate year. 

On the 6th day of March, 1867, a Lib 
eral convention was called in Sarnia to nomi 
nate a candidate for the House of Commons, 
at which convention an informal ballot was 
taken to ascertain the feeling of the conven 
tion as to a candidate for the local legisla 
ture of the Province of Ontario. The result 
of the ballot was as follows : 32 for Mr. T. 
B. Pardee, 22 for Mr. R. Rae and 12 for 
Mr. F. Davis; the convention was largely 
attended by Mr. Pardee s supporters from 
the town of Sarnia. The same evening, how 
ever, a meeting of the representative men of 
the Reform party was held in the "Belcham- 
ber House," Sarnia, for the purpose of de 
ciding who should be nominated for the Re 
form candidate for the local legislature of 
Ontario in the County of Lambton, at which 
meeting Mr. Rae was tendered the nomina 
tion by a large majority of those present, 
who composed a fair representation from 
nearly all the municipalities of the county. 
He d eclined to accept on short notice, as he 
had been supporting Col. Davis for the posi 
tion. The meeting, having refused to delay 
the matter, proceeded to confirm Mr. T. B. 



Pardee s nomination. Mr. Rae afterward 
decided to contest the county as an independ 
ent candidate, but unwisely accepted a nomi 
nation at a Conservative convention at Wyo 
ming, as he had formerly been a strong Re 
former, and by that means lost the support 
of the greater part of the Reform party and 
was defeated by a considerable majority, as 
the prejudice against independent candidates 
at that time in both the Reform and Conserv 
ative parties was very strong, and he failed 
to secure the hearty support of either. He 
did not offer himself as a candidate for the 
county council at the election that took place 
in January, 1900. as his health was not very 
good at the time the nominations were held, 
in the month of December, previous. Since 
then he has devoted the greater part of his 
time and attention to the business of private 
banking at Thedford and Oil Springs, hav 
ing established a private banking business in 
1878. With the exception of being a mem 
ber of the Public Library board, and occa 
sionally discharging the duties of a magis 
trate, and an issuer of marriage licenses, he 
has held no official position since the year 
1899. 

Mr. Rae was a prominent figure in the 
first Lambton campaign of Hon. George 
Brown, for whom he worked so faithfully 
that he even closed his store for some days. 
He has been a constant reader of the Toronto 
Globe since 1853. 

Mr. Rae was elected a ruling elder in 
Knox Presbyterian Church, Thedford. in 
March, 1884, and was appointed clerk of ses 
sions at the first meeting of sessions after 
ordination, a position he has held for eighteen 
years. 

Mr. Rae is an enthusiastic curler, and the 
following is quoted from the Toronto Globe 
of April 8, 1905 : 

"On February 2d two rinks of the Thed 
ford Curling Club proceeded to London, 
Ont, to compete for the district cup. Dur 
ing the first day three games were played, 
in which Thedford Curlers defeated London 
Thistles. Sarnia and Parkhill, and got into 
the finals with St. Thomas, which the Thed 
ford team defeated next day by four points, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



and won the cup, which they brought home 
to Thedford. Mr. Rae played the leading 
stone, under Skip Thomson, and in the ab 
sence of the president of the Thedford Club 
the district cup was presented to Mr. Rae 
as being the oldest curler on the ice, and per 
haps the oldest in Ontario." 

On July 30, 1855, in London, Ont, Mr. 
Rae was united in marriage with Miss 
Rachel Jane Smith, daughter of William 
Smith, of Warwick township, and to this 
union have been born the following children : 
(i) Helen Bell is the wife of William Rat- 
tray, of Thedford, by whom she has two chil 
dren, Jane and Helen. (2) Agnes Hamil 
ton is at home. (3) Robert Allan, a private 
banker of Oil Springs, married Caroline 
Menhenick, by whom he has had four chil 
dren, William, Robert (deceased), Arthur 
and Walter. (4) Margaret married (first) 
Thomas S. Armitage, and (second) Howard 
A. Cox, of Manitoba, by whom she had one 
daughter, Nora Irene. (5) Mary Ann Eliz 
abeth is the wife of William Henry Duff, by 
whom she had one daughter, Jane Marguer 
ite. (6) Rachel Jane, wife of O. B. Man- 
ville, has two sons, Robert Rae and Albert 
Ernest. (7) William Archibald, a Presby 
terian minister at Vegreville, Alberta, mar 
ried Lena Stephenson, and has one son, Mer- 
line Hamilton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rae reached the golden 
anniversary of their wedding on the 3<Dth 
day of July, 1905, and it was celebrated at 
their home in Thedford in a quiet and appro 
priate manner by the members of the family 
residing in the village. They did not at 
tempt a general family reunion on the occa 
sion, partly on account of the anniversary 
falling on the Sabbath and partly on account 
of the larger number of the family having 
settled in the Northwest Territories, which 
would have involved a long, toilsome and 
tedious journey for them to be present at 
the old homestead on the occasion. But the 
greater number of the members of the family 
contributed a considerable number of costly 
and appropriate articles as souvenirs for the 
occasion, among which may be mentioned a 
beautiful gold-headed cane for the father 



and a splendid gold-headed umbrella and a 
neat rattan chair for the mother, and other 
members of the family contributed a hand 
some sum of gold coin, thereby showing 
their parental affection and the esteem and 
regard in which the parents are held by their 
family. 

Mr. Rae s mother survived to the ad 
vanced age of eighty-seven years, dying Dec. 
2, 1878, in Scarborough, and she rests beside 
her husband in St. Andrew s churchyard- 
She was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, as was also her husband, and he was 
an elder in the Secession Church in Scotland. 

THOMAS McKITRICK, now living at 
Petrolia, is one of the oldest oil producers of 
that locality, having been engaged there in 
the business since 1867. He is a native of 
the County of Carleton, Ont., and a son of 
Patrick and Mary (Simpson) McKitrick. 

Patrick McKitrick and two brothers, 
George and James, came from Ireland to 
Canada in 1833. Patrick was born in 1803, 
and after coming to the Dominion married 
Mary Simpson, who was born in 1813, 
daughter of William and Nancy (Craw 
ford) Simpson, the latter of whom lived to 
the unusual age of 104 years. The former 
died aged ninety-six years. The family of 
Crawford was noted for, its longevity, Mrs. 
Simpson having a sister who lived to the age 
of 1 06. William Simpson and his wife set 
tled in Carleton County at an early date, in 
fact before any buildings occupied the site 
of the present capital city of the Dominion. 
Mr. Simpson became a well-to-do farmer 
and esteemed citizen. 

Patrick McKitrick and his wife settled 
in Carleton County, and he engaged in farm 
ing and also worked at tailoring, a trade he 
had learned in the old country. He died in 
1884, an d his w if m 1899. They were con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church. 
Their twelve children were : James, a farmer 
in Paisley; Thomas; Nancy, who died aged 
twenty years, from an attack of measles ; 
Mary, Mrs. Henry Leaver, of Carleton 
Place; Margaret, Mrs. John McClinton; 
William, a retired farmer in Manitoba; 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Samuel, on the old homestead ; Jeremiah, a 
farmer in Dakota ; Sarah, Mrs. John Spear 
man ; John, a farmer in Manitoba ; Matilda, 
Mrs. Daniel Shanks, of Xorth Dakota : and 
one who died in infancy. 

Thomas McKitrick was born Oct. 28, 
1838, and grew to manhood in the County of 
Carleton, where he received his education in 
the common schools. On reaching his ma 
jority he engaged in school teaching in his 
native county for six years, but located at Pe- 
trolia, Jan. 2, 1867. He embarked in the 
oil business as a producer, and continued so 
engaged until 1902. when he sold part of his 
oil interests, a few years later, however, re 
suming business. During his thirty-seven 
years of oil producing he has probably 
brought from the secret recesses of the earth 
enough of the useful fluid to float one of the 
largest ocean ships. Mr. McKitrick has been 
interested in two hundred wells, all of great 
producing capacity. Although very busy 
looking after his own enterprises, he has al 
ways been a man of public spirit and has en 
couraged all movements looking to the ad 
vancement and benefit of this section. 

In 1874 Mr. McKitrick married Miss 
Jane Ann Carter, daughter of William Car 
ter, an early settler in Moore township, 
where Mrs. "McKitrick was born. The five 
children of this marriage are: Dr. John 
Franklin, of Des Moines, Iowa, a graduate 
of the Detroit Medical College, married 
Ruth Sheppard; Xellie Matilda, married A. 
R. Ensan, of Calgary, Alberta; Florence 
Lillian married Leonard Calder, of Saska 
toon. X. W. T. : Charles William; Mabel 
Louise. In religion the members of this fam 
ily are Methodists. Politically Mr. McKit 
rick is a Conservative. 

THOMAS ROAXE. Among the ge 
nial old gentlemen whose faces were familiar 
in Watford. County of Lambton, Ont.. was 
Thomas Roane, who was torn in Ireland. 
where his family settled a century ago. emi 
grating there from Holland. The first of the 
family of whom there are any definite data is 
William Roane, the great-grandfather, of 
Palestine, and a bishop of the Church of 



41 

England, who was killed in Ireland in 1698. 
Among his children was his son and name 
sake, William Henry Roane. 

William Henry Roane, the grandfather. 
was born in Ireland in the latter part of the 
seventeenth century, and he became a large 
land owner. His children were: Richard, 
Robert, Henry, Section, and William Henry. 
Of these, Richard and Robert lived to be 
over 100 years old. 

William Henry Roane was also a native 
of Ireland, where he was born about 1800. 
He married Ann Jackson, who was born in 
County Clare, Ireland, and who died in To 
ronto in 1854. Her husband died in the 
County of Bruce, Ont. In 1853 this worthy 
couple removed to Ontario, where they spent 
their remaining years. Their children were : 
Jane, who died in Ireland, was the wife of 
Christopher Spencer: John H. died in the 
County of Bruce ; Mary Ann, who died in Ire 
land, married Michael Eckrett ; William, died 
in the County of Bruce; Thomas; Harriet, 
married and went to England ; and Richard 
died in the County of Bruce. 

In 1850 Thomas Roane came to Ontario, 
locating in Toronto, and just before leaving 
his native land he married Floranna Woods, 
who was born in 1823, daughter of Gilbert 
Woods, and their honeymoon was spent upon 
the ocean. After landing in Toronto, for 
some time Mr. Roane worked at anything 
he could find to do. and in 1858 removed to 
Brooke township, Lambton County, then a 
wilderness, from which he resolved to wrest 
a home for himself and family, locating on 
Lot 29, Concession 10. and later on Lot 26, 
Concession 13. During the years which fol 
lowed he assisted in clearing off 300 acres 
of timber land. In those days the fine timber 
had no commercial value, owing to lack of 
transportation facilities, and thousands of 
dollars worth of lumber were burned in or 
der to clear the land. If that same lumber 
were standing today, it would be many times 
worth the finely cultivated farms which are 
in its place. Mr. Roane remained on his last 
named farm until 1900. when he removed 
to Watford, later disposing of his property. 
He attended the Church of England. While 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



living in Brooke township, he lost his wife, 
who died in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Roane 
the following children were born : Elizabeth 
kept house for her father; William Henry, 
a stock dealer, of Brigden, Ont, married 
Letitia Logan, and has children, Sarah 
Elizabeth, Harold, John, Pearl, Margaret, 
William Henry and Gilbert; Thomas John, 
who resides on Lot 26, Concession 12, 
Brooke township, married Harriet Roane, 
and has children, Floranna Jane, William 
Henry and Mary Ethel. 

Mr. Roane was born in Ireland, April 
10, 1824, and he was therefore eighty-one 
years of age at the time of his death, Nov. 
2, 1905, but owing to his hard work his 
health was somewhat impaired, although he 
was active for his years, and a very enter 
taining companion. His accounts of the 
early pioneer days were worthy of publica 
tion, and he was often called upon to recount 
his experiences of days when the prosperity 
of this century was not even dreamed of, 
and Western Ontario was almost entirely 
undeveloped. 

WILLIAM LEMON, who departed this 
life at his late residence in Forest in May, 
1898, was one of the most successful and 
highly respected business men of western 
Ontario. He was a native of Canada, born 
at Maitland, on Lake Ontario, in 1827, a 
son of Charles Lemon, a United Empire 
Loyalist who proved his devotion to the king 
in many ways. Charles Lemon was a prom 
inent business man of his day, operating a 
mill and a foundry, besides owning landed 
property near Lake Ontario. 

Upon reaching his majority William 
Lemon carried on a successful mercantile 
business in Strathroy for a number of years, 
and from that place came to Forest about 
1870. At that time Forest was still in its 
infancy, and Mr. Lemon first opened up a 
general merchandise business, but later de 
voted all his energies to the prosecution of 
the hardware trade, in which line he was the 
pioneer in the city. Being a man of far-see 
ing sagacity, he soon realized that the finan 
cial success of Forest depended upon the es 



tablishment of sound institutions of trust, 
and he accordingly interested some of the 
leading men of the place in the formation of 
the Farmers Loan & Savings Company, 
which opened for business Jan. i, 1892, with 
him as manager and Dr. James Hutton as 
president. However, Mr. Lemon only re 
tained the management in his own hands un 
til the association was firmly established, 
when he retired, though he continued to be 
a stockholder. He did not again engage in 
active business life, feeling that with the 
formation of such a financial enterprise his 
life work was well crowned. In 1894 Mr. 
Lemon built his late residence on King street, 
which is not only one of the finest in the city, 
but in western Ontario. His political views 
made him a Reformer, and he always took a 
deep interest in local affairs. In religion 
he was a consistent member of the Church 
of England. 

In 1882 Mr. Lemon was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Lemon, a daughter of John 
Lemon, of Niagara Falls, and a native of 
Ontario. She is a lady of culture and held 
in the highest esteem throughout the neigh 
borhood. She is now the wife of Major 
Snider, of Hamilton, Ontario. 

In the death of Mr. Lemon, Forest lost 
one of its best citizens and one whose in 
fluence for good and genera] advancement 
made him a power in the community, while 
his pleasant, genial temperament gained him 
a host of warm personal friends. 

GEORGE JAAP, a well-known citizen 
and successful agriculturist of Bosanquet 
township, residing on the Gleniffer farm, 
Lot 9, 5th Concession, was born in Paisley, 
Renfrewshire, Scotland, Oct. 25, 1844, son 
of George Jaap, a native of the same county. 

George Jaap, the father, was foreman in 
the warping department of a shawl manu 
facturing establishment, before the intro 
duction of modern machinery. In the early 
sixties he retired from that business and in 
1876 came to Canada to visit his son George 
in Bosanquet township. He spent four years 
in Canada and then returned to his native 
country, where he spent the remainder of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



43 



his life, dying there in June. 1889, aged 
seventy-six years. He was laid to rest in the 
Woodside cemetery at Paisley. He was a 
member of the Established Church. Po 
litically he was a stanch supporter of Liber 
alism. He was very fond of out-door sports, 
and loved the national games of his country, 
curling and bowling, being an expert bowler ; 
his son George has now in his possession a 
set of polished balls which were given to him 
by his father, he having received them from 
the president of the bowling club at Paisley 
for his excellence in ball rolling. The balls 
are of polished lignum-vitae, upon which is a 
silver plate bearing the name of the presi 
dent of the club "to Mr. George Jaap, 1853." 

George Jaap, Sr.. married Mary Ann 
Barbour, a native of the same county, where 
she died in 1875, a " e d sixty-six years: she 
was interred in Woodside cemetery. She 
was a faithful member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. and Mrs. George Jaap had 
six children, of whom George is the only son 
living, and a daughter, Annie, who married 
John Douglas, resides in Paisley, Scotland. 

George Jaap. our subject, attended the 
private school of St. George s parish, after 
which he was bound out to the carpenter s 
and joiner s trade, at which he spent five 
years, receiving for the first year three shil 
lings per week; he had an increase of one 
shilling the next year, the last year receiving 
seven shillings per week. After completing 
his apprenticeship he removed to the city m 
Glasgow, where he spent five years as a jour 
neyman, most of the time being employed as 
carpenter on the Caledonian railroad, holding 
the position of assistant foreman. Having 
from youth had a strong desire to see Can 
ada, he resigned his good position, and on 
Aug. 2. 1869, sailed from Glasgow on the 
steamship "St. Patrick," with his wife and 
children. After a voyage of sixteen clays 
they landed at Quebec, and having relations 
at St. Mary s, in the County of Perth. On 
tario, came on westward. He found em 
ployment at his trade in St. Mary s, working 
for two years as a journeyman, and in 1871 
took up contracting and building, following 
that business six years. Wishing to try farm 



life, he came to Bosanquet township, Lamb- 
ton County, and settling on the loth Conces 
sion, purchased a fifty-acre tract on Lot 12, 
from John Gillard. On .this farm stood a 
small log house and stable. Only the stumps 
and brush were left upon the land, and here 
he started to clear and cultivate a farm. Dur 
ing the four years he was on this place, he 
cleared thirty acres. Selling out, he pur 
chased his present farm, on Lot 9, Conces 
sion 5, a tract of 100 acres for which he paid 
over $4,800. Here he has been engaged in 
farming and stock raising ever since. He 
erected a fine dwelling house, a substantial 
barn and good outbuildings, and purchased 
the 100 acres lying south of his place from 
John Livingstone, this place now being 
owned and operated by Mr. Jaap s son, 
George. Mr. Jaap takes a great interest in 
public affairs, having always supported the 
principles of the Liberal party and worked 
for that organization s success. He has 
served as tax collector for three years in 
Bosanquet township, and served for two 
years as a member of Bosanquet s board of 
councilmen, retiring from that incumbency. 
Mr. Jaap has been delegate to the different 
conventions held at Watford, to name can 
didates for parliamentary honors, and was 
one of the delegates that nominated Hugh 
McKenzie as representative. He served as 
school trustee and was secretary-treasurer 
of the school board. He is a member of the 
East Lambton Farmers Institute. He 
joined the A. F. & A. M. at St. Mary s in 
1872, connecting himself with St. James 
(Mother lodge) and on coming to Bosanquet 
township affiliated with the lodge at Thed- 
ford. He is popular in fraternal circles and 
has proven himself a good comrade. 

On June 8. 1866. Mr. Jaap married, in 
Linwood, Scotland, Miss Marion Rowand, 
who was born Jan. 13, 1844, in that place, 
daughter of Alexander and Christina (Mc 
Allister) Rowand, of Linwood and Islay, 
Argyllshire, respectively; her father was a 
farmer and feuar. Mr. and Mrs. Jaap are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. They 
have had children as follows : Christina, born 
in Scotland, married Richard Wilson, of 



44 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Bosanquet township, and they have had 
seven children, George H., Marion R., Olive 
C, Richard E., William C. and Ralph A., 
all living, and Agnes J., deceased. Mary 
Ann born in Scotland, married Angus Mc- 
Innis, of Bosanquet township, and they have 
three children, Dougald, Marion and George. 
George, born at St. Mary s, Perth County, 
married Ella Close, and is now fanning the 
100 acres south of the homestead. Jeanie R., 
born in St. Mary s, lives at home, as do also 
Agnes J. and Alexander M. 

J. H. FAIRBANK has been a resident 
of Petrolia for the past forty years, and so 
intimately identified with every phase of its 
development during that period that he is 
properly spoken of as the "father of Petro 
lia." As the opening up of the section is 
due principally to the possibilities afforded 
by the oil industry and allied enterprises, he 
has naturally been a leader in that line, and 
in advancing his own interests has done 
much for the progress of the .region gener 
ally to the advantage of his fellow-citizens. 
He has been active in public life as well as 
in business affairs and is one of the most ex 
tensive farmers in Lambton County, and he 
has proved an all-around good citizen in his 
energetic career. 

Mr. Fairbank was born July 21, 1831, at 
Rouse s Point, Clinton County, in the State 
of New York, and comes of a long line of 
American ancestry, being a descendant in 
the eighth generation of Jonathan Fair- 
bank, who landed at Boston, Massachusetts, 
in 1633, and settled at Dedham, Massachu 
setts. Of this old family are many men of 
high standing, among them such well known 
personages as Chas. W. Fairbanks of Indi 
ana, Vice-President of the United States ; N. 
K. Fairbanks, the well known manufacturer 
of Chicago, Illinois ; Thadeus Fairbanks, of 
Fairbanks scales fame, of St. Johnsbury, 
Vermont ; and many others. 

Asa Fairbank, the father of Mr. J. H. 
Fairbank, was a well-to-do farmer of Clin 
ton county. New York, where he passed all 
his days. He served as deputy sheriff, and 
in other public positions, and was well 



known in his locality as a man of truth and 
energy. He died in 1852, at the age of fifty- 
eight years, and was long survived by his 
wife, Mary (Oliver), who died at the ad 
vanced age of eighty-four, passing away in 
1884. She was also American-born. Mr. 
Fairbank was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, his wife of the Baptist Church. 
J. H. was their only child. 

J. H. Fairbank received his early educa 
tion in the village schools near his early home 
and at Champlain (New York) Academy. 
His training to agriculture was thorough, 
and in his youth he had plenty of experi 
ence hoeing corn and breaking and driving 
oxen. He came to Canada in 1853, so that 
practically all of his active life has been 
passed in the Dominion. He was engaged 
in surveying in Ontario for some years. In 
1 86 1 he located at Oil Springs, Ont, where 
crude petroleum had been discovered, and 
was among the early promoters of the oil in 
dustry, with the development of which the 
widening of his own career has kept a steady 
pace. At that time the railroad was miles 
from the oil belt, and operators had more 
than ordinary difficulties to contend with. 
They were obliged to make use of many 
crude appliances to sink their wells, and they 
underwent many privations and hardships 
in the early days of the industry in whose 
future they believed so implicitly that they 
were willing to work and wait for better 
times. Mr. Fairbank had his full share of 
these difficulties to contend with, and no 
man has a better knowledge of the conditions 
existing in those trying days than he. In 
1865, after four years as a producer at Oil 
Springs, he moved to Petrolia, where he has 
since remained, engaged in the oil business 
to a large extent, owning and operating 
many wells in the oil belt of Ontario. He 
was the originator of the system now in use 
in Canada, by which a central power is used 
to operate a chain of wells, and in many 
other ways has figured conspicuously in the 
promotion and development of this particu 
lar branch of business. 

Naturally, having been early in the field, 
and awake to the needs of the country, he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



45 



has formed many important business connec 
tions. Without speaking of the circum 
stances which led up to them, mention of 
some of these relations will indicate suffi 
ciently his high standing. He is president of 
the Crown Savings & Loan Company of Pe- 
trolia ; proprietor of the firm of Vaughn & 
Fairbank, private bankers, established at Pe- 
trolia in 1869; owner of the hardware es 
tablishment known as Van Tuyl & Fairbank, 
organized in 1867, dealers in and importers 
of hardware, oil and salt well supplies, fit 
tings, etc., with head office at Petrolia, and 
branch at Oil Springs; owner and operator 
of the Stephenson Boiler & Engine Works at 
Petrolia; is interested in the Petrolia Pork 
Packing Co. and in the Petrolia Wagon 
Works: and manufacturer of the improved 
Stempel fire extinguisher. 

Mr. Fairbank has been identified with 
public life for many years. Nothing con 
cerning the good of his adopted town was 
too trivial for his attention. He served three 
years as reeve when Petrolia was a village; 
he was chairman of the board of health for 
many years, and for many years was chief 
of the Fire Department, a position in which 
he took more pride than in any other he has 
held. In 1882 he was the successful candi 
date of the Liberal party to represent East 
Lambton in the House of Commons, at Ot 
tawa, and served four years. He has led a 
life full of action, and has accomplished 
much for others, as well as for himself, and 
he justly enjoys a reputation for public spirit 
and enterprise beyond the ordinary. 

Mr. Fairbank was married to Miss Edna 
Crysler, daughter of Hermanns and Edna 
(Cook) Crysler. of Niagara Falls. She 
passed away March 7, 1896. in Pasadena, 
California. He has two surviving children : 
Charles O., M. D., a well known citizen of 
Petrolia, who has two sons, John Henry 
and Charles Churchill ; and Mary E., wife of 
Huron Rock, of Santa Barbara, California, 
who has two children. Jack and Warren. 

JOHN BLOOMFIELD RICHARD 
SON, for many years one of the influential 
residents of Plympton township, was born in 



Pickering township, Ontario County, Ont., 
April 24, 1834. 

John Richardson, father of John B.. was 
a native of Ireland, where he grew to man 
hood and carried on a mercantile business. 
He married Miss Jane Bloomfield. After 
their marriage they came to Canada and set 
tled in Pickering township, where he en 
gaged in farming until 1834. when he moved 
to Lambton County, and settled in Plympton 
on the Egremont road. They were among 
the first settlers in the region, and Mr. 
Richardson took up a tract of bush land of 
100 acres. He built a house and began at 
once to clear his land for farming, mean 
time earning his supplies for his family by 
making potash, which he sold in Sarnia. 
After some time in this home he moved to 
the London road, bought 200 acres, and con 
tinued on his 300 acres in general farming 
and stock raising. Politically he was a 
strong Conservative, and in religious belief 
was a churchman. 

Mr. Richardson died at the age of sev 
enty, and is buried in the Uttoxeter cemetery. 
His widow survived him for a number of 
years, making her home with her son, John 
B. She died in her ninety-first year, and was 
interred in Forest cemetery. She was a 
woman of beautiful character, devoted to her 
home and family, and unusually well read. 
Of the fourteen children in the family, five 
died young; the other s were: Elizabeth, 
Mrs. Thomas W r alker ; Richard : Matilda, 
Mrs. John Robertson, of Port Huron ; Maria, 
Mrs. Robert Benson ; Jane : Emily, Mrs. 
William Scott ; John B. : Christina, Mrs. 
Charles Taylor; and Priscilla, Mrs. William 
Hayle. of Ohio! 

John B. Richardson was less than a year 
old when his parents came to Plympton. At 
tending the township schools, he was taught 
first by Mr. John Casey, an Irishman, while 
later he went to Mr. Robert Wright and Mr. 
Thomas Houston, two well known Scotch 
teachers. Remaining at home until 1863, 
he then started for himself on a farm of fifty 
acres in Lot 8, Concession 10, and later add 
ed fifty-three acres to his first purchase. His 
farm is now one of the best in that section. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



46 

with a handsome brick house and good barns, 
where all the surroundings bespeak the taste 
that directed everything. 

Mr. Richardson was married at Trafal 
gar, Ont, Jan. 31, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth 
Margaret Cowan, the ceremony being per 
formed in the Episcopal Church by Rev. 
Francis Tremain, assisted by Dr. Green and 
Rev. Dr. Fletcher. Miss Cowan, who was 
born at Trafalgar, was the daughter of John 
and Martha (Hill) Cowan, both of whom 
were natives of Ireland and died at Trafal 
gar, Halton County. The former was a cap 
tain in the British service during the Rebel 
lion of 1837-38. Capt. and Mrs. Cowan 
belonged to the Church of England. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Richardson only one child was 
born, John Herbert, who died at the age of 
sixteen and was buried in Forest cemetery. 
The young man had been well educated in 
the public schools, was very talented in music 
and was in every way a promising youth. De 
voted to his parents his untimely death was 
an unspeakable loss to them. 

Mr. Richardson and his wife attend the 
Church of England at Camlachie, where the 
former has been a warden for a number of 
years. He is an ardent Conservative in 
politics, and was an ardent supporter of Sir 
John A. MacDonald, whom he admired 
greatly. He has been quite active in public 
affairs and is influential in the township. 
For several years he has been secretary and 
treasurer of the school board for Section No. 
12, and was appointed magistrate. Mr. 
Richardson is domestic in his tastes, and is 
a strong advocate of the cause of temper 
ance. 

DONALD SUTHERLAND, one of 
Bosanquet township s most highly respected 
citizens, for many years engaged in farming, 
and now agent of the East Lambton Farm 
ers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, is a na 
tive of Scotland, born in Argyllshire Feb. 5, 

1840. 

Alexander Sutherland, his father, was a 
native of Ross-shire and there received a 
good education, both in English and Gaelic, 
following teaching as a profession after leav 



ing school. Mr. Sutherland married Eliza 
beth Hamilton, who bore him two children : 
Christina, the. widow of Henry Whyte, re 
sides on the Lake Shore road in Bosanquet 
township ; Donald is our subject. Alexander 
Sutherland died in Scotland in 1842. He 
was a member of the Established Church of 
Scotland. In 1847 the mother, with her two 
children, left her native home and came to 
Canada, sailing from Glasgow on the vessel 
"Blond," commanded by Capt. Crawford, 
the voyage taking six weeks. After leaving 
Quebec, where they had landed, the little 
party made their way west to Durham Coun 
ty, and settled in Darlington township, 
where Mrs. Sutherland taught school to sup 
port herself and children. She later married 
Peter McCallum, and settled in the township 
of Darlington, Durham County, there spend 
ing four years. From there they moved to 
Erin township, Wellington County, farm 
ing there until 1854, at the end of which 
time they located in Bosanquet township, 
Lambton County, on a tract of land in Lot 
65, Lake Road East. There Mrs. McCallum 
died Jan. 30, 1877, aged sixty-three years, 
and she is buried in the Gustin cemetery. 
She was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. McCallum afterward married 
Annie (McKellar) McNaughton, and he 
died in Forest, where he is buried, 
children were born to Peter and Elizabeth 
McCallum: Jane, who married John Page, 
of Enniskillen township; and Peter D., a 
farmer of Warwick township. 

Donald Sutherland was only two years 
old when his father died, and was still a 
roung child when his mother brought him 
and his sister to the new country. He at 
tended school in Darlington township, Dur 
ham County, and was but fourteen years old 
when the family came to Lambton County. 
He remained on the home farm with his 
mother and stepfather until nineteen years of 
age, during which time he worked out among 
farmers and in the lumber woods, and took 
charge of contracts for chopping timber, 
having a record of chopping 100 acres of 
timber in four winters. For fourteen years 
Mr. Sutherland followed the occupation of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



47 



making oak staves in partnership with dif 
ferent people. He then removed to the 8th 
Line of Plympton township, and purchased 
a loo-acre tract of land on Lot 15, 9th Con 
cession, where he erected a little home and 
started to farm for himself. He remained 
there nine years, putting forty-five acres of 
his land under cultivation, then sold out and 
returned to Bosanquet township, where he 
remained ten years, having purchased a farm 
on Lot 14, Concession 15. Thence he moved 
to Lot 2, 7th Concession, Brooke township, 
where he purchased 200 acres. He remained 
on this tract nine years, and in 1898, sold out. 
He located in Bosanquet township, purchas 
ing the old Morrison farm of 100 acres, on 
the nth Concession, which is now owned by 
Albert Hare. On that place he farmed un 
til 1901, when he sold his farm to Mr. Hare, 
from whom he purchased his brick house and 
ten acres of land in the nth Concession, Lot 
12, where he now makes his home. In the 
same year Mr. Sutherland accepted the 
agency of the East Lambton Farmers Mu 
tual Fire Insurance Company, having the 
district of Bosanquet and West Williams 
townships to look after. He succeeded in 
this position the late John Dallas. 

Mr. Sutherland married, in Plympton 
township. Miss Janet Greenlees, born in 
Argyllshire, Scotland, daughter of Angus 
Greenlees. Mrs. Sutherland is a very esti 
mable woman, devoted to her home and 
family. They have had children as follows : 
Mary, who married James MacFadzean; 
Alexander, a resident of Manitoba; Eliza 
beth, who married David Lougheed, of War 
wick township, and has three children, Hilda 
G., Jean M. and Ellen McC. ; Miss Jane, a 
trained nurse, a resident of Detroit; Miss 
Janet, who is a matron in Detroit; Miss 
Christina, at home : Roger, of Pincher Creek, 
Northwest Territory, who married Maggie 
Shay: Flora, attending high school at For 
est ; and Angus Donald, who is also a student 
at the same institution. 

Politically Mr. Sutherland is a stanch 
Liberal, and greatly interested in the success 
of his party. He has served very efficiently 



as a member of the city council. He and his 
family are adherents of the Presbyterian 
Church, which they attend regularly at Ra- 
venswood. Mr. Sutherland is popular among 
the citizens of Bosanquet township, and is 
ever willing and ready to lend a helping hand 
to one in misfortune or in need of assistance. 
Air. Sutherland acted as deputy reeve and 
county councillor for seven years while re 
siding in Brooke township. He has assisted 
in over two hundred barn raisings in Bosan 
quet, Plympton and Brooke townships, and 
in 1864 attended eighteen logging bees in 
three weeks in Bosanquet, and he keeps a 
diary in which he has a record of all the oc 
casions of this kind in which he participated. 

THOMAS J. OAKES, a prominent 
business man and since 1901 librarian of In- 
wood, Brooke township, County of Lamb- 
ton, where he is engaged in the furniture 
business, was born in Grenville County, 
Ont.. Jan. 31, 1854, son of Theophilus and 
Mary (Edwards) Oakes, natives of Ireland. 

Theophilus Oakes was born in 1816, and 
his wife in 1820. They came to Canada in 
their youth, he being a soldier of Canada 
during the Rebellion, when he was wounded 
seriously by a bayonet thrust which went 
clear through his body. After the war he 
married and settled as a farmer, later remov 
ing to the County of Huron, and afterwards 
to Oil Springs, Brooke township. County of 
Lambton. In the latter place he lived" for 
some time, purchasing a farm, upon which 
he resided until his death in 1902, his wife 
having passed away in 1888. They had a 
family of eight children as follows John, 
deceased, was a farmer of Brooke township ; 
Jane married John Lucas, of Enniskillen 
township; Elizabeth married Robert Styles, 
late of Manitoba; Annie died in young 
womanhood at Oil Springs ; Fannie "is the 
wife of James Lucas, of Brooke; Ellen is the 
wife of Thomas Holbrook, of Michigan ; 
Theophilus, Jr., a farmer of Brooke, is mar 
ried and has two children; Thomas J. is 
our subject. 

Thomas J. Oakes received his education 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



chiefly in Brooke township, and when a 
young man learned the carpenter s trade, and 
followed contracting and building for twen 
ty-six years. He purchased a farm in 1881, 
in Enniskillen township, on the 6th Conces 
sion, where he made his home until 1900, in 
this year purchasing real estate in Inwood, 
and engaging in the furniture business. 

On Sept. 7, 1881, Mr. Oakes married 
Miss Sarah E. Bryce, born in Warwick, 
daughter of John Bryce, a member of the old 
pioneer Bryce family. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Oakes two children have been born : Bertha, 
born in Brooke township, educated in Wat 
ford High school, is serving as assistant post 
master of Inwood; and Adrian. Religiously 
the family are all connected with the Meth 
odist Church. Mr. Oakes has always sup 
ported the Conservative party, but has never 
sought public office. He started as a boy 
on his own resources and is now one of 
Lambton County s successful business men. 
He has earned the name of a first class citi 
zen, and is highly respected by his neighbors, 
who speak of him in the highest terms. 

JAMES SANDERSON SYMING 
TON. When the news of the sudden death 
of James Sanderson Symington, of Sarnia, 
became known on the streets and in the 
homes of his fellow-citizens, universal regret 
was expressed over the loss of this esteemed 
and public-spirited man. Prominent in every 
movement looking to the development of his 
town, charitable and liberal in support of its 
various benevolent enterprises, he was also 
in private life the courteous gentleman, kind 
friend and devoted husband and father. 

Mr. Symington was of Scottish extrac 
tion, his grandparents, Thomas and Isabella 
(Sommers) Symington, having been natives 
of Scotland. Robert Symington, their son, 
was born in 1814, also in Scotland, and mar 
ried Ellen Sanderson. In 1842 they came 
to Plympton township, in the County of 
Lambton, and here Robert Symington died, 
in 1852. 

It was on the old homestead farm in 
Plympton township that James Sanderson 
Symington was born Jan. 28, 1845, a "d his 



education was acquired in the schools of 
Sarnia. His entrance into business life was 
made as a clerk in the mercantile house of 
the late W. B. Clark, of Sarnia, and later, in 
partnership with his brother Thomas, he em 
barked in a mercantile business which was 
continued for a number of years, the partner 
ship being dissolved about 1886. Mr. Sym 
ington then became superintendent of the In 
dustrial Loan Company, continuing as man 
ager of that enterprise until his death. His 
business capacity was large, and he had the 
unerring judgment, combined with Scot 
tish thrift and reliability, which ever makes 
for substantial success. He was one of the 
founders of the Sarnia Electric Railroad, of 
which he was also manager, and was agent 
for the Grand Trunk line at that point, and 
he was instrumental in securing from this 
road the beautiful park at Sarnia. For sev 
eral terms he was a member of the city coun 
cil and also served as mayor, his strength of 
mind, his surety of judgment, and public- 
spirit, making him a most valuable official. 

In political affiliation Mr. Symington 
was a sympathizer and supporter of the Re 
form party. His fraternal relations con 
sisted of membership with the Sons of Scot 
land, of which he was ex-chief at the time 
of his death. In educational and religious 
matters Mr. Symington was also deeply in 
terested, and for many years he was an 
official member of the board of St. Andrew s 
Presbyterian Church of Sarnia, and at the 
date of his death was a member of the board 
of trustees of that religious body. 

Mr. Symington was first married to 
Carrie B. Dean, and the following children 
were born to this union: Helena (now de 
ceased, who married Dr. Robert D. Scott), 
Gertrude, Edna, Frederick, and Herbert. 
The mother of these children died in 1882, 
and in 1884 the second marriage of Mr. 
Symington took place, to Miss Helen Tow 
ers, who was born in Scotland, a daughter of 
Robert and Agnes (Ford) Towers. Prior 
to her marriage Mrs. Symington s home was 
in Woodstock, Canada. With her family 
she has long been prominently identified 
with the Presbyterian Church, which lost 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



one of its most useful and valued members 
in the death of her husband. By his second 
marriage Mr. Symington became the father 
of two children, Robert Russell and Grace 
Sanderson. 

WILLIAM JAXES. one of Warwick s 
progressive farmers and large landowners, 
is a native of the township, born on the Janes 
homestead, Lot 14, Concession 3, Feb ?-> 
1860. 

The Janes family is of English origin. 
making their home in Somersetshire, where 
Samuel Meredith Janes, grandfather of Will 
iam, was born. He served in the British 
army while living in his native land. He 
married there Anna Bond, who bore him 
three children : William, who came to Can 
ada with his parents, and was the owner and 
operator of a flour mill in Delaware, Ont 
where he died; Matilda, who married Mere 
dith Orman. and died in Middlesex: and 
Charles Meredith. In the early forties Mr 
Janes with his wife and three children came 
to Canada, locating in Westminster town 
ship, Middlesex County, where he became a 
land owner and farmer, and where the re 
mainder of his active life was spent His 
wife died Dec. 8. 1869. on the farm 
iged seventy-five years and six months. 
IK! after her death he came to War- 
township, spending his declining 
years with his son, Charles M.. who cared 
tor him. and with whom he died at the 
ripe age of seventy-seven years. He was 
laid to rest beside his wife, in the little ceme 
tery at Byron in Westminster. He and his 
wife were both members of the Church of 
England, and in politics he was a Conserva 
tive. 

Charles Meredith Janes, youngest son of 

Samuel M. and father of William, was born 

Somersetshire, in 1826. and was educated 

there He was still young when he came to 

uiada with his parents, and he grew to 

manhood on the farm in the township of 

\\ estmmster. He drove the stage for some 

time out of London, and in 1848 he came to 

Warwck township, and for eight years kept 

a hotel in the village of Warwick, after 

4. 



49 

which he bought a 2OO-acre tract of land on 
Lot 14. Concession 3. where he began, and 
where he made a permanent home. He 
erected a log dwelling house, and started to 
clear up his farm. He worked hard but did 
not live many years. He died while still in 
middle life, March 10. 1874. at the age of 
forty-eight, and he was laid to rest in the 
Bethel cemetery. Warwick. He was a 
stanch Reformer, but never sought any po 
litical office, and was domestic in his habits. 
In Warwick township, he married Janet 
Auld. daughter of William Auld (a full 
sketch of the Auld family will be found else 
where). She proved a willing helpmate in 
his early struggles, and was a devoted wife 
and mother. After her husband s death she 
kept her children together, all of whom re 
flect credit on their training. She died with 
her daughter. Mrs. Hillis, at Arkona. and 
she now sleeps side by side with her husband 
1 hey were both members of Knox Presby 
terian Church, which they attended on the 
Egremont Road. Their children were 
Agnes, born Nov. 7. 185:, married Leonard 
1 homas. and resides in Bad Axe, Michigan 
Lharles Hamilton, born Oct. 13, 1854 and 
now a coal and wood dealer in London Ont 
married Catharine Hay, daughter of Will 
iam Hay; Mary I., born Oct. 7, 1857, mar 
ried James Giffen, and resides in Adelaide 
township, County of Middlesex; William 
orn Feb. 22. 1860 ; Samuel, born Oct. 16 
86 1, was educated in the public schools of 
tt arwick and Strathroy high school, and 
taught school for eight years in the State 
Michigan, after which he took up the 
study of medicine in the city of Cleveland, 
10, finished his course in the Medical Col 
lege at San Francisco, California, and after 
practicing some time in the State of Minne 
sota, is now head surgeon of the hospital St 
Marys m Marquette, Michigan; Robert 
Auld, born May 20, 1863. farms the old 
homestead; Janet Allen married Francis 
ilhs and resides in Watford : Thomas In 
gles born June 1 6, 1866. was educated in the 
public schools of Warwick, and Sarnia Col 
legiate Institute, studied medicine in the 
Medical College of Cleveland, and finished 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



his course in the Medical College of San 
Francisco where he is now practicing his pro 
fession; and Margaret, born Jan. 22 1871, is 
now the wife of William Hall, of Warwick 
township. 

William Janes attended the public schools 
of his native township, and worked the home 
farm from early boyhood. He was only 
fourteen years old when his father died, and 
he and the other brothers remained on the 
homestead with their mother, operating the 
farm. At the age of twenty-five William 
Janes formed a partnership with William 
Auld to carry on brick and tile manufactur 
ing, which business was conducted with fair 
success for eight years, under the firm name 
of Auld & Janes, "when they sold their plant 
to Robert J. McCormick. Mr. Janes then 
took up farming, in 1890, buying the Barnes 
homestead on the 3d Concession. Lot 9, from 
C. A. Barnes, the present public school in 
spector of Lambton East, and there he set 
tled. The place contains 150 acres. There 
he and his family have spent the past fifteen 
years engaged in general farming, stock 
raising, feeding and dealing, making a spe 
cialty of Short Horn Durham and Hereford 
cattle. Mr. Janes has made many improve 
ments on the farm, and he has also bought a 
fifty-acre tract west of the home, from the 
Ka rr family, also seventy-five acres of the 
Ring farm/and one hundred acres of his fa 
ther s estate, making a farm of 375 acres, 
which he has under cultivation, and which he 
operates. He is a man of enterprise and 
progressive ideas, and is one of the town 
ship s successful agriculturists. Mr. Janes is 
genial in his manner, and possesses a quiet 
disposition, is domestic in his tastes, and 
temperate in his habits. In politics he is in 
dependent, and while not caring for office 
holding takes an active part in the affairs of 
the township, especially in matters regarding 
the public school. He has filled the office of 
trustee for fifteen years, during which pe 
riod he has been secretary and treasurer. He 
is a member of the East Lambton Farmers 
Institute, and has always taken a deep inter 
est in the agricultural society of the township. 



He and his wife are members of Knox Pres 
byterian Church. Socially he is a member 
of the Canadian Order of Foresters, being a 
charter member of Court No. 129, Warwick. 
On Dec. 29. 1886. at the McGillicuddy 
homestead, Egremont Road. Warwick, Mr. 
Janes married Mary McGillicuddy, who was 
born in this township, daughter of Eusebius 
McGillicuddy, the well known township 
treasurer. They have six children, namely : 
Charles E., William Kenneth, Lome Ver- 
non, Robert Meredith, Ernest Clifford and 
Mary Eveline. 

HENRY LOVELL (deceased). One of 
the best-known and most influential citizens 
of Alvinston, Brooke township, Lambton 
County, was lost in the death of Henry 
Lovell, for to him as much as to any other 
one map is due the great progress and pros 
perity of that town. He gave his financial 
support to all public improvements and was 
always found in support of such measures 
and enterprises as would be of benefit to the 
community. Mr. Lovell was born March 23, 
1844, in Somersetshire, England, son of 
John and Elizabeth (Durban) Lovell. 

John Lovell and his wife came to Canada 
in 1846. and settled in Oshawa. In the fall 
of 1854 they removed to Brooke township, 
on the corporation line, where Mr. Lovell 
cleared up a home from wild land, on the 
site of the present town of Alvinston. Here 
they lived until they died, Mrs. Lovell pass 
ing away Oct. 27, 1870. while he lived to be 
eighty-two years of age, dying Feb. 7, 1898. 
They were the parents of children as follows : 
John, torn in England in 1840, was edu 
cated at Oshawa, grew to manhood in Al 
vinston, learned the trade of carriage-maker 
at Strathroy. and is engaged in business at 
Watford; he married Fannie Fitzpatrick, 
and they have children, Annie, William H., 
Albert J., Frank and Florence. Henry was 
born March 23, 1844. Elizabeth, born at 
Oshawa in 1845, m l8 74- married Daniel 
Nelson, of Alvinston, where she died in 
1875. Olive L., born in 1854, is the widow 
of Arthur AYallace. who died in January, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1905, formerly a ranchman at Calgary, 
Northwest Territory; they had t\vo sons, 
Harold and Everest. 

Henry Lovell was educated in the 
schools of Oshawa, and after locating in 
Alvinston engaged in fanning and helped his 
parents make their first home in Lambton 
County. In September, 1871, he married 
Miss Jane Mellis, who was born in April, 
1852. in Banffshire, Scotland, the estimable 
daughter of George and Elizabeth (McLach- 
lin) Mellis. Mrs. Lovell s parents were 
among the old and prominent settlers of the 
county, coming from Scotland in 1852 and 
settling in Montreal for a time, after which 
they removed to Brantford, where they lived 
until 1862. They then located on Concession 
8. in Brooke township, and he cleared up a 
home from wild land. Here Mr. Mellis died 
in March. 1887, aged sixty-five, and his wife, 
born in January, 1832, still resides on the old 
homestead. She is a member of the Presby 
terian Church, as was also Mr. Mellis. Their 
children were as follows : Jane. Mrs. Lovell, 
is the eldest; John, born in 1854, residing in 
London, Ont., has three children, Ida, Laura 
M. and George; Elizabeth, born in 1857, 
married George Foreman (now deceased), 
of Euphemia township, and they became 
the parents of three children. Chester, Rus- 
sel and Orvil : Annie died at the age of nine 
teen years : Christina, born in Brooke town 
ship in 1862. married Charles Annett. of 
Brooke township, and has three daughters, 
Ethel. Olga and Velma ; Georgina died at the 
age of sixteen years ; William, born in Brooke 
township in 1868, is unmarried and resides 
on the old homestead in Brooke township. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lovell set 
tled in a little log cabin, on a part of Mr. Lo 
vell s father s homestead, now in the village 
of Alvinston. but he later bought his brother 
John s farm, adjoining, and sold the entire 
property in town lots. He then purchased 
the old homestead, which he owned until his 
death, having resided upon it for five years 
prior to that time. He erected a large brick 
house in the village, in which he resided for 
about twelve years, and which he later sold. 
Mr. Lovell died Jan. 30, 1903. leaving his 



widow with one son and one daughter. The 
son, A. Leslie, born Dec. 14, 1875, was edu 
cated in the schools of Alvinston, where he 
grew to manhood and also took a course at 
the Chatham Business College, and now re 
sides on his father s old homestead ; in July, 
1903, he married Miss Hattie Donaldson, 
of Kingston, and they have a daughter, Mar 
garet Kathleen. 

Politically Mr. Lovell was a Reformer, 
and he was very prominent in local and muni 
cipal affairs. He was a member of the coun 
cil when the village of Alvinston was first 
incorporated, and was a member of that body 
at the time of his death, having served in that 
office for about ten years. In his religious 
views he was a valued and consistent mem 
ber of the Baptist Church, and his family are 
also members of that religious organization. 
Fraternally he was affiliated with the Order 
of United \Yorkmen. Alvinston Lodge, and 
was very popular in that society. 

Mr. Lovell s death brought sorrow to 
his devoted family and deep regret to a wide 
circle of friends and business acquaintances. 
He w r as missed in the community, but the in 
fluence of his good and kindly life remains, 
for he was a man of the highest integrity and 
held the esteem of all who knew him. He 
also possessed more than average business 
ability, and in every relation of life was a 
man whom it will be hard to replace. 

GILBERT S. CROSBIE. deceased. To 
few men have greater opportunities of study 
ing mankind in all their varying aspects 
been accorded than to the late Gilbert S. 
Crosbie, whose reputation as an oil pros 
pector brought him business engagements in 
almost every portion of the globe and en 
abled him to study at close range an unusual 
number of nationalities. 

The Crosbie family was originally of 
Scottish extraction, but many generations 
made their home in Ireland before the first 
representative of the name appeared in 
America. Samuel Crosbie, great-grand 
father of Gilbert S., was born in Perth, 
County of Lanark. Ont.. and there remained, 
dying in 1843. at the a e f sixty-five. In 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the early twenties his son Samuel Crosbie 
left his native place and settled on no acres 
in Bathurst township, Lanark County, 
rough, uncleared land which required much, 
labor before it could properly be called a 
farm. There he spent the rest of his life, 
and he was buried in the cemetery in Bath 
urst township, on the 8th Line. He mar 
ried Miss Alar}- Williams, a native of Wa- 
terford, Ireland, daughter of an officer in 
the British army, and the children born to 
this union were : Gilbert, father of Gilbert 
S. ; John, an oil operator, who died in Suma 
tra; Sarah Ann, who married William By- 
grove, of Enniskillen township; Richard, of 
Sarnia; Mary, widow of James Chambers; 
and Jane, who married John Leckie, of 
Moore township. After the death of Mr. 
Crosbie his widow married Patrick Tole, 
and her last years were spent in the home of 
her son Gilbert, in Sarnia, where she died ; 
she was interred in the Providence cemetery. 
Gilbert Crosbie, father of our subject, 
was born on the homestead, in the town of 
Perth, County of Lanark, Ont., April 28, 
1828. His opportunities for securing an ed 
ucation were limited to the subscription 
schools, which he could attend only for a 
short time. He was obliged to assist his 
father from an early age, and after the death 
of the latter he remained at home in charge 
of the farm until 1857, when he and his wife 
moved to Lambton County, settling at Sar 
nia, on the line of Moore township. Mr. 
Crosbie bought 100 acres of wild land there, 
on which he built a log cabin and entered 
upon the usual course of pioneer life. In 
time he made extensive improvements on the 
place, brought it all under cultivation, and 
built a new house. It is now owned by his 
son John. Mr. Crosbie afterward bought 
another 100 acres in Moore township, on the 
I2th Line, near the old homestead, and after 
operating that for some years now lives 
upon it, in virtual retirement, although he is 
still an active man. He has always been 
greatly interested in cattle and horses, and 
has always kept fine horses for his own use. 
He is a Conservative in politics, and he be 
longs to the Sarnia Baptist Church. 



Gilbert Crosbie was married, in Bathurst 
township, July n, 1849, to Miss Jane Tole, 
daughter of Patrick Tole, who was born in 
Ireland. Mrs. Crosbie was called from this 
world March 31, 1864, and her remains were 
laid in Providence cemetery. She was a 
member of the Baptist Church. She bore 
her husband six children, as follows : Eliza, 
born Feb. 20, 1852, married James Harris 
and lives in South Dakota. Mary Ann, born 
March 31, 1854, married the late Leonard 
Johnson, and lives in Sarnia. Jane, born 
July 21, 1856, died young. Gilbert S. was 
born Sept. 12, 1858. Adda, born April 22, 
1860, died young. John, born Feb. 22, 
1862, is owner of the old homestead and 
was an oil operator, first in Sumatra, and 
later in Texas; he married Miss Elizabeth 
Wray, daughter of George Wray, of Sarnia, 
and has four children, Jennie, Margaret, 
Ethel and Lee. 

Mr. Crosbie married again, choosing for 
his second wife Miss Eliza Derew, a native 
of Lanark County. She also died, passing 
away March 24, 1900, and was buried in 
Providence cemetery. In religious belief she 
was a Baptist. The children of this second 
marriage were as follows : Almor, born Sept. 
n, 1865, residing in Moore township; Al 
fred, born April 9, 1868, an oil operator in 
Texas; Lyndon, born Nov. 3, 1871, of 
North Dakota; Rosallia, born Oct. 10, 1874, 
at home; Harris, born Sept. 11, 1877, in 
Texas, as is also Thomas, who was born in 
February, 1880; and Frederick, born Nov. 
6, 1882, at home. 

Gilbert S. Crosbie was born in the town 
ship of Sarnia, Sept. 12, 1858. His oppor 
tunities as a boy for an education were 
rather limited, although he attended both the 
public school of Sarnia township and the 
Petrolia high school, and made the best pos 
sible use of every advantage. He worked at 
home with his father until he was twenty- 
two years old and then went to Petrolia to 
work in the oil fields with his uncle, John 
Crosbie, remaining there two years. In the 
fall of 1883 he accepted a position with the 
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, to go 
to Texas and New Mexico, to bore for oil 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



and water. He returned to Petrolia, how 
ever, in the fall of 1884, and soon after came 
the first of his foreign engagements. The 
Trans-Continental Company sent him to 
Germany to prospect for oil in the Province 
of Hanover, and for six months he was busy 
there. He then went to Galicia. Austria, as 
manager of the oil fields of Bergheim & 
McGarvey, and was very successful in the 
operations there for a period of nine years. 
The next eight years he was in Germany 
again, being in charge of the oil fields of 
Count Duglas and Baron, Bleichrhoider, 
Berlin bankers. 

On severing relations with the British 
parties Mr. Crosbie entered into arrange 
ments with a large London oil company, to 
operate in the Province of Caucasia, 
Russia, and after two years there he 
was ordered to the west coast of 
Africa. Some time was spent there 
in exploring for petroleum, but with 
little success, and the prospectors returned to 
London, where another expedition was at 
once formed to proceed to Siberia and carry 
on operations in the Saghalien Islands, 
where criminals are imprisoned. Passports 
to St. Petersburg were obtained from the 
Russian ambassador in London, and on ar 
riving there the Russian -officials made all 
the necessary arrangements for passports to 
their destination and for the safety of the 
party. Under the protection of ten* soldiers 
Mr. Crosbie and his men traveled by the 
Trans-Siberian railroad to Manchuria," pro 
ceeded to Yladivostock and Port Arthur, and 
went by steamer to Saghalien Island. He 
was received there by the chief of police, 
who did everything possible to facilitate the 
enterprise, and six months were spent pros 
pecting on one of the islands of the group, a 
territory 360 miles long and fifty-six miles 
wide. The party then returned to Port 
Arthur, and there, in October. 1903, it was 
intimated to Mr. Crosbie by the British con 
sul that a war was likely to break out be 
tween Japan and Russia, and that he might 
find it best to leave the country before that 
occurred. A return journey by rail brought 
the party in twenty-two clays to Moscow. 



53 

whence Mr. Crosbie went to London, and 
then returned to his native land to remain 
there until a more favorable opportunity for 
investigation was presented. He spoke in 
the highest terms of the invariable courtesy 
received from the government and all its 
officials, and was particularly enthusiastic 
over the Trans-Siberian railway, which he 
considered superior in accommodations to 
any road in the United States or Canada. 
Meantime he went down to Texas and after 
an illness of six weeks there returned home 
fur his health. However, it was too late for 
any permanent benefit, and he died three 
weeks later. Aug. 17, 1905, at Oil Springs, 
where he is buried. 

Mr. Crosbie chose for his wife Miss 
Martha B. Wallen, born in Superior City, 
daughter of Capt. John Wallen, a well- 
known captain on the great lakes. They 
were married Feb. 2, 1887. Mrs. Crosbie 
accompanied her husband upon many of his 
expeditions, traveling extensively through 
Europe and visiting all the great capitals. 
The children born to Gilbert S. and Martha 
Crosbie were seven, as follows : Gilbert 
Frederick, born in Austria : John Wallen, in 
\Yama, Austria ; Grover Stanley, born in 
Austria : Ada, born in Austria ; Edwin Ker- 
bic. in Germany: Olga Mel., in Germany; 
and Maude Vera in Bedford. England. Mr. 
Crosbie was a member of the Baptist 
Church, and Mrs. Crosbie is a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. Po 
litically he was a Conservative, and 
fraternally he belonged to the A. F. & 
A. M. and the I. O. O. F. The family are at 
present residing in Oil Springs. Enniskillen 
township. 

Mr. Crosbie was not only a man splen 
didly qualified professionally, but of great 
executive ability, which was promptly rec 
ognized by those who came in contact with 
him and correspondingly important respon 
sibilities were laid upon him. 

THOMAS ROBERT K. SCOTT, who 
for many years was a prominent citizen of 
Plympton township, a pioneer in Lambton 
county, and a veteran of the Rebellion of 



54 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1837-8, was born Jan. 20, 1816, in County 
Wexford, Ireland, son of Rev. William 
Scott, rector of Hacketstown and Hortels- 
town, and rural Dean of Clanmore, Diocese 
of Lighten. 

Rev. Mr. Scott was born Oct. 18, 1787, 
and married Ellen, daughter of Thomas 
Kough, of New Ross, County Wexford. She 
died March 9, 1877, at the age of eighty- 
two years, the mother of these children : 
John R. W., born in 1813, died Sept. II, 
1881 ; Thomas Robert K. ; Alexander Scott, 
born Feb. 13, 1817, married Sarah Hyde, 
and died Oct. 23, 1862; Henry, born April 
15, 1820, married a daughter of Christopher 
Blunden, and settled in Canada; Edward 
Baxter; and Ralph Robert, sergeant-major, 
born Feb. 5, 1832, married Mary Ann, 
(laughter of Lieut.-Gen. James Clarke, of 
the Indian army. The father of this family 
died Feb. i, 1866. 

The paternal grandfather of our sub 
ject was William Scott, J. P., who was a son 
of Dr. William Scott. He married Eliza 
beth Rosborough, and these children were 
born to them: Rev. William; Alexander, 
lieutenant of the I5th Foot, born July 18, 
1789, died Nov. 26, 1811; John, ensign of 
the nth Foot, born Sept. 12, 1791, was 
killed at Salamanca, July 22, 1812; Robert, 
lieutenant of the 59th Foot, born July 4, 
1793, was wrecked in 1826; Thomas, a lieu 
tenant of foot, born Jan. 4, 1796, died 
Dec. 21, 1821; Ralph, born Dec. 26, 1796, 
died Aug. 11, 1863; Rev. Henry, M. A., 
Rector of Stapleton, born Aug. 7, 1799, mar 
ried Eliza Donas, and died March 15, 1877; 
Arthur, born Jan. 14, 1802, died Feb. 23, 
1870; Mary Ann, born Dec. 17, 1790, died 
in childhood ; and Margaret born May 3, 
1798, died Jan. i, 1884. 

Thomas Robert K. Scott came to On 
tario in 1834, locating for a short time at 
Lake Simcoe, but came to Lambton County 
in November of the same year, and located 
on Lot 15, Concession 13. He cleared up a 
fine farm from the wilderness, but later 
changed his location to Lot 32, Front 
Concession. For thirty-five years he 
held the office of clerk of Plympton 



township, and for thirty-eight years 
was clerk of the ist Division Court, 
positions of responsibility in which he 
served with the greatest efficiency. At one 
time he was captain of the militia, and dur 
ing a period of forty years the issuance of 
marriage licenses was in his hands. 

On Dec. 19, 1839, Mr. Scott married 
Isabella Blunden, who was born in 1816, in 
County Kilkenny, Ireland, and, with her hus 
band, resided until her death in September, 
1903, in Forest, where they lived since 1882. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott belong to the 
Church of England. Politically Mr. Scott 
is a pronounced member of the Government 
party. To this worthy couple were born the 
following children : ( i ) Ellen, widow ot 
Charles Hill, who was born in 1822, in Ire 
land, son of William and Marion (Crooks) 
Hill. Charles Hill was a farmer in Plymp 
ton township until his death in 1898. In 
1885 he was appointed postmaster at Hills- 
boro, and after his decease his capable widow 
assumed the duties of the position which she 
efficiently filled until September, 1901, when 
she resigned in order to remove to Forest to 
care for her aged parents. Her children are, 
Annie M., wife of Thomas Keath, has chil 
dren, Ronald, Maud and Jennie; Hannah, 
wife of Thomas W. Harvey, has one daugh 
ter, Frances ; and Jane, on the old homestead. 
(2) Margaret married John H. Jones, of 
Sarnia. (3) William, of London, married 
Eleanor Cousins, and they have children, 
Folsome, Winnifred and Violet. (4) Fran 
ces is Mrs. Humphrey Blunden, and has chil 
dren, Christopher, Sidney, Mable and Mar 
garet. (5) Mary is Mrs. William Arche- 
son, and has children, Daisy and Vera. (6) 
Charlotte is the wife of Luke Longley, and 
they have children, Edna, Thomas, Martha 
and Hugh. (7) Robert, of London, mar 
ried Rhoda Langlay, and they have children, 
Ralph. Roy and Eva; Florence, deceased, 
was the wife of William T. Vanston, and 
they had children, Justice, Edward and Har 
old. (8) Edward, married Emily Meuburn. 

Although Mr. Scott is past eighty-six 
years of age, he is remarkably well preserved 
as to his faculties, and possesses a wonderful 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



55 



memory of past events during his long and 
useful life. He is interested in his long line 
of honorable ancestry, and can readily trace 
it from his great-grandfather on down to his 
grandchildren. He is widely known and 
universally esteemed. 

JOHN WALKER, who for thirty years 
has "been an oil producer in Oil Springs and 
Petrolia, was born on the estate of Glen- 
dindie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1849, 
youngest son of Alexander and Janet Glen- 
nie Walker. Alexander Walker was a farm 
er and public carrier, and his father was land 
steward or local factor for many years on 
the above estate. To Alexander Walker and 
his wife were born three sons : James, who 
died in childhood; Alexander, who came to 
this country and engaged in the mercantile 
business with our subject at Petrolia for 
some time, dying here and leaving no family ; 
and John, the subject proper of this sketch. 

As noted above, Mr. Walker is of Scot 
tish nativity. In 1869 he came to Ontario 
and located for one year at Niagara Falls, 
in the spring of 1870 leaving the Falls with 
the intention of settling in some state west 
of Chicago, but as he had heard of the oil 
fields of Petrolia he concluded to investigate 
conditions there. It was an unfortunate 
time to see this bustling town ; the time was 
the spring of the year, and there being no 
pavements the roads were axle deep in mud, 
the latter being a very unusual sight to Mr. 
Walker, he having come from a land of gran 
ite, practically without mud. On stepping 
off the train and walking to the front street 
he was so disgusted with the unaccustomed 
sight of teams with loads walloping through 
the mud that he returned to the depot and 
inquired when the first train would leave. 
The agent informed him that two hours 
must elapse, which he felt would be months, 
but he accidentally learned of the presence 
in the place of an old acquaintance, who was 
engaged as a well driller some four miles 
away. Wading through the sea of mud, 
Mr. Walker found his countryman just at 
the time when a new well was being put 
down, which was being operated with steam, 



something entirely new in our subject s ex 
perience. He watched the work with inter 
est and at last became so enthusiastic that he 
said to his friend, apparently forgetting the 
sea of mud behind him, "I ll work for you 
two weeks for nothing if you let me run 
that boiler and engine." His proposition 
was accepted, and that was the beginning of 
a business he has followed ever since. More 
than thirty years have passed since the ques 
tion as to the leaving of a train was put to 
the agent, and he is probably still waiting 
for it. 

By the fall of 1870 Mr. Walker had ac 
cumulated enough capital to engage in the 
grocery and hardware business, which he 
continued for twelve years. In the meantime 
he had gradually embarked in the oil business 
and in 1882 sold out his mercantile interests, 
and made an extensive tour of his native 
land. He was one of the promoters and 
manager of the Producers Oil Refining Com 
pany and Producers Tanking Company. In 
1886, from the effect of the Canadian mar 
ket being flooded with American oil, a gen 
eral combination of producers and refiners 
was effected for the purpose of compelling 
a better grade of refined oil to be put On the 
market, thereby to regain from the Ameri 
cans some of the lost market and use up some 
of the surplus stock of crude. Some dis 
tricts were lost entirely to the trade. Those 
districts were parcelled out to certain re 
finers to work up. During the life of the 
combination no others were allowed to in 
trude. Mr. Walker took hold of the Niagara 
district for McMillan, Kittridge & Co., and 
worked it to a good paying business. The 
final result of this, the last combination, was 
the emptying of the crude tanks, they never 
having been filled since. For the next half 
dozen years on his own account Mr. Walker 
covered Ontario with his special brands of 
lubricating oils, but his producing interests 
having increased, his time is now entirely 
taken up with his wells. He always has taken 
the greatest interest in this work, many years 
ago having invented and patented an im 
provement on deep well pumps which is in 
general use today, and having still in use the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



first iron jerker wheel which ever ran in the 
Canadian oil fields ; he looks back with pleas 
ure to the day when said wheel was cast, as 
it was the forerunner of something which 
revolutionized the running of oil wells where 
one man today does the work which required 
fifty before the jerking system was intro 
duced, the effect of which has been to con 
vert the oil business from a speculative to a 
legitimate trade. 

In addition to his various business en 
terprises Mr. Walker has taken an active 
part in municipal matters, giving seven years 
to the service of the town. Politically he is 
a Reformer ; fraternally an Odd Fellow. The 
family are Presbyterians in religious be 
lief. In 1873 Mr. Walker married Miss 
Sarah Lockhart, daughter of Richard and 
Mary Lockhart, of Bayfield. Seven chil 
dren have been born to this marriage : Edith 
married A. D. Armstrong, merchant of Oil 
Springs; Drs. Charles and Fred are grad 
uates of the medical department of the Uni 
versity of Toronto ; Emma, Louie and Harry 
are at home ; Edward is in the Metropolitan 
Bank. 

. PETER TAYLOR, deceased. One of 
the extensive landowners and large oil pr.o- 
ducers of Lambton County was Peter Tay 
lor, who during his whole business life was 
identified with this county. From Scottish 
ancestry he inherited traits which assisted 
him in the building of his fortunes, and feu- 
men of his locality more justly enjoyed am 
ple means and public esteem. 

Mr. Taylor was born in the Orkney Isles, 
Scotland, July 19, 1835, a son of George and 
Ann (Taylor) Taylor, the mother bearing 
the same name, but being of no kindred. 
George Taylor was also born in the Orkney 
Isles, in 1787, and for many years was a sea 
faring man, during that time making many 
trips to the western coast of South Amer 
ica, and spending three years in the Cana 
dian Northwest, in the employ of the Hud 
son Bay Company. In 1841 he emigrated 
to Ontario, settling in Brockville. and died 
there in 1842, leaving a widow with seven 
children, as follows: George, Margaret, 



John, Ann, Peter, Janet and Mary. The 
mother survived until 1881, passing away 
in Sarnia, at the age of seventy-eight years. 

Peter Taylor was but six years of age 
when his parents came to Ontario from 
Scotland, and from the date of his father s 
death, a year later, made his own way un 
assisted in the world. No honest work was 
refused, and by the time he was twelve years 
of age his energy and industry had made his 
services of value to a number of people, mak 
ing it possible for him to providently lay a 
little aside. In 1849, at the a e f fourteen 
years, he made his first purchase of real 
estate, this property consisting of 100 acres 
of land on Lot 15, Concession n, Moore 
township. It was entirely unimproved, a 
purchase from the government, requiring the 
payment of $21. During the next year he 
followed teaming, in Sarnia, but his active 
intelligence soon convinced him that the 
same business in the oil fields would bring 
returns much quicker, and he resolved to 
make the experiment. Going into the oil 
field in Enniskillen township, in eighteen 
months he had fifty-six horses continually 
engaged, beginning with two teams. These 
horses were his own property, and he kept 
buying until he practically owned the whole 
teaming business in the oil fields in this lo 
cality. By the time he reached his thirtieth 
year Mr. Taylor ranked with the capitalists 
of Lambton County. 

Later, having secured wider opportun 
ities for business expansion, Mr. Taylor 
closed out the teaming interests and went 
into the oil business at Petrolia. In 1874 he 
erected his handsome residence in Sarnia, 
and settled in the same in the following year, 
and from that time he was one of the city s 
most reputable residents. In addition to his 
oil interests Mr. Taylor owned and operated 
700 acres of fine land in Sarnia township, 
and what is remarkable is that he just as 
carefully attended to all of these large enter 
prises individually, being just as busy, just 
as energetic and capable, as when his child 
ish services were first in demand. It is. 
scarcely possible to avoid comment upon Mr. 
Taylor s success, considering that he began 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



at the bottom of life s ladder, and through 
his own determined efforts reached so near 
the top. A sturdy constitution and a well- 
knit frame assisted him, and in his younger 
days he was considered something of an 
athlete, but it was his mental equipment 
which brought him success honest success, 
for Mr. Taylor would have had no other. He 
had no use for a sluggard. Of keen, dis 
criminating judgment, he was able to make 
his business investments pay, because he was 
always sure of the foundation upon which 
they rested. In his family he was beloved, 
and in the community highly esteemed. He 
passed away Aug. 21, 1903, and is buried in 
Lake View cemetery, at Sarnia. Few men 
have left so deep an impression on the life of 
that community, and whether regarded as a 
business or moral factor in its advancement 
his good influence can never be questioned. 
On April 6, 1864. Mr. Taylor married 
Miss Jane Elliott, daughter of Adam Elliott, 
of Toronto, and the three children of this 
union still surviving are : Miss Helen, John 
and George. Mr. Taylor was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, to which Mrs. 
Taylor, also belongs. Politically he was a 
Reformer, and while in Petrolia he served 
on the town council. 

THOMAS CRAWFORD, who for 
over half a century has made his home in 
Bosanquet, and played a most important 
part in its material development, and has 
taken a lead in public affairs, creating by 
his own example a high standard of integrity 
and fidelity to duty in official as well as in 
private life, is one of the surviving pioneers 
of Lambton County. \Yhen he first settled 
in Bosanquet that township was a wilder 
ness. The few settlers made their homes in 
little log cabins, and found their way through 
primeval forest by means of blazed trails. 
Xo churches nor schools were to be found. 
In the transformation that has taken place 
he has been most active. The log cabins 
have given way to comfortable brick and 
frame dwellings, churches and schools have 
been founded, and the unbroken wilderness, 
where wild animals roamed, has been cleared 



and succeeded by peaceful fields of waving 
grain. Good roads have taken the place of 
Indian trails. As he compares the past with 
the present, noting the marvelous develop 
ment of the country, and the great advance 
in methods and machinery, Mr. Crawford 
can truthfully say, "A great part of this I 
was." After years of hard toil he is now- 
passing the evening of his life surrounded by 
his devoted wife and children, still active 
and in the possession of all his faculties. His 
life has not been lived in vain. His name 
is honored and respected by all classes ot 
people. He is self-made in every sense of 
the word, and his life is worthy of emulation. 
Mr. Crawford is a native of Ireland, born 
in the parish of Carncastle, County Antrim, 
Aug. 9, 1824. The Crawford family is of 
Scottish origin, but for generations the fam 
ily home has been in the Xorth of Ireland. 
Their religious faith is that of the Presby 
terian Church. 

Samuel Crawford, grandfather ot 
Thomas, was a tenant farmer in County 
Antrim, where he lived and died. 

Samuel Crawford, son of Samuel and 
father of Thomas, was born in the same 
county, and there learned the trade of linen 
weaver, which he followed, being the owner 
of a number of looms, in the operation of 
which he employed several men. He also 
dealt largely in linen and was known as a 
linen draper. He married Margaret Hun 
ter, daughter of Joseph Hunter, who was a 
landed proprietor, tanner, land surveyor 
and civil engineer. To Mr. and Mrs. Craw- 
ford were tern two children. Ellen and 
Thomas. He died in 1825, leaving his 
widow with the two small children. The lit 
tle family remained in their native home, the 
children attending school until 1838, when 
Mrs. Crawford turned to the New World 
to make a home. Having her parents, broth 
ers and sisters in Canada, she determined to 
join them, and. sailing from Belfast on the 
sailing vessel "Dumfries," after five weeks 
passage the little band landed in Quebec. 
Making their way to Ontario, they located 
in the township of Markham, County of 
York, where the Hunter family made their 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



home. There Thomas worked for his uncle, 
Alexander Hunter, and Ellen married James 
McMillen (now deceased), and removed to 
Manitoba, where she still resides, in Winni 
peg; she is the mother of Sir Daniel Hunter 
McMillen, now lieutenant-governor of that 
Province. 

After twelve years spent in the County 
of York Thomas Crawford came with his 
mother to Lambton County, in the early fif 
ties, locating on Lot 13, Concession i, of 
Bosanquet, where a tract of 400 acres of 
land was bought from the Canadian Land 
Company, at $2.50 an acre. On this Thomas 
Crawford started to make a home. The land 
was all bush, and while the road had once 
been cut, it was then grown up with under 
brush. The few settlers were widely scat 
tered. Erecting a log house, Mr. Crawford 
and his mother made their home there to 
gether until the latter s death. Although ad 
vanced in years she bore the hardships 
bravely, and was tenderly cared for in her 
old age by her devoted son, with whom she 
died. At her request he took her to Mark- 
ham township, County of York, for burial. 
She was a faithful member of the Presby 
terian Church. 

Mr. Crawford later disposed of 150 acres 
of the bush tract, and set to work to clear up 
the remainder. There being no demand for 
timber in that early period, he cut it down 
and burned it up in order to clear up his 
place. After many years of hard work and 
perseverance he succeeded, in later years be 
ing ably assisted by his sons. He paid con 
siderable attention to the raising of fine cat 
tle, principally Shorthorn Durham, and also 
some good horses for general purposes. He 
has been engaged in general farming, stock 
raising and feeding, and has made a suc 
cess. In 1 88 1 Mr. Crawford built a fine 
brick dwelling-house, which is surrounded 
by ornamental trees and shrubbery, and he 
has planted ten acres in apples and pears, his 
orchard being one of the largest in that sec 
tion of the township. In 1903 a fine frame 
barn, with concrete foundation, was erected, 
and he has made many improvements on the 
farm. He also bought 100 acres of land in 



Warwick township, which is now owned and 
operated by his son Francis, who is town 
ship councillor of Warwick. 

Mr. Crawford has always been a stanch 
Reformer, supporting the principles laid 
down by the founders of the great Liberal 
party. In school matters he has always taken 
a deep interest, having for over thirty years 
filled the position of trustee in his section. 
He also took an active part in organizing the 
Bosanquet Agricultural Society, and was for 
many years its secretary, treasurer and presi 
dent. In 1854 he was appointed treasurer of 
Bosanquet township, which office he has filled 
with credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
public for the past fifty-one years, being the 
oldest official in point of service in the county. 
He paid out of the township, the first year, 
1,587, 95, and in 1904 over $28,150.59. In 
1892 he paid $20,175.89. During his long 
term as treasurer he has handled over three 
quarters of a million dollars of the town 
ship s money. His honesty is unquestioned, 
and he stands foremost today among the 
honorable men in the county. He cast his 
first vote for the Hon. George Brown, when 
that well known statesman represented 
Lambton, and was the man chosen by the 
committee to nominate the Hon. Alexander 
Mackenzie, in 1874, when he was elected 
Premier of Canada. He has always taken 
a deep interest in the party, and always sup 
ported its principles. His name has often 
been placed before conventions by his party 
as candidate for Parliamentary honors, but 
he has always declined. He is now retired 
from the active work on the farm, turning 
over the management to his son Alexander 
Mackenzie. He is still quite active, and in 
possession of all his faculties, always having 
enjoyed good health, and he has lived a most 
temperate life, not even using tobacco. He 
and his wife are members of the Presby 
terian Church, attending at Thedford. Al 
though Mr. Crawford s life has been a busy 
one, he found time to make a trip through 
the Northwest and Manitoba, where he 
visited his sister and nephew 7 , Lieut.-Gov. 
McMillen. 

In Bosanquet, July 15, 1862, Mr. Craw- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



59 



ford married Miss Elizabeth Crone, daugh 
ter of the venerable Francis Crone, of For 
est. Eight children have blessed this union, 
six of whom are still living, and all reflect 
credit on their early training. They all re 
ceived good educations and are now doing 
well, (i) Samuel died at the age of eleven 
years. (2) Francis is a farmer of Warwick 
township, and a member of the township 
council. He married Marion Steele, and 
they have four children, Grace, Margaret, 
Frances and Thomas. (3) Ellen and (4) 
Sarah are twins. The former is the wife of 
John Steel, and is now residing in the North 
west; they have seven children, Robert, 
Thomas, Hector, Wilfred, Elizabeth, Irene 
and Margaret. Sarah is married to John D. 
Boyes, of Lesmahago, Lanarkshire, Scot 
land, where they reside, and they have four 
children, John, Thomas, Elizabeth and 
Francis. (5) Alexander Mackenzie, now 
operating the home farm, married Christina 
McKellar, and they have one son, Thomas. 
(6) Daniel T., a medical practitioner of In- 
nisfail. Alberta, N. W. T., married Jean 
Shillington, and has three children, Jean E., 
Wilfred and Margaret. (7) Jeffrey J., who 
graduated from the Detroit Medical Col 
lege, and is now in practice at Deckerville, 
Michigan, married Miss Maud Baker, a 
high school teacher in Michigan. (8) John 
died when five years old. 

JOHX DUXFIELD, M. D.. who since 
1878 has been actively engaged in the prac 
tice of his profession in Petrolia, is of Irish- 
Scotch descent. The family of which he is a 
member was founded in Canada by James 
Dunfield, his father, who was born in 
County Down. Ireland, in 1791, and who 
died in Petrolia in 1875. In 1811 James 
Dunfield settled in Montreal, and became 
manager for a shoe manufacturing company, 
continuing in that capacity for some time. 
There he met and, in 1825, married Miss 
Agnes Arthur, then but seventeen years of 
age. also a native of Ireland, of Scotch pa 
rentage, who was born in 1808, and died in 
1880. In 1832 they settled in Bytown, now 
Ottawa, where he continued the shoe busi 



ness for a number of years. In 1836, how 
ever, he settled on a farm in Carleton 
County, being one of the early settlers, and 
he cleared up a fine farm. During this period 
he was magistrate, shoemaker and school 
teacher, following all these callings at the 
same time. This farm was his home until 
advanced age compelled him to abandon 
work, and he settled in Petrolia in 1872, dy 
ing there March i, 1875. Ten children were 
born to him and his wife: Jane (deceased) 
married Gilbert Forgie, of the County of 
Lanark; Mary Ann died unmarried; Eliza 
(deceased) married William Cathcart; Mar 
garet died young; Agnes died young; Will 
iam died in Manitoba, aged seventy years; 
James is a farmer in Manitoba; Joseph is de 
ceased; Hugh is deceased; John is our 
subject. 

John Dunfield was born on the old home 
stead in Carleton County, Ont., Sept. 6, 
1848. His early literary education was ob 
tained in the public schools, after which he 
engaged in teaching for some time. W hen 
only fifteen years old he sat down and wrote 
for his certificate, walked ten miles from 
his home to the village of Richmond for ex 
amination, and succeeded in obtaining a sec 
ond-class certificate, returning home proudly 
with the parchment in his pocket. Then 
he started out with a horse and cutter to 
hunt for a school and finally secured one in 
Torbolton, on the Ottawa river, twenty- 
three miles above Ottawa, and thirty-two 
miles from his home. As there were two 
schools there he divided his year into two 
terms of six months each, teaching first in 
one and then in the other; he taught in all 
for seven years and nine months. 

On Jan. i, 1872, Mr. Dunfield removed 
to Petrolia and drilled an oil well which 
proved to be a good one, being an eighty- 
barrel well. He is one of the largest oil pro 
ducers in this vicinity. After coming to Pe 
trolia he engaged to teach the Marthaville 
school, where he remained for nine months 
and then went to Cobourg. with the intention 
of taking a classical course in the Victoria 
University. At the end of his first year, 
however, he turned his attention to medicine, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



60 

and in October, 1874, entered Trinity Medi-. 
cal College, at Toronto, from which he was 
graduated with honors in the degree of 
M. D. in 1878. Dr. Dunfiekl at once settled 
in Petrolia, where he has since built up a 
large practice, and is now numbered among 
the leading physicians of the county. 

On Oct. 13, 1879, Dr - Dunfiekl was mar 
ried to Miss Jennie McRae, a native of Eck- 
ford, Middlesex County, Ont. The follow 
ing family has been bom to Dr. Dunfield and 
his wife: John Daniel, born Sept. 16, 1880, 
was graduated in 1902 from Trinity Univer 
sity with the degree of B. A., and is now re 
siding in Petrolia, operating extensively in 
the oil business; Charles F. is a student in 
the Petrolia high school; Arthur W. and 
Beverly E. are deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Dun- 
field are members of the Church of England. 
Politically he is a Reformer. In 1895 he 
was elected mayor of Petrolia, and prior to 
that date was reeve, by virtue of which office 
he was a member of the county board. He 
"has also been a member of the city council 
for a number of years and at present is a 
high school trustee. Fraternally he is a 
master Mason, a member of Bruce Chapter, 
R. A. M. ; and he also belongs to the I. O. 

0. F., the K. O. T. M., the K. of P. and the 

1. O. F. He is also ex-president of the 
Lambton Medical Society, and a member of 
the Ontario Medical Society. 

GEORGE NAIRN MATHESOX, of 
Sarnia, has served in the custom department 
since January, 1856. To be able to hold so 
responsible a place for that length of time 
speaks for itself of his ability and integ 
rity of character. In Sarnia, where he has 
for the greater part of the time performed 
the duties of his offices, he occupies a high 
place socially, and his attractive home, con 
taining one of the largest private collections 
of paintings in Canada, is the resort of many 
select and warm personal friends. 

Mr. Matheson is of Highland Scottish 
ancestry, his forefathers for three genera 
tions having been natives of Sutherlandshire, 
Scotland. Both his great-grandfather and 
his grandfather bore the Christian name of 



Neil. His grandfather, Neil Matheson, pos 
sessed the rugged, determined qualities 
which eminently fitted him for a pioneering- 
career in a new country. He was born in 
1 767, and spent the greater part of his long 
and useful life in Scotland. In 1834, when 
past sixty, he came to Ontario, and with his 
wife settled upon a farm in Zorra township, 
Oxford County, where he engaged in agri 
culture. Here he died in 1845. He married 
in Scotland Miss Elizabeth Matheson, who 
survived him, dying in Ontario in 1870. By 
this union there were seven children: Don 
ald, Marion, Hugh, Catherine, Jane (who 
now resides in Kentucky), Christina and 
Neil. 

Donald Matheson, father of George N. 
Matheson, was obviously predestined to 
large achievements. Born in Scotland in 
1803, he there in a cultivated and well reg 
ulated community received careful rearing. 
In 1832, with the vigor of young manhood 
and the ideal before him of wealth and dis 
tinction, he left home, family and sweet 
heart, and came to Canada to make a place 
for himself. After a short residence in 
Montreal he located at Perth, Ont., and hired 
out as clerk for the late Hon. James Morris. 
He fell in with good people, and during his 
stay in the place boarded with the mother of 
Hon. Malcolm Cameron. In 1833 Mr. 
Matheson moved to Zorra township, Oxford 
County, where the nourishing little town of 
Embro was being built up. Soon after his 
arrival a postoffice was established there, 
and, being a man of business experience and 
education, as well as honest and trustworthy . 
he was appointed postmaster. So well did 
he fill this position that he retained it 
throughout his active life, winning for him 
self a wide popularity. After his permanent 
location in Zorra township Mr. Matheson 
sent for his fiancee, Janet Nainv. whom he 
had left in Scotland, and she arrived after an 
ocean voyage in, a sailing vessel and an over 
land trip to Embro. Going to London, Ont., 
they were married by Bishop Cronyn. Mr. 
and Mrs. Matheson had ten children : George 
Nairn, who is mentioned below ; Neil : John: 
Jane and Hugh, twins: Eliza, now a resi- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



61 



dent of Kansas ; Janet ; Marion ; Elizabeth : 
and Mary, who is now postmistress at 
Embro. 

After his marriage Mr. Matheson contin 
ued to reside in Zorra township, making his 
home there for the rest of his life. The post- 
office of which he long had charge has re 
mained in his family since its establishment, 
being now in charge of his daughter Mary. 
as has been said. Mr. Matheson proved an 
eminently efficient public servant throughout 
his long and busy life. He died in 1881, and 
liis wife in 1874. Mr. Matheson long fig 
ured prominently in the public affairs of his 
section. The little town of Embro, with 
which he was so long identified, he had the 
honor of naming. In 1854 he was sent to 
the Canadian Parliament as the first repre 
sentative for the North Riding of Oxford, 
filling the place with dignity and marked 
ability. A man of pronounced views on 
public questions, in politics he was inde 
pendent. In religion he adhered to the teach 
ings of his forefathers, he and his wife botb 
belonging to the Presbyterian Church. 

George Xairn Matheson was reared in 
an atmosphere of official work. Born in 
Embro Dec. 2, 1835, he there spent his 
early years. Evincing from the start an in 
tellectual bent, at the proper age he was sent 
to Woodstock, where, in the grammar 
school, he completed his studies. The school 
at that time had a good reputation through 
out his section, and has turned out many 
prominent men. among them the late Rufus 
Stephenson. M. P., of Chatham, who was a 
fellow student and intimate friend of Mr. 
Matheson. After leaving school Mr. Mathe 
son secured the position of ticket agent for 
the Great Western Railroad Company at 
Woodstock, the line of which had just been 
completed, and on Dec. 25. 1853, he entered 
upon the duties of his office, selling on that 
day the first ticket issued from his station. 
Filling the place with ability he remained 
there one year, when he was called home to 
take charge of the Embro postoffice. during 
his father s absence in Parliament. Experi"- 
ence in official work, and acquaintance in 
those circles, at the end of that period read 



ily secured for Mr. Matheson a position in 
the custom service, and in January. 1856, he 
received his appointment. For three years 
he filled the duties of this office at Paris, 
Ont. ; then, in February, 1859, he was sent 
to Sandwich, Essex County, and soon after 
ward for a short period he was stationed at 
Port Maitland, as custom officer and as col 
lector of tolls on the Welland canal. In May 
of the same year (1859) he came to Sarnia, 
where he has since resided. For the ^first 
fifteen years of his residence he had charge 
of the customs at the Grand Trunk railroad 
station. Then, in 1874, he was made col 
lector of customs at Sarnia, a position which 
he still occupies. During his thirty years 
service in this capacity he has, by his con 
scientious and rigid performance of every 
duty, won the unbounded confidence of the 
heads of his department, and by his fairness 
and courteous treatment of all with whom 
he has had dealings he has won the highest 
respect from the general public. 

In May. 1872, Mr. Matheson married 
Amanda Cook, daughter of James Cook, of 
Detroit. The marriage, however, was a 
brief one, as Mrs. Matheson died in 1881. 
Xo children were born of this marriage. 

Mr. Matheson, both by education and 
breeding, is a man of taste and refinement. 
He has long taken a live interest in art. and 
has, from year to year, made collections of 
fine paintings, his gallery now containing 
not only many rare works of art, but being 
also one of the largest private galleries in 
Canada. 

Mr. Matheson has for nearly forty years 
been an ardent admirer of the "roaring 
game." having joined the Sarnia Club in the 
sixties, and was president of the club for 
several years. He was also in 1894 presi 
dent of the Ontario Curling Association, an 
exceptionally enviable position, being the 
unanimous choice of representative members 
from Ontario, Ohio and Michigan. He 
hopes to "birl a stane" in his seventieth year. 

f 

DONALD CAMERON, now a retired 
citizen of Petrolia, County of Lambton, is 
a son of George Cameron, a native of Scot- 



62 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



land, who was the founder of this branch 
of the family in Canada. 

George Cameron was born in 1791 in 
Inverness-shire, Scotland. After attending 
the parish school for a time he learned the 
trade of stonemason, and followed that oc 
cupation for some years in his native coun 
try, and afterward in Canada. He mar 
ried Isabella Ross, of Ross-shire, Scotland, 
and in 1832 emigrated to Canada, taking 
with him his family, consisting of his wife 
and three children, of whom Donald, the 
subject of the present sketch, was the young 
est, and at that time but a year old. After 
coming to Canada Mr. Cameron and his 
family resided for a short time in the vicin 
ity of the then village of Napanee, known 
at that time as "Napanee Mills," and then 
moved onto a bush farm in the township of 
Tyendinaga, in the County of Hastings, 
where he remained until his death, in 1869. 
After settling on his farm Mr. Cameron 
for some years worked portions of each sea 
son at his trade, thus procuring the means to 
keep his family and to get considerable im 
provements made on his farm. Among the 
public buildings which he assisted in erect 
ing may be mentioned the provincial peni 
tentiary, at Kingston, and the county build 
ing in the present city of Belleville (which 
was at that time but a small village). He 
was always interested in securing for his 
children as liberal an education as his cir 
cumstances and the conditions and educa 
tional facilities then existing and available 
permitted, and served many years as school 
trustee in his section. He was an active mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and in poli 
tics belonged to the Liberal school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron had a family of 
seven children, four sons and three daugh 
ters : ( i ) Ann, the eldest, married and had a 
large family, six of her children still surviv 
ing. (2) John, after preparing to teach, 
graduating "at the Newburgh Academy, was 
engaged in that profession for a time, subse 
quently came West, and was one of the pio 
neers in the Enniskillen oil fields. He was 
one of the early operators at Oil Springs, 
where he succeeded in accumulating consid 



erable money. He afterward engaged in a 
manufacturing and saw-milling business in 
Thedford, in the township. of Bosanquet, 
where, after carrying on an extensive busi 
ness for several years, he was unfortunate, 
losing heavily in some of his transactions, 
and he later engaged in the cattle business. 
He died in 1895. (3) Donald, the second 
son and third eldest in the family, is men 
tioned at length farther on. (4) Salton, the 
third son, became a millwright and archi 
tect, and after following that business for a 
time went to California, in the early days of 
the gold excitement in that country, where 
he became popular and successful as a mill 
builder, erecting many of the most extensive 
crushing mills now in operation in the min 
ing regions of that State. He afterward 
went to Montana, where he engaged in min 
ing operations, and was for many years 
prominently connected with some of the lar 
gest mining concerns in the Territory. He 
never married, and died in 1898. (5) Jessie, 
the second daughter, married W. H. Cas- 
well, and had a family of five children, three 
sons and two daughters, all now living in 
Toronto, where she died several years ago. 

(6) George, the fourth son, is engaged in 
the milling business in Collingwood. He, 
too, was one of the early operators in Oil 
Springs, where he was engaged in the oil 
business for several years. He married Ann 
Stuart, daughter of Neil Stuart, of Park 
Hill, and they had two children, George and 
Gerty. George is a physician, and is prac 
ticing in Omemee; Gerty married Dr. Cor- 
rigan. The mother died some years ago. 

(7) Isabella, the third daughter and the 
youngest of the family, married William 
McCulloch, and they settled in Oil Springs, 
where he was accidentally killed a few years 
afterward. He left a son and a daughter. 
Mrs. McCulloch subsequently married D. 
McGibbon, now of Forest, County of 
Lambton, and they have had eight children, 
five sons and three daughters; four of the 
sons are doctors. 

Mrs. Cameron, mother of the subject of 
this sketch, survived her husband ^many 
years, reaching the good old age of eighty- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



five, and died in Arkona, in the township of 
Bosanquet, in 1884. 

Donald Cameron, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in the town of Tain, in 
Ross-shire, Scotland, Jan. 8, 1831. He re 
mained on the home farm until he became of 
age, meanwhile assisting to clear up the land, 
and obtaining, at the common schools of the 
neighborhood, which he attended during the 
winter seasons (the summers being devoted 
to work on the farm with his father), an ed 
ucation sufficient to enable him to obtain a 
teacher s certificate, and on a cold winter 
morning in February he said good-bye to 
those .with whom he was now parting for 
the first time, and with his heart full of the 
associations and memories clustering around 
"the old house at home" he launched out 
into the wide world. \Yith the timidity of 
an inexperienced boy he stepped onto the 
great stage of life s activities, henceforth to 
direct his own course and hew his own way 
through the world. The school system was. 
at that time, in a very crude stage of its 
existence, and the teacher usually "boarded 
around" at the homes of his various pupils. 
Mr. Cameron commenced his career, after 
leaving home, as a common-school teacher, 
his first school being in a delightful locality 
on the south shore of the beautiful Hay Bay, 
in the old historic County of Lennox. After 
teaching there a year for $18 a month and 
"board," he attended the Newburgh Acad 
emy for two terms, and then came west, tak 
ing a school in the County of Middlesex, 
where, after teaching some four years, he 
was appointed superintendent of schools and 
town clerk for the township of Dorchester 
South. He was also, ex-officio, a member of 
the board of public instruction for the 
County of Middlesex, a position he resigned 
at the end of two years to try his fortune in 
the city of New Orleans. Not finding things 
there as he expected, he returned to Canada, 
and again engaged in teaching, taking a 
school in Strathroy. He afterward returned 
to the County of Hastings, and opened a 
general store in Tamworth, in the then 
united Counties of Frontenac. Lennox and 
Addington. Having been appointed clerk of 



the Eighth Division Court of the united 
counties, he closed his store business and re 
mained in the office of division court clerk 
for a number of years, when he resigned that 
office, having determined to again try his 
fortune in the west. 

Mr. Cameron and his brother George en 
tered into a general storekeeping business in 
Watford, County of Lambton, but, leaving 
the business in the charge of his brother, he 
went to Montana in 1869, and was con 
nected with the gold mining business in that 
Territory for nearly three years. Return 
ing again to Canada at the end of that 
period, he embarked in the milling business, 
purchasing the "Rock Glen" flouring-mill 
and putting up the first circular sawmill 
erected in Arkona. township of Bosanquet. 
However, after remaining there two years, 
he sold his mills and removed to Petrolia, 
same county, where he engaged in the busi 
ness of producing crude oil, in which he re 
mained until the beginning of the year 1903, 
when he sold his oil property, and is now 
living retired. 

Mr. Cameron has been at various times a 
member of the municipal council and of the 
public school board. In religion he is a 
Methodist. In politics he belongs to the 
Conservative school. He is a stanch be 
liever in Canada for the Canadians, and 
favors a tariff that will protect home indus 
tries and prevent Canada from being a 
slaughter market for the surplus manufac 
tures of her southern neighbors. He is a 
thorough Imperialist, and favors cementing 
the old land and the greater Britain across 
the seas together by a system of preferential 
trade between the various ports of the Em 
pire. 

Xotwithstanding his varied and some 
what extensive and busy business career, 
Mr. Cameron has devoted a good deal of at 
tention to literary work, and is a writer of 
considerable merit, of both prose and poetry, 
articles from his pen having at various times 
appeared in the public press. Among his 
more recent poetical productions may be 
mentioned : "Mother and The Old House at 
Home," "Scotland the Land of My Birth," 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



"The Common Weal, and Brotherhood of 
Man," "Merit is not in the Station you fill, 
but in the Way that you fill it." Among his 
recent prose writings may be mentioned two 
articles of general interest and considerable 
merit, one, an article on "Victoria and the 
Victorian Age," the other an article denning 
"The Church and the State, two Independent 
Institutions in Human Society, and Each Su 
preme in its own Sphere." The poem quoted 
at the end of this article was written for the 
annual festival of St. Andrew s Society held 
at Petrolia in November, 1904. 

Mr. Cameron married in 1860, and has 
a family of two daughters. 



THE LAND WE LIVE IN. 
BY D. CAMERON. 

We recall to-night the land we left, 
Its sunny strand and heathery hills ; 

The winds that sift and sands that drift, 
And all its past our memory fills. 

Not less we love our western home, 
The glorious land we live in ; 

Go east or west where er men roam, 
To man no fairer land is given. 

We hail our fair Canadian home, 
Its hills and dales and prairie; 

Where sparkling streams bound and foam, 
And hearts are true and cheery. 

Its leafy wood and silvery bays, 

And rivers broad extending ; 
Its stretching shores and sunny braes, 

And mountain heights ascending. 

Bright its brooks and streams and lakes, 
Sparkling through the shimmering mist, 

And green its woods, its slopes and brakes, 
By generous sunbeams kissed. 

Boundless oceans heaving waves, 
On the east and west are rolling; 

And polar sea and cataract s caves, 
The North and South are holding. 

Inclosing lake, and shore, and flood, 

No other land resembling; 
Where Saxon, French and Norman blood, 

With Celt and Dane are mingling. 

Noble land ! with beauty strown, 

Where mutual ties in concord bind us, 

Nor would we from its prairies roam, 
Nor leave its hills behind us. 



The Union Jack and Maple Leaf, 

The flag that s waving o er us, 
Guards the sea, and shore and reef, 

And all the land before us, 

Where the oak, and ash, and elm wreath, 

In leafy splendor bending, 
And the shamrock, rose, and thistle s leaf, 

With the Maple tree are blending. 

No lordling tyrant here may frown, 

Nor base usurper rule the soil ; 
The passport to the ruler s crown 

The peerless coronet of toil. 

The Briton s blood is in our veins, 
A nation s flag is streaming o er us 

No foot of slave nor traitor stains 
The land that lies before us. 

From Atlantic shore to the golden reef; 

The star of Empire s shining, 
And the Union Jack and Maple Leaf, 

On every sea are twining. 

From kindred hearts both true and brave, 
No winds our hearts shall sever ; 

With the red and blue across the wave, 
We twine the Maple Leaf for ever. 

ARCHIBALD WEIR, LL. B. One of 
the pioneer names held in high esteem in 
Lambton County, Out., is that of Weir, 
which has been honorably perpetuated 
through several generations and is most 
worthily borne by Archibald Weir, one of 
the county s leading barristers. 

The Weir family is of Irish origin, 
grandfather Archibald Weir having been 
born in Ireland in 1791. There he married 
Mary Currie, and in 1817 they came to Can 
ada, locating in the County of Middlesex, 
Ont., in London township, where Mr. Weir 
cleared up a fine farm from the bush and 
reared a family. Here he died at the age of 
seventy-nine years and his wife at the age 
of ninety-six" Their settlement antedates 
the founding of the city of London, Ont., 
and at this time their only neighbors were 
straggling bands of Indians, who were not 
to be trusted as to peaceable intentions. The 
settlement of any country means privation 
and hardship, and it continues to be a mar 
vel to the present generation that ancestors 
were found brave enough to face those early 
conditions. It is related in the family records 
that when grandfather Archibald broke his 
ax in felling trees about his log hut he was 
obliged to walk from his home to within 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



three miles of Hamilton in order to replace 
it. If the heroism of the pioneer fathers was 
often tested, what of the mothers? A little 
family incident seems to prove, in this case, 
that Mrs. Weir was of quite as sturdy a 
character as her husband. Among her few 
valued possessions brought from her native 
land was a pewter teapot, which she valued 
above price. Upon one occasion two Indian 
braves came by, probably while her husband 
was in search of a new ax, and spying the 
teapot demanded it as a gift, their intention 
being to melt it and make bullets. Not 
daunted, Mrs. \Yeir refused and determined 
to protect her property. One savage stood 
over her with his knife, while the other went 
into the house to secure the treasure, but, 
quick as thought, she grasped the stick she 
had been using in some outdoor work, and 
delivered such a blow on the head of the sav 
age that it felled him to the ground, and then 
she pursued the other, who, on seeing the 
fate of his companion, helped him up, and 
both disappeared and never came back. Mrs. 
Weir received a cut upon her arm, but the 
teapot remained in her possession. 

James Weir, the father of Barrister 
Weir, of Sarnia, was born June 25, 1822, on 
the old homestead in the County of Middle 
sex, and for many years followed farming 
in that county. In 1871 he removed to 
Huron County and ten years later to War 
wick township, Lambton County, in 1898 
settling in Forest, where he and his wife are 
living retired. Both are consistent members 
of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. 
Weir has been an elder for many years. Po 
litically he is a Reformer. 

Archibald Weir acquired his primary ed 
ucation in a rural school and by private 
study. Later he qualified himself as a 
teacher, and by that means acquired money 
to further pursue his studies at the Univer 
sity of Toronto, where he was graduated 
after a highly creditable course with first- 
class honors in the mathematical and philo 
sophical courses and a silver medal, with the 
degree of B. A., in 1885; in 1888 he re 
ceived the degree of LL. B. from Victoria 



University. In 1889 he was called to the 
Bar, in 1890 became a solicitor, and in the 
same year settled for practice at Petrolia, re 
maining there until 1893, when he settled 
in Sarnia. Here his ability has placed him 
in the front ranks of his profession. 

On Nov. 13, 1891, Mr. Weir was mar 
ried to Miss Agnes Cruickshank, a daugh 
ter of the late Charles Cruickshank, and of 
this marriage there is one son, Charles. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Weir are members of the 
Presbyterian Church at Sarnia, and active in 
its work. Politically he is a Liberal, and fra 
ternally he is connected with the A. F. & 
A. M., being past district deputy grand mas 
ter of St. Clair District, No. 2 ; with the 
K. O. T. M., being past provincial comman 
der; with the I. O. F., the C. O. F., and the 
C. O. W. 

Notwithstanding the demands made on 
his time by the burdens of a large and grow 
ing practice, Mr. Weir finds time to take an 
active interest in educational affairs. He 
has been a useful member of the board of 
education of the town of Sarnia for a num 
ber of years. His activity has also found 
scope in the field of legal literature. He is 
the author of a valuable work on The Law 
of Assessment. 

ALEXANDER CHALMERS, one of 
the oldest living natives of Plympton town 
ship. Lambton County, is also one of the best 
known and most highly respected. His birth 
took place Aug. 19, 1838, on the 2d Line of 
Plympton township. 

The Chalmers family is originally of 
Scotland, but members thereof have made 
their homes in Canada for the past 
one hundred years. Robert Chalmers, 
the grandfather of our esteemed sub 
ject, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
where he married and became the 
father of seven children. About 1821. with 
his wife and family, he sailed for Canada, 
landed at Quebec, and proceeded thence to 
Dalhousie, Lanark County, Ont., where he 
settled on Government land. He was a pio 
neer in that district, and followed an agri- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



66 

cultural life. Both he and his wife lived to 
honored old age. In religious belief they 
were Presbyterians. 

James Chalmers, son of Robert, and 
father of Alexander, was born in Glasgow, 
and accomp anied his parents to Canada, 
til about 1832 he remained in Lanark Coun 
ty, where he had married Isabella Cameron, 
who was born at Paisley, Scotland. After 
three children were born to them they de 
cided to seek a home farther west. At that 
elate no modern methods of transportation 
were available, and they came on boats down 
the river to Sarnia, and then on foot made 
their way through the woods until they 
reached the locality now included in Plymp- 
ton township. The hardships of this jour 
ney were numerous, for the country was yet 
a wilderness. They settled in Plympton 
township, far from any neighbors, m a sec 
tion where there were no roads except blazed 
trails, no bridges over the streams, and where 
their frequent visitors were wolves, bears 
and other wild creatures of the forest, the 
timid deer frequently venturing near enough 
to fall a victim to their firearms. They did 
not suffer for food, as venison could thus be 
easily procured, wild turkeys were abundant, 
and the streams were still full of fish. But 
for the social companionship which makes 
up so much of human happiness there was 
little outside the family circle, which in 
cluded the family of Mr. Chalmers brother, 
and that of Capt. Hyde, a settler seven miles 

distant. 

The hardy pioneers made their settlement 
on Lot 2, 2d Concession, and there put up a 
small log shanty. It was a primitive home in 
deed but it gave shelter first to the wife and 
three children and later to others who found 
a warm welcome to the little wilderness 
home and who grew into noble men and 
women. It is interesting to compare the 
furniture deemed sufficient for all reasona 
ble wants in those days with that in present 
use. It was necessarily of home manufact 
ure and was made principally of basswood. 
In those days almost every man had some 
talent for carpentering and was able to con 
struct tables, chairs and beds, the essential 



articles. At that time the present bustling 
city of Sarnia was but a village known as 
the Rapids, and that was the nearest point at 
which the settlers could obtain the few gro 
ceries their limited means permitted them to 
purchase. 

By hard work and perseverance James 
Chalmers, with the help of his sons, cleared 
up his land, a tract of 200 acres, and made 
all the improvements which converted it into 
a comfortable home. After his active days 
were over he sold the farm to his sons James 
and Thomas, erecting a comfortable dwell 
ing for himself on the part of the homestead 
that he had sold to Thomas, in which he 
lived until his death, March 8, 1886, at the 
age of eighty-five years. He was laid to 
rest in the old Plympton cemetery known as 
the old 2d Line cemetery, on the 2d Line, 
one mile from his old homestead. 

Politically Mr. Chalmers was a strong 
supporter of the Conservative party until his 
later days, when he became a Liberal. Dur 
ing the MacKenzie Rebellion of 1837-38 he 
supported the Government. He belonged to 
the body of volunteers stationed at Sarnia. 
Early in life he was connected with the Pres 
byterian Church, but when the Baptist 
Church was established at Sarnia he became 
an attendant and later found that his relig 
ious views coincided with those of that body. 
He always gave liberal support, and assisted 
in the building of the Baptist Church in 
Plympton township, in which he served sev 
eral years as a deacon. In every sense of 
the word James Chalmers was a good man 
and true Christian, devoted to his wife and 
children, and exerting an influence of help 
fulness through his locality. His wife sur 
vived him only three months, passing away 
June 27, 1886, at the age of seventy-eight 
years and six months. She was laid by his 
side in the old cemetery. For more than 
fifty years they had been united in life and 
their separation in death was of short dura 
tion. Mrs. Chalmers was an admirable 
woman, one who bore with courage and 
cheerfulness hardships which are almost as 
far beyond present understanding as they 
are beyond belief. Her children recall with 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



67 



deepest affection her efforts to lighten their 
lots and to make for them a happy home. 
Children as follows were born to James and 
Isabella Chalmers : Robert, who died in Sar- 
nia township ; Thomas, who died in London ; 
Agnes (deceased), who married Alexander 
Chalmers, who resides at Sarnia ; Isabella, 
the widow of \Yilliam Henry Brown, who 
was drowned at Brandon, Man. ; Alexander, 
subject of this sketch ; James, a commercial 
traveler of Strathroy, Out. ; Janet, who mar 
ried James Couse, of Sarnia; William, who 
died young ; and Christiana, who married 
John McMahon. 

Alexander Chalmers, the subject proper 
of this sketch, was reared in the little lonely 
log cabin home in Plympton township. In 
his boyhood there were few schools conduct 
ed in the township and education was a lux 
ury. The schoolhouses were log construc 
tions, with split bass logs for benches and 
plenty of ventilation. His first teacher was 
James Dunlap, and the term was a short one, 
as work was pressing at all times, especially 
in summer, on the pioneer farm, there being 
too much of it for his father to manage with 
out the assistance of his boys, who therefore 
went to school only in winter. He remained 
with his father until 1858, when he was 
twenty years of age, and then started out to 
make his own way in the world, although 
prior to this he had earned some capital by 
assisting neighboring farmers in the busy 
seasons. This capital amounted to $200, not 
a small sum to have earned and saved under 
the circumstances, and he used it in partly 
paying for a tract of 100 acres on Lot 15, 
2d Concession, going into debt for the bal 
ance. He recalls that about all he possessed 
of value, in addition, was an ax of good heft, 
with which he was able to cut down a space 
in the timber on which he could build his 
log hut, his sister Isabella being his house 
keeper. 

Mr. Chalmers cut his timber and con 
verted a part of it into potash, which he 
shipped to Montreal, where it was purchased 
by W. B. Clark. Having some skill with 
rude tools Mr. Chalmers found some work 
to do at carpentry, his first successful work 



being the construction of a barn for Mrs. 
Hugh Park, and he then built one for Dou- 
gal McMurphy. This was approved in the 
neighborhood and he secured other work, 
thus, by honest effort and continual econ 
omy, securing money with which to stock his 
farm. It seems a small matter to record that 
he cleared up 100 acres of his place, but the 
statement gives not even a faint idea, except 
to those who have accomplished a similar 
feat, what such an undertaking meant. To 
the original purchase he added first one tract 
of fifty acres and later a second tract of the 
same size, all of which he improved and put 
under cultivation. A part of his farm is 
the present site of the village of Wyoming, 
through which the Grand Trunk railroad 
passes. Subsequently Mr. Chalmers sold 
the south part of his farm and bought an 
other, on the north, nearer his home, on Con 
cession 3, and his first log cabin home gave 
way to a larger structure. In 1876 he built 
a fine brick dwelling, one of the first of that 
construction on the 2d Line. He improved 
his property also with substantial barns and 
necessary outbuildings, made fences, set out 
orchards, and improved his stock, in fact did 
all that could be accomplished by a man de 
termined to succeed by attending to his duty. 

On Sept. 12, 1 86 1, at Sarnia, Mr. Chal 
mers was united in marriage, by Rev. 
George Watson, with Janet Park, a daugh 
ter of James and Elizabeth (Climie) Park, 
and to this union was born a family of seven 
children, namely : Elizabeth Jennie, who 
married John F. Donald, died July 18, 1902, 
and was buried in Wyoming cemetery ; they 
had three children, William, Frank and 
Stewart. Isabella Agnes married Orson 
Armstrong, of Plympton township. Lottie 
died at the age of seven years. One died in 
infancy. William died at the age of nine 
months. Wilfred, who is a farmer near the 
homestead, married Effie Davis, and has 
two daughters, Maggie and Ella. Maggie, 
the wife of Ora Rice, resides at home, and 
has one son, Wilfred Franklin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers are members of 
the Wyoming Baptist Church, in which he 
was one of the deacons and a trustee, and for 



68 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a long time he was a member of the Sunday- 
school as the teacher of the Bible class. Po 
litically he is a Liberal; he was elected a 
member of the Wyoming council in 1880 
and served as a member of that body for 
live years. 

Like his father Mr. Chalmers had to en 
dure many hardships and early discourage 
ments, but that time is long, long past, and 
to recall it is but to show the value of per 
severance, temperance and industry. Some 
of the articles of furniture which decorate 
his home and are still fulfilling the purposes 
for which they were intended were the prod 
uct of his own skill and ingenuity and pos 
sess qualities not altogether overshadowed 
by the modern specimens which surround 
them. He has seen and lived through many 
wonderful changes in the township and in 
many of these has played a leading part. He 
is known for his sterling character and for 
Christian attributes which make him true 
to every high station in life. 

Mr. Chalmers saw, as we have indicated, 
hardships of all kinds, but his early rearing 
was of such character that he expected noth 
ing else. In his estimable wife he found one 
who had been similarly reared and who ac 
cepted the privations she knew she must en 
dure, with a courage which excites our admi 
ration. They are now able to together enjoy 
the good things of life, surrounded by chil 
dren, grandchildren and many friends. 

The Park family, from which Mrs. Chal 
mers is descended in the paternal line, came 
from sturdy Scotch who settled early at Dal- 
housie in Lanark County, and at Plympton, 
in Lambton County. Hugh Park, grand 
father of Mrs. Chalmers, was born in Scot 
land where he was employed at coal mining 
and weaving. There he married Janet Hay, 
and they bad these children in Scotland: 
James the father of Mrs. Chalmers ; Lilhe, 
wife of Robert Brooks, of Plympton town 
ship- and Marion, who became the wife of 
William Clemie, a resident of Wyoming. 
Mr. Park came to Canada in 1821 and set 
tled at Dalhousie, being one of the first set 
tlers in that portion of Lanark County, where 
thev lived until 1838. Then they sold out 



and came with ox-teams to the County of 
Lambton, locating on the 2d Line of Plymp 
ton township. Here Mr. Park became the 
owner of 200 acres of land, again being one 
of the earliest settlers. In the log cabin built 
there he and his wife both died, Mr. Park 
in 1841, and he was buried on the farm: the 
mother was buried in the 2(1 Line cemetery. 
The children born to them after leaving the 
old country were: Jessie, who married 
George Donald: Robert J., who died in 
Plympton township: Arthur, deceased in 
Plympton township; Jane, who married 
Duncan McNaughton; Mary, residing at 
Sarnia ; Agnes, who married Robert Camp 
bell : Hugh, deceased ; one child that died in 
infancy; and Andrew, of Sarnia township. 
James Park, son of Hugh and father of 
Mrs. Chalmers, was born in Scotland, and 
was but seven years old when he crossed the 
Atlantic, in a sailing vessel, with his parents. 
He was reared to manhood on the farm and 
received but a limited education. In 1837 
he came to the County of Lambton, walking 
the distance from Dalhousie township, La 
nark County, and located in Plympton town 
ship, where he bought a tract of 100 acres 
of land and settled down to pioneer life. 
Conditions were the same as those faced by 
James Chalmers and his wife about the same 
time, and Mr. Park built a small log house 
and cleared and put under cultivation a farm 
of 250 acres. This farm Mr. Park sold 
when ready to retire, and he died on the 
home place Feb. 18, 1874. and was buried 
beside his wife in the 2cl Line cemetery. 
Politically he was a Liberal. He was a 
steadfast member and one of the organizers, 
of the Methodist Church at Brooke, Plymp 
ton township, and was a man held in the 
highest degree of respect. He married Eliz 
abeth Climie, who was horn in 1821, a few 
hours after her parents. Andrew and Janet 
(Turnbull) Climie, landed in Canada. Her 
father was born Feb. 18, 1777. at Paisley, 
Scotland, and her mother May 20, 1780. at 
Cambuslang, Scotland. They came to Can 
ada in 1821, with their family, and first 
located at Dalhousie, Lanark County, and in 
1834 came, with other pioneers of that time,. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



69 



to Plympton township, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. Mrs. Park died at 
the age of thirty-seven years, in 1858, and 
was interred in the 2d Line cemetery. She 
was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Park had issue : 
Hugh, a resident of the village of Alvinston, 
Brooke township; Janet, wife of Alexander 
Chalmers ; Jane Hay, wife of David Brown- 
lee, of this township: Andrew C. of 
Plympton township; James, a lawyer 
in New York City; Margaret, wife 
of George Kirk, teacher in London ; 
Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Ebenezer Haines, 
a Baptist clergyman at Wyoming; Rob 
ert, on the old Park homestead; and one 
that died in infancy. Mr. Park married for 
his second wife Elizabeth Houston, who re 
sides in Lanark County, Ontario. 

ALEXANDER AUGUSTUS 
MEYERS, who has been collector of cus 
toms at the pert of Sombra, Lambton 
County, since 1897, has lived in the county 
since 1849, and is well and favorably known 
to many throughout this section. His fam 
ily is of German origin, and the name was 
originally Von Mover, the first of the family 
on this side of the Atlantic dropping the 
"Von" and adopting the name of Myers 
(now written Meyers). Walter Von 
Mover, great-grandfather of Alexander Au 
gustus, was a native of Hanover, Germany, 
there growing to manhood, and he was twice 
married before leaving his Fatherland for 
Canada. Here he located at Belleville, Hast 
ings Co., Ont, where he passed the rest of 
his life, engaging in the hotel business. He 
was a noted entertainer in his day. 

Frederick Meyers, son of Walter, and 
grandfather of our subject, was also born 
in Hanover, Germany, and there received his 
early education, later studying in England. 
He took up theology and was ordained a 
minister of the Lutheran Church. He was a 
young man when he joined the family in 
Canada, and as his denomination was not 
strong in this country at that early period he 
took the advice of a friend and became a 
clergyman of the Church of England, re 



ceiving ordination at the hands of Bishop 
Mountain. Going to Reading, Pennsyl 
vania, he was stationed there for several 
years, during which time he also engaged in 
business, owning a flax mill and manufac 
turing linseed oil, and also owning consid 
erable land where the city of Reading now 
stands. Returning to Canada, he settled in 
1808 in Williamsburg, Ont., where he 
passed the remainder of his life in clerical 
work. He died at the age of fifty-seven, 
from the effects of an injury to his leg, and 
is buried at Williamsburg. Rev. Mr. Meyers 
married Catherine Benedicta Smith, who 
was a native of Ontario, and they became 
the parents of the following children, all 
now deceased, viz. : Jane. Hester, Rachel, 
Caroline, Daniel, John, Charles, William, 
Henry and Margaret. 

Daniel Meyers, son of Frederick, was 
born in Williamsburg in 1808, and there re 
ceived his education. He followed school 
teaching in his earlier life and taught the In 
dian Mission schools in Tuscarora for some 
time. Later, moving to Brantford, he be 
gan millwrighting, in 1849 came to Lamb- 
ton County, where he also engaged in that 
line, in Sombra township, and thence went 
to Detroit, Michigan, where he passed the 
rest of his life. During the greater part of 
the time he resided in that city he was em 
ployed in the car shops. He died in Detroit 
in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years, 
and was buried in Woodmere cemetery. Mr. 
Meyers was a member of the Church of 
England, and while in Canada was identi 
fied with the Liberal party on political issues. 

In Cornwall, Ont., Daniel Meyers mar 
ried Catherine Link, who was born there, 
daughter of John Link, a mill owner and 
manufacturer of flour and lumber at Corn 
wall. Mrs. Meyers died in Sombra, where 
she is buried. She, too, was a member of 
the Church of England. Nine children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyers, namely : Alex 
ander Augustus ; George, deceased, of Grand 
Rapids. Michigan ; Alonzo, deceased ; May, 
wife of John Marsh; William, a farmer of 
Sombra ; Catherine, wife of Solomon Mar 
tin; Frederick, living at Alpena. Michigan; 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



James, of Bay City, Michigan; and John, 
living at Alpena, Michigan. 

Alexander Augustus Meyers was born 
Nov. 9, 1828, in Cornwall, Ont., and re 
ceived his schooling there and in the Indian 
Mission school at Tuscarora taught by his 
father. He worked for a time at millwright- 
ing with his father, and on coming to Som- 
bra township was engaged at shipbuilding, 
also following that work at Marine City, 
Michigan. There, too, he was employed as 
a millwright, and also as a carpenter and 
joiner. When he gave up his trades he set 
tled on land in the township of Sombra, hav 
ing bought 100 acres in Lot 3, loth Conces 
sion, and began farming, to which calling 
the best of his active years were given. He 
made many improvements on the property, 
upon which he resided until 1897, when he 
received appointment to the office of collec 
tor of customs at the port of Sombra, where 
he has since made his home. He still owns 
his farm and manages the work of cultiva 
tion, though his principal attention is given 
to the duties of his office, which he has filled 
to the satisfaction of all concerned. He 
served thirty years as justice of the peace, in 
that office also distinguishing himself for 
faithfulness and efficiency. Mr. Meyers is 
a strong Liberal in political faith. He is an 
intelligent man, well read and well in 
formed, and is respected and liked by all 
who know him for his integrity and ability. 

Mr. Meyers was married, in Kingston, 
Ont., to Harriet A. Stoughton, daughter of 
Alexander Stoughton, and seven children 
have blessed this union : Charles, of Cripple 
Creek, Colorado; George, a plumber of 
Sombra ; Walter, who cultivates the home 
stead; Emma, a graduate nurse, now the 
wife of John Gordon Delgety, of Sombra ; 
Clara and Bertha, both unmarried ; and 
Frank, an engineer, of Cleveland. Ohio. Mr. 
and Mrs. Meyers are both members of the 
Church of England. Mrs. Meyers received 
a good education, and was engaged as a 
teacher prior to her marriage. 

ALEX C. WALLEN, a prominent oil 
producer at Oil Springs, Lambton County, 
was born Feb. 27, 1866, in Dresden, Kent 



County, Ont., eldest son of Capt. John and 
Ellen (Lane) Wallen. He is a member of 
one of the prominent families of Oil Springs. 
His father was born in Kent County, on the 
River Sydenham, and still resides at Oil 
Springs, being one of the prominent retired 
citizens of that place. His mother was born 
in Dublin, Ireland, and died at Oil Springs, 
in 1886, mourned by her family and beloved 
by all who knew her. Of their family of 
twelve, ( i ) Martha, the eldest, married Gil 
bert S. Crosbie, of Petrolia, late a prominent 
citizen of Oil Springs, who died in August, 
1905. For a number of years he lived in 
Austria, Germany, Russia and England, as 
foreman for oil companies, and subsequently 
was interested in the same business at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Crosbie had seven children, 
Gilbert, Ada, Wallen, Grover, Kerbic, Olga 
and Vera. (2) Mary died at the age of 
twenty years. (3) Alex C. is our subject. 
(4) Fred G., born in 1868, is a resident of 
New Ontario, where he is engaged as a pros 
pector. (5) Harry, born in 1871, emi 
grated to Austria, where he followed oil 
drilling for four years, being a practical ma 
chinist. He has traveled through Germany, 
Sumatra and England, and for a number of 
years worked for an English syndicate and 
was sent all over the world as a manager and 
oil prospector; he is now in Wyoming. (6) 
Jennie, born in Petrolia, is the widow of 
Daniel Bloom, and resides in Minnesota. 
She has two sons, Lloyd and Otto. (7) 
Charles, now a resident of Africa, has a gov 
ernment position there as driller and pros 
pector; he has traveled all over the United 
States and Europe, and was at Mount Pelee 
during its terrible eruption ; he married Flor 
ence Sisk. (8) Edward, born in Oil 
Springs, resides in Russia, where he also 
follows the business of oil drilling, near the 
Caspian Sea, in the interests of one of the 
English oil companies. (9) Jessie died when 
three years old. (10) William died at the 
age of twenty, (u) Laura and (12) Al 
bert are residents of Oil Springs, being still 
at home. 

Alex C. Wallen was educated at Petrolia 
and Oil City, and from the time he was fif 
teen years of age has been interested in the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



oil producing business in some capacity, 
with the exception of the year 1887, when he 
worked on the lake. In 1888 he commenced 
as a driller in the oil fields of Oil City and 
Petrolia, and in the same year he was em 
ployed by the great Berghime & McGarvey 
Co., of Petrolia and Austria, to go to the 
latter far-away field to direct drilling oper 
ations. After four years spent in Austria 
he returned to Oil Springs, but two months 
later went to Australia as one of the em 
ployes of the Inter-Colonial Deepwell & 
Boring Supply Co., as driller for water. 
After four more years of work there, where 
he met with the greatest success, finding 
water in large quantities, he came back to 
Oil Springs in 1895. Here he invested his 
earnings in the oil fields of Enniskillen town 
ship, near Oil Springs, buying a large 
amount of real estate. Ever since his return 
he has followed the business of oil produc 
tion. Mr. Wallen has one of the finest homes 
in the village of Oil Springs, fitted with all 
modern conveniences and attractive adorn 
ments. 

On Aug. 4, 1897, Mr. Wallen was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Miller, who 
was born May 27, 1865, in Enniskillen town 
ship, daughter of Walter and Margaret 
(Kirkland) Miller, of Scotland, both of 
whom died in Enniskillen. Mr. Miller was 
a prominent farmer in that township, and 
served in the council for many years. 

Politically Mr. Wallen is a Conservative, 
and he has filled the office of councilor at 
Oil Springs, for two years. Religiously the 
family are Presbyterians. 

JOHN HENRY BENNETT, of Pe 
trolia. is one of the leading men of this city, 
and is descended from Scotch and English 
ancestry. His father, John Bennett, was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, and about 1830 
came to Toronto, where he was engaged for 
some time as a furrier. The mother of oui 
subject was a Miss Eleanor Bridgland, born 
in England, who came to Ontario when a 
young girl and met and married Mr. Ben 
nett. Her death occurred in Clarksburg, 



Ont. Their children were : John, deceased ; 
James; Alexander; John Henry; George, of 
Melbourne, Ont. ; Charles, of Australia ; 
Jane, deceased, who married James Camp- 
hell ; Martha, who became the second wife of 
James Campbell ; Eleanor Louise, who mar 
ried Nelson Thomas ; David, who was 
drowned. 

John Henry Bennett \vas born at Co- 
bourg, Ont.. in 1836, and there re-ired. 
Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Bennett, 
with his brother Alexander, went into the 
mercantile business in Cobourg, and later he 
formed a partnership with a Mr. Buchanan 
in the same line in Sarnia, from which place 
Mr. Bennett removed to Oil Springs, and 
for a number of years was engaged in the 
oil business as a producer. He then settled 
in Petrolia, still continuing in the oil busi 
ness, and in that period was engaged in drill 
ing wells of all kinds. During this time, in 
connection with well drilling, Mr. Bennett 
made two trips to Australia, and spent in all 
about eleven years drilling artesian wells. 
In 1902 he went to California where his son 
John Alexander is engaged in drilling for 
oil. While residing in Oil Springs Mr. Ben 
nett served in the council. 

In 1868 Mr. Bennett married Miss Mary 
Jane Barnum. daughter of William and Me 
lissa (Clay) Barnum, and to them were born 
the following: Ida, a bookkeeper and ste 
nographer in Sarnia; Eleanor Louise, of 
Nanaimo, B. C. ; John Alexander, who spent 
four years in Borneo and Sumatra, who was 
a driller in California, where he married Miss 
Jean Worthington, and who now lives in 
Burmah, India, where he is superintendent 
for the Burmah Oil Co., Limited; Mary 
Melissa, who married Dugald Pepper, of Pe 
trolia, and has one daughter. Eleanor; Edith 
Mabel, a clerk in Mr. Ford s store at Pe 
trolia ; Bertha, a milliner of Petrolia ; Will 
iam Sidney and Ethel Helen, twins, the 
former being a clerk in Petrolia, and Chester 
Gordon, of Petrolia. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett 
are consistent and very active members of 
the Baptist Church. Fraternally Mr. Ben 
nett is a Mason, and politically he is a Re- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



former. Few people stand higher in the 
community than do Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, 
and their prosperity is but the well-merited 
reward of earnest endeavor, intelligently di 
rected. 

WILLIAM H. McMAHAN is one of 
the most prominent citizens of the County 
of Lambton, where he has been active in 
public life for many years, and where he has 
resided since 1860. Mr. McMahan comes 
of sturdy Irish stock, his parents, James and 
Ann (Patterson) McMahan, both having 
been natives of the North of Ireland. James 
McMahan came to Kingston, Ont, with his 
parents, John and Elizabeth (Moran) 
McMahan, in young manhood, and his wife 
was a young woman when she accompanied 
her parents, John and Eliza (Scolds) Pat 
terson, to the same place. The grandparents 
on both sides were farming people. John 
Patterson, an uncle of William H. Mc 
Mahan, was a prominent wholesale mer 
chant of Kingston, his business later com 
ing into the possession of John Duncan, 
a cousin. 

James and Ann (Patterson) McMahan 
had a family of nine children, five sons and 
four daughters, eight of whom survive and 
reside in Lambton County within a radius 
of twenty miles: William H. ; Ann E., of 
Enniskillen township, who married (first) 
William Dunlop, (second) John Nelson, and 
had four children by each marriage; Maria 
J.. who died in 1863; John A., a farmer of 
Enniskillen, who married Christianna 
O Neil, and has five children ; Thomas A., of 
Enniskillen, who married Malissa Hume, 
and has ten children; Ellen H., of Petrolia, 
who married (first) Malcolm McNaughton, 
had three children, and (second) William 
English ; Henrietta, who married John Mc- 
Kinzie, a farmer of Moore township; Fred 
]"., farmer of Moore township, who married 
Elizabeth Elliott, and has five children ; and 
Alfred A., a farmer of Moore township, 
who married Isabella Forber, and has four 
children. In 1849 Mr. and Mrs. McMahan 
moved to Hamilton township, Northumber 
land County, and in 1860 came to Lambton, 



buying 100 acres of land in Enniskillen 
township. Later they moved to Moore town 
ship, same county, where Mr. McMahan 
passed away in September, 1873, at the age 
of sixty-four years. His wife survived him 
ten years, dying in September, 1883, at the 
age of sixty-six. Mr. McMahan had 
learned the carpenter s trade in Kingston, 
but farming was his principal business in 
life, and he was a worthy, industrious man. 
He and his brother served in the Rebellion 
of 1837. The McMahans were Presbyte 
rians in religious faith, the Pattersons mem 
bers of the Church of England. 

William H. McMahan was born April 
21, 1840, in Kingston, Ont., and was but 
nine years of age when he removed with his 
parents to Rice Lake Plains, near Cobourg, 
in Durham County. He received his educa 
tion in the common schools. In the fall of 
1860 he came west to Enniskillen, near Pe 
trolia, Lambton County, at the time of the 
oil boom, and was among the first teamsters 
in the region. Later he engaged in thresh 
ing, and shortly after his marriage, in 1868, 
he removed to Moore township, locating on 
a farm of fifty acres, which he had acquired 
some time previously. Here he followed 
farming until 1874, in the spring of which 
year he sold out and moved to the farm in 
Plympton township, near Wanstead. which 
has been his home until recently. His first 
purchase here was of a roo-acre tract, to 
which he has since added, the farm now 
comprising 150 acres, and he also owns 150 
acres in Enniskillen township, and 100 acres 
in Moore township. Mr. McMahan has 
been one of the most successful farmers in 
Lambton County, as his accumulations 
would indicate, and has acquired all his pos 
sessions by hard work and thrifty manage 
ment, being now in the enjoyment of a com 
petence which entitles him to rank among 
the most substantial men of his section. For 
the past seven years he has been known as 
one of the most extensive buyers of hogs and 
other stock in the county. Mr. McMahan 
has recently retired from active farming and 
taken up his home in the village of Wyo 
ming, moving into the former home of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



73 



J. E. Anderson, a fine modern residence, 
which he has purchased. 

In all his transactions Mr. McMahan has 
shown himself to be the soul of integrity 
and this characteristic of his has been so 
generally recognized that his fellow citizens 
have again and again called him into the 
public service, judging rightly that a man 
who could manage his own affairs so well 
would make a model public servant. His 
first experience in this respect was in 1877, 
when he was honored with election to the 
council of Plympton township, serving six 
terms in that office and as deputy reeve. 
Meantime, by virtue of his office of reeve, 
he was also a member of the county council, 
to which he belonged for another four 
years, during which he was reeve of the 
township continuously. In 1890 he was 
again elected to that office, for which he was 
also the choice of his party in 1896, and he 
served as reeve and county councillor until 
the joint office was abolished, since when he 
has represented his township in the county 
council. In January, 1903, he received the 
high honor of being chosen warden of that 
body the highest office in its gift and he 
has honored the office by his able and digni 
fied discharge of the duties connected there 
with. His present year in the county coun 
cil is his eighth consecutive one in that body. 
His political connection is with the Con 
servative party, and in 1888 he contested the 
West Riding of Lambton against Judge 
Lister, for representative in the Dominion 
House, but was defeated. 

Fraternally Mr. McMahan is an enthu 
siastic Orangeman, having been a member of 
that order since 1862, and during all these 
years he has been an active worker, having 
held every office in the county ; he is an hon 
orary member of the Grand Lodge of Can 
ada. About twenty years ago his fellow 
members presented him with a handsome 
royal arch pin in token of their appreciation 
of his services to the order. He is also a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating 
with Burns Lodge, No. 153. A. F. & A. M.. 
and he is likewise a member of Wansted 
Lodge. K. O. T. M. In religious connection 



Mr. McMahan is identified with the Metho 
dist Church, of which he has been steward 
for many years, and he is prominent in its 
councils in the count} . 

On Dec. 26, 1867, Mr. McMahan was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Mary A. 
( Metcalf ) Armstrong, widow of Orson 
Armstrong. She was born in Chinguacousy, 
Peel County, April 17, 1840, daughter of 
John and Frances (Benton) Metcalf, of 
England, who emigrated to Canada shortly 
after their marriage, locating in Toronto. 
In 1 8 =13 ^ r - Metcalf came to Enniskillen 
township, Lambton County, and settled on 
land he had purchased; at the end of six 
months he returned to Toronto for his fam 
ily, and while there died, in 1854, at the age 
of forty-five. His wife died in February, 
1883, aged seventy-two. They were mem 
bers of the Methodist Church. Their chil 
dren were : Edward, deceased, who married 
Eleanor Steadman, and had thirteen chil 
dren; Thomas and Joseph, who both died 
young; Ann, of Enniskillen township, who 
married James Brooks, and had five chil 
dren; Mary A., Mrs. McMahan; Ellen, de 
ceased, who married Charles Lature, and 
had one daughter: Elizabeth, of Manitoba, 
who married William Montgomery, and had 
nine children; Cornelius, of Enniskillen 
township, who married James Steadman, 
and had eleven children; and Rebecca, de 
ceased, who married Alexander Arnold, and 
had six children. 

Orson Armstrong, first husband of Mrs. 
Mary A. (Metcalf) McMahan, was born in 
Madoc, Ont., and he died in Plympton 
township, in 1863, aged twenty-seven. His 
parents, Moses and Lorenda (Holmstead) 
Armstrong, were natives, respectively, of 
Ireland and the United States, and pioneers 
in Lambton County. Orson Armstrong was 
a farmer by occupation. To him and his 
wife were born two children : Orson J., who 
resides in Plympton township, married Isa 
bella A. Chalmers, of "Wyoming, Ont. ; and 
Frances E. married Angus Kerr, a railroad 
engineer at Detroit, Michigan, and has six 
children, Mary B.. Georgietta P., Orson M., 
William H., Angus R. and Franklin E. 



74 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



JOHN McCORMICK, the well-known 
brick and tile and lumber manufacturer, is 
one of Warwick township s progressive citi 
zens and successful business men. He was 
born in that township, on Lot 12, Conces 
sion 5, north of the Egremont road, on New 
Year s Day, 1859, son of the late Joseph Mc- 
Cormick, and brother of Robert J. McCor- 
mick, of Warwick, a full sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere in these annals. 

John McCormick attended the public 
schools of his district and at a very early age 
started work on the farm, assisting his fa 
ther, and while still in his teens worked for 
his brother, Robert J., in the brick and tile 
business, learning all the details of that busi 
ness. In 1887 he formed a partnership with 
his brother, and started a brick and tile yard 
on Lot 7, Concession 4, south of the Egre 
mont road, the 100 acres of land then being 
owned by the brother. Here a plant was 
erected, as was also a sawmill for the manu 
facture of lumber, and for seventeen years a 
successful business was carried on there by 
the brothers, under the management of out 
subject, whose push and energy were re 
sponsible for much of the success of the firm. 
He worked hard to build up the business and 
has made a success of it, besides his large 
interest in the manufacturing business being 
one of the largest landowners in the town 
ship. In his earlier years Mr. McCormick 
owned fifty acres in the northern part of the 
township, which land he farmed for a short 
time, later selling it. When he located in 
the southern part of the township, in 1889, 
he bought 100 acres of the Kingston prop 
erty, which he cleared and improved, and 
the timber from which was used in the brick 
yard and mill. In 1892 Mr. McCormick 
purchased his brother s interest in the 100- 
acre tract upon which the brickyard now 
stands, and this he cleared and improved. 
In December of the same year Mr. McCor 
mick bought 130 acres on Lot 7, Concession 
5, known as the Kingston property, and later 
added fifty and then 100 more acres to this 
purchase 150 acres of the Hillis property. 
Mr. McCormick is now the owner of over 
400 acres of well-improved land. He en 



gages quite extensively in cattle raising, also 
breeding fine horses, and he takes a great in 
terest in this branch of his business. In 1900 
he built a fine dwelling, which he has fitted 
up with all modern improvements, and which 
is one of the finest residences in western On 
tario. 

Mr. McCormick is a stanch Conservative 
and has been a member of the board of coun- 
cilmen of Warwick township for three years, 
two years of which he was elected by accla 
mation. He also served as reeve of the 
township for two years, being elected the 
second year by acclamation. He has often 
been solicited by his friends to allow his 
name to go before the convention as a can 
didate for the Provincial Legislature, but 
has declined the honor on the ground that 
business would not permit him to accept it. 
He has always taken a great interest in edu 
cational matters and has served as trustee. 
He is a member of the East Lambton Farm 
ers Institute and also of the Agricultural So 
ciety, of which latter organization he is a di 
rector. He is a member of the Canadian 
Order of Foresters, at Watford, Lambton 
County. 

Mr. McCormick was married Oct. 7, 
1886, at the Luckham homestead, to Susan 
Jane Luckham, who was born in Warwick 
township, daughter of Thomas and Jane 
(Thomas) Luckham. Mrs. McCormick is 
a lady of culture and refinement, is a devoted 
wife and mother, and zealous for the wel 
fare of her home and family. Both she and 
her husband are members of the Congrega 
tional Church at Watford, in which he is 
deacon, and both teach Sunday-school. Mr. 
and Mrs. McCormick have children as fol 
lows: Louisa Myrtle, John Russell, Joseph 
C, Sarah Jane, Mary Edith and Thomas 
Luckham. The McCormick family are well 
known in Warwick township, and are high 
ly respected. 

MURDOCH MCDONALD, a weii- 

known agriculturist of the 5th Concession, 
Bosanquet township, where for over half a 
century he has made his home, and who has 
seen much of the wonderful development of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



75 



this section of the County of Lambton, is 
highly esteemed and respected as a leading 
citizen. He was born in Inverness-shire, 
Scotland, Aug. 15, 1847, an d belongs to that 
hardy race of men the Highlanders who 
by their thrift and frugality have won suc 
cess in every walk of life. 

When the McDonald family settled in 
Bosanquet township there was very little evi 
dence of civilization. Neither churches nor. 
schools were to be seen for miles, only little 
log huts, scattered here and there, which 
sheltered the few hardy pioneer residents of 
the township. The McDonalds did their 
share in the work of civilization and cultiva 
tion, and the name is an esteemed one in the 
township. 

Angus McDonald, the grandfather ot 
our subject, was a native of Inverness-shire, 
and was a farmer and sheep raiser in his na 
tive country, where he spent his entire life. 
He was a member of the Established Church 
of Scotland. He married Margaret Morri 
son, and they had a family of children, 
among whom was Kenneth McDonald, the 
father of Murdoch. He was born in the 
same county, and there grew to manhood, 
following farming as a tenant on the 
Dunmore estate. He never learned the 
English language, always speaking the 
Gaelic, and was a great reader and 
Bible student. He married, in his na 
tive country, Jane McLeod. and they 
became the parents of twelve chil 
dren, ten of whom were born in Scotland, as 
follows: Angus died in Bosanquet town 
ship, at the age of fifty-two years; Margaret 
died in young womanhood in Bosanquet 
township ; Norman, who was a carpenter and 
joiner, died at Waltham, Massachusetts; 
Margaret (2) married Dugal McKeller, of 
Yarmouth, Ont. ; William was the next in 
the family; Murdoch died in infancy; Mary, 
who resides on the old homestead, is unmar 
ried ; Alexander died in infancy ; Murdoch 
(2) is our subject; Alexander (2) was a 
school teacher for thirty years in Bosanquet 
and Plympton townships and died at the age 
of forty-seven years; John, born in Can- 
ad- 1 , died in young manhood; Kenneth, also 



born in Canada, died at the age of five years. 

In 1849 Kenneth McDonald and his wife 
and eight children left their home for Can 
ada, sailing from Greenock, Scotland, to 
Quebec, journeying from there to Hamilton, 
and thence to Yarmouth, where Mr. Mc 
Donald left his wife and family for two 
years while he was trying to make a home in 
Bosanquet township. Here he had pur 
chased 100 acres of land from the Canada 
Land Company, at $2.50 per acre, and 
erected thereon a little log cabin. He brought 
his wife and children to the new home and 
settled down to clear up his farm. There 
being no demand for timber at that early 
day Mr. McDonald had to burn up his timber 
as soon as he cut it down. He worked hard 
all of his life, and as his sons grew old 
enough to help him he was able to clear up 
the farm. He was a hard-working, honest 
man, and a typical Scotchman in every sense 
of the word, and never learned the English 
language because he preferred his mother 
tongue. In the early days his nearest mar 
ket was London, forty miles east, and the 
post office was at Bosanquet Corners, now 
Arkona. Mr. McDonald built a large hewed- 
log house later in life and made many im 
provements on his land, upon which he car 
ried on general farming until his death, at 
the age of eighty-one years. He was very- 
active up to that time, and during his last 
illness, when the old home was destroyed by 
fire March 24, 1889, he got up out of bed 
and walked out of doors. His death oc 
curred July 26, 1889, and he was laid to rest 
in Pine Hill cemetery. Politically he was a 
Liberal. A member of the Presbyterian 
Church, he attended consistently. His 
widow followed him to the grave in 1890, 
dying in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church, and was buried beside him. 

Murdoch McDonald was but two years 
old when brought to Canada by his parents. 
In Bosanquet township he attended school in 
Section No. 5, his first teacher being a Miss 
Starr. The desks and benches were con 
structed of basswood. From an early age he 
worked on farms in the township, princi 
pally for Gilbert Fitchett, receiving thirty 



7 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



dollars per month, the largest wages paid in 
those days by the farmers. The longest time 
he spent away from home was when he made 
a two months trip to Michigan, where he 
worked on a farm. With the exception of 
that time he has always resided on the home 
stead, having operated the loo-acre tract 
since 1878. On this farm Mr. McDonald 
has made many improvements, including 
the erection of a fine frame dwelling-house. 
On Aug. 1 6, 1896, his fine frame barn cov 
ering his summer crop and farm imple 
ments, was struck by lightning and com 
pletely destroyed, as were all of his outbuild 
ings, causing him a loss of over $2,000, part 
of which was covered by insurance. The 
following year he rebuilt his barn, making 
it 40x80, and it is one of the largest and 
finest in the township. 

Mr. McDonald has never married, he 
and his sister Mary living together. They 
have played the part of parents to Mr. Mc 
Donald s brother William s children, Mar 
garet and William, whose mother died. 
They have reared them as their own, and 
given them a good home and a fine educa 
tion. Mr. McDonald is strictly temperate 
in his habits. He joined the Good Temp 
lars when a young man, and has kept to his 
pledge ever since. He is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and attends Knox 
Church, at Thedford, of which he is a mem 
ber of the board of managers. He has for 
three years filled the office of trustee of 
School Section No. 5, and in politics is a 
stanch Liberal. Mr. McDonald is a great 
reader, and has one of the best private lib 
raries in the township. He is well known, 
and highly respected for his many sterling 
traits of character. 

WILLIAM MCDONALD, the brother of 
Murdoch, was born in Inverness-shire, 
Scotland, and came to Canada with his par 
ents and other members of the family. He 
grew to manhood in Bosanquet township, 
and worked on the homestead farm, helping 
his father to clear up a home. In 1879 he 
started to clear up a home for himself on 
100 acres in Jericho, Bosanquet township, 
where for the past twenty-six years he has 



been engaged in genera] farming and stock- 
raising. At first he rented the farm from 
his brother Alexander, and after his death 
purchased the same. Like his brother he 
is a Liberal, and a member of the Presby 
terian Church, which he attends at Thed 
ford. During the Fenian Raid in Canada 
in 1866 he was a volunteer, and held the 
rank of corporal in the 27th Battalion, of 
the St. Clair Borderers. He was stationed 
along the St. Clair border, and after the 
trouble was granted 200 acres of land in 
New Ontario, by the government, for his 
services. He married (first) Christine 
Sutherland (sister of the well-known town 
ship clerk of Bosanquet township, George 
Sutherland), who died July 14, 1885, and 
was buried at Pine Hill cemetery. She left 
four children: John, who is on the home 
stead; Nathaniel, who taught school for 
three years, and is now studying for the 
ministry of the Methodist Church; Mar 
garet, who makes her home with her uncle 
and aunt ; and William, who has lived with 
his uncle and aunt since infancy. 

William McDonald married (second) 
Elizabeth Grant, the widow of Thomas 
Hendra. No children have been born to 
this union. Mr. McDonald is one of the 
most public-spirited and progressive citizens 
of Bosanquet township, and is active in all 
movements looking to the advancement of 
his section. 

REUBEN PROCTOR (deceased) was 
an old settler of Sarnia, coming there in 
1834, when but three houses marked the 
site. As a contractor he prominently iden 
tified himself with the building up of that 
section, and at various times engaged in 
other business there. He passed his last 
days in retirement in the place, dying April 
27, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty. 

Mr. Proctor was of good old English 
extractipn. His grandfather. William Proc 
tor, was born in England in 1751. Upon 
reaching manhood he settled upon a farm in 
his native country and there engaged in ag 
riculture with much success, making it the 
main business of his life. He married in his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



77 



native country. July 3, 1780, Mary Kitchen, 
and they became the parents of six .sons : 
Peter, who died in the old country ; George, 
who came to Ontario and engaged in the 
milling business at Corunna; William and 
John, who were farmers of Lambton County 
for many years, the latter residing at Stag 
Island, where he died ; Samuel, who is men 
tioned below ; and Michael, who died in the 
old country. 

Samuel Proctor, father of Reuben, pos 
sessed the sterling traits of character be 
longing to a strong, vigorous, capable man. 
He was born in the old country. March 2, 
1789, and there grew to manhood. On May 
14. 1818. he married in his native land Ann 
Gray, and they had six children : Edward 
was both a mechanic and farmer, and also 
served his county for many years as regis 
trar; he is now deceased. Alfred died in 
1837. Reuben is mentioned below. Eliza 
beth married Andrew Allegan, and both are 
now deceased. Mary married John Tyler, 
of Sarnia. Mirza M. \Y. is carrying on the 
old homestead. 

Reports of large areas of productive land 
to be had in Canada, almost for the asking. 
induced Mr. Proctor in 1834 to come with 
his family to Ontario. Here, in Sarnia 
township. Lambton County, on Concession 
3, Lot 10, he procured a tract of excellent 
farming land, and proceeded to develop its 
resources. Energy, determination and wise 
management enabled him in a short time to 
transform the wild bushy tracts into well- 
furrowed grain fields and fruitful gardens. 
Becoming a highly prosperous agriculturist, 
in the course of time he erected handsome 
buildings on the place, and here he and his 
wife passed their last days. She died in 
1858, and he in 1860. Mr. Proctor was an 
influential pioneer, giving his support to 
progress and morality. He was popular 
and assisted in the management of local af 
fairs, serving his township in the office of 
reeve very acceptably for many years. In 
religious work he was active, and a prom 
inent member of the Methodist Church. Po 
litically he espoused the cause of the Lib 
erals. 



Reuben Proctor inherited his father s 
large capacity for work, as well as his in 
telligent foresight and sound judgment. 
Born in the old country, Sept. 21, 1823, he 
there, under the beneficent institutions of a 
law-abiding and good Christian community, 
passed his earliest years. When about 
twelve years old he came with his parents to 
Ontario, settling upon the new homestead, 
in the improvement of which he took an ac 
tive part. The rapid settlement of his sec 
tion, and the incoming of new industries, in 
fluenced him as a young man to embark 
upon life as a contract builder. Inherent 
ability with a little experience won him pro 
ficiency, and his services in time became 
greatly in demand. In 1847 he assisted in 
the construction of the first propeller built 
on the river in St. Clair. the "Tetril." 

In 1848 Mr. Proctor married Miss Mar 
garet Taylor, who was born in Scotland in 
1827. She died in 1881, and on Oct. 4, 
1882, he married Miss Margaret MacCaus- 
land. Xo children were born to either 
marriage. 

A few years after his first marriage, in 
1852, Mr. Proctor, determining to try his 
luck with other adventurers, went to Califor 
nia and settled in the gold mining districts. 
Here he passed a varied career, and after 
sixteen years returned to Sarnia. where he 
soon afterward made his home. Shortly after 
his arrival he secured a government position 
to take charge of records. An intelligent 
comprehension of his duties, as well as order 
and exactness, enabled him to make a suc 
cess of his work, and he filled the place for 
the rest of his active life. After a number 
(if years of faithful service he resigned his 
position and retired from business alto 
gether. 

Mr. Proctors strong point was thor 
oughness. Whatever he undertook he per 
formed to the best of his ability, which was 
of no ordinary range. He possessed a high 
sense of honor and was well and favorably 
known in the best circles of Sarnia. In re 
ligious matters he long took a keen interest, 
and was a substantial member of the Metho 
dist Church. Politicallv he affiliated with 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Liberals, and fraternally he belonged to 
the Orangemen, and from November, 1849, 
to the Freemasons, holding membership in 
Victoria Lodge, of Sarnia. His remains rest 
in Lake View cemetery, at Sarnia. 

Mrs. Margaret (MacCausland) Proctor 
was born in Wyoming, Lambton County, 
daughter of Robert and Agnes (Crawford) 
MacCausland, of Glasgow, Scotland, who 
were married in Lanark County, Out., and 
came to Lambton County in 1835, locating 
at the present site of Wyoming, a thriving 
village on the Grand Trunk railroad. There 
Mr. MacCausland took up 200 acres and 
made a permanent home, becoming quite 
prominent in that locality. He died in 1884, 
aged eighty, his wife in 1892, at the age of 
eighty-two. They were members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was 
a Liberal. They were the parents of seven 
daughters and three sons. Mr. and Mrs. 
MacCausland were quiet and unassuming 
people, and were held in much esteem in the 

community. 

i 

ANDREW MORRISON, well known 
as "Squire" Morrison, a popular township 
official and one of the wealthy oil producers 
of Enniskillen township, is a worthy ex 
ample of what energy and perseverance, con 
tinued in the face of discouraging obstacles, 
can accomplish. He has seen his property 
swept away and a ne\v beginning demanded, 
but his courage rose with the demand upon 
it, and he is today one of Lambton County s 
prosperous citizens. 

Andrew Morrison was born in Perth 
shire, Scotland, Feb. 28. 1842, son of John 
and Amelia (Campbell) Morrison, natives 
of that same locality, where they lived and 
died. John Morrison was a farmer and tan 
ner. Of their five children, Andrew, alone, 
the youngest child and only son, came to 
America. Catherine, the eldest sister, mar 
ried William Taylor, of Scotland, and after 
ward died, leaving a family who are resi 
dents of Edinburgh. Margery is the wife of 
John Christy, a dealer in timber, and has 
two children, James and Margery. Amelia 
married the late William Macintosh, and 



their only son, Hugh, a missionary to Africa, 
died a few years after his father. Their 
daughter Lillie died young. The parents of 
this family were members of the Free 
Church of Scotland. Both have now passed 
away, the father in 1866, the mother three 
years earlier. 

Andrew Morrison grew up on a farm in 
Scotland and was given a good education. 
After the death of his parents he decided to 
leave Scotland, and in 1873 he and his wife 
sailed for Canada, via Quebec. They first set 
tled in London, where Mr. Morrison worked 
for a year in the Ontario Car Shops, and 
then they moved to Petrolia, reaching that 
point in 1875. He engaged there as fore 
man in the oil district, for Mr. John McDon 
ald, and in the course of a few years invested 
largely in oil lands. He was unsuccessful, 
however, and lost considerable money, while 
a still greater misfortune came upon him in 
1880 from a severe accident which befell 
him. One of his oil derricks gave way while 
he was working on it, and both legs and two 
ribs were broken, injuries so serious, that he 
was disabled for sixteen months. After his 
recovery, not daunted by his previous experi 
ence, he again started in the oil business in 
company with James Joyce, at Marthaville, 
and this time met with good returns upon his 
investment. Later he purchased half of Mr. 
Joyce s interest in the Marthaville district, 
and William Ewing purchased the other 
half. The widow of Mr. Ewing now has a 
half interest in all the wells. Mr. Morrison 
is now three-fourths owner of forty-four 
productive wells there. He also owns a con 
siderable amount of real estate in Ennis 
killen township not devoted to the oil busi 
ness. He is one of the large producers of 
the region. 

Mr. Morrison was married in 1867, be 
fore leaving Scotland, and his wife was Miss 
Maggie Donaldson, daughter of John and 
Margaret (Sutherland) Donaldson. The 
parents were both born in Caithness-shire in 
1799 and 1802, respectively, and passed their 
whole lives in their native land. They left 
six children : Hugh, deceased ; Alexander, 
deceased ; Ellen ; Annie ; Joanna ; and Mag- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



gie. Mrs. Morrison, the only one who left 
Scotland, was born in 1843, an d was given a 
good classical education. Her own family 
consisted of only one child, Frank, born in 
Canada, in 1879. He was sent first to the 
district schools of Marthaville, then to the 
high school in Petrolia, and finally to the 
McGill University, Montreal, where he was 
graduated from the school of medicine in 
1902. He is now practicing in Carpio, 
North Dakota, where he also owns a drug 
store and has taken up a tract of land in the 
vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have also 
an adopted daughter, Rose Morrison, whom 
the}- have reared from childhood to woman 
hood. 

In their church relations, Mr. and Mrs. 
Morrison are both Presbyterians, and the 
former is one of the trustees and managers 
of the church, as well as an active Sabbath- 
school worker, having been superintendent 
of the Marthaville school for many years. 
Fraternally, he belongs to Copleston Lodge, 
No. 402, of the Foresters. His political views 
are those of the Reform party, and he has 
always shown a decided interest in public 
affairs. For eight years he served on the 
school board of Enniskillen township, and 
in 1895 was elected justice of the peace for 
the district, an office he has filled ever since 
most satisfactorily. Mr. Morrison is not 
only a prominent citizen of Enniskillen, as 
the diversity of his activities shows, but is 
popular as well, and has many warm friends. 

CHARLES HALL, the efficient clerk 
of the Sixth Division Court of Lambton 
County, is a man of good business ability, 
eminently qualified for public service. For 
over thirty-five years he has figured promi 
nently in the affairs of Thedford, from the 
time he settled here as proprietor of a car 
riage-making establishment. His sound bus 
iness judgment and executive ability, the 
promoters of his success, have been inherited 
from good English stock. 

Charles Hall, his great-grandfather, was 
horn in Northumberland, England, about 
1/40. A man of ability and much force of 
character, he early secured a position as 



79 

bookkeeper at the Tyne Glass Works, where, 
giving eminent satisfaction, he continued for 
the most part throughout his active career. 
By his marriage there was a son Charles, 
who continued the line of descent. 

Charles Hall (2), grandfather of the 
present Charles Hall, of Thedford, was born 
in Newcastle, England, about 1775. He 
embarked upon life as a mariner, and during 
the Peninsular war served as master of a 
transport. For the most part of his active 
life, however, he was connected with the 
merchant service, sailing on the Baltic sea 
and the Atlantic ocean. In 1812 he was 
stationed at Pictou, N. S., where he secured 
a grant of land as an acknowledgment of his 
efficient services. After many years of faith 
ful work he returned to the old country, 
where he died in 1840. During his young- 
manhood he married Jane Miller, who was 
born in England, and with her husband 
passed her last days in that country, dying 
there. Of this union there were three chil 
dren, all now deceased : Charles, who is men 
tioned below; Jane Miller, who never mar 
ried; and Marv, who married William R 
Hall. 

Charles Hall (3), son of Charles and 
Jane (Miller) Hall, was a man of cultiva 
tion. Born in Northumberland, England, in 
October, 1805, he received careful rearing 
and practical training for the duties of life. 
Preparatory to shouldering his active re 
sponsibilities he early learned the tailor s 
trade, and, becoming proficient in that line, 
followed it for the most part throughout his 
active career. In 1832 he married, in Eng 
land, Mary Willey, who was born in that 
country in February, 1806, and died in 1862. 
By this union there were six children : Jane 
Miller, who died young; Charles, who is 
mentioned below; John, who died young; 
Thomas, a farmer, who resides in the State 
of Colorado; Mary Eleanor, who married 
Robert Watcher, of Thedford; and John 
(2), who died young. 

Some years after his marriage, about 
1848, Mr. Hall came to Ontario, and located 
in Toronto. Finding a good opening in the 
tailor business he continued there for six 



8o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



years, conducting a highly prosperous enter 
prise, and thence removed to Adelaide and 
followed his trade, also engaging in the rais 
ing of cattle. He became in time very 
solidly prosperous. He died in Strathroy 
in 1874. Mr, Hall s admirable traits of 
character, as well as his achievements, won 
him the confidence and esteem of all who 
knew him, and his word carried weight in 
all walks of life. As a Reformer he was in 
fluential in local politics. He was a substan 
tial and consistent member of the Episcopal 
Church. His wife was a member of the 
Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

Charles Hall was reared in an atmos 
phere of business. Born at Newcastle, Eng 
land, Feb. 16, 1835, he there received his 
early training, which was both thorough and 
practical. He was about thirteen years old 
when he came with his parents to Ontario, 
and located in Toronto, where he grew to 
manhood. He attended school in his differ 
ent places of abode, cultivating the various 
useful branches of studies, in which in time 
he became thorough and proficient. Prepar 
atory to starting life for himself he entered 
a carriage-making factory in London, and, 
being enabled in a short time to command 
good wages, he continued there for about 
six years. Now prepared to conduct a busi 
ness of his own, he came to Adelaide, where 
he opened a carriage-making shop of his 
own. Skillful in directing affairs, and turn 
ing out excellent work, he was soon running 
a paying and steadily increasing business. 
Continuing to prosper he remained there for 
about eight years. Then, in 1869, finding 
the old and well-established carriage works 
in Thedford for sale, he purchased it of the 
owner, Fred Jackson, and moved there. Pre 
vious experience and skill in pushing affairs 
enabled him not only to retain old customers 
but to greatly increase the patronage of the 
establishment. Encouraged by his successes 
he continued the business steadily and estab 
lished one of the most extensive trades in his 
line in his section of the county. He retired 
in 1903 after a prosperous career. His vehi 
cles were up-to-date, perfect in workman 
ship, and, in fact, among the best put upon 
the market. In years past he invested in 



real estate to some extent, and has erected 
several residences, which he sold to good 
advantage. In 1875 ne erected his present 
home, and twenty-five years ago he set out 
the trees which add so much to the attract 
iveness of the place. 

On June 22, 1863, Mr. Hall married 
Miss Rhoda Godfrey, who was born in the 
County of Elgin, daughter of Edward God 
frey, and of this union have been born nine 
children: (i) Jane Miller married William 
T. Lee, of Owen Sound, and they have two 
children, Charles Joseph and Percy. (2) 
Charles Edward, a carriage-maker of Thed 
ford, married Laura Zabitz, and they have 
one son, Thomas E. (3) Mary is deceased. 

(4) Susan married John Munns, son of Dr. 
Munns, of Thedford, and they have three 
children, Charles, William and Gertrude. 

(5) Henry is deceased. (6) Thomas is also 
deceased. (7) Bertha Elenor married J. 
W. Baird, of Blenheim. (8) Hester Ann is a 
teacher at North Portal. (9) Alice Moore 
resides at home. 

Mr. Hall s attainments and executive 
ability have brought him to the front in pub 
lic afifairs in his community. He was a 
member of the first council of the municipal 
ity of Thedford, and has since filled that po 
sition with marked credit to himself. In 
1895 he received an appointment as clerk of 
the Sixth Division Court of Lambton Coun 
ty, which he has now held for ten years. 
Interested in the promotion of education, he 
has also acted on the school board for many 
years. He is a man of solid worth, and is 
widely known. Politically he espouses the 
cause of the Reformers. Fraternally he affil 
iates with the I. O. F., and has passed all 
the chairs in the order. His family are 
among the leading members of the Episcopal 
Church. 

EDWARD MOORE PROCTOR was 
born in Marton, Lincolnshire, England, on 
the nth day of March, in the year 1819. 

The family line runs back to the reign of 
Queen Elizabeth, when their direct ancestor 
came from the County of Kent and settled 
in Lincolnshire. William Proctor, grand 
father of Edward Moore, married Mary 




EDWARD M. PROCTOR 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



81 



Kitchen. Their children were : Peter, 
George, William, John, Samuel, Michael, 
Sarah and Anne. Of these George, William. 
John and Samuel emigrated to Canada. 
William Proctor died at Marton in the year 
1830, and was buried in the adjoining par 
ish of Gate Burton. 

Samuel Proctor, fifth son of William, 
was born in Lincolnshire on the nth ot 
March. 1/89. For several years he served 
in the British army, his regiment being the 
Grenadier Guards. At the battle of Water 
loo he was severely wounded; after six 
months convalescence in the hospital at 
Brussels he retired from the army. The 
mementoes of his military life are highly 
prized by the members of his family. They 
consist of a medal, a leather-bound Bible 
bearing a bullet mark, and a musket ball that 
was found attached to his thigh when his re 
mains were removed to the new cemetery in 
Sarnia. In the year 1818 he married Anne 
Grey, who was born at East Retford, Not 
tinghamshire. In 1834 Mr. and Mrs. Proc 
tor with their six children, Edward Moore, 
Alfred, Reuben, Elizabeth, Mary and Mirza, 
left England, in April, and arrived in the 
following August, at the point on the St. 
Clair river where the town of Sarnia now 
stands. He and his sons cleared a farm in 
the township of Sarnia ; this original home 
stead is still owned by members of the fam 
ily. Mr. and Mrs. Proctor were active and 
zealous members of the Wesleyan commun 
ion, their home was for years the place where 
religious services were held, and it was al 
ways the home of the itinerant preacher. Mr. 
Proctor took an intelligent interest in the 
municipal and political progress of his 
adopted country; he died in January, 1864, 
and his wife passed away before him in 
April, 1858. 

Edward Moore Proctor, the eldest son 
of Samuel, born March 11, 1819, settled on 
Lot 10, Concession 5, in the township of 
Sarnia, in the year 1840. In 1841 he mar- 
ied Janet Burns, daughter of John Burns 
who came from Glasgow, Scotland, to Can- 
la, in the year 1821. In 1851 Mr. Proctor 
went to California, where he remained for 



three years. At the end of one year after 
his return he sold his farm in Sarnia town 
ship, established his family in the village of 
Sarnia and went back to the Pacific Coast 
for another year. Shortly after his return in 
1856, he bought an interest in a lumber busi 
ness in the township of West Williams, 
County of Middlesex. This business he 
carried on until the year 1872, when the fam 
ily again settled in Sarnia. In 1880 he was 
appointed registrar for the County of Lamb- 
ton, a position which he filled until his death, 
in 1890. Mr. Proctor was a Reformer in 
politics and a man of much intelligence ana 
of considerable influence. His children were : 
Margaret, who married Nathanael Burwash, 
LL. D., chancellor of Victoria University; 
Alfred, deceased; Manfred B.; Ada, Edward 
and Johnson, all three deceased. 

MANFRED B. PROCTOR, second and only 
surviving son of Edward, was born on the 
old homestead in the township of Sarnia on 
April 19, 1847. While still in his teens he 
took charge of one department of his fa 
ther s business, which he conducted with 
energy and success until the business was 
closed in 1872. From 1876 until 1883 Mr. 
Proctor was engaged in a coal business in 
the town of Sarnia ; since then he has lived 
retired. 

On June 6, 1877, Manfred B. Proctor 
was married to Miss Susan Turner, born in 
the County of Middlesex. Her father, Mr. 
George Turner, afterward removed to the 
township of Sarnia. The children of Man 
fred B. Proctor are Catharine Beatrice, Mar 
garet Ada, Eva Janet and Edward Alfred. 
The religious connection of this family is 
with the Presbyterian Church. In politics 
Mr. Proctor supports the men and measures 
of the Reform party and for three years he 
served as town councillor. 

CAMPBELL. The Campbell family of 
the County of Lambton is one of the oldest 
and most influential in that section of On 
tario. For over seventy years they have 
made their home in western Ontario, and for 
over fifty in Warwick township, Lambton 
County. In Scotland the Campbells were a 



82 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



powerful clan under the leadership of the 
Duke of Argyll. 

Duncan Campbell, the first of whom we 
have definite record, was born in the parish 
of Roseneath, Dumbarton, Scotland, and 
there in 1752 he and his wife Mary were 
married, they being the first couple married 
in that parish after the change in style. Their 
children were: John, born Oct. 21, 1753; 
Duncan, born Oct. 5, 1755 ; Mary, born Nov. 
27, 1757; Donald, born Jan. 13, 1760; 
Helen, born June 16, 1762; Robert, born 
Oct. 31, 1764; Dougall, born June 26, 1767; 
Margaret, born Nov. 26, 1769; and Alex 
ander, born Feb. 10, 1773. 

Robert Campbell, fourth son of Duncan, 
was born Oct. 31, 1764, at Ferricurry, Scot 
land. On March 6, 1794, he married Jean 
McFarlaine, who was born Sept. 6, 1774, 
daughter of John and Christina (Colqu- 
houn) McFarlaine. Robert Campbell was a 
farmer. In 1819 he removed to Glasgow, 
where he lived until 1834, the year of his 
removal to Canada. He located in Ekfrid 
township, Middlesex County, Ont, and there 
passed the remainder of his life, dying Dec. 
30, 1845. His wife survived until Oct. 10, 
1854. He was a member, as was also his 
wife, of the Presbyterian Church, and they 
were good Christian people. In his politi 
cal belief he was a Reformer. Their chil 
dren were: Duncan, born Dec. 22, 1794, 
died April 5, 1867, in Middlesex County; 
John, born in March, 1797, died April 22, 
1873; Robert, born June 21, 1799, died in 
Middlesex County, March 18, 1874; Chris 
tina, born Dec. i, 1801, died in Scotland in 
Xovember, 1821; Donald, born Feb. n, 
1804, died April 29, 1888, after many years 
devoted to farming in Middlesex County; 
Mary, born Nov. 26, 1806, married Frank 
Elliott, and died July n, 1875, leaving one 
son, George, now a prominent citizen of Ek 
frid township : Humphrey, born in Septem 
ber, 1808, died May 6, 1881 ; Dougald. born 
Nov. 12, 1810, died in Dunwich township, 
Elgin County, Oct. 31. 1886: Malcolm, born 
Dec. 12, 1812, died unmarried on the Ek 
frid township old homestead in October, 
1904, aged almost ninety-two years (he 



was a school teacher) ; Alexander, born Oct. 
12, 1814, died in Elgin County April 27, 
1891 ; Ephraim died at the age of nine 
months, in Scotland. 

John Campbell, son of Robert and Chris 
tina (Colquhoun), was born in the parish of 
Aroquhar, Dumbarton, Scotland, March 6, 
1797, and there grew to manhood and 
learned the trade of shoemaker, which he fol 
lowed diligently in his native parish. There 
he married, April 2, 1821, Helen Brodie, a 
native of the same parish, daughter of John 
Brodie, the ceremony being performed by the 
Rev. Peter Proudfoot. This union was 
blessed with thirteen children, as follows : 
John, born March 12. 1822, became a well- 
known carriage manufacturer in London, 
member of the firm of John Campbell & 
Son; Robert was born Nov. 12, 1824; Ag 
nes, born Aug. 30, 1826, became the wife of 
Joseph McPherson, and died at Pasadena, 
California, at the home of her son David, a 
well-known civil engineer; Duncan, born 
March 4, 1828, was a successful school 
teacher and died in Warwick township ; 
Daniel, born Feb. 26, 1830, resides in War 
wick township; Humphrey, born July 31, 
1832, is a retired farmer, and makes his 
home in Forest ; Jeanette and Jane, twins, 
were born March 13, 1834, the former dying 
in infancy, and the latter marrying James 
Johnson, a prosperous fruit grower of Bo- 
sanquet township; Christina, born May 22, 
1836, is deceased; Peter, born Sept. 20, 
1838, is deceased; Malcolm and Jean, twins, 
were born Nov. 17, 1840, the former resid 
ing in Warwick township, and the latter the 
widow of Samuel McCormick; Colin Mc- 
Kenzie, born Oct. 20, 1844, is an extensive 
landowner in Manitoba. 

In 1848 John Campbell, with his wife 
and children, with the exception of Duncan 
who had made the journey two years before, 
sailed from Glasgow for the New World. 
They landed at New York, and thence jour 
neyed up the Hudson to Albany, and via 
Buffalo and Port Stanley, reaching Ontario, 
and settling in Ekfrid township, Middlesex 
County, where his parents and brothers had 
located. John Campbell there followed 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



farming until 1852, when he came to War 
wick township, County of Lambton, and set 
tled on a tract of land in Lot 9, Concession 
7, whereon he erected a log house (this is 
now the home of his son Malcolm). On this 
farm the remainder of his life was spent, and 
there he died April 22, 1873, followed, in 
1876, by his wife; they rest in the little 
cemetery at Arkona. They were members of 
the Congregational Church, and in politics 
he was a Reformer, and an ardent supporter 
of the Hon. George Brown. 

ROBERT CAMPBELL, son of John and 
Helen (Brodie), was born in the parish of 
Aroquhar, Dumbarton, Nov. 12, 1824, and 
in that parish received his education. He 
learned the baker s trade in Glasgow. In 
1848 he accompanied the family to Canada, 
and after seeing them located in Ekfrid 
township went to London, where for two 
years he followed his trade. At the end of 
that time he returned to the farm, assisting 
in the work there for a year. In 1851 he 
came to Warwick township, Lambton 
County, where he took up 100 acres, this be 
ing the west half of Lot 9, Concession 7, and 
there he settled down to agricultural pur 
suits. He disposed of fifty acres of land 
and for the past fifty odd years has devoted 
his attention to the cultivation of the re 
mainder. He has erected a good, substan 
tial, frame dwelling-house, fine barns, etc., 
and has made his home most attractive. Al 
though still quite active, he has retired from 
the management of the place. He is quiet 
and unassuming in his manner, and has lived 
a sober, industrious life, winning the respect 
of all who know him. He is faithful to the 
principles advocated by the Reform party, 
and in his religious faith is a Baptist. 

In his native land, on May 16, 1848, Mr. 
Campbell married Agnes Brodie, daughter 
of John Brodie, a sheep farmer. She died 
Feb. 17, 1900, after almost fifty-two years 
of happy wedded life, and was laid to rest 
in Forest cemetery. She, too, was a mem 
ber of the Baptist Church. In 1898, sur 
rounded by their children and grandchil 
dren, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell celebrated 
their Golden Wedding anniversary. They 



had children as follows : John, born Aug. 29, 
1849, resides in Warwick township; Dan 
iel, born Aug. 9, 1851, in Ekfrid township, 
Middlesex County, died April 9, 1858, in 
Warwick township; Duncan was born April 
27, 1853; Robert, born Feb. 21, 1855, in 
Warwick township, married Isabell McCall, 
and is engaged in farming; Malcolm, born 
July 5, 1857, in Warwick, married Marie 
Mae Brooks, and is a farmer in Brooke 
township; Joseph, born July iS, 1859, mar 
ried Harriet Chalk, and is a farmer in 
Brooke township, Lambton County; Colin, 
born Jan. i, 1862, married Sarah Chalk, 
and is a farmer in Enniskillen township; 
Peter, born May u, 1864, married Alma 
Cameron, and resides in Brooke town 
ship; George, born Aug. 30, 1866, mar 
ried Lilie Brydges, and is a farmer in Ken- 
ton, Man. ; David and Agnes, twins, were 
born Aug. 4, 1868, Agnes dying March 28, 
1870, and David Feb. 13, 1901 ; Alexander, 
born Feb. 12, 1870, lives on the old home 
stead. 

DUNCAN CAMPBELL, son of Robert, born 
April 27, 1853, received his education in 
School Section No. 14, in a little log school- 
house, where the benches were made of 
planks. His first teacher was Robert Hill. 
He grew up on the home farm, and when but 
a young boy began assisting his father in the 
work about the place. He then worked out 
for neighboring farmers for thirteen dollars 
per month. At the age of twenty 
he began farming on his own ac 
count, buying a tract of seventy acres 
on Lot 9, Concession 8. which was then all 
covered with bush. He applied himself to 
the task of clearing a farm, and he succeeded 
by dint of hard and constant work. In the 
meantime he engaged to a considerable ex 
tent in carpenter work. He built his own 
home and barns, and made many valuable 
improvements on his place, which in a com 
paratively short time he had well under cul 
tivation. He purchased a thirty-acre tract in 
Bosanquet, and now devotes the whole 100 
acres to general farming. 

Mr. Campbell is an unwavering Re 
former in politics. In 1887 he was elected a 



84 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



member of the board of councilmen, and 
served five years, for three years being 
elected by acclamation. During four years 
of this time he was deputy reeve, and by 
virtue of that office was entitled to a seat in 
the county council. In 1903 he was elected 
to the county council for the 6th Division, 
and was re-elected in 1905. He has always 
taken a deep interest in public matters, and 
by his remarkable foresight and good judg 
ment has proved himself invaluable to his 
fellow townsmen. He is a member of the 
Sons of Scotland, and is popular in that so 
ciety. 

On Jan. i, 1877, Mr. Campbell was united 
in marriage with E. Catharine Trowbridge, 
of Warwick township, daughter of David 
and Eliza (Shirvely) Trowbridge. Their 
children are: Alexander, born Oct. 9, 1877, 
was educated in the public schools and For 
est high school, after which he taught school 
three years, saving enough money to pay his 
way through medical college, and he was 
graduated in 1903 from Saginaw (Michi 
gan) Medical College, and is now engaged 
in practice in that State; Helen was born 
Aug. i, 1879; Jennie, May 16, 1881 ; Angus, 
May 3, 1883; Archibald B., July 12, 1894; 
Robert, March 21, 1898. 

HENRY GORMAN, the able editor 
and well-known proprietor of the Sarnia 
Observer, an organ of the Reform party, and 
who is also police magistrate for the city of 
Sarnia and justice of the peace for the Coun 
ty of Lambton, is a most highly regarded 
and eminently useful citizen. 

The Gorman family is of Irish origin. 
James Gorman, the grandfather of Henry 
Gorman, was born in County Clare, Ireland, 
where he followed agricultural pursuits all 
his life. His only son, Cornelius Gorman, 
the father of Henry Gorman, was born in 
1798 in Ireland, and there married Ann 
Preston. In 1838 Cornelius Gorman, as a 
member of Her Majesty s 23d Royal Welsh 
Fusiliers, came to Halifax, N. S., the occa 
sion being the Rebellion of 1837-38. The 
troops came as far west as London, Ont., in 
iS43, and here Mr. Gorman remained dur 



ing the balance of his life, dying in London 
in 1879. His widow passed away in Sarnia 
in 1882. Mr. Gorman invariably supported 
the Reform party. In his religious belief he 
was a Roman Catholic. 

The only surviving son of Cornelius 
Gorman and wife is Henry Gorman, who 
was born in Halifax, N. S., Feb. 6, 1839, 
and was but a lad when he arrived in Lon 
don with his parents. Here he was educated 
in the public schools and served an appren 
ticeship in the office of the London Free 
Press, with the late Josiah Blackburn. Later 
he became reporter and assistant editor of 
the London Advertiser, and represented that 
paper in the gallery at Ottawa, during Hon. 
Alexander Mackenzie s administration. In 
1878 Mr. Gorman came to Sarnia, and in 
association with George Eyvel purchased the 
Sarnia Observer from Gemmill & Son, by 
whom it was founded in 1853. This part 
nership continued for, three years, when Mr. 
Gorman purchased Mr. Eyvel s interest and 
has since conducted the paper on his own 
account. On July i, 1899, he was appointed 
police magistrate for Sarnia, and an ex- 
officio justice of the peace for the County of 
Lambton. 

Mr. Gorman s military career began in 
1856, when he was made a member of Shan- 
ly s Battery, at London, and in April of 1858 
he joined the looth Royal Canadian Regi 
ment, raised during the great Indian mutiny 
to proceed to India. Upon reaching Gib 
raltar the troops learned that they were not 
needed in the Indian campaign, and they re 
mained on garrison duty in that world- 
famed fortress. In December, 1861, Mr. 
Gorman obtained his discharge by purchase 
and returned to Canada, rejoining Shanly s 
Battery. In 1866, at the time of the Fenian 
raid, he received a commission in the 7th 
Regiment, having previously prepared at the 
military school at London. He remained 
with the 7th Regiment until 1880, when he 
was retired with the rank of major. His 
whole military service was such as to reflect 
credit upon him and his command. Fra 
ternally he is connected with the A. O. U. 
W. and the W. O. W. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



In London, Out., June 16, 1864, Mr. 
Gorman was united in marriage with Har 
riet Evans, a daughter of Major Evan 
Evans, and to this union were born 
three children : Winifred, of Sarnia ; Fred 
erick, the business manager of the Observer; 
and Harriet, also of Sarnia. Mrs. Gorman 
died in July, 1904. 

Mr. Frederick Gorman has also had a 
wide experience in military life. In 1883 he 
joined the 2/th Lambton Regiment, in which 
he attained the rank of captain. At the out 
break of the South African war he resigned 
this position and joined the First Canadian 
Contingent as a private. Soon after enlist 
ment he was promoted to the rank of ser 
geant in B Company, and served through 
the first campaign in South Africa, under, 
Lord Roberts, up to and including the cap 
ture and occupation of Pretoria. Upon his 
return to Canada he accompanied the First 
Contingent to England, and was present at 
the review of the regiment by Her Gracious 
Majesty the late beloved Queen Victoria. 
On Dec. 25, 1900, he was welcomed home 
in Sarnia, and was immediately reappointed 
captain in the 27th Regiment. 

ROBERT TURNER, chief engineer at 
the waterworks of Sarnia, has been a resi 
dent of that thriving city since it only num 
bered 600 in population, and has been the ef 
ficient head of the pumping station since the 
first stroke was made, on July i, 1876. 

Although the family name is a familiar 
one in England, Mr. Turner, like his father 
and grandfather, was born in Scotland. 
William Turner, the grandfather, was born 
in 1763, and in 1797 was killed by being 
accidentally caught in a threshing machine. 
His wife was formerly Margaret Pringle. a 
native also of Scotland, where she died in 
1832 or 1833. They had born to them the 
following children : William, Robert, John, 
James and Margaret, all but William dying 
in Scotland. 

William Turner, the father of Robert 
Turner, was born in Scotland in 1/87, and 
followed gardening in his native country. 
His marriage was to Isabella Bolton, who 



was born in 1797, in Scotland, and in 1848 
they emigrated to Canada. After a short 
stay near Woodstock, during which time 
Mrs. Turner died, Mr. Turner and his two 
sons, Robert and Alexander, came to Sar 
nia, reaching here Dec. 30, 1849, having 
been preceded by two other sons, William 
and George, in 1843. William was a wag- 
onmaker and employed his brother George. 
Of these, William died here in 1847 and 
George in 1874. 

After reaching Sarnia Mr. Turner, the 
father, resumed gardening, and continued in 
that occupation all through his active life, 
dying at the home of his son Robert, in 1869. 
The following children were born to Wil 
liam and Isabella Turner : Alison, deceased, 
who married Thomas Cockburn, and is de 
ceased; William, deceased; Elizabeth, who 
is the widow of John Dewer, of Sarnia; 
George, deceased; Alexander, of Manitoba, 
retired; Robert, deceased; Robert (2) ; Mar 
garet, who is the wife of David Purvis, of 
Sarnia; and one that died in infancy un 
named. 

Robert Turner was born Sept. 5, 1835, 
in Scotland, and hence was only thirteen 
years of age when he came to Ontario. His 
time soon became occupied as a helper with 
his brother George, in a flourmill, but in a 
short time he went to London and worked 
in a machine shop for sixteen months, re 
turning then to Sarnia and entering the 
Cameron mill, as an engineer. In 1852 he 
assisted in the building of the Mooretown 
flouring and saw mill, where he remained 
until 1854, and then went back to Sarnia 
township and engaged with his brother 
George in a milling business until 1861. Mr. 
Turner was then employed as engineer at 
Oil Springs by the "Canada Rock Oil Co.," 
and remained with that corporation for a 
period of eleven years. When he returned 
to Sarnia he took charge of the steam fire 
engine and remained .as its engineer until 
1875, when his services were secured at the 
waterworks, first in superintending the lay 
ing of the pipe and then as chief engineer 
of the plant, which responsible position he 
has retained ever since. His knowledge of 



86 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



this plant, which is not only closely con 
nected with the health and comfort of the 
residents of Sarnia, but whose efficiency is 
so necessary to the transaction of business, 
is so thorough that the water service in the 
city is little criticised. 

In January, 1866, Mr. Turner was mar 
ried to Miss Margaret Jane Watson, a 
daughter of John Watson ; she was born in 
the State of New York in 1841. The fol 
lowing children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Turner : William, who is a machinist 
in Chicago, Illinois, married Nellie Forster, 
and they have two sons, Robert and Wallace ; 
Margaret is unmarried; John, who resides 
at La Junta, Colorado, married Ellen Louise 
Stokes, and has one son, Rolf. All the fam 
ily are attendants of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Turner views political ques 
tions as a member of the Reform party, and 
belongs fraternally to the Royal Arcanum 
and the National Union. 

WILLIAM FERGUSON. Though it 
was some years ago, Jan. 20, 1887, that 
death deprived the city of Sarnia of this re 
spected citizen and proficient engineer, who 
had for a long time been connected with pub 
lic enterprises in that place, there are many 
who still remember him as an able and con 
scientious workman, who everywhere ex 
erted an influence upon the side of righteous 
ness and progress. Born in Lanark County, 
Ont, Aug. 15, 1833, he was the son of Dou- 
gald and Helen (Lysle) Ferguson. 

Dougald Ferguson, a man of the highest 
integrity, was a native of Scotland, born in 
Argyllshire, where he resided for many 
years. Upon reaching manhood, while still 
in Scotland, he married Helen Lysle, a 
woman of refinement and ability, who was 
born in Lanarkshire, Scotland. By this union 
there were eight children : Duncan and Dou 
gald, both now deceased, were farmers, the 
first in Plympton township. County of 
Lambton, and the second in the township of 
Sarnia, same county. Margaret married 
John Brunnette. John is now in Plympton 
township. Mary (deceased) married Dun 
can Ferguson. Agnes married William Mc 



Gregor. Archibald is now a resident of Ala 
bama, in the United States. William is men 
tioned below. 

In 1821 Mr. Ferguson, hoping to better 
his own prospects and those of his family, 
came to the growing Province of Ontario, 
and settled in Lanark County. After some 
varied experiences he came to Plympton 
township, Lambton County, where he made 
a good home for himself and family. As a 
strong, upright man he lent his influence in 
stamping upon the communities in which he 
dwelt the principles of good government and 
a high code of honor. 

William Ferguson was only a boy when 
the family settled in Plympton township, 
County of Lambton, and there, under the 
refining influence of a good home, he grew 
to manhood. Possessed of ability and en 
ergy, at an early age he started out in life 
for himself. Settling upon a farm in Plymp 
ton township, he engaged in agriculture very 
successfully for some time. In February, 
1859, he married Miss Catharine Clark, who 
was born in the County of Glengarry, Out., 
in 1832, daughter of Peter and Janet (Mc- 
Ewan) Clark, and granddaughter of Donald 
and Catherine (Campbell) Clark. In 1856 
Mrs. Ferguson came with her brother, the 
late Daniel Clark, to Sarnia. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Ferguson were born six children : 
(i) Jennie died April 15, 1865. (2) Helen 
Lysle married Albert Brown, and they have 
two children, Helen B. and Ferguson. (3) 
Frederick died in Sarnia, Ont. (4) Jennie 
C. is a trained nurse and now resides in 
Brooklyn, New York. (5) Emma F. is a 
trained nurse in Yonkers, New York. (6) 
Mabel married William Ferguson, of Petro- 
lia, Ont., and they have three children, Cath 
erine, Donald and Kenneth. 

About the time of his marriage Mr. Fer 
guson decided upon a change of occupation, 
and leaving his Plympton farm went to Sar 
nia and hired out as an engineer. A short 
experience proved that he had found the 
work for which nature and inclination had 
fitted him, and he filled his positions with 
marked ability, giving unqualified satisfac 
tion to his employers. For some time he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



was engaged as chief engineer in the con 
struction of railroads in and about that place. 
Later lie took a permanent place with the 
waterworks company. Performing his du 
ties with conscientiousness and a thorough 
mastery of his art, he filled this position until 
his death, which occurred, as has been stated, 
some years ago in Sarnia. His wife, still a 
resident of that place, is one of its highly- 
respected citizens. With her daughters she 
belongs to the Congregational Church, being 
an influential member. 

Mr. Ferguson was a man who made 
friends for himself at every step in life. In 
Sarnia, where he spent the strength of his 
manhood, he was thoroughly well-known 
and much respected. As a Conservative 
he exerted an influence in local politics. In 
religious sentiment a Congregationalist, he 
was a leading member of that church. A 
high sense of honor, a large capacity for 
work, and a magnetic personality, which at 
tracted all who knew him, were promoters 
of his success in life. 

JOHN N. WOOLEY. Among the well- 
known and successful farmers and stock- 
raisers of Enniskillen township, John N. 
Wooley holds a particularly prominent place, 
as lie is a large land owner, a general farmer, 
noted stock-raiser and producer of oil. 

The first of the family to come to Amer 
ica was the grandfather, John N. Wooley, 
who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Eng 
land before the Revolutionary war and set 
tled at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, in Lu- 
zerne county, where he raised his family. 
His son, James, was born in Wilkes Barre 
in 1800, and in his first years of manhood 
followed the trade of a carpenter. Some 
seventy years ago he moved from the States 
to Canada, and there married and settled at 
Brantford. Twice married, his first union 
was to Miss Eleanor Wood, of Brantford, 
who died in that city leaving four children, 
namely : Margaret, who married Norman 
Mclntyre, of South Dakota, where she died 
leaving a family; Ellen, who is the wife of 
William Allen, of Michigan ; Philinda, who 
is the wife of Adam Laidlaw, of Troy, 



Wentworth County (they have no chil 
dren) ; and Catherine, who died in girlhood. 
In 1844 Mr. Wooley was married to Mrs. 
Susan (Aiken) Brown, who was born in 
Ireland in 1811. Her parents, James and 
Jane (Taylor) Aiken, came to Canada, lived 
for some years in Welland Count} , and then 
moved to Woodstock, where they lived in 
retirement. The father lived to the age of 
ninety, while his wife reached the more 
advanced age of ninety-two. The year of 
his second marriage Mr. Wooley went to 
Enniskillen township, bought a tract of wild 
land in Concession 14, and made the home 
which sheltered him until his death. When 
he purchased the place there were a few im 
provements already made, and a log house 
which he at once occupied. There James 
Wooley died in 1892. He and his wife 
were consistent members of the Methodist 
Church, and their home was always the head 
quarters for the ministry of that denomina 
tion. Mrs. Wooley was an active worker 
in the Sabbath-school, and was assistant su 
perintendent for many years. In political 
views Mr. Wooley was^ a Reformer, but not 
active in public affairs. Four children were 
born to this second union : Nancy, born in 
Lambton County,, in 1845, cnec l while a 
young lady; Janet died at the age of five 
years; John N., the only son, was born in 
1849; Susan, born in -1852, is the wife of 
George Donald, of Plympton township, and 
the mother of Jessie, Susan E., Lillie, Hugh, 
Mabel and Ethel. 

By her first husband, Albert Brown, of 
Wentworth County, Mrs. Wooley had one 
daughter. Mary J., now the wife of Hugh 
Park, a retired farmer of Alvinston, Lamb- 
ton County. They have six children, James 
A., Annie. Nettie, Thomas, \Vesley and 
Charlotta. Mr. Parks was for many years a 
prominent and wealthy citizen of Enniskil 
len township, and served as councillor. Mrs. 
Susan (Brown) Wooley spent her last years 
in her son s home, where she was tenderly 
cared for until her death, Nov. 29, 1902. 

John N. Wooley, the only son among 
these three families, was born on his father s 
homestead in Enniskillen township, April 3, 



88 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1849. He grew up on the old place, was ed 
ucated in the district schools, and when only 
fifteen became manager of the paternal farm, 
as his father was in delicate health for many 
years. Mr. Wooley was married April 14, 
1875, to Lizzie McMann, he and his young 
wife settling on the homestead, and remain 
ing there until 1898, when they moved to 
the present home, a tract purchased in 1878. 
It was then wild land, but Mr. Wooley 
cleared it, and the year that he moved onto 
the farm he built a large and handsome 
frame house, with all modern improvements, 
and also a bank barn of good size, and other 
needed buildings. It is one of the fine farms 
of the county, and has also several produc 
ing oil wells on it, which are operated with 
success. Mrs. Wooley was born in Cam- 
den, Adclington County, in October, 1852, 
daughter of John and Matilda (Biggers) 
McMann. both of whom were natives of 
County Armagh, Ireland. The paternal 
grandfather, John McMann, came from the 
city of Armagh to Kingston, Canada, when 
his son John was a boy. After living in 
Kingston some years he moved to Camden, 
where he died, leaving five sons and one 
daughter. John McMann, the younger, and 
his wife came to Lambton County in 1860, 
and settled on wild land in Plympton town 
ship, where they made a permanent home, 
and there they passed from this life, Mr. 
McMann in 1892 and his wife in 1900. They 
were the parents of six children, namely: 
James; Elizabeth, Mrs. Wooley; Thomas, 
who died in childhood; Albert, still living 
on the homestead ; Louisa, who died in early 
womanhood; and Amelia, Mrs. James 
Dowler, of Sarnia township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wooley are the parents of 
four children : ( i ) Tillie, the eldest, born in 
Enniskillen township in 1878, was educated 
in the Watford high school, and married 
George Nicholson, of Park Hall, a farmer 
and breeder of fine stock. (2) Susan, born 
in 1880, married Herbert C. Dike, of Ennis 
killen township, an engineer on oil wells. (3) 
Herbert, born in 1882, grew up on the home 
stead, and is now manager of one of his 
father s farms in Enniskillen township, in 



Concession 8, where he and his father are 
engaged in raising thoroughbred Durham 
stock; their cattle have taken prizes in five 
counties in Canada and the United States, 
and their stock is widely known. Young 
Mr. Wooley is a capable farmer, and a 
young man of many good qualities. (4) 
Lulu, the youngest of the family, born in 
1886, is at home. 

Mr. Wooley has always been identified 
with the Conservative party, and has taken 
a prominent part in public life. For twelve 
years he has been on the school board as sec 
retary, treasurer and trustee, for six years 
filled the office of assessor most efficiently, 
and since 1904 has been a member of the 
Enniskillen council. He is almost equally 
prominent in church work, and with his fam 
ily belongs to the Methodist Church, where 
he has been trustee, steward and superin 
tendent of the Sunday-school ; his wife has 
been president of the Ladies Aid Society for 
many years, and is also a Sunday-school 
teacher. Mr. Wooley is a member of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge 
No. 14, of Wyoming. In whatever relation 
to his fellow men, he is invariably held in the 
highest respect and is a man of much in 
fluence. 

HARRISON COREY, one of the lead 
ing oil producers of Petrolia, and also carry 
ing on the same business in the oil fields of 
Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, is a native 
of the State of New York. He is a son of 
Truman Franklin Corey, and a grandson of 
James Franklin Corey, a native of Cape Cod. 
James F. Corey married Mary Cooper, by 
whom he had the following children : Tru 
man Franklin (father of Harrison), James 
F., Amos and John. 

After his marriage Truman Franklin 
Corey settled, at Caledonia, Ont., and en 
gaged in the business of grain buying. 
Thence he moved to Stratford, Ont., and in 
1875 to Petrolia, where he remained until 
his death, in February, 1893. ^ n politics he 
was a Conservative and in religious belief a 
Baptist. In 1836 he married Eliza Blosson, 
a native of Rochester, New York, who died 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



89 



at Petrolia in 1884, the mother of three chil 
dren, namely: Isaac B., deceased; Harrison; 
and T. Fred, a commercial traveler, of To 
ronto, who married Elizabeth Bolton. and 
had three children. 

Harrison Corey was born June 25, 1840, 
and was six years of age when his parents 
settled in Canada. He grew to manhood at 
Caledonia, Out., and received his education 
in the public schools of that place and Strat 
ford. He began his business career in 1856, 
at Caledonia, in the livery line, in which he 
continued four years, and then went to 
Stratford for a like period, and on Oct. 22, 
187.2. settled at Petrolia. Here he engaged 
first in a hotel business, his hostelry, known 
as the "Corey House," being located on the 
southwest corner of Petrolia and Greenfield 
streets, opposite the Grand Trunk station. 
He continued in the hotel business for about 
three years, during which time he became in 
terested in the oil business as a producer, a 
refiner of railroad oils, and a manufacturer 
of nitro-glycerine, and he has been one of 
the largest producers in these fields. His 
operations have not been confined to On 
tario, as he has been largely interested in 
operations in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsyl 
vania, the three most productive oil States in 
the United States. Mr. Corey has other busi 
ness interests, one being the Petrolia Pork 
Packing Company, of which he is president, 
and he is also president of the Draper Manu 
facturing Company, of Port Huron, Michi 
gan ; vice-president of the Globe Stone Com 
pany, of Joliet, Illinois ; and a director in the 
Merchants Fire Insurance Company, of 
Toronto. 

In 1863 Mr. Corey was united in mar 
riage with Miss Eugenia Pine, daughter of 
John W. Pine, of New York City. The 
other members of her family were John and 
George. To Mr. and Mrs. Corey a family of 
six children has been born, as follows : Allie 
B. is the wife of O. L. Lewis, a barrister of 
Chatham ; Eleanor Louise is the wife of 
Peter Campbell, manager of the Bank of 
Toronto, and they have two sons, Alan and 
Gordon Campbell ; Eugenia Frances is the 
wife of Frank Fisher, of Petrolia, and they 



have two sons, Harrison and Eugene ; Bloss 
P., the eldest son, engaged in business with 
his father, married Bessie Morford June 26, 
1895, and they have one son, Harrison 
Corey, Jr. ; Harry Edward is the only one at 
home. Lottie \Y. was married Oct. 3. 1905, 
to Arthur Alexander Reinhardt, of the firm 
of Reinhardt & Co., brewers, Toronto, On 
tario. 

Mr. and Mrs. Corey are members of the 
Church of England. Politically Mr. Corey 
is a Conservative. Fraternally he is a Ma 
son; a member of the I. O. F., which he 
joined in 1860 and in which he has filled all 
the chairs; of the A. O. U. W., in which he 
is past master workman, and past grand rep 
resentative to the Supreme Grand Lodge ; of 
the Royal Arcanum ; the Knights of Honor ; 
the Select Knights; the K. O. T. M.; and 
the Elks, in which he is past exalted ruler. 
He has been prominently identified with 
much of the growth and development of Pe 
trolia and in 1888 was a member of the city 
council. 

O. \V. CHAMBERLIN is one of the 
oldest settlers of Petrolia, and one of its 
most extensive oil producers, and he is of 
French extraction, his grandfather Orin 
Chamber! in having been born in France, but 
in an early day settled in New York State, 
where both he and his wife died. Their chil 
dren were as follows : Orin and Sylvester, 
who located in Ontario, near St. Catharines, 
and engaged in farming; Milo, who located 
near Toronto, and practiced medicine; Joel 
also settled in Ontario and farmed until he 
died; David followed the same course; and 
Palmer. 

Palmer Chamberlin became the father of 
O. W. Chamberlin of Petrolia. He was 
born in New York state in 1812, and when a 
young man he settled near St. Catharines. 
but later moved to Oxford County, and en 
gaged in farming and dairying, as well as 
lumbering. In Oxford County he married 
Elizabeth Churchill, a native of New Bruns 
wick, who died in Oxford County, after 
which Mr. Chamberlin resided with a daugh 
ter in Michigan until his own death in 1899. 



9 o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Politically he was a Reformer, and served 
his party in the township council while re 
siding in Oxford County. His children 
were as follows : Esther, deceased ; O. W. ; 
Amos, an oil producer of Pennsylvania; 
Hannah, who married N. J. Palmer, a mer 
chant of Yale, Michigan; Harvey I., an oil 
producer of Boulder City, Colorado; Ada- 
line; H. N. Stevens, a business man of Iowa; 
and Theodore, a business man of Toronto. 

O. \Y. Chamberlin was born in Oxford 
County, in November, 1839, an d there grew 
to manhood, receiving a good education. In 
1860 he began his life work as a driller in 
Petrolia, and soon entered the oil fields him 
self, becoming in 1862 an oil producer, in 
which line he continued until 1902, when he 
sold his interests. In connection with his 
oil business, he was engaged in the refining 
of oil for some time, but also disposed of his 
property in this connection. In 1902 Mr. 
Chamberlin purchased large landed interests 
at Alberta, Northwest Territory, and is em 
barking extensively in the cattle business in 
that locality. Mr. Chamberlin was a mem 
ber of the first council of Petrolia, and has 
been honored by election to that same posi 
tion twenty-seven times. He was also reeve 
of the place a number of terms, and by vir 
tue of the office, a member of the county 
council. 

In 1869 Mr. Chamberlin was united in 
marriage with Elizabeth Smith, who came 
from England to Elgin County about 1854. 
Three children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Chamberlin : Lulu, who married W. L. 
Beamer, an accountant in Vaughn & Fair- 
bank s bank at Petrolia, and has one son, 
AYillard ; Olive, who died at the age of nine 
years ; Blake, who is connected with the Bank 
of Toronto in Petrolia. Mrs. Chamberlin is 
a member of the Methodist Church. Po 
litically Mr. Chamberlin is a Reformer, and 
fraternally is a charter member of the Ma 
sonic lodge in Petrolia. Throughout Lamb- 
ton County few men are more highly re 
spected than he, and Petrolia owes much to 
his enterprise, public-spirit and devotion to 
the best interests of the city. 



JOHN McCALLUM. The annals of 
Lambton County show the names of men 
who have made this locality what it is, and 
given to their country sons who are worthy 
representatives of the best interests of the 
Dominion. The name of Duncan McCal- 
lum is thus enrolled, and his son, John Mc- 
Callum, ex-reeve of Alvinston, Brooke 
township, has proved himself an excellent 
public official and successful agriculturist. 

John McCallum was born March 8, 1863, 
in Mosa, Middlesex County, son of Duncan 
and Jean (Campbell) McCallum. 

Duncan McCallum and his wife were 
both born in Argyllshire, Scotland, the 
former in 1819, and the latter in 1827. He 
was the only one of his father s family to 
come to Canada, while she was the daughter 
of Donald Campbell, who died in Scotland. 
They were married in the place of their na 
tivity, coming to Canada in 1857, and set 
tling in Mosa township, Middlesex County, 
where Duncan McCallum rented a farm for 
eight years. He then removed to Brooke 
township, purchased and cleared up a farm 
from wild land on Concession 3, and there 
remained until after the death of his wife, 
he then removing to Alvinston, where he has 
since been living with his children. Mr. 
McCallum is connected with the Presbyte 
rian Church, as was also his wife. The fol 
lowing children were born to this worthy 
couple : ( i ) Donald, born in Scotland and 
now a retired farmer of Alvinston, was 
reared to manhood in Canada, where he 
married Miss Christie Ferguson, and has 
two children, Jennie and Maggie. (2) 
Jessie married Alexander Campbell, a 
farmer of Brooke township, and has these 
children: Tena (now Mrs. J. Wardell) ; 
Maggie (who married P. Frayne), and Jen 
nie and Flora (at home). (3) Maggie, born 
in Scotland, married Archie McLachlan, a 
farmer of Brooke township and has these 
children: Jennie (now Mrs. A. Johnson), 
Albert E., Kate, Angus, Duncan and Etta. 
(4) William, born on the Atlantic Ocean, 
was reared at the old home in Brooke town 
ship, and resides on his farm, which is lo- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



cated near the old homestead, where he mar 
ried Miss Maggie McKinley, of Lambton 
County, a descendant of one of Brooke 
township s old families, and they have these 
children, Duncan, James, Archie, Jennie, 
John, Maggie and Bessie. (5) Dougal, born 
in Middlesex County, and residing on his 
farm in Brooke township, married Martha 
Shields, and has two daughters, Jessie and- 
Jean. (6) John is the subject proper of 
this sketch. (7) Neil, born in 1865, married 
Miss Sabina Hand, of Brooke township, 
where they reside on a part of the old home 
stead ; they have three children, Gladys, 
Homer C. and Annareta. (8) Julia, born in 
1869, in Brooke township, married Dougal 
McLachlan, a farmer and has two children, 
Man- B. and Stanley D. 

John McCallum received a district school 
education in Brooke township, and spent his 
spare time on the farm. When a young 
man. he spent two years on Lake Huron, 
sailing from Detroit to St. Ingas, but in 1894 
gave up this profession and purchased his 
L ncle Neil Campbell s old homestead, upon 
which he has remained to the present time. 

On March 25, 1896, Mr. McCallum 
married Miss Maggie Shields, born Oct. 18, 
1869, in Mosa township, Middlesex County, 
daughter of Roland H. and Euphemia 
(Campbell) Shields, pioneers of Middlesex 
County, where Mrs. McCallum was reared, 
and where her parents still reside. Mr. and 
Mrs. McCallum are the parents of these chil 
dren : Duncan W., born March 19, 1897; 
Gordon C., born Aug. 7, 1898; Kenneth R.. 
born Oct. 18, 1900; Euphemia W., born 
June 24, 1902; and Jean, born March 5, 
1905. 

In religious belief the family are con 
nected with the Presbyterian Church. In 
his political sympathies Mr. McCallum has 
always been identified with the old Reform 
party, and in 1898 served as councilman of 
Alvinston, also serving two years in Brooke 
township. He served two years as reeve 
of Alvinston. Fraternally he has connected 
himself with the I. O. O. F. of Alvinston, 
Xo. 208. where he has been called upon to fill 
various offices. He has one of the best im 



proved and productive farms in his town 
ship, and can from experience make the 
statement that farming pays, when properly 
managed. In every relation of life he is a 
most worthy citizen and honest man. 

G. B. STEPHENSON, a well-known 
retired citizen of Forest, belongs to an old 
Scottish family which was founded in Can 
ada by Samuel Stephenson, his grandfather, 
during the period of the American Revolu 
tion. 

Samuel Stephenson died on his farm near 
Welland, Ont., in 1808, leaving a family of 
seven children, as follows : William, de 
ceased, who was a farmer in Elgin County; 
Joseph, deceased, a farmer and justice of 
the peace in Elgin County ; Nathan, a farmer 
in Elgin County, who died unmarried ; Sam 
uel; Benjamin, a farmer in Oxford County; 
Elizabeth, who married Ichabod Bowerman ; 
and Ann, deceased. 

Samuel Stephenson, the father of G. B. 
Stephenson, was bom. in 1804, in Welland 
County, Ont., and on reaching maturity set 
tled in Elgin County. In 1835 he located at 
Dorchester, where he remained for some 
time, in 1840 trading his property for an 
other farm, also in Dorchester, on which he 
resided for nine years. On March 4. 1849, 
he settled on the North Egremont road, Lot 
9, Concession 6, in Warwick township, 
Lambton County, Ont., purchasing 300 
acres of land to the cultivation of which he 
gave the remaining years of his active life. 
In 1878 he settled in Arkona, where he died 
in 1880. Samuel Stephenson was a very suc 
cessful farmer and at his death left a fine 
landed estate. In his political views he was 
a Conservative. He married Sarah Ann 
Sibley, born in Elgin County in 1812. who 
died June 4, 1893. Her father, David Sib- 
ley, was a United Empire Loyalist. Prior 
to the American Revolution he had emi 
grated to Charleston. South Carolina, from 
Scotland, and at that time owned 200 acres 
of land on which the city of Charleston now 
stands. At the outbreak of the Revolution 
he refused to take up arms against the 
Crown, and was driven off the land shortly 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



92 

after his marriage, he and his wife taking 
refuge in Canada. They brought with them 
the deed of their property, and some years 
later their only son, John, proposed to return 
to South Carolina and press the claim for the 
land, but his plans were thwarted by his 
mother consigning the papers to the flames. 
On settling in Canada Mr. Sibley received 
200 acres of land on Concession i, in the 
township of Malahide, Elgin County, where 
he died at the age of ninety years. The chil 
dren born to Samuel and Sarah Ann (Sib- 
ley) Stephenson were: Mary, deceased wife 
of Daniel Wilton; Elizabeth, deceased; 
John, who settled in California in 1856; G. 
B., of Forest; William Henry of Kinde, 
Mich.; and Samuel Edgar, of Bad Axe, 
Michigan. 

G. B. Stephenson was born March 4, 
1836, in Dorchester, Elgin County, and ob 
tained his education in the public schools of 
his native county, and in the high school. 
In 1856 he embarked in business at Arkona 
as a conveyancer, insurance agent and priv 
ate banker, and continued as such until 1885, 
when he retired from active work and set 
tled in Forest, where he has a fine residence 
property. Mr. Stephenson was the first 
clerk of Arkona, holding office from 1876 
to 1887, and for many years was secretary 
and treasurer of the school board. He has 
been at various times identified with the 
school interests of his locality and is still a 
member of the public school board. He is 
one of the well-known and very highly es 
teemed citizens of his community. 

On May 9, 1856, Mr. Stephenson mar 
ried Miss Jessie Brodie, daughter of Daniel 
and Christina (McFarland) Brodie, the 
former a pioneer settler of Dunwich town 
ship Elgin County, where he died in June 
1851 ; shortly after his death his widow and 
nine children removed to Warwick town 
ship, Lambton County. Mrs. Brodie was a 
native of Scotland, and died in 1880 at the 
age of seventy-six years. Two children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson: (i) Ma 
tilda Helen wife of Dr. T. S. Kingston, of 
Croswell Michigan, has two children, Fred 
Brodie and George Bowman. (2) John died 



at the age of seven years. Of the two gran- 
children, one, F. B. Kingston, is in the Bank 
of Toronto, and G. B. is a law student. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are members 
of the Presbyterian Church at Forest, in 
which both are prominent, and to which 
they are liberal contributors. Politically Mr. 
Stephenson is a Conservative, and he is vice- 
president of the county association. 

GEORGE WILLIAM THOMAS. 
Among the prominent citizens of Sarnia 
whose earthly careers are ended may be men 
tioned George William Thomas, who long 
held an honored place in military and official 
life, and who left an untarnished reputation 
and a high record for distinguished service 
to the people and the state, as a priceless her 
itage to his posterity. 

The first member of this ancient and 
knightly Thomas family of whom authentic 
record has been preserved was Thomas ap 
Thomas, of Wenvoe Castle, Glamorgan 
shire, Wales, Sir John Thomas being the first 
Baronet, 1694. Capt. Francis Tracy 
Thomas, father of George William Thomas, 
was born in 1771, in Edinburgh, Scotland, 
and married Charlotte Tulloch, who was 
horn in 1789, in Glasgow. For forty-five 
years he served in His Majesty s army, a 
faithful soldier, with the rank of Captain. 
In 1805 he came to Canada with his regi 
ment, and was Brigade Major at Halifax, 
N S., when the "Shannon" captured the 
"Chesapeake." He died in Montreal July 
8, 1845. His two sons were Adolphus Fred 
eric and George William. 

George William Thomas was born April 
23 1815, and was liberally educated, attend 
ing school in Quebec and in the Upper Can 
ada College. After leaving school he filled 
for some time a clerical position in Quebec. 
Inheriting a taste for military affairs, he be 
came a member of the militia, and saw active 
service in the Rebellion of 1837-38. On 
April i, 1839, he was appointed commissa 
riat writer at London, Chatham and Sarnia, 
U. C, a position he filled most capably until 
Tune i, 1843, when he became a clerk in the 
office of the Military Secretary at Montreal. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



93 



In 1851 Mr. Thomas settled in Sarnia, 
and, forming a partnership with George H. 
Durand, in a mercantile business, he engaged 
in that line for two years, when his partner 
left the firm, and Mr. Thomas carried it on 
alone until he could dispose of his interest. 
Succeeding in that he became confidential 
clerk to the Hon. Malcolm Cameron, and 
afterward was in His Majesty s Customs, 
continuing in the latter responsible position 
for seventeen years. He had charge also of 
the distribution of presents to the Indians, 
who were then a numerous band, and who 
named him Tecumsis. Being a thorough 
French scholar, he often transacted business 
for the French people here at that time, and 
was looked upon by them as a true friend. 
An address signed by 100 residents of Sar 
nia and vicinity at that time bears testimony 
to the esteem in which he was held. This 
address was published in the London (Can 
ada) Herald in 1843, a copy of which paper 
with the original documents has been pre 
served and is still in the hands of the mem 
bers of the family. Mr. Thomas had an ex 
cellent memory for names and dates, and 
could relate with accuracy a number of inci 
dents of the days before railways were built 
in Canada. He was one of the few who have 
made the journey from Quebec to Sarnia 
and return by the old stage coach. Failing 
eyesight resulted eventually in total blind 
ness, and this necessitated his retirement 
from all active work during the remainder 
of his life. He died at his late residence in 
Christina street, Sarnia, in 1894, in the faith 
of the Church of England. 

On Oct. 29. 1846, Mr. Thomas was uni 
ted in marriage with Miss Christiana Pelton, 
who was born in Perth, Out., Sept. 25, 1819, 
daughter of the late Capt. Joshua and Mar 
garet Pelton. Capt. Pelton was born in 
1789, and died in 1863; his wife, born ii. 
1794. died in 1823. at the age of twenty- 
nine. Besides Mrs. Thomas they had three 
children : Thomas J., Margaret and Caro 
line. Mrs. Thomas was reared to woman 
hood in Montreal, and she is now living in 
Sarnia, which place has been her home for 
more than half a century. With the excep 



tion of defective hearing, she enjoys all her 
faculties, and for one of her advanced age 
has remarkably good health, and she is the 
very center of an affectionate family circle. 
To George William Thomas and wife were 
born the following children : George Joshua 
married Eva McPherson, and has two chil 
dren, Bertha Grace and George P. ; Henry 
William (deceased) married Elizabeth Wil 
son and they had three children, Annie, 
Henry and Frederick ; William Frederick 
married Margaret Smith, and had three chil 
dren, George William, Ormol (deceased) 
and Andrew ; Edward Malcolm married 
Alary Willing, and has four children, Edna 
Mary, Frederick William, Keith and How 
ard ; Francis Tracy is mentioned below ; 
James Bridges married Ida McDonald, and 
has three children, Ida Gertrude, James R. 
and Kenneth McDonald; Anna, Caroline, 
and Annie Elizabeth are deceased; Ellen 
Caroline is the wife of Rev. Charles J. A. 
Batstone, rector of Pickering Church, Dio 
cese of Toronto, and has one son, Aylesbury 
Thomas. 

FRANCIS TRACY THOMAS was born at 
Sarnia Jan. 26, 1855, and he acquired his 
education in the grammar school at Sarnia 
and the Commercial College at London, 
Ont., where he was graduated in 1880. In 
1889 he entered into a real-estate business 
in Sarnia, and is still so engaged, although 
many other enterprises have claimed his time 
and energies to some extent. Since 1901 he 
has been the superintendent of public works 
in Sarnia, employing about sixty men. He 
is the patentee of the "Thomas Catch Basin," 
which is exclusively used in Sarnia. He has 
taken an active part in municipal matters, 
has been first, second and third deputy reeve 
and reeve of Sarnia, and is the only individ 
ual in the city who has filled all these chairs ; 
he was the last reeve of the city, serving as 
such when the changes were made in the city 
government which abolished the offices of 
reeve and deputy reeve. Mr. W. P. Vidal 
was the first incumbent of that office. 

On June 4, 1885, Mr. Thomas was mar 
ried to Miss Annie Emily Devine, a native 
of Montreal, and a daughter of Rev. J. A. 



94 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Devine, and to this union two children were 
born, Annie Christiana and Francis Frank 
lin Digby, both of whom are deceased. Mr. 
Thomas is a member of the Church of 
England. 

WILLIAM JOHN SPROULE (de 
ceased), who was one of the first white male 
children born in the township of Plympton, 
remained a resident through a long and use 
ful life of almost seventy years. In his early 
life he saw much poverty and hardship, and 
was deprived of many of the advantages 
which come to boys, and had few educational 
advantages, yet he \vorked out a career for 
himself which made him an honored and suc 
cessful man. He was born on what is now 
the township line of Plympton, between Sar- 
nia and Plympton townships, on Concession 
8, Nov. 1 6, 1835, son of Joseph Sproule and 
grandson of William Sproule, the latter of 
whom was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 
where his father, Robert Sproule, was a ten 
ant farmer. 

Joseph Sproule grew to manhood in his 
native place, and at maturity came to Can 
ada, settling for a time at New Brunswick, 
but later removed west and made his home 
in Ontario, locating permanently in 1834 
in Lambton County, on Lot i, Concession 
8, Plympton township. He secured a tract 
containing 100 acres of land from a Mr. 
Morris, and on this he erected a log cabin 
and settled down to pioneer life. At that 
time there were but one or two settlers in the 
vicinity, the place was a wilderness, no roads 
were yet cut through the forest which was 
still infested with wild and dangerous beasts. 
In this wild spot, far removed from civiliza 
tion, Mr. Sproule and family lived through 
some years of dire hardship, suffering at 
times for the mere necessities of life. 

Mr. Sproule was industrious and re 
sourceful. As he cut down the timber, he 
made it into potash, sold this product at Sar- 
nia, and with the proceeds was able to pro 
vide for his family. As his sons grew to 
helpful age, they assisted in. the clearing of 
the land, and in putting it under cultivation, 
although he did not live long enough to en 



joy the fruits of his hard labor. His death 
took place on this farm, July 22, 1869, at the 
age of sixty-three years, and his remains 
were laid away in the cemetery of St. John s 
Church in Sarnia to\vnship. In politics he 
was a Conservative. 

Mr. Sproule married Tamer Tressler, 
born in Suffolkshire, England, daughter of 
John Tressler, one of the first pioneers of 
this township. Mrs. Sproule died on the 
farm Sept. 29, 1869, and she was laid to rest 
by her husband s side. She was a worthy 
and consistent member of the Methodist 
Church, a most estimable woman in every 
relation of life. They had these children : 
William J. ; Walter, of Sarnia township; 
Robert, a farmer in Manitoba ; Martha, wife 
of Charles Wilkie; Jane, wife of John Mc- 
Intire; Abner, a prospector in Montana, who 
died there in 1866; Miss Fannie, of Sarnia 
to\vnship ; and Reuben, deceased. 

William John Sproule, eldest in the 
above family, had very limited school advan 
tages, coming into the world in the little 
pioneer home in the wilderness, long before 
either schools or churches w>ere established 
in his neighborhood. What education he 
did receive was at a school some three miles 
from his home, through the forest, on the 
London road, during the short time he could 
be spared from home to attend. While still 
a boy, Mr. Sproule worked in the woods and 
in the sawmills, in fact at any thing and 
every thing which promised to bring him 
money with which to assist in the support of 
the family. For five years he worked in the 
Richardson lumber mills on the lake shore, 
and followed this industry for several years 
longer, and then bought a tract of fifty acres, 
in Concession 7, Lot i, Plympton township. 
This was a bush farm and later he added 
another fifty acres, and on his land he erected 
a sawmill. His first partner was Alexander 
Mclntire, and they continued in business to 
gether for several years, when his brother 
Walter bought out Mr. Mclntire s interest. 
From 1871 for thirty years the two brothers 
continued in business together, in the man 
ufacture of lumber, staves and oak car build 
ing- material. In 1878 their mill was de- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



95 



stroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt, and the 
business is still conducted by Walter Sproule 
and Frederick Sproule, the only son of our 
subject. 

The late Mr. Sproule was also interested 
in real estate, owning a large amount of 
land, both in Sarnia and Plympton town 
ships. He erected a very fine home on the 
homestead. For some years he was inter 
ested in the oil fields of Enniskillen town 
ship, meeting with considerable success here 
also. He was a man of progressive ideas, 
very enterprising and possessed excellent 
business judgment. Although he lacked 
education, he made up for it in tact, industry 
and integrity. 

Mr. Sproule was a stanch Conservative, 
and always supported the principles advo 
cated by the late Sir John MacDonald. He 
was, also, a true Christian man, and was one 
of the organizers of the Methodist Church 
of the Sixth Line of Plympton, a member 
of the building committee of the Epworth 
Methodist Church in 1903, and through life 
was a liberal supporter of religious organiza 
tions. As he had lived a Christian life, so 
he died a Christian death, Feb. i, 1904, after 
many years of suffering. Some seventeen 
years prior to his death he was stricken with 
paralysis, and the subsequent suffering he 
bore with patience. He was laid to rest in 
Blackwell cemetery, in Sarnia township. 

On June 22, 1865, in Plympton town 
ship, Mr. Sproule was married to Anne M. 
Wellington, born in Cornwall, England, 
daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (James) 
Wellington. The Wellington family settled 
in Bosanquet township and there both Jona 
than and Sarah Wellington died. Mrs. 
Sproule is a lady of refined tastes and great 
capacity, and cheered, assisted and comforted 
her husband through forty years, at 
tending to the wants of his last days with 
tender ministering care. She is a member 
of the Epworth Church. Her home is on the 
old homestead, which she manages with good 
business ability. The children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Sproule were : Alameda Louise, 
who married Thomas Carrick, of Sarnia 
township, has two children, Rose S. and 



Jethrude 1.; Abner died aged seven years; 
Hildegarde Emily married Alfred Hillier, 
of Sarnia township, and has one son, Keith 
R. ; Frederick, who operates the home farm, 
married Margaret McLachlan, and has two 
children, Kenneth W. and Lome W. 

WALTER SPROULE, brother of the late 
William J. Sproule, was born on the old 
homestead, and, like his brother, had a small 
amount of school instruction at the old 
school house on the London road. His 
early life was very similar to that of his 
elder brother, passed mainly in lumbering 
and working in sawmills and for the neigh 
boring farmers. At a later date he learned 
the blacksmith s trade with a Mr. Vidal, and 
followed the same in Sarnia for some years. 
Mr. Sproule then accompanied his brother 
Abner to the Western states and located in 
Montana, where the brothers were associa 
ted in business until the death of Abner, 
when Walter returned to Plympton township. 
He worked at blacksmithing at Sarnia until 
1871, when he became a partner in the lum 
ber business with his brother William, with 
whom he was associated in business for the 
long period of thirty-three years. After the 
death of its founder, Walter Sproule, with 
his nephew Frederick, son of the late 
William J., continued the business, which 
is one of the large industries of this section, 
giving employment to a large force of men. 
In addition to his lumber interests Walter 
Sproule is engaged in the successful opera 
tion of a farm of 150 acres, situated in Sar 
nia and Plympton townships. In 1885 he 
built a fine home on the farm, living in Sar 
nia township, and made many other desira 
ble improvements. 

In 1886 Mr. Sproule was married to 
Catherine McLoughlin, born in Plympton 
township, daughter of James and Catherine 
(Leonard) McLoughlin, and they have three 
children : John, Martha and Joseph. In 
politics he is a stanch Conservative, but has 
never been willing to accept political office. 

ROBERT WANLESS. Among the 
old established mercantile houses of Sarnia, 
that conducted by Robert Wanless has for 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



more than thirty years been a business en 
terprise of reliability, a representative of 
commercial prosperity. This business was 
established in Sarnia, in 1867, by Mr. \Yan- 
less, the first individual effort of a young 
man, and success has crowned his life of 
honesty and industry. 

Mr. Wanless is of Scotch ancestry, his 
father, William Wanless, having been born 
in 1797, in Ednam, Scotland, where he mar 
ried Margaret Graham, also of Scotch par 
entage, born in 1803, who died in 1847. Mr- 
\\ unless survived his wife nineteen years, 
dying in 1866. His occupation was that of 
a parish school-teacher in Scotland, and he 
was well and favorably known in his com 
munity. In political faith he belonged to 
the Conservative party. Both he and 
wife were consistent members of the Estab 
lished Church. The children born to Will 
iam Wanless and wife were : Isabella, who 
is a resident of Edinburgh ; George, de 
ceased ; Andrew, deceased, a merchant in 
Detroit for a number of years ; William, de 
ceased, who was a merchant in Sarnia about 
1 860- 1 ; John, who was formerly a merchant 
in Sarnia, now a jeweler in Toronto; Alex 
ander, deceased, at one time a resident of 
Sarnia ; Eliza, deceased, who was the widow 
of S. Anderson, of Wyoming; Margaret, de 
ceased, wife of James Brack ; Jessie, wife of 
George Brack ; Jeanie, widow of the late 
Albert F. Clark, of Stratford; Ellen, widow 
of James Leach, of Collingwood ; James, now 
a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, 
formerly of Sarnia ; and Robert, mentioned 
below. 

Robert Wanless was born in Scotland, 
Aug. 1 6, 1844, and was two years of age 
when his mother died. His education was 
secured in the local schools, and upon reach 
ing the age of fifteen, he served an appren 
ticeship to the grocery business in Carlisle, 
England, coming to Ontario, and entering 
his brother s store in Sarnia, in 1861. Here 
he remained until 1867, at that date embark 
ing in a grocery business of his own, his lo 
cation being on the corner of George and 
Christina streets. From this first location 



Mr. Wanless removed to his present very 
desirable location at the southeasc corner of 
Lochiel and Christina streets. Since taking 
upon himself the responsibilities of a con 
stantly enlarging business Mr. Wanless has 
devoted close and careful attention to it, his 
prosperity resulting from this wise manage 
ment. The many cares attendant upon it 
have prevented him from accepting respon 
sibilities of a public nature, although he has 
always been in full accord with public im 
provement and laudable enterprises. 

On June 24, 1873, Mr Wanless was uni 
ted in marriage with Miss Margaret Mitch 
ell, daughter of Alexander and Janet (King) 
Mitchell, and granddaughter of William and 
Jessie (Donald) Mitchell, natives of Scot 
land, and early settlers in York County, Ont., 
where they died. Alexander Mitchell was 
born in Scotland and died in York County, 
Ont. : his widow resides in Toronto. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mitchell s family consisted of two 
daughters and one son, viz. : Mrs. Wanless ; 
Jessie, now Mrs. J. W. Lang, of Toronto; 
and W. A., a manufacturer, of Toronto. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wanless have been born 
five children, namely : Robert D., of To 
ronto; Jessie Alexandra, of Sarnia; Charles 
Alexander, deceased; Keith C., deceased; 
and Arthur Graham, of Toronto. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Wanless belong to St. Andrew s 
Presbyterian Church, at Sarnia. Politically 
Air. Wanless is a Reformer, and fraternally 
he is a member of the Masons; the S. O. S. ; 
and the A. O. U. W. His business reputa 
tion is one of integrity, and in every demand 
of life he reaches a high standard. 

WILLIAM G. WILLOUGHBY. Every 
community takes a certain pride in its self- 
made men, knowing that the qualities which 
bn. tight about success insure good citizen 
ship, and Brooke township, Lambton Coun 
ty, is no exception to this rule. In the per 
son of William G. Willoughby, clerk of the 
township, business man and farmer, they 
have a striking example of what can be ac 
complished by steady adherence to duty. He 
was born in Montague township, Lanark 




s r 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



97 



County, Feb. 20, 1844, son of Thomas and 
Anne (Shirley) Willoughby, pioneers of 
Brooke township. 

Thomas Willoughby was born in Ire 
land, while his wife was born in Lanark 
County, Out. They were married in the lat 
ter locality. Thomas was brought to Can 
ada by his father, William Willoughby, the 
latter emigrating to Lanark County at a very 
early day, and dying there. The only sur 
viving member of his family is George Wil 
loughby, a brother of Thomas, Thomas and 
the others having died some years ago. 
Thomas himself was but a boy when the fam 
ily exodus was made to the Dominion, and 
was reared in Lanark County. After his 
marriage he settled for a time near Smith s 
Falls, in that county, engaging in farming, 
but in 1854 he removed to Brooke township, 
Lambton County, and settled on Lot 16, loth 
Concession, where he made a permanent 
home, clearing the land from the virgin 
forest. He finally moved to Watford, and 
died in 1884. His wife passed away in 1901. 
They bravely shared the many hardships of 
the new country. Politically he was a Con 
servative. 

Thomas Willoughby and his wife were 
the parents of the following children : Wil 
liam G. was the eldest of the family; Sarah 
died in childhood ; Elizabeth, born in Lanark 
County, now deceased, married John S. Mc 
Donald, of Brooke, but had no family ; Sarah 
J. died at the age of sixteen; Mary died in 
childhood; Armenia, deceased, married 
Francis Kelly, of Brooke, and had two chil 
dren, Amelia and Minnie; Thomas H., born 
in Lanark County in 1848, is married and 
has a large family, and resides at Watford, 
where he is a contractor and builder; Eph- 
raim, born in Brooke in 1856, married Miss 
Amelia Ann Shrapnell, of Brooke, has a 
family, and resides on a farm in Michigan; 
Paul Edward, born in Brooke in 1859, mar 
ried and settled in Michigan, where he is a 
clerk, and has a family. 

William G. Willoughby was educated at 
the district schools, and worked upon his 
father s farm, remaining at home until he 
attained his majority. As soon as he was 

7 



able he purchased Lot i, in the nth Con 
cession, and made some improvements upon 
it, but later, in February, 1874, he bought 
his present fine farm, Lot 18, nth Conces 
sion. At that time the property was but little 
improved, but Mr. Willoughby has developed 
it into one of the best farms in the township. 
In 1900 he erected a most desirable home, 
and has commodious barns and other ne 
cessary outbuildings. He has cleared the 
greater portion of the farm himself, and has 
it in a high state of cultivation. The entire 
property shows that a good manager is in 
charge of affairs, and that thrift and indus 
try prevail. Mr. Willoughby was secretary- 
treasurer and later proprietor of the Walnut 
Cheese Factory, until the sale of same to its 
present owner, Mr. McKeown. 

On April 24, 1872, Mr. Willoughby 
married Miss Elizabeth McClure, who was 
born in Peel County in 1850, daughter of 
James McClure, who came to Brooke town 
ship in 1868, and settled on the 14* Con 
cession, where he and his wife died. Mrs. 
Willoughby was educated in London town 
ship, where she grew to womanhood. Four 
children were born of this marriage: Will 
iam J. H., born in Brooke township, received 
an excellent education in Watford high 
school and London Business College, and 
is now a farmer on the 9th Concession; he 
married Miss Maud Mcllwain, of Brooke, 
and has one son, James M. Martha A. is 
unmarried and at home, and is a young lady 
highly educated. Mary A. graduated from 
the Watford high school, and has been a 
teacher for the past three years in the county. 
George M. graduated from the high school 
of Watford, and has a first-class teacher s 
certificate. 

Politically Mr. AVilloughby has been 
identified with the Conservative party, and 
in 1868 he was appointed collector of Brooke 
township, serving one year. In 1870 he was 
appointed clerk of the township, and has held 
that position ever since, a period of thirty- 
five years, giving the people the best of serv 
ice. He has also been school trustee. 

Since 1882 Mr. AYilloughby has been 
secretary and treasurer of the Lambton 



9 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
and with its trusty directors and efficient 
agents has caused this insurance company to 
be patronized by two-thirds of the farmers 
in the county, giving them insurance at cost, 
while the company does the largest business 
in its line in the county. Mr. Willoughby 
is a director and vice-president of the In 
dustrial Mortgage & Savings Company, 
Sarnia. In every walk of life he has shown 
himself to be a sturdy, reliable and trust 
worthy man and public-spirited official. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity and 
of the Order of Orangemen of Brooke, and 
also belongs to the Chosen Friends. 

WILLIAM SYMINGTON, deceased, 
who during his life was one of Plympton 
township s most prominent citizens, was a 
native of Scotland, born at Galashiels, Aug. 
26, 1820, son of Thomas and Isabel (Sim 
mers) Symington, pioneers of Lambton 
County. 

William Symington was about thirteen 
years of age when the family came to Can 
ada and joined the father in Plympton town 
ship, whither he had preceded them a year 
before. On reaching manhood the son left 
home and with his brother James started 
farming on a tract of 200 acres of govern 
ment land in Lot 15, Concession 9, Plymp 
ton. James Symington sold out very soon, 
but William cleared his half, added fifty 
acres more and erected a fine dwelling and 
good barns. In 1879 he took up the making 
of cheese, and soon became one of the largest 
manufacturers in that section ; he put up the 
Gala Bank cheese factory on his homestead 
in 1885, bought the one at Uttoxeter, three 
years later the one at Forest, and operated 
all three up to the time of his death, doing a 
large business, and becoming one of Plymp- 
ton s wealthy farmers. He became promi 
nent and influential, being a director and 
vice-president of the Lambton Loan Com 
pany, and for several years a director in the 
Western Dairymen s Association. 

Mr. Symington chose for his wife Miss 
Catherine Cairns, to whom he was united 
by the Rev. McAllister, Jan. 24, 1845. Miss 



Cairns was the daughter of James and Eliza 
(Patterson) Cairns, and was born in Ber 
wickshire, Scotland, July 4, 1824. To their 
union six children were born, namely: 
Eliza, Nov. 21, 1845, deceased wife of John 
Jardine, of Plympton; Thomas, March 20, 
1847, a we M known Enniskillen farmer; 
Isabelle Dec. 17, 1848, Mrs. Robert Jardine 
of Plympton; Mary A., May 24, 1852, wife 
of Peter Cattanach, a Sombra merchant; 
Helen, July 15, 1854, Mrs. Alexander Rat- 
tary, of Sombra; and James W., Dec. 17, 
1856. The mother of this family lived on 
the old homestead, cared for by her son 
James, until her death June 28, 1905, and 
though aged eighty-one was quite active and 
her mental faculties were bright as ever un 
til a few days before she passed away. She 
was a member of the Aberarder Presbyter 
ian Church, to which her husband also be 
longed and in which he served as elder. Mr. 
Symington earlier in his life had helped to 
organize the Presbyterian Church at Cam- 
lachie, was one of its first deacons and for 
many years an elder, but later united with 
the Aberarder congregation. While Mr. 
Symington was devoted to his home and 
family he found time also for taking part in 
municipal affairs, and was always keenly 
interested in public matters. For many 
years he was a township magistrate and per 
formed his official duties with strict adher 
ence to justice. Like his father and brothers, 
he was an ardent Reformer and a man of 
much enterprise and of progressive ideas. 
He served one term on the township coun 
cil. His death occurred May 26, 1893, and 
his remains were interred at Lakeview ceme 
tery, Sarnia. 

JAMES W. SYMINGTON, youngest son of 
William, was educated in the district schools 
and then began to work with his father, soon 
acquiring a complete knowledge of the meth 
ods employed in farming and cheesemaking. 
Since his father s death he has carried on the 
farm and factories, has added to his proper 
ty until he now owns 200 acres and is quite 
extensively engaged in stock raising- also. 
The cheese factories, at Uttoxeter and Gala 
Bank are now operated by the Plympton 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



99 



Cheese Company for which Mr. Symington 
is manager, as well as stockholder. The For 
est factory has been disposed of. The presi 
dent of the company is his brother-in-law, 
Robert Jardine, and others interested are 
William Douglas and Mr. F. Kennedy. 
Mr. Symington is a director on the Board of 
the London Cheese Exchange, and was a di 
rector in the Western Dairymen s Associa 
tion for some time; he also belongs to the 
Plympton and Wyoming Agricultural So 
ciety. Fraternally he is a member of Huron 
Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has filled all 
the offices, and of the Sons of Scotland. A 
Liberal in politics, the only public office he 
has thus far held has been that of secretary 
and treasurer of school section No. 13. 

On March 4, 1883, Mr. Symington was 
married by the Rev. George Cuthbertson to 
Miss Mary Stirrett, who was born in Plymp 
ton township, daughter, of George Stirrett 
and sister of the well-known merchant of 
Petrolia, Robert Stirrett. The six children 
born to them are William Ewart Gladstone, 
Jean Isabelle, Katie Eliza, George Park, 
James Bruce and May Marguerite. The 
family is a prominent one in Plympton, 
where Mr. Symington is held as a man 
of fine character and good business ability. 

; 

ALEXANDER JOHNSTON. One of 
the prominent and representative citizens of 
Oil Springs, Lambton County, is found in 
Alexander Johnston, who is largely inter 
ested in oil production here, and has been 
postmaster since 1895. He belongs to one 
of the pioneer families of Ontario. 

Mr. Johnston was born in Toronto Gore 
township, Peel County, July 2, 1848, son of 
David and Elizabeth (Stretton) Johnston, 
both of whom were born in Ireland the form 
er in County Tyrone, in 1814, and the latter 
in County Armagh, in 1815. The father of 
David Johnston was Robert Johnston, who 
came to Peel County, and died at the home 
of his son, David. His children were : James 
who settled in Goderich, and at his death left 
a family ; Robert, who settled on Concession 
6, in Moore township, where he died; John, 
who died in Toronto, during the cholera 



siege of 1835; Archie, who died in the 
States; Margaret, who married in Ireland 
and there died; and David. 

David Johnston came to Canada in 1835, 
and after his marriage, first settled at Bramp- 
ton, Peel County, Ont, but later purchased 
land in Toronto Gore, in the same county, 
where he made a permanent home as early as 
1838, being one of the pioneer farmers. In 
politics he was a Conservative, and accept 
ably filled a number of local offices, among 
them being those of justice of the peace and 
councilor, for a number of years. Mr. John 
ston was a soldier, having served in the rebel 
lion of 1836-37 ; and religiously both himself 
and wife were connected with the Methodist 
Church. He died in 1896, while his wife 
died in 1892, and they were survived by six 
children, as follows: (i) Elizabeth, born 
in Peel County, in 1838, married Rev. Will 
iam Monkman, and now resides in Weston, 
York County, where she has a family of two 
children, Alexander and Elizabeth. (2) 
John, born in 1840, married Miss Ellen Pat 
terson, of York County, and they resided on 
the old homestead in Peel County, until his 
death in 1902, which occurred while raising 
a barn. He left a family of seven children, 
Herbert (now residing in Manitoba), Gert 
rude, David E. (a minister of Trenton, 
Ont.), John A. (on the homestead), Eliza 
beth, Archie and Maggie. (3) William, born 
in 1844, was for some years a teacher, but 
finally entered the ministry of the Methodist 
Church in 1868, and is now located at Have- 
lock, where he is married and has had two 
children, Ethel (wife of Wilbur Gordon, a 
hardware merchant of Tweed), and Maud 
(deceased in 1896). (4) Ann Jane, born 
in 1846, married Theophilus Norton, a 
teacher in the schools of Glen Williams, and 
has three daughters, Ida, Maud and Erma. 
(5) Hannah, born in Peel County in 1850, 
married James Hogg, of Collingwood, and 
they now reside in Vancouver, British Co 
lumbia. (6) Alexander is mentioned below. 
Alexander Johnston received his early 
education in the public schools of Peel 
County, and later graduated from the To 
ronto Normal in the year 1868. He then 



IOO 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



commenced teaching, his first school being in 
Peel County, and he continued at this vo 
cation for sixteen years. In 1882 he pur 
chased real estate in Oil Springs, and in a 
short time became successful as an oil pro 
ducer. In 1884 and 1885 he taught school 
in conjunction with his oil business, and at 
this time erected a home. He owns consid 
erable real estate in Oil Springs. 

On Jan. 6, 1876, Mr. Johnston was mar 
ried to Miss Phillis Schroder, who was born 
in Kingston, Ont., daughter of James 
Schroder, one of the old pioneers of Kings 
ton. To this union have been born : Sylvia 
E. A., who was a student of the Petrolia high 
schools and graduated from Trenton, is the 
wife of Burt W. Moore, of Oil Springs, ana 
they have one son, Elwood; Mabel, born in 
1891, was the leader, of her class at the home 
schools where she has passed the examina 
tion for the graded schools. 

Religiously this family has always sup 
ported the Methodist Church. In fraternal 
circles Mr. Johnston is a Mason, being affil 
iated with Alexandra Lodge, No. 158, Oil 
Springs ; and he is also a member of the Or 
der of Orangemen, Oil Springs Lodge No. 
1152. 

In May, 1895, Mr. Johnston was appoint 
ed postmaster of Oil Springs, which office 
he holds at the present time. Politically his 
connections are with the Conservative party, 
and he has held many positions of trust, 
among them being reeve of Oil Springs for 
nine years; member of the county council 
for nine years; member of the board of 
school trustees; and assessor and collector. 

It will be seen that Mr. Johnston justly 
occupies a very prominent place in the busi 
ness, political and social circles of his vil 
lage. He has always been identified with the 
progressive movements calculated to promote 
commercial and educational advancement 
here, and while he has prospered materially 
himself, he has never lost sight of the public 
welfare. The many public offices to which 
he has been elected, show very conclusively 
the confidence and esteem in which he is 
held by his fellow citizens. Personally Mr. 



Johnston is a genial, frank, broad-minded 
man who commands respect and invites 
friendship. 

ROBERT J. McCORMICK, a self- 
made man of Lambton County, and a well- 
known brick and tile manufacturer of the 
township of Warwick, where he has made 
his home for over forty-two years, is one of 
the township s substantial men. He was 
born in Ireland, in the parish of Bally Har- 
don, County Armagh, Aug. 10, 1848. 

The McCormick family is of Scottish 
extraction, but for generations its members 
have made their home in Ireland, where Jo 
seph McCormick, father of Robert J., was 
born. He was a native of County Armagh, 
where he grew to manhood and became a 
farmer. There he married Sarah Ann Tay 
lor, also a native of that county, and who 
bore him ten children, five of whom were 
born in Ireland : ( i ) Samuel died in War 
wick township, where he was engaged in 
farming. (2) Robert J. (3) Richard is a 
farmer of Warwick township. (4) George 
is a contractor at Carman, Manitoba. (5) 
William died on shipboard, in infancy. (6) 
Joseph, born in Warwick township, is a 
farmer and brick manufacturer. (7) Eliza 
beth is now the widow of Thomas O Neil, 
who died in December, 1904. (8) John is 
a brick manufacturer and farmer in War 
wick township. (9) James operates the old 
homestead. (10) Miss Mary resides on the 
old homestead. 

Seeing his little family grow up around 
him with poor prospects to make a home for 
them settled Joseph McCormick in his deter 
mination to come to the New World, where 
he hoped to better his condition and make a 
permanent home for his family. Taking 
his wife, his eldest son, Samuel, and infant 
son, William, he set sail for Canada, leaving 
his sons Robert J., Richard and George in 
care of his sister (until such time he was 
able to send for them), crossing from New- 
ry, Ireland, in 1855, to Liverpool. They 
took passage on a sailing vessel bound for 
Quebec, but meeting with Atlantic storms 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



101 



they were shipwrecked in mid-ocean and 
were transferred to another vessel, the one 
they were on sinking. Their infant son 
William died on shipboard, but keeping the 
body they buried him on Staten Island, N. 
Y., where they landed. Making their way 
to the west they came to Ontario, locating 
on Lot 24, 2d Concession, North, of War 
wick township, in a little log house, in which 
three years were spent. The father found 
work among the farmers of that section. In 
1858 he settled down to farm for himself on 
Lot 12, Concession 5, north of the Egremont 
road, on a tract of 100 acres, on which was 
constructed a little log cabin. There he be 
gan the life of a pioneer, and there the re 
mainder of his days was spent. Seven years 
later his three sons joined him, crossing the 
Atlantic for their future home in the West. 
Mr. McCormick with the help of his growing 
sons worked hard and succeeded in clearing 
up his farm, on which he made many im 
provements, and on which stand to-day a 
fine brick home, and substantial barns. He 
lived to see many changes for the better in 
the township, as it developed from the orig 
inal wilderness to fair fields and pleasant 
homes. He succeeded by industry and hon 
esty, and lived to see his family grow up 
around him to be industrious men and 
women, practicing in their daily lives the 
sterling principles of right living he had in 
stilled in them from infancy. He died on his 
farm Aug. 8, 1895, at the ripe age of eighty 
years and ten months, and was laid to rest 
in Bethel cemetery, beside his wife, who 
preceded him on Oct. 25, 1886. Mr. Mc 
Cormick was a stanch Conservative, but not 
an office-seeker. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, while his wife was 
a member of the Congregational Church. 

Robert J. McCormick resided with an 
aunt, Elizabeth Sprowl, while his brothers, 
Richard and George, remained with their 
grandfather, Robert Taylor, during the time 
their father was founding a home for them 
in Canada. Robert J. attended the national 
schools of his native town. In 1862, with 
his two younger brothers, he joined his par 
ents, whom thev had not seen for seven 



years, sailing from Oueenstown, Ireland, on 
a steamer. After thirteen days voyage they 
landed in New York, making their way to 
Ontario, sailing up the Hudson river to Al 
bany, New York, and thence coming by 
canal and railroad to Ontario. Robert J. 
was then fourteen years old, and he hired 
out as a farmer s boy to John Campbell, of 
Warwick township, receiving as wages $9 
per month and board during the summer sea 
son, and doing the chores in winter for his 
board and schooling. He remained with 
Mr. Campbell two years, attending school 
both winters, after which he hired out with 
Robert Auld, of the same township, at $13 
per month during the summer season. With 
him he spent nine months, and then be 
gan to learn the brickmaking business with 
Isaac Eves, with whom he worked two years, 
the first year at $13 a month, and the second 
at piece work. Then he started into brick- 
making for John D. Eccles, by the thousand, 
on the farm which he (Mr. McCormick) 
now owns. There he remained three years. 
In 1869 he started into brick manufacturing 
for himself, renting Mr. Eccles yard, and 
operating it for eight years. In 1877 he 
bought the brickyard and farm of 100 acres, 
going into debt, and there he began to lay 
the foundation for his great industry. For 
the past thirty-five years he has been en 
gaged successfully in the manufacturing of 
brick and tile, being the largest manufacturer 
of those commodities west of London. In 
1882 he took his brother Joseph in as part 
ner and the business is conducted under the 
firm name of McCormick Brothers. In 1876 
Mr. McCormick rented the Auld place, and 
constructed a kiln there for the manufacture 
of tile and brick, which he operated for eight 
years; then Mr. Auld, with others, worked 
it for six years, and finally Mr. McCormick 
bought the place, manufacturing there ever 
since. In 1887 he started another brick ana 
tile yard, in the southwest corner of the 
township, taking in his brother John as part 
ner. This business was also carried on un 
der the firm name of McCormick Bros., John 
managing that branch. Mr. McCormick has 
made a success of his enterprise, beginning 



102 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



on a small scale and building up a large and 
successful business. Most of the brick struc 
tures business blocks, church edifices, and 
private dwellings of Forest, Watford, Ar- 
kona and other surrounding towns are con 
structed from the brick manufactured by 
McCormick Bros. The farms, too, have 
been drained by the tile from the same yards. 

Mr. McCormick has been a large land 
owner in the township, but he has disposed 
of most of his property except the ISO-acre 
tract surrounding his home. He is fond of 
stock, especially fine horses and pets of all 
kinds. He is a man of an unassuming man 
ner, and is very hospitable. He is a mem 
ber and deacon of Zion Congregational 
Church, in Warwick township. When the 
church was constructed he dug the clay, 
made and burned the brick, loaded them on 
a wagon, and on his shoulder brought the 
brick up the scaffold to complete the build 
ing. His wife and daughters are members 
of the same church, the latter being quite 
active. 

In public life Mr. McCormick always has 
been a strong Reformer, supporting the 
principles of that party as laid down by its 
founders, Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, Hon. 
George Brown, Edward Blake and the great 
statesman, Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He is op 
posed to all dishonesty and trickery in elec 
tions, and would rather go down to defeat 
than to be a party to unscrupulous methods. 
In 1882 he was elected member of the board 
of councilmen of Warwick township, on 
which he served for six years, four as deputy 
reeve, and during this time he also served on 
the county council by virtue of his office of 
deputy reeve. In 1891 he was elected as 
reeve of his township and served in that 
capacity three years, also sitting in the coun 
ty council, having been elected to that body 
as warden of the county in 1892. In the 
Provincial election of 1894 he was chosen 
the standard bearer of his party to contest 
the East Riding of Lambton. He made a 
hard fight, but on account of the Independent 
movement in western Ontario at that time, 
together with the support given by the Con 
servatives to his opponents, he was defeated 



b/ 1 80 votes, a decrease, however, in the 
majority of the former election of over 300. 
In 1898 his name was placed before the con 
vention as a candidate for the nomination 
to contest the Riding in the general election. 
He is known all over the Riding, and is 
honored and respected for his honesty and 
upright dealings, and for his independence 
of thought and action. 

Fraternally Mr, . McCormick is a mem 
ber of the A. F. & A. M. at Watford. He 
is well-informed and well-read, and being 
domestic in his tastes takes a pardonable 
pride in his home and surroundings. Every 
movement tending to the advancement of 
his community, either morally or materially, 
has received his support. He is a member of 
the East Lambton Agricultural Society and 
the East Lambton Farmers Institute, and 
filled the office of president in the latter for 
several years, always taking a deep interest 
in the important industry of agriculture. He 
is a stockholder in the Farmers Loan & Sav 
ings Co., of Forest, and has been a member 
of the board of directors since the organiza 
tion, in 1892. 

Mr. McCormick has visited his native 
home three times since he came to Canada, 
crossing the Atlantic in 1877, in 1892 and 
again in 1902, when he was accompanied by 
his daughter, Mary Alice. 

On March 16, 1874, in Warwick town 
ship, Mr, McCormick married Elizabeth L. 
Smith, who was born in that township, 
daughter of George and Mary A. (Thomas) 
Smith, and five children have blessed this 
union: Minnie S., who died young; Mary 
Alice, at home; Perley, who died young; 
Perley (2), a student in the high school at 
Watford ; and Ruby, attending school. Mrs. 
McCormick and her daughter attend the 
Congregational Church, in which they are 
quite active. Mrs. McCormick is a woman 
of energy and intelligence, and to her well- 
directed industry and timely encouragement 
Mr. McCormick attributes most of his suc 
cess. During the early years of their mar 
ried life especially, she worked hard to place 
the family fortunes on a substantial founda 
tion, and her influence has been apparent no 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



103 



less in the proper training of her children 
than in the material prosperity of the home. 

The Smith family, to which Mrs. Mc- 
Cormick belongs, is of English extraction. 
John Smith, her grandfather, was a native 
of the County of Kent, England, and owned 
and operated a flour-mill in London, Eng 
land. In his native county he married Han 
nah Smith, and to this union were born five 
sons : George ; Henry, who died in infancy ; 
Edwin, who died in Warwick township, 
County of Lambton, Ont, unmarried; 
Charles, who also died in Warwick town 
ship, unmarried ; and Alfred, who died there, 
unmarried. 

In 1841 John Smith disposed of his flour- 
mill and with his wife and four sons came to 
Canada, the family locating in Warwick 
township, County of Lambton, where they 
made their permanent home. Mr. Smith 
bought a tract of 100 acres in Lot 15, Con 
cession 3, which was all bush land when the 
family settled upon it, but by hard work 
they soon had the land under profitable cul 
tivation. There Mr. Smith passed the re 
mainder of his days, dying at the advanced 
age of seventy years, tenderly cared for in 
his declining years by his son George and 
his wife. His wife also died on the farm 
at the ripe old age of ninety-three years, and 
their remains rest in Bethel cemetery. Mr. 
Smith was a member of the Church of Eng 
land in his native land, but after coming to 
Canada united with the Congregational 
Church, attending Zion Church, in Warwick 
township. 

George Smith, son of John, was born in 
the county of Kent, England, and removing 
with his parents to London attended school 
there. In 1841 he came to Ontario, with 
tne rest of the family, and took up farming 
on the home place in Warwick township, 
where his parents and three brothers died. 
He made farming his life occupation, and 
passed the rest of his days on the homestead, 
dying there Dec. 29, 1889, at the age of 
seventy; he is buried in the family plot in 
Bethel cemetery. Mr. Smith married, in 
Warwick township, Mary Ann Thomas, 
who was born there, daughter of Enoch and 



Jane (Rees) Thomas, old settlers of War 
wick, of Welsh origin. Mrs. Smith is still 
quite active, and remains on the old home 
stead. She is a member of Zion Congrega 
tional Church, to which Mr. Smith also be 
longed, and he was a stanch Reformer in 
political faith. He was a substantial citi 
zen, a man of upright personal life, and a 
loving husband and father. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of 
ten children, as follows : John T., a school 
teacher and landowner, resides in Huron 
County, Michigan; Jane Hannah died 
young; Elizabeth L. married Robert J. Mc- 
Cormick; Arthur D. is a graduate of the 
Medical Department of Toronto University 
and is now practicing medicine at Mitchell, 
Perth County, Ont. ; Theodore is at home ; 
Lewis is a farmer in Huron County, Mich 
igan; Hannah Sarah married Richard Mc- 
Cormick, of Warwick township ; Jessie Mar 
garet (deceased) was the wife of Joseph 
McCormick, of Warwick township; Charles 
E. is on the homestead ; George is a dentist, 
in practice at Hammond, Indiana. 

DUNCAN CAMPBELL, who during 
his life time was one of the well known and 
highly valued educators of East Lambton, 
and a highly respected citizen of Warwick 
township, Lambton County, was born in the 
parish of Arrocher, Dumbarton, Scotland, 
and was the third son of the late John Camp 
bell, a full sketch of whom, together with the 
Campbell history, is given elsewhere. 

Duncan Campbell was educated in Scot 
land, growing up a youth of superior mental 
gifts. In 1846 he came to Canada, two years 
prior to the emigration of his father. His 
grandmother, and her sons were already lo 
cated at Ekfrid, in Middlesex County, and 
he joined them there. Being in possession 
of a good education he was soon secured by 
the community as a teacher, first in Lobo 
township, and then in Warwick, where al 
most the whole of his subsequent life was 
spent in the profession. He also owned a 
farm of 100 acres, on which he built a com 
fortable home and made many improve 
ments, superintending also its operation. As 



IO4 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a successful and well qualified teacher he was 
known all over the Riding and many of the 
leading men and women of this section owe 
the development of their mental faculties to 
his inspiration. The death of this valued 
citizen took place in 1895, and his burial 
was in Bethel cemetery. 

Duncan Campbell married Sarah Thomas, 
born in Warwick township, and they had 
two children : John and William. The 
former was educated in the Warwick town 
ship schools and studied medicine at Ann Ar 
bor, Michigan, where he was graduated and 
is now a successful practitioner at Brown 
City, Michigan ; he married Emma Duncan. 
William was educated first in Warwick 
township, and then studied medicine at the 
Saginaw Medical College, Michigan, and 
after graduation also settled at Brown City 
where he is engaged in successful practice. 
The one daughter, Ellen, married Homer 
Crow, and they reside at Rat Portage, On 
tario. The mother of these children died in 
Warwick township, and was interred in 
Bethel cemetery. Later Mr. Campbell mar 
ried Jane Kingston, and one child was born 
to this second union, Agnes, who is the wife 
of Frank McCordic, principal of the High 
School at Point Edward, Ontario. 

Duncan Campbell was a stanch Conserv 
ative, taking an intelligent and manly inter 
est in all public affairs and promoting to the 
best of his ability, all movements which 
tended to the educational or material ad 
vancement of his section. 

MALCOLM CAMPBELL, brother of the late 
Duncan Campbell, was born Nov. 17, 1840, 
in the same parish in Scotland, and was but 
eight years old when he crossed the Atlantic 
ocean with his parents. His education was 
pursued in Middlesex County and later in 
Warwick township. He grew up on his fa 
ther s farm and by him was trained in agri 
cultural pursuits. He remained with his fa 
ther, and since the latter s death he has been 
operating the homestead farm, a tract of 100 
acres, successfully carrying on general farm 
ing and stockraising. Mr. Campbell is a 
stanch Liberal in his political sentiments. He 
belongs to the Presbyterian Church. 



COLIN McKENZiE CAMPBELL, youngest 
child of the late John Campbell, was born 
Oct. 20, 1844, in Scotland, and was but a 
child of tender years when his parents came 
to Canada. From childhood he was devoted 
to his books and eagerly attended the schools 
of Warwick township, devoting his atten 
tion to his reading whenever, the duties of the 
farm did not demand his time. This inclina 
tion has always been a leading characteristic 
and, now a man of sixty years, possessing a 
fortune ample enough to permit him leisure, 
he takes much enjoyment in reading and has 
developed a poetical faculty of no mean 
order. 

Mr. Campbell was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, and after the death of his venerated 
father, he assisted his brother Malcolm in 
the operation of the homestead until 1882, 
when he went to Manitoba. In that great 
and productive part of the Dominion, Mr. 
Campbell invested capital in a thr.ee-quarter 
section of valuable land and has made his 
home there ever since, following agricultural 
pursuits. He takes an intelligent voter s in 
terest in politics, supporting the Reform 
party, but he has never consented to accept 
political preferment of any kind. 

Colin McKenzie Campbell married Mary 
Watt, daughter of William Watt, natives of 
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They both attend 
the Presbyterian Church. 

We are permitted to append a poem writ 
ten by Mr. Campbell, one which has excited 
much favorable comment. 



THE FIRST CHURCH. 

Our church was large and handsome, the first in all the 

town, 
Our pastor was as learned and as smart as could be 

found ; 

Our people as intelligent and polished as you meet, 
The richest men among us sat on their cushion d seat. 
Our organ was the grandest, our organist the best, 
We had a model choir, too. excelling all the rest, 
And when the organ sounded and the choir rose to 

sing, 
The church s vaults and galleries with melody did 

Right in the very foremost pew sat wealthy Squire 

Brown, 
And his lady sat beside him in her lace and silken 

gown, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 105 

And with them their fair daugnters, with bright and Then sad of heart I sought my home, in painful 

beaming eyes, reverie, 

All decked and plumed so gaily like birds of Paradise. These words kept ringing in my ears, "Ye did it not 
And many a well dres t lady, and many a city swell, to Me." 

Were gathered there to worship by the ringing of the Had Jesus really come and gone without one kindly 

bell. word? 

But what they came to worship, perhaps they did not Not one unless that angel child had recognized the 

know ; Lord. 

Was God or mammon worshiped most, I won t at- Had he but come well dressed and gay like some 

tempt to show. poor brainless dude, 

There s one thing very certain, the poor would seldom He would have got a forward seat well cushioned, 

come, warm and good ; 

They either worshiped elsewhere, or else they staid at But since he came in humble guise just as he came 

home ; before, 

One night I well remember, twas a winter night and The best we have to give him is a seat behind the 

cold, door. 

A stranger stepped in at the door in raiment poor and 

old. Is our religion all a sham, a hollow mockery, 

He stood awhile uncertain, he knew not where to go ; A tinkling cymbal, sounding brass, wanting in 
His locks were wet with hoar frost, his beard with Charity? 

flakes of snow. Let not the rich the poor despise, be wise and use 
The powder d usher stared at him, he looked so low them well, 

and poor, Lazarus was rich in Paradise, the rich man poor in 
Then with contempt he motioned to a seat beside the Hell. 

door. Then why should wealth and pomp and pride so much 
But how the choir sang that night, or how the organ the poor condemn, 

played, Humility s the fairest robe, virtue youth s brightest 
What was the text the pastor took, or how he gem. 

preached or prayed, As with a rough exterior the diamond s often found 

I do not well remember, for my eyes would wander And the pure gold we so much love is washed from 

still common ground, 

To the stranger on the back seat, he looked so sad and So to the humble, faithful poor, peculiar honor s given, 

ill. Tho little thought of here below, they ll shine like 
His eyes were bright and piercing, they seemed to stars in Heaven. 

look one through, From out the humble ranks of men, God still will 
And oft he scanned the audience as seeking one he claim his own 

knew. The Child who in the manger lay, now sits on 
At length the service ended the benediction said, Heaven s throne. 

And as the people rose to go, the stranger raised his 

llC3.d * 

But still he sat unheeded of all that thronged the JOHN ROCHE, who departed this life 

M , aisl f i.- u at Watford > Ont -> Ma 7 7. l8 94, was one of 

or smile * y the pioneer settlers of Warwick township, 

All passed him save a little child with bright and Lambton County, coming hither in 1841 

sunny eyes, f rom fipperary, Ireland, where he was born 

she looked up in the strangers face with seeming -, T 1 o i -n\ -j JtJ 

glad surprise March 4, 1819, son of David and Honora 

And sweetly gave her little hand and whispered (Dorsey) Roche. 

BeforeTeTmofhef could prevent, she chid her child "David Roche died in Ireland, but his 

in vain, widow, who emigrated to Canada, died at 

In vain her look of haughty scorn, the stranger only Watford, Ont, Aug. l"J, 1891, aged ninety 

But asTj ro se to leave the church, I know he blessed > earS - Thdr cllildren WCre : / hn 

the child. liam, who came to Ontario and located on 

Before he mingled with the throng he paused to wipe Lot IO, Concession 4, Warwick, remaining 

And th h ere b l7aw the thorn marks I had not seen til unt j ^49, when he left for California over- 

now; land, thence going to Australia, where he 

And as he walked the lighted street with stately mien now resides ; Marv, who married Richard 

I though? I I w the rays of light shine through his ** s > and has on f daughter Mary; and 

wounded palm, Margaret, who died unmarried. 
And then around his princely head a halo seemed to John Roche located on Lot 9. Concession 

. , gr w . , , , -i Warwick township, where he cleared up 

And as he vanished from my sight his raiment looked > , ,_.. . .. , , 

like snow. and operated a farm until he retired from 



io6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



activity, when he settled in Watford. There 
he met his death from an accident, being in 
jured by a horse. To the original 100 acres 
on which Mr. Roche settled he added until 
he owned 450 acres of fine land, and also 
valuable town property in Watford and Sar- 
nia. He was a very successful business man, 
and at his death left a handsome property. 
He invested largely in cattle, and dealt to 
some extent also in horses, and in all his 
operations possessed that good judgment 
which resulted in success. In his earlier 
years, long before the days of railroads, he 
did a large teaming business between Lon 
don, Sarnia and Hamilton. He was a useful 
man in the township council, and at all times 
was a prominent, responsible and reliable 
citizen. That he was not lacking in personal 
courage, a short incident in his pioneer life 
may prove. One dark night he was roused 
by the call of a neighbor who asked his as 
sistance in pursuit of a bear that had just 
carried off a hog. Without thought ot per 
sonal danger the two men placed a tallow dip 
in a bucket, and followed the bear, which 
the squealing of the pig made easy enough. 
When bruin found himself pursued he 
dropped his prey, turned and prepared to 
defend himself. The neighbor held the can 
dle and Mr. Roche advanced close enough 
to plant a well-directed blow of his axe on 
the animal s skull, which caused its hasty 
retreat. The recovered pig was badly dis 
figured but able to take his breakfast next 
morning when the two stout-hearted fron 
tiersmen reached home, none the worse for 
their adventure. 

Politically Mr. Roche was a Reformer. 
In religion he was a member of the Roman 
Catholic Church. In his death Lambton 
County lost a useful and highly respected 
citizen. 

On June 5, 1848, at Walpole Island, Mr. 
Roche was married, by the Rev. Father 
Durankey, to Mary Lewis, daughter of Rich 
ard and Bridget (Shea) Lewis. Richard 
Lewis was a sergeant in the English army, 
belonging to the 64th Regiment, and he 
fought under Generals Picton and Welling 
ton in the Peninsular war, participating in 



the storming of Ciuclad Rodrigo and Bada- 
jos, in 1812, San Sebastian in 1813, and 
the victory at Salamanca in July, 1812. He 
was wounded at the battle of Toulouse April 
10, 1814. He was called out to assist in the 
Canadian Rebellion in 1837. In 1832 Mr. 
Lewis brought his family to Canada, settling 
on Lot 28, Concession 2, Warwick township, 
Lambton County, and there he died in July, 
1864, aged eighty-one years. His children 
were: Mary, Mrs. Roche, born in Water- 
ford, Ireland, Nov. 18, 1828; and Richard, 
born in Warwick July 5, 1834, who died 
Feb. 27, 1891, aged fifty-seven. Twelve chil 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Roche, 
namely: (i) Bridget Ann married John 
Rodgers, and died leaving children Maria, 
who married Angus McDonald, of Sarnia, 
a conductor on the Grand Trunk railroad, 
and has children, Jean, Angus, Harold, Isa 
bella and Marjory; Catherine, who married 
Andrew Radigan, of the Daily Herald, Port 
Huron, and has one child, Mary; John; 
Annie; and Fred. (2) Catherine married 
John Shaw, and has four children, Frank, 
Charles, Joseph and Mae. (3) David is 
mentioned below. (4) Richard L. is in the 
hotel business in Winnipeg, Man. ; he is one 
of Canada s greatest horse trainers and driv 
ers, having driven in England, Germany, 
Austria, United States and Canada. He 
married Hannah O Leary, and has children, 
Millie, Mary, Frank, Walter, William, Roy 
and Madeline. (5) William resides at home, 
unmarried. (6) John, a horse trainer and 
noted driver residing at Stratford, married 
Minnie M. Murray, of Paris, Ont, who died 
leaving children, Regina, Basil, Helena, 
Thomas and Murray. (7) Thomas, in the 
hotel business in Watford, married Sarah 
McPhee, and has two sons, Clare and Har 
old, the latter a driver and owner of "Paddy 
R.," 2:i6K. (8) Mary Ann died aged 
three years. (9) Michael J., proprietor of 
the "Roche House" at Forest, and owner of 
the 100 acres on which the father settled in 
1841, is also a lover of horseflesh; he bred 
and owns "Black Watch," 2 :\6 I /\. He mar 
ried Elizabeth McPhee, and they have one 
son, Wilfred. (10) Charles, a liquor dealer 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



107 



at Port Huron, married Alice Broderick, and 
has one son, Wilson, (n) Emma is the 
widow of J. M. O Meara, and has one son, 
John W. (12) Henry died in infancy. 

DAVID ROCHE was born Aug. 16, 1852, 
in Warwick. On May i, 1873, he embarked 
in a grocery and liquor business in Watford, 
and continues in the former line. On July 
I, 1895, in company with his brother 
Thomas, he purchased the hotel property 
now known as the "Roche House," which 
was built by H. O. Baker in 1881. In addi 
tion to the hotel proper, including commodi 
ous barns and sheds, the brothers own other 
real estate in Watford, which is rented for 
business purposes. Like all his family Mr. 
Roche is a lover and breeder of thorough 
bred horses. He has served on the high 
school board, and in politics he has always 
been consistent in his support of the men and 
measures of the Reform party. For eleven 
years he was chief of the Fire Department, 
and during his rule brought the department 
to a high degree of efficiency. He is a mem 
ber of the Roman Catholic Church. 

On May 23, 1876, Mr. Roche was uni 
ted in marriage with Miss Mary A. 
O Meara, daughter of Michael O Meara, of 
London, Ont., and to this marriage have 
been born eight children : Mary Edith, a 
teacher of instrumental music; John F., a 
brother and music teacher in St. Via- 
teur s College, Kankakee, Illinois; Margaret 
Maud, at home; Fred J., a clerk in the Mer 
chants Bank, London, Ont. ; Charles M., 
attending St. Viateur s College ; and Loretta, 
Xorbert and Marie, all three at home. 

Mr. Roche is one of the six brothers that 
belonged to the famous fire hose team of 
Watford, Ont. All the boys took a great in 
terest in manly sports of every description. 

JOHN CHARLES BINDNER. 
Among the leading industries of the pros 
perous town of Alvinston, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, is the great tile and brick 
manufacturing plant operated by the firm of 
T. Martyn & Co. The junior member of this 
firm. J. C. Bindner, is one of the town s rep 
resentative citizens. 



Mr. Bindner was born Nov. 22, 1857, 
in Delaware, Middlesex County, son of Jo 
seph and Margaret (Shriner) Bindner, who 
were both born in Germany, but who came 
to Canada in their youth. For one year 
Joseph Bindner worked at his trade of con 
tracting and building in Buffalo, but after 
his marriage removed to Delaware, Middle 
sex County, and followed bridge making and 
contract work. He made that place his 
home until 1884, when he located in Alvin 
ston, and engaged in the bakery and grocery 
business, wnich line he continued until his 
death, in the fall of 1892. Mrs. Bindner is 
still living in Alvinston. Their children 
were: Joseph F., a business man of Bay 
City, Mich.; George D., the proprietor 
of the "Grand Pacific Hotel" at London, 
Middlesex County ; Henry L., the owner and 
manager of the "Columbia House" at Al 
vinston ; Theodore, a traveling man of Lon 
don ; Albert, proprietor of a grocery in Al 
vinston; Matilda, who married John Reid, a 
farmer of Middlesex County; Lucy, who 
married M. J. Dudley, of London ; Annie, de 
ceased, who married James Lynch, of Wind 
sor; Nellie, deceased, who married Charles 
Malone; and John Charles. 

John Charles Bindner was educated in 
the schools of Delaware and the Commercial 
College of Chatham, and after leaving 
school followed carpentering for a short 
period, after which "he engaged in farming 
for three years in Middlesex County. In 
1883 Mr. Bindner removed to Alvinston, 
where he engaged in milling under the firm 
name of Malone & Bindner for three years, 
after which, with Messrs. Martyn and Pat 
terson, he erected the large milling estab 
lishment which is still operated under the 
same firm name, J. Martyn & Co. They also 
own and operate a large brick and tile manu 
factory, the plant adjoining the town of 
Alvinston, employing fifteen men, and man 
ufacturing 800,000 brick and 700,000 tile 
yearly. The product consists of brick, tile 
and hollow brick blocks. 

On April 30, 1894, Mr. Bindner married 
Miss Annie J. Kennedy, born in Westmin 
ster township, Middlesex County, daughter 



io8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of Edward and Mary Kennedy, representa 
tives of old pioneer families of this section. 
After marriage Mr. Bindner purchased the 
Ed\vard Hales property, one of the fine 
brick residences of Alvinston, and there he 
still resides. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Bind 
ner are consistent members of the Catholic 
Church, as were also Mr. Bindner s parents. 
He is a member of the C. M. B. A. of Petro- 
lia. Politically he is an Independent, and 
has served two years as councilman, and he 
was reeve of Alvinston for one year. Mr. 
Bindner has been president of the Board of 
Trade. He has always taken an active in 
terest in everything that promised to be ben 
eficial to the community in which he resides, 
and he was instrumental in having the most 
desirable public improvement made, that of 
the town paving. He also introduced and 
urged on the farmers the wisdom of devoting 
a large portion of their land to the cultiva 
tion of the sugar beet, which in many sec 
tions has proved a great success. 

ARCHIBALD McINTYRE. The vis 
itor to Brooke township is impressed by the 
quality of the farms within its confines, and 
naturally infers that the agriculturists of that 
locality thoroughly understand their busi 
ness. Among the owners of the best of the 
farms in the township is Archibald Mclntyre, 
whose tract is located on Concession n, Lot 
24. Mr. Mclntyre was born Sept. 27, 1837, 
on the farm of Fernach Parish, at South 
Knapdale, Argyllshire, Scotland, son of 
Alexander and Annie (Patterson) Mclntyre, 
both of whom were born in Argyllshire, 
Scotland. 

Malcolm Mclntyre, grandfather of Arch 
ibald Mclntyre, with his wife, Mary Kerr, 
Came to Canada in 1855, and settled on 
Concession II, Lot 19, in Brooke township, 
Lambton County, where they made a per 
manent home, and at their death left chil 
dren : Alexander; Nichol, who married and 
settled on a farm in Concession II, in 
Brooke township, and died in 1876; and 
Catherine, born in Scotland, who married 
Archibald McLachlan, and settled in Brooke 
township, where they both died. 



Alexander Mclntyre was born in 1810, 
eldest of the family, and was educated in 
Scotland, where he was reared to manhood. 
He followed sailing on the ocean for some 
years, and had crossed the ocean once be 
fore coming to Canada. After locating here, 
in 1855, he settled on Concession n, where 
he cleared up a farm from wild land, and 
here he lived until November, 1879, when his 
death occurred, and his wife still survives 
him, living on the old homestead. In 1835, 
in Scotland, he married Annie Patterson, 
born in 1817, daughter of Donald and Sarah 
Patterson, who passed their entire lives in 
Scotland. Seven children were born to this 
union : Archibald is mentioned below ; Don 
ald, born in 1839, in Scotland, settled on the 
old homestead, where he married Maggie 
Campbell, and has six children, Effie, Will 
iam, Archie, Alexander, Annie and Bella; 
Alexander, born in 1841, died in March, 
1898; Mary, born in 1843, married John 
Stirton, of Greenleaf, Michigan, and has 
children, Alexander, James, Annie, Mary, 
John, Archie and Maggie; Malcolm, a ma 
chinist of Alvinston, married Annie Mc- 
]\ Faster, and has three children, Donald, 
Alex and Angus; Sarah, born in 1852, mar 
ried John Hay, of Lobo township, and has 
two children, Thomas and Annie; Nichol, 
born in 1850, a blacksmith by trade, now 
living retired in Battle Creek, Michigan, 
married Miss Jane Prudeham, and has four 
children, Maud, John, Nina and Leone. In 
religion this family were Presbyterians, 
while in politics Mr. Mclntyre was a Con 
servative. 

Archibald Mclntyre was educated in the 
schools of Scotland, and after coming to 
Canada taught school in 1857 and 1858 in 
Warwick, Lambton County, and in 1859 
and 1860 taught in Oil Springs. In 1861 he 
taught in Brooke township, then, abandoning 
teaching, for about ten years he followed his 
trade of carpentering. At the end of that 
time he purchased his first farm, then all 
wild land, which he cleared up, also assist 
ing his father to clear, up his farm. Mr. 
Mclntyre has one of the finest farms in the 
community. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



109 



In Strathroy, Out., in February, 1872, 
Mr. Mclntyre married Miss Annie McTag- 
gart, born in Scotland in March, 1844, 
daughter of Donald and Isabella (Leach) 
McTaggart, who came from Scotland in 
1855, settled for five years in Mosa, Middle 
sex County, and then removed to Brooke 
township, settling on Concession 8, Lot 18, 
where they died. They left five children, all 
now deceased except Mrs. Mclntyre: John, 
Duncan, Neil, Margaret (who married John 
McCorkindale) and Annie (Mrs. Archie 
Mclntyre). 

Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre have had chil 
dren as follows: Donald, at home; Annie, 
who resides at home; Alexander, who re 
sides at home ; Duncan, who was a teacher in 
the public schools of Lambton County; Ar 
chie, John and Isabella, all at home. All the 
family attend the Presbyterian Church. In 
political sympathy Mr. Mclntyre has always 
been identified with the old Conservative 
party, and he has been township auditor for 
four years and assessor for eight years. He 
was elected reeve of Brooke township in 
1882, and served ten years. In 1896 he was 
elected council representative of Division No. 
7, which office he held until he retired in 
1902, carrying the honors of the warden s 
chair. He was secretary of the various 
Houses of Refuge committee until 1896, and 
was appointed chairman of the committee 
that completed the work. He was long 
chairman of the committee on Bridges and 
Drainage. He has been elected director of 
the Mortgage & Savings Company, of Sar- 
nia, continuing to hold that office to the pres 
ent time. He has been president and one of 
the directors of the Lambton County Farm 
ers Mutual Life Insurance Company, and 
has held that office ten years. In the summer 
of 1898 he crossed the ocean and visited the 
place of his birth, also seeing many other 
places, including Edinburgh Castle, Knox 
House, Holyrood Palace, and other places 
of interest. 

Mr. Mclntyre is a member of the Ionic 
Lodge of Masons. He is very highly re 
spected in the community of which he has 
for so long been a resident and highly effi 
cient public official. 



JONAS CORNELL, until recently a 
prosperous brick and tile maker of Thed- 
ford, has been a merchant and agriculturist 
as well, and has in every enterprise he under 
took evinced capacity for directing affairs 
and also marked ability as a financier. More 
over, his sterling business qualifications have 
brought him to the front in public affairs. 

Mr. Cornell is of Welsh extraction, his 
great-grandfather, who settled in the State 
of New York, having been born in Wales. 
Sylvanus Cornell, grandfather of Jonas, was 
born in the State of New York about 1749. 
He received good rearing, and upon reach 
ing manhood chose farming for an occupa 
tion. In 1812, long after his marriage, 
which occurred in the State of New York, 
he came to Ontario, settling upon a tract of 
new land in Waterloo township, which he 
improved and put under excellent cultiva 
tion, making it in time one of the most at 
tractive farms in the locality. Continuing 
to engage in agriculture, he remained in that 
vicinity the rest of his active life, and died 
there in 1829. He and his wife had ten chil 
dren : John A., a farmer of Wentworth, 
who also acted as local preacher for the 
Dunkards; Samuel, a farmer of Waterloo 
township ; Joseph, who was engaged in agri 
culture in Beverley township ; Enoch ; Wil 
liam, a farmer of Waterloo township ; 
Aaron, a farmer of Beverley township; 
Bruen; Sarah, who married a Mr. Moore, 
of Beverley township ; Annie, who married 
a Mr. Walcott, of Waterloo township; and 
Rhoda, who married a Mr. Hilborn. 

Enoch Cornell, father of Jonas, a thrifty 
agriculturist, was born in the State of New 
York in 1788, and there in a well-regulated 
home received wholesome rearing. Practi 
cal knowledge of agriculture decided him 
upon reaching manhood to engage in that 
pursuit, which he followed for the most part 
throughout his active career. After attain 
ing some success in this line, and while still 
a young man, he married in Ontario Mary 
Sipes, who was born in the State of New 
York, and of this union there were nine 
children : Sylvanus, who was a farmer of 
Bosanquet township, Lambton County, for 
many years, died in Manitoba. Joanna mar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



no 

ried Daniel Wintemute. Harriet was the 
wife of Aaron Cornell, both being now de 
ceased. Joseph and Andrew, who were both 
residents of Bosanquet township, are de 
ceased. John lives in Thedford. Jonas is 
mentioned below. Stephen, who resided in 
Bosanquet township, and Hannah, who mar 
ried Alexander Ketchie, are now deceased. 
After marriage Mr. Cornell settled upon 
a tract of new land in Beverley township, 
County of Wentworth, Ont, and began 
making improvements. He opened up new 
areas, put the land under excellent cultiva 
tion, and was soon carrying on a flourishing 
industry. His well-furrowed fields yielded 
excellent crops of grain and vegetables, and 
his pasture and orchards were among the 
finest in his locality. In his methods he was 
progressive, and he equipped his farm with 
everything necessary for carrying on all 
branches of general agriculture. Success 
crowned his efforts, and he in time became 
not only a leading agriculturist of his vicin 
ity, but also a thoroughly prosperous one. 
He continued his labors in this section the 
rest of his active life, and there died in 1848. 

Mr. Cornell combined a large capacity 
for work with keen intellectual qualities. 
Possessed of great perseverance, he confined 
himself mainly to one line, and thrift and in 
dustry brought him his deserved reward, and 
won him a leading place not only among 
agriculturists, but among business men as 
well. In all local enterprises he ever evinced 
the keenest interest, and he gave his hearty 
support to every movement for the better 
ment of his community. Conscientious and 
public-spirited, he always found time for dis 
charging his religious and public obligations, 
and as a Conservative was influential in local 
affairs. In religious sentiment he and his 
family were Dunkards. 

Jonas Cornell was the product of hardy 
pioneer life. Born in Beverley township, 
County of Wentworth, Ont., Dec. 10, 1824, 
he there on his father s farm grew to man 
hood. Like many a son of a pioneer he 
helped cut down the timber, clear the region 
of wild beasts, and in other respects assisted 
materially in opening his section of the 



country to settlers. Reared to agriculture, 
upon reaching manhood he naturally turned 
to that occupation for a livelihood, and for 
some time he pursued it upon his father s 
farm. On Dec. 20, 1849, he married Miss 
Adelia Smith, who was born in Dumfries 
township, County of Wentworth, and of this 
union there were seven children : ( i ) Na 
than, now a farmer residing near Hamilton, 
married Lizzie Cutler, and after her death 
Mrs. Helen (Ellis) Sweasy. By the first 
marriage there were three children, all de 
ceased, and by the second union there were 
two daughters, Ada and Edith. (2) Ste 
phen married Helen Dalziel, sister of John 
Dalziel, the present county clerk, and after 
her death Catherine Lynch. He is now de 
ceased. By his first marriage there were 
three children, Frank, Mabel and Helen, and 
by the second there was one child, Angela. 
(3) Sheldon, a train dispatcher of Terre 
Haute, Indiana, married Isabel Taylor, and 
they have three children, Alfred, Edith and 
Erlund. (4) Cymantha married Thomas 
Bready. (5) Mary married W. C. Reaman. 
(6) Harriet married John Housten. (7) 
Ada married Rev. Alexander White, of 
Toronto. 

After, marriage Mr. Cornell settled m 
Dumfries township, where he engaged in 
agriculture two years, getting a good start 
in his line. Finding a better opening, how 
ever, in Bosanquet township, Lambton 
County, in October, 1851, he moved there 
and settled upon a splendid 146-acre tract of 
wild land, on Lot i, Concession i. With 
energy and determination he soon cleared 
up the wild bushy tracts, made other sub 
stantial improvements, and in a short time 
had as desirable a farm as any in the locality. 
This place he eventually sold, realizing a 
large profit upon his investment. He then 
moved to Arkona and opened a general store, 
where, catering to the needs of the commu 
nity, he made a thorough success of his in 
dustry. A better outlook, however, in Thed 
ford, decided him in 1861 to move to that 
place, and here, embarking in the same busi 
ness, he continued for twelve years. During 
this period he worked up a large trade, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in 



conducted one of the most reliable stores of 
the kind in the vicinity. Feeling the need of 
a change at the end of this period he retired 
from active work for a short time, and then 
purchased the plant for the manufacture of 
brick and tile. He turned out first-grade 
articles, worked up an extensive trade, and 
continued the business until he sold out, in 
May, 1905. The business increased rapidly, 
his establishment being considered one of 
the most reliable of its kind in the vicinity. 
Mr. Cornell invented a patent kiln for burn 
ing brick and tile, and is now selling the 
rights to use same. 

Mr. Cornell s achievements and his rare 
business ability have won him the confi 
dence of the community, and for many years 
he has figured prominently in the public af 
fairs of his locality, acting at various times 
as councillor in Bosanquet township, dep 
uty reeve, and member of the county council. 
He was the first to fill the office of reeve of 
Thedford. Interested in education, he has 
also served as a member of the school board, 
discharging his duties with fidelity and effi 
ciency. Able to turn readily from one task 
to another, he has dispatched the duties of 
his various offices with thoroughness and 
alacrity, giving eminent satisfaction to the 
public. He is a man of marked integrity, 
and a consistent member of the Baptist 
Church. Politically he affiliates with the 
Reformers. 

NEWTON TRIPP, manager of the East 
Lambton Farmers Loan & Savings Co., and 
conveyancer at Forest, is descended from 
United Empire Loyalists, his grandfather, 
Michael Tripp, having removed from the 
States at an early date on account of his po 
litical opinions. Later he removed to In 
diana, where he died. He married and was 
the father of the following children : Jona 
than; Humphrey, of Illinois; William, of 
Iowa; Levina, who married Joel Canfield 
(both are now deceased) ; Caroline (de 
ceased), who married Alexander Robb, one 
of the early teachers of Lambton County; 
Jane, who married John Hall (both are de 
ceased) ; Sarah, Mrs. Cross, deceased; and 



Hilda, who married William Peers, of Ox 
ford County (both are now deceased). 

Jonathan Tripp, the father of Newton, 
was born in New Brunswick in 1813, and 
there married Mary Pickard, who was born 
in 1823, a daughter of John Pickard, a na 
tive of New Brunswick. Jonathan Tripp 
and his wife located in Bosanquet township 
in 1851, on Lot 12, Concession 12, when, all 
of that locality was in a wild condition. Here 
they cleared a farm and spent the greater 
part of their married life. Mr. Tripp was 
also one of the pioneer teachers in that lo 
cality, and erected a schoolhouse on his own 
farm. A few years prior to his death he en 
gaged in business in Forest, but passed away 
in 1868, firm in the Methodist faith; his 
wife, who was also a member of that denom 
ination, survived him until 1878. While a 
resident of Bosanquet township Mr. Tripp 
was township councillor, assessor and reeve, 
and, by virtue of the last named office, a 
member of the county council. In politics 
he was always a Reformer. Children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Tripp as follows : 
Jesse (now deceased) married Isabelle 
Johnson, and they had two children, 
Edith (at home) and Hugh (of Chicago, 
deceased) ; Hamilton, of Oklahoma, a 
farmer, married first Olive McLeod, and 
second Ella Jones ; Newton is mentioned be 
low ; Anson, of Port Huron, married Jennie 
Braund; Mary died in 1887, unmarried. 

Newton Tripp was born in East Oxford, 
Oxford County, Out., Sept. 8, 1847, an d 
educated at Tripp s Corners, Lambton 
County. Among his teachers were his 
father, and his uncle, Mr. Robb, and in time 
he himself became a school teacher, follow 
ing that calling for six years. In 1877 Mr. 
Tripp engaged in the book and stationery 
business and continued in that line for some 
fifteen years, when he engaged in the insur 
ance business and became a conveyancer. 
Since 1880 Mr. Tripp has been manager of 
the G. & W. Telegraph Co., at Forest. In 
1895 ne was made manager of the East 
Lambton Farmers Loan & Savings Co., and 
still holds that position, the first man to oc 
cupy it being the late William Lemon, whose 



112 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



sketch appears elsewhere. Mr. Tripp has 
served as clerk of Forest, and in all of his 
public life has given his undivided support 
to the principles of the Reform party. 

In July, 1880, Mr. Tripp married Miss 
Elizabeth Brower, a daughter of William 
and Elizabeth (Mills) Brower, of Elgin 
County, where Mrs. Tripp was born. Her 
parents moved from New Brunswick to El 
gin County, where her father conducted a 
building and contracting business, and in his 
latter days he was a farmer. He was very 
successful. The children born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Tripp were: William A., cashier in the 
Union Bank of Canada, at Shoal Lake, 
Man.; Jesse P., a druggist at Weyburn, 
Saskatchewan; Percy H., at home; and 
Ralph, a school teacher at Corunna, Ont. 
Mr. and Mrs. Tripp are consistent members 
of the Methodist Church, in the work of 
which they take an active part. Fraternally 
he is a member of the I. O. O. R, and has 
filled all the chairs in the order. Few men 
are held in higher respect in Lambton 
County than Mr. Tripp, and his success is 
well merited. 

CHARLES MACKENZIE was during 
a long and useful life one of the most suc 
cessful men and esteemed citizens of Sarnia. 
As an early member of one of the most im 
portant business concerns of the city, what 
is now the hardware firm of MacKenzie, 
Milne & Co., he was prominently identified 
with its commercial life, and he was also ac 
tive and influential in public affairs. He 
was a liberal supporter of all enterprises 
which concerned the general welfare, and 
generous in his private charities. 

Mr. MacKenzie was of Scottish extrac 
tion and was one of nine sons born to Alex 
ander and Mary (Stewart) (Fleming) 
MacKenzie. He was a grandson of Mal 
colm and Catherine (McDonald) Mac 
Kenzie, the former of whom was born in 
1742, in Perthshire, Scotland, son of Don 
ald and Margaret (Ferguson) MacKenzie, 
his ancestral line reaching back to some of 
the chieftains who assisted in the early 
events of Scottish history. 



The nine sons born to Alexander and 
Mary MacKenzie bore the names of : Rob 
ert, Hope Fleming, Alexander, Thomas, 
Donald, John, Adam, James and Charles. Of 
these, Thomas and Donald died in infancy. 
The father died at Dunkeld in 1836, at the 
age of fifty-two years. 

In 1842 Alexander MacKenzie (brother 
of Charles) came to Ontario, where he fol 
lowed stonemasonry, etc. He became a very 
distinguished man, in 1873 becoming the 
first Liberal premier of the Dominion of 
Canada, and he continued in that office until 
1878. A- year after Alexander s arrival his 
brother Hope came, and during the succeed 
ing years was followed by the other broth 
ers and the mother, who died Feb. 16, 1861, 
at the age of sixty-six years. All the sons 
of the MacKenzie family who came to On 
tario became conspicuous both in business 
and in public life, and leaders in the locali 
ties in which they settled. It would be inter 
esting to trace each individual career of this 
noted family, but the present record is de 
voted to the principal events in the life of 
the late Charles MacKenzie, so lately an im 
portant factor in the business, public and so 
cial life of the town of Sarnia. His birth 
took place Oct. 5, 1832, in Scotland, a land 
of which he was ever proud and upon which 
he reflected credit. He was but a lad when 
he came to Sarnia, and although not born to 
poverty it was necessary for him to early 
exert himself to provide for his necessities. 
His first individual work was the driving of 
a water cart, from the St. Clair river to the 
present site of the old English church, at the 
time of the construction of the original 
building. It was the opinion of his parents 
that a proper field for his capacities would 
be found in the tailor s trade, and the youth 
was importuned to be apprenticed to that 
satisfactory industry, but as it did not ap 
peal to him he was sent, against his wishes, 
to Toronto, to learn the printing business, 
under the Hon. George Brown, of the 
Globe. He received fifty cents per week and 
paid $2 per week for his board. This busi 
ness likewise did not meet with his approval, 
and soon after he returned to Sarnia and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



there learned the tinner s trade with his 
brother John. 

Perhaps it was a disappointment to his 
parents that Charles did not remain under 
the Hon. George Brown, in the Globe, in 
Toronto, but they soon found that he was 
not lacking in industry or in gifts, being, 
indeed, a most excellent business man. He 
succeeded in establishing a large trade, and 
later traveled through the country selling 
stove supplies, manufactured by himself and 
brother, in Sarnia. This business was first 
started by John MacKenzie in 1848, and in 
1849 th e " nrm of J ohn MacKenzie was 
formed with Charles MacKenzie as. a part 
ner. After a term of years the name of the 
concern was changed to Charles MacKen 
zie & Co. On the death of John MacKenzie, 
which occurred in 1877, Charles MacKen 
zie assumed the entire business, with Mr. 
D. Milne as a partner, and in 1881 the firm 
of Charles MacKenzie, Milne & Co., was 
formed, Mr. T. S. Lamis being then ad 
mitted as a partner. This firm conducted 
the business until the death of Mr. Charles 
MacKenzie, in 1900, when the business was 
taken over by MacKenzie, Milne & Co., 
Limited, this firm being capitalized at 
$100,000. 

Mr. MacKenzie was essentially a busi 
ness man, and in enlarging, expanding, 
seeking new and wider fields of activity, he 
was at his best. At the time of his death, 
Sept. 5, 1900, he was the largest hardware 
dealer west of Toronto, and he had attained 
his high position in the business world by 
natural shrewdness, executive ability of a 
high order and a clear judgment which 
guided him on the safe path between lavish 
expansion and too conservative measures. 
Mr. MacKenzie had a great capacity for 
work, and was interested also in the oil pro 
duction, was at one time vice-president of 
the Goodison Thresher Co., of Sarnia, and 
was president of the Lambton Loan & In 
vestment Co., of Sarnia. He was identified 
with almost every movement for improve 
ment made in the locality, and took an active 
interest in the building of the St. Clair tun 



nel at Sarnia, serving as one of the directors. 
He contributed generously to all worthy 
causes, being a public benefactor in many 
ways. It was owing to his efforts, and with 
the help of the four thousand dollars he 
gave, that the Sarnia General Hospital was 
built, and he made another donation to the 
institution in his will. 

In politics, as in business, Mr. MacKen 
zie was an important factor, serving on the 
common council, and for two years as war 
den of Lambton County. In 1889 he was 
elected as the representative of the West 
Riding of Lambton County in the Provincial 
Parliament, acquitting himself with credit. 
It has been truthfully said of him that in 
neither politics nor business was he ever 
known to shirk a duty. His integrity was 
unquestioned, and in his death Ontario lost 
a stalwart political leader, and Sarnia an 
estimable citizen. He was long prominent 
in the Masonic fraternity. Although not a 
member of any religious body, he was a con 
stant attendant on the services of St. An 
drew s Presbyterian Church. 

On April 6, 1863, Mr. MacKenzie was 
married to Miss Agnes Young, a daughter 
of Archibald Young, and a family of eleven 
children was born to this union, namely : 
Archie, deceased ; Donald, deceased ; Susan 
B., Mrs. R. C. Donald; Hope F., an attor 
ney of Toronto, deceased; Grace, wife of 
Ralph King, of Toronto, who has two chil 
dren, Margaret and Charles ; Charles, of the 
firm of MacKenzie, Milne & Co., Limited; 
Malcolm, who is also a member of the hard 
ware firm of MacKenzie, Milne & Co., Lim 
ited; Ellen, who died in 1904; Dr. Stuart 
D., a graduate of Upper Canada College, 
and of McGill University, Montreal, where 
he received his degree of M. D., going 
thence to London, England, where he be 
came an M. R. C. S., England, and L. R. 
C. P., London, England: Kenneth, a mem 
ber of the class of 1905, Toronto School of 
Sciences ; and Alexander, a .student of the 
University of Toronto. The family home is 
in Sarnia. where Mrs. MacKenzie has lived 
all her life. The family is held in the high- 



114 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



est esteem in Sarnia, and the late husband 
and father is ever recalled with testimonials 
reflecting honor upon his name. 

CHARLES MACKENZIE, son of Charles, 
born in Sarnia, in 1872, was educated in the 
public schools, and the Upper Canada Col 
lege, at Toronto. In 1894 he married Edith 
H. Robertson, daughter of James Robert 
son, and their seven children are: Agnes V., 
Catherine R., James R., Malcolm, Charles, 
Ruth and Bruce. Politically Mr. MacKen- 
zie is a member of the Reform party, and 
fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, 
the I. O. O. R, the S. O. S., and the K. O. 
T. M. He and his wife belong to the Pres 
byterian Church. 

The Young family, of which Mrs. 
Charles MacKenzie is a member, has been 
identified with Ontario for nearly a century. 
They are of Scottish extraction, and very 
early in the nineteenth century Archibald 
Young, the grandfather of Mrs. MacKen 
zie, left his native land (Scotland) and set 
tled in the township of Lanark, County o f 
Perth, Ont, from which place he later 
moved to the County of Lambton. There he 
died. Among his children was a son Archi 
bald, the father of Mrs. MacKenzie, who 
was born in Scotland and was but a lad 
when the family settled in Canada. 

The business life of Archibald Young 
(2) was nearly all spent in Sarnia. He was 
among the early merchants of that place and 
for many years carried on a general store. 
From Sarnia he went to the Northwest, 
where he died. His wife was born in Scot 
land. Their children were: the late Archi 
bald Young, of Toronto; and Agnes, widow 
of Charles MacKenzie, of Sarnia. 

JOHN THOMAS, a man of recognized 
ability, who through his individual efforts 
has achieved a decided business success, is 
prominently identified with the banking in 
terests of Inwood, Brooke township, where 
he conducts a private bank, is engaged in the 
grain business, and owns a large grain ele 
vator in the place. He was born in Warwick 
township, Dec. 4, 1843, of Welsh parents. 
They John Thomas and Elizabeth Reese- 



together with Enoch Thomas and his wife, 
Jane Reese, having come from South Wales, 
settled in Warwick township in the year 
1833, being among the earliest settlers. Both 
families were prosperous and eventually suc 
ceeded in making fine homes for themselves, 
and their children and grandchildren are 
now among the influential citizens of Lamb- 
ton County. John Thomas, our subject, is 
the eldest of the seven living children of John 
Thomas, Sr., two having died in youth. The 
others are: Mr. Joshua Thomas, Imvood; 
Mary (Mrs. McNabb), Bosanquet; Miss 
Elizabeth, Warwick; Rachel (Mrs. Logan), 
Bosanquet; Sarah (Mrs. McKenzie), War 
wick Village; Enoch W., Birnam. 

Mr. Thomas grew up on the old home 
and received his early education there. He 
followed farming at the old home for a num 
ber of years and in 1890 formed a partner 
ship with Col. F. Kenward in a banking bus 
iness at Watford, remaining at such nine 
years. In 1902 he came to Inwood and in 
1903 began the banking and grain business 
in partnership with his brother, Joshua. He 
erected a fine home and banking building in 
Inwood, and besides owns a fine farm in 
Brooke township. He is a man of excellent 
character and has many stanch friends 
throughout the community. 

On Jan. 10, 1883, in Warwick township, 
Mr. Thomas and Miss Lucy E. Smith were 
united in marriage, the lady being the daugh 
ter of Charles and Elizabeth Smith, and 
granddaughter of Major Jesse Kenward ol 
the British army. Mrs. Thomas is a lady of 
culture and refinement. Religiously Mr. 
and Mrs. Thomas are connected with the 
Congregational Church. Politically he has 
always supported the Reform party, and has 
held the office of councillor in Warwick and 
Watford. He is a member of the Masonic 
order in Watford, Lambton County, and the 
Canadian Foresters at the same place. 

REV. JOHN JACOBS. The deeds of 
a good man live after him and are a more 
lasting monument than any erected by hu 
man hands. Although passed from this life, 
the influence of the Rev. John Jacobs still 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



endures and his memory is held in affec 
tionate and reverent esteem by the people of 
Sarnia, among whom he labored so faith 
fully. 

The Rev. John Jacobs was born at Fort 
Frances April 22, 1845, son of the Rev. Peter 
Jacobs, who also was a minister of the gos 
pel and spent his life in this work. Mr. 
Jacobs was educated for the ministry at 
Huron College, London, Ont., and was or 
dained in 1868. He at once began his 
chosen work, and labored for the bettering 
of humanity, in connection with the Indian 
Reserve of Lambton County. His parishes 
were at Kettle Point and, later, at Wai- 
pole Island. Being a man of great energy 
and steadfastness of purpose, Mr. Jacobs 
threw himself heart and soul into his work, 
and as a result wore out in the service of his 
Master. His ability for organization was 
remarkable, and he not only was able to place 
his parish in excellent condition spiritually, 
but also financially. At Walpole Island he 
erected a parish house at a cost of $2,000, 
and at the time of his death, not only had 
this free from debt, but his plans were fully 
matured for the construction of a large 
church edifice on the site of the present one. 

The talents of Mr. Jacobs were not con 
fined to clerical duties alone, for he was a 
writer of marked ability. In 1895, ne com 
posed a hymnal entitled. "Ojibway and 
English Hymns." These hymns were 
printed in English on one page and in the 
Indian language on the opposite one. In 
addition to composing these hymns and 
translating them into the Indian language, 
Mr. Jacobs set them to music. Taking a 
deep interest in whatever he undertook, and 
carrying it out logically, he was successful 
in all his undertakings, and being possessed 
of marked ability in many directions, the 
amount of good he did, can scarcely be ap 
preciated even by those who knew him best. 

On Feb. 8, 1870, Mr. Jacobs and Miss 
Frances Pigot were united in marriage, and 
two children, Frances Elizabeth and Cres- 
well Peter, were born of this happy union. 
Mrs. Jacobs is a native of England, and a 
daughter of the late Creswell T. and Eliza 



(Reynolds) Pigot, the father having been a 
prominent barrister in England for many 
years. During the twenty-nine years of his 
ministerial life, Mr. Jacobs was aided in all 
his undertakings by his wife, whose gentle 
ness, sweetness of disposition, Christian char 
ity and ability made her an ideal wife for so 
worthy a man of God. 

The death of Mr. Jacobs occurred at his 
late residence April 26, 1897. Probably no 
man in western Ontaria did more for the 
Indians in elevating them and teaching them 
the lessons of Christianity, than did this 
good man. and in his death they have lost 
one of their best and most faithful friends. 
The widow and two children reside in the 
home on Vidal street, erected by Mr. Jacobs, 
in 1886, and enjoy the respect and esteem 
of their hosts of friends who deeply sym 
pathize with them in their bereavement. 

GEORGE HICKS, D. D. S., of Wat 
ford, Lambton County, Ont., is the oldest 
member of the dental profession in that lo 
cality. Dr. Hicks is of English parentage, 
he being a son of James and Ellen (Arney) 
Hicks, both of whom were born at Fording- 
bridge, Hampshire, England, in 1839, the 
former a son of John and Catherine (Hicks) 
Hicks, the latter a daughter of Joseph and 
Sarah (Haskell) Arney. all of Fording- 
bridge or vicinity. 

James and Ellen (Arney) Hicks were 
married in their native home Oct. 10, 1861. 
In 1864 they emigrated to Ontario, locating 
near St. Thomas, where for a time they made 
their home with Mr. Hicks s mother who, 
after the death of her first husband, had mar 
ried John Phillpot. The Phillpots had emi 
grated to Canada some eight or nine years 
before, making the voyage in an old sailing 
vessel that consumed four months on the 
way. Mrs. Phillpot died Feb. 6, 1872. Mr. 
and Mrs. James Hicks lived for a short time 
at St. Thomas, removing thence to Aylmer, 
and in 1871 settling on a farm at Talbot- 
ville. in those days better known as the 
"Five Stakes." Up to the time the London 
Port Stanley Railroad was built that town 
was famous as the half-way place for 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



freighters, carting all goods shipped to Lon 
don over the Plank Road, the busy thor 
oughfare between Port Stanley and London, 
and it very frequently was the scene of 
merry carouse and noisy mirth. By his en 
ergy and thrift James Hicks proved himself 
a practical farmer, and today he possesses 
one of the best improved farms in that sec 
tion. Fifteen years ago he erected upon the 
farm a substantial residence, and his barns 
and outbuildings are complete in their equip 
ments. There Mr. and Mrs. Hicks and one 
son and daughter make their home. To 
James Hicks and wife the following children 
were born: Sarah, residing at home; Dr. 
George; William, a farmer on the home 
stead; James H., a merchant tailor at Glen- 
coe, who married Annie Weight, and he has 
two daughters, Shirley and Olive; Herbert 
A., a farmer at Talbotville, who married 
Lettie Smith; Ellen, who married W. H. 
Keddy, of Detroit, Michigan; and Alfred 
A., D". D. S., of Chatham, Ontario. 

Dr. George Hicks was born in South- 
wold, near Paines Mills, Ont., June 25, 
1865, and his boyhood was passed on his 
father s farm at Talbotville. His literary 
education was secured at St. Thomas Col 
legiate Institute, from which he was grad 
uated in 1887. He then taught school for a 
short time, after which he took up the study 
of dentistry at the Toronto Dental College, 
and was graduated therefrom in 1893, with 
the degree of L. D. S. That same year he 
received the degree of D. D. S. from Trin 
ity University. Dr. Hicks at once settled at 
Watford, and since then has built up a flour 
ishing practice from the best people of the 
county. He is a member of the Western On 
tario Dental Association, and his fraternal 
affiliations are with the W. O. W. and the 
Royal Templars. 

On June 26, 1895, Dr. Hicks and Miss 
Viola Mitchell, daughter of the late James 
Mitchell of Watford, were united in mar 
riage, and to this union one son, Elgen Don- 
ley, was born May 2, 1896. Dr. and Mrs. 
Hicks are members of the Methodist Church, 
and politically he is a Conservative. Few 
men stand higher in the community, both 



professionally and socially, than Dr. Hicks, 
and the success which is attending him is 
certainly most worthily attained. 

THOMAS SYMINGTON, the "grand 
old man" of Plympton township, and its old 
est living pioneer, has been a resident of that 
township for over seventy years, during 
which time he has seen what was a howling 
wilderness transformed into a well-culti 
vated country, dotted with fine, comfortable 
brick homes and fields of golden grain. He 
has lived to see fine roads, railroads, iron 
bridges and numerous ditches where once all 
was swampy land and forest, with only a 
blazed trail to guide the traveler, and has 
played a leading part in this work of devel 
opment. He is now living retired on the 
farm which took him years of hard work to 
clear and improve, in the possession of all 
his faculties, and with the weight of eighty- 
three winters resting lightly upon him. He 
has done his duties well, reared a large fam 
ily and been faithful to every trust as a man 
or a citizen. 

Mr. Symington was born June 7, 1822, 
in Galashiels, Scotland, and comes of a fam 
ily noted for independence of thought and 
action, always ready to make sacrifices for 
the support of their convictions as lovers of 
liberty and freedom. Thomas Symington, 
the father of the gentleman whose name in 
troduces these lines, was a native of Peebles, 
Scotland, and was a carpenter by occupa 
tion, following that trade in his native land 
as an employe on the estate known as Tor- 
wood Lee, owned by James Pringle, a gen 
tleman who owned a large property, where 
he was kept busy repairing and building for 
sixteen years. Being industrious and 
economical, Mr. Symington managed to get 
a home and accumulated a little property by 
the time the great Reform bill was passed 
in the English House of Commons, giving 
to small property holders the right to vote. 
Naturally Mr. Symington was in sympathy 
with the bill which gave him the privilege 
of voting. His employer, however, was a 
Tory, and was at that time seeking the 
suffrages of the people to elect him to the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



117 



English House of Commons. As Mr. 
Symington could not be persuaded to sup 
port a Tory candidate with his vote he was 
given the choice of doing so or giving up 
his position, and, true to the traditions of his 
family, he chose the latter, sacrificing every 
thing for the sake of his principles. He now 
turned to the New World, where he hoped 
to find a home for his family and a place 
where they could think as they chose and 
enjoy the freedom which had cost them so 
much. With his eldest son, John, he em 
barked for Canada on a sailing vessel in 
1833, and landed at Quebec. Making his 
way to the west, he arrived at Toronto, 
where he purchased a U. E. L. right in the 
County of Lambton, Ont., from the authori 
ties, and after some difficulty in obtaining 
his deed walked through the woods from 
Toronto with an axe and a satchel contain 
ing his belongings to Lambton County, 
which at that time had only a few scattered 
settlers. At the same time his son John and 
the latter s wife came by the way of the 
lakes to Sarnia. He located on the loth 
Concession, in Plympton township, in 
which section there were only one or two 
other settlers, and where he had secured the 
title to a 2OO-acre tract of bush and swamp 
land. Erecting a small log hut, he com 
menced to clear up his farm, and settled 
down to the regulation pioneer life of hard 
work and privation. After a year he was 
joined by his wife and his other children. 
Life was a struggle for many years. It 
was not only that the work was hard and 
never-ending.- It was difficult to obtain even 
the ordinary necessities. Flour cost from 
$12 to $14 a barrel, and had to be brought 
from Detroit, being taken thence by boat to 
Sarnia, whence it was brought through the 
woods on the men s shoulders, the settlers at 
that time having neither horses nor oxen. 
There were no roads except those which they 
chopped through the forest themselves. A 
gristmill was fifty miles distant. Wolves, 
deer, and other wild animals still abounded 
in the forest and though the game helped 
them somewhat in their struggle for a live 



lihood, their presence was only another 
source of terror to the pioneers. 

Mr. Symington passed the remainder 
of his days on the land which he took up, and 
in his declining years was cared for by his 
son Thomas, with whom he was living at the 
time of his death, Aug. 7> 1858, at the ripe 
old age of eighty years. He was laid to rest 
in what was known as the Trusler Corners 
cemetery, now Camlachie. Mr. Symington 
had been reared in the faith of the Presby 
terian Church, to which he clung all his life. 
He always remained a true Reformer, living 
up to the principles for which he had given 
up so much in his earlier days. In char 
acter he was a typical Scotsman, possessing 
the sturdy integrity and Christianity char 
acteristic of that hardy race. He was de 
voted to his family. 

In Galashiels he had married Isabella 
Summers, and they became the parents of 
ten children, namely : Mary married Robert 
Walker and died in Plympton township; 
John was drowned in Lake Huron April 
18, 1848; Robert died in Plympton town 
ship ; George died in Plympton township ; 
James died in Pontiac, Michigan, in July, 
1904; William died in Sarnia; Thomas is 
mentioned below ; Alexander was an officer 
in the London (Orit.) Asylum, and died in 
London; Ellen and Isabella both died of 
cholera at the quarantine station in Quebec 
in 1834, when the mother was bringing the 
children to join the father, and they were 
buried on Grosse Isle. Mrs. Symington en 
dured the pioneer life with fortitude, and 
proved a devoted helpmeet to the father in 
the years of hardship before he had obtained 
a substantial footing in the new home. She 
died as she had lived, a good Christian, June 
22, 1867, at the age of seventy-eight, and 
was laid to rest in the Trusler Corners cem 
etery, beside her husband. Like him she 
was a faithful member of the Presbyterian 
Church. She passed her declining years at 
the home of her son Thomas, he and his 
wife caring for her with filial devotion. 

Thomas Symington, the patriarchal res 
ident of Plympton township whose name in- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



traduces this sketch, attended school in his 
native land, but even his early life was full 
of hard work, and he was taught habits of 
self-reliance from a very tender age. At the 
age of eleven he commenced to work in the 
mills, and he was only twelve when he ac 
companied his mother to Canada; they 
brought with them the clothing, blankets and 
household effects of the family. Troubles 
overtook them early in the New World in 
the death of the two little daughters, at 
Grosse Isle. Making their way from Que 
bec to Ontario they journeyed by lake boat 
to Buffalo, where their goods were seized 
by the American customs officials, and they 
had considerable difficulty in getting them 
back, only to find that cloth and other things 
were missing. Thence they proceeded to 
Sarnia, and from there to the little log house 
in the wilds of Plympton township. 

Here young Thomas obtained his first 
taste of pioneer life, and here for over sev 
enty years he has lived and labored, working 
faithfully and effectively to make a good 
home from unpromising material. He 
helped his father until the latter retired, and 
then took charge of the 2OO-acre tract, which 
he had improved and beautified until now it 
is a valuable piece of property. He has 
erected a fine brick dwelling, substantial 
barns and other outbuildings, and his prop 
erty shows the care it has received for 
nearly three-quarters of a century by thrifty, 
industrious owners. 

Mr. Symington is not a large man, but 
he has always enjoyed strength and good 
health, and though there were many draw 
backs to success his stout heart and willing 
hands kept him steadily at work until he 
overcame the worst difficulties and the way 
to prosperity was comparatively plain. He 
reared a large family, and when his sons 
were ready to commence life on their own 
account each received a farm to start him 
on his way and make life easier than the 
father had found it. Several other chil 
dren, those of his sisters and brothers, who 
were left orphans, also found a home under 
his hospitable roof, and when they were 
reach- to make a start in life they also re 



ceived land with which to begin. By in 
dustry and good management Mr. Syming 
ton succeeded in accumulating enough for 
his old age, in addition to all that he gave 
away, and he has had the pleasure of seeing 
his children all settled and doing well, a 
credit to their birth and training, and 
worthy of the parents who worked so hard 
to give then] the advantages which have 
helped them to a worthy position in society. 
Xot many men in this section have been 
able to do so well by their families. 

During the William Lyon Mackenzie 
Rebellion of 1837-38 Mr. Symington, 
though only sixteen and a half years of age, 
volunteered for service, and was stationed 
at Sarnia, serving six months. He was 
under Col. Wright, Lieut. Ellingsworth, 
and Sergt. Littlewortb and Capt. Ingles. 

All his life Mr. Symington has been an 
ardent Reformer in political faith, living up 
to the liberal principles instilled in him by 
his father. He has always taken a deep in 
terest in the public welfare, especially educa 
tional matters, and served as school trustee. 
Like his forefathers Mr. Symington has 
been a stanch Presbyterian, has always been 
a liberal supporter of the church, and was 
one of the organizers of the congregation at 
Camlachie, serving as a member of the build 
ing committee and manager. His life has 
been in accordance with his faith, .temper 
ate, kindly and useful, and he has been 
faithful in every relation of life. 

On Sept. 5, 1850, Mr. Symington w-as 
united in marriage in Westminster, County 
of Middlesex, Ont., with Margaret Smith, 
who \vas a native of Kilbride, Scotland, 
daughter of William Smith, who settled in 
Plympton township, Lambton County, 
where he died. The young couple began 
married life in the humble log home, and on 
Sept. 5, 1900, they celebrated the golden an 
niversary of their wedding in the brick 
building known as Galashiels, surrounded 
by their children, grandchildren and many 
other relatives. This event is mentioned 
below. 

During those fifty years Mrs. Symington 
worked hard to rear her family well, giving 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



119 



them a good Christian training, which they 
have all appreciated, and the effects of which 
are very apparent in their useful lives. She 
has always been devoted to her home and to 
the work of the Presbyterian Church, being 
identified with the church at Camlachie in 
which Mr. Symington has been such an 
earnest worker. Mr. and Mrs. Symington 
are as much devoted to each other s welfare 
as they were when they first took up life s 
burdens together over half a century ago. 
They are happy and contented, and they can 
say that during the fifty-four years of their 
wedded life the sun has never set on anger 
in their household. They have every reason 
to feel .proud of their achievements, begin 
ning as they did in so humble a manner, and 
they are now enjoying their declining years 
in peace and happiness, taking comfort in 
the thought that they have done their duty 
by their family and their fellowmen and are 
ready to receive their reward in the other 
world. They have always been noted for 
charity and kindliness to all who entered 
their door, and none who ever came to their 
home departed hungry or uncared for. The 
Golden Rule has been their motto through 
life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Symington reared a family 
of ten children, as follows : Robert is men 
tioned below ; William is mentioned below ; 
Dr. Thomas J. is mentioned below ; Jean 
Mitchell married Peter Cairns, of Forest; 
Hugh is mentioned below : Isabelle Sum 
mers married John Hillier, of Plympton 
township ; Edward G. is mentioned below ; 
Alfred and Frederick are both farmers in 
Plympton township : Harry is still at home 
with his parents. All the sons are prosper 
ing, and have taken their place among the 
useful members of the community, where 
they are striving to keep up the name so well 
established by their father and grand 
father. 

The Symington coat of arms (a cut of 
which is now in the possession of Mr. Sym 
ington), was brought from Scotland in 1833 
by our subject s father. The motto which all 
the family have followed is "Honesty is the 
best policy." 



The following account of the golden 
wedding, referred to above, is copied from 
the local papers, and is very interesting: 

An event of more than ordinary interest 
took place on the evening of Wednesday, 
Sept. 5, 1900, at the residence of Mr. 
and Mrs. Thomas Symington, the occasion 
being the celebration of the fiftieth an 
niversary of their marriage. This nup 
tial knot was tied by the Rev. John 
Carroll at the residence of Robert Allen, 
brother-in-law of the bride, in the 
township of Westminster, Sept. 5, 1850, 
when Margaret Smith became Mrs. Sym 
ington. The young couple immediately 
took up their residence on Lot 9, Concession 
10, of Plympton. which is still their home. 
In this home there were born to them eight 
sons and three daughters. With the excep 
tion of one daughter, Bessie, who died when 
two weeks old, there are : Alfred, Fred and 
Harry, at home; Robert, William, Hugh 
and Edward reside on farms of their own in 
Plympton ; Thomas J. is practicing medicine 
at Ackley, Iowa : Jean is Mrs. Peter Cairns 
of Forest, and Isabelle is Mrs. John Hillier, 
of the 6th Concession. All these, together 
with nineteen of the twenty-one grandchil 
dren, were present on Wednesday evening. 

In addition to the above, many other 
relatives and old neighbors from the sur 
rounding country, and from Sarnia and Pe- 
trolia, came to offer congratulations. Among 
those present were the following: From 
Sarnia Mrs. Cattanach, Miss Cattanach, 
Mr. and Mrs. P. Symington, Mr. and Mrs. 
W. Sweet, Mr. and Mrs" J. G. McCrae. Mr. 
and Mrs. A. Cairns, Thomas Cairns, H. H. 
Ogden, James Smith and the Misses Smith ; 
from Port Huron James Symington; 
from Petrolia Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Miss 
Harris; from Kerwood Mrs. J. Johnston 
and B. Johnston ; from Plympton Mr. and 
Mrs. Robert Jardine, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. 
Symington, Mr. and Mrs. W. Evans, Mr. 
and Mrs. W. Hillier, Mrs. A. Ferguson, 
John Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
Symington, Mr. and Mrs. George Syming 
ton, Mrs. McGregor, John McGregor, Mr. 
and Mrs. Finlay McKinlay, Mr. and Mrs. 



120 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



D. McMillan, Mr. and Mrs. John Grey, J. 
Trott, Mrs. Lane, Thomas Jebb, Mrs. Win- 
ship, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Winship, Jr., and 
Rev. and Mrs. Robert Drinnan. 

At about five o clock in the afternoon, 
when the guests, to the number of about one 
hundred, had assembled on the lawn, the 
Rev. R. Drinnan took the chair, and after 
making a few remarks appropriate to the 
occasion, at the request of the family, read 
the following address : 

"To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Symington on 
the occasion of their Golden Wedding: 

"Dear Father and Mother: On this the 
fiftieth anniversary of your wedding day, 
we, your sons and daughters, wish to offer 
you our most hearty congratulations and to 
express our gratitude to Almighty God who 
has shown His gracious kindness to us and 
to you by bringing you safely through all the 
toils and trials of these years to see this 
happy day. It affords us the greatest 
pleasure and satisfaction to find you in the 
enjoyment of health and comfort on this 
auspicious occasion. 

"You have been a good and kind father 
and mother to us all and we thank you for 
what you have done for us. In token of our 
gratitude and affection we ask you to accept 
these golden time-pieces as mementoes of 
this day. And our sincere prayer is that 
you may be spared for many years to enjoy 
the fruits of your life-long labors." 
[Signed by all the sons and daughters.] 

At this juncture the eldest son and 
daughter handed their parents each a beau 
tiful gold watch. They were both so com 
pletely taken by surprise as to be unable to 
reply to the address, and James Symington, 
of Port Huron, an elder brother, replied in 
their behalf. In doing so he read an inter 
esting account of the progress of events dur 
ing the last fifty years, in part as follows : 

"I stand upon the shores of time and 
mark the changes and the wrecks of two gen 
erations, an experience accorded to few. 
Where are the youthful companions that 
started with us in boyhood ? Where are the 
friends of our manhood and middle age? 
They exist only in memory, cherished it may 



be by the remembrance of their virtues and 
amiable qualities. 

"My brother and I look back beyond 
these fifty years and recollect the time when 
there was not a railroad in the world, and 
the fastest means of travel on land was the 
mail coach, making its ten miles an hour. A 
thousand inventions, from the lightning ex 
press, the ocean greyhound and the electric 
telegraph, down to the self-binder, the tele 
phone and the bicycle, have come into ex 
istence during this half century, many of 
them the work of my friend, Thomas A. 
Edison. 

"I believe I am the only man in the world 
who has seen and talked with both those 
great wizards, Sir Walter Scott and 
Thomas A. Edison. 

"We came from Scotland, from a local 
ity of poetry and romance, and on the 28th 
of September, 1834, settled on Lot 10, just 
across the road from where we now stand. 
The whole country was a wooden wilder 
ness. We came here seven brothers and 
one sister, sixty-six years ago, and now we 
two alone remain of the family. We are 
now old men living on borrowed time. It is 
said that Columbus nearing the shores of the 
new world read the message brought him by 
the winds; birds came near and at last 
perched upon the masts ; berries were seen on 
the sea and were caught up by the waves and 
eaten by the happy sailors. Land must be 
near ! So land can not be far off for either 
of us old men. The tide and lapse of years 
compel us to look out of the western win 
dows of life at the setting sun." 

Thomas Cairns, of Sarnia, then took 
several photographs of the family and 
guests. This done, adjournment was made 
to the dining-room, where a sumptuous re 
past was served. After this the time was 
spent in social chat, with music and song, 
and at a late hour the guests repaired to 
their homes feeling that they had spent a 
most delightful evening. 



ROBERT SYMINGTON, the eldest son of 
Thomas Symington, was born on the home 
stead June 8, 1851. He attended the dis- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



121 



trict schools when opportunity offered, and 
worked on the farm from childhood, contin 
uing with his father until twenty-four years 
of age. He then rented the farm for three 
years, after which he settled on Lot 7, Con 
cession 8, a tract of fifty acres given him 
by his father. This he cleared up, erecting 
upon it a brick house, sufficient barns and 
outbuildings, and brought the property to a 
fine state of cultivation. In time he added 
seventy acres more, which he also cultivated. 
Upon this land he has engaged in stock 
raising and dairy farming, becoming very 
prosperous. In politics he is a Liberal, but 
he has not sought office. Domestic in his 
habits, he loves his home and family, who 
are devoted to him. Like the other members 
of the family he carries out the teachings of 
the Golden Rule in his every-day life. 

In 1876 Mr. Symington was married in 
Sarnia to Sarah Smith, daughter of Philip 
Smith, and four children were born to them : 
Thomas and Silas, who died young; and 
Olive May and Phelps living. Mr. Sym 
ington suffered the loss .of his wife in Feb 
ruary, 1898, and her remains were tenderly 
interred in the cemetery at Camlachie. In 
life she was a most excellent woman, kind, 
charitable, and a true Christian, and in 
death she is tenderly mourned. Mr. Sym 
ington himself enjoys in highest degree the 
confidence and respect of his neighbors, and 
has a wide circle of friends throughout the 
township. 

WILLIAM SYMINGTON, second son of 
Thomas Symington, born June 6, 1853, a so 
attended the district school, and was taught 
farming on the homestead. Remaining with 
his father until he was twenty-seven, he then 
decided to make a home for himself, and set 
tled on 100 acres on the shores of Lake 
Huron, which his father gave him. For a 
short time he lived upon that property, and 
then sold to advantage, in 1882 purchasing 
his present farm, which consists of 100 acres, 
from Dr. Smith. For over twenty-two years 
he has been successfully engaged in stock 
raising and general farming, and has become 
one of the representative men of the town 
ship. As time progressed he made many 



important improvements, and has a very 
good property. Like his father and brothers 
he is a Liberal, and active in local affairs, 
although not an office seeker. He is a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and attends 
the services of that denomination at Aber- 
arder. He was elected elder in the church 
in 1904. For twelve years he was school 
trustee of his section, and has always been 
interested in educational matters. Frater 
nally he is a member of the Sons of 
Scotland, 

On Sept. 22, 1882, William Symington 
was married to Mary McMillen, daughter 
of Donald McMillen, a well known stock 
dealer of Plympton township. Mrs. Sym 
ington is one of the most devoted of wives 
and mothers, a good housewife and good 
neighbor. Children as follows have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. William Symington : 
Kate M.. Thomas J., Donald E. and Mar 
garet S., all at home. 

Mr. Symington is a member of the pub 
lic library committee of Aberarder. Being a 
well read man he is thoroughly informed 
upon current matters. 

THOMAS JOHN SYMINGTON, M. D., 
third son of Thomas Symington, was born 
July n, 1855. Attending the neighborhood 
schools and working upon the farm were the 
occupations of his boyhood days. Later he 
went to Komoka, Ont., where he prepared 
for college, and entered a business college 
of London. Completing his literary course, 
he entered the medical college at Kingston, 
Ont., from which he was graduated with the 
degree of M. D. Dr. Symington then went 
to Quebec, where he became a ship surgeon. 
Later he located at Camlachie and engaged 
in the practice of his profession, but in 1884 
he removed to Ackley, Iowa, where he has 
resided for over twenty years, and has built 
up a very large practice. He is a man of 
scholarly attainments, a most excellent physi 
cian, and a man who wins friends by his 
pleasing personality as well as by his skill. 

Dr. Symington married Miss Annie 
Bruning, and they have five children, Wil 
liam, Buela, Edith, Margaret and Fred. He 
and his familv are connected with the Pres- 



122 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



byterian Church, and are very highly re 
spected in the community in which they 
reside. 

HUGH SYMINGTON, fourth son of 
Thomas Symington, was born Jan. 28, 1860, 
on the old homestead, where he remained 
until 1885, working with his father. In the 
meanwhile he obtained his education at the 
district schools. At the latter date he located 
on the loo-acre farm then known as the old 
Calinder homestead. This property he has 
greatly improved, building a good residence, 
substantial barn and outbuildings. Upon it 
he engages in general farming and dairy 
farming, and, like the other members of his 
family, has been successful. 

On Dec. 28, 1898, Mr. Symington mar 
ried Margaret H. Hyslop, at the Hyslop 
homestead. Mrs. Symington was born in 
Plympton township May 8, 1870, daughter 
of the late John Hyslop. Three children 
have been born of this marriage, Isabelle 
Hyslop, Wilfred John and Marion Helen. 
Mrs. Symington is a member of the Presby 
terian Church. In politics Mr. Symington is 
a Liberal, as are the other members of his 
family. Fraternally he is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., Huron Lodge, of Camlachie, 
of which he is past master, and of the Sons 
of Scotland. 

Mrs. Symington is a lady widely known 
and respected for her kindly disposition and 
charities. She is an excellent neighbor and 
has a wide circle of friends. 

EDWARD G. SYMINGTON, fifth son of 
Thomas Symington, was born Feb. 22, 
1863. Like his brothers he was educated in 
the public schools, and worked at home until 
he was twenty-eight years of age. His father 
then gave him a good loo-acre farm, on the 
Egremont road, west of Camlachie, where lie 
engaged in farming for eight years. At that 
time he had an opportunity to sell his farm 
at an advantage, and he then purchased his 
present home of 178 acres on the lake front, 
where for two years he has been carrying 
on general farming and conducts a dairy. 

On Nov. 20, 1895, he was happily united 
in marriage with Maria Louise Johnson, by 
Rev. J. B. Kennedy, a Methodist minister. 



Mrs. Symington was born in Adelaide town 
ship, Middlesex County, Ont, daughter of 
John and Maria (Jackson) Johnson, is well 
educated, and is devoted to her home and 
family and beloved throughout the neigh 
borhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Symington 
are members of the Presbyterian church, of 
which they are generous supporters. In pol 
itics Mr. Symington is a Liberal. Frater 
nally he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., 
Huron Lodge, of Camlachie. 

Four children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Symington ; John Beattie, Margaret Is 
abelle, Thomas Alfred and Sarah Maria. 

The record of this very remarkable fam 
ily is finished. From the stern, upright 
founder of the family in Ontario, who pre 
ferred right to comfort, and who set so high 
an example for those who came after him 
that failure or wrong-doing was impossible, 
to the youngest member of the name of Sym 
ington, the same principles of right and jus 
tice are displaced, and it is easy to foresee 
that the future history of Ontario will be 
influenced by Symingtons, as has that of the 
past. 

GEORGE WARD, a well known resi 
dent of the County of Lambton, who is one 
of the leading men in township affairs and 
one who has always taken an interest in edu 
cational matters, was born in England, in 
the Parish of Ermington, Devonshire, Aug. 
26, 1853, son of George and Elizabeth (Pen- 
gelley) Ward, both of whom were born in 
Devonshire, where they both died. 

George Ward was the only son of his 
parents, and grew up in England, where he 
received a district school education, and 
when seventeen years of age was bound out 
as an apprentice to Philip Coleman, of Dev 
onshire, to learn the blacksmith s trade, and 
served four years of apprenticeship. After 
learning his trade Mr. Ward worked for 
about six years with Mr. Coleman, receiving 
six shillings per week, and was then engaged 
by the government, for which he worked at- 
the dock yards for three years. 

On April 13, 1873, Mr. Ward married 
Miss Lovina Bowey, born in Plymouth, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



123 



England, on July 18, 1846. daughter of John 
and Harriet (Hobbs) Bowey, both of whom 
were born in England. John Bowey and 
his wife came to Canada in 1872 and settled 
at Clinton. County of Huron, where Mr. 
Bowey engaged at his trade of mason. Mrs. 
Bowey died in May, 1873, the same day that 
Mr. and Mrs. Ward arrived in Canada. Mr. 
Bowey continued to work at his trade until 
his death in 1880. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowey 
the following children were born: Fred 
erick, born in 1843, came to Canada with his 
parents, and returned to England, becom 
ing a sailor; Lovina became Mrs. Ward; 
James, born in 1849, came to Canada, pre 
vious to his parents, settled in Clinton, Coun 
ty of Huron, where he worked at his trade 
of brick laying, and where he married Miss 
Annie Grant, and there also his death oc 
curred in June, 1901 ; William H., born in 
May, 1852, worked in Clinton for several 
years as a brick layer, married (first) a Miss 
Fox. who died leaving one son, William, 
of Winnipeg, and he married (second) An 
nie Williams, of Clinton, by whom he has 
had four children, and they removed to Den 
ver. Colorado, in 1888, where he now holds 
a position as foreman of a contracting com 
pany: John H., born in June, 1855, and 
his wife Susie have three children, Ag 
nes. Rubina and Henry, and they reside in 
Toronto where he works at his trade of brick 
layer; Harriet, born in England in 1859, 
married George Fairgrove, of Gait. Ont., 
and they have one son, Robert; Alice A. S., 
born in 1862, married George Wakefield, of 
Washington, and has two children; Selina 
A., born in May, 1865, married John Hig- 
ginbotham, deceased, of Syracuse, N. Y., 
and has two children, Fannie and Bertie ; and 
Rosie, born in March, 1868, married George 
Thompson, of Washington, and has two 
daughters. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ward came to Canada 
soon after their marriage, and settled in the 
County of Huron, where they found Mrs. 
Ward s friends, and Mr. Ward assisted his 
father-in-law at the mason s trade for three 
years. In 1876 Mr, Ward worked in a 



foundry at Clinton, and remained there nine 
years, when he migrated to Chicago, and 
worked in the Pullman Car works for about 
two months, at the end of that time return 
ing to Canada. He resumed his work in 
Clinton, and continued there until he pur 
chased his present home, at that time all 
wild land. Although not reared to an agri 
cultural life. Mr. Ward has proved to be a 
good farmer, as the state of cultivation 
which his land now enjoys will prove. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Ward no children were 
born, but they have adopted a young lady, 
Maud B. Roberts, born in Arkona, County 
of Lambton, Aug. 9, 1885, and she is now 
known as Miss Maud Ward. Religiously the 
family are Baptists, and consistent and val 
ued members of that church. Politically Mr. 
Ward has always been identified with the 
Conservative party, but has steadfastly re 
fused to accept public office, except that of 
auditor of the school board. In fraternal 
circles Mr. Ward is affiliated with the Odd 
Fellows, the Foresters, and is also a member 
of the Maccabees of Clinton. Mr. Ward is 
one of Lambton s self-made men, and his 
fine farm located on Concession 7, Lot 8, 
Brooke township, is one of the best in this 
section. Mr. Ward is well known and highly 
respected in his township. 

CHARLES O. FAIRBANK, M. D., a 
successful medical practitioner and exten 
sive oil operator at Petrolia, was born in 
Niagara Falls, New York, July 21, 1858, 
son of John H. Fairbank, mention of whom 
is made elsewhere. 

In early childhood Dr. Fairbank accom 
panied his parents to Oil Springs, Ont., and 
a few years later to Petrolia. He received 
his preliminary education there, and at the 
age of thirteen was sent to Hellmuth Col 
lege, London. Ont., where he remained four 
years. In June, 1876, he entered the Royal 
Military College of Canada, at Kingston, 
Ont., and after completing the four-years 
course w ? as graduated in June, 1880, obtain 
ing a commission in the Royal Artillery of 
England. That fall he went to England to 



124 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



join the graduates of Woolwich Academy in 
\Yool\vich (headquarters of the Royal Ar 
tillery), to undergo the supplementary train 
ing in the riding school and arsenal before 
joining the battery. Early in 1881 he was 
called home by his death of his brother, and 
he resigned his commission in England, tak 
ing a commission in the London (Ont.) Field 
Battery, of which he later took command, 
with the rank of major. 

In 1888 Dr. Fairbank determined to 
gratify a long cherished ambition and study 
medicine. He accordingly entered the Col 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New 
York City, and in June, 1891, received the 
degree of M. D. For three years he studied 
microscopical work, in New York, under 
Dr. Carl Heitzman, in the mornings, assist 
ing in the general medical department of the 
Vanderbilt Clinic Hospital three afternoons 
in the week up to July, 1894. During this 
time, for eighteen months, he was assistant 
also at the Electro-Therapeutic Clinic of the 
Post-Graduate School and Hospital in New 
York. The years 1894-95 he spent in Cali 
fornia, returning thence to Canada. His 
medical practice now is done largely for the 
love of the science, and he will respond to a 
call at any hour gratuitously. He is a firm 
believer in keeping the body sound by regu 
lar exercise, and naturally is much interested 
in athletics, and because he thinks it a good 
thing for the young men is a liberal support 
er of the different clubs of Petrolia. 

Politically Dr. Fairbank is very active. 
He is president of the Reform Association 
of the town of Petrolia, and he is a member 
of the Board of Trade and of the town coun 
cil. He was elected a member of the latter 
body in 1888 and again elected in 1905. His 
father s affairs consume a large part of his 
time, but he is also engaged extensively in 
the oil business on his own account. Fra 
ternally he is a Mason, while religiously he 
belongs to the Church of England. He is 
popular and has many warm friends. 

On July 1 1, 1900, Dr. Fairbank was mar 
ried to Miss Clara Sussex, of Bothwell, Ont., 
and they have become the parents of two 
sons, John H. and Charles C. 



MATTHEW McCRIE, a farmer and 
oil producer in Lot 2, Concession 14, Ennis- 
killen township, has during his career of over 
half a century exhibited many of those ad 
mirable traits of character, which have made 
the Scottish race what it is, and which render 
their possessors such valuable citizens in any 
community. He was born in Ayrshire, Scot 
land, June 20, 1851, son of William and 
Margaret (Miller) McCrie. 

The parents were natives of the same 
part of Scotland, born June 10, 1802, and in 
1809, respectively, The paternal grandpar 
ents lived and died there, but the son Will 
iam emigrated to America, being the only 
one of his family to come. He and his wife 
reached Hamilton by way of Quebec, in 
1853. For two years he was engaged there 
as a foreman on public works, and then 
moved to Sarnia. He had been well edu 
cated in Scotland and had been a school 
teacher there, so it was natural that he should 
resume the profession which he followed in 
Sarnia and in Moore township. He bought 
a tract of wild land in Sarnia township, and 
while he continued his teaching his sons 
cleared the property and made a home there 
on. Mr. McCrie died on the farm in 1882, 
his wife in 1889. They were members of 
the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. 
McCrie was a Reformer. These parents 
reared nine children, all born before they 
left Scotland : ( I ) Jane, born in May, 1832, 
attended school in Scotland, and married 
James Kerr, in Hamilton. They settled in 
the County of Grey, Ont., where Mr. Ken 
died leaving four children, Maggie, William, 
John and James. (2) John, born in 1835, 
married Eliza Wilson, of Grand Haven, 
Michigan; they lived in Detroit, where the 
wife died, leaving one son and one daughter, 
William and Edna. Later Mr. McCrie mar 
ried Miss Bertha Boroughs, of that city, 
where he was foreman in the car works. His 
death occurred in 1890, and his widow, who 
had no children of her own, still resides in 
Detroit. (3) Hugh, born in 1836, was well 
educated and was employed as a clerk in 
Scotland. After reaching Canada he taught 
school for a few years, but died young", in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



125 



1856, unmarried. (4) James, born in 1839, 
learned the trade of a carpenter in Hamilton, 
and then settled in Michigan, where he is 
now a successful business man. He married 
Miss Annie Anthony, of Michigan, and has 
two children, James and Jennie. (5) Will 
iam, born in 1842, married Miss Matilda 
Dunsmore, of Canada, and resides on the old 
homestead in Sarnia township, with his four 
children, Queenie, Mary, Florence and 
Hugh. (6) Maggie, born in 1844, married 
Walter Miller, of Chatham, County of Kent, 
and has three sons, William, George and 
Robert. (7) David, born in 1846, married 
Miss Emily Tucker, of the County of Grey, 
where they live on a farm ; they have a large 
family. (8) Andrew, born in July, 1849, 
married Miss Janet Elliott, of Sarnia town 
ship. They live on a farm in Concession 14, 
Enniskillen township, and are the parents ot 
seven children, Catherine, Maggie, Joseph 
ine, Douglas, Mary, Elizabeth and Annie. 
(9) Matthew. 

Matthew McCrie received his education 
in the little log schoolhouse in Sarnia town 
ship. As a young man he worked on the old 
homestead, and then in 1867 purchased his 
present home. It was wild land which had 
to be cleared, and he lived at first in a log 
house which he put up himself. He was 
married in 1873, and he and his wife in their 
early years together endured the usual trials 
of pioneer life. But they prospered steadily 
and improvements were added from time to 
time until now the farm is splendidly im 
proved and valuable property. In 1880 the 
large barn was built and five years later the 
handsome house in which he now lives. 

Mr. McCrie was married Dec. 6, 1873, 
to Miss Roxanna Harrington, who was born 
in February, 1849, in the County of York, 
north of Toronto, to Jefferson and Nancy 
(Stoner) Harrington. The parents were 
of Xew England ancestry, but were both 
born in York County, and there died in the 
old home where their married life was 
passed. Mrs. McCrie s brothers and sisters 
are : Amos, of Toronto ; Amanda, wife of 
Alexander Fulton, of Plympton township ; 
Sarah, Mrs. Isaac Fisher, of Sarnia; Abram, 



a business man of Bothwell ; Peter, of County 
York; Hannah, living in Toronto, unmar 
ried; Robert, on the old homestead; Her 
man, also on the old homestead (he is mar 
ried, but has no family). Roxanna, the 
youngest of the family, grew up and was 
educated in York County. She has borne 
her husband eight children, namely : Maggie, 
born in 1875, who married George Bell, of 
Enniskillen township, and has one son, 
Alexander W. ; William H., born in 1877, 
is a resident of Toronto, and is unmarried; 
James, born in 1879, who married Maud 
Brown, of Lambton County, and lives in 
Sarnia township, where he is engaged in 
drilling for oil; Edith, born in 1881, is at 
home, as are also Robert, born in August, 
1883, and John, born in 1886; Amos, born 
in 1888, and Hugh, born in 1891, are at 
school. 

In addition to his arduous labors on the 
farm Mr. McCrie has found time for public 
service, too. A Reformer in his political 
views, he has been town assessor for three 
years and is now one of the township audit 
ors. His interest in educational matters has 
led him to give twelve years of service on 
the school board. Fraternally he belongs to 
the Maccabees. In his religious belief ( he is 
a Baptist, as is also his wife, and he is one 
of the deacons of the Sarnia Church. A 
self-made man, he has not only gained a 
position of assured comfort, but has at the 
same time, by his sturdy, upright character,, 
won a host of friends, who all place the ut 
most reliance upon his integrity and the kind 
liness of his disposition. His home is the 
center of a broad and liberal hospitality. 

DR. A. S. FRASER. The medical pro 
fession of Sarnia numbers men of great skill 
and profound learning in its ranks, and 
among them all, Dr. A. S. Fraser occupies 
a leading position, not only on account of 
his ability, but also from the fact that he is 
one of the older physicians of the city. 

Daniel Fraser, the grandfather, was a 
native of the Highlands of Scotland, and his 
wife bore the maiden name of Christiana 
Stocks. In 1832 the family emigrated to 



126 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Ontario, locating in Toronto, and later mak 
ing their home at Georgetown, where he was 
rector of the Church of England, and one of 
the most eloquent speakers of his time. The 
later days of these worthy people were spent 
in London, where they both passed away. 
They were the parents of two children : 
Christina, who became the wife of Lewis 
Olmsted, a Methodist minister in the United 
States; and Charles, who became the father 
of Dr. Eraser. 

Charles Eraser was born in Scotland in 
1826, and came to Ontario with his parents. 
Here he married Jane Campbell, daughter, of 
Isaac Campbell, and they had the following 
children : Sarah, who married Dr. Lincoln, 
a distant relative of the late President Lin 
coln, of the United States ; Dr. A. S. ; Hen 
rietta ; Carrie, of Detroit, unmarried ; 
Charles, a lecturer in the States; John S., 
a well known man in Ontario; Dr. Alex 
ander; W. A., of Detroit, engaged in the 
brass works; Jennie, wife of Dr. John 
Knight; Thomas, of Detroit; Mary, widow 
of Frank Kennedy. Charles Eraser, the fa 
ther, was a prominent land surveyor and civil 
engineer, and in 1856 was appointed by the 
government to the customs at Port Bruce, 
Elgin County, where he owned considerable 
property. Politically he was a Conserva 
tive, and for thirty years prior to his death 
he was a member of the school board ot 
Wallaceburg, Ont, where he died in 1898, 
his wife having passed away in 1880. 

Dr. A. S. Eraser was born in Middlesex 
County, in August, 1846. His literary edu 
cation was acquired in the village schools of 
Port Bruce, and with private tutors. His 
medical training was begun at Queen s Uni 
versity, Kingston, from which he was grad 
uated in the class of 1869, with the degree 
of M. D. After securing his degree, Dr. 
Eraser settled in the village of Sombra, 
where he practiced for three years, and in 
1872 removed to Sarnia, where for thirty 
years he has been a physician of ability. For 
the first two years of his residence in Sar 
nia, Dr. Eraser was in partnership with Dr. 
Bucke, but from 1875 until December, 1901, 



he continued alone, but at that time, admitted 
Dr. Bradley to partnership, and he has occu 
pied his present office since locating in the 
city. 

In 1878 Dr. Eraser was united in mar 
riage with Miss Lucinda Hyde, daughter of 
the late Captain Hyde of the Royal Navy. 
Mrs. Eraser was born in Lambton County, 
and is a lady of culture and refinement. Four 
children have been born to this union: Kate, 
deceased ; Douglas, of Detroit ; Maurice and 
Marian. Mrs. Fraser is a member of the 
Church of England, and her husband attends 
the services. From 1890 to 1899 Dr. Fraser 
was a member of the examining board of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, of On 
tario, and fraternally he is a member of the 
Masonic order. Dr. Fraser and his wife are 
among the leading people of Sarnia, and 
their popularity is well merited. 

JOHN W. BELL, now living at Forest, 
where he is owner and proprietor of one 
of the finest livery establishments in West 
ern Ontario, is a son of one of the early set 
tlers of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, and grandson of George Bell, a na 
tive and lifelong resident of Yorkshire, 
England. 

George Bell had three sons : George, who 
died in England ; and James and William, 
who came to Ontario in 1835, locating at 
Stony Creek, where they engaged in farm 
ing and lumbering. In 1851 they came to 
Plympton township, James settling on Lot 
26, Concession 15, where he cleared a farm 
upon which he lived the remainder of his 
life. William Bell, the father of John W., 
located on Lot 22, Concession 15, and he, 
too, cleared up a farm and resided thereon 
until his death, in 1873. His death and that 
of one of his children occurred at the same 
time, they dying of an epidemic which swept 
the locality. While residing at Stony 
Creek Mr. Bell married Clarinda Darbey, 
who was born in New Hampshire. The fol 
lowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Bell: John W. ; Thomas A., a farmer of 
Bosanquet township ; James A. (twin brother 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



127 



of Thomas), a carpenter of Forest; Charles 
Henry, deceased; Ruth Ann, deceased; and 
Francis, deceased. 

John W. Bell was born at Stony Creek, 
Ont, March 18, 1845, an d was oru y s ^ x 
years old when his parents settled in Plymp- 
ton township. He resided on the old home 
stead until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he embarked in the manufacture of 
brick, and also conducted a mercantile es 
tablishment. In 1875 ne settled in Forest 
and engaged in contracting, also raising and 
moving buildings, and many of the older 
residences in Forest as well as in the sur 
rounding country were worked upon by him. 
He still has interests along this line. Mr. 
Bell was tax collector for Forest for twenty 
years, and was on the school board eighteen 
years, resigning the latter position to enter 
the Forest town council, in which he served 
two years. In his various business relations 
he has become acquainted with all the lead 
ing people of the county, and in 1900 he de 
cided to go into the livery business. At this 
time he erected his present substantial brick 
livery barn, 44 x 75 feet, in which he carries 
on one of the largest liveries in the County 
of Lambton, and has on hand at all times a 
full assortment of new and stylish vehicles, 
and horses to suit all classes. This livery 
business was established in 1893, but since 
Mr. Bell has assumed the management the 
volume of trade has materially increased. 

In August, 1866, Mr. Bell was married 
to Miss Eliza Bannister, daughter of James 
Bannister, and they have had twelve chil 
dren : Annie (deceased) married Daniel 
Rice, and had children George, Clara and 
Fay. Alfredy married George Gammon, of 
Plympton township. Clara married Will 
iam McPherson, and had children Elsie, 
Marguerite, Clara Bell and Duncan Miller. 
Lucinda is next in the family. William J. 
married Clara Cushman, and had children 
Dora, Chester A. (deceased) and Laura. 
Bertha married Fred Sommerville, and has 
three children Ila, John and Ruby Bell. 
Frank married Maude Servis and has two 
children, Gladys Lenora and Ralph Richard. 
Xanmi is the next. Tillie is deceased. 



Garfiehl died at the age of sixteen. Pearl 
and Hazel complete the family. 

Politically Mr. Bell is a Conservative, 
and fraternally a member of the Canadian 
Order of Foresters and the Woodmen, being 
popular in both organizations, as well as 
throughout the County of Lambton, where 
he has made many friends. 

GEORGE C. YATES was for forty 
years a resident of Oil Springs, and during 
twenty years postmaster at that place, also 
filling other public positions. He was one 
of the leading men of the town, active in both 
business and public affairs, and was esteemed 
wherever known. 

Mr. Yates was born Sept. 2, 1838, at 
Athens, Leeds County, Ont., son of Benja 
min and Phcebe (Cornell) Yates. The pa 
rents were also of Canadian birth. They 
came to Oil Springs, where they died leaving 
two children, George C. and Sarah. The 
latter became the wife of William Yates, 
since deceased, and resides at Oil Springs. 
George C. Yates was educated in the schools 
of Leeds County and came in 1861 to Oil 
Springs, where he was first interested in oil 
production and later in business as a mer 
chant. He continued in the mercantile bus 
iness until 1894, when he was forced to make 
an assignment, too much credit being his 
ruin. For some twenty years he was post 
master at Oil Springs, was also tax collector 
and assessor, and took a leading part in the 
affairs of the town. Politically he was a 
stanch Reformer. Religiously he was a 
member of the Church of England, as is his 
widow, and he was always liberal in the sup 
port of Christian enterprises. His fraternal 
connection was with the Order of Chosen 
Friends. The death of Mr. Yates took place 
Nov. 16, 1901. 

On March 22, 1871, Mr. Yates married 
Ann Jane Brown, who was born Dec. 28, 
1841, in the town of Niagara, Ont.. and 
comes of an old and representative family 
of Hastings County, where she was reared 
and educated. Children as follows were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Yates: (i) Edmund 
H. was educated in the home schools and the 



128 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Business College at Chatham, clerked for a 
time in his father s store, later married Miss 
Susan Shepherd, of Enniskillen, and then re 
moved to New Haven, Conn., where he is 
connected with the offices of the New York, 
New Haven & Hartford Railroad. They 
have three daughters, Eunice, Helen V. and 
Georgina E. (2) Henrietta is a professional 
nurse. ( 3 ) Charlotte G. graduated as a pro 
fessional nurse at the Sarnia College, and is 
now located at Minneapolis. (4) Harriet C. 
died in May, 1887. (5) Frederick C. follows 
the trade of machinist in New York. He 
married Mary Wasel, of Elizabethport, New 
Jersey. (6) Clifford R. entered the Oil 
Springs Chronicle office in boyhood and 
learned the printing business, which he fol 
lowed for a time, but is now bookkeeper at 
Ansonia, Connecticut, for the Coe Brass 
Works Company. (7) Gertrude Alma 
(known to the family as "Queen") is at 
home. 

Mrs. Yates is one of the early residents 
of Oil Springs, and has been a witness to 
much of the town s rapid development. With 
much of this she has been closely connected 
on account of the prominence of both her 
father and husband, two of the most upright 
and useful men who ever resided here. The 
family is prominent in educational, religious 
and social circles. 

HENRY BROWN, father of Mrs. Yates, 
was born Nov. 5, 1820, in Ireland. He was 
of Holland descent, however, his ancestors 
having come over with King William, 
though his parents, William and Alice 
(Tymond) Brown, were also born in Ire 
land, where the latter died. She was a 
granddaughter of John Tymond, the mili 
tary engineer who built the Tymond iron 
bridge, in County Limerick, Ireland, which 
was named after him. After his wife s death 
William Brown came to Canada with his 
family and settled in Hastings County, 
where his life closed. He was the father of 
a family of twelve children, all of whom have 
passed away. The father of Mrs. Yates was 
the youngest of this large family and he was 
afforded excellent educational advantages 
in Ireland. After coming to Canada he 



taught school for a short time, after which 
he engaged in farming. 

On Dec. 5, 1840, Henry Brown was 
married to Miss Margaret Orr, who was 
born in 1824, near the city of Belfast, daugh 
ter of Joseph and Mary (Carter) Orr, who 
were born and reared in Ireland, and died 
there. Henry Brown was a farmer in his 
younger days, and later on engaged in work 
as a clerk for the village of Sterling, Hast 
ings County, and his penmanship may yet be 
seen in the old deeds and official papers of 
that time. During the Mackenzie rebellion 
he served as a soldier for three years and was 
honorably discharged. 

In 1 86 1 Mr. Brown removed to Lambton 
County and settled at Oil Springs, where he 
became interested in the handling of real es 
tate and in the production of oil. In 1863 he 
was elected the first town, clerk of Oil 
Springs, a position he held with the greatest 
efficiency for a number of years. He was 
foremost in all progressive movements here, 
was a charter member of the Masonic fra 
ternity, and filled official positions in the 
lodge for a considerable period. During his 
whole life he was an upright, honorable, pub 
lic-spirited man solicitous for the welfare of 
the community. The death of this good cit 
izen took place Sept. 18, 1899, and that of 
his widow, in the following year, the only 
survivor of their family being their daughter, 
Mrs. Yates. 

LT.-COL. GEORGE STEWART. 
Among the many citizens of Moore town 
ship who have contributed to its development 
there is none to whom honor more fittingly 
can be given than to Lt.-Col. George Stew 
art, a retired cavalry officer, who both in civil 
and military life has ever been ready at his 
country s call to devote himself to her serv 
ice, and whose career as an officer in the 
Dominion forces was appropriately rounded 
out by recognition from the Imperial gov 
ernment. Col. Stewart is a native of Scot 
land, born in West Calder, near Edinburgh, 
April 7, 1825, but for over seventy years he 
has been identified with Lambton County, 
Ontario. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



129 



John Stewart, father of George, was 
born in the same place and there married 
Miss Mary Guwans. Two children were 
born to them, George and Mary, but the 
latter died in Moore township while still 
in her youth. John Stewart died in 1828, 
and a few years later his widow married 
James Nesbitt, who immediately started with 
his wife and step-children for Canada. They 
located on Bear creek, in Moore township, 
but after a short time removed to the river 
front along the St. Clair, and settled down 
permanently to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Xes- 
bitt both died there, and were buried in the 
cemetery at Moore Town. They were mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. Five chil 
dren were born to them, as follows : Alex 
ander, deceased; James, of Detroit; Janet 
and Mary, both deceased ; and John, a con 
tractor in St. Clair, Michigan. 

George Stewart attended school in West 
Calder until he was nine years old and made 
the most of that opportunity, for he became 
even then an excellent reader. In 1834 came 
the exodus to Canada, and with his mother 
and step-father the boy embarked at Leith 
on the sailing vessel "Margaret Bogle," 
which eight weeks later reached Quebec. 
From there they made their way down Lake 
Erie to Ontario. They reached Moore town 
ship, which was then unbroken wilderness, 
without even roads, and whose few settlers 
were squatters along the river front, chiefly 
French Canadians. Here Col. Stewart s boy 
hood and youth were passed, working with 
his step-father, who was rather harsh and 
exacting, to clear their land from the timber. 
\\~hen he was eighteen he started out for 
himself, with little to help him save the 
meager education he had secured in Scotland. 
He shipped as cook on the lake vessel 
"Athol," first sailing from Buffalo to Chi 
cago, and during his seventeen seasons on 
the lakes he rose steadily until he became 
commander of a ship. He was mate of the 
steamer "Benjamin Franklin," and also of 
the "Huron," and while on the latter vessel 
was presented by the passengers on one trip 
in 1854 with a spy glass, a memento he still 



carefully preserves. Later he was captain 
of the steam tug "Magnet." 

In 1859 Col. Stewart gave up seafaring 
and locating in what is now Courtright, went 
into the cord wood business. He bought 
large tracts of timber land in and around 
Moore township, converted the timber into 
cord wood and sold it to lake boats, an enter 
prise which he carried on for fifteen years 
and in which he was very successful. From 
this he worked naturally into the lumber 
business, and putting- up a planing mill in 
Courtright he conducted that for another 
period of fifteen years. Besides manufact 
uring and selling lumber he also owned and 
ran a vessel which carried the lumber and 
building materials to the different ports. 
This boat was stranded on Georgian Bay and 
was wrecked with a loss of 83,000, without 
insurance. About the same time the mill was 
struck by lightning and burned, which 
caused another loss of over $8,000, and after 
these two disasters Col. Stewart retired from 
active business and has since engaged in look 
ing after his land. He owns 700 acres in 
Moore township, all under cultivation and 
rented, and is the largest individual tax payer 
in the township. He also has 160 acres in 
New Ontario which was a veteran grant. 
His home is a small farm facing the St. Clair 
river, one mile south of Courtright. 

Col. Stewart s military career began 
during the Fenian Raid in 1866, when he 
raised a troop of cavalry of seventy men, and 
was its lieutenant, being stationed at Moore 
Town to guard the river front between Sar- 
nia and Sombra. Again in 1870 he per 
formed a similar duty, and for his services 
was presented by the Dominion government 
with the "Fenian Raid Medal," which is 
still in his possession. The troop of cavalry 
which he raised remained in the service and 
he rose to the rank of major, while in 1894, 
after more than a quarter of a century of 
service, he was retired by the Dominion 
government with the title of Lieutenant-col 
onel. In 1902 Col. Stewart received a gold 
medal from the Imperial government which 
the late Queen Victoria had ordered for all 



130 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



officers who had served for over twenty-five 
years in the colonial auxiliary forces, a fit 
ting recognition of his loyal service. 

Always a stanch supporter of the Liberal 
party, Col. Stewart cast his first vote in 1845 
for the Reform forces led by the Hon. 
George Brown. In local affairs he has 
taken a prominent part, has been member of 
the council for Moore township for four 
years, and for two served in the county coun 
cil, while he has always manifested a deep 
interest in the management of the public 
schools. Religiously he and his family have 
always been connected with the Presbyte 
rian Church, and Col. Stewart has been a 
liberal contributor, giving half the money 
needed for the Courtright church. He has 
also served as manager of the church. Fra 
ternally, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., 
having joined the Masonic lodge at Saginaw, 
Michigan, over half a century ago, in 1853, 
and he organized the lodge at Moore Town, 
now at Courtright. He is a Royal Arch 
Mason of St. Clair, Michigan, and belongs 
to the Knight Templar Commandery, of 
Port Huron. He is also a member of the 
I. O. O. F. 

Col. Stewart s marriage occurred Jan. 
25, 1855, when he was united to Miss Jean 
G"ibb, daughter of Robert Gibb, Sr., and 
sister of Robert and John Gibb, well- 
known citizens of Sarnia. Forty years ot 
happy married life followed, but March 23, 
1895, Mrs. Stewart passed away, and her 
remains were laid to rest in Moore Town 
cemetery. A family of nine children were 
born to Col. and Airs. Stewart, viz. : Mar 
garet, who married Milton Day, a contrac 
tor and real estate dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, 
and has one son, George; Mary, at home; 
John James, who died in infancy; John 
James (2), who died in early manhood, 
Aug. 15, 1895; Miss Jessie, at home; Eliza 
Jane, who died June 3, 1899; Robert G., 
mentioned below ; Annie Laurie, who mar 
ried John James, a hardware dealer in Court- 
right and has two children, Jean and Ada- 
Una; and a daughter who died in infancy. 
Col. Stewart is now in his declining years 
tenderly cared for by his children, but though 



in advanced age, he is as active as ever, both 
mentally and physically, and is a remarkable 
example of the sturdy old pioneer. He began 
as a poor boy and his present influential and 
prominent position is due entirely to his own 
efforts and ability. He stands as a fine 
example of noble manhood and patriotic citi 
zenship. 

MAJOR ROBERT GIBB STEWART, only 
surviving son of Col. Stewart, was born Oct. 
14, 1872, in the old Stewart home, Court- 
right, and in boyhood attended the district 
schools. At the age of fourteen he went into 
his father s lumber mill, and during nine 
years there worked in different capacities, 
being foreman for the last two years. At 
the end of that time, as he wished to con 
tinue his education, he went to Sarnia and 
at a business college there studied stenog 
raphy and typewriting. After returning to 
Courtright he spent two years in the grain 
business, also dealing in hardware, but then 
sold out and was engaged by the Michigan 
Central Railroad as inspector- of railway ties. 
At present he is foreman of the freight 
handlers on the Michigan Central Railroad 
dock at Courtright, while at the same time 
he is engaged in the coal business at Court- 
right. Politically he is a Liberal like his 
father, has been trustee of School Section 
No. 18 for eight years; since 1896 has been 
justice of the peace, being appointed by the 
Dominion government, and he fills the posi 
tion with both dignity and unvarying justice. 
In 1903 he was elected a trustee for the vil 
lage of Courtright, and the following year 
a member of the council for Moore town 
ship, and in every position has more than 
justified the choice of his constituents. 

At the early age of eleven Robert Stewart 
joined the cavalry, of which his father was 
then major, and for twenty-one years has 
been connected with C Squadron, ist Hus 
sars, in which he has himself now attained 
the rank of major, having risen from the 
bottom. During the Boer war he volun 
teered for service but his senior officer was 
chosen. He has very genial manners, and is 
not only well-known and respected, but very 
generally liked by all who know him, for he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



possesses the somewhat rare combination of 
ability and modesty. He belongs to Moore 
Lodge, No. 294, A. F. & A. M., Courtright. 
and is past master, having filled the office 
of master one year, and was secretary four 
years. He is a member of Valentine Lodge, 
I. O. O. F., of Moore Town, and of Court 
Silva, I. O. F., in which he was financial sec 
retary five years. He belongs to the Pres 
byterian Church, has been secretary and 
treasurer of the board and has been a teacher 
in the Sabbath-school. 

Major Stewart was married Jan. 17, 1894, 
in Moore township, to Miss Laura Stockdale, 
daughter of John Stockdale, and four chil 
dren- have been born to this union, namely : 
Laura P., Ruby B., George S., and Annie E. 
The family resides in a handsome frame 
dwelling which Major Stewart erected in 
1895. 

REV. DAVID CARSCADEN, whose 
death occurred at Bowmanville, Ont., Sept. 
9, 1896, was one of the best known and most 
highly respected citizens of western Ontario. 
He was a native of Ireland, born in 1830, a 
son of Robert and Flora (Dean) Carsca 
den, both of whom were also natives of Ire 
land. 

In 1840 the parents left their native land 
for Ontario, and upon the passage over the 
mother died and was buried at sea. The be 
reaved husband came on to Clarke, Durham 
County, Ont., where he engaged in farming 
until his death. He left nine children, but 
only one of them, David, settled in the 
County of Lambton. The latter was only 
ten years of age when brought to Ontario, 
and he was carefully educated in the land of 
his adoption, being early called to the Chris 
tian ministry, in which he served long, faith 
fully and well. In his early itinerancy he 
suffered many hardships on account of the 
state of the country and poor facilities of 
transportation. The roads were bad, the 
people poor and the settlements few and far 
between. At last, in 1860, he was obliged, 
on account of failing health, to give up his 
ceaseless rounds, and he settled in Lambton 
County upon a farm in Warwick township, 



which he purchased, for some time with ben 
eficial results. However, the love of his 
work was so strong that he returned to it 
and continued his ministrations until obliged 
once more to retire. For many years he was 
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, but at the time of the Union he 
withdrew from that denomination and en 
tered the Church of England. Mr. Carsca- 
den was deeply interested in historical sub 
jects and made a fine collection of relics. 
During the greater portion of his life he kept 
a diary, recording the events of each day, 
and these books contain many incidents bear 
ing upon events which have since then be 
come important historical features. Politi 
cally he was a stanch Conservative. His 
fraternal affiliations were with the Foresters 
and the order of Orangemen. 

On Nov. 15, 1852, in Clarke township, 
County of Durham, Ont., Mr. Carscaden 
and Miss Barbara Payne were united in mar 
riage. Mrs. Carscaden is a daughter of 
William and Christiana (Dean) Payne, both 
of whom were born in Ireland, as was their 
daughter, and they came to Ontario in 1838, 
when she was only six years old, her birth 
having occurred May 24, 1832. Three chil 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carscaden : 
John Dean, an orange farmer of California, 
married Caroline Cornell, and has one son, 
Ailsworth ; Christiana, widow of Dr. Don 
aldson, of Collingwood, has two children, 
Lula May and Herbert John; William Rob 
ert died in 1891. 

In the death of Mr. Carscaden Lambton 
County lost an estimable citizen, the Church 
an enthusiastic worker, and his family a lov 
ing husband and father. Although he has 
passed from this life, his good deeds live 
after him, and his memory is tenderly cher 
ished by hosts of friends who knew and ap 
preciated the noble, Christian traits of char 
acter constantly exhibited in his daily inter 
course with them. 

JOSEPH WILLIAMS, ex-reeve of 
Watford, Ont., and one of the town s prom 
inent and representative citizens, is of Eng 
lish and Irish extraction. The family was 



I 3 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



founded in Ontario by John Williams, son 
of Samuel Williams, whose whole life was 
spent in England. 

John Williams was born in 1810, in Dev 
onshire, England, and died Oct. 3, 1879. 
In 1832 he came to Quebec, and worked for 
a time at vessel loading, but as the cholera 
was raging at that port he went on to Brant- 
ford, and settled on a farm, where he re 
mained for three years. In 1843 he came to 
Warwick township, Lambton County, and 
settled on Lot 18, Concession 4, S. E. R. 
At this period the land was still covered with 
timber, and clearing or cultivating had not 
progressed to any great extent. He set to 
work industriously, and there the remainder 
of his life was spent, his efforts succeeding 
in the production of a valuable farm. In 
politics he was a Conservative, and for a 
number of years he served as constable for 
the County of Lambton. He belonged to 
the Church of England. In Quebec he mar 
ried Ann Smith, who was born in Longford, 
Ireland, July 15, 1819, daughter of John 
Smith, who came to Ontario in 1842. She 
died in Watford, Ont, Oct. 23. 1895. Their 
children were : Sarah Jane, a resident of 
Watford ; Joseph ; Lucy Annie, deceased, 
wife of R. L. Hawkins; John, a commercial 
traveler of Toronto; Maria, deceased wife of 
Alexander Laird, of Warwick; Henrietta, 
wife of John Baker, of Watford ; Samuel, 
deceased; Henry F., editor of the Watford 
Advocate; and Frederick L., deceased, an 
engineer for the Standard Oil Company. 

Joseph Williams was born April 21, 
1840, near Brantford, Ont., and was two 
years old when his parents came to Warwick 
township. He obtained his education in the 
Warwick schools, and assisted his father in 
the clearing and cultivating of the farm until 
he was nineteen years of age. In 1860 he 
went to the copper mines of upper Michi 
gan where he worked for three years, and 
then went to Chicago, where he was em 
ployed by the American Bridge Company for 
seven years. He assisted in laying the last 
rail and driving the last spike in the Union 
Pacific Railroad at Ogden, Utah. Upon his 
return to Warwick township he purchased a 



farm on Lot 17, Concession 4, Warwick, the 
same being covered with its virgin timber. 
This he cleared, and at the time he disposed 
of it, in 1882, it was a very valuable piece 
of property. He then settled at Watford, 
where he erected his present fine home on 
Main street, corner of Victoria. 

Mr. Williams has served six years in the 
council, and in 1902 was honored with elec 
tion to the office of reeve, securing a ma 
jority of the votes over the other two can 
didates. Mr. Williams served as chairman 
of the first school board of Watford, and 
remained a member three years. 

Mr. Williams married Margaret J. Phil 
lips, daughter of Benjamin and Anna 
(Kemp) Phillips, both of whom were born 
in New York State. Mrs. Williams was 
born in Lake county, Indiana, Jan. 29, 
1846, and came to Ontario with her hus 
band. The following children have been 
born to this union : Lucy Ann and Emily 
Jane, both deceased ; Lome Joseph, educated 
in the Watford and Strathroy high schools, 
and the Queen s University, Kingston, and 
now a teacher in the Pembroke high school ; 
Rev. Manville J., a Congregational minister 
in Colville, Washington; and Hattie Maria. 
Mrs. Williams belongs to the Congregational 
Church. Politically he is a Reformer, and 
fraternally a member of Havelock Lodge, 
No. 238, A. F. & A. M., of Watford. 

The following poem will prove of inter 
est to our readers : 

THE PIONEERS OF CANADA. 
OR, SIXTY YEARS AGO. 

AS SUNG BY J. S. WILLIAMS, THE ORIGINAL 
"OLD PIONEER." 

I love to hear the old pioneer tell of the days of yore, 
And why he left his native land to seek a foreign shore 
To brave the breeze, where forest trees were almost 

hid with snow 
And there to build his cabin home some sixty years 

ago. 

While longing for a spot on earth that they could call 

their own, 
They left the land that gave them birth to try and get 

a home; 
Where no evictions could be made, a landlord s power 

to show. 
They ventured out to Canada here sixty years ago. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



133 



It s wonderful the changes made in those short sixty 

years, 

Not only in the forest glade, but in our pioneers; 
Just see them now, with wrinkled brow, their gray 

heads bending low, 
How great indeed has been the change since sixty 

years ago. 

Whatever landscape ever had a change so great and 

grand 

As can be said in Canada, our own dear native land ; 
Her forests, once so very great, are going sure but 

slow, 
Just like her hardy pioneers of sixty years ago. 

Our old pioneers for many years had dangers to go 
through 

As great as Wellington, who won his fame at Water 
loo ; 

Where could you read of braver deeds than the old 
pioneers could show, 

While trying to make a home for us here, sixty years 
ago. 

Where wolves and bears in packs and pairs and other 

beasts of prey, 
Prowled round their cabins every night where 

Indians roamed by day; 
Who risked their lives, their weans and wives, as 

early records show, 
While clearing up this wilderness here, sixty years 

ago. 

Oh, what a debt of gratitude we owe our old pioneers ! 
Then treat them, friends, with due respect, in their 

declining years; 
For most of them have gone to rest, as many of you 

know, 
That ventured out to Canada here, sixty years ago. 

Canadian lakes and rivers all are beautiful to view, 
Her flowering hills and flowing rills shine like the 

mountain dew ; 

Its fertile fields abundance yields, its scenery is grand; 
"No wonder that Canadian boys do love their native 

land. 

WILLIAM W. REVINGTON. 

THOMAS E^yART, a wealthy farmer 
and stock raiser of Plympton township, and 
known all over Lambton County for his skill 
as a veterinary surgeon, has been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in the county for over 
forty years, and is now the owner of 150 
acres. He was born in Dundee. County of 
Huntingdon, Quebec, Jan. 21, 1829, son of 
George and Jeanette (Tulley) Ewart. 

Mr. Ewart s family is of English de 
scent, and his grandfather, Thomas Ewart. 
was a wealthy country squire on the Scottish 
border in Cumberland, where he owned a 
large estate. He married Miss Violet Fos 
ter, also a native of the north of England, 



and they became the parents of John, George, 
James, Hugo, Robert, Ann and Mary Ann, 
all of whom accompanied their father and 
mother to the New World in about 1820, 
locating near Montreal, where they lived and 
died. The family bought an estate opposite 
the city of Montreal, and there the parents 
passed the remainder of their lives. Both 
were members of the Church of England. 

George Ewart, son of Thomas, grew to 
manhood in his father s home, and when he 
started life for himself chose farming as his 
occupation. He bought 100 acres in Dun 
dee. County of Huntingdon, heavily timbered 
land which he cleared and cultivated and 
made into a fine farm. He was a great lover 
of horses and kept some of the finest in that 
section, and it was from him that his son 
Thomas inherited his fondness for them. 
Mr. George Ewart was an ardent Conserv 
ative, and did good service for his govern 
ment during the rebellion of 1837-38. His 
death occurred in 1859, at his home, and he 
was buried in Dundee. He was married in 
Montreal, and his wife, Jeanette Tulley, was 
a native of Scotland, born in Edinburgh. She 
was a woman of strong character and gave 
her children the heritage of a splendid train 
ing. Of the twelve children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Ewart, the youngest two died in 
infancy. The others were: Rebecca, Mrs. 
Samuel Clark, of Nebraska ; Thomas ; 
James, deceased ; Hugo, deceased, a Metho 
dist minister; John, who died in California; 
Violet and Hannah, deceased; Mary Ann, 
who married Andrew Hardy, of Toronto ; 
Elizabeth Jane, twin to Mary Ann, who mar 
ried Andrew Young, of Toronto ; and 
George, who died young. The parents were 
both members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Thomas Ewart was educated in Dundee, 
and remained at home until he was twenty- 
five. Then he went to Ontario, and after 
residing about three years near Toronto he 
moved to Lambton County, in 1860, bought 
150 acres of bush land in Enniskillen town 
ship, built a house 22 by 26 feet, and began 
life as a pioneer. In the short space of five 
years he succeeded in clearing eighty-four 
acres of his land, and then sold out, in order 



134 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to buy 100 acres in Plympton, in Lot 4, 
Concession 2. Ten years he spent there in 
operating and improving the farm, put up a 
frame house and good barns, and put the 
place in the best condition, but in 1872 Mr. 
Ewart again sold. His next purchase was 
his present homestead on Lot 13, Conces 
sion 2 ; at one time he had 358 acres, but 
now has but 1 50, the remainder having been 
given to his son, Robert J. This was mainly 
unimproved land, and he had to cut the tim 
ber and start the work of putting it under 
cultivation from the very beginning. He 
has now, however, a fine property, with a 
handsome house with all modern improve 
ments, and has been extensively engaged in 
farming and stock raising. 

With Mr. Ewart s fondness for horses, 
it is not surprising that he has made a spec 
ialty of raising them, and he has bred sev 
eral fine varieties. He is famed far and wide 
as a veterinary surgeon, is keenly interested 
in the work, and has had remarkable success. 
His experience in that line dates back almost 
to his boyhood, when he delighted in go 
ing around with a practitioner in the neigh 
borhood, and thus he gained a. practical 
working knowledge. 

Mr. Ewart s honesty and upright char 
acter are known all through the county ; his 
conduct is invariably based on principle, and 
he has carried it into every phase of his life. 
Although he is a stanch Reformer and a sup 
porter of the Liberal ticket generally, he 
could not conscientiously support the Laur- 
ier government, and took an independent 
stand. He belongs to the Loyal Orange As 
sociation, Lodge No. 514, of Sarnia, and is 
one of the oldest members in the county, 
and his membership dates back forty years ; 
he has filled the office of chaplain in the 
order. Mr. Ewart helped to organize the 
Farmers Association of Plympton, and is an 
active member thereof. He has also served 
on the school board for a number of years 
and is interested in every movement affect 
ing the public welfare. 

On Dec. 27, 1859, ^ r - Ewart was united 
in marriage with Margaret King, of 
Vaughan, Ont., daughter of Robert and 



Jeannette (Turnbull) King. Robert King- 
was a great admirer of William Lyon Mac- 
Kenzie, and Mrs. Ewart carefully treasures, 
a souvenir given her by the latter while he 
was in Parliament. Mrs. Ewart, who is a 
true Christian woman and ideal mother, was 
indeed a helpmeet to her husband in their 
early pioneer days, while her children bear 
witness to the wisdom and care she spent in 
their bringing up. She bore her husband 
ten children : ( I ) Robert James is now 
operating 125 acres of land adjoining the 
homestead, fifty acres of which his father 
gave him, and the rest was purchased from 
the Grand Trunk Railroad Company. He is- 
a general farmer and stock raiser, a Liberal 
in politics, and a member of the A. F. & 
A. M., Burns Lodge, Wyoming. He mar 
ried Miss Jane Anderson, and has four chil 
dren, Jessie, Margaret, Jean and Hugo, and 
they reside in a handsome brick home which 
lie built on his farm. (2) Jessie Turnbull 
married John D. Paul, of Plympton, and 
has children Maggie, Janet E., Thomas F., 
Robert A. and Jessie. (3) Elizabeth Jane 
married Thomas Paul, died March 20, 1890, 
and is buried in Wyoming. She had three 
children, John K., Jennie and Mabel. (4) 
Margaret lived only five years. (5) Jane died 
young. (6) Albert C. graduated from the 
Veterinary College at Toronto, but later 
turned his attention to dentistry, and is prac 
ticing at Marysville, Kansas. He married a 
Miss Beaumon, and has three children, 
Hugo, Albert and Baby. (7) Margaret King 
is at home. (8) Thomas Alexander, who 
was also graduated from the Toronto Vet 
erinary College, afterward studied medicine 
in the Detroit Medical College and is prac 
ticing in Michigan. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. He married Delia 
Finch, and has one daughter, Adeline. (9) 
Hugo is a graduate of the Detroit Medical 
College, and is also a Mason. (10) The 
tenth child died in infancy. 

ALEXANDER JAMIESON. a farmer 
and stock raiser of Bosanquet and secretary- 
treasurer for the patrons of the Ridge Tree 
Cheese Company, is a man well-known in the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



135 



township for his high standard of citi 
zenship and his succes as an agricul 
turist. He is a native of the township, 
having been born on Lot 6, Concession 10, 
May 14, 1853. 

Hugh Jamieson, father of Alexander, 
was born near Enniskillen, County Fer 
managh, Ireland, in 1827, and emigrated to 
this country in the year 1840, along with 
his two brothers, Alexander and Thomas, 
finally settling in the County of Ontario, 
Whitby township, Hugh finding employ 
ment with one of his uncles for a number of 
years. Coming to western Ontario, Lamb- 
ton County, about the year 1850, he there 
purchased 200 acres of land from the Can 
ada Company at $2.50 per acre. About this 
time he was married to Elizabeth Goudy, 
also a native of Ireland, and together they 
settled on Lot 6, Concession 9, Bosanquet, 
where the subject of this sketch was born, 
he being the eldest of a family of five chil 
dren. The others were : Mary Ann, who 
is now the wife of John H. Campbell ; James, 
on the old homestead; Ellen, who married 
Albert Campbell ; and George, the youngest, 
who died when only eight months old. 

The advantages for getting an education 
in those days being limited, young Alexan 
der Jamieson was taught by his mother un 
til he could read in the second book. He then 
started to school, the distance to the school- 
house being nearly three miles, and his first 
teacher being James Palmer, an English 
man. After acquiring a fairly good educa 
tion he left school at about the age of four 
teen. At about this time his father dis 
posed of his property, and bought another 
farm of 100 acres, on the 7th Concession of 
the same township, the farm being compara 
tively new, only fifteen acres being cleared. 
Alexander did his full share in helping his 
father, clear up the farm, having had the sat 
isfaction of seeing it all under a good state 
of cultivation, with good farm buildings 
erected thereon. 

Alexander Jamieson continued with his 
father on the farm until the year 1879, when 
he was married to Sarah Lovina Cutler, of 



Warwick township, daughter of John and 
Mary Cutler, old and respected residents of 
said township. The subject of our sketch 
then purchased Lot 9, Concession 6, Bosan 
quet, from James Fitzgerald, and together 
the young couple started life s work. There 
were born to them five children : Mary E., 
John Orville, Meda Ellen, Ethel and Alex 
ander C. In religion Mr. Jamieson and his 
wife, as well as all the children, are members 
of the Methodist Church at Jura, he having 
taken a somewhat active part in its work, 
having filled the office of steward for over 
twenty-five years. He was recording stew 
ard of the Thedford circuit for twelve or 
thirteen years, and has been a trustee of 
Thedford parsonage, as well as Jura Church. 
He has also acted as secretary-treasurer for 
the patrons of the Ridge Tree Cheese Com 
pany for the last sixteen years, having in that 
time handled about $250,000 of the patrons 
money. He is himself a stockholder in the 
company. Mr. Jamieson has filled the office 
of school trustee for the last eighteen years, 
and has served as auditor of the township 
for the past fourteen years. He has been a 
director of the Forest Standard Printing and 
Publishing Company since its inception. He 
is a member of the L. O. L., at Jura, No. 
819, and has also been a member of the 
I. O. F., Thedford, Court No. 192, for the 
last sixteen years. In politics Mr. Jamieson 
is thoroughly independent, believing firmly 
that party politics are responsible, to a great 
extent, for, the many acts of misgovernment 
of our country. 

On March 28, 1900, Mr. Jamieson suf 
fered the greatest loss of his life in the death 
of his devoted wife, Mrs. Jamieson suc 
cumbing to that dread disease pleura-pneu 
monia. She was interred in Arkona ceme 
tery. She was a Christian woman, a good 
wife, and a devoted mother. The death of 
Mrs. Jamieson left a blank in the family and 
in the community, her kindly disposition and 
many other sterling qualities having en 
deared her in the hearts of all. The subject 
of tins sketch is plodding on, trusting one 
day to meet her in the mansions above. 



136 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



MAJOR JOHN F. O NEIL, postmas 
ter, merchant and town clerk of Point Ed 
ward, Lambton County, Out., is one of the 
older business men of the place and one of 
the most prominent citizens. 

Major O Neil is of Irish extraction. The 
family was founded in Canada by Alexander 
O Neil, the great-grandfather of our sub 
ject, who came to Quebec on a British man- 
of-war, as a member of Her Majesty s navy. 
Thomas O Neil, son of Alexander, was 
born in Ireland, and spent three years in 
Canada, returning to his native country. He 
had sons: Alexander, John and Charles, all 
of whom came to Canada, and became 
owners of property which was granted to 
their grandfather from tfce Crown, on ac 
count of faithful naval service. Charles set 
tled first in York, and later on the YVelland 
Canal, where he engaged in a lumber busi 
ness ; John followed carriagemaking at 
York, and his son, John, has charge of the 
book department of the Hamilton Spectator. 
Alexander O Neil, father of Major 
O Neil, was born in Ireland in 1814, and for 
many years was deputy-governor of the 
Tralee Jail, County Kerry, prior to coming 
to Canada. In his native land he married 
Maria Fitzgerald, born in 1821, who was 
a teacher, and whose mother was in charge 
of the Infirmary of the Jail. They settled in 
Canada in 1852, and Mr. O Neil engaged 
for a time in business at Montreal, but later 
settled at Brantford, where he conducted a 
supply store for the soldiers. He died in 
1898. Politically he was a Reformer. His 
religious connection was with the Methodist 
Church. After his death his widow resided 
at Point Edward, and there her death oc 
curred in 1903. The children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. O Xeil were as follows: John F. ; 
James, of Sarnia ; Charles, deceased ; Albert, 
an attorney at Chicago, Illinois ; Alexander, 
a conductor on the Grand Trunk line; and 
Maria, wife of William Kupp. 

John F. O Neil was born June 24. 1842, 
while his father was the deputy-governor of 
the Tralee Jail. He was six years of age 
when he accompanied his parents to Canada, 
but returned to his native land and did not 



come back to the Dominion until 1852. He 
learned the shoemaker s trade, and also the 
carriage-making trade, the former of which 
he followed for eighteen months in Paris 
and Hamilton. He then went to Brantford, 
where he continued in the same business for 
three years, and then engaged with the Dupre 
& Green New Orleans Minstrel and Brass 
Band, and with this organization, traveled 
over a large part of the world. After five 
years with this band, he joined the 74th 
New York Regiment, at Buffalo, as second 
lieutenant, and served one and a half years 
in the Civil War in the States. He then 
returned to Brantford, and during the visit 
of the Prince of Wales, now King Edward 
VII, he had the honor of serving as corporal 
of the guard of honor between Paris and 
Brantford, accompanying the Prince on the 
train to Brantford. 

In 1870 Mr. O Neil came to Point Ed 
ward, and for man}- years served as outside 
agent and master of transportation for the 
Grand Trunk Railroad. He embarked 
in a grocery business, and in 1881 he 
was appointed postmaster, a position he 
still efficiently fills. For seven years he was 
reeve for Point Edward, and a member of 
the county council. Since 1899 he has been 
clerk of the municipality of Point Edward. 
In 1895 he became Major of the 271)1 Regi 
ment of the County of Lambton. He wears 
three medals for military service : Officers 
decoration, known as Colonial Auxiliary 
Forces; a long service medal; and the 
Fenian Raid medal, with two bars attached, 
1866 and 1870. He was also major in 
charge of the guard of honor to the present 
Prince of W ales, in London, Ontario. 

On Nov. 9, 1865, Major O Neil was 
united in marriage with Miss Melissa Hitch 
cock, born in Sarnia, Ont., daughter of Sam 
uel Hitchcock, a pioneer of that place, who is 
mentioned elsewhere. To this union these 
children have been born : Luella, wife of 
.liloom Robinson, of Calgary: Lydia, wife 
of Herbert Cruthers, and the mother of five 
children, Charles. Walter, Calvert, Bruce and 
Helen Grace; John F.. a railroad engineer at 
Calgary, who married Susan Burgess, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



137 



has one son, Stanley; Lyria, who married 

E. Patterson, night agent at Medicine Hat, 
and has two sons, Maynard and Harold; 
Lila married Earl Drake, a ranchman at 
Medicine Hat, Assa., and has three chil 
dren, Hazel, Harry and Gerrald, twins; 
Lena, stenographer at Calgary for A. L. 
McCarty, member Parliament and barrister ; 
and Liberta, an assistant bookkeeper in Med 
icine Hat, Assiniboia. 

Major O Xeil and family belong to the 
Methodist Church. Politically he is a Con 
servative, and fraternally he is an Odd Fel 
low, and a member of Victoria Lodge, A. 

F. & A. M., Sarnia. 

DR. WILLIAM F. B. COLTER. 
All of the professions are ably represented at 
Sarnia, County of Lambton, Ont, by men 
of prominence in their several callings, who 
take deep interest in furthering the interests 
of the city so far as lies within their power. 
Dr. William F. B. Colter, dental surgeon, is 
most justly included among this number, for 
he is a broad-minded, public-spirited citizen, 
and enjoys the distinction of being the old 
est practicing dentist of Sarnia. 

The Colter family originated in County 
Down, Ireland, where the Doctor s grand 
father, Charles Colter, was born, and where 
he married Miss Frances Beck. He decided 
to seek a home in the New World, and 
selected Durham County, Ont., as a place of 
residence. There he engaged in farming, 
and he and his wife died in that locality. 
Their children were as follows : Dr. Charles, 
father of W r illiam F. B. ; William ; Frank ; 
Ann, Mrs. Samuel Staples, of Toronto ; and 
J ane, Mrs. James Kerr, of Port Hope. 

Dr. Charles Colter, the father of our 
subject, was born in Durham County in 
1829, and was educated in the profession of 
dentistry, in which he continued until 1894, 
when he retired, removing from Strathroy, 
where he had practiced for many years, to 
Petrolia. There he has since made his home, 
enjoying the ease to which his labors entitled 
him. He is a Reformer in the true sense of 
the word, believing in the abolition of both 
liquor and tobacco, and firmly advocating 



the cause of temperance. In 1890 he was 
the temperance candidate for Parliament 
from the West Riding of Lambton. In 1852 
Dr. Colter was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Howe, a native of County Fermanagh, Ire 
land. Her father, Hamilton Howe, an offi 
cer in the English army, participated in the 
battle of Oueenstown Heights in 1812. Dr. 
and Mrs. Colter are now enjoying life sur 
rounded -by the comforts procured by their 
earlier efforts. To these worthy people five 
children were born: Dr. William F. B. ; 
Maggie, wife of Albert Scarsbrook, of Pe 
trolia ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Dun- 
brelle, in the Inland Revenue service at 
Hamilton; Dr. Charles F., a dentist at Pe 
trolia; and Dr. Fred H., a dentist in Okla 
homa City. 

William F. B. Colter was born in Dur 
ham County, Ont., June n, 1855, and ac 
quired his literary education in the high 
school of Strathroy, beginning the study of 
his profession with his father. In 1877 he 
entered the Royal College of Dental Surgery 
at Toronto, and was graduated from that 
institution in 1878, cum laudc. Immediately 
after graduating Dr. Colter began the prac 
tice of his profession in Sarnia in the office 
now occupied by attorney S. Weir. About 
ten years later he moved across the hall to 
his present more commodious apartments. 
For more than a quarter of a century he has 
climbed the same stairway each day going up 
to his office, a rather unusual record for any 
man. 

Dr. Colter has always taken an active 
part in political matters, being an advocate 
of the principles of the Reform party. Dur 
ing 1898 and 1900 he served with distinc 
tion in the city council of Sarnia, is a mem 
ber and for some time was chairman of the 
board of health. Since 1870 he has been 
connected with the militia, and at present 
(1905) is captain of Xo. 8 Companv of the 
27th Regiment. He is also prominent in 
fraternal orders, being now past master of 
Victoria Lodge, Xo. 56, F. & A. M.. at 
Sarnia ; a Chapter Mason and Knight Tem 
plar; a member of the I. O. O. F. : past 
provincial commander, K. O. T. M., of On- 



138 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tario; and past supreme auditor of the Su 
preme Tent of the K. O. T. M., of the 
World. 

On June n, 1880, Dr. Colter and Miss 
Emma Hull \vere united in marriage. Mrs. 
Colter is a native of the State of New York, 
but came to Canada in childhood. She is 
a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Graham) 
Hull, and a direct descendant of William 
Hull, the first territorial governor of Michi 
gan. Two children have been born to Dr. 
and Mrs. Colter, Charles W. and Harold 
Douglas. 

CAPT. JOHN WALLEN, one of the 
representative citizens and a prosperous oil 
producer of Oil Springs, Lambton County, 
was born Sept. 2, 1833, in Kent County, 
Ont., on the River Sydenham. 

Alexander and Margaret (Boyle) Wal- 
len, the parents of Capt. Wallen, were born 
respectively in Ohio and Canada, the father 
in 1801. He was a nephew of the distin 
guished soldier, Col. Kirby, the grandmother 
of Capt. Wallen being the sister of this noted 
military man. 

James Wallen, father of Alexander, was 
a soldier in the British service and took part 
in the war of 1812. Later he settled in 
Dover township, Kent County, Ont., and he 
died in Ohio, survived by his only son. Dur 
ing his residence in Kent County Alexander 
Wallen served as a colonel of militia. He 
was a pioneer settler in his locality, where 
he followed farming until his death. He 
married Margaret Boyle, born in Kent 
County, a most estimable woman, who was 
noted for the kindness and goodness of her 
life. Three of their sons still survive 
namely : Henry, a retired miller, of Dresden, 
Kent County ; Andrew K., a successful busi 
ness man, in the State of Illinois; and John, 
of whom this biography treats particularly. 

John Wallen received a district school 
education in Florence, Ont. When he 
reached manhood he started out as a sailor 
on the Great Lakes and followed this calling 
for some eighteen years. He then settled at 
Superior City. He married Miss Ellen 
Lane, born in the State of Kentucky, a mem 



ber of one of the leading families of the 
United States, and a lady whose refinement 
and courtesy were only equaled by her ami 
able disposition and charming hospitality. 
She will long be remembered by those who 
received kindness at her hands. Her death 
occurred at their home Dec. 26, 1886, at Oil 
Springs. She was a devoted member of the 
Presbyterian Church. She was survived by 
three, daughters and seven sons. She was the 
mother of eleven children, namely : Martha, 
born in Superior City, is the widow of 
Gilbert S. Crosbie, late a prominent citizen 
of Oil Springs, who for a number of years 
lived in Austria, Germany and England, as 
foreman for oil companies, and afterward 
interested himself in the same business at 
home. Alexander C. is mentioned elsewhere 
in this volume. Fred J. is a prospector in 
New Ontario. John H. is an oil prospector 
of Wyoming Territory. Jennie, born in Pe- 
trolia, is the widow of Daniel Bloom, and is 
a resident of Minnesota; they had two sons, 
Lloyd and Otto. Charles E., oil operator of 
Oil Springs, married Florence Sisk. Edwin 
K., of Russia, is in the oil business. Jessie 
died aged three years. William J. died aged 
nineteen years. Miss Laura E. and Albert 
J. are at home. 

Capt. Wallen gave up his business on the 
water in 1864, and came to Oil Springs, 
where he engaged in the oil business, being 
among the first oil producers of this section. 
He remained but a few years, however, re 
moving to Petrolia when the boom died out. 
After the Oil Springs field had slept for six 
teen years Capt. Wallen was the first to re 
turn, and he again began operations, which, 
proving successful, really opened up the- 
way for the development of this wonderful 
field. Through excellent business methods he 
soon became possessed of considerable capi 
tal, which he invested at Oil Springs, and 
here he has become one of the large oil pro 
ducers and a prominent citizen, identifying 
himself with the affairs of the locality and 
assisting in the progress and development of 
this section of Lambton County. Until 
within two years ago Capt. Wallen contin 
ued in active business, but warnings of fail- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



139 



ing health caused him to retire. He is a man 
beloved and esteemed by all who know him. 
A strong Conservative in politics, he has 
frequently been elected to responsible offices 
and has served both as councillor and reeve 
for a number of years. He has also been 
prominent in the Masonic fraternity at Oil 
Springs. Religiously he adheres to the 
Presbyterian Church. 

JAMES W. McCUTCHEON is prom 
inently identified with the business and mu 
nicipal interests of Petrolia, Lambton 
County. He is of Irish extraction and the 
family was founded in Ontario by his grand 
father, James, who was born in Ireland in 
1814. In his native place he married Mary 
Ann Baxter, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, 
born in 1819. In 1850 they emigrated to 
Ontario, locating at Dorchester Station, near 
London, Ont., where the grandfather en 
gaged in a lumber business for a number of 
years. Here his wife died in January, 1859, 
and he survived until July, 1880, passing 
away in Toronto. Eight children were born 
to this pioneer couple : George, who died in 
Georgia, U. S. A.; Robert, the father of 
James; James, a merchant of Pennsylvania; 
"William, deceased ; Joseph, deceased ; Mar- 
cella ; Eliza ; and Mary Ann. Of this family, 

Robert McCutcheon was born in. Ireland 
in March, 1838. During his younger days 
he assisted his father in his lumber business, 
but in 1865 he removed to Petrolia, and has 
since been actively engaged in the oil fields 
of this vicinity. In 1858 he married Isabella 
Wade, a native of Ontario, born in August, 
1839, daughter of William and Anna (Chil- 
lick) Wade. William Wade was born in 
Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1810, and his wife 
in that country in 1813. They settled in 
Ontario, in 1837, at Dorchester, and there 
the father followed the business of a con 
tractor. They died in 1870 and 1899. re 
spectively, The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
McCutcheon were born as follows : Will- 
iam. a contractor in Germany ; James W. ; 
Robert, deceased, who was a driller in Pe 
trolia, and in foreign fields as well ; George, 
a blacksmith of Petrolia; Joseph, deceased; 



Richard, deceased ; Thomas, a driller in On 
tario; Frank; Annie; Elizabeth; and 
Theresa. The parents are members of the 
Church of England. In politics the father is 
a Conservative. 

James W. McCutcheon was born near 
Dorchester Station, Feb. 18, 1861, and was 
only lour years of age when his parents set 
tled in Petrolia. His education was obtained 
in the public schools of that place, and at 
the age of fourteen years he began working 
in the flax fields of Petrolia, continuing thus 
engaged for about four years. He then 
spent three years learning the business of 
blacksmithing, which calling he followed for 
twelve years. About 1880 he embarked in 
the oil business, and in 1892 disposed of his 
interest in the blacksmith business in order 
to give all of his time and attention to his 
oil interests. Mr. McCutcheon is also a 
contractor, and operates full drilling outfits 
for the construction of all classes of deep 
wells. In addition to the above mentioned 
lines, he is vice-president of the Petrolia 
Wagon Works, and a director in the Pe 
trolia Packing Company, as well as presi 
dent of the Petrolia Combination Rack Com 
pany, which was organized in January, 
1900. In 1902 the plant of the last-named 
concern was destroyed by fire. He is now 
interested in the gas business, and has or 
ganized a company with a capital of $40,000 
to establish a gas works in Petrolia. where a 
twenty-year franchise has been secured. It 
is expected that the plant will be completed 
and in operation by the fall of 1906. 

Mr. McCutcheon has been prominent in 
municipal affairs, for eight years was a mem 
ber of the public school board, eleven years 
was a member of the council, and was also 
honored by election to the office of mayor in 
1900 and 1901. For seventeen years he was 
a member of the Fire Department, and dur 
ing that time was deputy chief for two years 
and chief for one year. In 1902 he was 
president of the W r est Lambton Conservative 
Association. Fraternally he is a Master 
Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F., in 
which he has passed all the chairs. 

On April 25, 1883, Mr. McCutcheon 



140 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



married Miss Bathalia Ann Jones, a daugh 
ter of Orlando Jones, and to their union 
children as follows have been born : Will 
iam; Cathleen Gertrude; Edith, deceased; 
and James and Arthur, twins. Mr. and Mrs. 
McCutcheon are consistent members of the 
Baptist Church, in which both are active 
workers. They are highly respected in the 
community in which they have made their 
homes for so many years, and they dispense 
a kindly hospitality to their many friends. 

HUGH MONTGOMERY, member of 
the Provincial Parliament of East Lambton, 
ex-reeve of Plympton township, and one of 
the most successful agriculturists and self- 
made men in his section, was born on his 
present homestead, in a house just opposite 
his present comfortable home, March 25, 
1858. 

Hugh Montgomery, his grandfather, 
was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, 
where he was a tenant farmer in the parish 
of Dunard. There he married Jane Black, a 
native of the same place. Their children 
were: William, Charteris, John, Jeremiah, 
Hugh and Elizabeth. 

Charteris Montgomery, second son of 
Hugh, the grandfather, was born at Dunard, 
County Antrim, in 1822, and there attended 
school and learned the trade of shoemaker, 
which he followed until he was twenty-five 
years of age. He was of too ambitious a na 
ture to feel contented with the field of his 
operations in his own land, and came to 
Canada, hoping to improve his condition. 
Sailing from Belfast on the "Rosalinda," 
commanded by Capt. Hayes, after a passage 
of thirty-eight days he landed at Quebec, in 
1847, and from there made his way to To 
ronto. There he found employment at his 
trade and worked at it for five years, when 
he removed to Talfalgar, Halton County, 
and continued to work at his trade for a 
year longer. In 1853 he came to Lambton 
County, and located in Plympton township, 
on the London road, where he bought twen 
ty-five acres of land in Lot 10, Concession 
4. This was then all bush, and on it he built 
a log house of the approved pattern of the 



time in which he settled, and began the im 
provement of this wilderness farm, to which 
he later added 200 acres on Lot 10, Conces 
sion 5, of which 100 acres is now owned by 
George Moore. On the 100 acres which he 
retained he built a fine brick house at a cost 
of $2,000. Many improvements made this a 
notable place, and he lived here until 1892, 
when he retired from active life, removing 
to Sarnia, where he built two fine dwelling- 
houses, one of which with his devoted wife, 
he occupied until his death, June n, 1905. 
Although past eighty-two years of age, he 
was quite active and in possession of all his 
powers. Mr. Montgomery was a strong 
Conservative all his life, but never sought 
or accepted office. His genial disposition and 
admirable personal attributes made him the 
center of a pleasant family circle, and he had 
not an enemy in the world. 

In Toronto, Jan. 4, 1850, by Rev. Dr. 
Gazette, a clergyman of the Church of Eng 
land, and later a bishop of the church, Mr. 
Montgomery was married to Miss Charlotte 
Brown, born in 1832, in County Down, Ire 
land, daughter of William and Charlotte 
(Bateman) Brown. The latter was born at 
Gibraltar, daughter of Capt. Bateman, an 
English army officer. Mrs. Montgomery 
came to Canada with her parents. She has 
been a model of maternal love, and has as 
sisted ably in the rearing and educating of 
her children, the latter no easy task in a new 
country. Her life, like her husband s has 
been one of industry and devotion to the 
highest calls of duty. On Jan. 4, 1900, this 
devoted couple celebrated their Golden 
Wedding, a happy occasion, which brought 
pleasure all through the family. These 
events are not of any too frequent occur 
rence, and will long be remembered by all 
permitted to be present. Children were born 
to Charteris Montgomery and wife as fol 
lows : (i) Elizabeth, wife of James Mont 
gomery, died leaving children William, of 
Plympton township: and James, of Wyo 
ming, who married Irene Canton, and has 
three children. Albert William. Myrtle 
Elizabeth and Hugh Charteris. (2) John, 
who died in Mexico, married Mrs. Estelle 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



141 



Stumbo, and left one child; Bertha. (3) 
Charlotte is the widow of John McCormick, 
and resides in Watford, Ont. She has three 
children, Rachel A., Lotta Bell and William 
J. (4) Sarah and (5) Charteris both died 
young. (6) Hugh is mentioned below. (7) 
Annie, widow of Anthony Reece, resides on 
Concession 7, Plympton, and has had chil 
dren Milton, Charlotte, Charteris, Gladys 
and Anthony (who died young). (8) James, 
a farmer in Plympton township, married 
Annie Dunford, and they had one child, 
Elizabeth Jane, now deceased. (9) Char 
teris, a traveling salesman, resided in Cleve 
land, where he died March 27, 1905. He 
married Helena Murray. (10) Sarah mar 
ried Robert Johnson, and they have three 
children, Geraldine, Gladys B. and Yera 
Vivian, (n) Minnie Margaret married 
Charles Policy, a groceryman at Petrolia, 
and has one child, Charles Wesley. (12) 
Thomas, a machinist with the Imperial Oil 
Company, at Sarnia, married Daisy Wors- 
ley. of Sarnia, and they have three children, 
Ada Blanche, Bernice Marie and Charteris. 
Hugh Montgomery, son of Charteris, 
received but limited educational advantages, 
and at the age of twelve years began to 
work hard to assist his parents, that they 
might clear the home farm of debt. All his 
earnings, until he was twenty-one, were 
given to his father. In spite of limited op 
portunities and many early drawbacks Mr. 
Montgomery is an intelligent citizen, and 
one of the well informed and able business 
men of his neighborhood. He remained at 
home with his father until the age of twen 
ty-one, although at the age of fourteen he 
spent a winter in Michigan in the lumber 
regions, using his father s team,. and going 
back home in the spring. For the team and 
his own services he received sixty dollars 
per month, which he gave his father. With 
this exception he continued on the home 
farm until his majority, and then started out 
for himself, renting a farm on the south part 
of the London road, owned by a Mr. Bowen, 
of Marthaville, a tract of seventy-four acres. 
Upon this place he settled down for three 
years, during which time he started in the 



threshing business. In 1882 he rented a 
fifty-acre farm of Mrs. John Murphy, on the 
London road, and continued in the thresh 
ing business, which industry he has carried 
on ever since, having invested thousands of 
dollars in engines, separators, etc., and hav 
ing owned five engines and fifteen separa 
tors, working through Plympton and ad 
joining townships. At a later date Mr. Mont 
gomery bought the Arthur Donnelly farm, 
of 100 acres, on Lot 9, London road, which 
he has cultivated ever since. In 1895 he 
purchased the homestead farm of 100 acres, 
and the twenty-five acres of land on which 
his father first settled. He farms 225 acres, 
and rents 100 acres in Concession 3 from 
John Brown, for pasturage. He is exten 
sively engaged in the cattle and horse busi 
ness, at most times having between fifty and 
one hundred head of fine cattle, and he deals 
in the same, being a good judge and a lover 
of fine specimens. Among his many varie 
ties he has a fine Arabian stallion. Mr. 
Montgomery started farming with very lim 
ited capital, but worked hard, practiced 
economy and watched every opportunity to 
make an honest dollar. In this he has been 
ably assisted by his wife, whose hearty 
sympathy and continual help have always 
gone far toward making his burdens lighter. 
Politically Mr. Montgomery has always 
been a stanch Conservative, and he was a 
supporter of the late Sir John A. Macdonald. 
In 1892 he was elected to the township coun 
cil and served four years, being elected by 
this body deputy reeve, which entitled him 
to the seat in the county council, in which 
he did much effective work. In 1897 he was 
elected reeve of the township, and has served 
ever since, being re-elected six times by ac 
clamation. He has taken the same interest 
in township affairs as in his own ever since 
he assumed the reeveship. At the beginning 
of his service the township was in debt and a 
lawsuit pending. Since then his efforts have 
resulted in the payment of the claim and the 
debt, and the township taxes have been found 
sufficient, under his careful management, to 
pay the running expenses. Iron bridges have 
been built, two road scrapers and other ma- 



142 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



chinery have been bought, and a mile of ce 
ment pavement laid at Camlachie, which is 
the only town of its size in the country to 
have such walks. Mr. Montgomery is justly 
popular in the township and is looked up to 
by all parties. At the convention held at 
Watford Oct. 8, 1904, very much against 
his wishes he was nominated as the choice of 
his party for the office of M. P. P., and in 
January, 1905, was elected by a large major 
ity, being the first straight Conservative to 
hold that office from the East Riding of 
Lambton since the confederation. A man of 
genial manner and honest business propen 
sities, in the administration of the affairs 
placed in his hands none can excel Hugh 
Montgomery in the estimation of his fel 
low-citizens. 

At Kingston, Ont., Feb. 10, 1888, Mr. 
Montgomery married Effie J. Duncan, who 
was born at Petrolia Sept. 20, 1869, daugh 
ter of Alexander and Christina (McCor- 
mick) Duncan, of Scotch descent. The one 
child of this marriage, Effie, died in infancy. 
Mr. Montgomery is not a member of any 
church, but attends the Methodist, and gives 
liberally to all denominations. Mrs. Mont 
gomery is a lady of most estimable character, 
one who excites admiration for her many 
womanly attributes. She is a member of the 
Baptist Church, attending the church at the 
Second Line, and for seventeen years she 
has been a member of the Missionary Circle. 
She also gives attention to other societies 
the K. O. T. M., Jubilee Tent No. 392, of 
Wyoming, and she has been lady com 
mander of Oak Leaf Hive for the past five 
years ; and the Chosen Friends at Wyoming. 
Mr. Montgomery is a member of Burns 
Lodge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M., Wyoming, 
and Tent No. 38, K. O. T. M.. Wyoming. 

Mr. Montgomery has lived an active life, 
one which has gained him prominence in 
many ways. Combined with unusual busi 
ness ability are those qualities which make 
for good citizenship. He has always been 
foremost in advocacy of the movements 
which promise substantial benefit to the com 
munity, and. on account of his reliability, his 
judgment is consulted and his advice taken. 



Not all men succeed in business and in pub 
lic life and remain also an interesting figure 
in family life and in neighborhood affairs, 
but all this has been accomplished by Mr. 
Montgomery. 

Alexander Duncan, father of Mrs. 
Montgomery, was born in 1840, in Dal- 
housie, Lanark County, Ont., and was 
reared in Sarnia township. His first wife, 
Christina McCormick, was born on L ist 
Island, Scotland, and was brought to Can 
ada at the age of four years, and from the 
time she was ten her home was in Lambton 
County. By trade Alexander Duncan was a 
carpenter, and he became a contractor and 
builder, although in his younger days he fol 
lowed farming. In 1895 he retired and now 
lives in Kingston. Ont. His first wife 
Christina McCormick, died Nov. 17, 1880, 
aged thirty-five, in the faith of the Presbyte 
rian Church. To this marriage were born 
children as follows : Anna, who married John 
Whitehead, of Kingston, secretary and treas 
urer of the Kingston Railway, and has seven 
children; Effie J., Mrs. Montgomery; Ger 
trude, who married William Johnson, a 
farmer at Plympton ; Millicent, who married 
Walter Grant-McKay, a fur merchant at 
Calgary, Alberta, and has a son, John A. ; 
and Josephine, who died at the age of twen 
ty-one. For his second wife Alexander 
Duncan married Jessie Lilly, of Perth, who 
died a year and a half later. His third wife 
was Jessie Stinscombe, who has borne him 
four children : Jessie, married to Thomas 
Turner, who is in the harness business at 
Kingston ; and Alexander, Robert and Will 
iam, at home. 

EDWARD HUMPHRIES, a prosper 
ous farmer of Bosanquet township, is a na 
tive of England, born at Monkhopton, 
Shropshire, Feb. 13, 1844. Benjamin and 
Mary (Hanes) Humphries, his parents, were 
farming people and lived and died in that 
county, the father passing away in 1899, at 
the age of ninety-two years, eight months, 
the mother in 1897. at the age of eighty- 
seven. They were members of the Church 
of England. Their children were as fol- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



lows: Elizabeth (deceased) married Will 
iam Smith; Eliza (deceased) married Rich 
ard Raiswell; James is a farmer in England; 
Edward is mentioned below ; Thomas, who 
died in Bosanquet township, was a farmer; 
Jane married William Higgins, and lives in 
Wales ; Benjamin is a farmer in Bosanquet 
township; Annie married John Evanson 
and resides in Shropshire, England; Mary 
is the wife of George Carter, a carpenter of 
W r arrington, England. 

Edward Humphries spent his boyhood 
days in his native home, attending the parish 
schools and working at farm labor. He re 
mained at home until twenty years of age, 
when he started out to work for himself, be 
ing employed by the Duke of Cleveland at 
tile draining, and also by Lord Acton at the 
same kind of work. Later he accepted con 
tract work with the West of England Land 
Improvements Co., of Exeter, at tiling, 
draining and reclaiming land. In 1872 he 
turned to Canada to find a home, sailing 
from Liverpool on the Allen Line Steamer 
"Sarmatian," and landing in Quebec. There 
he worked six months in the stone quarries 
and then came to Ontario, where he found 
employment working on a large ditch in 
Brooke township, Lambton County, for 
George Blain, the contractor. In the spring 
of 1873 ne came to Bosanquet township, and 
had charge of a gang of men putting in the 
drain for the Canada Land Company, known 
as the Canada Company Canal, on which 
Mr. Humphries did the grading and sloping 
work. After two and one-half years on this 
job he went to Sombra township, where he 
had charge of a gang of men, under the 
same contractor, putting through thirty 
miles of ditching. He then went to West 
Tilbury township, and was foreman in the 
construction of the East branch of the Big 
Creek. One year was spent there, and then 
Mr. Humphries spent six months on a free 
government grant of 100 acres, after which 
he disposed of his land and located in Bos 
anquet township, in 1877. He started farm 
ing along the flats of Lake Burwell. where he 
purchased a tract of 100 acres of land from 
the Canada Land Company. The land at the 



time Mr. Humphries took hold of it was flat 
and swampy, but he has converted it into 
one of the fine farms of the township, and 
since locating upon it has been engaged in 
farming and stock raising, having one of the 
best celery farms in America. He added 
forty acres more to his purchase, upon which 
he erected a fine brick dwelling house, barns 
and outbuildings. 

On April 19, 1882, Mr. Humphries mar 
ried, in Bosanquet township, Rachel (Mc 
Donald), widow of Joseph Paisley. By her 
first marriage Mrs. Humphries had children 
as follows : Bertha and Joseph were twins, 
and Bertha died young. Joseph married 
Effie Walkerdine, and resided in Thedford. 
John, who is engaged in farming on the old 
homestead, married Mamie Hazelwood, and 
they have one daughter. Hazel. William, 
unmarried, is also farming cfn the old home 
stead. Politically Mr. Humphries is a Re 
former. He was a member of the I. O. O. 
F. in England. He and his wife are con 
nected with the Methodist Church. 

WILLIAM CUTHBERTSOX, one of 
the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Sar- 
nia township, has passed almost his entire 
life in Lambton County, as he was only two 
years old when his parents moved there. His 
birthplace was in Dalhousie township, Lan 
ark County, and he first saw the light of day 
April 18, 1852. 

The paternal grandfather. William 
Cuthbertson, was an early settler in Lan 
ark County; he was born in Glasgow, Scot 
land, and there grew to manhood. He mar 
ried a Miss Lee and several children had 
been born to them before they left their na 
tive land. But in 1834 the whole family 
came to Canada and settled in Dalhousie 
township, where they had secured a tract of 
land from the government. There William 
Cuthbertson died at an advanced age. His 
family was as follows : James, a farmer near 
Milverton, Ont. ; Peter, father of our sub 
ject ; William, who died unmarried ; John, 
deceased, farmer in Enniskillen township; 
Jane, wife of William Gardiner, of Sarnia ; 
Maggie, Mrs. John Wier; Janet, who was 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



drowned at the age of twenty-six; George, 
who still lives on the old homestead in Dal- 
housie township ; and Alexander, a farmer in 
Dawn township. 

Peter Cuthbertson was born near Glas 
gow, and was seven years old when his pa 
rents left Scotland. He grew up on the fam 
ily place, and in time began farming, first at 
home and later on property which he bought. 
In 1854 he took his family to Lambton 
County, and there settled on 100 acres which 
he bought in Sarnia township, Lot i, Con 
cession 3. It was a wild, wet tract of land 
but he began vigorously upon the work of 
clearing, and had a well-improved farm 
within a comparatively short time. He first 
put up a small log house, but in 1866 it was 
replaced by the large frame house which is 
still used as a residence. Mr. Cuthbertson 
also added largely in time to his first prop 
erty. He was married in Dalhousie town 
ship to Miss Sarah O Neil, a native of Lan 
ark County, and a daughter of Neil and 
Christiana (McKey) O Neil, natives of Ire 
land, who came to that county in the pioneer 
days. The children bom to this union were : 
Christiana, who died when twenty-two years 
old; William; Jessie, wife of Judson G. 
Finch, of Mandamin. The mother of this 
family lived till 1900, when she passed away 
aged seventy-six years, but the death of 
Peter Cuthbertson had occurred many years 
before, in 1882, when he was fifty-five years 
and six months of age. He was a devout 
believer in the teachings of Presbyterianism, 
and an active member of the Mandamin 
church. In his politics he was a stanch Re 
former. 

William Cuthbertson was two years old 
when his parents moved from Lanark 
County to Lambton County, so that prac 
tically his whole life has been passed in the 
latter locality. During his boyhood he was 
sent to school and had to walk the two miles 
and back daily. Accustomed from his youth 
to working on the farm, he was entirely com 
petent to take charge of the homestead after 
his father s death and has ever since carried 
on general farming there. It is a fine place 
of 100 acres, and Mr. Cuthbertson also owns 



100 acres in Concession 2, much of which he 
had helped clear. On this latter property 
he has sunk a number of oil wells and has 
met with much success in the enterprise 

On Dec. 28, 1880, William Cuthbertson 
was married to Miss Annie Beer, who was 
born in London, Out. Pier father, Richard 
Beer, died when she was a child. One daugh 
ter and four sons comprise their family 
Sadie A, Peter M., Ross W., John S, and 
Allen L., all still under the paternal roof. 
The family are all members of the Man 
damin Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cuthbert 
son is of the Reform party in politics, but 
takes no specially active part in public af 
fairs. He is thrifty, industrious and pro 
gressive in his ideas, and is one of the sub 
stantial farmers of the vicinity, universally 
held in high esteem. 



HENRY P. LAWRENCE was at the 
time of his death undoubtedly the most 
prominent business man of Wa tford, Out 
where he had resided from 1873. As a 
member of the firm of Jacob Lawrence & 
Sons he was connected with the oldest estab 
lished lumber firm in the County of Lamb- 
ton. He was one of those progressive bus 
iness men who regard the welfare of their 
community as necessary to the success of 
any enterprise, and though his activity in 
municipal affairs was not by any means- 
prompted by selfish motives he realized 
that the public-spirited citizen reaped the 
benefits of his interest. He was as popular 
as he was well known, and the sympathy 
aroused by his unfortunately tragic death 
has only served to strengthen his memory in 
the minds of his fellow-citizens. 

Mr. Lawrence came of a prominent fam 
ily, some of whose members still reside on 
the old homestead. His grandfather, Peter 
Lawrence, a native of England, was reared 
in his native country, and coming to On 
tario located in the flourishing settlement of 
Toronto. Finding, in the well-wooded dis 
trict of that section, plenty of timber to be 
had almost for the asking, he opened a saw 
mill in the city and began the manufacture 
of lumber. The enterprise met with sue* 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



cess from the start, and he continued it until 
his death. During his young manhood Mr. 
Lawrence married a lady named Cowles, 
who was of Pennsylvania-Dutch parentage, 
and by this marriage there were seven chil 
dren /John and Peter followed farming, the 
first near Toronto, the second at Xewton 
Brook; Margaret married John Wilson; 
Elizabeth married John Walker, of Toronto ; 
Jacob is mentioned below; Catherine mar 
ried William Peterman : William is a retired 
business man of Toronto. 

Mr. Lawrence and his family occupied 
a high place in the social and religious circles 
of Toronto. He and his wife were devout 
members of the Methodist Church, possess 
ing so strong a faith in the creed of that 
denomination that the majority of their 
descendants have been led to accept its 
tenets. 

Jacob Lawrence, father of Henry P., was 
one of the most enterprising and successful 
lumber dealers in western Ontario. Born 
near Toronto in 1821, the son of a prominent 
lumberman, he was reared in the atmos 
phere of business. On reaching manhood, 
however, impressed with the remarkable 
agricultural resources of his section, he en 
gaged in farming near Toronto for some 
time, meeting with very good results. About 
this time, in 1846, occurred his marriage to 
Annie Wilkinson, who was born at St. Cath 
arines in 1830, daughter of the late Rev. 
Henry \Vilkinson. 

Mr. Lawrence s powers of achievement 
could not restrict themselves to agriculture, 
and he soon engaged in the lumber business 
in Toronto, acquiring much valuable experi 
ence. Later, with his brother Peter, he 
opened a tannery at Newton Brook, Out., 
where he also carried on a flourishing indus 
try for a short time. Experiments in differ 
ent lines by this time decided Mr. Lawrence 
to confine his activities to the lumber busi 
ness, as the surest means to success and for 
tune, and, going to Eglinton, he there 
erected a sawmill. The business outlook of 
this place proving a good one, he continued 
there for some time. Then, in 1871, think 
ing to enlarge his trade by a change of loca- 
10 



tion, he moved to Wanstead, County of 
Lambton, and engaged in the same line, con 
tinuing there, however, but two years. In 
casting about for a desirable permanent loca 
tion he finally decided upon Watford, trans 
ferring his business to this place in 1873. 
For seven years he remained here, enlarging 
the business from time to time and working 
up a steadily increasing trade. In fact, so 
extensive became his enterprise in time that 
he found it desirable to take in as partners his 
two sons, Henry P. and William F., the firm 
of Jacob Lawrence & Sons being established. 
By 1880 the sons were entirely competent to 
run the Watford branch alone, and Mr. 
Lawrence finding at that time a fine opening 
for a wholesale and retail house at Sarnia, 
moved there and opened the present estab 
lishment. He remained there until his death, 
in 1884. He was a Reformer in politics, and 
a member of the Methodist Church. 

Mrs. Lawrence died in Sarnia Aug. 10, 
1900. Six children were born to her and 
her husband : ( i ) Henry P. is mentioned 
below. (2) William F., a resident of Sar 
nia, has three sons, Edward C., W. Ralph 
and Wilbur. (3) Mary married George 
Bowen, of Sarnia, and they have five chil 
dren, Eva, Henry, Leslie, Arnold and 
Helen. (4) Maria, the wife of \Villiam 
Ritchie, of Mt. Pleasant, also has five chil 
dren. (5) Amelia married Thomas Slater, 
of Flint, Michigan, and they have one son. 
(6) Helen is the wife of Ed Kelly, of Sar 
nia, and they have two children, Edward 
and Mildred. . 

Henry P. Lawrence was born March 10, 
1849, at Eglinton, Out., near Toronto, and 
his literary education was obtained in the 
latter city. When he was quite a young man 
he and a few friends went to Muskoka, but 
he did not remain there long. His business 
career really commenced at Wanstead, where 
about the time he reached his majority he 
engaged in a sawmill business in company 
with his brother William F. and his father. 
The business was conducted under the old 
name, which had become well known and 
highly respected in the trade, until after 
Henry P. Lawrence died. In 1873, as pre- 



I 4 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



viously stated, they settled at Watford, 
which offered larger opportunities for the 
business at this point, the plant at \Vansteacl 
being conducted by other members of the 
firm. In 1875 the firm added to their Wat- 
ford facilities a planing-mill, which was 
later destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and is 
still in successful operation. To the Wat 
ford branch of the business was later added 
a saw, stave and heading mill, which has 
been twice destroyed by fire and as many 
times rebuilt. After the father s death the 
sons continued the business, William F. re 
moving to Sarnia to help his father and later 
taking charge of the Sarnia branch, of which 
he is now the proprietor. After the death 
of Henry P. Lawrence the firm of Jacob 
Lawrence & Sons was dissolved, Mr. Law 
rence s widow taking his interest in the busi 
ness, and she is now manager of the Wat 
ford branch of the business, her eldest son 
giving all his attention to the same. The 
activities of the Watford branch include deal 
ing in retail lumber, hardwood, stave and 
heading manufacturing, requiring the serv 
ices of fully fifty employes throughout the 
year. After the company embarked so ex 
tensively in the business at Watford saw 
mills were established at Kings Court, War 
wick, and Sutorville, Kings Court and 
Sutorville having lately been closed, how 
ever, on account of the inability of the firm 
to procure suitable logs. 

Air. Lawrence was a man well fitted for 
extensive enterprises, and became widely 
known in his line, though this was the result 
of his personality and not of any special 
effort on his part. From the time he settled 
in Watford as the head of the company s 
large business interests he took an active 
part in municipal matters, serving- several 
years in the town council, and as reeve of 
Watford for several years ; he was for two 
years a member of the county council. He 
never thrust himself forward, but he was an 
able man, and as such was looked to for 
many things, always proving himself worthy 
of the confidence reposed in him in any trust. 
In private life, as in public matters, he was 
always the helpful friend, the charitable fel- 



lowman, to all with whom he came in con 
tact, and while he did his duty to the full 
extent of his powers he was never ostenta 
tious or anxious to have his kindness known 
to any but the recipients. He was a public 
benefactor in the best sense, and as an ardent 
believer in temperance reform took an active 
interest in the Referendum campaign not 
long before his death. He is remembered 
in Watford by many a kind deed and left 
many friends who mourned his sudden and 
untimely death. On Dec. 26, 1902, he had 
been at Chatham, and returned to spend a 
few hours with his family, leaving on the 
train for Sarnia at ten o clock; the train was 
wrecked at Wanstead about fifteen or twenty 
minutes after he left Watford, and he met 
his death within sight of the place where he 
made his first start in life, being one of the 
victims of that terrible disaster. A most 
devoted home man, his death was a loss in 
deed to his wife and family, and many unus 
ual marks of sympathy told of the high 
respect in which he was held by the towns 
people generally. After a short service at 
the house conducted by Rev. Mr. Galloway, 
assisted by Rev. Mr. McTavish, of Warwick, 
and Mr. Siple, of Watford, there were most 
impressive services at the Methodist Church, 
the funeral sermon being preached by Mr. 
Lawrence s intimate friend, Rev. W. G. H. 
McAlister. The body was escorted to the 
cemetery by the Canadian Order of Fores 
ters, of which he was an old and honored 
member, and by about fifty of his employes. 
On Oct. 25, 1880, in Watford, Mr. Law 
rence married Miss Mary A. Kerr, daughter 
of Henry and Mary (Hume) Kerr, pioneers 
of Warwick township, where Mrs. Lawrence 
was born. Three sons came to this union, 
namely : Fred H., W. Harold and Ernest 
W. Fred H. was educated at the Watford 
high school and the university of Toronto 
and is now manager of his father s business ; 
he is a prominent Mason, belonging to the 
Knights Templars and the Shrine. Mrs. 
Lawrence attends the Methodist Church, of 
which she is a member, and of which Mr. 
Lawrence was a strict adherent and 
member. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



147 



SAMUEL LEGGET CLARKE was 
born in the town of Bury St. Edmunds, 
County of Suffolk, England, on the 23d 
clay of January, 1840. Robert Clarke, his 
grandfather, was born at Hadleigh, Suffolk 
County, England, and married a Miss Leg- 
get, who was born at Yarmouth, England. 
Of this union there were several children, 
among whom was a son named Samuel. 

Samuel Clarke married Mrs. Mary 
(Smith) Reed, who was born in England 
in 1807, and by this union there were sev 
eral children : Eliza, now a resident of Oak 
ley, Michigan ; Robert, who was killed at the 
siege of Sebastapol ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Car 
rol), deceased; Samuel Leggett; Catherine, 
who married John Crook, and resided in De 
troit (both are now deceased) ; Thomas, a 
resident of Detroit: and John S., who now 
resides in Sarnia, Ontario. 

Samuel Clarke, father of Samuel Leg- 
get Clarke, for a time maintained a bakery, 
but in those days his occupation was desig 
nated as "victualar," and later was proprie 
tor of a public house or inn known as the 
"Buck s Head." Mr. Clarke had some liti 
gation regarding his lease of the "Buck s 
Head," which resulted rather disastrously 
for him. and he subsequently worked as a 
laborer in a brickyard, and with him his son 
Samuel, the subject of -this sketch. 

Mr. Clarke soon decided to try his luck 
in the Xe\v World, and in 1856 he. together 
with his family, crossed the Atlantic in the 
good ship "Sovereign of the Seas." They 
were six weeks in making the trip, which 
was considered fair time in those days. 

Upon arriving at Sarnia, Ont, Mr. 
Clarke was obliged to turn his hand to any 
work he could obtain, but the population of 
Sarnia being small he soon turned his at 
tention to gardening, and by dint of hard 
work, frugal habits and careful saving on 
the part of his wife and himself purchased a 
small parcel of land, just outside the pres 
ent town limits on the north side, and en 
gaged in gardening. Here on this piece of 
land Mr. Clarke toiled -early and late. 
Dressed ready for work waiting for the 
break of day is what his children say of 



him, and it was seldom indeed in the sum 
mer time that he could not be found with 
hoe or rake in hand long after the sun had 
sunk below the horizon. Mr. Clarke was 
looked up to by his neighbors and friends, 
being more than ordinarily successful, and 
his reputation was such that his word was 
considered as good as his bond. His wife 
died March 16. 1882, and on the I2th day 
of May, 1886, he was gathered to hi 
fathers, leaving a snug fortune to be divided 
equally between his children and the chil 
dren of his wife by her former husband. 

Samuel Legget Clarke upon arriv 
ing with his father at Sarnia hired 
out as hostler and general chore boy 
to Samuel W. Farrel, and when about 
the age of eighteen he entered the 
employ of William Xeil. where he was 
taught the shoemaker s trade. On Feb. 15, 
1865. Mr. Clarke married Miss Lydia Mor 
gan, who was born in the Forest of Dean, 
Gloucestershire, England, April 6, 1842, 
daughter of George and Mary Anne Mor 
gan. Her father was one of the pioneer set 
tlers of Lambton County and is mentioned 
elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Clarke were born four children : Florence, 
now Mrs. Bertron Wees, residing at Wees 
Beach, Sarnia township; George Samuel 
Legget, who is a lawyer of the St. Clair 
County Bar and at present Circuit Court 
Commissioner for St. Clair County, residing 
at No. 1033 Wall street. Port Huron. Mich 
igan; Lillian R. A., residing with her pa 
rents ; and Daisy, who is deceased. 

About 1877 Mr. Clarke started in busi 
ness for himself, opening a shoe store near 
the southeast corner of Lochiel and Chris 
tina street, Sarnia. Later he sold out his 
shoe business and entered the employ of 
Messrs. Callum & LeSueur, who were and 
are at the present time conducting a shoe 
store at Sarnia. About 1883 he disposed 
of some of his real-estate holdings and pur 
chased a loo-acre bush farm fronting on the 
shore of Lake Huron, Sarnia township, and 
running to the gth Concession. It took Mr. 
Clarke several years to prepare this wild land 
ready for the plough, and during this time 



148 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the experience of himself and family was 
typical of the early pioneers so far as hard 
work with little recompense was concerned. 
In 1887 he was employed as superin 
tendent of Lakeview cemetery, and when 
one considers the rough and uncouth condi 
tion of the cemetery when Mr. Clarke took 
charge, many of the roads not even being 
surveyed, and then drives through the well- 
kept roads winding in and out under beau 
tiful shade trees, views the handsome lawns 
and grass plots, he has some idea of what 
Mr. Clarke has accomplished. Mr. Clarke 
has devoted some of his spare time to deal 
ing in real estate and on account of his early 
business training and his knowledge of de 
sirable tracts of land in and about Sarnia, 
coupled with his wide acquaintance with 
the people of the community, he has made 
more than ordinary success in his real-estate 
ventures. He now owns considerable prop 
erty both in the township of Sarnia and in 
the town of Sarnia. Politically Mr. Clarke 
is and always has been a stanch Conser 
vative. 

He and his family are among the highly 
respected citizens of Sarnia and are 
members of the Episcopal Church. Fra 
ternally he is a member of the Masonic or 
der and the Independent Order of Odd Fel 
lows. He has always interested himself in 
educational matters and has served many 
years as a member of the school board. 
There are few people in Lambton County 
who have a wider acquaintance than Mr. 
Clarke, and a conscientious endeavor always 
to fill life s duties to the best of his ability 
has characterized him through life. 

G. S. PITKIN, manager of the hard 
ware firm of VanTuyl & Fairbank, of Pe- 
trolia, Out., is a well-known citizen. He 
was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 25, 
1860, and his literary education was ac 
quired at that great University City. He 
studied law for four years in the office of his 
grandfather, the late Judge John N. Gott, 
and later was connected with the Ann Arbor 
Savings Bank. 

In 1880 Mr. Pitkin was induced to come 



to Petrolia as manager of the dry goods 
business of the late L. B. Vaughn. In 1881 
he entered the firm of VanTuyl & Fairbank 
of Petrolia, as accountant, and in 1900, at 
the death of the junior partner, Major B. 
S. VanTuyl, he became manager of the bus 
iness. 

Mr. Pitkin has taken a very active inter 
est in the welfare of Petrolia, and being a 
public spirited man has held many respon 
sible positions. In his fraternal relations he 
is one of the most prominent men in Petro 
lia, having been honored with the highest 
offices attainable in the numerous frater 
nities with which he is connected. He has 
been secretary and manager of the Petrolia 
Masonic Temple Co., since its incorporation 
in 1887. He has always taken keen interest 
in military affairs, having descended from 
military stock, and during his residence at 
Ann Arbor was an officer in Co. A, ist 
Michigan State Troops, with whom he ex 
perienced active service, and in Canada he 
has served five years as an officer in the 27th 
Battalion of Canadian Militia. In 1880 he 
was instrumental in the organization of The 
Petrolia Dramatic Club, which under his 
able direction has since gained an enviable 
reputation in western Ontario. 

In 1888, Mr. Pitkin married Miss Kate 
Hudson, of Auburn, New York, daughter 
of the late Dr. R. N. Hudson, of that city, 
where she was born and educated. They 
have one daughter, Alice Woodruff, born 
Sept. 25, 1889. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin 
are active members of the Church of Eng 
land. In political affiliation Mr. Pitkin is a 
Reformer. 

JOHN E. ANDERSON, senior mem 
ber of the firm of Anderson & Coghill, of 
Wyoming, of which town he has long been 
the efficient reeve, as well as the holder of 
other prominent positions of public trust, is 
one of the best known men in his section of 
Lambton County. He was born on Lot 20, 
Concession 3, in Plympton township, that 
county, son of the late Archibald Young 
Anderson. 

The Andersons, for many generations, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



149 



lived in Paisley, Scotland. Ebenezer An 
derson, great-grandfather of John E., was 
born there, and there engaged in manufac 
turing Paisley shawls and like goods. In 
about 1834 he and his wife came to Canada, 
and settled in Lanark township, Lanark 
County, whither they had been preceded by 
their s on John. They had too long been ac 
customed to the conditions of their native 
land to care to adapt themselves to the un 
tried life in the unbroken wilderness that 
confronted them, and they soon returned to 
Scotland, there to pass the remainder of 
their lives. Ebenezer Anderson died at 
Paisley at the age of seventy-seven, and his 
wife, Agnes (Dougall) Anderson, also a na 
tive of Paisley, died there aged seventy-two. 
They were members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he was a Liberal in his political 
views. Four children were born to Eben 
ezer Anderson and his wife : Robert ; James, 
a sea captain ; John ; and Jane, who married 
John Love, and lived in California. 

John Anderson, third son of Ebenezer, 
was born in Paisley in 1800. He was given 
the advantage of a good common-school 
education, and under his father s teaching 
became an able weaver. The spirit of un 
rest seized him in his young manhood, and 
he came to the New World, locating first in 
Kingston, Ont. Going thence to Lanark 
County, he purchased 100 acres of land in 
Lanark township, which he partly improved 
and cultivated. In 1837 he sold out and 
with his family came to Plympton township, 
Lambton County, where he located on 100 
acres on Concession 2. becoming one of the 
first settlers in that locality. He built a 
small log house and stable, made potash to 
exchange for such necessaries as could not 
be raised, and bent all his energies toward 
making his farm a success. Hard work 
brought prosperity, and in time he added 
400 acres to his possessions. He became a 
prominent man in public affairs, and was 
often called upon to fill positions of honor 
and responsibility, ever proving faithful to 
the trust reposed in him. In 1864 he moved 
liis family into Wyoming and retired from 
active work on the farm. He had been ap 



pointed postmaster at Wyoming, being the 
first to fill that office, and he continued to 
discharge the duties until his death, which 
occurred in November, 1877. His remains 
rest in Wyoming cemetery. Mr. Anderson 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
In politics he was a Liberal, living up to the 
policy advocated by the Hon. George 
Brown and others of like principles. He 
served as a member of the township coun 
cil, and as county councillor. 

John Anderson was twice married. In 
Kingston he wedded Janet Young, who was 
born in Paisley, Scotland, daughter of 
Archibald Young, and died in Wyoming, in 
the faith of the Presbyterian Church, at the 
age of sixty-five; she was buried in the 
Wyoming cemetery. She was the mother of 
ten children : Ezenezer, a farmer in Plymp 
ton, married Jane Stewart Robertson, and 
both are deceased. Archibald Young is de 
ceased. Robert, now deceased, a farmer in 
Plympton, married Elizabeth Robertson. 
James, deceased, married Agnes Moore. 
Agnes Dougall married George B. Dewer, 
and both are deceased. John married Ma 
tilda Carmichael, and died at Sarnia. Mary 
Dougall married George Alexander Walker, 
deceased, of Camlachie. Duncan, deceased, 
married Barbara Moore. Peter died from the 
effects of an accident at the age of twenty- 
seven. Margaret Young married George 
G. Hartley, of Wyoming. For his second 
wife Mr. Anderson married Mrs. Annie 
Stokes, who still survives. Xo children were 
born of the second union. 

Archibald Young Anderson was born in 
Lanark township, Lanark County, Nov. 27, 
1824, and received his education in the 
schools near his home. At the age of twelve 
years he accompanied his parents to Plymp 
ton township, Lambton County, where he 
grew to manhood. His father gave him 100 
acres of land on Lot 20, Concession 3, and 
the young man at once built a log house and 
began work for himself. His land was all 
unimproved, but his resolute will and in 
domitable energy were chief factors in the 
conquering of the wilderness, and trans 
forming: it into rich and cultivated fields. As 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the years passed by, substantial barns and 
needed outbuildings were erected, and a 
fine brick dwelling appeared in place of the 
primitive cabin. He purchased 117 more 
acres, which he put under cultivation. A 
cheese factory was built, and for thirty years 
its profits added very materially to the fam 
ily exchequer. Mr. Anderson continued to 
reside on his farm until his death, May u, 
1897. Like all his family he was a Presby 
terian in religion, and a Reformer in poli 
tics. His wife, Annie Dewar, daughter of 
John and Margaret (Buchanan) Dewar, is 
is now living in Wyoming, tenderly cared 
for by her daughter Ella. Ten children were 
born to Archibald Young and Annie An 
derson : John E. ; Margaret, who married 
James A. Tanner, of Warwick township; 
Janet, who married William J. Travis, a 
lumber dealer of Wyoming; Flora, who 
married Frank A. Wade, of Sarnia; Archi 
bald Dewar; Alice W.. who married George 
Begg of Toronto, secretary of the Equity 
Life Insurance Company; George, who died 
at the age of nine years ; Ella, at home ; Ida 
May, who died aged five years; and Eliza, 
who married Dr. A. W. Bell, of Toronto, 
who is now assistant secretary of the Indus 
trial Exposition. 

John E. Anderson passed his early years 
on the home farm, attending school and 
helping to clear the land. He early learned 
the business of cheesemaking, in which he 
was engaged with his father for nine years. 
In 1880 he left the homestead, and going 
to Wyoming began business for himself, 
forming a partnership with William Cog- 
hill, under the firm name of Anderson & 
Coghill. For the past twenty-five years 
they have conducted a general mercantile 
business, making a specialty of tailoring and 
fine dress goods, and for the last ten years 
they have also engaged in the grain busi 
ness, building a fine elevator. In both lines 
they have met with success. They also 
handle coal. Their dealings have been char 
acterized by high integrity of method, and 
their patrons are treated with the utmost 
courtesy. 

Mr. Anderson has not neglected a good 



citizen s part in public affairs. He is a 
stanch Liberal, and in 1887 was elected a 
member of the council board of Wyoming, 
and for eleven years has held the office of 
reeve or councilor. Before the change in the 
law he sat as a member of the county coun 
cil, and was elected warden of the county 
in 1895, being the youngest man ever to fill 
that responsible position. His long public 
service is his best testimonial of honesty and 
efficiency, and he has won the respect of men 
of all classes and parties. 

In 1880 Mr. Anderson was married to 
Jemima Hike, daughter of the late William 
Hike, of Wyoming. Four children have 
blessed this union : Ida, who graduated from 
the Toronto Conservatory of Music, and 
also has a diploma from the Toronto School 
of Elocution; Frank; Harold, and Gladys. 
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are both members 
of the Order of Chosen Friends, in which 
he is past grand councillor, and he also be 
longs to the Woodmen of the World. The 
family residence is one of the finest in Wyo 
ming^ and is noted for its hospitality. 

A. D. ANDERSON, one of the prosperous 
and public-spirited farmers and stock grow 
ers of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, Ont., is the second son of the late 
Archibald Young Anderson, and was born 
on the Anderson homestead, Lot 20, Con 
cession 3. Sept. IS, 1860. His youth was 
spent in working upon the farm and attend 
ing the district school, where he obtained a 
fair education. He also assisted his father 
in the cheese factory, and in 1890 was ad 
mitted to partnership, thus continuing until 
the death of his father, in May, 1897, when 
he assumed full charge, and operated the 
plant alone until 1901, when he closed it 
down. Fie now devotes his entire attention 
to farming his fine 2i4~acre farm, making a 
specialty of raising stock and feeding cattle, 
for which he finds a ready market. He is 
an up-to-date farmer, conducting his estate 
upon modern methods, and using improved 
machinery in his work. His premises indi 
cate that the one in charge is a good, thrifty 
manager, and that a fair profit is realized 
from the property. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



A Liberal in politics, Mr. Anderson has 
given that party his support without thought 
of advancement, being no office-seeker, al 
though if he were so inclined he could 
doubtless have any position within the gift 
of his neighbors, so popular is he. He and 
his wife are consistent members of the South 
Plympton Presbyterian Church, and sup 
port that body very liberally. Mr. Ander 
son is also a member of the Plympton Ag 
ricultural Society, and is prominent in its 
workings. 

On Dec. 27, 1900, Mr. Anderson was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Rich 
ardson, of Huron, Ont., sister of the Rev. 
W. G. Richardson, the Presbyterian min 
ister of Wyoming, a lady of education and 
pleasing personality, greatly beloved by all 
who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. 
The marriage took place at Varna, Huron 
County, Ont. Two children have been born 
of this union: A. R. Gordon and Laura 
May. Mr. Anderson is a man of sober, 
temperate habits, is a model husband and 
father, and a kind, accommodating neigh- 
bor. and is properly regarded as one of the 
leading men of Plympton township. 

i 

BENJAMIN ROBAIRTS, one of 
Moore township s successful agriculturists 
and well-known citizens, was born Nov. 9, 
1838, in Elmsley township. County of 
Leeds. The family are of French descent, 
and the name was spelled Robier, but among 
the English speaking people it is pronounced 
Robairts. 

Cassimir Robier, grandfather of Ben 
jamin, was a native of France, and with two 
brothers came to Canada, locating at Hem- 
mingford, Quebec, where he became engaged 
in farming, which he followed until his 
death. He was twice married and became 
the father of nine children. The family was 
of the Catholic faith. 

Peter Robier, the father of Benjamin, 
was a son by the first marriage and was born 
on the farm in Hemmingford, where he 
worked until sixteen years of age. At this 
time he left home and came to Ontario lo 
cating in Elmsley township, County of 



Leeds, where he worked at farming until 
after his marriage. He then bought a tract 
of 1 20 acres of bush land, built a log cabin 
and cleared up his land, putting it into a 
fine state of cultivation. In 1871 he sold 
out and joined his son, Benjamin, in Moore 
township, County of Lambton, where he 
bought a tract of fifty acres on Concession 
u, where he spent the remainder of his life. 
His death occurred in January, 1904, and 
he was buried in the Catholic cemetery at 
Corunna. In politics he was a Liberal, while 
religiously he was a member of the Catholic 
Church. 

Peter Robier married in Elmsley town 
ship, County of Leeds, Miss Sophia 
Shamarx, who was of French and German 
descent. She died on the homestead in the 
County of Lambton and was buried with her 
husband in the Catholic cemetery. The 
children born to this union were: Adelia, 
who married Stephen Robinson, and resides 
at Smith Falls ; Julia, who married Thomas 
O Reilly, of Lombard Corners, County of 
Leeds; Benjamin, our subject; and Peter, a 
resident of Sarnia. 

Benjamin Robairts attended the dis 
trict schools of his native home, but his ed 
ucation was necessarily limited as opportun 
ities for educational advantages were at that 
time few and far between. At the age of 
sixteen he left home to make his own way in 
the world, locating at Bathurst, where he 
learned the flour milling trade in the Adams 
Grist mills. Here he worked six and one- 
half years, but finding that the mill business 
did not agree with his health, he started 
farming, and in 1864 located in Moore 
township on Concession 10, Lot 18, where 
he bought a tract of 100 acres of bush land, 
paying $300 down, and going into debt for 
the balance. Here he started into pioneer 
life, converting the timber on the land into 
cord wood, which he sold. After years of 
hard work, he succeeded in clearing up his 
farm and put it all into a high state of culti 
vation, building a fine brick dwelling, which 
cost $2.500. and several fine barns and out 
buildings, and added another 100 acres to 
his farm, which cost $4,000. 



152 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mr. Robairts started in life a poor man 
and owes his success to his own hard work. 
In recalling the early days of the life of Mr. 
Robairts in Moore township one is led in 
thought to the pioneer times of this section, 
when in place of comfort, plenty and privi 
leges of all kinds, civilization was making 
but slow progress. He performed well his 
part in life, and will be remembered with 
affection and respect. Mr. Robairts is a 
member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at 
Corunna, as are all of his family. Con 
servative in politics, he has been a school 
trustee for three years, and was tax collec 
tor for Moore township for fourteen years, 
collecting the first year $14,000 and the last 
year over $35,000. As a public official he 
has performed his duties efficiently and sat 
isfactorily and was scrupulously honest. 

In February, 1864, in the County of 
Lanark, Mr. Robairts married Miss Annie 
Grogan, who was born in County Armagh, 
Ireland. This loving wife and devoted 
mother passed away April 29, 1901, on the 
old homestead, where for thirty-seven years 
she had been Mr. Robairts partner. Not 
only was she mourned by husband and chil 
dren, but by a large number of friends and 
acquaintances, who had good reason to feel 
deeply her death. She was laid to rest in 
the Catholic Church cemetery at Corunna. 

The children born to Benjamin and 
Annie Robairts were as follows : Thomas 
James, a prosperous farmer of Moore town 
ship, married Marian Barrett, and they have 
two children, Marion and Harriet; Peter, 
who resides in Alberta. Northwest Terri 
tory, where he owns a fine ranch ; Sophia, 
who married James Mulligan, a farmer of 
Moore township, and they have three chil 
dren, Maurice, James and Annie Pearl ; 
John, a commercial traveler of Port Hope; 
Mary Ann, who died at the age of seven ; 
Margaret, at home; and Annie, a trained 
nurse, who graduated from the university of 
Chatham and now resides in Sarnia, the wife 
of Daniel McCann. 

Mr. Robairts is held in high esteem in 
his township and bears the enviable reputa 



tion of being a man of the highest integrity, 
of commendable public spirit and of good 
common sense. 

JAMES S. LOUGHEAD, of the firm of 
J. S. Longhead & Son, manufacturers of 
hubs, spokes and a full line of bent goods, at 
Sarnia, Ont., is now practically retired from 
business activity. He led a most useful and 
active life for many years, and was one of 
the first to operate in the oil business, becom 
ing one of the largest oil producers in west 
ern Canada, his field of operations includ 
ing also large territories in Mexico and the 
United States. He was also the first to 
strike fresh water in Australasia. He has 
been identified with many other important 
business enterprises, which his progressive 
business methods and energetic encourage 
ment have done much in the way of advanc 
ing in the various localities. 

The Longhead family originated in Scot 
land, William Loughead, the great-grand 
father of James S., being a native of Glas 
gow, where his whole life was passed. His 
eldest son, also named William, was born in 
Scotland, but later moved to Ireland, and 
there his son, Joseph, the father of James 
S., was born May 3, 1801. On reaching his 
majority Joseph Loughead married Mary 
Ewings, also a native of Ireland, and in 
1827, with his wife and three children, he 
came to Ontario, locating at Prescott, where 
he engaged in farming and cattle raising 
until his death, in 1882. Politically he was 
a Conservative, and in religion both parents 
belonged to the Church of England. The 
three children born to them prior to the emi 
gration to the New World were: John, 
who was killed at Seneca, Ont., while cut 
ting down a tree (he married Mary Ann 
Black and left a family) ; Robert, who died 
young of smallpox ; and Mary Jane, also a 
victim of smallpox in her infancy. The chil 
dren born in Prescott were: Joseph (de 
ceased), a miner; Margaret, who married 
Robert Milton; James S., of Sarnia; Mary, 
deceased wife of Samuel Cameron ; Matilda, 
who married Samuel Bryan, of Ogdensburg, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



New York ; and Isabella, widow of William 
Elliott, and a resident of Rochester, New 
York. 

James S. Longhead was born Nov. 2, 
1837, at Prescott, Ont, and there grew to 
manhood, acquiring his education in the 
public schools. At the age of seventeen 
years he became the arbiter of his own for 
tune, working by the day, and receiving his 
board and twelve and one-half cents in addi 
tion. To have accumulated $72 must have 
required great self-denial but when it was 
accomplished the young financier expended 
it for sheep, rented a tract of fifty acres of 
land for. a sheep farm, and so excellent was 
his management that the venture cleared 
him. in two years, the sum of $500. Mr. 
Longhead then spent a summer on the Miss 
issippi river, and March 2, 1860, he went to 
Oil Springs, Lambton County, Ont., where 
he was one of the very first to engage in the 
oil producing business. He was eminently 
successful in putting down wells, and kept 
at this business, in various sections, until 
March, 1902, finally selling all of his oil 
property in the county. During these forty- 
two years as an oil operator Mr. Longhead 
had other projects under consideration. For 
tw<> years he operated in the fields of old 
Mexico, finally selling those interests to Gen. 
Butler and his friends. In 1885 he went to 
Australasia and there put down artesian 
veils, being the pioneer discoverer of fresh 
water in that region. 

Returning to Lambton County Mr. 
Longhead began his present business. In 
1867 he had loaned the former proprietors 
of the business $15,000, to begin operations 
in Strathroy, Ont. A few years later the 
plant was removed to Sarnia, and he loaned 
them $10,000 more. The venture that prom 
ised so much in the beginning failed to yield 
adequate returns, and the firm failed. In 
order to protect his interests, Mr. Longhead 
was obliged to assume control, to pay off 
the indebtedness. His wonderful executive 
ability and good business acumen soon 
brought order out of chaos, and changed the 
deficit to a goodly balance. He enlarged the 
plant, marie many improvements, and in a 



comparatively short time had it in a flour 
ishing condition. At the present time the 
plant is run by his son, Fred J., who is half 
owner. Years of industry have won for Mr. 
Loughead his present fine fortune. From 
the position of a poor boy to that of affluence 
is not so rare, but it is not always the case 
that the competency of later life has been so 
honestly won. 

On a visit to California, in the winter of 
1901-1902, Mr. Loughead made a number 
of investments there and since that date his 
winter seasons are passed in that genial 
clime. His life has been mainly devoted to 
the oil business, in spite of his success in 
every line he has attempted. For three years 
after his marriage he conducted a hotel in 
Prescott, afterward selling the business 
which he had made most profitable. 

On Sept. n, 1861, Mr. Loughead was 
united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
Kingston, and the following children were 
born of this union : Annie is the wife of 
William J. Milligan. of Sarnia, and has one 
child, Roxy ; Jennie is unmarried and lives 
at home ; George lives in Australia ; Minnie 
married Robert Paul, and had one daughter ; 
Aileen L. is deceased; Fred J. is mentioned 
below ; Nellie and Harry are at home. Mrs. 
Loughead passed out of life April 5, 1901, a 
most estimable Christian woman and a de 
voted member of the Methodist Church. 
For ten years the family home was in Strath 
roy, but in 1877 they removed to Sarnia, 
where Mr. Loughead erected a handsome 
residence on Wellington street. In earlier 
life he was an ardent Conservative, and 
served one year in the town council, then re 
signing, but during his later years he has 
devoted his attention entirely to business and 
personal matters. For many years he has 
been connected with the Masonic fraternity. 

FRED J. LOUGHEAD, who carries on his 
father s business in Sarnia, was married 
April 28, 1904, to Luella Holmes, daughter, 
of David Holmes, a lumber merchant of De 
troit, Michigan. In 1884 he became an ama 
teur bicyclist, winning the Canadian cham 
pionship at Waterloo in 1895, a so making 
a total record for the season of 1895-97, 



154 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



winning first prizes. In 1898 he won the 
National Championship in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, and retired to his present busi 
ness. He is a popular business man and 
has many friends. Fraternally he belongs 
to the Canadian Order of Elks, and politi 
cally he is a Reformer. 

S. WALLACE TRUSLER, whose 
work in organizing the Maccabees has made 
him known over a large part of the Do 
minion, is one of the busy, progressive men 
of the County of Lambton, and resides in a 
beautiful home in Camlachie. 

William Trusler, the great-grandfather 
of S. Wallace, was a native of Sussex, Eng 
land, where as a tenant farmer, he lived and 
died. He married Miss Ann Nash, and they 
became the parents of six children, namely : 
John, William, George. Thomas, Elizabeth 
and Nancy (who married Harry Tribe). 
John and George came to Canada, and the 
latter died in Waterloo township, County 
of Waterloo, Out. The family united with 
the Church of England. 

John Trusler, son of William and 
grandfather of S. Wallace, was also born in 
Sussex, England, where he followed mill 
ing, working principally in the lumber mills 
as a sawyer. In his native land he married 
Jane Childs, daughter of Anthony Childs, 
who was also of Sussex, and they became 
the parents of thirteen children, eleven of 
whom were born in England, viz. : Timothy 
died in Camlachie. Tamar married Joseph 
Sproule, and became the mother of the first 
white male child born in Plympton town 
ship. Absalom died on the homestead. Eliza 
married George Shaw, and both died in 
Michigan. Ruth married John Keough, and 
died at Walsingham, Ont. Martha married 
James Demerest, of Port Huron, where she 
died. Elenor married Alfred Thompson, of 
Detroit, where she died. Reuben died in 
Forest, Ont. Harriet, widow of Alexander 
Cairns, resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
Walter died young. Obediah died in in 
fancy. Arthur died in Huntsville. Muskoka 
district. Alvah is mentioned farther on. 

In 1833 Mr. and Mrs. Trusler started 



with their eleven children for Canada, the 
passage to Ontario being paid by Lord Egre- 
mont, who owned land in the County of 
Lambton, and was encouraging settlers to 
locate here. Embarking on a sailing vessel, 
they landed at Quebec after forty-three days 
passed on the Atlantic, and made their way 
to what was then an unknown region in 
western Ontario. Arriving at what is now 
Sarnia, Mr. Trusler left his family there 
while he pushed on to Plympton township, 
and located his land on Lot 9, Concession 9, 
a part of which now embraces the village of 
Camlachie. Here he settled in the woods, 
erecting a little log shanty, to which he 
brought his wife and children. The two 
youngest died in Sarnia while the mother 
was alone there. Mr. Trusler was one of 
the first settlers in the township, the nearest 
neighbor being a Mr. Glasgow, who was lo 
cated on the shore of Lake Huron. There 
were no roads or trails, and the land was 
nothing but bush and swamp. Mr. Trusler 
settled on a loo-acre tract, and later added 
to it until he had 340 acres. During the 
early part of his residence he had to go to 
Detroit for flour, which cost $12.50 a bar 
rel, the first two barrels costing $26.50. 
They were brought on the little steamer 
"Red Jacket," to Sarnia from Detroit, and 
Mr. Trusler had to carry them on his back 
to his home through the woods, making sev 
eral trips, over thirty miles a trip. The 
nearest gristmill was in London township, 
Middlesex County, a distance of fifty-two 
miles, and what wheat he grew on his farm 
he had to grind in a handmill, and sift in a 
grass seed sieve. The pork he raised was 
sold in Sarnia for two and a half cents a 
pound, and oats brought from twelve to fif 
teen cents a bushel, wheat selling for thirty 
cents a bushel. As there was little or no 
money in circulation in those days, he had 
to take his pay in trade. The only thing 
he got cash for was potash, which he made 
and sold in Sarnia. The nearest postoffice 
was at London, over fifty miles away, and 
the first two letters he received from home 
cost him three shillings and six pence for 
postage. Mr. Trusler worked hard, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



cleared up his farm after many years of toil, 
having the early struggles typical of pioneer 
life in the wilderness. Seven years before 
his death he lost his eyesight, and was cared 
for by his son, Alvah, with whom he was 
living at the time of his death in 1878, at the 
ripe age of ninety-one years. He was 
laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery at 
Camlachie. Mr. Trusler was a member of 
the Established Church of England, but 
because there was no church of that denom 
ination in that section of the township, he 
attended the Presbyterian Church at Cam 
lachie. He was temperate in his habits and 
lived an upright life, doing his duty in every 
relation of life as became a Christian. His 
wife, who died on the farm in 1863. was 
also laid to rest in the Presbyterian ceme 
tery. She was a noble Christian woman 
and a devoted wife and mother. Like her 
husband she was originally a member of the 
Church of England, but attended the Pres 
byterian Church at Camlachie. 

Alvah Trusler, now living retired in 
Camlachie. was for many years a prosperous 
farmer of Plympton township, and is one of 
the oldest living natives of that township, 
having been born in a little log cabin on Lot 
9, Concession 9, Oct. 4, 1838. He was 
reared on the farm, and like his father saw 
much of pioneer life. He attended the first 
school house erected in the township, a log 
structure, and was taught by an Irish school 
master. John Casey, who was paid by priv 
ate subscriptions. Mr. Trusler s ambition 
from early boyhood was for a professional 
life, but the opportunities therefor did not 
present themselves while he was young. He 
worked on the homestead with his father, 
where he has spent all of his life, and he took 
charge of the place many years before his 
father s death, caring for the father during 
his old age. In December. 1858. he was 
married in Plympton township, by Rev. Mr. 
Howard (minister of the Methodist Church 
at Camlachie) to Frances Bridges, who was 
born in Yorkshire, England, daughter of 
Robert Bridges, one of the later pioneers of 
the township. Mrs. Trusler died on the 



farm in 1869, from the effect of typhoid 
fever, leaving- four children. She was buried 
in Camlachie cemetery. A year later Mr. 
Trusler married in Port Huron, Charlotte 
Littleworth, of Plympton. who died in Oc 
tober, 1904, daughter of Sergt. James 
Littleworth, who was in the British arm}-. 

The four children born to Mr. Trusler s 
first marriage were : Walter, who was a 
farmer of Plympton township, and died at 
the age of twenty-four years (he married 
Sarah Carrick) ; Alice, deceased wife of 
Joseph Draper, in Plympton township ; S. 
Wallace; and Clarence Oscar. The children 
born to the second marriage are as follows : 
Mabel, who married Joseph Mclntyre, of 
Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, who was a mem 
ber of Parliament for that territory for sev 
eral years ; and Frederick. 

S. Wallace Trusler, eldest living son of 
Alvah, was born on the homestead May 25, 
1864. He attended the public schools of the 
township and grew up on the homestead, 
where he remained until he was twenty-two 
years old, at which time he started out to 
make his own way, settling on a thirty-five 
acre tract at Camlachie on the Egremont 
road. There he farmed for two years, when 
he took up the study of telegraphy, and was 
night operator for four years at the Grand 
Trunk Railroad depot at Camlachie. In 
1892 he began organizing work for the 
Knights of the Maccabees, being elected 
deputy supreme commander and organizer 
for Ontario, and for the past thirteen years 
he has devoted his time to the work of that 
organization. He has also spent some time 
in Manitoba for the organization. In 1903 
he was elected Provincial Lieutenant Com 
mander for Ontario, and was elected mem 
ber of the Supreme Board of Trustees in 
1904. Mr. Trusler also keeps a small gen 
eral store in Camlachie, where he has a fine 
home. He has traveled extensively over the 
Dominion and parts of the United States, 
and is an unusually well informed man. Mr. 
Trusler is particularly well fitted for the 
work he has undertaken, possessing a genial 
manner, is kind and hospitable, the kind of 



156 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



man who is popular with all classes, mak 
ing friends wherever he goes. 

In June, 1886, Mr. Trusler married, in 
Sarnia township, Fannie Carrick, who was 
born in Sarnia, daughter of William Car- 
rick. Nine children came to this union : 
Walter (at home, who runs the store), Will 
iam, Maurice, Gladys, Hazel, Arthur C., 
John W., George A. and Clarence L. 

Besides his connection with the K. O. 
T. M., at Camlachie, which he joined in 
1889, Mr. Trusler holds membership in Hu 
ron Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M., Cam 
lachie; Wawanosh Chapter, R. A. M., Sar 
nia; St. Simon Cyrene Preceptory, of Sar 
nia; London Lodge of Perfection and Rose 
Croix, London ; holds the 32d degree, Ham 
ilton, Ont. ; and belongs to Rameses Temple, 
Mystic Shrine, of Toronto. He also be 
longs to the I. O. O. F., in which he is a 
Past Grand. 

WILLIAM FARR, who may be called 
one of the veteran manufacturers of Sarnia, 
having been engaged in the carriage manu 
facturing business there since 1850, descends 
from an old and honored English family of 
which this branch was established in On 
tario in 1845. 

Joseph Farr, his grandfather, was born 
about 1753, in Huntingdonshire, England, 
followed a successful agricultural life, and 
died in his native land in 1833. His two 
children were a son and a daughter, Will 
iam and Hannah, the latter of whom mar 
ried a Mr. Topham. 

William Farr, the father of Mr. Farr 
of Sarnia, was born in 1797, in Hunting 
donshire. England, and married Hannah 
Allen, who was born in England in 1796. 
In 1845 tne parents and children emigrated 
to Canada, locating on a farm in Westmin 
ster, Ont.. and there the parents remained 
until within three years of the father s 
death, when he came to Sarnia, where he 
died in 1875. In political opinion he was a 
Conservative. His widow survived until 
1885. dying in the faith of the Baptist 
Church. Their children were : Mary, Jo 
seph, Rebecca, William. Annie, Sarah, 



Elizabeth and Charles. Mary was married 
twice, both her husbands being named 
Shephard. Joseph was a wagonmaker 
in England and emigrated to the 
United States, but later came to On 
tario and engaged in his trade at Lon 
don; for a time he carried on a mercantile 
and milling business near Toronto, later 
took the contract for carrying the mail be 
tween Sarnia and Baby s Point, and after 
ward conducted a livery business in Sar 
nia and operated a stage line between Wyo 
ming and Oil Springs, which he later sold, 
removing to British Columbia, where he en 
gaged in farming, wagon making and lum 
ber dealing, dying there in 1901. Rebecca 
married Caleb Flawn. Annie married 
Arthur Shore. Sarah married W r illiam Saw 
yer. Elizabeth married Mr. Bruce. Charles 
lives at Petrolia and is engaged in the oil 
business and farming. 

William Farr, of Sarnia, was born May 
n, 1826, in Northamptonshire, England. 
Although not yet of age when the family 
came to Ontario he was old enough to enter 
upon an apprenticeship to the carriagemak- 
ing trade, and he remained in London, Ont., 
at this work, for four years, coming then to 
Sarnia and establishing here a business 
which has continued through the long pe 
riod up to the present. His first location 
was on Front street, opposite the present 
hardware store of MacKenzie, Milne & Co., 
but a short time afterward he erected a 
building on Christina street, where he re 
mained until he took possession of his pres 
ent commodious quarters. On the northeast 
corner of Lochiel and Victoria streets, op 
posite the Market. Since the erection of 
this plant, in 1880. the business has been 
carried on under the firm style of William 
Farr & Son, its output being wagons and 
carriages, and employment being given to 
ten men. Through the long period of its 
existence it has been gradually expanded, a 
healthy growth being more desired by its 
founder than a too rapid one, and the prod 
uct has won its way with the public on 
account of its excellence, finish, price and 
utility. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



157 



In 1858 Mr. Farr married Miss Ala 
Hutchinson, who was born in Toronto in 
1834, a daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Turner) Hutchinson, both of whom were 
of English extraction. Mr. Hutchinson was 
a business man in Toronto until his death, 
in 1851, at the age of sixty-four years; his 
wife died in 1843, aged thirty-seven years. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Farr 
were the following: John A., of Port Hu 
ron, married Annie Green, of Hamilton, and 
their children are Fred, Alma and William; 
Emma married F. W. Wodell, of Boston, 
and their children are Frank, Fred and St. 
Clair; William H., who is engaged with his 
father in business, married Agnes Warden ; 
Charles is deceased ; Frank is a druggist in 
Boston, Massachusetts ; Frederick James, a 
traveling salesman, is also a resident of Bos 
ton, and is unmarried. 

The religious belief of Mr. Farr asso 
ciates him with the Baptist Church ; his wife 
is a good Methodist. His political opinions 
are with those of the Conservative party, 
and fraternally he is connected with the 
Masons. Mr. Farr is one of the most re 
liable and highly respected business men of 
Sarnia. As early as 1857 he was called 
upon to serve the town in the capacity of tax 
collector, and his interest has never failed in 
regard to the growth and development as 
well as the good government of this pros 
pering city. 

CAPT. WILLIAM DANIEL XEAL, 
since 1902 special marine agent for the 
Acme \Ybite Lead & Color Works, of De 
troit, Michigan, is a retired lake captain 
and one of a family of sailors, and has spent 
the greater part of his life on the Great 
Lakes. From his earliest recollection he 
has been familiar with the details of a sea 
man s life, for his father also was the cap 
tain of a lake vessel. He was born in De 
troit, Michigan, Feb. 15, 1850, to Capt. 
Thomas and Harriet (Sageman) Neal. 

The Xeal family is of English de 
scent, and the first of the name in Lambton 
County was Thomas Neal. a native of Eng 
land, and grandfather of Capt. William. His 



parents, Thomas and Mary (Neal) Neal, 
lived in Buckingham. England, and there 
died. They were members of the Church 
of England. Their children were Thornas, 
Elizabeth, William, Joseph and Richard, i , 
whom Thomas only resided permanently in 
the Xew World. Joseph spent five years in 
Canada, but then returned to his own coun 
try, where he died. 

Thomas Neal was educated in England 
and afterward was a drover and cattle raiser 
there. In 1834. with his wife and family, 
he came to America, spent five years in De 
troit, then a small village, and in 1839 
moved to Lambton County, where he lo 
cated in Concession 8, Moore township, on 
what was known as the Col. Fisher tract. 
There he bought 100 acres, and spent the 
rest of his life engaged in farming and stock 
raising. Mr. Neal was married in Oxford, 
England, to Miss Mary Stowe, daughter of 
Henry Stowe, and by her had a family of 
twelve children, namely : Thomas ; Henry, 
of Algonac, St. Clair County, Michigan ; 
Alfred, who died in England early in life ; 
Mary, who married Robert Fleck, a well 
known citizen of Sarnia, mentioned else- 
vvhere ; William, a captain on the lakes, 
who died on board his vessel, at Ashtabula, 
Ohio; Charles, a lake captain, who died at 
Bay City, Michigan ; Ellen, who died at De 
troit in infancy; Emma, Mrs. Jacob Der 
ringer, of Ada, Ohio ; Walter, who resides 
on the homestead in Moore ; Alvin, who died 
at Port Huron, where he was for many 
years superintendent of the Sarnia ferry 
boats for the Mills Transportation Com 
pany; Henrietta, Mrs. William Gray, of 
Moore; and Matilda, who married the late 
William Priest and lives in Courtright. 
Thomas Neal died at his home in Moore 
township in 1874, aged seventy- four, and 
was buried in the Colinville cemetery. He 
was a Conservative in politics, and with his 
wife a member of the Church of England. 
She survived him_iintil March 15. 1899, dy- 
ing at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Priest. Ninety-seven years of age, she had 
been for the last four years bedridden. 

Capt. Thomas Neal was born in Oxford, 



153 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



England, Dec. 30. 1824, and was a child 
when he accompanied his parents to Amer 
ica. Very soon after arriving in Detroit he 
began his career on the lakes. In those early 
days there were only sailing vessels, and 
Capt. Neal rapidly rose to the position of 
master. Later he became part owner of a 
vessel carrying freight and passengers, and 
after steamers began plying the lakes he 
commanded several, spending over forty 
years of his life on the water. He made his 
home in Detroit, until 1865, and then moved 
to Moore township, where he bought land 
along the St. Clair river front, built a good 
house, and finally lived retired, spending his 
last few years attending personally to his 
farm. He died Oct. 21, 1893, aged nearly 
sixty-nine year_s, and was laid to rest in the 
Sutherland cemetery, in Moore township. 
He was a vestryman and later warden in 
the Church of England, a Conservative in 
politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. at 
Detroit. Capt. Neal was married in De 
troit, to Harriet, daughter of Stephen 
Sageman, who was also of English birth. 
Her remains rest beside those of her hus 
band. The children born to this union 
were : Two who died in infancy ; William 
D. ; Ann Eliza, deceased wife of John Stock- 
dale; Harriet Louise, residing in Court- 
right ; Alvin C. ; Jane Florence, Mrs. J. 
J. Jarvis, of Moore township; John R., of 
Moore township; James S., a lake captain; 
Maude, Mrs. Frank Cronkite, of Owen 
Sound; and Mabel, who died aged twenty- 
one. 

CAPT. ALVIN CHARLES NEAL, a brother 
of William D., was born at Detroit, Dec. 
T 3- I ^57- He was six years old when his 
father moved to Lambton County, and he 
was educated entirely in the public school 
of Section No. i, where he was taught by 
Miss Catcart. He remained working on the 
farm until he was twenty-two, and then be 
came a sailor, making his first voyage as 
wheelman on the steamer "Nelson Mills," 
under his uncle, Capt. Charles Neal. In 
1882 he was made mate on the "Yosemite" 
and later commander on the "Nelson Mills." 
After two years on that vessel he obtained 



command of the "B. W. Arnold," then of 
the "Fred Mercer" and lastly of the 
"Clyde." During his twenty-five years on 
the lakes he has been in an official position 
for twenty-one. For many years he made 
his home in American ports, but now re 
sides on a small farm on the St. Clair river 
front, where he has put up a fine frame 
dwelling, one of the most up-to-date homes 
in this section. He is still strong and ac 
tive and keeps a close personal oversight of 
everything about his home. Like his brother 
he is cordial and friendly and popular 
among his many friends. He is a member 
of the Church of England and belongs to 
the A. F. & A. M., Moore Lodge, No. 294, 
of Courtright, and to Sarnia Chapter, as 
well as to the I. O. F., Lodge No. 29, of 
Courtright. 

On Feb. 16, 1885, Capt. Alvin C. Neal 
was united to Miss Retta Stevens, daughter 
of David Stevens, a retired farmer of Moore 
township. This union has been blessed with 
two children, Lyle Stevens and Charles Al 
vin, both of whom reside at home. 

WILLIAM F. LAWRENCE, proprie 
tor of the Jacob Lawrence & Sons whole 
sale and retail lumber, business, is a man of 
rare enterprise and ability. Though the way 
to his present position was opened to him 
by his father, he has, by his energy and wise 
financial management, performed no insig 
nificant part in working up an extensive 
trade, and establishing the business on its 
present firm and lasting foundation. 

Mr. Lawrence comes of good English 
stock, and of a family of efficient business 
men. His grandfather, Peter Lawrence, an 
enterprising Englishman, won both prosper 
ity and distinction in the early days, in the 
new lumber regions of western Ontario. 
Born in England, he there, under the influ 
ences of a refined and Christian community, 
passed his early days. Desirous, however, of 
a larger field for his activities, he came to 
Ontario, and located in the flourishing set 
tlement of Toronto. Finding, in the well- 
wooded districts of that section, plenty of 
timber to be had almost for the asking, he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



engaged in the lumber business near the city. 
The enterprise met with success from the 
start, and he continued it until some years 
prior to his death. During his young man 
hood Mr. Lawrence married a lady named 
Cowles, who was of Pennsylvania-Dutch 
parentage. By this marriage there were 
seven children : John and Peter followed 
farming near Toronto; Margaret was mar 
ried to John Wilson ; Elizabeth, to John 
Walker, of Toronto ; Jacob is mentioned be 
low ; Catherine married Henry Peterman, of 
Aurora, Ont. ; William is now a retired bus 
iness man of Toronto. 

Mr. Lawrence and his family occupied 
a high place in the social and religious cir 
cles of Toronto. He and his wife were de 
vout members of the Wesleyan Methodist 
Church, possessing so strong a faith in that 
denomination that the majority of their de 
scendants have been led to accept its tenets. 

Jacob Lawrence, father of William F., 
was one of the most enterprising and suc 
cessful lumber dealers in western Ontario. 
Born near Toronto, in 1821, the son of a 
prominent lumberman, he was reared in 
the atmosphere of business. On reaching 
manhood, however, impressed with the re 
markable agricultural resources of his sec 
tion, he engaged in farming near Toronto 
for some time, in connection with the lum 
ber business, meeting with very good results. 
He soon engaged in the lumber business in 
Watford, Ont.. acquiring much valuable 
experience. For a short time, with his 
brother Peter, he conducted a tannery at 
Xewton Brook. Xext he went to Eglinton, 
Ont., where he operated a tannery. Experi 
ments in different lines by this time decided 
Mr. Lawrence to confine his activities to the 
lumber business, as the surest means to suc 
cess and fortune, and upon going to Eglinton 
he there erected a sawmill. The business 
outlook at this place proving a good one he 
continued there for some time. Then, in 
1871, thinking to enlarge his trade by a 
change of location, he moved to Wanstead, 
Lambton County, and engaged in the same 
line. Here, however, he continued but two 



years. In casting about for a desirable per 
manent location, he finally decided upon Wat 
ford, and to this place, in 1873, he trans 
ferred his business. For seven years he con 
tinued here, enlarging the business from time 
to time and working up a steadily increas 
ing trade. In fact, so extensive became his 
enterprise in time that he found it desirable 
to take in as partners his two sons, Henry 
and William F., and the farm of Jacob Law 
rence & Sons was established. By 1880 
the sons were entirely competent to run the 
Watford branch alone, and, finding at that 
time a fine opening for a wholesale and re 
tail house at Sarnia, Mr. Lawrence moved 
there and opened the present establishment. 
Here he continued for four years, until, in 
1884, death cut short his career. 

In 1846 Mr. Lawrence married Annie 
\Vilkinson, who was born at St. Catharines, 
in 1830, daughter of the late Rev. Henry 
Wilkinson. Mrs. Lawrence died in Sarnia, 
Aug. 10, 1900. Six children were born of 
this union: (i) Henry, deceased, formerly 
manager of the Watford branch of the lum 
ber business established by his father, mar 
ried Ann Carr, and they had four children, 

Frederick, Harold, Ernest and . He 

was killed in the railroad wreck at Wan- 
stead, Ont., in 1902. (2) William F. is 
mentioned below. (3) Mary married George 
Bo wen, and they have five children, Eva, 
Henry, Leslie, Arnold and Helen. (4) 
Maria, the wife of William Ritchie, has also 
five children. (5) Amelia married Thomas 
Slater, and they have one son. (6) Helen 
is the wife of Ed. Kelly, of Sarnia, and they 
have two children. Edward and Mildred. 

Mr. Lawrence s executive ability, his re 
markable power of pushing affairs, and his 
clear-headedness and far-sightedness were 
among the promoters of his eminently suc 
cessful career, enabling him to lay the foun 
dation of one of the most successful enter 
prises in his section. Though he confined 
his activities almost exclusively to the field 
of business, he was nevertheless influential 
in social and public affairs. As a Reformer, 
his word carried weight in local matters, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 60 

and as members of the Methodist Church 
both he and his wife figured prominently 
in religious circles. 

William F. Lawrence started life under 
especially propitious circumstances. Born 
near the flourishing city of Toronto, in 1851, 
he there, in an atmosphere of practical busi 
ness, and well-directed activities, grew to 
manhood. In the public schools of his com 
munity he received a thorough rudimentary 
education, developing habits of attention and 
alertness of invaluable service to him in after 
years. Capable, even as a child, at the early 
age of thirteen he went to work on his fa 
ther s farm near. Toronto. Here he con 
tinued for four years, growing in strength 
of character and the power, of directing 
affairs. At the age of seventeen, entirely 
competent of rendering valuable service in 
his father s business, he went to Lambton 
County, and entered the lumber establish 
ment. He readily became familiar with the 
details of the business, and soon set to work 
in one of the leading departments. Later 
he was taken into partnership, and in 1880, 
as has been said, began conducting the busi 
ness alone, with the aid of his brother Henry. 
After the death of his father, in 1884, he 
moved to Sarnia, and took charge of the 
wholesale and retail establishment there, 
which he has since conducted. The firm is 
now carrying on one of the largest industries 
of its kind in the section. The Watford 
mill and factories have been enlarged from 
time to time, and now turn out large quan 
tities of hardwood lumber, staves and head 
ings, and also some of the finest grades of 
sashes, doors and blinds. The Sarnia house 
carries on a very extensive wholesale and 
retail trade in these articles, and also deals 
in pine lumber and shingles. Mr. Lawrence, 
who is never deterred by any obstacle, has 
met with excellent results in his efforts to 
increase his trade, and he is now known far 
and near as one of the largest and most re 
liable dealers of lumber in his section. 

Mr. Lawrence married Eliza Carroll, 
daughter of Edward and Eliza (King) Car 
roll, and they have three children : Edward, 
who now assists his father in business, mar 



ried Ada Hanes in 1902; Ralph is also en 
gaged in business with his father ; Wilbur is 
now attending school. Mr. Lawrence and 
his family occupy one of the finest residences 
in Sarnia, which he erected in 1892, at the 
corner of Christina and Wellington streets. 
As one of the leading business men of 
Sarnia Mr. Lawrence has long been prom 
inent in public affairs, and for two years has 
served very efficiently as a member of the 
city council. He is well informed upon all 
questions of the day, and in politics affiliates 
with the Reform party. As a man of the 
highest integrity, interested in all good 
works, he has long been a leading member 
of the Methodist Church, and for a number 
of years very ably represented it in the coun 
cils. His wife is also a member of that 
church. Fraternally he belongs to the F. & 
A. M. and the C. O. F. 

WILLIAM ELLIS. One of the first 
things which strikes the eye of the visitor 
to the beautiful city of Sarnia, County of 
Lambton, is its fine walks, which cover some 
forty-five miles. These walks were con 
structed by William Ellis, a leading contrac 
tor of Sarnia, who was the first man to intro 
duce this kind of walk within the city limits. 
In 1896 Mr. Ellis built a granolithic walk in 
front of his own premises, on Christina 
street, in the Third ward. This was the en 
tering wedge, for the following year he con 
structed the same kind of walk for a number 
of private parties, and in 1898 he was given 
his first city contract for paving. Between 
that year and June I, 1904, Mr. Ellis laid all 
of the beautiful granolithic walks within the 
city limits, as well as many miles in sur 
rounding communities, and the success which 
has attended all of his work is almost phe 
nomenal. 

William Ellis is a native of Devonshire, 
England, where his grandfather, George 
Ellis, spent an active and worthy life as a 
farmer. Among his children was a son Wil 
liam, the father of Mr. Ellis, of Sarnia. 
William Ellis, Sr., was born in 1807, 
in England, and his wife, whose 
maiden name was Eliza Annaford, was 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



161 



also born in that country, in 1808, 
and died in 1898, surviving her hus 
band twenty-four years, his demise hav 
ing occurred in 1874. By occupation he was 
a quarryman, and he worked at his trade the 
greater portion of his life. Both he and his 
estimable wife were members of the Church 
of England. His political views coincided 
with the platform of the Conservative party, 
and he was a man highly respected by 1 
neighbors and business associates. Of the 
ten children born to himself and wife, three 
came to the New World; Mark, of Sarnia, 
a brick and stone mason; Emma, wife of 
John Purdy, of Nebraska; and William. 
the others, John is a mason in England; 
Eliza married James Clements, of England ; 
Jane married Mart Conway, of England; 
Elizabeth married Henry Crute, of England ; 
Rebecca married Richard Bowby, of Eng 
land; Mary married George Isaac, of Eng 
land; and Ann married Robert Silley, of 
England (both are deceased). 

William Ellis, Jr., was born Aug. 21, 
1851, and grew to manhood in his native 
land, commencing to learn his trade there. 
After his arrival in Sarnia, April 21, 1872, 
he finished his apprenticeship with the firm 
of Ireland & Chapman, and then became 
foreman for Mr. Blacker, a prominent con 
tractor of the city. While occupying that 
position Mr. Ellis had charge of the erection 
of many buildings in Sarnia, among which 
may be mentioned the W. B. Clark block, 
MacKenzie & Co. s hardware building, the 
Methodist church and the Church of Eng 
land edifice, and various others. In 1889 
Mr. Ellis embarked in the contracting busi 
ness, and has continued in that line ever 
since, putting up many of the best structures 
in the city, and making a specialty of the 
construction of granolithic walks. Outside 
the city he has had many contracts in his 
line, especially in Petrolia and Wyoming. 
He erected the "Iroquois Hotel" and various 
other buildings in Petrolia, and the Lamb- 
ton County House of Refuge in Sarnia. One 
of his recent contracts was the Russel street 
schoolhouse in Sarnia. 

In 1878 Mr. Ellis and Miss Jane Ramey, 
11 



daughter of the late Joseph and Helen (Mc- 
Fallj Ramey, of Massachusetts, were united 
in marriage, and to them has been born one 
daughter, Bertha, who is the wife of Wil 
liam J. Johnston. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are 
members of the Baptist Church. The poli 
tical views, of Mr. Ellis are in accordance 
with the Reform party, and his fraternal re 
lations are with the I. O. O. F. and the I. 
O. F. Personally he bears an excellent rep 
utation for integrity and uprightness of deal 
ing, which he sustains in both business and 
private life. He is public-spirited and in 
favor of everything which will promote the 
welfare of his fellow citizens, and his in 
fluence is always directed toward this end. 

SPENCER WERDEN, one of the suc 
cessful farmers and self-made men of Brooke 
township, Lambton County, owning a fine 
farm on Lot 12, 3d Concession, was torn 
in Prince Edward County, Sept. 4, 1834, 
son of Albert and Sarah (Conger) Werden, 
and is a member, of one of the early families 
of the Province. 

Albert Werden was born in York State, 
son of Elias Werden, who had come from 
England to York State, and he and his son 
Albert, and the latter s wife all died in 
Prince Edward County. Mrs. Sarah (Con 
ger) Werden died when our subject was 
two months old, and Mr. Werden married 
(second) Cecelia Spencer. By the first mar 
riage, our subject and a sister Julia, the lat 
ter the wife of Stephen Roblin, at Picton, 
were the only children. The children born 
to the second marriage were as follows : 
William, of Prince Edward County ; Austin, 
of Toronto ; John, on the homestead ; Mar 
garet, wife of Robert Tennant of Belleville; 
Mary, wife of David Thompson, of Picton; 
Manly, deceased; Hazelton, deceased; and 
Sarah, deceased wife of Thomas DeMill. 

Spencer Werden was reared to manhood 
on the old homestead in Prince Edward, 
where he received his early education. In 
October, 1858, he married Miss Mary Bur- 
ley, born in Prince Edward County, June 14, 
1839, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Huff) 
Burley, pioneers of that county. Joseph 



1 62 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Burley was a native of Kingston, Ont., and 
his wife Mary Huff, was born in Marys- 
burgh township, Prince Edward County, 
daughter of Richard and Sophia (Snider) 
Huff; his parents were of English origin, 
while hers were of German. Mr. and Mrs. 
Werden first settled in Prince Edward Coun 
ty, where they lived until 1872, in that year 
purchasing fifty acres of his present home, 
then all wild land, which he has increased and 
at present has 200 acres of finely cultivated 
farm land, supplied with good, modern, sub 
stantial buildings. To Mr. and Mrs. Wer 
den have been born these children : Joseph, 
born in Prince Edward County, and now the 
superintendent of the Marine Repair Works 
of Detroit, married Mary Recklaw, of 
Adrian, Mich., and they have two sons, Karl 
and Fred ; William, born in Prince Edward 
County, and now residing on a farm 
in Brooke, married Miss Hester Raycraft, of 
Ireland, and has four children, Wesley, Si 
las, Emerson and Winnifred ; Ross, born in 
Prince Edward County, and now employed 
on the Grand Trunk Railroad, at Sarnia, 
married Miss Elmyra Butler, of County 
Lambton, and has one son, Tunis; R. Hecl- 
ley, residing on a farm in Brooke township, 
married Miss Elizabeth Raycraft, of Ire- 
1 ind. and has three children, Lillian, Min 
nie and Harold ; Martha, born in Prince Ed 
ward County, grew up at the home in 
Brooke, where she received a fine education, 
and is now residing at home ; Mary, born in 
Prince Edward County, is the wife of George 
Thompson, of Sombra, and has three chil 
dren, Roy, Muriel and Eileen ; Maud, born 
on the present farm, was educated in the 
Strathroy and Glencoe High Schools, fol 
lowed school teaching in this county until 
her marriage in 1893 to John Taylor, now 
of Sarnia, and they have four children, Ha 
zel, Leslie, Kathleen and Norman; Harvey, 
rjsidcs at home; Julia, born in Brooke, fol 
lowed teaching for some years in the public 
rchools. and is now a stenographer at To 
ronto ; Edith and Wilbert live at home. 

In religious matters the family are con- 
rectecl with the Methodist Church. In his 
political sympathies Mr. Werden has always 



been identified with the Conservative party, 
although he has never sought public office. 
Mr. Warden s property is finely situated, and 
does credit to his industry and careful busi 
ness methods. He grows all of the standard 
crops in this section, and raises considerable 
live stock, in which branch he has possibly 
met with the larger success. 

EUSEBIUS McGILLICUDDY. The 
McGillicuddy family of Warwick township, 
represented by two brothers, Eusebius and 
James Henry McGillicuddy, is one known 
far and wide for its moral worth and ster 
ling character. Both brothers are natives 
of Ireland, being born in Tralee, the capital 
of County Kerry, of which county their 
father, James Henry McGillicuddy (I), 
was also a native. The latter was the son 
of a wealthy land owner, was educated as 
his station in life demanded, and was a 
gentleman of means and leisure. James 
Henry McGillicuddy (I) married a lady of 
his own station in life, Miss Mary Roache, 
who bore him several children, four of 
whom grew to maturity. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. McGillicuddy died when their children 
were young, the youngest of the family be 
ing only an infant at the time. They were 
members of the Church of England, in 
which faith the four following children had 
been reared : Eusebius ; Jordan ; Sarah and 
James Henry. 

The three boys of this family were taken 
to Canada in 1840 by an uncle, John 
Roache, who was a prominent lawyer of 
Dublin. He located them on a farm in Nel 
son township. County of Halton, hiring a 
man and his wife to look after the land and 
to care for the children. Sarah McGilli 
cuddy. sister of the three brothers, \\ris left 
at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Dr. Maybury, 
in Kilmare. Ireland, where she attended a 
boarding school and was highly educated. 
Later she came to Canada, where she joined 
her brothers, and married Henry Carrique, 
of Trafalgar, Count} of Halton, where he 
died in January. 1905. Jordan McGilli 
cuddy followed store keeping in Binbrooke, 
County of Wentworth, and there he died. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



163 



The Roache family were also prominent 
and well-to-do people of Ireland. John 
Roache was a lawyer in his native country, 
practicing his profession in the city of Dub 
lin. After the death of his sister, Mrs. Mc- 
Gillicuddy, he became guardian of the chil 
dren, taking the boys to Canada, as before 
mentioned. While they were still attend 
ing school, Mr. Roache made them a visit, 
and thereafter his visits were frequent, he 
making a number of trips across the At 
lantic. Mr. Roache had a brother, Jordan 
Roache, who was a judge of the British 
Court in Demerara, British Guiana, whom 
he also visited a number of times. Judge 
Jordan Roache was taken sick in Buffalo, 
where he died, while on a trip to see his 
brother, John, who was in Canada. The 
latter died in Dublin, Ireland. 

Eusebius McGillicuddy, the eldest of the 
boys, was but eight years old when he was 
taken to Canada with the other children by 
his uncle, in 1840. The children were lo 
cated on a tract of land in Nelson town 
ship. County of Halton. and there Mr. Mc 
Gillicuddy attended school, and remained 
on the farm until he was seventeen years old, 
when he went to the United States. He 
spent one year in the State of Illinois, and re 
turning to Ontario, located in Warwick 
township. Lambton County, buying a 100- 
acre tract on the Egremont Road, with 
money left him by his father. Here he com 
menced farming for himself, and here he 
still resides, enjoying the results of all these 
years of successful labor. It was bush land, 
and much hard work was needed to place it 
in proper condition for cultivation, but all 
this has been accomplished by well-directed 
industry and intelligent attention to busi 
ness, and he has also prospered to the extent 
of adding to his original acreage. When his 
sons were ready to make homes for them 
selves, he was able to help them materially, 
though they have given evidence of business 
ability which would secure them success in 
any community. Mr. McGillicuddy erected 
a frame dwelling house, good barns and 
other buildings on his home tract, and every 
thing about the place indicates the thrift 
of the owner. 



In 1882 Mr. McGillicuddy went to Ire 
land, having been appointed administrator 
to the estate of his uncle, John Roache, who 
had returned to Dublin to continue the prac 
tice of his profession until his death. He 
was a man of wealth and influence, and Mr. 
McGillicuddy was paid a high compliment 
in being chosen to administer the estate, a 
task requiring the utmost integrity, and bus 
iness ability of no common order. This 
work completed satisfactorily, he returned 
to his home in Canada, where he has since 
remained. 

As a stanch Conservative, Mr. McGilli 
cuddy has been active in political affairs, and 
has also been identified with the local mu 
nicipal administration for several years. He 
supports the principles of that party, as laid 
clown by its great leader, Sir John A. Mac- 
Donald. During his earlier manhood Mr. 
McGillicuddy served as township council 
man and reeve for ten years, the latter po 
sition entitling him to a seat in the county 
council. For a like period he was elected 
by that body as warden of the county, a re 
sponsible position in which he served with 
satisfaction to all concerned. He was the 
nominee of his party to contest the Riding 
of East Lambton against the Reform can 
didate Hugh McKenzie, but was defeated 
by a small majority. In 1893 he was ap- 
pninted, by the township council of War 
wick, to the position of township treasurer, 
in which he has served continuously to the 
present time, the value of his services be 
ing best attested by his retention in this im 
portant incumbency. During these years 
he has handled over a quarter of a million 
dollars of public money. Mr. McGillicuddy 
has not declined less important offices, for 
he has served over thirty years as a school 
trustee of Section Xo. 10, deeming this 
branch of the public service as honorable as 
those which may require more of his time, 
but no more of his thoughtful attention. He 
is interested with all enterprises undertaken 
with the view of advancing the welfare of 
the community, and lends his influence and 
aid to all such projects. 

Mr. McGillicuddy was for many years a 
member of the Loyal Orange Association, 



1 64 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



originally joining Eli Lodge, and later trans 
ferring to Lodge No. 516, of Warwick. He 
served as master of his lodge, and always 
took an intelligent interest in the work 
ings of. the order. 

In April, 1851, Mr. McGillicuddy was 
united in marriage, in Warwick township, 
by Rev. James Smyth, to Ann Jane Fuler- 
ton, who was born in York township, 
County of York, Ont, daughter of John 
Fulerton ; she was the widow of Hartford 
Lennox at the time of her marriage to our 
subject. In the fifty-four years of their 
married life, Mrs. McGillicuddy has proved 
herself a devoted wife and mother,. .and a 
most capable helpmeet to her progressive 
husband, and they have given their family 
Christian home training which is reflected 
in the lives of all their children. For high 
moral character and useful lives no family 
stands higher than that of Mr. and Mrs. 
McGillicuddy, and the devotion of these 
children to their parents is marked. Ten 
children were born to them, of whom we 
give a brief record : ( i ) James died young. 
(2) John, who was educated in the schools 
of the township, and later attended the On 
tario Veterinary College, from which he 
graduated, is now practicing his profession 
at Watford. He married Mary Cameron, 
and after her death, Clara Powell. (3) Jor 
dan, a farmer and land owner of Warwick 
township, married Jane Culbert. (4) James 
(2), attended the public schools of Warwick 
township, and later the Veterinary College 
at Toronto, and, finally taking up the study 
of medicine, prepared for this profession at 
the London Medical College, and the De 
troit Medical College. and is now 
practicing at Shepardsville, Michigan; he 
married Elizabeth Wiley, daughter of Dun 
can Wiley of Adelaide township, County of 
Middlesex. (5) William prepared himself 
for the teacher s profession, which he fol 
lowed one year before his untimely death, at 
the age of twenty-one years. (6) Robert E., 
who is engaged in farming east of the home 
stead, married Fanny Gates. (7) Mary mar 
ried William Janes, a farmer of Warwick 
township. (8) Sarah Jane married Edward 
AVhite, also a farmer of Warwick township. 



(9) Catherine married William Smith, who 
follows agricultural pursuits in Warwick 
township. (10) Margaret is at home. There 
are thirteen grandchildren to complete this 
happy home circle. 

Mr. and Mrs. McGillicuddy may indeed 
feel that they have not lived in vain. With 
a long record of upright living and useful 
public service, and a family trained in the 
right path, they may spend their declining 
years in the enjoyment of the wealth they 
have accumulated, in the assurance that they 
have nobly done their part in life. They 
are consistent and valued members of the 
Church of England, attending St. Paul s 
Church, of which Mr. McGillicuddy was 
one of the organizers. He has always taken 
an active interest in the welfare of the con 
gregation, and was warden for over thirty 
years. 

JAMES HENRY MC&LLICUDDY, born 
April 6, 1839, brother of Eusebius McGilli 
cuddy, and the youngest child of the family, 
was but an infant when his parents died. He 
never knew the love and fostering care of 
a devoted father or mother, coming to Can 
ada with his two brothers, and being reared 
in a new and strange country. He attended 
the public schools of Nelson township, and 
also learned all the details of clearing up a 
farm, and there he remained until the late 
sixties, when he came West to the County 
of Lambton, selling out his interests in 
Nelson township, and locating in Warwick 
township, where his brother, Eusebius, was 
located. Here he purchased a tract of land 
on the Egremont Road, consisting of 100 
acres, where he continued in general farm 
ing and stock raising until 1889. He had 
improved his property to a great degree, and 
selling it bought the homestead of the late 
John Thomas, a tract of 180 acres on the 
1 8th side road, where he has spent the last 
sixteen years. Mr. McGillicuddy has al 
ways been a hard working man and as such 
is highly respected in the community. He 
takes a great interest in his farm and being 
of a domestic turn of mind, of his home. In 
his habits, Mr. McGillicuddy is strictly tem 
perate, and he is noted for his honesty and 
upright character. Politically Mr. McGilli- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



165 



cuddy is a Conservative, but has never 
sought public office. He and his estimable 
wife are members of St. Mary s English 
Church of Warwick. 

In the English Church at Strathroy, 
James Henry McGillicuddy was married, 
Feb. 6, 1875, to Susanna Liddey, who was 
born in Warwick township, daughter of the 
late John Liddey. Mrs. McGillicuddy is a 
lady of refinement and culture and is greatly 
devoted to her husband and children. Mr. and 
Mrs. James Henry McGillicuddy have had 
children as follows : ( I ) James Franklin is at 
home. (2) John Edward Warner, edu 
cated in the Warwick public schools, Strath 
roy Collegiate Institute. Watford high 
school and the Toronto College of Phar 
macy, taking his diploma at the latter place, 
is now studying medicine in the London 
Medical College. (3) Charles Arthur died 
young. (4) Walter Eusebius, educated in 
the public schools of Warwick township and 
in Watford high school, is now a law stu 
dent. ( 5 ) Adelia May, educated in the dis 
trict schools and at Watford high school, is 
now at home. 

M. FREDERICK BLACKSTOCK, 
one of the prosperous and enterprising 
young farmers of Enniskillen township, be 
longs to a family long identified with Mid 
dlesex County, but since 1878 represented 
in Lambton County also. He was born in 
the former section of the country Xov. 16, 
1869. the son of James and Mary (Miller) 
Blackstock. 

The maternal grandparents. George 
Peter and Annie E. (Moore) Miller, were 
Germans, born in Yalon, Hessen, where they 
married and lived for some years after their 
children were born. Mr. Miller served as a 
cavalry soldier six years in Germany. On 
March T. 1846. he embarked with his fam 
ily for Texas, U. S. A., but hardly had they 
started when, on the loth of March, the 
vessel was wrecked off Berryhead. Bexham, 
England, and the passengers were all de 
tained there for three months, while the ship 
was repaired. Mrs. Mary Blackstock, 
though only a little girl then, well remem 



bers the thrilling escape from the wreck, 
when she and her parents and sisters were 
lifted into a basket and carried, one by one, 
over a line to the English shore. At length 
they set sail once more, and after a tedious 
voyage of nine months the family landed in 
Galveston. George P. Miller bought land 
in Texas and was employed in farming un 
til 1858, when he was stricken down during 
an epidemic of yellow fever and died. His 
wife had been taken a few years previously. 
The eldest, Elizabeth, married Moses Black- 
stock, brother of James, moved to Canada 
and remained at Peterboro a short time, and 
then removed to Metcalfe, County of Mid 
dlesex, but later moved again, to Enniskil 
len ; there Mr. Blackstock died, leaving one 
daughter, Sarah, now Mrs. Philander Kim- 
merly. The second sister, Catherine, is now 
the wife of Henry Clark, who resides in Pe- 
trolia, Ont. ; they have no children. Mary 
Miller, who became Mrs. James Blackstock, 
attended school both in Germany and in Gal 
veston, and while still a young girl accom 
panied her sister Elizabeth to Canada. Dur 
ing their residence in the County of Mid 
dlesex she married Mr. Blackstock. 

James Blackstock was born in County 
Cavan, Ireland, on Christmas Eve, 1814. He 
came to Canada with his parents, William 
and Sarah Blackstock, who settled first at 
Peterboro and then on a farm in Middlesex 
County, where they died, leaving a large 
family. One son, Samuel, still lives on the 
old homestead. James was the eldest and 
was educated before leaving Ireland. He 
first married Elizabeth Hawthorne, who left 
one daughter, Sarah Jane, who died Dec. 
17. 1884. His marriage to Miss Mary 
Miller occurred in 1856, and they began 
their wedded life on a farm in Middlesex 
County, where they remained, clearing the 
land and making a good home, until 1877, 
when they moved to Enniskillen. The fam- 
ily homestead, in Lot 25, Concession n. 
was then largely wild land, with only a 
small portion improved and without build 
ings. Mr. Blackstock cleared the place, 
erected modern buildings, and made it into 
one of the well-cultivated farms of the 



1 66 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county, his home for over twenty years. He 
passed from this life Jan. 3, 1899, a con 
sistent member of the Methodist Church and 
a man of truly Christian character. Politi 
cally he belonged to the Conservatives, 
and fraternally was a member of the order 
of Orangemen, at Peterboro. His widow 
still lives in her old home, with her sons 
Frederick and John. 

A family of six sons and five daughters 
was born to James and Mary Blackstock : 
(i) Samuel, born in Metcalfe in 1858, died 
in 1892, a young man of most beautiful 
Christian character. (2) Annie, born in 
Middlesex County in 1860, is the wife of 
Austin Demott, an Enniskillen farmer, and 
has three children, Hugh A., Frederick W., 
and Marie K. (3) William M., born in 
1863, married Miss Charity Clark, of En 
niskillen, and has two children, James M. 
and Cora V. They live in that township, on 
Concession 10. (4) Mary attended school 
fifst in Middlesex County, and later in En 
niskillen. She is unmarried and has charge 
of the home for her mother and brothers. 
(5) M. Frederick, whose name introduces 
this sketch, attended the Enniskillen schools 
and when he grew older assisted his father 
on the farm. Before the latter s death the 
property was entirely in his charge, as the 
father lived a retired life for several years, 
and the son is now a part owner of the 
homestead. He is unmarried. He is a 
member of the order of Orangemen in Pe- 
trolia, and is a most popular and estimable 
young man. (6) George W., born in 1871, 
married Miss Eliza A. Brown, of Enniskil 
len, and has four children, Florence M., 
Elsie J., Willie F. and Hazel G. The fam 
ily live on the old Blackstock home in 
Middlesex County. (7) John W. lives at 
home. (8) Nellie L., born at the present 
place is also living at home. Three other 
children, (9) Ida, (10) James L. and (n) 
Flossie, died in childhood. The family are 
all connected with the Methodist Church, of 
which the aged mother has been a member 
for over fifty years. Politically, the sons 
are all Conservatives. 

Mrs. Blackstock is now, in her declin 



ing years, reaping the reward of her years 
of care for her children in their devotion 
to her. In her courage and fortitude dur 
ing the first years of married life she was a 
model helpmeet to her husband, and in their 
later years, when fortune had smiled upon 
them, she was likewise a sympathetic sharer 
in his many kindly and charitable deeds for 
others, for their lives were essentially lives 
of unselfish service, and they will long be 
affectionately remembered by those among 
whom they resided. Mr. Blackstock was in 
every respect a good citizen and his deatH 
was deeply lamented. 

DONALD M. LEITCH was born on 
Concession 6, Lot 27, in Brooke township, 
Lambton County, on the farm he occupied 
until recently. He is a son of Donald and 
Margaret (McMillan) Leitch, who were 
both born in Argyllshire, Scotland. 

Archie Leitch, grandfather of Donald 
M., \vas bereaved of his wife on the journey 
to Canada. The vessel on which he came 
was nine weeks making the ocean trip, and 
Mr. Leitch first journeyed to Mosa, Middle 
sex County, via Quebec, where he resided 
five or six years before locating in Lambton 
County. His children were as follows : 
Anne married a Mr. McAlpine, and at her 
death left one daughter ; Mary married Dou- 
gal McMurphy, of Middlesex County; 
Katie (deceased) married Donald McAl 
pine, who settled in Metcalfe, Middlesex 
County; Margaret (deceased) married 
Duncan Morrison, of Aldborough; Neil 
married and settled in Brooke as a pioneer 
farmer on Concession 7, and had two 
daughters, Mrs. Kate Ferguson, of Alvin- 
ston, and Mrs. Alexander McKellar, now 
deceased; Donald is the father of our sub 
ject. 

Donald Leitch lived in Mosa five years 
before purchasing the home in Lambton 
County, in 1847. Here he started life on 
bush land, and made a home for his wife 
and family. He erected two log houses, and 
lived on the place until his death, in 1870. 
He was the owner of 200 acres, most of 
which has been cleared up by him and his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



167 



sons. Mrs. Leitch died while living- with 
our subject. Sept. 2. 1904. Both parents 
were consistent members of the Presbyte 
rian Church. To them were born these 
children : Archie, born in Scotland, grew up 
in Canada, where he married Janet Craw 
ford, of Mosa, and they settled for some 
years in the County of Lambton before mov 
ing to the County of Huron, where they 
now reside; they have had children, Mar 
garet, Mary, Bella, John, Donald, Alexan 
der (deceased), Dougal, James, Archie and 
Angus. Catherine, born in Scotland, mar 
ried Neil McTaggart, of Huron County, 
and died leaving three daughters, Jennie, 
Margaret and Mary. Margaret, born in 
Canada, married Malcomb Fisher, of 
Brooke township, and at her death left, 
these children, Mary, Margaret, Katie, 
Duncan,. Dan and John. John, born in 
Middlesex County, was educated at Ko- 
moka Seminary and Toronto College, and 
at the time of his death in 1871, was princi 
pal of the Xewbury high school. Anne, born 
in Brooke, married Hugh B. McXeil, of 
Mosa, and they reside in Detroit, Michigan ; 
their children are Etta, Margaret and Archie 
P. Mary, born in Brooke township, resides 
in Detroit, Michigan. Dougal, born in 1855, 
taught school in Brooke township for a 
number of years, later followed telegraphy, 
and finally engaged in the grocery business 
in Alvinston, in which he continued until his 
death ; he went to California for his health, 
and died after his return home, in Alvin 
ston, in 1889; he married Maggie Crouth- 
ers, of Alvinston, and two children were 
born to them, Lulu and Gordon. Sarah, 
born in 1859, married (first) William Cor- 
estine, of Brooke township, and after his 
death became the wife of Elgin Anderson, 
of Detroit, Michigan. Donald M. is our 
subject. 

Donald M. Leitch was educated in the 
schools of Brooke township, and was reared 
on his father s farm, of which he became 
manager after the death of his father. He 
continued there, engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, until his mother s death, when he 
became the owner of the Brooke estates. 



He sold the farm April 15, 1905, and re 
tired, and is now living in Sarnia. In Xo- 
vember, 1885, Mr. Leitch married Miss 
Jennett Campbell, born in Metcalfe, Middle 
sex County, Feb. 23, 1863, daughter of 
Peter and Isabella (McLean) Campbell, 
who still reside in Metcalfe. To this union 
children came as follows : Margaret Mac- 
Millan, born Xov. 28, 1886, was educated 
in Brooke township, graduated from Sarnia 
Business College in 1905, and makes her 
home with her aunt in Detroit, Michigan ; 
Isabella died Sept. 18, 1900, aged eleven 
years; JJonald John was born Sept. 8. 1891 ; 
Peter Stuart, Sept. 8, 1893; Ruth Maria, 
Feb. 22, 1896; and Beulah Jean, May 30, 
1899. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Leitch are 
Presbyterians, and he is a deacon in the 
church. Politically he is a Conservative, 
and he held the position of deputy reeve of 
Brooke township for a year, his other duties 
causing him to resign at the end of that time. 
Mr. Leitch is one of Brooke township s self- 
made men, and he is well known and highly 
respected in Lambton County. 



LAMBTON S PIONEERS. 

I love to hear the pioneer tell of the days of yore, 
And why he left his native land to seek a foreign 

shore; 
To brave the breeze where forest trees were almost 

hid with snow, 
And there to build his cabin home, some sixty years 

ago. 

While longing for some spot on earth they could call 

their own, 
They left the land that gave them birth to try and 

get a home 
Where no evictions could be made a landlord s power 

to show ; 
They ventured out to Canada some sixty years ago. 

It s wonderful the changes made in those short sixty 

years, 

Not only in the forest glade, but in our pioneers; 
Ju<t SvC them now, with wrinkled brow, their grey 

heads bending low, 
How great, indeed, has been the change since sixty 

years ago. 

Where wolves and bears, in packs and pairs, and 
other beasts of prey, 

Prowled round their cabins every night, where In 
dians prowled by day; 



1 68 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Men risked their lives, their weans and wives, as I 

can plainly show 
While clearing up this wilderness some sixty years 

ago. 

Oh, what a debt of gratitude we owe our pioneers ; 
Then treat them, friends, with due respect in their 

declining years, 
For most of them have gone to rest where all must 

some day go, 
Free from the cares of Canada or sixty years ago. 

What landscape ever had a change so great and 

grand 

As can be seen in Canada, my own dear native land? 
Her forests once so very great, are going sure but 

slow, 
Just like her hardy pioneers of sixty years ago. 

Her mountains, lakes and rivers, all are beautiful 

to view, 
Where flowering hills and sparkling rills glow like 

the mountain dew ; 
Her fertile fields abundance yields, her climate, too, 

is grand; 
No wonder that Canadian boys would love their 

native land. 

ROBERT SINCLAIR GURD. In the 
death of Mr. Gurd at his residence in Sarnia, 
in 1896, Lambton County lost an eminent 
barrister, a leading business man and one of 
its most ardent promoters of higher educa 
tion. A strong man morally and intellect 
ually, during his long residence in Sarnia 
there was scarcely a movement for the better 
ment of his section with which he was not 
prominently identified. While attending to 
his various duties he was not, however, neg 
lectful of the business of his one main call 
ing, and as a member of the firm of 
MacKenzie & Gurd had for years a large 
and extensive legal practice. 

Air. Gurd came of a highly cultivated 
and capable Irish family. Capt. William 
Gurd. his father, prominently identified 
himself with the military and governmental 
affairs of Ontario. Born in Ireland, he there 
in a refined and cultivated home received 
careful rearing. During his young man 
hood he married Jessie Begg, and they had 
eight children : Annie, who married Anthony 
Kittermaster, of Sarnia; Robert S., who is 
mentioned below; Alfred, an oil speculator 
of Petrolia, and former member of Parlia 
ment; Jessie, widow of Dr. R. M. Bucke; 
Matilda, who died unmarried ; Arthur, a 



resident of Manitoba; William, of London, 
Ont. ; and George, a lumber merchant. 

A desire for a better field for his activi 
ties led William Gurd in the early twenties 
to come to Ontario, and for a short time he 
resided in Kingston. Thence he came to 
Moore township, Lambton County, where 
he acquired considerable landed property. 
For a number of years prior to his death lie 
was collector of customs, at Sombra and 
also at Courtright. Both he and his wife 
died in Moore township, where they had 
spent so many years of their lives. 

Capt. Gurd possessed marked executive 
ability, which won him the respect of all who 
knew him. He was a patriotic citizen, and 
in 1837, as captain of a military company, 
rendered effective service in the suppression 
of the Rebellion. In political matters he al 
ways evinced a live interest, espousing the 
cause of the Conservatives. He was a con 
sistent member of the Episcopal Church. 

Robert S. Gurd spared himself neither 
time, hard work nor money in thorough 
preparation for his life work. Born in 
Moore, Lambton County, Ont., Dec. 30, 
1837, he attended the public schools of Sar 
nia, and laid the foundation of a thorough 
business education. Possessed of a decided 
ly intellectual taste, he later attended Cara- 
cloc Academy, where he acquitted himself 
with honor. He then entered the office of W. 
H. P. Vidal, of Sarnia, and began to prepare 
for his profession. In 1862 he formed a part 
nership for legal practice with John A. Mac 
Kenzie, under the firm name of MacKenzie 
& Gurd, opening an office in Sarnia. The 
business prospered from the start, and the 
firm continued unchanged for a number of 
years. Then Mr. Kittermaster, a nephew of 
Mr. Gurd, was admitted. These three 
gentlemen worked together until 1886, 
when Mr. MacKenzie was called to the 
bench. Then, during the last ten years 
of Mr. Curd s life, the firm was known 
as Gurd & Kittermaster. In the per 
formance of his professional duties Mr. 
Gurd was conscientious, untiring and thor 
ough, and he won the lasting regard of his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



169 



clients and the respect of his opponents. 
Among business men especially he had a . 
large practice, and won the reputation of 
being one of the wisest business counselors 
of western Ontario. Aside from the prac 
tice of his profession he also had large busi 
ness interests in Sarnia, and was connected 
for a great many years with the Loan & 
Investment Co., founded in 1844, and now 
one of the foremost business enterprises in 
his section. As manager until the time of 
his death, he gave a great deal of his time 
to furthering the interests of this corpora 
tion, and was largely instrumental in bring 
ing it up to its present high standing. In 
all of his enterprises Mr. Gurd was remark 
ably prosperous. In 1876 he erected on 
Christina street. Sarnia, one of the hand 
somest residences in the city, where he after 
ward made his home, and where his family 
now reside. 

In 1867, shortly after entering upon his 
professional work in Sarnia, Mr. Gurd mar 
ried Miss Sarah I. Johnson, of Kent County, 
Ontario, who is still living in Sarnia. By 
this union there were five children : Mabel, 
who married Dr. F. B. Wilkinson, and now 
resides in Sarnia ; Xorman, who has suc 
ceeded his father as a member of the firm, 
now Kittermaster & Gurd, of Sarnia ; 
Miss Mary, at home with her mother; Jessie, 
married to Dr. B. H. Keating, of Denver, 
Colorado, and Dr. Douglas, a physician of 
Montreal, who married Alice Thibaudeau. 

Mr. Gurd possessed a strong individual 
ity, exerting an influence over everything 
with which he had to do. Keenly interested 
in the advancement of education, he was 
made a trustee of Wycliffe College, and other 
institutions, was one of the directors of Rid 
ley College, St. Catharines, and performed 
his duties with a thoroughness and wisdom 
which redounded greatly to the benefit of 
those schools. In the professional world his 
advice was often sought by aspiring young 
barristers, and he was considered a leader, 
i In his home he was courteous, studious and 
very fond of his library, which contains 
some of the choicest literature of ancient 
and modern times. A man of brilliant so 



cial attributes, he won friends in all circles, 
especially in the professional and business 
world. He was a man of sound Christian 
principles, and a member of the Episcopal 
Church, in which he served as warden many 
years, and was delegate to the Synod. He 
was active in church work of all kinds and 
very liberal in his support of such enter 
prises. Politically he affiliated with the Re 
formers. 

The Johnson family, of which Mrs. 
Gurd is a member, is of English extraction. 
Lionel Johnson, her grandfather, left Eng 
land, his native land, about 1804, and came 
to Albany, New York, where he remained 
for one year. Then, in 1805, he came to 
Kent County, Ont., with Lord Selkirk, on 
whose property he remained for some time. 
He eventually purchased land of his own in 
the same county, where he subsequently 
made his home. Both he and his wife died 
in Kent County. During his young man 
hood he married a Miss Jackson, and to this 
pioneer couple were born three children : 
James, who is mentioned below ; Lionel, a 
farmer in the County of Kent (he is now de 
ceased) ; and Isabella, who married James 
Ste\vart. 

James Johnson, father of Mrs. Gurd, 
was torn in Northumberland, England, in 
1796, and was about ten years old when his 
parents settled in Ontario. As a young man 
he engaged in farming in Kent County, and 
being industrious and prudent, as well as 
capable, he became one of the large land 
owners of his section. About 1856 he re 
tired from farm work, and settling in Wal- 
laceburg, Kent County, he devoted himself to 
looking after his large estate. He died in 
that place in 1874. In May, 1817, Mr. 
Johnson married Margaret McCollum, who 
was born in Scotland, in 1797, daughter of 
Leonard McCollum, who settled in Kent 
County, Ont., in 1804. Mrs. Johnson died in 
that county in 1892, at the advanced age of 
ninety-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
had nine children: Lionel (now deceased) 
was prominently active in public affairs, was 
a soldier in the Rebellion of 1837, served 
as a member of the county council for twenty 



170 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years, was warden of his county, and acted 
as postmaster of Wallaceburg for many 
years. Mary, and Daniel are now residents 
of Wallaceburg. Elizabeth married Alex 
ander Frazer. Margaret is deceased. Eliza 
is the widow of Alexander McKelvey, of 
Wallaceburg. Charles and Lucinda, who is 
the widow of George McKelvey, now re 
side at Wallaceburg. Sarah I. (Mrs. Gurd) 
is mentioned above. 

Mr. Johnson was a highly influential man 
in his section, especially in military affairs. 
He served with a military organization for 
many years and retired with the rank of 
major. 

JOHN DALZIEL, clerk of Lambton 
County, residing at Sarnia, has long been a 
man of many interests. As a lumber and 
flour manufacturer he has carried on an 
extensive business, and as an agriculturist 
he has achieved no small notoriety. He has 
now, however, disposed of much of his bus 
iness and also of his real estate. At one time 
he owned one of the finest peach farms in 
western Ontario. The duties of his present 
office he is performing with the same thor 
oughness and fidelity that have character 
ized him as a business man, and he is now 
serving his eleventh year in office. 

Mr. Dalziel is of Scotch birth ancl ances 
try. His grandfather, James Dalziel, was 
born in Scotland about 1760. For an oc 
cupation he followed agriculture through 
out his business life, deriving from it a very 
profitable income. About 1806 he married 
Ellen Kynoch, who was also born in Scot 
land. She lived to an advanced age, and 
died at her home in Scotland. By this 
union there were six children, all now de 
ceased : Alexander is mentioned below ; 
James died in India; John was judge on 
the Island of Salone, where he died ; Charles 
was engaged in farming in Scotland ; Mar 
garet and Helen died in Scotland. Mr. Dal 
ziel was industrious, wise and capable. In 
the steady conscientious performance of one 
main industry lay his strength. He died in 
his native land. 

Alexander Dalziel possessed his father s 



capacity for hard work, and the courage and 
ambition that aim toward large achieve 
ments. Born in Scotland, he was there 
trained to habits of industry and self-reli 
ance. Reared to farm-work, upon reaching 
manhood he naturally turned to that occupa 
tion. In his native land he married Isabella 
Hendry, who was born in that country, and 
they had eight children: (i) John is men 
tioned below. (2) Alexander, who is now 
deceased, was a carpenter by trade. He left 
no children. (3) Margaret married Thomas 
Lenox, of Sarnia, who is now deceased. (4) 
Jane married John McGregor, of Regina, 
who is now deceased. (5) James, a carpenter 
of Port Huron, married Mary Ketchen, and 
they have three children, James, John ancl 
William. (6) Andrew Henry, now a resi 
dent of Windsor, married Elizabeth Eng 
lish, and they have four children, Ella (who 
married James Doherty of Sarnia), Andrew 
(in the employ of the Wabash Railroad 
Co.), Frederick (a bank clerk, in Windsor), 
and Blanch (who now resides at home). 
(7) Jessie A. married R. G. McArthur, 
jailor at Sarnia, Ont, and has one daughter, 
Isabella. (8) Ellen married Stephen Cor 
nell ; both are now deceased. 

Reports of good agricultural openings in 
Ontario induced Alexander Dalziel, in 1842, 
to come to that country. Locating in Reach 
township, County of Ontario, he there en 
gaged in farming very successfully for some 
time. Later, however, he moved to Blansh- 
ard township, Perth County, where he con 
tinued his pursuit, the change proving much 
to his advantage. In both sections he car 
ried on flourishing industries and met with 
good money returns. In 1862, having per 
formed his share of hard work, he retired 
from active labor, settling at Thedford, 
Lambton County. There he remained until 
his death, which occurred in. 1894. Mr. 
Dalziel possessed shrewd business judg 
ment, marked persistence and great en 
ergy. His business aggressiveness not only 
bettered his own prospects, but opened the 
way toward larger achievements for his 
children. 

John Dalziel acquired through his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



training some old-world culture and new- 
world progress. Born in Scotland March 10, 
1853, he there remained until his eighteenth 
year, receiving in the public schools of his 
section a thoroughly practical education. In 
April, 1850, he followed his father to On 
tario, and there on the family homestead en 
gaged in agriculture for some time. " Pos 
sessed of a good education, he finally, in 
1862, secured a position as teacher in the 
County of Perth, following that vocation a 
few years, and thence came to Lambton 
County. There he followed his profession 
for two years, in the faithful performance 
of his duties proving himself a young man 
of sterling worth. An opening in the lum 
ber business at Port Franks, then decided 
him to give up teaching. Prudence and 
close attention to his work soon put his new 
industry upon a firm footing, and he en 
gaged in it there for ten years. He enlarged 
it from time to time and derived from it a 
good income. Encouraged by his success, 
he transferred his business to Grand Bend. 
He now bought up large timber tracts and 
engaged very extensively in the manufacture 
of lumber. Soon after his arrival in the 
place he also opened a trade in flour, and the 
following year, in 1875, he erected the first 
tiourmill in the place. Experience in di 
recting affairs and skill in pushing his enter 
prise enabled him to conduct both lines with 
success. He even branched out still more, 
and, purchasing a suitable farm near by, 
engaged in fruit raising, making a specialty 
of peaches. For about ten years he carried 
on these enterprises. Then, in 1884, for the 
purpose of giving his children better edu 
cational advantages, he leased his mills and 
moved to Sarnia, intending, however, to 
return and resume business in a few years. 
The destruction of his mills by fire a short 
time afterward materially changed his plans, 
and he has since made his home in Sarnia. 
On May 28, 1869, Mr. Dalziel married 
Miss Catherine Hollister, daughter of Jere 
miah Hollister, of the County of Dundas, 
and they have three children, both daugh 
ters graduates of the Collegiate Institute of 
Sarnia : ( i ) Kate married Albert McGre 



gor, an accountant, of Winnipeg. (2) Anna 
Belle married \V. A. Lewis, a well-known 
lawyer, of Brockville, Ont., who ran on the 
Reform ticket for Parliament in 1900. They 
have two daughters Helen and - (3) 
John Alexander is living at home. 

Mr. Dalziel has long been a Liberal in 
politics, but during his earlier career was 
too busy to engage in much active work in 
that line. Since coming to Sarnia, how 
ever, he has given his attention largely to 
public affairs. In 1894 he was appointed 
to fill the office of county clerk, left vacant 
by the death of Mr. Hugh Smith, who, in 
1862, had succeeded Mr. Fisher. As a man 
of wide business experience Mr. Dalziel has 
filled the place with thoroughness and ease. 
Socially he is well known and highly re 
spected. He and his wife belong to the Pres 
byterian Church. 

ELLIOT GRIEVE ELLIOT, whose 
birth occurred March 12, 1837, in West 
minster township, near London, Ont., is a 
son of Ninian and Jeanette (Grieve) El 
liot, and grandson of James and Jeanette 
Elliott, both of whom died in Roxburgh 
shire, Scotland. 

Xinian Elliot was born in Roxburgh 
shire, Scotland, in 1798, and came to Can 
ada when a young man, making the journey 
alone, the remainder of the family staying 
in Scotland. In 1826 he was married, by 
Squire Schofield, of London, to Jeanette 
Grieve, who was born in Roxburghshire in 
1808, daughter of Elliott and Jeanette E. 
Grieve, who came to Canada in 1816, and 
settled near Pond Mills, in Westminster 
township, near London, where they spent 
the remainder of their lives. After his mar 
riage Ninian Elliot began farming in West 
minster township, where he cleared a farm 
from wild land, but this he sold and moved 
to Dorchester township, where he lived un 
til his death, which occurred in 1884. Mrs. 
Elliot is still living on the homestead in 
Dorchester township. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot 
were among the earliest church workers in 
this part of the county, he being especially 
active. They were the parents of the fol- 



172 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lowing children : Jeanette, born in Middle- 
sx County, resides at the old home in Dor 
chester township; Elizabeth also lives at 
home; James died in his youth; John lives 
at home; J. William lives in Middlesex 
County; Jane married William Wilson, of 
Dorchester, Out.; Catherine is single and 
lives at home; Thomas, living on Conces 
sion 5, married Miss Eliza Gardner, of 
Brooke township, and has children, John, 
Nina, Susan, Lottie and Maggie; Margaret 
married Stewart Gardner, of Brooke town 
ship, Concession 5, and they have children, 
Robert, Stewart, Louisa, Stanley and Mar 
garet; Elliot Grieve is our subject. 

Elliot G. Elliot lived from the age of 
thirteen in Dorchester township, where he 
received a fair education and worked on the 
old home farm. On Dec. 26, 1861, he mar 
ried Miss Jane Strathdee, born in Nelson 
township, near Hamilton, Elgin County, 
March 29, 1844, daughter of John and Jane 
(Edwards) Strathdee, who were born in 
Banffshire. Scotland, the former in 1812, 
and his wife in 1814. Mr. and Mrs. Strath 
dee came to Canada in June, 1842, on a sail 
ing vessel that was nine weeks making the 
voyage ; they first settled near Hamilton for 
a year or two, and then moved to Perth 
Count}-, where Mr. Strathdee started farm 
ing and made a permanent home. He died 
in 1851, while his wife survived until 1902. 
They were the parents of the following chil 
dren : Alexander, of Perth County, was 
born in Scotland ; Jane is now Mrs. Elliot ; 
Martha, deceased, married Lorenzo Moses, 
of Perth County, and has ten children, 
Henry, George, Ida, Lorenzo, Alexander, 
Martha. Mary, William, Elizabeth and 
Jessie; Margaret, born in 1846. who mar 
ried Andrew Gourley and had children, 
Alexander, Carrie, Martha, Jessie and 
Maggie, resided in Perth County up to a 
few years ago, when she and her husband 
joined Disciple Dowie at Zion City; Betsey, 
Lorn in 1847. married James Peak, of Perth 
County, and has four sons, William, James, 
John and George: and John, born in Perth 
County in 1850 married Miss Emma And- 



bert, and settled on the old home, where he 
died in 1894, leaving two daughters, Jane 
and Nellie. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. El 
liot removed to Brooke township, where for 
three years they lived on a rented farm on 
Concession 10, and then removed to Inger- 
soll, Oxford County, where for four years 
he worked for the Great Western Railroad 
Company. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Elliot 
purchased the home which he now occupies, 
which was then all wild land, but he has 
cleared up 100 acres, which is now under a 
high state of cultivation. He was the first 
man to settle on this concession, and at the 
time of his location there was nothing but 
wild land for miles around. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Elliot the following 
children have been born : Jane is the wife of 
John Balentyne, a farmer in Perth County, 
and has fourteen children, William, Elliot 
G., Jane. John, Agnes, Jessie, James, May, 
Christina, Olive, Annie, Hannah, Laura and 
George; Jeanette married Franz Lehrbass, 
of Concession 7, Brooke township, and at 
her death left these children, Matilda, Dell, 
Elsie. Ruth, Freda and John; James mar 
ried Miss Mary Pollard of Perth County, 
and they settled on the 6th Concession in 
Brooke township, where he died in October, 
1899, and left a widow with three children, 
Alexander, Jennie and Viola; Martha mar 
ried George Moses, who resides in Alberta, 
Northwest Territory, and has two children, 
Verne and Pearl; John manages the old 
homestead ; Katie resides at home ; Grieve 
married a Miss Luella Miller, of Michigan, 
where he is a foreman in a lumber yard at 
Colonna ; Agnes married Frank Lehrbass, 
of Brooke township; Annie was educated in 
the Watford high school, and was for three 
years a teacher in Lambton County, but is 
now a stenographer at Toronto; Arthur 
died in childhood. 

The family are members of the Presby 
terian Church, in which Mr. Elliot is an 
elder. Mr. Elliot s grandfather Grieve was 
for forty years an elder in the church at 
London, while his uncle, William Grieve, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



173 



and his cousin, John Grieve, were all elders 
also. Politically he has always voted the 
Grit ticket, and has filled the position of 
trustee of the school board. 

JOHN McMAHAN (deceased), who 
for a number of years was one of the well- 
known and successful agriculturists of 
Plympton township, was born in County Ar 
magh, Ireland, Feb. 15, 1821, son of John 
and Elizabeth (Moran) McMahan. The 
county councillor, William McMahan, of 
Plympton, was a nephew of the younger 
John McMahan, and the family as a whole 
is a prominent one in the region. 

In 1828, when John McMahan was but 
seven years old, the family came to Canada 
and located first at Kingston, where the boy 
was sent to school. Two of his classmates 
were Oliver and John Mowett, the former 
of whom became prominent in both Provin 
cial and Dominion politics, being Premier 
of Ontario, and later lieutenant-governor of 
the same Province. At the age of eighteen 
Mr. McMahan left school and began his 
lifelong career as a farmer; for some time 
he worked with his father on a large tract of 
land which the latter owned in Camden town 
ship, Addington County, and remained there 
until 1863, during which period his marriage 
occurred. In that year he moved to the 
County of Lambton, where he bought 150 
acres, of which two-thirds was bush land, 
located on the township line of Plympton. 
Here he built a log house and settled down 
with his family to pioneer life. By untiring 
labor, he succeeded with the help of his sons 
in getting his farm under cultivation. He 
became prosperous, and later not only put 
up a fine dwelling and barns, but bought 
200 acres more situated in Lot 13, on the 
Plympton township line, half of which tract 
his son James now owns, while the eastern 
portion belongs to Mr. Thomas Steadman. 

Mrs. McMahan was a Miss Matilda Beg- 
gers, born in County Tyrone, Ireland. Her 
father. John Beggers, emigrated to Adding 
ton County, Ont, where he was a well- 
known land owner. The children born to 
John and Matilda McMahan were as fol 



lows : James ; Elizabeth, Mrs. John N. 
Wooley, of Enniskillen ; Albert, who owns 
the homestead ; Louise, who died aged twen 
ty-four; Amelia, Mrs. James Dowler, of 
Sarnia ; William Thomas, who died in in 
fancy. Mr. McMahan and his wife spent 
their declining years on their old homestead 
and there passed away, the former March 18, 
^93, aged seventy-two years, and the latter 
Jan. 29, 1901, aged seventy-six; they were 
buried in Brooke cemetery. Both were mem 
bers of the Methodist Church. Mr. McMahan 
was a member of the Loyal Orange Asso 
ciation and in politics was a Conservative. 
After her husband s death Mrs. McMahan 
was cared for by her son James, whose de 
votion to her comfort was unceasing. 

JAMES MCMAHAN, the oldest son of 
John, was born in County Addington, Jan. 
n, 1855, and was eight years old when the 
family moved to Lambton County. He at 
tended the Brooke school, which was then a 
small log structure, and was taught by Miss 
Jemeson, who afterward became Mrs. Peter 
Young. He remained at home as long as 
his father lived, although before his death 
the elder Mr. McMahan had given him the 
loo-acre farm where he now resides. It 
was bush land, but the young man got it un 
der cultivation in a comparatively short time, 
has added many improvements, built barns, 
and in 1893 erected a handsome brick house 
at an expense of over $2,000. Mr. McMa 
han is one of the largest cattle raisers of the 
section, and makes a specialty of the Durham 
Shorthorns. Industrious and enterprising, 
he is an enthusiastic agriculturist and be 
longs to the Farmers Association of Plymp 
ton township, and to the Shorthorn Durham 
Association, of Toronto. Mr. McMahan is 
well read and broadminded and, while nom 
inally Conservative, is liberal in his ideas 
and votes for principles rather than for par 
ties. He is the best type of citizen, loyal 
and patriotic. Originally a member of the 
Brooke Methodist Church, where he was 
steward, teacher and class leader, he has 
now transferred his membership to the 
church at Wyoming, where he is equally 
active in religious work. He is a man of 



174 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fine character and is universally liked. Mr. 
McMahan has never married. 

ALBERT McMAHAN, younger son of 
John, was also born before the family left 
Addington County, the date of his birth be 
ing Aug. 9, 1 86 1. Like his brother he at 
tended the Brooke school, and grew up on 
the farm assisting his father. He is now 
operating 100 acres of the homestead, en 
gaged both in farming and stock raising. He 
also has Shorthorn Durhams, and belongs 
to that Association in Toronto, but his spe 
cialty is breeding Clydesdale horses. He be 
longs to the A. O. U. W. of Wyoming, is 
a Conservative in politics, and attends the 
Methodist Church. He married Miss Alice 
Shea, born in Plympton, daughter of Will 
iam Shea, and they have had five children, 
William John, Howard, Martha Louise, 
Frederick Albert and James Wesley. 

E. A. LE BEL, one of the leading lum 
ber dealers of Sarnia, Lambton County, 
Ont., is descended from French ancestors. 
His grandfather, J. G. Le Bel, was born 
in the Province of Quebec, where he was a 
land owner and for many years registrar for 
the County of Bonaventure. He also filled 
all the offices of the election board, and at 
one time was warden of the county, which 
office his son Philip later filled, while another, 
son succeeded him as registrar of the county, 
and is still retained in that office. J. G. Le 
Bel married Miss Maggie Marr, and to this 
union were born the following children : J. 
A., the father of E. A.; Maria, Mrs. Jaen- 
gras ; Mary Ann, who married William 
Clopperton, an ex-member of the local par 
liament from the County of Bonaventure; 
Charles, in the government employ at Mon 
treal ; Philip, registrar of the County of Bon- 
aventnre; Charlotte, deceased; John, of 
Cleveland. Ohio, formerly of London, Ont. ; 
Rosalie, deceased ; and Amelia, who mar 
ried Edward Hargrave. 

J. A. Le Bel, the father of E. A., was 
born in 1839. and has always been engaged 
in public affairs. He was a land owner in 
the County of Gaspe. At one time he was 
coroner" and county councillor for many 



years, and has been governor of the jail in 
the County of Bonaventure for the past ten 
years. Politically he is a member of the Re 
form party. His religious home is in the 
Roman Catholic Church. In 1866 Mr. Le 
Bel was united in marriage with Miss Mel- 
vine Treaudeau, who was born in the city of 
Quebec in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Le Bel now 
reside in New Carlisle, Province of Quebec. 
The following children were born to their 
union : Eugiene is at home ; E. A. is men 
tioned below ; Arthur is deceased ; Leucene 
is a resident of Toronto; Eliza; Beatrice is 
deceased ; Nellie married Claire Enwright ; 
Fred is deceased. 

E. A. Le Bel was born at New Carlisle, 
Province of Quebec, August 28, 1869. At 
tending school in his native city, he gained 
a practical education, and remained at home 
until twenty-one years of age, at which time 
he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where 
lie remained two years. During his stay in 
that vicinity he worked as a painter in a car 
riage and wagon factory, and then returning 
to Canada he was for a year, in the grocery 
business in London. From London, in 1891, 
he came to Sarnia, where he embarked in 
the lumber business with his uncle, John 
Le Bel, continuing thus for five years. At 
the expiration of that time he purchased his 
uncle s interest, and has since then contin 
ued the business alone, meeting with remark 
able success, his keen foresight and thorough 
knowledge of all the details of this line of 
activity enabling him to grasp favorable op 
portunities and reap satisfactory benefits. 

On Sept. 7, 1896, Mr. Le Bel was mar 
ried to Miss Kate Mahony, daughter of John 
Mahony, of Sarnia. Mrs. Le Bel is a na 
tive of Sarnia, in which city she was edu 
cated. Five children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Le Bel : Arthur, Carlisle, Bazel, 
Gerald (deceased) and Catherine. In re 
ligious matters Mr. and Mrs. Le Bel are 
members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
Since attaining to his majority Mr. Le Bel 
has advocated the principles of the Reform 
party. His fraternal affiliations are with the 
K. O. T. M. and the K. O. C. Mr. Le Bel 
and his wife are highly esteemed in Sarnia, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



175 



where they have a large acquaintance, and 
where he has firmly established himself in 
the business life of the community. 

THOMAS A. McMAHEN, a member 
of one of the pioneer families of Lambton 
County, who resides on his farm in Ennis- 
killen township, Lot 20, Concession 12, is 
himself a Canadian, born in Kingston, Jan. 
25. 1852, but his parents, James and Anna 
(Patterson) McMahen, were both natives 
of Ireland. 

John McMahen, the paternal grandfa 
ther, left Ireland and coming to Canada, 
settled at Xapanee, where he remained until 
his death. Two of his sons, John and James, 
came to Lambton County, the former mak 
ing his home in Plympton, where he died, 
and the latter taking up wild land in Pe- 
trolia. Previous to his removal thither in 
1859 James McMahen had remained in 
Kingston, engaged as a ship carpenter, and 
was married there. The land he originally 
owned now belongs to the corporation of 
Petrolia, for after clearing the property Mr. 
McMahen sold it to the Oil Company in 
1866, and bought instead a partly improved 
farm in Moore township. He put up a fine 
home, good barns and outbuildings, and de 
veloped the place into a well-cultivated farm. 
He continued to make his home there for 
seven years, but in 1873 was called from 
this world, while his wife survived him un 
til 1893, when she, too, passed away at the 
old home. They were both members of the 
English Church, and Mrs. McMahen was 
always an active worker in its ranks. Po 
litically Mr. McMahen was a Conservative, 
but never sought to hold office. Nine chil 
dren grew to maturity, namely : ( i ) William 
married Miss Metcalf, of Lambton County, 
and lives in Plympton township. (2) Annie 
is Mrs. Nelson, of Enniskillen. (3) Maria, 
born in Kingston, died in Enniskillen when 
a young lady. (4) John A., born in Kings 
ton, married Miss Christie O Neil, of Lamb- 
ton County, has five children, Alice, Robert, 
Maggie, Cora, and Willard, and lives on his 
farm in Concession 12 Enniskillen. (5) 
Thomas A. (6) Helen, born in eastern Can 
ada, married William English, an oil pro 



ducer of Petrolia, and has three children, 
James, Jeanette and William. (7) Henrietta, 
born in Coburn, the wife of John McKenzie, 
of Moore township. (8) Frederick J., mar 
ried Miss Lizzie Elliott, has five children, 
Lena, Annie, Charles, Grace and James, and 
lives on his father s old homestead in Moore. 
(9) Alfred A., married Miss Isabella Forbes, 
of Moore, has four children, Gladys, Helen, 
AYillie and Harvey; he lives on a part of the 
McMahen homestead. 

Thomas McMahen was educated prin 
cipally in the schools of Lambton County 
and grew up there on his father s farm. 
For three years after his marriage he was 
occupied in the oil fields of Marthaville, and 
then bought his present farm, which he has 
entirely cleared since that time and has 
made into one of the fine farms of the town 
ship. In 1898 he built a handsome brick 
house which with the large barns gives the 
place a fine appearance. Mr. McMahen s 
marriage took place in October, 1876, when 
he was united to Miss Eleanor M. Hume, 
the estimable daughter of John and Fran 
ces Hume, prominent pioneers whose home 
stead lies in Concession 13. Mrs. McMahen 
was educated in the Lambton schools, and 
was a lady of the most earnest Christian 
character, a faithful worker in the Methodist 
Church, of which she was a member. She 
had many warm friends and the place left 
vacant by her death in March, 1903, was one 
hardly to be filled. She had a family of 
eleven children, as follows: Inez L., who 
died aged three; Mabel, born in April, 1880, 
wife of Robert Simpson, of Concession 4, 
Enniskillen; Fred Sidney, born in Decem 
ber, 1881, a business man of Northwest 
Canada ; Thomas W., born in Marthaville in 
1884, educated in the Enniskillen schools, 
and now his father s assistant and manager 
on the farm; Pearl E., born in February, 
1886, who has had charge of the home since 
her mother s death; James H., born in June, 
1888; John A., born in July, 1891 ; Ella M., 
born in November. 1890; Wallace A., born 
in June, 1896; Gertrude F., born in June, 
1898; and Myrtle V., born in October, 1900. 
The family are connected with the Method 
ist Church, of whose work Mr. McMahen 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



has always been a liberal supporter, although 
not a church member. 

In political views Mr. McMahen has al 
ways been a Conservative, and he has taken 
an active interest in all matters of local im 
portance, but he has steadily refused all sug 
gestions of holding office. He is likewise in 
terested in lodge work, and belongs to the 
Orangemen, Lodge No. 687, of Enniskillen, 
and to the Maccabees, Lodge No. 30, of 
Wyoming. A self-made man, Thomas A. 
McMahen is now one of the prosperous and 
substantial farmers of the county, a good 
citizen and one held in high esteem by all 
who know him. He is a worthy son of his 
father, who was known through all the re 
gion for his genuine Christian character, his 
upright conduct and his thoughtfulness for 
others. His children are all men and women 
of strong characters, and are enterprising 
and progressive citizens who are univer 
sally respected and esteemed. 

WILLIAM NEIL was born at Irvine, 
Ayrshire, Scotland, in the year 1832. When 
a lad of twelve he emigrated with the rest of 
the family to Canada, where his father took 
up land near Kingston, Ontario. At the age 
of eighteen he and his brother came west to 
Sarnia, where he settled and learned the 
trade of shoemaker. In 1848 he began busi 
ness on Front street. There he carried on 
a prosperous business for forty years, when 
he retired from active life. He always took 
a keen interest in local affairs and served the 
town as Front street commissioner, and was 
a member of the cemetery board till his 
death, in May, 1903. In the year 1859 he 
married Miss Annie Watson, of Sarnia, and 
two daughters were born to them. 

WILLIAM J. PORTE, of Forest, en 
joys the distinction of being the oldest bar 
rister of that locality, and the solicitor of the 
Town since 1883. 

The Porte family is one of the oldest in 
Britain, dating back to before the Conquest, 
the name appearing in William the Conquer 
or s Domesday Book, one of them being a 
powerful feudal baron at that time. 



John Porte, the grandfather of our sub 
ject, was born in Ireland, and there married 
Miss Ellen Carter ; six sons and two daugh 
ters were born to them ; of the sons, the eld 
est, George, was a celebrated scholar, a mem 
ber of the Royal Irish Academy, and Fel 
low of the Royal Geographical Society ; two 
younger, sons Gilbert and Robert emi 
grated to Canada, settling in London, Ontario. 

Robert Porte, father of William J., was 
born in Ireland in 1829, came to Canada in 
1849, and for some time was engaged in 
business with his brother, Gilbert, in Lon 
don, Out. ; later he settled at Parkhill, in 
the County of Middlesex, and, upon retiring 
from business, in 1891, he located in De 
troit, Michigan, where he died in June, 1905. 
In 1853 he married, in London, Ont., Mar- 
gretta Lynham, daughter of Matthew and 
Jane (Burch) Lynham, who was born in Ire 
land in 1832, and died at Parkhill in 1881. 

Seven children were born to Robert 
Porte and his wife : Elizabeth, who mar 
ried Dr. George Suttie, of Detroit, Mich 
igan ; William J., of Forest, Ont. ; Frances, 
of Detroit; Annabel, deceased; Margaret, 
of Detroit; Robert Franklin, who died at 
the age of seventeen years at Parkhill ; and 
T. L. Whitford, of Detroit. 

William J. Porte was born in London, 
Ont, in 1855. His literary education was 
secured in Parkhill and Toronto. In 1883 
he was called to the Bar, and at once began 
the practice of his profession at Forest, where 
for some time he had taken charge of an 
office for, Kenneth Goodman, of Parkhill. 
He has met with unqualified success, and, 
in addition to acting as solicitor for the Town 
and several monetary institutions, carries 
on a large private practice. 

In March, 1882, Mr. Porte and Miss 
Elizabeth Van Valkenburg, daughter of 
Adam and Margaret (Rymal) Van Valken 
burg, were united in marriage. One daugh 
ter, Edna Margretta, has been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Porte. They are members of the 
Church of England. Politically Mr. Porte 
is a Conservative, and fraternally a member 
of Forest Lodge, No. 263, A. F. & A. M., 
of which he is a past master. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



177 



DALLAS POLK S1SK. clerk of Oil 
Springs, Ont., also clerk and secretary of 
the school board at that place, is a native of 
Nicholson, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, 
born July 19, 1846. 

James and Sally (Bissbee) Sisk, his pa 
rents, \vere born in County Fermanagh, Ire 
land, and Pennsylvania, respectively, and 
married in Pennsylvania, where they re 
mained until 1850. In that year they mi 
grated to Canada and located in Belleville, 
Ont. To Mr. and Mrs. Sisk were born 
three children : Mary, who married Rev. Dr. 
A. Carman, of Toronto, Ont. ; Dallas Polk, 
our subject, and Miss Emma, of Toronto, 
Ontario. 

Dallas Polk Sisk came to Canada with 
his parents in his fifth year, and until fifteen 
years old lived in Belleville, thence moving 
to Oil Springs. He attended Albert Col 
lege, at Belleville, in 1865-66. While there 
he participated with the 151!! Battalion, of 
Belleville, in the Fenian raid, for his serv-- 
ices receiving a silver medal and a grant of 
government land. In July, 1866, he re 
turned home, and finding employment in the 
oil fields of this section continued until 1870. 
Following that he was under his father, in 
the lumber and railroad business, until 1880, 
when he went to Jackson, Michigan, in the 
employ of the Michigan Central Railroad 
Company as chief clerk in the building de 
partment. Remaining three years he went 
West until 1885, eventually returning home, 
where he has ever since remained. In 1888 
he was appointed village clerk, in which 
office he has continued up to the present time. 
In 1889 he was appointed secretary and 
treasurer of the school board, and ha s also 
remained continuously in that office with the 
exception of three years 1892-93-94. He 
has likewise been assistant postmaster since 
1895, ail d in all these offices has proved 
himself a man of the utmost efficiency. He 
is as well liked for his admirable personal 
characteristics as he is respected for execu 
tive ability, and he has not an enemy in the 
world, a somewhat remarkable record for 
one who has been as active as he. In polit 
ical sentiment he is a Conservative, and has 

13 



always taken an active part in party matters; 
he has missed voting only once since casting 
his first vote, in 1867. Mr. Sisk holds fra 
ternal affiliations with the lodges of the C. 
O. O. F. and Orangemen at Oil Springs, and 
is financial secretary of the former. 

On Jan. 24, 1873, Mr. Sisk married 
Miss Anna Radcliff, and three children have 
been born to this union : Florence E. married 
Charles E. Wallen, mining expert, of Peru, 
S. A. ; James B., of Holgate, Ohio, is in the 
hardware business; Miss Mary D. is at 
home. Mrs. Anna (Radcliff) Sisk was born 
in Adelaide, Middlesex County, Ont., Dec. 
20, 1852, daughter of John and granddaugh 
ter of Hon. Col. Thomas Radcliff. 

JOHN McMILLAN, who died at his 
home in Petrolia April 17, 1891, was one of 
the early oil operators in Lambton County 
and was also extensively engaged in other 
lines of industry that contributed much to 
the country s welfare and material develop 
ment. He was born in Maybole, Ayrshire, 
Scotland, Jan. 6, 1825, and his remains now 
rest in beautiful Hillside cemetery, in his 
adopted home. 

Richard and Janet (Primrose) McMil 
lan, his parents, came to Canada about the 
year 1868, to pass the remainder of their 
clays with their son John. In his native land 
Richard McMillan was a woolen manufac 
turer, but after coming to Canada he lived 
retired. His family consisted of the fol 
lowing children: William, who was in the 
stone business, died in Chicago, Illinois; 
John is mentioned below; Richard, who was 
in the oil business, died in Bothwell, Ont. ; 
Margaret (now deceased) married Thomas 
Dunlop; Elizabeth (now deceased) married 
Edward Goodier. 

Early in life John McMillan entered a 
woolen factory, and at the age of twenty- 
one, engaged in business for himself in the 
manufacture of woolens and shawls in Glas 
gow, Scotland. He continued in that busi- 
iness and was very successful until the war 
between the northern and southern States 
caused a depression in the trade. In the year 
1862 he became interested in oil lands at 



ITS 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Bothwell, Ont, and sent out Scotch miners, 
and was one of the first to operate for oil 
there. In 1865 he moved from Glasgow to 
London, Ont., to look after his oil interests 
at Bothwell. He sold them out soon after 
ward and moved to Petrolia, Ont., where he 
became manager for a Scotch oil company, 
and later entered into business for himself, 
both in the producing and refining of oils. 
The establishing of a branch at Montreal 
caused him to move to that city in 1873. 

High freight rates to Montreal induced 
him, in 1877, to build a tank vessel (one of 
the first of its kind), to carry oil between 
Sarnia and Montreal, with a barreling sta 
tion at Kingston, Ont. This vessel only ran 
a season or two, an agreement being reached 
with the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, 
regarding freight rates. Having the Kings 
ton property on his hands, he turned it into 
a large malt house and moved to Kingston 
in 1878. There he was very successful in 
the manufacture of malt until a high tariff 
put on by the United States in 1884, pre 
vented the exportation of malt to that coun 
try, and caused him to close the business up. 
In 1885 he returned to Petrolia to look after 
his oil business, in which he continued until 
the time of his death. In addition to the 
above enterprises, he was largely interested 
in the Cornwall Gas Company, and the Lon 
don Furniture Company, and at one time 
was president of the Germania Brewing 
Company, of New York. 

In September, 1864, in Glasgow, Scot 
land, Mr. McMillan was united in marriage 
with Jeanie Shaw (daughter of John Shaw, 
who lived and died in Scotland), who died 
in Petrolia, in 1887, aged fifty-four years. 
Four children were born to them, namely : 
Jessie P., who married H. J. Dawson; Vic 
toria A., who married G. C. Clark ; John P. ; 
and George P. In his political faith Mr.- Mc 
Millan was a Liberal, and in church connec 
tion a member of the Church of England. 

Mr. McMillan was one of the giants in 
the business world, and was a good financier. 
He had made his own way, and knowing full 
well the hardships that attend upon the 
young man just starting out for himself was 



ever ready to help, and his advice has often 
smoothed the paths of anxious business men. 
His methods were open and above board, 
and he had the well-merited confidence of all 
with whom he had business dealings. 

THOMAS B. TAYLOR, who is en 
gaged in a prospering drug, book and sta 
tionery business at Watford, Ont., is a 
worthy representative of two old and hon 
orable English families. 

William Taylor, his grandfather, was an 
officer in the British army. He married a 
Miss Bell, and they reared a family of which 
Robert W. was one of the sons. 

Robert W. Taylor w r as born in England, 
and in 1835 ne came to Ontario, where he 
served in the Rebellion of 1837-38. Shortly 
after the conclusion of hostilities, Mr. Tay 
lor engaged in a mercantile business at 
Gttelph, in which he continued for a num 
ber of years, and then purchased property in 
Leeds County, which he handled by means 
of tenants. He married Ellen O. Taylor, a 
cousin and a daughter of the late Judge 
Thomas Taylor, also a native of England. 
Thomas Taylor was a colonel in the British 
army, and came to Ontario, subsequently set 
tled in Hamilton, and was the first judge in 
Wentworth County. For meritorious serv 
ices, Judge Taylor received a grant of land, 
a part of which was in Lambton County and 
a part in Middlesex County. He never lo 
cated on his land, but died in Hamilton. A 
family of twelve children was born to Rob 
ert W. Taylor and wife, of whom six are 
now living: Isabella, of Hamilton; Maria, 
wife of Benjamin Rothwell, of Hamilton; 
Mary, wife of J. M. Buckbee, of Hamilton ; 
Ellen, wife of Edward Ivison ; and Celia, 
wife of John Tingey. The mother of this 
family died in Tapleytown, Out., in June, 
1903, aged eighty-nine years. 

Thomas B. Taylor was born about Oct. 
19, 1853, in Leeds County, and received his 
education in the local schools. In 1865 he 
came to Watford and in 1872 engaged in 
business for himself as a photographer. In 
1878 he embarked in the book and stationery 
business to which he later added the stock 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



179 



of drugs, jewelry and notions, which he 
now carries. In 1888 he built his handsome 
residence so pleasantly located on Main 
street, one of the town s most hospitable 
homes. He has also dealt extensively in 
land in Assiniboia, N. W. T., and has been 
very successful. He has laid out a town 
site at Girvin, N. W. T. 

On Nov. 20, 1883, in Stratford, Out., 
Mr. Taylor married Emma Rice, and to this 
union four children have been born, 
namely : Frederick Arthur, a druggist, who 
is in business with his father ; Jesse R., a 
school teacher; Franklin T., a student at 
Toronto ; and Herbert George, at home. The 
religious connection of the family is with the 
Methodist Church. Politically Mr. Taylor 
is independent, leaning, however, toward 
Conservatism. He has been a useful mem 
ber of the council for several years, has re 
cently been appointed a justice of the peace, 
is a trustee of the high school at Watford, 
and is regarded as one of the public-spirited 
and representative citizens. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Masons, the W. O. W., 
and the C. O. F. 

JOHNSON. Lambton County has 
numbered among its pioneers many who, in 
the battle for civilization and morality 
against primeval nature and worldly temp 
tation, have proved themselves men of 
strong character leaders in whatever walk 
of life their respective destinies led them. Of 
these, those bearing the name of Johnson are 
conspicuous. First of those who came 
hither was Alexander Johnson, a sturdy pio 
neer, long since deceased ; there follow his 
sons Hugh Johnson, the venerable Scot so 
highly esteemed for his upright, industrious 
life, and so generally beloved for his kindly 
Christian spirit; and James Johnson, the 
well known fruit grower, who has so 
worthily borne the honored family name, 
not alone keeping up the old brightness, but 
adding lustre by his own well spent life; 
and David Johnson, son of Hugh, a fruit 
grower of Warwick township. 

The Johnson family dates back to the 



days of Bruce, when one of its representa 
tives, Angus Ogr, participated at Bannock- 
burn. Young Angus, Laird of the Isles, had 
a son named John, whose descendants are 
known as the Clan Ean, of Glencoe. 

John, chief of Glencoe, was a stanch sup 
porter of the Stuarts, and for his loyalty to 
James II of England, was murdered in Feb 
ruary, 1692, during a massacre at Glencoe, 
by order of William, Prince of Orange. 

John (2), son of John, chief of Glencoe, 
witnessed the murder of his father, and es 
caped to Islay, an island off the coast of 
Argyllshire. 

Hugh, son of John (2), adopted the name 
of Johnson as a surname. He returned from 
Islay to the mainland, settling near Tarbert, 
where he became a tiller of the soil. He was 
the father of two sons, Peter and Donald. 

Peter Johnson, eldest son of Hugh, set 
tled in the Highlands, and followed farm 
ing. He married and became the father of a 
son Hugh. 

Hugh Johnson, eldest son of Peter, mar 
ried Mary Johnson (no relation), and they 
became the parents of nine children, among 
whom were Alexander; Duncan, who came 
to Canada early in the nineteenth century; 
Hugh, who became manager of a distillery 
near Rothway, in Butte ; John, who enlisted 
in the British army, served in the East In 
dies, and won three medals and a pension for 
life; Daniel, a dairyman in Rothway; and 
Archibald, a sailor. Hugh Johnson, the 
father of this family, made his home on the 
western shore of Loch Tarbert, a beautiful 
place called Tighnatrae, or "Beach House." 
He kept a tavern and ran the ferry between 
Tighnatrae and Whitehouse, on the east 
side of the Loch, a distance of about a mile. 
He was also forester and gamekeeper for 
the Laird of Killbery. He was a man of 
powerful frame and great strength, and his 
untimely death in middle life was the result 
of an accident. While he was engaged in 
hitching a horse the animal jumped for 
ward, and the shaft struck Mr. Johnson in 
the breast, inflicting injuries from which he 
died ten days later. His wife, overcome by 



i8o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the shock of her husband s death, followed 
him in ten days. They were members of the 
Established Church of Scotland. 

Alexander Johnson, eldest son of Hugh, 
was born at Tighnatrae about 1/81, and was 
about twenty-four years of age when his 
father died. He succeeded him as forester 
and gamekeeper of the Killbery estate, and 
also operated the ferry. When the Killbery 
estate was disposed of, in 1825, Mr. Johnson 
moved with his wife, whose maiden name 
was Margaret Leitch, and their little family 
to the east side of Kintyre, at a place called 
Skipness, where he rented a farm and where 
he continued until 1847. Finding a family 
growing up around him, and not much pros 
pect of making a home, he turned to the New 
\Vorld, where he hoped to find property. His 
children, eight in number, were : Hugh ; 
Archibald, now a resident of Iowa : Duncan, 
of Manitoba ; John, a resident of Plympton 
township; Mary, who died in 1890; James; 
Donald, now deceased; and Alexander, of 
Bosanquet. Accompanied by his wife and 
eight children, his son Hugh s wife and 
their two children, he sailed from Glasgow 
on the sailing vessel "Euclid," of Liverpool, 
Capt. Bamridge. After six weeks voyage 
they reached Quebec. On the passage over 
smallpox broke out among the passengers, 
but fortunately the Johnson family escaped 
it, and while at quarantine a steamer came 
alongside, and took them up to Montreal. 
From there they went to Lachine, where 
they took a boat to Hamilton, making their 
way by wagon to London, and from there 
to the township of Lobo, County Middlesex. 
For five weeks they remained at the latter 
place in search of a location, finding much to 
discourage them in the apparent poverty of 
the settlers, all of whom were living in little 
log huts, and battling with almost superhu 
man strength to win an existence out of the 
wilderness. Mr. Johnson sighed for his na 
tive Scotland, but was encouraged and led 
by his sons. They came to County Lamb- 
ton, and located on the shore of Lake Huron 
in the township of Bosanquet, on Lot 66, 
where a iO3-acre tract of bush land was 
bought at two and a half dollars per acre 



from the Canadian Land Company. Mr. 
Johnson and his family settled down to gen 
uine pioneer life, among the first settlers in. 
that section. A little log house became their 
home, and the father and sons began the 
clearing of their land. There were neither 
churches nor schools, neither roads nor 
nearby towns. They were obliged to obtain 
supplies from Sarnia, and this necessitated a 
trip in an open boat on Lake Huron. The 
clearing of the home occupied the remainder 
of Mr. Johnson s life, and on that place he 
died in 1856, at the age of seventy-five years, 
and he was buried in what is known as the 
Gustin Cemetery, on the Lake shore. His 
wife died in 1881, at the age of eighty-four, 
and was laid to rest beside her husband. 
They were devoted to one another and to 
their family, and were much esteemed for 
their sterling integrity and their Christian 
charity. In early life they were both mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, but in later 
years they were converted to the faith of the 
Church of God, and in that belief they passed 
to the unseen world. 

HUGH JOHNSON, eldest son of Alexan 
der, was born at Killcalmonell, Aug. I, 1819, 
and was but six years old when the family 
moved to Skipness. There he attended school, 
and later followed farming and various other 
kinds of labor. In the parish of Killcal 
monell, on June n, 1844, Hugh Johnson 
married Flora Hamilton, daughter of David 
and Euphemia (Patterson) Hamilton. In 
1847 ie came with his wife and two children, 
in company with his father, mother and other 
members of the family, to Canada, settling 
near his father on Lot 66, Lake Road east, 
on a bush tract of 135 acres. He erected a 
little log home, and with a stout heart and 
willing hands he set to work. In all his- 
trials and the life of a pioneer is full of 
them he turned to his cheery, helpful wife 
for comfort. Bravely, in a woman s way, 
she bore her part, and now, after more than 
sixty years of happy wedded life, is still the 
family s guide and comforter. As the 
years passed on, the persistent toil was re 
warded by cleared and cultivated fields that 
yielded good returns for the labor expended 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



181 



upon them. A good dwelling house, barns 
and outbuildings replaced the primitive log 
structures, and this place is still the family 
home after fifty-eight years. In the begin 
ning the chairs, tables and bedsteads were 
made from the timber on their land, and 
rudely fashioned by the father s inexperi 
enced hands ; today their home contains all 
the comforts and many of the luxuries, but 
it is safe to say the little log home sheltered 
a family as happy and contented as does now 
the larger, more modern house. As the sons 
grew to manhood they passed to homes of 
their own, given them by their father. They 
were well fitted to face the world, their home 
training having been under the guidance of 
Christian parents, who by example and pre 
cept instilled into their minds and hearts the 
lofty principles of noble manhood. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson celebrated their diamond wed 
ding June n, 1904, surrounded by their 
numerous descendants. In their earlier life 
they were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. -but later joined the Church of God. 
Formerly, for twenty-five years, meetings 
were held in their home, but since then a 
house of worship has been erected. In her 
younger days Mrs. Johnson was a woman of 
rare beauty, and now although past four 
score years has the rosy complexion of a 
girl. She is a woman of true motherly dis 
position, and has been a genuine neighbor of 
the whole township, every one feeling free to 
call upon her for assistance in sickness or 
trouble, and her wise counsel has cheered 
many a weary world sick soul to a better life. 
To Hugh Johnson and wife came the follow 
ing children: Mary, born March 24, 1845, 
died young; David, born Feb. 12, 1847, is a 
farmer and fruit grower in Warwick town 
ship: Alexander, born April 2, 1850, died 
young; Archibald, born March 18, 1852, 
died at home (he was a farmer and land 
owner in Michigan) ; Hugh, born Feb. I, 
1854, died young; Margaret died in in 
fancy; Margaret (2), born Feb. 20, 1857, 
is the widow of George Monroe, and resides 
in Forest; Euphemia, born June i, 1859, 
married John Fuller, who now operates the 
homestead; Flora, born July 17, 1861, died 



young; Hugh, born May 15, 1864, is a 
farmer in Michigan ; and Elizabeth, born 
July i, 1867, died in. infancy. 

JAMES JOHNSON, son of Alexander, was 
born at Skipness, Argyllshire, Scotland, 
Nov. 26, 1829, and attended school in his 
native home, working with his father until 
the family came to Canada. After reaching 
Bosanquet township, he found little oppor 
tunity to continue his studies. Not seeing 
much prospect in that section, he determined 
to go farther West, and leaving home with 
empty hands and empty pockets he went to 
Indiana, and near Terre Haute found em 
ployment with Alexander McPherson, a 
former settler of Bosanquet township, and 
the owner of land near the Johnson farm. 
For four years he remained with Mr. Mc 
Pherson, at $11 per month, which money 
went toward paying for the farm he now 
owns, but which was then the property of his 
employer. At the end of the four years he 
worked with a company engaged in building 
plank roads, remaining with them two years, 
at $38 per month. He saved some money, 
and paid for his farm, and then turned his 
face toward Canada. His farm consisted of 
101 acres on Lot 68, Lake Road West, and 
on it he built a frame dwelling house. A 
small clearing of seven acres had already 
been made, but the rest was all bush land. 
After some years of hard work he had the 
whole under cultivation. Some years before 
Mr. McPherson had planted 100 apple trees, 
which he brought through the woods on a 
sleigh from London, and of those some trees 
are still standing. This was the beginning of 
the large orchard now owned by Mr. John 
son. When he settled on the place, much 
work had to be done in order to clear up 
the land. He planted a fine apple orchard, 
one of the largest in the county, having over 
twenty-five acres in fruit, including apple, 
plum and pear trees. He planted some peach 
trees, but as they were not successful they 
gave way to apple trees. He also has some 
walnut trees in his orchard. Mr. Johnson 
has given much time and attention to apple 
culture, and found a market for his apples 
in England and Scotland, where he has 



182 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



shipped for some years, principally to 
Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Liverpool. Of late 
years he has found a home market for his 
product. His sons, who have become inter 
ested in fruit culture with their father, have 
gone largely into the evaporating business, 
and have constructed a fine evaporator on 
the farm, now being exclusively engaged in 
that line. Besides what they grow them 
selves, they have bought extensively of ap 
ples in and around the township. Mr. John 
son has been interested in general farming 
and stock raising and dealing, by his own 
hard labor and the hearty co-operation of his 
sons making a success of his enterprises. At 
the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, held in 
London, England, in 1886, he received a 
diploma and a bronze medal for the fruit 
which he exhibited there. He has made two 
trips across the Atlantic since coming to 
Canada, one in charge of a load of cattle, 
and later to open up a market for his fruit. 
He visited England and Scotland, going 
back to his old home where his boyhood 
days were spent, and he has also found time 
to take a trip to the Western States and the 
Northwest Territory. Besides his home 
stead he has invested in other lands in. Lamb- 
ton County, buying three hundred acres in 
Bosanquet township, one hundred in Brooke 
township, and one hundred in Sombra town 
ship, all of which is now operated by his 
sons. He built a fine brick house on his 
homestead in 1880, and also has fine barns. 
He takes great pride in his home, his or 
chard and his cattle. 

In his earlier years Mr. Johnson was a 
supporter of the principles of the Reform 
party, and served on the board of council- 
men for the township for three years. He 
was also justice of the peace for years, but 
resigned from that office on matters of prin 
ciple only. In his earlier years he attended 
the Methodist Church, but in the early sev 
enties he saw things in a different light, and 
became converted to the faith of the Church 
of God. Like Paul of old, he has fought the 
fight, and kept the faith. His wife and chil 
dren have followed in his footsteps, and they 



were one united and happy family. Mr. 
Johnson is a great reader of the Bible and 
is a w r ell known authority. He is a man of 
modesty and high moral character, known 
throughout the township for his honesty and 
upright dealings. In his tastes he is do 
mestic, in his habits strictly temperate. While 
tenacious of his own opinion he has due re 
spect for the opinions of others, and his sym 
pathy goes out to those who are in need. 

After spending over half a century in 
the township Mr. Johnson now looks back 
to the pioneer days with pleasure, knowing 
that the men who settled in that new coun 
try were men of sterling worth, who left 
their homes and fatherland to find peace and 
plenty in a new country. They were men 
who feared God, and did their duty as citi 
zens, fathers and husbands. Fifty years 
have brought great changes in Canada, and 
the children and grandchildren of those who 
found happiness amid untold privation in the 
wilderness are now living surrounded by 
every comfort and luxury that a luxury- 
loving age can provide. 

On March 8, 1861, James Johnson mar 
ried, in Warwick township, Miss Janet 
Campbell, who was born in Scotland, in 
March, 1827, daughter of the late John 
Campbell, of Warwick, and was a school 
teacher in her younger days. Mrs. John 
son was trained to pioneer life, and has been 
her husband s best assistant and counselor 
for the past forty-four years of happy mar 
ried life. Like her husband she is a mem 
ber of the Church of God and has brought 
up her children in the fear and admonition 
of the Lord. 

Ten children blessed the union of James 
Johnson and wife, and all the survivors re 
flect credit on the early training they re 
ceived. They were : ( i ) Alexander, born in 
Bosanquet township, and educated in the 
district schools, grew up on the homestead, 
and is now farming in Brooke township on 
100 acres of land given him by his parents. 
He married Mary Atkins, and has four chil 
dren, Lyle, Elizabeth. Irene and Gladys. (2) 
John, born on the old homestead, and edu- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



183 



cated in the public schools, is now operating 
the loo-acre tract in Sombra township given 
him by his parents. He married Nellie 
Frayne, and has two children, James and 
Ross. (3) Olive resides at home. (4) Ellen 
married Hugh Vance, who died in 1900, 
leaving five children, Mary Grace, Hilda P., 
Ella E., Frank Johnson and Jean Victoria. 
Mrs. Vance now makes her home in Forest. 
(5) Mary is mentioned below. (6) James 
died in infancy. (7) James Archibald was 
educated in the township schools, and has 
always engaged in farming, now operating 
a zoo-acre tract in Bosanquet township. He 
also raises fruit and is engaged in the 
evaporating business at home with his father 
and brothers. He is particularly in 
terested in apple culture. (8) Margaret died 
when eleven years old. (9) Daniel was edu 
cated in the public schools, is president of the 
Fruit Growers Association of Forest, and is 
lecturer on Fruit Culture for the Provincial 
Government. He is also a man of artistic 
taste, and the home contains works in crayon 
that are evidences of his high skill. (10) 
Colin Campbell was educated in the public 
school. He still resides with his parents 
and brothers, and is engaged in the fruit 
business. Like his brother Daniel, he is an 
artist in his line, his work showing great 
talent. 

Miss Mary Johnson was educated in the 
township, and is a young lady of culture 
and refined taste. She, too, is an artist, and 
many of her drawings are to be found in dif 
ferent homes in the county. She is likewise 
gifted as a poet, having written a number of 
poems, chiefly of a religious nature. The 
following poem by her we clip from the 
Montreal Witness: 

THE FAMOUS MAN OF WAR. 

I road of our fair Scottish queen, her triumphs and 

her tears, 
Her beauty, and her sorrows great, her lonely captive 

years ; 
But while I read within my heart no holy joy doth 

hum, 
Thus from the tales of wild romance to God s sweet 

Word I turn. 
I read of Bruce and Wallace, of the land of hills and 

caves, 



But not one song from in my heart call forth these 

Scottish braves, 
Nor sing I of the noble towers that pierce the smoky 

sky, 
Of the great Westminster Abbey, where bones of 

monarchs lie. 

I turn to Thy most holy word, O God of nations, Thou 
Before whom each in that fair tomb in humbleness 

shall bow; 
I turn to Him whose magic touch the broken heart can 

heal ; 

One passion only fills my soul, His glories to reveal. 
Tis in the sacred Volume s page, God s heroes names 

I find, 
Which leave a path of shining light and radiance 

behind. 
For these are they who in this world have walked in 

garments white, 
And they are worthy now to bask in God s unsullied 

light. 

Yes, these are they who lived not for the vain world s 

price or strife, 
Whose names before the world was formed were in 

the Book of Life. 
And as I muse upon the grace which is to mortals 

given, 
Ah ! even now, within my heart, there glows the peace 

of heaven. 
And thus my faith in God doth rise and soar upon the 

wing, 
And of the triumphs of His love my glowing heart 

doth sing. 
"Oh, Thou who hearest prayer," now send Thy spirit 

from afar, 
And from Thy holy page reveal the famous Man of 

War. 

Oh, may we each in humbleness our waywardness 
confess, 

And let thy spirit now descend as dew upon the grass, 

And as the fountain of Thy grace each channel over 
flows, 

The desert shall spring forth, and sing, and blossom 
a? the rose. 

Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, our radiance shall 
shine, 

And as an army terrible conquer by power divine. 

Oh ! we would have our names confessed where God s 
great worthies are, 

And thus we plead Thy love and grace, O famous 
Man of War. 

DAVID JOHNSON, eldest son of Hugh 
Johnson, was born Feb. 12, 1847, in Skip- 
ness, Argyllshire, Scotland, and was an in 
fant when he came to Canada with his pa 
rents. He grew up on the farm on the lake 
shore, attending the little log school, and 
worked at home with his father until twenty- 
seven years old, when he went west to Kan 
sas to see the country and seek a location. 
After spending a season there and finding he 
preferred to live in Canada he returned to. 



1 84 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



his old home, but shortly afterward moved 
to Michigan. He bought eighty acres of un 
cultivated land in St. Clair county, which 
he cultivated and where he spent three 
years. Not having good health he sold the 
farm to his brother Archibald and took a 
trip on the steamer "Ocean King" to Eng 
land, for his health, making two trips and 
returning much improved. He married and 
started farming, buying a fifty-acre tract in 
the south part of Warwick township, where 
he farmed for seven years. When he sold 
out he moved near the village of Arkona 
and bought a fifty-acre farm known as the 
Hover place, and in 1896 he bought from 
John Atkins a tract of fifty acres of fruit: 
land formerly owned by William W. Hil- 
born, of Leamington, paying for that tract 
three thousand, five hundred dollars. Here 
he started into fruit culture. Selling later 
the Hover tract, he bought the seventy-five 
acres of a fruit farm owned by Joseph Hil- 
born, also of Leamington, Out., and has ever 
since been engaged in fruit culture of all 
kinds, operating a tract of 125 acres, prin 
cipally in apples, peaches, plums, strawber 
ries and other small fruit. He has been one 
of the largest fruit growers in the county. 
He has made his home on the Joseph Hil- 
born farm, on which he has made extensive 
improvements, and when his son married he 
bought a tract of land near the home which 
is also devoted to fruit. Mr. Johnson has 
made a complete success of his enterprise, 
but owes much of his success to his devoted 
wife, who has been his helpmate in every 
sense of the word. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson are members of the Church of God, 
with which they have been connected from 
an early age, and they are good Christian 
people, who have raised their family in a 
model home, and all their children reflect 
credit on the teaching they received under 
their parents guidance. Mr. Johnson is a 
Liberal in politics. He is a man of domes 
tic tastes and habits, and is respected and 
well liked wherever known. 

On June 9, 1881, Mr. Johnson was mar 
ried, at the Fuller homestead, in Warwick 
township, to Miss Annie Jane Fuller, who 



was born in that township, daughter of 
George and Sarah (Clark) Fuller, and eight 
children have come to this union: (i) Will 
iam Alexander is on the homestead. (2) 
Hugh Hamilton is farming a twenty-five- 
acre tract near the homestead. He married 
Emily Baynton, and they have one son, 
Charles Hugh, born Sept. 9 , 1905. This child 
has eight grandparents living, he being the 
first great-grandchild on the Johnson-Fuller 
side. (3) George Frederic died young. (4) 
Jennie Helena. (5) Margaret Euphemia. 
(6) Flora Georginia and (7) Newman 
David are at home. (8) Mary Beatrice died 
young. 

MARCUS AURELIUS HITCHCOCK, 
of Point Edward, who for years has 
been engaged in the fishery business, is a 
native of Sarnia, and a son of one of the 
early settlers of West Lambton. 

The Hitchcock family is of English ex 
traction, and three brothers, Matthias, Luke 
and Edward, were the first to cross the At 
lantic and establish the family in America. 
They came from their old home in May, 
1635, settling in the New England Colonies, 
where Matthias and Luke married. Edward 
remained single. It is from Luke Hitchcock 
that Marcus Aurelius is descended, being of 
the eighth generation in direct lineage. His 
line of descent is as follows : 

(I) Luke Hitchcock, the emigrant an 
cestor, married Elizabeth Gibbons, and died 
Nov. i, 1659. His widow died April 25, 
1696. 

(II) Deacon John Hitchcock, son of 
Luke, married Hannah Chapin, who was 
born Dec. 2, 1644. He died Feb. 9, 1712. 

(III) Luke Hitchcock, son of Deacon 
John, was born in Springfield, Massachu 
setts, March 23, 1674-75, and died April i, 
1752. He married Elizabeth Walker, who 
was born July 2, 1676. and died Oct. 21, 
1765. 

( IV) Capt. Aaron Hitchcock, son of 
Luke, was born at Springfield, Massachu 
setts, Sept. 23, 1715. He married Experi 
ence King, who died Dec. 19, 1795. His 
death occurred Sept. 25, 1808. 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



(V) Apollos Hitchcock, son of Capt. 
Aaron, was born in Suffield, Connecticut, 
March 8, 1759. He married Roxana King. 
who was born Aug. 13, 1762, and who died 
Sept. 14, 1830. 

(VI) Aaron Hitchcock, son of Apollos, 
was born in Suffield, Connecticut, Oct. 22, 
1786, and died Jan. 26, 1826. He married 
Polly Clark, born Jan. 31, 1788, and she died 
in 1867. The children bom to this worthy 
couple were : Samuel ; Alexander, a fisher 
man, who was drowned in Lake Michigan ; 
Aaron, for a time a resident of Sarnia, but 
who later went to Cleveland, Ohio, where 
he met an accidental death ; Amos, a grape 
grower on Kelley s Island; and Sarah, who 
married a Mr. Dunn, of East Buffalo. Aaron 
Hitchcock owned most of the land on which 
East Buffalo now stands, and there he and 
his wife died. 

(VII) Samuel Hitchcock, son of Aaron 
and father of Marcus Aurelius, was born in 
Buffalo, New York, June 13, 1813. In 
1830 he came to Ontario and built a brewery 
in Middlesex County, which he ran for a 
short time. In 1833 ne settled in Sarnia, 
where he followed fishing, also owning 
landed property in Sarnia township, on the 
London road. He owned and operated the 
first ferry-boat between Port Huron and 
Sarnia. In the latter town he was the first 
constable and first court crier, offices he held 
until his death. He was also chief of police, 
and in many ways proved his worth as a cit 
izen and as a man. In Middlesex County, 
on June 2, 1832, Samuel Hitchcock married 
Miss Ann Maria Finch, a native of that 
county, and daughter of Daniel Finch. Sam 
uel Hitchcock died in Sarnia March n, 
1871, and his wife passed away in June, 
1892, at the age of seventy-eight years. Their 
children were eleven in number, ten of them 
born in Sarnia, and all still (1905) survive 
a remarkable record for so large a family : 
Rev. Benjamin Franklin, a Methodist min 
ister in New York City; Rev. Julius C, born 
in Middlesex County, a Methodist minister 
in Xew York City: Cyrenus D., of Sarnia; 
Marcus Aurelius ; Diadema Rosetta, wife of 



John Wilson, of Toronto; Theodore Wel 
lington, of Sarnia ; Euphemia, wife of Sid 
ney Wood, of Detroit ; Melissa, wife of John 
F. O Xeil, of Point Edward; James Alex 
ander, of Sarnia; Apollos Napoleon, a 
painter at Cleveland, Ohio; and Samuel 
Luke, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Samuel 
Hitchcock, the father, was prominent in the 
Masonic fraternity, being a charter member 
of the first lodge in Sarnia. As a fisherman 
he explored and named the islands of Lake 
Huron, and he was very influential in ob 
taining the present fishery laws of the Prov 
ince. 

(VIII) Marcus Aurelius Hitchcock was 
born in Sarnia Oct. 12, 1840, and in his 
native city received his literary education. 
On reaching his majority he engaged in the 
fishing business, in which he now employs 
four men, with a season s catch amounting 
to 100,000 pounds. Mr. Hitchcock resides 
in Point Edward, where he settled in 1865. 

Mr. Hitchcock has been twice married. 
On Aug. 22, 1865, he married, in Carlisle, 
Ont, Miss Margaret Graham, daughter of 
John Graham, and by her he had the follow 
ing children : ( i ) Frederick, of Cleveland, 
Ohio, died Dec. 27, 1904; he and his wife 
Edith had one son, Adolphus. (2) Samuel, 
who is in the bicycle business in Sarnia, 
married Etta Leach, by whom he has two 
children, Stewart and Kathleen. (3) Frank, 
a jeweler at Sarnia, married Lena Onley, by 
whom he has two children, Carl and Lenore. 
(4) Miss Lottie L. resides at Point Edward, 
where she is a music teacher. The mother 
of this family died April 30, 1879, at the 
age of thirty-seven. For his second wife 
Mr. Hitchcock married Miss Eliza Mc- 
Naughton, whose father, Duncan McXaugh- 
ton, came from Scotland as private secretary 
to the Hon. Malcolm Cameron, but re 
signed and became the first school teacher in 
this section, his first school having nine 
pupils. Mr. McNaughton was afterward 
the first collector and assessor in Sarnia, and 
his son Duncan was once county warden. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock are members of the 
Methodist Church, and politically he is a 



1 86 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Reformer, and for four years has been school 
trustee. Fraternally he is a Mason, and also 
belongs to the Royal Arcanum and the 
K. O. T. M. 

JAMES WALDEN, a pioneer farmer 
of Lambton County, now living in retire 
ment at Thedford, is a man of sterling 
worth, who, making the best of every oppor 
tunity of life, has, in the face of adverse cir 
cumstances, achieved success and affluence. 
He is of English extraction. 

Samuel Walden, his father, a man of 
ability and marked force of character, was 
born in England in 1799, and there under 
the influence of a good home grew to man 
hood. In a rural community he received 
much of the training for his life work, and 
naturally upon starting life for himself, en 
gaged in agriculture. About this time he 
married in England Dina Richardson, who 
was born in that country in 1800, and who 
died there after many years of faithful com 
panionship. By this union there were ten 
children, many of whom settled in Australia, 
only one coming to Ontario. After mar 
riage Mr. Walden settled upon a neat little 
English farm and continued to follow agri 
culture. A wise manager and a hard 
worker, he managed to provide a comforta 
ble home for himself and family, and even 
lay aside a little something for a rainy day. 
Late in life, after the death of his wife, he 
came with his son to Ontario in 1850, locat 
ing in Toronto, and here died in 1852. Mr. 
Walden was a strictly industrious English 
man, energetic and far-sighted, and in the 
steady pursuit of one main industry attained 
a considerable degree of success. He was 
domestic in his taste, with the welfare of his 
home and family thoroughly at heart, was a 
splendid neighbor, and a public-spirited citi 
zen. Possessed of high moral attributes, as 
well as many winning social graces, he made 
himself friends at every step in life. 

James Walden inherited many of his 
father s sterling traits o r character. Born 
in England, he there received strict rearing 
and good training for life s activities. Early 
shouldering responsibilities he took the first 



position offered him, and as a common la 
borer worked for twelve cents a day. Pru 
dent and economical, upon these meager 
wages he soon earned enough to pay his pas 
sage to America, and in 1850 in company 
with his father, embarked for Canada. Land 
ing in Toronto without a dollar to his name, 
but with plenty of push and determination, 
he soon found plenty of work and began 
steadily plodding his way along the uphill 
road. In the thriving little community of 
Scarboro township he settled soon after his 
arrival and there perseveringly worked as a 
farm hand for about six years, getting a 
good start in this new country. Having 
saved enough money to procure a farm of his 
own he then came to Bosanquet township, 
Lambton County, and there on Lot 22, Con 
cession 7, purchased for two hundred dollars 
a fifty-acre tract of wild land. A desire for 
more ready money than he could at once 
gain from working his land decided him to 
return to Toronto and labor for awhile, and 
securing a good position he remained four 
years. Now, with a new supply of ready 
cash, prepared to work his land to advan 
tage, he returned to Bosanquet township, 
erecting good buildings on his farm, where 
he settled and began other improvements. 
Faithful and persistent work soon enabled 
him to transform the wild tracts into well- 
furrowed fields and blooming gardens, and 
steadily pushing his efforts he in time opened 
up forty-six acres to cultivation. Encour 
aged by his successes there, he exchanged 
his farm for a larger one a splendid 100- 
acre tract on Lot 19, Concession 7, where 
he settled and passed some of the most suc 
cessful years of his life. He cleared large 
areas, erected handsome buildings, and made 
the place into one of the most attractive 
farms in Bosanquet township. From time 
to time he purchased other land in the vicin 
ity, greatly enlarging his estate, for twenty- 
two years labored hard, and by his well- 
directed efforts won for himself a very solid 
prosperity. Now prepared to take life easy, 
lie purchased a residence property in Thed 
ford where, in his seventy-first year, he is 
still residing. He is a man of considerable 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



187 



means, and besides his fine residence prop 
erty no\v owns four hundred acres of well- 
improved farm land in Bosanquet township. 

In September, 1856, Mr. Walden mar 
ried Mary Tudhop, who was born in Scot 
land, and when rather young came to Onta 
rio. By this union there have been seven 
children : ( I ) Elizabeth married James 
Randall, of Bosanquet township., and they 
have four children. Ada, Mabel, Francis and 
Howard. (2) William, who resides on Lot 
10, in Bosanquet township, married Cather 
ine Thompson, of Warwick, and they have 
two children, Aletha and Laurena. (3) 
James, who resides on Lot 19, Concession 
7, married Elizabeth Davidson, and they 
have five children, Orley, Jennie, Nellie, 
AYilliam and Clifford. (4) Diana died aged 
twenty-two. (5) John died aged eighteen. 
(6) Mary also died aged eighteen. (7) 
Sarah married Walter Rogers, of Bosan 
quet, and they have one son, Fred W. 

Mr. Waklen s career has been marked 
by untiring, well-directed industry, shrewd 
business management and marked integrity. 
His admirable traits of character and his 
achievements have won him the confidence 
and warm regard of the community, and few 
men of Thedford are more highly respected. 
He has always been interested in public 
affairs, and while living in Bosanquet town 
ship served as school trustee for many years. 
A consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church, he is a man of firm religious con 
victions, one who throughout his life has 
espoused the cause of every enterprise for 
the up-lifting of his fellow citizens. Politi 
cally he affiliates with the Reformers. He 
has been a most conscientious husband and 
father, and has assisted his sons to good 
places in life. 

THOMAS O NEIL (deceased), who 
was for many years a well known agricult 
urist and highly respected citizen of War 
wick township, was a man highly esteemed 
by all classes for his high moral character 
and his devotion to duty. He was a native 
of Ontario, born in London township, Mid 
dlesex County, Feb. 7, 1855. 



The O Xeil family is of Irish extraction, 
and the founder of the family in Canada was 
Thomas O Neil, a native of Tipperary, Ire 
land. He grew to manhood in his native 
country, where he followed farming, and 
when still a young man came to Canada, 
locating on 100 acres of land in London 
township, Middlesex County. Here he 
farmed for the rest of his life, dying in 1858, 
aged fifty-five years. He married Rachel 
Morgan, a native of Wales, and a daughter 
of David Morgan, and they became the par 
ents of twelve children : David, a resident of 
Michigan; Robert, the father of our subject; 
Sarah, who married William Siddle, and re 
sides in Middlesex County; Elizabeth, who 
married James O Neil, and resides in Lon 
don township; Thomas, a resident of the 
same township; William, a farmer of Ade 
laide township, Middlesex County, who mar 
ried Mary Frazer ; John, who died young ; 
Rachel, who married Jacob Smith; Cather 
ine, who married Joseph O Neil, of London 
township, Middlesex County ; Charlotte, 
who married William Shoebottom, now de 
ceased ; Mary, who married Joseph Haskett, 
of Lobo township, Middlesex County; and 
Henry, a farmer of Middlesex County. The 
mother of the above children died at the age 
of eighty-four years. 

Robert O Neil was born in London town 
ship, Middlesex County, where he grew to 
manhood and engaged in farming, owning 
and operating a farm of 100 acres of land. 
He there married Catherine O Neil, and they 
became the parents of the following chil 
dren : Betsy died young ; Thomas is our sub 
ject; Rachel, who married George McCor- 
mick, resides in Manitoba; Charlotte mar 
ried Adam Miller, of Brooke township; 
Marshall, who married Bertha Fredrick- 
sen, resides in Chicago. The father died 
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Miller, in 
Brooke township (he had been twice mar 
ried, his first wife dying on the farm, and 
his second wife being Jane Chestler). 

Thomas O Neil, our subject, attended the 
public schools of London township and 
worked on his father s farm until 1886, 
when he came to Lambton County, locating 



1 88 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in Warwick township, where he purchased 
fifty acres of land. Later he sold this tract 
to purchase 100 acres. He purchased 300 
acres in all, selling the first purchase of fifty 
acres. In 1899 he purchased a fifty-acre 
tract, on which he remained, later buying 
the David Saide farm, of 100 acres, and at 
the time of his death he was the owner of 
250 acres of land, all of which he operated. 
It is now owned by his family. Mr. O Neil 
was a self-made man, succeeding through his 
own industry. He was temperate in his 
habits, and greatly devoted to his home and 
to his church. He had suffered for some 
time with Bright s disease, and when he 
found there was no chance for his recovery 
called his wife and children to his bedside 
and told the latter to always live true, Chris 
tian lives. He died Nov. 28, 1904, and was 
laid to rest in Bethel cemetery. He was a 
member of the Congregational Church. Po 
litically he was a stanch Conservative, and 
he served as school trustee of school section 
No. I, filling that office to the general satis 
faction of the community. 

Mr. O Neil married at the McCormick 
homestead in Warwick township, July 10, 
1875, Miss Elizabeth McCormick, who was 
Lorn in Warwick township, daughter of the 
late Joseph McCormick, and sister of R. J. 
McCormick. Mrs. O Neil was a devoted 
wife and a loving mother, and since the 
death of her husband has conducted the 
homestead farm. She and her children are 
members of the Congregational Church. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O Neil came: Rob 
ert Elmer, born April 7, 1881, who operates 
the farm ; Joseph Herman, born Aug. 3, 
1882; Catherine Eillene; George, who died 
in 1889; and Sarah Winnie. All reside at 
home. On July 9, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. 
O Neil celebrated their silver wedding, and 
the affair was largely attended. 

JAMES HUTTON, M. D., enjoys the 
distinction of being the first physician and 
druggist of Forest, and it would be hard to 
discover one more successful in either pro 
fession than he. 

Dr. Hutton came to Forest with but fifty 



cents in his pocket in money and a small as 
sortment of drugs as a stock in trade. How 
ever, he possessed a thorough knowledge of 
both his professions. He at once settled in 
the town and began to work his way up in 
the world, and has succeeded in that he now 
is one of the most noted physicians of west 
ern Ontario as well as a prosperous business 
man. As his money accumulated Dr. Hut- 
ton loaned it on good security, and in all 
of his investments he has been very fortu 
nate. In 1892 Dr. Hutton, John Shaw and 
William Lemon founded the East Lambton 
Farmers Loan & Savings Co., with a capital 
stock of $500,000. Dr. Hutton was made 
president of this company, which has become 
an important factor in the financial life of 
Forest. In addition he is also largely in 
terested in valuable property in different 
parts of the county, to which he gives atten 
tion, although the duties of his profession 
are never neglected. In 1887 he erected his 
present commodious and stately residence on 
Main street, Forest, which is claimed to be 
one of the most elegant homes in this part 
of the Province. 

Dr. Hutton is a native of Denny, Stir 
lingshire. Scotland, and inherits the sturdy 
characteristics of his race. He is a son o f 
James and Elizabeth (Cousland) Hutton, 
both natives of Scotland. James Hutton was 
a printer by trade and followed that calling 
until his death, in 1855, at a comparatively 
early age, of yellow fever. His widow sur 
vived until the age of sixty-four. Their fam 
ily consisted of two sons and one daughter : 
Dr. James; Archibald, in business in New 
Zealand ; and Annie, widow of William Mc- 
Dougall, of Scotland. 

Dr. Hutton was born Aug. 12, 1838, and 
learned the printer s trade in his native land. 
In 1856 he emigrated to Ontario, and in 
1863 was graduated from the Medical De 
partment of Victoria University, with the 
degree of M. D., after which he immediately 
settled in Forest, where he has made his 
home to the present time. In 1868 the Doc 
tor was united in marriage with Miss Je 
mima Smith, a native of Scotland, daughter 
of James Smith, and four children have been 





Q 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



189 



born to this union: Mary (Hutton) McDon 
ald, M. D., a graduate of the Medical De 
partment of Trinity University, class of 
1890, \vas for six years engaged in practice 
with her father, and then married Charles 
McDonald, by whom she has three children, 
Dorothy, Elizabeth and Allan ; Elizabeth, a 
graduate of Alma College, where she took 
an art course, is now the wife of Dr. George 
Walters, of Forest, by whom she has one 
son, Frederick; Jemima, a graduate of To 
ronto University, class of 1898, received the 
degree of A. B., and in 1902 the degree of 
A. M. was conferred upon her; James is a 
student in the Medical Department of To 
ronto College. Dr. Hutton has educated his 
children most thoroughly, and by their suc 
cess they have demonstrated the fact that a 
higher education develops both mind and 
body and gives great advantage in the race 
of life. Dr. Hutton has taken a deep in 
terest in municipal affairs, having served for 
many years in the city council, as a member 
of the high school board and as magistrate 
and coroner. In politics he is a pronounced 
Liberal and for many years was president of 
the local Liberal association. The success 
and many noble deeds of Dr. Hutton s life 
speak more eloquently than any words of his 
ability, both as a professional and business 
man, while his popularity with all classes 
demonstrates his goodness of heart and vari 
ous charities, many of which are unknown 
to the public. 

\ 

JOHN WHEATLEY. Some of the 
best of England s sons and daughters have 
left their mother country and. crossing the 
ocean which separates Canada from her, 
found homes and plenty in the new land. 
The Dominion has made many fortunes for 
those who cast their lot therein, and has 
given limitless opportunities to those who 
cared to embrace them. Among those who 
may be numbered as leading representatives 
of the pioneer families of Sarnia, Lambton 
County, Ont., is that of Wheatley, well 
known in that vicinity. The founder of the 
family in the Xew World was John Wheat- 
ley, now deceased, the worthy man whose 



name heads this article. His birth occurred 
in Lincolnshire, England, on May 5, 1815, 
and he was a son of Samuel and Mary (Em- 
pringham) Wheatley, who spent their entire 
lives in England and there died. Their chil 
dren were : Joseph, Alary, Ann, Jane, John 
and Jabez. 

John Wheatley came to Ontario in 1837, 
locating at Froomfield, five miles below Sar 
nia, where he purchased a farm and also 
carried on wagon making. Later he carried 
on a store at the same place, but about 1888 
decided that his laborious life entitled him to 
a few years of ease, so he sold his interests 
and settled in Sarnia, where he resided until 
his death Nov. 26, 1891, living retired from 
active business cares. His political opinions 
made him a member of the Reform party, 
and he was always interested in all matters 
calculated to be of benefit to the community 
in general. Religiously he was a devout 
Methodist, and in his everyday life carried 
out the teachings of that church. 

On April 29, 1839, Mr. Wheatley mar 
ried Miss Elvira Proctor, a daughter of 
George and Elizabeth (Coulson) Proctor, 
and children as follows were born of this 
union: Thomas C, who is a fruit grower 
near Blackwell, married (first) Abbie Clark, 
by whom he had four children Florence, 
John, Edward M. and George; and (second) 
married Miss Jennie Campbell, by whom he 
had three children Alaggie, Charles and 
Addison. Jane Ann is the wife of William 
Clark, of Harwich township, Kent County. 
Charles is deceased. Joseph, of Sarnia, mar 
ried Annie Willis, and has had the follow 
ing children Maude, Arthur, Elvira (de 
ceased), Edith and Norman. Rebecca is 
deceased. Elvira is deceased. Elizabeth is 
the wife of R. T. Marshall, of Courtright, 
Ont., and their children are Freeman J., 
Ethel, Clare and Edmund. Benjamin J. 
married a Miss Marshall and their children 
are Marshall, Benjamin, Ruth and Beth. 
William married a Miss Dundos, and lives 
in Ludington, Michigan; their children are 
Benjamin. AYilliam. James, Arthur, Mar 
garet, Elvira and Alfred. 

Mrs. Wheatley was born Jan. 27, 1822, 



190 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in Marton, Lincolnshire, England, daughter 
of the above named George and Elizabeth 
(Coulson) Proctor, of that county. The 
family came to Canada in 1835, locating 
near Sarnia, Ont., at Froomfield, Lambton 
County, where Mr. Proctor purchased a 
home and with his son, Mirza, carried on a 
flouring mill, which was run by wind 
power. Later he moved to Corunna, same 
county, where he also operated a flouring 
mill, with water power, and he spent his 
declining years in retirement, reaching the 
age of eighty-three. His wife passed away 
in July, 1842, at the age of sixty. They 
were members of the Methodist Church. 
Their children were: Mirza, deceased, who 
is mentioned in the sketch of his son, George 
-A. Proctor, of Sarnia; Rachel, Coulson and 
Sophia, all of whom died young; Rebecca 
who was drowned at the age of eighteen 
years, while the family were coming to Can 
ada ; George ( 2 ) , who died young ; and 
Elvira, Mrs. John Wheatley. 

Mrs. Wheatley and her family are 
stanch Methodists, and connected with the 
church of that denomination in Sarnia. She 
has been a member and active worker in the 
Methodist Women s Missionary Society, 
since its organization in Sarnia, in 1880, and 
has been made a life member. She is a 
woman of character and ability, and is most 
highly esteemed in the community where 
she has resided for so many years. Although 
advanced in years she retains her faculties 
to a remarkable degree, and takes an interest 
in the affairs of her household as well as of 
the neighborhood. Her years are a crown 
of glory, and her children rise up and call 
her blessed. 

JAMES HARLEY, oil refiner for the 
Canadian Oil Refining Co., Limited, at Pe- 
trolia, is one of the older settlers of that 
place, having located there six years after 
it was chartered. He is a native of the 
Province of Quebec, born Nov. 23, 1829, 
and is a son of Thomas Harley, born in 
Scotland in 1793, who founded the family 
in Canada in 1826, emigrating from his 



native land at that time. In Scotland 
Thomas Harley married Catherine Ren- 
ney, who died in Petrolia in 1870, aged 
seventy-two years. He passed away in 1842, 
aged forty-nine years. After settling in 
Quebec Mr. Harley was a shoemaker, and 
later engaged in farming. He and his wife 
were members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Their family was as follows : Catherine 
married Samuel Logan; Dr. John (deceas 
ed) was a physician of Ormstown, Quebec; 
Thomas (deceased) was a wagon worker 
in the States ; James is mentioned below ; 
Mary married Thomas A. Cole ; Grace mar 
ried Andrew Newbigging; Rachel married 
John Hunter. 

James Harley remained in his native 
place until he was nineteen years of age, 
there learning the carriagemaker s trade. 
When nineteen he went to the States, but 
returned and lived at Quebec until 1865, 
when he went to Oil Springs, County of 
Lambton, and there entered into the oil 
business. Two years later he settled in 
Petrolia and embarked extensively in the oil 
producing business, owning 100 acres of oil 
property on which were located thirty oil 
wells. He subsequently sold this property 
to Mr. James Kerr, of Sarnia, and engaged 
as oil refiner, for the large concern mention 
ed above. 

On Jan. 25, 1855, Mr. Harley was 
united in marriage with Miss Janet Owens, 
a native of the Province of Quebec, daugh 
ter of David Owens, a farmer, of Berwick, 
Scotland, who died in Quebec. To. this 
union the following children have been 
born: Miss Catherine, at home; Jane, de 
ceased ; Janet, a teacher in the public school 
of Edmonton, Alberta; Mary, who married 
Murdock McCrea and has children, James 
and Norman (who died in infancy), Olive 
Lillian, Catherine, William. Dawn and Flos 
sie ; Rachel, who married Peter Stewart and 
has four children, Leona, Irene Primrose, 
Teressa Lillie and John Wilfred Harley; 
Thomas, a farmer in Rainy River, who mar 
ried Emma McTaggert, and has three chil 
dren, Nellie, Garfield and ; Agnes, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



191 



who died when one year old ; William, who 
died at the age of twenty-one years; John, 
of Edmonton, an oil driller. 

Mr. and Mrs. James Harley are consist 
ent members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically he is a Reformer, while fratern 
ally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
he is highly esteemed wherever known, as a 
man of sterling honesty and uprightness of 
character, possessing in marked degree the 
power to make and retain friends. 

ISAAC MERCIER, a large real-estate 
owner of Forest, and a retired contractor 
and builder, is of French-Huguenot extrac 
tion. His great-grandfather, Abel de Mer- 
cier, was born in France about 1660, and 
there married a native of the same country. 
He was one of the titled nobility at Lan- 
guedoc, France, and was a man of property 
and much consideration in his native land, 
but being an ardent Huguenot, he found it 
necessary, after the repeal of the Edict of 
Nantes by Louis XIV, in 1685, to seek safe 
ty in England. With other refugees he 
found a home in Britain, but afterward went 
to Ireland as an officer in King William s 
army, as did also one of his brothers. For 
gallant conduct at the battle of the Boyne, he 
was given grants of land in County Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, known as the Deer Park, seven 
miles from the city of Kilkenny, and there 
he settled down to live quietly until in a more 
fortunate day he could return to his beloved 
France. King Louis XIV never forgot his 
hatred of the Huguenot, and his successor 
failed to better matters, but when Louis XVI 
ascended the throne in 1774, greater tolera 
tion was shown. In the intervening years, 
Abel de Mercier had been gathered to his fa 
thers, and his son, John, who was born at 
Deer Park, had succeeded him. To John 
Mercier came a friar, a relative of the Mer- 
<:iers, who in the meantime had discontinued 
the use of the "de," and he endeavored to 
persuade the master of Deer Park to return 
to France to claim the family estate. The 
outbreak of the Revolution and the confisca 
tion of all the landed property of the refugees 
lollowed soon after. John Mercier contin 



ued in possession of the Ireland estate and 
there married a Miss Colclough, a descend 
ant of Sir Anthony Colclough, a member of 
an old English family of gentle blood who 
went to Ireland in the 34th year of the reign 
of Henry VIII, as a captain of pensioners, 
and who afterward held many posts of im 
portance under Edward VI, Mary and Eliza 
beth; he died Dec. 19, 1584. A fuller his 
tory of Sir Anthony and several of his suc 
cessors may be found on a monument in 
Tinturn Abbey. County Wexford, which had 
been granted him. with all. its lands, by the 
Crown, as a reward for eminent services. 
At his death he left besides his wife, a fam 
ily of seven sons and five daughters. Of the 
Mercier and Colclough families, representa 
tives in different lands have been soldiers, 
sailors and divines, and two father and son 
have been portrait painters, the likeness 
of the late Hon. Mr. McPherson, Speaker 
of the Senate in Ottawa, which hangs in the 
Senate chamber there, being the work of a 
Mercier, a first cousin of Isaac Mercier, of 
Lambton County. To John Mercier and 
wife, of Deer Park, were born four sons and 
five daughters. The sons were : John, Will 
iam, George and Abel. William came to 
Canada, locating on the present site of the 
city of Ottawa, where he owned i .300 acres 
of land. Later he sold this for $13 per 
acre, went to Baltimore, Maryland, and lost 
all his property, but made another fortune 
in a book and stationery business in Balti 
more. He was twice burned out while liv 
ing there and finally returned to Ontario, 
locating near Toronto, where he died. 

Abel Mercier, the father of our subject, 
was born in Ireland, in 1793, and there mar 
ried Susan Taylor, also a native of Ireland, 
born in 1801. About 1830 they came to 
Canada, settling near Toronto, where they 
lived about two years, and then returned to 
Ireland, where Mr. Mercier died in 1877, 
i<nc\ his wife in 1880. Eleven children were 
born to their union : Ann ; William ; Han 
nah, widow of Robert Dire, of Forest ; Isaac ; 
John; Maria, who married William Cobb; 
Jane, Emeline and Fanny (all married) ; 
Henry, and Caroline. 



192 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Isaac Mercier was born in the town of 
Durrow, Queen s County, Ireland, July 27, 
1835, and in 1851 came to Ontario, locating 
in Brockville. Later he removed to Hamil 
ton, where he learned his trade of carpenter 
and builder, which he followed successfully 
in various places in Ontario and the United 
States, prior to 1859, when he purchased a 
farm on Lots 19 and 20, Concession 15, 
Plympton township. This property he 
cleared of the bush and erected upon it all 
the necessary buildings, and was able to 
sell it at an excellent price. His next pur 
chase was a farm on Lot 25, Concession 15, 
of which he disposed in 1885, buying his 
present home in Forest, known as Gore 
Lawn. Mr. Mercier has probably done more 
building in Lambton County than any other 
one man. He has constructed many of the 
beautiful residences in Forest and the sur 
rounding district, and erected complete, 
from the foundation to the steeple, the Pres 
byterian and Church of England places of 
worship in Forest, both of which combine 
architectural beauty with material utility 
and are a monument to his ability. Mr. Mer 
cier has erected a number of residences in 
Forest on his own account, and he still owns 
considerable property. For half a century 
he has been prominently identified with the 
building interests of his locality and is one 
of the oldest builders in western Ontario. 
While living in Plympton township Mr. 
Mercier served several years on the town 
ship council, and for sixteen years was a 
member of the school board. Since coming 
to Forest he has served two terms in the 
town council, and is now assessor, to which 
office he was elected in 1904. He is a Con 
servative in politics. 

Mr. Mercier was married Feb. 15, 1870, 
to Miss Elizabeth Edgar, daughter ol 
Thomas Edgar, and they had four children : 
Eva S. M. (who died at the age of fifteen), 
Harriet, who died at nineteen, and William 
and Jane, who both died in infancy. Mrs. 
Mercier died Feb. 10, 1893, an( l on Sept. 
20, 1893, Mr. Mercier was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Martin, a native of the township 
of Yarmouth, Elgin County, Ont. Mr. and 



Mrs. Mercier are consistent members of the 
Church of England and liberal supporters of 
the same, and they enjoy a widespread pop 
ularity throughout Lambton County, where 
they are well and favorably known. 

REV. PHILIP J. GNAM, pastor of the 
Church of the Holy Rosary, Wyoming, Ont., 
is one of the best-known among the Catholic 
clergy of the London Diocese, and has ad 
ministered to the spiritual wants of his peo 
ple in Wyoming since the year 1886. He 
was born in the township of Rainham, 
County of Haldimand, May i, 1859, son of 
Theodore and Theresa (Swent) Guam. 

Theodore Gnam was a native of Ger 
many, born in the Province of Wurtemberg, 
where he grew to manhood and learned the 
trade of carpenter and joiner. While still 
young he went to the United States and 
spent some years in Warren, Ohio, engaged 
in contracting and building, and then in the 
early fifties he brought his family to Canada, 
and located in the village of Rainham. After 
several years there as a contractor, he moved 
to Corunna, Lambton County, and followed 
the same business there for the remainder 
of his active life. In his declining years he 
and his wife (with a few of the family) 
went to Port Huron, Michigan, where they 
both died and were buried in the Catholic 
cemetery. They were devout members of 
that church, and people of simple, unas 
suming tastes. Mrs. Guam was also a native 
of Wurtemberg. She became the mother of 
six children, all of whom were given good 
Christian educations, and reflect great credit 
upon their parents. They were named as 
follows : Victoria, Mrs. F. H. Marx, of Port 
Huron, Michigan; Regina, Mrs. Joseph Sni- 
derhan, of the County of Haldimand; Ma 
tilda, Mrs. F. Hammond, of the same 
county; Rev. Philip J. ; Rev. John J. ; and 
Joseph, who died in Port Huron, Michigan, 
when a young man. 

The boyhood of Father Gnam was spent 
at Corunna, where he attended the public 
schools and laid the foundation of his educa 
tion. From childhood he had an ambition to 
become a priest, so at the age of thirteen he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



193 



was sent to St. Michael s College, at To 
ronto, and then to the College of Berlin, in 
the County of Waterloo, where he was grad 
uated from the classical course. Then he 
entered the Grand Seminary in Montreal. In 
1864 he completed his theological course and 
was ordained to the priesthood Oct. 3d of 
the same year, by the late Bishop Walsh, and 
said his first mass at St. Joseph s Church, in 
Corunna. Being ordained for the London 
Diocese, Bishop \Valsh appointed him assist 
ant to the late Father Flannery, at St. 
Thomas, where he remained a year and a 
half, and during that time built St. Mary s 
church at West Lome. In 1886 Bishop 
Walsh assigned him to the parish of Wyo 
ming, which also embraces Petrolia and Oil 
Springs. 

Father Guam s first undertaking in his 
new charge was the construction of a fine 
brick edifice at Petrolia, the present St. 
Philip s church, which he himself designed. 
In 1887 it was completed at a cost, including 
the ground, of $12,000. That same year 
Father Guam undertook to erect another 
new church, as Wyoming, like Petrolia 
formerly, had only a small wooden struct 
ure. This second enterprise resulted in a 
building of white brick, similar to St. 
Philip s, but which cost something over 
$7,000. This church was dedicated to the 
Holy Rosary. Father Gnam has also made 
extensive improvements in the parochial res 
idence, and the minor buildings, all of which 
are paid for. He has also made over St. 
Anne s church, at Oil Springs, a. frame 
structure. A series of good works bespeaks 
his great zeal in religious service. 

In his personality Father Gnam is a 
quiet, unassuming man, of a fatherly dispo 
sition, scholarly and broad-minded, and he 
has won the admiration and respect of all 
classes. He is a hard worker, untiring in 
his labors and always ready to respond to 
every call upon him. While an eloquent 
speaker, he is also a logical reasoner, unos 
tentatious in manner, and has endeared him 
self to all his people. For several years his 
health has been poor, but he does his whole 
duty in spite of this hindrance. In 1896, 

13 



however, he took a trip to Europe for the 
benefit of his health, and visited all the places 
of interest in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, 
France, Great Britain and Ireland. In the 
Province of Wurtemberg he had the privi 
lege of celebrating mass in the same church 
where his mother made her first communion. 
A brother of Father Gnam, Rev. John J., 
who has also entered the priesthood, was 
educated at the same schools, and after com 
pleting his course at the Grand Seminary 
was ordained and appointed to the parish at 
Hessen, County of Perth, where he remained 
until 1904, when he was given the La Salute 
parish, in Oxford County, Out. He, too, 
is zealous in every good work, and is accom 
plishing much for the church. 

JOSEPH HALL. To the weak soul 
adversity is crushing, but to the strong man, 
who feels his own inherent ability to over 
come circumstances, it is but an impetus to 
renewed effort and gives an additional satis 
faction in success. In the latter class belongs 
Joseph Hall, a farmer and oil producer of 
Enniskillen township, located on Lot 6, Con 
cession 13. He was born in Yorkshire, Eng 
land, Oct. 23, 1823, son of William and 
Anna (Husher) Hall, and comes of one of 
England s old families. He was the young 
est son of his parents and is the only one of 
the family living. Two other brothers came 
to Canada, William and Michael, and set 
tled in Peel township, where both died. 

Joseph Hall came to Canada in 1847, 
via Quebec, on a sailing vessel, which was 
nine weeks crossing the ocean. During that 
time there were three severe storms and the 
vessel was so injured that there was doubt of 
its ever reaching land. Mr. Hall had mar 
ried, before leaving England, Miss Ruth 
Hodgin, who was born in that country in 
1822. When they reached port the husband 
had but fifty cents in money in his pocket 
with which to begin life in the New World. 
For several years they lived in Toronto, and 
he worked out among the farmers, receiving 
only ten dollars a month, yet even out of that 
pittance he managed to save a few dollars, 
and in 1850 he moved to the County of 



194 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Lambton. There he bought his farm and 
began life on his own property, living in a 
log cabin for a number of years. The first 
years were very hard ones, but he perse 
vered and in time success crowned his ef 
forts. Mrs. Hall died in 1887, and Mr. Hall 
subsequently turned his original farm over 
to his sons and bought his present homestead, 
where he has since lived generally a retired 
life. In 1890 he married for his second wife, 
Mrs. Catherine Hartley, who was born in 
England, and was the widow of James Hart 
ley, of Plympton township. By her death, 
in May, 1903, Mr. Hall was again bereaved. 

The thirteen children born to Mr. Hall 
were all by the first wife, as follows : Wil 
liam, a farmer of Enniskillen township, 
married and had two children, one of whom 
was drowned. James, a farmer in the same 
section, has one son. Joseph, a resident of the 
same township, has a family of four chil 
dren. George A., who is married, is a rail 
road employe in Texas. Thomas is married 
and lives on the old Enniskillen homestead. 
Anna, born in 1847, died July 10, 1848. 
Nancy, born in 1849, married Charles 
Brooks, of Port Huron,, and has four chil 
dren. Harriet, torn in 1851, is the wife of 
James Brooks, of Plympton township, and 
has four children. Eliza was born June i, 
1853. Annie, born in 1856, married John 
Baraway, of Concession 6, Enniskillen town 
ship, and has one son. Catherine, born in 
1858 is Mrs. William Brooks, of Lambton 
County, and has one son. Usher John was 
born July 30, 1868. One son died in in 
fancy. 

Joseph Hall has always been one of the 
active workers in the Methodist Church; 
when the Brooks church was built he was 
one of the largest contributors toward the 
edifice and purchased the land for it, in Con 
cession 13. He has been steward and trus 
tee for many years and for twelve years in 
succession was superintendent of the Sab 
bath-school. Politically he has been identi 
fied with the old Reform party and for one 
term was a member of the Enniskillen coun 
cil. In his business career he has had both 
success and reverses. At one time he owned 



450 acres of land in Enniskillen township, 
but lost a part of it. He has also both made 
and lost money in speculations and has had 
eleven different wells sunk on his property, 
making profits from some of them, and to 
day, after all his vicissitudes, still owns con 
siderable paying property. His career, 
throughout has been marked by the most 
unswerving honesty and every dollar he has 
ever owned was earned by his own honest 
toil. Sympathetic and genial in his manner, 
he has ever had a smile and hearty hand 
shake for all, while in times of trouble his 
help has been more substantial, for his life 
really has been one long effort to do good. 
His example stands as a shining mark for 
emulation. 

v 

THOMAS MORRIS, who departed this 
life at his late residence in Warwick town 
ship, on Dec. 28, 1897, was one of the early 
settlers of Lambton Count}-, and a very 
highly esteemed citizen. His birth occurred 
at Newtown, North Wales, Feb. 8, 1825, and 
in his native land he learned the trade of a 
spinner, which he followed for some time 
prior to emigrating to Ontario. His parents 
Stephen and Ann Morris, spent their entire 
lives in Wales. Of the children born to them, 
two sons, Thomas and Richard, came to On 
tario, the latter making the journey first. 
He had learned the blacksmith s trade, and 
followed it successfully in Welland County, 
before settling in Warwick township, where 
he engaged in farming, which calling he fol 
lowed until his death. 

Thomas Morris came to Ontario about 
1852, locating on Lot 13, Concession 5, 
Warwick township, Lambton County, and 
he then proceeded to make a home for him 
self and family out of the wilderness. By 
unremitting toil he succeeded in transform 
ing his 100 acres of heavily timbered land 
into one of the finest farms of the county, 
and there made his home until his death, 
which occurred very unexpectedly. He had 
been in excellent health for some time, and 
the morning of his death was working with 
his son at the wood pile. Suddenly he fell 
to the ground dead. The news of his decease 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



brought sorrow into many hearts, for he was 
a man who made and retained friends, and 
in his demise the township lost one of its rep 
resentative men. 

On Aug. 29, 1867, Mr. Morris married 
Miss Mary Ann Woolley, who was born at 
Tuckersmith, Huron County, Ont., Feb. 18, 
1840, daughter of William and Catherine 
(Skinkley) Woolley. William Woolley was 
Lorn in England in 1804, and died in 1845, 
and Mrs. Woolley was born in Ontario, and 
died in 1878, aged eighty-five years. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Morris the following children 
were born : Stephen, George Henry and 
Emma Ann. Stephen, a farmer on the old 
homestead, was married Dec. 24, 1896, to 
Jane Morgan, and three children have been 
born to them, Alma Retta, George Henry 
and Hilda Jane. George Henry died Dec. 
3, 1888, at the age of eighteen years. Emma 
Ann was married March 23, 1897, to Lean- 
der Harvey Lamb, who died March 21, 1901, 
and one daughter was born to them, Mary 
Gladys. 

Mr. Morris was a consistent Christian 
gentleman, and for many years was a mem 
ber of the Congregational Church, of which 
Mrs. Morris is also a member. Politically 
he was a Conservative, but he never aspired 
to office. 

After the death of Mr. Morris, Mrs. 
Morris settled in Watford, where she built 
a pleasant brick house, and there resides 
with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Lamb. 
The entire family is much esteemed in the 
community, where the virtues and business 
integrity of Mr. Morris are remembered, 
and the representatives of the name stand 
very high in public favor. 

JAMES ARMSTRONG (deceased), 
who for over half a century was a well 
known and successful agriculturist of the 
Egremont Road, Plympton township, was a 
man who left his mark upon the community 
in which he made his home, and is tenderly 
remembered by many outside his immediate 
circle of relatives and personal friends. 

\Villiam Armstrong, father of James, 
was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, Oct. 



8> I 73. but later lived in Northumberland, 
England. In both places, he engaged as a 
shepherd. In 1852, with his son James, 
and other members of his family, he came to 
Canada, locating in Plympton township, 
Lambton County, Ont., and there spent the 
remainder of his life among his children, 
dying at the home of his youngest daughter, 
Mrs. Walter Fleming, Plympton township, 
Nov. 30, 1864. He was laid to rest in the 
cemetery at Uttoxeter. While in the old 
country, he was a member of the Presbyte 
rian Church, and an elder in that body, but 
after coming to the new home, he identified 
himself with the Congregational denomina 
tion, and also attended the Methodist Church 
at Uttoxeter, he being at all times a Chris 
tian, God-fearing man. Mr. Armstrong 
was intelligent and well-read, especially in 
the Scriptures. 

In Northumberland, England, he mar 
ried Jane Scott, who died in Roxburghshire, 
Scotland. She, too, was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. Children were born 
to this union as follows: John, born April 
10, 1807, died in Downie township, Perth 
County, Ont.; Jane, torn April 28, 1805. 
married Thomas Glendening, and both died 
in McGillivray township, Middlesex County ; 
Isabelle, born Dec. 23, 1812, married Wil 
liam Dodd, and they lived and died in their 
native home; Margaret, born April 25, 1809, 
married David Kennedy, and died in McGil 
livray township, Middlesex County; Wilhel- 
mina, born June 22, 1815, married John 
Simpson, and died in Plympton township; 
Adam, born Sept. 18, 1818, died in McGilli 
vray township; Catherine, born in 1815, 
married William Cowan, and died in her 
native home; James, born Feb. 28. 1820; 
Christina, born April 28, 1823; Mary, born 
April 6, 1828, married Walter Fleming, and 
died in Brooke township, Lambton County. 
The late James Armstrong was born 
Feb. 28, 1820, in Northumberland. England, 
and like his father was a shepherd both there 
and in Roxburghshire, Scotland. In the 
latter place, he married Margaret Murray, 
and in 1852. accompanied by his wife and 
family of six children, and also his 



196 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



father, his mother-in-law and other mem 
bers of his father s family, he emigrated to 
Canada. Proceeding to Liverpool, the little 
crowd took passage on a sailing vessel which 
landed them at Quehec after a voyage of 
eight weeks, during which they had the sor 
row of losing little Ellen, daughter of James 
Armstrong and his wife. The child wn* 
buried at sea. Having a brother and sister 
in Middlesex County, Out., Mr. Armstrong 
went thither, and after a short stay pushed 
on to Lambton County, making the journey 
from McGillivray township to Kertch, in 
Lambton, by stage, and from there to the 
new home in Plympton, on the Egremont 
Road, on sleds drawn by oxen. On his 
arrival here Mr. Armstrong s capital con 
sisted of forty pounds, and he bought from 
Thomas Symington 100 acres of land for 
which he paid $200, Mr. Symington hand 
ing him back one dollar for good luck. He 
put up a small log shanty to which he 
brought his family, and settled down to the 
life of a pioneer. Cutting the timber, he made 
potash, and thus augmented the income from 
the farm until the land was sufficiently well 
cultivated to be profitable. Though there 
was much hard work and many drawbacks 
in the clearing and reclaiming of the land, 
Mr. Armstrong had his place in good con 
dition in a comparatively short time, and 
as the years went by, it came to be re 
garded as the best loo-acre tract in the 
township. As he prospered, he made many 
improvements on his property, erecting sub 
stantial barns and other out-buildings, in ad 
dition to a fine brick dwelling house. When 
his sons were ready to start life for them 
selves, he gave each a tract of land, and 
they are now among the prosperous farmers 
of the township. Mr. Armstrong passed 
the remainder of his life on the farm where 
he first settled, passing away March 18, 
1904, and he was tenderly interred in 
Uttoxeter cemetery. 

Like his father, Mr. Armstrong was a 
devoted member of the Congregational 
Church, uniting with the congregation at 
Uttoxeter, and he was well-read and well- 
posted on Biblical matters. In political faith 



he was a stanch Liberal, always standing for 
Reform principles. He served several years 
as school trustee, being always deeply inter 
ested in educational affairs, but otherwise,, 
he was not active in public matters, and had 
no desire for office. His whole attention 
was given to his chosen calling, in which he 
was a leader in his section, and he was a 
prominent member of the Plympton Agri 
cultural Society. He made many exhibi 
tions at fairs, principally of sheep, of which 
he was one of the largest breeders in the 
township, making a specialty of Leicester 
sheep. 

After settling in Canada, Mr. Armstrong 
made two visits to his old home to visit rela 
tives and friends, the first time in 1876, being 
accompanied by his nephew, Mr. Murray, 
and Duncan Ferguson, and the second time, 
in 1883, by his son William. 

James Armstrong was married in Rox 
burghshire, to Margaret Murray, a native 
of that country, and they became the parents 
of the following children, the three eldest 
born in Liddesdale, Scotland : Jane married 
Charles Armstrong, and died in Enniskillen 
township; William is mentioned below; 
Adam is a resident of Plympton township, 
as are also James and John ; Ellen died and 
was buried at sea; Christopher lives in 
Plympton township; Ellen (2) married 
Archibald Ferguson, of Plympton township ;. 
David lives in Plympton township; Marga 
ret Murray remained on the homestead until 
her death, Feb. 15, 1905. The mother of 
this family died on the home farm, June 24, 
1865, and was buried in Uttoxeter cemetery. 
She was a devoted helpmeet in the days of 
hardship which Mr. Armstrong experienced 
in his settlement in the new country, and did 
her full share toward the making of a com 
fortable home for the family. They were 
devout members of the Methodist Church. 
After the death of Mrs. Armstrong, 
Mr. Armstrong married Abigail Manning, 
widow of William Manning, of Dorchester, 
who died on the old home farm, April 2, 
1905. Her maiden name was Nichols. 

In the death of James Armstrong, 
Plympton township lost one of its most sub- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



197 



stantial and highly respected citizens. He 
was a good man in all the relations of life, 
whether as a business man, in his home, in 
church circles, or as a worker for the general 
welfare. Every enterprise for the better 
ment of the community received his hearty 
support. He was always a man of temper 
ate habits, and even gave up tobacco after 
using it for forty years. 

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, eldest son of the 
late James Armstrong, was born at Liddes- 
dale, Scotland, and came to Canada with his 
parents, being reared in the pioneer county 
of Lambton. He attended the school on the 
Egremont Road, taught by Mr. Davidson, 
a Scotch schoolmaster, and remained on the 
homestead with his father until of age. Then 
he and his brother Adam became engaged in 
the manufacture of hoops and staves, which 
business they continued for several years, 
meeting with fair success. In 1875, he set 
tled on his present place on the 7th Con 
cession, and there he has since resided, en 
gaged in stock raising and general farming, 
in partnership with Adam, the brothers 
owning, together, 250 acres. They cleared 
and improved this land, and its present fine 
state is clue entirely to their efforts. All the 
buildings, the comfortable dwelling, etc., 
have been put up by them, and evidences of 
prosperity and properly directed industry are 
to be found on every side. 

In addition to general farming, William 
Armstrong and his brother have given con 
siderable attention to cattle dealing, in which 
they have been engaged for the past twenty- 
eight years. They fed the first lot of cattle 
shipped to England from Plympton town 
ship, and are now among the largest buyers 
and feeders of cattle in this section. They 
have made unusually well out of this enter 
prise. William Armstrong is regarded as an 
excellent judge of cattle; he is a good busi 
ness man in every respect, standing high 
among his associates. He is a member and 
director of the Industrial Loan Association 
of Sarnia. He has always been a strong Lib 
eral in political sentiment, but he cares noth 
ing for public life, its excitement or its 
honors. His church relations are with the 



Methodist Church at Uttoxeter, with which 
the family have long been identified, and he 
has served as trustee of that church. He has 
led an industrious, useful life, attending 
faithfully to his own affairs, and at the same 
time serving his community well, and he is 
accordingly much esteemed. 

Mr. Armstrong was married, in the fall 
of 1881, near Hamilton, Out, to Miss Edith 
Utter, who was born in Hamilton, daugh 
ter of Joel Utter/ and was a woman of in 
telligence and education. She died on the 
home place in 1884, and was laid to rest in 
the Uttoxeter cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. 
Armstrong had one daughter, Edith Mar 
garet, who was educated in the public 
schools and Forest high school, and later at 
tended Alma College, at St. Thomas, where 
she received her musical training. She is 
devoted to her father and Uncle Adam, who 
have combined in surrounding her with lov 
ing care since her mother s death, and they 
are closely linked together by their own af 
fection, and the friendship of their 
neighbors. 

JAMES JARDIXE ARMSTRONG, third son of 
the late James Armstrong, was born in Lid- 
desdale, Scotland, Feb. 6, 1847. His educa 
tion was received at the district school, and 
he learned farm work, remaining at home 
until he was seventeen years of age, but at 
that time he hired himself to Adam Murray, 
at $120 per year. Remaining with him for 
seven years, the last two years he received 
$140 per year. His next work was cutting 
wood, and during all this time he saved his 
money so that he was able to purchase a 
fifty-acre farm in Plympton township. As 
this farm cost $1,000, and he had but $300, 
he was forced to go into debt for it, but he 
went sturdily to work, farming in the sum 
mer, and working in the lumber camps dur 
ing the winter. In addition, he erected a 
house, barn, and outbuildings, cleared off 
his land, and at the end of seven years sold 
his property at a good profit, and bought 
his present farm of 100 acres. Lot 15, 6th 
Concession, from William Phippen, paying 
for it $6.000. Here he has since resided, en 
gaged in general farming, stock dealing and 



198 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



raising. In time he added fifty acres to his 
original purchase. In 1897 lie built a fine 
brick dwelling, which is one of the finest in 
the township, and has made many other im 
provements. Although he had nothing with 
which to begin his battle of life, he is now a 
successful, wealthy man, and one univer 
sally esteemed. In habits, he is domestic, 
temperate, and sober, and takes a great pride 
in his home and family. In politics, he is a 
Liberal, as are the other members of his 
family, while he endeavors to follow the 
Golden Rule in his religious belief. 

On May 8, 1877, Mr. Armstrong mar 
ried Miss Ellen Ann Ferguson, daughter of 
the late Duncan and Jane (Young) Fergu 
son, and sister of Archibald B. Ferguson of 
Plympton township. A complete history of 
the Ferguson family is given elsewhere in 
this volume. Mrs. Armstrong is a lady of 
culture and refinement, devoted to her home 
and family. Eight children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, three of whom 
died in infancy, those remaining being: 
Maggie Murray, who married Thomas Gil- 
latly, of Plympton township ; Jennie, Laura 
Christena, Frederick James Jardine and 
Agnes Ferguson, all at home. 

JOHN B. ARMSTRONG, son of the late 
James Armstrong, was born in Roxburgh 
shire, Jan. 8, 1849, and educated at the 
Egremont Road school. He remained at 
home with his parents until he was twenty, 
when he began working for himself. He first 
began learning the carpenter s trade with 
John Dowler, of Plympton township, and 
after completing his time, he worked as a 
carpenter and builder in Plympton township, 
and vicinity. In 1881, he made a trip to 
Colorado, where he remained two years, still 
engaged at his trade. Among other things, 
he built in Plympton township, the largest 
barn, 100 x 60 feet, for the present marshal 
of Forest, and also took contracts for erect 
ing brick dwellings, being exceedingly suc 
cessful in all his work. In 1888, he resumed 
his early farming operations, buying a tract 
on the London Road, of 100 acres, which 
he later sold, and bought his present fine 
property, also of 100 acres. Lot 23, Conces 



sion 6. Here for the past sixteen years, he 
engaged in general farming and stock rais 
ing. Nearly all of the improvements on the 
place have been made by him, and his prem 
ises show that an excellent manager is in 
charge. 

Fraternally, Mr. Armstrong is a member 
of the A. F. & A. M. of Mount Moriah 
Lodge, Canon City, Colorado. In politics 
he is a Liberal, and for the past five years has 
been secretary of the school board, and is 
much interested in educational matters. His 
views on church matters are broad, he be 
lieving it the right of every man to worship 
as his conscience dictates. 

On May 30, 1886, Mr. Armstrong was 
married in Plympton township, by the Rev. 
George McLennon, Presbyterian minister 
of Camlachie, to Mary Purcell, born in 
North Dorchester, Middlesex County, 
daughter of Robert and Mary (Bannatyne) 
Purcell. Mrs. Armstrong is a lady widely 
beloved, not only by her relatives, but by 
her many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Arm 
strong are the parents of three children : 
James Wilbert; Robert Bruce, and Kenneth 
Murray. 

Probably there is no family more widely 
known or deeply respected than this, the 
members of which have played so important 
a part in the development and advancement 
of Lambton County. These men have been 
honorable, hard working and thrifty. All of 
them have become wealthy, have earned 
what they have through their own, unaided 
efforts, and they have borne their part 
bravely in the public life of the community. 
It is such men as those bearing the name of 
Armstrong that make western Ontario what 
it is today, and who set an example for those 
coming after them, of stainless, upright 
manhood in the highest sense of the word. 

MARSHALL A. SANDERS. The 
real estate and insurance business of Sar- 
nia covers a wide field of activity, includes 
great financial transactions, and is a leading 
factor in the growth and development of 
this part of Canada. A reliable and repre 
sentative worker in this line is Marshall A- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



199 



Sanders, who has been engaged in the real 
estate and insurance business for a number 
of years, conducting it by methods which 
have reflected credit upon himself and his 
community. 

Marshall A. Sanders was born in Bur 
lington, Ont, Dec. 18, 1857, son of Corney 
and Mary (Reynolds) Sanders, the former 
of whom was born in England, Feb. 22, 
1825, and the latter in Canada, in August, 
1827. In 1835, at the age of ten years, Cor 
ney Sanders came to the Province of On 
tario, Canada, locating at Toronto, where he 
served a seven years apprenticeship to the 
trade of cabinet-making, and he then began 
business for himself in the same line, at Mil 
ton. On account of losing his entire outfit 
and all of his property, by a disastrous fire 
at that place, Mr. Sanders removed to Bur 
lington, where he worked at his trade until 
1866, at which date he settled at Sarnia and 
entered the employ of Robert MacKenzie, 
remaining two years, Mr. Sanders then open 
ing up a business of his own, in which he 
remained active until 1899. Mr. Sanders 
died at his home in Sarnia, a man much re 
gretted and highly esteemed. When twenty- 
one years of age, he had been made and or 
dained a local preacher in the Methodist 
Church, and he continued in this capacity 
through the whole of his life. Politically 
he was a Conservative and served as a mem 
ber of the town council and of the city coun 
cil, and for thirty years was a member of the 
board of education, serving in that capacity 
at the time of his death. Fraternally he was 
for twenty-five years a member of the Order 
of Odd Fellows, belonged to the Sons of 
England and the Ancient Order of Forest 
ers. The children born to Corney Sanders 
and wife were as follows : Sarah A., wife of 
E. P. Battley, of Sarnia; FlannalvE., wife 
of C. E. Gruncly, of South Omaha, Ne 
braska; Marshall A.; Charles M.. with the 
undertaking firm of Phippen & Simpson, of 
Sarnia; Archibald T., the railroad ticket 
agent at Kansas City, Missouri ; and Albert 
E., an undertaker of Sydney, Xova Scotia. 

Marshall A. Sanders was given excel 
lent educational advantages in the public 



and high schools of Sarnia, and he also at 
tended the Jones & Yerex Business College, 
at London, from which he was graduated in 
1876. After completing a very thorough 
business course, Mr. Sanders engaged as a 
clerk with T. Symington, of Sarnia, and 
later was manager for Miss Byrne, of Strat 
ford, still later becoming interested in a busi 
ness enterprise at Chatham. In 1887 he re 
turned to Sarnia, and after a business ex 
perience of twelve years, embarked in a gro 
cery business. Seven years later he disposed 
of this business in order to put his time and 
energies into a real estate and insurance busi 
ness in Sarnia, the outlook being very favor 
able for this line of business. In politics Mr. 
Sanders is a pronounced Conservative, and 
is prominent in a number of fraternal so 
cieties, notably the Masonic, the A. O. F., 
the S. O. E., the C. Q. F., the W. O. W., 
and the K. O. T. M. 

On May 22, 1882, Mr. Sanders was mar 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Palmer, a daughter 
of R. C. Palmer, whose sketch appears else 
where. To this union one daughter has been 
born. Mr. Sanders and family belong to and 
are active in the Central Methodist Church 
of Sarnia, in which he is a member of the 
official board and of the board of trustees. 

DOXALD G. McLEAX. One of the 
fine farms of Lambton County is that com 
fortable homestead situated in Concession 
6, Lot 17, in Brooke township, which was 
the property of the late Donald G. McLean, 
one of the respected pioneer settlers here, 
who passed his last years retired from active 
labor in the enjoyment of the ease his indus 
try had provided. Mr. McLean was born in 
Lower Canada, March 4, 1832, son of Hec 
tor and Flora (Graham) McLean, both of 
whom were born in Scotland. 

Hector McLean and his wife located in 
Lower Canada as early as 1829, where they 
lived about eight years, Mr. McLean work 
ing at his trade of shoemaking. In 1836 the 
family removed to Mosa. Middlesex County, 
where he started farming on wild land, mak 
ing a permanent home there. When the Re 
bellion broke out Mr. McLean enlisted and 



200 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



served throughout the war, at the close of 
which he settled down as a farmer, and he 
spent the rest of his life in Mosa, where he 
and his wife both died, he in 1884 and she 
in 1864. They were members of the Dis 
ciples Church. The first wife of Hector Mc 
Lean died in Scotland, leaving one daughter, 
Katie (now deceased), wife of Archie Pur- 
cell, of Aldborough, Middlesex County. 
The children besides Donald G. torn to Hec 
tor and Flora (Graham) McLean were as 
follows : Isabella, born in Scotland, mar 
ried Donald McNeil, of Brooke township, 
and is now deceased; Mary died in Lowei 
Canada at the age of eight years; Lachlan 
died at the old home in Mosa; Roderick, 
born in Lower Canada, died at the age of 
fifty years at the old home ; Allen, born in 
Lower Canada, married a Miss McCall, and 
settled at the old home, where he died in 
1896, leaving these children, Bell (de 
ceased), Mary (deceased), Maggie, Mal 
colm, Flora, Hector, Lachlan, Katie, John, 
Sophia and Archie. 

Donald G. McLean received his educa 
tion in the schools of Mosa, where he was 
reared to manhood on the farm. At the age 
of eighteen years he engaged as a sailor on 
the lakes, following this until thirty-one 
years of age, sailing from Detroit to Cleve 
land and other points. In January, 1863, 
Mr. McLean married Miss Annie McLean, 
daughter of Allen and Katie McLean, of 
Ekfrid, Middlesex County. Mr. McLean 
had purchased his present home about five 
years previous to his marriage, and had made 
small improvements, and after marriage he 
and his wife started life in a little log house 
which still stands, on the present farm. At 
this time he gave up sailing and devoted all 
his time to farming with the result that he 
cleared up a fine farm from the wild bush 
land. In October, 1896, Mr. McLean erect 
ed his brick house, which is a fine modern 
home, and he also built good barns and out 
buildings. 

Mrs. McLean died Sept. 7, 1904, leav 
ing the following children ; Katie, who mar 
ried Edward Duffy (deceased), of Brooke 
township, and has two sons, Vernie and 



Orville J. ; Mary McLean, who received a 
fine education in the home schools, and is the 
manager of the household; Allen, who 
married Miss Susan Elliott, of Brooke 
township, where he is a farmer; Flora, who 
resides at the homestead ; Fanny, who mar 
ried George H. Ross, of Brooke township, 
and has one son, Everest S. ; Daniel L., a 
sailor on the lakes, running from Duluth to 
Cleveland; Hector, who died at the age of 
two years; Hector (2), foreman of the ce 
ment works of London, who married Miss 
Agnes Seymour, of Petrolia, in 1904; Ed 
ward, who manages the old homestead; and 
John, an oiler on the lake boats running be 
tween Cleveland and Duluth. In religion 
Mr. McLean, like his family, was a member 
of the Disciples Church, in whose work he 
took an active part. Politically, while never 
seeking office, he always voted the Reform 
ticket. Mr. McLean enjoyed an enviable 
reputation as a man of integrity and relia 
bility, and was very highly regarded in 
Brooke township. He died Dec. 12, 1904, 
and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Al- 
vinston, where a beautiful monument marks 
his last resting place. 

ALBIX RAWLINGS (deceased), for 
many years a leader in the agricultural mat 
ters of the County of Lambton, was one of 
the early settlers of Bosanquet township, 
and from 1870 until the time of his death 
was a prominent resident of Forest, of which 
place he was the first mayor. 

AYilliam Rawlings, his grandfather, was 
born in 1768, and died at the age of eighty- 
two years in his native home in England. 
His children were: John (father of our sub 
ject), Maria, Sarah, Matilda and Mabel, all 
but John dying in England. 

John Rawlings was born in 1/95 in Eng 
land, and married Elizabeth Gatehouse, 
who was born in 1801 in Somersetshire. In 
1851 he came to Canada, landing at Quebec 
on June 28th, and in February, 1852, they 
came to Bosanquet township, Lambton 
County, and made a location on Lots 59, 
60 and 61, Lake road, east. At that time the 
country was all bush land, while now it rep- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



2OI 



resents some of the finest farming land of 
the Dominion. Here John Rawlings died 
Sept. 23, 1877, his widow surviving until 
Feb. 9, 1890. They belonged to the Church 
of England. Politically John Rawlings was 
a Reformer. Their children were: Caleb 
died in England; Hiram died in 1901 in 
Lambton. County, Ont. ; Albin is our subject; 
Heber lives in Forest, Ont. ; Karos died in 
England ; Abner died in England ; Lavinia is 
Mrs. Simon Blunden, of Lambton County; 
Abner (2) lives in Michigan. 

Albin Rawlings was born in 1832 in 
England, whence he accompanied his par 
ents to Canada, coming to the County of 
Lambton in February, 1852. He assisted 
his father in the clearing up of his wild land, 
on which he finally located. When he began 
his individual career he settled on Lot 60, 
Lake road, east, added to his original prop 
erty, and in time became one of the substan 
tial citizens of his community, in 1870 he 
moved to Forest, and from that time until 
the end of his days followed the live stock 
business, grazing stock, which he shipped 
to the eastern and foreign markets. He was 
one of the leading exporters to English mar 
kets, and was unusually successful in that 
line of business, finding a ready sale for all 
his stock wherever he had become known. 
Agricultural matters were always an object 
of intense interest to him, and he was one of 
the most active and intelligent advocates of 
advanced farming in this section. His con 
nection with agricultural societies covered 
forty years service as director, four years as 
vice-president, and four years as president, 
and he represented the Counties of Essex, 
Kent and Lambton in the Agriculture and 
Arts Association of Ontario for many years. 
He was a member of the Board of Directors 
for the Ontario exhibition, Western Fair, 
London, and Winter Fair, Guelph, until in 
capacitated by paralysis. He was a director 
of two loan and savings societies in Sarnia. 

After residing in Bosanquet for ten 
years, and being well established in business, 
in 1862, Mr. Rawlings returned to England. 
and was there united in marriage with Miss 



Annie Dyke, whom he had known from his 
earliest recollection. Mrs. Rawlings was 
born in 1840, a daughter of Nathaniel and 
Susan (Edwards) Dyke, the former of 
whom was born in 1810, and died July 2, 
1889 (having for many years retired from a 
farming life), and the latter, born in 1813, 
died Feb. 7, 1879. Nathaniel Dyke was a 
son of Henry and Jessie Dyke. Mrs. Raw- 
lings is one of six children born to her par 
ents, namely. Henry; George, deceased; 
Annie, Airs. Rawlings ; Susan, wife of John 
Ames, a retired farmer of England; Na 
thaniel, a farmer, living in England; and 
Louisa, deceased. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings 
came to Bosanquet township, where they 
resided until removing to Forest. The fol 
lowing children have been born to them : 
Florence B., of Forest ; Maude, wife of Alex 
ander Cavanaugh, who has two children, 
Maude and Irene; Stanley, a grazer of 
Forest, who married Josie Smith, and has 
children Albin, Claude, Vaughn and How 
ard Stanley; Ada, wife of John Gray, of 
Buffalo, New York, who has had one son, 
Douglas, now deceased; and Roy, a grazer 
in Bosanqnet township, who married Louise 
Smith. 

Mr. Rawlings was a Congregationalist 
in religion, and at the time of his death was 
senior trustee in the church in which he held 
membership. Mrs. Rawlings is a member 
of the Church of England. Politically he 
was identified with the Reform party, in 
which he was an active worker, and while a 
resident of Bosanquet township was deputy 
reeve and ex-offkio member of the county 
council. He helped to incorporate the vil 
lage of Forest, served as reeve of that place, 
and had the honor of being its first mayor. 
In 1884 he was warden of the county. Mr. 
Rawlings was genial and companionable, 
and his tales of the pioneer days in this local 
ity would make a most interesting history 
a true typical recital of the early lives of 
those who have made this part of Ontario 
the prosperous country it is. He did more 
than the average man toward bringing about 



2O2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the present conditions, and made more than 
an ordinary name for himself among his 
fellow-citizens. He died at his home in 
Forest Feb. 20, 1905, and is buried in Beach- 
wood cemetery. 

JAMES McKINLEY, one of Plymp- 
ton s leading agriculturists and well known 
and respected citizens, is a native of Ontario, 
born Nov. 29, 1846, on a farm in Trafalgar 
township, County of Halton. 

This branch of the McKinley family is of 
Irish extraction. Neil McKinley, father of 
James, was born in the south of Ireland, 
where he followed the trade of weaver and 
also engaged in the same at Paisley, Scot 
land. There he married Margaret McGin- 
nis, who was born in Scotland, but was of 
Irish parentage. They had a family of 
seventeen children, four of whom were born 
in Scotland : Roger and Mary, both de 
ceased; Margaret, who died while crossing 
the Atlantic ; Catherine, who died young ; 
Anthony, who died in Manitoba; Margaret 
(2), who married Samuel Seleno, a farmer, 
and died in the Northwest; James; Agnes, 
deceased; Margeiy, deceased; George, a resi 
dent of Pittsburg; John and Charles, twins, 
both deceased ; Catherine ( 2 ) , deceased ; 
Neil, who died at the age of eleven; and 
three died in infancy. 

In the early forties, Neil McKinley with 
his wife and children started for the New 
World, their objective point being Ontario, 
Canada. He located in Trafalgar township, 
County of Halton, where he rented a farm 
and commenced to till it, but later purchased 
a tract of land in Plympton township, Lamb- 
ton County. This he did not occupy, how 
ever, his death occurring in Halton County 
in 1859, and he was laid to rest in the Oak- 
ville Catholic cemetery at that place. Both 
he and family were consistent members of 
the Catholic Church. After his death, his 
widow and children came to Lambton Coun- 
ty, and later she went to Manitoba, to tiie 
home of her son Anthony, where her death 
took place at the age of seventy years. 

James McKinley, the subject proper of 
this sketch, attended the district schools of 



his native township and worked at farm labor 
from an early age, being but thirteen years 
old when his father died. He remained at 
home with his widowed mother, operating 
the home farm for her and working through 
the neighborhood. In 1868, with the other 
members of the family, he came to Lambton 
County and located on the east half of Lot 
13, Concession 7, a bush farm of 100 acres, 
which had been purchased by his father, as 
mentioned above. 

Here the McKinleys settled down to the 
hardships and pleasures of pioneer life. As 
soon as possible, a log cabin was reared and 
our subject assumed the work of clearing the 
farm. He made cord wood of the timber and 
as rapidly as possible, with the few agricul 
tural implements of those days, placed his 
land under, cultivation. On this farm Mr. 
McKinley spent over a quarter of a century, 
but in 1895 he sold it and came to the 2d 
Line of Plympton, where he built his pres 
ent home on the east half of Lot 17, Conces 
sion 3, consisting of a tract of 100 acres 
which had been the property of James Dun 
can. To this he added 100 acres on the op 
posite side of the road, and, later, bought 
seventy-five acres on Concession L, of 
Plympton, and is now the owner of 275 
acres of land, all of which is under a good 
state of cultivation. He is also employed 
in stockraising in which he has met with sat 
isfactory success. 

Mr. McKinley is a self-made man. He 
possesses a genial disposition which encour 
ages friendship and is noted for his kindness 
and neighborly accommodating spirit. In 
politics he is an Independent. With his fam 
ily, he belongs to the Catholic Church at 
Wyoming. 

At Wyoming, in the Catholic Church, he 
was married in November, 1871, to Eliza 
beth Holling, born in Nelson township, Hal- 
ton County, daughter of John and Bridget 
(O Donell) Holling, the former of whom 
died in Plympton and the latter is still living, 
at the age of eighty years, one of the es 
teemed residents of Wyoming and a con 
sistent member of the Catholic Church. A 
familv of ten children was born to this mar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



203 



riage, all of whom were given educational 
advantages, and all have reflected credit upon 
their home rearing. They were : Mary, who 
was educated in the public schools of Plymp- 
ton township, and at St. Joseph s Convent at 
Toronto, is a successful teacher of music; 
Margery Theresa, also a graduate of St. 
Joseph s, married Edward Vincent Don 
nelly, editor of the Park Hill Post, and has 
four sons, Leo, Cyril, Basil J., and John F. ; 
James Neal, educated in the public schools 
of Plympton and graduated from the law de 
partment of the Detroit University, is also 
an expert stenographer and bookkeeper and 
resides in Detroit; John, one of the most 
promising young men of this section, died 
May 17, 1904; Celsus Rodger, who supple 
mented his common school education with a 
commercial course at the Chatham Business 
College, is a member of the mercantile firm 
of McKinley Bros., at Wyoming; Margaret 
Josephine was educated at St. Joseph s and 
graduated from the Toronto Normal 
School ; Anthony Ignatius is a student at St. 
Michael s College, Toronto; Francis A. is a 
student in the Petrolia High School; Eliza 
beth Angeline died young; and Irene Cath 
erine is at home. 

The character of the late John McKin 
ley can be no better, shown than by the sub 
joined newspaper articles which expressed 
the popular feeling in regard to this talented 
young man. The Wyoming Enterprise 
said: 

"Universal regret was expressed when 
it was announced on Tuesday morning that 
John McKinley was dead. Although for 
some days all hope of his recovery had been 
abandoned, a keen sense of loss fell upon his 
many friends. John McKinley was born in 
the township of Plympton, living on his fa 
ther s farm until grown to manhood, when 
he decided to enter upon a mercantile career. 
After a course at the Chatham Business Col 
lege, he and his brother Celsus opened a 
general store in the village. By close at 
tention to business and unfailing courtesy, 
he bid fair to win a successful and honored 
place in his chosen calling. Some two 
months ago he was attacked with typhoid 



fever and complications afterward set in> 
causing his dearth. 

"He was a member of Jubilee Tent, No. 
38, K. O. T. M., Wyoming. He was pos 
sessed of an amiable and upright character,. 
which endeared him to all who made his ac 
quaintance, and won for him the respect of 
the community in which he lived. We ten 
der our sincerest sympathy to his family in 
the very sad bereavement which they have 
been called upon to bear." 

From the Catholic Record, of London, 
Out., we copy : 

"On the i jth of May, the Angel of 
Death quietly entered our midst and carried 
away the soul of John McKinley. Beside 
his death-bed stood the Rev. Father Guam, 
administering the last sad rites of the Cath 
olic Church to the dying Christian, in the 
presence of his grief stricken parents and 
brothers and sisters. Eight weeks ago John 
was taken with typhoid fever. He bore his 
sufferings patiently, never murmuring, and 
death was only the happy termination of a 
well-spent life. Father Guam was a con 
stant visitor during his illness and the fam 
ily have the greatest consolation to know 
that just a few hours before he suffered the 
relapse which caused weakening of the brain 
and consequent delirium, he made his con 
fession, received Holy Communion, and all 
the blessings which the high calling of a 
priest can give. 

"Two weeks before his death his case 
was considered hopeless but he rallied some 
what, only to be seized with congestion of 
one of his lungs, which his weakened con 
stitution was unable to resist. All that 
medical skill, loving care and kind attention 
could do were done, but to no avail. God, in 
His infinite wisdom, willed otherwise. 

"In John McKinley were eminently por 
trayed the characteristics of a man of the 
genuine Christian ring, honest to the letter, 
industrious without falter, and Catholic to 
the heart s core. These qualities endeared 
him to all classes, and are of priceless con 
solation to the surviving family. He was a 
favorite with every one, his sunny ways and 
courtesy winning the hearts of all. He was. 



204 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a young man who had the full confidence of 
his pastor, a dearly loved son, brother and 
friend, and truly a model to all young men. 
He had just recently started in business and 
was only twenty-five years of age. On 
Thursday morning, Rev. Father Hogan 
chanted the High Mass of Requiem, after 
which the Rev. Father Guam preached a 
beautiful sermon to a large crowd of all 
denominations. Great and universal was 
the grief in and about Wyoming when the 
remains were conveyed to Mount Carmel 
cemetery, followed by a large concourse of 
sorrowful relatives and friends to mark the 
spot of another fresh grave. The scene in 
the cemetery was a heart rending one. Close 
by the grave stood the inconsolable parents, 
his four brothers and four sisters who, in 
tears, watched the remains lowered to their 
last resting place. The casket was borne by 
Messrs. E. V. Donnelly, Lawrence McPar- 
land, John Duggan, John Langan, James 
O Brien and Fred Roache. Our sympathy 
goes with the sorrowed ones, and in our 
midst many an earnest prayer will be 
breathed for this deserving soul. May he 
rest in peace." 

The death of this admirable young man 
took place on May 17, 1904. He had been 
educated in the local schools and at the De 
troit Business College, and was in every way 

fitted for business and social life. 

\ 

JAMES M. COURTRIGHT, justice of 
the peace and postmaster at Inwood, Brooke 
township, Lambton County, deals exten 
sively in live stock at that place. Mr. Court- 
right was born near Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne 
County, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1845, son 
of George and Mary (Mathers) Courtright, 
natives of the Wyoming Valley, Pennsyl 
vania. 

George Courtright came of Holland 
stock, and his wife was of Irish descent. 
They belonged to old and honored families 
of Pennsylvania, and they died in their 
native State. They had children : John C, 
a prominent railroad man of Chicago, mar 
ried Jennie McXaters, of Cleveland, Ohio, 
and has a family of three daughters, Mabel, 



Alice and Lillian. William, a resident of 
the old homestead in Luzerne county, Penn 
sylvania, married Jennie Hawley, of the 
Wyoming Valley, and has two children, 
George and Fidelia. Louisa (deceased) was 
the wife of William Schook, of Luzerne 
County, Pennsylvania. Fidelia, the wife of 
John E. Nugent, a resident of Luzerne 
County, has two children, Harold (a student 
of Cornell University, New York) and Lou 
ise (who resides at home). James M. is our 
subject. 

James M. Courtright was educated in the 
Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, and 
when a young man took up civil engineering, 
and his first individual work was in south 
ern Iowa and northern Missouri, on the Rock 
Island road. In 1871 he came to Canada, 
under the instructions of his uncle, Milton 
Courtright, then president of the Canada 
Southern Railroad, which later merged with 
the Michigan Central. The town of Court- 
right, at the end of the Michigan Central 
railroad line, was named after Milton Court- 
right. James M. Courtright was employed 
by this company for two years, during the 
construction of the road and its branches. 
In 1873 Mr. Courtright formed a partner 
ship with Messrs. Holmes & Moore, in the 
erection of saw and stave mills in Inwood. 
Prior to this he had purchased twenty-five 
acres of land in Alvinston, which he sur 
veyed in lots, founding the present part of 
the town of Alvinston. Since 1873 Mr. 
Courtright has made his residence in 
Inwood. 

In Niagara Falls, New York, Dec. 21, 
1882, Mr. Courtright was united in mar 
riage with Miss Gertrude Saleno, daughter 
of Stephen and Jeanette (Tompkins) Saleno, 
of Niagara Falls. Mrs. Courtright was 
born in Buffalo, and was a student of the 
New England Conservatory of Music, at 
Boston, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Courtright have been born three sons : Mil 
ton, born in October, 1883, is a graduate of 
the Lewis Institute, of Chicago, and now a 
student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New 
York: Stephen S., born in 1885, was for 
two years a student at the Lewis Institute, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



20= 



Chicago, and is a graduate of the Maston 
Park high school, of Buffalo; Perry died 
when three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Court- 
right are leading members of the Church of 
England ; he has been an executive member 
for a number of years and was one of the 
founders of the church at Inwood. Politi 
cally, since coming to Canada, Mr. Court- 
right has been connected with the Conserva 
tive party. In 1874 he was appointed post 
master at Inwood, a position he still holds. 
He is a member of the Masonic order at 
Alvinston, and is also a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, at Kingston, Pennsyl 
vania. He is the owner of 800 acres of fine 
stock land, adjoining the town of Inwood, 
where he handles a large amount of stock 
annually. He buys, sells, raises and winters 
stock. Mr. Courtright is justly regarded 
as one of the leading and representative citi 
zens of Lambton County, and he enjoys the 
respect and esteem of the community which 
has known him for so many years. \Yhile 
never seeking public office he has always 
taken a spirited interest in the welfare of the 
town, and has generously supported every 
movement which his judgment has led him 
to regard as beneficial. 

THADDEUS DAVIS LEE, now re 
tired from business and living at Watford, 
comes of English ancestry, his great-grand 
father having come from England to the 
United States where he spent the remainder 
of his life. His son, Dr. John Lee, the 
grandfather of our subject, was born in 
Connecticut, and came from there to On 
tario, settling in the Niagara District, where 
he married Phoebe Davis. He located 200 
acres of land, on a portion of which the 
depot at St. Thomas now stands. He prac 
ticed medicine and died in the prime of life. 
His widow died long after at the home of 
one of her daughters at London, aged nine 
ty-three years. Their children were : Dr. 
Hiram, a physician who lived at London 
and died there in 1845; John; William B., 
who operated a hotel in London for many 
years, and died at St. Johns, near London; 
Rivernius Hooker, a hotel man at Burford, 



who died in Stratford; Dr. James died in 
London, Out. A distinguished member of 
the Connecticut branch of this family was 
the late Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, of 
the United States. 

John Lee, son of Dr. John and father of 
our subject, came to Ontario when young, 
with his brothers William and Hiram, and 
all three served in the war of 1812. John 
Lee located four miles east of London on 
land granted by the Government to the 
United Empire Loyalists. Here he remained 
a few years and then disposed of the prop 
erty and purchased land near London, where 
he died in 1855. He was a Reformer in po 
litical opinion, and in religious connection a 
member of the Church of England. His 
wife belonged to the Baptist faith. He mar 
ried Mary Caughell, who was born near St. 
Thomas and died at the home of our subject 
in Warwick. Their children were : Sarah 
married Henry Roots of London; Alonzo- 
died in Chicago ; Thaddeus D. ; James died 
in Essex County; George Hooker died in 
Texas; John is a farmer near London; and 
Maria is the wife of Benjamin Cook, of 
Ontario. 

Thaddeus D. Lee was born March 15, 
1825, in the Niagara District, and accom 
panied his father in boyhood to Middlesex 
County, where he grew to maturity and 
learned cabinetmaking which he followed 
20 years. Then he came to Warwick town 
ship in 1850 and located on Lot 16, 2d Line, 
N. E. R., and farmed here until 1891, when 
he removed to Watford. 

On June 23, 1850, in Port Huron, Mr. 
Lee married Margaret McLean, who was 
born in Scotland, and to this union have been 
horn these children : Rachel died in infancy ; 
Alonzo, in the fruit business in California, 
married Ella Aiken, and has children, Wal 
ter and Frank; William Clarke, of Louis 
ville, Kentucky, in the newspaper business, 
married Lizzie Jennings, and has sons, Mon- 
mouth, Robert E. and Thaddeus Davis; 
Polly married George Graham, and they 
have children, Lena, Ellen, Lewis, Henry 
and Frederick ; Jennie is deceased ; Jessie 
married Herbert Ailsworth, and they have 



206 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



children, Lee, Stella, Alonzo and William; 
Maggie married Enoch Thomas, and at 
death left children, Reese and William Mc 
Lean ; George, in the fruit business in Cali 
fornia, married Nettie Clark and they have 
children, Joy and Charles; and Sarah is the 
wife of Freeman Bawslaugh, of Rochester, 
New York. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lee belong to the Presby 
terian Church. Politically he is a Reformer, 
and cast his first vote for Alexander Mac- 
Kenzie. Mr. Lee and family are all held in 
the highest esteem in this locality. 

GEORGE WILSON, a prominent re 
tired farmer of Enniskillen, is one of the 
self-made men of Lambton County, having 
earned his success through long years of 
persevering toil. 

Fleming Wilson, his grandfather, lived 
and died in Ireland, but two of his sons, 
James and William, came to Canada. James 
settled near Toronto, where he occupied him 
self with farming until his death. None of 
his family survive. 

William Wilson, who became the father 
of George Wilson, was born in 1800, in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, and there married 
Mary Lendrum, also a native of that county. 
She was born in 1812, daughter of George 
Lendrum, who lived and died in Ireland. In 
1843 William Wilson and his family came to 
Canada, landing at Quebec after a voyage 
of seven weeks on a sailing vessel. They set 
tled in Clarke township, County Durham, 
Ont., and began clearing a farm in the 
woods. In 1862 the family moved to 
Lambton County, where they made a per 
manent home, and there Mrs. Wilson died in 
1868, and her husband ten years later. They 
were members of the Methodist Church. In 
politics Mr. Wilson was a Conservative. 

The children of William and Mary 
(Lendrum) Wilson were as follows: (i) 
Fleming, born in Ireland, married and set 
tled in Enniskillen, where he lived until 
1897; he then went to Manitoba, where he 
died in 1899, leaving a family, who reside 
in Manitoba. (2) George is mentioned be 
low. (3) James, who is a sailor on the great 



lakes, resides in Chicago. (4) John died at 
the homestead, leaving a widow and four 
children. (5) Maggie, born in Ireland, mar 
ried Jasper Scott, of Newcastle. (6) Martha, 
born in Ireland, married William Carson, of 
Toronto, and is deceased. (7) Isabella mar 
ried James Montgomery, of Port Huron, and 
is deceased. (8) Lucinda married John 
White, of Campbellford, Ont. (9) Ellen 
(deceased) married H. Foster, who lived in 
Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he died. 

George \Vilson was born in County Ty 
rone, Ireland, Sept. 4, 1828, and attended 
school in his native place. He came to Can 
ada with his parents when a lad, and earned 
his first money at farm work in Durham 
County. In 1852 he married Charity Kim- 
berly, a native Canadian, and in 1862 they 
came to the present family home, which was 
then all wild land. Mrs. Wilson died at the 
new home in 1866, leaving a family of seven 
children. She was a daughter of Jacob Kim- 
berly, of a Loyalist family of Pennsylvania 
which settled in Lower Canada during the 
Revolutionary period ; he saw service in the 
war of 1812 as captain of a company. Mrs. 
Wilson was an active member of the Pres 
byterian Church, and one of the noble Chris 
tian women of Enniskillen. She was the 
mother of children as follows : ( i ) George 
died in Manitoba in early manhood, in 1880. 
(2) Mary E. married Theodore Britney (de 
ceased), of Sarnia, and has children, George, 
Sadie, Flora, Gertrude, Florence and 
Frank. (3) Martha J. (deceased) married 
Oscar Britney, of Enniskillen, and had chil 
dren, John, Edith, Clara, Edward and Wil 
son. (4) Maria married William Doak, of 
Manitoba. (5) John married Miss Maggie 
Wilson, of Huron County, and lives in Man 
itoba; they have six children. (6) Isabella 
married Walter Jackson, of Enniskillen, and 
has a family of eight children. (7) Sarah 
married Isaac Burley, of Lower Canada, and 
has two children. 

On Jan. 13, 1870, George Wilson mar 
ried (second) Miss Mary Johnston, who was 
born in Dumfries, Scotland, July 20, 1842, 
daughter of John and Mary Little Johnston. 
When she was ten years old her parents 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



207 



came to Enniskillen, and settled on Conces 
sion 8. There they died, leaving a family of 
eight children, all of whom are residents of 
Canada. The children born to Mr. Wilson by 
his second wife are as follows: (i) Mar 
garet, born in Enniskillen, married George 
Douglas, of that place, and has children, 
William, Mary, Robert, Charles, Reta and 
Jean. (2) Charles, born in Enniskillen, was 
educated in the Petrolia high school, and for 
ten years has been engaged in teaching in 
Enniskillen: he is unmarried. (3) James, 
educated in Petrolia, is a teacher, being prin 
cipal of the Oil City schools ; he married 
Mamie Kincaid, of Brooke township, and 
their children are Frank, Harry and Mary 
W. (4) Alice, twin sister of James, married 
William Robertson, of Lambton County, and 
they have one son, David. They live on Con 
cession 10, Enniskillen. (5) Wilfred A., 
who is unmarried, lives at home. (6) Mary 
W. married Charles McLean, of Enniskillen ; 
they have no family. 

In addition to the home farm, Lot 19, 
Concession 9, Lambton County, which Mr. 
Wilson has cleared and brought under a high 
state of cultivation, he owns a part of his 
father s homestead, which was his home for 
many years. He and his wife are members 
of the Presbyterian Church of Petrolia, in 
Avhose work they take much interest. In 
politics Mr. Wilson has always adhered to 
the principles of the Conservative party, and 
for seven years he has filled the position of 
secretary and treasurer of the school board 
of Enniskillen. He is one of the early pio 
neers in his county, and one whose career is 
a credit to the community. He has made his 
own way, step by step, as he felled the trees 
on his land and coaxed the wilderness into 
a fruitful condition. 

WILLIAM SPARLIXG. a well known 
resident of Forest, who for thirty-three years 
has followed the business of auctioneering 
in connection with acting as agent for sev 
eral insurance agencies, was born Sept. 19, 
1835, in County Tipperary, Ireland. 

John Sparling, the grandfather of Will 
iam Sparling, was a native of the Emerald 



Isle, although the family was originally Ger 
man. They emigrated to England, under 
the reign of Queen Anne, thence removed to 
Ireland where the family became numerous 
and prosperous. The nine sons of John 
Sparling were : George, Christopher, James, 
John, William, Samuel, Peter, Henry and 
Philip, all of whom, with the exception ot 
Samuel, came to Canada. Of this family, 
Peter Sparling, was the father of our sub 
ject. He was born in Ireland in 1790, and 
came to Ontario in 1852, locating as a gen 
eral mechanic in the County of Peel. He 
married Elizabeth Barry, born in 1809 in 
Ireland, who died in Michigan at the age of 
seventy-four years. Politically, Peter Spar 
ling was a Conservative. In religious be 
lief both he and wife were Methodists. Their 
children were : George, a mechanic, died in 
Michigan; Susan married Peter Cole, and 
died in Ireland, and their son. Rev. Henry 
Cole, has been a missionary in South Africa, 
since 1877, his wife being a sister of the 
noted missionary, Rev. Dr. Baxter; Mary 
is the widow of Samuel Cope, of Ubly, 
Michigan; Peter is a retired farmer in Mich 
igan ; Thomas is a farmer in Plympton town 
ship; Ann married Samuel Sparling, and 
both are deceased ; William ; Hon. John, who 
represented Huron County, Michigan, in 
the Legislature, is a prominent farmer 
there, and also a veterinary surgeon ; Eliza 
beth is the widow of Joseph Bell; and Chris 
topher is a farmer in Michigan. 

William Sparling accompanied his par 
ents to the County of Peel, where he was 
reared. His business career began at Streets- 
ville, that county, where he conducted a meat 
business for about fourteen years. In 1867 
he removed to Plympton township, County 
of Lambton, and located on Lot 27, Conces 
sion 9, where he cleared up a fine farm. He 
took an active part during the Fenian raid 
and for his services then was awarded an 
appropriate medal. Mr. Sparling sold his 
first farm and then located on Lot 24, Con 
cession ID, where he cleared up another fine 
property, on which he resided until 1887, 
when he removed to Forest. In 1873, he 
embarked in the auctioneering business and 



208 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



during his thirty-three years of work in this 
line he has conducted between 1,700 and 
i, 800 sales. He is one of the systematic men 
uf his time, which is shown by his books, 
where he has kept a daily record of receipts 
and expenditures for more than forty years. 
Since 1843 he has been identified more or 
less with the educational interests of his 
locality, serving on the school board for 
thirty-seven years, at present being chairman 
of the high school board at Forest. For two 
years he was deputy receiver of Plympton 
township, and ex-officio member of the 
county council. He owns several village lots 
in Forest and more than 100 acres of fine 
farming land in Plympton township. 

On Oct. 30, 1862, Mr. Sparling was 
married to Miss Julia Marshall, daughter of 
John Marshall, and the three children of 
this union were : Ida H., who married John 
Watson, of Plympton township, and has one 
daughter, Julia; Eva, who married H. 
Capes, of Plympton township, and has one 
son, William James; and Julia, who died 
June 27, 1886. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sparling- 
are members of the Methodist church. Po 
litically Mr. Sparling adheres to the prin 
ciples of the Conservative party, and since 
1857 he has been a member of the Order of 
Orangemen. He has always taken a lively 
interest in out-door sports, and is one of the 
expert curlers of Western Ontario. 

JOHN CANN, one of the prominent 
stock farmers and highly respected citizens 
of Brooke township, Lambton County, re 
siding on the 3d Concession, Lot 18, was 
born in Devonshire, England, April 2, 1849, 
son of John and Elizabeth (Wonacott) 
Cann, natives of Devonshire who came to 
Canada in 1883, settling on the 2d Conces 
sion of Brooke township, where they still 
live. Of their family : William and George 
are still in England ; James is in Alvinston ; 
Annie is Mrs. Walter Hope, of Detroit, and 
the mother of four sons, Frank, Ray, Wil 
ford and Norman; Ellen is the wife of Will 
iam Gray, of Brooke, and has six children, 
Mabel, Bessie, William, Wilford, Maggie 
and Gordon ; and John is mentioned below. 



John Cann was educated in England, and 
came with his brother James and sister Ellen 
to Canada, in 1880, via Quebec. He located 
in Brooke township, where he and his brother 
purchased 100 acres of wild land, which they 
cleared up for a home, erecting barns, a 
good frame house and good outbuildings. In 
November, 1887, Mr. Cann married Miss 
Mary Jane McTavish, born in Mosa, Middle 
sex County, Nov. 6, 1851, only daughter of 
Duncan and Janet McTavish, who came 
from Scotland, and settled in Middlesex 
County among the early pioneers. Mrs. 
Cann s grandfather came to Middlesex 
County as early as 1825. Her parents died 
in Mosa, where her brothers, John and Alex 
ander, live. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Cann settled on the home which they now 
occupy. They have children as follows: 
John, born Oct. 9, 1888; Duncan, born July 
26, 1890; Janet, bom March 7, 1892; and 
Elizabeth A., born July i, 1895, all students 
of the home schools. Mr. and Mrs. Cann 
are connected with the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically he votes the Conservative ticket, 
but beyond this takes no interest in politics. 

JOHN GILLATLY, SR. For more 
than half a century there has dwelled within 
the limits of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, a man whom all others delight to 
honor, John Gillatly, upon whose shoulders 
the weight of over ninety winters rests 
lightly. After a long, honest and upright 
life, with days filled with hard toil and good 
deeds, Mr. Gillatly is now resting in quiet 
comfort, surrounded and tenderly cared for 
by his children and his children s children. 
He was born in Errol, Perthshire, Scotland, 
Oct. 14, 1814, son of John and Alison 
(Smith) Gillatly. 

John Gillatly, the father, was also a 
native of Perthshire, where he passed his 
entire life. By occupation he was a linen 
weaver, and all his active clays were spent 
at that work. His wife, Alison Smith, was 
born in the same parish. Their children 
were: Thomas, Margaret, Eloise, Alison, 
Peter, Isabella (who married James Page), 
and John, all of whom lived and died in their 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



209 



native land except John. The family home 
was a Christian one, and the children were 
all reared in the strict Presbyterian faith, to 
which they remained loyal all their days. 

John Gillatly attended the subscription 
schools near his home, and made good nse 
of the advantages he had, but the facilities 
in the schools of that day were remarkably 
limited. Under his father he learned the 
trade of weaver, at which he worked during 
the winter seasons for many years. F<>r 
eleven summers he engaged in salmon fish 
ing in the river Tay. 

On Sept. 29, 1836, Mr. Gillatly was mar 
ried at Errol to Betsy Sharp, who was born 
there, daughter of Lowrie Sharp. Of the 
six children that came to bless this happy 
marriage four were born in Scotland : 
(i) John, born April 29, 1839, is mentioned 
further on. (2) Alexander, born Nov. 20, 
1841, married Margaret Simpson, and had 
four children, Betsy, Minnie, John (de 
ceased) and Mary (deceased). He died in 
Plympton township. (3) David, born Jan. 
7, 1844, married Margaret Lunham, and had 
three children, Betsy, Anna, and John (de 
ceased). He also died in Plympton town 
ship. (4) Helen, born Feb. 6, 1847, mar 
ried John Lockie, of Plympton township, 
and had four children, Betsy, Anna, James 
and William. (5) Thomas, born June 9, 
1852, married Miss Margaret Page. (6) 
Annie, born March 16, 1854, married James 
McLean, of Plympton township, and had 
three children, John, Margaret and Daniel. 

Seeing his little family growing up 
around him, and realizing that by the work 
in which he was engaged in Scotland he 
would not be able to provide more than the 
barest necessities for his loved ones, Mr. 
Gillatly began to consider the advisability 
of changing his home. Three bachelor 
uncles had located in Lambton County, Ont., 
and their accounts of the wonderful advan 
tages offered in the Xe\v \Yorld made him 
determined to seek a home there too. On 
June 15, 1848, with his wife and their four 
little ones, Mr. Gillatly set sail for the new 
home beyond the sea. The sailing vessel, 



the Thomas U right/ made the voyage to 
Xe\v York in six weeks. They went from 
Xew York to Albany on the Hudson, thence 
by canal to Buffalo, via Lake Erie to De 
troit, and finally at the latter place took the 
little steamer "Red Jacket" to Sarnia, and 
after this round-about route were at last on 
Canadian soil. Upon leaving the boat at 
Sarnia the first man Mr. Gillatly met, Alex 
ander Symington, was from Plympton 
township, and he told him how best to com 
plete their long journey. 

Mr. Gillatly had but twenty sovereigns 
with which to begin life in the new land. He 
located on Lot 15, Concession 7, where he 
purchased from the government a 2OO-acre 
tract of bush and swamp land, at $2 per 
acre. The first timber ever cut on this tract 
was used to build the little log shanty which 
was the family home for many years. In 
all that section there were no other settlers, 
and the Sixth Line was then all underbrush. 
The wilderness was on all sides, and yet it 
was a happy household that cheerfully took 
up the burdens of pioneer life, and Mr. Gil 
latly resolutely set to work to clear his land. 
From sunrise to sunset, and often far into 
the night, the father toiled, while indoors the 
mother made the home, cared for, fed and 
clothed the little ones, and through her noble 
Christian influence shed a refining influence 
that no hard work or privation could over 
come. 

From the timber that was cleared from 
the farm potash was made, and sold in Sar 
nia, and the money thus procured purchased 
such groceries and clothing as were needed. 
Constant labor brought prosperity, and the 
old log cabin gave way to a substantial home ; 
good buildings were erected as needed ; the 
land was put under cultivation; more land 
was purchased and cleared, and at last, the 
owner of 1,100 acres of the best land in the 
township, Mr. Gillatly retired, the largest 
landowner and one of the wealthiest agri 
culturists in the township. In the course of 
time he assisted his sons by giving them good 
farming land, and his son John, who lives 
east of the homestead, is one of the most 



14 



2IO 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



prominent agriculturists in Plympton ; he 
has taken charge of the homestead since his 
father s retirement. 

While he no longer does any of the real 
work on the farm Mr. Gillatly is actively 
interested in its management, and his advice 
is often sought. In full possession of his 
faculties, hale and hearty, he is enjoying 
his hours of ease, and with his fund of 
stories of the early days is a most delightful 
companion. He has lived a temperate life, 
never using either strong drink or tobacco, 
and his habits have been most regular. Three 
times he has visited Scotland, twice accom 
panied by his wife, and once by his son 
Alexander. The good wife and mother 
passed away in August, 1895, after almost 
fifty-nine years of happy married life, forty- 
seven of which were passed in pioneer style 
in Plympton township. She was laid to rest 
in the Presbyterian cemetery in South 
Plympton township. She was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and in that faith 
brought up her children to honorable man 
hood and womanhood. 

Politically Mr. Gillatly has always been 
a supporter of the Liberal party, but he has 
never cared for an active participation in 
public affairs. He is held in universal 
esteem, and those who know him best have 
for him that reverence inspired only by a 
long life of integrity and morality. Mr. 
Gillatly has nineteen grandchildren and 
thirty-one great-grandchildren, a rather re 
markable record. 

JOHN GILLATLY, JR., was born in Errol, 
Perthshire, Scotland, April 29, 1839, and 
was but nine years of age when he came to 
Canada with his parents. He attended the 
public schools of Plympton township, his 
first teacher being Robert Wright, a Scottish 
schoolmaster. Working at home until of 
age. he then settled on Lot 17, 6th Conces 
sion, upon 100 acres of bush land. Follow 
ing the example of his excellent father, he 
cleared his property, erected an excellent 
home, barns and other buildings, and placed 
his land in a high state of cultivation. To 
his original property he lias added until he 
now owns 831 acres. His son, John J., also 



owns a fine farm, upon which he erected a 
handsome brick house. Upon his large prop 
erty Mr. Gillatly is engaged in general farm 
ing and stock raising, and has greatly pros 
pered. Taking an interest in up-to-date 
farming he is a member of the Plympton and 
Wyoming Agricultural Society. He attends 
the South Plympton Presbyterian Church, to 
which he is a liberal contributor. In politics 
he is a Liberal, and, while not seeking office, 
is interested in public affairs. 

On April 29, 1862, Mr. Gillatly was 
married in Plympton township to Miss Eliza 
Lunham, of Scotland, daughter of the late 
David Lunham, a lengthy history of whom 
will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Gillatly died 
Aug. 28, 1903, and was buried in South 
Plympton cemetery. Like her husband, she 
was a member of the South Plympton Pres 
byterian Church, and carried out in her life 
the teachings of her faith. Children as fol 
lows were born of this marriage : Annie 
married John McFarline, of Plympton, and 
has seven children, Lizzie, Annie, Malcolm, 
John, Mathew, Bessie Ellen and Jennie 
Belle; John J., a farmer of the 6th Conces 
sion, Plympton, married Willimina Jardine, 
daughter of Walter Jardine, and they have 
four children, John Lester, Walter Jardine, 
Jennie Bessie and Martha Viola; David, of 
the 7th Concession, married Bessie Lourie, 
and they have three children, John Edgar, 
Ada Eliza and Helen ; Alexander, a carpen 
ter residing at Sarnia, married Rachel Lang- 
stroth, and has one son, Cecil Franklin ; 
James, a farmer near the homestead, married 
Mary Currah, and they have one child, An 
drew ; Thomas, a farmer near the homestead, 
married Maggie Armstrong, daughter of 
James Armstrong, and has one daughter, 
Mabel Helen ; Bessie married Frank Meriam, 
of Plympton, and they have one son, Earle; 
Andrew died young ; Helen married Joseph 
Lowery, a farmer of Plympton, and they 
have one daughter, Edne Eliza. 

The Gillatly family is one of the most 
respected in the county, and its representa 
tives have more than borne their part in the 
development and advancement of the nnte- 
rial interests of this section. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



211 



WILLIAM COLTER, deceased, whose 
death May 3, 1903, was not only an irrepar 
able loss in his home, but a cause of deep and 
widespread regret throughout Enniskillen 
township, had spent the whole sixty years 
of his life in Lambton County, and was one 
of the well-known and highly esteemed resi 
dents. He was born in Warwick township, 
Oct. 4, 1843, son of John and Ann (Bry- 
son) Colter. 

John Colter and his wife were born in 
Ireland. They came to Canada by way of 
Quebec, and pressing on further west settled 
in Lambton County, where they were among 
the earliest residents in Warwick township. 
Their home was in Concession 2, and they 
lived on there until the death of Mr. Colter. 
He and his wife were among the founders 
of the first Methodist Church in that part 
of the county. They were the parents of 
four children, of whom William was the 
oldest. Annie, born in 1845, died in early 
womanhood. Maggie, born in Warwick in 
1848, is the wife of David Jackson, residing 
on the Enniskillen town line, and has five 
children, William, Etta, Annie, Roy and 
Eda. John, born in 1850, married Miss 
Mary Black, of Hamilton, and lives at Oil 
Springs, where he follows his trade of shoe 
maker. Their children are : Minnie, Mrs. 
William Donald, of Oil Springs ; Rev. Wes 
ley, a probation minister of Port Stanley; 
and Milton and Maggie, both at home. 

William Colter grew up in Warwick, 
where he attended the district schools. As 
he grew older he worked on the home farm 
of which he eventually became the owner, 
and remained there until 1873, when he 
bought the farm in Lot 24, Concession 13, 
where the family now live. It was princi 
pally wild land that had to be cleared, but it 
is now one of the valuable properties of En 
niskillen, with a number of good substantial 
buildings on it. The material success 
achieved by Mr. Colter was a deserved re 
sult of his indomitable courage, energy and 
perseverance, which carried him steadily on 
ward. He was honorable and upright in all 
"his dealings with others, and although not 
a member of any denomination he always 



supported church work, lived in strict accord 
with religious precepts, and was a man of 
truly Christian character, who was loved by 
all who knew him, and who at his death was 
deeply lamented. Politically he was a Con 
servative. 

William Colter was married Sept. 19, 
1865, to Miss Elisabeth Stalker, who was 
born in Halton County, Ont., March 20, 
1844. Mrs. Colter was in every respect a 
true helpmeet to her husband and a devoted 
mother, who is now reaping her reward in 
the love and care which her children show 
her. The family born to William and Elisa 
beth Colter numbered seven. ( i ) Matilda 
A., born in June, 1867, married Donald Mc- 
Lachlan, a farmer in Concession 4; Mrs. Mc- 
Lachlan died in December, 1903, leav 
ing four children, Mary, Donald, Les 
lie and Maggie. (2) John, born in 
October, 1868, married Miss Jane Mag- 
wood of Michigan, and lives on a 
farm adjoining his mother s. He has 
one son, John. (3) William H., born in 
January, 1870, attended the district schools 
near his home, later was a student in the 
Petrolia high school and then went into 
printing or journal work at Watford, Ont. 
Afterward he decided upon a ministerial ca 
reer and went to the Disciples College at 
St. Thomas, and then to the Toronto Uni 
versity, from which he was graduated. He 
is now entering upon his first charge, a 
Methodist Church in Assiniboia. Mr. Colter 
is not married. (4) Mary E., born in May, 
1873, married Edward Campbell, a mason in 
Sarnia, and has one daughter, Mary A. (5) 
Debby, born in December, 1884, has been 
given a good education, and is a young lady 
of culture and refinement. Since the age of 
fourteen she has been a teacher in the Sun 
day-school. (6) Robert J., born Oct. 18, 
1887, and (7) Ernest, born in April, 1890, 
are at home taking a commercial course, and 
since their father s death have managed the 
farm for their mother. Both are very bright 
and promising, fully equal to the respon 
sibilities devolving upon them. Mrs. Colter 
and her children are all members of the 
Methodist Church. 



212 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mrs. Elisabeth Colter comes of Scotch 
stock, and her paternal grandparents, James 
and Jeanette (Cameron) Stalker, of Dun 
dee, Scotland, lived and died in their native 
country. John Stalker, Mrs. Colter s father, 
was born there in 1800, became a soldier in 
the British army, and was with Blucher at 
Waterloo. Later he came with his regiment 
to Quebec, and after the war was over was 
discharged from the army at Toronto. On 
returning to civilian life he went to Halton 
County and engaged in teaching. It was at 
this period his marriage to Miss Debbie 
Askin occurred, in January, 1834. Mr. 
Stalker continued to teach until 1847, when 
he received from the English government a 
soldier s grant of land, 100 acres in Warwick 
township. He built a little log house, and 
resumed his teaching during the winter, 
while he spent the summers clearing the land. 
Before he died, in 1873, he had made the 
place into a fine farm with good buildings. 
His wife passed away in December, 1868. 
In religious belief they were Presbyterians, 
and helped to found the first church in War 
wick township. Mr. Stalker was an active 
worker in politics for the Conservative party, 
and held the office of assessor for several 
terms. There were six children, viz. : Deb 
bie and Matilda, who died in early woman 
hood ; Jane Ann, born in Warwick, in 
1838, who married John McDonald, a prom 
inent oil producer of Petrolia; James, born 
in 1836, a prosperous farmer in Ogle 
County, Illinois, who married Miss Mary 
McChesney, of Adelaide, Ont., and has three 
children, Sarah, Debbie and Walter; John, 
born in 1841, of Enniskillen, unmarried; 
and Elisabeth, Mrs. Colter. 

JAMES WATSON (deceased), town 
ship clerk of Moore township from 1868 to 
1901, was a prominent citizen of the 
County of Lambton during almost the entire 
period of his long residence there. His 
early years in this section were given to edu 
cational work, which he relinquished upon 
accepting the position of township clerk, and 
during his long incumbency of that office 
the county had no more faithful or efficient 



public servant. The Sarnia Observer, in an 
article published at the time of his retire 
ment, made a comment which expressed the 
general sentiment : 

"It is to Mr. Watson s credit that while 
reeve and councillors have often been 
changed during his incumbency of the clerk 
ship, what stronger tribute could be offered 
the retiring clerk than to note that for over 
thirty years scarcely a ripple of public feel 
ing ever suggested the change of the clerk, 
who may be said to have been universally 
looked upon as the right man in the right 
place. To supplant the upright, urbane and 
obliging clerk would have driven from office 
the most popular council that the township 
ever elected." 

Mr. Watson was a native of Scotland, 
born Sept. 19, 1825, in the parish of Ard- 
clach, Nairnshire, son of Archibald Watson,, 
who was a gardener and florist by occupa 
tion. His early education was received in 
his native parish, and from youth he gave 
evidence of the taste and capacity for study, 
the vigorous intellect, and the appreciation 
of the higher things of life, which often 
characterize the representatives of his race. 
Subsequently he attended the Normal 
School in Edinburgh, from which he was. 
graduated in 1847, prepared to enter the 
teacher s profession. He was appointed by 
the educational committee of the General 
Assembly of the Church of Scotland to 
teach the Assembly School in the united 
parishes of Tarland and Migvie, in Aber- 
deenshire, and continued there for about 
seven years. In 1853 he left his native land 
for Canada, and for two years 1854 and 
1855 taught the Commercial Department 
of the Academy at Huntingdon, in the 
Province of Quebec. Moving then to West 
ern Canada, he became a resident of the 
County of Lambton in 1856, and here con 
tinued teaching for several years. During 
1856 and 1857 ne was a teacher in Widder, 
or Pine Hill, in Bosanquet township, and 
then moved to Sombra village, where he 
taught the village school in 1858, 1859, 
1860 and 1861. At the close of 1861 he 
moved to Plympton Town Line, London 




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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



213 



road, where he taught school for the year 
1862, and early in 1863 he moved to Bear 
Creek, during the years 1863, 1864, 1865 
and 1866 teaching at the present site of the 
village of Brigden. The two years follow 
ing, 1867 and 1868, he was engaged in his 
profession on the 8th Line of Moore, and 
with this engagement closed his active work 
as an educator. In 1863 Mr. Watson pur 
chased a farm lying about a mile west of the 
village of Brigden, and thereon made his 
home for the rest of his long and useful life. 
In January, 1868, Mr. Watson was ap 
pointed to the office of clerk of Moore town 
ship, the duties of which he discharged con 
tinuously up to the time of his retirement, 
in May, 1901, in consequence of the grow 
ing infirmities of advanced age. During 
this long period the development and up 
building of the surrounding region natur 
ally brought many changes in the work of 
the office, which had to keep pace with the 
growing needs of a progressive community, 
but through it all Mr. Watson remained 
ever the same, competent and efficient, 
obliging and painstaking, in everything he 
did. His intelligent grasp of the needs of 
the municipality in his line, his ready com 
prehension of new subjects arising from 
time to time, his clearness in detail work, 
and his interest in the advancement of his 
locality, all combined to make him one of 
the most popular officials in the township. 
To quote again from the article previously 
mentioned, at the period Mr. Watson first 
assumed the responsibilities of the office 
there were "no assessment rolls for local 
clerks to worry over, revise, correct and 
copy; no complicated collector s roll to pre 
pare; no public school taxes, varying in 
every section ; no separate school rates ; no 
voters list to annually get ready and pub 
lish ; no court of revision to complicate his 
work and occupy his time ; no ditching and 
water course, or fence viewer s awards de 
cisions, to file, copy and serve, or division 
courts to attend in case of any appeal there 
on, nor complicated charges growing out of 
disputes in such cases to place correctly on 
the collector s roll ; no local improvement 



by-laws, either for government, municipal 
or tile drainage, with their complication of 
rates and description of lands ; no amend 
ing by-laws where estimate is too great or 
insufficient; no jury panels, nor any long 
returns to the government of matters arising 
out of the municipal system, nor any regis 
tration of births, deaths, etc. Many of 
these duties have been imposed on local mu 
nicipal clerks since Mr. Watson s appoint 
ment, and it may be doubted how many in a 
municipality realize the labor that is re 
quired to efficiently perform them." This 
is all interesting, showing as it does the pro 
gress of the township as well as the addi 
tional work Mr. Watson was required to 
assume from time to time, and that he was 
able, during all the years of his incumbency, 
to meet every requirement of his position, is 
ample evidence of his remarkable ability 
and accounts fully for his long retention in 
office. It is but a just tribute to his public 
spirit and his high sense of honor to say 
here that while his salary was increased 
from time to time, as his duties became 
more onerous and responsible, it was never 
at his own solicitation. He retired from the 
office with the esteem and respect of all his 
associates in the public .service, and the 
gratitude of the fellow-citizens he had 
served so long and well. 

Mr. Watson was fortunate in the posses 
sion of unusual mental and physical vigor, 
and of his character we can say no more 
than that he held to an ideal sense of the 
right and obeyed the guiding of a sensitive 
conscience and a just spirit in his dealings 
with all. His pastor, in a warm tribute of 
praise to this noble man at the time of his 
death, spoke thus : "As a father he was de 
voted and kind; as a friend he was warm 
hearted and cheery; as a teacher he trained 
and enriched many minds; as a scholar he 
was a lover of the choicest literature, select 
ing the finest and best authors, with which, 
in his companionship, he was remarkably 
familiar; as a public officer the audience and 
so many of his companions who are here 
knew him to be remarkably faithful and 
diligent, and as a Christian he, having been 



214 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a member of the Presbyterian Church for 
such a number of years, would be missed by 
pastor, elders, members and worshipers." 
Many other kindly words of esteem and 
praise, coming from the lips and hearts of 
those who knew the man and his life, give 
evidence of the high place he occupied in 
the community where over forty years of 
his life were passed. 

For over forty years Mr. Watson wor 
shiped at the Bear Creek Presbyterian 
Church, and always took an active interest 
in the welfare of that congregation; he 
taught Bible classes for a great many years. 
He passed away at his home Oct. 15, 1903, 
and on Oct. i/th his remains were interred 
in the Bear Creek cemetery, whither they 
were accompanied by a large company of 
neighbors and friends. The funeral serv 
ices were conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. 
C. McKee. who was assisted by the pastor 
of the Guthrie Presbyterian Church, Rev. 
Mr. D. Johnson, and the gathering was one 
of the most impressive ever held in this sec 
tion. 

In political sentiment Mr. Watson was 
a Reformer, and although stanch in his ad 
herence to the principles he professed he was 
ever considerate of the feelings and opin 
ions of others in tliis as in all other matters. 
Public improvements and popular education 
always had a firm friend in him, and he did 
everything in his power to promote the gen 
eral welfare. In fact, he did his duty as he 
saw it, and this was no slight thing to one 
of his disposition and temperament. 

Mr. Watson was united in marriage, in 
February, 1852, in Waterern, Scotland, to 
Miss Jane Cameron, daughter of John Cam 
eron, a farmer, who had a family of seven 
children: Jane, Mrs. Watson; Anna, wife of 
Duncan Smith, a merchant in Scotland ; Isa 
bella, who is married and living in Scot 
land ; Rev. Charles, a Congregational min 
ister and a resident of Windsor, Ont., who 
is also on the Detroit Tribune staff; Mar 
garet, unmarried, who with Colin still lives 
on the old farm and homestead in Water 
ern, Scotland; and Susan, who died in in 
fancy. Mrs. Watson survived her husband 



until Sept. 28, 1904, residing on the old 
homestead. She was a devout member of 
the Presbyterian Church, a woman of high 
Christian character, and thoroughly devoted 
to her home duties. Of her it was said : 
"Mr. Watson had more to be thankful for 
than either good health and clear brain, in 
valuable as they doubtless are. Mrs. Wat 
son, who still survives her husband, is a 
most amiable woman, and well suited in 
every way to be the life partner of such a 
man. Nor need we omit a tribute to the 
family, all of whom are a credit to their 
parents." 

Eight children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Watson, a brief record of this family 
being as follows : ( i ) Alexander, born Aug. 
7, 1853, in Migvie, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, 
Scotland, received his education in Moore 
township. In 1871 he went to Detroit, 
Michigan, where he spent about fifteen years 
in the seed business, during eight years of 
that time being superintendent of the De 
troit Seed Company. For the past eighteen 
years he has been bookkeeper and cashier 
of the Haste-Harris Branch of the National 
Biscuit Company. On Oct. 17, 1877, he 
married, at Sarnia, Ont., Annie Isabella 
Leys, eldest daughter of George and Jane 
(Skeen) Leys, and their sons are: James 
Skeen, a bookkeeper ; William Herbert, a 
stenographer ; Charles Francis, a pressman ; 
and Alexander Leys, who is attending 
school. (2) James, who was an architect 
and builder, died in Detroit at the age of 
twenty-eight years. (3) John C. is men 
tioned below. (4) Nellie became the wife of 
David F. Mitchell, of Detroit, and is de 
ceased. (5) Jean married John A. McBean, 
ex-councillor and fanner of Moore town 
ship. (6) Charles C. is mentioned below. 
(7) William died young. 

CHARLES CAMERON WATSON was born 
in Moore township. County of Lambton, at 
the old home near Brigden, May 16. 1867, 
and received his early education in the local 
public schools, also profiting much by the 
tuition he received under his father, at home. 
He was reared to farming at the home place, 
and there remained until 1890. when he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



215 



went to Detroit. There he found employ 
ment with the firm of Mitchell Bros., deal 
ers in flour and feed, and from there went to 
the Detroit Lead Pipe & Sheet Lead Works, 
as shipping clerk, continuing with them in 
that capacity for two years, at the end of 
which time he accepted a position at the De 
troit Sheet Metal & Brass Works, where he 
spent four years, three as bookkeeper. When 
he first entered this employ he took charge 
of the store department, and being ambitious 
he spent his evenings in study, during this 
time taking advantage of the courses of 
study offered by the Y. M. C. A. Thus he 
took a course in bookkeeping, and after hav 
ing charge of the store for about a year he 
was given a position in the office as book 
keeper. 

In 1896 Mr. Watson returned to his 
early home, and there he has ever since re 
mained, now conducting the farm, which is 
devoted to general agriculture. He is quite 
a horseman, and has owned and raised some 
of the best horses in the township, his ani 
mals having carried off prizes at different 
fairs in the county as good roadsters. He 
has a number of blue ribbons awarded at Pe- 
trolia, Watford, Brigden and other places. 

Perhaps no better evidence of the es 
teem in which this family is held could be 
given than Mr. Watson s election to the 
office of township clerk upon his father s re 
tirement from that incumbency, in 1901. 
And perhaps no higher compliment could 
be paid Mr. Watson than to say that he dis 
charges the duties of his position with the 
same ability and fidelity which characterized 
his father s service. In 1903 he was ap 
pointed township treasurer, and has since 
administered both offices. He is a Liberal 
in political sentiment. His religious con 
nection is with the Presbyterian Church. 
Fraternally he is connected with the Cana 
dian Order of Foresters, holding member 
ship in Court Brigden, No. 682, in which 
he has held the various offices, serving as 
chief ranger, recording secretary and finan 
cial secretary. 

On Jan. u. 1898. Mr. Watson was 
married, in Warwick township, to Miss 



Mary E. Edwards, daughter of Thomas Ed 
wards, of Warwick township, County of 
Lambton, and they have had two children, 
Xellie Winifred and Frederick Hazen. Mrs. 
Watson is a woman of intelligence and high 
character, and is a worthy companion of 
her respected husband. She taught school 
at Plum Creek, Moore township, for three 
years prior to her marriage. 

JOHN CAMERON WATSON, postmaster 
at Cromar and a general farmer of Moore 
township, was born Sept. 24, 1856, at \Vid- 
der Station, near Thedford, in Bosanquet 
township. Comity of Lambton. During his 
early childhood the family lived in differ 
ent parts of the county, in 1863 settling on 
the farm near Brigden where he grew to 
manhood and remained until 1891. Fie re 
ceived his education in this locality. About 
a year after his marriage he removed to his 
present farm, on Lot 3, Concession 3, a tract 
of 100 acres which was a typical bush farm 
at the time of his settlement thereon. He 
put up a comfortable dwelling and conven 
ient barns, and has ever since carried on gen 
eral farming and stock raising with uniform 
success, showing himself intelligent and 
capable in the management of his affairs. In 
1900 he was appointed by the present Post 
master-General, Sir William Mulock, to the 
position of postmaster at Cromar, which of 
fice was named by his father, James W r at- 
son, and had just been established. He has 
been retained ever since, and has discharged 
his duties with promptness and efficiency, 
and a careful regard for details. 

Mr. Watson is a Liberal of the old 
school in political faith, and he takes a deep 
interest not only in the workings of his 
party but also in the welfare and advance 
ment of his locality, particularly on ques 
tions of public education. He is a man of 
high character and temperate habits, domes 
tic in his tastes, and holds the highest respect 
of the community in which his lot has been 
cast. Mr. Watson is a Presbyterian in relig 
ious connection, holding membership in the 
Plum Creek Church, where he has held the 
offices of manager and elder, and has been 
quite active in the Sunday-school as a 



2l6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



teacher. He is a valuable member of the 
Moore Agricultural Society and Farmers 
Institute. 

On Jan. 21, 1891, Mr. Watson was mar 
ried, in Moore township, at the Shaw home 
stead, to Miss Mary Shaw, daughter of An 
gus and Grace (McBean) Shaw. To this 
union have been born three children, Will 
iam Lisle, James Russell and Nellie Alma. 
Mrs. Watson is a member of the Presbyte 
rian Church, a devoted wife and mother, and 
shares the esteem in which Mr. Watson is 
held among his neighbors and fellowmen. 

C. E. BRANNAN. The commercial in 
terests of Alvinston are in the hands of ca 
pable and progressive men, who are not only 
desirous of increasing the volume of their 
business, but also of developing the re 
sources of this locality. Among those well 
and favorably known is C. E. Brannan, a 
leading merchant of Alvinston, who was 
born March 25, 1839, at Bideford, Devon 
shire, England. 

Mr. Brannan was reared by his grand 
parents, Abraham and Mary Brannan, his 
parents having died when he was a child. He 
received a limited education in England, 
where he grew up on a farm, and in 1867 
came to Canada, via Quebec, first settling at 
London, where he worked as a laborer. In 
1872 Mr. Brannan removed to Alvinston. 
At this date there were no railroads and but 
few houses in this now thriving town. Mr. 
Brannan was employed in the first sawmill 
erected in this section, during the construc 
tion work for the engine foundation. Then 
for nineteen years he followed draying, car 
rying the mail and expressage from the de 
pot of this village, and as there were no 
banks at this point at that time he was trusted 
with many thousands of dollars. In 
1890 Mr. Brannan purchased real estate 
and erected a store building on Main street, 
where he is prosperously carrying on a mer 
cantile business. Mr. Brannan owns several 
other properties and buildings in the town. 

In 1874 Mr. Brannan married Miss 
Katie Monroe, daughter of Dougal Monroe, 
who came from Scotland and settled in Mo- 



sa, Middlesex County. Mrs. Brannan was 
born in Middlesex County, and was the only 
daughter of her parents, who died when she 
was a young woman. Mr. and Mrs. Bran- 
nan have lived in Alvinston since their mar 
riage, and have seen many changes take 
place. Xo children were born to our sub 
ject and his wife, but they reared an adopted 
child, Mary Brannan, to womanhood, and 
she is now the wife of A. W. Hadden, a ma 
chinist of Goderich, and they have one child, 
Charles. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Brannan are 
members of the Methodist Church, where he 
has been trustee, steward and class leader as 
well as choir leader, and he is one of the pio 
neer, members of the Methodist Church in 
this town. Politically his sympathies are 
with the Liberals, and in 1888 he was elected 
a member of the council, and served with 
credit his term of office. He affiliates fra 
ternally with the Independent Order of For 
esters, and the United Workmen of Canada. 

Mr. Brannan is ranked with the leading 
business men of this part of Lambton Coun 
ty, and has materially assisted in the develop 
ment of its commercial interests. Probably 
few men are better known and certainly few 
are more highly respected. 

JOXAH M. WEBSTER, town clerk 
and prosperous farmer of Dawn township, 
County of Lambton, resides on a well im 
proved farm on Lot 16, Concession 8. He 
was born on a farm on the east half of Lot 
12. Concession 8, Feb. 8. 1864, son of Ira 
and Phcebe (Pitt) Webster, pioneers of this 
section. 

Ira Webster was born near Brantford, 
Brant County, in November, 1825, but his 
wife is not a Canadian, her birth taking place 
in May, 1838, in Berwick, Scotland. Her 
parents, however, were English, her father 
dying before her emigration to Canada, and 
her mother died later. She had two broth 
ers and one sister, of whom one brother, 
William Pitt, came to the Dominion and 
was engaged in business at Florence, Lamb- 
ton County, until his death. The grandpa 
rents of Jonah M. Webster, came to Canada 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



217 



from Pennsylvania, being U. E. L. settlers. 
When Ira came to man s estate, he came to 
this section of the county which was then 
all wild and uncultivated, and here he settled 
-and cleared up a good farm upon which he 
spent the rest of his life. He died at his 
home in Dawn in February, 1884. His 
widow still survives and lives near the old 
homestead, aged sixty-seven years. His 
twelve children also survived him, as fol 
lows : John, born in 1857, a farmer on Con 
cession 7, of Dawn, married Sarah Ander 
son, of Dawn, and they have four children, 
James, Ira, George and Arietta ; Ira, born in 
November, 1858, now engaged in the oil 
business at Oil Springs, married Jane Web 
ster, of Dawn, and has three children, El- 
vin, Arthur and ; Mary A., born in 
May, 1860, is the wife of Archie McLachlan, 
of Concession 5, Dawn, and they have five 
children, Archie, James, Stella, Mary and 
Hannah; William born in February, 1862, 
was an agriculturist, and was also engaged 
in the threshing business and doing well un 
til he was attacked with typhoid fever, from 
which he died Oct. 4. 1897, one of the pop 
ular and most promising young men of this 
section ; Jonah M. is fifth in the order of 
birth; Abraham L., born in February, 1866, 
living on the old Webster homestead, mar 
ried Elizabeth Sproule, born in Dawn, and 
they have a family of four children, Isaac, 
Clarence, Stanley and Ida ; Henry R., born 
in April, 1868, now a farmer on Concession 
7, married Flora Mackey, of Dawn, and has 
three children, Alvin M., Helen and Will 
iam; George L., born in January, 1870, mar 
ried Ida Stinson, of Dawn, and they are 
farmers on Concession 7 ; Robert, born in 
May, 1872, is still unmarried, and resides 
with his mother on a part of the old home 
stead; Myra M., born in February, 1874, is 
the wife of Walker Law, of Concession 4 in 
Dawn, and they have one child, Myrtle ; 
Hannah, born in February, 1876, is the wife 
of John Skinner of Dawn, of Concession 
13; and Elizabeth, born in July. 1878, is the 
wife of Lott Skinner, now of Kent County, 
and they have two children. 

Jonah M. \Vebster was educated in the 



public schools of Dawn, and grew to man 
hood in the township. After the death of his 
father, he, with his brothers, William and 
Abraham, remained at home and were good 
and faithful sons, assisting the mother to 
bring up the rest of the large family. Faith 
ful and industrious he early gained the con 
fidence and esteem of all who knew him. 
While still young this confidence was shown 
by his fellow citizens selecting him for pub 
lic office. In 1886, after being elected clerk 
of Dawn, he sold his interest in his personal 
property on the farm, and purchased a fifty- 
acre farm on Concession 7, which he partly 
improved, still making his home with his 
mother at the homestead. On Sept. 30, 
1891, he was married to Miss Lena Morn- 
ingstar, born at Forest, the estimable daugh 
ter of Samuel and Delilah Morningstar, and 
a member of one of the old and prominent 
families of that place. Mr. Morningstar 
was a large lumber merchant at Forest for 
a good many years and then retired, dying 
at Dresden, in October, 1898. 

Mrs. Webster was one of six surviving 
children and was well educated, having at 
tended the schools of Forest. In August, 
1898, while on a visit to her father s home at 
Dresden, she died from fright over an acci 
dent which had occurred to her eldest son. 
He was bitten by a poisonous snake, and the 
mother s distress became so great that she 
succumbed to it, although the child recov 
ered and resides with his father on the farm. 
She was a lady of amiable disposition and 
Christian character, a consistent member of 
the Methodist Church. She left two sons, 
namely: Ralph L., born July 17, 1893, and 
Harold E., born Sept. 24, 1896. 

Mr. Webster traded his first farm to his 
brother John for another farm of fifty acres 
near the homestead in Concession 8, where 
he made many substantial improvements. 
He afterward sold this farm and purchased 
his present farm, where he is pleasantly lo 
cated amid comfortable surroundings. 

Religiously Mr. Webster is a member of 
the Methodist Church, in which he has been 
recording steward for the past fifteen years, 
and for the past three years has been su- 



218 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



perintendent of the Sunday-school. He is 
also church secretary and secretary of the 
Epworth League. Politically he was iden 
tified with the Conservative party for many 
years, but later became an independent voter. 
In addition to holding the office of clerk of 
Dawn since 1886, as noted above, he was 
elected magistrate of Dawn in 1898, and has 
most efficiently filled that office ever since. 
For a time he also served as school trustee 
and has always done his part in advancing 
the cause of education in this neighborhood. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Court McGil- 
livray, Xo. 1997, I. O. of Foresters, at Dawn 
Center, where he holds the position of re 
cording secretary and court deputy. He is 
a representative man of this part of Lamb- 
ton Countv and a good citizen in all the term 

J o 

implies. His public career has met with the 
approbation of the community through many 
years, and his number of personal friends is 
only limited by acquaintance. 

JAMES HUTTON BOWSTEAD 
MOORE, a prosperous farmer of Sarnia 
township, County of Lambton, is known 
throughout the county as one who has been 
repeatedly honored by his fellow citizens in 
the call to fill the most responsible positions 
in their power to bestow. He was born in 
Toronto March 25, 1830, son of Thomas 
and Sarah (Martin) Moore. 

Mrs. Sarah (Martin) Moore was a 
daughter of James Martin, of Dumfries, 
Scotland, and his wife, Sarah Bowsteacl, the 
latter a daughter of Thomas and Isabella 
(Howard) Bowstead. Isabella Howard was 
the daughter of Richard, only son of the Earl 
and Countess of Neithsdale, and his wife 
Isabella Howard. Richard took the name 
of his wife at the time of his marriage to 
Isabella Howard. They had two children : 
Isabella, referred to, and a son Richard. His 
son Richard enlisted in the Scotch Greys and 
fought as a sergeant in that regiment at 
Waterloo, and was promoted by Gen. Well 
ington to the rank of lieutenant under the 
name of Ewart, that being the name on the 
regimental roll. Gen. Wellington ordered 
Lieut. Ewart to take an escort and convey 



the French Eagle that he captured in the 
charge made by the Scotch Greys, Queen s 
Bays, Enniskillens. to Brussels^ which he 
did to the great joy of that city. The bells 
were rung to proclaim the news, that being the 
first public information received from the 
field of battle. Major Ewart came to Can 
ada, drew land in the neighborhood of York, 
now Toronto, and also drew land in the 
township of Innisfil, being broken Lot No. 
14, in Concession 14, and Lot 14, in Conces 
sion 13, and Lot 15, in Concession 13. 
Thomas Moore bought these lands from the 
Major Ewart estate and afterward willed 
these lands to his youngest son, James Hut- 
ton Bowstead Moore. Two grandsons of 
James and Sarah (Bowstead) Martin are 
now living on the home farm named Board- 
inghurst and King s Hill Farm, where there 
was once a seminary. The place is known 
as the Friar s Waingate, on account of a 
gate that was in the old Roman wall between 
England and Scotland. There are records 
at Abbey Lannercosttee parish and in the 
church and graveyard of the births, mar 
riages and deaths of the Bowsteads and the 
Howards for more than 1,000 years. 

Thomas Moore, father of James H. B., 
was born in Cumberland, England, son of 
Thomas and Elizabeth (Hutton) Moore r 
the latter a daughter of Thomas and Mary 
(Macintosh) Hutton. who moved from 
Scotland to England after the battle of Cul- 
loden, in which Thomas Hutton had partici 
pated, rendering special services. Thomas 
Moore, Jr., grew to manhood and married 
in Cumberland. In 1818 he crossed the 
Atlantic to seek his fortune in the New 
World, and settled at Toronto, then called 
Little York. A brother, John, came over 
at the same time and followed the trade of 
wagon making. Thomas had been a mer 
chant tailor in England and continued in 
that line for a number of years in Little 
York. But later hotel-keeping seemed to 
offer good returns and in addition to his 
tailoring he engaged as proprietor of the 
"Crown Inn," situated opposite the St. Law 
rence market, then a business center of the 
present site of Toronto. Mr. Moore took 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



219 



up this enterprise in about 1832 and for the 
remainder of his life was so engaged. Dur 
ing the Rebellion of 1837-38 the house was a 
favorite resort with military men, and Mr. 
Moore himself, and his two oldest sons, 
served as volunteers in the York militia. His 
death occurred in 1843, a * the comparatively 
early age of fifty-four. He was a charter 
Mason of high standing. 

Thomas Moore was twice married and 
his first wife died not many years after set 
tling in Canada. She left two sons, as fol 
lows : John, deceased, a lawyer in Toronto, 
who served as lieutenant in Capt. Bell s com 
pany, in 1837, and whose sword is still pre 
served by Mr. James Moore; Thomas, de 
ceased, also a lawyer in Toronto and a volun 
teer in the Rebellion. He was once stationed 
as guard at the governor s residence. In 
1828 Thomas Moore returned to England, 
and was united to his second wife, Miss 
Sarah Martin. Only one child was born to 
them, James Hutton Bowstead. Mrs. Moore 
married again, becoming Mrs. Isaac Hope, 
and residing in Kingston, where she died in 
her seventy-fourth year. Mr. Hope was a 
contractor in road building. He was a Ma 
son, and was prominent among the political 
workers of his day in the Conservative 
party, being presented a large silver 
tankard from Sir Alexander Campbell as a 
token of gratitude for work done in his 
election. 

James H. B. Moore remained in Toronto 
till he was about fourteen years old, and 
though a mere child at the time of the Rebel 
lion, nevertheless, remembers vividly many 
stirring events of that period, which are now 
of historic interest. After his mother s second 
marriage, he lived in Kingston, where he 
remained till 1860, associated with his step 
father in a variety of contract work. After 
his marriage he lived for a time in Trenton, 
Kingston and in the neighborhood of To 
ronto, later coming to Sarnia, where in 
April, 1860. he bought from David Taylor, 
in Sarnia township, the south half of Lot 
15, Concession 3, and settled down as a 
farmer. The property was partly improved 
when he purchased it ; and he finished clear 



ing it, and made his home there till 1883, 
from time to time adding to his acreage. His 
present homestead was purchased in that 
year, 100 acres in Lot 16. Concession 4, 
originally settled by the Johnsons, and al 
ready well improved. On this place Mr. 
Moore carries on general farming and has 
been very prosperous. Among his cherished 
possessions is his grandfather s clock, 
brought from England. As his sons have 
started out farming for themselves, he has 
given them each a good place and enabled 
them to begin with every advantage. 

Partly, perhaps, from his early associa 
tions with Mr. Hope, but mainly from his 
own mental bias, politics have always ap 
pealed strongly to Mr. Moore, and he has 
been one of the most active workers in the 
ranks of the Conservative party. Since 
1867 he has been almost continuously in 
office. In 1867, l8 68, 1869, he was elected 
councillor to the municipal council of Sarnia 
township; in 1870 and 1871 he served as 
deputy reeve; in 1879, 1881, 1886, 1890, 
1892, 1894, 1895, was reeve and also a mem 
ber of the county council. From 1898-1900 
he was again elected reeve of the township, 
and again in 1905. He is a man of unusual 
executive ability and his oft-repeated elec 
tion bespeaks the satisfaction of his con 
stituents with his administration of affairs. 
In Grange matters also Mr. Moore has. 
been active and at different times was a 
delegate to the Dominion Grange. 

In January, 1859, at Port Hope, Out., 
Mr. James H. B. Moore was married to 
Miss Mary Jane Marshall, a native of 
County Monaghan, Ireland, daughter of 
James and Margaret (McDowell) Mar 
shall; she came to Canada with her mother 
and three brothers in 1846 and located in 
Kingston, Out., the boys following masonry. 
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Moore is a 
large one, and includes five daughters and 
seven sons. Sarah, the oldest, is the wife 
of Edwin Merrison, a farmer on Lot 12^ 
Concession 2, in Sarnia township, and has 
two children, Earl H. and Flora. Isaac 
Hope, who married Miss Margaret Smart, 
resides in Tillamook County, Oregon, and 



22O 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



has three children, Hope, Charles and Hat- 
tie. Thomas, a liveryman at Sarnia, mar 
ried Miss Theresa Belle, and has three chil 
dren, Helen, George and Wilfred. Jane 
married Charles Merrison, a farmer on Lot 
n, Concession 3, Sarnia township, and has 
two children, Edna M. and Mary J. James 
H. B., Jr., married Miss Christina Hepburn, 
and is engaged in the livery business at Sar 
nia. Miss Fannie, a graduate of Mt. Sinai 
institution, is a professional nurse in Xew 
York City; previously she was employed for 
ten years in the Sarnia postoffice. Annie is 
the wife of Lesley Dennis, a grocer of Sar 
nia, and has three children, Ethel M., Ivan 
M. and Fanny M. Samuel is a conductor on 
the Grand Trunk Railway, and lives in Mon 
treal ; he married Miss Margaret Wilson and 
has two children, Clyde and Walter. Maud, 
Robert George Crawford, William Marshall 
and Charles S. E. are all living at home. One 
other child, John F., died at the age of four 
months and sixteen days. 

HENRY M. SMITH, a successful busi 
ness man of Moore township, Lambton 
County, engaged in lumber manufacturing, 
was born on Lot 16, Concession 9, Moore 
township, Jan. 4, 1858, son of Samuel and 
Sarah (McGurk) Smith, and a brother of 
James Smith, reeve of Moore township, a 
complete sketch of whom will be found else 
where. 

Henry M. Smith was educated in the 
district schools of Moore township, and re 
mained on the old homestead with his pa 
rents until he reached his majority. He 
then engaged with his brother, James, in the 
lumber business for several years, and in 
1892, farmed on the old homestead for a 
short time. In the same year he engaged in 
the manufacture of lumber, with R. G. 
Shaw for a partner, under the firm name of 
Smith & Shaw, and this business was con 
ducted for three years, the firm having an 
output of 400,000 feet of lumber per year. 
In 1900 Mr. Smith bought Mr. Shaw s in 
terest in the business, and since that time, 
under the new management the output has 
been increased to 500,000 feet, employing 



fifteen hands. That Mr. Smith is an enter 
prising and progressive business and lum 
berman is shown by the fact that he makes 
large shipments of oak and elm, not only to 
other parts of Canada, but also to the United 
States. Mr. Smith s sawmill is located on 
the 8th Line, Lot 15, Moore township. 

Henry M. Smith operates the home farm 
of 100 acres, and owns a farm of 140 acres 
in Sarnia township, besides his large land 
holdings in Moore township. Politically 
Mr. Smith is a Liberal, but has never sought 
office. In his religious views he attends the 
Presbyterian Church at Corunna, where he 
makes his home. Fraternally Mr. Smith has 
affiliated himself with Leopold Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M., at Brigden, and the I. O. O. F., 
at Sarnia. 

Henry M. Smith married, in 1872, at the 
old Heal homestead, on the loth Line, 
Moore township, Miss Violet Elizabeth 
Heal, daughter of Robert Heal, a well 
known citizen of Moore township, and two 
children have been born to the union, Pearl 
and Lyle. 

JAMES WHITEHEAD, a farmer in 
Enniskillen township for the past thirty 
years, was born Jan. I, 1854, in Fifeshire, 
Scotland, and in that same year was brought 
to Canada by his parents, John and Agnes 
(Ness) Whitehead. They were also natives 
of Fifeshire, where they married and con 
tinued to live some years before sailing for 
Canada. Landing at New York, they made 
their way to Wanstead, County of Lambton, 
Ont., where John Whitehead became fore 
man on the Sarnia and London branch rail 
road. After two years of this work he re 
moved to Haldimand County and resumed 
his trade, that of weaver of woolen goods, 
at which he had been occupied in Scotland. 
For eighteen years he continued thus, and 
at the end of that time, his eldest son, James, 
having reached manhood, they purchased a 
farm in partnership, located in the County 
of Lambton, which the son managed while 
the father continued to work at his trade. At 
this home John Whitehead died in 1890, his 
wife surviving until March, 1902. In re- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



ligious faith they were Presbyterians. In 
politics Air. Whitehead voted the Reform 
ticket, but he took no active part in local 
affairs. 

The family born to John and Agnes 
Whitehead numbered eight children: (i) 
Isabella, born in Scotland, is the wife of 
Thomas P. Hall, a farmer on Concession 12, 
in Enniskillen; their four children are John, 
Proctor, Robert and Agnes, the last named 
being now the wife of William Rundle, of 
Brooke township. (2) Maggie, born in 1852, 
married William Ramsey, of Plympton, and 
has seven children, Agnes, Christine, Isa 
bella, Sophia A., Ethel M., Henry and 
Chester. (3) James was the last child born 
in Scotland. (4) Andrew, born in 1856, 
married Miss Lizzie Kerr, of St. Thomas, 
who was born in Westminster, and has one 
son, Melvin; he lives on a part of his broth 
er s first purchase, adjoining the old home 
stead. (5) Grace, born in the County of 
Haldimand, in 1859, is the wife of George 
Kells. an Enniskillen farmer, in Concession 
13, and has ten children,, W illiam, Sarah, 
Robert, Katie, Annie, Tunis, Eva, George, 
Frank and Thomas. (6) John died at home 
in early manhood. (7) David born in 1868, 
married Miss Lizzie Lucas, of Brooke town 
ship, resides there on a farm, and has one 
daughter. Bertha. (8) Agnes died aged 
nineteen years in Haldimand County. 

James Whitehead was sent to the dis 
trict schools during his boyhood, but after 
he was twelve years old his father practically 
left the charge of the farm home to him, and 
after moving to Lambton County he did 
nearly all of the clearing up of the land and 
really made the home there for the whole 
family. After his marriage, in 1882, he 
continued to reside on the homestead, and 
all the buildings now on the place have been 
put up by him, including a large bank barn 
built in 1892, and other outbuildings. Mr. 
AYhitehead has always been keenly interested 
in the advancement of agriculture, keeps 
well-posted on the newest theories and 
methods, which he tests for himself, and has 
now a splendid farm, a monument to his 
own industry and intelligence. 



Mrs. Whitehead was Miss Lillie Hunter,, 
born in Perthshire, Scotland, April 16, 1858, 
and her marriage to James Whitehead was- 
solemnized March 16, 1882. Her parents 
were James and Jessie (Moyes) Hunter, 
both of Scottish birth and ancestry. The 
mother died in 1864, and ten years later the 
daughter, who had meantime received her 
education in the Scottish schools, accom 
panied her aunt, Mrs. James Thompson, of 
Warwick, to Canada. The father was killed 
by a fall in 1901. Two brothers of Mrs. 
Whitehead also came to Canada, namely: 
Peter, of Concession 6, Enniskillen, who has 
seven children, James, John, Andrew, Will 
iam, Robert, Jane and Roy; and James of 
Sarnia whose three children are named 
Lillie, Maggie and James. 

A family of six children was born to 
James and Lillie Whitehead, as follows : 
John, born in 1883, a very promising boy, 
who was killed at the age of fifteen by a 
farm roller; James, born in August, 1885, at 
home; Jessie, born in 1888; Agnes, in 1890; 
Maggie, in 1893; and Andrew, who died in 
infancy. This family is connected with the 
Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. 
Whitehead has always supported the Re 
form party. Entirely a self-made man, he 
is now a prosperous farmer and prominent 
citizen, although his modest and retiring dis 
position leads him to avoid rather than court 
attention. He is of an unusually sunshiny 
nature, always looking upon the bright side 
of things, and both he and his wife have 
many friends. 

WILLIAM M. RICHMOND, who 
after many years engaged in blacksmithing, 
carriage making and in the undertaking and 
livery business in Petrolia, entered into rest 
May 6, 1896, was a native of Yorkshire, 
England, where he was born Aug. 26, 1836, 
son of William and Maria Richmond. 

AYilliam Richmond, the father, was also 
a native of Yorkshire, where he grew to 
manhood and married. In 1844 he came to 
Canada, settling in Toronto, where he oper 
ated a blacksmith shop for a few years, and 
then came to Lambton County, locating in 



222 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Moore township, about 1850, taking up 200 
acres of land. He erected a log house, and 
opened a blacksmith shop, following his 
trade in connection with farming. He died 
in 1868, aged seventy-five years, and his 
wife passed away in 1866, aged seventy- 
three years. They \vere members of the 
Church of England, and in politics he was a 
Grit. Their family consisted of the follow 
ing children : Rol jert, a blacksmith, who 
died in Wyoming; Alfred, a carriage manu 
facturer in Hamilton, Out., now deceased; 
William M. ; Frederick, who died in Wy 
oming; David, a farmer on the old home 
stead in Moore township; and Hannah, 
widow of John Fathingham, foreman in a 
car shop (she now makes her home in Ham 
ilton). 

William M. Richmond served his ap 
prenticeship to the trade of blacksmith under 
his father, and early became proficient. He 
remained at home until he was twenty-one, 
and then went to work for others prior to 
his marriage. After that event he and his 
brother Alfred engaged in blacksmithing and 
carriage making in Sarnia, meeting with 
no little success. This partnership continued 
until 1864, when they dissolved and William 
M. Richmond came to Petrolia, and opened 
a shop here. A little later he also engaged 
in the livery and undertaking business, so 
continuing until his death. His widow has 
since carried on the business with her son 
Albert as manager. Mr. Richmond was a 
man always interested in public affairs, and 
was thoroughly well posted on all the events 
of the day. In politics he was a Conserva 
tive, and always worked faithfully for his 
party s success. He was a member of the 
Methodist Church. 

On March 23. 1860. in Port Huron, 
Michigan, William M. Richmond was united 
in marriage with Miss Jane Dennis, who 
was born in Cornwall, England, in April, 
1839, daughter of William and Elizabeth 
Dennis. Her parents came to Canada in 
1846. and located in Trafalgar, Ont., where 
they remained a few years and then moved 
to Lambton County, and took up 100 acres 
of land in Enniskillen township. Mr. Dennis 



was a local preacher in the Methodist 
Church for many years, and was one of the 
hard workers for the cause of religion and 
morality in his community. He died in Sep 
tember, 1870, at the age of sixty, and his 
widow survived him until 1877, when she 
died aged sixty-five. They were the pa 
rents of the following children : Henry, a re 
tired farmer in Wyoming, Ont. ; William, a 
farmer in Michigan ; John, a farmer at Oil 
City, Ont. ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Lem 
uel Hoskin ; Jane, Mrs. Richmond ; James, 
a farmer in Harwich, Out. ; Samuel, a re 
tired farmer in Sarnia; Rebecca, wife of 
William Stokes, an oil producer at Petrolia ; 
Mary, deceased, who married Thomas Wil 
son ; and George, on the old homestead in 
Enniskillen township. To William M. and 
Jane (Dennis) Richmond were born nine 
children, namely : Charles, who is in the fur 
niture and undertaking business at Petrolia, 
married Eliza Vanderbird, and has three 
children, Russell, Thelma and Elmer. Sarah 
T. married Robert Parker, a wood and coal 
merchant at Petrolia, and has two children, 
Lawrence and George. Maria, married 
James Lawson, an engineer at Petrolia, and 
has two children, Charles and Hattie M. 
Elizabeth married William Johr, a candy 
manufacturer at Detroit, Michigan, and has 
six children, Charles, John, Otto, Gertrude, 
Clifford and Harvey. Henry died at Pe 
trolia in September, 1893. Albert is men 
tioned below. Rachel is at home. William 
M.. a liveryman at Petrolia, married Cora 
M. Simmons, and has two children, Lucy L. 
and Hattie L. Leonard L. died at Petrolia 
in July, 1903. Mrs. Richmond still makes 
her home in Petrolia. She has proved her 
self an efficient business woman by the very 
capable manner in which she has conducted 
her late husband s affairs, and with it all has 
maintained her womanly dignity. She has 
many warm friends and is most highly es 
teemed by all. 

ALBERT RICHMOND, son of William M. 
and Jane (Dennis) Richmond, is one of the 
promising young business men of the count}-. 
He was trained to habits of industry by his 
father, and in a good Christian home re- 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



223 



ceivecl the moral training that makes him 
what he is today an honest upright man, 
whose influence in the line of good citizen 
ship is unquestioned. He was horn in Pe- 
trolia, Aug. 24. 1870, and his education was 
acquired in his native town. He began his 
business life under his father with whom he 
remained as long as the latter lived, and he 
has since carried on the business. In 1899 
he established a barber shop, and conducts it 
in connection with the other branches of his 
business. 

Socially Mr. Richmond is popular, and 
belongs to "the I. O. O. F., the K. O. T. M., 
the K. of P., and the A. O. F. In religion 
he belongs to the Methodist Church, and in 
politics is a Conservative. 

In August, 1899, Mr. Richmond was 
married to Miss Martha Drupe, daughter of 
the late William Drupe, and this marriage 
has been blessed with two daughters, Lydia 
F. and Edna. 

ALFRED W. LITTLEPROUD, a 

merchant miller of Inwood, Brooke town 
ship, and the owner, of much real estate in 
this section, is one of Lambton County s pro- 
pressive and enterprising business men, and 
is prominent in business and social circles. 
His birth occurred in the village of Raglan, 
County of Ontario. Dec. 14, 1864, son of 
William and Phoebe (Mordon) Littleproud. 
William Littleproud and his wife be 
longed to old families of Norfolk, England, 
the former the son of Robert Littleproud, 
who died in England, leaving a family of 
nine sons. William Littleproud was the only 
one of this family to leave England, coming 
to Canada when nineteen years of age, hav 
ing been located for two years at Albany, 
New York. On settling in Canada he first 
came to Ontario County, where he worked 
at his trade, that of milling. In his later 
years he retired to his farm in that county, 
and still survives at the age of seventy years, 
his wife having died in 1902. They were 
the parents of these children : Lillie, who 
died in young womanhood ; Ella, who died 
in childhood; Alfred W., our subject; Fred 
erick J., born in Ontario County, now a 



farmer of that county; Phoebe J., wife of 
John Johnson of Ontario County; Emma, 
residing at the home in Ontario County ; So- 
phronia, wife of James Burrows, of On 
tario County ; and William, at the old home 
stead. 

Alfred W. Littleproud received his edu 
cation in Ontario, and learned the milling 
trade at Port Berry. In 1887 he married 
Miss Maggie M. Kennedy, born in Victoria 
County, daughter of John Kennedy. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Littleproud first set 
tled in Port Berry, where he was foreman 
in the mills. In 1890 they located in Forest, 
where he was foreman for McCahill & Co., 
for about seven years, and in 1898 he em 
barked in the flour and feed business at Wat 
ford, County of Lambton, which he later 
sold, purchasing a mill in London township. 
This was destroyed by fire in July, 1901, and 
he located in Inwood, in 1903, purchasing 
the mill of the Inwood Milling Co. Here he 
has built up a fine trade, his products being 
shipped all over the Dominion. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Littleproud have been 
born: J. Roy, born in 1889; Irene, born in 
1893; Frank, born in 1897; and Fred, born 
in 1902. Mr. Littleproud had very little 
when he started to make his own way in life, 
but through his hard work has become one 
of the foremost and well-to-do men of the 
county. He is the owner of several fine prop 
erties, besides his mill, in Inwood. Mr. 
Littleproud connected himself with the 
Brethren Church in 1884, and has been very 
active in church work since locating in In- 
wood. He has made many friends since lo 
cating here, and takes an active interest in 
all movements tending toward the welfare 
of the community. 

JOHN DUNCAN McINTOSH. a 
member of the board of councilmen of Moore 
township, who is engaged in house moving 
and contracting at Brigden, was born May 
24, 1868, in Inverness-shire, Scotland. 

Duncan Mclntosh, father of our subject, 
was a native of the parish of Granton, In 
verness-shire. Scotland, where his father had 
been born and had followed the sawmill 



224 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



business. Duncan Mclntosh was a sawyei 
by occupation, working in the sawmill of his 
native place. There he married Christina 
McKenzie, daughter of John McKenzie, a 
native of the same shire, and three children 
were born to this union, namely: John D., 
our subject; Alexander, an employe of the 
Grand Trunk railroad, who resides in Sar- 
nia ; and Elsie, who married Frank An-i 
drews, and resides in Newport, Kentucky. 
In 1872 Duncan Mclntosh, with his wife and 
three children, sailed from Glasgow to Xe\v 
York, and from there came west to Ontario, 
and located on the 6th Line of Moore town 
ship, Lambton County, where Mr. Mc 
lntosh found work as a sawyer in the mill 
of Daniel Taylor. He spent one year there 
and then went to Michigan and began work 
in the McLeocl mills, where he contracted 
fever and died. Mrs. Mclntosh returned to 
Moore township, and bought a tract of land, 
built a home, and here she still lives, now at 
the age of sixty-three years. Mrs. Mcln 
tosh is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

John Duncan Mclntosh was but four 
years of age when he came to Canada with 
his parents, and was six years old when de 
prived of the care of his father. After his 
father s death he came with his mother to 
Moore township and attended school on the 
6th Line. At the age of twelve years Mr. 
Intosh started working among the farmers 
and went to Northwest Territory, where for 
two years he worked at the same occupation. 
Returning to work in Moore township, in 
1886 he took up carpentering and joining 
with James White, a builder and contractor, 
with whom he spent three years, after which 
he started in business for himself in Brig- 
den. He has ever since been engaged in 
contracting and building, house moving and 
barn raising, and has made his venture a 
success. For two years he was also engaged 
in the livery business in Brigden, but this he 
sold in 1904. 

In politics Mr. Mclntosh is a stanch Lib 
eral, and was elected to the council of Moore 
township, in 1903, 1904 and 1905. He is a 



member of the West Lambton Liberal Asso 
ciation. Fraternally Mr. Mclntosh is con 
nected with the Leopold Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M., the C. O. F., and the K. O. T. M., all 
of Brigden. He manifests his interest in 
things agricultural by being a director of the 
Agricultural Society of Moore township. 
The family all are adherents to the Presby 
terian Church. 

On July 17, 1889, John D. Mclntosh 
married Mary Bell, born in Moore township, 
daughter of Christopher and Mary (Arm 
strong) Bell, and sister, of George Bell, of 
Enniskillen township. These children have 
been born to this union : Duncan, who died 
in infancy; Fannie; Henrietta; Christopher; 
John and Elsa May. The family reside in 
the fine residence which Mr. Mclntosh built 
in 1900, and are highly respected in the 
township. 

ALFRED T. GURD, ex-member of 
Parliament, a manufacturer of nitro-glyc- 
erine and other explosives, and a leading oil 
producer, of Petrolia, is a native of Moore 
township, Lambton County, and a son of 
one of the pioneer settlers of that section, 
William Gurd. 

William Gurd was born in Ireland in 
1 80 1, and in the early twenties came to 
Canada as a member of the 7ist Regiment. 
During the stay of the regiment in Canada 
Mr. Curd s time expired, and he became a 
resident of the Dominion. In 1830 he mar 
ried Miss Jessie Begg, and they settled in 
1833 in Moore township, on Lot 17, Front 
Concession. In the great woods in Moore 
township, on the east bank of the noble St. 
Clair river, Mr. Gurd cleared off a farm and 
made his home until his death, in 1878. His 
widow, who was born in 1811, survived un 
til 1885, when she too passed away. Politi 
cally Mr. Gurd was a Conservative. In re 
ligion he and his wife were members of the 
Church of England. Children as follows 
were born to them : Annie is the widow of 
Anthony B. Kittermaster, of Sarnia, a 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Robert 
(deceased) is mentioned elsewhere; Jessie is 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



225 



the widow of Dr. Bucke, of London; Ma 
tilda died unmarried; William (deceased) 
was a resident of London, Ont. ; Alfred T. 
is mentioned below ; Arthur is a resident of 
Winnipeg; George is in Mississippi. 

Alfred T. Gurd was born on the old 
farm in Moore township March 30, 1848, 
and at the age of fifteen years he began the 
battle of life on his own account. In 1870 
Mr. Gurd embarked in the oil business in 
Petrolia, and he has experienced his full 
share of the changes of fortune incidental to 
that business. He is one of the oldest, and 
has long been regarded as one of the nerv 
iest, producers in the Canadian fields, and 
has opened up several of the best deposits in 
Canada. In 1902 he drilled in the cele 
brated Gurd Gusher, in the township of 
Raleigh, in the County of Kent, which 
flowed for a time at the rate of 1,000 bar 
rels per day, and made his name notorious 
over two continents. He is general man 
ager of the Petrolia Torpedo Company and 
president of the Producers Oil Association 
of Canada. 

Mr. Gurd has likewise been prominent 
in public affairs. For several years he was 
a member of the council of Petrolia, served 
as mayor for three years, was deputy reeve, 
and a member of the county council. In 1894 
he was elected to represent the West Riding 
of Lambton County in the Provincial Par 
liament, \vhich had for forty years returned 
Reformers, defeating the late Charles Mac- 
Kenzie. of Sarnia, and he held that distin 
guished position for four years, discharging 
his duties in an able and statesmanlike 
manner. 

On Sept. 25, 1879, Mr. Gurd and Miss 
Dell Shaw were united in marriage, and to 
this union have been born five children : 
Dell, Kathleen, Jessie, Marian and Will 
iam, the last named dying when two and a 
half years old. Mr. and Mrs. Gurd are 
members of the Church of England. Po 
litically he is a Conservative and fraternally 
a member of the Masonic order, being past 
master of Washington Lodge, of Petrolia, 
and also past first principal of Bruce Chap 
ter, of the same city. 

15 



ROBERT STEVENS, who comes of a 
prominent Perth County family, is one of 
the progressive young farmers of Ennis- 
killen, County of Lambton. His parents 
were James and Isabella (Hermiston) 
Stevens, both natives of Aberdeen, Scotland, 
where their early lives were passed. In 1854 
they came to Canada, and they were married 
in County Perth, where they settled on wild 
land and began clearing a farm. Mr. Her 
miston, father of Mrs. Stevens, brought his 
family to Canada and became a merchant 
at Carthage. One of his sons, Michael, 
is living at Bruce Mines, near St. Joseph 
Island. 

James Stevens lived at his home in Coun 
ty Perth the remainder of his life, dying 
there in 1874. He was an elder and treas 
urer of the Presbyterian Church at Perth for 
many years. His wife lived on the home 
stead until 1882. Their children were as 
follows : ( I ) Thomas, born in County 
Perth, married Lizzie Craig, of that county, 
where they reside with their three children, 
Charles, Lizzie and Robert. (2) James, 
born in County Perth, married a Miss Math- 
eson, of that county, where they have their 
home and where he is engaged in a planing- 

m ill- (3) J ane i s tne w ie f J onn Dunbar, 
a farmer of County Perth, and their children 
are Edith, Mabel, Alvin, Melville and Mary. 
(4) Elizabeth, born in County Perth, is the 
wife of James Clark, of Doon, Waterloo 
County, and their children are Harvey, 
Laura, and three others not named. (5) 
John is unmarried and lives on the home 
stead in County Perth. (6) Robert is men 
tioned below. (7) Ellen, born in 1869, is 
the wife of Charles Terry, a farmer of Well 
ington County, and their children are Ralph, 
Gordon, David, Burton, Gladys, Arlie and 
. (8) Isabella, born in 1871, was 
educated in the high school, graduating from 
the Berlin school, and died at the age of six 
teen. (9) Jeanette, born in 1874, is the wife 
of George Lewis, a merchant tailor of To 
ronto; they have no family. (10) Mary, 
born in 1877, is the wife of Alexander 
Matheson, a veterinary surgeon of County 
Oxford, Ontario. 



226 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Robert Stevens was born in Morning- 
ton township, County Perth, Feb. 16, 1867, 
and was educated in the schools of his native 
county. As a young man he tried his hand 
at farming, and was engaged at that occupa 
tion in County Perth for. five years. In 1889 
he went to Buffalo, and for three years was 
employed in the lumber industry. After his 
marriage he purchased a farm on Line 6, 
Enniskillen, where he lived for seven years, 
and where he erected a house, barn and 
other farm buildings. In 1899 he sold that 
place and bought his present farm, which 
then consisted mainly of wild land. There 
he put up a comfortable home and substan 
tial buildings, and he has cleared and culti 
vated his land until it is one of the fine farms 
of Concession 8. 

On Oct. 7, 1891, Mr. Stevens married 
Miss Hattie Dundas, who was born on the 
8th Line, Enniskillen, March 19, 1868, 
daughter of William and Mary (Brock) 
Dundas, of Petrolia, who were old settlers 
in Lambton County, where the family is 
among the most prominent. Mrs. Stevens 
was educated in the Lambton County 
schools. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Stevens lived for a year in Buffalo, and, 
after a few years on another farm, came to 
their present home, Lot 18, Concession 8, 
Enniskillen. They have had a family of 
six children, as follows : Norma, born in 
Enniskillen, Dec. 2, 1893; Vera, born March 
10, 1895; Huron, born in 1897 (died Sept. 
i, 1897); Alta, born June 7, 1898; Jean, 
born March i, 1902; and Rher I., born in 
August, 1904. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are adherents of 
the Presbyterian faith. In politics he fol 
lows the lead of his father, and like him 
has always been a member of the Reform 
party. He was elected school trustee in 
1905. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stevens come 
of old settled Canadian families, prominent 
in their respective counties. Mr. Stevens 
has won his way by steady effort and intel 
ligent enterprise, and ranks among the best 
known and most esteemed of the younger 
farmer citizens of Enniskillen. 



JAMES C. BROWN. Among the suc 
cessful farmers and stock raisers of the 
County of Lambton, Ont, none is more 
worthy of mention than is James C. Brown, 
a self-made man, who is engaged in gen 
eral farming and stock raising on his excel 
lent farm on the 8th Concession, Lot 16. 
Mr. Brown is a native of Scotland, born in 
Peebles-shire, near Edinburgh, Nov. 8, 
1835, son of John and Margaret (Hender 
son) Brown, who came to Canada in 1854. 

John Brown was a blacksmith by trade 
and worked in Scarboro, York County, 
for twenty years, and then spent ten years 
in Dawn township, later returning to Scar 
boro, and making his home with his daugh 
ter, Mrs. Weir. John Brown and wife had 
children : Janet, he only Child left in Scot 
land, is now Mrs. James Craig, of that coun 
try; Margaret married William Burton, a 
farmer of Illinois; Agnes, deceased, mar 
ried John Thompson, of York County ; Isa 
bel married Robert Bell, of Downing, Ont. ; 
Violet married William Thompson, de 
ceased, of Oxford County ; Jennie married 
John Weir, of Scarboro; William is mar 
ried, and follows farming in Dawn town 
ship ; Marion died in York County, in young 
womanhood; and James C. 

James C. Brown was educated in Scot 
land, and after coming to Canada worked 
on a farm and at various occupations until 
his marriage, when he started in life for 
himself. In 1863 he married Miss Annie 
Thompson, born in Scarboro in 1841, 
daughter of Simon and Elizabeth Thomp 
son, pioneers of York County, whither they 
came from Scotland. After marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown located in Dawn township, 
where he purchased sixty-six and two-thirds 
acres of wild land, later adding fifty acres 
more, which he has since cleared to a fine 
farm. His first home was a log cabin, 12 
by 14, and later he erected a larger log house, 
and good barns and outbuildings. Mrs. 
Brown died in 1894, leaving her, husband 
with four children, all of whom are living: 
Elizabeth, torn in Dawn in 1866, married 
Matthew Coubrough, of the 4th Concession, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



227 



and has a family as follows : James, William, 
Harvey, Annie, Flora, Maggie, Robert, 
John, Simon, Adalbert, Barbara, Archie and 
Mary; Maggie, born in 1868, is the wife of 
Lachlan McNeil, of Dawn, and has one son, 
Archie; John, born in 1870, educated in the 
business college of Chatham, and now post 
master and a merchant of Edy s Mills, Dawn 
township, married Miss Ethel Stevenson, 
of Dawn, daughter of George Stevenson, a 
merchant, and they have two children, Man 
na and Mary; and Simon, born in 1876, emi 
grated to the Klondike gold fields when a 
young man, and nothing has been heard 
from him since. 

Religiously Mr. Brown is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, in which faith 
Mrs. Brown died. Politically he has always 
been identified with the old Grit party, and 
was a member of the council of Dawn for 
seventeen years. He was for twenty-four 
years a member of the school board. Fra 
ternally he is a Mason, belonging to Syden- 
ham Lodge, No. 255, Dresden. 

In 1893 Mr. Brown purchased the noted 
Clvdesdale horse "Prosperity," sired and 
raised in Scotland, and registered in the stud 
book as among the finest horses in Scotland. 
Mr. Brown has refused a number of offers 
for the horse, among them being an offer of 
$1,800. 

ROBERT LEVITT, one of the self- 
made men of Lambton County, is widely 
known as a public-spirited citizen, and a 
prosperous farmer of Enniskillen. He is of 
English birth and parentage, but came to 
Canada when a mere lad, and his whole life 
has been practically identified with his 
adopted country. 

Thomas Levitt, grandfather of Robert, 
came from England to Plympton township 
among the earliest settlers of Lambton 
County. He cleared some bush land on Con 
cession 2, and made a home where he died, 
leaving a widow and five children. His 
widow moved to Forest, Lambton County, 
and there lived until her death. Their chil 
dren were as follows : ( i ) John became the 
father of Robert Levitt. (2) George, born 



in England, spent two years in America, 
then returned to England and followed a 
seaman s calling; he was lost at sea on the 
vessel "Harry Shields," which went down 
with all on board ; his family still reside in 
England. (3) Hannah, born in England, 
came to Canada, and married Joseph Mor- 
ley, of Petrolia ; they returned later to Eng 
land where the wife died leaving one daugh 
ter Elizabeth (deceased) who married John 
Bell, of Petrolia, and had two sons, William 
and Joseph, who reside in Wyandotte, Mich 
igan. (4) Elizabeth married George Etson, 
and lived and died in England ; she left two 
daughters, who live in London, Ontario. 
(5) Thomas came from England and set 
tled at Warwick, where he died; his children 
were: George (deceased) ; Mary, widow of 
James Goodhill, of Warwick; John, of War 
wick; Rosie, wife of Joseph Duncan, of 
Warwick; Thomas, of Strathroy; William, 
of Warwick; David, of Manitoba; Eliza, 
wife of Alvin Longhead, of Forest; and Al 
bert, living on the homestead at Warwick. 

John Levitt, father of Robert, was born 
in Yorkshire, England, and was well-edu 
cated in the schools of his native place. He 
was a farmer, and also a local minister of 
the Methodist Church. He came to Canada 
in 1865, and settled on Concession 6, in 
Warwick. There he lived some years, and 
then moved to Chatham township, Kent 
County, where he lived until 1879, when he 
sold out and moved to Phillips County, Kan 
sas. There he engaged in farming until his 
death in 1882. He was twice married, his 
first wife being Mary A. Dancer, of York 
shire, by whom he had two children, So 
phia and Robert. The mother died in Eng 
land, in 1859, when Robert was but one year 
old. Mr. Levitt married (second) Hannah 
Smith, who left him one son, Thomas. 

Thomas Levitt went out to Kansas about 
the time of his father s death, and lives there 
on the farm purchased by his father. He 
married a Miss Beck, of England, and their 
children are, Amy, Annie, George and 
Nellie. 

Sophia Levitt moved with her father to 
Kansas, and there married Titus Rodgers, a 



228 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



veteran of the Civil war, and a successful 
farmer in Phillips County, Kansas. They 
have no family. 

Robert Levitt was born in Doncaster, 
Yorkshire, England, Jan. 10, 1858. He 
came with his father and sister to 
Canada at the age of seven, and grew 
up in Lambton County, attending the 
township schools. On Oct. 16, 1879, 
lie married Elizabeth Killam, a native 
of Middlesex County, daughter of James 
and Elizabeth Killam, one of the old Eng 
lish families of that county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Levitt began their married life in Petr.olia, 
where for six years he was engaged in the 
oil business. He then rented the Eli Perkins 
farm, which he cultivated for thirteen years. 
In 1898 he went to Kansas to settle up his 
father s estate, and with the intention of re 
maining, but being dissatisfied with that 
western country, he returned to Lambton 
County, where he bought his present prop 
erty, the east half of Lot 26, Concession 7, 
Enniskillen. He has made improvements 
on the place, and has built an addition to the 
house. 

Robert and Elizabeth (Killam) Levitt 
are the parents of the following children: 
Annie, torn in Petrolia, in 1880, who mar 
ried James Columbus, of Brooke township; 
Wilbert, born* in Petrolia, in 1882, who 
married Misie Simmons, of Enniskillen, 
where they live on a farm, and has a daugh 
ter, Ida; George, born in Petrolia, in 1884; 
Edward, born in Enniskillen, in 1886; 
Thomas, 1888; David, 1890; Albert, 1892; 
Harvey, 1894; Veda, 1898, died Aug. 23, 
1904; and Frederick, 1900. 

The family are all active members of the 
Methodist Church. In politics Mr. Levitt 
counts himself among the independents. He 
belongs to Petrolia Lodge, Order of For 
esters. His success and prosperity are the 
result of his own life-long energy and per 
severance, for his life began as a poor boy. 
He is highly esteemed in Enniskillen for his 
many excellent qualities, and for his active 
public spirit, and he has a wide circle of 
friends and well-wishers. 



WILLIAM ENGLISH, now serving his 
second term as county councillor of Lamb- 
ton County, and a prosperous grain dealer of 
Inwood, is one of Brooke township s promi 
nent and influential citizens. Mr. English 
is a native of the United States, born in Blair 
County, Pennsylvania, Oct. II, 1855, son of 
James" and Margaret (Hunter) English, na 
tives of Ireland, and grandson of Hans Eng 
lish, who married a Miss Hamilton, of 
County Down, Ireland, and of Robert Hun 
ter (who married a Miss Shanks, of Ire 
land), who passed all his days in his native 
Ireland, and is buried a short distance from 
St. Patrick s grave. 

After locating in Blair County, Pennsyl 
vania, in 1847, J ames English followed rail 
roading on the old Portage railway, which 
crossed the Allegheny Mountains, the first 
road built across that range. There he re 
mained eight years, at the end of which time 
he located in Canada, following railroading 
at Port Stanley for one year. In 1857 he 
brought his family to Brooke township, 
where he purchased land on Lot 8, Conces 
sion i, and there made a home from the 
woods, remaining there until his death, which 
occurred in April, 1897, when he was aged 
seventy-eight ; his wife passed away in Feb 
ruary, 1901, aged seventy-eight, and both are 
buried in the Aughrim cemetery, in Euphe- 
mia township. They had children as fol 
lows : George, who came with his parents to 
Canada, returned to Altoona, Pennsylvania, 
where he now resides; Charles died on the 
old homestead, from the effects of a severe 
cold contracted while working in the Michi 
gan lumber woods when a young man ; Mary, 
born in Brooke, married Donald McKillop, 
of Yarmouth; Maggie, a school teacher of 
Winnipeg, has a classical education, and is 
teaching languages; Robert resides in 
Brooke; Elizabeth died in young woman 
hood; William is our subject. 

William English was reared in Brooke, 
where he received a country school educa 
tion. When a young man he worked on the 
government drain in Lambton County, and 
on the Michigan Central railroad. In 1873 





f 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



229 



he found employment in the Michigan lum 
ber woods, where he remained four years, 
then migrating to the Black Hills in search 
of gold. He was at Cheyenne at the time of 
the Custer massacre, and was just returning 
from the hills when he met William McGee, 
the only survivor of Gen. Custer s army, 
and at once went west to Virginia City, 
working there for Mackay and Fair for about 
six months, when he secured work repairing 
telegraph lines along the Union Pacific rail 
road between San Francisco and Salt Lake 
City for the Western Union Telegraph Com 
pany. After about a year with that company 
he began prospecting for himself, and in 
1879 he returned to Canada and engaged in 
business on his own account, following- 
farming for some years, and doing business 
as a stock buyer for a time. In 1900 he 
purchased the gristmill property of In wood, 
which he operated until 1903, in the latter 
year disposing of the mill, but retaining the 
elevator. This he owns and manages, at the 
present time dealing in all kinds of grain and 
seeds. 

On July 4, 1890, in Detroit, Michigan, 
Mr. English was united in marriage with 
Miss Victoria Cox, whose birth occurred in 
Brooke township, June 6, 1871, and who 
was a daughter of William Cox, now de 
ceased. To this union have been born the 
following named children: Mary E., Mag 
gie L., Morrell H. and Emma Gertrude. 
Politically Mr. English is a stanch Conserv 
ative in sentiment, and he has been one of the 
party s active workers. For five years he 
held the office of town councillor, and he is 
now serving his second term as county coun 
cillor. He has recently been appointed a jus 
tice of the peace. Fraternally he holds mem 
bership in the Order of Orangemen, and the 
Canadian Order of Odd Fellows, at Inwnod. 
He and his wife are members of the Church 
of England, in which he is a prominent 
worker. In 1900 Mr. English made a trip 
to Paris, via the St. Lawrence route, to visit 
the Exposition; he also visited the old home 
of his parents in County Down, Ireland. Mr. 
English is a man well known throughout the 



County of Lambton, and be enjoys the 
esteem of all with whom he has business 
relations. 

ALF.XAXDER A. BEDARD. Not 
always is a man fortunate enough to find just 
the niche for which nature intended him, but 
no one could be better adapted for his call 
ing than is Alexander A. Bedard, proprie 
tor of the "Bedard House," of Courtright. 
His genial, cordial disposition and faculty 
for anticipating the wants of his guests, com 
bined with his real executive ability, have 
made his twelve years in the "Bedard 
House" a source of satisfaction to the travel 
ing public and profit to himself. Mr. Bedard 
is of French extraction, and was born in 
Goderich township, Huron County. Ontario, 
Nov. 26, 1866. 

Paul Bedard. the great-grandfather of 
Alexander A. Bedard, was a native of 
France, and was the first of the family to 
come to Canada. 

Abraham Bedard. son of Paul Bedard, 
wsa born at Charlesbourg in 1789, and there 
grew to manhood. During the war of 1812 
he enlisted as a soldier under the British flag, 
and for his services was granted a pension for 
the rest of his life, and was also given a tract 
of land located near Perth, in Druminond 
township. Lanark County. Ontario, a new 
country which was just being opened up. 
He built a log house there and settled down 
to the work of farming. In 1853 he sold 
out. and with his family moved to Huron 
County, making the journey, a distance of 
about four hundred miles, by canoes, team 
and wagon. Their new location was in God 
erich township, and they were among the 
earliest pioneers in that section. The re 
maining thirty-two years of Abraham Bed- 
ard s life were spent there, in farming, and 
he made many improvements on his place, 
besides building a good frame dwelling. He 
was married in West Port, Leeds County, 
Out., to Miss Margaret Covelier. a young 
lady of French descent, born in AYest Port. 
They became the parents of eight children, 
viz. : Elizabeth, Mrs. Louis Revaile, is de- 



230 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ceased; Abraham died at Grand Rapids, 
Michigan ; Simon is a resident of Hay town 
ship, Huron county; Frances is deceased; 
Susan is Mrs. George Denomie, of Hay 
township ; William and Charles are men 
tioned below ; Alexander is a resident of 
Goderich township. The parents were both 
devout members of the Catholic Church. 
Abraham Bedard reached the unusual age of 
ninety-six years, and was quite active to the 
last. His death occurred at his home in 
1885, and he was buried in the Catholic cem 
etery in Hullett township. His wife had 
passed away in West Port and her remains 
were interred there. 

CHARLES BEDARD, son of Abraham, was 
born in Drummond township, Lanark 
County, April 5, 1844, and was only nine 
years old when his father moved to Huron 
County. As that was a new country he had 
no further chance to attend school and from 
that time helped his father on the farm. 
After the whole place was cleared he rented 
it and operated the tract of no acres for 
fourteen years. Half of it then became his 
own property, and. selling it, he- moved to 
Morris township, Huron County, and rented 
100 acres there, on which he made many im 
provements and engaged in farming; he also 
went into the lumber business. Four years 
later, in 1884, he had a sale, and then com 
ing to the St. Clair river front, in Lambton 
County, bought 200 acres from the estate of 
Robert Gurd. where he has ever since been 
successfully engaged in farming and stock 
raising. He made many improvements on 
the farm and has since added extensively 
to his holdings, his son Daniel at the present 
time managing the original 200 acres, while 
Mr. Bedard himself makes his home on a 
i8o-acre tract in Lots 19 and 20. In addi 
tion to his farming property he lias an in 
terest in the "Bedard House," which he and 
his brother William put up in 1892 at a cost 
of $24,000, including the furnishings, and 
which for two years they operated them 
selves, though it was managed by Mr. Alex 
ander A. Bedard, who still retains the lease. 
Our subject is enterprising and progres 



sive, and his success is due to these quali 
ties and strict attention to .business. In 
politics he has always been a stanch Lib 
eral, and he has been active in his party s in 
terests. 

Mr. Bedard s wife was Miss Josephine 
Contoi, and she was born near Montreal, but 
at the time of her marriage was living in 
Goderich township. She died at her home 
in Moore township Sept. 4, 1894, at the age 
of fifty years and five months, and was bur 
ied in St. Joseph s cemetery at Corunna. 
Like her husband she was a devout mem 
ber of the Catholic Church. The children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Bedard were as fol 
lows : Charles, a Montana mine operator, 
married Anna Lyle. Edward, a merchant 
in Courtright, married Gracie Jenkyn, and 
has one son, Robert. Alexander A. is men 
tioned further on. Peter, a jeweler in 
Courtright, married Delina Brisson, and they 
have three children, Rosalee, Trafley and 
Dennis. William, a farmer, is associated 
with his brother, Alexander A. ; he married 
Mattie McDonald, and they have five daugh 
ters, Gladys, Kathleen, Monica, Berninette 
and Gracie. Thomas is a resident of Win 
nipeg, Man. Josephine is at home. Daniel, 
who lives on the homestead, married Vate- 
line Denomie, and they have three children, 
Charles, Elva and Abraham. Mary Ann 
and Marcelline are at home. Caroline died 
in 1882. 

Alexander A. Bedard attended the town 
ship school and then the Clinton Collegiate 
Institute. Both in Morris and Moore town 
ships he became accustomed to work on the 
farm. About 1883 he went to the lumber 
regions of Northern Michigan, where he 
spent seven years. In 1894 he rented the 
hotel, and has since been conducting it with 
much success. It is one of the finest hotels 
in western Ontario, with accommodations 
for about 100 or more guests, being a three- 
story brick structure, with full basement. It 
is located on the banks of the St. Clair river. 
It is equipped with baths, hot and cold water, 
gas and electric light, and is supplied with 
mineral water from a well on Mr. Bedard s 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



231 



premises. He has made the establishment 
very popular with the public. 

On June 18. 1894, Mr. Bedard was mar 
ried in Courtright to Miss Minnie Bryan, 
daughter of Spere and Margaret (Mee) 
Bryan, and granddaughter of the late Squire 
Patrick Mee, who was for so many years a 
hotel-keeper and justice of the peace in Ade 
laide, Middlesex County. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bedard are both strong Catholics. Politically 
he is a Liberal. 

WILLIAM BEDARD, joint owner with his 
brother Charles of the- hotel, was born in 
Drummond township in 1837, and enjoyed 
almost no opportunity for attending school. 
Although he worked in his youth on his 
father s farm, most of his life has been spent 
in lumbering in Michigan, where his opera 
tions have been very profitable. Besides his 
lumber interests he formerly owned 100 
acres in Stephen township, Huron County, 
but he sold that in 1891, when he moved to 
Moore township and bought land there. He 
is now engaged in farming this property and 
is also principal owner of the "Bedard 
House." He was married in Goderich town 
ship to Miss Josephine Grevelle, and they 
have three children, Laura, Leo and Flor 
ence May. The family is Catholic in re 
ligious faith, and Mr. Bedard is a Liberal 
in politics. 

WILLIAM POWELL. The life of 
William Powell, a well-known and success 
ful farmer citizen of the I3th Concession, 
Lot 25, Brooke township. Lambton County, 
affords a good illustration of what a man 
may accomplish through the force of his 
own industry and intelligence, winning suc 
cess for himself and family, and maintaining 
through all trials an honestly won reputa 
tion for unimpeachable integrity. For over 
forty years Mr. Powell has been identified 
with the progress and development of this 
section, and he has proven himself a most 
useful and worthy citizen. He was born in 
Euphemia township. Lambton County, Oct. 
I. 1841, son of John and Jane (Brownlee) 
Powell. 

John Powell, father of William Powell, 



was born in Cavite, Limerick. Ireland, in 
1811, son of Francis Powell, and came to 
Canada when a lad of nine years with his 
parents, settling in Ottawa, where he re 
mained until 1832. Then he went to work 
for Col. Talbot. on a Lake Erie farm. He 
drew land in Euphemia township from Col. 
Talbot. who was the government agent. His 
parents died in Euphemia township, leaving 
three brothers, Joseph, Thomas and Francis. 
All of these brothers settled for a while in 
Euphemia township, but later removed to 
different parts of Canada, where they be 
came very prosperous and well-known citi 
zens. The difficulties and hardships which at 
tended the life of the pioneer settlers of 
Lambton County were experinced to the full 
by these good people, who, through every 
trial, displayed that courage and fortitude 
which loyal Canadians have ever admired in 
the character of their forefathers. 

John Powell, our subject s father, set 
tled in a log cabin erected by his own hands, 
and cleared up a farm, making a home for 
his family. Here he and his wife resided as 
long as they lived. They left the following 
children, all of whom are living : Jane, born 
in Euphemia, is the wife of David Gage, a 
prosperous citizen of Mosa. Middlesex 
County: John, one of the prosperous farm 
ers of Euphemia, married Miss Mary Moore- 
house, and has children. John H.. Annie, 
Lettie. Minnie and Frederick: Francis, a 
well-to-do farmer of Concession 13. Brooke, 
married Miss Mary Andrews, of Warwick, 
and has three children. Ernest, May and 
Maud: Henry, who grew up on the old 
homestead, which he now owns and upon 
which he now resides, married Miss Eliza 
Cowan, of Forest, Lambton County: Mary 
is the wife of William Robinson, a prosper 
ous farmer of Mosa. Middlesex County, and 
has three children, John, Frank and Maggie; 
Margaret married Robert McCutchen, a 
farmer of Xissonri, Middlesex County. 

William Powell grew to manhood on the 
old home farm in Euphemia township. Re 
ceiving but a limited education, he remained 
at the home farm, working at agricultural 
pursuits, until he and his brother John 



232 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



earned the money to purchase 240 acres of 
land in Brooke township, where they have 
made their present home from wild land. 
They located in Brooke in 1866, and di 
vided the land in equal parts, and since that 
time our subject has purchased fifty acres 
more land, which he has added to his farm, 
owning in all 172 acres, most of which is 
under cultivation. Mr. Powell, like all of 
the pioneers, on locating on his farm erected 
a log house, but in 1885 he erected a modern 
brick residence. In 1870 he married Miss 
Mary J. Davis, born in Brantford County, 
in 1844, daughter of Samuel and Mary 
Davis, and to this union were born : ( i ) 
Ariel, educated in the home schools and the 
Strathroy high school, followed teaching 
for some three years in Lambton County; 
she married John Dewar, and now resides in 
British Columbia, where he is engaged in the 
lumber business. (2) Clara F. was educated 
in the Strathroy high school, and was for 
several years a teacher in the public schools 
of Lambton County. She married Dr. John 
McGillicuddy, a resident and practicing vet 
erinary surgeon of Watford, and has one 
son. (3) Russell, a graduate of the Strath 
roy high school, is single, and resides at the 
old home. (4) Louisa, a graduate of the 
Watford high school, resides at home. (5) 
Melvin. was killed when a boy of seventeen 
years, by a fall from a tree. 

Mr. and Mrs. Powell and their family 
are members and supporters of the Church 
of England, in which Mr. Powell has been a 
warden for seventeen years. Politically he 
has always beeen identified with the Con 
servative party. 

JOHN McDONALD, a retired oil pro 
ducer of Petrolia, has been identified with 
that business for many years and is one of 
the best-known men in the oil business in 
this section. Mr. McDonald was born in 
Scotland Oct. 30. 1835, an ^ was on b ^ Olir 
years of age when he lost his father and 
mother. Hence from a very early age he has 
been dependent upon his own resources, a 
condition of affairs which reflects all the 
more credit upon his later achievements. 



James McDonald, his father, also a 
native of Scotland, died when in the prime of 
life, leaving his son not well provided for. 
On reaching young manhood our subject 
learned the trades of boilermaking and ship 
building, in which he was engaged prior to 
coming to Canada. He was one of the build 
ers of the first iron vessel turned out at Bel 
fast and was associated with leading firms 
at Leith in the same business. In 1857 he 
came to Canada and settled at Quebec, there 
following his trade for two years, and then 
went to Montreal and was connected with 
the construction of the Victoria bridge over 
the St. Lawrence river, one of the greatest 
railway bridges in the world. From Mon 
treal he went to Gait, as manager of the 
boiler works of Gouldie & McCullough. in 
which capacity he remained until 1865, when 
he moved to Chatham, where for one year 
he followed his trade, making portable steam 
boilers by contract for Hislop & Ronal, for 
the oil well business. From Chatham he 
went to London, where he was in partner 
ship for one year with the late Hon. Elijah 
Leonard, in the boiler department. In 1867 
he settled at Petrolia and founded the boiler 
works there, which he conducted some five 
years, during which time he engaged in the 
producing of oil, going into this business 
extensively after disposing of his boiler 
plant, to William Stephenson ; it is now 
owned and operated by J. H. Fail-bank. He 
was the first in this section to import tubing 
and casings for oil wells, and the first to 
have oil well casing made in England, also 
lap welded oil well tubing. He owned 500 
acres of fine farming and oil land in Lamb- 
ton County, now owned by his sons, who are 
also operators. Not only has Mr. McDonald 
become one of the largest producers of oil 
in Petrolia, but he has also been engaged in 
the refining business, and built a refinery 
which he operated successfully for over 
twenty years, under the name of The Na 
tion -d Oil Company, owning all the stock 
of that company. He sold out in 1898 to 
the Standard Oil Company, which paid 
$65,000 for the plant and $45.000 for the 
stock. Mr. McDonald has also been a large 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



233 



importer of oil well casings and other appli 
ances of the oil business, and as an all-round 
oil man has been one of the most extensive 
in this field. 

Mr. McDonald has been twice married, 
his first union, on April 20, 1857, having 
been to Catherine Donaldson, a native of 
Scotland, and daughter of the late Robert 
Donaldson, who passed all his life in Scot 
land, where he was engaged as a shoe mer 
chant. Mrs. McDonald died July 31, 1883, 
at the age of forty-nine years, and is buried 
in Hillsdale cemetery. To this union were 
born ten children, seven of whom still sur 
vive, namely: Alexander (unmarried) is in 
the mining business in British Columbia; 
William (unmarried) is in the dry-goods 
business in Chicago ; John, a farmer and oil 
producer in Lambton County, married Carrie 
Wiseman, and they have one son, John; 
Frank, a farmer and oil producer, married 
Margaret Primmer, and they have three 
children, Catherine, Flora and George; 
George, a farmer and oil producer, married 
Ella Peat, and they have one daughter, 
Miriam; Effie and Louise are unmarried, 
and Louise is in St. John Riverside Hospital, 
Yonkers, New York, training for nursing, 
having graduated in May, 1905. 

On Dec. 7, 1885, Mr. McDonald married 
for his second wife Miss Jane Ann Stacker, 
a native of Toronto, Ont. There are no 
children by this union. Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Donald are Presbyterians, and politically he 
is a Conservative. Since settling at Petro- 
lia he has served on the council and the 
school board. 

John Stacker, father of Mrs. McDonald, 
was in young manhood a soldier in the Brit 
ish army, and as such came to Canada about 
seventy-six years ago. Receiving his dis 
charge in this country he located on his 
grant in Warwick township, Lambton 
County, being among the oldest settlers in the 
county. After securing his land he removed 
to Toronto and taught school for some years. 
Returning to Lambton County he located on 
his farm, but continued to teach until his 
health failed, after which he took up farm 
ing, continuing to follow that calling the 



remainder of his days. He died June 21, 
1874, at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. 
Stocker married Deborah Askin, a native of 
County Armagh, Ireland, who died May 8, 
1869, aged sixty-three, and they had a fam 
ily of six children : Deborah, who died in 
Warwick township at the age of nineteen 
years ; James, a farmer of Ogle County, Illi 
nois; Jane Ann, Mrs. McDonald; John, a 
retired farmer of Enniskillen township, 
Lambton County; Elizabeth, widow of Wil 
liam Colter, of Enniskillen township; and 
Matilda, who died in Warwick township at 
the age of twenty. The parents were mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, and the 
father was a Conservative in politics. 

JOHN HUME, a prominent retired 
farmer of Enniskillen township, Lambton 
County, living on Lot 17, Concession 13, 
was born Oct. 3, 1837, at Watford, Lamb- 
ton County, a son of William and Eleanor 
(Hume) Hume. 

William Hume was one of the very first 
pioneer settlers of Lambton County. Both 
he and his wife were born in Ireland, and 
came to Canada where they were married, 
at Goulbourn, Carleton County, Ont. 
Shortly afterward Mr. Hume came to War 
wick, Lambton County, purchased crown 
land and built a rude log cabin, starting in as 
a farmer and making here a permanent 
home. Here he lived until his death in 1 85 1 . 
His widow later married Thomas Sanders, 
and after his death married Peter Anderson, 
who settled in Petrolia, where Mrs. Ander 
son died in 1885. She had one child by Mr. 
Sanders, Martha, also deceased. There 
were nine children by her marriage with Mr. 
Hume, namely: (i) Alexander, born in 
1835, married Miss Katie Montgomery. He 
settled on the old homestead and remained 
there until 1893, when he went to Manitoba, 
on a visit. There he died in 1899, and his 
widow in 1901, leaving six children. (2) 
John is the next in the family. (3) Caro 
line, born in Warwick township, in 1839, 
married Frank Watson of Petrolia, and they 
settled in Moore township, where she died 
leaving a family. (4) William, born in 1841, 



234 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



resides on the old Warwick homestead. He 
married a Miss Hume, and has a family of 
five children. (5) Maria, born in 1843, is the 
wife of John Cowan, of Calgary, Alberta, 
and has a family. (6) Arthur a retired 
farmer of Petrolia, married a Miss Mc- 
Lauchlan, of Enniskillen. (7) Henry, born 
in 1848, died in boyhood. (8) James, born 
in 1850, married a Miss Fuller, of Lambton 
County, settled for some years on the old 
homestead, but later moved to Watford, 
where he lived retired until his death, in 
1899, leaving a widow and two daughters, 
Bertha and Edna. (9) Martha died at the 
age of four years. William Hume was an 
earnest Christian and for many years, back 
in the forties, his home was used as the 
Methodist Church; then a little log church 
was built on the corner of his homestead, 
and this was later replaced by a fine frame 
church. 

John Hume received but a limited edu 
cation during his attendance at the schools 
of Warwick, as both he and his brother, 
Alexander, had to assist all in their power in 
clearing up the homestead farm. After the 
death of his father, John remained on the 
old homestead until he married, and then 
started a home for himself. 

On Oct. 29, 1858, Mr. Hume married 
Miss Frances Lee, born Aug. 3, 1841, at 
Picton, Out, daughter of Charles and Ju 
dith (Barker) Lee, and a member of one of 
Brooke township s old families, who came 
from England. Mrs. Hume s parents settled 
in Brooke township, in 1855, and both died 
there, the father in 1897, aged ninety, the 
mother in 1879, aged eighty-one and one- 
half years. They were members of the 
Church of England. Mrs. Hume has three 
sisters living in Canada, namely : Hannah, 
Mrs. William Russell, of Petrolia ; Mary A., 
wife of Rev. James McKay, a Methodist 
minister of Toronto; and Eleanor, Mrs. 
English, of Manitoba. 

Mr. Hume acquired 200 acres in War 
wick, where he first settled, another 200 
acres in Enniskillen, which was originally 
crown land, and 100 acres in Brooke town 



ship. The old homestead was in Warwick, 
and there he put up a log cabin, after which 
he went back to Goulbourn and married,, 
bringing his bride to the home in the midst of 
the wild land. He owned a span of ponies,, 
and as he did not know exactly how to get 
them to the new home each rode a pony. 
They had but five neighbors in the township. 
Mr. Hume s father was the only one that 
owned a wagon, and all the neighbors used it 
to carry their provisions and make their trips 
to Kihvorth Mills, near London, then the 
nearest mill. The journey took a week. 
Some would go ahead and chop the road, 
while others drove the oxen and more than 
once, being stuck in the road about a mile 
from home, the Humes abandoned the 
wagon until Sunday morning, returning for 
the load. The little log house served as a 
comfortable home for a long time, but was. 
later replaced by a commodious house, and 
large barns were also built and many gen 
eral improvements made. He cleared over 
100 acres from the bush, and it is now under 
cultivation, and yielding generously the 
products of this climate. 

The record of the children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hume is as follows : ( i ) Malissa, 
born in 1859, married Thomas McMahen, of 
Enniskillen, and died leaving children, Sid 
ney, Mabel, Thomas, Pearl, James, Arthur, 
Ella, Gertrude, Myrtle and Wallace. (2) 
Esmerelda, born in 1861, is the wife of John 
Woodley, a former resident of Enniskillen, 
who at present is in Australia, employed by 
a large land company there as driller for 
water; they have one daughter, Stella, now 
the wife of Dr. Reuben Kelly, of Cridon, 
Australia. (3) Martha, born on April 4, 
1863, is the wife of Thomas Hartley, who 
resides on Concession 4, in Enniskillen, and 
has children. Wesley. William, James, 
George, Esmerelda, Lizzie, Delia and Lena. 
(4) Sidney, born Dec. 31, 1869. grew to 
manhood on the homestead, and spent two 
years in Manitoba engaged in farming, and 
then returned to the homestead farm. In 
August, 1898, he married Mary E. Odell, 
daughter of James and Emma Odell, of En- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



235 



niskillen. He continued to farm his father s 
land for two years and then moved to De 
troit, where he was employed four years 
with the Detroit Forging Company, and 
then was employed in the Petrolia Wagon 
factory until the spring of 1904, when he 
took charge of his father s farm again. He 
and his wife have had two children, Charles 
A., who died at the age of six months; and 
Esmerelda, born in Detroit in 1901. (5) 
Hannah L., born in 1865, died in 1869. (6) 
Frances, born March 9, 1867, is the wife of 
William Cook, a farmer on Concession 2, 
Enniskillen, and they have children, Hattie, 
Albert, Sidney, George, "Wesley, Lee and 
Wilbert. (7) John A., born July u, 1874, 
was reared on the old homestead, and prior 
to his marriage graduated from the London 
Business College. He married Celia Ker 
sey, of Petrolia, and they now reside at De 
troit where he is associated with the Adams 
Specialty Company. They have two daugh 
ters, Gladys and Lauretta. (8) Judith L., 
who was born June 25, 1881, died Aug. 28, 
1895. 

This family has long been identified with 
the Methodist Church, in which Mrs. Hume 
is active in the various departments, a 
teacher in the Sunday-school,, and a worker 
for home and foreign missions. For over 
fifty years Mr. Hume s sainted mother was 
a member of this religious body. Polit 
ically he is a supporter of the Conservative 
party, reared to believe in its principles by 
his father. He has served as school trustee 
in Enniskillen. His fraternal connection is 
with the Order of Orangemen. 

The above record shows that Mr. Hume 
started life with small capital and intimates 
the courage with which he met hardships and 
difficulties of all kinds during his pioneer life. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hume have a wide circle of 
friends who have always received kindness 
and hospitality at their hands. In time of 
sickness or trouble their neighbors fully 
realize that they stand ever ready to help. 
The large family which has grown up 
around them is a solace and comfort to them 
as well as a credit to the community. 



GEORGE -WATTS has for the past 
eighteen years prominently identified him 
self with the business interests of Thedford v 
being one of the largest fruit dealers in that 
section of Lambton County. His achieve 
ments and his high moral character have 
won him the entire confidence of the com 
munity, and he has long assisted in the man 
agement of public affairs, having served as 
reeve for the past seventeen years. 

Mr. Watts is of English extraction, and 
was born at Whitby, Ont, March n, 1848. 
His father, John Watts, a blacksmith by 
trade, was a man of much business ability 
and great force of character. Born in Eng 
land, he there grew to manhood and received 
careful rearing. As a practical preparation 
for life s activities he early learned the trade 
of a blacksmith, and, being a skilled work 
man, when a young man he embarked in 
the same business. In England he married 
Flora Pollard, of that country, and of this 
union there were seven children : Grace, 
who is now deceased, married William 
Davison ; Isaac, who never married, taught 
school for many years, and later engaged in 
the mercantile business at Pine Hill, where in 
1855 he died; Phoebe is the widow of John 
T. Taylor, and is now a resident of Thed- 
ford; John J., who was a lumberman in the 
State of Oregon, died in Thedford, Out., in 
1903; Maria married J. H. Stone, of Mar- 
shalltown, Iowa, and she is now deceased; 
Richard, a lumberman, died in Michigan in 
1893, leaving a widow and two children; 
George is mentioned below. 

Some time prior to 1837 Mr. Watts came 
with his family to Canada, first locating at 
Whitby, Ont. A capable blacksmith, he 
found no difficulty in securing work and for 
many years continued there, conducting a 
highly prosperous business. About 1852, 
desirous of procuring some of the excellent 
farming land being opened up to settlers in 
Lambton County, he moved there and se 
cured a wild tract on Lot 19. Concession 3, 
in Bosanquet township, where he began mak 
ing improvements. In the same year he also- 
opened a blacksmith shop at Pine Hill, which 



236 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



was at once widely patronized by the new 
settlers. He had fairly made a good start 
when he was killed at a raising in Pine Hill, 
in 1854. 

Mr. Watts was a man of solid worth, 
conscientious, energetic and capable. In the 
pursuit of any worthy object he was untir 
ing, and his ability to turn each stroke of 
work to good account was phenomenal. He 
was a man of firm religious convictions, and 
a consistent member of the Episcopal 
Church. Politically he affiliated with the 
Conservatives. 

George Watts was reared to the life of a 
pioneer. Only a small boy when his parents 
moved to Lambton County, he here for the 
most part acquired his education, attending 
for many years the primitive log schoolhouse 
in his district. In the meantime he greatly 
enlarged his knowledge of the world and 
people, seeing little villages start into life 
from the wilderness and the opening up of 
railroads in his section, including the Grand 
Trunk railroad, the ties of which were cut 
from the trees in his vicinity. Some early 
training in agriculture decided him as a 
young man to engage in that occupation, and 
in 1871, purchasing a farm on Lot 25, Con 
cession 4, in Bosanquet township, he there 
settled and followed his industry for several 
years with marked success. Perceiving dur 
ing this period an excellent opening in the 
fruit and stock traffic in Thedford, in 1885 
he moved to that place and opened an es 
tablishment for conducting these enterprises. 
From the start he made well out of the in 
dustries, soon working up a large shipping 
trade, especially in fruits, and finding good 
markets for his products in Europe. With 
the increase of trade he has enlarged his 
facilities for pursuing the business, and some 
time ago he set out forty-five acres to ber 
ries, which he yearly puts on the market. 
About 1902 he purchased 507 acres of land 
in Mather township, Rainy River District, 
Ont, which he is developing into a large 
fruit farm. He buys large quantities of all 
kinds of fruit, and in 1896 shipped 22,000 
barrels of apples alone. He is also doing a 



profitable business in live stock, buying and 
selling large numbers each year. As a wise 
business manager he has kept steadily upon 
the rising plane of life and besides his hand 
some residence on King s street, Thedford, 
he owns other valuable property, including 
his fine fruit farm in Bosanquet township, 
where he made his start in life. 

In January, 1872, Mr. Watts married 
Miss Eliza Jane Bass, of Bosanquet town 
ship, who was born in Oxford County, 
daughter of Robert Bass, and of this union 
there have been six children : ( i ) Maria 
married Joseph Corrothers, and they have 
two children, Howard and Walter. (2) 
George, a farmer, married Alice Peterson, 
of the Rainy River District, and they have 
one daughter. (3) John resides in Thed 
ford. (4) William, (5) Grace and (6) Al 
bert are living at home. 

Mr. Watts possesses that breadth of in 
tellect and force of character which enable 
him to direct large enterprises with ease and 
facility. Besides attending to his different 
lines of business he has found time for pub 
lic affairs, and in 1886, soon after his arrival 
in Thedford, he took a place in the village 
council, and has since served continuously 
in the management of local affairs, having 
been reeve for the past seventeen years, and 
acting as county councillor for six years. 
In fraternal circles he is also exceedingly 
active, belonging to the A. F. & A. M. and 
the O. M., and acting as past master of Cas 
sia Lodge, No. 1 1 6, of Thedford. Politi 
cally he affiliates with the Conservatives. Mr. 
Watts is now Crown Timber Agent at Fort 
Frances, under the Whitney Government. 
In 1870 he was a volunteer in the Fenian 
raid, stationed at Sarnia, and for his serv 
ices received 160 acres of land in Rainy 
River and a silver medal. 

EDWARD ORRANGE, who is suc 
cessfully engaged in the cultivation of his 
farm, consisting of 200 acres. Lot 5, 4th 
Concession, and the east half of Lot i, 5th 
Concession, in Brooke townshop. Lambton 
Countv, was born in London. Ont., Dec. 12, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



237 



1846, and is one of the most highly es 
teemed agriculturists of the township, where 
he has lived nearly thirty years. 

His parents,; Edward, Sr., and Mary 
(O Mara) Orrange, were natives of Ire 
land, where they were both born in 1819. 
Edward Orrange was the son of George 
and Honora Orrange, who came to Canada 
from County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846, 
via Quebec, where they landed after a nine 
week s voyage in a sailing vessel. From 
Quebec they journeyed to Hamilton, thence 
to Middlesex County, where they first took 
up land to make a home. They settled in 
the woods, but after farming for a few 
years Mr. Orrange contracted hip disease, 
which compelled him to abandon farming 
and take up school teaching, he being the 
second teacher to open a school in that sec 
tion. This calling he followed until a short 
time prior to his death, when he removed to 
London, whence he returned to his Middle 
sex County home, where both he and his 
wife died. 

Edward Orrange, Sr., only son of his 
parents, was well educated in the old coun 
try, where he was fitted for the Bar, but 
after locating in Canada he gave up his pro 
fession and taught school for a number of 
years, also following farming. He was mar 
ried in Ireland, coming to Canada in 1846. 
Shortly before his death, which occurred 
Nov. 12, 1865, he retired from active life; 
his wife survived until April 19, 1893, when 
she passed away at the home of one of her 
children. She was the mother of the follow 
ing family: (i) George, born in Ireland 
Aug. 25, 1839, learned carriagemaking, and 
settled in New York, where he is now a re 
tired business man. He was in the city of 
New Orleans as a government employe dur 
ing the Civil war, and was taken prisoner 
and held for some time. He left Canada in 
1858 and has never returned. (2) James, 
born in Ireland Dec. 26, 1841, was reared in 
London, Ont., where he married, and he is 
now residing in Buffalo, where he is fore 
man for a railroad company. (3) John, born 
May 8, 1844, in Ireland, married and en 
gaged in business at Glencoe, Ont., where 



he died in January, 1889, leaving four chil 
dren. (4) Edward is mentioned below. (5) 
Malachy, born April 30, 1849, moved in 
young manhood to New York, in company 
with his brother George, and there filled the 
position of express agent until his death, m 
1891, never marrying. (6) Mary A., born 
|an. 1 6, 1852, married Alfred Crow, 
formerly of Glencoe, now of Flint, Michi 
gan, where he has a family of two children. 
(7) Winifred, born Feb. 22, 1854, married 
Rudolph Keihl, of Flint, Michigan, and they 
have one son, Herman, a physician. (8) 
Julia, born Nov. 22, 1856, died in 1864. 
(9) Honora, born Jan. 12, 1861, is the wife 
of Edward Survey, of Glencoe, and they 
have a large family. 

Edward Orrange, son of Edward, Sr., 
obtained his education in the district schools 
of Middlesex County and at London. He 
learned the trade of carpenter and builder, 
at which he worked during the summer sea 
sons, while in the winter he engaged in lum 
bering in the woods. On Dec. 19, 1870, he 
married Miss Margaret Leitch, born in 1850, 
in Middlesex County, daughter of William 
Leitch. an old pioneer of that county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Orrange settled at Glencoe, where 
he continued to work at his trade until 1876, 
when he purchased his present farm, at that 
time all wild land. He has cleared, culti 
vated and improved his property, and has 
made here one of the comfortable homes of 
the township. He has also purchased a 
second farm, on Concession 5, which he has 
cleared and improved, devoting his time 
both to general farming and stock raising. 

Mr. and Mrs. Orrange have eight sur 
viving children, namely: Julia A., wife of 
Mitchell Walker, a telegraph operator on 
the Canadian Pacific railroad, at James 
Creek; Catherine, wife of Michael Kennedy, 
of Forest, who has three children, Margaret, 
Irene and Katherine; Edward, unmarried 
and residing at home ; Christine, Mary, Mar 
gery, John and Bertha H., all at home. The 
family is connected with the Roman Cath 
olic Church. Politically Mr. Orrange has 
always been independent, but his standing 
as an honorable, upright man has been recog- 



2 3 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 






nized by his fellow citizens, and they have 
shown their appreciation by electing him 
councillor for a period of seven years. He 
has long been very prominent in agricultural 
matters, and for six years has been one of the 
directors of the Agricultural Society of 
Brooke township. 

GEORGE ALFRED PROCTOR. 
Among the well-known and firmly estab 
lished contractors and builders in Sarnia none 
are more highly regarded than George Al 
fred Proctor, who is a representative of one 
of the prominent and early families of that 
locality. 

The Proctor family is of English origin, 
William Proctor, the great-grandfather of 
George A., being a native of England, where 
he reared his family and where his remains 
lie with those of his ancestors. His chil 
dren were: Peter, George, William, John, 
Samuel and Michael. 

George Proctor, son of William and 
.grandfather of George A., came to Canada 
from his home in Lincolnshire, England, in 
1835, and located at Froomfield, Lambton 
County, Ont. He and his son Mirza oper 
ated a flouring-mill there, run by wind- 
power. Later he moved to Corunna, same 
county, where he also ran a flouring-mill, 
run by waterpower. He passed his latter 
years in retirement, dying in 1862, at Cor 
unna, when aged seventy years. He mar 
ried Elizabeth Coulson, who died in July, 
1842, and they had children as follows : 
George, who died young; Mirza, mentioned 
below ; Rachel, Coulson and Sophia, all of 
whom died young; Rebecca, who was 
drowned when eighteen years old while the 
family were coming to Canada; George (2), 
who died young; and Elvira, now the only 
survivor of the family, who is the widow of 
John Wheatley and lives in Sarnia. 

Mirza Proctor, the father of George A. 
was born Feb. 10, 1810. in England, where 
he learned the wheelwright s trade. He was 
the first of the family to come to Canada, 
making the journey from England in 1833. 
and was a pioneer settler in Lambton 
Countv. He built the above mentioned 



mills, and later built a sawmill at Corunna, 
which he operated for a number of years. 
Later he conducted a grist-mill in connec 
tion with this, and also owned a farm in 
Moore township, Concession 10. This farm 
was all bush land when Mr. Proctor pur 
chased it, but he cleared it and converted it 
into a fine fertile tract prior to his death, 
which occurred on Friday, Oct. 12, 1888. 
In religious conviction he was a Methodist, 
although not formally identified with any 
congregation. On Dec. 29, 1841, he mar 
ried Susan Allington, born in Ireland in 
1821, who resided at Corunna until her 
death, in December, 1902. Their children 
were as follows : George A. ; Mary Jane, 
born July n, 1844, who is unmarried; W. 
J., born Jan. 15, 1846; Susan, born March 
31, 1848, deceased; Sophia, born Oct. 20, 
1850, unmarried; Charlotte, born March 14, 
1852, who died May n, 1869; Charles, born 
Nov. 23, 1854, a merchant and railroad 
agent at Corunna; Susan Alvira, born Oct. 
7, 1856, who died unmarried April 20, 1904; 
Eber Mirza, born Feb. 25, 1860, a sailor, of 
St. Clair; Lucy Adeline, born July 25, 1858, 
who died Dec. 6, 1886; John Edwin, born 
Feb. 8, 1862, a grocer in Sarnia; and Arthur 
A., twin of John Edwin, deceased in infancy. 
George Alfred Proctor was born Xuv. 
24, 1842, in Moore township, Lambton 
County, and there grew to manhood, and 
with his father learned the business which he 
has successfully followed for so many years, 
attaining a leading position and accumulat 
ing ample means. Among the many build 
ings erected by Mr. Proctor, which show ar 
tistic effect, substantial structure and gen 
eral adaptiveness, may be mentioned : The 
Collegiate Institute of Sarnia; St. George s 
Church; the Grand Trunk Tunnel Station at 
Sarnia and the Grand Trunk roundhouse 
and machine shop, at Sarnia ; the new post 
office, the Methodist Church and the Vaughn 
Block, at Petrolia ; a handsome residence for 
Dr. Hutton and one for Mr. Leamon, at For 
est ; the residence of the late Charles Garvey. 
a block for Stewart & Wilson, the Bank of 
Commerce, the Turner Block and the new 
Bank of Toronto building, owned by J. S. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



239 



Longhead, and other business blocks and 
residences, all at Sarnia. His work is marked 
with a style and finish very attractive to the 
eye, while it is also of the most substantial 
and enduring character. 

Mr. Proctor is prominent politically and 
fraternally. For about ten years he served 
in the council of Sarnia; was deputy reeve 
and reeve from 1880 to 1902, inclusive; for 
a number of years was a member of the 
county council, 1880-81-84-93-94-99-1900- 
01-02-03-04; in 1901 was warden of the 
county; has been chairman of the board of 
works for some time, and has also served 
on the school board. Politically he is iden 
tified with the Reform party. With his 
family he belongs to the Methodist Church, 
and is a local preacher in that religious 
body, and active in Sunday-school work, 
serving as Sunday-school superintendent, 
class-leader and steward. Mr. Proctor is 
also an enthusiastic fraternity man, belong 
ing to the I. O. O. F., in which he has held 
office; to the I. O. F., in which he is past 
high chief ranger; to the Sovereign Wood 
men of the World ; to the Canadian Wood 
men; and to the A. O. U. W. 

Mr. Proctor has been thrice married. In 
1861 he married Miss Bina Duncan, who 
had children : Adeline Jane, deceased; Fred 
erick George Alfred, deceased; Charlotte 
Minnie Sophia, wife of Hardy McHardy; 
Maggie Alvina Isabella, deceased; and John 
Eber, of Nelson, B. C. Mrs. Proctor died 
Feb. 22, 1 88 1, and on Sept. 6, 1882, Mr. 
Proctor was married to Nancy McCaskey, 
one daughter. Maggie Elliott, being born to 
this union. The mother died Dec. 16, 1883. 
On May 13, 1885. Mr. Proctor was united 
in marriage with Catherine Harriet Camp 
bell, and the children of this union are : 
Edith B., born March 15. 1886; George 
Thomas, April 30, 1887; Edward, May u, 
1888; Gordon Campbell, Jan. 30. 1890; 
Ethel May, Sept. 23, 1891 ; Muriel Grace, 
Jan. 29, 1893; William Douglas, July 25, 
1895; anci Agnes, July 28, 1896. 

Mr. Proctor has spent all his business 
life in Lambton County, and since 1876 has 



been a resident of Sarnia. His business as a 
contractor, as well as his public services, 
have made him one of the best-known men 
in the county. 

ROBERT MURRAY, one of the re 
tired farmers and solid, substantial citizens 
of Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
residing on Concession 5, Lot 7, was born 
Feb. 1 8, 1828, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, 
son of John and Anna (Jordan) Murray. 

The parents of Mr. Murray were natives 
of the same place as himself, and there the 
father died in 1850, and the mother, in 1860. 
They had four children, namely : Martha and 
James, who still live in Scotland, and our 
subject and his brother John, who came to 
gether to Canada in 1852. John Murray 
married in Canada and settled for some years 
in Plympton township, but later, removed to 
Enniskillen and settled on the 4th Conces 
sion, where he died in June, 1904. leaving 
both sons and daughters who reside on his 
old homestead. 

Robert Murray was reared and educated 
in Scotland. In 1852 he and his brother left 
their native land, taking passage on a sail 
ing vessel from Liverpool to New York. 
Seven long weeks were spent on the water, 
but finally the great metropolis was reached. 
Mr. Murray was bound for Canada and 
came via Albany to Niagara Falls, thence 
to Toronto, and worked for a time at Gait 
prior to coming to Lambton County. Here 
he purchased wild land on Concession 9, 
which he cleared up and made it his first 
Canadian home. For fifteen years Mr. Mur 
ray lived on this farm, and then sold it to 
advantage and removed to Champaign 
County, Illinois, where he invested in land 
and lived for three and a half years. He 
had settled there at an unfortunate time, just 
at the close of the Civil War, when groceries 
and merchandise were so high in price that a 
small fortune was needed to be able to be 
comfortable. Therefore he disposed of his 
land there in 1870. and returned to Can 
ada, buying on the line of Sarnia and Moore 
townships, in Concession 12, and lived there 



240 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



until the winter of 1900, after the death of 
his estimable wife, whom he had married in 
1850, in Scotland. 

Mrs. Murray was formerly Mary Tel for, 
daughter of James Telfor, of Roxburghshire, 
where she was born in 1830. She bravely 
shared all the pioneer hardships of Mr. 
Murray s early pioneer life, and ever assisted 
him in overcoming difficulties to the extent 
of her ability. She was the beloved mother 
of a large family of children, as follows : 
John, born in, 1851, settled in Moore town 
ship, and died on his farm there in 1873, 
leaving a family of two sons, John and 
Robert; Robert, born in 1853, in Canada, is 
unmarried and is an employe of the oil re 
finery at Sarnia; James, born in 1856, mar 
ried and has one daughter, and lives on Con 
cession 4, in Enniskillen ; Walter, born in 
1858, married, has six children, and lives on 
his farm in Concession 5, Enniskillen town 
ship; David, born in 1860, is married, has 
three children, and lives on Concession 5, 
Enniskillen township; Matthew, born in 
1862, is unmarried and lives in Enniskillen; 
George, born in 1864, married and lives on 
the old homestead; Thomas, born in 1866, 
is single and resides in Moore township; 
Mary, born in 1869, is the wife of James 
Simpson, of Sarnia; Ann, born in 1872, is 
the wife of Richard Johnson, of Moore 
township, and they have three children ; 
Andrew, of Sarnia, who was on the police 
force, and is now a detective, is married but 
has no family; Maggie, born in 1876, is the 
wife of Samuel Cole, of Sarnia township, 
and they have two sons ; and Janette, born 
in 1878, is the wife of Angus Shaw, a 
farmer of Moore township, and they have a 
family of four children. 

In religious belief, Mr. Murray is a 
Presbyterian and he has long served on the 
official body of his church. Politically he 
has identified himself with the Reform party 
as the one best suited to his convictions of 
right and never fails to cast his vote for Re 
form candidates. Mr. Murray has not only 
been one of the successful farmers of Lamb- 
ton County, but has been a prominent man 
in township affairs, filling various positions 



both in Enniskillen and other sections. While 
a resident of Plympton township he served 
as councillor and school trustee, and per 
formed his duties with sincerity and ability. 
The life of Robert Murray affords a 
good illustration of what a man may accom 
plish through the force of his own industry, 
backed by intelligence. He has met with 
many disappointments and some bereave 
ments, but has always sustained a character 
above reproach and has been noted for his 
honesty, kindness and charity. For almost 
a half century he has been closely identified 
with the progress and development of this 
section of the county, and in every way has 
proved himself a useful citizen. During the 
pioneer days when poverty often paused at 
his doorway, neither he nor the estimable, 
Christian helpmate who has passed away, 
was ever known to refuse to divide the 
frugal meal with those more in need, and 
there are many in this section of Lambton 
County who have reason to remember both 
Mr. and Mrs. Murray with feelings of grati 
tude and affection. In times of sickness and 
trouble they were the friends in need, who 
are the friends indeed. 

ROBERT FLECK, who has for several 
years been engaged in a real-estate and in 
surance business in Sarnia, has long promi 
nently identified himself with the public 
affairs of Lambton County, and with the 
development of the agricultural resources of 
his section. Energy in furthering his 
enterprises and the ability to properly direct 
his forces are among his salient traits, which 
he has inherited from good English an 
cestors. 

The family is a worthy one. The first 
member of whom we have any definite record 
is Robert Fleck, grandfather of the Robert 
whose name heads this sketch. He passed 
his entire life in the mining district of North 
Shields, England, and there met his death 
in the explosion of a coal mine. By his mar 
riage there was one son, William. 

William Fleck passed a long and event 
ful life, rounding out nearly a full century of" 
years, and taking an active part in the Napo- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



241 



Iconic wars of his time. Born in North 
Shields, England, in June, 177.2, he was only 
a small boy when his father died. Sent to 
an uncle in Scotland, he there received care 
ful rearing and practical training for life s 
activities. The turbulent state of all Europe 
induced him at an early age to join the 
Northumberland Fencibles and take his 
chances at war. After six years in this 
volunteer force, early in 1804, he enlisted 
in the 36th Regiment under Gen. Whitelock, 
and went to Buenos Ayres. His next battle 
field was Spain, and his general Sir Arthur 
\Velleslev, afterward Duke of Wellington. 

J " o 

Here he went into the thickest of the tight, 
participating in the battles of Vimeiro, Sal 
amanca, Talavera, Vitoria, Pyrenees, Tou 
louse, Orthez, and serving valiantly during 
the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. 
During the last named battle he was in the 
trenches when the French blew up the for 
tress hoping to effect the escape of the garri 
son, in which they were so bitterly disap 
pointed. The peace which followed these 
engagements gave Mr. Fleck a little quiet 
rest, of which he availed himself in England. 
But upon the escape of the French emperor 
from Elba he was once more called into 
action, being sent with re-inforcements to 
Wellington at Brussels, and was on ship 
board during the final great battle at Water 
loo. After this decisive engagement he 
went to Paris with the army of occupation, 
and was employed as sergeant of the guard 
over the palaces of that gay capital. Shortly 
afterward, on his return to England, he re 
ceived an honorable discharge, and he has a 
medal upon which are listed the prominent 
battles in which he fought. On the whole 
he was fortunate during his long military 
career, but at the battle of Toulouse he lost 
his left eye. He deservedly drew a pension 
from 1818 until the time of his death, in 
1871. 

Mr. Fleck married a girl in Spain, and, 
after her death, he formed a second union, 
in 1832, this time with Mrs. Mary (Meneil- 
ley) Allingham, a widow, in Bathurst, Lan 
ark County, Ont. By this marriage there 
were two children, a child that died in in 
fancy, and Robert, who is mentioned below. 

16 



About 1830 Mr. Fleck came to Ontario, 
then called Upper Canada, and a few years 
later, in 1836, availed himself of his soldier s 
privilege of drawing a 2OO-acre farm from 
the government. This place was located in 
Moore township, Lambton County, on Lot 
15, Concession 10. Here he passed many 
fruitful years, in improving the farm and 
developing the resources of his land. He died 
on the farm about 1872, at the advanced age 
of almost one hundred years. Mr. Fleck 
was a man of wide experience, and possessed 
a large fund of general knowledge. He was 
keenly interested in politics, and affiliated 
with the Reform party. Reared an Episco 
palian, he belonged to that church, and fra 
ternally he occupied a high place in Masonry. 

Robert Fleck is the product of good 
wholesome country life and practical busi 
ness schooling. Born in Bathurst township, 
Lanark County, Jan. 22, 1833, he was only 
three years old when, in 1836, his parents 
moved to Lambton County, part of what 
then was called the Western District, and 
settled in Moore township. Here, on the 
old homestead, which was then a heavy tim 
ber tract, he grew to manhood, and in the 
clearing up of the place he early took an 
active part. Interested in books, he attended 
common schools near Corunna and at Sarnia, 
and at the present site of Courtright, cultivat 
ing his literary taste, and in the Commercial 
College at Detroit he received some practical 
business training. The need of a strong 
vigorous man to carry on the work upon the 
old homestead decided him upon leaving 
school to turn his attention to agriculture. 
He cleared up new tracts, made improve 
ments on the buildings, and in other respects 
added to the value of the place. Making a 
success of his work he continued it for nearly 
fifty years, from 1851 to 1899. In the in 
terest of his business he kept himself well 
posted upon the latest methods in agriculture, 
and applied those of a practical nature with 
great wisdom in his own farming. With a 
mind capable of directing many" affairs at 
once, in the early part of his career he opened 
upon his farm a small country store, which 
he conducted with success for many years. 
He has now disposed of his farm, half of 



242 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



which is now owned and carried on by one 
of his sons. Six years ago he came to Sarnia, 
and there opened a land and insurance office. 
His large acquaintance throughout the 
county has attracted to his office plenty of 
business, and he is making a thorough suc 
cess of his new enterprise. He is a member 
of the local Board of Trade. 

In 1851 Mr. Fleck married Mary Eliza 
beth Neal, who was born in England, daugh 
ter of Thomas and Mary (Stow) Neal, who 
proved a faithful helpmeet for many years. 
She died in 1890. She was a thoroughly 
good, Christian woman, and a member of 
the Episcopal Church. On March 10, 1901, 
Mr. Fleck married Mrs. Eliza Smith, widow 
of Robert Smith, who resided in Moore 
township. By his first marriage Mr. Fleck 
had eight children : William, now an exten 
sive ranchman of New Mexico, married Ida 
McCoin, and they have five children, Walter, 
Ralph, Grace, Dema, and Howard. Maria 
married Robert Jackson, of Petrolia, and 
they have four children, Blanch, Stella, Blake 
and Merril. Charles M., who is engaged in 
farming on part of the old homestead, mar 
ried Margaret Cole, daughter of William 
Cole, of Sarnia, and they have five children, 
Mary N., William C., Clarence A., Emily 
T. and Robert C. Alfred R., now engaged in 
farming in Moore township, married Ellen 
Kirk, daughter of the late William Kirk. 
James, now in the employ of the W. H. 
Sawyer Navigation Co., of Tonawanda, New- 
York, as captain of the steamer "Sawyer," 
resides at Port Huron; he married Malissa 
Smith, and they have two children, Melvin 
and Reah. Elizabeth Alberta married James 
Smith, who is now reeve of Moore township, 
and they have four children, Violet, Alvin, 
Walter and Clifford. Walter T., who has 
never married, resides at Rancher, in the 
State of Montana. Alvin Clarence is a 
miner in Nelson, B. C. ; he married Florence 
Kingsley, now deceased, and they had one 
child, Kingsley. 

Mr. Fleck has for over thirty years been 
almost continuously identified with the pub 
lic affairs of his section, beginning his career 
as township councillor in 1863. The follow 



ing year he became reeve of Moore township, 
and served on the county council about 
twenty-five years. He was made warden of 
the county in 1873, has served in many 
courts of arbitration, in drainage and other 
disputes, and in 1889 made a good run for 
Parliament against the late Charles Mac- 
Kenzie, who was elected. For the past two 
years he has been alderman of the town of 
Sarnia, and has been an active member of 
the council, serving on several of the stand 
ing committees, and as chairman of several 
of the standing committees of the town coun 
cil. He is the oldest surviving magistrate 
in the county, and has been on the commis 
sion of the peace for the past forty-eight 
years, having been appointed in 1856; he is 
also a commissioner for taking affidavits in 
the high court. In the performance of his 
public duties Mr. Fleck has evinced marked 
ability and fidelity, and has worked strenu 
ously for better drainage, good roads, and 
the improvement of the county generally. 
He has shown himself a wise financier and a 
man of marked business ability. Politically 
he is a strong Conservative. Both he and 
his wife take an active interest in religious 
works ; he belongs to the Unitarian Church, 
and she to the Presbyterian. He stands high 
fraternally, and affiliates with the S. of E. 
ALFRED R. FLECK, son of Robert Fleck, 
was born on the homestead farm in Moore 
township, July 31, 1859, and was educated 
in District No. 4, in the public schools of 
the township. At the same time he worked 
on the farm with his father, thus continuing 
until 1890, when he began farming for him 
self on a stract of land in Lot 8, loth Con 
cession, known as the Bulley farm. Here 
he erected a dwelling-house, and settled 
down to the life of a "farmer, for the past 
fourteen years having been a general farmer 
and stock raiser, handling large quantities 
of stock. His farm has all necessary build 
ings and the premises are kept in excellent 
condition. Like his father, Mr. Fleck is a 
stanch Conservative. In religious belief he 
is a member of the Methodist Church. Fra 
ternally he is a member of the Order of 
Foresters at Brigden. For several years he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



243 



has served as secretary and treasurer of 
School Section No. 6, loth Line, of Moore 
township, and is a very trustworthy, sub 
stantial farmer and useful member of the 
community. 

In 1891 Mr. Fleck married, in Sarnia 
township, Ellen Kirk, born in Sarnia town 
ship, daughter of William Kirk. One child, 
Mary, was born to them, but she died in in 
fancy. 

CHARLES MC-NELLY FLECK, son of Rob 
ert Fleck, and brother of Alfred R. Fleck, 
was born on the Fleck homestead, in Moore 
township, Aug. 15. 1855. After attending 
the public school of District No. 4, in Moore 
township, he worked upon the farm until 
1884, when he obtained 100 acres of land, 
the east part of the homestead. Upon this 
he erected a comfortable brick dwelling, at a 
cost of $2,000, and a barn, which was lost 
by fire in 1896; however, he rebuilt it and 
now has one of the best in the township. 
Other buildings have been added, and for 
the past twenty years Mr. Fleck has been 
numbered among the enterprising farmers 
of Moore township. He carries on general 
farming, and raises considerable cattle, sell 
ing his own, and dealing largely in stock. 
He is a man of enterprise, possessed of pro 
gressive ideas, being one of the first, as he is 
now one of the largest, growers of sugar 
beets. 

Like the other members of the family he 
is a Conservative. He has acted as trustee 
of School Section No. 4 for the past twelve 
years, and has just been appointed a justice 
of the peace for the county. He is a mem 
ber of the Order of Foresters at Brigden. 
In religion he is a member of the Presby 
terian Church, as are also his wife and fam 
ily, and they all attend services at Burns. 

In 1885 Mr. Fleck married, in Sarnia, 
Margaret Cole, of Sarnia township, daugh 
ter of the late William Cole, of that town 
ship. She is a well educated lady, devoted 
to her husband and family. Five children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleck : 
Mary Neal, William Cole, Clarence Alvin, 
Emily Taylor and Robert Charles, all living 
at home. 



Too much praise can not be given the 
Fleck family. Its members, as has been 
shown, are among the representative men of 
Lambton County, and much of the develop 
ment of this locality has been effected 
through the efforts of one or other of those 
bearing this honored name. 

ARCHIE CAMPBELL, in his lifetime 
a successful farmer, and prominent public- 
spirited citizen of Brooke township. Lamb- 
ton County, was born in Mosa, Middlesex 
County, July 31, 1835, son of Duncan and 
Euphemia (Campbell) Campbell, of Argyll 
shire, Scotland. 

Duncan Campbell grew to manhood and 
was married in Scotland. In Glasgow he 
was foreman for a large chemical works un 
til 1832. In that year he emigrated to Can 
ada and settled in Mosa, Middlesex County, 
where he took up 200 acres of land. He 
prospered in his work, and as time went on 
became the owner of additional tracts of 
land, until at his death he owned 600 acres, 
200 acres of this being the present home of 
the w T idow of his son Archie. Duncan Camp 
bell married Euphemia Campbell, who died 
in November, 1879, aged eighty years. He 
died March 9, 1866, aged sixty-eight. They 
were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and in politics he was a Reformer. 
Their children were : Janet, widow of Alex 
ander Ross, of Middlesex County; Donald, 
deceased, who married Anna Campbell (she 
still resides in Middlesex County) ; Peter, a 
farmer in Middlesex County, who married 
Isabella McLean ; Christina, deceased, who 
married John Campbell ; Mary, deceased, 
who married John Shields, a farmer of War 
wick township; Archie; Euphemia, who 
married Roland Shields, a farmer at 
Mosa, Middlesex County; and Duncan, who 
married Sarah McAlpin, farming the old 
homestead. 

Archie Campbell grew to maturity on 
his father s farm, receiving much training 
in the line of hard work, and such schooling 
as the neighborhood and times afforded. 
After his marriage he located on Lot 25, 
Concession 9, Brooke township, Lambton 



244 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



County, living in a little log cabin that was 
his home until 1880. He then erected a 
large brick residence, and also built sub 
stantial barns and good outbuildings. He 
died June 4, 1891, universally respected. 

On June 23, 1863, Mr. Campbell was 
united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
Shields, born Aug. 9, 1844, m Roxburgh 
shire, Scotland, daughter of George and 
Martha (Porteous) Shields. To this union 
came the following children : Euphemia, 
born in 1866, married Donald McNeil, of 
Brooke township, and has two sons, John 
and Archie; George, born in 1867, a farmer 
on Concession 10, married Gertie Rundle, of 
Brooke township, and has a son, Archie; 
Mary, born in 1869, married Dougald 
Campbell, and has four children, Tena, 
Martha, Mary and Malcolm ; Duncan, born 
in 1871, residing on Concession 12, Brooke 
township, married Mary Bowie, and has one 
son, Archie; Martha, twin to Duncan, died 
at the age of nineteen years ; John, born in 
1872, lives at home; Maggie, born in 1874, 
married John Cran, a farmer of Brooke 
township; Donald, born in 1876, resides at 
home ; Tena, born in 1879, is at home ; Jessie, 
born in 1882, married George Short, of Cal 
gary, who owns a ranch in the Northwest 
Territory. The family were reared in the 
faith of the Presbyterian Church. In poli 
tics Mr. Campbell was a Reformer, as are 
all the sons, but he never aspired to office. 
However, just one year prior to his death 
he was appointed postmaster at Rokeby, and 
was succeeded by his wife, who has the office 
in her home. Mrs. Campbell is highly effi 
cient as an official and very popular as a 
noble, good woman. She dispenses a gen 
erous hospitality in her cheerful home, and 
her charities are many. 

GEORGE SHIELDS, father of Mrs. Camp 
bell, was born in 1794, and died in 1851. 
His wife, Martha Porteous. was born m 
1799, and they were residents of Roxburgh 
shire, Scotland. In 1854 Mrs. Shields, with 
her family of seven children, came to Can 
ada, and settling in Mosa, Middlesex Coun 
ty, they purchased 300 acres of partly im 
proved land, and made a permanent home, 



where Mrs. Shields died in January, 1890. 
She was the mother of the following chil 
dren : John, of Warwick township, married 
Mary Campbell, a sister of Archie Camp 
bell ; Mary married George Shortt, of Cal 
gary, Alberta, and has children, Adam (pro 
fessor of political economy in Queen s Col 
lege, Kingston), Margaret (now Mrs. 
Clerihue), Martha (Mrs. Carter), Mary 
(Mrs. J. Bell), Isabel (wife of Alexander 
Aird, of Calgary), George (a ranchman) and 
James (a Presbyterian minister) ; James, 
who settled on a part of the old home 
stead in Mosa, where he died in 1895, mar 
ried Miss Ann Carswell, and had children, 
George, Jesse, Andrew, John, Martha, Will 
iam, Katie and James; Andrew, born in 
Scotland, was educated in missionary work 
and sent to India, where he conducted mis 
sionary schools for some years, later remov 
ing to Australia, where he now practices 
medicine (he has eight children, William, 
Mary, Dr. Oswald, Edith, Dr. Douglas, 
Frank, Janet and John) ; Roland married 
Miss Euphemia Campbell, of Mosa, Middle 
sex County, and they have these children, 
Andrew, Christie (a professional nurse), 
Dr. Duncan, George (a business man of New 
York), Maggie, Euphemia, James, John, 
Roland and Mary; Isabella, born in 1842, 
married Neil Carswell, of Mosa, Middlesex 
county, and has six children, Janet, Donald, 
Andrew, Martha, John and Mary ; Margaret 
married the late Archie Campbell. 

REV. HECTOR CURRIE. Few min 
isters in the county have, for long-continued 
and effective service in one charge, estab 
lished for themselves a higher reputation 
than this well-known pastor of the Presby 
terian Church at Thedforcl. Since his in 
stallment there, thirty years ago, he has in 
stigated the erection of both a new church 
and a manse, has established flourishing 
church schools, and has added to his own 
church membership materially. He has ex 
erted a strong influence throughout his sec 
tion and has long been a leading member of 
the Presbytery of Sarnia. 

Mr. Currie comes of good Scottish pa- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



245 



rentage. His grandfather, Neil Currie, was 
born in Scotland, and received strict and 
careful rearing. He embarked upon life as 
a farmer, and for the most part continued 
that occupation throughout his active ca 
reer. An efficient manager and hard worker, 
he prospered in his industry, and became one 
of the well-to-do farmers of his locality. He 
lived to the advanced age of eighty years, 
dying in 1853. During his young manhood 
Mr. Currie married a Miss McLean, and to 
this union were born four children: (i) 
Donald is mentioned below. (2) Malcolm, 
who came to Ontario, married and has three 
sons who are ministers of the Presbyterian 
Church: John, at Belmont, Ont. ; Donald, 
at Keady, Ont. ; and Neil, at Eastlake, N. 
S. (3) Edward, now deceased, was a farm 
er. (4) Duncan settled in Indiana, in the 
United States. 

Donald Currie. father of the Rev. Hec 
tor, was born in Scotland about 1815, and 
there in a rural community grew to man 
hood. Under the influences of good insti 
tutions he received wholesome rearing and 
practical training for life s activities. He 
decided when a young man to engage in ag 
riculture, and for many years followed it 
with success in his native land. Upon reach 
ing manhood he married in Scotland Mary 
McLean, who was born in that country, and 
died in Ontario in 1902. By this union there 
were eight children : Hector, who is men 
tioned below; May, who was buried at sea; 
Neil, a farmer in Aklborough, East, Elgin 
County. Ont. ; Dougald, a Presbyterian min 
ister at Perth; Mary, who married John 
Stalker, a farmer in Elgin ; Donald, a farmer 
in West Elgin; Elizabeth, who has never 
married, and now lives at the old homestead; 
and James, a farmer of Elgin County. Of 
this family the sons are all patriot citizens, 
and in politics affiliate with the Liberals. 

Some time after marriage, about 1850, 
Mr. Currie and his wife came to Canada and 
settled in West Elgin, Ont. He engaged in 
farming, and by patient industry and wise 
management soon made an attractive home 
for himself and family. Continuing to pros 
per he in time amassed considerable wealth. 



He lived to an advanced age, and died in 
West Elgin in 1890. Mr. Currie was a man 
of broad culture and of intellectual tastes. 
In his home and family he took a keen in 
terest, especially in the education of his cmi- 
dren, giving them every advantage within 
his reach. A strong Presbyterian, he and 
his wife were active in religious circles and 
everywhere most highly respected. Politi 
cally he affiliated with the Liberals. 

Hector Currie was born in Argyllshire. 
Scotland, Sept. 9, 1846. He was about four 
years old when his parents settled in the 
farming district of Elgin, Ont., where he 
grew to manhood. In the well-established 
schools of the community he acquired his 
early education, and, displaying a decided 
inclination for intellectual pursuits, later en 
tered Victoria University, from which he 
graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1871. 
Possessed of a strong conviction of his call 
to the ministry, he soon afterward entered 
Knox College, where he pursued a thor 
ough course in theology, graduating in 1874. 
As a farther preparation for his work he 
spent the following year in the mission field 
of Manitoba, where by his enthusiastic and 
well-directed efforts he put courage and life 
into many a struggling church. Returning 
to Ontario at the end of that period, he 
at once received a call to the Presbyterian 
Church at Thedford, and on April 25, 1876, 
took up his labors there. Energetic and alive 
to the needs of his community, within a year 
he had secured a fund for the erection of a 
new church edifice, the corner-stone of which 
was laid in 1877, and in 1878 the church 
itself was dedicated. He has continued his 
labors here uninterruptedly since his instal 
lation, and his zeal has never nagged for a 
minute. In 1885 he effected the completion 
of the pleasant manse in which he has since 
made his abode. Under his spiritual direc 
tion new members have been admitted to the 
membership, which now comprises 157 earn 
est Christians. In addition to his labors in 
Thedford he has for some time had charge 
of the Lake Road congregation, which con 
sists of seventy-eight members. At each 
place he has established church schools, 



246 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



where excellent work is now being done. In 
the discharge of every duty Mr. Currie has 
been most efficient and faithful. While the 
business management of his work has con 
sumed a great deal of his time, the spiritual 
and social sides have been by no means neg 
lected. In fact, if anything, they have al 
ways been first. In the pulpit he is earnest 
and convincing, and he is one of the most 
prominent public speakers in his locality. 

On Dec. 27, 1877, soon after his arrival 
in Thedford, Rev. Air. Currie married Miss 
Edith Jarvis, who was born in Lindsay, 
Out., daughter of Paul Jarvis, a merchant 
of that place. She is a woman of rare social 
attainments, and of much assistance to her 
husband in his work. To this union have 
come three children : Sophie, who obtained 
her education in Forest and Toronto ; Jarvis, 
a graduate of the Ontario College of Phar 
macy and now a druggist at Winnipeg, 
Man. ; and Hector, twin to Jarvis, who died 
at the age of ten years. 

Rev. Mr. Currie is a man of brilliant at 
tainments, gifted in many lines, wherein 
lies his success as a pastor. He is widely 
known and exceedingly popular throughout 
his section of the country, and is now serv 
ing as clerk of the Presbytery of Sarnia, a 
position which he has filled for four years 
with eminent ability. At its last meeting he 
was unanimously elected moderator of the 
Synod of Hamilton and London. In botany 
and geology his reputation is more than lo 
cal. In fraternal orders he stands high, be 
longing to the A. F. & A. M., is past mastei 
of Cassia Lodge, Xo. 116, of Thedford, and 
is past Z of Minnewawa Chapter, Xo. 78, 
of Park Hill. Politically he affiliates with 
the Liberals. 

JOHX IRWIN FERGUSON, M. D., 
coroner of Lambton County, is a rising 
young physician of Courtright, Ont, where 
he also conducts a drug store. His medical 
skill is inherited as well as acquired, as his 
father is a well-known physician in London, 
Ontario. 

John Invin Ferguson was born at Sel 
kirk, Ont., Jan. 30, 1878, son of Dr. Robert 



Ferguson, one of the leading medical men 
of London, Ont., and grandson of Alex 
ander Ferguson, of Inverness-shire, Scot 
land, who married there and came to Can 
ada in 1845. He settled in Priceville, Ont., 
where he carried on a general store, remain 
ing there until 1885, in which year he re 
moved to London, Ont., living there in re 
tirement until his death. 

John I. Ferguson received his early edu 
cation in the schools of London and in the 
Collegiate Institute of that city, where he 
prepared for college. In his boyhood days 
he was prominent in athletic sports. Having 
a strong desire for a professional career, he 
entered the Western University, at London, 
and taking up the study of medicine grad 
uated with the class of 1900, receiving the 
degree of M. D. For a time thereafter he 
was house physician for Victoria and St. 
Joseph s Hospitals, in London. He passed 
the examination of the College of Physi 
cians & Surgeons at Toronto, Ont., and en 
gaged for a time in local practice. He then 
went to Gravenhurst, Muskoka, and for four 
months practiced in the Gravenhurst Sana 
torium for Consumptives. Returning to 
London he was associated for a time with 
his father in general practice, and then went 
to Bruce County, practicing for a time in 
Pinkerton. In 1902 he came to Lambton 
County and bought the practice of Dr. Arm 
strong, and has since conducted a successful 
practice throughout that district, having 
offices at Courtright, Corunna and Moore- 
town. On settling in Courtright he also 
purchased the River Front drug store at 
that place. Dr. Ferguson is a genial man 
as well as a skilled and painstaking physi 
cian, and has built up a good practice in the 
surrounding townships, where he is greatly 
appreciated and respected. He is a member 
cf the College of Physicians & Surgeons of 
Ontario, and in 1903 was appointed by the 
Provincial government a coroner of Lamb- 
ton County. In politics he is a Liberal ; in 
religion he is a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Dr. Ferguson married, in Courtright, 
Sept. 30, 1902, Miss Josephine Smith, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



247 



daughter of Canon Smith, a well-known di 
vine of the Church of England, in London, 
Ont. His family consists of two children, 
Robert Smith and Norma Bertha. 

Being as yet only in his twenty-eighth 
year, the Doctor has before him the prospect 
of an exceedingly useful and progressive 
career as a physician and citizen. 

CHARLES GUSTIN, now living re 
tired at Forest, Lambton County, is the 
owner of the popular Lake Valley Grove 
Summer Resort, which comprises 119 acres, 
and is conveniently located on the lake shore. 
Mr. Gustin is of English extraction, his 
great-grandfather emigrating from England 
to the colonies prior to the American Revo 
lution, and was murdered by the Indians. 
His son, John Gustin, was born in what is 
now the State of New Jersey, and later 
founded the Gustin family in Ontario, hav 
ing located in the Dominion prior to the 
close of the American Revolution. He lo 
cated at Long Point, where he engaged in 
farming and milling, and there died at the 
age of "fifty years. The maiden name of his 
wife was Smith, and she was a native of 
Canada. The children born to them were 
as follows : Charles, Eliphalet, Isaiah, Eliza 
beth, Abigail, Mrs. Robert Mabey, Mrs. 
James Wood, Mrs. Israel Wood and Mrs. 
John Stone. 

Of the above family, Eliphalet Gustin, 
father of our subject, was born at Long 
Point, Ont., in 1800. Later he settled in 
London township, Middlesex County, and 
became a distiller, but afterward was a 
farmer and miller. He died in London 
township, in 1894, and his wife passed away 
in 1850. His first wife was Sarah Ann Ed 
wards, sister of Henry Edwards, of London 
township, Middlesex County, and these chil 
dren were born to them : Henry lives at Bay 
City, Michigan ; Jane married Samuel 
Drake, of Bay City, Michigan; Charles; 
James, resides at Ingersoll; Mariali, de 
ceased, was the wife of Prosper Bissel ; Dr. 
Eliphalet is living at St. Thomas; John is 
a farmer in Middlesex County; Richard, 
deceased, resided at Bay City, Michigan; 



Dr. William makes his home in Detroit, 
Michigan; Sarah Ann married A. Mc- 
Arthur, of Winnipeg; and Saloma is now 
Mrs. Rosser. The second wife of Eliphalet 
Gustin was Airs. Frances Carey. No chil 
dren were born of the second union. 

Charles Gustin was born at Middleton 
Mills, Ont., Sept. 24, 1827, and grew to 
manhood in Middlesex County, learning the 
trade of shoemaker, although he never fol 
lowed it. After attaining his majority he 
clerked for an older brother. In 1848, Mr. 
Gustin married Elizabeth Morden, a native 
of London township, daughter of Ralph 
Morden, who was born in 1828, and died in 
July, 1888. After their marriage Mr. and 
Airs Gustin settled in Bosanquet township, 
on the lake shore, which property now bears 
the name of the Lake Valley Grove Summer 
Resort, and here Mrs. Gustin died leaving 
the following children: Dr. Ralph, of De 
troit, who married (first) Angeline Ward, 
by whom he had one son, Charles, (second) 
Miss Fannie Pratt (no issue) and (third) 
Emma Bartlett; Charles A., a farmer of 
Forest, who married Mary Noyes, and has 
children, Alice, Lucena and William; 
George, of Chicago, who married Eliza 
Woodhall, and has children, Minnie and 
Bert; Edwin, a farmer of Manitoba, who 
married Clarinda Tenbrook, and has chil 
dren, Lillian, Frank and Edith Ellen; Lu 
cena, who married Edward Pratt ; William, 
who married Wilda Tenbrook, and has chil 
dren, Laura, Josie, Charles, Bessie, Lucena, 
Annie, Mildred and Clarinda; Josie, who 
married Joseph Pratt ; Frank a farmer, who 
married Maggie Miller, and has children, 
Mabel and Gladys. In 1890 Air. Gustin was 
united in marriage with Airs. A. Lapham, 
ncc Ellen Fraser. Airs. Gustin is a daugh 
ter of Donald and Isabella (Ross) Fraser, 
both of whom were born in 1812, and the 
latter a cousin of G. W. Ross. Donald 
Fraser was a son of James Fraser, the well 
known Elder Fraser of London township, 
AHddlesex County, to which county the fam 
ily came in 1829 from Halifax, they having 
emigrated from Scotland to that province in 
1819. In 1852 Donald Fraser settled in 



2 4 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Bosanquet township, Lambtoii County, on 
Lot 67, Lake Road East, and here he cleared 
up a fine farm and died in 1888, his wife hav 
ing passed away in 1882. The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Eraser were : Ann, Isabella, 
John, Mrs. Gustin, Mary (wife of William 
Symington), Daniel (deceased), Rebecca 
(widow of David Brand), and William 
(born on the Lake Shore). By her first 
marriage, Mrs. Gustin had two children, 
Annie and Alfred, both deceased. Mr. Gus 
tin is a Reformer in politics, and while re- 
siding in Bosanquet township served very 
acceptably on the school board. Both he 
and Mrs. Gustin are consistent members of 
the Methodist church to whose support they 
contribute liberally. In 1889 Mr. Gustin 
retired to Forest, and while taking no active 
part in the business life of the community, 
his time being occupied by looking after his 
property interests, he has identified himself 
with the community and gained the utmost 
respect from his fellow townsmen. Since 
1863, Mr. Gustin has been a member of the 
I. 6. O. F. lodge at Forest. 

JOHN HUNTER, owner and proprie 
tor of Cabin Lane Stock Farm, located on 
Lot 12, Concession I, Plympton, where he 
has been engaged for more than twenty-five 
years in general farming, stock raising and 
sheep breeding, is one of the best known ag 
riculturists of Plympton township. He was 
born near Garvagh, County Derry, Ireland, 
Dec. 28, 1846. 

The Hunter family is of Scottish de 
scent, but Mr. Hunter s great-grandfather 
left Scotland and settled in County Derry, 
Ireland, where his son James was born. The 
latter was a tenant farmer there and spent 
his whole life in his native place. All the 
family were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Hugh Hunter, son of James, grew up on 
his father-s farm, but after following agri 
cultural pursuits awhile he learned the art of 
weaving linen, at which he and his family 
worked at home. He was twice married, 
first to Miss Margaret Bolton, by whom he 



had the following children : Archibald, who 
died in Michigan ; James, who died at St. 
Mary s, Out. ; Hugh, deceased in Michigan ; 
Martha, deceased ; Isabella. Mrs. William 
Thomas; and Mary, widow of James 
Hunter, residing in Manitoba. Mrs. Mar 
garet Hunter died in Ireland, and her hus 
band afterward married Miss Sarah Millan. 
John was the only child of this union born in 
the old country, and the following six were 
born in Canada: Martha, deceased wife of 
William Bell, of Arkona, Ont. ; Nancy, Mrs. 
Richard Shepard, of St. Mary s, Ont. ; Mar 
garet, deceased wife of Andrew Matheson, a 
merchant in Sarnia ; Elizabeth, unmarried ; 
David, of Michigan ; and a child who died 
in infancy. 

In 1847 Hugh Hunter left Ireland with 
his family, and sailing from Belfast reached 
Quebec after a voyage of forty-five days. 
Their arrival in the new country was 
clouded at the outset by the death of the 
daughter Martha, at the quarantine station. 
The family went to Ontario, settled on a 
farm of 100 acres in Downie township, 
Perth County, and remained there six years. 
In 1853 ^ r - Hunter removed to Lambton 
County, bought a tract of 100 acres of bush 
land in Lot 22, Concession 10, and building 
a log shanty to serve as a temporary home 
started at the task of clearing his farm. The 
remainder of his life was spent there, and 
while he was not one of the earliest settlers 
he still saw considerable of pioneer life while 
getting his land under cultivation. He later 
put up a substantial house of hewed logs 
and added many improvements to the place. 
His death occurred there in 1874, at the age 
of seventy-five, and he was buried in Mc 
Kay s cemetery. Like his wife, he was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church and 
helped to organize the church of that de 
nomination in his section, and was always 
active in its work, serving as a member of 
the board of managers, and as precentor. 
Politically he was an advocate of reform and 
always supported the Liberal party. For 
some time he was a school trustee. His wife 
died in Sarnia and \vas laid to rest beside 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



249 



him. They were people of domestic tastes, 
devoted to each other and to their family, 
and of truly Christian character. 

John Hunter, son of Hugh, was only an 
infant when his parents came to Canada. He 
attended school first in Perth County and 
afterward in Plympton township, but the 
schools of that day were not only rough in 
construction, with s eats made from split 
basswood, but poorly taught also, and af 
forded few opportunities for securing a good 
education. Air. Hunter, however, has im 
proved himself further by reading and ob 
servation, and is a man of sound common 
sense and good judgment, well informed, 
and when called before an audience can 
make a good practical speech on the subject 
of agriculture or kindred topics. He was 
brought up on a farm, becoming familiar 
with all the details of the work, and when 
only fifteen was able to assume charge of his 
father s farm, as the latter s increasing age 
necessitated his retiring. When eighteen he 
further engaged in the timber business dur 
ing the winter seasons, buying tracts of tim 
ber and dealing in staves, spokes and rail 
road ties. He employed several. men and 
made timber for the European markets. 
This business he conducted for nine years. 

Meantime Mr. Hunter had also become 
interested in real estate, and engaged in buy 
ing and selling farms, etc. In 1881 he 
"bought his present property. 100 acres in 
Lot 12, Concession i, formerly owned by 
Mr. Rolling, and on which was a small log 
house. In 1881 he sold the old homestead, 
and moved to the new farm, where he set 
tled down to an uninterrupted farmer s life. 
While he did some general farming he de 
voted most of his time to stock raising and 
made a specialty of sheep raising. He has 
been the largest sheep owner in the town 
ship and is the only one having the Dorset 
horned sheep, the only kind that breed twice 
a year. Mr. Hunter uses method in all his 
affairs, keeps a strict account of his receipts 
and expenditures, takes an account of the 
stock every year, and is a very exact and 
thorough business man. At the Fat Stock 
Show at Guelph, Out., Mr. Hunter s stock 



usually carries off the prizes, at the last ex 
hibition taking two of the five prizes offered, 
against sheep that took prizes at the World s 
Fair at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1898 oil 
was discovered on his property, and he now 
has several gas and oil wells. In the same 
year his dwelling of hewn logs gave place 
to a substantial structure of concrete, de 
signed by Mr. Hunter, himself, and the only 
house of the kind in the township; it is 
fitted with all modern improvements and 
cost about $2.000. His farm is thoroughly 
up-to-date in all its equipments, and is one 
of the best kept in that section. 

Politically Mr. Hunter is an ardent Lib 
eral, but while keenly interested in public 
affairs he takes no very active part and has 
never held office except as school trustee, 
which position he held seven years. He is a 
past master of the A. F. & A. M., Burns 
Lodge, of Wyonjing; of the R. A. M., Chap 
ter No. 153, of Petrolia; and of Wyoming 
Camp No. 85, Woodmen of the World. 
With his large agricultural interests he is 
naturally an active member of the Farmers 
Institute, and is vice-president of the asso 
ciation, a token of the respect and liking felt 
for him by his fellow members. A member 
of the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming, 
as is also his wife, he has served as a mem 
ber of the board of managers, is one of the 
elders, and is active in all the work of the 
church. 

On Dec. 29, 1884. in Wyoming, Mr. 
Hunter was married, by Rev. George Cuth- 
bertson, to Miss Barbara Ross, who was 
born in Zorra township, Oxford County, 
daughter of Hector and Jane (Park) Ross. 
Mrs. Hunter is not only a lady of culture 
and refined tastes, devoted to her home and 
family, but also one who could enter into 
her husband s life in other ways, and much 
of his success is due to her encouragement 
and suggestions. Two children were born 
to them : Jane Millan, who died at the age 
of one year; and Hugh Mowatt, who at 
tended the Petrolia high school for three 
years and is now at home assisting his 
father. 

The Ross familv, to which Mrs. Hunter 



250 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



belongs, is of Scottish descent. Her grand 
father, William Ross, was born in Suther- 
landshire, Scotland, and there grew to 
manhood. He enlisted in the Artillery 
Corps of the British Army, was under Sir 
John Moore, and lost an arm in the service. 
Afterward he fitted himself for a teacher, 
brought his family to Canada, and settled in 
Oxford County, Out, where he taught 
for many years. He was one of the oldest 
landowners in the county and lived and died 
there. He was a lifelong Presbyterian. 
Twice married, his son Hector, Mrs. 
Hunter s father, was born to the first union. 

Hector Ross, also a native of Suther- 
landshire, learned the trade of a miller, and 
after coming to Canada followed his calling 
there in Zorra township for many years. 
From there he went to Woodstock and con 
ducted a general store. Thence in 1863 he 
removed to Wyoming, Ont., where he fol 
lowed his trade of miller until his death in 
1867, at the age of fifty-four. He married 
Miss Jane Park of Brantford, Ont., born in 
London, England, Jan. 17, 1820, of Scot 
tish parentage. She is still living, making 
her home with Mr. and Mrs. Hunter. She 
is active with all her faculties clear, and is of 
kind and naturally refined disposition. For 
long years a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, she is of a truly Christian char 
acter. Children as follows were born to her 
and Mr. Ross : Hector, State inspector of 
mills for Montana ; Robert, of California, 
formerly a merchant in Petrolia ; Donald, a 
traveling salesman of Sarnia ; Anna, who 
married first William Hartley, of Plympton, 
and second, Henry Marriott; Alexander, 
who died in early manhood; Barbara, Mrs. 
Hunter; John, of St. Louis, Missouri; 
James, agent for the Canadian Pacific rail 
road at St. Thomas ; and four other children 
who died young. 

Although but ten or twelve years of age 
when her family came to this country Mrs. 
Ross still remembers the voyage of seven 
weeks and three days, under Capt. Hicks, 
with a cargo of gunpowder and boxes of 
tin, there being very few passengers, about 
twenty-five. The Park family came direct 



to Hamilton, Ont., where they had letters 
of introduction from the Nisbet Publishing 
Company, Berners street, London, England, 
to the firm of Gilispie & Moffat, also several 
dozen of books from the Nisbet Company to 
distribute in the Sunday-schools of Hamil 
ton. They later settled in Brantford where 
Mr. Park opened up a boot and shoe business, 
a trade which he conducted in the old coun 
try, having among his patrons the Marquis 
of Lothian, the Duke and Duchess of St. Al- 
bins, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts and oth 
ers. The family, not a large one, have all 
passed away, and lie side by side in Green 
wood cemetery, Brantford, Mrs. Ross being 
the last surviving member. 

SAMUEL MADDOCK. Quietly living 
upon Lot 8, Concession 9, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, Samuel Maddock is en 
joying a peaceful old age, surrounded by his 
loved ones and the comforts procured by- 
many years of hard work. His birth oc 
curred in Northamptonshire, England, Dec. 
12, 1826, and he is a son of William and 
Elizabeth Maddock, both of whom were 
born in Shropshire, England. 

William Maddock was a gardener on the 
estate of a great noble, and he and his wife 
both died in England. Of their family, 
John and Edward remained in England, 
where they were both largely engaged in 
manufacturing; Joseph, one of the children 
to emigrate, is a retired farmer located at 
East Jordan, Charlevoix county, Michigan;. 
William is married and lives on the loth 
Concession in Brooke township; Samuel is 
mentioned below. 

Samuel Maddock made the long and 
tiresome voyage of eight w r eeks duration to 
Canada in 1848, on a sailing vessel, via 
Quebec. For three years prior to coming to 
Brooke township he worked on shares on a 
farm at Katesville, now Strathroy, Ont. He 
then rented a farm in Adelaide township, 
but at the end of two years began work on 
the government road between Katesville and 
Mt. Brydges, being on different railroads 
until 1857, when he purchased his present 
farm at a time when this locality was all 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



wilderness, there being no roads cut through. 
The only path was a narrow trail he and his 
brother William cut, and in the midst of all 
this timber he erected a log house. He and 
his wife began their married life as pioneers 
of the new country. 

In 1848 Mr. Maddock married Miss 
Rachel Sharp, born in England in August, 
1820, daughter of Thomas Sharp, who died 
in England. Mrs. Maddock was educated 
for the profession of nurse, but abandoned 
it to marry Mr. Maddock. Upon their wed 
ding day the happy couple left England, and 
eventually found a permanent home among 
the dense forests of Lambton County. Mrs. 
Maddock died in November, 1891, leaving 
her sorrowing husband, five daughters and 
three sons : John, born in Canada, is unmar 
ried and resides at home, engaged in farm 
ing on an adjoining farm.; Anna M. married 
William Johnston, a farmer of Brooke town 
ship, and they have a family of eight chil 
dren, William, Charles, Albert, Lettie, Mary, 
Mabel, John R. and Edith; Eliza died in 
1901, unmarried; Miss Maria J. resides with 
her father, having charge of his household; 
Lucy married John McDerment, of the gth 
Concession ; Miss Emma is at home; Charles 
is unmarried and owns a farm on the 8th 
Concession, Brooke township; William G., 
residing on the 8th Concession, married 
Miss Sophia Hand, of Brooke, and has three 
children, Charles, Samuel J. and Rubie M. 

In religion Mr. Maddock and his family 
are members of the English Church, which 
they liberally support. Politically Mr. Mad- 
dock is a Conservative, but he has never de 
sired office. After more than half a century 
Mr. Maddock looks back over his career 
in this locality and is justly proud of his 
success, which was won through honest ef 
fort and thrift. He and his wife reared a 
large family to be representative men and 
women, and made their name honored 
throughout the county. 

WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, reeve in 
Enniskillen. is one of the prosperous farmers 
of that region, and one who owes his success 
to his own unaided effort. 



Mr. Willoughby was born June 9, 1852, 
in County Kilkenny, Ireland, son of Thomas 
and Ann (Brennan) Willoughby, who came 
with their children to Canada some time be 
fore 1857. Thomas Willoughby and his 
wife were both natives of County Kilkenny, 
Ireland, the former born in 1818, the latter 
in 1820. On coming to Canada, they set 
tled first in Brockville, and from there came 
to Brooke township, Lambton County, 
where they took up a tract of wild bush land, 
which they cleared and where they built a 
log house for their first home. After a 
number of years, they sold this place and 
came to live on Lot 28, Concession 10, En 
niskillen, where the remainder of Thomas 
Willoughby s life was passed. He became 
one of the prosperous farmers of Enniskillen 
township, and lived until Jan. 28, 1902. His 
aged wife still survives and lives at the 
homestead. Thomas Willoughby was a 
member of the English Church. In politics 
he was a Conservative. He was the father 
of ten children, as follows : ( i ) John, 
born in Ireland, grew up in Canada 
and married Lena Miller, of Lambton 
County ; they have no children, and reside 
on Concession n, Enniskillen. (2) Alice, 
born in Ireland, married William Wilson, of 
Alma, Elgin County, and has a large fam- 
i X- (3) W illiam is mentioned below. (4) 
Thomas, born in Canada, in 1858, died in 
early manhood; he married Bella Boey, of 
Lambton County, and they settled in 
Sanilac, Michigan; they had one child. (5) 
Robert, born in Brooke township, in 1860, 
ss unmarried, and living on the homestead 
with his mother. (6) Ellen, born in Brooke 
township in 1862 married Andrew Atchison, 
now living in retirement at Watford, Ont. ; 
their two children are Frederick and Cecil. 
The remaining children of Thomas and Ann 
Brennan Willoughby died in childhood. 

William Willoughby was brought to 
Canada by his parents when a mere infant, 
and grew up in Brooke township, where he 
received a district school education. He 
began his business life by working in the 
lumber camps, and engaging in farm work. 
After his marriage he worked a farm in 



252 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Brooke township for a time, and in 1877 
bought his present property, Lot 23, Conces 
sion 10, Enniskillen, which was then all wild 
land. He has cleared a large part of 200 
acres of this land, and built two houses upon 
it, his present home being a commodious, 
modern dwelling, with every comfort and 
convenience. He is also the owner of a farm 
on Concession 1 1, and his two good farms in 
Enniskillen, all purchased through his own 
unaided energy and industry. 

On April 15, 1873, Mr. Willoughby 
married Maggie J. Moore, who was born in 
County Monaghan, Ireland, Sept. 28, 1852. 
Her father, George Moore, died in Ireland, 
after which event her mother came to Can 
ada where she spent her last days, and where 
her daughter grew up and was educated. 

The children of William and Maggie J. 
(Moore) Willoughby, are as follows: (i) 
Edward J.. born in Brooke township, re 
ceived his education in the township of En 
niskillen ; he is unmarried, and engaged at 
his trade of carpenter in Manitoba ; he be 
longs to the order of Workmen. (2) Mar 
garet A., born in Brooke township, is the 
wife of Rev. E. G. Johnson, a native of 
Lambton County, and a minister of the 
Methodist Church ; they have no children, 
and reside at present in Bellbranch, Mich 
igan. (3) William T., born in Brooke town 
ship, is unmarried, and living at the home 
stead, engaged in farming. (4) May J. 
was born in the present family home, where 
she grew up ; she is unmarried, and living 
at home, a young lady of culture and refine 
ment. 

In politics Mr. Willoughby has always 
been identified with the old Conservative 
party, and although he has never cared for 
office, he has been elected to serve as reeve 
and councillor for his township. He 
served as deputy reeve for seven years, was 
reeve during the years 1897 and 1904 and 
again elected to the office in 1905, and still 
fills the position. Altogether he has held 
these posts for twelve years. 

The family are all members of the Meth 
odist Church, where for twenty years Mr. 
Willoughgy has held the position of steward 



and of recording steward. He has also been 
superintendent of the Sunday-school for a 
number of years. Mr. Willoughby is a mem 
ber of the Independent Order of Foresters, 
Lodge No. 42, Petrolia. He is eminently a 
self-made man, and one of the most prom 
inent and esteemed citizens of Enniskillen. 
He is well known both in public affairs and 
as an active church worker and member, and 
no resident of the region has a brighter or 
more honorable record than he. 

LACHLAN LINDSAY. The inestim 
able service rendered any community by its 
pioneers is such as to place them among true 
makers of history, and to give to their de 
scendants a certain prestige. One of the 
families connected with the growth and de 
velopment of western Ontario is that of 
Lindsav, of which Lachlan Lindsay, reeve 

t 

of Brooke township, is a worthy represen 
tative. He was born March 14, 1858, on 
his present home on Lot 23, Concession 9, 
son of Archibald and Margaret (Leitch) 
Lindsay. 

John Lindsay, the grandfather of Lach 
lan Lindsay, was a native of Scotland, who, 
on emigrating to Canada in 1837, became a 
pioneer of Ekfrid township, Middlesex 
County, where he died. He and his wife, 
Christie, were the parents of the following 
children besides Archibald, the father of our 
subject ; Alexander, who died unmarried ; 
Mary, who married Duncan Campbell, and 
had six children, Charles, Peter, Christie, 
Nellie, Maggie and Archibald ; Neil, who 
died unmarried: Sarah, who married John 
Campbell, and had three children, Alexan 
der, Peter and Maggie ; Catherine, deceased ; 
Duncan, deceased ; and Maggie, deceased, 
who married a Glover, and had a daughter 
who died in infancy. All were members 
of the Presbyterian Church. 

Archibald Lindsay was born in Perth 
shire, Scotland, and there grew to maturity, 
coming in young manhood to Canada, 
where for a number of years he was a sailor 
on the lakes and was mate with Capt. Gra 
ham. In 1854 he purchased the present 
home of our subject, which at that time was 





X" 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



253 



all wild land, cleared it up, and there died. 
He was one of the first elders of the Pres 
byterian Church in Brooke township and 
gave liberally to its support. Politically he 
was a Liberal, but never sought public of 
fice. He married in Ekfrid Margaret 
Leitch, born in Ekfrid township, Middle 
sex County, daughter of Lachlan and Eliza 
beth (McClarty) Leitch. Ten children 
were born of this union, all of whom are de 
ceased except three sons : Eliza, Sarah, Mar 
garet, Christie, John and Katie are all de 
ceased. Alexander, who died May 16, 1905, 
was a hardware merchant of Imvood; he 
married Katie Monroe, of Middlesex 
County, and had children as follows Mar 
garet Johanna (Mrs. D. Taylor), Louisa 
(deceased), Archie D., Malcolm and John 
M. Duncan is unmarried and lives at the 
old home. Archie is at home. Lachlan com 
pletes the family. All work the farm of 150 
acres. 

Lachlan and Elizabeth (McClarty) 
Leitch were married in their native Scotch 
Highlands. On coming to Canada, in 1830, 
they located in Aldborough, whence they 
came, after two years, to Ekfrid, and took 
up 100 acres of land, passing the remainder 
of their lives engaged in farming. They 
were members of the Presbyterian Church 
and reared their children in that faith. Their 
children were : Catherine, deceased, who 
married Malcolm McKellar, and had seven 
children ; Effie, deceased, who married Du- 
gald McKellar, and had nine children : Janet, 
deceased, who married John Downey, and 
had a family; William, a retired farmer of 
Oakdale, Ont. who married Margaret Mc- 
Dougall, and has seven children; Margaret, 
mother of Lachlan Lindsay; Malcolm, de 
ceased, who married Catherine McVicker, 
and had eight children ; Elizabeth, deceased, 
who married William Gow. and had six chil 
dren ; and Sarah, deceased, who married 
Hugh Leitch. and had one son, Archibald, 
who married Terressa White. 

Lachlan Lindsay was reared to manhood 
on the home farm, upon which he has always 
lived. At the death of his father he became 
manager of the homestead, built a large 



brick residence, and made general improve 
ments. In 1897 he became a member of the 
Brooke council, and in 1899 \vas elected to 
the office of reeve, and has served as such up 
to the present time, with the exception of 
one year. He has also been trustee of the 
Brooke school board. In politics he is a 
Liberal. 

Mr. Lindsay s sterling character has been 
recognized by his fellow-citizens, and he has 
served them in many capacities, and has al 
ways upheld the dignity of office. He may 
justly be considered, not only a worthy rep 
resentative of the best class of residents of 
this section, but of one of its most honorable 
families. 

ROBERT MOORHOUSE, one of the 
representative men of Euphemia township, 
Lambton County, a large stock and grain 
farmer, who is located on Concession 5, Lot 
25, was born on the present home place Sept. 
17, 1840, son of William and Catherine 
(Pearce) Moorhouse. 

This is one of the early families of the 
county. William Moorhouse was born in 
County Wickford, Ireland, in December, 
1805, son of Thomas and Jane (Hopkins) 
Moorhouse, who came to Euphemia in 1824, 
and settled on Concession 2, where the father 
cleared up a home from wild land. There 
he lived until his death, being at that time 
one of the prosperous farmers of the local 
ity. While stopping for a time at Port Stan 
ley, while the father was closing his land 
deal with Col. Talbot, one of the little chil 
dren of the family was accidentally drowned, 
and it was with saddened hearts the family 
settled in a new home in a strange land. 

Mr. Moorhouse was a man of progres 
sive spirit and enlightened view, and he built 
on his own farm the first log school and 
church in Euphemia. He was a consistent 
Methodist, and his home was always head 
quarters for the traveling ministry. He was 
survived by his wife a number of years, she 
living to be ninety years of age. They left 
five sons and five daughters, namely : John, 
William, Henry, Joseph and Thomas were 
all born in Ireland, but settled and died in 



254 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Euphemia; Ann, deceased, was formerly 
wife of William Pearce of the County of 
Elgin, and left a family; Jane married Rich 
ard Wilson of Lambton County, both de 
ceased, survived by children ; Eliza, deceased, 
was the wife of John Pearce, who died in 
Elgin County, leaving a family; Susan, de 
ceased, was the wife of Joseph Backus, of 
Kent County, and left a family; and Sarah, 
who resides on the old homestead, is the only 
survivor of the children of Thomas and 
Jane Moorehouse. 

William Moorhouse, father of our sub 
ject, was eighteen years old when his pa 
rents came to Canada, and his assistance was 
considerable in clearing up the wild land and 
making it a comfortable home. He subse 
quently purchased the farm now occupied by 
his son Robert, and succeeded in crearing up 
the larger portion of it before his death. He 
was given 100 acres by Col. Talbot adjoin 
ing his other property. 

William Moorhouse was married Dec. 
20, 1830, by Rev. Mark Brigham, to Cath 
erine Pearce, born in Canada, daughter of 
John and Frances Pearce, who settled in 
Dumvich township, Elgin County, where 
Mrs. Moorhouse was raised, and there her 
parents reared a large family and spent the 
rest of their lives. William Moorhouse and 
wife settled right in the woods, on the pres 
ent homestead, where he built a log house, 
which, in course of time was replaced by a 
substantial brick house, which is now a 
part of the home of Robert Moorhouse. 
Here his wife died in 1850, but he survived 
until 1889, passing away after a life filled 
with good deeds, leaving behind him mem 
ories reflecting credit upon him in every 
position in life with which he was associated. 
He was a very active member of the Meth 
odist Church, and was one of the contribu 
tors to the erection of the frame church 
building on the ground donated for the pur 
pose by his father, this in turn being sup 
planted by the present handsome brick 
church, and to the building of the latter 
our subject generously contributed. Thus 
the three generations of one family have pro 



moted the extending of religious privileges, 
and have shown their consistency by practi 
cal means. 

In politics William Moorhouse was al 
ways identified with the Liberal party, and 
was an active worker, and, on account of 
his reliable character, was frequently elected 
to office, at various times being councillor, 
assessor and collector, and was also township 
clerk. His public offices were always admin 
istered with a faithfulness to duty which as 
sured him the approbation of his fellow men. 

The nine children born to William and 
Catherine Moorhouse were : John, born on 
the old homestead, married Alary A. Lang- 
ford, of Euphemia, and settled on Conces 
sion 2, where he died, leaving a widow and 
nine children, who still reside on their old 
homestead; Thomas, married Hannah 
Mounteer, born in England, has three chil 
dren, and they live retired on their farm in 
Euphemia township; William L. married 
Maria Waddell, of Kent County, has four 
children and lives retired in Chatham; 
Frances is the widow of John McDonald, of 
Kent County; Robert; Mary A. P., deceased, 
was the wife of Timothy Guild, who died 
near Blenheim, leaving no family; Joseph 
married Jane Huson. of Lower Canada, set 
tled for a time as a farmer in Tilbury, Kent 
County, but in 1895 moved to Hamilton, 
Missouri, where he is engaged in farming; 
Catherine married David Wilson, a farmer 
near London, Ont, and they have a family; 
Susannah married James J. Waddell. of Til 
bury, Kent County, and has four children, 
Amelia, Ella, William H. and Stanley. 

Robert Moorhouse was fifth in the order 
of birth, and he grew up on the homestead 
where he has always followed the occupa 
tion of a farmer. On Oct. 30, 1872, he 
married Miss Louisa S. Culham, born in 
March, 1849, in York County, Ont., daugh 
ter of Joseph and Sage (Rowland) Culham, 
and a member of a pioneer family which 
came from Wales to York County. Joseph 
Culham engaged in farming and died in 
1851. His widow survived until May, 
1904. They left five children, viz. : Trunr. .n, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



-33 



-who is a farmer in Xorthwest Canada ; Mar 
tin, a resident of Alberta, who married and 
has a family; Joseph, who married, settled 
and died at Hamilton, a prominent lawyer, 
and is survived by children ; Maria, born in 
York County, now the wife of George Clark- 
son, near Toronto; and Mrs. Moorhouse. 

Mrs. Moorhouse grew to womanhood 
and was educated in the County of York, and 
has become the mother of a large family of 
children by whom she is devotedly beloved. 
These are: Xellie S. ; Llyellan A. was edu 
cated in the Agricultural College at Guelph, 
Ont., and has rilled a position in the Okla 
homa College, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for 
the past three years; Leslie P. married 
Bertha Brownlee, daughter of Christopher 
and Sarah Brownlee of Concession 8, in 
Euphemia, has one daughter, Gladys, and 
lives on Concession 5 ; George E. is at home ; 
Ethel is accomplished in music which she 
teaches; Walter was educated in Glencoe 
High School and Hamilton Normal College, 
and is now a teacher at Wallacetown, Elgin 
County, where he fills the position of princi 
pal; Reginald L., Roland and Robert D., 
are all at home. 

Since marriage Mr. Moorhouse has im 
proved his homestead very much, building a 
large brick addition in modern style and 
making it one of the really fine homes of this 
locality. He has purchased more land, and 
is now the owner of 350 acres of cultivated 
land, this placing him with the very sub 
stantial men of the township. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Moorhouse are con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church in 
which he is one of the stewards, and of 
which he has been a trustee for many years. 
Politically he has always been identified with 
the old Liberal party, and, like his late 
father, has held the confidence of his fellow 
men to such an extent that they have fre 
quently pressed offices of responsibility upon 
him, electing him councillor for five" years, 
school trustee for fifteen years and treas 
urer for six years. He is a member of the 
order of Foresters of Newbury, Middlesex 
County. 



JOSEPH TURXBULL, a well-known 
resident of Moore township, who is living 
retired in Corunna, Ont., is of Scotch de 
scent and comes from an old family whose 
name originally was Stewart. Tradition 
accounts for the change in nomenclature by 
the story of one "\Yilliam Stewart, who was 
a man of great strength and noted for his 
prowess as a bull-fighter. On one occasion 
after an unusually fierce struggle, witnessed 
by large crowds, he succeeded in turning 
the bull, and the people were so delighted 
that they named him on the spot "William- 
turn-the-bull, which in time was contracted 
to the form now designating the family. 

The first of the name to come to Amer 
ica was William Turnbull, a native of Gala- 
shiels, where he grew to manhood and fol 
lowed the calling of a farm laborer. He 
married a Miss Agnes Huggins. and the 
newly wedded pair left almost immediately 
for Canada, settling first in Toronto, then 
known as Muddy York, where he found em 
ployment. There their first child was born, 
but died very soon; about the same time a 
neighbor, Mrs. Baldwin, died, leaving an 
infant, and the child was given over to Mrs. 
Turnbull s care. This foster-son afterward 
became Bishop Baldwin, of the Church of 
England, bishcp of the Diocese of Huron, 
whose death occurred in October, 1904. at 
London, Ont. After a year or more in the 
vicinity of Toronto. Mr. Turnbull and his 
wife moved west to Lambton County where 
they were among the first settlers of Moore 
township. During the rebellion of 1837-38, 
he served as a volunteer, doing his full duty 
as a loyal British subject. After peace was 
declared he settled down on his newly ac 
quired property, 100 acres of bush land 
which he had bought from Col. Sinclair, 
and started in on the arduous task of clear 
ing it. In time he got it under cultivation, 
built a good dwelling and barns, and made 
it into a good farm. He worked hard, lived 
an upright, honest life, and was much re 
spected. He reached a ripe old age, 
active to the last, but finally died Oct. 4, 
1900, in the home of his son Joseph, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



was buried in Union cemetery, Moore 
Town. 

Mr. Turnbull was an ardent Reformer 
and enthusiastic for his party. In the early 
days it \vas necessary to go to Sandwich to 
cast a vote, hut he, with a few others of like 
principles, always walked the fifty miles in 
order to do his full duty as a citizen. In 
Scotland he had been a member of the Con 
gregational Church, but as there was none 
of that denomination in Lambton County, 
he united with the Presbyterian Church in 
Corunna, to which his wife also belonged. 
Mrs. Turnbull s death occurred many years 
before her husband s, Nov. 21, 1887, and 
she was buried in the same cemetery that he 
was afterward interred in. Ten children 
were born to William and Agnes Turnbull, 
but Joseph is the only one now living. The 
others were Jeanette and Joseph (who both 
died in infancy), Thomas, William, James, 
Mary (who married Samuel McGurk, of 
Arcola, N. W. T.), Ella, George and Lizzie. 

Joseph Turnbull was born in Moore 
township, Oct. 22, 1841, and received his 
education in the district school, a little log 
cabin with plank benches and slab seats. His 
opportunities there were limited, indeed, and 
from early boyhood he worked with his 
father on the farm. He remained at home 
until he was twenty-three, and then started 
on his own account on a ico-acre tract in 
Lot 25, Concession 6. He built a little log 
cabin and began clearing the land, selling 
cordwood and staves from the timber which 
he felled, as there was a good market for 
them in Moore Town. He devoted his at 
tention strictly to the task, and by hard work 
got his place under cultivation and in time 
became prosperous. In 1885 he built a 
handsome brick house at an expense of over 
$2,000, put up new barns and added many 
improvements. He has added to his orig 
inal purchase and now operates 125 acres. 
He is erecting a fine brick house in Corunna, 
and will move there on its completion. A 
good Reformer, he has been active in behalf 
of his party, and has filled the office of school 
trustee, being secretary and treasurer of the 



board. He was a good son to his father, in 
his old age, is a loyal citizen and a kind hus 
band and father. 

In 1865 Mr. Turnbull was married to 
Miss Nancy Ellis, daughter of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Ellis, of Corunna. She is a 
woman of very charitable disposition and 
with many good traits. She and her hus 
band both belong to the Presbyterian Church, 
where he holds the office of warden. Nine 
children have been born to this union, as 
follows : William, a farmer on the 7th Line, 
Moore township, who married Miss Jennie 
Forbes, daughter of Henry Forbes, of Sar- 
nia ; Elizabeth, Mrs. James Bloom, of Dawn 
township; Ella, who married Oliver Smith, 
of the 8th Line, Moore township ; Hanford, 
who married Wesley Smith, of the 8th Line, 
Moore township; Lottie, Maude, James, 
Roy and Ellis, all at home. The family are 
well known and popular. 

ROBERT MONTGOMERY was for 
many years before his death among the en 
terprising farmers of Enniskillen township, 
residing on Lot 16, Concession 13. He was 
born in Ireland Jan. 14, 1837, son of James 
and Sarah (Houston) Montgomery. 

James Montgomery and his wife were 
born and married in County Tyrone, Ire 
land, and came to Canada in 1845, locating 
in Halton County. In 1851 they removed 
to Lambton County, purchasing and settling 
on the farm now owned and occupied by 
Thomas W. Montgomery, their grandson. 
Mr. Montgomery became prominent as a 
successful agriculturist, and was active in 
the public affairs of the locality, serving as 
councillor and school trustee. He died in 
October, 1885, aged seventy-five, his wife 
preceding him to the grave in June, 1866, at 
the age of sixty-five. They belonged to the 
Church of England. Their children were as 
follows: Robert, who is mentioned below; 
Catherine, who married Alexander Hume, 
had six children, and died in Lambton 
County; William, a farmer of Virden, Man., 
who married Elizabeth Medcalf, and had 
nine children; James (deceased in Lamb- 




ROBERT MONTGOMERY 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



257 



ton County), who married Elizabeth Mont 
gomery, and had two children ; and two who 
died young in Ireland. 

Robert Montgomery came to Canada 
when a boy, and was married in Sarnia 
township, Feb. 28, 1865, to Miss Jane Rals 
ton, who was born in Trafalgar, County of 
Halton, March 10, 1847. They settled on 
the Enniskillen farm, which he cleared from 
its original wild state. He was a man of 
unusual intelligence and took a prominent 
part in the life of the county, as he was for 
twenty-five years a director of the Lambton 
County Agricultural Society. He was an 
authority on all things concerning horses, 
sheep and cattle generally, and was called to 
various parts of Canada to decide upon 
prizes at fairs, etc. He usually had on hand 
about twenty horses, and many sheep, and 
took pride in raising fine animals. He raised 
five thoroughbred racing horses. Mr. Mont 
gomery served as magistrate for many years. 
His political affiliation was with the Grits, 
of which party he was a stanch adherent. 
He was also an active worker in the Presby 
terian Church. His death occurred Aug. 25, 
1894. and was sincerely lamented by all who 
knew him. In character and conduct he was 
worthy of the high esteem accorded him. and 
by his honesty, kindliness and conscientious 
ness had won numbers of friends. He left a 
wife and six children, namely: (i) James 
A., born Tan. 7, 1866. is mentioned below. 
(2) Sarah, born July 5. 1868. married 
Alexander McKercher. of Petrolia, and has 
two children, Laurel E. and Xorma A. (3) 
Thomas, born June 21, 1870, lives on Con 
cession 13. He "married Miss Annie Cramm, 
of Enniskillen, and has five children. Robert, 
Hazel, Margery. Alexander M. and Alfred 
K. (4) Mattie, born April 23. 1873. lives 
at home, unmarried. (5) Lizzie, born May 
27, 1875. married Alfred Kirkpatrick, a 
farmer in Concession 10, Enniskillen. (6) 
Isabella, born March 24, 1878. is unmarried 
and at home. 

Mrs. Jane (Ralston) . Montgomery was 
born in " Trafalgar, County of Halton, 
March 10, 1847. daughter of James and 
Jane (Shields) Ralston, of Ireland, who 

17 



came to Canada when young and were mar 
ried in Toronto. He was a hatter by trade, 
but followed farming in Canada. They 
came to Lambton County in 1857, and lo 
cated in Sarnia township, later, in 1867, 
moving to Petrolia, where he engaged in the 
oil business, which he followed until a few 
years prior to his death. He sold out and 
retired, and died in 1887, aged seventy-two 
years, his wife dying ten months previously; 
They were members of the Methodist 
church. They had fifteen children, all of 
whom grew up but the youngest, and all 
married. 

JAMES A. MONTGOMERY was born Jan. 
7, 1866, on the homestead which is now 
his property. He was given a fair educa 
tion in the Enniskillen schools, and remain 
ed at home until his marriage, Dec. 27, 
1893, to Miss Maggie Harkness. He moved 
onto the farm which he now occupies, and 
after Robert Montgomery s death the place 
passed into the hands of the son, and be 
came his homestead. On May 26, 1897, 
the old house burned down, and was re 
placed by a fine dwelling, equipped with 
every modern convenience. Mr. Montgom 
ery has been very successful in his farming 
operations and is one of the prosperous 
landowners of the township. To him and 
his wife have been born two daughters, 
Ethel, July 25, 1896, and Jean H., Sept. 8, 
1899. 

Mrs. Montgomery was born in Petrolia 
July 25, 1869, daughter of David and Eva 
(Howard) Harkness, who were among the 
early settlers at Oil Springs. Mr. Hark 
ness was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 
in 1821, and his wife in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, in 1831. They came to 
Lambton County soon after their marriage^ 
and settling first at Oil Springs moved later 
to Petrolia, where Mr. Harkness death oc 
curred in 1894. His wife is still living and 
makes her home with one of their children. 
They were the parents of five children, 
namely: Samuel F., London manager of a 
Chatham company, married Miss Annie 
Campbell, of Alvinston, and has three chil 
dren. Frederick, David and Elma. David, 



258 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



born in Lambton County, is a carpenter at 
Findlay, Ohio, where lie and his wife live; 
they have one son, John \V. Eva is the wife 
of W. C. North, of Findlay, Ohio. Jennie 
L., born in Petrolia, married Joseph Span- 
gler, of Findlay, and has one daughter, 
Ruth. Maggie, wife of Mr. Montgomery, 
was reared and educated in Petrolia. 

James A. Montgomery and his wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. Po 
litically he is a Reformer, but he has never 
taken any very active part in politics nor as 
pired to office. He is much interested in 
fraternal orders, and belongs to the Wood 
men of Wyoming and the Orangemen of 
Enniskillen. Mr. Montgomery is highly 
thought of in the township and has many 
warm friends. 

CHARLES I. POSTIL, one of the 
most prominent and widely known farmers 
of Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
residing on his finely cultivated farm on 
Concession 7, Lot 2, was born Aug. 19, 
1862, and has been identified with the agri 
cultural interests of the township all his life. 
He is a son of William and Sarah (Bow 
man) Postil, natives of Yorkshire, England, 
the former of whom was born in January, 
1822. 

Thomas Postil, grandfather of our sub 
ject, was married twice: first to Hannah 
Moody, who bore him one son, William. 
By his second marriage Thomas Postil had 
two children, Thomas, of England; and 
Anne, deceased, who married Solomon 
Smith. 

William Postil came to Canada, via Que 
bec, the voyage lasting eight weeks, and set 
tled in Toronto, where he lived for some 
time. Later he removed to Whitby, Ontario 
County, where for twenty-seven years he 
rented a farm, being eighteen years with one 
man, S. B. Fairbanks. In 1872 he brought 
his family to Lambton County, where he 
purchased a farm on Concession 8, Lot i, 
where he lived until a year ago, when he 
came to live with his son, Charles I., at whose 
home he died March n, 1905. For twenty 
years William Postil was postmaster of Os- 



siam, a position which his son Frank now 
holds. He was a man of the highest integrity 
and held the esteem of all who knew him; 
being a man of genial, lovable disposition, 
he made warm friends of his neighbors, who 
in the course of time gathered in the vicinity 
and with him assisted in the development of 
that choice part of the county. 

William Postil married Sarah Bowman, 
born in 1825, daughter of George and Ann 
Bowman, who died in England. To this 
union eight children were born : Annie E., 
born in 1846, in Toronto, died at the age 
of seventeen; George B., born in 1848, in 
Whitby, died in childhood ; Francis T., 
born in 1860, residing on a part of his 
father s old home in Moore township, mar 
ried Miss Mary Sykes, of Lambton 
County, and has five children, Albert, Anne, 
George, Alfred and Cecelia ; Fred, born in 
1851, and residing on a part of the old home 
in Moore, married Miss Maggie Brown, of 
Moore, and has had seven children, namely, 
William, Eliza, Frederick, Harry, Norman, 
Edna and Guy, all of whom are living ex 
cept Frederick; Eliza H., born in 1855, mar 
ried Samuel Mark, an engineer in the oil 
fields of Moore township, and has four chil 
dren, Lettie (who married William St. 
Mary, of Plympton township, and has two 
children, Verna and Rita), Edith (who 
married George Smith, of Brownsville and 
has one son, Delmar), Arthur and Stanley; 
Mary H., born in 1857, married Thomas 
Johnston, of Moore township; George W., 
born in 1859, residing on a part of the old 
homestead, married Miss Bella Brennan, of 
Enniskillen township.and lias two sons, 
Lloyd and George \V. ; and Charles I. 

Charles I. Postil received his education 
in the district schools and remained at home 
until his marriage to Miss Jane Thompson, 
in 1886. She was born in Moore township 
in June, 1865. the daughter, of Joseph 
and Mary (Kinder) Thompson, and re 
ceived a fine education in the public 
schools of Lambton County. Mr. and Mrs. 
Postil settled on the homestead in Moore, 
where they remained ten years, at which 
time Mr. Postil purchased his present home 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



259 



on Concession 7, which he greatly improved, 
erecting a fine bank barn. To Charles I. 
Postil and his wife, five children have been 
born: Ethel, born in 1887, is a student at 
the Petrolia high school ; Alice, born in 
1889; Olive, born in 1894; Russel E., born 
in 1897; and Clifford Charles, born April 
14, 1905. Politically, Mr. Postil is a Con 
servative. In religion the fantily is con 
nected with the Church of England, of 
which they are liberal supporters. 

Charles I. Postil has been a tireless 
worker and a practical man of business, ac 
quiring a handsome competency during his 
long and active career. He is a man of the 
highest type and has many stanch friends 
throughout Lambton County, by whom he 
is highly respected for his honesty and many 
sterling qualities. 

HENRY LIDDON is well known 
among the leading citizens of Brooke town 
ship, where he is engaged in butchering and 
stock dealing. He was born in the County 
of Kent, England, Feb. 9, 1853, son of 
Thomas C. and Charlotte (Jeffries) Liddon, 
natives of England, the former born in 
Weymouth in 1819, and the latter in Surrey 
in 1822. 

Thomas Liddon was a commercial trav 
eler, an occupation he followed until within 
a short time prior to his death, which oc 
curred in 1854. His wife survived him until 
1900, when she passed away, the mother of 
four children: Lydia, widow of William 
Henley, formerly a baker and confectioner, 
of England, has one child. William; Sarah, 
born in England, is the wife of David Alli 
son, of London, England, by whom she has 
had eight children, among whom are Rich 
ard. William and James; Thomas J., born 
in 1851, who located in Niagara Falls in 
1871, where he followed his trade of brick 
laying, also being a mechanic, and who now 
resides at Niagara, on the American side, 
where he has a permanent business, married 
Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of London, Eng 
land, and has children : Lydia, Elizabeth, 
Louisa, Laura, Cora, Gertrude, Harry, Wil 



liam, Fred and John; and Henry, our sub 
ject. 

Henry Liddon was educated in the par 
ish schools of England, where he grew to 
manhood and learned the butcher s trade. 
In 1873 he sailed from Liverpool to I .ns- 
ton, and worked at Fall River, Massachu 
setts, for some five years before coming to 
Canada. In 1875 he married Miss Ellen 
Gray, born in London, England, in 1851, 
daughter of John F. and Mary Gray. In 
1876 Mr. Liddon brought his wife and son 
to Canada and settled in Toronto, where he 
opened a butcher business, making that city 
his home. Eight years afterward he re 
moved to St. Thomas, where he butchered 
two years, and then removed to In wood, 
opening his butchering business there in 
1883, since which time he has been a resi 
dent of that place. He purchased real estate 
there, erecting a house and shop, and owns 
considerable other property in this village. 
For some years after locating in Inwood Mr. 
Liddon handled all of the meat for the stock 
firm of Holmes, Moore & Courtright, one 
of the leading stock and mill firms of the 
County of Lambton. Mr. Liddon also owns 
the acetylene gas plant of Inwood, with 
which he furnishes the business houses and 
residences with gas. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Liddon have been born 
eight children, as follows: (i) Thomas H., 
torn at Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1876, 
married Alice Turner, of Inwood, and is 
now manager for Frazer & Co., a dry 
goods firm of Manitoba, and is a very capa 
ble young man. He has one daughter, Ellen. 
(2) Robert W., born in Toronto in 1878, is 
a partner in his father s business. ( 3 ) 
Harry I, born in Toronto in 1881, is a 
blacksmith of Inwood. (4) James A., born 
in Inwood in 1886, works in his father s 
butcher business. (5) Edith C., born in 
Inwood in 1 888, is a student in the schools 
of Inwood. (6) Alice G., born in 1890, is 
at home. (7) George R., born in 1893. is 
a student in school. (8) One child died in 
infancy. 

Religiously Mr. Liddon and his family 



260 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



are all connected with the Church of Eng 
land, in which he takes an active part. He 
has always supported the Conservative party, 
and although never aspiring to public office 
has taken a great interest in his party s suc 
cess. He is a member of the Masonic Order 
at Alvinston, and the Independent Order of 
Foresters at Inwood, in which latter society 
he has held all of the chairs. 

JOSEPH HALL, who has been a resi 
dent of Warwick township for over half a 
century, is well known throughout Lambton 
County as a breeder of fine horses. He is of 
English parentage, and was born Oct. 14, 
1843, m tne Gore of Toronto. Ontario. 

George Hall, the grandfather of Joseph, 
was born in Doncaster, in the West Riding 
of Yorkshire, England, where he grew to 
manhood and learned the trade of wagon- 
making. There he married Miss Mary 
Blackburn, who bore him five children : 
Joseph, a printer, died in the Gore of 
Toronto ; Elizabeth married John Sherbrook, 
of Ohio, and died there; Hannah married 
Gilbert Folloitt, of Markham, Ont. ; Thomas 
became a successful lumber manufacturer in 
the village of Lloydtown, Ont. ; George be 
came the father of our subject. After mar 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Hall resided for a time in 
their native country, where Mr. Hall fol 
lowed his trade, and in the early thirties came 
to Canada, locating in the Gore of Toronto 
on a loo-acre tract, most of which was tim 
ber land. Here he established his family in 
a home and erected a shop to carry on his 
trade, wagonmaking, the material for his 
work being cut from the timber on his farm. 
Mr. Hall also followed farming in connec 
tion with working at his trade, his gnm ing- 
sons assisting in the cultivation of the land. 
When he retired from active life he went to 
live with his youngest son, George, with 
whom lie remained until a short time prior 
to his death. He died with his son Thomas, 
of Lloydtown, Ont., at the age of eighty- 
seven years, and is buried in Lloydtown. He 
was a Conservative of the old school and a 
member of the Church of England. His 
worthy wife had passed away some years 



prior to his death, and he was interred in the 
same cemetery. She was also a member of 
the Church of England. 

George Hall, the father of Joseph, and 
youngest son of George Hall ( i ) , was born 
in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, about 
1818, and there attended school. He was 
twelve years old when he crossed the Atlan 
tic with his parents, and he was reared to 
manhood on the plage in the Gore of Toronto,, 
where he continued to farm many years after 
his father s death. He purchased the old 
homestead, which he cultivated until 1850, 
in that year selling the homestead to purchase 
a farm in King township, York County, 
where he lived three years. In 1853 he sold 
out and removed his family to Lambton 
County, where he bought a tract of sixty- 
four acres of bush land in Bosanquet, on the 
Warwick township line, there erecting a log 
house and settling down to clear up a home 
from the bush. Several years later he re 
moved to Warwick township, and buying a 
2OO-acre tract on the 6th Concession, north 
of the Egremont road, started to clear it up- 
with the assistance of his sons. He erected 
a frame dwelling, barns and outbuildings, 
and added thereto from time to time until, at 
the time of his death, he owned 400 acres. 
This land he divided among his sons, Xew- 
man receiving the homestead. Mr. Hall was 
known to be a hard-working, industrious 
man, and was highly respected throughout 
the community. His death occurred on the 
homestead in 1897, when he was aged 
seventy-nine years, and he was buried at 
Bethel cemetery. Politically he was a Re 
former, but he never sought office. He was 
strictly temperate in all his habits, and never 
knew the taste of intoxicants or tobacco. He 
was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church, and was active in the work of that 
religious organization, being at different 
times class-leader, steward, trustee and Sun 
day-school teacher. He was a good Chris 
tian man, greatly devoted to his family, and 
wherever known was highly esteemed. 

George Hall (2) married Sarah Train, 
who was born in 1827, in Hull, England, 
and came to Canada from her native country 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



261 



on the same ship as her future husband, but 
at that time they had never met. She \\ as 
the daughter of Christopher Train, a well 
known lumber manufacturer on the Humber 
river, near Kleinburg, Ont. Mrs. Hall 
was an affectionate and loving wife and 
mother, and was highly esteemed by all for 
her many excellent traits of character. She 
died from the effects of a fall she received in 
1887, and was buried at Bethel cemetery. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hall had fifteen children, four 
of whom died in infancy. Those who grew 
to maturity were : Joseph, our subject ; Gil 
bert, retired, who resides in London, Ont. ; 
Robert, who died in June, 1900, in \Yarwick 
township; Mary, who married David 
Thomas and resides in Sidney, Man. ; Ellen, 
married to Thomas Groane, and residing in 
Warwick township; George, a wagonmaker 
of Petrolia, Ont. ; John, who died in War 
wick township; Elizabeth, married to Wil 
liam Wilson and residing in Moose Jaw, 
Northwest Territory; Sarah, who married 
Thomas Carter and lives at Sidney, Man. ; 
Luke, a resident of San Francisco, Califor 
nia ; and Xewman, a resident of Moose Jaw, 
Northwest Territory. 

Joseph Hall grew up on the farm in the 
Gore of Toronto, and attended the little log 
schoolhouse, with its plank benches and slab 
seats. His first teacher was Paul Henry, 
a noted Irish schoolmaster, and he also 
attended school in King township, York 
County. He was ten years old when he came 
with his father to settle in the woods in 
Bosanquet township, and here he remained 
until twenty-three years old, assisting his 
father to clear his farm. He then started out 
to make his own way, with the help he re 
ceived from home, and bought fifty acres on 
Lot 22, from his father-in-law, Mr. Thomp 
son giving the other fifty acres to his daugh 
ter, Mrs. Hall, all of this land being in the 
bush. Here Mr. Hall settled down to pio 
neer life, erecting a log house and stable. By 
hard work and strict attention to business lie 
succeeded in putting his land under cultiva 
tion, and in later years erected a fine brick 
dwelling-house and made many improve 
ments, including the building of a fine barn 



and good, substantial outbuildings. He later 
bought, on the 4th Concession, fifty-two 
acres known as the Beal place, and on the 2d 
Concession, Lot 22, the Howden farm of 100 
acres. On Lot 21, Concession 2, he bought 
fifty acres, later bought the Mullen place, on 
the west half of lot 23, and also purchased 
the east half of Lot 23, owning and operat 
ing in all 502 acres. 

Mr. Hall became greatly interested in the 
raising of fine stock, and also in dairying, 
owning over thirty head of the finest Dur 
ham cattle. In 1904 he retired from farm 
ing, selling the homestead to his son John, 
and disposing of all of his land to his sons 
except 100 acres, which is managed for him 
by his son John. All his life Mr. Hall has 
been a great lover of horses, and he keeps on 
his farm some of the finest bred stallions 
that were ever brought to western Canada, 
principally of the Clyde breed. Mr. Hall, as 
a noted horseman, is known as far as Mon 
treal east and to the Pacific ocean on the 
west. 

Mr. Hall is a stanch Reformer, and 
served on the council board for twelve years, 
nine years of which he was reeve of the 
township ; during this time he also sat as 
member of the county council, and was 
elected by that body to the office of warden 
of the county in 1879. When the new law 
came into effect, electing county councillors, 
he was elected by the 6th Division of Lamb- 
ton and filled the office two full terms or 
four years. Mr. Hall is progressive and 
public-spirited and has always taken the 
greatest interest in all matters pertaining to 
his township. 

On July 12, 1866, Joseph Hall was mar 
ried, at the Thompson homestead, in War 
wick township, to Miss Christina Thompson, 
a daughter of William and Mary (Steel) 
Thompson. Mrs. Hall is also one of the 
early pioneers of Warwick township. She 
has done her duty as a wife and mother, and 
is devoted to her home and family. She is 
noted as a buttermaker, ranking among the 
best in the county, her excellent product hav 
ing been the recipient of many prizes at 
count v fairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall these 



262 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



children have been born: (i) William 
George was educated in the township school 
and the Commercial College at London, and 
is now farming on the 3d Concession in War 
wick. His father gave him 100 acres with 
which to make his start, and to this he has 
added 300 acres, now operating 400 acres of 
land in one block. Besides farming he is 
greatly interested in the raising of cattle and 
horses. He married Margaret Janes, a 
daughter of the late Charles Meredith Janes, 
and children as follows have been born to 
them: Russell, Joseph M., Janet, Archie 
(who died in 1904) and Christina. William 
George Hall is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
Sycamore Lodge, of Arkona. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Church. 
Politically he is connected with the Liberal 
party. (2) John attended the district schools 
and the Commercial College at London, and 
is also engaged in farming, operating the 
homestead. His father gave him 100 acres 
also, and he purchased the homestead and 
loo acres more, and with his brother, Wil 
liam George, is operating 600 acres of land. 
He is also engaged in cattle and horse rais 
ing. He married Margaret Dewar McFar- 
line, daughter of H. McFarline, reeve of 
Warwick township, and to this union three 
children have been born, Lloyd M., George 
Fleming and Frank T. He and his wife are 
members of the Zion Congregational Church. 
Fraternally he affiliates with the A. F. & A. 
M., at Arkona. In political matters he is a 
Liberal. (3) Edith died aged eight years. 
(4) Sarah Bertha is the wife of Leslie Mc- 
Kenzie, of Forest, and has had two children, 
Lloyd Berton (who died in February, 1905) 
and Joseph Frederick. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hall are valued 
members of the Bethel Methodist Church. 
In his fraternal affiliations he has associated 
himself with the I. O. O. F., Sycamore 
Lodge, Arkona, and the C. O. F., also at 
Arkona. 



JOHX ANGUS McBEAX. a farmer 
and stock raiser in Moore township, was 
born on his present farm Jan. 28, 1859, son 



of Angus and Margaret (Coutts) McBean, 
and descended from an old Scotch family 
belonging to the clan Cameron. 

Angus McBean, grandfather of John A., 
was a tenant farmer in his native parish of 
Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire, and there 
married Miss Mary Glass, daughter of John 
Glass, or Grant, as the family now call them 
selves. To this union thirteen children were 
born, namely: Donald, deceased in Inver 
ness; John, who died in Moore township; 
Alexander, of Inverness, deceased; Lewis, 
who died in Moore township in October, 
1904; Peter, a fanner in Manitoba; James 
(twin to Peter), deceased; Angus; James, 
deceased in Inverness; Grace, who married 
the late Angus Shaw, and resides in Brig- 
den ; Jane, who married Robert McPherson, 
and died in Inverness; Mary, who married 
James McDonald, of the 6th Line, Moore 
township ; Catherine and Lachlan, who both 
died in Inverness. The parents, who were 
members of the Presbyterian Church of 
Scotland, both died in their native land, the 
father at the age of seventy-six, and the 
mother at ninety. 

Angus McBean, son of Angus, was born 
m the same place, in April, 1826, and at 
tended the parish school during his boyhood. 
From an early age he helped his father in the 
farm work, and later learned the trade of a 
carpenter and joiner. He was thus em 
ployed in Scotland until 1851, when he and 
his brothers, Lewis and Peter, sailed from 
Liverpool on the "Compromise," command 
ed by Capt. Reilly. After a thirty days voy 
age they landed in New York, and remained 
there about a year, after which they went 
to Ontario and located in Moore township, 
County of Lambton. Angus bought 100 
acres in Lot 10, Concession 7, built a log 
shanty, and entered upon pioneer life, al 
though for a few years he worked much of 
his time at his trade in Sarnia. At the same 
time, however, he continued his efforts to 
get his place cleared, and by dint of much 
hard work succeeded in a few years in get 
ting it under cultivation. Later he built a 
handsome frame house, good barns and made 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



263 



extensive improvements. Another 100 acres 
in Concession 8 were added, where a son, 
James, is now living. 

In 1889 Mr. McBean retired from farm 
ing and removed to Petrolia, where he lived 
for three years and then went to Corunna, 
where for thirteen years he has been pleasant 
ly located in a comfortable home. He and his 
wife are members of the Bear Creek Presby 
terian Church, which Mr. McBean helped to 
organize, and in which he has filled the office 
of elder. His first vote was cast more than 
fifty years ago for Hon. George Brown, who 
was then leader of the Liberal party, and he 
has been ever since an ardent supporter of 
Reform principles. He has served as school 
trustee but in no other public capacity. Mr. 
McBean was married Dec. 5, 1857, by Rev. 
John Gauld, to Miss Margaret Coutts, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (McKenzie) 
Coutts, who resided in Moore township, on 
Bear Creek. The parents were both born 
in Aberdeen. Scotland, but died in Sarnia. 
Five children were born to Angus McBean 
and his wife. viz. : John Angus, a farmer in 
Concession 6, Moore township; James; 
Alexander, who died in infancy ; Peter, who 
is employed in Chicago by the Northern Pa 
cific Express Company ; and Mary Jane, who 
died young. Mrs. McBean was noted for 
her charitable deeds which were unnum 
bered. She was a devoted wife and mother, 
and won many friends by her genial manner. 
John Angus McBean was born on the 
homestead in Concession 7, and was sent to 
the district school of that section. He also 
began working on the farm at an early age, 
continuing at home until his father retired, 
when he took up the management of the 
place, and has been thus engaged for six 
teen years. In addition to the original tract 
of 100 acres, he has added 100 more, and 
also rents another hundred for pasture. He 
has been extensively engaged in stockraising. 
and is one of the largest cattle dealers in the 
township. He has been a prominent figure 
in all public movements for some time, both 
in political and in business lines. A Liberal 
in his views, he was in 1898 elected a mem 
ber of the township council, but after serv 



ing four years, retired ; he has been a trustee 
of school section Xo. 8, where he obtained 
his early education, filling the position of 
secretary and treasurer for six years ; in the 
Liberal Association of the township he is 
vice-president, and always manifests a deep 
interest in the work of the Association. An 
other thing in which he is greatly interested 
is the township Agricultural Society, of 
which he is secretary and treasurer, and he is 
also a stockholder and director of the Huron 
and Lambton Loan Company. In the Bear 
Creek Cemetery Company, of which he wa* 
an organizer, he holds the office of president. 
In addition to these manifold claims on his 
attention Mr. McBean finds time to serve 
as manager of Bear Creek Presbyterian 
Church, to which the family belong, and as 
teacher and superintendent of the Sunday 
School, while he is also a member of the 
I. O. O. F., of Brigden, and is Noble Grand. 
On March 26, 1890, Mr. McBean was 
united in marriage at the \Yatson homestead, 
by Rev. T- A. "McDonald, to Miss Jean, 
youngest daughter of the late James Wat 
son, formerly clerk of Moore township. Mrs. 
McBean is a lady of culture and of most 
pleasing manners, and meets the varied re 
sponsibilities of her home in the most capa 
ble way. Her children number four. Annie 
Irene, Charles Gladstone, James Coutts and 
Alexander Ross. Mr. McBean stands high 
in the estimation of the community, is noted 
for his honesty and industry, and in his 
moral character is unimpeachable. 

JOHN AY. CANN. a well known farmer 
of Enniskillen township, was born at Sarnia, 
Ont, Dec. 20, 1858, son of Samuel and Ann 
i Yogess) Cann. and grandson of Philip 
Cann. who died in England. 

Samuel Cann and his wife were both 
natives of Devonshire, England, born, re 
spectively, in March, 1824, and 1830. They 
grew up in the old country, and were there 
married in 1855, but they soon afterward 
crime to Canada, and settled at Strathroy. 
Later they moved to Sarnia. and engaged 
at farming until 1863, when Mr. Cann pur 
chased the present homestead in Enniskillen 



264 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



township. It was then wild land, and his 
first work was to clear it; later he engaged 
in oil production. In the beginning he put 
up a frame house, but after he had cleared 
the farm he built a good brick house and 
large bank barns. There he and his wife 
lived until 1895, when she passed away, on 
May 26th, while he survived until 1901. 
Both were members of the Methodist 
Church. Mr. Cann was a Conservative 
in politics, but never sought office. Three 
children were born to Samuel and Ann 
Cann, viz. : Susan, who died in infancy ; 
John W. ; Caroline, born in Sarnia in 1862, 
who married Samuel Tomlinson, of Delhi, 
Out, and has eleven children, William, John, 
Martha, Elizabeth, Samuel, Catherine, 
George, Joseph, Rachel, Benjamin and 
Charles. Mrs. Ann (Vogess) Cann s peo 
ple all lived and died in England except one 
brother, William Vogess, whose last years 
were spent in Canada. 

John W. Cann was sent to the district 
schools, and then while still a young. man 
was given charge of his father s farm, on 
Lot i, Concession 10, where he has remained 
up to the present time. He has also pur 
chased the adjoining farm, and now has one 
of the most productive and best developed 
places in that section. 

On June 10, 1896, John Cann married 
Miss Amelia Martin, who was torn in 
Plympton township, Nov. 20, 1868, daugh 
ter of Thomas and Rebecca (Mitchell) Mar 
tin, who were born in Cornwall, England, in 
1835 and 1836, respectively. They came to 
Canada while still young, and are at the 
present time residents of Plympton town 
ship. Airs. Martin belonged to an old fam 
ily, the Mitchells, who also came to Canada 
in an early day. To this union of John and 
Amelia Cann two children have been born, 
Vera Pearl, in April, 1897; and Philip R., 
in February, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Cann are 
members of the Methodist Church; politi 
cally Mr. Cann is an adherent of the Con 
servative party, but while he is always in 
terested in public questions, he has never 
taken any very active part or aspired to 
office. The Cann family in both generations 



have been people held in the highest respect 
in the community, have been active church 
workers and worthy and substantial citizens. 

JAMES T. WHITSITT, one of the 
rising young business men of the County of 
Lambton and already in control of a large 
grain trade in Courtright, is a native of 
Moore township, born on his father s farm 
in Lot 29, Concession 4, June II, 1870, to 
Benjamin and Annie (Booth) Whitsitt. 

The Whitsitt family is of Irish extraction 
and lived in the northern part of Ireland for 
centuries. Joseph Whitsitt, grandfather of 
James T., was born in County Monaghan, 
was a landowner and farmer, and well-to-do. 
He married Miss Jane Guttery, and nine 
children were born to them, as follows: 
Sarah, who married George Campbell, and 
lived in the United States, where both died ; 
Mary, widow of Samuel Wiley, residing in 
Worcester, Massachusetts; Benjamin, father 
of our subject; Jane, who married George 
Booth, and died in Moore township; Char 
lotte, now deceased, who married Francis 
Wing, now residing in Moore township, who 
married (second) Lucinda, sister of Char 
lotte (she is also deceased) ; Joseph, who 
died in Michigan ; William, who died in 
Moore township; and Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph 
Wellman, of Moore. The parents were 
deeply attached to their children, and when 
Mrs. Wiley married and came to America 
Mrs. Whitsitt was so inconsolable that her 
husband sold out, took his family to Amer 
ica and at first located in Woonsocket, Rhode 
Island. They remained there three years, 
during which time the father was engaged 
as a gardener and the children were employed 
in the cotton mills. Mr. Whitsitt, however, 
preferred agricultural life, and so removed 
to Lambton County, Ont., and bought 200 
acres in Concession 4, Moore township. He 
remained there until his death, in 1885, when 
he was aged ninety-two years, ten months, 
ten days. His remains were laid in the Suth 
erland cemetery in Moore Town. He and his 
wife belonged to the Church of England in 
their native land, but attended the Methodist 
Church in Canada. He was a stanch Con- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



265 



sen-alive, a member of the Orangemen in 
Ireland, and was a man unusually well-read. 
He had a constitution that kept him active 
until the last. His wife passed away at the 
age of eighty-three and was also buried in 
Sutherland cemetery. 

Benjamin Whitsitt was also born in 
County Monaghan and there received his 
education. He was still in his teens when he 
accompanied his parents to America and 
while in Rhode Island worked in the cotton 
mills, but on removing to Canada assisted 
his father on the farm and remained on the 
homestead permanently. After his father 
retired he undertook the entire management 
of the place, finished clearing it, built a good 
residence and barns, and made many other 
needed improvements. In time he added 
extensively to his acreage, purchasing 100 
acres on the Fourth Line, another 100 on the 
Second, and seventy-five on the river front. 
His success was largely due to his own untir 
ing industry and energy, and he had a high 
place in the estimation of his neighbors. He 
was a Conservative in politics, a member of 
the Methodist Church, and a great student 
of the Bible. His death occurred at his home 
Aug. 29, 1890, and he was buried in Suther 
land cemetery. The marriage of Benjamin 
Whitsitt occurred in Fromefield, Moore 
township. Nov. 6, 1859, to Miss Annie 
Booth. Mrs. Whitsitt was born in County 
Down, Ireland, daughter of George and 
Lavinia (Kidd) Booth. She is still living in 
her old home, quite active in spite of her 
years, and is connected with the Methodist 
Church. She bore her husband seven chil 
dren, namely: William, a farmer on the 
Fourth Line ; Miss Lucinda Jane, who is at 
"home; Joseph, who died at the age of two 
years; Benjamin Charles, at home; George 
Wesley, a sailor on the lakes, residing at 
Courtright, and married to Miss Mary 
Tripps ; James T. ; and Augustus, at home, 
lames T. Whitsitt attended the district 
schools of the Fourth Line, and after obtain 
ing his education assisted his father on the 
farm. He remained at home, and after his 
father s death took charge of the place and 
operated it until 1897, when he moved to 



Courtright to enter the employment of J. S. 
Scott, of Chatham, as grain buyer. After a 
year and a half of this experience Mr. _ Whit 
sitt went into the grain business for himself, 
on a small scale at first, but as his trade in 
creased he branched out and now has his 
own elevators in Courtright and Sombra, and 
warehouses in Watson as well; he handles 
over 100,000 bushels of grain during the 
season and ships to eastern markets. He 
also deals quite extensively in grain, flour 
and feed, baled hay and straw, wood, bug 
gies, and all kinds of farm implements. 
Meantime his old interest in farming has not 
lapsed, for in 1899 he bought the old home 
stead, and is now cultivating 150 acres of 
land. The growth of his enterprises is quite 
phenomenal, and is due to his modern pro 
gressive ideas, tireless energy and good busi 
ness judgment. 

From his youth Mr. Whitsitt has been 
greatly interested in politics, and he is an 
active worker in the ranks of the Conserva 
tives ; he is a trustee of the police board 
in the village of Courtright, of which he is 
chairman, and was its first chairman, elected 
in 1902, and re-elected in 1903. He has 
just been appointed justice of the peace for 
the County of Lambton. He is an enthusi 
astic lodge man, and belongs to the I. O. O. 
F., at Moore Town, as well as to the K. O. 
T. M., and I. O. F. at Courtright, being 
past chief ranger in the latter. He is also 
past master of the L. O. L., No. 608, and is 
a member of the Royal Scarlet. He has 
often been a delegate to lodge conventions 
of the I. O. F. in Chatham, Niagara Falls 
and Goderich. Mr. Whitsitt is a graduate 
of the London (Ont.) Military College. He 
began his military life in 1888 as a private 
in C Squadron, ist Hussars. After serving 
in that capacity for three years he was ap 
pointed sergeant, received his commission as 
first lieutenant in September, 1900. and was 
this year recommended for captain of the 
same squadron. 

Mr. Whitsitt was married in Sarnia, 
Ont.. Dec. 18, 1895, to Miss Ethel Cronk, 
daughter of the late Asa Cronk, who was 
government collector of customs at Court- 



2 66 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



right. Four children have been born to this 
union, Russell, Ray, Valeria and Garnet, who 
died in infancy. Mrs. Whitsitt is a member 
of the Methodist Church. The family reside 
in a pleasant home in Courtright, and are 
among the prominent and highly esteemed 
people of the town. 

FRANK W. HYDE, one of Brigden s 
enterprising citizens, a contractor and pro 
prietor of the "Balmoral Hotel," was born 
in Moore township, on Concession I, St. 
Clair river front, Aug. 21, 1843. 

Dr. Hyde, his paternal grandfather, was 
a physician, who was born in Ireland but 
emigrated to Canada, where he married 
Ann Jane Johnson. He met his death by 
drowning in the St. Clair river. He was the 
father of two children : John G. A. ; and 
Mary, wife of Lewis Mock, a farmer in 
Fort Worth, Texas. 

John G. A. Hyde, father of Frank W., 
was born in the same locality as the latter, 
and was for a number of years engaged in 
the timber business and supplied the lake 
steamers with wood. Afterward he went 
into the liquor business in Courtright, and 
then in 1891 built the Hyde block and 
opened a hotel there, which he conducted 
until his death, Jan. 2, 1899. He was 
buried in Sutherland cemetery. He was 
the owner of considerable land in Moore 
township, and was a well known and re 
spected citizen. He was a member of the 
Church of England, and a Liberal in poli 
tics. His wife. Miss Sarah Dennee, still 
makes her home in Courtright. They were 
the parents of six children, viz. : Frank \Y. ; 
Florence A., wife of Edward Wilson, a rail 
road engineer at St. Thomas; Mona M., 
who married Lewis May; Sidney A. J., at 
home, and two who died in infancy. 

Mrs. Sarah (Dennee) Hyde was torn in 
Kingston, Out., daughter of Francis and 
Sarah A. (Boulton) Dennee, natives of 
Lower Canada and England, respectively. 
Francis Dennee and wife were married in 
Kingston, and came to Lambton County in 
1862 locating in Moore township, on the St. 
Clair river. He was a pilot on the Lakes, 



and had operated a hotel in Montreal, but 
after settling in Lambton he engaged in 
farming and in the lumber business. In 
1880 he removed to Wallaceburg, and after 
ward lived retired. To Francis and Sarah 
A. (Boulton) Dennee were born eight chil 
dren : John, a miner in Colorado ; James, a 
sailor in New York ; Elizabeth, widow of 
George Buckingham, of Wallaceburg ; Mary 
A., who died in infancy; \Villiam, in the 
cement business at Brigden ; Francis, who 
died in infancy; Sarah, who married John 
G. A. Hyde; and Martha, who married 
James Vannatta, of Detroit, Michigan. 

Frank W. Hyde attended the district 
schools and then began assisting his father 
in various occupations. He helped to run 
the hotel and livery stable, and after his- 
father s death took the management into his- 
own hands. He is also quite extensively 
engaged in contracting and was the first in 
the county to introduce cement in block form 
as building material. He has contracted for 
laying cement foundations, has laid all the 
cement sidewalks in Courtright, and he sup 
plied the cement blocks used for the con 
struction of the new hotel at Brigden, in 
1905, of which he is now proprietor. This- 
hotel was erected at an expense of $15,000, 
and is built of hard wood and cement blocks ; 
and it is equipped with acetylene gas, steam 
heat, baths, and, in fact, everything to be 
found in an up-to-date hostelry, being one 
of the best in western Ontario. Mr. Hyde 
is a man of great energy, progressive and 
enterprising, and is a fine type of citizen. 
He was married Oct. 20, 1903, to Miss Deb 
orah Ella Baby, a lady of culture and re 
finement. Mr. Hyde is a man of domestic 
tastes and their home life is a very happy 
one. Politically he is a Liberal, and mani 
fests an intelligent interest in the public 
affairs of the community, but is no active 
politician nor office seeker. 

JOHN LANGAN. The oldest continu 
ous shoe dealer in Sarnia is John Langan, a 
most highly esteemed business man of this 
place, who was born in Darling township, 
Lanark County, Feb. 23, 1852, a son of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



267 



John and Catherine (Mulvehill) Langan, the 
former of whom was born in Ireland, in 
1827, Parish of Tealee, County Kerry. 
\Yhen yet a young man, he emigrated to 
Lanark County, Ont, and there met and 
married Catherine Mulvehill, who was also 
born in Ireland. After their marriage they 
settled on a farm in Lanark, where they re 
mained until 1855, removing in that year to 
Plympton township, Lambton County, on 
Lot i, Concession 6. 

This journey was made when there were 
few lines of transportation in operation, in 
this locality. They reached Sarnia by water, 
and after spending the night at the old 
" Western Hotel," they hauled their house 
hold goods through the woods, over almost 
impassable roads, fording the streams in 
regular pioneer style, finally reaching their 
new home. Here the parents of Mr. Langan 
worked hard in the clearing of their land, 
and here spent the balance of their lives, 
the father dying in 1892, and the mother in 
1894. For many years Mr. Langan was 
prominent in the affairs of Plympton town 
ship, and served as a member of the school 
board. Both he and his wife were consist 
ent members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
His political opinions made him a member of 
the Reform party. 

John Langan was but four years of age 
when he was brought to Lambton County, 
and well remembers an incident of the trip, 
this being his first sight of a negro. It was 
at a point on the "Welland Canal, when the 
boat stopped at a port, and the colored man 
came to the wharf with a basket of hard 
boiled eggs for sale. It was during this 
memorable trip that he had his first view 
of an Indian, also, the savage appearing at 
Hamilton. Still another strange sight was 
afforded the little country lad, and that was 
of a locomotive, and even at that tender age 
Mr. Langan was so impressed with the 
wonderful object, and examined it with such 
attention, that he can recall its peculiar con 
struction to the present day. 

Until he was sixteen years of age the 
young man was employed on his father s 
farm, attending the schools of the township, 



as opportunity afforded, which, although de 
ficient in many particulars now considered 
of paramount importance, thoroughly taught 
the principles upon which all education is 
founded. About six months prior to his 
sixteenth birthday, he came to Sarnia and 
was apprenticed to the shoe business with 
William Xeil, whose sketch appears else 
where. His apprenticeship lasted until he 
had thoroughly learned every detail of the 
business, and on Nov. 28, 1876, he em 
barked in a shoe business of his own, at the 
present location, erecting his quarters in the 
summer of 1876. On the first day of open 
ing, he took his first order, it being given by 
Mr. Patrick Buckley for a fine pair of boots. 
Prosperity has smiled upon Mr. Langan, 
and in this same place he has met and filled 
the wants of his patrons for the past twenty- 
six years. The family home is located on 
Vidal street, where a hospitable welcome is 
extended his friends. 

On Feb. 20, 1882, John Langan was 
married to Letitia O Connor, born Oct. 20, 
1857, in Kingston, Ont., a daughter of P. 
C. O Connor, who was born in Ireland, m 
1816. and was a soldier in the English army. 
One daughter, Xellie, has been torn to Mr. 
and Mrs. Langan, who is with her parents, 
and the whole family belong to the Roman 
Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Langan is 
a Reformer, and he has been active in local 
affairs, serving two years in the town coun 
cil and eight years on the school board, of 
which he was chairman. Fraternally he is 
associated with the orders of K. O. T. M., 
the C. O. F. and the C. M. B. A. The 
other members of his family all grew up in 
Ontario : One of these, Patrick, who was 
ordained priest and died at the age of thirty ; 
Thomas, who is engaged in the tea business 
in Sarnia, and owns farms in Sarnia and 
Plympton townships; Mary, who is the wife 
of John D. Cronin, of Sarnia; Michael: 
Kate, who is the wife of Bernard Rooney, of 
Sarnia township ; and Peter, who farms on 
the old home farm in Plympton township, 
and who married Mary Eagan and has five 
children. All are among the best and most 
substantial residents of County Lambton. 



268 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



THOMAS DOBBYN, a highly re 
spected retired farmer of Euphemia town 
ship, County of Lambton, makes his home 
in the pleasant town of Florence. He was 
.born in Euphemia township, April 21, 1831, 
son of Richard and Mariah (Bobier) Dob 
byn, among the very earliest pioneers of 
Euphemia. 

The parents of our subject were both 
born in Ireland, and came to Canada as early 
as 1820. Richard Dobbyn was a man well- 
educated in the old country, and when a 
young man had run away from home to en 
list on a man-of-war, sailing in the West 
Indian Islands and South American coun 
tries. He deserted the man-of-war, in some 
of the West Indian Islands, and made his es 
cape to Quebec. Coming west to Lake Erie, 
he engaged with Colonel Jarvot, as surveyor 
and land agent, afterward marrying Miss 
Bobier, in the town of Castlecomer, County 
of Kilkenny, Ireland. He then came to 
Euphemia township, locating there in 1820. 
He received land from Colonel Talbot on the 
3d Concession, Lot 25, where he started life 
as a farmer and school teacher. He taught 
school for twelve years, his sons doing most 
of the farming. He was a magistrate for 
many years, and was one of the first men to 
identify himself with the affairs of the town 
ship after it had been located. Mrs. Dob 
byn died at the old home in 1869, at the age 
of seventy years, while her husband survived 
until 1878, when he passed away at the home 
of one of his daughters, while on a visit, 
being in his eighty-third year. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dobbyn were among the early founders 
of the Methodist Church in this section, in 
which he was an active worker and officer. 
Politically he was a Reformer, and was 
always prominently identified with that 
party. They were blessed with a large fam 
ily, as follows: John, born in 1821, is a res 
ident of the Northwest, and well known in 
business circles of Manitoba towns. Eliza, 
born in 1823, married the Rev. W entworth 
Hughson, a local minister of Delaware, both 
of whom are now deceased. Richard, born 
in 1826. died in 1903. William was born in 
1828. Mary Anne, born in 1829, married 



the late Alexander Dolsen, of Chatham, Kent 
Count}-. James, born in 1827, died in Mani 
toba, while on a visit to that country in 
1889. Emily, born in 1836, married Gilbert 
Dolsen, and settled in Kent County, where 
she died a number of years ago. Thomas 
is our subject. These have all left large 
and worthy families. 

Thomas Dobbyn was the seventh mem 
ber of the foregoing family. He received 
his education through his father, and later 
attended the grammar school of Chatham. 
When a young man he purchased a tract of 
land on the 3d Concession, opposite his 
father s old home, the river being between 
their two farms, and here he commenced life 
as a farmer on wild land. 

On Dec. 18, 1855, Mr - Dobbyn married 
Miss Lorenda Laird, born in 1835, m Lamb- 
ton County, daughter of George and Winni- 
fred Laird, a pioneer couple of Dawn. Mrs. 
Dobbyn is the only daughter now living, 
though two brothers, Edward and Richard, 
are left with her. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbyn set 
tled on the farm and there raised their fam 
ily to maturity. In 1892 the farm was dis 
posed of, and Mr. and Mrs. Dobbyn now 
live in the village of Florence. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dobbyn the following 
children were given : ( i ) Dolsen, who is 
engaged in the hardware business in Wheat- 
ley, Ont. He married Charlotte Johnston 
who lived till the summer of 1905. Their 
children were Walter, Perry, Cecil and 
Jessie. (2) Minnie, the eldest daughter, be 
came the wife of Fred H. Mills, agent of the 
Grand Trunk Railroad. Both "crossed the 
borderland" within two years of each other 
and their son, Lloyd, is employed in the 
mercantile office of the R. G. Dun Co., De 
troit. (3) Annie is now Mrs. Thomas Risk, 
of Detroit. (4) Alfred is of the Howden 
Hardware Firm, London. (5) Ida married 
J. Z. Johnson, of Princeton, now of Calgary. 
(6) Winnifred remains at home, and is a 
successful music teacher. Religiously Mr. 
and Mrs. Dobbyn are good Methodists, the 
former having been trustee and class leader 
for many years. Politically he is a stanch 
Reformer, and has also been useful as a 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



269- 



member of school boards, etc. The family is 
very highly esteemed in Euphemia township, 
where Mr Dobbyn is considered a substan 
tial and representative citizen. 

ARCHIBALD S. McMILLAX, now 
engaged in farming in Enniskillen township, 
has been identified with Lambton County 
since 1890, and has resided at his present 
home since 1895. He was born in Crewe, 
Cheshire, England, June 29, 1854. 

Robert McMillan, his father, was a native 
of Kintyre, Scotland. He was superinten 
dent of the carriage works of the London 
and North \Yestern Railway, whose termin 
us and works at that time ( 1850) were at 
Crewe, Cheshire, England. In 1852 he mar 
ried Marion Singleton, daughter of a drover 
and butcher who resided on the old Market 
square in Crewe. The Singletons were 
widely known and very highly respected. 
At the age of fifteen Archibald McMil 
lan was sent to his uncle, Xeil McMillan, 
who resided in Glasgow, Scotland, his father 
thinking the Scotch system of education far 
superior to that of England at the time. In 
1870 Robert McMillan, his wife and two 
daughters, Janet and Marion, emigrated to 
Canada, and took up land in "Waterloo 
County. In 1875 the wife and mother died, 
and the son Archibald was told to meet his 
father at the city of Hamilton, C. W. After 
joining his father and sisters in Hamilton, 
Archibald McMillan was entreated to go to 
Australia with his father while the girls 
went to Scotland, but he declined to go and 
the father went alone, giving his son Archi 
bald some twelve thousand dollars, and in 
structions to shift for himself. The last 
heard of Robert McMillan he was conduct 
ing the "Queen s Arms Hotel," Melbourne, 
Australia. The two daughters, Janet and 
Marion, are now in Glasgow, Scotland. 

Being young and having plenty of money 
Archibald McMillan thought he would see 
the world. Accordingly he took passage for 
Europe, and after doing that continent he 
went to Asia, taking in all the principal cit 
ies known in sacred history Damascus, 
Jerusalem then Alexandria in Egypt, 



down the Nile to the Pyramids, on to India, 
thence to San Francisco, California, spend 
ing one month in the Hawaiian Islands, ea 
route. After landing at San Erancisco, he 
traveled over the western and southern 
states. Two years later he reached Coopers- 
town, New York State, with plenty oi 
worldly experience, but very empty pockets. 

At Cooperstown Mr. McMillan passed 
an examination of trustees, and engaged _to 
teach a country school at Phoenix Mills for 
a winter term of seven months. This was 
in 1877 and the following spring he came to 
Canada and engaged in agricultural pur 
suits. He is now to be found at Lot 21, Con 
cession 8, Enniskillen township, engaged in 
general farming and stock raising, making 
a specialty of breeding Aberdeen Angus, 
cattle. 

On Dec. I, 1895, Mr. McMillan mar 
ried Miss Isabella Johnston, a lady well 
known in Enniskillen township, and, indeed, 
all over the county, in her connection with 
educational and religious work. Few resi 
dents of Lambton County, and particularly 
of Enniskillen township, are unacquainted 
with her name and the old and honorable 
family from which she comes. Although not 
a native of this section, she has been so 
closely identified with its interests and ac 
tivities for so many years that she has every 
claim to being considered a true Canadian. 

John and Mary (Little) Johnston, her 
parents, came to Enniskillen township 
among the very first settlers. They were 
born in Dumfriesshire, where they married, 
coming to Ontario and settling on rented 
land in London township, Middlesex 
County, Jan. 8, 1848. In 1856 Mr. Johnston 
removed to Enniskillen township, settling 
on Concession 8, in the wilderness which 
then covered this part of Lambton County, 
and erecting his first log cabin home near the 
retreats of the wild creatures of the forest 
which still roamed over this locality. Here, 
through great industry and strenuous effort, 
he cleared up a fine farm, successfully over 
coming hard conditions, and died on his 
own land, in 1887. He was a man of ster 
ling traits of character, honorable to the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



highest degree, and he toiled \vith unre 
mitting industry to provide for the welfare 
of those dependent upon him. A Reformer 
in his political convictions, he never aspired 
to be more than a faithful supporter of the 
laws of his adopted land, a good neighbor, 
kind husband and affectionate father. Both 
he and estimable wife were consistent mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

The mother of Mrs. McMillan was, too, 
an admirable character, a woman of the 
greatest kindness of heart and cheerful dis 
position. She endured the hardships in 
cident to pioneer life with the dignity and 
placidity of demeanor which comforted all 
around her and gave encouragement and in 
spiration to her husband and children. She 
survived her husband many years, and dur 
ing the last years of her life patiently bore 
the affliction of almost total blindness. Dur 
ing these years she was in the care of Mrs. 
McMillan, who tenderly ministered to her 
with loving filial attention, and she peacefully 
passed away at her daughter s home in 1898. 

The eight children of John Johnston and 
wife were as follows: (i) Mary became the 
wife of George Wilson, a sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere. (2) Janet, born in 
Scotland, married Rev. William Sherritt, a 
minister of the Methodist Church, who died 
leaving her with children as follows: 
Amelia and Bella, both teachers; William, a 
resident of Brantford; Alfred, a soldier, 
who was killed in far off Africa, a victim of 
the Boer war; and three younger children, 
Lillie, Stanton and Violet, all of Brantford. 
Mrs. Sherritt passed away in 1904. (3) 
William, born in Scotland, was educated at 
St. Catharines, and for many years was a 
teacher, subsequently becoming principal of 
a school in County Leeds, and now serving 
as public school inspector in that county. His 
first marriage was to Eliza Wilson, of En- 
niskillen township, who died leaving eight 
children; his second wife, Margaret, form 
erly a teacher, a resident of Athens, Ont, 
died leaving six children, and his third 
marriage was to Margaret A. Mills, a 
model "school teacher of Ottawa, by whom 
Tie has three children. He is prom 



inent in Masonic circles. (4) Isabella is Mrs. 
McMillan. (5) John, born in Scotland, was 
liberally educated and is now principal of 
the Sarnia public school. He married Alice 
Smith, of Enniskillen, a daughter of Esquire 
John Smith, of Concession 14, and they have 
children : Barbara, Mary B., Jean and Wal 
lace. Archie, the eldest, died in infancy. 
(6) Margaret, born in Canada, in London 
township, Middlesex County, was educated 
at St. Catharines high school and after teach 
ing in Lambton County for some years mar 
ried Henry Shaw, a prominent farmer of 
Moore township. They have two children, 
Ella and Edwin. (7) Jane, born in London 
township, is the wife of James Park, and 
they reside on Concession 6, Enniskillen. 
They have five children, Minnie (wife of 
David Anderson, of Wyoming), James (a 
mining engineer at Toronto), Jane, Maggie 
and William J. (8) Eleanor G., born in 
London township, is the wife of Robert 
Barr, a carpenter, a resident of Petrolia, and 
they have children, Mary Little, Maggie 
and Jean. 

Isabella Johnston was born in 1846 in 
Dumfriesshire, Scotland. She was a student 
in the Normal School at Toronto, earning 
the means with which to pursue her higher 
education. She was graduated at Toronto 
in 1868, having previously graduated at the 
Sarnia high school and taught for two years 
in her home district. She then entered into 
the educational field, and for nearly twenty 
years was considered one of the best teachers 
in Lambton County, and when, in 1892, she 
retired from the profession, she was fol 
lowed by the good wishes and the continued 
esteem of hundreds who had come under her 
instruction. In 1896 Mrs. McMillan pur 
chased the old homestead, and she and her 
husband settled there, where the aged mother 
still resided. After the latter s death Mrs. 
McMillan built the present commodious res 
idence, and made many fine improvements 
on the place. It is a source of great gratifi 
cation to her that she can spend her years 
in the old home surroundings, which are en 
deared to her by many associations. She 
is a ladv of excellent business qualifications 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



271 



as well as educational acquirements, has 
many very pleasant social connections in the 
locality, and is universally regarded with re 
spect and esteem. She is a prominent mem 
ber of and worker in the Methodist Church 
and taught in the Sabbath school for many 
years. 

EDWARD ELLIOTT, one of the suc 
cessful farmers of Bosanquet township, 
Lambton County, now living retired in For 
est, Out., was born in Ireland, Xov. 15, 
1841, and came of an old and honorable 
family which originated in Scotland, but lo 
cated in Ireland during the days of Crom 
well. One of the ancestors of Mr. Elliott, 
James Elliott by name, owned some of Crom 
well s debentures. He married Alice Hall, 
and among their children was Moses Elliott, 
who became the father of our subject. 

Moses Elliott was born in 1/92 in Ire 
land, where he died about 1855. He mar 
ried Catherine McGee, born Dec. 25, 1798, 
also in Ireland, who died at the home of 
Edward Elliott, in Forest, Feb. n, 1899, at 
the extreme old age of 100 years and nearly 
two months. The following family was 
born to Moses Elliott and his wife : James, 
of Thedford, Lambton County, Ont. ; John, 
of Bosanquet ; Robert, of Bosanquet ; Moses, 
of England ; Jane, who married Andrew 
Elliott, a distant relative, and died at St. 
Mary s, Ont. ; Edward ; Catherine, who 
married James McCahey, of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania : Rhoda. deceased ; and Henry, 
who removed to California about 1865. 

Edward Elliott was reared to manhood 
in Ireland, and about 1861 came to Ontario, 
via Xew York City, where he was offered 
$2,000 to go as a substitute for a man who 
was drafted to serve in the Civil war in the 
States. This he declined to do, and on Aug. 
12, 1861, landed in the woods of Bosanquet 
township, settling on Lot 19, Concession 6. 
Having neither a horse nor an ax, he pur 
chased an ax from Jonas Cornell, at Thed 
ford, a pioneer merchant in that locality. 
After partially clearing his purchase Mr. El 
liott sold out and bought fifty acres on Lot 
9, Concession 5. After living on this farm 



six years, and clearing it in part, he dis 
posed of it and bought 100 acres on Lot 39, 
Lake road east, Bosanquet, of which sixty 
acres had been cleared. Here Mr. Elliott 
lived until 1896, when he located in Forest, 
purchasing ten acres within the corporation 
limits, on which he now makes his home. 
Although he served in the Fenian raid he 
has not as yet received any recompense for 
his gallantry and loyalty. 

Mr. Elliott has been twice married, his 
first wife having been Barbara McEwen, a 
native of Scotland, who died in 1884, at the 
age of thirty years, leaving him five chil 
dren : Moses and Archie, who reside on the 
old homestead ; Mrs. J. A. Carrothers, of 
Grand Rapids. Michigan; Henry, a student 
of Toronto University ; and Barbara, a 
teacher. In 1886 Mr. Elliott was married 
to Elizabeth Bailey, by whom he has had no 
children. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are con 
sistent members of the Church of England. 
Politically Mr. Elliott is a Conservative, and 
fraternally he is an Orangeman. He and 
his wife are highly respected in the neigh 
borhood, where they have many friends. 
Mr. Elliott disposed of his home farm to his 
children, and takes pleasure in their com 
fort in the home his toil prepared. 

AXTHOXY DOUGLAS. While num 
bers of Lambton County s citizens have 
helped to reclaim the land from the wilder 
ness and have undergone all the privation 
and toil of pioneer life, there are few who 
have experienced those hardships three dif 
ferent times, as has Anthony Douglas, who 
now in his declining years finds himself ac 
counted one of Enniskillen s wealthy farm 
ers, and able to enjoy the ease so fully earned 
by all his earlier years of industry. Mr. 
Douglas was born in Sutherlandshire. in the 
Highlands of Scotland, April 29. 1829, son 
of William and Helen (Patterson) Douglas. 

William Douglas was born in the Low 
lands in 1799. and his wife in Xorthumber- 
landshire, England, in 1803. Flis occupa 
tion was that of a shepherd, and he contin 
ued in his old way of life for some years 
after his marriage. But in 1837 he started 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



with his wife and family for Canada, and 
after a long stormy voyage of thirteen weeks 
they landed in Quebec. For a time Mr. 
Douglas made his home in Kingston, but 
later moved to London, and lived there till 
his death in 1859. His wife survived him 
three years. Both husband and wife were 
Presbyterians, and always active in church 
work. Thomas Douglas, the oldest of their 
five children, born in Scotland in 1825, mar 
ried Miss Esther Hornby, and settled at 
Strathroy, where he worked as a butcher; he 
died in October, 1884, leaving three chil 
dren. Anthony was the second son. Jane, 
born in April, 1831, married a Mr. McFar- 
land, of Saginaw, Michigan. Oliver, 1836, 
married and settled in Brooke township, 
where he was one of the pioneer farmers; 
his death occurred in January, 1893, and he 
left a wife and family. James, April, 1838, 
is married, and lives with his family in 
Brooke township. 

Anthony Douglas attended school in 
Scotland and \vas also sent for some time 
while the famijy lived in Kingston. He re 
mained with his parents till they died, and 
then commenced for himself, sailing for two 
years on Lake Ontario. But in 1863, after 
his marriage, he abandoned that perilous 
calling, and started in Fredericksburg, Out., 
as a farmer. Afterward he bought land in 
Brooke township, and lived .there ten years, 
and finally, in 1883. having sold his Brooke 
property, he purchased his present home 
stead in Enniskillen, Lot 21, Concession 10. 
Each of these farms was only wild land 
when Mr. Douglas settled upon it, and he 
was obliged to clear it, put up buildings and 
cultivate. He has been amply repaid, how 
ever, for the first two proved profitable in 
vestments, while his own home now is splen 
didly developed and one of the fine farms of 
the region. 

In September, 1863, Mr. Douglas was 
united in matrimony to Miss Elizabeth 
Clark, who was born in St. Catharines 
March 24, 1841, and grew up and was edu 
cated in Warwick township. Fler parents, 
John and Fannie (House) Clark, \vere both 
born in England, and on coming to Canada 



after their marriage, became pioneer settlers 
in Warwick, where they died later. One son, 
Thomas Clark, still lives there. A family of 
three daughters and four sons was born to 
Anthony and Elizabeth Douglas, all living 
except one: (i) James, born in 1864, mar 
ried Miss Maggie Brown, of Petrolia, and 
has seven children, Ernest, Bertha, Retta, 
Lizzie, Anthony, Ray and Wilbur. They 
live in Enniskillen, Concession 7. (2) Sarah, 
born in February, 1866, died Oct. 8, 1886. 
(3) Ellen, born in July, 1869, is the wife of 
William Brown, a prosperous Enniskillen 
farmer; they have no family. (4) Anna, 
born in February, 1871, lives at home, un 
married. (5) William J., born in April, 
1873, a farmer of Concession 8, Enniskillen, 
married Miss Sarah Anderson and is the 
father of Ethel, William A., Oliver and 
James. (6) Oliver, born in 1875, a farmer in 
Concession 2, Enniskillen, married Miss Ida 
Kimberley, of that township, and has two 
sons. Walter R- and Orin K. (7) Walter, 
born in August, 1877, a bachelor, has charge 
of the home farm. 

Anthony Douglas and his wife are now 
aged people, with a long record of usefulness 
and good deeds behind them. While their 
present comfortable position is the result of 
years of untiring industry they always found 
time also for the generous hospitality and 
unfailing help in trouble that has made them 
so popular among all their neighbors and 
friends. They have been for many years 
consistent members of the Methodist Church, 
and have done much work for it. Politically 
Mr. Douglas has always supported the Con 
servative party, and for a long time held the 
office of pathmaster. He has also served as 
school trustee. His is a character of true 
worth, and as such is recognized and es 
teemed by all. 



WATSON. Among the pioneer fami 
lies of Lambton that trace their origin to the 
Scottish race is that of Watson, whose 
representatives have preserved in their char 
acters and habits the traits of the sturdy stock 
whence they sprang. 

George Watson was born in Dundee, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



273 



Scotland, in 1790, and he remained in bis 
native land until after the birth of his first 
two children. In 1823 he emigrated with 
his family to Canada and settled in Dalhoii- 
sie township, Lanark County, Out., where 
he owned considerable property. He also 
for a time conducted a flouring and carding 
mill at Perth. In 1834 Mr. Watson, accom 
panied by Robert Sim, made a trip on foot 
to Lambton County to look over the ground ; 
each purchased government land, and then 
returned to Lanark County for their families. 
The Watson property was the entire 200 
acres of Lot 9, Concession 3, and the first 
house erected on it was a log cabin, near the 
site of the present family home ; this was fol 
lowed before long by a brick house, and that 
in time by a larger frame structure. The 
latter was occupied until 1899, when it was 
destroyed by fire, and that same year was 
built the present large brick house. George 
Watson was not only a hard worker, but he 
also had a keen instinct, and in his confi 
dence that land in Lambton County would 
become very valuable he added largely to his 
original purchase, finally owning about 800 
acres. Soon after coming to the county he 
set up stones for grinding wheat, without 
doubt the first mill operated in the county. 
The old stones are still to be seen on the place. 
Mr. Watson was a Baptist in his religion, 
and for many years preached the Gospel 
through Plympton, Sarnia and Moore town 
ships, where he undoubtedly did much to 
advance the interests of his denomination. 
He lived to the advanced age of eighty years, 
and when he passed away, in March, 1870, 
he had the satisfaction of seeing the full 
fruition of his early labors in the high state 
of cultivation to which his own farm had 
been brought, and in the entire justification 
of his faith in the future of the county. 

In Scotland Mr. Watson married Cath 
erine Walker, daughter of James Walker, 
and their children were : Ebenezer, born 
Oct. 29, 1816, is mentioned below; James, 
born in 1820, was a farmer in Iowa; Cath 
erine, born in 1825, died unmarried; George, 
born June 2, 1830, died aged nineteen ; Janet, 
born June i, 1832, is the widow of William 

18 



Holmes, and resides in Sarnia township; 
and Jane, born Feb. 28, 1837, became the 
wife of John Parker, of California. 

EBEXEZER WATSON, son of George, was 
born in October, 1816, in Althoea, Scotland, 
and was a lad of seven years when the family 
came to Ontario. In May, 1849, he married 
Margaret, daughter of Robert and Agnes 
Wylie Sim. After his marriage he settled 
in Sarnia township, and followed an agri 
cultural life for many years on the old home 
stead selected by his father in 1836. Mr. 
Watson was a man of education and business 
ability, and for twenty-one years was clerk 
and treasurer of Sarnia township. As a tes 
timonial to the high esteem in which he was 
held by his fellow citizens, and as a token 
of their appreciation of his faithful and effi 
cient performance of duty for so long a 
period, they presented him a handsome gold 
watch. 

Mr. and Mrs. Watson were blessed with 
four children : George, a farmer in Mitchell, 
South Dakota ; Robert Sim, who remained 
on the old homestead ; and Agnes Wylie and 
Catharine, both of whom reside in the town 
of Sarnia. 

In February, 1878, Mr. Watson moved 
to Sarnia, and from that date until 1883 was 
Indian agent. From 1883 until his death, 
in 1890, he was treasurer of the town of 
Sarnia, and discharged the duties of this 
responsible position with ability and success. 
He was reared in the Baptist faith, early tak 
ing part in the services of the church, and 
through life adhered to its teachings and 
contributed liberally to its support. In polit 
ical life he was identified with the Reform 
party. He was a faithful officer, a citizen 
of unquestioned integrity, a warm and faith 
ful friend, a devoted husband and kind 
father. For a long time to come he will be 
lovingly remembered by all who had the 
pleasure of his friendship. His wife was of 
the same religious belief. She was of a 
retiring disposition and was a true helpmeet 
to her husband, and greatly beloved by her 
children. Her home was a most hospitable 
one and her quiet, unostentatious kindness 
made her a center of influence for good in a 



274 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



large circle of friends that will hold her in 
loving remembrance for years to come. She 
predeceased her husband by eight years, 
passing triumphantly home to her reward 
full of faith and good works, in November, 
1882. 

Mrs. Watson s parents, Robert Sim and 
Agnes (Wylie) Sim, had four other chil 
dren: Jane, the wife of the late Hon. Alex 
ander MacKenzie, the first Liberal Premier 
of Canada ; Mary, who married Andrew Mc- 
Alpin ; Walter, deceased, for a time lumber 
man and later timber inspector for the Cana 
dian Pacific Railroad ; and David, a farmer 
in Michigan, United States. 

ROBERT SIM WATSON, son of Ebenezer, 
was of the third generation of his family in 
the county, and he ably bore his part in its 
development. His death, on March 23, 
1905, removed one of Lambton s leading 
farmers, stock raisers and dairymen, as well 
as one of her most useful and upright citi 
zens. His remains rest in Bunyan cemetery, 
in Sarnia township. 

Robert S. Watson was born on the 
homestead June i. 1853, and there grew to 
manhood, under the tutelage of his father 
becoming an experienced farmer. In 1878 
the place came into his possession, and he 
ever afterward devoted his entire attention 
to it. Along with his general farming he 
engaged quite extensively in stock raising 
and in the dairy business. Like his father 
and grandfather before him Mr. Watson 
was a strong Reformer, but while manifest 
ing a deep interest in local affairs he never 
aspired for office. In educational matters 
he was always active, and was also a prom 
inent figure in the Baptist Church, where he 
was Sunday-school superintendent for sev 
enteen years, and was serving as deacon at 
the time of his death. In everything con 
nected with the West Lambton Farmers In 
stitute Mr. Watson was ever a leading spirit, 
and for three years acted as its president. 
For nine years he served as school trustee. 
His influence in the township and county 
was marked, and he was everywhere held in 
the highest respect, regarded as a man to be 
relied upon in every way. It will be many 



years before his place is filled, few men be 
ing so capable and at the same time as ready 
to sacrifice their own interests to devote their 
time to the public good. 

Robert S. Watson was married, in Sar 
nia township, Dec. 8, 1875, to Miss Rebecca 
Shaw Chalmers, who was born Sept. 15, 
1856, in Sarnia township, Lambton County, 
daughter of Robert C. Chalmers, and they 
became the parents of three daughters : Eva 
is the wife of George Taylor, of Sarnia; Ida 
married Peter Gardiner, a farmer on Lot 9, 
Concession i, in Sarnia. and they have three 
children, Lloyd, Ralph and Grace; Ella, the 
youngest daughter, is the wife of Samuel 
\\nod. a farmer on Lot 9, Concession 2, 
Sarnia township. 

James and Isabella (Cameron) Chal 
mers. Mrs. Watson s paternal grandparents, 
were among the earliest settlers in Lambton 
County, and were engaged in farming. They 
were of Scotch extraction. 

Robert C. Chalmers was a native of Can 
ada, and was a prominent farmer in Lamb- 
ton County, though a man of quiet disposi 
tion and life. He was married in this coun 
try to Isabella Chalmers, who was born in 
Scotland Oct. 30, 1831, daughter of Alex 
ander and Rebecca (Shaw) Chalmers, who 
were early settlers in Lambton County, 
where Alexander Chalmers engaged in 
farming. He was a weaver in his native 
land. Robert C. Chalmers died Nov. 28, 
1893, a g e d sixty-two, and is buried in Bun 
yan cemetery. His widow resides in Sar 
nia. Like him she is a member of the Bap 
tist Church, of which he was deacon many 
years up to the time of his death. They had 
children as follows : Rebecca S., Mrs. Wat 
son; James, who married Alpha Rounding, 
and is a farmer in Sarnia township ; Isabella, 
widow of Thomas Jackson, of Sarnia; Alex 
ander, of Sarnia township, who married 
Margaret Crone (she is deceased) ; and Ag 
nes, deceased, who was the wife of Malcolm 
McDonald. 

ALEXANDER JOHNSON, son of 
Alexander and Margaret (Leach) Johnson, 
is a well-known pioneer farmer of Bosanquet 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



township. He was born in Skipness, Argyll 
shire, Scotland, in the year 1840, and in 
1847 crossed the Atlantic in a vessel named 
the "Euclid," with his parents, six brothers 
and one sister, and settled on the farm de 
scribed as Lot 66, Lake Road West, Bosan- 
quet. These Johnsons are descended from 
the branch of the McDonald clan who were 
nearly all massacred in Glencoe in the year 
1692. 

Alexander Johnson, being the youngest, 
always remained with his parents on the 
farm and inherited it at their decease. The 
Avhole neighborhood was an almost unbroken 
Avilderness when the Johnsons arrived, and 
-education was obtained under difficulties. 
Little log school-houses were presided over 
by teachers who had never heard of a model 
school, and were usually certificated by a 
township superintendent who in turn was 
appointed by the township council. This was 
about how things were usually done. Of 
course the county board sat twice a year, but 
the superintendent granted permits to some 
of the most proficient of the unsuccessful 
applicants to supply deficiencies. Methods 
were crude. Alexander supplemented his 
school advantages by getting help at home 
from the ministers of various denominations, 
who were always at home among the John 
sons. Their nearest neighbors were In 
dians, mostly pagan but harmless and 
friendly. 

The Johnsons built the first hewn log 
house in "the township, and it was also the 
largest one. It contained two fireplaces and 
had a hall in the center and an upstairs. The 
andirons, the tongs and the crane might well 
have suggested to Longfellow the "Hang 
ing of the Crane." Stoves were almost un 
known in. the vicinity then. Alexander was 
early initiated into the mysteries of clear 
ing "up land, and becme familiar with cutting 
grain with the sickle, the cradle, the reaper 
and lastly the binder. 

In the year 1865 the death of the senior 
Alexander Johnson took place at this home. 
He had been a very athletic man, supple of 
limb, and was "diligent in business, fervent 
in spirit, serving the Lord." Of upright in- 



275 

tegrity, he was a noble specimen of Chris 
tian manhood. Before he left Scotland he 
was a Congregationalist, and he remained so 
all his life. After his decease the youngest 
son, Alexander, took charge of the farm, 
working it "on shares" for his mother and 
sister, Miss Mary, who died in 1870. The 
following year, 1871, he was married to Miss 
Susie Rowland, of Arkuna. and they took 
up housekeeping in a nice comfortable little 
white frame house, which he had just built 
for the purpose, and in which they were at 
home to their friends. 

Mrs. Susie (Rowland) Johnson was 
born in Bosanquet, near Arkona, in the 
year 1852. and is of English descent on her 
father s side, her ancestor, John Rowland, 
having crossed the Atlantic in the "May 
flower" and settled in what became the 
United States. After the proclamation of 
American Independence, the Rowlands, like 
many others of that stormy period, left the 
new republic and came to Canada to live 
under the British flag, and as United Empire 
Loyalists received the usual favors granted 
to such, settling near Gananoque, where 
Mrs. Johnson s father. Thomas Funge How- 
land, was born in 1814. He married Miss 
Mary Lambe, who was born in the same lo 
cality in 1822, and they were married in 
Whi tby, in 1841 (the Rowlands and the 
Lambes having moved to that place pre 
viously). Mr. Rowland followed sawmill- 
ing till 1851, when he moved with his wife 
and five children to Bosanquet and purchased 
a farm on which they lived one year, during 
which Mrs. Johnson s birth occurred. Then 
they sold out and bought a farm in the town 
ship of West Williams, which they sold in 
1868 and purchased a farm in Bosanquet. on 
which they lived until 1889. Selling out 
again they built a suitable brick house in 
Thedford, where they lived retired. Mrs. 
Rowland died in 1891. Triumphant in her 
Savior s love, death had no terrors for her, 
and she died as she had lived, believing in 
the Lord Jesus Christ. She was in her six 
ty-ninth year. Many of her relatives were 
n onogenarians, her mother and her mother s 
father dying at ninety-nine years of age. In 



276 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the year 1894 Mr. Howland departed this 
life at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, 
his son-in-law and daughter, where he was 
visiting, accompanied by the second Mrs. 
Howland (ncc Mrs. Jane McCallum, of 
Point Edward), whom he had married 
about two years before. Mr. Howland had 
been a consistent Christian for many years 
and was very much esteemed as a deacon 
in the Baptist Church, to which all his fam 
ily belonged. However, Mrs. Johnson be 
came a Methodist when she married one. 
Mrs. Jane Howland survives and is always 
welcomed kindly by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
and other members of the Howland family. 
The surviving members of this Howland 
family are: Francis Lambe Howland, M. D., 
Medical Superintendent of the General Hos 
pital at Huntsville; Rev. Thomas Funge 
Howland, Ph. B., B. D.. Baptist Church, 
Vernon, Michigan; Mrs. Mary Hurlburt, of 
Mitchell, Ont. ; Mrs. Theresa Watson and 
Mrs. Lottie Beatty, of Manitowaning, Ont. ; 
and Mrs. Susie Johnson, Lake Shore, Bo- 
sanquet. Their brother, Benjamin A. How- 
land died in Thedford in 1891. 

Mrs. Margaret Leach Johnson died in 
the year 1882 in the home of her son and 
daughter-in-law, Alexander and Susie John 
son. She had lived eighty-four years, the 
last two in the home of this son, who then 
inherited the farm. She had been a wonder 
ful help in the cause of Christ, a Congrega- 
tionalist, but always at home in the Metho 
dist class meeting, which she richly en 
joyed and in which she always testified. 
She was well versed in the Bible and in 
books by such authors as Bunyan, Baxter, 
Spurgeon, etc. She had lived to a full age 
and was like a shock of corn fully ripe. Her 
children rise up and call her blessed. She 
was survived by six sons who are still liv 
ing: Hugh, of Bosanquet; Archibald, of 
Logan, Iowa; Duncan, of Sydney, Mani 
toba; John, of Plympton; James and Alex 
ander, of Bosanquet. Donald Johnson died 
in Bosanquet in 1872. Four children have 
been brought up by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander 
Johnson: Flora Emily Middleton. of Eng 
land, now Mrs. Hector McNeil, of Sarnia, 



from eight years of age until she was twenty- 
one; James Phoenix Johnson (also from 
England) from ten years of age until his 
twenty-eighth birthday, which he celebrated 
by marrying Mrs. Jessie (Middleton) How- 
land, widow of Benjamin A. Howland (he 
is engineer in the Thedford gristmill) ; and 
two nephews, Hugh Thomas and Hamilton 
Johnson, the former from the age of three 
years to twenty, the latter from four to 
eighteen. These two brothers have just left 
their foster home and gone out to battle with 
the world on their own responsibility, fol 
lowed by the best wishes of their uncle 
"Sandy" and Aunt Susie, with whom they 
are on the best of terms. The other two 
adopted ones, with their families, always en 
joy a visit in the little white frame house, 
where Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are passing 
"Gently down the stream of time." 

Mrs. Johnson takes delight in literature, 
and has herself written, a little poetry, and 
a couple of her productions are here in 
serted : 

THE DAWN OF ETERNITY. 

Ah, how can a mortal the first scene portray 

In the drama of life after death ; 
When the soul newly freed from its prison of clay 
Awakes in the light of eternity s day 

And breathes immortality s breath ? 

SLEEP. 

Tired nature s sweet restorer, balmy sleep, 
Annihilates full many ills which o er our senses 

creep 

Lures into sweet oblivion our little aches and pains 
And takes the sombre aspect from financial dearth of 

gains. 

Tired nature s sweet restorer is a healer of the mind,. 
Applicable to all the ills which trouble human kind, 
Naught in Materia Medica can with sweet sleep com 
pare. 
This antidote for every form of worldly, carking 



Tired nature s sweet restorer, balmy sleep 

When conspicuous by its absence how the infants fret 

and weep ; 

Without this sweet restorative the weary, tired brain 
Soon findeth it impossible its vigor to regain. 

Tired nature s sweet restorer is a boon in hoary age 
When in life s strong activities we can no more en 
gage ; 

It paints a deeper blush upon a maiden s lovely cheek, 
Then let us all with poet Young its wondrous praise; 
speak. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



277 



Tired nature s sweet restorer, this friend long tried 

and true, 
Facilitates our progress toward the prize we have in 

view ; 

Tired nature s sweet restorer Magnificent idea! 
Forever let us name it Universal Panacea. 

Tired nature s sweet restorer, balmy sleep, 

Was designed by nature s Author nature s constancy 
to keep ; 

And this plan of nature s Planner shall remain for 
ever sure ; 

Balmy sleep for tired nature ever shall be nature s 
cure. 

MALCOLM McINTYRE. Some of the 
best people of the Dominion have been given 
by Scotland, and have brought with them 
those sterling traits of character which have 
made the old country famous, long before 
the days of Robert Bruce. Those who have 
the blood of Scotland running in their veins 
are likely to be honest, prudent and eventu 
ally successful, and among those of this class 
living at Alvinston, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, is Malcolm Mclntyre, 
born in December, 1850, in Argyllshire, 
Scotland, son of Alexander and Anne (Pat 
terson) Mclntyre, both of whom were also 
natives of Argyllshire. 

Malcolm and Mary (Carr) Mclntyre, 
the grandparents of our subject, came to 
Brooke township as early as 1856, and set 
tled on Concession 10, clearing up wild land 
whereon they made a permanent home. 
There they died, leaving two sons and one 
one daughter : Nichol, who died at the old 
home in Brooke township ; Mary, who mar 
ried John McLachlin, and died in Brooke 
township, leaving a family ; and Alexander, 
the father of Malcolm. 

Alexander Mclntyre settled on Conces 
sion 10, where he cleared up a home from 
wild land, and resided until his death, in 
1876. The mother of our subject is still 
living on the old homestead, at the age of 
eighty-eight years. These good people were 
the parents of seven children : Archie, born in 
Scotland, is now a fanner of Brooke town 
ship, and was one of the old school teachers 
of Lambton County; Donald, born in Scot 
land, and residing on the old homestead, is 
married and has a family ; Alexander died on 



the old home in Brooke township ; Mary 
married John Stirton, and lives in Wayne 
County, Michigan; Sarah, born in 1852, in 
Scotland, and now residing in Lobo, near 
London, married John Hay, and they have 
two children; Xichol, born in Scotland in 
1855, is a blacksmith of Battle Creek, Mich 
igan, where he is married and has a family; 
and Malcolm. 

Malcolm Mclntyre was six years of age 
when brought to this country by his parents. 
He was reared and educated in Brooke town 
ship, and at the age of seventeen years com 
menced learning the blacksmith trade in con 
junction with the machinist trade. After 
completing his apprenticeship he commenced 
in business in Ekfrid. Middlesex County, 
where he remained about five years. While 
a resident of Ekfrid Mr. Mclntyre mar 
ried Miss Annie McMaster, daughter of 
Alexander and Margaret (Stewart) Mc 
Master, descendants of Middlesex County s 
old Scotch families. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Mclntyre removed to Al 
vinston, where he purchased real estate and 
went into business, becoming successful. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre three sons have been 
born, namely : Donald was reared and re 
ceived a high-school education in Alvinston, 
taught school for several years, and then 
studied denistry in Toronto, being now in 
active practice at Kingsville, Essex County; 
Alexander S. is a hardware clerk with 
Cowan & Co., of London; and Angus J. is a 
clerk in the Molsons Bank at Alvinston. 

This family are consistent members of 
the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Mc 
lntyre has always taken an active interest, 
at the present time being one of the elders. 
In political matters he has always been iden 
tified with the Reform party and has been 
school trustee for many years. Fraternally 
Mr. Mclntyre has connected himself with 
the Sons of Scotland, and is also a member 
of the Canadian Order of Foresters, at Al 
vinston. He is a man known to be honest 
and upright in all business transactions, and 
is justly regarded as a representative man 
of his community. 



2/8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



WILLIAM DUNDAS, who departed 
this life June i, 1889, at his late residence in 
the township of Enniskillen, County of 
Lamhton, was torn in Ireland in 1838, son 
of John and Ruth (Brock) Dundas, both na 
tives of Ireland. In 1841 John Dundas and 
family came to Ontario, and after a short 
residence in Toronto settled in Lot n, Con 
cession 8, Enniskillen township. This was 
in 1854, when the locality was still a forest, 
and this pioneer couple passed the remainder 
of their lives here. 

William Dundas was but three years old 
when brought to Ontario, and only sixteen 
when he came to Enniskillen township. Thus 
he was identified almost all his life with the 
affairs of the County of Lambton. He be 
came an extensive farmer and stock grower 
and one of the substantial men of the county, 
and was for a long time a prominent man 
in county and township affairs, serving most 
capably on both councils. His good judg 
ment, joined to his sterling honesty, made 
him one of the most honorable officials of 
this part of the Province, through which he 
was well known. He had the happy faculty 
of making friends, and his frank straight 
forward manner made it easy to transact 
business with him. Few men were better 
known or more universally esteemed in Pe- 
trolia than was the late William Dundas. 

In 1865 Mr. Dundas married Miss Mary 
Brock, who was born in Ireland in 1836, 
daughter of William and Susan (Brock) 
Brock, both of whom were born in 1808. 
They were early settlers in Enniskillen, 
spending their whole lives there after 1859, 
dying in 1889 and 1875, respectively. Three 
daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dun- 
clas: Hattie Ernina, wife of Robert Stever, a 
farmer on Lot 18, Concession 8, Enniskillen, 
has four daughters, Norma, Vera, Alta and 
Jean ; Ida married Wilfred Wilson, of En 
niskillen : Miss Minnie is the efficient book 
keeper for R. S. Ford, of Petrolia. 

In religious belief and observance Mr. 
Dundas was a Methodist, to which church 
Mrs. Dundas is also attached. In politics 
he was a stanch Reformer. In his death 
Lambton County lost one of her best citizens, 



and his family a husband and father highly 
respected *for his manly character and much 
beloved for his admirable personal charac 
teristics. 

THOMAS SQUIRE, a farmer of En 
niskillen township, whose property descend 
ing to him from his father, is located in Lot 
29, Concession 14, is a son of one of those 
pioneer families whose courage and forti 
tude amid the hardships of their frontier life 
is a source of pride to every loyal Canadian. 
Mr. Squire, though a resident of Lambton 
County for the greater part of his life, was 
torn in Middlesex County, Aug. 18, 1860, 
to Philip and Mary A. (Salter) Squire. 

Philip Squire and his wife were natives 
of England, born in Devonshire in 1815 and 
1816, respectively. They grew up there, 
married, and had a family of six children be 
fore coming to Canada. They made the 
voyage in 1857, and after reaching the Do 
minion settled first in Middlesex County, 
where they rented a farm until 1876. In 
that year Mr. Squire bought the family 
homestead in Enniskillen township, built a 
small cabin and began clearing his land so 
energetically, with the help of his sons, that 
it soon became a well-improved farm, mak 
ing him one of the prosperous men of the re 
gion. The remainder of his life was passed 
there, and his death occurred in his home in 
1883. His wife had died two years before. 
They were members of the Church of Eng 
land, and were among the founders of the 
Wanstead Church in Plympton township. 
Politically Mr. Squire was a Conservative. 

Mrs. Squire had been twice married ; her 
first husband was John Galliford, who lived 
and died in England. To this union there 
were two children, John and Harriet, who 
both accompanied their mother to Canada. 
John married Miss Sallie Steadman, of Mid 
dlesex County, where they now reside ; there 
is no family. Harriet married Walter 
Strangway, of Plympton township, and has 
children. Mary A., Frederick. Thomas, Nel 
lie, Richard. Katie and Sadie. By the sec 
ond marriage, that to Mr. Squire, there were 
eight children. ( i ) James was educated in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



279 



England, and resides in Warwick township 
on a farm : he married Miss Ellen Smith, of 
Enniskillen township, and has five children, 
Lulu, Ora, May, Philip and Earl. (2) 
Sarah, who was also educated in England, 
is unmarried and lives with her sister Mrs. 
Lucas. (3) Peter died in childhood. (4) 
William lives on a farm in Enniskillen town 
ship ; he married Miss Annie Angus, of Mid 
dlesex County, and has a son and a daughter, 
Annie D. and" William J. (5) Richard grew 
up and was educated in Canada and there 
married Miss Bella Cram. With his wife 
and three children, George, Albert and 
Edith, he lives on a part of his father s farm 
adjoining that occupied by his brother 
Thomas. (6) Mary A. is the wife of 
Thomas Strangway, of Enniskillen town 
ship, and the mother of a daughter and son, 
Lillie and Philip. (7) Elizabeth, the first 
child of the family born in Middlesex 
County, in 1858. married Edward Lucas, 
and has two children. Alma and Albion. 
(8) Thomas completes the family. 

Thomas Squire, the youngest member 
of the family, was educated in the schools 
of Middlesex County, and as he grew older 
remained at home helping his father clear 
the Enniskillen property. He continued to 
make his home on the place after his mar 
riage, and since his father s death has been 
the owner. He has greatly improved the 
homestead, adding a large barn and many 
other new features. His marriage took place 
in January, 1890, his bride being Miss Liz 
zie Armstrong, who was born in Middlesex 
County. May 13. 1864. daughter of John 
and Annie Armstrong, who was born in 
Middlesex County May 13, 1864, daughter 
of John and Annie Armstrong, who moved 
in a few years to Lambton County, and be 
came a prominent family of Enniskillen 
township, where Mrs. Squire was educated. 
Two children have been born to this union : 
Mabel, in July, 1892: and Melvin E., in 
1895, both attending the township schools. 
The parents are both members of the 
Church of England. 

In his political views. Mr. Squire, as well 
as all his brothers, votes the Conservative 



ticket. In his earlier years he went through 
the usual hardships incident to pioneer life, 
but sustained them with an energy and spirit 
which has won him a place among the most 
respected men of the township. The whole 
family of brothers and sisters have a record 
of usefulness behind them, and are numbered 
among the solid and conservative citizens. 

WILLIAM BROWX, one of the prom 
inent farmers and public-spirited citizens of 
Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
who makes his home on Concession 10, Lot 
19, was born in Moore township, this 
county. Nov. 15, 1865, the only son of Will 
iam and Jane (Armstrong) Brown. 

William Brown, the father, was born in 
England in 1835, and came to Canada when 
still a young man. In the County of York, 
Out., he met and married Miss Jane Arm 
strong, a most estimable lady, who was born 
in that county in 1837. They settled on the 
Town Line between Plympton and Ennis 
killen townships in Lambton County, where 
he started life in the woods, later selling this 
property and purchasing more desirable land 
on Concession 10, in Moore township, where 
he made improvements. Mr. Brown lived 
there a few years and then purchased land in 
Plympton, on the London road, where he 
lived for nearly five years. Previous to his 
residence in Plympton he had purchased our 
subject s present farm, which was then wild 
land, and at that time there was no road to 
Petrolia. Nothing daunted, he cleared up 
this farm, having- to make his own road, and 
here he lived until the time of his death, 
which occurred in October, 1886, his wife 
surviving until July. 1888. This worthy 
couple were members of the Methodist 
Church, of which Mr. Brown was an officer 
for a number of years. In politics he was a 
member of the Conservative party, but he 
never aspired for office. 

To William and Jane Brown was born a 
family of eight children : Sarah, born in 
Lambton County, married Hugh Dunfield, 
of Petrolia, and died leaving one daughter, 
Sarah, a profession! nurse, of Detroit; 
Mary I. died when a young lady ; William is 



280 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



our subject; Maggie, born in Lambton 
County in 1867, married James Douglass, 
of Enniskillen, and has six children, Ernest, 
Verda, Retta, Lizzie, Abner and Roy ; Eliza, 
born in 1871, married George Blackstock, of 
Metcalfe, and has three children, Flossie, 
Elsie and William; Laura, born in 1874, 
married Andrew German, of Concession 10, 
Enniskillen township, and has two children, 
Mabel and Cecil; Christina, born in 1876, 
married Warren Blasdale, of Enniskillen, 
and has two children, Ada and Pearl; Maud, 
born in 1878, married John Long, of War 
wick, and has one son, Alvin W. 

William Brown received his education in 
the schools of Enniskillen, and at the time 
of his father s death became the manager of 
the old homestead, which he now owns, 
and which he has greatly improved, building 
in 1896 a fine house with all modern im 
provements. Besides the old homestead he 
owns one of the Arthur Hume farms, on 
Concession 13. 

On Nov. 14, 1889, Mr. Brown was mar 
ried to Miss Ellen Douglass, the estimable 
daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth (Clark) 
Douglass, of Enniskillen township. She was 
born in Adelaide, Middlesex County, but 
when five years old, moved to Brooke town 
ship, where she received her early education, 
fitting herself for teaching. No children 
have been born to this union. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown are connected with the Methodist 
Church. Politically our subject is a Con 
servative, and he has filled the office of 
school trustee for four years. He was also 
treasurer for two years. He is a member of 
the Order of Foresters, belonging to Court 
No. 42, of Petrolia. 

The parents of our subject were among 
Lambton County s oldest and most respected 
families, and endeared themselves by ties of 
friendship and love to the people of Ennis 
killen and Petrolia, where they spent many 
years of their valuable lives, and will long 
be remembered by a large circle of friends 
and neighbors. Their only son is one of 
Enniskiilen s most active and progressive 
citizens and is highly esteemed by all who 
know him. 



WILLIAM XISBET, member of the 
council of Lambton County, representing the 
district comprised of Dawn and Sombra, and 
one of the prominent residents of the town 
ship of Dawn, living on Concession 6, 5th 
Line, Lot 26, was born March 6, 1855, in 
Plympton township, this county, a son of 
David and Agnes (Donald) Xisbet. The 
Xisbets are an old established pioneer family 
of the township. 

David Xisbet was born April 17, 1814, 
in Lanarkshire. Scotland, a son of James 
and Agnes (Newton) Xisbet, who came 
from Scotland to Canada in 1821 and set 
tled at Xorth Sherbrooke, County Lanark, 
where they died. They left three sons and 
one daughter, viz. : David ; James, born in 
1816, who settled in East Saginaw, Michi 
gan, where he died unmarried ; William, 
born in 1818, in Scotland, who married and 
settled in Minnesota, where he died leaving 
no children ; and Jennie, born in Scotland, 
who died in County Lanark. 

David Nisbet was the eldest of the family 
and prior to coming to Canada had attended 
school and laid the foundations for the good 
education which he later acquired through 
reading. He was always interested in study 
ing the histories of different countries and 
was one of the best informed men in his local 
ity, one whose judgment was highly 
considered. During the Canadian Rebellion 
he served at Kingston and Toronto until 
the close of that war, and then engaged in 
the lumber business, operating a sawmill and 
carding mill in County Lanark until his 
marriage. 

In November, 1848, David Xisbet mar 
ried Agnes Donald, who was born in County 
Lanark, Ont., in 1822, and was one of the 
first white children born in Dalhousie town 
ship. The parents, John and Marion (Dun 
can) Donald, came from Scotland in 1820 
and settled in County Lanark. The father 
was a school teacher, and he became a promi 
nent man in County Lanark, a leader in 
politics and public affairs. His father, also 
named John Donald, died in England. 

David Xisbet settled after his marriage 
in Plympton township, on a tract of wild 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



281 



land \vhich his industry subdued and con 
verted into a good farm. He continued to 
reside on this land, which was in Concession 
3, the balance of his life, becoming one of 
the best and most successful farmers of that 
locality. He died in 1895. and was survived 
by his widow until January, 1905. They 
were- among the founders of the Presbyterian 
Church in Plympton, and David Xisbet was 
one of the leading elders for many years. 
Politically he was a strong man, and on 
account of his sterling character was selected 
by his fellow citizens on many occasions to 
fill important offices. His political sympathy 
was with the Reform party. He was elected 
a member of the school board, assessor, 
councillor, reeve for many years, and in 
1872 was honored with the office of county 
warden. He could have had almost any 
office in the county. When Plympton re 
members its representative and useful men 
it mentions David Xisbet. 

Eight children were born to David Xisbet 
and his wife : James, born in Plympton town 
ship in 1849, followed plumbing and had a 
"hardware business, and in 1892 moved to 
Sibley, Iowa, where he is engaged in a hard 
ware" business ; he married Sarah Sykes, of 
Moore township, and they have four chil 
dren. David, Annie. Agnes and Helen. Ma 
rian born in Plympton in 1851, married Wil 
liam Dunn, of Sarnia township, and they 
have a family of seven children, John, David, 
James. Agnes. Elizabeth. Henry and Wil 
liam. John, born in 1853, was always an 
invalid until his death, in 1896. William, 
our subject, was born in 1855. Thomas, 
torn in 1858, married Annie Jolly of Plymp 
ton, where they reside, and where he is one 
of the progressive farmers and is also an 
oil producer; they have five children, Mabel, 
James, David, Agnes and Stewart. Agnes, 
"born in 1860, married David Evans, who is 
one of the extensive farmers and stock men 
of Ontario, in Ontario County, and they have 
five children, George, William, Thomas, 
Gladys and - . Jeanette, born in 1862, 
is the wife of Alva Sullivan, who lives in 
Dunclas County, and they have three chil 
dren, Frank, Marian and Jesse. Jane, born 



in 1864, married John D. Schram, of Lan 
sing, Michigan, where he is engaged in busi- 
ness, and they have two daughters, Annie 
and Alice. 

William Xisbet grew up a studious lad, 
fond of his books, and when he was only 
fourteen years old had a second-class certifi 
cate which entitled him to teach school. He 
was not inclined, however, in that direction, 
preferring an agricultural life, and he con 
tinued to work on the old homestead farm 
off and on until his marriage, though he pur 
chased his present farm in 1884, when he 
came to Dawn and purchased 100 acres of 
wild land. He cleared this up for a home, 
building his own house and barn, being a 
first-class mechanic, although he had never 
learned the trade. 

On Sept. 20, 1892, Mr. Xisbet was 
united in marriage with Miss Eliza Wade, 
who was born in England June 18, 1867, 
daughter of Samuel and Pamela Leverage 
Wade, and a member of one of the respected 
families of Dawn township. Mrs. Xisbet 
died in the hospital in Sarnia, Ont, Feb. 22, 
1902, having been a sufferer for two years 
previously. She was highly esteemed by all 
who knew her. She was survived by two 
children, viz. : Pamela E. and David W. 

Mr. Xisbet is a leading member and one 
of the elders in the Presbyterian Church of 
Dawn. His wife also belonged to this relig 
ious body. Politically he has always been 
identified" with the old Reform party, and 
he is well known and prominent over the 
county. In 1885 he was elected deputy 
reeve," and served four years in that import 
ant office. Since 1885 he has been a member 
of the county council and in 1895 was 
warden of the county. For the past twenty 
years he has been identified with official life 
in Lambton County, a long time for one man 
to hold office in the face of so much competi 
tion. It tells its own tale of his sterling 
character. He has filled many of the town 
ship offices, among others that of school 
trustee of Dawn, and he has always worked 
for the advancement of education. He has 
been frequently mentioned as the candidate 
of the Reform party for legislative position 



282 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and the future will doubtless add other 
honors to his name in addition to those he 
has earned in the past. Since coming to 
Dawn township he has identified himself 
with the Canadian Order of Foresters. 

Air. Xisbet s first teacher still survives, 
the venerable Joseph Osborne, and it grat 
ifies him to know of the esteem in which his 
old pupil is so universally held. Mr. Xisbet 
is a man of fine scholarship, well qualified in 
every way for public life, and is a worthy 
representative of the public men of Dawn. 

WILLIAM SYMES, one of the highly 
respected citizens and retired farmers of 
Concession 4, Lot 18, Dawn township, Coun 
ty of Lambton, was born Dec. 3, 1850, in 
Nova Scotia, son of John and Helen (Bowie) 
Symes, old pioneers of Dawn. 

John Symes was born May 18, 1810, in 
Clackmannanshire, Scotland, while his wife 
was born in January, 1810, in Leith. John 
Symes was a son of James and Nellie 
(Reid) Symes, who came to Canada in 1832, 
walking all the distance from Montreal to 
Glencoe through the woods, there being only 
a blazed path at the time in that country. 
They settled at Glencoe, and made there a 
permanent home from the wild land, and in 
that home both parents died. They had 
three sons and one daughter, namely : Will 
iam, who was a farmer at Glencoe, left a 
widow at his death ; James sailed the seas in 
young .manhood from Scotland and was 
never heard of later; Barbara, the only 
(laughter, married James Greaves in the old 
country where he died, leaving one son, 
James, who lived at Walker s Crossing, Ont, 
and she married (second) William Mickle, 
who died at Hancock, Michigan, where she 
also died, leaving four children, Betsey, 
John. Catherine and Jane; and John was the 
father of our subject. 

John Symes grew to manhood in Glas 
gow, and there learned the trade of engineer. 
Following his marriage, in 1831, he came to 
New York, where he found work for a time 
at his trade, and then moved to Nova Scotia, 
and followed his trade on vessels until 1850, 
when he came to Glencoe. After a few 



years there, in 1853, he came to Dawn, tak 
ing up land on Lot 20, Concession 9. This 
was all wild land, but he set bravely to work 
and succeeded in clearing up a good farm. 
He also sailed the lakes after coming to 
Dawn, following his trade on a number of 
vessels. He was a reliable engineer and an 
industrious and capable man. He died in 
1884, and was survived ten years by his wife. 
Both parents of our subject were consistent 
members of the Presbyterian Church. In 
politics, John Symes was a Reformer, but 
was a man who took no great interest in po 
litical affairs. 

The children of John and Helen Symes 
were: (i) Jane, born in 1832, at Glasgow, 
married James Harris, who settled in Mil 
waukee, Wisconsin, and there she died leav 
ing a large family, all of whom live in the 
States. (2) Betsey, born in Glasgow, is the 
wife of Robert Bloom, of Bothwell, and has 
a family of three children, William, James 
and Barbara, the latter being Mrs. Albert 
Atchison, of Bothwell. (3) Capt. James,, 
born in 1837, when young started his career 
as a sailor on the lakes, where he continued 
until he became commander of a vessel, and 
was a captain for forty years; he married- 
Margaret Campbell, of Port Elgin, and they 
settled at Sarnia where he made his home 
until his death in January, 1905, leaving 
three sons, Capt. George; Duncan E. ; and 
Capt. John C, who, with his wife, is de 
ceased. (4) Helen, born in 1840, married 
(first) James White, of Scotland, who set 
tled and later died at Grand Rapids, Michi 
gan, leaving no descendants; she married 
(second) Jacob Bloom, also deceased, and 
they lived at Glencoe. (5) Caroline, born 
in 1842, is the wife of Henry Lillie, of Dawn 
Center. (6) John, born in 1846, married 
Mary McNeil, of Dawn, and settled on Con 
cession 8, in Dawn, where he died in 1903, 
leaving a wife and these children, Nellie, 
Lillie, Sarah and Mabel. (7) \YilIiam is 
mentioned below. 

William Symes grew to manhood in t he- 
old home in Dawn township, where he re 
ceived a district school education. When a 
young man of twenty-one, he commenced. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



283. 



sailing on the lakes which occupation he fol 
lowed for twenty-five years, during the sum 
mers, and in the same period bought 100 
acres of land on Concession 8, in Dawn, 
where he passed his winters engaged in 
clearing, and subsequently in cultivating his 
land when not otherwise engaged. 

On Dec. 3, 1872. Mr. Symes was married 
to Miss Harriet Nutter, a most estimable 
lady born Nov. 7, 1850, in Preston, Lanca 
shire, England, daughter of Richard and 
Elizabeth (Green) Xutter, both of whom 
were born in England. Coming to Canada 
in 1857 they settled at Brantford where they 
lived for four years, the father in the mean 
time been engaged in railroad building. 
They then moved to the present home where 
Mrs. Symes grew to womanhood and was 
married. Mrs. Nutter died while living at 
Brantford, in 1861, leaving Mrs. Symes, her 
only daughter of this marriage. She had 
been previously married in England, to Will 
iam Macon, who had died some years before 
her marriage to Mr. Nutter. The children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Macon were : Ellis, Mar 
garet and Mary, all of whom died in Eng 
land, and Robert, the only survivor, who 
came to the United States when a young 
man, married and lives in Massachusetts, 
where he has been connected with the great 
cotton mills of that locality. 

Mrs. Symes father, Richard Nutter, 
married (second) Rachel Ingersoll, who is 
still surviving. Mr. Nutter died at this home 
Oct. 1 8, 1898, leaving the home farm to 
Mrs. Symes, she being the only child. Mr. 
Symes then moved on this place, selling his 
own farm on Concession 8. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Symes 
are as follows: Elizabeth C, born in 1873, 
is the wife of William B. Chater, a railroad 
employe who resides at Windsor, and has 
one son, W. Forest; Barbara J., born in 
1875. was reared at Dawn, and her tastes 
led her to learn the trade of dressmaker, 
and she has an establishment in Chatham, 
Out. ; Margaret, born in 1877. is the wife of 
John Little, who lives in Northwest Canada, 
and has three children. Roy, Charles and 
Barbara; William R., born in 1879, married 



Ida Wilber of Sombra, Lambton County, 
and they reside on Concession 4, of Dawn ; 
John, born in 1881, George, born in 1884, 
and James Bowie, born in 1891, are all at 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Symes are members of the 
Methodist Church. Politically he has al 
ways been identified with the Reform party,, 
and in favor of law and order. He is a mem 
ber of the Sydenham Lodge of Masons, No. 
255, Dresden, Kent County, and is also a 
member of the Orangemen, Advance Lodge, 
No. 859, of Dawn. 

The life of Mr. Symes thus briefly 
sketched shows the manner of man he is, and 
indicates the reason of his being held in high 
esteem by those whose neighbor he has been 
for many years. His industry has been a 
good example to those about him, and his- 
exemplary life has but added to the reputa 
tion which Dawn township has for the fine 
class of citizens to be found in this part of 
the county. 

HIRAM M. CASSELMAN, a well- 
known agriculturist on the township line of 
Warwick, is one of Lambton County s rep 
resentative citizens, and is a descendant of 
United Empire Loyalists who came from 
the United States to Canada directly after 
the close of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Cas- 
selman was born in the township of Will- 
iamsburg, Dundas County, Ont. Feb. 26 
1834- 

The Casselman family is of German ex 
traction, but members thereof have made 
their home in America for over a century. 
Prior to the American Revolution the Cassel- 
mans, with others of their fellow country 
men, left their German home for the New 
World, where they hoped to find peace and 
a chance to make a home in what were then 
the British Colonies. They located in the 
Mohawk Valley, in New York State, and 
there followed the quiet and peaceable lives 
of agriculturists. These people were op 
posed to all rebellion against law and order, 
and when the Revolution broke out sided 
with the British, bearing arms for the flag- 
of their adopted country. After the Ameri- 



284 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cans had won their independence the Cas- 
selmans, with others, suffered persecution at 
their hands, having their property confiscated 
by them, and other indignities heaped upon 
them. Wishing to enjoy political freedom 
as well as the results of their labors, 200 of 
the loyal Britishers, among them the Cassel- 
mans, left their birthplace in the Mohawk 
Valley and came to Canada, there to find a 
home in the wilderness, where they might 
live in peace. After a weary journey 
through an unbroken country the party lo 
cated in what is now the township of Will- 
iamsburg, County of Dundas, Ont, and here 
Martin Casselman, the grandfather of our 
subject, obtained from the Government a 
tract of 200 acres of land. He set to work 
to hew out a home for himself and family in. 
the wilderness, and here the remainder of 
his life was spent. He worked hard and 
succeeded in clearing his land, which he put 
under cultivation. Mr. Casselman was, by 
nature, a peaceful man, but he was also very 
patriotic, and when the war of 1812-14 was 
declared he did his full duty as a loyal Brit 
ish subject as a member of the Dundas Mil 
itia, taking part in the battle of Chrysler s 
Farm and the capture of Ogdensburg. 

Martin Casselman, Jr., father of Hiram 
M., was a stanch Liberal, and was always 
opposed to oppression. He took a firm 
stand against the "Family Compact," which 
form of government was in vogue in the 
early thirties, and while an admirer and sym 
pathizer of the aim and object of William 
Lyon Mackenzie he was opposed to disorder 
and rebellion, preferring to obtain those 
rights and privileges which should be ac 
corded to all British subjects by peaceful 
and lawful means. When the Rebellion 
broke out, in 1837, he, like all loyal subjects, 
did his full duty as a soldier, and he partici 
pated in the battle of the Windmill. 

Hiram M. Casselman attended the public 
schools of Williamsburg, and worked with 
his father from an early age, principally in 
the lumber mills, until he reached manhood, 
when he started out in the world to make 
his own way. He first took up carpentering, 
an occupation which he followed for some 



time,. and then accepted a position as outside 
foreman with W. T. Benson, the well-known 
starch manufacturer of Cardinal, Grenville 
County, having charge of the lumber-mills 
box factory. With this firm he remained 
seven years, at the end of which time, in 
1875, he removed to Stephen township, Hu 
ron County, and bought the King s lumber- 
mills, where he engaged in the manufacture 
of lumber for six years. Here he met with 
fair success, and while there invested in a 
tract of land in Warwick township, Lamb- 
ton County, Lot 21, 6th Concession, north 
of the Egremont road, locating on this home 
with his family in 1878. His mills were de 
stroyed by fire. There he has ever since 
been engaged in farming and stock raising. 
He is noted for his industry and honesty of 
purpose and possesses that independent spirit 
which he has inherited from his father and 
grandfather. Like them he has always up 
held the principles of Liberalism. In politi 
cal contests Mr. Casselman always takes a 
deep interest, and is a formidable opponent 
of dishonesty in elections and untruthfulness 
in discussing public affairs, and has always 
defended his party and its principles on the 
platform and in the press. He is a very 
well-read man, and is well-posted on all 
events of the day, being an authority on Can 
adian affairs, and while he holds his own 
opinions he has due respect and regard for 
the opinions of others. The same spirit is 
in the sons that was in the sire the desire to 
work out their destiny as subjects of the 
British Empire. Mr. Casselman tries to in 
culcate in his children love for their country 
and to stand by the old flag. He says : 
"God in His mercy has blessed our country 
with peace and prosperity and spared us 
from war and its horrors, that at one time 
seemed inevitable." In 1862, when an 
American war vessel stopped upon the high 
seas a British mail steamer and forcibly took 
off two of the passengers, Mason and Slid- 
ell, that were on their way to Europe as the 
representatives of the Southern Confederacy 
a very high-handed act that no self-re 
specting government could submit to, for 
they were as much under the protection of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



285. 



the British flag as if they had been on the 
soil of England Great Britain immediately 
demanded the surrender of the men, an ulti 
matum that it was thought the American 
Government would not comply with, as they 
had endorsed the act by passing a vote of 
thanks in Congress to Capt. Wilks, approv 
ing his conduct. The war cloud was dark 
indeed, and it seemed as if it soon would 
burst and the people of Canada would have 
to face its stern realities. At the darkest 
hour the subject of this sketch with others 
organized a volunteer company of sixty men 
on the understanding that they should select 
their officers, which they did by selecting 
Thomas Dundas captain, H. M. Casselman, 
lieutenant, and James Millar, ensign. They 
tendered their services to the Government, 
but the war cloud blew over, the men were 
given up, and they were not gazetted, as they 
had no desire to be soldiers in time of peace. 

Mr. Casselman is a member of the Ma 
sonic fraternity, having been made a Mason 
in Waddington, New York, and he is a 
charter member of Excelsior Lodge, No. 
142, Morrisburg, Ont. He is broad-minded 
and liberal in his religious views, and is a 
good citizen. He is a member of the East 
Lambton Farmers Institute, was its presi 
dent one year, and takes a great interest in 
the institute and in all that appertains to 
agriculture. 

In 1855 Hiram M. Casselman was mar 
ried, in Brockville, Ont., to Miss Eleanora 
Clayton, a native of Brockville. She died in 
1886, and was interred in Arkona ceme 
tery. She was a loving wife, a devoted 
mother and a good, Christian woman. Five 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cassel 
man, as follows : Samuel, a resident of 
Guatemala, Central America; Frederick, 
who resides on the old homestead; Annie, 
wife of Elihu McKay, a furniture dealer of 
Oil Springs, Ont., where they reside ; Elea 
nor, who married James French, of Bosan- 
quet township, Lambton County, and Edith, 
who resides at home. 

JOHN NESBITT, one of the venerated 
citizens of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, who has been identified with the 



growth and prosperity of the township and 
county for more than a half century, was 
born Aug. 15, 1829, in Beckwith. town 
ship. Lanark County, Ontario. 

The Nesbitt family is of Scottish extrac 
tion, but its members lived and died in Ire 
land for some generations prior to the found 
ing of the family in Canada. William Nes 
bitt, the grandfather of our subject, was 
born in County Down, Ireland. His parents 
were of Scottish birth but died in County 
Down, where they were agriculturists. Will 
iam Nesbitt also followed farming in Ire 
land until advanced in years, and there his 
wife died. He came to Canada and passed 
his declining years with his son John. He 
married Mary Henderson, and they had 
seven children, all of whom grew to ma 
turity, namely : William, James, Mary, Bet 
sey, George, John and Margaret. Four of 
these came to Canada, and many of their 
descendants can be found in the Dominion 
and also in the different States of the Union. 
The tomb of William Nesbitt may be found 
in the old cemetery in Lanark County, and 
his name on the rolls of the Church of Eng 
land. In his native land he had belonged to 
the Presbyterian Church, but that denomin 
ation not at that time being represented in 
this section, he joined the English Church. 

John Nesbitt, father of our subject, was 
born in County Down, Ireland, and there 
spent his boyhood, obtaining a good com 
mon-school education, and he was a well- 
read man for his time. He removed to 
County Sligo and farmed rented land for a 
time, and then came to Canada, accompanied 
by his brother George, a physician, his sis 
ters, Margaret and Betsey, and the aged 
father. They made the voyage in a sailing 
vessel and finally landed at Quebec, and set 
tled in Lanark County. John Nesbitt had 
125 acres of land near Franktown, a bush 
farm, on which he erected a log house in 
which the family began life in the wilder 
ness. Some years later he settled on a tract 
of 100 acres on Concession 8, Beckwith 
township, where he made his home for the 
remainder of his life, and where he built 
first a comfortable log house. This the fam 
ily occupied during the early years and later 



286 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



it was replaced by something more attractive 
and commodious. During the life of Mr. 
Nesbftt many changes and improvements 
were made and he was numbered with the 
good farmers and substantial men of his 
township. He died on his farm at the age 
of eighty-four years, and was laid to rest in 
the cemetery at Franktown. He was a con 
sistent member of the Church of England, 
and was a strong supporter of the Conserva 
tive party. 

In Lanark County, Mr. Nesbitt married 
Jane Pierce, of County Wexford, Ireland, a 
daughter of James Pierce, who settled early 
in Lanark County. Mrs. Nesbitt had been 
reared in the Church of England. She lived 
to the age of eighty years, and is also in 
terred in the old cemetery at Franktown. 
They were the parents of ten children : Jane 
was twice married, first to Joseph Lett, and 
later to Henry Miller; a son died in in 
fancy; William died in promising young 
manhood, in Lanark County; John is men 
tioned below ; George is a clergyman in the 
Church of England, and a resident of 
Toronto; Thomas lives on the old home 
stead; James resides on a farm near the 
homestead; Edward, a physician, is a resi 
dent of Sandwich, Essex County; Esther 
died young; Ann Pierce is a resident of 
Lanark County. 

John Xesbitt, his father s namesake, was 
reared among pioneer surroundings in Lan 
ark County, and obtained his education in 
the little log schoolhouse in Beckwith town 
ship. He continued with his father until the 
age of twenty-four years, when he came to 
Lambton County, and in 1854 he bought a 
tract of 200 acres of government land, on 
Lot 26. Concession i, of Plympton town 
ship, and started to make a home for him 
self. The residents of Plympton township 
of the present day, of the younger genera 
tion, can scarcely realize the conditions 
which prevailed in this great wilderness at 
that time. There were miles and miles of 
unbroken forest, through which a blazed 
trail was the only path to civilization ; a few 
neighbors scattered sparsely over the extent 
of country, their habitations marked by a 



tiny cabin surrounded by a few acres of 
partially cleared land ; markets far away, 
and churches and schoolhouses only dreamed 
of. Deer were plentiful, but so also were the 
wolves who howled at the doors at night and, 
at first, made almost impossible the raising 
of poultry or small stock. For several years 
Mr. Xesbitt s sister Jane consented to live in 
this lonely region and try to make the little 
cabin like a home for her brother, who had 
so much to contend with, having but a small 
capital to invest in stocking his farm even 
after he had succeeded in clearing it. That 
Mr. Nesbitt was well repaid for all the work 
and money he expended on his farm is well 
known to his neighbors, who could watch its 
development from a wild stretch of forest 
into a finely cultivated tract, adorned with a 
handsome residence and a number of sub 
stantial buildings and the surroundings 
which make this a very desirable home. For 
forty years he worked, succeeding in farm-, 
ing and the raising of stock, and then gave 
over the various industries to his sons, the 
east half of the farm being operated by 
Alex and the west half by William John. 
Mr. Nesbitt resides with his son Alexander, 
where he has a pleasant home. Although 
advanced in years he possesses all his facul 
ties and enjoys social life, taking an active 
interest in both local happenings and public 
affairs. He has always been a stanch Lib 
eral, but has never accepted political office. 

In 1858, in Lanark County, Mr. Nesbitt 
was married to Esther Ann McKercher, 
who was born in Beckwith township, a 
daughter of Duncan and Esther (Fennell) 
McKercher. After twenty-eight years of 
married life she passed away, April 23, 1886. 
and was buried in South Plympton ceme 
tery. She was a worthy member of the 
Church of England, and a good woman, 
with all that the word implies. Children 
were born to this union as follows : Jane, 
who married Thomas Fabrey, resides at 
Winnipeg. Man., and has two children. 
David and Elizabeth ; Catherine, who mar 
ried Alexander Robertson, a contractor and 
builder at London, Out., had three children, 
Margaret Ann, and two who died in in- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



287 



fancy : \Yilliam John, who resides at Sault 
Ste. Marie, married Mary Rouse, and they 
have one child, Lome; Alexander Duncan 
was born Jan. 7, 1864; Esther Ann, who 
married George Stilson, has two children, 
George Vernon and John Cecil ; Mary Eliza 
beth died young. Of these, 

ALEXANDER DUXCAX XESBITT was 
born on the old homestead of the Xesbitts 
and was educated in the local schools. His 
life has been devoted to agriculture and 
since his father s retirement he has been 
operating part of the homestead farm. He 
is one of the stanch members of the Liberal 
party in this locality. Both he and wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Alexander D. Xesbitt was married to 
Margaret Dewar Ferguson, daughter of 
Archibald and Margaret (Dewar) Fergu 
son. She is a lady of education and social 
qualities of a high order. She is the mother 
of one child, Esther Mabel. 

Our esteemed subject is a member of the 
Church of England, which he attends at 
Wanstead. He was one of the organizers of 
the church at that place and with the expen 
diture of time and means has seen the 
church grow and prosper. He was a mem 
ber of the building committee and has always 
been a liberal supporter of all its work. He 
is valued there for the Christian spirit he has 
always shown, the influence he has exerted 
and the benevolent attitude he has always 
taken. The prudence and wisdom with 
which he has managed his material affairs 
have resulted in the accumulation of prop 
erty, which gives him pleasure, in his declin 
ing years, to know that it will contribute to 
the comfort of those to whom he is bound by 
the closest ties of kindred. 

EDWIX JOHXSOX. one of the lead 
ing farmers in Enniskillen township, on 
Concession 14, Lot 30, was born near Al 
bany. Xew York. Oct. 26, 1855, son of 
James and Juliana (Steer) Johnson. 

James Johnson and his wife were natives 
of Derbyshire, England, both torn in 1825, 
They were married there before coming to 
America. They arrived in Albany in 1852 



and Mr. Johnson was employed there first as 
a .butcher, and later on railroad work until 
1858, when he removed with his family to 
Canada. For eleven years he remained at 
East Xissouri, Middlesex County, where he 
was occupied both as a farmer and butcher, 
and then in 1876, he moved to Plympton 
and made his home there for the rest of his 
life. His death occurred in March, 1887, 
and that of his wife Dec. 12, 1903. They 
were members of the Baptist Church. James 
Johnson at the time of his death was recog 
nized as a good citizen, and one of the suc 
cessful farmers of Middlesex, although he 
had started life in poverty. Politically he 
was a Conservative. His children numbered 
six. (i) Elizabeth, married Austin Xutt, 
had two children, William and Julia E., and 
is deceased. (2) William, born in England, 
married Miss Sarah Hawks, of Middlesex 
County, and lives on the old homestead in 
Plympton. They have six children, John, 
Mary. James, Ollie, Edna and Walter. (3) 
Charles, born in Albany, settled on the Xis 
souri home. He married Miss Frances 
Kernick, of Exeter. Out., and has one son, 
William. (4) Edwin was next in the order 
of birth. (5) Alice, born in Albany, is the 
wife of Dr. Abram Simmons, of Shakes 
peare, Ontario, now a dentist in Gaylord, 
Michigan. They have two sons. Wilson and 
Milton. (6) James, born in Xissouri, mar 
ried Miss Jessie Parks, of Plympton, daugh 
ter of Andrew and Jane Parks, pioneers in 
the township, but now residing in Sarnia on 
a farm adjoining Mr. Edwin Johnson s. 
They have four children, Salina, Stanley, 
Stella and Elsie Pearl. 

Edwin Johnson was given a fairly good 
education in the Xissouri schools. " After 
coming to Lambton County, he remained 
with his father until April, 1883. when he 
was married and began life for himself, on 
a tract of wild land which has been developed 
into the present fine homestead of Mr. John 
son, and which is equipped with a large barn 
and all necessary outbuildings. He and his 
brother James originally purchased 200 acres 
and then divided the property into their two 
farms. They are among the self-made men 



288 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the count} , are of exemplary character 
and conscientious life, have always promoted 
every progressive movement, and are 
counted among the solid, substantial citi 
zens. Mrs. Johnson, who was Miss Rebecca 
Parks, daughter of Andrew and Jane Parks, 
and a member of an old Plympton 
family, has been a helpful companion 
through all her husband s career. She has 
borne him four children, as follows : Flos 
sie, born in 1883, a student in the home 
schools; Russell, born in 1887; Rosetta M., 
born in May, 1890; and Roy, born in 1896. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are devoted members 
of the Baptist Church, where Mr. Johnson 
has been a deacon for twenty-one years, and 
in which his wife has taught a Sunday-school 
class. In his political views, Edwin Johnson, 
like his brother James, is a Conservative. 
He is a member of Court Pearl, Order of 
Foresters in Brooke township, and has served 
as recording secretary. 

HENRY McINTOSH, who is one of 
the leading manufacturers of Point Edward, 
is a native of North Middlesex County, St. 
John s, near London, Ont., and son of James 
Mclntosh and Catherine Grant. 

James Mclntosh was born in Inverness- 
shire, Scotland, in 1802, and engaged in 
farming. He there married the daughter of 
John Grant. On coming to Ontario, in 1843, 
he located near London, County of Middle 
sex, but soon moved to the village of Gran- 
ton, where he farmed until his death. This 
village was named Granton in honor of the 
Grants, one of whom was our subject s 
mother. Mrs. Mclntosh died in Granton in 
1867, her husband surviving until April 27, 
1885, when he died at Point Edward; he is 
buried in Lake View Cemetery. In religion 
Mr. Mclntosh was a Presbyterian, and in 
politics a Reformer. His children were ; ( i ) 
Alexander, who died in London, Ont., was 
at the time of his death foreman in the 
Moorehead cabinet shops there. (2) James, 
of Ratportage, is a conductor on the Cana 
dian Pacific Railway. (3) John (deceased) 
was a farmer in Middlesex County. (4) 
William is at Strathroy. (5) Mary Ann is 



the wife of William Mitchell, of Michigan. 
(6) Henry is mentioned below. (7) Mar 
garet was the wife of Case Miners, and both 
are deceased. (8) Samuel, of Winnipeg, 
Manitoba, is an engineer on the Canadian 
Pacific Railway. (9) Leslie died at the age 
of two years. 

Henry Mclntosh was born at St. John s, 
North Middlesex County, Ont., Aug. 8, 
1847. I 11 ms native place he began his liter 
ary education, finishing at Granton. Mr. 
Mclntosh then learned the carpenter s trade, 
which he followed for eight years in his 
native county. In 1872 he came to Point 
Edward, where for about seven years he 
continued his trade. In 1879 ne became 
conductor on the Grand Trunk Railroad, 
running between Point Edward and St. 
Mary s. Later the run was extended to 
Stratford and Toronto. After the amalga 
mation of the Grand Trunk and Great West 
ern roads, Mr. Mclntosh s run was between 
Point Edward and Niagara Falls, and dur 
ing the last nine years of his service in this 
capacity he was in charge of the Lehigh Ex 
press from Point Edward to Niagara Falls 
the Company s finest and fastest train at 
that time. In August, 1898, Mr. Mclntosh 
left the railroad service. He had perfected, 
and in 1900 patented, in Canada and the 
United States, a machine for making pressed 
sand brick. This machine began operating 
in July, 1902, and met the full expectations 
of the inventor. He sells the machine and 
puts it up on the guarantee that it will turn 
out 25,000 brick every ten hours when work 
ing full capacity. In February, 1904, he 
organized the Mclntosh Brick Machine Co., 
Ltd., to manufacture the machines and all 
building material. The following officers 
were elected : President, W. H. Snyder ; 
vice-president, Henry Mclntosh; secretary 
and treasurer, John A. Campbell ; stockhold 
ers, W. S. Miners and Donald Campbell. 
These five men are the proprietors for Can 
ada, but Mr. Mclntosh owns exclusive rights 
in the United States. 

On April 4, 1872, Mr. Mclntosh married 
Miss Jane Thorn, daughter of the late John 
Thorn, of Quebec. She died at Point Ed- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



289 



ward Dec. 7, 1901, in the Presbyterian faith, 
to which church Mr. Mclntosh also adheres. 
In politics he is a pronounced Reformer, and 
fraternally he is a member of the Order of 
Railway Conductors. He has served in the 
town council, and for two terms as chairman 
of the Board of Works, but resigned at the 
end of that time. He is a man well and 
favorably. known, not only among the citi 
zens of Lambton County, where he has spent 
so many years, but also among the railroad 
men of Western Ontario. 

WILLIAM BROOKS, the popular 
clerk of Thedford, is a prominent resident 
of that place, having for over thirty years 
conducted a shoe repairing store, besides at 
various times being engaged in other enter 
prises. He is energetic, farsighted, thought 
ful and painstaking, and is also a sound and 
practical financier, eminently qualified for 
the public office he has so long and efficient 
ly filled. 

Mr. Brooks is of Irish extraction, and 
comes of a family noted for its energy and 
thrift. His father, John Brooks, was born 
in Ireland about 1812, and there received 
good rearing. In early manhood, in 1844, 
he came to Canada and located in Downie 
township, County of Perth, where he ob 
tained a good tract of excellent farming 
land, on which he settled and engaged in 
agriculture. Keenly interested in his work, 
and gifted in turning every good stroke to 
account, he soon had one of the most attrac 
tive and productive farms in the section. 
Encouraged by his successes, he later pro 
cured another farm in Adelaide, where he 
settled and continued his occupation. Pros 
pering as usual, he remained there through 
out the balance of his life. He worked up to 
the last minute, meeting his death by an ac 
cident. During his young manhood Mr. 
Brooks married Ann Karr, who was born in 
Ireland about 1822, and when quite young 
came to Ontario and settled in Adelaide. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were born twelve chil 
dren : William, who is mentioned below ; 
James, a farmer on the old homestead ; John, 
a farmer residing in Michigan ; Hugh, who 

19 



went to Iowa about 1870; Ephraim, who 
went to Michigan, and is there engaged in 
farming; Edwin, a shoemaker, now de 
ceased; Mathew, a blacksmith, who resides 
in Wyoming ; Reuben, a farmer, who resides 
in Michigan ; Francis, deceased ; Mary 
Sarah, who married William McNabb; Ann 
Eliza, who married Lewis Gilbert, and is 
deceased ; and Ellen, who died young. 

Mr. Brooks was a man of large re 
sources, but for the most part confined his 
activities to one special field of labor, pre 
ferring to perfect himself in one line to scat 
tering his forces over many. His admirable 
traits of character, as well as his achieve 
ments, won him a wide popularity, and his 
words carried weight upon all matters of 
local interest. 

William Brooks was born in Downie 
township, Perth County, Out., May 24, 
1845, and was but a small boy when his par 
ents moved to Adelaide. There in the pub 
lic schools he acquired an education, develop 
ing the habits of alertness, attention and 
close application which have since character 
ized him. As a further preparation for his 
life work he later learned the shoemaker s 
trade in Adelaide, and as a young man start 
ing life for himself he located in Wanstead, 
and there engaged in that business. After 
some time, however, in the fall of 1871, 
nnding a more desirable opening in Thed 
ford, he moved there and opened a shoe 
store, which he has since conducted. Re 
liable goods and excellent service won him 
patronage from the start, and wise financial 
management soon established the business 
upon a solid foundation. In addition to this 
enterprise, in 1894, he opened a convey 
ancer s office in Thedford, being a commis 
sioner for taking affidavits in the county, and 
also notary public for the Province of On 
tario. This line he has since managed with 
good success. In all his ventures he has 
made exceptionally well, and in addition to 
his business property he now owns a pleas 
ant residence and several lots in Thedford. 
Mr. Brooks has long been recognized as one 
of the ablest business men of the community, 
and in 1890 he was elected clerk of Thed- 



290 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ford, a position which he has ever since 
held, giving" eminent satisfaction. He is an 
adherent of the Free Methodist Church. 

On Jan. 8, 1869, Mr. Brooks married 
Miss Harriet Anderson, who was born in 
Poona, East India, and her father was a 
sergeant in the 83d regiment of the English 
army. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have had nine 
children : ( i ) Clara Ann married T. A. 
Wilson, of Ottawa, and they have one son, 
Loren Brooks. (2) William James, a farm 
er of Allandale, married Sarah Emms, and 
they have one daughter, Lottie May. (3) 
George Anderson, of Minneapolis, a train 
dispatcher, has never married. (4) Mar 
garet Jane married William Stanford, of 
Toronto; they have no children. (5) Har 
riet Lovina married Henry H. Wheeler, of 
Spencer, Massachusetts ; they have no chil 
dren. (6) John Wesley is a telegraph 
operator in Manitoba. (7) Lottie May is 
deceased. (8) Emma Violet resides at 
home. (9) Thomas Vernon died at the age 
of six years. 

HENRY K. FAIRBAIRN, proprietor 
of "Rose Cottage Farm," in Bosanquet 
township, is one of the best-known cattle 
breeders in Lambton County, having gained 
his reputation through nineteen years of suc 
cessful handling of Shorthorns. He is a 
native of Ontario, born at Pine Hill, now 
known as Widder, Lambton County, Out., 
Oct. 6, 1 86 1, and comes of a family of Scot 
tish extraction. 

Henry Fairbairn, grandfather of Henry 
K., was born in Scotland, and lived in his 
native land until manhood. He learned and 
followed the trade of baker. When he de 
cided to come to the Dominion in search of 
better opportunities he brought his wife and 
children with him to Ontario and established 
a bakery at Pine Hill, conducting same for 
a number of years. Then he moved to 
Clandeboye, Middlesex County, and there 
also followed the baking business for a few 
years, thence moving to Lucan, same county, 
where he remained until the close of his life. 
He was an industrious, upright man, and a 
member of the Methodist Church. 



William G. Fairbairn, father of Henry 
K., was also born in Scotland, accompanied 
his father to Ontario, and learned the bak 
ing business, assisting at Pine Hill, and later 
moving to Sratford. Subsequently he lo 
cated in Park Hill, first on Westwood and 
later on King s street, where he died in Feb 
ruary, 1870. He was buried near Park Hill. 
At Pine Hill, in Bosanquet township, he 
married Janet Martin, daughter, of Richard 
and Margaret (Smith) Martin, and they had 
children as follows : Henry K. ; Richard, 
who died in infancy; Richard (2), a resi 
dent of Joliet, Illinois; Margaret, wife of 
Benjamin Langford, of Lucan, Ont. ; and 
Mary, at home. 

When Henry K. Fairbairn was nine 
years old he lost his parents, all the children 
being young when they were taken away. 
They went to the home of their grandfather 
Martin, in Bosanquet township, and Henry 
K. was reared on the farm he now owns. He 
attended the township schools, but his oppor 
tunities were limited, as he was only thirteen 
years old when grandfather Martin died, 
and the burden of managing and operating 
the farm fell on his boyish shoulders. He 
bravely went to work, giving all the assist 
ance in his power, to his grandmother and 
Aunt Wilhelmina. In 1886 he made his 
first venture in the cattle business, his grand 
mother having expended a large sum for a 
thoroughbred Durham cow, which was the 
foundation of the great fortune and reputa 
tion Mr. Fairbairn has acquired in the cattle 
industry. With the advice and assistance 
of his aunt, Mrs. Cronin, he persevered, 
worked very hard, overcame many obstacles, 
and is now the leading Shorthorn cattle man 
in Lambton County. He has owned some 
of the noted bulls of the county, principally 
"Royal Albert." "Great Chief," "Royal 
Prince," "Golden Rule," and "Sir Totten 
Sykes," the latter still belonging to his herd. 
He was the breeder of the unbeaten "Great 
Fair Queen" (grand champion cow 1903- 
-04-05). which as a heifer bore off the palm 
in both the United States and Canada. The 
sum of $1,000 is a large amount of money to 
pay for a heifer, but this was paid Mr. Fair- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



291 



bairn in 1904 for "Queen Ideal," sister to 
the former remarkable animal, and in 1905 a 
bull calf, full brother to these females, was 
sold for $500 to Watts Brothers, Salem, 
Ont. "Frances Folsom III," the dam of 
"Fair Queen" and "Queen Ideal," is still 
retained in Mr. Fairbairn s herd. He has 
taken over two hundred prizes at different 
fairs and expositions in the Province, and 
\von the silver medal at the Agricultural and 
Arts Fair in 1891, at Arkona, took the $50 
prize at Brantford for the best Shorthorn 
dairy cow exhibited there in 1898 (having 
a milk record of eighty-four pounds), and 
in 1900 took two prizes at Guelph for the 
same cows with a milk record of. eighty-six 
pounds, six ounces, for forty-eight hours. 

Mr. Fairbairn is a thorough cattle man. 
His aunt also is still interested in the busi 
ness, and both love and admire the noble 
herd which they have so carefully raised. 
He is a member of the Dominion Shorthorn 
Breeders Association, of Ottawa, and of 
the East Lambton Farmers Institute, and 
has been lecturer for the latter. Probably 
he owns more diplomas from fairs than any 
other cattle man in his section, receiving 
them from the Watford Fair and the Thed- 
ford and Forest Union Fairs. 

Since becoming proprietor of the home 
stead Mr. Fairbairn has added fifty acres to 
it, and is now operating 100 acres, devoting 
all his time to agriculture and breeding cat 
tle. Many of his valuable animals have been 
sold in this locality, serving to raise the local 
standard, and many also have gone across 
the line into the United States and British 
Columbia. His cattle testify in every point 
to the individuality of the stock from which 
they have been bred. 

Politically Mr. Fairbairn is a Reformer. 
Religiously he is a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church. He is not only well- 
known all through this part of the Domin 
ion but he is thoroughly respected, being 
considered a man of honorable intentions and 
integrity of character. 

RICHARD MARTIN, maternal grandfather 
of our subject, was born at Auchtermuchty, 
Fifeshire, Scotland, where he grew to man 



hood and learned the weaving trade. There 
he married Margaret Smith, and to them the 
following children were born : Janet, who 
married William G. Fairbairn, father of our 
subject; Richard, who died in Australia, in 
1902 ; Wilhelmina Smith, who married Tim 
othy Edward Cronin (they had two children 
Byron, who died young, and Margery, a 
bright, intelligent young lady, who died in 
1902) ; and Margaret S., who married Frank 
Cook, and resides in Michigan. 

In 1855 Mr. Martin with his wife and 
four children came to Canada, sailing from 
Glasgow in the ship "Xeptune." and locating 
at Pine Hill, Bosanquet township, where his 
brother-in-law, William Smith, was operat 
ing a flour and lumber mill. Here Mr. Mar 
tin worked some years and then settled down 
to farming, first renting a farm on the lake 
shore, where he passed one year, and then 
buying a tract of fifty acres on Concession 5, 
adjoining the land of Mr. Smith. Here he 
erected a log cabin and commenced pioneer 
farm life. He cleared up a farm from the 
forest and made a comfortable home for 
his family, and here the last days of his busy 
useful, honored life were spent. This good 
and worthy man died Aug. 20, 1873, and 
was buried in Pine Hill cemetery. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Martin were devoted members of 
the Presbyterian Church, and by their walk 
and conversation testified to the sincerity of 
their Christian belief. Mrs. Cronin and her 
nephew, our esteemed subject, occupy the old 
homestead. They both take a great interest 
in rural affairs, and are very proud of the 
success which has attended their efforts in 
the raising of the splendid cattle which wan 
der over their broad fields. 

JOHN STRATHEARX THOM. The 
art of photography has been developed until 
today the acme of perfection appears to have 
been reached. Such a wide field does it of 
fer for those of artistic character that many 
of great ability have turned their attention 
toward photograph} as a life work. One 
such, and perhaps one of the best among 
them, is John S. Thorn, one of the leading 
photographers of the Dominion and the only 



292 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



photographer who is also a water color por 
trait artist in Western Ontario. 

John S. Thorn was born in the township 
of Downie, County of Perth. Ont, in 1853, 
and had as his first school teacher Mr. 
Thomas Ballantyne, M. P., one of the pres 
ent cheese kings of Canada, whose methods 
of punishing his pupils were very unique, and 
would make present-day pupils open their 
eyes in astonishment. The next four years 
of his life were spent in performing penance 
under a teacher named Mr. Peter McLean, 
long since passed to his long home, Peter s 
time being prinicipally taken up in the lay 
ing on of hands, said hands holding a long 
beech rod, which was wielded with true 
Highland indifference as to how deep it cut. 
Our subject received his ample share of the 
rod, principally owing to his habit of draw 
ing pictures during school hours. The next 
five years of his life passed merrily under 
an entirely different teacher, with the result 
that at the annual examinations a goodly 
quota of prizes fell to his share. When 
seventeen he joined No. i Company, 28th 
Battalion, winning the marksman s silver 
badges and prizes for three years for the 
Battalion as well as the Company. After 
this he accepted a commission as first lieu 
tenant, which he held until transferred to 
the Captaincy of No. 5, 26th Battalion, Lu- 
can, which he retained for some six years 
after settling in Sarnia. Then he retired 
from the active militia with the rank of 
major. During the spring of 1870 he took 
a course at the Military School, Toronto, 
being awarded a second-class certificate. 
The military expedition to Manitoba, under 
Capt. Thomas Scott, next engaged Mr. 
Thorn s attention, and he enlisted for one 
year, the expedition reaching Fort Garry 
via the Dawson route after a great deal of 
labor and hardship, about the igth of No 
vember, 1871, the detachment he was at 
tached to making the record march of 120 
miles in three days and a quarter, often 
marching knee deep in snow. While at 
Winnipeg. Mr. Thorn competed in the Asso 
ciation rifle matches, winning the Bisley 
Martini rifle presented to that Province. Re 



turning home he attended the Artillery 
School at Kingston, graduating in the 
spring of 1874 with a first-class certificate. 
During the winter of 1875 he took a course 
at the business college in London, Ont., 
taking first prize in business and ornamental 
penmanship. Returning to Stratford he se 
cured a position in Mr. James Redford s 
Private Bank, and meantime spent his even 
ings drawing crayons, one of which he ex 
hibited at the Stratford Fair, securing first 
prize over a dozen specimens exhibited by 
the local photographers proving his nat 
ural talent, as he had not received any in 
struction in drawing or coloring. 

The breaking of Mr. Redford s bank de 
cided Mr. Thorn to study photography at 
London. Opening a studio of his own in 
Lucan, he remained there for five years, 
marrying Miss Elizabeth Eedy, of Lucan. 
In 1881 Mr. Thorn removed to Sarnia, es 
tablishing his studio in the old Clark build 
ing, opposite the "Belchamber," meeting 
with very remarkable success from the be 
ginning. Three years later he purchased 
the McLellan property at the corner of 
Christina and Lochiel streets, to which he 
removed his studio and found increasing 
prosperity until the establishment was de 
stroyed by fire. One month later he opened 
a studio in the upper flat of Mr. I. \V. Proc 
tor s store, on Christina street, immediately 
getting out plans for the substantial brown 
stone and pressed brick block which now 
adorns the corner of Christina and Lochiel 
streets, and upon the second floor of which 
he has constructed one of the finest studios to 
l:e found in the Dominion. There he still 
devotes his time to only the highest grade of 
photographs and water colors. He deserves 
the success and prominence which have come 
to him, for he has thrown himself into his 
work with all his energy. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Thorn have been born 
four children, the two eldest dying. The 
third child, Muriel, is a student at Havergal 
Ladies College, Toronto, and Pearle was a 
member of the class of 1903, Sarnia Colle 
giate Institute. 

Mr. Thorn s father and grandfather were 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



293 



born in the town of Ayr, Scotland, coming to 
Canada about the beginning of the nineteenth 
century, living for a time at Pickering and 
Scarborough, both being builders by trade. 
They finally took up farms near Stratford, 
one of which Mr. Thorn s father developed 
by his industry into one of the finest farms 
in Perth county, and there he died. 

Like his father and grandfather before 
him Mr. Thorn is a Reformer, but he takes 
no active part in politics, preferring to de 
vote his time and attention to his beloved 
art. Fraternally he is a member of the K. 
O. T. M., in which order he is commander 
(1902-03). Not only is Mr. Thorn possessed 
of rare talent in his line, but he is also a good 
business man, and this combination has re 
sulted in unequaled success. Among his 
friends he enjoys a well deserved popularity, 
and he is one of the representative men of 
Sarnia. 

JOHN J. RICHARDSON is the owner 
of one of the most productive farms in En- 
niskillen, which he has developed from wild 
land in a remarkably short time. He is a 
self-made man, and has only his own energy 
and perseverance to thank for his early 
prosperity and success. 

William and Harriet Richardson, his 
grandparents, came to Canada from Eng 
land. John Richardson, his father, was the 
eldest in a family of five sons, and was born 
in Middlesex County, Ont. He married Jane 
Early, also of an old Middlesex family, and 
they still live on the old farm in that county. 
They have had children as follows : ( i ) 
William G. married Miss Josephine Os- 
born. of Lambton County, and they lived 
until 1903 in Wyoming, and then moved to 
a. new home in Alberta ; they have two chil 
dren. He was first married to Harriet La- 
dell, and they had two children. (2) John 
J. is mentioned below. (3) Henry F., born in 
Middlesex County in 1872. married Carrie 
Cameron, of Warwick, and they have one 
son, Duncan ; they live in Alberta. Xnrth- 
west Territory, where Mr. Richardson owns 
a ranch. (4) Alfred, born in Middlesex 



County, is unmarried, and living at the old 
home. (5) Mary J. is the wife of William 
Borne, of Brooke township, and has six chil 
dren. (6) Margaret A., born in Middlesex 
County, is the wife of William Waltham, a 
farmer on Concession 8, Enniskillen; they 
have four children. (7) Clara, born in Mid 
dlesex County, is the wife of Thomas Freer, 
and has two children : their home is on Con 
cession 9, Enniskillen. (8) Lena, born in 
Middlesex County, is the wife of John 
Johnston, of Metcalfe, Middlesex County. 

John J. Richardson was born in Adelaide 
township, Middlesex County, Jan. 24, 1870, 
and grew up on his father s farm, where he 
was trained in farming pursuits. He re 
mained at home until 1895, when he bought 
his present property, in Lot 21. Concession 
8, consisting of 100 acres. He has cleared 
this land, which was wild when he bought 
it, brought it under cultivation, and erected 
good substantial buildings. He also rents 
100 acres adjoining his own land, which he 
cultivates, and he is recognized as one of 
the prosperous and progressive farmers of 
his section. 

On Jan. i. 1895. Mr. Richardson mar 
ried Miss Sarah J. Langford, who was born 
in Metcalfe township, Middlesex County, 
Aug. 8, 1870, daughter of George and 
Elizabeth Langford. Her father was a 
farmer and died in 1902, and his widow still 
lives at their Middlesex County home. They 
had six sons and one daughter, Mrs. Rich 
ardson. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rich 
ardson are as follows : Lysle L., born in 
1898; Walter, born in 1900; and Eva, born 
in 1903. They are both members of the 
Methodist Church, as were their parents be 
fore them. Mr. Richardson and his father 
are supporters of the Conservative party 
politically. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Independent Order of Foresters, belong 
ing to Petrolia lodge. 

Mr. Richardson is one of the enterpris 
ing young farmers of his county, and takes 
an active interest in promoting the agricul 
tural welfare of the section. In less than ten 
years he has developed a fine farm from wild 



294 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



land, and made a pleasant and comfortable 
home. He and his wife are much looked up 
to and beloved in the community where 
they have made their home. 

JOHN SINCLAIR, bailiff of the 8th 
Division Court of the County of Lambton 
and a well-known citizen of Petrolia, is of 
Scottish extraction. The family was founded 
in Ontario by his father, John Sinclair, who 
was born in 1787 in Argyllshire, Scotland, 
and who died at Petrolia in 1868. He mar 
ried Jane Currie, also of Argyllshire, who 
was horn in 1797 and died in 1876. They 
came to Ontario in 1832, locating in the 
County of Peel, where Mr. Sinclair cleared 
up a farm from the woods. Later he re 
moved to an adjoining township, and in 
1866 he came to Petrolia. In religious be 
lief both parents were Presbyterians. Po 
litically Mr. Sinclair was a Conservative. 
Their children were as follows: Sarah (de 
ceased) married Peter Sinclair, who died in 
Detroit; Margaret (deceased) married Hec 
tor McLiesh, who is also deceased ; Jane is 
the widow of John Currie, of Collingwood; 
John is our subject ; Duncan is an experi 
enced driller at Petrolia : Dr. Lachlan Cur 
rie died in Tillsonburg: Neil, a driller, has 
done work in his line all over the world and 
is now in Texas. 

John Sinclair was born May 10, 1833, 
in Peel County, and attended the local 
schools. His business life began in that 
county as a contractor and builder of houses 
and bridges, and he remained there until 
1866, coming then to Petrolia. Here he car 
ried on contracting and building until 1879, 
although in 1876 he had been appointed 
bailiff of the 8th Division Court, Lambton 
County. In addition to other duties of man 
ifold character he has been agent for several 
steamship companies and also the agent to 
supplv men for drilling all over the world. 
His first arrangement of this sort was made 
in 1880, when he sent ten men to Italy to 
drill for oil, and he has since sent skilled 
men to all parts of the world. For some 
years he was engaged in the oil business, but 



has lately sold his interests. He has been an 
auctioneer for the past twenty-six years. 

On Nov. 4, 1879, Mr. Sinclair married 
Miss Lizzie O Neil, who was born in London 
township, Middlesex County, and died in 
1898, leaving a daughter, Miss Nellie Jane, 
who is at home. Mrs. Sinclair was a devout 
member of the Church of England. Mr. 
Sinclair is a Presbyterian in religion, and 
in politics he is a Conservative. 

Few men in this section have been more 
prominently identified with fraternal life 
than Mr. Sinclair. He has been a Mason 
since 1867, is past master of Petrolia Lodge 
No. 194, has been through all the chairs in 
the chapter, and is past district deputy grand 
master of the St. Clair District. He was one 
of the first directors of the Masonic Temple 
Company, and has been its treasurer since 
1886. He has passed all the chairs in the 
subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows and in the 
encampment, and is past grand patriarch of 
the grand encampment of the I. O. O. F. 
of Ontario. He belongs to the Royal Ar 
canum, to the W. O. W. (in which he is the 
"banker"), and has been a member of St. 
Andrew s Society since its organization, in 
1869, being past president and treasurer. 

RICHARD KARR, clerk of the town 
of Forest, has been a resident of the County 
of Lambton since he was seventeen years, 
old, and has played an important part in its 
redemption from its natural wild state. He 
cleared a fine farm in Warwick township 
which he still owns. 

The Karr family is of Irish extraction, 
and the first of whom any record can be 
found is Harry Karr, the grandfather of 
Richard, who was born in Ireland about 
1760, and married Ann Anderson in his na 
tive land. She. too, was of Irish birth. 
Harry Karr was a farmer and cooper, car 
rying on both lines of business during his 
active life. Both he and his wife were mem 
bers of the Church of England, in which 
faith they died, in their native land. 

AA illiam Karr. father of Richard, was 
the fourth child in a family of fifteen born to. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



295 



his parents, and was born in Ireland in 
1782. He died in Warwick township, 
Lambton County, at the advanced age of 
ninety-eight years and seven months. In 
his native land William Karr married Eliza 
beth Forker, who was born in Ireland in 
1/99, a daughter of James Forker, who died 
in that country. In 1836 William Karr and 
his wife emigrated to Ontario, locating first 
in Peel County, where he engaged in farm 
ing until, in 1861, he moved to Lots 7 and 
8, Concession 3, Warwick township, Lamb- 
ton County, where he purchased 400 acres 
of wild land. He cleared it, making a fine 
home, and on this property he and his wife 
passed away. They were firm members of 
the Church of England. Politically Mr. 
Karr was a Conservative, and fraternally a 
member of the Order of Orangemen. Chil 
dren were born to them as follows : James, 
deceased ; Henry, a farmer in Enniskillen ; 
George, a farmer of Warwick township; 
Alexander, of Bosanquet; William, a coal 
dealer of St. Thomas; Richard; John, a 
farmer of Warwick ; and Ann Elizabeth, de 
ceased, who married Charles Maidment. 

Richard Karr was born in March. 1844, 
in Peel County, and there resided until 1861, 
when he came with his parents to Warwick 
township and assisted in clearing up the 
farm on which they located, 100 acres of 
which he now owns. Until 1884 he made 
this farm his home. He then rented the 
property and settled in Forest, and for nine 
years clerked for James Maylor & Son, at the 
end of that time retiring from business. 
While a resident of Warwick township he 
served as a member of the council for two 
years, during one of which he was deputy 
reeve, and thereby a member of the county 
council. Since locating in Forest he has 
been a member of the town council for five 
years, and in 1884 and 1885 he was mayor 
of the place, serving with distinction. In 
1904 he was appointed town clerk, which po 
sition he is now filling. 

On June 9, 1874, Mr. Karr married Miss 
Mary Brodie. who was born in Scotland in 
1846. daughter of Daniel and Christine 
(McFarland) Brodie, and came to Ontario 



in 1855. The following children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Karr; William John, 
born in 1875, was educated in Forest and is 
now a teacher in the public schools of Sar- 
nia; Matilda Helen was born Aug. 25, 1878; 
Christine Elizabeth was born March 19, 
1885. Mr. and Mrs. Karr are members of 
the Church of England. Politically he is a 
Conservative and an important factor in his 
party. Like his father he is an Orangeman, 
and very popular in the order. Both as a 
public official and a private citizen Mr. Karr 
has demonstrated his ability and public 
spirit, and he is justly numbered among the 
representatives of the best interests of Lamb- 
ton County. 

JOHN PAGE, one of Enniskillen s 
farmers and prominent citizens, was born in 
Fifeshire, Scotland, May 28, 1842, son of 
David and Margaret (Turner) Page. 

David Page and his wife were born and 
reared in Scotland. The former was a man 
ufacturer of linen goods, and was struck 
down while his career in life still lay before 
him, dying when the eldest son was only 
a boy. Mrs. Page is still living in Scotland, 
aged eighty-seven. They were the parents 
of five children, namely : John ; Jessie, wife 
of Thomas Hill, of Manchester, England; 
Magdaline, deceased wife of Alexander La- 
mond, of Cooper, Scotland, and mother of 
Walter and Margaret; David, residing in 
Broughty Ferry, Scotland, unmarried ; and 
Christina, widow of the late James Swayne, 
of Edinburgh. 

John Page was educated in the schools 
of Scotland, and then was taught the trade 
of a linen weaver. When sixteen years old 
he accompanied Alexander Smith, from 
whom he had learned his trade, to Canada, 
embarking at Glasgow on a vessel sailing for 
Quebec. After six weeks on the ocean, they 
landed at Montreal, proceeded by boat to 
Hamilton and finally located in Lambton 
County. The young man continued in Mr. 
Smith s employ, in order to repay the pas 
sage money which the latter had advanced. 
He was at first engaged in sawmill work, 
which he continued for three years, and the 



296 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



following eight years he was occupied in 
lumbering and farming, working as a jobber 
in clearing land. When he had accumulated 
sufficient means he bought land in Bosanquet 
township, built a small frame house and 
frame barn, and began life as a farmer on 
his own account. He remained on this farm 
seven years, and then in 1883 bought his 
present homestead, a place of 100 acres 
with a few improvements on it. He put up 
good buildings and developed the farm into 
a high state of cultivation, comparing fa 
vorably with the other farms of the town 
ship. 

Mr. Page has been twice married, first in 
1871, to Miss Jane McCallum. She was a 
Canadian, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth 
McCallum, who were both born in Scotland. 
Mrs. Page died in Bosanquet, leaving one 
daughter, Jane, born in 1872. This daugh 
ter grew up in Lambton County, married 
Andrew Lunam, of Plympton, and now re 
sides there with her two children, Beatrice 
and Gladys. In 1876, Mr. Page was united 
to his second wife. Miss Jeanette Lunam, 
daughter of David and Ann Lunam, of 
Plympton. To this marriage eight children 
have been born, as follows : David, born in 
1877, a carpenter by trade, who owns a 
farm in Manitoba where he resides, unmar 
ried ; Annie, born in 1879, unmarried ; Jessie, 
born in 1881, who married James William 
son, of British Columbia, and has one son, 
Ray: Alexander, born in 1880, of Manitoba, 
a bachelor; John I., born in 1886, also a res 
ident of Manitoba; Andrew, born in 1888, 
at home; Elizabeth, born in 1890; Thomas, 
born in 1892. 

On May 8, 1903, Mr. Page sailed from 
Montreal on the Allan line of steamers for 
Scotland, thus carrying out a long cherished 
plan of revisiting his native land and once 
more beholding the mother from whom he 
had parted forty-five years before. He was 
accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
Powrie, of Forest. After a ten days trip 
they reached Glasgow, a record in vivid con 
trast with that of Mr. Page s early voyage 
to America, and proceeding to his old home, 
were received with the warmest of welcomes 



by his people. After five weeks of renewed 
acquaintance with old faces and scenes, Mr. 
Page once more turned his face westward 
from the old land toward the new, and re 
turned to his own home and business in 
terests. 

For many years Mr. Page has been iden 
tified with the Reform party in politics, and 
is one of the intelligent and public spirited 
citizens of Enniskillen, forwarding every 
movement for the public welfare, but he has 
never sought to hold office. He belongs to 
the Maccabees, Wyoming Lodge, No. 38, 
and is an active and prosperous member. 
He and his wife are members of the Presby 
terian Church, to which Mr. Page s parents 
also belonged, and he has ever been prom 
inent in its work, serving as elder and stew 
ard. Mr. Page is a man whose absolute in 
tegrity is to be relied on, and his conscien 
tious, charitable nature has made him greatly 
esteemed and respected by all who know 
him. 

ALEXANDER McDOUGALL, a re 
tired farmer now living in Sarnia, 
Lambton County, was for many years 
a prominent agriculturist in Enniskillen 
township, living on the place now 
owned and occupied by his son Dugald 
McDougall. Though over seventy years of 
age he is still active, and as keenly interested 
in the progress of the community as in the 
days when it was necessary for him to do his 
full share in that work. His forefathers were 
among the Scotch pioneers who gave agri 
culture in the Dominion its early impetus, 
at a time when only those accustomed to bat 
tling with untoward conditions in their 
native Scottish hills were brave enough to 
face the trials of the then wild and unpro 
ductive regions of Canada. His grand 
father, also named Alexander McDougall, 
came from his native Scotland to Canada in 
an early day and settled in North Sher- 
brooke, Lanark County, Ont., where he 
passed the rest of his life engaged in farm- 
in"-. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Clark, came from the Highlands of Scot 
land They were married in that country. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



297 



Dugald McDougall, father of Alex?nder 
McDougall, was a native of Inverness-shire, 
Scotland. Like his father he followed farm 
ing-, taking up 100 acres of wild land in 
Dalhousie township, Lanark County, upon 
which he made a permanent home. In La 
nark County he married Jane Crawford, who 
was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and died 
in 1 88 1, at the age of seventy-one. He died 
in 1885, aged seventy-five. They belonged 
to the Presbyterian Church. They had 
children as follows : Alexander is mentioned 
below. Janet, widow of Robert Paul, lives 
in Dalhousie, Lanark County. Margaret 
(deceased) married Levi Woods. Mary, 
widow of James Johnson, js on the old 
homestead in Lanark County. Isabella died 
young. Agnes is the widow of Duncan Mc- 
Vaid and lives in Lanark County. Jane 
married John Craig, of Sudbury, Ont. John 
is a farmer in Dalhousie township. Cather 
ine became the wife of William Dunlap, a 
farmer in Dalhousie township. Christina 
married Xeil McFarland, a contractor and 
builder of Lanark County. Isabella (2), 
Mrs. Blackburn, also lives in that county. 
Peter resides in Dalhousie township. 

Alexander McDougall was born July 
13, 1834, in Dalhousie township, Lanark 
County, and there remained until three years 
after his marriage, in 1864 moving to Lamb- 
ton County and taking up wild land in Ennis- 
killen, in Concession 13, Lot 3. He and his 
wife began their pioneer life in a little log 
cabin, where they lived until increasing suc 
cess enabled them to build a good brick 
house, in 1878, and two large barns. Num 
erous other improvements were made on the 
place. Meantime, in 1869, Mr. McDougall, 
in partnership with John McDonald, was 
the first to enter upon the oil business in that 
section, becoming the owner of a number of 
wells that produced abundantly. He con 
tinued in that line of business until 1897, 
when he sold the homestead to his son and 
moved to Sarnia, where he and his wife still 
live, retired from the cares of active life. 

Mr. McDougall was married March 15. 
1 86 1, at Carleton Place, Ont., to Susanna 
O Xeil, and they are the parents of five chil 



dren : (i) Mary J., the eldest, born in La 
nark County, in 1864, married Robert Dun 
can, of Petrolia ; she died leaving three chil 
dren, Eva, Roy and Florence. (2) Dugald 
was the first son. (3) Xeil, born in 1868, 
was sent first to the district schools, then to 
the Sarnia and Petrolia high schools, and 
finally was graduated from the Toronto In 
stitute. He is now the principal of the Park 
Hill high school. He married Miss Susan 
Riddle, of Wallaceburg. and has three sons, 
Edwin, Gene and George M. (4) Annie, 
born in 1871, is the wife of James Duncan, 
of Sarnia township, and has four children, 
Olive. Mary, Lauren and Harvey. (5) Alex 
ander, born in 1874, married Miss Myra 
Crawford, of Lambton County, and has two 
sons, Gordon and Robert. He lives on a 
place adjoining the old homestead, where he 
is engaged in the production of oil. 

Mrs. Susanna (O Xeil) McDougall was 
born May 10, 1833, in Dalhousie township, 
Lanark County, where her parents, Xeil and 
Christie Ann (McKay) O Xeil, were early 
settlers. They came from the north of Ire 
land. They remained there until 1855, when 
they removed to Lambton County, settling 
in Plympton township, on the town line, 
where Mr. O X eil took up 200 acres of wild 
land on which he spent the remainder of his 
days. He died in 1875, aged eighty-two 
years, and his wife passed away in 1877, at 
the age of eighty-four. They attended the 
Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. O X eil 
had children as follows: Ann (deceased), 
who married John Leckie; Jane, widow of 
AYilliam Leckie, of Sarnia township; Sarah 
(deceased), wife of Peter Cuthbertson; 
Robert (deceased), who married Margaret 
Purdon ; Margaret, wife of William S. 
Thorn, of Enniskillen township; Mary (de 
ceased), who was the wife of James Brooks; 
Susanna. Mrs. McDougall; and John, farm 
ing on the old homestead in Plympton 
township. 

DUGALD MCDOUGALL, well known as a 
prosperous farmer and oil producer in Ennis 
killen township, was born there on the old 
homestead, which he now owns and culti 
vates. Feb. 1 6, 1866. He was educated in 



298 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the district schools, and as soon as he was 
ready for the serious business of life began 
for himself as an oil producer. He started 
with fifty acres next to his father s place, 
which he purchased and on which he at once 
sunk wells, succeeding from the very begin 
ning. Later he bought the McDougall home 
stead and now lives there, interested in 
both farming and the oil business. There 
is an abundance of natural gas on his place, 
which he uses both for domestic purposes 
and for pumping oil. He was married on 
Dec. 26, 1894, to Miss Amelia Sharpe, of 
Sarnia township, and three children have 
been born to them, namely: Helen, in Au 
gust, 1897; Winifred, in 1899; and Allen, 
in March, 1902. 

Mrs. McDougall was born March 15, 
1872, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza A. 
(Irwin) Sharpe. Her parents were born 
in Ireland, and coming to Canada were 
among the pioneers in Sarnia township, 
where they died at their old home, in May, 
1903, and October, 1898, respectively. Mrs. 
McDougall was one of five children, as fol 
lows: William, a business man of Sarnia; 
Alexander, a farmer in Sombra township; 
Benjamin, a blacksmith in Sarnia; Robert, 
on the Sarnia homestead ; and Amelia, Mrs. 
McDougall, who was educated in the schools 
of Sarnia township. 

The ancestors of the McDougall family 
on both sides have been Presbyterians, and 
Alexander McDougall was one of the foun 
ders of the Moore Line Church, in which he 
has served as elder for many years. He 
was instrumental in the erection of the 
church edifice. Politically, the men have 
always been identified with the old Liberal 
party, but none of them have been ambitious 
for office. Both the McDougall and Sharpe 
families well deserve a place in the history 
of Canada s pioneer days, for in those early 
times, when the lives of those on the frontier 
were exposed to constant menace from both 
Indians and wild animals, they bravely held 
their own among countless dangers and 
hardships. They cleared the land from 
the wilderness, founded the schools and 
churches, and laid deep the foundations for 



all the comforts of civilization which their 
children and grandchildren are now enjoy 
ing. The descendants of these heroic ances 
tors are worthy of their race, and are among 
the substantial, reliable and public-spirited 
citizens of Lambton County. 

WILLIAM WELLINGTON, one of 
the old-established residents of Bosanquet 
township, who through more than half a 
century has been closely identified with its 
various interests, resides upon his w r ell-de- 
veloped farm on the Lake road east, Lot 73. 
He is a native of England, born in the parish 
of Luxlyian, Cornwall, Jan. 27, 1841, son 
of Jonathan and Sarah (James) Wellington, 
and a brother of Henry Wellington, a sketch 
of whom, together with the ancestral history 
of the Wellington family, will be found else 
where. 

William Wellington was but eleven 
years of age when he crossed the Atlantic 
with his parents, and after settling in Bosan 
quet township he attended the Section No. 
4 school. His opportunities to acquire an ed 
ucation were limited, as in those early days 
the teachers were not up to the standard now 
set. Mr. Wellington worked on the home 
farm with his father from an early age, and 
on account of the father losing his eyesight 
was obliged to take charge of the farm when 
he was only seventeen years old. He kept 
the 150 acres under cultivation, raising good 
crops, and cared tenderly for his afflicted 
father until the latter s death. In 1892 Mr 
Wellington sold the homestead and pur 
chased the James farm, on Lot 73, Lake road 
east, a tract of 206 acres, where he has been 
engaged in general farming and stock rais 
ing eVer since. Mr. Wellington was also for 
a time engaged with Joseph James in ship 
ping cattle to the eastern markets, and was- 
also interested with the same gentleman in 
lumber manufacturing for four years, in 
Tuscola County, Michigan, under the firm 
name of James & Co. 

Mr. Wellington is a man of enterprise 
and progressive ideas and takes a deep in 
terest in the affairs of his township. He is 
also prominently identified with educational! 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



299 



matters, and has served as school trustee of 
School Section No. 4. Politically he is a 
stanch Conservative, and has always sup 
ported the principles advocated by that great 
statesman. Sir John A. Macdonald. He is a 
prominent member of the Ebenezer Metho 
dist Church, having been an organizer of 
the church, one of the building committee, 
one of its first trustees, Sunday-school 
teacher and superintendent for twenty-five 
years, class-leader for many years, and a 
delegate to all the Conferences for a quarter 
of a century, taking a deep interest in all 
matters pertaining to the church. He was 
licensed to preach in 1862, and has for the 
past forty-three years been local preacher. 
He is strictly temperate in all his habits and 
is greatly devoted to his home and family. 
Mr. Wellington was married to Rebecca 
Ownes, the daughter of Joseph Ownes, and 
she died on the farm and was buried in Gus- 
tin cemetery. She was the mother of chil 
dren as follows : Emmeline A. died young ; 
Adella Delilah also died young; Edith A. 
married Stonewall Rawlings and resides in 
Bosanquet township; Ambrose Rubarts re 
sides in Forest, where he is an implement 
agent; Sylvester Ethelbert is a farmer, of 
the 6th Line of Plympton; Sarah Dorothy 
married Edward A. Messe, and resides in 
Calumet, Michigan; William John died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Wellington was again married, in 
London, Ont., to Isabella McMillan, daugh 
ter of Peter and Margaret McMillan, and to 
this union were born : Hephzibah married 
William Petullo, and resides in Manitoba: 
Isabella Myrtle resides in Detroit; Mirion 
Edna married Charles Berger, of Detroit, 
Michigan; Leila Ila T. and Verschoyle W. 
P., Beatrice Beulah V. and William Garner 
A. are at home. The family all attend the 
Methodist Church, and are well known and 
very highly respected in the community in 
which they reside. 

CHARLES MATTHEWS, the owner 
and proprietor of the "Commercial Hotel" at 
Brigden, is one of the well-known and pop 
ular hotel men in Lambton County. He was 



born June 25, 1854, in the township of 
Woodhouse, County of Norfolk, Ont., on 
the old Matthews homestead, son of William 
and Mary (Demming) Matthews. 

The Matthews family is of English 
origin and the name has been identified with 
the progress and settlement of Woodhouse 
township, Norfolk County, for over a hun 
dred years. Gideon Holmes Matthews, the 
grand father of Charles, was born in 1805 in 
the township of Woodhouse, where his fa 
ther was one of the first settlers, owning a 
tract of 300 acres of land there; he parti 
cipated in the war of 1812, and spent his- 
life in Norfolk County, living to a ripe old 
age. Gideon Holmes Matthews grew up on 
the farm, and what education he received, 
although very limited, was the best that could 
be obtained in those days. He made farming 
his occupation, receiving a grant of land 
from the Government for services rendered 
in the Rebellion of 1837-38, in which he was 
a private. He lived to the remarkable age 
of ninety-six years, being active and retaining 
all of his faculties to the last. His death oc 
curred in 1901, on the homestead, and he 
was buried in Woodhouse cemetery. Politi 
cally he was a stanch Conservative. In his 
religious belief he was a member of the Meth 
odist Church. Gideon Holmes Matthews 
married Maria Meade, who was also a native 
of Canada, and they were the parents of four 
children, as follows: George, who died in 
Norfolk County; William, the father of our 
subject; Jane, who died in young woman 
hood ; and James. 

William Matthews was born on the home 
stead in 1828, and, like his father, made 
farming his life occupation. He was edu 
cated in the township. At an early age he 
began working on his father s farm, and at 
the time of the latter s retirement from active 
life took charge of the old homestead, and 
cared faithfully for his mother and father 
in their declining years. He engaged in gen 
eral farming and fine stock raising. William 
Matthews is now retired from active life, 
but although in his seventy-eighth year he is 
still in excellent health, and in the retention 
of all of his faculties. He has always been 



300 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a strong Conservative, and believes in the 
principles laid down by that party. He is a 
pillar of the Methodist Church, and is very 
highly respected in his native township. 

William Matthews married Mary Dem- 
ming, a resident of the same county, and they 
have been the parents of six children, as fol 
lows: Charles is the subject of this sketch; 
Clinton follows agricultural pursuits in the 
State of Michigan ; Peter is a farmer of St. 
Clair County, Michigan ; William farms a 
part of the old homestead ; Arthur is a resi 
dent of Guelph ; Wallace is a cement con 
tractor of New York City. Mrs. Matthews, 
who is still living, has attained the age of 
seventy-six years. Like her husband she is 
a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church. 

Charles Matthews attended the schools 
of Woodhouse township, Norfolk County, 
and worked at home on his father s farm un 
til seventeen years of age. Then, starting in 
life for himself, he bought a team of horses 
and for ten years engaged in teaming in 
Woodhouse township, accumulating enough 
to purchase a small tract of land and a thresh 
ing outfit. For five years he carried on farm 
ing and threshing. In 1883 he sold his 
threshing outfit and farm and removed to 
Lambton County, purchasing a large tract in 
Dawn township, on Lot 31, Concession n, 
which consisted of 180 acres of bush land. 
Mr. Matthews cleared twenty acres of this, 
and there spent three years in a log house 
which he had built, and then sold out and 
located on Concession 13, where he bought 
a tract of 100 acres, thirty acres of which he 
improved. There he spent seventeen years, 
in cattle dealing, stock raising and general 
farming. He sold this farm in 1900 and in 
1901 located in Brigden, where he bought the 
"Commercial Hotel" from George Spooner. 
Mr. Matthews has spent over three thousand 
dollars in improving his hotel, and has put 
in a gas plant. Although very business-like, 
he is a man of genial manner and makes an 
ideal host. 

In politics Mr. Matthews is independent. 
The family are connected with the Methodist 
Church. In fraternal circles Mr. Matthews 



is popular and is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
at Florence. He was married in Woodhouse 
township in 1874 to Margaret Kniffen, who 
was born in the same township, daughter of 
Henry Kniffen, and the following named 
children have been born to them : Edward, 
born on the old Matthews homestead, mar 
ried Mary Ellen Bronn, and is with our sub 
ject in the hotel business; Mary married 
William Hogg, a traveling salesman, and 
has three children, Maurice, Berenice and 
Olive Maude; Lena married Edward Ragan, 
of Brigden, and they have one child, Charles ; 
Lula married John McDonald and they have 
a son, Lloyd; Lee and Bertha are at home. 

\ 

WILLIAM McCLEISTER, a dealer 
in dry goods, boots and shoes at Point Ed 
ward, is descended from Irish ancestry. The 
first of whom any data are at hand, is Wil 
liam McCleister, our subject s grandfather, 
who was born in 1/78, in Ireland, and was 
a farmer by occupation. He married a Miss 
Spencer, also a native of that country. He 
died in 1848. Among his children was a 
son, John, father of William. 

John McCleister married Miss Mary 
Jane Boden, born in Ireland. He, too, fol 
lowed farming on the old homestead. He 
and his wife were Presbyterians in religious 
conviction. Politically he was a Reformer. 
They had children as follows : Robert, who 
died young ; William ; and Eliza Jane, who 
married Archie Schrimager, and resides in 
Ireland. 

William McCleister was born March 21, 
1846, on the old farm in Ireland, and studied 
in the public schools of his native country. 
In 1867 he came to Canada, expecting to 
return, but changed his mind and went into 
business. His first location was in Bruce 
County, where he remained for a short time, 
and in 1869 he came to Point Edward, and 
for about ten years was a conductor on 
freight and passenger trains on the Grand 
Trunk Railroad, running as far east as 
Buffalo, New York ; for four years preced 
ing he had been baggage master for the same 
company. In 1883 Mr. McCleister left the 
railroad business, and in 1884 opened his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



301 



present mercantile business, his stock includ 
ing dry goods, gents furnishings, boots and 
shoes, and ready made clothing, in which 
line he still continues. He has always taken 
a prominent part in municipal matters, rill 
ing the various public positions in the gift 
of the people at Point Edward, including 
justice of the peace, councilman and reeve 
of Point Edward, for twelve years, 1883, 
1885, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1895, 
1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900. In 1895 he 
became county councillor for Division No. I, 
composed of Sarnia and Point Edward. 
In 1902 he was appointed treasurer of the 
town of Point Edward. In politics he is a 
Reformer. 

Air. McCleister is a prominent fraternal 
man being a member of the I. O. O. F., of 
which he is a past noble grand, and is at 
present financial secretary of his lodge; the 
Frontier Division, Order of Railway Con 
ductors; and Bismarck Lodge, No. 419, F. 
& A. M., of Point Edward, of which he is 
the present master. 

On Dec. 2, 1879, Mr. McCleister and 
Miss Phoebe Rogers were united in mar 
riage. Mrs. McCleister is a daughter of 
Lock-wood and Phebe (Bowerman) Rogers, 
and \\-as born in Picton, Prince Edward 
County. Ont.. March 18, 1844. To this 
union have been born five children : John 
Rogers, who is a clerk in the Grand Trunk 
Railroad offices; Phoebe Jane, who married 
J. J. Fulford, a machinist at Point Edward; 
Walter, in the store with his father; Rubena 
and William, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Cleister are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, in which he is Presbytery elder and 
sessions clerk. He was a member of the 
General Assembly at Toronto in 1902. 



WILLIAM WATSOX. The rough and 
arduous life necessarily experienced by all the 
pioneers in the Canadian wilderness has been 
a powerful factor in shaping the characters 
of those who faced its hardships. Brave 
hearts as well as strong arms were needed by 
the men who wrested their homes from the 
wild, and as a result Canada can point proud 
ly to as sturdy, solid and reliable a class of 



citizens as can he found within any realm. 
Lambton Count}- numbers many of those 
worthy pioneers among its inhabitants, and 
among them all none can look upon his pres 
ent broad, well-cultivated fields with more 
justifiable pride in his past endeavors than 
William Watson, an Enniskillen farmer, and 
a native son of Plympton township, where he 
was born Sept. 23, 1854, son of James 
and Mary (Dixon) Watson. 

James Watson and his wife were bom 
in Berwickshire and Haddingtonshire, Scot 
land, respectively, he in 1823, she in 1830, 
and they were married in Scotland two days 
before starting for Canada to begin the world 
together. Embarking on a sailing vessel 
they were six weeks in reaching New York, 
whence they went by the Erie Canal to Buf 
falo. Crossing to Canada they halted first 
at Westminster, Ont., and after one summer 
there traveled on foot to Plympton township, 
where they took up a tract of wild land and 
made a permanent home. For. a number of 
years they continued to live in the little log 
cabin that had first sheltered them, but in 
time Mr. Watson built a handsome brick- 
house, for he had became one of the wealthy- 
farmers of that region. He was a well known 
man in that section, an ardent Reformer in 
politics, and a member of the Presbyterian 
Church in Plympton, which he and his wife 
had helped to found. He was for many years 
teacher of a Bible class in the Sunday-school. 
His useful life drew to a close in February, 
1898, and his wife followed him on Christ 
mas Day, 1899. James and Mary Watson 
had a family of nine children, (i) David 
died in childhood. (2) William is the sub 
ject of this sketch. (3) Andrew died in 
childhood. (4) Agnes, born Jan. i. 1850 
married William Ironside, of Plympton, re 
sides on the lake road, and has s ix children, 
George, James, John, William. Jennie and 
Andrew. (5) James, born in 1852, married 
Miss Sarah Pascoe. of Plympton, lives on a 
fine farm in Moore township, and has ten 
children, Joseph, William. Richard. Welling 
ton. George. Mary. Henry, Mabel. Violet and 
Emaline. (6) Eliza, born in 1856, married 
Thomas Scott, of Plympton, lives in Assini- 



302 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



boia, and has five sons, David, Thomas, 
George, James and William. (7) Ellen, 
born in 1858, is the wife of James Smith, of 
Plympton, and has two daughters, Mary and 
Elizabeth. (8) Andrew, born in 1866, mar 
ried (first) Miss Annie Crawford, of Plymp 
ton. She died at his fathers old homestead, 
leaving t\vo daughters : Mary, who died in 
childhood, and Flossie, who is a member of 
William Watson s family now. The father 
afterward sold the homestead, moved to Al 
berta, where he keeps a hotel, and married 
Miss Mary Buchanan, of that Province. (9) 
Mary, born in 1868, is the wife of Thomas 
Crawford, of Plympton, and the mother of 
John, Alice, W r atson and Polly. 

William Watson grew up on his father s 
farm and attended the district schools. He 
remained at home until January, 1879, when 
he married Miss Agnes Simpson, and with 
her began an independent life. Miss Simp 
son was born in Plympton July 14, 1855, 
daughter of William and Rachel Simpson, 
one of Enniskillen s old families. The young 
couple started out on the place which has 
been the family home ever since, a tract of 
wild land in Lot 29, Concession 12. Mr. 
Watson began life with just $100 which he 
had earned by threshing grain for his neigh 
bors. By his own honest toil he has now 
cleared up the 100 acres and put up good 
buildings, including a large bank barn. At 
this home Mrs. Watson died in November, 
1892, leaving four children, as follows: Ra 
chel, born in 1880, who married James M. 
Kay, a ranchman in Assiniboia, and a prom 
inent stockman, and has one son, William 
M.; Mary E., born in 1882, wife of Charles 
Gadsby, of Dawn, and mother of two sons, 
Watson and Clayton J. ; James, born in 1889, 
at home ; and Minnie, born in 1890, who lives 
with her grandmother Simpson. In Febru 
ary, 1896, Mr. Watson was married a second 
time, to Mrs. Frank Taylor, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth A. Lewis. She was born 
in England. April 16, 1864, and her father, 
George Lewis, died when she was a child. 
Her first husband was killed by the Buffalo 
express while he was crossing the tracks, 
leaving her with four children, namely : E. 



Mary, of Petrolia, unmarried; Nettie, Sarah 
and Frank, at home. Three children have 
been born to the present union : Elsie Irene, 
in September, 1900; Violet Eva, in July, 
1902; and George L., September 26, 1904. 
Mr. Watson and the family are connected 
with the Presbyterian Church. 

A Conservative in politics, Mr. Watson 
is at present serving as pathmaster and also 
as trustee on the school board. Socially, he 
belongs to the Maccabees, Jubilee Camp No. 
38, of Wyoming. Mr. W r atson s home has 
been a center for hospitality and many char 
itable deeds, and he has a large circle of 
warm friends, while he is universally re 
spected throughout the county. 

FRANCIS CRONE, a substantial busi 
ness man now living retired in Forest, is of 
Scottish extraction, and traces his ancestry 
back to his grandfather, also named Francis 
Crone, who was born in Scotland about 1 728. 
Later he became a farmer in Cumberland, 
England, where he died about 1818. His 
wife was named Mary Crone, and their chil 
dren were : William. Joseph, Jane, Cathar 
ine and Jeffery. 

William Crone was born in Scotland in 
1788, and died in 1856, being drowned at 
sea. He married Mary Scott, who was born 
in Scotland in 1785, and died in 1883. In 
1828 they came to Canada, with eleven chil 
dren, settling nine miles east of Toronto, 
upon a farm, where Mrs. Crone died. They 
had children as follows : Joseph, Jane, Cath 
erine, Jeffery, Elizabeth, Mary, Elizabeth, 
Francis, William, Margaret, Thomas and 
John, all of whom are now deceased except 
John and our subject. 

Francis Crone was torn in Scotland July 
22. 1819, and emigrated to Canada in 1828. 
All of his life he was engaged in farming, 
until his retirement. He located in Lambton 
County in 1853, purchasing a property of 
1 60 acres in Bosanquet township, Lot 18, 
Concession 5. This farm he later sold, and 
in 1901 settled in Forest. While residing 
in Bosanquet township he served as a mem 
ber of the township council and also the 
county council. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



303 



Mr. Crone has been twice married, and 
he was first united to Sarah Wilson, who was 
born in Scotland in 1819 and died in 1888, 
the mother of children as follows : Joseph 
married Barbara Nelson, and had children, 
Francis, Isabella, Sarah. Alexander and 
Elizabeth. William married Kate McKeller, 
and they have had children, Frank, Maggie, 
Sarah, Daniel (deceased) and Jane. Jeffery 
married Sarah English, and their children 
are Mary, Lydia, Blanche, Lizzie, Jeffery, 
Willie and Hazel. Margaret married Will 
iam Thompson and had children, Sarah 
(deceased), Christine, Lizzie and Lydia. 
Elizabeth married Thomas Crawford; their 
children are Francis, McKenzie. Archibald, 
Ellen, Sarah, Thomas, Daniel and Jeffery. 
James married Margaret McPherson. John 
is deceased. Frank married Ann Hossie, and 
had children, Fred, John, Edna and Annie. 
Thomas married Ellen Hall, and had one 
child, Sarah. 

In 1889 Mr. Crone married Margaret 
Wilson, a niece of his first wife, and their 
children are : Sarah Janet, Frances and Flor 
ence. Mr. and Mrs. Crone are consistent 
members of the Methodist Church, in the 
work of which they take an active part. Po 
litically Mr. Crone has always given his sup 
port to the Reform party, and he served in 
the Rebellion of 1837. He is well and fav 
orably known in the community in which he 
has made his home for so many years, and 
the confidence placed in him by his fellow 
townsmen is fully merited. 

Mrs. Crone is a daughter of Thomas and 
Janet (Jack) Wilson. Her father, born in 
Scotland in 1814, died in 1866. He was a 
son of William and Margaret Wilson, who 
were torn in Scotland and died there. 
Thomas Wilson came to Ontario in 1839, 
settling in the County of York, where he 
died ; his widow survives, at the age of seven 
ty-eight years. 

ORLANDO S. CLARK, collector of 
Customs at Point Edward, is a man well 
Known in West Lambton, where for many 
years he has taken an active part in public 
affairs. He was born at Clark s Mills, Cam- 



den East, and is a descendant of substantial 
United Empire Loyalists. 

Robert Clark, his great-great-grandfa 
ther, was born in Dutchess County, New 
York, March 16, 1/44. At the outbreak of 
the American Revolution he refused to take 
up arms against the Crown and removed to 
Canada. 

Matthew Clark, great-grandfather of 
Orlando S., was bom in the United States. 
He was the father of twelve sons : Robert, 
Samuel, Matthew, William H., McCoy, 
Charles, George, Isaac, Benjamin, Edward, 
John M. and Richard L. 

Samuel Clark, son of Matthew, and! 
grandfather of Orlando S., was born in 
the township of Ernestown, Lennox and 
Addington, Ont., Nov. 30. 1/90. He was 
a man of means and influence and built 
the Clark s Mills, lumber, flour and woolen 
mills near Napanee, Ont., and through life 
was an extensive lumber dealer. Politically 
he was also very prominent. He was instru 
mental in the bringing of Sir John Mac- 
donald to the front in public office. For a 
long period he was reeve of Camden East, 
and he was regarded as a most valuable 
member of his party. He married Abigail 
Lockwood, and they had these children : 
David, Norman, Peter H., Matthew, 
Thomas, George, Ann, Caroline and Jane. 

Peter H. Clark, son of Samuel, was torn 
in Ernestown, Ont., April 22, 1820. For 
many years he was engaged, like his father, 
in a lumber business there, but he now lives 
practically retired in Sarnia. In February, 
1845, he married Angeline Shurtleff, daugh 
ter of Samuel and granddaughter of Gideon 
Shurtleff. Their children were: Gratia, de 
ceased ; Orlando S. ; Augusta, deceased ; Miss 
Nettie. ; Peter McCoy, of St. Louis, Mis 
souri, manager of the milling department of 
the Keeler Milling Company ; Minnie, de 
ceased ; and Laura, a teacher in Sarnia. 

Orlando S. Clark was torn Aug. 17, 
1849, at Clark s Mills, and was educated in 
the Peterborough Collegiate Institute, after 
which he took up the study of medicine, re 
signing his ambitions in that direction, how 
ever, in order to take charge of the Clark 



34 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



mills. In 1870 he removed to Sarnia, and 
assumed charge of the woolen mills at that 
place, which he later purchased, and after 
operating for a time sold. 

As stated, Mr. Clark has been identified 
with public and political life in Lambton 
County. For several years he was secretary 
of the West Lambton Conservative Asso 
ciation and local correspondent of the To 
ronto Empire, a journal of consequence in 
that organization. In 1892 he was appointed 
sub-collector of customs at Point Edward, 
which position he most efficiently fills. He 
has always been deeply interested in educa 
tional matters, was a member and has been 
chairman of the school board of this place. 

In August, 1873, Mr. Clark was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Allen, of London, Ont, 
born there Aug. 12, 1849, daughter of Rob 
ert Allen. Two daughters, Emily M. and 
Winnifred M., have been born to them. The 
religious connection of the family is with 
the Methodist Church. Fraternally Mr. 
Clark is past master of Bismarck Lodge, No. 
419, A. F. & A. M., at Point Edward, and 
is also a member of the I. O. F. 

DAVID B. BENTLEY, M. D., C. M., 
takes a leading position among the promi 
nent and successful physicians and surgeons 
of Sarnia, both as a practitioner and as a 
citizen. His family has been identified with 
the growth and material development of 
Lambton County from pioneer days. 

The Bentley family is of English ex 
traction, and in England Benjamin Bentley, 
the Doctor s grandfather, was born in 1808. 
There he married Martha Appleyard, who 
was also of English birth. In 1848 they 
came to Lambton County and located in 
Warwick township, where Mr. Bentley 
cleared up a farm and engaged in the culti 
vation of the natural products of the land un 
til his death. Both grandparents were most 
worthy Christian people, members of the 
Disciples Church. They had born to them 
the following children : David, a printer, in 
Montreal ; Hannah, the wife of William 
Utting; Ruth, the wife of Robert Shannon; 



Mary Ann, the wife of Thomas Dike; 
Joseph, who died on the ocean during the 
family s voyage to Canada, and was buried 
at sea ; and John, the father of Dr. Bentley. 

John Bentley was born in England, and 
was but a boy when his father removed to 
Canada. On reaching his majority he en 
gaged in farming on the homestead in War 
wick township and continued there until his 
retirement from activity, when he settled in 
the town of Warwick, where his last days. 
were spent. Politically he was a Reformer. 
In religion he was a member of the Baptist 
Church. On Dec. 15, 1863, John Bentley 
was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. 
Rogers, and to this union the following chil 
dren were born : David B. ; Dr. George Al 
bert, a dentist in London, Ont. ; Annie 
Louise, the wife of Dr. Robert Ovens, of 
London, Ont. ; Dr. William Joseph, a den 
tist of Sarnia; and John R., a contractor in 
Toledo, Ohio. 

David B. Bentley was born on the old 
Bentley homestead in Warwick township, 
Dec. 1 6, 1864. His early education was 
acquired in the public schools of Warwick 
and the Canadian Literary Institute, at 
Woodstock, where he obtained a second- 
class certificate, after which he entered the 
Model School at Forest. After completing 
the course at this institution he engaged in 
teaching for a peroid of three years, and 
then entered the Normal School at Ottawa, 
where he took special work in the Art of 
Teaching. The succeeding two years he 
spent in educational work, and in 1887 en 
tered Trinity University, at Toronto, grad 
uating therefrom in 1891, M. D., C. M. Dr. 
Bentley first settled in Oil Springs, where he 
remained until 1892, going then to Forest, 
and in 1894 coming to Sarnia. Since locat 
ing here Dr. Bentley has been engaged in an 
absorbing practice, and has won position 
with his brother practitioners and with the 
public. He is a valued member of the Col 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, of Onta 
rio, of the Lambton County Medical Asso- 
siation, and of the Dominion Medical Asso 
ciation, and is fraternally associated with the 





&4WJLU 

I 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



305 






1. O. O. F., Sons of England, K. O. T. M., 
W. O. W., B. P. O. E., F. & A. M., and 
Chosen Friends. 

On March 10, 1890, Dr. Bentley was 
united in marriage with Miss Ellen E. Allen 
of Lambton County, a daughter of William 
P. Allen, a native also of Lambton County, 
and three sons were born to this union, 
namely: Othel A., Albert W. and David W. 
Mrs. Bentley passed away March 8, 1904, 
and was buried in Lake View cemetery. She 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
which Dr. Bentley also attends. The pleas 
ant home of the family is located on Welling 
ton street, where friends are very sure of 
finding a generous hospitality awaiting 
them. The Bentleys are prominent also in 
the city s social life and are identified with 
educational and intellectual movements, 
which reach a high standard in Sarnia. 

JAMES PIGGOTT, one of the prom 
inent and well-to-do farmers of Enniskillen, 
Lambton County, who resides on Concession 
3, Lot 3, was born in Bosanquet township, 
this county, March 17, 1860, son of Thomas 
and Ann (Ricketts) Piggott. Both the 
parents were born near London, England, 
the father in 1812 and the mother in the 
year following. 

Thomas Piggott and his wife were 
reared and educated in their birthplace, 
where they were also married. It was there 
that he learned the trade of carpenter, which 
he followed some years before coming to 
Canada, in the year 1850. He made the trip 
on a sailing vessel, which was eight weeks 
on the ocean, landed at Quebec, and first set 
tled at Woodstock, where he worked at his 
trade as Contractor and builder for some 
years. In 1859 he came to Bosanquet, 
County of Lambton, Ont., where he pur 
chased wild land on Concession 6. and clear 
ing it up into a fine farm lived there until 
his death, in 1892, at the age of eighty. He 
had retired from active life some years be 
fore. His wife died in the year 1884. 
In religion both were active members 
of the Methodist Church, while in politics 
he was a Reformer. Thomas and Ann Pig- 
ao 



gott were the parents of the following chil 
dren: Elizabeth, born in England in 1840, 
married John Brooks, who settled in Chat 
ham, County of Kent, where his wife died in 
1892, leaving three children, Edmund, 
Arthur and Flora, of Manitoba. John, born 
in England in 1842, was educated in Wood 
stock, married Elizabeth Cunningham, of 
Park Hill, and now resides in Chatham, 
where he is engaged in lumber manufactur 
ing; he has five sons, Walter, Albert, John, 
Arthur and Percy. Edmund, born in Eng 
land in 1846, was reared in Canada, where 
he married Bella Johnston, of Thedford; 
they removed to Dresden, where he followed 
lumbering for several years, and then 
moved to Detroit, where he is now engaged 
in the manufacturing business; he has two 
children, William and Lillie. Henry, born 
in Woodstock in 1854, married Mary Close, 
pf Thedford, Lambton County, and they 
settled in the County of Kent for a time, 
after which they came to Moore township, 
locating in Concession 5, where the wife 
died, leaving three children, William, 
Thomas and Edward; after her death he 
married Mrs. Alvira (Wells) Smearback. 
Mary, born in Woodstock in 1857, married 
John McGregor, of Lambton County, and 
they reside near Thedford, where he is a 
contractor and builder; they have five chil 
dren, Laura, John, Annie, Stanley and 
Edith. Thomas, born in Woodstock in 1859, 
married Maggie Smith, of Lambton County, 
and settled in Bosanquet on his farm, 
where his wife died, leaving three child 
ren, Winnie, George and Burt. James is 
our subject. 

James Piggott grew up at the old home 
stead, where he received a district-school 
education. When still a young man he 
rented his father s farm, where he lived for 
nearly five years, and at that time purchased 
his present home. On Feb. 10, 1886, he 
married Mary West, who was born in Scar 
borough, near Toronto. Sept. 2, 1860, 
daughter of Joseph and Angelina (Simons) 
West, the former of whom was born in Eng 
land, while the latter was born near Toronto. 
They now reside on Concession 8, in Bosaii- 



3 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



quet, Lambton County, where they are well 
ami favorably known among the pioneers. 

James Piggott and his wife moved 
upon their present farm when it was wild 
land, and which he has cleared until it is now 
one of the finest in the section. He has a 
large bank barn and comfortable home, and 
good, substantial outbuildings. Four chil 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pig 
gott, as follows: Annie May, born in 1887; 
John W., born in 1890; Clarence H., born 
in 1894, and Willie J., born in 1898. 

Mr. and Mrs. Piggott are members of 
the Methodist Church, of which he is a dea 
con and one of the trustees, which positions 
he has held for the last seven years, and for 
the last three years he has been superinten 
dent of the Sunday School. In politics he has 
always supported the Reform party, although 
never aspiring for office. 

Mr. Piggott is one of Enniskillen s most 
prominent and public-spirited citizens, as 
well as being one of its most enterprising 
farmers. He has always been identified with 
the advancement of the community in which 
he makes his home, and he and his most es 
timable wife have a host of friends in their 
neighborhood. 

GEORGE DONALD, for many years a 
well-known citizen of Plympton township, 
engaged in farming, stock-raising and the 
production of oil, was born on his present 
farm May 29, 1847, and is the fifth in direct 
succession to bear his name. The family is 
of Scottish extraction, from Aberdeenshire. 
George Donald, his father, was born in 
Scotland. While still a young man he came 
to Canada, and at first farmed in Dalhousie 
township. Lanark County, but after a num 
ber of years there he moved to Plympton 
township. Lambton County, and bought 100 
acres in Lot 6, Concession I. Several years 
later he left this property to the management 
of his son and made his home in London, 
( Int., where he died at the early age of fifty- 
live, and where he is buried. He was a Lib 
eral in politics and a Presbyterian in re 
ligion. Mr. Donald married Janet Park, 
who was born on the ocean, while her par 
ents, Hugh and Janet (Hay) Park, were on 



their way to Canada. They had one child, 
George. Mrs. Donald after the death of her 
husband married William Clemie, of Wyom 
ing. She died in Plympton township, and 
Mr. Clemie died later in Wyoming. 

George Donald was educated in the pub 
lic schools, and then worked with his grand 
mother until he was seventeen. He took a 
life partner when he was twenty-one. After 
he was left to carry the farm on alone he 
brought it all under cultivation, and added 
122 acres, making extensive improvements 
upon the whole place. He has been very 
extensively engaged in raising cattle and 
horses, making a specialty of Shorthorn 
Durhams. In 1896 oil was discovered on his 
farm the first oil well struck in Plympton 
township, and after spending a considerable 
amount of money in developing he now has 
several oil and gas wells which are more 
than repaying the original outlay. In 1885 
Mr. Donald built a very handsome brick 
residence, but nine years later this was des 
troyed by fire, with a loss of over $2,000, only 
$1,000 of this being insured. This was a 
hard blow, for it meant that the accumula 
tion of some years had been swept away in 
a breath, but Mr. Donald took his misfor 
tune bravely and has recouped his loss. In 
1905 he built a very handsome frame house 
on the foundation of the brick house that was 
burned in 1894, and the new residence is oc 
cupied by his son, Hugh J., who has control 
of the east 100 acres of the farm. 

In December, 1868, Mr. Donald was 
married to Miss Susan E. Wooley, who was 
born in Enniskillen township Aug. 21, 1851, 
sister of John N. Wooley of Enniskillen, 
and their union has been blessed with chil 
dren as follows : Jessie, Mrs. G. Donald, of 
Bosanquet township; Susie Adaline, Mrs. 
David W. Brownlee, of Plympton; Lillie, 
Mrs. W. J. Rothwell, of Manitoba, who has 
two daughters, Mabel and Edna Jean; 
James, deceased at the age of twenty-one; 
Hugh J., who was married Dec. 27, 1905, 
to Miss Mamie A. Rnwson, of Mandamin; 
Mabel G., married to Norman King, 
a farmer of Plympton township; and 
Ethel Maude, at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Donald are both active members of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Methodist Church, where he has filled 
the office of steward, and she is one of the 
representatives in the women s work of the 
church. They are kind and charitable in 
disposition and have done much good. Mr. 
Donald is a man of temperate domestic 
habits, and their home life has been a happy 
one. A Liberal in politics, he has held no 
official position save that of school trustee, 
in which he served efficiently. 

GEORGE SUTHERLAND, who for 
the past nineteen years has filled the office 
of clerk of the township of Bosanquet, and 
is also a successful agriculturist of that town 
ship, is well known and highly respected. 
He is a native of Scotland, born in the parish 
of Rathen, near Fraserburgh, Aberdeen, 
Feb. 13. 1846. 

The Sutherlands are from Sutherland- 
shire. Scotland, and were a powerful clan 
in their day, under the duke of that name. 
George Sutherland, the grandfather of our 
subject, was a native of Sutherlandshire and 
a farmer by occupation, making his home in 
that county, where he died at the remarkable 
age of 101 years. Neil Sutherland, son of 
George, was born in the same county, and 
located in Aberdeenshire while still in his 
teens. He learned the trade of millwright, 
carpenter and joiner, which he followed all 
his life, and also following contracting and 
ouilding. becoming very successful. He died 
in Aberdeenshire when a little past middle 
life, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. 
He married, in Aberdeenshire, Barbara 
Murison, who came to Canada after her 
husband s death, and spent the latter years 
of her life with her son George, in Bosan 
quet township, where she died aged seventy- 
two years. She was buried in the Presby 
terian cemetery on the Ridge road, in Bo 
sanquet township. The children born to Neil 
and Barbara Sutherland, were: George is 
our subject : "\Yilliam, who became a min 
ister of the Presbyterian Church, resides in 
Edinburgh, Scotland; Sophia married Al 
bert Hare, of Bosanquet township : Chris 
tina, now deceased, was the wife of William 
McDonald. 



307 

George Sutherland attended the public 
school, in Fraserburgh, and later went to 
high school in Inverness, obtaining a good 
education. He worked on the farm for his 
grandfather Murison for several years, also 
spending a short time in France, where he 
attended school. In 1872 he turned to the 
New "World to make a new home, sailing 
from Glasgow on one of the Allan Line 
boats. Landing at New York he came west 
to Toronto, where he hired out as a farm 
hand with Mr. Edward Hagyard, near 
Brampton, in the township of Chinguacousy, 
County of Peel, receiving as wages sixteen 
dollars per month. Here Mr. Sutherland 
worked one season, and then went to Michi 
gan, where he found employment in the lum 
ber woods in the winter of 1872-73, and 
worked on a farm for a Mr. Winans during 
the summer of 1873. In December, 1873, 
he came to the township of Bosanquet, in the 
County of Lambton, where he rented a fifty- 
acre farm, owned by Dr. Charles Coulter, 
of Strathroy, on which he farmed for a few 
years, and then bought his present home, on 
Lot 9, 3d Concession, which consists of sev 
enty-five acres, known as the old Campbell 
place. Here Mr. Sutherland settled down to 
farming, and in 1903 built a fine brick 
dwelling; he also has good substantial farm 
buildings. Mr. Sutherland has engaged in 
stock raising in connection with his farming 
operations, and he has been very successful. 
In 1887 he was appointed clerk of Bosan 
quet township, under Robert Rea, who was 
reeve of the township at that time, and has 
faithfully filled the duties of that office ever 
since, serving under the following reeves : 
Robert Rea, James McCordie, P. D. Mc- 
Callum, Caleb Kennedy and Thomas A. 
Lampman. Mr. Sutherland is popular in the 
township and stands high in public opinion. 
He has filled the position of school trustee 
of Section 2 for several years. He is a 
stockholder in the Ridge Tree Cheese Fac 
tory, and has been secretary and treasurer 
and also auditor of the company. He is a 
member of the East Lambton Farmers Insti 
tute and the Bosanquet Agricultural Society. 
Fraternallv he affiliates with the A. F. "& 



3 o8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



A. M., Cassia Lodge, Xo. 116, Thedford, is 
past master of the lodge, was elected deputy 
district grand master of St. Clair District, 
Xo. 2, in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria s 
jubilee, and is a past Z of Minnewawa Chap 
ter, Xo. 78, Park Hill ; he held the office of 
first principal for several years, and on re 
tiring from this office the chapter presented 
him a first principal s jewel. Mr. Suther 
land and his wife are members of the Pres 
byterian Church at Thedford, in which he is 
an elder. In political sentiment he is a 
stanch Liberal, and has always supported 
that party. 

George Sutherland and Elizabeth David 
son were united in marriage, in Bosanquet 
township, Oct. i, 1878. Mrs. Sutherland was 
born in that township, daughter of William 
and Grace Davidson, natives of England 
and old settlers of Bosanquet township. To 
this union have been born children as fol 
lows : Grace, William, and Isabella, all at 
home. The family are members of the Pres 
byterian Church, attending at Thedford. 

MALCOLM D. CAMERON, ex-county 
warden, agent for the Lambton Farmers 
Fire Insurance Co., and owner of a magnifi 
cent farm located on Concession 2, Lots 30 
and 31, is one of the substantial and repre 
sentative men of Lambton County. Mr. 
Cameron was born Feb. 10, 1857, in Lobo 
township, Middlesex County, a son of Alex 
ander and Mary (Henderson) Cameron, 
both of whom were born in Inverness-shire, 
Scotland. 

Donald Cameron, the grandfather of our 
subject, came to the Riviere du Loup, on the 
St. Lawrence, in Quebec, settling 120 miles 
from Quebec, where he followed farming. 
At his death he left the following children : 
John, Malcolm and Alexander came to Lobo, 
Middlesex County; Lillie (deceased) mar 
ried Allen Cameron, of Middlesex County; 
Jessie (deceased) married G. MacLean, of 
Middlesex County; Annie (deceased) 
married Robert Lloyd, of Middlesex Coun 
ty. All the members of the family attained 
good old age. 

Alexander Cameron grew- up at Riviere 



du Loup, where he remained until his mar 
riage, at which time he removed to X T ew 
Glasgow, in the Province of Quebec. In 
1838 he came to Lobo, County of Middle 
sex, being one of the very first settlers in 
that section. There he cleared up a farm 
from wild land, making a permanent home 
for his family, and there he died in 1889, 
aged eighty-four. He and his good wife 
had been members of the Presbyterian 
Church, but before their death had become 
connected with the Baptist denomination. In 
politics Mr. Cameron was a Reformer, as 
have been all his descendants, but although 
a useful man to his party he never aspired to 
public office. To Alexander Cameron and 
his wife eight children \vere born : Catherine, 
born in 1839 in the County of Middlesex, 
married Hugh Campbell, of Lambton Coun 
ty, and at her death left two children, Al 
bert, of Forest, and Mary, wife of Hugh 
MacLean, of Plympton. Elizabeth, born in 
1841, married Benjamin Harris, of Lobo, 
County of Middlesex, and has two children, 
Fred and Ethel. John, born in 1843, a 
farmer of Strathroy, married Miss E. 
Zavitz, and has one daughter, Maud. 
Archie, born in 1845, married Miss Mariah 
McCordie, resides in Plympton township, 
and has two daughters, Alma (now Mrs. 
Peter Campbell, of Brooke township) 
and Annie. Annie, born in 1848, mar 
ried Arthur Barclay, of Duncrieff, County of 
Middlesex, and has two children, Alexander 
and Mary. William, born in 1850, married 
Miss Emily McLaughlin, of Middlesex 
County, and they now reside in Bosanquet; 
they have the following children, Catherine, 
Hugh, Levi, Alexander, Jessie and Orvil. 
Alexander, born in 1853, a farmer of Lobo, 
Middlesex County, married Miss Sarah Mc 
Kay of Lobo, and they have two children, 
Mabel and Lottie. Malcolm D. is mentioned 
below. 

Malcolm D. Cameron spent his boyhood 
days on the farm and attended the district 
schools. When eighteen years of age he 
came to the County of Lambton and engaged 
as a school teacher, teaching for two years, 
but on account of failing health he returned 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



39 



to the old homestead, where he remained for 
a short period. He then purchased a farm 
in Lobo, which he worked for some years, 
after which he sold it and bought his pres 
ent place, in 1886, in Enniskillen township, 
which he has worked ever since. He has at 
present one of the finest and most highly 
cultivated farms in this section of the county. 

On Dec. 23, 1885, Mr. Cameron mar 
ried .Miss Annie Munro, born Dec. 21, 1860, 
in Middlesex County, daughter of Donald 
and Mary (Gilcrist) Munro, members of 
Middlesex County s old pioneer families. To 
this union have been born three children : 
Ila M., born in 1889; Hugh, born in 1891; 
and Xorman, born in 1899. 

The family is connected with the Baptist 
Church, in which Mr. Cameron is clerk and 
Sabbath-school superintendent. Fraternally 
he is connected with the Masonic order in 
the County of Middlesex. Mr. Cameron has 
been very prominent in politics, having 
served as member of the township council 
for five years; county councillor for eight 
vears, during which time he was deputy 
reeve for three years ; and in 1900 was ap 
pointed county warden by the county council. 
He has served as a county and township offi 
cial for over thirteen years. Such lasting 
popularity is evidence of the sterling worth 
of character of which he is possessed. He 
has always been active in local affairs and 
besides being a popular and efficient public 
official is one of the public-spirited residents 
and substantial business men of the town 
ship, and is held in the highest esteem by his 
neighbors and all with whom he is brought 
in contact. 

ARCHIE BLACK, who is prominent 
among the successful farmers and business 
men of Enniskillen township, Lambton 
County, resides on his farm of 100 acres, sit- 
tiated on Concession 2. Lot 21. Mr. Black 
was born Dec. 12. 1851, in Robeson County, 
North Carolina, a son of Alexander and 
Margaret (Buoye) Black, both of whom 
were born in the Island of Jura. Scotland, 
the former in 1818 and the latter in 1819. 



Alexander Black and his wife sailed for 
the States in 1848. settling in Robeson 
County, North Carolina, where he started 
farming, buying 200 acres of land. Owing 
to the climate, and to the fact that North 
Carolina at that time was a slave State, Mr. 
Black remained there but nine years, selling 
out and removing to Canada, where he set 
tled in Ekfrid, near Glencoe. Middlesex 
County, Ont, on wild land. Here he made 
a permanent home and reared his family of 
ten children, namely : Duncan, born in Scot 
land, now roadmaster for the Canadian Pa 
cific Railroad Company, married Miss Eliza 
McDonald, of London, and they reside in 
the Northwest Territory ; they have children, 
Daniel. Katie, Jennette (now Mrs. McDon 
ald), Maggie (a trained nurse) and May. 
Neil, born in Scotland, is foreman for a 
lumber company of Millersville, Ohio. 
Angus, born in Scotland, was for some years 
a merchant of Middlesex County, later re 
moving to Otter Like, Michigan, where up 
to the time of his death, in 1880. he engaged 
in the drug business ; he married Miss Belle 
McDougall, and at his death left two chil 
dren, the daughter now deceased, and the son, 
Alexander, a resident of Melbourne. Out., 
where he is in the hotel business. Annie, 
born in North Carolina, married Charles 
\Yood, a wealthy farmer of Isabella County, 
Michigan. Archie is our subject. John, born 
in North Carolina in 1853, died when a 
young man of twenty-four years. Daniel 
died when a boy of ten years, at the old Mid 
dlesex County home. James and Alexander 
were twins, the latter dying at the old home 
stead when eighteen years of age. James has 
for twenty vears been a miner in British 
Columbia. David, born in 1862, is a mine 
inspector in British Columbia. 

Alexander Black had a brother, Donald, 
who settled in North Carolina at an early 
date, and died in 1895. He had three sons: 
Duncan, who was killed at the battle of Bull 
Run. while fighting in the Confederate 
army; and Alexander and John, who both 
reside in Robeson County. North Carolina. 
Alexander Black s only sister. Mary, mar- 



310 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ried Neil McGill, and settled in Robeson 
County, North Carolina, where she died 
leaving a family. 

Archie Black was educated in the district 
schools of the County of Middlesex and be 
came manager of the old homestead. On 
Dec. 24, 1885, he married Miss Alice Pow 
ers, who was born July 16, 1862, daughter 
of Alfred and Lucinda (Bolton) Powers, 
and received a good education in Middlesex 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Black resided on the 
old homestead for eight years, at the end of 
which time Mr. Black sold out and brought 
his aged father to his home in Enniskillen 
township. Alexander Black died in August, 
1896. 

To Archie Black and his estimable wife 
two daughters have been born: Maggie L., 
born Oct. 13, 1886, in Middlesex County, is 
a graduate of the Oil Springs high school ; 
and Annie M., born May 14, 1890, is a stu 
dent of the Oil Springs high school. The 
family is connected with the Presbyterian 
Church. In fraternal circles Mr. Black is 
well known through his connection with Oil 
Springs Lodge, Canadian Order of Wood 
men. In politics he affiliates with the Re 
form party. He is held in high esteem in 
his township, and bears the enviable reputa 
tion of being a man of the highest integrity, 
of commendable public spirit and of good 
common sense. 

PETER LAMB, a retired farmer, is one 
of the oldest residents of Sarnia township, 
where he has made his home for the past 
fifty-six years. He is of Scottish descent, 
born Aug. n, 1821, in the parish of Capith, 
Perthshire, where several generations of the 
family had lived. His father, Peter, a life 
time resident of the place, died only two 
days after his namesake was born. The 
mother, whose maiden name was Margaret 
Crawford, never left Scotland, and died 
there in 1855. 

Peter Lamb, the younger, was sent to 
school during his childhood, but was obliged 
at an early age to provide for himself. He 
decided to try his fortunes in a new land, and 
June 8, 1849, set sa i from Glasgow for 



Canada. The voyage to Quebec lasted eight 
weeks and was without incident till the ship 
was within twenty miles of its destination, 
when during a fog it ran upon a submerged 
rock. At high tide, however, the boat suc 
ceeded in releasing itself and Quebec was 
safely reached. From that city the young 
man took a river boat to Toronto, thence 
journeyed to Queenston and Chippawa, then 
by cars to Buffalo, and from there to Sarnia 
by water. He arrived Aug. 10, 1859, and 
the following spring purchased his present 
place. This 100 acres in Lot 14, Block A, 
was then a part of the Indian reserve. It 
was wet and heavily wooded, and not invit 
ing for a residence, but Mr. Lamb at once 
built a log cabin, some rods south of his 
present house, and began clearing his land. 
As there was no market for his logs at that 
time he burned them and converted the ashes 
into potash, which met with a ready sale. 
After two years he built a larger and better 
cabin, which he occupied till 1883, when he 
erected the substantial brick house in which 
he has ever since lived. It is hard to-day to 
realize the conditions under which Mr. Lamb 
worked, but he succeeded in getting his land 
cleared and drained, and in time beheld it 
transformed into a well-developed and fruit 
ful farm. Now, in his declining years, he 
has given over the active management of 
the place to his son Alexander. 

In his marriage Mr. Lamb connected 
himself with another Scottish family, his 
union with Miss Janet McGregor occurring 
June 1 8, 1858. Their children numbered 
six, as follows: Peter, who died in 1879, at 
the age of twenty years; Janet McDonald, 
now in charge of her father s house ; Mar 
garet, who married August Richards, of Port 
Huron and has one daughter, Catherine M. ; 
Catherine, a trained nurse at Harper Hos 
pital, Detroit ; Alexander, the manager of 
the homestead; and James, employed in the 
refinery at Sarnia. Mrs. Lamb departed this 
life Aug. 7, 1902, aged seventy-one: she was 
born in County Lanark, daughter of Alex 
ander and Janet (McDonald) McGregor,, 
natives of Perthshire. Scotland. 

Mr. Lamb has always taken a keen in- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



terest in politics and gives his support to the 
Reform party, which most nearly agrees 
with his ideals. In religious belief he is a 
Presbyterian. In spite of his advanced 
years Mr. Lamb is still wide-awake and full 
of interest in the life about him, and the re 
spect and deference of opinion so long 
shown him by his neighbors and friends is 
still his. 

JOHN MARSH, a well-known farmer 
and stock raiser of Moore township, located 
on Concession 7, west half of Lot n, is a 
native of England, born in Somersetshire 
April 13, 1837. His parents, Samuel and 
Susan (Laver) Marsh, were natives of the 
same county. 

Samuel Marsh passed his entire life in 
England, where he was employed as a farm 
laborer on an estate in the village of Cump- 
ton. He and his wife both died and were 
buried there. They were consistent members 
of the Church of England. The children 
born to them were as follows : Henry, Sam 
uel and "William, who died in England ; John ; 
Daniel, a contractor and builder at Grimsby, 
Ont. ; Mary, who married William Crayford, 
in England ; and Elizabeth, who died in 
England. 

John Marsh attended the parish schools 
in South Petherton, and received but a lim 
ited education, as he was put to work at an 
early age at farm labor. When he was fif 
teen he determined to strike out for himself 
in the Xew World, thinking to find more 
opportunities there. He sailed from Liver 
pool in October, 1852, and four, weeks later 
landed at New York. Nov. 2, 1852, whence 
he made his way to Ontario and obtained 
employment on a farm in Grimsby. There 
he remained for eleven years, for the first 
year receiving $84; his salary was increased 
each year, and by 1863 he had saved enough 
to start out for himself. Going to Moore 
township he bought 100 acres of land owned 
by his former employer, paying $7 an acre 
for it. This farm is located in Lot n, Con 
cession 7, and there Mr. Marsh has since in 
creased his holdings to 300 acres. In the 
beginning he lived by himself for a ycnr in 



a log cabin, and then married, supporting 
himself until his farm became productive by 
selling oak staves and cordwood made from 
his timber. Mr. Marsh has worked very 
hard and now has a fine farm, well culti 
vated, with good barns and a handsome 
frame house. He carries on general farm 
ing and stock raising and is not only well 
established himself, but has helped his sons 
to make homes for themselves. 

On Dec. 29, 1864, Mr. Marsh married 
Miss Jane Courtney, of Moore township, 
daughter of Michael Courtney. She bore 
her husband five children, viz : William 
Henry, a farmer in Moore township, mar 
ried Miss Ida Robbins of that same locality, 
and has two children, Ruth and Bessie. 
Hattie Maria married Mr. R. F. Baxter, of 
Fargo, North Dakota. Arthur Wesley, edi 
tor of the Ainhcrstburg Echo, of Amherst- 
burg, married Bessie Hicks, and has two 
children, Helen and John. John Hilliard 
and Eva are at home. Mrs. Marsh was a 
model wife and mother, and her death, July 
9, 1901, was a blow to Mr. Marsh. They 
both belonged to the Methodist Church, 
where Mr. Marsh is steward and generally 
active in church work. Politically he is a 
Liberal, but has never held office. He is a 
fine type of citizen, loyal, upright, of high 
moral character, and very domestic in his 
tastes, and his neighbors speak of him in 
terms of genuine regard. 

DONALD McKINLAY. Among the 
best-known agriculturists of Brooke town 
ship, Lambton county, is Donald McKin- 
lay. whose farm of 200 acres is located on 
the 3d Concession, Lot 17. He was born in 
Argyllshire, Scotland, in May, 1842, son of 
Donald and Sarah (Wilkinson) McKinlay. 

The parents were both natives of Argyll 
shire, Scotland, the father born in 1802, 
and the mother in 1800. He was a son of 
James McKinlay, a farmer of Scotland, who 
spent his entire life there. Donald McKin 
lay had two sisters, lx)th now deceased : Mrs. 
Mary Jamison, and Margaret, who became 
Mrs. Walter Smith, of London. Mr. Mc 
Kinlay came to Brooke township. County 



312 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of Lambton, in 1852, sailing from Greenock 
to Quebec on a sailing vessel ; he was seven 
weeks on the ocean. On locating in Brooke 
township lie settled on the 2(1 Concession, 
the land at this time being all wild, and he 
had to cut his own road for a number of 
miles between his new home and Hamilton, 
whence he came by wagon. On coming to 
Canada Mr. and Mrs. McKinlay brought 
their, six sons, of which family Donald, our 
subject, is the only member now living: (i) 
John lived to be sixty years old, dying at 
the old home in 1896. (2) Archie was killed 
while working on the canal at Niagara Falls, 
in 1857. (3) James, born in Scotland, mar 
ried Miss Margaret McLane, of Mosa, and 
they settled on a part of his father s first pur 
chase of 300 acres, where he cleared up a 
farm. There he died in 1877, his wife sur 
viving until 1902, when she passed away, 
leaving four sons, two of whom reside on 
the home farm. (4) Duncan died in 1853, 
in young manhood. (5) Donald is mentioned 
below. (6) Angus, born in 1844, married 
Jane Wilkinson, of Plympton, and they set 
tled on the 3d Concession, where he cleared 
a farm. He died in 1901, leaving a wife 
with a family of five daughters, all of whom 
are high school graduates and school teach 
ers of Sarnia. 

Donald McKinlay received his education 
in the schools of Brooke township, and en 
gaged in agricultural pursuits in early boy 
hood. After the death of his mother he, 
with his father and brother, John, kept house 
until his marriage in 1881, to Miss Maggie 
Campbell. She was born in Middlesex 
County in 1850, daughter of Peter and Belle 
Campbell, old pioneers of the County of 
Middlesex, where Mrs. McKinlay was 
reared and received a good education. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McKinlay set 
tled on their present home, upon which he 
has made many improvements. He has for 
many years been interested in the breeding of 
fine Shorthorn cattle. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McKinlay have come 
children as follows: Sarah, born in 1882, is 
the wife of John Vosburg, of Alvinston, and 
has one daughter, Anna B. Peter D., born in 



1884, resides at the home. Bell M., born in 
1888, is a student of the local schools, and a 
young lady of culture and refinement. D. 
Angus, born in 1890, is attending school. 
Effie A. was born in 1892. 

The family are connected with the Pres 
byterian Church, of which our subject s 
father was one of the builders and founders, 
and a trustee for a number of years. Mr. 
McKinlay has always voted with the old 
Grit party, and he has been school trustee for 
a number of terms. He has been a member 
of the board of the Agricultural Society for 
thirty years, and has been a director and 
president, at present serving as a director. 
In business circles Mr. McKinlay is regarded 
as a man of good judgment and clear in 
sight, and as a citizen and as a neighbor he 
is held in high esteem. 

WILLIAM INGRAM. Lambton Coun 
ty is rich in citizens whose sterling worth of 
character joined with their genuine public 
spirit forms the very best foundation for a 
country s progress. To this class belongs 
William Ingram, an Enniskillen farmer on 
Lot 1 8, Concession 13, whose earlier years 
were passed in Ireland, where he was born 
in County Fermanagh, July 28, 1838, son 
of William and Mary (Fosset) Ingram. 

William Ingram, ST., and his wife were 
both born in Ireland, and there died, and of 
their four children, two, James and Jane, 
are also buried in that country. Alexander, 
the second son, came to Canada in 1850 with 
his wife and their six children, Mary A., 
Eliza, Margaret, William, Florence and 
Martha. At first they settled in Enniskillen, 
but later moved to Sarnia township, and 
there the father died in 1892. 

William Ingram grew up in Ireland, 
where he was given a fair education, and 
learned the trade of a flax dresser. He mar 
ried there, and in 1867 he and his wife set 
sail from London for Montreal. On arriv 
ing in Canada he went to Sarnia township, 
hired out as a farmer, and in that way 
earned sufficient means to rent the farm he 
now owns. He cleared up the greater part 
of it, built barns and other buildings imd 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



313 



now has one of the well developed farms of 
the county, and is ranked among the pros 
perous farmers. His wife was a Miss Jane 
Morrison, born in Ireland in 1847, a "d to 
them have been born six children, viz. : ( i ) 
James E., born in Sarnia township in 1868, 
married Miss Alice Mills of Petrolia, has 
two children. Olive and Frank, and is en 
gaged at the "Soo" as a carpenter. (2) 
Mary J., born in Petrolia in 1871, married 
David "Aiken, of that city and has five chil 
dren, Millie, Sadie, Ethel, Sherman, and 
Arthur. (3) Alexander, born in Enniskillen 
in 1874, married Miss Annie Barles, of Pe 
trolia, and is engaged there as a mechanic. 
(4) Annie, born in 1876, married Frederick 
Lewis, a prosperous Enniskillen farmer, and- 
has two children, Norman and Vera. (5) 
Martha, born in 1879, lives at home. (6) 
George, born in April, 1886, has grown up 
at home, receiving a fair education, and is 
now assisting his father on the homestead. 

Mrs. Jane (Morrison) Ingram was the 
daughter of Edward and Mary A. Morri 
son, and was the only one of the family to 
come to Canada. The parents have both 
died since Mrs. Ingram left Ireland, but of 
their children, Ann. Edward, George and 
Robert are still living there. The second 
child and oldest son. John, is deceased. 

Before leaving Ireland Mr. Ingram be 
longed to the Church of England, but now 
he and his wife are members of the Metho 
dist denomination ; he has served as trustee 
of the church, and for twelve years has been 
superintendent of the Sunday- school. Po 
litically he has always been a Conservative, 
and for four or five years has held the 
position of pathmaster. Mr. Ingram is 
always prominent in every movement that 
promises to benefit the community, and is a 
well-known and popular citizen. Frater 
nally he is a member of the Orangemen, and 
of the Order of the Black, having taken de 
grees in both in Ireland. He holds at pres 
ent the position of master in the Enniskillen 
lodge. In character Mr. Ingram is above re 
proach, and his life has been full of kindly 
and charitable deeds which have won him 



numerous friends. His wife has been a 
worthy helpmeet in every way and both are 
respected and loved. 

WILLIAM MOORE, one of the prom 
inent farmers and public-spirited citizens of 
Enniskillen township, Lambton County, re 
siding on Concession 4, Lot 5, was born in 
County Monaghan, Ireland, March I, 1851, 
son of Richard and Bessie (Alwell) Moore, 
both of whom were born in Ireland. 

The parents were married in their native 
country and came to Canada in 1866, via 
Quebec, settling in the County of York, near 
Toronto, where Richard Moore followed 
farming until, in the fall of 1868, he moved 
to Sarnia township, where he cleared up a 
farm on Concession 6, on which he made a 
permanent home. His wife died there in 
1890, he surviving her until 1895. Both 
these worthy people were members of the 
Methodist Church. In politics he was a 
Conservative. Of their thirteen children 
eleven still survive, and we have the follow 
ing record of this family : Elizabeth, born in 
Ireland, married George Lucas, of Sarnia, 
and has a family of five children, Fred (of 
Toronto), Frank (of Sarnia), Bessie (Mrs. 
George Shaw, of Toronto), Mary and Gor 
don ; Isabella, born in Ireland, first married 
John Johnson, by whom she had three chil 
dren, Anna (Mrs. Pool), Beckie (who mar 
ried Charles Sweet) and Maggie, and for 
her second husband married James Miller, 
of Sarnia, by whom she has four children, 
Ernest, Melville, Mitchell and William; 
John is a resident of the States ; Maggie, 
born in Ireland, married James Parker, of 
Sarnia, and has four children, Thomas, of 
Kansas, and Robert, Emma and May, of 
Sarnia ; Mary, born in Ireland, married Mal 
colm Craig, of Sarnia, and died leaving one 
son, William, of Sarnia; Jared, born in Ire 
land, married and lives on the old homestead 
in Sarnia, and has one daughter. Grace; 
Martha, born in Ireland, married James 
Lockhard (deceased), of Sarnia, and has 
two daughters, Nina and Grace; Sarah, born 
in Ireland, married Wesley Smith, of Sar- 



314 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



nia, and has three children, Murray, Bessie 
and Russell ; Agnes, born in Sarnia town 
ship, married Walter Storey, of Sarnia 
township, and has two children, Norman and 
Gladys; Richard, bom in Sarnia township, 
married and lives on a part of the old home 
stead ; Frank, born in Sarnia township, mar 
ried and settled in Thayer, Missouri ; Will 
iam is our subject. 

\Villiam Moore received his early educa 
tion in his native country and later spent a 
few months in the schools of Canada, work 
ing out of school hours at farming. On 
Oct. 22, 1879, he was married to Miss Char 
ity A. Irwin, who was born in the County of 
Durham June 14, 1856, daughter of Thomas 
and Charity (Ferguson) Irwin, both of 
whom were born in Ireland and came to 
Plympton, Lambton County. There Mr. 
Irwin followed farming until his death, in 
1871, caused by the fall of a tree. His wife 
survived him until 1901, when she died leav 
ing two children, Mrs. Moore and her 
brother Alfred, who resides at Sault Ste. 
Marie and has a family of nine children, 
Thomas, Emma, Henry, Anna, Fred, Ethel, 
Etta, Walter and Frank. 

W r illiam Moore lived for ten years in 
Plympton on rented farms, and in 1888 
came to his present place, then bush land, 
which he has cleared up into one of the fine 
farms of the section. To himself and wife 
have been born five children, three of whom 
still survive, Elizabeth, Ada and Albert, all 
at home. 

In religion William Moore and his wife 
are devout Presbyterians being members 
of the church at Oil City, in which 
he is one 1 of the elders. Politically 
he is a Conservative, and he is one 
of the school trustees, which position he 
has held for a number of years. He is also 
a member of the Canadian Home Circle of 
Brigden. Besides being one of the prom 
inent and leading farmers, Mr. Moore is one 
of the self-made men of Enniskillen. He 
and his worthy wife have reared a son and 
two daughters who are a solace, to them in 
their declining years as well as being a credit 
to the community. 



JOSEPH CAIRNS, ex-warden of 
Lambton County and one of its most experi 
enced and trusted officials, who has proved 
his ability in a variety of responsible posi 
tions, was born in Plympton township May 
10, 1852, son of John Cairns and grandson, 
of James Cairns. 

John Cairns was born in Scotland, where 
he was educated, but at the age of sixteen 
he accompanied his parents to Canada and 
located in Plympton township. A brother 
George had preceded him by several years, 
and at first John Cairns lived with him, but 
later began farming for himself on a tract 
of 100 acres of bush land in the east half of 
Lot 19, Concession 13, where he built him 
self a log house and led a true pioneer life. 
He brought his farm well under cultivation, 
built a frame house, barns, etc., and had a 
well-kept and profitable place. With good 
health all his life, in spite of his constant 
hard work he lived to be seventy-one years- 
old. He passed away at his home in 1901, 
and was buried in McKay s cemetery. A 
Presbyterian originally in his religious belief, 
he was nevertheless one of the organizers- 
of the Congregational Church in the town 
ship and served as its secretary and treasurer. 
In politics he was a Liberal. His wife, whom 
he married in Plympton, was Miss Jane 
Lang, who was born near Glasgow, Scot 
land, daughter of Joseph Lang, and sister 
of John Lang, both well known citizens of 
Plympton. Mrs. Cairns still lives on her 
old homestead, and is now over seventy-five 
years old. A member of the Congregational 
Church, she is a true Christian character. 
She bore her husband children as follows : 
James, who is on the homestead; Joseph; 
Janet Agnes, Mrs. Harry Smith, of Assin- 
iboia : John Thomas, of Manitoba ; and Sa- 
mantha, who died young. 

Joseph Cairns was sent to one of the old 
subscription schools, held in a log cabin, with 
rough slab seats. He was taught by Finley 
McKinley and later by John Duff. After he 
had acquired everything to be learned in the 
district schools he took a course in the Com 
mercial College at Hamilton. When he was 
twenty he tried farming for a year, but de- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



cided to go into business instead, and so 
started out as a merchant in Aberarder, 
securing at the same time the appointment 
of postmaster. In 1876 he sold out, moved 
to Camlachie, purchased the business of 
Thomas Houston, and in the past twenty- 
nine years has built it up from a small be 
ginning to one of the largest and most suc 
cessful concerns in the township. Of genial 
manner and unfailing courtesy, and noted 
for his strict honesty, he has won the re 
spect and personal liking of all classes, and 
both in business and political life has the 
public confidence. In 1889 he built a fine 
brick store and residence, with all modern 
improvements, the only one of its kind in 
Camlachie. 

During Mr. Cairns s first year at Cam 
lachie he was appointed postmaster by the 
Mackenzie administration, and has held the 
position ever since, to the entire satisfaction 
of the public ; in point of service he is the 
oldest postmaster in the county. A Liberal 
in his views, he has always supported that 
party and been active in its work. In 1885 
he was elected to the township council, and 
the following year was made reeve, an office 
which he filled for four consecutive years 
and to which he was twice elected by accla 
mation, strong proof of his hold upon his 
fellow citizens. This also made him a mem 
ber of the county council, and he was chosen 
warden of the county by that body in 1890, 
an office which he filled with dignity and effi 
ciency. Mr. Cairns belongs to the Liberal 
Association of Lambton County, and 
has been its president for several 
years. For the last quarter of a century 
he has been commissioner of affidavits, an 
appointment conferred by the Ontario gov 
ernment. In addition to discharging his 
business and political duties he has found 
time to operate a sixty-acre farm in Plymp- 
ton, which he owns, and has dealt in cattle 
to some extent. Fraternally he is a mem 
ber of the I. O. O. F., Acorn Lodge, No. 
236, of Camlachie, is past grand and has 
been delegate to the Grand Lodge at Belle 
ville, St. Thomas, Gait. Windsor, London, 
Hamilton and Ottawa. He is also connected 



with Forest Encampment. A Presbyterian 
in religious faith, he belongs to the Cam 
lachie Church. He is a member of both the 
British and Foreign Bible Societies, has been 
secretary, treasurer and depositor for twen 
ty-seven years, and is the oldest official on 
the board. A man who has largely edu 
cated himself, and has made his own way in 
the world, progressive and abreast of the 
times, none in the county is more respected 
or more popular than Joseph Cairns. 

On Feb. 10, 1875, Mr. Cairns was mar 
ried in Camlachie to Miss Elizabeth Frances 
Ross, who was born in Plympton township, 
daughter of Robert and Eliza (Benson) 
Ross. Mrs. Cairns is a woman of refined 
tastes and beautiful character and has been 
a devoted helpmeet to her husband, and he 
owes much of his success to her help, sym 
pathy and co-operation in his affairs. Their 
children numbered five, namely : Elizabeth 
J., who married Dr. P. McG. Brown, of 
Camlachie; Minnie A.; Josephine M., at 
home ; and twins, a son and a daughter, who 
died in infancy. 

MALCOLM JOHNSON, one of the 
well-known residents of Dawn township, 
Lambton County, located on Concession 6, 
Lot 1 8, where he owns an excellent, well- 
improved farm, was born Jan. i, 1846, in 
Inverness-shire, Scotland, a son of Roderick 
and Margaret (Morrison) Johnson. 

The parents of Mr. Johnson were both 
born in Scotland, the father in 1802 and the 
mother in 1817. They were married in 
Scotland and came to Canada in 1848 with a 
family of five children, making the voyage 
on a sailing vessel by way of New York. 
They were fully six weeks in making the 
trip which now takes little over one at most, 
and they came directly to Elgin County, 
Ont. They settled first in Aldborough town 
ship, where the father bought 100 acres and 
made some improvements, but five years 
later removed to Dawn township and settled 
on the present home farm. At the time Mr. 
Johnson settled here his farm was so re 
mote from the general highway that he 
was obliged to cut roads through the forest 



3i6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to reach it. Here he built the first home of 
logs, a simple affair, which he later replaced 
with a solid he\ved-log house, in which he 
lived until his death, in 1873. His worthy 
wife survived until 1897. They were con 
nected with the Presbyterian Church, wor 
shipping there many years. In politics Mr. 
Johnson was a Reformer. 

Six children were born to Roderick and 
Margaret Johnson : John, born in Scotland, 
died at the homestead at the age of sixty- 
five years, of injuries received from a log 
rolling on him; he was unmarried. Flora, 
born in 1836 in Scotland, was formerly the 
wife of the late Neil McDonald, a farmer in 
Elgin County, and a family of seven chil 
dren survived their parents, John. Roderick, 
Christine, Mary A., Margaret, Sarah and 
Malcolm. Xancy, born in Scotland in 1839, 
married Donald McDonald (now deceased), 
who settled in Sanilac County, Michigan, 
where he followed farming, and there live 
his wife and children, Archie, Flora A., 
Margaret, Roderick, John, Alexander and 
Jennie. Mary, born in 1841, married Alex 
ander McDonald, now deceased, and his 
widow and children still reside in Dawn 
township, the children being Alexander, 
Roderick, Donald, John, Flora and James. 
Malcolm is mentioned below. Alexander, 
born in 1849, the youngest and the only one 
born in Canada, in young manhood went to 
the State of Washington, where he worked 
as a lumberman, but no news of him has 
been received in the last twenty years. 

Malcolm Johnson, the only son left of 
the old family, grew up in Dawn and was 
educated in the public schools. He remained 
at home on the farm and when his father 
died became the manager and operator of 
the place, where he remained, caring for his 
aged mother until her death. On April 28, 
1874, he was married to Sarah McClellan, 
who was born in Elgin County. March 17, 
1854, daughter of Donald and Sarah (Mc 
Lean) McClellan, pioneers of Scottish ex 
traction. Mrs. Johnson was reared in Elgin 
County and is one of the survivors of her 
parents family, the others being: Mary, wife 
of Donald McDonald, of Manitoba; Alex 



ander, of Sanilac County, Michigan ; Allen, 
of Huron County, Michigan; and Annie, 
wife of George Battle, of Tuscola County, 
Michigan. 

After his marriage Mr. Johnson and his 
wife settled down on the old homestead, 
where he engaged in general farming. Pros 
perity has smiled on them to a great degree, 
but they have also had some grief, the death 
of several lovely young daughters being 
much deplored. In 1903 Mr. Johnson met 
with an accident, falling from a load oi hay, 
and this has rendered him something of an 
invalid ever since. The following children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson : Flora, 
who married Alexander Skinner, died in 
Dawn, leaving one son, Donald A. ; Euphe- 
mia died in early womanhood ; Roderick ; 
Sarah A. ; Donald A. ; Mary Margaret died 
in the early bloom of young womanhood ; 
Katharine R., John M., Archibald H., Olive 
M., Ruth Ida and Marion Elsie are all under 
the hospitable and happy family roof-tree. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are consis 
tent members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and he is one of the elders of the church at 
Rutherford. Politically he has always sup 
ported the Reform party, but has never 
sought office. He has always been one of 
the enterprising farmers and sensible citi 
zens of the township, and from his youth has 
enjoyed the esteem of those who knew well 
his parents before him. They made a name 
for themselves as most worthy people in 
every sense of the word, and to this name he 
has but added in the esteem of all about him. 
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson has al 
ways been one where hospitality and friend 
liness may be found. The parents have had 
good reason to take pride in the children 
growing up about them, and they have al 
ways instilled in them the feelings which 
serve to make them true and loyal Canadians. 

DENNIS DUGGAN was one of the 
wealthy and respected farmer citizens of En- 
niskillen. where since his death his widow 
has carried on his large farming interests, 
and brought up their family to be a credit to 
the community. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



The parents of Mrs. Duggan were John 
and Bridget (O Donnell) Moiling, who were 
among the pioneer settlers of Plympton 
township, Lambton County. John Hoi- 
ling was born in Leicestershire, Eng 
land, Nov. 7, 1827, and his wife was 
born in Limerick, Ireland, in August, 
1824. Her parents were Jeremiah and 
Elizabeth (Shannahan) O Donnell, who 
came from Ireland to Xew York City, 
where Mr. O Donnell became a hard 
ware merchant, and lived the remainder of 
his life. John and Frances (Brewster) 
Holling, parents of John Holling, were na 
tives of Leicestershire, England, and came 
to Canada as early as 1844, settling in the 
County of Wentworth. They came over in a 
sailing vessel and landed at Quebec, and 
John Holling, the son, went to work as a 
share farmer. After a few years they moved 
to Plympton and settled on Concession 6, 
where John Holling put up a brick house. 
He became the owner of several farms in 
Plympton, which he improved from time to 
time. In later life he purchased a home in 
Wyoming, where he passed his last years, 
and where his aged wife still resides. He 
died in June, 1901, in the faith of the Ro 
man Catholic Church, although his early 
training had been in the Church of England. 
In politics he was a strong Conservative. He 
and his wife were the parents of four chil 
dren, of whom Frances, Mrs. Duggan, was 
the eldest. The others were : Eliza, born in 
the County of Wentworth in 1849, was 
highly educated, and for a number of years 
was a teacher in the Michigan schools ; she 
married James McKinley, a farmer of Plymp 
ton, and has children, Mary, Margery, 
Tames, John, Celsus, Josephine, Anthony, 
Frances and Irene. Mary, born in Plymp 
ton, in 1851, is the widow of John O Brien, 
a farmer on Concession 6, Plympton. and 
mother of Bridget and James. John, born 
in Plympton, died Oct. 7. 1877. in early 
manhood. 

Mrs. Duggan was born in Wentworth 
County, Dec. 2, 1847, and was well educated 
in the schools of Plympton and Lambton 
County. When a young woman she taught 



school for a year in Madison, Wisconsin, 
and later in Canada. On July 5, 1870, she 
married Dennis Duggan, who was born in 
County Waterford, Ireland, in 1839. His 
parents, Michael and Mary (O Donnell) 
Duggan, came from Ireland to Welland 
County, whence they moved to Lambton 
County, settling near Petrolia. After some 
years they moved onto land in Concession 
12, east of Petrolia, where they passed the 
remainder of their lives. 

Dennis Duggan received his early edu 
cation, in Ireland, and after coming to Can 
ada took up farming as an occupation. After 
his marriage he settled on the present home 
stead, the first home being a log house. In 
time he made many improvements, among 
them commodious barns, which latter were 
burned down after Mr. Duggaif s death, and 
have been rebuilt by his widow and sons. 
The present residence is an up-to-date brick 
house. Mr. Duggan died June 15, 1890, at 
the family home on Lot 16, Concession 13, 
Lambton County. He was a devout mem 
ber of the Catholic Church. In politics he 
belonged to the Reform party. 

The children born to Dennis and Frances 
(Holling) Duggan were as follows : (i) 
Genevieve, born at the present home in 1872, 
received a thorough education in the convent 
schools of London, Ont, and Port Huron; 
she is unmarried and living at home. (2) 
Michael Hidella. born in 1874, is unmarried, 
and since his father s death has carried on 
the home farm. (3) Mary, born in 1878, 
received her early education in the Petrolia 
schools, was for five years a student at St. 
Joseph s College, Toronto, and is now Sis 
ter Euphrosyne, in St. Joseph s Convent, 
Toronto. (4) John, born at the family 
home in 1879, spent nine years as a student 
in the colleges of Toronto and Montreal ; he 
is unmarried and at home. (5) James, born 
in 1883, died at the age of fourteen. (6) 
Bessie, born in 1890, is a student in the 
home schools. The family are all earnest 
members of the Catholic Church, following 
the example of their honored father. 

Both the Duggan and Holling families 
are identified with the early pioneer history 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of the County of Lambton, where they are 
widely known and respected. The memory 
of John Holling, father of Mrs. Duggan, 
and that of Dennis Duggan, her husband, 
will be ever warmly cherished in the hearts 
of many friends and neighbors to whom they 
never failed to give a helping hand and en 
couraging word. In the difficulties and 
hardships attendant upon pioneer life those 
in trouble were always sure of help and 
sympathy from a Holling or a Duggan, and 
their example of courage and fortitude is a 
treasured memory to their descendants. The 
families have an enviable record for honest 
energy and active public spirit which is 
amply borne out by the present generation, 
who are a credit to their community and 
ancestry. 

ROBERT H. BROWNLEE is a highly 
esteemed and respected citizen of Brooke 
township, Lambton County, and ranks well 
among the representative agriculturists of 
that locality. He was born at his present 
home, on the ist Concession, Lot 13, April 
15, 1864, son of Henry and Margaret (Ken 
nedy) Brownlee. 

William and Mary Brownlee, the grand 
parents of our subject, came to Lower Can 
ada from Ireland at a very early day, and 
finally settled in Euphemia, Lambton Coun 
ty, Ont., where he made a home from the 
wild land. William Brownlee had four sons 
and four daughters, as follows : Christo 
pher; William; John; Henry; Margaret, 
who married William Mulligan, of St. 
Thomas ; Jane, who married John Powell ; 
Eliza, who married Henry Henderson, of 
Wardsville; and Hannah, unmarried, who 
resides in Euphemia. 

Henry Brownlee, the father of Robert 
H., started life as a farmer on the present 
home of our subject, which he cleared from 
wild land. Here he died in January, 1895, 
preceded to the grave by his wife, who 
passed away in June. 1889, both dying in 
the faith of the Church of England, in which 
he held a number of offices. Politically he 
was a Conservative and prominent as a po 
litical worker, holding a number of township 



offices. He was a member of the Order of 
Orangemen. Henry Brownlee and his wife 
were the parents of five children, namely : 
Mary became the wife of Thomas Lovell. 
Thomas died when eighteen years old. Rev. 
William, born in 1866, was educated in the 
University of London and has filled a pulpit 
for fourteen years, being rector of the Church 
of England at Ridgetown, Ont. ; he married 
Lillie Hernley, and they have children, Win 
ifred, Francis, Edith, Kathleen and Stewart. 
Keziah, born at the present home, died when 
four years old. Robert H. is our subject. 

Robert H. Brownlee received a fair edu 
cation, and has always worked on the farm 
of which he became possessed after his fa 
ther s death. His 150 acres of land have 
been cultivated with the best of results, and 
he may well be called a leading and public- 
spirited citizen of his community. He has 
for a number of years been interested in the 
breeding of Durham cattle. 

On Jan. 8, 1896, he married Miss Mary 
Armstrong, who was born in Brooke town 
ship Feb. 20, 1869, daughter of David Arm 
strong, a pioneer of that township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Brownlee one child has come, An 
nie Gertrude, born Dec. 14, 1898. Politi 
cally Mr. Brownlee is a Conservative. He 
is a member of the Church of England. 

JOHN McNEIL (deceased), who for 
many years was a well-known farmer of Bo- 
sanquet township, was a native of Scotland, 
born in the parish of Kilmartin, Argyllshire. 

Hector McNeil, his father, was a native 
of the same county, where he grew to man 
hood, and followed farming. He there mar 
ried Mary McArthur, and to this union six 
children were born, three in Scotland. In 
1830, with his wife and children, Hector 
McNeil came to Ontario, locating in Lobo 
township, Middlesex County, where he fol 
lowed farming. He then removed to Cara- 
doc township, where he became the owner of 
a loo-acre tract and settled down to farm 
ing, there spending the remainder of his life. 
He and his wife died there, and were laid to 
rest in the cemetery at Strathroy. They were 
members of the Established Church of Scot- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



319 



land. He was a Reformer in politics and 
served during the Rebellion of 1837-38 
along the Detroit river. He was well-known 
in his community. 

John McNeil was but six years old when 
he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and 
his opportunities for receiving an education 
in the New World were rather limited. He 
gave himself a good education, however, be 
came a good penman, and a well-read man 
for his day. He remained at home with his 
parents until twenty-six years old, when he 
settled in West Williams township, Middle 
sex County, on a loo-acre tract of bush land, 
upon which he erected a log house, and there 
he continued to engage in farming until 1870, 
when he sold out and crossed over the line 
into the County of Lambton. He located 
on Lot 17, 1 5th Concession, Bosanquet town 
ship, buying 100 acres of land, on which he 
settled down to farm, and where the remain 
der of his life was spent. He added fifty 
acres to the original purchase, at the time of 
his death operating 150 acres, all of which 
was well cultivated. He was ably assisted 
in his farm labors by his sons. His life oc 
cupation was general farming, at which he 
continued until Nov. 13, 1902, when he 
passed away, having suffered for a number 
of years from kidney trouble. He was in 
terred at the cemetery at Ravenswood. Pos 
sessed of a great deal of strength, six feet 
tall, and of excellent physique, Mr. McNeil 
was able to do a great deal, and his whole 
life was spent in hard work. He was greatly 
devoted to his home and family, was liberal 
in his religious views, a great Bible reader, 
and a good Christian man. 

Mr. McNeil was married, in Caradoc 
township, in 1851, to Nancy Graham, who 
was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, daughter 
of Hugh Graham. Mrs. McNeil still sur 
vives, at the age of eighty-five years. She 
is the mother of the following children: 
Hugh, born in West Williams township, is 
now cultivating the homestead, and has 
proved a good and dutiful son; lie is a Re 
former in politics, and a representative citi 
zen. Mary, the widow of Donald J. Mc- 
Cuish, is living on the homestead, caring for 



her mother. Nancy died at the age of twen 
ty-two years. Hector, a farmer, late of Sar- 
nia, died there in February, 1905, leaving a 
widow, Flora E. (Middleton), the adopted 
daughter of Alexander Johnson. Catherine 
died in infancy. Jennette married William 
Morrison, and resides in Sarnia. Catherine 
(2), married John Hamilton, and resides 
near the homestead. 

THOMAS STOCKDALE, a represen 
tative farmer of Plympton township, Lamb- 
ton County, son of William and Martha 
( Aylesworth) Stockdale, was born in Hope 
township, Durham County, Ont., March 15, 

1837. . 

William Stockdale was born in York 
shire, England, in June, 1803, and was the 
first member of the family to emigrate to 
Canada. Coming to this country he located 
at Cobourg, Ont., and subsequently pur 
chased a farm in Stanley township, Huron 
County, where he spent the remainder of his 
life engaged in farming. For a number of 
years before leaving his native land he was 
foreman of an estate of 1,000 acres. His 
death occurred March 19, 1883. His wife 
was born in Leeds, England, daughter of 
John and Sarah Aylesworth, and came to 
America with him, dying in Stanley town 
ship in August, 1870. Both are interred in 
the graveyard at Bayfield, Ont. Their chil 
dren were as follows : John, born in 1 829, 
came to Canada with his parents when four 
teen months old, became a farmer, and died 
at Seaforth, Ont., Thursday, Oct. i, 1896; 
he married Margaret Collins, who survives 
him. Sarah Elizabeth, born in Hope town 
ship, Durham County, is unmarried, and is 
residing at London, Ont. Richard (de 
ceased) married Margaret McDonald, and 
his widow and six children survive him. 
Thomas is mentioned below. Hannah, un 
married, resides at London, Ont. Mary (de 
ceased) married Frederick Forsythe. Eliza, 
who is deceased, married Thomas Shaw. 
Mercy Jane married Frederick Forsythe and 
resides at London, Ont. William married 
Emily Reed and resides on the homestead in 
Stanley township. 



320 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Thomas Stockdale was educated in the 
common schools of Hope and Stanley town 
ships, going to Stanley township with his 
parents when twelve years of age. He re 
mained on the homestead farm until he was 
thirty years old, when he rented severaj 
farms in succession .continuing thus until 
1876. He then came to Plympton township 
and took up 100 acres, about half of which 
was cleared, and upon which he built his 
present commodious house; he also enlarged 
the barns. All of his outbuildings and the 
premises surrounding them are in excellent 
order, and the entire place shows that the one 
in charge is a good manager. Five acres of 
the farm have been put into a good orchard, 
and he also has a large quantity of small 
fruit. Mr. Stockdale has kept a diary of his 
daily life for over twenty-three years, and it 
is very entertaining reading. He is a man 
whose friends are without number. 

On April 9, 1868, Mr. Stockdale was 
married, in Stanley township, County of 
Huron, to Lydia Elizabeth Hewitt, daugh 
ter of Robert and Ann (Baker) Hewitt. She 
was born in Glanford township, Oct. 30, 
1847. To this marriage have come children 
as follows : Barbara Ann, born April 4, 
1869, was married June 27, 1905, to John 
Thomas Sutcliffe, and resides in Plympton 
township; Ellen Maria, born April 19, 1871, 
is unmarried and residing at Toronto; Ida 
Florence, born July 22, 1875, married James 
Burton Dunham, April 19, 1899; Alice 
Maude, born Jan. 12, 1882, is unmarried; 
Albin Wesley was born June 20, 1884, and 
Mary Mabel on May 15, 1887. The last 
three were born in Plympton township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale are members of 
the Methodist Church, in which he is a class- 
leader, and he has also been treasurer of the 
church for twelve years, as well as trustee. 
In politics he has always been a Reformer. 
He has served twelve years on the school 
board. 

Both parents of Mrs. Stockdale were na 
tives of Norfolk, England, where they were 
married. Before leaving England they had 
two children, Martha Ann and James Henry, 



the latter dying before they left England. 
They settled in Glanford, in the County ot 
Halton, Out., but subsequently removed to 
Stanley township, about 1854, and resided 
there until 1867, when Mrs. Hewitt died. 
The father moved to McKillop township, 
Huron County, where he still resides, aged 
ninety years. 

The following named children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt after their location 
in Canada: Lydia Elizabeth, Mrs. Stock- 
dale; William, who married Mary Pethick; 
Elizabeth Rebecca, deceased; Robert, who 
married Jane Muldoon and lives in Mich 
igan ; and Louisa, who married the late Dun 
can Hewitt. 

Both the Stockdale and Hewitt families 
are very well and favorably known through 
out the County of Lambton, and their rep 
resentatives are numbered among the leading 
people in the several communities in which 
they make their homes, while many of them 
are prominently identified with the material 
progress and prosperity of western Ontario. 

JOHN MACKENZIE, who passed away 
at his late residence in Sarnia, Lambton 
County, March 17, 1877, was a son of Alex 
ander and Mary (Fleming) Mackenzie, and 
was one of seven sons : Robert, Alexander, 
Hope Fleming, James, John, Adam and 
Charles. Thomas and Donald died in in 
fancy. The father of this family died in 
Scotland, his native land, and his widow 
came with her sons to Ontario, settling in 
Sarnia, where she died in 1861. 

John Mackenzie was born Jan. i, 1828, 
in Scotland, and there received a good educa 
tion. After coming to Sarnia he embarked 
in the hardware business, in which lie con 
tinued until his death, meeting with marked 
success. While a strict Reformer, he was 
opposed to holding office, preferring to give 
his entire time and attention to his rapidly 
growing business, and this perhaps accounts 
for his unqualified commercial success. Fra 
ternally Mr. Mackenzie was a member of 
the Masonic order. His religious connec 
tions were with the Presbyterian Church. 




JOHN MACKENZIE 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



321 



Throughout his life he was highly esteemed, 
and in his death Sarnia lost one of her most 
representative citizens. 

Mr. Mackenzie was married at Sarnia, 
Oct. 15, 1857, to Mary Walton, who was 
born Sept. 30, 1837, at Menton, Lincolnshire, 
England. They had four children, three 
daughters and one son ; the latter, named 
after his father, is now in business in 
Winnipeg. 

In 1872 Mr. Mackenzie and Miss 
Charlotte MacGlashan were united in 
marriage, and to them three children 
were born: Charlotte (deceased) mar 
ried Alexander Burnham, a barrister 
of Sarnia; Gordon is a resident of 
Winnipeg; Marian is the wife of Robert I. 
Towers, barrister, of Sarnia. Mrs. Mac 
kenzie is a daughter of Peter and Sarah 
(Mayne) MacGlashan, the former of Scot 
land, who prior to the rebellion of 1837 set 
tled in Sarnia, where for many years he was 
engaged in the mercantile business. Later 
he purchased a farm in Moore township, 
Lambton County, on which he resided for 
some time. Upon his appointment as col 
lector of Internal Revenue at Sarnia he re 
turned to the city, and was holding this office 
at the time of his death, on July 29, 1884. 
Peter MacGlashan married, in Sarnia, Sarah 
Mayne, a native of Ireland, born in 1818, 
who died in Sarnia in 1892. To them the 
following children were born : Charlotte, 
Mrs. Mackenzie; George (deceased), who 
settled in the States; John, in the States; 
Charlie and Willie, deceased ; Annie, of 
Sarnia; Colin, of Winnipeg; and Alex 
ander, of Illinois. Politically, Mr. Mac 
Glashan was a Reformer, while his relig 
ious connection was with the Presbyterian 
Church. He was a son of Alexander Mac 
Glashan, a native of Scotland, who passed 
the latter part of his life in Chicago, Illinois, 
where he died. His children were: Peter; 
Margaret, who settled in Sarnia ; and Jane. 
John, Alexander and Mary, who settled in 
Chicago. 

JOSEPH HAYWARD. one of Moore 
township s most respected citizens, who has 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits for 
21 



many years and for more than a half cen 
tury has been prominent in the development 
of all of the interests of his section, was born 
April 21, 1829, in the County of Essex, 
England. 

William Hayward, his father, was also a 
native of Essex, and married Emily Rider, 
of the same locality. They reared ten chil 
dren to maturity, as follows : Mary Ann, 
who married John Hayward, died in Oxford 
County, Out. ; Alfred is a retired farmer at 
Woodstock, Out. ; Amelia is the widow of 
Edwin Balls and resides at Woodstock; 
Arthur is a resident of Woodstock; Joseph, 
of Moore township, is our subject ; Ruth is 
the widow of John Platt and lives at Wood 
stock; Allen lives retired, at Corunna; Jane 
is the widow of Philip Erazer, of Plympton 
township; Thomas (deceased) and Henry, 
twins, resided in the County of Oxford. 

In order to better his condition and to 
provide a brighter future for the family of 
children growing up around him Mr. Hay- 
ward resolved to seek new opportunities 
across the Atlantic, under the same flag be 
neath which he was born and always desired 
to live.- In 1837, with his wife and children, 
he took passage in a sailing vessel for New 
York, and reached that port after ten weeks 
and three days on the water. From that 
great city they made their way up the Hud 
son river to Albany, thence to Buffalo by 
way of the canal, and then, after crossing 
Lake Erie, reached the Dominion of Canada. 
Mr. Hayward located on a tract of 160 
acres of land in East Oxford township, 
County of Oxford, and, with the help of his 
growing sons, succeeded in clearing this and 
in placing it under cultivation. Later he 
kept a kind of inn or half-way house and 
thus added to his income. He lived to the 
age of eighty years and died on his own 
farm, and was laid to rest in the little cem 
etery at Eastwood. His wife also lived to 
be eighty years of age, and she was buried 
in the same place. They were members of 
the Church of England. Although a strong 
Conservative in his political views, Mr. Hay- 
ward never wanted office. He was a man 
noted for his blunt honesty. 

Joseph Hayward was well brought up, in 



322 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a Christian home, and he was educated in 
the public schools. He was eight years old 
when the long voyage was made from Eng 
land and can still recall many of its occur 
rences. Until he was fifteen years of age 
he worked for his father and then started 
out for himself, finding employment with 
neighboring farmers at the rate of eight dol 
lars a month and board. After a few years 
he went to the lumber regions of Oxford 
County and for eleven years lived in the 
little lumber shanties in different lumber 
camps. By the end of that time he had de 
cided to invest his savings in farm land. In 
1858 he came to Lambton County, Out., set 
tling in Moore township, where he bought 
100 acres of swamp land in Lot 13. This 
absorbed his capital, but he was not a man 
to be easily discouraged and instead of sit 
ting down to mourn over his poverty he 
looked forward to the time when this large 
body of land should have been cleared, 
drained and put under cultivation. A log 
house was soon constructed, and gradually 
roads were cut to other settlements, and 
month by month his clearing grew larger 
and larger until the day came when the last 
tree had been cut and the last stump dug out. 
During these years, for it took years, 
each member of the family contributed as 
much as possible to the general welfare, for 
the strictest economy had to be preserved.; 
The children assisted in the work and the 
good mother raised flax and spun and wove 
garments, while the wild game and even the 
honey beees in the forest helped to fill the 
larder. In order to procure a little ready 
money, Mr. Hayward worked from home a 
part of the time in the lumber camps. In 
later years a fine brick house took the place 
of the log cabin, and Mr. Hayward also 
built substantial barns and outbuildings. For 
the past few years he has been engaged in 
cattle raising, feeding and dealing, but has 
now practically retired from all business ac 
tivity, having earned a period of ease and 
having delegated his duties to his son 
Charles, a most reliable, worthy successor. 
The lessons to be learned from a life like 
that of Mr. Hayward are very apparent. 



Industry, perseverance, courage and econ 
omy will go far to make a man wealthy and 
independent. 

Mr. Hayward was married April 20, 

1855, at Ingersoll, Ont., to Catherine 
O Neal, who was born July 3, 1838, in 
County Limerick, Ireland, a daughter of 
Charles and Bridget (Griffin) O Neal, the 
former of whom died in his native country; 
the mother made her home with Mrs. Hay- 
ward for a number of years, and was ten 
derly cared for. Her remains rest in the 
Catholic cemetery at Corunna. Mrs. Hay- 
ward is noted for her kindness, and,, although 
she is sometimes imposed on, no one ever 
leaves her door hungry or cold. She has 
been a great helper to her husband, having 
cheerfully borne the hardships of pioneer 
life. It is recalled of her that in the early 
days, when it was impossible for her Hus 
band to leave his work, she walked a dis 
tance of fifteen miles to the nearest market, 
carrying butter and eggs, and by their sale 
obtained the little necessities for the family 
table. In every sense of the word Mrs. 
Hayward is a good woman, worthy of these 
few lines in a public record. 

Joseph Hayward and his wife have had 
children as follows: Allen, born June 29, 

1856, died Sept. 28, 1859; Alfred, born in 
July, 1858, died in infancy; Sarah Ann, born 
May 19, 1859, married William Moore, of 
Moore township; William, born March 13, 
1861, married Ruth Thompson, and is a 
farmer in Moore township ; Emily, born 
March 4, 1863, married David McGregor, of 
Sombra township; Jane, born March 2, 
1866, married Samuel McNiece, of Elgin 
County; Joseph, born Alarch 15. 1868, is a 
farmer of Sombra township; Mary, born 
April 27, 1870, married Andrew Gorton, of 
Moore township ; Thomas Henry, born July 
16. 1872, is a farmer in Sombra township; 
Charles, born May 20, 1875, operates the 
home farm; Eliza Catherine, born Oct. 21, 
1880, married John Lester, of Moore town 
ship. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hayward have nine living 
children and thirty grandchildren. They 
have spent a half century together and have 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



323 



Aveathered many storms, and now are per 
mitted to travel the downward slope in com 
pany. They have everything to make ad 
vancing years come on without apprehen 
sion ample means, continued health, a 
family of respected and affectionate chil 
dren and hosts of warm friends. 

. WILLIAM CARROTHERS, an hon 
ored resident of Bosanquet township, is one 
of the old landmark characters left there of 
the pioneer days of that section of Lambton 
County. For almost half a century he has 
resided there, and after a life of toil and 
success has retired to the enjoyment of the 
rewards of his former industry. Mr. Car- 
rothers has been one of the largest land 
owners in the township, owning 500 acres. 

Mr. Carrothers was born near Enniskil- 
len, County Fermanagh, Ireland, March 22, 
1832. His father, Joseph Carrothers, was 
born in the same place, and there followed 
the trade of carpenter and joiner on the es 
tate of Lord Belmourcassel and other large 
landed proprietors. He married Elizabeth 
Wade, who bore him three children : Mar 
garet, who died young; Paul, who went to 
Australia ; and William, who came to Amer 
ica. His second marriage was to Margaret 
Wade, sister of his first wife, and they had 
two children : Margaret, who died in West 
minster township, Middlesex County, Out., 
unmarried; and James, who died in Mich 
igan. 

In 1844 ^ r - an(; l Mrs. Carrothers, with 
their three children, set sail from Derry, Ire 
land, on the sailing vessel "Marchioness of 
Evercorn," and after a passage of eight 
weeks landed at Quebec, whence they came 
west to Ontario, locating in Westminster 
township, Middlesex County. There Mr. 
Carrothers found employment at his trade, 
principally in the line of jobbing and repair 
ing, as the country was still sparsely settled 
and little building was being done, and it 
was not until he came to Lambton County, 
in Bosanquet township, that he found enough 
employment to keep him busy. He settled 
on a tract of fifty acres of land where the 
remainder of his life was passed, dying at 



the home of his son James on March 19, 
1879, at the age of eighty-five years. His 
remains were laid away in Ward s cemetery, 
in Bosanquet township. His widow con 
tinued to live on the farm with her son 
James until her death, Oct. 23, 1880, at the 
age of seventy-six, and she was laid to rest 
beside her husband. Both were worthy mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, in which they 
were respected and beloved. Mr. Cawoth- 
ers was an earnest Bible student and a man 
whose Christian professions were carried 
out in his life. 

William Carrothers was twelve years old 
when the family came to Canada. He re 
ceived some schooling in his native land, 
and after settling in Westminster town 
ship attended the nearest log schoolhouse 
until he grew to manhood, during this time 
assisting very often at home, clearing the 
land and also helping his father in framing 
barns and doing other work. This was all 
good training, and Mr. Carrothers has never 
regretted his early experiences. 

On Oct. 31, 1864, Mr. Carrothers mar 
ried Miss Rhoda Wilsie. of Westminster 
township, daughter of Isaac Wilsie. After 
marriage he brought his girl bride to Bosan 
quet township, Lambton County, and to 
gether they settled in the wilderness. He 
bought a tract of fifty acres of swamp land 
on Concession 5, Lot 28, and here put up a 
little log house. It was not a very attrac 
tive prospect, but Mr. Carrothers and his 
wife were young and energetic, and they 
both knew that hardships awaited them and 
felt prepared to meet them. They were 
spared to each for almost forty years, the 
devoted wife passing away Feb. 22, 1002. 
She was lovingly laid away in Pine Hill 
cemetery. No more faithful, loving mother 
could be found, nor more helpful, devoted 
wife. Mrs. Carrothers was very active in 
the work of the Methodist Church as long as 
health permitted, and left many in that or 
ganization to remember her with affection. 
Her nine children were : Delena, who mar 
ried John Millman, resides in Theclford ; 
Isaac, who operates the homestead, married 
Agnes McPherson, daughter of Joseph Me- 



3 2 4 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Pherson, of Warwick, and they have one 
daughter, Kathleen; James, a farmer on 
Concession 4, married Sarah Johnson ; Will 
iam, a farmer on a loo-acre place in West 
minster township, married Isabel Scott, and 
they have five sons, Wilsie, Johnson, 
George, Lanson and Harvey A. ; Joseph, a 
farmer on the homestead, married Maria, 
daughter of George Watts, and they have 
two sons, Howard and Walter; George, a 
farmer on the homestead, married Elizabeth 
Logans ; Lanson, formerly a member of the 
mercantile firm of Baldwin & Carrothers, of 
Watford, and now engaged in the same busi 
ness in the town of Tillsonburg, Oxford 
County, married Minnie Bowes; John, an 
employe of the late glass firm of William 
Reid & Co., of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
married Catherine Elliot; Elizabeth, who 
kept house for her father, was married in 
September, 1905, to John H. Bredey, of Re- 
gina, X. W. T., and has gone there to live. 
From the time he settled on his farm 
Mr. Carrothers worked very hard, making 
staves while clearing up his land and cutting 
timber and selling it. When he had his first 
purchase well under way of improvement he 
bought 100 more acres from Jacob Kennedy, 
and this land he also cleared and improved, 
building a dwelling-house and substantial 
barns on it. Still later he purchased fifty 
more acres, on Lot 29, Concession 5 ; 1 1 1 
in Lot 26, Concession i ; and fifty acres in 
Westminster township, Middlesex County. 
The latter is at present owned by his son, to 
gether with whom he owns 500 acres. All 
of this valuable land has been acquired by 
hard work and business capacity. Mr. Car 
rothers has been a very generous man to his 
family. When his sons were ready to settle 
down in homes of their own he extended a 
helping hand, giving each a start, and thus 
they all had a better chance than he had 
when he and their mother settled in the wil 
derness. In other ways, too, he has helped 
his children. He has set them a sober, in 
dustrious example and has had the satisfac 
tion of seeing them grow into capable, re 
spected citizens, who have the reputation of 
being men of their word and responsible in 



everything they do. Such men make the 
high standing of the community and such 
are the men who pass into honored and re 
spected old age. 

All his life Mr. Carrothers has been a 
stanch supporter of the principles of the 
Conservative party and a great admirer of 
that noted leader, Sir John A. Macdonald. 
He has frequently been called upon to serve 
in public positions, was a member of the 
board of councilmen for nine years, and 
served two years as deputy reeve, thus hav 
ing a seat in the county council. He is a 
strictly temperate man and has advocated 
temperance laws all his life. He has never 
identified himself with any secret organiza 
tions, being a man of domestic tastes and a 
great lover of home. He was one of the or 
ganizers of the Wesleyan Church here and 
formerly was very active in the Sunday- 
school. His present membership is with 
Kennedy s Methodist Church. Until her 
marriage he had the devoted care of his 
daughter, whose loving ministrations 
smoothed his path in every possible way. 
She possesses an amiable disposition and 
many admirable traits of character. He is 
now living with his son Joseph on the old 
family homestead, where he and his loved 
ones have enjoyed so many comforts to 
gether. He is surrounded with five of his 
children. 

EDWARD ARCHER, a prosperous 
farmer of Plympton township, and one of the 
most highly esteemed residents of that local 
ity, was born in Liverpool, England, March 
26, 1823, son of James and Jane (Robinson) 
Archer. The Archer family originated in 
Fylde. Lancashire, England, north of Liv 
erpool, where some members of the family 
still reside. 

James Archer was a miller by trade, fol 
lowing that calling until he engaged in mer 
cantile pursuits at Liverpool, where he died 
in 1841. His wife passed away in 1839. 
Their children were: Ann, who married 
Henry Riding ; James ; John ; Jane, who 
married John Garlick, a druggist at Liver 
pool ; William ; Ambrose ; Edward ; and Rich- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ard. Of these Edward is the only one living. 
James Archer was one of six brothers. James, 
John, William. Ambrose, Edward and Rich 
ard, most of whom were millers. Their only 
sister, Ann, died unmarried at the home of 
her brother Ambrose. As a priceless heri 
tage to his family James Archer left an 
untarnished reputation for honesty and integ 
rity. He made it a rule of his life never to 
go in debt, a principle he instilled in all his 
children. 

In 1849 Edward Archer emigrated to 
America, his passage occupying six weeks, 
as he came over in a sailing vessel. Upon 
his arrival in Canada he located in the town 
ship of York, four miles from Toronto, but 
in June, 1850, he purchased 200 acres situ 
ated on the Egremont road. Lot 29, /th 
Concession, from Hon. John Elmsley, of 
Toronto. Two years later he built a log 
house and located on the land, on which he 
"has since resided. Through his energy and 
perseverance he has transformed the wilder 
ness into an almost perfect state of cultiva 
tion. After settling upon his property Mr. 
Archer built two other houses, one a frame 
and log, about thirty years ago, and his pres 
ent brick residence, with slate roof, in 1901, 
the latter one of the handsomest homes in 
this section. 

Mr. Archer was married, in Yorkville, 
Ont.. Feb. 12, 1852, to Miss Margaret Mc- 
Cormack. who was born in York township, 
York County, Ont., May i, 1829, daughter 
of Thomas and Eliza (Lloyd) McCormack, 
of County Cavan. Ireland. This union has 
been blessed with children as follows : James, 
born June 19, 1854, died in childhood; 
Thomas J.. born Sept. 6. 1856. married Liz 
zie May Robinson. Sept. 4, 1901, and they 
have one son and one daughter, Wilford Am 
brose, born July 6, 1902, and Bertha, born 
July 1 6, 1905; Eliza Jane is at home; Wil 
liam is deceased ; Albert E. married Sarah 
AYilson. and they have three children, Ed 
ward M., John and Mildred : Anna Bertha 
married J. H. Robinson; Margaret Amelia 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Archer held the office of school trus 



tee for about twelve years, and faithfully 
discharged the duties pertaining to his posi 
tion. The family attend the Episcopal 
Church, in which Mr. Archer has held the 
office of warden, and he has been superin 
tendent of the Sunday-school for about 
twenty years. He is certainly one of the 
most respected men of the community, and 
he and his family have many friends 
throughout the County of Lambton, where 
they are so well and favorably known. Like 
his father Mr. Archer abhors a debt, and can 
never be induced to buy on credit. He meets 
his obligations promptly, at all times, and 
few men are so honored with the universal 
confidence of their fellowmen. 

Thomas and Eliza (Lloyd) McCormack. 
of County Cavan, Ireland, were married in 
Toronto, in 1828, and there the former died 
Aug. 23. 1888, aged eighty-five years. He 
was one of the earliest settlers in York 
County, where he farmed until his latter 
days, when he retired and moved to Toronto. 
He and his two brothers took up arms as 
supporters of the government in 1837- 
38. His wife died Feb. 2. 1891, aged 
eighty-five years. They were both mem 
bers of the Methodist Church. Their 
children were: Margaret, Mrs. Archer; 
John, deceased ; Eliza J., who died unmarried 
at the age of twenty-six; William, a retired 
merchant of Toronto ; Ann. who died unmar 
ried, aged twenty-eight; Thomas, deceased; 
Emily, who died aged twenty; Miss Alice, 
of Toronto; and Maria, who married Benja 
min Richmond, of Plympton (after Mr. 
Richmond s death the family moved to 
Toronto, where they still reside). 

JOHN LECKIE is one of the old set 
tlers of Moore township, where he has en 
gaged in farming for over fifty years, and 
has had a large share in reclaiming the wil 
derness and making it a fruitful land. Mr. 
Leckie was born in Dalhousie township, 
County of Lanark. Ont., April 25,, 1837, eld 
est son of John Leckie. His grandfather 
was also named John Leckie. [See Leckie 
family appearing elsewhere.] Xeil Leckie, 



326 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of Sarnia township, brother of John, is the 
well-known county councillor of Sarnia 
township. 

When John Leckie was a mere child his 
parents moved to Ramsay township, County 
of Lanark, and he received a limited educa 
tion in the common schools of that town 
ship. He was sixteen years of age when the 
family came to the County of Lambton, and 
he remained on the farm with his father until 
he was twenty-three. He then began life on 
his own account, settling on 100 acres of 
land in the west half of Lot 3, Concession 
12, Moore township, which he bought of his 
father on time. His only capital was an ax 
and unlimited energy and endurance, and 
with these he began the making of a home in 
the wilderness. He cut a road through the 
bush, erected a log cabin, and began making 
potash from the timber which he cleared off 
his land. He sold the potash in Sarnia to 
W. B. Clark, and cleared and cultivated both 
his 100 acres and another loo-acre tract 
which his father owned, east of the home 
stead. The latter farm was subsequently 
sold to outsiders. 

Mr. Leckie was steadily prospering, and 
he made extensive improvements on his 
farm, putting up good substantial buildings, 
and in 1884 erecting a fine brick dwelling- 
house one of the first in that part of the 
country. Mr. Leckie also became interested 
in oil producing property in Enniskillen, 
and has now seven wells which he operates 
with success and profit. He has all along 
been an enterprising business man, and has 
taken a great interest in the development of 
his section. 

On June 29, 1860, Mr. Leckie married, 
in Sarnia, Ont, Jane Crosbie, a native of 
Bathurst, County of Lanark, daughter of 
Samuel and Mary (Williams) Crosbie, of 
Irish descent. Mrs. Leckie has proved a 
noble helpmeet to her husband, sharing 
cheerfully all the hardships of pioneer life. 
They have had children as follows : Annie, 
who married T. D. Watson, of Sarnia town 
ship, and has five children ; Mary, who mar 
ried Robert Smith, of Sarnia, and has two 
children; Grace (deceased), who married 



Fillmore Young, of Moore township, and 
had five children: John S., living in Hunts- 
ville, Muskoka, Ont., who married Rachel 
Brimsmead, and has three children; Jennie 
(deceased), who married Samuel Wood, of 
Sarnia township ; Alice, who married Adam 
B. Bell, of Moore township, and has two 
children ; Gilbert, employed in the gas 
works at Sarnia, who married Mary McLel- 
land, and has three children; William Wal 
lace, at home, who married Marion Ansell ; 
Bruce, who is a teacher in Copleston ; and 
Richard and Stewart Edgerton, who died in 
childhood. The family are well known and 
liked in the township with whose interests 
they are so closely identified. Mr. Leckie 
is highly respected as a business man and as 
a citizen. He is a man of quiet, domestic 
tastes and temperate habits. In politics he is 
a strong Conservative, an admirer and fol 
lower of the late Sir John Macdonald. He 
is a member of the Baptist Church at Bun- 
yan, Sarnia township. 

DAVID CALVERT, who entered into 
rest Aug. 2, 1904, lived retired from active 
business cares at Watford, and was consid 
ered one of the representative men of the 
village. He was of Irish extraction, tracing 
his ancestry back to his grandfather, George 
Calvert, a native of Ireland. Among the 
latter s children was a son George (2). 

George Calvert (2) was born in Ireland 
in 1805, and there was engaged as a 
manufacturer. He married Margaret Will 
iamson, daughter of John Williamson, who 
died in Ireland. In 1832 George Calvert and 
his family started on the long voyage to 
America, but on the way the wife and mother 
died, the father bringing his motherless chil 
dren on to Sherbrooke, Ont., where he 
passed the remainder of his life, dying at 
the age of seventy-seven years. The chil 
dren were: William, who served in the Re 
bellion, and now resides in Sherbrooke; Rob 
ert, who never left his native land ; John, 
now deceased, a soldier in the English army ; 
George, who died with his mother, of ship- 
fever; Sophia, who died in North Sher 
brooke ; Margaret, who came to Lambton 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



3 2 7 



County, and died in Warwick township, wife 
of John Williamson; and David. 

David Calvert was born Oct. 13, 1827, 
and was only five years of age when his pa 
rents started out on their long trip in search 
of a new home. Upon reaching his ma 
jority he began the battle of life for himself 
as a farm hand at Sherbrooke, and there re 
mained until he was twenty-one years of 
age. In 1848 he settled in Warwick town 
ship, Lambton County, on the 100 acres of 
land where he made his home until his death, 
although the greater portion of it had been 
sold. He also purchased 100 acres in Sar- 
nia township, where one of his sons now re 
sides. Later he also bought another 100 
acres, but this he disposed of. He was also 
a merchant and kept a general store for 
many years during the construction of the 
main line of the Grand Trunk road. 

Mr. Calvert married (first) in 1846 Jean 
Thompson, and by her he had three children : 
George, Jean and David. His second wife 
was Annie McDonald, and she bore him 
four children : Margaret, Elizabeth, Hannah 
and William, the last named of Strathroy, a 
member of the Dominion Parliament. Mrs. 
Calvert died in 1894. Mr. Calvert was for 
many years an attendant upon the services 
of the Congregational Church, toward whose 
support he was a liberal contributor. Politi 
cally he was a Reformer, and he was a man 
highly respected by all who knew him. His 
remains rest in the cemetery at Watford. 

) 

HEXRY WILLIAMSON, a well- 
known farmer of the 2d Concession, of Bo- 
sanquet township, Lambton County, and a 
member of Bosanquet s board of councilmen, 
is a native of that place, where he was born 
in a little log home May 1 1 , 1851. 

The Williamson family is of Irish de 
scent, John Williamson, the grandfather of 
our subject, having been born in County 
Monaghan. near the city of that name. There 
he engaged in farming, and there he died, 
in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. 
He married Mary Porter, and she also died 
in that county. They had eight children : 
Lottie, James, John, William, Henry, David, 



Sarah and Elizabeth, all deceased with the 
exception of William, who makes his home 
in Bosanquet township. 

Henry Williamson, father of Henry, was 
bora in 1818 in County Monaghan, and there 
grew to manhood, working at farming. He 
there married Margaret Stewart, and in 1849 
came to Canada with his wife and children, 
locating first at Scarborough, in the County 
of York. After spending a short time there 
he came to Lambton County, where he lo 
cated on Lot 9, Concession 2, Bosanquet 
township. Here he purchased fifty acres of 
land, in a section where there were no roads, 
nor any evidences of civilization of any kind. 
Surrounded on all sides by bush and swamp, 
in which the wild beasts roamed, and with 
only Indian trails to guide him, his nearest 
post office was Adelaide village, in the Coun 
ty of Middlesex. It was eighteen miles to 
the nearest blacksmith shop, and for his flour 
he had to go to" Bartlett s Mills, eight miles 
away. His nearest market was London. Mr. 
Williamson was among the very first pio 
neers of that section, and his life was filled 
with hard toil, but after years of struggle he 
succeeded in putting his land under cultiva 
tion. He lived to a good old age, being cared 
for in his declining years by his son Henry 
and his wife, who gave him all the care a fa 
ther could expect from a loving son and 
daughter. He died on the farm in 1903, and 
was laid to rest in the Beachwood cemetery, 
at Forest. His pall-bearers were : W. B. 
Faulds, William Wight, R. D. Thompson, 
B. Long, C. Wakefield and Alexander Mc- 
Kenzie Crawford. Mrs. Williamson died in 
September, 1884. They were members of 
the Presbyterian Church. He was a strong- 
Conservative. Children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Williamson as follows : Sarah 
Jane, who married W. E. Pringle ; Margaret, 
who married John Coultis, a lumber manu 
facturer of Forest; Henry, our subject; 
Mary, who married James Dawson, of 
Thorndale ; James, a farmer of Ravenswood; 
John, a resident of Gladstone, Michigan ; 
and Mary Ann, who married James Dawson. 
Henry Williamson was an Orangeman in 
Ireland. 



328 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Henry Williamson, our subject, attended 
the public schools of his township in School 
Section No. 2. He worked at home on .the 
farm from early boyhood, and also in the 
lumber woods in Michigan. In 1876 he set 
tled down to farming on a fifty-acre tract 
he had purchased from John Silver, near the 
homestead, on which he built a fine brick 
house. Later he added to his tract the fifty 
acres of his father s homestead. He is now 
farming the tract of 100 acres, which he has 
under a good state of cultivation, and on 
which he has made numerous improvements. 
General farming and stock raising have been 
his occupations through life. He is domestic 
in his tastes and a good citizen. Like his 
father before him, he is a stanch Conserva 
tive, and has all his life been an admirer of 
Canada s greatest statesman, Sir John A. 
Macdonald, and the policy he advocated. 
In 1898 Mr. \Yilliamson was elected a mem 
ber of the board of councilriien from the ist 
Ward of Bosanquet, and has served as such 
ever since. 

On Dec. 25, 1876, in Forest, Mr. Will 
iamson married Martha Clark, daughter of 
the late William Clark, who was engaged in 
the bakery business in Forest. Two children 
have been born to this union : Maude mar 
ried (first) Samuel Laughlin, who died leav 
ing one child, Fern, and (second) John Hil- 
born, of Bosanquet township. Maggie May, 
a stenographer and typewriter, resides near 
Chicago, Illinois. 

WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, the . uncle of 
Henry, was born June 13. 1817, in the city 
of Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland, 
and there grew to manhood. He was a farm 
laborer. He married there, June 7, 1844, 
Jemima Parks, daughter of Joseph Parks, of 
County Armagh. On Jan. 12, 1850, Mr. 
Williamson, with his wife and children, left 
the Emerald Isle for America, sailing on the 
ship "Catherine," Capt. Laverty, of Belfast. 
They sailed from Liverpool to New York, 
landine February 22d of the same year, and 

o * J 

there he found work in a brass foundry at $5 
per week. He took ship fever and was in 
the hospital for some time, after which he 
found employment in a pork packing house 



until 1864, when he came to Canada, locat 
ing in Bosanquet township, Lambton Coun 
ty, where his brother Henry was making his 
home. Here he bought a tract of fifty acres, 
for which he paid $477.50, and here for the 
past fifty years he has made his home. He 
is still active, although one of the oldest men 
in the township. He is a stanch Conserva 
tive, and a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, attending at Thedford. 

The following children were born to Wil 
liam Williamson and his wife: Elizabeth, 
who married Samuel Smith, is now residing 
in Michigan; Mary, the widow of Charles 
Bottomley, is also a resident of Michigan ; 
Sarah married William Hobson, and, after 
his death, Thomas Johnson, of Petrolia; 
Margaret married Frank Miller, a prominent 
business man of Michigan ; Jemima, who 
married James Clark, is residing on the old 
homestead in Bosanquet township, Lamb- 
ton County ; William is successfully engaged 
in agricultural pursuits in Enniskillen town 
ship, County Lambton ; Ann died in infancy. 

WILLIAM A. McDONALD, who has 
been treasurer of Brooke township for nine 
years, is a highly esteemed and respected 
citizen, and the owner of a fine stock farm 
situated on Concession n, Lot 16. He was 
born in Middlesex County West, township 
of Ekfricl, Aug. 2, 1854, son of Alexander 
and Mary (Campbell) McDonald, both of 
whom were born in Scotland. The grand 
father, Alexander McDonald, settled in Ek- 
frid at the same time as his son Alexander, 
and remained there until his death. 

The parents of our subject, coming to 
Canada when young people, settled in Lower 
Canada for some time, but after marriage 
settled in Middlesex County, where they 
made a home on the wild land. In 1872 they 
located in Brooke township, and settled on 
the present home of our subject, where they 
lived the remainder of their lives, Mr. Mc 
Donald dying June 10, 1884, aged seventy- 
two, and his widow Feb. 21. 1886, aged fifty- 
nise years, two months and twenty-seven 
days ; they were buried in Alvinston ceme 
tery. Thev were active members of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



3 2 9 



Presbyterian Church. Politically he was a 
Conservative. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald had 
these children: Annie, wife of William Mc 
Donald, of Brooke; Mary, deceased wife 
of Alexander Black; John C., farmer of 
Brooke; Christena, unmarried, living in 
Brooke; William A., our subject; Catherine, 
wife of David Armstrong, of Walkerville; 
Janet, wife of William Scott, of Windsor; 
Malcolm, a miner of Arizona; David, who 
died when a young man ; Margaret, of Den 
ver, Colorado; Flora, who died in young 
womanhood ; and James, who died in child 
hood. 

William A. McDonald was educated in 
the public schools of Ekfrid, and after com 
ing to Brooke township engaged in farming 
with his father. Later he purchased the 
homestead, taking tender care of his parents 
during their last years. On June I, 1887, he 
married Miss Mary Mclntyre, and they set 
tled down on the old farm, where he has 
since remained, erecting new buildings, barn 
and residence, and improving the farm in 
general. In 1896 Mr. McDonald was in 
jured in a runaway, so badly as to cause the 
loss of one of his limbs. With the aid of an 
artificial limb he succeeds very well and is 
able to do a big day s work. Mr. and Mrs. 
McDonald have had these children : David 
A., born March 12, 1888; Alma M., born 
Oct. 6, 1892 ; Annie C., born Nov. 13, 1894; 
Nicholl G., born Oct. 21, 1896; Florence, 
born Feb. 23, 1900; and William, born Feb. 
16, 1904. 

Politically Mr. McDonald has always 
supported the old Reform party, and he has 
filled the position of returning officer at Pro 
vincial elections, and is at the present time 
president of the Reform Association of 
Brooke township. He has been trustee, sec 
retary and treasurer of the schools of Brooke 
for a number of years. In 1896 he was 
elected treasurer of Brooke township, a posi 
tion he still holds, and which he has filled 
with great credit to himself and to the satis 
faction of the entire community. In religious 
matters he was reared in the faith of the 
Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is 
a member. He is affiliated with the Inde 



pendent Order of Foresters, being a charter 
member of the Watford Lodge. Mr. Mc 
Donald is one of the highly esteemed men 
ofJLambtou County, and one of Brooke town 
ship s best citizens. He has drawn to him, 
by his manly qualities, a host of friends who 
admire him for his strict integrity and up 
rightness of character. 

Mrs. Mary (Mclntyre) McDonald was 
torn in Brooke township Jan. 4, 1862, 
daughter of Nichol and Mary (McLachlan) 
Mclntyre, of Argyllshire, Scotland, where 
they were married. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. 
Mclntyre came to Brooke township, and 
took up 100 acres of wild land. He became 
prominent in local affairs, and held a number 
of offices, chiefly in connection with the 
schools. Until his later years Mr. Mcln 
tyre was a sailor during the summer season. 
He died in 1865, at the age of forty-nine, in 
the faith of the Presbyterian Church. His 
wife still lives on the old homestead, now 
more than three score years and ten. Of 
their children, one, Flora J., died in infancy. 
The others are : Duncan, a farmer in Michi 
gan ; Malcolm, a blacksmith at Napier, Ont. ; 
John, a farmer in Michigan; Mary, Mrs. 
McDonald; Kate, Nichol and Alexander, all 
three at home with their mother ; Archibald, 
a blacksmith at Croswell, Michigan; and 
Flora J. (2), at home. 

JOHN HOLBROOK, one of the repre 
sentative men of Brooke township, County 
of Lambtoii, who owns a fine farm on Con 
cession 13, Lots 19 and 20, was born May i, 
1848, at Smith s Falls, near Ottawa, a son of 
John and Martha (Lett) Holbrook. 

The father of Mr. Holbrook was born 
in 1796 in County Carlow, Ireland, the 
mother in 1806, and they married there and 
came to Canada in 1829. After six weeks 
spent in crossing the Atlantic they finally 
landed at Quebec. For fifteen years they lived 
at Ottawa, in 1847 moving to Brooke town 
ship and settling on the present home place. 
Then it was but an unbroken wilderness, and 
he and an uncle, John Lett, were the initial 
settlers in this locality. They were obliged 
to cut their path into the property, making 



33 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



their own roads all the way from London. 
At the time of which we write it was a very 
serious matter for emigrants to leave their, 
homes and come to an entirely new and un 
settled country, far away from friends and 
old associations, and it required courageous 
people to do it. They endured the subsequent 
hardships incident to such life. They lived 
for a number of years in a small log cabin, 
but in 1857 Mr. Holbrook built the home in 
which he lived until his death, in March, 
1905, being at that time 109 years of age 
a notable case of longevity. His wife had 
lived to a good old age also, dying in 1883. 
She had shared all kinds of hardship and 
cheered and encouraged him for many long 
years. He fought all through the Rebellion 
of 1837 and proved himself a brave man and 
a loyal soldier. He and his wife were mem 
bers of the English Church in the old coun 
try, but after settling in Canada they united 
with the Methodist Church, in which he was 
an elder and a steward for many years. Po 
litically he was an active Reformer, but never 
sought office. 

The children of John and Martha Hol 
brook were: Thomas, born in 1829, at 
Smith s Falls, married and farmed some 
years in Brooke township, but in 1879 he 
moved to Michigan, where he now lives, a 
retired farmer; his children are Walter, Ar 
thur, Martha, Sarah and Mary. James, born 
in 1831, married in Michigan, where he fol 
lowed lumbering until 1894, when he died; 
he is survived by his widow and three chil 
dren, John, Jesse and Minor. Edward, born 
in 1834, married Mary Carney, of Brooke 
township, and they now reside at Petrolia, 
where he was a builder and contractor; his 
children are: Herbert (a farmer, on the old 
homestead), Frank (a business man of Sar- 
nia), Clarice, Emma and Nellie. Henry, born 
in 1836, married Martha Lett, of Brooke 
township, and they reside on the east half of 
the old homestead ; they have children Les 
lie (who is manager of a Canadian drilling 
company in Australia), Benjamin (a pros 
pector in New Ontario), Laura, Ernest, Ida 
(a teacher), Lila J. (of Manitoba), and 
Alma (a graduate of the high school at 



Watford). John is the subject of this- 
sketch. Robert, born in 1850, followed 
teaching for twenty years, possessing a first- 
grade certificate, and died in 1898. Susan 
J., born in 1852, now deceased, was the 
widow of the late William Jones, of Alvins- 
ton, and they are survived by five daughters, 
Hester and Martha (of Strathroy), Millie 
(of London), and Maggie and Elizabeth (of 
Strathroy). Mary A., born in 1854, mar 
ried William Watson, of Manitoba, a farmer, 
and they had four children, Rosie (a teacher 
in Manitoba), Lillie (a teacher in Mon 
tana), Frederick (deceased) and Howard 
(of Montana). Margaret, born in 1856, is- 
the wife of James Garrey, and they reside 
in Michigan; they have three children, 
Grover, Hannah and Philip. The other five 
children did not reach maturity. 

John Holbrook grew to manhood on the 
homestead farm. His primary education 
was gained in the district schools and later 
he attended the Belleville Albert College, 
where he prepared for teaching. In 1864 he 
was given his first school, this being in 
Brooke township, whence he later went to- 
Strathroy and other points. After some- 
years of teaching he purchased a farm of 
fifty acres, which adjoins the old homestead. 
This he cleared and entered into the business 
of stock raising. Later he bought the old 
homestead and has resided on it until the 
present, taking care of his aged father dur 
ing the helpless years of his life and kindly 
providing for his needs. He has continued 
to raise stock and engage in farming. 

On July 19, 1883, Mr. Holbrook mar 
ried Julia Dell, who was born July 15, 1861, 
near Woodstock in the County of Oxford, 
daughter of Thomas and Caroline (Daly) 
Dell, and a member of one of the pioneer 
families of that section. Thomas Dell was 
born in 1819, in the city of London, Eng 
land, and his wife in 1830, in Queen s 
County, Ireland. In 1830 they came to Ox 
ford County, where they married and set 
tled down as farming people. His father, 
Joseph Dell, a lawyer in England, came to- 
Woodstock, where he died leaving one son, 
Thomas, and two daughters, Ann (deceased 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



331 



wife of Edward Lakeman, of Woodstock) 
and Catherine (deceased, of Woodstock). 

Thomas Dell, father of Mrs. Holbrook, 
was educated for the Bar, but preferred the 
freedom of a farmer s life. He died in July, 
1899, his wife in 1894. Of their five chil 
dren, three survive : Thomas is deceased ; 
Joseph, unmarried, lives on the homestead in 
the County of Oxford; Frederick died in 
young manhood; Jane married Edward C. 
Smith, of Oxford County, and they have six 
children, Norman, Clarence, Brooklyn, Ed 
ward A., Jane C. and Goldie H. ; Julia, Mrs. 
Holbrook, was reared and educated in Ox 
ford County. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hol 
brook settled in their present home, where 
she has continued to suggest and he to carry 
out many improvements in the way of build 
ings and surroundings. They have no chil 
dren. Both are very active and interested 
members of the Methodist Church. Mr. 
Ilolbrook is a class-leader and is Sunday- 
school superintendent, and is looked up to 
by teachers as well as students, who ac 
knowledge him an exemplary Christian 
leader. 

Politically Mr. Holbrook has always 
been identified with the Reform party, by 
which he has been honored on many occa 
sions, having been elected to numerous local 
offices. He is one of the township s active 
citizens, taking an interest in all that will 
benefit the community in which he makes 
his home. He has a wide circle of friends 
w ho hold him in high esteem, and who find a 
hearty welcome at his door and leave his 
hospitable roof feeling that they have been 
well entertained. 

JOSEPH MILLER, a substantial 
farmer and highly respected citizen of En- 
niskillen, came to Canada from Germany in 
his early manhood. For many years he has 
been identified with the farming interests of 
the County of Lambton, where he has a large 
circle of friends. 

Mr. Miller was born March 31, 1835, in 
Alsace-Lorraine, Germany. His parents, 
Anthony and Magdalena (Savior) Miller, 



were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, where they 
lived and died, the father in 1855, and the 
mother in 1846. They were farming people. 
They had a family of five sons and five 
daughters, of whom one daughter and five 
sons came to Canada. Mary is the wife of 
Joseph May, of Wellington County; Mag 
dalena, Theresa, Josephine and Elizabeth 
are in Germany ; Ignatius, the eldest son, 
who came to Canada, married in Germany, 
and died in Canada; Anthony spent four 
years in Canada, then returning to Ger 
many, where he died ; Louis came to Canada, 
married and settled near Guelph, Welling 
ton County ; Michael came to Canada for a 
time, but returned to Germany, where he- 
resides ; Joseph is mentioned below. 

Joseph Miller was educated in Germany, 
and left the Fatherland in 1855, when about 
twenty years of age, sailing from Havre de 
Grace for New York. He was six weeks on 
the voyage, and on landing proceeded to 
Canada, where he rented a farm in Water 
loo County, Ont. After a residence of eigh 
teen years in that place he went to Brigden, 
in the County of Lambton, where he lived 
twelve years, in 1884 purchasing his present 
property, which was then all wild land. He 
has cleared and cultivated the land, and 
erected good farm buildings, making a com 
fortable home. 

On Nov. 27, 1855, Mr. Miller married 
Miss Josephine Goetz, who was born Nov. 
30, 1834, in Alsace-Lorraine, daughter of 
Martin and Theresa Goetz. Her mother 
died in Germany in Mrs. Miller s girlhood, 
but her father spent his last years in 
Canada. Ten children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, as follows: (i) 
Andrew, born in Waterloo County, married 
Mary A. Connelly, of Sarnia township, and 
their home was in that township, where he 
died in 1895; their children were Josephine, 
Anthony, Andrew, James, Michael and 
Annie. (2) Theresa (deceased), born m 
Waterloo, married Charles Blinn, of Brig- 
den. (3) Joseph, born in the County of 
Lambton, is unmarried and at home. (4) 
Louis, born in Lambton County, married 
Lulu Findley, of Petrolia, and their home is 



33 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in Enniskillen. (5) Josephine, born in Lamb- 
ton County, married John Fisher, of Ennis 
killen, now residing in Assiniboia, North 
west Territory, and has children. King, Jo 
seph. Queenie, John, Edward, Rosanna and 
Bertha. (6) Anthony married Cecelia Kav- 
anaugh, of Enniskillen, where they live. 
They have a son, Morrell. (7) Ignatius mar 
ried Matilda Anderson, of Enniskillen, and 
they have five children. Cosey, Ferrol, Lela, 
Shirley and Erna. They live on Concession 
9. (8) Annie, born in Lambton County, was 
educated in that county, and is living at 
home, unmarried. Two are deceased. 

Mr. Miller and his family are devout 
members of the Catholic Church, as were 
his parents. In politics Mr. Miller has al 
ways been identified with the Reform party. 
He is one of the highly respected citizens of 
Lambton County, where he has made his 
own way to a position of comfort. He is 
active in all matters of public interest, and 
his happy disposition and generous nature 
have endeared him to a large circle of 
friends. He and his wife have brought up a 
fine family, and made one of the happy 
liomes of the community. 

JOHX COULTIS, who for a long 
period has been engaged in a sawmill busi 
ness at Forest, is descended from English 
progenitors on the paternal side and from 
Irish on the maternal. 

The family was founded in Canada by 
William Coultis, his grandfather, who was 
"born in 1/76 in England and there married 
Allus Breckon. On coming to Ontario, in 
1826, they located in Pickering township, 
County of York, where William Coultis en 
gaged in farming until his death, in 1868. 
His wife died some years prior to that date. 
They reared a family of eight children, as 
follows: William; George; James: Hannah, 
wife of Isaac Linton : David, retired, of For 
est : Jane, wife of Richard Brigland : Mary. 
wife of William Churchill, of Detroit; and 
Richard, who settled in Middlesex County. 

William Coultis, the father of our sub 
ject, was born in 1807. in England, and died 
in Forest June 15. 1902. He married Bar 



bara Lawrence, who was born in Ireland, 
daughter of \Yilliam Lawrence. The Law 
rence family came to Ontario early in the 
nineteenth century and located in Pickering 
township. After marriage William Coultis 
and his wife located for a time in that town 
ship, whefe he was engaged in operating a 
sawmill, but later he moved to London town 
ship, in the County of Middlesex, from 
which place, in 1880, he removed to Forest, 
and here his last years were spent. Mrs. 
Coultis was born Oct. 7, 1819, and died in 
1900, aged eighty-one years. In religious 
belief they were pious good people, devoted 
to the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. 
Coultis was a Conservative. The children 
born to these worthy parents were : George, 
of Thedford ; William, engaged in the build 
ing business in Forest: John, subject of this 
sketch; Margaret, who married Robert 
Craig, of Forest; David, Alfred and Jo 
seph, of Forest ; Mary Ann, who married 
Thomas Dailey, of Forest ; James, who died 
aged sixteen years ; and one that died in 
infancy. 

John Coultis was born in October, 1844, 
in Pickering township, York County, where 
he lived until the age of ten years, accom 
panying his parents then to London town 
ship, Middlesex County. In- that locality he 
grew to manhood, and was twenty years old 
when he came to Forest. In company with 
his brothers George and William, he em 
barked in the stave and square timber and 
contracting and building business. Later 
they purchased land in different localities in 
Lambton County and in 1869 he erected his 
present sawmill at Forest, where they have 
cut thousands of feet of lumber. Later Mr. 
Coultis added a planing-mill and also built a 
mill on the lake shore, where they cut timber 
from six thousand acres of land purchased 
from the Indians. It will thus be seen that 
the Coultis brothers are engaged in the lum 
ber business on a large scale, and they have 
probably cut down more lumber than any 
other firm operating in western Ontario. 

John Coultis is an excellent man of bus 
iness, but he does not allow its demands to 
absorb all of his attention. Since settling 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



333- 



in Forest he has given some twenty years of 
service on the town council and is regarded 
as a man of most excellent judgment and 
public spirit. His political affiliation is with 
the Conservative party. 

On March 2, 1869, Mr. Coultis was 
united in marriage with Margaret William 
son, daughter of Henry and Margaret 
(Stewart) Williamson, natives of Ireland. 
where they were married in 1843, and in the 
same year they came to Bosanquet town 
ship Lambton County, where Mr. William 
son still resides, at the age of eighty-eight 
years. His wife died in 1884, at the age of 
sixty-six years. Henry Williamson is a son 
of David "Williamson, who was born in Ire 
land, and died there. Henry Williamson 
and his wife had children as follows : Sarah 
J., now Mrs. Pringle, of Detroit; Margaret, 
Mrs. Coultis, born in 1849; Henry and 
James, of Bosanquet township, the latter a 
blacksmith of Ravenswood; John, of Glad 
stone, Michigan; and Mary Ann, Mrs. 
James Dawson, of Thorndale. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coultis have had two 
daughters: Margaret Blanch, who married 
John Grovenlock and has three children, 
Gladys Grace, Thomas Willard and Mary 
Lawrence; and Mary L.. who died in in 
fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Coultis are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he 
is a Conservative. 

HUGH PARK. After a long and use 
ful life, spent in honest toil as an agricul 
turist, Hugh Park, of Alvinston, is now en 
joying his leisure moments, surrounded by 
comforts his industry has procured. His 
birth occurred in Plympton township. Lamb- 
ton County, Ont., Jan. 21, 1841, and he is 
the son of James and Elizabeth (Climie) 
Park, born Jan. 15, 1814. and June 27, 1821, 
respectively. 

(I) Hugh Park, the paternal grand 
father. was born at Cambuslang, now Glas 
gow, Scotland, Sept. 29. 1/90. while his wife 
was born near Glasgow, Scotland, April 5, 
1791. They were married in Scotland in 
1812. and came to Canada in 1821, settling 
in Dalhousie, where they remained for some 



years, but in 1835 they removed to Plymp 
ton. township, Lambton County, settling on 
Lot 7, Concession 2, where Hugh Park made 
a permanent home, and there died in Oc 
tober, 1841. His wife, whose name was 
Jeanette Hay, died Oct. 20, 1879, aged 
eighty-eight years, six months. A family 
of twelve children was born to Hugh Park : 
James is mentioned below ; Lillias, deceased, 
born in October, 1815, married Robert 
Brooks; Marian, born in 1818, now de 
ceased, married William Climie, of Plymp 
ton township; Robert, born in January,. 
1820, died in childhood in Scotland; Robert 
(2) and Jeanette, twins, were born in Can 
ada Jan. 24, 1822, and the former lived and 
died in Plympton, while the latter, now de 
ceased, married George Donald, and settled 
on a farm : Hugh, born in Plympton in 1824, 
died unmarried in February, 1888; Jane 
Hay. born in February. 1826, now residing 
in Petrolia, married Duncan McXaughton, 
deceased, of Wyoming, and had three chil 
dren ; Arthur, born in December, 1827, set 
tled in Plympton, where he farmed until his 
death, in " May. 1902 (he left a family); 
Mary, born in March, 1830, is unmarried, 
resid ing in Sarnia : Andrew, born in June, 
1832, is now a retired farmer of Sarnia, and 
has a family; Agnes, born in September, 
1835, married Robert P. Campbell, of 
Plympton, and dying left a family of eight 
children. 

On the maternal side of the house the 
grandfather. Andrew Climie. who mar 
ried leanette Turnbull. was born at Paisley, 
Scotland, in February. 1777: she was 
born in Cambuslang, Scotland, in May, 
1 780. They emigrated to Lower Canada in 
1821. the same year as the Park family, and 
settled for a time at Dalhousie. In 1835 the 
family located in Plympton township, on 
Lot 4, Concession 2, and there both parents 
died. Their daughter, the mother of our 
subject, was the youngest of a large family, 
and married, lived and died in Plympton 
township. 

( II ) James Park, father of Hugh, was 
born at Cambuslang, Scotland, and was 
seven years old when brought to Canada. 



334 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Although his educational advantages were 
limited on account of lack of schools he 
learned much by experience, and under his 
uncle, William Hood, a school teacher. His 
education in farm work was, however, quite 
complete. In January. 1840, he married, 
and settled on a farm adjoining his father s, 
where he made a good home, and where his 
first wife died Jan. 5, 1858, leaving eight 
children. Mr. Park married, later, Eliza 
beth Houston, who survives, but there were 
no children by the second marriage. He died 
in February, 1874. In religious matters 
Mr. Park was a member of the Methodist 
Church, as was also his first wife; his sec 
ond wife was an Episcopalian and a sister of 
Archdeacon Steward Houston. For many 
years Mr. Park was an earnest church 
worker. His political convictions made him 
a stanch Reformer, although he never sought 
office. 

To James Park and his first wife were 
born : ( i ) Hugh. ( 2 ) Jeanette, born in Au 
gust, 1842, married Alexander Chalmers, a 
farmer, of Wyoming, and they have a fam- 
^Y- (3) J ane H., born in April, 1844, mar 
ried David Brownlee, of Plympton, and they 
"have a son, William. (4) Andrew, born in 
November, 1845, and residing on the 2cl 
Concession, in Plympton, married Miss 
Marion Paul, and has a family of eight chil 
dren. (5) James, born in October, 1848, was 
educated in the high schools of his town 
ship, and then taught school for some years. 
Later he studied law with Judge Glass, of 
London, and first practiced at Toronto, be 
coming a prominent member of the bar, and 
he is now equally prominent in New York 
City. He was married at Toronto to Miss 
Guy Turrand, and they have three children. 
(6) Margaret, born in October, 1850, mar 
ried George B. Kirk, principal of the model 
school of London, Ont, and they have two 
children. (7) Elizabeth, born in June, 1853. 
married Rev. E. Hanes, a Baptist minister 
of Wyoming, Lambton County ; they have 
no family. (8) Robert, born in August, 
1855, resides on the old homestead ; he mar 
ried Miss Jessie McMurphy. of Plympton, 
and has a familv of seven children. 



(Ill) Hugh Park was educated in the 
district schools of Plympton, and also 
worked upon the hornestead. When he began 
life for himself he settled on land in En- 
niskillen township, i^tli Concession, where 
he cleared off a farm, erected necessary 
buildings, and there lived until 1876, when 
he bought 200 acres in Plympton, and made 
that township his home until 1884. That 
year he sold the property for nine thousand 
dollars, and purchased 100 acres in the 5th 
Concession, Enniskillen, which was all wild 
land. This he cleared, and lived upon until 
1900, and in that year he bought a fine 
brick property on Walnut street, in Alvins- 
ton, where he has since lived retired. 

On May 7, 1863. Mr. Park married Miss 
Mary J. Brown, born, in Beverley, Elgin 
County, Feb. 19, 1842, daughter of Albert 
and Susanna Brown, who came from Ire 
land. Albert Brown died in Elgin County 
when his daughter. Mary J., was small. 
Mrs. Susanna Brown married (second) 
James Wolley, and with him moved to En 
niskillen, where both died. Mrs. Park was 
reared to womanhood in her stepfather s 
home in Enniskillen. After their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Park lived upon his 
farm in Enniskillen. but later made the sev 
eral changes given above. Six children, all 
living, have come to them: (i) James A., 
born in Enniskillen, resides on the 4th Con 
cession in Enniskillen, where he has an ex 
cellent farm. He married Miss Nellie 
Lowrie, of Plympton, and they have four 
children, Hugh L., Thomas H., Ethel and 
Edna M. (2) Annie E. married Thomas 
Simpson, of the 4th Concession, Enniskillen, 
and has seven children, William E.. Agnes 
J., Hugh P., Edith M., James R., Mabel S. 
and Thomas G. (3) Nettie J. was educated 
in the high schools of Petrolia, and after 
graduation taught school for three years, 
later becoming a student of Alma College ; 
still later she received the highest medal 
from the Chatham Business College, and 
took a position with M. K. Cowan, M. P., 
nf Windsor, as stenographer, and is now 
stenographer with Marlin M. Stanton Com 
pany, wholesale dealers in men s furnishing 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



335 



goods of Detroit. (4) Thomas G., a farmer 
of Enniskillen, residing on the 5th Conces 
sion, married Miss Mary E. Redmond, of 
Enniskillen. (5) Wesley H., residing on the 
old homestead in Enniskillen, married Miss 
Rachel Lowrie, of Plympton, and has one 
daughter, Irma C. (6) Carlotta L. M. is a 
student in the high school at London. 

The religious belief of Mr. Park is that 
of the Methodist Church, of which denom 
ination he and his family are members, and 
he is one of the officials as well as a conscien 
tious worker. Politically he is a Reformer, 
and for three years 1886-89 served efficiently 
as councillor of Enniskillen, and he has been 
a member of the school board for two terms. 
Having attained to his present position 
through his own unaided efforts, Mr. Park 
naturally feels pride in his work, and has 
endeavored to rear his children to habits of 
self-dependence and industry, and has suc 
ceeded beyond the ordinary. His children 
are a comfort to him and reflect credit upon 
him and their mother. Mrs. Park is be 
loved not only by her own family, but 
throughout the neighborhood, as a gentle, 
kindly, Christian woman, and a good neigh 
bor. The hospitable home of this family is 
always open to friends, and many delightful 
reunions are enjoyed beneath the Park roof- 
tree. 

JOHN McNABB. This prominent 
and enterprising farmer is successfully en 
gaged in the cultivation of the soil in Con 
cession 5, Lot 17, Dawn township, Lambton 
County, where he owns a fine farm that 
ranks with the best in the township. He 
was born near Toronto, in York County. 
June 23, 1859. son of John and Janet ( Mc 
Donald) McXabb, natives of Argyllshire. 
Scotland. 

John McXabb. Sr.. was born in October, 
1821, and when a young man came from 
Scotland to Cincinnati, Ohio. There he 
lived two years, at the end of which time he 
removed to Toronto. He married in To 
ronto in 1850 Janet McDonald, who was 
born in 1822, daughter of Archie McDon 
ald, who died in Scotland. Mr. McXabb 



lived in Toronto for ten years after his mar 
riage, working there as a laborer, and then 
located in Ekfrid, Middlesex County, 
where he resided until the death of his wife, 
in 1868. In that year he removed to Mis 
souri, where he followed railroading for 
some years and then returned to Canada, 
making his home with his son. John until his 
death, in 1894. He had children as follows: 
Archie, born in York County in 1852, 
learned the carpenter s trade; he married 
Miss Maria Wise, a school teacher of St. 
Thomas, where they reside, he working in 
the Michigan Central Car Shops, and they 
have two children, George and Janet. Alex 
ander, born in Toronto in 1854, is unmar 
ried ; he is a mechanic, and makes his home 
in Both-well, Out. John is our subject. 
Peter, born in Middlesex in 1861, was 
reared at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Alex 
ander Campbell ; he married Miss Alice 
Bury, and they reside on the homestead of 
his uncle, now deceased, and have three chil 
dren, Janet, Eleanor and John. 

John McNabb was reared at the home of 
his uncle, Alexander Campbell, after the 
death of his mother, in 1868. and received 
a fair education while growing up on the 
farm. When a boy of fourteen he was ap 
prenticed to Mr. Robert Bowman, of Mid 
dlesex, with whom he learned the black 
smith s trade. When his father came to 
Dawn township, in 1876, Mr. McXabb gave 
up his trade and came to his present farm, 
upon which he has remained to the present 
time. This home was then all wild land, 
but was cleared up by our subject and his 
father, who lived alone on the place in a little 
log cabin for ten years. Mr. McXabb 
worked industriously and with good judg 
ment, and since his farm was cleared has 
kept it in the best condition, taking great 
pride in its excellent appearance. He has 
several good buildings on the property and a 
most attractive, home-like dwelling. 

On February 16. 1887, Mr. McXabb 
married Miss Catherine J. Reid, who was 
born in York County, near Toronto, March 
6, 1859, daughter of Peter and Catherine 
(Broomfield) Reid, pioneers of York 



336 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Count} 7 . Peter Reid \vas born in Kirkwall, 
Scotland, and his wife, Catherine, in 1837, 
in York County, her parents being Neil and 
Catherine Broomfield, who came to Canada 
from Argyllshire. Scotland, in 1831, mak 
ing a permanent home in Scarborough town 
ship, York County. They reared a large 
family. Neil Broomfield died in Glasgow, 
Scotland, \vhtiher he had gone on a visit. 
His widow died with her family in Michi 
gan. Peter Reid, Mrs. McNabb s father, re 
moved to Dawn township in 1860 and set 
tled in the 6th Concession, where he made a 
permanent home from the wild land. He 
died in Dawn township in February, 1887, 
his wife surviving until August, 1894. Of 
their r.ine children, all are deceased with the 
exception of Mrs. McNabb and her brother 
Peter, who is unmarried, and is a miner in 
British Columbia. All of Mrs. McNabb s 
people were connected with the Presbyte 
rian Church. Peter Reid was very promi 
nent in the political affairs of Dawn town 
ship, was a member of the council for eigh 
teen years, also deputy reeve for a number 
of years and was agent for the Canada Land 
Co. 

To Mr. and Mrs. McNabb have been 
born five children, of whom Janet Catherine 
and Peter Bruce are at home. The others 
died in childhood. Air. and Mrs. McNabb 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. McNabb has always been identified with 
the old Reform party and in 1890 he was 
elected a member of the Dawn council, serv 
ing in that body for thirteen years; he was 
deputy reeve in 1896 and reeve in 1897, 
holding the latter office until 1903. He is 
connected with the Canadian Foresters at 
Dawn. 

GEORGE LUCAS (deceased) was for 
half a century well known in Sarnia as a 
business man and leader in political circles. 
and was one of the pioneers of the place, 
being one of the first to settle in these parts. 
The Lucas family is of Irish and Welsh ex 
traction, an early record establishing the fact 
of the birth and death of \Yilliam Lucas, the 



grandfather of George Lucas, in Ireland, 
where he reared a numerous family. 

James Lucas, son of William, and the 
father of the late George Lucas, of Sarnia, 
was born in Ireland, and there married Miss 
Susan Leach. Prior to the year 1800 James 
Lucas, with his wife and two children, one 
son and one daughter, started for Canada. 
The son died on board ship during the voy 
age. The bereft parents and their remain 
ing child settled in the new land, locating 
in Lanark County, Out, and there they had 
other children born to them. Their land was 
cleared, their means accumulated, and there 
they died. 

George Lucas, son of James, was born in 
1820 in the Lanark County home, and was 
there reared to young manhood. In 1845 he 
came to Sarnia, opening up a saddlery busi 
ness and purchasing much land. His real 
estate included the property now owned by 
his son George Lucas, of Sarnia ; that occu 
pied by the livery establishment of James 
Lucas, and also about 300 acres in Sarnia 
township, 200 acres in Sombra township and 
eighty acres in Plympton township. In 1882 
he settled on a farm in Sarnia township, but 
later removed into the city, where he died 
July 13, 1895. He was conspicuous as a 
leader in local politics, always as a strong 
Conservative, and fearlessly voted that ticket 
when only five members supporting the same 
principles could be found in the town and 
township of Sarnia. He served as a member 
of the council in Sarnia. Being a man of the 
kindest instincts and most generous disposi 
tion, he was dearly beloved by his kindred 
and nearest friends, while he very often dem 
onstrated his belief that any neighbor in 
trouble must be treated as a brother. As is 
frequently the case, he suffered at times from 
the basest ingratitude. He was very success 
ful in his business ventures, and at one time 
was quite wealthy, but he lost all he had 
accumulated by indorsing paper for friends. 

In 1850 Air. Lucas was united in mar 
riage with Margaret Taylor, who was born 
in Canada in 1825, a daughter of George 
Taylor, who was of English origin. She 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



337 



still resides in Sarnia, the circle of an affec 
tionate family. Both she and her husband 
belonged to the Church of England from 
youth. The children born to them were: 
George; James, of whom mention is 
made in another part of this vol 
ume; Benjamin, \vso is a commercial 
traveler, of Detroit, Michigan; David 
W. H. and Wellington R. I., both 
confectioners in Sarnia; Susan Taylor, of 
Sarnia; Rebecca, who is the wife of John 
Lowrie, of Toronto, Out. ; Caroline, widow 
of O. C. Watson ; and Emily, who is the wife 
of John Inkster, of Omaha, Nebraska. All 
the sons have inherited the father s business 
ability, and are in comfortable circum 
stances. 

George Lucas was born in November, 
1850, in Sarnia, where he was reared and 
educated. Upon reaching maturity he learned 
the saddlery business with his father, and 
has continued in the same line to the present 
time, having for years occupied a position 
among the substantial business men of Sar 
nia. Like his father he is identified with the 
Conservative party, in which he is very active 
and exerts a wide influence. Mr. Lucas has 
always taken a deep interest in educational 
matters, and for fourteen years was a mem 
ber of the board of education of Sarnia, being 
its chairman for two years, and for five years 
serving as chairman of the managing com 
mittee of both the Collegiate Institute and 
the public schools. Fraternally he is asso 
ciated with the Royal Arcanum and the 
I. O. O. F. 

In March, 1875, Mr. Lucas married Miss 
Elizabeth Moore, a daughter of Richard 
M<><>re, who came to Canada in 1866 from 
Ireland, where Mrs. Lucas was born. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, six 
in number, all survive except the eldest, 
George Alexander; Bessie A., a graduate of 
the Institute of Sarnia, married George B. 
Shaw, of Toronto, Out; Frederick James, 
also a graduate of the Institute, is engaged 
in the hardware business at Sarnia ; Francis 
Oliver is in college; and Susan May and 
Gordon St. Claire are at home. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lucas are consistent and devout mem 



bers of the Church of England. They are 
persons of education and refinement, deeply 
and intelligently interested in educational and 
moral movements, and exerting an influence 
very generally recognized. 

THOMAS McGILL, a large landowner 
and prominent farmer of Enniskillen, is one 
of the self-made men of Lambton County, 
where he is known as one of its most public- 
spirited citizens. 

Grandfather Thomas McGill, a native of 
Ireland, came to Addington County, Ont., 
and there made a permanent home for his 
family. He left the following children: 
James, who became the father of Thomas, 
of this sketch ; George, formerly of Petrolia, 
who now resides in Manitoba ; Thomas, who 
is unmarried, and living in California; Will 
iam, Wesley and Robert, who live in Add 
ington County, near the old homestead ; and 
Jane, who married William Hoffman (de 
ceased), of Addington County, and has a 
family. 

James McGill was born in Ireland, in 
January, 1832, and was a mere lad when his 
parents came to Canada. He grew up in 
Addington County, and there married, in 
1856, Mary Hoffman, who was born in that 
county on Christmas Day, 1835. Her pa 
rents were of German families that came to 
Canada from New York State during the 
Revolution. 

James McGill was employed at his trade 
of contractor and builder for some years in 
Addington County, and in 1862 moved to 
Huron County, where he engaged in gen 
eral contract work and in the manufacture 
of lumber. In 1866 he came to Petrolia and 
engaged in the oil business, and in the build 
ing of oil tanks. He became a real-estate 
owner, having 200 acres of land in Ennis 
killen. and other property in Petrolia. He 
cleared and brought under cultivation what 
is known as the "German farm" in Conces 
sion 10. In 1888 Mr. McGill moved to 
Manitoba, where he owns property, and 
where he is engaged in contracting and 
building. Of his nine children all are living 
with the exception of one son. Dale, the sixth 



22 



338 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



child, who died in November, 1896, in Pe- 
trolia, unmarried ; he had been employed by 
an English syndicate in drilling for oil in 
Austria. The other children are: (i) 
Ellen, who grew up and was educated in 
Petrolia, where for several years she was a 
teacher; she married John Eraser, postmas 
ter of Petrolia, and they have a family. (2) 
Thomas McGill is mentioned below. (3) 
James, born in Huron County, is unmar 
ried, and is living in Australia, where he has 
been since 1886, when he went out as a 
driller. (4) Edward, born in Petrolia, mar 
ried in Manitoba, where he is a farmer; he 
has one daughter. (5) May, born in Pe 
trolia, married Fred Scarsbrook, a merchant 
of that place; they have a family. (7) Jo 
seph is unmarried, and engaged in the oil 
industry at Button, Ont. (8) Neil and (9) 
Noble, twins, were born in Petrolia ; the 
former married a Miss Kick, of Petrolia, 
and has a family ; the latter is also married, 
has a family, and lives in Addington 
County. 

Thomas McGill was born in Addington 
County, Ont., Oct. 3, 1860, and received his 
education in the schools of Petrolia. As a 
young man he went into the oil refining busi 
ness there, in which industry he remained 
for some time. He married, in June, 1887, 
Minnie Simmons, a native of Frontenac 
County, Ont. She was born in January, 
1866, daughter of Harvey and Mary (Law- 
son) Simmons, of Enniskillen, the latter a 
native of New York State. Mrs. McGill 
was educated in the Petrolia schools, began 
her married life in that town, and there her 
first child, Lilian, was born. In 1893 Mr. 
McGill went to Galicia, Austria, as foreman 
of an oil company, and remained there six 
years. His wife and children accompanied 
him, and their son Harvey died in Galicia, 
at the age of two years. On his return to 
Canada, in 1899, Mr. McGill bought 300 
acres of land, Lot 20. Concession 8, Lamb- 
ton County, on which he has his home at 
present and where he has erected a commo 
dious bank barn and developed one of the 
fine farms of the county. 

Mr. and Mrs. McGill have one child liv 



ing, Lilian May, born in Petrolia in July, 
1888. She is a student in the Petrolia high 
school. Mr. and Mrs. McGill are members 
of the Methodist Church. In politics he has 
always belonged to the Conservative party. 
He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge 
No. 65, Petrolia. He is one of the self- 
made men of his county, where he is active 
in all that concerns the public welfare, and 
enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of ac 
quaintances. 

The parents of Mrs. McGill make their 
home with her on the farm. She has two 
sisters : Ida, who is the wife of Joseph Van- 
derburg, of Plympton, and has three chil 
dren, Augustus, Earl and Cecil ; and Lilian, 
who is the wife of King Houston, Jr., fore 
man of an oil company in Ohio, and has one 
daughter, Lucile. 

ARCHIE McMURPHY, a prominent 
citizen and substantial resident of Lambton 
County, is engaged in farming and oil pro 
ducing in Dawn township. His birth oc 
curred Dec. 2, 1850, in Argyllshire, Scot 
land, and his parents, Dugald and Mary 
(McLachlan) McMurphy, were early set 
tlers of Plympton township. 

Archie McMurphy was educated in a 
public school in Plympton township, his 
teacher being Joseph Osborne, and when a 
boy of eighteen years he started work at 
railroading. He continued at this work for 
some time, and then learned the blacksmith s 
trade, which he had to discontinue on ac 
count of failing health. After giving up 
this work he engaged as a teamster at Port 
Huron, but while there was taken ill, and 
returned home, being sick for some six 
years. He purchased a bush farm on Lot 
26, gth Concession, Dawn, and cleared it, 
converting his timber into hoops and rail 
road ties. He continued at this work until 
the return of his health, and began boring 
for oil at Oil Springs. In 1883 he purchased 
an interest with Duncan, Bennett & Ward, 
and since that time has been an oil producer. 
Later Mr. McMurphy and Thomas Amy 
purchased the foregoing firm s interest in the 
oil wells, Mr. McMurphy borrowing $600 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



from his father, all of which has since been 
returned with interest. The firm name is 
McMurphy & Amy. 

On Oct. 23, 1883, Mr. McMurphy mar 
ried Miss Flora Knight, who was born in 
Scotland in 1850, daughter of Henry and 
Mary Knight and a member of an old fam 
ily of Brooke township. Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Murphy settled at Oil Springs, where he 
built a small house, and there remained until 
1901. He then removed to the farm he now 
occupies, and whereon he has erected good 
substantial buildings and made many im 
provements. In 1905 he erected a fine new 
barn, 70 by 40 feet in dimensions. To Mr. 
and Mrs. McMurphy have been born four 
children: Dougal, born in January, 1885; 
Stanley, born in 1886; Duncan, born in 
1888; and Archie, born in 1889. 

Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he 
is a Reformer, and he served on the school 
t>oard for six years. He is a member of 
Alexander Masonic Lodge at Oil Springs, 
and belongs to the Canadian Order of Odd 
Fellows. 

JOHN DENVER WRIGHT, one of the 
well-known citizens and leading agricultur 
ists of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, was born Dec. 2, 1856, in West 
minster township, Middlesex County. 

The Wright family is of English de 
scent. John Denyer Wright, the paternal 
grandfather, was born near London, Eng 
land, and was a man of education and refine 
ment. He was an official in the British rev 
enue service until he reached the age limit, 
when he came to Canada and located in Mid 
dlesex County, Ont, where he passed the 
balance of his life, receiving 300 a year 
from the Government, as a pensioner on 
half-pay. Mr. Wright was a member of the 
Church of England. 

Edward Wright, son of John Denyer 
Wright, assisted his father, in early man 
hood, in the duties pertaining to his office, 
and accompanied him to Ontario, where his 
brother Charles had already located, in 
Westminster township. In association with 



him and a third brother he took up 200 
acres of land, settled on his own portion, and 
began its clearing and improving immedi- 
iately. To this land he subsequently added 
until he had a farm of ninety-two acres, 
under good cultivation, well improved and 
of considerable value. Mr. Wright died at 
the age of sixty-seven years. Like his 
father he was a man of culture, refinement 
and education. He was a member of the 
Church of England, and was buried in the 
cemetery of that church in Westminster 
township. 

In Middlesex County, Out., Mr. Wright 
married Jane Flack, who was born in 
County Antrim, Ireland, and died in 1902, 
in Middlesex County; she was laid to rest 
by the side of her husband. She was also a 
consistent member of the Church of Eng 
land, and a woman of many Christian vir 
tues. The eight children of this marriage 
were : William, who is a resident of West 
minster township; John Denyer, our sub 
ject; Salena, who died young; George, who 
is a farmer and fruit grower in the State of 
Washington; Emily, who married John 
Manning and resides in Lambeth, Middle 
sex County ; Allen, who is also a resident of 
Middlesex County; Annie, who married 
George Knowles, of Yarmouth, and now re 
sides in Chilliwack Valley, B. C. ; and 
Frank, who manages the homestead farm, 
and who recently purchased another part of 
the original homestead. 

John Denyer Wright, the subject of this 
sketch, attended the public schools of his 
township, and assisted on the home farm 
until he was of age, when he took the man 
agement of same, which comprised sixty-six 
and two-thirds acres. He continued to 
operate this farm until 1888. When he had 
reached his majority his father presented 
to him a tract of 100 acres in Enniskillen, 
Lambton County, which was entirely uncul 
tivated. Mr. Wright worked one year on 
this property and then disposed of it and 
came to Plympton township, where he pur 
chased his present farm of 100 acres in Con 
cession 7. For the past sixteen years he has 
been engaged here in general farming. He 



340 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cleared the greater part of this land himself 
and has made all the improvements, which 
are of a substantial character. His barn, 
90 by 52 feet in dimensions, was destroyed 
by fire, this being a very serious loss to him 
at that time, but it has been replaced by a 
bank barn 73 by 50 feet in dimensions, one 
of the finest in the township. The comfort 
able brick dwelling is also of good propor 
tions and the surroundings show thrift and 
good management. Mr. Wright also owns 
a tract of 100 acres west of his homestead, 
which he uses for pasturage, for several 
years 1 having been rather extensively en 
gaged in feeding cattle for the market, in 
this line meeting with excellent success. 

Mr. Wright was married (first) in 
Westminster, Middlesex County, to Lucinda 
Manning, a woman of refined and gentle 
character, who was born in Westminster 
and died there, leaving one child, Abigail, 
now a student in the Petrolia high school. 
His second marriage occurred in Plympton 
township, to Jennie Campbell, daughter of 
Robert and Agnes (Park) Campbell, a lady 
of sweet, womanly ways, and a devoted wife 
and mother. The children of this union are : 
Frank Denver, Clarence Wilfred, Arthur 
Campbell, Merton Flack, William Edward 
and Wesley Park. 

In his political sentiments Mr. Wright is 
a Conservative and was a strong supporter 
of the late Sir John A. Macdonald and his 
policy. For some time he has been school 
trustee of School Section No. 10, and was 
a member of the building committee : in this 
position he has looked carefully after the 
educational interests of his section. He is a 
consistent member of the Methodist Church, 
belonging to the congregation at Wyoming, 
to which he gives a willing and liberal sup 
port. Mr. Wright enjoys the reputation of 
being one of the best farmers of Plympton 
township, the abundance of his crops and the 
excellent quality of his cattle testifying not 
only to his industry but also to his excellent 
management. He is a man of sterling hon 
esty and a citizen who is a worthy represen 
tative of the best class in Plympton town 



ship, the class which has made this section 
of the County of Lambton one of prom- 
inence. 

NATHAN KERR NESBITT. The 
profession of a teacher offers unusual oppor 
tunities for wielding a widespread influence 
and for impressing upon young minds ideals 
of thought and conduct that may shape their 
lives for the better, and when such influence 
extends over a period of thirty-three years 
it is scarcely to be estimated. Upon such a 
life of constant service can Nathan Kerr 
Nesbitt look back. 

Mr. Nesbitt was born in County Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, in the year 1834, son of Arthur 
and Sarah (Collins) Nesbitt. Mrs. Sarah 
Nesbitt, while a native of the North of Ire 
land, was of Scottish extraction. She was 
the mother of the following children, of 
whom Nathan K. is the only survivor : Wil 
liam was a physician ; James was constable 
of Simcoe County, Ont. ; Arthur was a school 
teacher and farmer ; Henry was a civil engi 
neer in the employ of the British government 
and died in India ; John died young ; Sarah 
died young; Nathan Kerr is our subject. 

Nathan K. Nesbitt attended school in Ire 
land first, but was still young when he came 
to Ontario with his brother James. Landing 
in New York, they made their way to the 
County of Peel, where Nathan K. continued 
his education and fitted himself for the Nor 
mal School at Toronto. After he obtained 
his certificate he began his work at Bear 
Creek, County of Lambton, and for the next 
thirty-three years was in public school work, 
mainly in the Counties of Oxford, Peel, 
Brant and Lambton, and he was looked upon 
as one of the best teachers wherever he 
taught. He held the highest form of certifi 
cate, entitling him to teach in any Province 
without examination. In 1890 he \vas, by 
the school law of the County of Lambton, 
superannuated, and he has since then been 
engaged in other work. As early as 1873, 
on coming- to the town of Kertch, Plympton 
township, he had gone into the grocery busi 
ness there, and in addition to this Mr. Nes- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bitt has held the position of postmaster since 
1878, having been appointed under the ad 
ministration of Sir John Macdonald; the 
duties of this office he has invariably per 
formed to the general satisfaction. He has 
been mail contractor for H. M. S. for the 
past thirty years, between Wanstead Station, 
on the Grand Trunk railroad, and Uttoxeter, 
and is still holding that position. 

Fraternal organizations have occupied 
much of Mr. Nesbitt s attention for a num 
ber of years. He is a member of the A. F. 
& A. M., Burns Lodge, No. 153, in Wyo 
ming; of Wawanosh Chapter, R. A. M., of 
Sarnia; of St. Simon Cyrene Commandery, 
K. T., of Sarnia; and of the K. O. T. M., 
Wyoming Lodge, No. 38, in which he has 
teen record keeper for several years. He is 
one of the oldest Orangemen in the county, 
and a member of Plympton Purple Star, L. 
O. L., and was secretary of said lodge until 
he resigned the office. Politically he is a 
strong Conservative and an enthusiastic sup 
porter of the principles of Sir John Mac 
donald. For several years Mr. Nesbitt filled 
the office of auditor of the township. 

On Aug. 4, 1861, at Oakville, County of 
Halton, Ont., Mr. Nesbitt was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Hall, a native of Ireland, 
born in 1834, daughter of George and Mary 
(Ardagh) Hall, of County Armagh and Tip- 
perary, Ireland, respectively ; he was a money 
lender. Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt s children 
were born as follows : ( I ) Annie, who mar 
ried Dr. P. A. Dewar, a well-known physi 
cian of Windsor, Ont., was the mother of 
six children, Fleming (deceased), Grace G., 
Agnes A., Helen H., Florence M. and Catha- 
lene. (2) Minnie D., who fnarried Dr. 
Henry P. Martin, a dentist in Windsor, has 
two sons, Harry LeR. and Frank. (3) 
Charles H. resides at home. (4) Jennie was 
educated in the township schools, the Essex 
high school and the Toronto Normal, and is 
now teaching at Walkerville, Ont., holding 
a first-class certificate. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt are members of the 
Church of England at Wanstead. Their 
domestic life has been one of the greatest 
mutual devotion and they are both liked and 



respected throughout the township. Though 
past seventy they are both healthy and vigor 
ous, and have never experienced any serious 
sickness. 

ADAM R. IRONSIDE was born in 
Plympton township, County of Lambton, 
Jan. 29, 1864, son of John and Jane (Rae) 
Ironside. 

John Ironside and his wife were both 
born in Scotland, in the parish of Udny, he 
in 1820, she in 1826. There they grew up, 
were married in 1846, and remained for a 
few years more, finally coming to Canada in 
1852. They crossed the ocean on a sailing 
vessel, and were six weeks on the way. Set 
tling first at Westminster, they later moved 
to Lambton County and bought wild land 
in Plympton township, Concession 8, where 
Mr. Ironside cleared up forty acres and 
made general improvements. In 1875 he 
purchased 130 acres of wild land in Ennis- 
killen, now developed into one of the large, 
well-cultivated farms of the township, with 
several very good buildings upon it. Al 
though he retired for the last five years be 
fore his decease from all active management 
of the place, Mr. Ironside and his \vife lived 
there, in the best of health, until his death, 
June ii, 1905. They celebrated their golden 
wedding in 1896. 

A large family was born to John and 
Jane Ironside, all of whom were brought up 
in Canada ; the first two saw the light in 
Scotland, (i) William, born in 1849, mar 
ried Miss Agnes Watson, of Plympton, 
where they reside on a farm ; they have had 
a family of seven children, George, James, 
Mary (deceased), John, William, Jane and. 
Andrew. (2) John, born in 1851, was first 
married to Miss Susan Allibon, of London, 
and settled on Line 6, in Plympton. His 
wife died in Petrolia, leaving one son, John, 
and he afterward married Miss Emma 
Shewman, of Petrolia. They live in Toledo, 
Ohio, and have eight children, Emma, Al 
bert, Carlton, Robert. William, Lillie M., 
Archie and Hattie. (3) James, born in 1854, 
during his parents stay in Westminster, 
died at the age of thirty. (4) Mary, born in 



342 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1856, married Hiram Wilcox, and died not 
long after. (5) Eliza, born in 1858, was the 
second wife of the late Hiram Wilcox, of 
Brooke township, who left two sons, John 
and Alexander. (6) Hannah, born in 1860, 
is the wife of William Seymour, of Petrolia, 
and has seven children, John, Rosanna, 
Cora, Jennie, George, Agnes and Frank. 
(7) Duncan, born in 1862, died at the age of 
twenty-two. (8) Adam R. was the youngest 
son. (9) Catherine, born in 1866, now Mrs. 
James Ferguson, lives on Concession 8, En- 
niskillen, and has ten children, Agnes, Mary, 
Phoebe, James, John, Katie, Laura, Archie, 
William and Roy. 

Adam R. Ironside grew up at home, and 
was educated in the district schools. As he 
neared manhood he became more and more 
of a help to his father and was practically 
manager for many years. The homestead 
now belongs to him, and he is one of the 
practical and successful farmers of Ennis- 
killen. The property is situated in Conces 
sion 13, Lot 31. To this home Mr. Iron 
side brought his bride in October, 1885, 
when he was married to Miss Agnes Fergu 
son, who was born in London, Ont, Aug. 
17, 1862, daughter of James and Agnes Fer 
guson, of Sarnia township. In 1890 they 
built a new home for themselves on the 
farm, but after only four months in it Mrs. 
Ironside died. She left three children, 
namely : Jane, now Mrs. Robert Webb, of 
Petrolia; James, born in 1889, at home; and 
Alice, born in 1891. In March, 1898, Mr. 
Ironside was united to his second wife Miss 
Jennie Smith, who was born Feb. 26, 1872, 
in Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to Plymp- 
ton with her parents, John and Maggie 
Smith. By this union also there are three 
children, named Maggie, Mary and John. 

Mr. Ironside and his family are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. His political 
views are those of the Reform party. He 
had little money to start with, but has been 
industrious and progressive and is now well- 
to-do. In his public relations he is upright 
and honorable, helping on every good move 
ment, and in private life he is a man of gen 



uine worth and kindly disposition. He has 
cared for his parents in their declining years 
with the utmost devotion. 

JOHN TAYLOR, one of Bosanquet 
township s grand old men, has been a resi 
dent of this section for over forty-seven 
years, engaged in the occupations of farm 
ing and lumbering, and although past the 
threescore and ten mark is very active in the 
affairs of the locality in which he is justly 
respected and esteemed. He is a native of 
Scotland, born in the village of Collessie r 
Fifeshire, Feb. 14, 1833. 

William Taylor, his father, was a native 
of the same place, and was a plowman In 
occupation. He lived and died in his native 
home, and was a member of the Established 
Church of Scotland, to which his wife r 
Agnes Cuthbert, also belonged. She also- 
died in Scotland. They had two children : 
Blair, who married Thomas Jarvis, resides 
in Auchtermuchty, Scotland ; and John. 

John Taylor grew to manhood in his na 
tive shire, attending the parish schools. 
When a boy he worked at the home of a 
gentleman, as servant, but at the age of 
twenty-five years he left his native country 
for the west, where he hoped to find a home. 
He sailed from- Glasgow, Scotland, in 1858, 
on the sailing vessel "Rosiane," commanded 
by Capt. McLean, with another young man, 
John Page. Mr. Page is still living, making 
his home in Enniskillen township. After a 
six weeks passage the vessel landed at 
Quebec, and Mr. Taylor, having friends in 
Lambton County, made his way west by 
water, as far as possible, and the rest of the 
way by land. Locating in Bosanquet town 
ship, he found employment with Alexander 
Smith, who was a native of the same parish 
in Scotland, and who was engaged in farm 
ing and lumbering on the Lake road, east. 
After spending some years with Mr. Smith 
our subject rented a farm on the Lake road r 
consisting of 130 acres, and here he contin 
ued to farm and engage in lumbering until 
1880. when he settled on his present place, 
where for twenty-five years he has been en- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



343 



gaged in general farming, cattle dealing and 
stock raising. Mr. Taylor worked hard all 
of his life, and is now taking a well-earned 
rest, having turned the active operation of 
the farm over to his son David A., who is 
an able successor to his father. 

Politically Mr. Taylor is a stanch Lib 
eral. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and has been elder of the church at 
Ravenswood for over a quarter of a century. 
For several years he has been secretary of 
the Bible Society at Ravenswood, and takes 
a great deal of interest in the organization. 
He is a very well-read man, and always 
keeps himself well abreast of the times, be 
ing well-informed on all the events of the 
day. In 1904 he took a very enjoyable trip 
to his native country, visiting the home of 
his boyhood. Being domestic in his habits, 
Mr. Taylor does not travel to any extent, 
preferring to be at home in the midst of his 
family. 

Mr. Taylor was married at Widder, 
Bosanquet township, in 1859, to Miss Isa 
bella Smith, a true Christian woman, who 
has been a loving wife and a devoted mother. 
She also is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Three children have been born to 
this union, namely: Janet Christie, the wife 
of Henry Ford, of Ravenswood, has four 
children, William Norman, Isabella, Har 
riet Lindsay and Clara Allen ; John Cuth- 
bert, a farmer of Huron County, Michigan, 
married Clara Foss; David Alexander, who 
now operates the home farm, married Lottie 
Williamson, daughter of James Williamson. 

The Smith family, to which Mrs. Taylor 
belongs, is of Scotch descent. David Smith, 
her father, was a native of Collessie village, 
Fifeshire, Scotland, where he learned the 
trade of weaving, following same at Auch- 
termuchty, Fifeshire. Here he operated a 
number of hand looms, employing a large 
number of people, and died in his sixtieth 
year, in 1839. He was a member of the 
Established Church of Scotland. He mar 
ried, in the parish of Dollar, Janet Christie, 
whose grandfather, James Allen, was one 
of the signers of the Covenant at Grey 
Friars churchyard, during the religious 



troubles in Scotland. Ten children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Janet 
died in Scotland. Margaret, who married 
Richard Martin, died in Bosanquet town 
ship at the age of ninety years, and was 
buried in Pine Hill cemetery. Isabella died 
in Scotland at the age of five years. Alexan 
der Lindsay died in Bosanquet township at 
the age of eighty-eight years. David died in 
Bosanquet township, Jan. 3, 1905, aged 
ninety-two years. William died on the Tay 
lor homestead. Richard settled in New Zea 
land, engaging in ranching and lumbering, 
and has seven sons continuing the same bus 
iness. George died in infancy. George (2), 
a moulder by trade, settled first in New 
York, but afterward came to Canada, set 
tling on Concession 12, Bosanquet, where he 
died in 1880; he was laid to rest in Pine Hill 
cemetery, with those who had preceded him. 
Isabella (2) is the wife of our subject. 

In 1858 Mrs. Smith came to Canada, as 
most of her children had made their way to 
Lambton County. In company with her son 
Alexander and her youngest daughter, Isa 
bella, she crossed from Glasgow to Liver 
pool, where she took passage on one of the 
first steamers that ever crossed the Atlantic, 
the "Indian," Capt. Jones commanding, 
which made the trip to Quebec in nine days, 
nine hours, at that time the quickest passage 
on record. After their arrival in Quebec 
the little party made their way to Toronto, 
whence they went to Thedford, Bosanquet 
township, via the Grand Trunk railroad, 
which had just been put through at that 
point. They located on the Lake road, east, 
in Bosanquet township, on Lot 62, where 
they had a tract of 126 acres, and here the 
family settled down to farming, Alexander 
Smith operating the farm until 1880, when 
Air. Taylor located on it. The widowed 
mother was tenderly cared for by her de 
voted children, Alexander and Mrs. Taylor. 
Although she lost her sight several years 
prior to her death, she was in the full reten 
tion of her other faculties. At her death, 
which occurred Sept. 16. 1883, she. lacked 
only six weeks of being 102 years old. Mrs. 
Smith was greatly beloved for her many 



344 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



estimable traits of character. Left with a 
large family of children to rear, she bravely 
did her part, and is remembered by all as a 
true Christian woman. She was a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and was laid 
to rest in Pine Hill cemetery. 

REUBEN C. PALMER, of Sarnia, is 
essentially a public servant. With him the 
desire for close fellowship is so strong, his 
art of making and keeping friends so ready, 
and his ability to crown with success what 
ever he turns his hand to so evident, that his 
appointment to offices of trust and responsi 
bility has seemed the most natural thing in 
the course of local events. A man with that 
"breadth of intellect which enables him to turn 
his attention easily from one duty to another, 
he is now acting as license inspector, crier of 
the court, high constable for Lambton 
County, and insurance agent for his section. 
Also, he has long served as a local preacher 
of the Methodist Church. 

Mr. Palmer is of loyal English ancestry. 
His grandfather, David Palmer, a man true 
to his convictions, was born in England, and 
there passed many years of his fruitful 
and active life. Prior to the American Revo 
lution he came to the United States, settling 
in Pennsylvania. Though the location was 
satisfactory, the spirit of the people was not, 
and when it actually came to war he decided 
to take his leave rather than fight against the 
Crown. Coming to Ontario, he settled upon 
a farm in the Grimsby district, about twenty 
miles from Hamilton, where he engaged in 
agriculture successfully for many years in 
fact he spent the best years of his manhood in 
developing the resources of this farm. The 
place paying well, he was enabled to lay 
aside a comfortable sum for a rainy day. He 
married during his early manhood and to him 
and his wife were born eight children : Jona 
than, John (who is mentioned below), 
Jesse, David, Nathaniel, Deborah, Eliza 
beth and Mary. After his son John 
had pushed westward and found de 
sirable land in the County of Lambton Mr. 
Palmer, in 1836, followed, bringing the re 
maining members of his family with him. 



and purchased 300 acres in Concessions 5 
and 6, along the Sydenham river front, in 
Sombra township. There he resided for 
about eleven years, dying there in 1847. 

John Palmer, father of Reuben C., in 
herited his father s aggressive powers and 
taste for agricultural pursuits. Born near 
Hamilton in 1807, he was reared on his 
father s farm there. In 1834, a young man 
of twenty-seven, he married and at once 
removed west, settling in the County of 
Lambton, and there, in Sombra township, on 
Lot II, Concession 6, secured a tract of land 
and engaged in farming for himself. After 
his father s arrival, however, and large land 
purchase in that vicinity, the son exchanged 
his loo-acre tract in Lot n for seventy-five 
acres of the elder Mr. Palmer s property, 
along the river front. On this new land, 
embracing parts of Lots 12 and 13, Conces 
sion 6, Mr. Palmer settled and began work. 
A marvel of industry, it was but a short time 
before he had transformed the wild waste 
into a neat and well cultivated farm. Here 
he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 
1866. During his young manhood Mr. 
Palmer married Hannah Keating, a good 
Christian woman, of refinement, who died 
in 1841. By this union there were three 
children : Mary Ann died at the age of eigh 
teen years, and Isaac at the age of two years. 
Reuben C. is mentioned below. Mr. Palmer, 
attacking every duty with energy and deter 
mination, was not a man to know failure. 
Reared in the Methodist faith, he was a sub 
stantial member of that church for many 
years. He and his father affiliated with the 
Conservatives in politics. 

Reuben C. Palmer was reared to a life of 
strong activity and large achievements. Born 
in Sombra township, Lambton County, Nov. 
26, 1837, he grew to manhood on his father s 
new farm. Attending the schools of his 
neighborhood for many years, he acquired 
a liberal English education and also valuable 
training in industry and attention, which 
habits were further developed by the regular 
and thorough performance of farm work. 
Possessed of scholarly tastes, starting life 
at the age of eighteen, he engaged in teach- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



345 



ing. Of a buoyant disposition, as well as 
commanding in person, he gave excellent sat 
isfaction to his patrons, and followed the 
profession for five years. 

In 1859 Mr. Palmer married Miss Mar 
garet G. Kerby, who was born in Sombra 
township, Lambton County, in 1838, daugh 
ter of Alexander Kerby. Mr. and Mrs. Pal 
mer have three children : Lizzie married M. 
A. Sanders, of Sarnia, and they have one 
daughter, Mabel. Wilberton C., a grocer of 
Sarnia, married Fannie Padell, and they 
have six children, Olive, Brock, George, 
Dorris, John and James. John A., a boot 
and shoe merchant, of Calgary, Alberta, mar 
ried Catherine Shepard, and they have one 
son, Max. 

In 1866 Mr. Palmer moved with his fam 
ily to Sarnia, where he has since resided. 
Here he hired out in a commercial house con 
ducted by Archibald Young. Accurate in 
accounts, affable in manner, he had no diffi 
culty in winning the confidence of his em 
ployer, and he remained with this house for 
some time. The position, as it proved, was 
a good stepping-stone, initiating him into the 
business world, and drawing him new and 
useful friends. About 1871 he was appointed 
marshal and license inspector for the town 
of Sarnia, and in 1875 he received a govern 
ment appointment as inspector of licenses 
under the Crooks act for the West Riding of 
County Lambton. Filling the position with 
his usual efficiency, he has held it ever since. 
In addition to this work, in 1880, he opened 
an insurance office in Sarnia, representing 
three companies, the Royal, the Sun and the 
Northern, and he has in this business materi 
ally increased his income. 

Mr. Palmer has long been a man of many 
interests. Since 1883 he has acted on the 
board of education, serving at different times 
on all the various committees. In 1884 he was 
appointed crier of the court and high con 
stable, positions which he still holds. In re 
ligious work he has long been zealous, has 
belonged to the Methodist Church since 1855, 
acted as trustee and member of the official 
board of the Central Church of that denomi 
nation at Sarnia, served as superintendent of 



the Sunday-school for sixteen years, and 
since 1863 has been local preacher. Unlike 
his predecessors, politically he affiliates with 
the Reform party. He is a member of the 
K. O. T. M., being secretary or finance 
keeper of his tent since it was started in 
Sarnia, in 1884; he also belongs to the C. 
O. C. F., in which he serves as recorder. 

ROBERT H. BAXTER, a prominent 
farmer and stock raiser of Moore township, 
was born in the parish of Cumrew, Cumber 
land, England, June 23, 1833, son of Robert 
and Mary (Harrison) Baxter. 

Robert Baxter was also a native of Cum 
berland and followed the trade of a shoe 
maker there. He married Miss Mary Har 
rison, and after his marriage settled in the 
town of Cumrew, where he went into the 
hotel business. In 1851, with his wife and 
five children, he started for Canada, sailing 
from Liverpool on the "Rappahannock." 
After a forty-five days voyage they landed 
at New York, went up the Hudson to Al 
bany, by canal to Buffalo, then down Lake 
Erie to Detroit, and up the St. Clair river to 
Lambton County. Mr. Baxter located in 
Moore township, Lot 27, Concessions 6 and 
7, where he bought 200 acres of land, built a 
log cabin, and engaged in the sale of staves 
and cordwood (made from the timber) to 
the lake and river boats. The farm was not 
entirely cleared when he died, over forty 
years ago. He was laid to rest in Suther 
land cemetery, and there his wife was buried 
beside him only four months later. They 
were members of the Church of England and 
Mr. Baxter was a strong Reformer in poli 
tics. Six children were born to the union of 
Robert and Mary Baxter, as follows : Ann, 
who married Thomas Gill and died in Eng 
land; Mary, who married (first) Andrew 
Little, and (second) Robert Richmond, both 
deceased : John, who died in Moore town 
ship; Robert H. ; Frances, who died in 
Moore township; and Elizabeth, who mar 
ried John Brown, a resident of Nebraska. 

Robert H. Baxter received his education 
in the national schools of England, and after 
finishing his schooling worked as a farm la- 



346 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



borer. He was eighteen years of age when 
he came with his parents to Canada, and 
after their arrival he assisted his father in 
clearing up the farm. After his father s 
death he took the eastern half of the home 
stead for his own property, built a good 
frame house and barns, and brought the land 
under cultivation. Later he added another 
100 acres to it and now has one of the finest 
farms in the township. He owns altogether 
300 acres of farming land in Moore, oper- 
ated by his sons, and is one of the influential 
men of the region, held in great respect by 
all who know him. 

On May 26, 1875, Mr. Baxter was mar 
ried, by Rev. J. R. Isaac, of the Methodist 
Church, to Miss Isabella South, who was 
born in Toronto township, York County. 
Her parents were John and Isabella (Haw 
thorne) South, the former from Surrey, 
England, and the latter from Ireland. The 
children of this marriage were as follows : 
(i) Robert John South is at home. (2) 
David Francis W. V. is employed on a dairy 
farm in the Northwest Territory. (3) Sam 
uel W. E. A. E. is at home, as are also (4) 
Eli Wilbert H. L. and (5) Isabella W. H. 

Mr. and Mrs. Baxter are both members 
of the Methodist Church of the 6th Line, 
and are active in religious work, Mr. Bax 
ter being also a trustee of the church of 
Courtright. He is an ardent Liberal in poli 
tics, but is too deeply engrossed in his agri 
cultural operations to take an individual part 
in local affairs. He is a man of excellent 
character, temperate in his habits and do 
mestic in his tastes, and is one of the good 
men and useful citizens of Moore township. 

SAMUEL J. WILCOCKS, one of 
Bosanquet s representative citizens, and a 
well-known farmer and cattle man, has made 
his home in the township from early boyhood 
and knows much of the pioneer life of that 
section and of the many trials and hardships 
endured by the early settlers thereof. Mr. 
Wilcocks comes of a race of men who have 
been colonizers and civilizers for centuries. 
He was born in the city of Exeter, Devon 
shire, England, Feb. 6, 1846. 



David Wilcocks, the grandfather of 
Samuel J., was a native of Devonshire, and 
spent his entire life in Exeter, where he was- 
engaged in a dry-goods business and was a 
prominent man in business circles. He there 
married Miss Annie Rowe, who bore him six. 
children : David, who succeeded his father 
in the wholesale dry-goods business in Exe 
ter, and later went to the Cape of Good 
Hope, where he engaged in the same busi 
ness; Samuel Isaac; Joseph, who died in 
Exeter; Nathaniel, a broker of Northamp 
ton, England; and Abigail and Lydia, who 
died young. The mother of these children 
died in Exeter and was there buried. Dur 
ing the cholera plague which visited the 
town of Exeter, in the late forties, Mr. Wil 
cocks sold out his business to his eldest son, 
David, and removed to Ilfracombe, North 
Devonshire, in order to escape the plague, 
but died ten days later from inflammation of 
the bowels, and was buried there. He and 
his family were members of the Baptist 
Church. 

Samuel Isaac Wilcocks, the second son 
of David, and the father of our subject, was 
born in the city of Exeter, Devonshire, and 
there obtained a good education. He received 
his business training in the dry-goods estab 
lishment of his father and after learning 
every branch of the business embarked in an- 
enterprise of his own, conducting a whole 
sale dry-goods business in Exeter for sev 
eral years. Not caring for the business, and 
preferring outdoor life, he disposed of his 
mercantile establishment and removed to 
North Devon, where he purchased land and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He there 
married Elizabeth Davey, a native of North 
Devon and a daughter of Thomas and Eliza 
beth (Chapel) Davey, and two children were 
born to them in Devon, Samuel John (our 
subject) and David. Having a strong de 
sire to see the western world. Mr. Wilcocks 
disposed of his land and buildings, and in 
1849. with his young wife and two children, 
sailed from Liverpool on a sailing vessel 
commanded by Capt. Richards, which after 
a passage of seventeen weeks landed them 
at Quebec. After landing in Canada the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



347 



family journeyed west to Oxford County, 
settling near Woodstock, where Mr. Wil- 
cocks farmed two years. From there, in 
the early fifties, he came to Lambton County, 
locating on Lot 3, Concession i, where he 
purchased a bush tract of 113 acres, on 
which was a very small clearing and a little 
log house. Here he settled with his little 
family in the woods. As he was one of the 
first settlers of that section, and knew noth 
ing of farming or manual labor, his task of 
clearing up a farm was an uphill one, but 
after a few years his sons were able to assist 
him, and the tract was cleared and the new 
dwelling-house and barns erected. Here 
Mr. Wilcocks passed the remainder of his 
life. Although his whole life was spent in 
hard work, he did not accomplish much, as 
he lacked the faculty of good management. 
He was a great reader, and kept himself 
well-informed on the things that were hap 
pening in the outside world. He was a 
stanch supporter of the Baptist faith, and 
attended the church at Arkona. In politics 
he was a Reformer, and always supported 
that party s principles, although he was 
never an office-seeker. He was domestic 
and temperate in his habits and lived to a 
ripe old age, dying on his farm Nov. 12, 
1901, and was buried in the cemetery at Ar 
kona. His widow, who is still living at the 
homestead, has passed her eighty-fourth 
year. Time has touched her lightly. Her 
senses are alert, her faculties keen, and she 
is very active physically. She is a devoted 
mother and a true Christian woman, and at 
tends the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wilcocks had children as follows : Samuel 
John ; David, a farmer and landowner of 
Bay City, Michigan ; George, who resides in 
Chicago, where he is a mechanic in the car 
shops ; Joseph, a banker of Arkona, Ont. ; 
Francis, a farmer of Bardal, Man. ; Septe- 
mus, a farmer of Bosanquet township ; An 
toninus, a farmer of Warwick township; 
Cranmer, a resident of Duluth, Minnesota ; a 
son that died in infancy: and Bessie, who 
died at the age of two years. 

Samuel John Wilcocks was but three 
years old when he crossed the Atlantic with 



his parents, and was but five years old when 
the family settled in Bosanquet township. 
Here he attended the little log school, but 
being the eldest of the family the burden of 
clearing and improving the farm fell to his 
lot, until the other brothers were old enough 
to assist. He remained on the homestead 
until of age, when he married, and he and 
his young bride started out to make a horpe. 
Mr. Wilcocks rented a fifty-acre tract at 
Rock Glen, Bosanquet township, where he 
farmed two years, and moved from there to 
the loth Concession, Bosanquet township, 
on Lot 15, where he leased from the Can 
ada Land Co. a bush tract of fifty acres. 
Here he spent one year, and then returned to 
the homestead, renting from his father the 
homestead farm of 1 13 acres, which he oper 
ated during his father s life. Since his death 
our subject has purchased the place, on 
which he has made numerous improvements. 
Mr. Wilcocks also purchased, on Lot 25, a 
tract of 127 acres, which is under cultiva 
tion, and which he uses for pasturing pur 
poses. He has, for a number of years, been 
engaged in the cattle business both raising 
and dealing and was for a few years en 
gaged in the raising and herding of Short 
horn Durhams. Of domestic tastes, Mr. 
Wilcocks is very fond of his home. Politi 
cally he is a stanch Liberal, and was a mem 
ber of the township council in 1894, elected 
from Ward i ; he served one term as deputy 
reeve, during which time he sat as a member 
of the county council, this being during the 
wardenship of Robert McCormick. He has 
for seventeen years been a member of the 
school board of Section No. 6, and was 
secretary and treasurer of that body. He 
and his family are members of the Baptist 
Church. 

Mr. Wilcocks is a lover of fine horses and 
has owned some of the finest horseflesh to be 
found in Ontario. He and his sons have en 
gaged in horse breeding for the last ten 
years. In 1895 he purchased the well known 
stallion "Wildwood," which he had in serv 
ice for five years, during which time he 
bought the famous stallion "Wigtown," 
which he still owns, and which has been in 



348 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



service for eight years. Mr. Wilcocks was 
also the owner of "Lord Warwick," "The 
Scotch Nero," and "Royal Fred," all im 
ported. He was the owner of "Handsome 
John," which is now in Middlesex County, 
and in which he still owns a half-interest. In 
1904 he purchased the imported stallion 
"Asloun Darnley," of Scotland, which he 
still owns. 

On Feb. 6, 1867, in Strathroy, Middle 
sex County, Mr. Wilcocks married Mary 
Ann Kayes, daughter of John and Mary 
Jane (Shackelton) Kayes, and four children 
have been born to this union, as follows : 
George, a farmer of Warwick township, 
married Ethel Cutler, and has one child, 
Samuel Albert ; Cranmer Isaac, who died at 
the age of thirty-two years, was a railroad 
man, employed by the C. P. R. R. Co., in 
British Columbia ; Frank, on the homestead, 
married Nancy Zavits, of Warwick town 
ship; Bessie died in young childhood. 

JOSEPH WILCOCKS, manager of the Sov 
ereign Bank of Canada, at Arkona, and 
brother of Samuel John. Wilcocks, was born 
on the old homestead and attended school in 
that section. He was only nine years old 
when he started out to make his own way in 
life. He first found employment as a clerk 
in a grocery store, being employed by a Mr. 
Brown. Some time afterward he went to 
London, and clerked in the dry-goods store 
of a Mr. Alley. He then returned to Arkona 
and worked some time for Mr. Pasley, from 
whom he went to Mr. Woodhall, of Park 
Hill. After working some time with a Mr. 
Mayburg he accepted a position as traveling 
salesman for the McCormack Biscuit Co., of 
London, traveling for that firm for eighteen 
years, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. 
On account of ill health Mr. Wilcocks had 
to give up the road, and he then located in 
Arkona, where he started in the banking 
business, which he carried on very success 
fully for ten years. In 1904 the Sovereign 
Bank of Canada established an office in Ar 
kona, and Mr. Wilcocks accepted the man 
agement thereof, in which position he has 
served efficiently ever since. In his political 
convictions Mr. Wilcocks is a stanch Con 



servative, but he has never sought office, tak 
ing only a good citizen s interest in political 
matters. He is a quiet, unassuming gentle 
man, kind and genial, and is very popular in 
Arkona, where he has hosts of friends who 
enjoy his social prominence and his business 
success. 

BENJAMIN JONES MILLIKIN, one 
of the well-known citizens and prominent 
agriculturists of Moore township, was born 
in Sherbrooke township, Lanark County, 
March 25, 1837. 

John Millikin, grandfather of Benjamin 
J., was born in the North of Ireland, where 
he grew up, married and reared his family. 
Late in life he came to Canada, locating in 
Sherbrooke township, and engaged in farm 
ing until the time of his demise. He was a 
Methodist in religious belief, a Conservative 
in politics, and a member of the Orangemen. 

John Millikin, Jr., was a young man 
when he accompanied his parents to Canada, 
and there he engaged in school teaching for 
a number of years before he settled down to 
farming, in Sherbrooke township. He mar 
ried Miss Mary Jones, a native of New 
Jersey, and six of their children were born 
before they moved to Clarke township, Dur 
ham County. There Mr. Millikin worked 
at farming until 1851, and then moved again 
to Moore township in the County of Lamb- 
ton, where he first bought 100 acres in Lot 
14, on the banks of the St. Clair river, and 
later 200 acres more, in Concession 3, on 
which he again engaged in farming. His 
death occurred in 1854, when he was aged 
fifty-seven years, and he was buried in Som- 
bra cemetery. A member of the Methodist 
Church, he was also a local preacher for 
many years and active in church work gen 
erally. The children born to him and his 
wife were as follows: Richard is deceased, 
as are also William and John ; Benjamin J. 
is mentioned below ; Esther Ann died in in 
fancy; Esther Ann (2) is the wife of Dr. 
William Whipple. of Port Huron, Michi 
gan; Caroline (deceased) married Capt. 
William Collins; Thomas J. is of St. Clair, 
Michigan; Eliza (deceased) married John 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



349 



Albinson. After Mr. Millikin s death his 
wife married William Boilan, whose death 
at Dresden, Kent County, left her again a 
widow. She afterward made her home with 
her daughter, Mrs. Whipple, and there her 
own death occurred at the age of ninety- 
four. For seventy-eight years she had been 
a member of the Methodist Church, and her 
life and death alike were those of a genuine 
and devoted Christian. 

Benjamin Jones Millikin attended the 
schools of Clarke township until he was four 
teen. When his father died, three years 
later, he continued at home, helping to clear 
up the land, and he made farming his life 
work. He settled on the first loo-acre tract, 
on Line 2, and his brother William made 
his home on the river front. The former 
made extensive improvements on his place 
and got it well under cultivation, and in 
1898 he removed to the original homestead, 
where he has built a fine frame dwelling. 
He has since been engaged in general farm 
ing and has been very successful in all his 
operations. 

In 1884 Mr. Millikin was married, bv 
Rev. Mr. Fife, to Miss Annie Fredrick, 
who was born in Kent County. Ont.. daugh 
ter of Jeremiah and Barbara (Fields) Fred 
rick, and in her has found an admirable help 
meet and devoted wife and mother. She has 
borne him two children : John, who died in 
infancy; and Percy LeRoy, who is attending 
school. The family are connected with the 
Methodist Church. Mr. Millikin is a Con 
servative in politics, has been trustee of 
School Section Xo. i for six years, and is a 
man universally esteemed and respected. 

HIRAM COOLEY, who departed this 
life at Petrolia March 13, 1901. was one of 
the early settlers of that locality, and a na 
tive of the State of New Hampshire, born in 
1832. His literary education was acquired 
in Vermont. He was a son of Alvin and 
Heptsibeth (Laughlin) Cooley, old resi 
dents of the Eastern States. 

About 1849, when Hiram Cooley was a 
boy of seventeen years, he settled in Chi 
cago, from which city he went to Joliet, Illi 



nois, and became a prominent and successful 
grain merchant. During his residence in 
Joliet he learned of the oil fields of Petrolia, 
and made them a visit. So favorably was he 
impressed by them that he invested largely 
in Petrolia property, and in 1863 settled at 
Oil Springs and began the production of 
oil. When the price of crude oil went down 
Mr. Cooley with other producers suffered a 
heavy loss. In 1866 he located in Petrolia 
and continued to produce oil, forming at 
that time a partnership with the late Hon. 
Oliver Simmons. M. P., and they built one 
of the first refineries of Petrolia, and con 
ducted it successfully for some time. Upon 
the formation of the Petrolia Refinery Mr. 
Cooley became a member of the company, 
leasing his refinery to the syndicate. It 
was subsequently closed, and many people 
were thrown out of employment. From then 
on Mr. Cooley devoted himself to the pro 
duction of the crude oil. He also established 
the first skating rink in the city and later 
founded the cup business, which he was con 
ducting at the time of his death, and which 
is successfully continued by Mrs. Cooley. 
In addition to being a prominent figure in 
the commercial life of the city Mr. Cooley 
was active in municipal affairs, and for some 
years was a member of the city council. He 
always supported the principles of the Con 
servative party. 

Mr. Cooley was three times married, his 
first wife having been Emily Brown, by 
whom he had a daughter, Ella, of Detroit. 
His second wife was Delia Russell, and they 
had one daughter, Ida, Mrs. Henry Brake, 
of Petrolia. who has three children, Alice, 
Frank, and Emily May (deceased). In 
1866 Mr. Cooley was united in marriage 
with Louise Covert, a native of Ohio, and a 
daughter of Sylvanus and Sarah (Lander) 
Covert. Four children were born to this 
union : Arthur V. died aged twenty-one ; 
Maud died aged twenty-four; Edgar R., of 
Chicago, married Elizabeth Lowe, by whom 
he has one son, William : Florence resides 
with her mother in Petrolia. 

In his religious affiliations Mr. Cooley 
was a Methodist, and contributed liberally 



350 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



toward the support of the church. In his 
death Petrolia lost one of its most valued 
citizens and prominent business men, and 
his memory is tenderly cherished by many 
outside his own family. 

ARTHUR HUME. Born in the town- 
ship of Warwick, County of Lambton, Dec. 
25, 1848, for many years Arthur Hume was 
an agriculturist of the county, living in En- 
niskillen, but is now living retired in Pe 
trolia. His parents were William and Elea 
nor (Hume) Hume, both born and reared in 
the North of Ireland, who emigrated to 
Canada in their youth, settling in Warwick 
township. Their respective families were 
among the first settlers of that locality. 

The father of William Hume was 
Thomas Hume, who made the first clearing- 
in Warwick township. His sons were : Will 
iam, James, Robert, all of whom were mar 
ried and left families, and John, who died 
unmarried. The daughter Elizabeth, is now 
deceased. 

William Hume settled on the old home 
stead, where he died, and his widow married 
again, dying in Lambton County. She had 
one daughter by her second husband, 
Martha (deceased). The children of Will 
iam and Eleanor Hume were: Alexander, 
born in Warwick township in 1835, married 
Miss Katie Montgomery, and settled on the 
old homestead, where he lived for some 
years, but later moved to Manitoba, where 
he died, leaving a wife and family. John, 
born on the old homestead in 1837, married 
a Miss Lee in Lambton County, and they 
now reside on the I2th Concession in Ennis 
killen, where he cleared up a farm from wild 
land ; he has a family. Caroline, born in 
Warwick township in 1839, married Frank 
lin Watson, and they settled in Moore, later 
moving to Petrolia, where she died, leaving 
a family. William, born in 1841, married a 
Miss Hume, of W anvick township, and now 
owns the old homestead on which he resides 
with his family. Maria, born in- 1843, mar 
ried John Cowan, and they have a family; 
they reside in Alberta, Northwest Territory. 
Henry died in boyhood. James, born in 1850, 



married a Miss Fuller, of Lambton County, 
and settled on a part of the old homestead, 
but a few years prior to his death moved to 
Watford, where he lived retired; he left a 
wife and family. Martha died at the age of 
four years. Arthur is the sixth in order of 
birth. 

Arthur Hume attended the little log 
school of his district and there received a 
limited education. In this primitive school- 
house the benches were hewed from logs, 
and the heat provided from an open fire 
place, built of clay at one end of the house. 
Still, what he learned he knew thoroughly, 
and has remembered. He grew up on the 
old homestead farm, remaining there until 
he decided to start out in life for himself. 
Unlike many men, his father left his sons 
land, and addition to his portion Mr. Hume 
bought wild land on the I2th Concession. 
In 1872 he married Miss Jean McLachlan, 
daughter of Duncan and Mary McLachlan, 
now deceased, of the i2th Concession, of 
Enniskillen. Mrs. Hume was born in Ar 
gyllshire, Scotland, in 1850, but was edu 
cated in Enniskillen, where she grew to wo 
manhood. After their marriage the enter 
prising young couple settled on his bush 
farm, in a log cabin built by himself. For 
some years this was their home, but later he 
erected a frame house and made many im 
provements, gradually bringing his land 
into a high state of cultivation. In time he 
bought TOO additional acres, adjoining 
his homestead. In 1893 he bought real es 
tate on Main street, Petrolia, where he built 
his present home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hume have no children of 
their own, but they have an adopted daugh 
ter, Miss Lillie, who is the comfort of their 
home. In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Hume 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically Mr. Hume has always been a 
Conservative, but aside from serving as 
school trustee for a number of years, and in 
teresting himself in school work, he has not 
aspired to public honors. 

Those of the old settlers still living in 
\\ arwiclc township remember with gre^t 
veneration and gratitude the hospitality and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



35i 



charity displayed by Mr. William Hume. 
Living as he did in the midst of a still un 
settled community, he considered himself re 
sponsible for the well-being of those less 
fortunate than he, and his house was always 
an asylum for those who needed help. Not 
only did he offer material aid, but he was 
ever ready to cheer and encourage, and to 
his noble efforts is due much of the present 
prosperity of the locality to-day. 

Naturally, the son of such a man has in 
herited many of the traits of character which 
made the father so respected and beloved, 
and Arthur Hume in his generation occu 
pies much the same place that William 
Hume did half a century ago. The family is 
esteemed in the neighborhood, and the name 
of Hume is enrolled among those connected 
with the early history of Lambton County. 

GILBERT SCOTT, who resides on the 
3d Concession, Moore township, Lambton 
County, is a native of Scotland, born in Ar 
gyllshire, Jan. 2, 1849. 

The Scott family are old settlers of 
Lambton County, having been located in 
Moore township for over fifty years. John 
Scott, the grandfather of Gilbert, was a na 
tive of Selkirkshire, Scotland, where he was 
engaged as a farm laborer. He died in mid 
dle life, in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church. He married Isabella Bartleman, and 
they became the parents of eight children, as 
follows : John died in Moore township. 
where he had been a pioneer, and was buried 
in Bear Creek cemetery ; he married Betsey 
Scott, and their children were John (a 
farmer of Moore and Plympton townships, 
deceased), \Yilliam (who died in Moore 
township), Andrew (a farmer of Moore 
township), and Isabella (deceased, who 
married Robert Good). Andrew was the 
father of our subject. Walter died in Bo- 
sanquet township in 1891. Robert died in 
Grey township, Huron County, in 1904. 
Henry, a farmer of Moore township, mar 
ried Mary Tickner. Isabella married Walter 
Wilson and died in Puslinch township. Well 
ington County. Margaret married George 



Henderson and died in Huron County, 
Gideon remained in Scotland. 

Mrs. Scott and six of her children came 
to Canada in 1849. sailing from Scotland to 
Xew York and going from there to the 
County of Wellington, locating in Puslinch 
township, where they settled down to farm 
ing for two years. In 1851 Mrs. Scott and 
her sons John, Henry, Walter and Robert 
removed to Lambton County, locating in 
Moore township, on the banks of Bear creek, 
where they had bought 200 acres of land. 
Here Mrs. Scott died in 1860, at the age of 
seventy-one years, and was laid to rest in 
the Bear Creek cemetery. The farm of 200 
acres was divided between her sons John 
and Henry, the only one of the family now 
living being the latter, who resides on 100 
acres of the old homestead, while Andrew, 
the son of John, farms the other 100 acres. 

Andrew Scott, the second son of John 
and Isabella Scott, was born in Selkirkshire, 
Scotland, where he grew to manhood and 
engaged in farming. He spent some time 
in Roxburghshire, and later removed to 
Argyllshire, where he married Agnes Mc- 
Corquenclale. They became the parents of 
these children : John, who died in Moore 
township; Gilbert, the subject of this sketch; 
Andrew, a resident of the Xorthwest Terri 
tory; Alexander, who carried on farming in 
Moore township ; and Walter, who is de 
ceased. In 1859, with his wife and five chil 
dren. Andrew Scott left his Scotland home 
and came to Canada, locating in Moore 
township, where his mother and four broth 
ers lived, and worked at farm labor until 
1861, when he moved to the 3d Concession, 
in Moore township, settling on fifty acres of 
bush and swamp land which, after years of 
hard work, he was able to improve some 
what. He spent his entire life on this farm, 
where he died in 1892, at the age of seventy- 
eight years. He was laid to rest in Bear 
Creek cemetery. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Lib 
eral. His worthy widow made her home 
with her son Andrew, with whom she died 
in 1899, attaining the ripe old age of ninety 



352 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years ; she was laid beside her husband in the 
Bear Creek cemetery. Like him she was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

Gilbert Scott attended the public schools 
of his native home and was but ten years of 
age when he came to Lambton County with 
his parents, where his opportunities for an 
education were very few. He grew up in 
the woods on the 2(1 Line of Moore, and 
worked with his father on the farm until 
of age, after which he worked out for 
twenty years, finding employment in the 
woods in the winter. He then bought fifty 
acres of bush land on Lot 13, Concession 3, 
Moore township, and settled down to clear 
up his farm. After this was accomplished 
he erected a dwelling-house and good, sub 
stantial barns, and made all necessary im 
provements. He is now also farming fifty 
acres of his brother Andrew s farm, operat 
ing 100 acres, and engaging quite exten 
sively in stock raising. 

On Oct. 2, 1878, Mr. Scott married, in 
Moore township, Mary Jane Farr, who died 
in 1884 and was buried in the Bear Creek 
cemetery. She was a devoted wife and 
mother/ and left children as follows: Mary 
Agnes, who married Edward Kent, of 
Moore township; May, who keeps house for 
her father; and John, who resides with his 
uncle Andrew in the Northwest Territory. 

In fraternal circles Mr. Scott affiliates 
with the I. O. O. F. at Brigden. He shows 
his interest in farming by his membership in 
the Moore Township Agricultural Society. 
Politically he is a Liberal. He is an adher 
ent of the Presbyterian Church, of which he 
is a constant attendant. He is a public-spir 
ited citizen, and takes an active interest in 
all that pertains to the development of the 
community. 

ALBERT DUNCAN, police magistrate, 
engaged in a general insurance business and 
also a large oil producer at Petrolia, has been 
prominently identified with public matters 
in Lambton County for a number of years, 
and is probably one of the best known citizens 
of the county. 

Mr. Duncan is a native of Sarnia town 



ship, and a grandson of one of the first set 
tlers in that locality. The Duncan family 
is of Scottish extraction, and was founded 
in Canada by James Duncan, who was born 
in Scotland in 1795 and there married Chris 
tiana Chalmers, of the same country. In 
1820 James Duncan and his wife came to 
Ontario, locating in Dalhousie township, La 
nark County, where he followed farming 
until 1835. In that year he settled on Con 
cession i, Sarnia township, Lambton County. 
This was then a dense forest, but he had the 
vigor and industry to clear up a fine farm, and 
here he and his wife died. They were Pres 
byterians in religious faith. Politically he 
was a Reformer. Their children were ; John, 
James and Robert, deceased; William, of 
Vancouver, where the Duncan station was 
named in his honor, being located on his 
property ; Andrew, of Sarnia ; Alexander, of 
Kingston, Out. ; Joseph, of Alberta, North 
west Territory, where he died in 1903; Isa 
bella, Mrs. Ronald McColl ; Christina, 
widow of Robert Mills; Agnes, widow of 
John S. Miller; Catherine, Mrs. Alexander 
Lamond ; Annie, wife of S. Mills, of Florida ; 
Jean, Mrs. Robert Purvis, of Sarnia town 
ship; and Helen, deceased. 

James Duncan, of the above family, was 
born in Dalhousie township, Lanark County, 
in October, 1827, and married Jane Holmes, 
who was born in Beckwith township, Lanark 
county, in 1877. After their marriage they 
settled on the south half of Lot 6, Concession 
i , Sarnia township, where they resided some 
forty years, at the end of that time removing 
to Petrolia, where they passed the remainder 
of their lives. Mr. Duncan died in 1893, by 
an explosion in the oil field, he at that time 
being engaged in the oil business. Mrs. 
Duncan died in 1891. James Duncan 
was for many years a member of the 
council of Sarnia township and also of Pe 
trolia. He was a member of the Reform 
party in early life, but later adopted the prin 
ciples of the Conservatives. Both he and 
his wife were consistent Baptists. They had 
a family of five children born to them, as fol 
lows : Christina, the wife of Donald Mc 
Donald; Albert, our subject; William R., in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



353 



the oil business in Petrolia; Agnes J., Mrs. 
John McAlpine. of Petrolia; and Annie, 
Mrs. William Oliver, of Port Huron. 

Albert Duncan was born July 24, 1854, 
in Sarnia township, and was educated in the 
Osborne public school. On reaching man 
hood he engaged in farming and stock rais 
ing, which he followed successfully for a 
number of years, remaining until 1893 on 
his farm, in Lot i, Concession 4, Sarnia 
township. He was also extensively engaged 
in the cattle business, being a drover for 
twelve years. Then, in order to give his 
attention more particularly to the oil busi 
ness, he abandoned agricultural life and re 
moved to Petrolia, where he has ever since 
resided. However, he has not by any means 
given all his time to this line, being heavily 
interested in the insurance and real-estate 
business as senior member of the firm of A. 
Duncan & Son, insurance and real-estate 
brokers, district agent of the Imperial Life 
for the County of Lambton, and president 
of the Lambton Mutual Fire Insurance Com 
pany, to whose management and welfare he 
has given freely of his talents and energies. 
He has been a director of this company for 
eleven years, and served four years as vice- 
president before assuming the responsibili 
ties of his present high office. How great 
these are may be realized from the statement 
that the company carries risks on nearly two 
million dollars worth of farm property in the 
county. In all his business enterprises, Mr. 
Duncan has shown much ability, his careful, 
conservative course bringing him continued 
success. In the ups and downs of the oil 
business he has always been on the right side 
and has been a very important factor in that 
line in this locality. Recently he has dis 
posed of fifty wells, but still operates 
thirty. 

In the political life of the county Mr. 
Duncan has been a leader from early man 
hood. "While living on the farm he served 
as school trustee, assessor, councillor and 
reeve of the township, his political services 
beginning in the year 1885. Since then he 
has had just one year of freedom from public 
service the year he changed his residence 

23 



to Petrolia. During his career in that place 
he has held practically every office within the 
gift of his fellow citizens, having been high 
school trustee, town councillor, water com 
missioner, collector and county warden, be 
fore he took his present important position, 
that of police magistrate. In March, 1904, 
upon the death of W. H. Hammond, Esq., 
he was appointed to the latter office, and re 
signed his seat in the county council to accept. 
Mr. Duncan was the first warden of the 
county under the county councils act of 1896. 
He gave able service in every incumbency, 
but his most important work was probably in 
the capacity of chairman of the fire and water 
committee of the town of Petrolia, in 1896, 
in which year the splendid water-works sys 
tem was inaugurated. As this involved an 
expenditure of $173,000 the responsibility 
was great. 

All his life Mr. Duncan has displayed 
thoroughness in everything he undertook. 
When he took up farming he went into the 
work for all it was worth, and for some years 
was one of the crack ploughmen of western 
Ontario, being several times the successful 
contestant among some of the best men in the 
Province. He has been foremost in every 
line in which he has been interested, and in 
public service there is hardly anyone who 
may be said to have done more for the ad 
vancement of his community, the spirit and 
energy which brought him success in his pri 
vate enterprises proving equally effective 
when applied to civil affairs. 

On Dec. 24, 1878, Mr. Duncan married 
Miss Ellen Jackson, second daughter of John 
Jackson, Esq., of Moore township, where 
Mrs. Duncan was born March 26, 1854. 
Seven children have been born to this union, 
namely: Maurice, teller in the Bank of To 
ronto, at Toronto, Ont. ; Ralph, real-estate 
and general insurance broker, of Winnipeg; 
Jean, at home; Cameron, teller and account 
ant, Metropolitan Bank, Brigden ; and Eliz 
abeth, Agnes and Helen, at home. In relig 
ious belief the family is Baptist, Mr. Duncan 
being an active member of and worker in that 
church. Politically he is a Liberal. Fratern 
ally he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 



354 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



MICHAEL MURPHY, a prosperous 
retired farmer of Plympton township, is 
foremost in the ranks of Lambton s pioneer 
farmers, honored and respected by all. He 
is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been 
born in County Kilkenny, Sept. 19, 1839, 
son of the late Daniel and Bridget (Powers) 
Murphy, both of whom were natives of the 
same county. 

In 1850 the parents came to Canada, and 
settled in Trafalgar township, Halton 
County, Ont., but five years later, they re 
moved to County Lambton. There the 
father purchased 100 acres of land, adjoin 
ing the farm now occupied by our subject. 
This land, like the greater part of Plympton 
township at that date, was covered by a 
dense forest, and infested by bears and 
wolves. The privations and hardships suf 
fered by this family were, perhaps, no worse 
than those of other pioneers, but they were 
difficult to overcome, and cruel while they 
lasted. Mr. Murphy remembers well those 
days, and yet in looking back, can see that 
they all extracted much enjoyment out of 
their few pleasures. Upon this 100 acres, 
the family erected a comfortable log house 
and went to work to convert the property 
into a valuable home. After years of hard 
labor, the earnest workers were rewarded by 
well merited success. 

In the meanwhile, Michael Murphy pur 
chased 100 acres adjoining his father s farm, 
and went to work upon it in the usual fash 
ion, and in time, lie too. saw his acres cov 
ered with a rich harvest, and realized that he 
owned one of the best pieces of farming 
property in Lambton County. Upon this 
farm, he erected an excellent brick residence, 
commodious barn and well constructed out 
buildings, and put in main improvements, 
he being in his days of active work one of 
the best farmers this region has known. 

Mr. Murphy has been twice married. In 
Hamilton, Out., in June, 1857, he wedded 
Mary Campbell, who died in 1888, without 
issue. The present Mrs. Murphy, to whom 
he was married Feb. 11, 1890, was in her 
maiden days Miss Sarah McQuade, and she 
was a daughter of the late John and Mar 



garet (Graham) McQuade. Three children 
were born to this union, all of whom died in 
childhood. Mr. Murphy has served four 
years in the township council, eighteen years 
as school trustee and has also been deputy 
reeve, filling all these important offices with 
ability. He has always been identified with 
the interests of the Reform party, whose 
principles he staunchly supports. A member 
of the Roman Catholic Church, and a life 
long and faithful advocate of the cause of 
temperance, having been a member of a 
Total Abstinence Society from boyhood, he 
is a man who is worthy of all honor, and has 
many friends throughout both township and 
county. 

JOHN MORRISON, a wealthy farmer 
of Enniskillen township, on Concession 10, 
Lot 10, was born near Hamilton, Wentworth 
County, Ont., son of John and Margaret 
I McGregor) Morrison. The parents were 
born in Scotland and came to Canada while 
still young. They were married in Lower 
Canada, near St. John s, in 1834, settled first 
in Lower Canada, where they tried several 
different localities, and then spent a few 
years near Hamilton, in 1843 coming to 
Lambton County. Previously Mr. Morri 
son had followed his trade of shoemaking, 
but after buying his land in Enniskillen 
township he devoted himself to farming. 
Wild lands had to be cleared and the family 
experienced all the trials of pioneer life. The 
first home was a log house, but later more 
commodious buildings were put up, and 
they made a comfortable home, where the 
father and mother lived out their days. Mrs. 
Morrison died Aug. 20, 1895. and Mr. Mor 
rison Nov. 20, 1897. They were Presby 
terians in their religious belief, and in poli 
tics Mr. Morrison was a Conservative, and 
held several township offices. Of their fam 
ily of eleven children: (i) Mary married 
David Webster, of Petrolia, where she died, 
leaving a family. (2) Jane married the late 
John Miller, of Sombra, where she still lives 
with her children. (3) John was the eldest 
son. (4) Catherine, formerly a teacher in the 
county schools, is the wife of John McFar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



355 



lane, of Kansas, and has three sons. (5) 
Margaret, also a teacher, married Alexan 
der Farnsworth, of Kansas, and has one son, 
Alexander. (6) Dr. Peter J. is a practicing 
physician of Miami County. Kansas, and has 
a family. (7) Janet, born at the present 
homestead is the wife of Thomas Fleming-, 
of Kansas, and has one daughter. (8) Eliza 
beth married James Fleming, of Kansas, 
and is the mother of two sons. (9) Alexan 
der died in 1897, leaving a wife and family. 

( 10) Louisa married Robert Russel. of 
Manitoba, and died leaving one daughter. 

( 1 1 ) Rebecca married \Y. Westfall, of Fort 
Smith, Arkansas, who was a wholesale mer 
chant. 

John Morrison was sent to the district 
schools, and after acquiring the education 
they offered remained on the farm, assisting 
his father. For twenty years previous to 
the latter s death the son was sole manager 
of the place. The earlier buildings on the 
farm were burned in 1902, and Mr. Morri 
son at once replaced them with a large brick 
house and barns, the property now being one 
of the finest places in the region, fitted with 
all modern improvements. 

On Jan. 7, 1902, Mr. Morrison married 
Mrs. May (Balster) Baker, widow of 
Harrv Baker, of Kansas, and mother of one 
son. Conrad Baker, who resides at home. 
One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Morrison, Enid Emily. Mrs. Morrison is a 
daughter of J. C. Balster, formerly a jeweler 
in Sarnia, and one of the prominent citizens 
of that place ; he is now residing with our 
subject. The daughter was reared and edu 
cated there and is a lady of much education 
and refinement. She and her husband are 
both members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically Mr. Morrison supports the Con 
servative party, but has never been an office- 
seeker. He has prospered in all his under 
takings, and is a highly esteemed representa 
tive of a family always regarded with much 
respect throughout the township. 

| 

GEORGE G. HARTLEY, one of the 
well known business men of Wyoming, 
where for the past ten years he has been con 



nected with the Massey. Harris Company, 
is one of Wyoming s most respected citi 
zens. He was born in Lincolnshire, Eng 
land, on Good Friday. April 17, 1840. but 
nearly all his life has been passed in Canada. 

For generations the Hartley family has 
been established in Lincolnshire and there 
James, grandfather of George G.. was born 
and reared. His life was spent in farming, 
as a tenant farmer, and he never left his na 
tive land. He was a member of the Church 
of England. His son William was born in 
the same place and also followed farming 
there. He married Miss Ann Gell, of Lin 
colnshire, and they had a family of nine chil 
dren, as follows: Lucy, Mrs. Thomas Oliver. 
of Wyoming; Sarah, Mrs. Arthur Rouls- 
ton. of Walpole. Haldimand County: 
Emma, Mrs. Peter Cram, of Plympton ; 
William, a Plympton farmer, who died in 
1884; George G. : John, of Oil Springs; 
Frances, Mrs. William McCausland, of 
Prince Albert, Northwest Territory; James, 
who died aged forty-five years, and Mary, 
who died Oct. 5. 1872. 

In 1845 William Hartley and his family 
embarked on a sailing vessel at Liverpool, 
and after a voyage of seven weeks landed at 
Montreal. Going to Ontario, he located at 
Trafalgar, Halton County, and rented a 
farm for several years. B V hard work and 
strict attention to business he succeeded in 
saving some money, and. moving to Lamb- 
ton County, he there bought 200 acres of 
land in Concession 3. Lot 18. Sixty acres 
of this had been cleared at an expense of 
$2,000, but the rest was done by himself and 
his sons. He got his farm in a good state of 
cultivation, and there spent the rest of his 
life, passing away in 1885, aged sixty-eight. 
He was buried in the Wyoming cemetery. A 
firm believer in the Methodist faith. Mr. 
Hartley was one of the organizers of the 
local church, and was always active in its 
work. He was the soul of hospitality, and 
his home was ever open to the ministers of 
his church in the days before there was a 
residence secured for them in Wyoming. A 
Reformer in politics he was always a firm 
supporter of the Liberal party, but no office 



356 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



seeker. Mrs. Ann G. Hartley lived to the 
ripe old age of eighty-nine, a loving wife 
and mother and a good Christian, a member 
of the Methodist Church. Her last years 
were spent in the home of her son, George 
G., and she was interred beside her husband. 

George G. Hartley was only five years 
old when he came to Canada, and until he 
was twelve he lived in Trafalgar and attend 
ed the district schools there. After moving to 
Plympton, he worked on the farm with his 
father, and remained there until he was of 
age. Then his father gave him half of the 
homestead and he was engaged in farming 
and stock raising until 1894; during that 
time he made extensive improvements on the 
farm and built a good house and barns. But 
in that year he decided to give up farming, 
sold his farm and stock and went in with 
the Massey, Harris Company. Since that 
time he has been active in business and makes 
his home in Wyoming where he owns a fine 
home. A Liberal in politics, he has been 
prominent in municipal affairs, and is now 
councilor for the borough of Wyoming. He 
was for seven years a member of the town 
ship council of Plympton, holding the office 
of deputy reeve for five years of that time, 
and has also been a member of the county 
council. Mr. Hartley s interest in the schools 
has resulted in his serving a long time as 
trustee for School Section 4^2. He is a 
Mason in good standing, a member of Burns 
Lodge, Wyoming, and was a charter mem 
ber of the I. O. O. F., in which he was 
Noble Grand for three years and treasurer 
for twenty-five years. 

Mr. Hartley was married in Wyoming 
Feb. i, 1865, to Miss Margaret Young An 
derson, daughter of John and Janet 
(Young) Anderson. The former, now de 
ceased, was one of Plympton s early pio 
neers, and was held in high esteem. One 
child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hart 
ley, Janet Y., now Mrs. Alpheus McKay. 
Mrs. Hartley is a woman of culture, as well 
as of truly Christian character. She and her 
husband both belong to the Presbyterian 
Church of Wyoming. 

ALPHEUS McKAY is one of the rising 



young business men of the county, and is one 
of its own sons, born in the township of 
Warwick in 1860. His grandfather, John 
McKay, was born in England, and came to 
Canada, locating in Waterloo, Ont., where 
he was a farmer for the rest of his life. He 
died at his home near Lobo, Middlesex 
County, a devout member of the Baptist 
Church. 

Michael McKay, son of John, was born 
at Waterloo, and remained at home long 
after he was grown. He had learned the 
trade of a cabinet maker and followed it at 
Lobo for twelve years before he removed to- 
Lambton County. He built a factory, oper 
ated by steam, for the manufacture of fur 
niture at Arkona, and combined with this 
the undertaking business. Later he became 
interested in farming and bought fifty acres 
of land in Warwick township, and in 1880- 
he gave over the management of the busi 
ness to his sons and retired to this farm,, 
where the rest of his life was spent. Politi 
cally a Reformer, he was in religious belief a 
member of the Society of Friends during 
his latter years. By his first wife, Miss 
Mary Zavits, he had two sons : Elihu, en 
gaged in the furniture and undertaking bus 
iness in Oil Springs; and Alpheus. Mrs. 
Mary Z. McKay died in 1866, and was 
buried in Poplar Hill cemetery at Lobo, a 
member of the Baptist Church. By the sec 
ond marriage, that with Miss Elizabeth 
Schooley, there were no children. 

Alpheus McKay was educated in the dis 
trict schools of Middlesex County, and 
afterward worked with his father until he 
became familiar with all the branches of the 
latter s business. When he was eighteen he 
and his brother took charge of the establish 
ment and conducted it until 1887, during 
which time they met with a loss of $800 by 
fire. In 1887 Alpheus sold out his interest 
and established himself in Wyoming, where 
he bought out the business of S. T. Scott. 
He began on a small scale but by his own 
efforts has built up an extensive patronage 
in both the furniture and undertaking busi 
ness, and has customers from all parts of the 
township. In 1896 he again suffered from 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



357 



fire, losing his store and warehouse with all 
his stock. As it was only partly insured he 
met with a loss of over $400. But he re 
built the store, having now a structure, 40 
by 87 feet, and carries over $7,000 worth of 
stock. For his undertaking business he has 
a span of black horses and two hearses, one 
black and one white. A Liberal in politics, 
be is a member of the school board of Wyo- 
ming. 

Mr. McKay was married in 1889, to 
Miss Janet Y. Hartley. Their home is an 
exceedingly pleasant one, built by Mr. 
McKay the year of their marriage, and their 
family consists of two daughters, Maggie 
and Alma. Mr. and Mrs. McKay belong to 
the Presbyterian Church. 

THOMAS HASTINGS, one of the 
substantial farmers and respected citizens 
of Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
who resides on Concession 9, Lot 29. was 
born in Warwick township, this county, Jan. 
26. 1860, son of Joseph and Rachel (Nor- 
ris) Hastings, both of whom are deceased. 

Joseph Hastings was born in Ireland in 
1829, and his parents, John and Betsy 
(Johnson) Hastings, came, in 1842, to 
Brooke township, Lambton County, where 
they settled. Four, children survived them, 
all of whom are now dead except one daugh 
ter. Mrs. Eliza Xewell. of Springfield, Can 
ada. Joseph Hastings lived for a number 
of years at Warwick, later settling in 
Brooke, where he cleared up a farm from 
wild land. He married Rachel Morris, 
daughter of Thomas and Mary Norris, na 
tives of Ireland, who were among Brooke s 
pioneer settlers. She died in 1864, when our 
subject was but four years old, leaving three 
children : Thomas, Joseph and Mary E., 
the latter now the wife of William Holering, 
of Sarnia, and the mother of three children. 
Dolly. Rachel and Ruby. Joseph Hastings 
second wife, Mary Xewell, was born in 
Lambton County, daughter of John Xewell, 
of Warwick, and she still resides at the old 
bomestead in Brooke. Joseph Hastings died 
in February, 1901. He had four children 
by his second wife: Isaac, a blacksmith of 



Watford, who is married and has one child ; 
Margaret, married to Mitchell Bell, of 
Windsor; John R., who married Miss Lila 
Spalding, and resides on the old Brooke 
homestead (they have three children, Xew 
ell. Irene and Anita) ; and Jennie, who re 
sides on the old homestead, unmarried. 

Thomas Hastings received a fair educa 
tion in the home schools and in 1881 pur 
chased his present place, which he cleared 
up from wild land, until it is now one of the 
fine farms in the section. On July 9, 1889, 
he married Miss Amelia Stevenson, who was 
born in Lambton County, Xov. 3, 1873, 
daughter of Joseph and Julia (Vannatter) 
Stevenson, and a member of one of Bosan- 
quet s oldest families. To Thomas Hastings 
and wife have come three children, Jennie, 
Benjamin and Joseph, all of whom were 
born at the present home. 

While he is not connected with any re 
ligious denomination Mr. Hastings s faith 
is that of the Church of England; Mrs. 
Hastings is a Baptist. Politically, although 
never aspiring to office, Mr. Hastings is an 
active member of the Conservative party, 
and has at all times been anxious to do his 
full duty as a citizen. He is a man of the 
highest type and has many stanch friends 
throughout the township. 

JOHX PROCTOR GIBSOX, a retired 
farmer of Lambton county now living in 
Port Lambton, was born June 29, 1840, in 
Mosa township, Middlesex County, Ontario. 

John Gibson, his father, was a native ot 
Xew York State, and there grew to man 
hood. He came to Canada when a young 
man, locating in Mosa township, Middlesex 
County, where he owned 100 acres of farm 
ing land, to the cultivation of which he de 
voted all his energies. There he married 
Mary Ward, and they continued to live in 
Middlesex County until Mr. Gibson sold 
that farm and moved to Michigan, buying 
land in Eaton county, not far from Lan 
sing, upon which he passed the remainder 
of his life. He reached the advanced age of 
seventy-five years, and was buried at Ben- 
ton, Eaton county. Mrs. Gibson died at the 



358 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



age of forty-eight, and was laid to rest in 
\Vanlsville. She was a member of the 
Church of England, he of the Baptist 
Church ; he was a Reformer in political sen 
timent while living in Canada, and a Re 
publican in the United States. Mr. and Airs. 
Gibson had ten children, of whom but two 
survive, John Proctor and Solomon. The 
latter resides near St. Johns, Michigan. 

John Proctor Gibson received his early 
schooling in Middlesex County, Ont., and 
being only twelve years old when the fam 
ily moved to Michigan attended school there 
also. He worked with his father until he 
was nineteen years old, when he returned to 
Canada, locating in Sombra, where he was 
employed at farm labor for others until able 
to buy land of his own. Purchasing a tract 
of 100 acres he at once set about the work 
of clearing, cutting the timber into corci- 
\vood which he sold to lake boats. As the 
land became ready for cultivation he en 
gaged in general farming pursuits, continu 
ing thus throughout his active years. By 
industry and perseverance he was quite suc 
cessful, so much so that he found himself 
in a position to buy more land, until at one 
time he was the owner of 275 acres, which 
he cleared and improved. He has disposed 
of some of this property, however, at the 
present time retaining 150 acres, operated 
by his son. Mr. Gibson retired from the 
active work of farming in 1902, when he 
bought the home in Port Lambton which he 
has since occupied. In spite of many years 
of hard work he is quite active, and able to 
enjoy the competence won by his thrift and 
capable management. 

Mr. Gibson has always taken an intelli 
gent interest in all that concerns the wel 
fare of the community from a moral as well 
as a material standpoint, and he considers 
it a good citizen s duty to work as faithfully 
toward that end as toward the furthering 
of his private enterprises. He sat as mem 
ber of the Sombra township council for sev 
eral years, was deputy reeve and therefore 
member of the county council, and in 1883 
was reeve of his township, filling all these 



offices faithfully and well. He is a stanch 
Liberal in political faith. 

Mr. Gibson married Catherine Elliott, 
a native of Howard township, Kent County, 
and daughter of George Elliott, and three 
children have been born to them : James, 
who is now carrying on the homestead farm ; 
John Burton, of Denver, Colorado ; and 
Nelson A. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are mem 
bers of the Baptist Church, and fraternally 
he is a Freemason, holding membership in 
Pnyx Lodge, No. 312, of AVallaceburg, 
Kent County. 

JOHN A. CLARIS is prominent among 
the substantial business men of Sarnia, and 
is well known in real estate circles as a re 
liable dealer and public-spirited citizen, one 
who has done much for the development of 
the natural resources of this locality. 

The early ancestry of John A. Claris 
takes the biographer back to Switzerland, 
where his great-great-grandfather, John 
Claris, or John Glarus (a Canton still bears 
that name), as the name was then spelled, 
was born March 5, 1709. He died there in 
1796. His wife, Margaret was eight years 
his senior. George Claris, their son, the 
great-grandfather of John . A., was born 
June 30, 1750, his wife, Catherine, on June 
29, 1760, and he died June 28, 1814. Prior 
to the birth of their son John, grandfather 
of John A., the family appears to have moved 
to England, as it was in Canterbury that he 
was born May 3, 1783, and died April 3, 
1855. His wife, Mary Anna, was born 
Oct. 14, 1782. Their children were as fol 
lows: John, born July 8, 1809, died Feb. 
19, 1857; he came to Ontario at an early 
date and carried on a hotel in London, Ont., 
later moving to Buffalo, New York, and en 
gaging in the same business, and he died in 
that city. George T., born Jan. 21, 1812, 
settled in Elgin County, Ont., was county 
treasurer for many years, reared a family 
and died Feb. 19, 1874. Mary Ann, born 
Jan. 20, 1814, died in the old country. 
Christopher Charles, was the father of John 
A. Mary Ann (2), born Nov. 4, 1818, be- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



359 



came Mrs. Smith, and died March 4. 1860. 
Judith was born May 18, 1821. Hannah, 
born July 3, 1824, died May 2, 1826. 

Christopher Charles Claris, the father 
of John A. Claris, was born May 7, 1816, 
and after a long and useful life died May 2, 
1895. In the early thirties he came to On 
tario, locating in Westminster, where he en 
gaged in farming until 1840, in which year 
he moved to Elgin County. There he con 
tinued agricultural pursuits until 1874. 
when he removed to Sarnia, and there pur 
chased a large amount of property, one tract 
being the present home of his son, John A. 
He was a man of most excellent business 
ability, and his property was accumulated 
with wisdom as to locality and probable in 
crease in value. In politics he was a Con 
servative, a strong supporter of the measures 
he believed to be right. His religious views 
were in consonance with the doctrines of the 
Congregational Church. 

In 1840 Mr. Claris was united in mar 
riage with Eliza Phipps Alhvorth, who was 
born Sept. 7, 1813. and died May 19, 1892. 
Their children were as follows : Amelia, 
born Sept. 5, 1841, married T. H. Small- 
man, of London. Ont.. and died Oct. i, 
1865; Sarah Judith, torn Oct. 20, 1843, 
married Rev. E. D. Silcox, of Toronto, Ont., 
and their children were: Louisa M.. Percy 
C. (who married Enid Daugherty), Amelia 
and Edwin ; William Henry, born Aug. i , 
1845, married Susan Horton, of London, 
and their children are, Julia, Cecil, Lena, 
Wilfred and Edna ; Julia Eliza, torn June 
21, 1849. cue< l O ct - I2 - ^55 : John A. is 
mentioned below. 

John A. Claris, of Sarnia. was born 
Sept. 14, 1852, in Elgin County, and there 
received his educational training. In 1875 
he came to Sarnia, and until 1881 was en 
gaged in a toot and shoe business. At this 
date he moved to St. Thomas, as general 
agent for the St. Thomas Journal, in which 
capacity he continued until September, 1890. 
at which date he returned to Sarnia. and in 
association with his father embarked in a 
real estate business, still continuing in that 
line of activity. Mr. Claris has developed 



much unimproved property and has remod 
eled much more that he has handled. In 
1897 he built his present handsome modern 
residence on the site of the old homestead, 
which was purchased by his father in 1873. 
Mr. Claris has been twice married, first 
in 1874 to Adela Daugherty, of Elgin 
County. One daughter, Ella, was born to 
this union, and the mother passed away 
Dec. 25, 1887. In 1895 Mr. Claris married 
(second) Mrs. Catherine (Moore) Power, 
of St. Thomas, a most estimable lady, and 
a consistent member of the Roman Catholic 
Church. In political affiliation Mr. Claris 
is a strong Conservative, but he has never 
sought political office, although admirably 
fitted for public life. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Maccabees and the Royal 
Arcanum. 

WILLIAM DOLBEAR, one of the 
leading farmers of Brooke township, Lamb- 
ton County, owns a fine farm on Concession 
3, Lot 21, upon which he has made many im 
provements. He was born in south Devon 
shire, England, Sept. 27, 1834, son of 
George and Elizabeth Dolbear, natives of 
Devonshire, where they died. 

William Dolbear was one of three sons, 
and the only one to come to Canada. His 
brother George was a soldier in the British 
service, and served in the Russian and Indian 
wars. At the time of his death, in 1875, he 
was retired from the service. John Dolbear, 
the other brother, is a farmer and dairyman 
of Xewton Abbott, England, and has two 
children, John and Bessie. Our subject has 
three sisters. Mary A., Mrs. Gange, and Mrs. 
Reed, in Xewton Abbott, England. 

Mr. Dolbear received his education and 
was reared in England, and came to Canada 
in 1857, making the journey, which lasted 
eight weeks, via Quebec. After landing in 
the Xe\v World he worked for some years 
as a farmer in Malahide and South Dor 
chester, coming to Brooke township in 1862, 
where three years before he had purchased 
100 acres of land. There he settled down 
to pioneer life, his first home being a log 
cabin. Until improvements were made on 



3 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



his farm Mr. Dolbear lived alone. On June 
15, 1869, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Eliza Annett, who was born in Euphe- 
mia township, daughter of Philip Annett, 
and granddaughter of Robert Annett, who 
came from England in 1830 with a family 
of eight sons and four daughters, who all 
married and reared large families in the 
new country. At the time of his marriage 
our subject erected his present frame house 
and buildings, and his farm is one of the fine 
ones of Brooke township. Three children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dolbear, as 
follows : Mary A. married Charles McCar- 
ter, of Alvinston; Fred W. resides at the 
home; and Sarah, who married Robert Al 
derman, of Brooke township, was educated 
in the schools of Alvinston and the Wat 
ford high school, and was a teacher in the 
county for several years. 

In religion Mr. Dolbear has always ad 
hered to the old English Church. Politically 
he supports the Conservative party and has 
held the office of school trustee for a num 
ber of years in Brooke. Fraternally he is 
connected with the Masons, of which order 
he has been a member for some years. 

ANDREW ALEXANDER has for 
nearly sixty years been prominently identified 
with the business interests of Sarnia, being 
engaged at different times during that period 
as a merchant, hotel proprietor and specula 
tor in real estate. He now owns considerable 
property there, and though in his eighty-fifth 
year is quite able to give it his personal 
attention. 

Mr. Alexander was born in County Ty 
rone, Ireland, April 14, 1821, son of John 
and Rebecca (Ray) Alexander, and grand 
son of Thomas. Thomas Alexander was a 
lifelong resident of Ireland, his special field 
of activity being in the northern part of that 
country, where he followed farming for the 
most part throughout life. Hard work and 
well-directed efforts brought in due rewards, 
and he was considered successful in his line. 
He died in his native country in 1838. He 
had children : John, David and Robert. 



John Alexander was a man of force and 
enterprise, not content with the ordinary and 
commonplace. Born in Ireland about 1786, 
he there passed many fruitful years of his 
life. He married in his native country Re 
becca Ray, who was also born in Ireland. 
She died of cholera, in Kingston, Ont, in 
1832, hers being the last case during the 
epidemic. By this marriage there were four 
children: Robert died in Quebec, in 1828, 
the night the family arrived there. David 
came to Ontario in 1828, making his resi 
dence for some time in Kingston, and later 
in Toronto ; he afterward went to Australia, 
where he died. Jane, who also came to 
Ontario in 1828, died in Toronto. Andrew 
is mentioned below. 

Induced by the prospects of good open 
ings for himself and family in Ontario, John 
Alexander came to this country in 1828, and 
resided for some time in Kingston. After 
the death of his wife, in 1832, he returned to 
the country of his birth, and he died in Ire 
land in 1836. 

Andrew Alexander had a somewhat ad 
venturous youth. He was but seven years 
old when with his parents he came to On 
tario. After four years his mother died, 
and then with his father he returned to Ire 
land. His father dying in 1836, and his 
grandfather two years later, he was thrown 
wholly upon his own resources, and came 
again to Ontario, as a place where he felt 
confident of making a way for himself. Set 
tling at Kingston, he there remained for 
some time, acquiring practical knowledge of 
business, and forming a clear conception of 
what he actually wished to make his life- 
work. By this time fully prepared to engage 
in business for himself, he went to Toronto 
and opened a store, which he conducted for 
some time. Induced by his successes there, 
some time in the forties he came to Sarnia 
and continued business, dealing in general 
merchandise. By giving good service, and 
keeping a reliable stock of goods, Jie soon 
worked up a large custom, and being a 
shrewd manager made a profitable income. 
As the place increased in population he found 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



361 



it necessary from time to time to make im 
provements in his store and to enlarge his 
stock of goods. He continued the business 
for a great many years. As a man who had 
faith in. the growth of the place, and in its 
eventual prosperity, he early invested in real 
estate and began the erection of new build 
ings. He put up the "Alexander Hotel" on 
the London road, and afterward sold this 
property to Mr. Hall, realizing a good in 
terest upon his investment. The success of 
this enterprise led him later to build another 
hotel, which was located on the present site 
of the new post office. This place, also called 
the "Alexander House," was burned some 
years ago, but he afterward rebuilt it, and 
eventually sold the lot to the government for 
a post office. Many of the fine residences in 
Sarnia were erected by him, and he now owns 
several of them, from the rent of which he 
draws a good income. 

While residing in Kingston, in 1846, Mr. 
Alexander married Miss Rebecca Young, 
who was born in County Tyrone. Ireland, 
daughter of Robert Young, and at an 
early date came to Kingston, Ont. 
She died in Sarnia, Ont., in 1892. By this 
marriage there were three children : Robert 
John is now deceased. Andrew T., now a res 
ident of Port Huron, has one son, A. T. 
Alexander, a traveling salesman, of Sarnia, 
Ont. Eliza Ann married Hon. Justice Lis 
ter, of Toronto, who was Judge of the Court 
of Appeals, and has six children, Fred, Jose 
phine. Maud, Bessie, Francis and Blake. 

Mr. Alexander has always been a strong 
man both physically and intellectually. 
Throughout his long life he has scarcely had 
an illness worth mentioning, and he is still 
blessed with good health. His business en 
terprises have made large demands upon his 
mental activity, but he has still had thought 
to give to outside matters. As a Conserva 
tive he has long been active in politics, and 
for several years he served on the city coun 
cil, filling the place with marked efficiency, 
and giving it much of his time and attention. 
He is interested in religious works, and be 
longs to the Methodist Church. Fraternally 



he affiliates with the F. & A. M., and he was 
one of five to organize the Loyal Order of 
Orangemen in Sarnia, of which he is still 
a member. 

GEORGE HESCOTT is a prosperous 
farmer of Enniskillen, where he is known as 
a public-spirited citizen who takes an active 
interest in all that affects the welfare of the 
community. 

Joel Hescott, father of George, was a 
man greatly beloved by a large circle of 
friends and neighbors, who found him al 
ways ready to lend a helping hand in time 
of need. He and his wife were both faithful 
church members, and were largely the means 
of the establishment of Christian work in 
Moore township, where they had their home. 
They experienced all the hardships and dif 
ficulties incident to pioneer life, which they 
met with the courage which endears these 
early settlers to the hearts of their descen 
dants. Joel Hescott was born in Somerset 
shire, England, Aug. 20, 1810, and attended 
school in his native place. In 1829 he came 
with his brother John, to Canada, and set 
tled in Niagara County, where two other 
brothers, Richard and James, had previously 
settled. Richard Hescott was a British of 
ficer, and commanded the fort at Niagara, 
from which he furnished supplies to the 
army. He was retired on a pension in later 
life, and died at Niagara, leaving a family. 
James Hescott married and died at his 
home in Niagara, leaving no heirs. John 
Hescott married in Canada, and joined his 
brother Joel in making a home in the new 
country. Of his large family two sons are 
still living on the old farm in Moore town 
ship. Joel Hescott was a volunteer in the 
rebellion of 1837 to 1840. serving in the 
2d Battalion, of incorporated militia, under 
Capt. Charles Wood, of No. 2 Company, 
commanded by Major General Sir George 
Arthur, and stationed at Amherstburg. Mr. 
Hescott was engaged in several skirmishes 
on the frontier, and he received an honorable 
discharge, April 30. 1840; 

Joel Hescott married, in Niagara, Eliza 



362 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Druce, who was born in Wiltshire, England, 
in 1830, was carefully educated and came 
with her parents to Niagara County. The 
Hescotts were among the very first settlers 
in Moore township, and their original home 
in that wild region was a shelter made of 
bark and brush. Mrs. Hescott s parents 
moved to County Oxford, Out., and there 
spent the remainder of their lives. They had 
two sons and three daughters, as follows : 
Charles settled in Kent County, Michigan, 
where he still lives ; his children are all mar 
ried and settled in homes of their own. Mark, 
who settled in Manistee County, Michigan, 
died there leaving a family. Grace married 
John Ogden, of Imlay City, Michigan, and 
has three daughters. Betsy married John 
Jenne, of Oxford County, Out., and has 
several children. Eliza married Joel 
Hescott. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hescott 
moved into a commodious log cabin where 
they lived for several years. They fought the 
wilderness foot by foot, and gradually 
evolved from it one of the fine farms of the 
county. A large modern house was built 
for the family home, and good barns and 
other farm buildings erected. After the 
death of his wife, in 1878, Mr. Hescott 
made his home with his son George until his 
death, in 1900, at the age of ninety. Both 
he and his wife were earnest church mem 
bers and active Christians. He was a mem 
ber of the Church of England, and she be 
longed to the Methodist Church. In poli 
tics he was a member of the Reform party, 
but never aspired to office. 

The children of Joel and Eliza (Druce) 
Hescott were as follows: (i) Martha, born 
in Moore, is the wife of John McKellar, a 
merchant of Alpena. Michigan; their chil 
dren are Carrie, Minnie, Amy, Harrison 
and Alexander. (2) Joseph, born in Moore, 
married Alice Johnston of that place, where 
they reside, on Concession 6 : they have two 
children, Elmer and Eunice. (3) Jennie, born 
in Moore, married Samuel Druce, of Manis 
tee, Michigan, and died in 1889, leaving two 
children, George, deceased, and Emma, at 
home in Michigan. (4) Emma married An 



drew Rawson of Enniskillen, and they live 
on Concession 12; they have children: Will 
iam, Gertrude, Jennie, Alvin, Clifford, Vera r 
Viola and Beatrice. (5) George is men 
tioned below. 

George Hescott was born in Moore 
township, Sept. 17, 1862, and grew up on 
the farm, receiving a fair education in the 
common schools. He was for a time his 
father s manager on the home place, and in 
1889 bought his present property, the west 
half of Lot 14, Concession 7, 100 acres of 
finely improved land, with good modern 
buildings. 

In 1890 Mr. Hescott married Miss E. 
Annie Silver, who was born in Addington 
County, near Napanee, Ont., daughter of 
William and Christiann Silver, descendants, 
of old families of that part of the country. 
Mrs. Hescott was well educated in the dis 
trict schools near Napanee, her home being 
near that city. Her widowed mother still 
keeps the old home, with her eldest son, 
Sandford, and youngest daughter, Harriet. 
Of the children of William and Christiann 
Silver, besides Mrs. Hescott, Sandford mar 
ried Helen Bell, of Addington, and has chil 
dren, George, Lillian, and William ; George, 
who resides at Port Huron, married Mar 
garet Anderson of Cornwall, and has chil 
dren, Laura, Zelma. Murray, Percy, Stanley 
and Wellington ; Lucinda married Frank 
Williams of New York State, and died in 
Watertown, New York, leaving no children;, 
William, foreman of the Haines lumber 
firm of Brigden, married Martha Aiken, of 
Oil City, Ont., and has children, Frederick, 
Charles, Robert and Thelma ; and Miss Har 
riet is at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hescott began their mar 
ried life on the farm which is their present 
home. They have four children, James A., 
Edith G.. George Melborne and William 
Gordon. Mr. and Mrs. Hescott are both ad 
herents of the Presbyterian Church. In 
politics he has always been identified with 
the Reform party. He has always taken a 
keen interest in school matters, being first 
elected a member of the school board in 
1899. In 1902 he was elected chairman 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



363: 



and treasurer of the board, and he is now 
one of the trustees. He is a worthy son of 
his honored father, a man of exemplary 
character, and active in all that makes for the 
good of his town and county. 

The name of Hescott was originally 
spelled Hiscott, by Joel, father of George, 
and his people before him. 

J. F. ELLIOTT. The insurance inter 
ests of Sarnia represent an important factor 
in the business life of that city, and among 
the enterprising agents engaged in that 
branch of activity, John Forster Elliott oc 
cupies a prominent position, and controls 
an excellent class of patrons. 

T. F. Elliott is of Irish extraction, his 
family record showing that four of the 
name of Elliott came to the north of Ire 
land with Oliver Cromwell. The first mem 
ber of the family of whom any data are ob 
tainable, was John Elliott, the grandfather 
of the present John Forster. This most ex 
cellent man was born in the north of Ireland, 
and had four brothers, Andrew, William, 
Thomas and James, and all of them were 
farmers and weavers in their native land. 
John Elliott married Miss O Neill and they 
had three sons. John, George and Andrew. 
Of these. Andrew emigrated to Ontario, 
settling at Brantford, where he followed the 
trade of a plasterer, and there died. 

George Elliott, the father of J. F., of 
Sarnia. was born in 1809 in Ireland, where 
he died in 1855. He married Mary Ann 
McClure of the north of Ireland, born in 
1807. and died in Ireland at the age of 
eighty-five years. She was the daughter of 
Foste r Fleming McClure, M. D., a very 
large land owner, who married Jane Bryson, 
a lady whose death occurred in 1857, she 
having attained to the remarkable age of 
105 years. Two children were born to 
George and Mary Ann Elliott, J. Forster and 
George. The latter was born in Ireland, 
in 1843. and is general manager of the Eng 
lish Insurance Company, his territory ex 
tending all over Ireland. 

J. F. Elliott was born in the north of 
Ireland, April 12, 1841, and there received 



his literary education. In 1865, he emi 
grated to Sarnia, Ont.. and his first occu 
pation after locating there was as a clerk 
for A. Allaire, with whom he remained for 
some time, when he was appointed clerk in 
the Registrar s office. In 1867 Mr. Elliott 
established a millinery and fancy goods 
store, and conducted it most successfully un 
til 1888, when he disposed of his interests 
in this line and embarked in an insurance 
business, which has steadily increased, and 
is still growing. Mr. Elliott represents the 
Mutual Life, of Xew York, the Travelers, of 
Hartford, and the Ocean Accident, of Eng 
land, doing a large business with the latter. 
In addition he was from 1896 to 1903 one 
of the auditors for the Corporation. He was 
regent of the Royal Arcanum of Sarnia, be 
ing very prominent in that order. 

On March 28, 1864, Mr. Elliott was 
married to Miss Mary Jane McCullough, a 
native of Clones, North of Ireland, born in 
1843, daughter of Samuel McCullough, of 
Ireland. The following children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Elliott : Mary, who 
married Fred. Joanes, of Sarnia, Ont. ; and 
Miss Lizzie Allen, of Sarnia. Mr. and 
Mrs. Elliott and their daughters are con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church, 
and take great interest in the Sunday-school. 
Politically. Mr. Elliott is a Conservative. 
In addition to his connection with the Royal 
Arcanum, he is a Mason. Through his own 
steadfast efforts. Mr. Elliott has firmly es 
tablished himself in the confidence of the 
business world, and is a man of prominence 
in the community where he has made his 
home for so many years. 

WILLIAM BRANDON (deceased) 
was one of the valued and respected men of 
Warwick township, Lambton County, one of 
the successful agriculturists and business 
men of this locality. He was born Dec. 15, 
1847. ni County Tyrone, Ireland, son of the 
late James and Matilda (McElroy) Bran 
don, and brother of Thomas Brandon, the 
well known stock dealer of Warwick town 
ship, an extended sketch of whom will be 
found elsewhere. 



364 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



The late William Brandon came to Can 
ada with his parents when five years old, and 
attended the schools of Warwick township, 
which, at that time were only indifferent 
ones. Thus he had not much opportunity 
to secure a good education, another reason 
being that he was obliged from early youth 
to work hard on the farm, helping his father 
to clear up the homestead in the woods. He 
remained with his parents until he was 
twenty-five years old, when he started out 
for himself on Lot 9, Concession 5 north, in 
Warwick township, on a farm of 100 acres 
known as the Joseph Johnson farm. Here 
he set to work clearing up a home for him 
self, and made innumerable improvements. 
His log house while plain was comfortable. 
At a later date he bought seventy-five more 
acres, this farm being known as the Thomas 
Brandon farm, the property of his cousin, 
and still later he bought 100 acres on the 
second Line of Warwick, which was known 
as the Dennis Saide place, on which farm 
he had resided but six weeks when he died. 
He engaged extensively in farming and 
stockraising, and became one of the most 
successful cattle men of the township, dur 
ing his later years shipping, with his brother 
Thomas, cattle to the English markets. 

Mr. Brandon, was married in Plympton 
township, Feb. 18, 1874, to Alison Robert 
son, born in Montreal, Quebec, daughter of 
James and Elizabeth (Cummings) Robert 
son, both of whom still survive and are res 
idents of St. Clair, Michigan. The four sons 
born to this union are : ( i ) James, born 
Aug. 31, 1877, was educated in the district 
schools and then assisted his father in his 
enterprises. His health failed in 1903, and 
he underwent an operation for appendicitis 
at St. Joseph Hospital, London. He has 
visited the Northwest but prefers the home 
stead where he is a great help and comfort 
to his widowed mother. (2) William John, 
born Nov. 19, 1879, s a so interested in the 
operation of the home. (3) Robert Robert 
son, born Aug. i, 1882, is also a farmer at 
home. (4) Thomas Alexander, born Oct. 22, 
1884, is now a student at the Toronto Medi 
cal College. 



Since the death of Mr. Brandon, the 
family sold the Saide farm of 100 acres, and 
also the seventy-five acre Thomas Brandon 
farm, retaining the homestead, and then 
bought the Lester homestead on the 5th Con 
cession, and the Karr homestead of 100 
acres. The family resides on the Lester farm. 

Warwick township has had few more 
consistent, conscientious men than the late 
William Brandon. He was noted for his 
high moral character, and his unflinching 
honesty, and he was respected by all classes. 
At the age of twenty-two years he became 
converted and associated himself with the 
Congregational Church, and he remained 
a steadfast member of that religious body 
until 1873, during which period he gave 
much attention to the study of his Bible. 
Finally he concluded from his varied read 
ing and study that sectarianism was not 
Scripture, and he became joined in fellow 
ship with those who met every Sunday 
morning to partake of the Lord s supper, 
and he owned to no name nor sect, firmly 
believing them to be contrary to Scripture, 
but his heart went out to all those who were 
Christians, regardless of what denomination 
they belonged to. He lived up to what he 
believed to be the will of his Divine Master. 
When stricken with mortal sickness he was 
submissive and patient. Early in 1897 the 
family removed from the homestead to the 
Saide farm. On account of a bowel trouble 
Mr. Brandon was obliged to submit to an 
operation, Feb. 12, 1897, which was per 
formed by two eminent surgeons, Dr. 
Newell, of Wat-ford, and Dr. Hubbard, of 
Forest, but all the efforts of the surgeons, 
the tender care of his family and the hopes 
of his friends were of no avail. His death 
took place on Feb. 14, 1897, and he was 
buried on the I7th in Bethel cemetery, the 
touching funeral serman being preached by 
Joseph Douglas, of Detroit. Mr. Brandon 
died as he had lived, a true Christian father, 
husband and friend. His life was one 
worthy of emulation, and his memory will 
long remain green. 

Mrs. Brandon, like her late husband, en 
tertains the same religious belief, and in her 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



daily life displays those virtues which should 
be the mark oi" every Christian. In every 
relation of life she has shown her estimable 
character. Her life with Mr. Brandon was 
one of happiness, their ideas on life and its 
duties being entirely in accord. Their chil 
dren have grown to manhood types of Can 
adian youth, and show the results of the 
Christian training they have received. 

WILLIAM FERGUSON, now living 
retired at Point Edward, has been a resident 
of that place for many years. He was born 
in Scotland. Oct. 20, 1820, son of Duncan 
and Christina (Monroe) Ferguson, and 
grandson of Duncan Ferguson. 

In 1830 Duncan Ferguson and his wife 
came to Lambton County, Ont., locating in 
Plympton township, where he owned a tract 
of land on which they spent the remainder 
of their lives, each dying at the age of eigh 
ty-one years. Religiously they were Baptists, 
and politically he was a Reformer. They had 
the following named children, all now de 
ceased except William ; Margaret, who mar 
ried David Morrison; Christina, who mar 
ried William Stacey ; Agnes; Duncan; 
Mary; William; and" Kate, who married 
Xeil McVicars. 

William Ferguson, although now past 
eighty years of age, is as active as many 
men of sixty. In 1856 he came to Ontarip, 
locating at Port Sarnia, where he was en 
gineer at the Kemp mills for some time. He 
then sailed for four years, and in 1862 set 
tled at Point Edward, where for over thirty 
years he was engineer at the Grand Trunk 
Elevator. Since leaving that position he has 
lived retired. Mr. Ferguson was always 
frugal, saved his money, and now owns sev 
eral houses and lots in Point Edward, the 
income from which handsomely supports 
him. 

Mr. Ferguson has been twice married. In 
1842, in Glasgow, Scotland, he was married 
to Miss Agnes Livingston, a first cousin of 
the noted explorer, and to this union were 
born the following children : ( I ) Kate is 
the wife of James Piggott, a railroad con 
ductor, and they have had five children 



William, Eddie, Agnes, Lizzie and Kate. 
(2) Christina (deceased) married George 
Scott, and had eight children Alice and 
Eva (twins), John, Mary, Isabella, Agnes, 
Cassie and Christina. (3) Maggie married 
George Waterworth of Michigan, and had 
two children, Herbert and Beatrice. (4) 
Aggie married (first) William Dunwoody, 
by whom she had five children, Lillie, Mamie 
(deceased), Mattie, Richard and Nellie. Her 
second husband is John Mooney, and their 
children are. Russell, Clifford and Hugh. 
The mother of this family died July 6, 1890, 
and on Sept. 10, 1891, Mr. Ferguson mar 
ried Miss Jean Bell, a native of Ireland, 
daughter of William and Mary (Cava- 
naugh) Bell, of Ireland, who, with her 
brother, John R., came to Ontario in 1877. 
John R. Bell lives in Guelph, and has one 
son and one daughter, Fred and Mary. Po 
litically Mr. Ferguson is a prominent Re 
former, and in religion is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 

JOHN B. BEATON, one of the repre 
sentative farmers of Enniskillen, Lambton 
County, who resides on Concession 4, Lot 
15. was born in Lobo, Middlesex County, 
Aug. 27, 1854, son of James and Effie (Mc- 
Arthur) Beaton, both of whom were born 
in Argyllshire, Scotland, the former in 1820, 
and the latter in 1822. 

The parents of our subject w-ere both 
well educated in their native country, where 
the father followed the life of a sailor until 
he came to Canada. After marriage they 
settled for a short time in Howard, Kent 
County, and then moved to Middlesex 
County, coming to Lambton County 
in the fifties. At that time Concession 
4 was all wild land, and James Bea 
ton and his wife were the first set 
tlers. He opened up a farm, and for a 
number of years they lived in a log cabin 
which had no stove, the only heat being ob 
tained from a fire place which Mr. Beaton 
had himself erected. Later he built a better 
home in which he lived until his death, which 
occurred in March. 1899, his wife having 
died in October, 1898. Religiously Mr. Bea- 



366 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ton was a Baptist, while his wife was a Pres 
byterian, and they were among the founders 
of Christianity in this section. Politically 
he was a stanch Reformer. James Beaton 
had one brother, John, who came to How 
ard, Kent County, and died in Ridgetown, 
where he left a family, and one sister. Hen 
rietta, who married Peter McNeil, a settler, 
and died in Mosa, Middlesex County, leav 
ing a family. James Beaton s father was a 
minister in Scotland. 

James and Effie Beaton reared a family 
of five children, as follows: (i) Hugh A., 
born in Howard, Kent County, in 1852, re 
ceived a district school education and after 
receiving a teacher s certificate graduated 
from the Normal School of Toronto. He is 
still a teacher and is at present principal of 
the Walkerville High School. He married 
Miss Mary B. Boles, of Enniskillen, and they 
have two children, Hugh and Mable. (2) 
John B. is mentioned below. (3) Bella, born 
in 1856, married (first) Sandy McBean, of 
St. Thomas, where he died, leaving one 
daughter Nettie: she married (second) An 
drew Park, of Enniskillen. (4) Katie, born 
in 1858, married James Kerr, of Middlesex 
County, where they resided for some time, 
later coming to Oil Springs, where they both 
died leaving four children, Effie, Eva, Kittie 
and James. (5) Dougal, born in 1860, re 
ceived a fine education fitting him for a 
teacher in the public schools where he taught 
for some time, later becoming teacher in the 
Belleville College, where for a number of 
years before his death he taught in the Deaf 
and Dumb Institute; his death occurred Feb. 
17, 1895. 

John B. Beaton, the subject of this 
sketch, was reared to manhood on the old 
homestead, which he now owns and farms. 
He received a good education in the graded 
schools of Oil Springs, and on leaving 
school his father made him manager of the 
old homestead. In May, 1882, he was mar 
ried to Miss Eugena Selby, who was born 
in Sharon, York County, daughter of Major 
John P. and Martha (Ayerst) Selby, the 
former of whom was born in York County, 
and the latter in Kent County, England. 



They settled in Lambton County at Court- 
right, where he died Jan. 12, 1900, his 
wife having passed away in 1896. They left 
a family of ten children. Mrs. Beaton is a 
very estimable lady of culture and refine 
ment, and received a fine education at St. 
Thomas. To John B. Beaton and his wife 
has been born a family of five children, as 
follows : Maggie and Sue died in childhood ; 
Wesley, born in 1883. is a telegraph opera 
tor: James F., born in 1888; and Lila Jean, 
born in July, 1898. 

Religiously our subject and his wife are 
devout members of the Methodist Church, 
both taking an active part in church work, 
and Mr. Beaton is a member of the board of 
trustees. Politically he is a stanch member 
of the Reform party, as was his father be 
fore him, and for nearly five years has been 
a member of the board of school trustees. 

The difficulties and hardships which at 
tended the life of the pioneer settlers of this 
country were experienced in full by our sub 
ject s father and his wife, who through every 
trial displayed that courage and fortitude 
which loyal Canadians have always admired 
in the character of their forefathers. John 
B. Beaton is a man of exemplary habits, and 
is one of the most active and well to do 
farmers of Lambton County. 

STEWART GARDINER, a successful 
farmer, who is engaged in cultivating his 
fine farm of 100 acres on Concession 6, Lot 
5, Brooke township, Lambton County, was 
born April 8, 1854, in Lobo, Middlesex 
County, son of Robert and Catherine 
(Ormsby) Gardiner, both of whom were 
born in County Sligo, Ireland. 

James Gardiner, the grandfather of 
Stewart, died in Ireland. His son. Robert, 
was born in 1813, and married Catherine 
Ormsby, daughter of John Ormsby, a farm 
er ; his father, John, was a soldier in the 
British service, and received 400 acres of 
land in Ireland from the British Govern 
ment. Thomas Ormsby, a brother of Mrs. 
Gardiner, was a colonel of the Qith Regi 
ment, of the Queen s Guards, and received 
two medals from the Oueen, for braverv and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



367 



good service in command. Mrs. Gardiner s 
people were all noted in military circles in 
England. After marriage Mr. Gardiner 
worked as a laborer, until, in 1840. he left 
Ireland, going to England, and there re 
mained until 1849, when he came to the 
western world on a sailing vessel. He 
.worked for one year in Xe\v York, and then 
went to Savannah, Georgia, where for some 
time he worked for, a railroad, and then 
in 1852, came to Canada. He first was em 
ployed by the Great "Western railroad, as 
a contractor, but lost heavily in the McDon 
ald bank failure in London, Out. He bought 
a tract of land in Brooke township, where he 
settled his family. For a wihle he continued 
to work at contracting, but later settled down 
and engaged in farming, which he followed 
until his death in 1900, his wife having 
passed away in 1899. They were Ixrth con 
nected with the Church of England, and al 
ways took an active part in the work of that 
religious organization. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gardiner the 
following children were born : John, born 
in 1849. m England, married in Canada, and 
now resides in Alvinston, Brooke township, 
where for a great many years he engaged in 
farming; Stewart is mentioned below, Eliza 
J., born in 1856, married Thomas Elliott, 
of Imvood, Brooke township, and they have 
children John \\".. Xina C, Susan, Lottie 
and Maggie A.; Annie M., bom in 1858, in 
Middlesex County, married William Welch, 
a farmer of Dawn township, and they have 
three children, Annie, Robert and William; 
Sarah, born in 1860, in Brooke township. 
married James Ferkey, of Alvinston, Brooke 
township, and one son has been born to 
them, Robert; Susan, born in 1863. in 
Brooke township, married Samuel Smith, 
of Concession 6, of Brooke township, 
and has these children, Elizabeth C., 
Mary J., Maude, Robert T., William H.. 
Walter W., Gordon S. and Gertrude; 
Thomas, born in 1866. in Brooke township, 
is single, and resides on the old homestead ; 
and Christina, born at the old home, in 1869, 
resides on the old home, on Lot 12, Conces 
sion 5. 



Stewart Gardiner was reared to manhood 
on the old home in Brooke township, and 
here he received a district school education. 
When a young man he worked with his fa 
ther at railroading, at the same time follow 
ing farming on the old home. On Xov. 17, 
1875. he married Miss Maggie Elliott, who 
was born and reared in Dorchester, Middle 
sex County, daughter of Xeanion and Jeanet 
(Greaves) Elliott, an old pioneer family of 
that County. Mrs. Gardiner s mother still 
resides in Middlesex County, at the remark 
able age of ninety-seven years. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner 
settled on the home in Brooke township, 
which they now occupy. At the time of their 
settling on this land it was all wild, bush 
land, and Mr. Gardiner erected a log cabin 
and barn, which he replaced with his fine, 
modern brick residence in 1901. He has 
erected good, substantial buildings, and in 
1903, he built a large bank barn and other 
out buildings. He has made improvements 
all over his farm, which consists of 100 acres 
of fine land, all in a good state of cultiva 
tion, and has made his farm one of the finest 
in this part of the township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner six children 
have been born, namely : John, died in in 
fancy; Robert born in September. 1880, re 
ceived a good education in the home schools, 
and now follows carpentering, and lives on 
the home farm; Stewart, Jr., born in Octo 
ber, 1883, follows farming at the old home; 
Louisa, born in February, 1886, educated in 
the home schools, resides at home; Stanley, 
born in December, 1889, is a graduate of the 
home district schools ; and Maggie, born in 
1893. is still a student in school. 

Religiously Mr. Gardiner and his family 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which Mr. Gardiner has been a leader. In 
the Inwood Church he was a member of the 
managing board for a period of ten years, 
and also held the position of treasurer for 
ten years. It was through his influence that 
the "imvood Church was built, and ever since 
its erection, Mr. Gardiner has been an active 
and liberal supporter of the same. Political- 
lv, Mr. Gardiner has always been identified 



3 68 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



with the Conservative party, of which his 
son is also a member. While he has never 
aspired to public office, he has often been 
asked to take part in municipal affairs. Fra 
ternally he has connected himself with the 
Order of Orangemen, Johnston Lodge No. 
831, of Brooke township, and Mr. Gardiner 
has held every office in that society. Mr. 
Gardiner s son Robert is also a member of 
this lodge. Stewart Gardiner is a man of 
honor and integrity, whose word is as good 
as his bond, and he enjoys the confidence of 
the entire community. 

JOHN A. MORWOOD. In every com 
munity there are men who, by reason of their 
ability and attainments, have been given posi 
tions of trust and confidence, and in Alvins- 
ton, Brooke township, Lambton County, a 
man who has been especially prominent is 
John A. Morwood. He was born Aug. 30, 
1837, at St. John, Quebec, son of John and 
Margaret (Stewart) Morwood. 

John Morwood, the father of John A., 
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1802, and 
his wife was born in County Sligo, Ireland, 
in 1808, the daughter of an old Irish family 
who settled in the Lower Province, at St. 
John, dying when Mrs. Morwood was a 
young girl. John Morwood located in 
Quebec when a young man, and worked on 
the public works for some years, later engag 
ing with the St. John Railroad Company as 
freight agent on the first road built in Can 
ada. He remained in the employ of the rail 
road company for the greater part of his life 
and when he retired to a farm was given 
a life salary by the company, which he drew 
up to the time of his death, in 1851. After 
his death his widow sold the farm and re 
moved to London, Middlesex County, Ont., 
later purchasing a farm in Westminster, 
where she died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. 
Morwood were connected with the Church 
of England. Eight children were born to 
this worthy couple, namely: (i) Mary A., 
the eldest, was born in the Province of 
Quebec in 1835, married Francis Barrows, 
of Westminster, and has .one child, Fred, 
who resides in Westminster. (2) John A. 



(3) Samuel died in infancy. (4) Samuel J., 
born in 1841, in the Province of Quebec, 
where he was reared, after coming to Lamb- 
ton County married Mrs. Mary Orchard, of 
Petrolia, and there died in 1898, leaving two 
sons, Frank and William, both of Petrolia. 
(5) Hugh D., born in 1844, enlisted in Com 
pany B, 2d Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 
when sixteen years of age, served three years 
in the Civil war in the States, was taken pris 
oner by the Confederates, and confined for 
eleven months in the Florence stockade, after 
his release by Gen. Grant settling in Nash 
ville, Tenn., and after the war returning to 
Canada. He married and settled in Detroit, 
where for twelve years he was a policeman, 
and then studied theology and entered the 
Baptist ministry, in the work of which organ 
ization he has been actively engaged for 
twenty years in Illinois. (6) Margaret J., 
born in Quebec in 1846, married Alonzo 
Bullard, of Westminster, and they located in 
Detroit, Michigan, where Mrs. Bullard died. 

(7) Sarah Maria, born in 1848, married 
Robert Jackson, a farmer of Westminster, 
and has two children, Charles and Eva. 

(8) Katie, born in Quebec in 1850, married 
Dr. Archie McKellar, deceased, of Green 
Springs Ohio, where she still resides; she 
has children, Archie, Malcolm, Neil and 
Mary. 

John A. Morwood received a fair educa 
tion in the schools of Quebec, and after the 
death of his father came with his mother to 
Middlesex County, locating in Westminster, 
near London, on a farm which he and his 
mother purchased in 1851. Here they re 
mained four years, and then Mr. Morwood 
removed to London, and began work in the 
railroad shops. He worked two years as an 
engineer, running between London and Sus 
pension Bridge, and then began to learn the 
trade of machinist. In 1858 Mr. Morwood 
married (first) Miss Elizabeth Stevens, born 
in Westminster in 1839, daughter of Perrin 
Stevens, who came from Pennsylvania, and 
located in Middlesex County. Mr. Mor 
wood and his wife settled in Middlesex 
County, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business. In 1873 he sold out, and, coming 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



369 



to Lambton County, settled in Alvinston, 
carrying on his trade of engineering in the 
grist and saw mills for some ten years. In 
1885 he erected his machine shops, and he 
has continued in this line up to the present 
time. In 1896 he received the contract to 
erect the electric light plant in Alvinston, and 
this he afterward superintended for eight 
years, in March, 1904, selling out and resum 
ing his machine shop business. Mr. Mor- 
wood is the owner of a great deal of real 
estate in the town of Alvinston, having a line 
residence and other property, and he is con 
sidered one of the village s heaviest land 
owners. 

Mr. Morwood s first wife died in 1877, 
the mother of children as follows : * Lucy 
May and Nettie C. both died in childhood. 
John R., born in Westminster in 1859, was 
educated for an engineer, which profession he 
has followed always, having been with one 
concern, the Alvinston Roller Mills, in Alvin 
ston ; he married Miss Christie Cascadden, 
and they own a fine home in Alvinston. 
Annie M., born in Middlesex, Ont., in 1866, 
married John McSpadden, and has two chil 
dren, Charles and Maud ; they settled at Rog 
ers City, on Lake Huron, where for some 
years he was employed at a life saving sta 
tion, and they are now residents of Detour, 
near Sault Ste. Marie, where he is engaged 
at the American works. 

John A. Morwood married (second) 
Miss Clara Estell, who was born in West 
minster, and died in 1894. They had one 
daughter, Carrie May, born in 1879, in Al 
vinston, who married Wellington Greensled, 
of Caradoc, Middlesex County, and has one 
daughter, Clara Emma. Mr. Morwood s 
third marriage was to Miss Sarah Madole, of 
Alvinston. There were no children born to 
this marriage, but Mr. and Mrs. Morwood 
are rearing an adopted boy, Charles. 

Politically Mr. Morwood has always been 
a Conservative, and in 1880 he was appointed 
magistrate of Alvinston. This was when the 
town was incorporated, and he has held that 
position to the present time. For seven years 
continuously he filled the office of reeve, and 
proved to be quite a capable public servant. 



Fraternally Mr. Morwood has associated 
himself with the Order of Orangemen, in 
which he was master for several years. He is 
identified with the Methodist Church, being 
a liberal supporter of the same, but not an ac 
tive member. Mr. Morwood has many warm 
friends throughout the county who enjoy his 
business success, and his social and political 
prominence. 

JOHN F. DONALD, a well-known and 
successful agriculturist of Plympton town 
ship, belongs to a family long identified with 
the county; he was born on the Donald 
homestead Oct. 3, 1860, son of John and 
Helen (Houston) Donald. 

John Donald, grandfather of John F., 
was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scot 
land, and was there given a good common 
school education. When he was twenty he 
married Miss Marian Duncan, and the young 
couple started at once for Canada. They 
located in Dalhousie, Lanark County, among 
the first settlers, and Mr. Donald bought a 
tract of 100 acres. In addition to carrying 
on his farm, he was one of the first teachers 
in that section and continued in the profes 
sion for twenty years with great success, re 
tiring at the end of that time with a pension 
from the government. To his first purchase 
of land was afterward added 200 acres more, 
and he was one of the extensive farmers of 
the region. He and his wife both reached 
the age of eighty-two, and were buried in the 
cemetery at Beckwith, Lanark County. Mr. 
Donald was an elder in the Presbyterian 
Church, and a strong Conservative. The 
twelve children in the family were : Agnes 
Thompson, born May 15, 1822, the widow 
of David Nesbett, residing in Plympton; 
Jeanette, April 20, 1824, wife of John Paul, 
of Sarnia; John; Thomas, a cattle dealer, 
deceased in 1893; Marion, wife of John 
Houston, both deceased; Jean, wife of Peter 
Lee, both deceased; James, a well-known 
cattle dealer, who died in Lanark County ; 
Andrew, who was drowned in 1870; Eliza 
beth, wife of John Cuthbertson, both de 
ceased; Barbara, Mrs. William Taylor, of 
Carleton Place, Lanark County; Matthew, 



24 



370 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



owner of 500 acres of land, and residing on 
the Dalhousie homestead, married to Miss 
Mary Buffin ; and Frank, a government cus 
toms official, residing at Carleton Place. 

John Donald (2) was born in Dalhousie, 
Feb. 3, 1826, and was educated in the town 
ship schools. He assisted his father on the 
farm and with this experience started for 
himself when quite a young man. He set 
tled on the 2d Line in Plympton township, 
Lot 8, where he bought a tract of fifty-four 
acres. After clearing and improving this 
he added fifty acres more, and still later an 
other 100 acres on Lot 8, Concession 3, all 
of which he owned and operated until his 
death. He made extensive improvements in 
the way of dwelling and farm buildings, and 
gave his entire attention to his property, 
where he engaged in both general farming 
and stockraising. His death occurred at his 
home, March 26, 1882; he is buried in the 
cemetery on the 2d Line west. He was a 
Liberal in politics, .a Baptist in religious be 
lief, and a man of temperate habits and do 
mestic tastes, devoted to his family. His 
wife, whom he married in 1854, was Miss 
Helen Houston, born in Ramsay, to William 
and Alice (Leckie) Houston; she is still liv 
ing and though troubled with deafness, is in 
full possession of her other facilities. She 
makes her home in Sarnia, cared for by her 
daughter. She also belonged to the Baptist 
Church. She bore her husband four chil 
dren, viz. : Alice, Mrs. Richard MacDonald, 
of Sarnia ; Marion, of Sarnia ; William, who 
lived only two years ; and John F. 

John F. Donald attended the public 
schools and afterward made farming his oc 
cupation, in which he has been very success 
ful. Since his father s death he has had 
charge of the homestead and has made 
many improvements. Oil has been discov 
ered also, and several wells are now being 
operated on his property. His industry and 
integrity are well known, as is also his genial 
disposition, and he is held in high esteem by 
his many warm friends. A Liberal, he was 
a member of the township council for four 
years ; in religion he is a Baptist and belongs 



to the Church at Wyoming. Mr. Donald 
was married in 1886 to Miss Jane Chalmers, 
born in Plympton, daughter of Alexander 
Chalmers, but this union was brought to a 
sad conclusion by Mrs. Donald s death in 
1902. She was buried in Wyoming. Three 
sons were left, William John, Frank and 
Stuart, all at home. On Dec. 28, 1904, Mr. 
Donald married (second) Miss Christena 
E. McEwen, of Plympton, daughter of 
James and Jessie (Scott) McEwen, of Lan 
ark County. Mr. and Mrs. McEwen re 
moved to Plympton in 1885 where she died 
two years after. Mr. Donald is a member 
of Beaver Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W., of 
Wyoming. 

WILLIAM MACKESY, one of the 
prosperous farmers of Enniskillen township, 
located on Concession 5, Lot 13, was born in 
County Wexford, Ireland, July i, 1852, a 
son of Thomas and Frances (Larkin) Mack- 
esy, well known in County Wexford, where 
Airs. Mackesy still resides. 

Thomas Mackesy died in 1894. The 
children of his first marriage, Mary, Mar 
garet and James, are still in Ireland. There 
were ten children born to his second mar 
riage, the eldest being our subject, and the 
others : John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Kate, Annie, 
Hannah, Honor and Patrick, all in Ireland ; 
Thomas came to Cleveland, Ohio, where he 
married, has two children, John and Juliet, 
and is established as a machinist. 

William Mackesy worked on his father s 
farm until he reached manhood, having 
enjoyed fair educational advantages in the 
public schools of his native land. In 1873 he 
came to Canada, by way of Quebec, and set 
tled first in York County, near Toronto. He 
continued to work on neighboring farms un 
til he had earned sufficient means to buy his 
present farm. 

On June 26, 1876, Mr. Mackesy married 
Margaret Gleason, born in County Tipper- 
ary, Ireland, .March 17, 1853, a daughter of 
Dennis and Catherine (Ryan) Gleason, who 
still reside in Ireland. Mrs. Mackesy came 
to Canada with relatives in girlhood, being 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



sixteen years old at the time and well edu 
cated. Mr. and Mrs. Mackesy came to Oil 
City in 1879, and he worked at lumbering 
one year and then purchased 100 acres of his 
present home. At that time it was only a 
wild stretch of country, not much resembling 
the cultivated farm of the present. Among 
the first improvements he made here, was to 
erect a frame house, which, in 1893, was 
succeeded by a fine brick residence with all 
the modern improvements. His large bank 
barn, which can be seen a long distance away, 
was built in 1891, and is one of the most 
substantial structures of its kind in this 
neighborhood. Mr. Mackesy is one of the 
leading farmers of this section of Lambton 
County, and is the owner of a large amount 
of property. In 1896 he purchased a second 
farm on Concession 2, Enniskillen, and an 
other of 100 acres on Concession 4, both 
being largely under cultivation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mackesy have had five 
children; John, born near Toronto, in 1878, 
is a sailor on the lakes; William A., born in 
1880, at Oil City, and residing on his 
farm in Enniskillen township, married Alice 
Nelson, of Petrolia, and has one son, Will 
iam X. ; Thomas, born in 1883, at the present 
home, lives in Manitoba ; Kathleen, born 
in 1887, and James A., born in 1890, reside 
at home. Politically Mr. Mackesy has al 
ways been identified with the Reform party, 
but he has never aspired to office. Religious 
ly he is a Catholic, and has reared his family 
in the same faith. 

In noting the success of individuals it is 
often beneficial to examine why their, lot is 
more fortunate than that of others. In Mr. 
Mackesy s case, he landed in Canada with 
a very small capital. Those who know him 
best could tell the hard labor and close econ 
omy of years of unremitting industry be 
fore he became the farmer and stockraiser. 
that he now is, and thus would tell the story 
of his success and make apparent why he 
has forged far ahead of others who started 
out in life s race at the same time he did. He 
is considered one of Enniskillen s good, solid 
citizens, and is a man who is highly esteemed 
by all who know him. 



THOMAS H. LOVELL. a prosperous 

farmer and stock dealer of Brooke township, 
Lambton County, is successfully engaged in 
the cultivation of his fine farm on the 3d 
Concession, Lot 13. He was born at 
Oshawa, Ontario County. Xov. 26, 1849, 
son of James and Eliza (Brown) Lovell, 
natives of Somersetshire, England, the 
former born in 1809, and the latter in 1807. 
James Lovell was the son of James, Sr., 
who died in England. He was reared to 
manhood in England, where he learned the 
carpenter s trade, and was married. They 
came to Canada in 1847 on a sailing vessel, 
via Quebec, and after landing in Canada 
settled for some two years in Oshawa, where 
Mr. Lovell worked at his trade. They then 
removed to Ancaster, where they resided for 
two years, thence to Brooke township, on the 
farm upon which our subject now resides. 
This was all wild country at that day. and 
Mr. Lovell was compelled to cut his own 
road through the woods in order to reach his 
farm. Here he settled, clearing and culti 
vating his tract. As they had no 
team they were compeHed to carry their 
stove and household goods two miles to their 
log cabin. Mr. Lovell died in 1862, and his 
wife survived until 1888. They were con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church, 
of which he was one of the founders, and in 
which he filled many of the important offices. 
Politically he was a Liberal, but never con 
sented to hold office. Mr. and Mrs. Lovell 
had these children : ( i ) James, born in Eng 
land in 1836, came with his parents to Can 
ada where he grew to manhood, becoming 
one of the well-to-do farmers of Brooke 
township. . For many years he was prom 
inent in the township, being a meyiber of the 
council for sixteen years, and filling many 
other township positions before his death in 
1889. He married a Miss Shaver, who sur 
vived until 1898, when she passed away 
leaving one daughter Annie, who resides in 
London ; Edith, another daughter, died in 
1896. (2) John, born in England in 1840, 
is a farmer of Brooke township. (3) Mary, 
born in England in 1838, came to Canada 
where she grew to womanhood, becoming 



372 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



her brother John s housekeeper after the 
death of her mother. She died in 1902 at 
her brother John s home. (4) Thomas H. 
is our subject. 

Thomas H. Lovell received his educa 
tion in Brooke township, where he grew to 
manhood on his father s farm. There he 
remained with his brother John, until his 
marriage to Miss Mary J. Brownlee, Nov. 
8, 1883. Mrs. Lovell was bom in Brooke, 
in October, 1859, daughter of Henry and 
Margaret (Kennedy) Brownlee. Henry 
Brownlee and his wife located in Brooke 
township in 1832, where he died on the ist 
Concession. He was a prominent and widely 
known man in Brooke for many years, and 
their son, Robert H. still resides on the old 
Brownlee homestead. In 1883, the year of 
his marriage, Mr. Lovell erected a fine brick 
residence, a large barn having been erected 
some years previously, on the old place. He 
also owns a fine farm on. Lot 1 1 , 4th Con 
cession. To Mr. and Mrs. Lovell has been 
born a family of seven children, as follows: 
Ethel L., educated in the home schools, is 
at home; Henry H. ; Edna A.; Edgar 
Frank; Margery H. ; William Frederick; 
and Russel L. Religiously Mr. Lovell and 
his family are connected with the Methodist 
Church, in which he has acted in the capacity 
of steward for eighteen years. Politically 
Mr. Lovell has always been identified with 
the Liberal party, and has been a member of 
the school board for some fifteen years. In 
every relation of life, Mr. Lovell is a most 
worthy citizen and honest man. 

WILLIAM STEWART, a farmer and 
dairyman of Enniskillen township, is de 
scended in both lines from Scottish ancestry, 
as his father, John Stewart, came of Fife- 
shire stock and his .mother, Jane (Macin 
tosh) Stewart, belonged to a family in In 
verness-shire. Her parents were Peter and 
Annie (McKie) Mclntosh, whose whole 
lives were passed in Scotland. 

John and Agnes Stewart, the paternal 
grandparents, emigrated from Scotland to 
Canada and settled in Beverley, Ont., where 
John Stewart died. His wife survived him 



a number of years and passed her last days 
in the home of her son John, in Enniskillen. 
Of their family of nine, ( i ) Annie, the eldest 
married George Tenant, of Beverley, where 
she died, leaving a family. (2) Jessie mar 
ried first John McDonald, of Beverley, to 
whom she bore two sons. After his death 
she married for her second husband James 
Ross, who settled and died in Indiana, where 
their two children, William and Mary, still 
reside. (3) Christina is the wife of Peter 
McCall, of Gait, Ont., and has six children, 
Donald, Peter, Annie, Jessie (deceased), 
Lynne and Maggie. (4) Cartha, the last 
child born before the parents left Scotland, 
became the wife of David Galbraith, of 
Beverley. Both are now deceased. They 
left eight children, Jack, William, Agnes, 
Annie, Hannah, Katie, Cartha and Christina. 
(5) John was the father of our subject, Will 
iam. (6) Robert married Miss Isabella 
McKenzie, settled at Beverley, and there 
died, leaving four children, John, Donald,. 
Alexander and Isabella. (7) William emi 
grated to Australia when a young man, spent 
a successful life there, and died in 1900. (8) 
Alexander married a Miss Clark, settled in 
Beverley, and there died while still a young^ 
man. (9) James died in boyhood. 

JOHN STEWART was born in Fifeshire 
May 24, 1819, the year of Queen Victoria s- 
birth, and came to Canada when a young 
man. He met his wife, Jane Macintosh, 
who was born in Inverness-shire in May, 
1821, in Beverley, Ont., and there they were 
married, April 30, 1847. For a time they 
made their home in that place, where Mr. 
Stewart owned a farm and was engaged in 
stock raising, owning some very fine horses. 
In 1855 he came to Enniskillen, about the 
same time that the Morrisons settled there, 
when the Indians were practically the only 
inhabitants of the region. His home for 
many years, while he was engaged in clear 
ing his land, was a log house which he built 
himself, but in 1870 the present commodious 
residence was erected, while large barns were 
also put up, and the whole place brought to 
a high state of cultivation. Mr. Stewart was 
remarkably successful in his undertakings, 




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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



373 



and while his original purchase in Ennis- 
killen, located in Concession 9, Lot n, was 
only 200 acres, before he died he had ac 
quired through his own industry 900 acres 
of good land, and left a fine farm to each of 
his sons. He was cut off in the very prime 
of life, Oct. 28, 1877, and his estimable wife 
continued her earthly pilgrimage alone until 
Feb. 21, 1902, when she, too, passed away, 
aged eighty-one years. 

John Stewart and his wife were Presby 
terians in their religious belief and always 
foremost in religious work. They helped 
to found the Presbyterian Church in their 
neighborhood, and Mr. Stewart was one of 
its trustees and a very liberal supporter of 
it financially, though his gifts were never 
confined to that one denomination. In poli 
tics he was an old-time Grit and a citizen of 
the greatest loyalty and readiness of serv 
ice, but he would never accept official posi 
tion. He was a charter member of the Ma 
sonic order organized in Petrolia, and an ac 
tive worker in that also. In short, his inter 
ests and sympathies were manifold and 
touched every phase of life. Having met in 
his own experience all the hardships of a pio 
neer life, he was quick to understand the 
trials of others and ready to help whenever 
possible. His benevolent impulses were 
quick and strong and he exercised all his life 
a charity that was limited only by his oppor 
tunities^ and of which volumes might be 
written, thus earning for himself a lasting 
place in the grateful hearts of his fellows. 
Of the strictest integrity and uprightness in 
every business transaction, his unimpeach 
able honesty left him towering above the 
ordinary man, and in his private life at home 
his beautiful character made him almost an 
idol. 

Eleven children came to John and Jane 
Stewart, the first four daughters born before 
the family removed to the present home 
stead, which is the birthplace of the others: 
(i) Agnes, born in Beverlcy. married John 
McClellan. a farmer on Concession 8. and 
has had seven children, James. John. Ken 
neth, William. George. Maggie (deceased) 
and Annie. (2) Jane Ann married Angus 



McClellan, of Lambton County, and they 
settled on a farm in Sanilac county, Michi 
gan, where he died in 1904. leaving a family 
of seven, Maggie, John, YYilliam, Jane, 
Agnes, Jessie and Angus. (3) Jessie and 
(4) John died in early childhood. (5) Jes 
sie (2) is the wife of John YYatson, a shoe 
merchant of Petrolia, to whom she has borne 
one son and one daughter, John and Annie. 
(6) Robert, born in Enniskillen, married 
Miss Lizzie Somerville, of that township, 
lives on Concession 8, and has three children, 
John. May and Essie. (7) Peter married 
"Miss Rachel Harley, of Petrolia, lives on 
Concession 7, Enniskillen, and is the father 
of Geneva, Irene, Lillian and Wilfred L. 
(8) William is mentioned below. (9) James 
and (10) John (2), twins, born March 2, 
1870, are on the homestead, (n) Marga 
ret, the youngest member of the family, was 
educated in the district schools and in the 
Petrolia high school, is a young lady of 
much culture and refinement, and is well 
liked among her associates. For some years 
the responsibility of managing the house 
hold has rested upon her shoulders, and upon 
her also devolved the care of her aged 
mother in her last years. The parents were 
justly proud of their family, who reflect 
the greatest credit upon them. 

William Stewart was born in the Ennis 
killen home Xov. 21, 1864, grew up there, 
and attended the district schools. In 1902 
he and his brother James started a dairy, 
running from the farm to the Petrolia mar 
ket, an enterprise of which they have made 
a marked success. For some time William 
Stewart has been the manager of the home 
farm, and he has proved himself a wide 
awake, progressive and successful agricult 
urist, and is held in much respect among his 
neighbors, as a worthy son of his father. 
William. John, James and Margaret reside 
together. The brothers are closely associ 
ated in business matters, and own together 
300 acres, in a single tract, having added 
100 acres to the original property. 

THOMAS SPARLING, a retired 
farmer of Uttoxeter and one of the best 



374 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



known citizens of Plympton township, was 
born in Rainamoore, County Tipperary, 
Ireland, Nov. i, 1830, son of the late Peter 
Sparling and his wife Elizabeth (Barry) 
Sparling. William Sparling, a well known 
resident of Forest, is another son. 

Thomas Sparling was educated in the 
national schools of Ireland, and afterward 
learned the trade of a carpenter and wheel 
wright. When he was seventeen, in 1847, 
the family left Ireland and after a passage 
of six weeks on a sailing vessel landed in 
Xew York. Going directly to Toronto the 
young man followed his trade in that vicin 
ity for seventeen years before moving to 
Lambton County. There, in 1867, he 
bought 100 acres of land in Lot 27, Con 
cession 9, which were almost wholly wild, 
and which he was some years in clearing. 
Putting up a log house he began his pioneer 
life. As the timber was cut it was sold as 
cord wood. During the fifteen years Mr. 
Sparling lived there, he cleared the land, 
brought it under cultivation, made various 
improvements and put up a fine dwelling. 
Giving the management of this farm to his 
son Robert, Mr. Sparling moved to Lot 25, 
Concession 10, where he bought fifty acres 
at first, and later forty more. He put up a 
house on this place also, and added improve 
ments as he had on the other farm. In 1880 
he sold his first fifty acres to Mr. Burns, and 
then bought his present farm from his 
brother William. This he operated for thir 
teen years, but in 1902, he retired from ac 
tive life and left his son to take charge. 

A strong Conservative in his political 
views, Mr. Sparling was a great admirer of 
Sir John A. Macdonald, and of the princi 
ples he advocated. He is a member of the 
Loyal Orange Association, which he joined 
at Streetsville, Out. Religiously, he, as well 
as his family, united with the Zion Metho 
dist Church at Zion in which he has filled the 
offices of trustee and steward. Industrious 
and upright, Mr. Sparling is a man whose 
character is upheld by all who know him, 
while his domestic tastes and temperate hab 
its have contributed to the happiness of the 
home life. 



Mr. Sparling was married Sept. n, 
1856, in Streetsville, York County, to Miss 
Isabella Cooper, the ceremony being per 
formed by Rev. Mr. McGregor, a minister 
in the Church of England. Miss Cooper 
was born in York, daughter of Robert and 
Ellen (Watson) Cooper, who were natives 
of County Tyrone, Ireland, and early settlers 
in York County. They were members of 
the Presbyterian Church. To Thomas and 
Isabella Sparling five children were born : 
( i ) Susan, the widow of the late John Mc 
Lean, resides at Moose Jaw, Northwest Ter 
ritory; she had two children, John (de 
ceased) and Isabelle (married Alonzo 
Smith, and has one son, Cecil). (2) Robert, 
a farmer on the old homestead, married Miss 
Mary Prout, and has five children, viz. : 
Eliza C., a music teacher ; Mary Ellen ; Rena 
Isabelle; Thomas Wesley; and Vida Gladys 
Lexie. (3) Ellen, who married William 
Prout, lives in Drinkwater, Northwest Ter 
ritory, and has had the following children : 
Reginald, deceased; Lizzie Isabelle; Thomas 
Russell ; Mary Ellen ; Thomas Wesley ; 
Henry Harold; and John George. (4) Lizzie 
died in infancy. (5) Lizzie (2) married Os 
car Burns, resides in Plympton and has one 
son, Thomas Wesley. There is also a niece 
of Mrs. Sparling, Miss Nellie B. Cooper, 
whom she and her husband have adopted, a 
young lady of taste and culture. Mrs. 
Sparling is a woman of domestic tastes and 
is devoted to her home and family. She is 
noted all through that vicinity for the quilts 
which she knits, as they are of real artistic 
beauty. She has made fifteen for use in her 
own home, and another is in the possession 
of Rev. Henry Cole, a missionary sent by 
the Church of England to South Africa. 
Mrs. Sparling has also trained her adopted 
niece to make these quilts. She and her hus- 
hnnd. while they have retired from many of 
the responsibilities of life, are still active in 
Church and social affairs. 

NEIL McFARLANE. Within recent 
years the science of farming has been stud 
ied, and agriculture given an impetus which 
is shown on every side. The farmer of to- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



375 



day keeps himself well posted upon all mat 
ters relative to his work, just as does the 
merchant, the banker, the lawyer, and the 
physician. He thoroughly understands the 
value of rotation of crops, of fertilizers and 
of the latest improved machinery and appli 
ances. In consequence, he is enabled to-day 
to take from his land returns greatly in ex 
cess of those yielded from similar tracts of 
a quarter of a century ago, and through this 
increased prosperity, has gained for his vo 
cation a position of importance second to no 
other calling. Among the prosperous and 
progressive farmers of Enniskillen township, 
Lambton County, may be justly numbered 
Neil McFarlane, an up-to-date farmer and 
stockman of Lot 31, Concession 3. He was 
born at East Williams, Middlesex County, 
Nov. 25, 1856, son of Duncan and Betsey 
(Smith) McFarlane, both natives of Scot 
land. 

Duncan McFarlane was a son of Dun 
can McFarlane, Sr., who came to Canada on 
a sailing vessel, at an early day, settling at 
East Williams. Middlesex County, where he 
died, having been one of the first pioneers of 
that locality. He and his wife had a family 
as follows. besides Duncan, the father of 
our subject: John, still a resident of East 
Williams; Annie, deceased wife of Alex. 
Thompson ; Kate, who married Peter Camp 
bell, of Middlesex County; Mary married 
John Smith, of Middlesex County: Mar 
garet, deceased wife of Malcolm Mclntyre, 
of East Williams; Flora, deceased wife of 
Robert Brown, of East Williams. 

Duncan McFarlane, the younger, father 
of our subject, was educated in Scotland be 
fore the family made its exodus across the 
Atlantic, and after he had settled in Middle 
sex County, he married Miss Betsey Smith, 
daughter of John Smith, a native of Scot 
land, who died in Middlesex County. After 
marriage, Duncan McFarlane cleared up a 
farm in East Williams, where he resided 
until his death, he passing away July 21, 
1903. full of years, and very highly respected 
by a large contingent of friends. His wife, 
now eighty-five years of age. still survives. 
She and her husband were among the found 



ers of the Presbyterian Church of East Will 
iams, and its firm supporters. Eight chil 
dren were born to them, as follows: (i) 
Duncan, born in Middlesex County, in 1846, 
married Miss Maggie Campbell, of Lobo, 
where they reside; they have four children, 
Katie. Daniel A., John R. and Margaret. 
(2) Mary M.. born in 1848, married Jacob 
Deim, of Marine City, Michigan, and has 
no family. (3) John, born in 1850, was 
killed by a threshing machine when a boy. 
(4) Flora, born in 1853, is unmarried, liv 
ing with her mother in East Williams. (5) 
Neil. (6) Daniel, born in 1855, married 
Miss Jennett Smith, of Wyoming, and they 
reside on his farm, adjoining that of our 
subject, which he cleared from wild land; 
they have two sons, James Duncan and John 
F. (7) Christine, born in 1860, married 
Moses Clairmont, of Bay City, Michigan, 
and died leaving two daughters, Florence 
(now deceased) and Miss Elizabeth. (8) 
John, born in 1862, married Miss Kate 
Barr, of Lobo, Middlesex County, and re 
sides with his mother; they have no chil 
dren. 

Neil McFarlane like his brothers and 
sisters, was educated in the schools of East 
Williams, and was taught farming on the 
homestead. In 1878, he began working for 
himself, buying 100 acres of wild land, in 
Enniskillen township, which forms his pres 
ent home. Upon this property he erected a 
small house and commenced life in the 
woods. Two years later, he provided a mis 
tress for his home by marrying in Decem 
ber. Miss Martha Ladell, a native of Pick 
ering. York County, Ont, born May 20, 

1859. (laughter of Walter and Annie 
(Whiteside) Ladell. pioneers of Middlesex 
County. Walter Ladell. the father of Mrs. 
McFarlane. was born in England, but his 
wife was a native of Canada. They moved 
from York County, to Middlesex County, in 

1860. and settled in Lobo township, where 
the good father met his death by a falling 
tree in 1863. His wife had passed away in 
March. 1867. and two children were left or 
phans. Mr?. McFarlane and Walter, Jr. Of 
these. Walter Ladell. Jr.. was born in Mid- 



3/6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



dlesex County and married Miss Flora 
Brown ; they reside at Lobo, and have an in 
teresting family of four children : Wallace, 
Florence, Frank and Pearl. For his second 
wife Walter Ladell, Sr., married Mrs. Nancy 
Zavitz, by whom he had a daughter, Ma- 
linda, now the wife of Joseph Bayley, and 
mother of one child, Barclay Bayley. Mrs. 
McFarlane was carefully reared in Lobo 
township, where she was educated, early de 
veloping those characteristics which to-day 
make her so beloved by her family and wide 
circle of friends. 

After spending some years in the orig 
inal house built by Mr. McFarlane upon his 
property, our subject and his wife replaced it 
with a frame house, but in 1902 this gave 
way to the handsome modern brick resi 
dence in which they now make their home. 
In addition to this valuable improvement, 
Mr. McFarlane has built two large barns, 
and a number of out buildings, has fenced in 
all his land, and owns much valuable ma 
chinery, to which he is constantly adding. 

Two children have been born into this 
happy home : Lenna was reared and edu 
cated at home, being given exceptional ad 
vantages in music, and is now a charming 
and accomplished young lady, a great fav 
orite in social circles ; Walter is unmarried 
and at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. McFar 
lane are prominently connected with the Bap 
tist Church, of which denomination she is a 
consistent member. All his life, Mr. Mc 
Farlane has been a member of the Reform 
party. 

Starting out in life with little more than 
their energy and belief in each other as a 
stock in trade, Mr. and Mrs. McFarlane have 
lived to see themselves wealthy, prosperous 
and esteemed. They have been able to give 
their children advantages neither enjoyed, 
and both take great pride in the son and 
daughter. Being a thoroughly practical 
farmer himself. Mr. McFarlane is greatly 
interested in all movements tending toward 
the advancement of the agricultural interests 
of the county and is one of the most pro 
gressive men of his township. He is highly 
respected by his neighbors for his many ex 



cellent qualities, both as a citizen of Ennis- 
killen, and as a business man, and is fre 
quently mentioned as one of the most repre 
sentative men of Lambton County. 

HENRY JOHN PETTYPIECE, editor 
and proprietor of the Forest Free Press and 
for seven years member of the Ontario Leg 
islature from East Lambton, is one of the 
most prominent citizens of his locality. 

The Pettypiece family is of Irish extrac 
tion. The grandparents of our subject, John 
and Sarah (Black) Pettypiece, were both 
natives of Sligo, Ireland. The former was 
accidentally killed in his native land. His 
widow, with her children, came to the County 
of Essex, Out., locating in Anderdon town 
ship, in 1843, and there she died in 1869. 
They were the parents of the following chil 
dren : William and John, both farmers in 
Anderdon township, who died there ; Sarah, 
also deceased ; and Anthony, the father of 
Henry John Pettypiece. 

Anthony Pettypiece was born in 1826 in 
Ireland, and accompanied his mother to Can 
ada in October, 1843. He cleared up a fine 
farm in Anderdon township, County of 
Essex, and spent the remainder of his life 
there. He married a daughter of Henry 
Wright, who was born March 29, 1801, in 
Colchester township, Essex County, and in 
his youth visited many parts of the country ; 
he was at Lockport, New York, when the 
Erie canal was opened, and could remember 
when Hamilton, Ont, contained but two 
houses. He served his country as captain 
in the war of 1837-38, at the close of which 
he was tendered a major s commission. He 
assisted in the capture of the schooner "Ann" 
and was present at the battle of Point au 
Pelee. On Jan. 30, 1829, Mr. Wright was 
married to Amanda Kemp, daughter of Dan 
iel Kemp, who was a master carpenter in the 
engineer s department at Fort Maiden. When 
Mr. Wright settled in Maiden township the 
country surrounding was one vast wilder 
ness, and the woods even surrounded Fort 
Maiden closely. He was a member of the 
Western District Council in 1849, anc ^ a ^ so 
a member of the council of the united coun- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



377 



ties of Essex, Kent and Lambton. He was 
receiver of Maiden in 1850, being the first 
person to hold that office, which he filled until 
1851, and in 1859 he was again elected and 
also represented Maiden in the Essex County 
council for that year. At different times he 
was township assessor and tax collector of 
that municipality. Mr. Wright s wife died 
April 21, 1882, three years after the cele 
bration of their Golden Wedding. His sur 
viving children are : Mrs. O. E. Burch, Mrs. 
Thomas J. Elliott, Colborne, William K. and 
Albert. Mr. Wright was a stanch Liberal 
and never failed to record his vote on elec 
tion day. For nearly fifty years he was a 
member of the Methodist Church, and a trus 
tee thereof nearly all of that time. He died 
Monday, May 4, 1891, aged ninety years, one 
month and five days. 

The children of Anthony Pettypiece and 
his wife were : Henry John, the prominent 
politician and statesman of East Lambton ; 
Charles, who died at the age of twenty-three 
3 ears ; George, of Amherstburg, who mar 
ried Emma Hamilton and has one son, Hil- 
land; John H., an insurance agent at Am 
herstburg, who married Amanda Brush and 
has one son ; Miss Sarah, of Forest ; and Wil- 
helmina, wife of Fred P. Smith, of Amherst 
burg, who has two sons, Charles and 
Stephen. 

Henry John Pettypiece was born Nov. 
u, 1855, in Anderdon township, Essex 
County, and passed his youth on the old 
farm, where he remained until 1879. His 
ambitions were in the line of literature, and 
he began his career in the EcJio office at 
Amherstburg. where he continued learning 
the printing business, for a period of four 
years. In 1883, in partnership with William 
H. Auld, now of Essex, he purchased the 
Forest Free Press of Mr. Anderson, who, 
with Mr. McLean, had founded the paper in 
1879. This partnership continued until 
1888, when Mr. Auld sold his interest to Mr. 
Pettypiece, who has most successfully con 
ducted the paper ever since. It is a powerful 
factor in his section in the support of good 
government and the principles of the Liberal 
part}-. For fifteen years Mr. Pettypiece has 



been ticket agent at Forest for the Canadian 
Pacific railroad. He has been a melnber of 
the village council and was also a member 
of the first town council, in 1888, that being 
the transition period. It was during that 
year that the present fire protection system 
was organized and Beachwood cemetery pur 
chased. For many years Mr. Pettypiece has 
taken an active part in politics, and he is a 
very effective organizer and campaign 
speaker. In 1888 he was elected by the Lib 
eral party a member of Parliament from 
East London, and was again elected in 1902. 

During the seven years he has sat in Par 
liament Mr. Pettypiece has been by no means 
content to remain on the plane of the ordi 
nary member. He has taken hold of a great 
public problem, has studied it thoroughly, 
and has consequently qualified himself to ex 
press expert opinion on its many phases. 
This is the question of "Equal Taxation," 
with particular reference to the railway cor 
porations. He has written illuminative arti 
cles on this question, has made telling 
speeches in favor of his schemes for con 
summating the end in view, and has intro 
duced and advocated measures that have at 
tracted no small amount of attention. In 
1904. when the Pettypiece Bill providing for 
the more equitable assessment of railways 
came up before the special committee of the 
Legislature on Assessment and Taxation, 
that committee recommended the appoint 
ment of a Royal Commission to investigate 
systems of railway taxation in the States. 
The Legislature appointed a commission, 
composed of Mr. Pettypiece, as chairman, 
Judge A. Bell, of Kent County, and Prof. 
Adam Shortt, of Queen s University, Kings 
ton. During the months of July and August, 
1904. the commission visited the States of 
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, 
Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Mary 
land and Pennsylvania and made thorough 
investigations of the various systems of tax 
ation in those States. Their report, which is 
an exhaustive one, was published in 1905. 

In addition to the above work Mr. Petty- 
piece has contributed several articles to lead- 



3/8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ing magazines on questions of political econ 
omy ami kindred subjects. 

Mr. Pettypiece s connection with the Ca 
nadian Free Press Association began in 1887, 
when he was received into the membership. 
Ever since then he has taken an active part 
in its work. In 1900 he was elected a mem 
ber of the Executive. The following 
year he was elected second vice-pres 
ident. In 1902 he rose to first vice-presi 
dent, and in 1903 the presidency was offered 
to and accepted by him. Possibly his best 
work was done for the association when, in 
1901, in company with D. McGillicuddy and 
John A. Cooper, he fought for the associa 
tion against the paper combine then alleged 
to be in existence. 

In November, 1879, Mr. Pettypiece was 
united in marriage with Mary Meloche, 
daughter of Cyrille Meloche, and to this 
union seven children have been born, of 
whom three, Nora, Lister and Victor, are 
living. Fraternally Mr. Pettypiece is a mem 
ber of the Masonic order, the Canadian 
Order of Foresters, Sons of Scotland and 
Royal Arcanum. He is one of the leading 
men of Forest, not only in politics but in all 
that goes to build up a community. 

ALEXANDER LEYS, who died Dec. 
1 6, 1891, was a prominent business man in 
Sarnia. where he is still remembered. Sixty- 
six years of his long and strenuous life he 
spent in that place, engaged for the greater 
part of the time in public and private affairs. 
His erect, stalwart figure, keen eye and in 
telligent countenance, and his firm, dignified 
bearing, were such as to distinguish him in 
any gathering, and as a politician he was 
widely known and much respected. 

Mr. Leys was born in Gairnside, Aber- 
deenshire, Scotland. Sept. 21, 1811, and 
came of a respected family of that locality. 
Good rearing and careful training in habits 
of industry and thrift prepared him at an 
early age for the active duties of life. About 
1834. impressed with reports of favorable 
business openings in Ontario, he came to 
that Province, first taking up his abode in 
Hamilton and later at Guelph. In 1836, 



however, finding that the lakeside village of 
Sarnia had no tailor shop, and was also in 
need of a dry-goods store, he came to the 
place, opening an establishment combining 
the two. The rapid growth of the place 
brought in a steadily increasing custom, and 
he continued the industries throughout his 
active business life. His services were al 
ways the best, his goods of a reliable quality, 
and he commanded a large patronage. In 
1888, after forty-four years of unceasing 
toil, he disposed of his business and retired 
from active work. 

On Nov. 29, 1843, Mr. Leys married 
Miss Jane Hossie, who was born in Stir 
lingshire, Scotland, July 23, 1825, daughter 
of Andrew and Jane (Wilson) Hossie. She 
is now in her eighty-first year and still re 
sides in Sarnia, where she has passed her 
entire married life. She is well preserved, 
in possession of all her faculties, and enjoys 
excellent health considering her age. Mr. 
and Mrs. Leys had eight children : ( i ) 
Annie married Michael Fleming, of Sarnia, 
who is now deceased, and they had seven 
children: Tinnie, Eddie, Annie. Charles, 
Hugh, Kathleen and Nora. (2) Jane mar 
ried Dr. A. MacLean. who has a sketch else 
where. (3) Mary married David Milne, 
and they have two children, Susan Baxter 
and Margaret Leys. (4) John, now deputy 
registrar of Lambton County, married Sara 
Middleton, and they have two children, Flor 
ence A. and Arthur A. (5) Maggie, now de 
ceased, married Andrew Brown, and they 
had one son, Gibson. (6) Jessie, after the 
death of his first wife, married Andrew 
Brown, formerly mentioned, and they have 
had two children, Jessie Evelyn and Alex 
ander Leys. (7) Miss Kate resides with her 
mother. (8) Sophia is deceased. 

Mr. Leys during his long residence in 
Sarnia prominently identified himself with 
almost every movement for the benefit of his 
city, and filled with marked efficiency many 
local offices. He served as justice of the 
peace from 1864 until his death, also at dif 
ferent times as a member of the town and 
village council, evincing both wisdom and 
fidelity in the performance of his duties. As 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



379 



a Reformer in politics he did some very ef 
fective electioneering for the late Hon. 
George Brown during his first run for Par 
liament, and also for the Counties of Kent 
and Lambton in 1851. He also did merit 
orious service for the late Hope F. MacKen- 
zie, and the Hon. Alexander MacKenzie. He 
possessed considerable military skill, and 
served as an officer in the St. Clair Border 
ers, during the Rebellion of 1837. Senator 
Vidal, of Sarnia, is the only living man in 
that place at that time resident there who 
took up arms with Mr. Leys in defense of 
his country. Educational matters did not 
escape Mr. Leys s attention, and when Lamb- 
ton became a separate county, in 1853, he 
was elected to the school board, a position 
which he filled with eminent ability until the 
time of his death. A strong church mem 
ber, he was one of the founders of St. An 
drew s Presbyterian Church, living to see 
the original members reduced to seven, and 
to this same denomination his wife still be 
longs. Highest integrity, a readiness to 
shoulder life s full responsibilities, and effi 
ciency in the execution of every duty, were 
among his dominant traits. 

HOSSIE. The Hossie family, of which 
Mrs. Leys is a member, was of Scottish an 
cestry, and among the first settlers of Lamb- 
ton County. James Hossie. grandfather of 
Mrs. Leys, was a lifelong resident of Scot 
land, as was also his wife. Jane (Sharp). 
Mr. and Mrs. Hossie had two sons : Andrew, 
mentioned below ; and James, who came to 
Ontario and settled in Moore township, 
Lambton County, where he has a son named 
James now residing. 

Andrew Hossie. father of Mrs. Leys, 
was born in Scotland in 1792, and there 
married Jane Wilson. Of this union there 
were nine children, the first three of whom 
are now deceased ; James, who died at the 
age of twenty-five years ; Ann. who married 
Robert Modenvell, ex-sheriff of Perth 
County, Ont. now deceased; David who 
was a farmer, and a well known local poli 
tician ; Jane. Mrs. Leys : Andrew, who was a 
farmer on the old homestead and is now 7 de 
ceased ; William, a resident of Sarnia ; Wal 



ter, of Brantford, now superintendent of the 
institution for the blind; Jessie, who mar 
ried John Stewart and is now deceased ; and 
John", acting as sheriff of Perth County, 
Ontario. 

A desire to better his own prospects and 
those of his family induced Mr. Hossie, in 
1833, to leave his native country and come 
to Ontario. There on Lot 19, Concession 12, 
in the interior of Moore township, Lambton 
County, he procured land and erected a small 
log house, which was the first work of civil 
ization in that place. Later he moved to 
Lot 16, Concession 12, where he made a 
comfortable home for himself and family. 
He died there in 1857. and his wife passed 
away in 1873, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. 

ALBERT HARE, proprietor, of the 
Willow Brook farm, and one of the highly 
respected residents of Bosanquet township, 
a progressive farmer and successful stock 
dealer, belongs to that township, having been 
born and reared there. 

The Hare family is of English extrac 
tion. Charles Manby Hare, grandfather of 
Albert, was born Dec. 10, 1792, at Lincoln, 
the county town of Lincolnshire, England, 
where he was afforded a good education for 
the times and later learned the trade of shoe 
maker. He was a studious, intelligent man, 
and gave considerable time to the study of 
both medicine and theology. On Nov. 7, 
1818, he married Sarah Kirk, born July 17, 
1791, and children as follows were born to- 
them : John Manby. born Sept. 20, 1819,. 
at Bassingham, Lincolnshire, died there Nov. 
i. 1819; Ebenezer was born Dec. I, 1820, in 
Bassingham; Uziah Charles, born Oct. 21, 
1822, at Bassingham, died May 30, 1839, at 
Champion, Jefferson County. New York; 
Sarah Kirk, born Aug. 20, 1824, at Lacolle, 
Quebec, was a successful teacher for many 
years in Buffalo and other places in New 
York State, for twenty-five years was ma 
tron of the Presbyterian Home for Aged 
\\ omen in New York, and now is a member 
of the Advisory board, residing in the home; 
Joshua, born March g, 1826, at Charlotte, 



380 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Vermont, who died at Sheridan, Montana, 
Feb. 2, 1899, was for years a shoe merchant 
at Racine, Wisconsin, later at Helena, Mon 
tana, and married Helen De Groot in 1858; 
Betsey Ann. born Dec. 18, 1827, at Colches 
ter, Vermont, married Levi Weaver, in 1851, 
and died at Wilna, Jefferson County, New 
York, May 9, 1864, leaving two children; 
Esther Parmelia, born Feb. 7, 1830, at 
Starksboro, Vt., in 1868, married a Mr. 
Drake; Daniel, born Dec. 16, 1831, at Wa- 
tertown, New York, died Feb. 14, 1844, at 
Toronto; Jane Elizabeth, born Sept. 3, 1833, 
in Jefferson County, New York, married 
Albert C. Bancroft, Aug. 24, 1854. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hare, with two children, 
left their English home, and after crossing 
the Atlantic located first at Quebec and later 
removed to Vermont. He was licensed as 
a local preacher in the Methodist Church and 
also had a physician s commission, and in 
ministering for years to both the spiritual 
and physical ills of the mountaineers of Ver 
mont he rode on horseback many miles. He 
also worked at his trade in the meantime, 
both in Vermont and in Jefferson County, 
New York, where he also practiced medicine 
and preached in the little churches of the 
Methodist faith. Finally he located at To 
ronto, then known as Little York, and there 
his long, busy and useful life ended, April 
12, 1841, and his remains were interred 
there. In 1852 his widow married John 
Lane, who died before her, she surviving to 
the ripe old age of ninety years; her death 
occurred at Crittenden, Erie County, New 
York, Sept. 12, 1881. She had made her 
home with her daughter, Mrs. Bancroft, and 
was buried at Lancaster, Erie County, 
New York. 

Ebenezer Hare was but four years old 
when the family came to America. Until 
he was eighteen years of age he attended 
school, and meantime acquired considerable 
knowledge of the shoemaking trade during 
spare time, in his father s shop. This knowl 
edge stood him in good stead when he be 
came a pioneer of Lambton, as he was able 
to make and repair shoes. From the age 
of eighteen until he was twenty-one he 



worked on farms on Yonge street, York 
County, in the summers, and remained at 
home in the winter months. The following 
three years he was employed by Mr. James 
Lloyd, an extensive lumber dealer who 
owned a sawmill operated by water power, 
about thirty miles from Toronto, near Au 
rora, York County, and during his three 
years engagement with that employer he 
farmed and drove teams to Toronto from 
sawmills, and worked in mills. Later he en 
gaged in lumbering on the Otto river. On 
Aug. 22, 1844, he was married, worked in 
pine woods cutting logs the following winter, 
and for the next three years was engaged as 
sawyer and manager in the waterpower mill. 
He then came west to Lambton County, lo 
cating on Lot 12, Concession 10, where he 
took up 100 acres of land, which he pur 
chased from the Canadian Land Company, 
paying $2.25 per acre. He was accompanied 
by his brother-in-law, William Dawson and 
his wife, and with their wagon, with a pair 
of oxen and two horses attached, they could 
make but five miles a day. 

On this land Mr. Hare first erected a 
little log shanty, similar to a hundred others 
scattered over, the neighboring country, and 
in this he and his wife bravely took up the 
hardships incident to a pioneer life. That 
these were many may be imagined when the 
fact is stated that these were the only white 
families located in all this section, one which 
now can boast of the best cultivated farms 
and the highest type of civilization in the 
county. A few families had built along the 
lake shore, but the other settlers had erected 
their cabins a long distance away. There 
were no roads yet made and of course no 
churches or schools established, and for some 
years the family was isolated from all civil 
ized surroundings. As time progressed in 
vestors began to recognize the benefits of the 
locality and Mr. Hare found his time well 
employed as a guide, and many of the famil 
ies now established in Bosanquet township, 
were first led through the forests, which 
then covered all this country, by Mr. Hare, 
over a blazed trail, and directed by his com 
pass. Every time a transfer of land was 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



made they were obliged to walk to Bayfield, 
on Lake Huron, a distance of thirty miles 
through the bush. 

Alter some years Mr. Hare sold that 
farm to a Mr. Rattan, and bought another 
on Lot 7, Concession n, from the Canada 
Land Company for $2.50 per acre. There 
he again built a log house, cleared up twenty 
acres, and then disposed of it to Joseph Mis- 
sebrook, buying a third time. This purchase 
was a tract of fifty acres, a part of Lot 8, 
Concession 12, for which he paid $3 per 
acre. This was during the Crimean war. 
Later he went east to York County to locate 
a site for a lumber-mill, but on account of 
public troubles, business generally was^at a 
standstill and he returned to Lambton Coun 
ty without completing his enterprise. He 
then went to work to clear up his latest farm, 
improving forty acres of it, and then sold it 
to Andrew Davidson, for the sum of $1,500. 
Again Mr. Hare bought, this time 100 acres 
in Lot 12, Concession n, for which he paid 
$2.000, and on this tract he made a per 
manent home during his active remaining 
years. This land Mr. Hare cleared by hard 
work, built a comfortable dwelling-house and 
substantial barns and outbuildings, and en 
gaged thereon in general farming and stock- 
raising. In 1904 he retired and sold this 
homestead to John Stewartson, and bought a 
home in Forest, where he lives in the enjoy 
ment of many comforts and is lovingly cared 
for by his estimable daughter. Although the 
winters of eighty-five years have passed over 
his head he is still in the enjoyment of his 
mental faculties and is quite active, surpris 
ingly so considering his life of hard work. 
When a barn-raising takes place in the neigh 
borhood he is very apt to be on hand, and en 
joys the occasion as much as he did a half 
century ago. 

Mr. Hare was married in York County, 
Aug. 22, 1844, to Elizabeth Dawson, who 
was born in 1824, daughter of Thomas Daw- 
son, a carpenter and builder. They cele 
brated their golden wedding on Aug. 22, 
1894. with a picnic on the lake shore. It 
was a delightful occasion for all concerned. 
The venerable and beloved heads of the fam 



ily were surrounded by children and grand 
children, and all vied in showing affection 
and respect to them. The circle was broken 
by the death of the mother, Oct. 2, 1902, at 
the age of seventy-eight years. She had 
had a happy married lite of fifty-eight years, 
during- which time she had shown every 
Christian virtue, and when she was laid to 
rest, in Beach Wood cemetery, sincere 
mourners came not only from her kindred, 
but from all the neighborhood. In the early 
days she had shown the womanly kindness 
and sympathy to others which could never 
be forgotten, while the devotion she gave 
to husband and family endeared her to all. 
Children as follows were born to Eben- 
ezer Hare and his wife : William, who died 
in infancy; Matilda, who married Richard 
Frayne, formerly a large grain and cattle 
dealer at Forest, now a resident of South 
Dakota; Sarah, who is the wife of William 
Frayne, a carpenter and builder at Forest; 
Caroline, wife of Thomas Holland, importer 
of and dealer in horses at Marshall, Minne 
sota; Susan, who is the wife of Benjamin 
Clemmens, a farmer of Bosanquet township ; 
Albert, the immediate subject of this sketch ; 
and jane, who cares for her father and is a 
lady of most estimable character. 

Albert Hare was educated in the schools 
of Bosanquet township and in the gth dis 
trict Kinnard school. As he was the only 
son he remained at home, assisting his fa 
ther, until he was twenty-five years old. 
Then he started farming for himself, pur 
chasing a tract of fifty acres, the first farm 
on which his father settled in the township. 
To this he added until he had 100 acres, and 
on that place he made many improvements, 
including the building of a nice brick dwell 
ing. After living on that farm for ten years 
he advantageously sold ten acres, containing 
orchard, house and all outbuildings, to Don 
ald Sutherland, and bought the old Willow 
Brook farm of 100 acres, on Lot II, Con 
cession n, and adjoining his other ninety 
acres. The Willow Brook farm has long 
been considered one of the best farms in the 
county, as may be judged by the fact that it 
was bought by James Gammon, in 1885, for 



382 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



$8,500 or $85 an acre. Here for the past 
five years Mr. Hare has been successfully 
engaged in general farming and cattle rais 
ing and feeding, dealing extensively in sheep. 
He makes every acre of his 190 acres pay, 
being well qualified for all kinds of agri 
culture and keeping thoroughly informed in 
regard to such matters. He is a member of 
the East Lambton Farmers Institute. 

Mr. Hare, in addition to being a first- 
class business man, takes a good citizen s 
interest in local affairs, supporting the prin 
ciples of the Liberal party, but not seeking 
any official positions. The cares of his large 
business sufficiently fill his time. He is so 
cial by nature and has long been a member, of 
the Forest Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., and 
the Sons of England. He is a member of 
the Methodist Church. 

Mr. Hare was married, at the Arkona 
Baptist Church, by Rev. Joseph Williamson, 
to Sophia Sutherland, who was born in Fra- 
serburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and who 
is a sister to the efficient clerk of Bosanquet 
township, whose biography appears in this 
book. They have had five children, namely : 
Eva Mildred, born May 24, 1891 ; Stanley 
Milton, Aug. 30, 1894; Bertha Christena, 
April 28, 1896; Albert Sutherland, April 6, 
1899 (died April 16, 1899) ; and Leah Wi- 
nona. Jan. 2, 1904. Mrs. Hare is a devoted 
member of the Baptist Church, and is es 
teemed by all who know her. 

HENRY W. BRAKE, of Petrolia, has 
spent his entire business life as an oil pro 
ducer in the Petrolia fields. He is of Eng 
lish extraction, the family having been found 
ed in Ontario by his father, John Brake, who 
was a -son of Daniel and Lydia Eliza (Ben 
nett) Brake. 

John Brake and his brother George, the 
only members of their family to come to 
America, emigrated in 1852. George is now 
a druggist of Lansing. Michigan, and John 
located in London, Out. He was born in 
1831, in England, and there married Eliza 
Williams, who was born in 1825. daughter 
of John and Mary (Chambers) Williams, 
and died in Petrolia March 14, 1892. In 



1852, the year they came from England, 
John Brake and his wife settled in New 
York City, and for nine years Air. Brake en 
gaged in the railroad business there, thence 
in 1861 removing to London, Out. For 
three years he was engaged in oil refining in 
the County of Kent, and in 1867 he removed 
to Petrolia and became an extensive pro 
ducer, but he is now retired and living in 
London, Out., although still interested in oil 
property. While residing in Petrolia Mr. 
Brake served in the council of the town, and 
gave his personal support to many measures 
tending toward the advancement of the best 
interests of the city. The following chil 
dren were born to him and his wife : John, 
who lost his life in an oil fire in 1872; 
George, who died leaving a widow and seven 
children ; Henry W. ; Walter, who died at 
the age of nineteen ; Louise, wife of Arthur 
Cooper, a photographer of London, Ont. ; 
and Emily, who married James Wood, a 
merchant of Petrolia. 

Henry W. Brake was born in New York 
City, Feb. 22, 1855, and received his literary 
education in the public schools of Petrolia 
and the London Business College. Upon 
attaining to an age when he was old enough 
to embark in business he entered the field and 
became an oil producer with his father, and 
has continued in this line to the present day, 
now having 170 wells in operation in the 
township of Enniskillen. 

In 1880 Mr. Brake and Miss Ida Cooley, 
a native of Frankfort, Illinois, and a daugh 
ter of the late Hiram Cooley, an early set 
tler of Petrolia, were united in marriage. To 
this happy union have been born the follow 
ing children : Emily May (deceased), Alice 
Ida and Frank Oliver. Fraternally Mr. 
Brake is a member of the Royal Arcanum 
and the K. O. T. M. Mrs. Brake is a mem 
ber of the L. O. T. M., and both are popular 
and highly respected by all who have the 
pleasure of their acquaintance. 

JOHN HAND, one of the substantial 
farmers and first-class citizens of Brooke 
township, Lambton County, owning a mag 
nificent farm of 400 acres on Concession 2. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



383 



having the east half of Lot 14 and west half 
of Lot 15, has also engaged quite extensively 
in the breeding of fine stock. Mr. Hand was 
born in Leicestershire, England. March 5, 
1831. son of Thomas and Hannah (Kitchen) 
Hand, both of whom were natives of Lei 
cestershire. 

The mother of our subject died when he 
was a lad of eight years, and in his twentieth 
year he made his way to Canada, via Quebec, 
from Liverpool, being six weeks and three 
days on the journey. He landed in Canada 
with a very small amount of money, but 
going to Hamilton he found employment on 
the Great Western railroad, with a con 
tractor, with whom he worked for three 
years. He then worked on the B. & L. H. 
railroad with another contractor oft and on 
for seven years, during which time he pur 
chased 100 acres of his present farm, of 
which he hired thirty-three acres cleared 
while he continued on the railroad. In 1861 
Mr. Hand located on his farm, upon which 
he erected a log house, and log sheds for his 
yoke of oxen and two cows his live stock 
at that time. Later Mr. Hand purchased 
300 acres more, which he is now cultivating, 
and in 1885 erected a large brick residence 
and two large barns, complete with cement 
walls and concrete floors, two of the finest 
stock barns in the county. He also "built a 
silo, from which he feeds a large number of 
thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle. 

Some years after settling in Canada Mr. 
Hand sent for his father, for whom he found 
a home with his brother. Swithen Hand, who 
settled and died in Bruce County. The fa 
ther died in 1875. aged sixty-nine. Swithen 
Hand left four children: Thomas. William, 
Elizabeth and Hannah. 

In July, 1854. Mr. Hand was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Metcnlf. born in 
Lincolnshire. England. Aug. 16. 1835, 
daughter of William and Sarah (Roberts) 
Metcalf, who came from England to Xe\v 
Brunswick, and later, to Luther township, 
Wellington County, where they settled as 
farmers, and where Mr. Metcalf was killed 
by a runaway horse. Mr. Hand brought his 
wife to the present home, where, after rear 



ing her. family, she died March 12. 1893. 
Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Hand, as follows: Fanny died when a 
young lady: Hannah, born in Canada, lives 
at home; Sarah is the wife of James Ann- 
strong, of Brooke township, and has a fam 
ily of seven children. Chester, Clinton, 
B irdie, Mabel. Olive. Fanny and Swithen; 
William married Miss Katie Wright, of 
Euphemia, and they reside in Aberfeldy; 
lames, torn at the present home, and resid 
ing on his farm in Brooke township, mar 
ried Miss Sarah Richards, of this county, 
and has three children, Ernest, Vera and 
Ha; Elizabeth, wife of Alexander McClung, 
of Brooke, has two children, John and Or 
son; Mary J. is the wife of Robert McYicar, 
of Brooke, and has four children, Mary, 
Tohn, Annie and Maggie; Rhoda married 
William Holmes, and has four children. 
Earl, Violet, Yernall and Rexford; George 
of Brantford. born at the present home, mar 
ried Miss Jane Campbell, of Alvinston ; Sa- 
bina, born at the homestead, is the wife of 
Xeil McCallumn. of Brooke township, and 
has three children, Gladys, Homer and 
Rheta: Sophie is the wife of George Mad- 
dock, of Brooke, and has three children, Or- 
val. Samuel and Meryle; Robert lives at the 
homestead; Lena is at home; Herbert also 
resides at home. 

Mr. Hand was reared in the faith of the 
Church of England. Politically he has al 
ways supported the Conservative party, and 
has held the offices of councillor (for one 
term) and commissioner of Brooke (for one 
term) . Mr. Hand came to Canada as a poor 
young man : purchasing land then wild, and 
"practically worthless in its wild state, his 
energy, perseverance, good taste and indus 
try converted it into one of the most valuable 
and attractive homes in the township. He 
is not only a sagacious business man, but one 
of honor and integrity, whose word is as 
good as his Ixmd. and he enjoys the confi 
dence of the whole community. 

JOHN KERR. The soil of Brooke 
township. Lambton County, is well suited for 
agricultural pursuits, and among the many 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tine farms to be found within the township 
limits may be mentioned that of John Kerr, 
which is located on Concession 9, Lot 17. 
Mr. Kerr was born in December, 1825, in 
Argyllshire. Scotland, son of Donald and 
Margaret (McLachlan) Kerr, both of whom 
were natives of Argyllshire, where they spent 
their, entire lives. 

At the death of Donald Kerr, the father 
of our subject, he left the following sons: 
Alexander, who died in AJpena, Michigan; 
Archie, who married Jennett McMillan, and 
they reside on Concession 7, Brooke town 
ship; Colin, who makes his home with our 
subject; and John. 

John Kerr received a fair education in his 
native country. On Feb. 14, 1848, he mar 
ried Miss Flora McLachlan, born in Janu 
ary, 1828, in Argyllshire, Scotland, daugh 
ter of Duncan and Mary (Smith) McLach 
lan. Mrs. Kerr s parents were farmers of 
Argyllshire, where they both died. In 1855 
Mr. and Mrs. Kerr came to Canada, via 
Quebec, on a sailing vessel, being four weeks 
on the trip, and, leaving Quebec, located in 
Ekfrid, for a short time, and then bought 
wild land in Brooke township. Bringing 
their family of three children, Mr. and Mr.s. 
Kerr located upon the site of their present 
home, their first residence, a log cabin, being 
replaced in 1892 by a large brick house. Mr. 
Kerr also built good substantial outbuildings 
and made general improvements upon the 
property. He is now living retired from ac 
tive life. He and his worthy wife have had 
the following children : Margaret, born in 
Scotland, resides at home; Duncan, born in 
Scotland, is a farmer of Brooke township; 
Mary, born in Scotland, received a fine edu 
cation in the district schools, and resides at 
home; Annie, born in Canada, died at the 
age of three years ; Sarah remains at the old 
home ; Jessie lives on the old homestead ; and 
Jane died in young womanhood. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are con 
sistent members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and were among the founders of that church 
in Brooke township. In political sympathy 
Mr. Kerr is connected with the Reform 
party, but has never aspired to public office. 



The trials and hardships of a pioneer s life 
were all experienced by Mr. Kerr, but all 
obstacles were met and overcome. John Kerr 
has labored hard, but he may now, in the 
evening of life, enjoy the fruits of his early 
labor. Mr. Kerr is highly respected through 
out Brooke township for his integrity, hon 
esty and other sterling traits of character. 

JOSHUA ADAMS, barrister, of Sarnia, 
Ont., was born April 5, 1825, at Adamsville, 
near Perth, in what was then known as 
Upper Canada. He is a son of Joshua 
Adams, a relative of John Adams, one of 
the Presidents of the United States. His 
family came to Upper Canada in the latter 
part of the eighteenth century. He was a 
captain in active service in defense of his 
king and country during the whole of the 
war of 1812, and shortly after its close he 
built mills and settled at Adamsville, on the 
river Tay. He was for a time warden of the 
Bathurst District and also a magistrate of 
that district and of the County of Lanark for 
about forty years. He died in 1863, aged 
eighty-three. 

The subject of this sketch was educated 
at the Grammar School at Perth, studied law 
and practiced there from 1848 to 1851. After 
engaging in lumber operations in Oso for 
three years he came to Sarnia in 1855, anc ^ 
resumed his law practice, having the manage 
ment of the late Hon. Malcolm Cameron s 
land and fiscal business for several years. He 
has taken an active part in local public affairs, 
serving as school trustee and town councillor 
for several years, and as mayor of Sarnia 
for three years, and is now the oldest ex- 
mayor. He was appointed by the Govern 
ment passport officer during the United 
States war of 1861-65. In 1899 he was 
appointed by the Dominion Government In 
dian Lands Agent at Sarnia, and now holds 
that office. The late Judge Lister and the 
Hon. T. B. Pardee studied law in his office, 
the latter having also been his law partner for 
three years. 

Mr. Adams has always been a Liberal 
in politics. He is a member of the Metho 
dist Church, and took an active part in effect- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



385 



ing the union of the several brandies of the 
Methodist Church in 1873 and 1884. 

Mr. Adams was twice married, first to a 
daughter of the late Rev. James Padfield, 
then rector of Franktown, and second to a 
daughter of the late William Carman, Esq., 
prothonotary of Xe\v Brunswick. He is still 
in the practice of law at Sarnia, and is well- 
known all over the county. 

RICHARD STUTT, who is now living 
retired at Forest, for many years was a 
farmer in Bosanquet township, Lambton 
County, and is a son of \Yilliam Stutt, a pio 
neer of that section. 

William Stutt was born in Ireland in 
1797. He married Elizabeth Glass, who was 
born in Scotland in 1792, and they came to 
Ontario in 1844. locating near Toronto, 
where they remained until 1856. They then 
settled in Bosanquet township, on Lot 7, 
Concession 12. redeemed this farm from the 
bush, and resided upon it the remainder of 
their lives. Mrs. Stutt passing away in 1864 
and Mr. Stutt in 1869. In religion they 
were members of the Methodist Church, 
and Mr. Stutt was a Reformer in politics. 
Children as follows were born to them : 
James (deceased), born in Ireland in 1818, 
founded the James Stutt & Sons Paper 
Mills, near Dundas; William, born in 1820, 
now resides in Australia, and was a member 
of Parliament there for many years ; Jane 
(deceased) married Alexander Duguid, of 
Scarborough ; Eliza married John Mason, of 
Bosanquet township, and both are de 
ceased ; Archibald, a paper manufacturer, is 
deceased: John (deceased) was a merchant 
in Australia; Andrew (deceased) was a 
worker in an iron foundry; George (de 
ceased) was also a worker in an iron foun 
dry; Richard is our subject. 

Richard Stutt was born in Ireland Dec. 
25. 1837. and was only in his seventh year 
when brought to Ontario by his parents. He 
spent his boyhood days in Yorkville, near 
Toronto, attending school in that locality, 
and later working in a paper-mill. In 1857 
he married Miss Elizabeth Warren, daugh 
ter of John and Ann (El stone) Warren, the 

25 



former of whom was born in England in 
1806, the same year as his wife. In 1851 
they came to Ontario, locating at Dundas. 
Their children were as follows : Jane was 
married in England to William Barnet, and 
both died in Australia, she at the age of sev 
enty ; John is at Hespeler, Ont. ; Mary, is the 
widow of John Smith ; Elizabeth is Mrs. 
Stutt. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stutt 
settled in Bosanquet township, where he 
purchased a farm on Lot 30, south boun 
dary, making the payments from money 
earned while he was working for others ; the 
purchase price of the land was $500, for fifty 
acres. This farm he cleared up, and after 
thirteen years sold it for $1,450. He then 
settled on Lot 9, Concession 13, which farm 
was cleared and built upon, and on this prop 
erty he made his home until locating in For 
est. In time he added to it, until he owned 
333 acres of some of the best land in Lamb- 
ton County, besides 100 acres in West Will 
iams. Middlesex County. In 1897 ne re " 
tired to Forest, and he takes a lively interest 
in matters pertaining to current political, 
religious and temperance subjects. 

Mr. Stutt has been a valued contributor 
to the Globe and the Fanner s Sun, of To 
ronto. He has always taken an active part 
in politics, supporting the Reform party. He 
has served as school trustee and member of 
the township council, and as magistrate since 
1870. In 1891 he was a candidate for the 
Reform party for the Dominion Parliament, 
against Mr. Moncrieff. of Petrolia, during 
which campaign he made many eloquent and 
widely quoted speeches. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stutt had the following 
children : Jane married John White, of Lot 
9, Concession 13. and they have one daugh 
ter, Clara ; Mary Ann is the widow of- 
George White, brother of John White, and 
her children are Lillie and John : Elizabeth 
married John Levitt, of Enniskillen. and 
they have one daughter, Ethel May ; Will 
iam, a farmer of Bosanquet township, mar 
ried Phoebe Hill ; Ellen married John Simp 
son and they have three children, Ella. Will 
iam and Alice; Richard, a farmer on the old 



3 86 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



homestead, married Olive Hay, and they 
have four children, Warren, Howard, Ralph 
and Norman ; John died at the age of thir 
ty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Stutt are members 
of the Congregational Church, in the work 
of which they take an active part. He has 
served many years as local preacher and 
was Bible-class teacher from the age of 
eighteen until he retired, in 1901. 

Air. Stutt is one of the representative 
men of Lambton County and enjoys the re 
spect of all classes throughout this section 
of the country. 

ROBERT T. McDOUGALD, a prom 
inent and public-spirited citizen of Ennis- 
killen township, who resides on a farm in 
Concession 6, Lot 6, was born in Lanark 
County, Ont, June 28, 1844, son of Duncan 
and Agnes (Twiddle) McDougald. His 
paternal grandparents Alexander and Jane 
McDougald, came from the Highlands of 
Scotland. Their ocean voyage was made 
on a sailing-vessel and lasted thirteen weeks. 
After reaching Quebec they took a boat up 
the St. Lawrence to County Lanark and set 
tled there on a farm. 

Duncan McDougald, the father of Rob 
ert T., born near Glasgow in 1808, became 
one of the prosperous farmers of Lanark 
County, but was cut off by an untimely 
death, in 1847. He married Agnes Twiddle, 
who was born in 1814, in the vicinity of 
Glasgow, daughter of Robert Twiddle, who 
came from Scotland to Lanark County in 
1821, .and spent the remainder of his life on 
a farm there. Mr. McDougald left his wife 
with four children : Donald, born in Lanark 
County, married Miss Marion Thompson, 
and settled on a farm in Grand Traverse 
county, Michigan, and there he died, leaving 
no children. Elizabeth, born in 1839, mar 
ried William Purdon, of Lanark County, and 
has eight children, Agnes, Isabella, Jane, 
Christine, Violet, May, William and Dun 
can. Alexander, born in 1841, married May 
Miller, and lives in Lanark County. Robert 
T. was the youngest. 

Mrs. McDougald, after some years, mar 
ried a second time, her husband being James 



Gilchrist, of Glasgow, Scotland. They made 
their home on her farm in Lanark County 
and there her death occurred in 1904, at the 
age of ninety. By this union she had four 
children, namely : Margaret, Mrs. Samuel 
Lett, of Toronto; James, deceased; Agnes, 
deceased; and James, who with his wife and 
three children, James, Laura and Estella, 
lives on the old homestead. 

Robert T. McDougald was given a fair 
education in the Lanark schools, and then 
was occupied on his mother s farm. As the 
elder sons married and left home the charge 
of things devolved upon him, and for nine 
teen years after reaching his majority he 
continued to live at the old place and devote 
himself to his mother s interests, although 
she had in the meantime married again. In 
1884, however, he moved to Enniskillen, and 
married Miss Christina McPhee, who was 
born Aug. 25, 1853, on Prince Edward 
Island, and was there educated. They set 
tled on the present home place, 100 acres of 
fine farming land, which he has himself im 
proved from its original wild state. He has 
also put up a number of good buildings upon 
it. To him and his wife have been born 
three children, Nina, Duncan and Flora A. 
Mr. and Mrs. McDougald are both members 
of the Presbyterian Church. 

Robert T. McDougald is an intelligent 
and public-spirited citizen, and has taken 
special interest in educational matters. For 
twelve years he has been a member of the 
district school board, and is now serving as 
secretary and treasurer of same. Politically 
he is a Grit. Starting in life with little to 
assist him, Mr. McDougald has steadily 
persevered, and to-day his well-developed 
farm stands as a monument to his honesty 
and wisely directed toil. He and his wife 
are people of solid worth, and as such are 
universally esteemed by all who know them. 

Allen McPhee, father of Mrs. McDou 
gald, was a school tencher for twenty years, 
but on moving with his family to Lambton 
County from Prince Edward Ishncl, settled 
on a farm in Plympton township. During 
the last thirty years of his life he did con 
veyancing. He died March 8, 1891, at the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



387 



age of eighty-one years, on his farm in En- 
niskillen township, where his wife still re 
sides. Her maiden name was Flora Souther- 
land, and she was born March 13, 1829. She 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as 
was her husband ; he was a Tory in politi 
cal faith. They had children as follows : 
(i) Daniel, who married Mary A. J. 
Thompson, was killed in Tyndall, South 
Dakota, at the age of forty-three, by a kick 
from a horse. (2) Christina is the wife of 
Robert T. McDougald. (3) George, who 
married Sarah Mcllvain, is a farmer in En 
niskillen. (4) Allen, who married Iva Van- 
.sickle, is a farmer in Enniskillen. (5) Janet 
is the widow of Alex Dobbin, and is a resi 
dent of Winnipeg, Man. (6) Barbara mar 
ried Daniel McMaster, a farmer of Ennis 
killen township. (7) Duncan, a farmer of 
Enniskillen township, married Rosetta Mur 
ray. (8) Anna B. married Leonard Dobbin, 
a farmer of Enniskillen. (9) Mary married 
George McGill, a farmer of Metcalfe, On 
tario. 

GEORGE FITZSIMONS, a highly re 
spected citizen and well known agriculturist 
of Warwick township, Lambton County, 
where he has made his home for the past 
thirty years, is a native of Ireland, born in 
County Meath. April 7, 1826. 

The Fitzsimons family are of English 
origin, but for generations the family made 
their home in Ireland. John Fitzsimons, 
the grandfather of our subject, was a native 
of County Wicklow, and was there engaged 
in agricultural pursuits as a tenant farmer. 
He married and later removed with his fam 
ily to County Meath. where he followed the 
same occupation, and there died. The relig 
ious faith of the family was that of the Es 
tablished Church of England. 

Heatley Fitzsimons, the father of our 
subject, was born in County \Yicklow, and 
removed with his parents to County Meath, 
where he was engaged as a tenant farmer. 
He married in that county Esther Allen, who 
bore him eight children as follows: John, a 
farmer, died in Middlesex County. Ont. ; 
.Margaret, deceased, was the wife of" Andrew 



Gorley of Middlesex County: Thomas, en 
gaged in farming in Xissouri township. Mid 
dlesex County; Samuel died in Clinton, Hu 
ron County ; Heatley, who died in London, 
Ont. ; George, our subject ; Henry, who died 
in Xissouri township. Middlesex County, 
where he was engaged in farming part of 
the homestead; and Ellen, who married 
James O Harra, and resided in Port Huron, 
where she died. 

Heatley Fitzsimons. with his wife and 
eight children, left his native country in 
1836 to come to Canada, sailing from Dub 
lin to Liverpool, where they took passage on 
the sailing vessel "Victoria," and after a 
voyage of seven weeks and three days the 
little band landed at Quebec, whence they 
made their way \Yest by way of water to 
Hamilton, thence to London, and from there 
to Xissouri township. Middlesex County. In 
order to reach their destination they were 
obliged to chop their way through the woods, 
that being the only way in which they could 
get their team through. The first night in 
the woods was spent in the open air. Mr. 
Fitzsimons purchased 200 acres of land 
from the government, the agreement being 
that he should pay the interest on the pur 
chase price until such a time as he was able 
to pay the principal. On this land he erected 
a log shanty, 12 by 14, in which eleven souls 
found shelter, but later a much larger hewed 
log home was constructed. When about 
ready to start clearing his land to make a 
home for his children, the William Lyon 
Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837-38 broke out, 
and Mr. Fitzsimons, like the true, loyal Brit 
isher that he was. volunteered his services, 
and served his Queen and country at Fort 
Maiden along the Detroit river. When 
peace was restored Mr. Fitzsimons returned 
home, and took up the work of clearing up 
his farm where he had left off. There be 
ing no demand for lumber at that time, the 
timber cut from the farm was immediately 
burned, and he was making great headway 
against the unequal odds, when stomach 
trouble, from which he had long been a suf 
ferer, caused his death in 1841, his army 
service no doubt having hastened this event. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



388 

He was a member of the Church of England. 
Politically he was a stanch Conservative. 
When in his native country Mr. Fitzsimons 
was an Orangeman. His widow continued 
to make his home on the farm until her 
death, May 24, 1855, when she passed 
away in the faith of the Church of England, 
a good, Christian woman. 

George Fitzsimons, our subject, attended 
the parish school of his native country, and 
was but ten years old when he came with his 
parents to Canada. His opportunities to ac 
quire an education were somewhat limited, 
the only place of learning being a night 
school, held in a little log building, the 
teacher of which was paid by subscription. 
Mr. Fitzsimons worked at home for some 
time, and then, as there was a debt hanging 
over the farm, he started out to work, hop 
ing that with what he saved he could clear 
the home. His first wages were twenty-five 
cents per day, and he continued to work for 
that wage for several years, the highest pay 
he received during that time being $13 made 
in one month. Despite the meagre wages 
Mr. Fitzsimons accomplished what he started 
out to do, free the farm from debt, and 
this trait of character has stood out bravely 
in all Mr. Fitzsimons after life he accom 
plishes what he starts out to do. After his 
marriage Mr. Fitzsimons settled on the home 
farm, of which he owned one-third, and 
there he continued until 1876, when, finding 
his family growing up around him, and 
wishing a larger scope for his agricultural 
operations, he sold his interest in the home 
stead, and came to Lambton County, where 
he purchased a tract of 100 acres on the 4th 
Concession, on Lot 23, of Warwick town 
ship, north of the Egremont road, which 
farm had been owned by Enoch Winter- 
mouth. Here Mr. Fitzsimons settled down 
to make a home for his family, and here he 
has been engaged in general farming and 
stock raising ever since. He has made many 
improvements, remodelling the dwelling, and 
building new barns and outbuildings, and 
he has been successful in his operations. Al 
though in his eightieth year Mr. Fitzsimons 
is still very active, and in full possession of 



his faculties. He is a stanch Conservative, 
and always supported the party and the 
principles of Sir John A. MacDonald, the 
great founder of that great party. Mr. and 
Mrs. Fitzsimons attend the Presbyterian 
Church. He joined the Loyal Orange As 
sociation at Thornedale, Ontario. 

In Missouri township, Middlesex 
County, April 9, 1857, Mr. Fitzsimons and 
Miss Elizabeth Logan were united in mar 
riage, she being a native of that township, 
and a daughter of Robert Logan, a native of 
Ireland, and one of the first settlers of Nis- 
souri township. Mrs. Fitzsimons is a kind 
and charitable woman, and a loving wife and 
mother. She bore her husband six children : 
Robert ; Esther, who married Joseph Feight- 
ner, of Nissouri township, County Oxford; 
Elizabeth, who married Frederick Rutter of 
Arkona ; Thomas ; George, a fanner of West 
Williams, Middlesex County; and John, 
who died aged thirteen years. 

Robert Fitzsimons, the eldest son of 
George Fitzsimons, was born Feb. i, 1858, 
on the old homestead in West Nissouri town 
ship, Middlesex County, and there attended 
school. He worked on the farm with his 
father until he came with the family to War 
wick township, and continued under the par 
ental roof until forty years of age, during 
which time he farmed a fifty-acre tract h\ 
Warwick township, given him by his father. 
After his marriage he sold his fifty acres, 
and purchased fifty acres east of his father s 
farm, which had been owned by his brother, 
George. Here he has been engaged in farm 
ing ever since. Robert Fitzsimons has been 
very active in public life. He is a stanch Con 
servative and served as a member of the 
council board for three years in Warwick 
township, being elected from the 4th ward 
in 1893, and two years by acclamation. He 
was deputy reeve one year and he served two 
years as a member of the county council. 
When the law was passed providing the 
county councillors were to be elected by di 
rect vote of the people, Mr. Fitzsimons was 
elected from the 6th district by 1310, the 
largest vote cast, having for his colleague the 
venerable Robert Rea, of Thedford. Mr. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



389 



Fitzsimons served one term, during which 
time he served on the committee on Houses 
of Refuge and on Internal and Public 
Buildings. He was nominated again in 1904 
for the same office, by his friends, hut de 
clined the offer. His name was often placed 
before the convention for Parliamentary 
honors, but he always declined them. He 
was fraternally connected with the A. F. & 
A. M., of Arkona, and he and his wife at 
tend the Church of England. 

Robert Fitzsimons married in Sarnia, 
Oct. 1 6, 1898, Charlotte Macklin, born in 
Sarnia, daughter of James Macklin. 

Thomas Fitzsimons, the second son of 
George Fitzsimons, was born on the old 
homestead in West Nissouri township, Mid 
dlesex County, and was there educated. He 
has all of his life been engaged in farming 
on the homestead, and with his father is now 
managing the home farm. Politically he is 
a Conservative. He is well known, and is 
exceedingly popular throughout Warwick 
township. 

JAMES CAPES (deceased) was one of 
the best known and most respected citizens 
of Plympton township, where for fifty years 
or more he was a prosperous farmer and 
stock raiser. He took an active part in all 
that concerned the welfare of the community 
and was prominent in church work, and in 
the cause of temperance. 

James Capes was born in June, 1815, in 
Norfolk, England, son of John Capes, a farm 
laborer, who lived and died in England. 
James received a fair education, and was 
brought up to farm work. He married Maria 
Harney, who was born in 1812, and soon 
after their marriage they came to try their 
fortune in the New World. They settled 
first near Hamilton, Ontario, where Mr. 
Capes worked on a farm for a while. In 
1854 they came to Lambton county, and took 
up a bush farm of 100 acres, in Lot 15, Con 
cession 10. Mr. Capes built a log house as a 
home for his wife and young children, and 
began clearing his land, converting the. tim 
ber into cord wood which he sold to the 
Grand Trunk Railway Company. By hard, 



unremitting toil he gradually developed a 
good farm out of his bit of the wilderness, 
and made extensive improvements in the way 
of buildings. He added fifty acres to his 
original farm, which he also cleared and 
brought under cultivation, and until 1884 he 
lived on his farm. In that year he retired 
from active life and bought a home in Sar 
nia, where for several years he and his wife 
lived in comfort, enjoying a well earned rest. 
Mrs. Capes died March 30, 1891, and was 
laid to rest in Lake View cemetery. Mr. 
Capes then gave up his home, and came to 
live with his son, Henry, where he spent the 
remainder of his life. He died May 29, 
1902, and is buried beside his wife in Lake 
View cemetery, Sarnia. He was active near 
ly to the time of his death, and enjoyed the 
use of all his faculties. 

James Capes was a great reader and kept 
well-posted on all current topics. For over 
fifty years he was a regular reader of the To 
ronto Globe, London Advertiser, The Chris 
tian Guardian and the Montreal Witness. 
He was also a Bible student, took a deep in 
terest in Sunday-school work, and was for 
forty-five years class-leader in the Method 
ist Church, of which he was a devoted mem 
ber. He was one of the founders of Bethel 
Methodist Church at Camlachie. His wife 
was also an active member of that church, 
and a worthy helpmeet to her husband at all 
points. Mr. Capes was always warmly in 
terested in educational work, a supporter of 
the public school system, and one of the 
school trustees. In politics he was an ardent 
adherent to the principles of the Liberal 
party. He also did much for the cause of 
temperance, both by his own example and 
by his advocacy of temperance princi 
ples, and his support of the cause. He 
and his wife were the parents of 
the following children: Rose (deceased), 
born May 4, 1838, who married Joseph Har 
vey, and died in 1883; Mary, born May 24, 
1840, who married C. D. Hitchcock, and 
lives in Sarnia; Maria, born Nov. 27, 1842, 
who married Albert Laphan, and lives in 
Colorado; Amanda (deceased), born Dec. 
2, 1847, who married James Hadley, a farm- 



39 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



er along Lake Superior, and died March 
9, 1877; Esther (deceased), born March 
31, 1849, w 10 married Samuel Smith, and 
died Oct. 5, 1875 ; John, born Jan. 27, 1852 ; 
James, born April 13, 1856; Eliza, born 
April 19, 1854, who married Arthur Dodge; 
Henry, born Feb. 3, 1863; and four others 
who died in childhood. 

JOHN CAPES, eldest son of the late James 
Capes, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and 
was only two years old when his parents 
moved to South Plympton. He attended the 
district schools of loth Line, and remained 
on the home farm until he became of age. 
He then went to Colorado, and after one sea 
son there returned and bought the homestead 
farm from his father. After carrying that 
on for four years he sold it to his brother, 
and bought his present farm, a tract of 100 
acres in Lot 15, Concession n, where for 
over twenty years he has been engaged in 
general farming and stock raising. He has 
made extensive improvements on his land, 
and put up a fine barn and other buildings, 
and carries on an extensive dairy business. 

Mr. Capes married in Plympton town 
ship, July I, 1876, Melissa Fairbank, who 
was born in Kingston, Ontario, daughter of 
Caleb Fairbank. The children of this union 
are Cyrenius, who lives in Petrolia, and who 
married Mary Anderson, and has a daughter 
Lorena ; Alice, who married Charles Stevens, 
of Plympton; Rosetta, who married William 
Mitchell, of Petrolia, Ont. ; Martha ; Laura ; 
Caleb; Selborne; and Edith. 

Like his father, Mr. Capes is a man of 
strong temperance principles, and never took 
a glass of liquor in his life. He is an active 
member of the Methodist Church, where he 
has been steward and class-leader, Sunday- 
school teacher and superintendent for many 
years. He is also one of the trustees in 
School Section 15. Fie is a man of quiet, 
domestic tastes and habits. In politics he is 
an Independent. Flis wife is an active church 
worker and member, as well as a devoted 
wife and mother. The family stand high 
in the community, where they are all highly 
respected. 

JAMES CAPES, second son of the late 



James Capes, was bom on the home farm, 
on loth Line, Plympton, April 13, 1856, and 
was educated in the common schools of Con 
cession 10. He grew up on the farm, and 
remained at home with his father until he 
became of age. He then bought the old 
homestead from his brother, John, carried it 
on for five years, and then sold out and 
bought his present property, a tract of 100 
acres, known as the Thorncroft farm, on the 
line between Plympton and Warwick town 
ships. He has ever since been engaged in 
general farming and stockraising, and by 
hard work and steady perseverance has be 
come successful in his chosen, line of work. 

Mr. Capes married, in November, 1882, 
in Plympton, Elizabeth Jardine, who was 
born in this county, daughter of Walter Jar- 
dine. They are the parents of the following 
children : William and Elizabeth, who 
died in childhood ; Beatrice, Robert, Olive 
and John, who are all at home. 

Mr, and Mrs. Capes are members of the 
Methodist Church at Bethesda, where he is 
one of the trustees and a member of the 
church governing board. In politics Mr. 
Capes belongs to the Liberal party, but is 
in no sense an office seeker. He is a man of 
quiet, domestic tastes, and of strictly tem 
perate habits. His wife is much beloved for 
her many fine qualities, and the family is one 
that has the liking and esteem of all the com 
munity. 

HENRY CAPES, youngest son of the late 
James Capes, was born at the homestead, 
Feb. 3, 1863, and he attended the district 
schools of his native township, and later the 
public schools of Sarnia. He remained on 
the farm after his father retired and until 
1897, when he sold out his interests there 
and came to his present home, a tract of 1 12 
acres in Lot 22, Concession 6, where he has 
ever, since engaged in farming and stockrais 
ing. He put in many improvements, built a 
new dwelling house and a fine barn, and is 
one of the successful farmers of the region. 

Mr. Capes married, in Plympton town 
ship, on Dec. 7, 1887, Eva Everton Sparling, 
daughter of William Sparling, the well- 
known citizen of Forest, Plympton township. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Two children have been born to this union as 
follows: William J., born Dec. 14, 1890; 
and Lewis Henry, born July 6, 1896, died 
Aug. 30, 1896. Mrs. Capes is a lady of 
many lovable qualities, and devoted to her 
home and family. 

Like his honored father, Mr. Capes is an 
indefatigable reader, and is a regular sub 
scriber to the many weekly journals and two 
daily papers. He follows the temperate hab 
it of the family, and has never tasted strong 
drink. He feels his chief comfort and pleas 
ure in his home, and in church work. He is 
a member of the Uttoxeter Methodist 
Church, where he is one of the trustees. 
For seven years he has been class-leader, and 
superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is 
Independent in politics, but takes no active 
part in political affairs. 

CHARLES McLEAN was identified 
with Lambton County for many years before 
his death, and assisted in its development 
from a region composed largely of wild land 
to one of the finest farming sections in Can 
ada. He married Janet Cowan, who was 
born in Argyllshire, Scotland, on St. Pat 
rick s Day, 1820, daughter of Malcolm and 
Sarah (McDougal) Cowan. 

Mrs. McLean s parents were both natives 
of Scotland, and the father died when Mrs. 
McLean was only seven years of age; he 
fell from a fishing vessel and was drowned 
while engaged in work for his wife s family. 
After her husband s death Mrs. Cowan 
brought her family to Canada, took up land 
in Caradoc, Middlesex County, and with her 
son s help made a home for them all in the 
wilderness. They prospered and became 
leading citizens in their county. There were 
six in the family: (i) Dougal never mar 
ried, but remained at home caring for his 
mother until her death, in 1870. After that 
event the homestead became his own prop 
erty, and he was still living there when his 
own death occurred, in 1898. (2) Alex 
ander, who settled near his mother s farm, 
married Miss Sarah Lyman. They both died 
leaving children as follows: Betsy, Sarah. 
Maggie, Mary, Emily, Annie, Janet, Mal 



colm and Archie. Maggie is deceased, and 
the others all reside in Canada. (3) Janet, 
the eldest daughter became Mrs. Charles 
McLean. (4) Mary, bora in 1822, died in 
1897. (5) John, born in 1825, was edu 
cated in Scotland. He married Mary Mc 
Lean, of Strathroy, and settled on a farm 
which he bought near his old home. He died 
leaving six (laughters, Sarah, Margaret, 
Mary, Janet, Jane and Annie. (6) Ronald, 
born in 1828, is unmarried and lives in re 
tirement in Strathroy. 

Mrs. McLean was given a fair educa 
tion in the schools of Scotland before leav 
ing that country. She was married to Mr. 
McLean in 1848, and they lived on a farm 
near Strathroy until 1859, when they moved 
to the present homestead in Lot 22, Conces 
sion 14, the greater part of which Mr. Mc 
Lean and his sons cleared. At the time of 
his death, in June, 1888, he was one of the 
wealthy farmers of Enniskillen township. 
He was a member of the Baptist Church and 
an earnest worker, in it ; his wife was a mem 
ber of the same denomination for fifty-five 
years. In his political views Mr. McLean 
was a Reformer, as are all his sons. After 
her husband s death Mrs. McLean lived on 
the old home, cared for by her youngest 
daughter, and she died there April 2, 1904, at 
the advanced age of eighty-four. She is 
buried at Wyoming. She came to Lambton 
County in its early settled days and has 
watched the country pass through all its 
stages of development. She was a lady of 
many Christian virtues and had a large cir 
cle of friends who all testify to her great 
kindness and charity of heart, a never fail 
ing source of comfort and help to all in 
trouble. Her children are all among the 
highly respected citizens of the county, and 
a family of whom she might well be proud. 
They were all born in Caradoc : ( i ) Mal 
colm, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Lean was born in Caradoc township, mar 
ried Miss Sarah Dennis, of Enniskillen 
township, and resides there, in Concession 6. 
Their four children are named, Xettie, Mary, 
Charles and James. (2) Annie married Seth 
Keith, who died at their home in Petrolia, 



39 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



leaving" six children, Sarah J., Melissa 
J., Catherine, Charles, John and Sethetta. 
(3) Allen is unmarried and is the manager 
of the homestead, where he lives with his 
sister. He put up a fine modern house a few 
years ago and has added many general im 
provements. He belongs to the Order of 
Woodmen. (4) Sarah is the wife of Angus 
Johnston , of Wyoming, a contractor and 
builder of that place. Their only child is a 
son, Charles. (5) Charles went when a 
young man to the cattle ranges of Montana, 
where he is still engaged in ranching and 
stock raising. He has never married. (6) 
Isabella, born near Strathroy, was educated 
in the Enniskillen schools, and since finishing 

her education she has remained at home. 

i 

WALTER MILLER, whose untimely 
death brought sorrow to his devoted family 
and deep regret to a wide circle of friends 
and acquaintances in Enniskillen township, 
Lambton County, was one of the enterpris 
ing and prosperous farmers of that section. 
He was born Oct. 6, 1832, near Glasgow, in 
Roxburghshire, Scotland, son of John and 
Mary (Archibald) Miller, also natives of 
Scotland. 

John Miller migrated with his family to 
Canada, and located on Lot 21, Concession 2, 
in Enniskillen, as early as 1852. There he 
died in 1882, his wife passing away in 1873. 
They were the parents of four children : 
Mary (deceased) married Moses Merchant, 
of Oil Springs; Isabella (deceased) married 
John Cotton, of Hamilton ; Margaret is the 
wife of Alexander Walk, of Sarnia, Out. ; 
Walter is our subject. 

Walter Miller was educated in Scotland 
and came to Canada in his youth. He mar 
ried Miss Margaret Kirkland, who was born 
in 1835 in Scotland, and they settled in Hal- 
dimand County, near Hamilton, for a short 
time before coming to Enniskillen. Mr. 
Miller at that time being engaged in the mill 
ing business. In 1854 he settled on a farm 
beside his father s farm, and from that time 
until his death he was engaged in agriculture. 
He was second to none in that line either as 
regards intelligence of method or successful 



results. He erected a large substantial resi 
dence and the barns upon the farm, making 
the home in which his children now reside 
one of the most attractive and comfortable 
in this section. 

Mrs. Margaret (Kirkland) Miller died 
in 1871, leaving seven children, as follows: 
Agnes; John; George; Mary, now Mrs. 
Alex. C. Wallen, of Oil Springs ; James, who 
married Miss Jean Wood, of Dawn, and lives 
on part of the old homestead; Walter; and 
Margaret, a teacher of Toronto. 

In 1873 Mr. Miller married Mrs. John 
Radcliff, who was born April i, 1828, in 
Cornwall, England, the estimable daughter 
of John and Mary (Tryleven) Rowe, natives 
of Cornwall, England, where they died. 
Mrs. Miller s brothers and sisters all reside 
in Cornwall with the exception of William, 
who lives in Detroit. In 1847 M rs - Miller 
came to Canada. She first married John 
Radcliff, second son of the Hon. Col. 
Thomas and Sarah (Armstrong) Radcliff, 
of Ireland, who came to Canada in 1832. 
He was an officer in Her Majesty s 27th 
Enniskillen Regiment. John Radcliff served 
as a custom house official at Wallaceburg 
and died in that place in 1866, leaving four 
children : Annie, married to D. P. Sisk, of 
Oil Springs, a leading man of that village; 
Marion, the widow of George C. Dew, now 
residing in Brooklyn, Xew York; Mary, 
married to George Pyke, a chartered ac 
countant of Montreal ; and Thomas, who 
died Dec. 17, 1894. 

Mr. Miller had two daughters by his 
second marriage : Blanche, a graduate of the 
Royal Victoria Hospital, of Montreal, and 
Laura, a graduate of the Ottawa Normal 
School, and a teacher in Manitoba, where 
she has been eminently successful. 

Mr. Miller died March 30. 1896. In 
religion he was a Presbyterian. He was a 
prominent member of the Reform party and 
acceptably filled a number of local offices, 
being a member of the council for many 
years, justice of the peace until his death, 
and school trustee. Fraternally he was a 
Mason, and he was very prominent in Ma 
sonic circles in Oil Springs, serving as grand 




WALTER MILLER 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



393 



steward and secretary, and working hard for 
the good of the fraternity. 

Walter Miller had the respect of all who 
knew him. He was honest and upright as a 
citizen and public official, and was devoted 
to his family. He was unusually liberal in 
his support of all moral and religious move 
ments, and was sadly missed in the commu 
nity, hut the influence of his good and kindly 
life remains. Mrs. Miller is well known in 
the community, and is noted for her many 
amiable characteristics and her generous 
hospitality. 

HENRY FORBES, a retired farmer 
and old-time settler in Sarnia township, fa 
miliarly known among his friends of long 
standing as "Harry," is one of the many 
Scotchmen residing in that locality, and in 
his long struggle with life he has displayed 
all the sturdy traits which characterize the 
citizens of that nation and make them such 
valuable settlers in a new land. He was 
born in the parish of Drumblade, Aberdeen- 
shire, April 13, 1833, son of Peter and Bell 
(Barclay) Forbes, both of whom died in 
their native Scotland, the former in 1843, 
the latter in 1856. 

Henry Forbes grew to manhood in 
Scotland, but in April, 1855, started out for 
America, hoping for greater opportunities 
there than in the Old World. He embarked 
at Aberdeen upon the sailing vessel "Re 
nown," and after a voyage of seven weeks 
and two days reached Quebec. He pro 
ceeded at once to London, Ont.. and was 
employed there for sixteen months, but in 
the fall of 1856 he went further west and 
settled in Lambton County, where he pur 
chased fifty acres in Lot 12, block A, Sar 
nia township. A clearing had been started 
and a small log cabin built, and into this he 
and his wife moved ready for all the vicissi 
tudes of life on a frontier. Mr. Forbes be 
gan at once clearing his land and preparing 
it for cultivation, but meantime, as there was 
no market for the timber, he had also to do 
considerable work away from home in order 
to secure the necessities of life for his fam 
ily. Another resource lay in the sale of pot 



ash, into which much of his waste timber 
was converted by burning. But by 1878 the 
place was all cleared and ready for cultiva 
tion, and Mr. Forbes in a few years had a 
fine farm, well-improved and with good 
buildings. His present residence is a fine 
brick structure, which in contrast with the 
humble log cabin of his earlier years, well 
typifies the change in his fortunes achieved 
by his courage, hope and untiring effort. 

Mr. Forbes was married, in June, 1853, 
before leaving Scotland ; his wife was a Miss 
Bell Hendry, who made him a most faithful 
helpmate and whose death in April, 1900, 
at the age of sixty-six, was deeply lamented. 
They reared a large family, ten children liv 
ing to years of maturity and two daughters 
dying in infancy. The two oldest were 
twins, (i) Alexander (who owns a farm of 
100 acres just east of his father s property), 
and (2) George (who owns and lives on 
100 acres in Moore township) ; they own 60 
acres on the south side of their father s prop 
erty, which they use for pasture. Alexander 
ma rried Miss Kate Gordon and they have 
two children, Edith and Gordon. George is 
unmarried. (3) Peter is the proprietor of a 
hotel in Comber, Ont. He owns 100 acres 
of land on the London road, in Sarnia town 
ship, where he formerly resided. He married 
Josephine DeGuise, and has six children : 
Ethel and Joseph (twins), Bell, Peter, 
Stanley and Russell. (4) Henry died at the 
age of" twenty-five. (5) John is a farmer in 
Plympton township; he married Miss Mary 
McFarlane and they have two sons, Donald 
and Henry Allen. (6) Jennie married Will 
iam Turnball, a farmer of Moore township. 

(7) Bell is the wife of Gus McMann, of 
Moore township and has had five children. 
Gladys, Helen, William, Harvey and Bruce. 

(8) Nellie married Robert Beatty, of Sar 
nia township, and has one daughter, Mary. 

(9) William is in charge of his father s 
farm, and (10) Emily is also still at home. 

Mr. Forbes has never been an active pol 
itician, but supports the Reform party and 
is keenly interested in all questions of the 
public weal. He was township collector for 
five years, when he resigned, and he has also 



394 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



served six years as school trustee. In relig 
ious belief he is a Presbyterian. A resident 
of the township for nearly half a century, his 
acquaintance is a wide one and he is univer 
sally regarded with the highest respect. 

WILLIAM S. THOM. While Ennis- 
killen township has many practical farmers 
among its residents who have made a great 
success of the occupation, the advantages of 
a scientific study of agriculture have been 
made manifest in the efforts of William S. 
Thorn. Always interested in both the prac 
tical and theoretical advancement of agri 
culture, he has kept himself thoroughly 
posted on all the new methods, has tested 
them extensively on his own farm, and has 
to the fullest extent every possible aid in his 
farming operations, with the result that no 
farm in the County of Lambton has been 
brought to a higher state of productiveness. 

Mr. Thorn is of Scotch descent on both 
sides of the family. The paternal grand 
father, James Thorn, lived and died in Scot 
land. His son, James, born in Aberdeen in 
1786, married Miss Jane Stewart, born near 
Glasgow in 1806, and our subject, William 
S. Thorn, is the only surviving child of this 
marriage. Miss Stewart was the daughter 
of John and Jane Stewart, who were born 
in Hamilton, Scotland, and came with a col 
ony to Lanark County and settled there first. 
James Thorn was a soldier in the British 
army and as such came to Canada. 
After the close of the war he re 
mained in Kingston as quartermaster 
for the government. After several years in 
Kingston Mr. Thorn took up land in Dal- 
housie township, Lanark County, cleared it 
and made his permanent home there, by con 
tinuous hard labor becoming quite prosper 
ous. His demise occurred there in 1844, 
and his wife died in December, 1879. They 
were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church in Lanark County, which Mr. Thorn 
helped to found, and in which he was always 
an active worker. Politically he was an ac 
tive Grit. The oldest son. James, born at 
Kingston, in March, 1827. died at the home 
stead in Lanark County, in early manhood. 



Jane, the only daughter, born in Lanark 
County, married William Neil, of Sarnia 
township, and died on their farm there in 
1894, leaving one son, John. 

William S. Thorn, the second child of 
his parents, was born in Kingston, Oct. 17, 
1830, but most of his boyhood was spent in 
Lanark County where he received a limited 
education in the subscription schools. Until 
reaching his majority he worked on his 
father s farm and continued to stay there for 
a few years after his marriage, as he inher 
ited the property at his father s death. In 
1855 he sold it, and bought his present home 
in Enniskillen township. Lot i, Concession 
14, where his mother lived with him until 
her death. He and his wife lived in a little 
log cabin, but he cleared up his large farm, 
put up good farm buildings, and eventually 
the large comfortable house where he now 
lives. During the Civil war in the United 
States Mr. Thorn made considerable money 
from the sale of potash, which he manufac 
tured on his farm. While agriculture has 
always received the greater part of his at 
tention, he has of late years been also inter 
ested in oil, and operates several wells on his 
farm with very gratifying results. 

Mr. Thorn s marriage occurred July 8, 
1853. His wife was Miss Maggie O Neil, 
born in Lanark County, Sept. 16, 1828, and 
her parents, Neil and Christine O Neil, came 
there from Ireland and lived for some years 
before moving to Plympton township, where 
they lived on their farm until death called 
them. Mrs. Thorn was the fifth of their 
eight children, the others being: Ann (de 
ceased), who married John Leckie; Jane 
(deceased), who married William Leckie, of 
Sarnia township; Sarah (deceased), wife of 
Peter Cuthbertson ; Robert (deceased), who 
married Miss Margaret Purdor; Mary (de 
ceased), who married James Brooke; Susan, 
wife of Alexander McDougal, of Sarnia, 
Out. ; and John, living in Plympton town 
ship. The children born to William S. and 
Maggie Thorn numbered seven : ( I ) James, 
born in 1854, married Miss Mary A. Scott, 
of Lanark County, who died on Christmas 
Day, 1903, leaving three children, Nellie, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



395 



Maggie and Eva. James Thorn is a clerk 
in a wholesale store in Port Huron, Michi 
gan. (2) William, horn in October, 1859, 
married Margaret Rawson. who died leav 
ing him three children, \Yilliani, Maxwell 
and Maud. They live in Enniskillen town 
ship, where the father is in the lumber trade. 
(3) Robert, born in August, 1861, learned 
the trade of a blacksmith, and followed it in 
Dakota, where he made his home. There 
he married Emma Mayfield, and they had 
five children, Mabel, Myrtle, Dolly, Bertha 
and John. His death occurred in 1895, 
shortly after his return home from a visit in 
Canada. (4) .Neil, born, in November, 1863, 
married Miss Christina Corey, of Lambton 
County, and they live in Port Huron, with 
their three children, Lucy, Charles and Mar 
garet. (5) John, born in December, 1867, 
married Miss Ellen Jackson, has one daugh 
ter Georgina, and lives in Manitoba, where 
he is a railroad conductor. (6) Peter, born 
in November, 1869. lives in Port Huron, 
and is a conductor on the Grand Trunk rail 
road. He married Miss Louisa Rounding, 
of Lambton County, and has two children, 
Russell and Viola. (7) Anna, born May 17, 
1873. grew up on the farm, as did her broth 
ers, was given a fair education, and in May, 
1892. married William Morson, of North 
amptonshire, England, born in 1867. They 
live with Mr. William Thorn, and have three 
children, born as follows : Stewart, in April, 
1894; Mary, in 1897; and Stanley, in 
1899. 

Mr. Thorn with his wife belongs to the 
Presbyterian Church. Politically he has 
been identified with the Grits, but has never 
sought to hold office. He has always been 
an ardent supporter of man s rights from his 
fellowmen, and his own character is a living 
exponent of his theories, for it has been in 
strictest accordance with the Golden Rule. 
He and his wife have ever been ready to aid 
every one in need, and have inspired many 
to renewed effort in life. Their family has 
been a source of great comfort and pleasure 
to them in their declining years, and the 
parents may well be proud of such children. 



WILLIAM STREETS, a prosperous- 
agriculturist of Warwick township, Lamb- 
ton County and one of the much esteemed 
residents, was born Dec. i, 1842, at Hibald- 
stow parish, Lincolnshire. England, son of 
John and Mary (Standline) Streets. 

The parents were also natives of Lin 
colnshire, where the father was a . farm la 
borer. He married Mary Standline, and 
they had seven children, as follows : Martha, 
deceased, was the wife of George Spencer, 
of Lincolnshire; Hannah married Charles 
Hunsley, of Oxford County, Out.; Jane 
married John Potton. and died in England; 
Joseph lives in Lincolnshire; John is de 
ceased; William; and George is a resident of 
Forest. In 1854 the parents with three chil 
dren left their native land for Canada, sail 
ing from Hull on a vessel which safely 
landed them at Quebec. From there they 
made their way west to Ontario, and located 
in Oxford County where Hannah, the sec 
ond daughter was located with her husband. 
There they settled on a small farm, where 
the father passed the remainder of his life, 
dying at the age of sixty-eight years, and 
was buried in the Quaker cemetery, al 
though a member of the Church of England. 
His widow removed to Warwick township 
where she made her home with her son Will 
iam, who cared for her through her old age. 
There she died in 1873, and was laid to rest 
in St. Mary s cemetery. She was a member 
of the Church of England, a good Christian 
woman. 

AYilliam Streets attended school in his 
native land, and while but a little boy earned 
four pence a day tending sheep on the hill 
side. He was twelve years old when the 
family came to Canada, and he soon found 
employment with the farmers in Oxford 
County, where he was able to make sixty 
dollars a year, and he continued at that kind 
of labor until 1869. Although it may seem 
unlikely that he could save anything from 
so small a sum. he did accomplish it, and had 
enough capital when he came to Warwick 
township, Lambton County, to make a pay 
ment on 100 acres of land on Lot 6, Conces- 



396 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



sion 2. On this land he built a log cabin, 
and his mother lived here until her death. 
It took years of hard work to clear this farm 
but persistent industry finally accomplished 
it and Mr. Streets placed it under good cul 
tivation. He now owns a valuable property 
with fine dwelling, good substantial barns 
and outbuildings, and all other needed im 
provements. He has devoted much atten 
tion to cattle and horse raising. 

Mr. Streets was married March 12, 
1878, in Dorchester, Middlesex County, to 
Mary Scoffin, born in Hibaldstow, Lincoln 
shire, England, daughter of John and Jane 
(Bee) Scoffin, who were old settlers of Dor 
chester where they died. Mrs. Streets has 
been a devotd, helpful wife, and the kind 
mother of three children, namely : Mary 
Jane, wife of Robert Tanner, of Warwick 
township ; Minnie, who married Oliver Tan 
ner, of Warwick township; and Amelia, at 
home. They have an adopted son, Harley 
G. Longfield. Both he and wife attend the 
Church of England. Politically he is a Re 
former. 

JAMES PEAT. Among those asso 
ciated with the production of petroleum in 
Canada Mr. James Peat, a most highly es 
teemed citizen of Petrolia, is prominent. And 
as a contractor and driller Mr. Peat has 
gained a wide reputation. His success in this 
business is no doubt due to the years of prac 
tical experience he has had, and a thorough 
study of geology. 

Mr. Peat was born near Glasgow, Scot 
land, April 9, 1842, a son of Thomas and 
Charlotte (Ferguson) Peat, the former of 
whom was born in Scotland in 1802, and the 
latter in 1799. They came to Oxford 
County, Ont., in 1842, when our subject 
was but an infant. Mr. Peat followed an 
agricultural life and died in 1873, anf l n s 
wife passed away in 1875. The children 
born to them were ten in number, as fol 
lows : John, deceased : Thomas, a farmer in 
Oxford County ; George, of Colorado ; 
David, Esq., of Oxford County; James\; 
Janet and Elizabeth, deceased : Sophia, de 
ceased, who married Alfred Wilcox of Chi 



cago ; Charlotte, deceased ; and Isabelle, 
Mrs. John Currie of Toronto. 

James Peat attended the public schools 
in his locality and the grammar school at 
Woodstock, subsequently becoming a 
teacher in the public schools of Oxford 
County for four years, and then serving 
for two years as teacher of mathematics in 
the Commercial College at London, Ont. 
On the breaking out of the Fenian raid he 
volunteered to defend his country. When 
the trouble blew over he went to the gold 
fields of Madoc and spent two years pros 
pecting. He organized the Royal Canadian 
Mining Co., of Toronto, acting as manager. 
He found gold could not be found in paying 
quantities and gave it up, and took up oil 
prospecting in Pennsylvania, where during 
three years of practical engineering and 
drilling he laid the foundation of his subse 
quent work in the oil business. In 1870 he 
settled at Petrolia and here engaged in the 
development of this great industry, and he 
has been closely connected with it up to the 
present time. Few of the details of the oil 
business are unfamiliar to Mr. Peat, and as 
a petroleum expert he enjoys a wide repu 
tation. In 1901, Mr. Peat made a geologi 
cal report on the properties of the Crows 
Nest Pass Coal Co. in British Columbia, as 
to the prospects of securing petroleum, and 
in the following year he made a trip to the 
Island of Cuba in the interests of an Eng 
lish syndicate to report on large properties 
they held there. In 1903 he returned to 
the Island as general superintendent of the 
Cubian Petroleum Co. and remained nearly 
two years in Cuba in charge of their large 
development work. Mr. Peat has been 
closely connected with the development of 
the Essex and Kent gas and oil field where 
he did considerable development work and 
was interested in several companies. The 
firm of James Peat & Sons, of which our 
subject is the senior member, is favorably 
known throughout Canada, as contractors, 
drillers and petroleum experts. They have 
undertaken contracts in almost every part 
of the country and successfully carried them 
to a completion; their work for the Grand 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



397 



Trunk Railway in their yards at Portland. 
Maine, where they were drilling wells to 
improve their water supply, is particularly 
noticeable ; also the number of contracts they 
have had through the Georgian Bay district 
where they secured large flowing wells of 
excellent water for the different municipali 
ties and private firms. 

Mr. Peat has also been quite prominent 
in local business, having a large real estate 
and insurance business. In municipal af 
fairs he has served as chairman of the high 
school board for a great many years and sat 
in the town council for a number of years. 
In 1877 he assessed the Township of Ennis- 
killen and for three years was assessor of the 
Town of Petrolia. He retired from public 
affairs for some years, but in 1905 he was 
again elected to the Town Council and was 
appointed chairman of the Board of Works. 

On Aug. 13, 1872, Mr. Peat married 
Miss Elizabeth Bonner, daughter of Mr. 
James Bonner and Jane (Convery) Bonner, 
natives of Scotland and later residents of 
Oxford County. They died at the home of 
our subject at Petrolia. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Peat have been born the following children : 
Jennie Lorette Ella, wife of Mr. George C. 
McDonald of Petrolia, has one daughter, 
Miriam; James, who is superintendent an 
head driller for a Dutch syndicate in Suma 
tra ; George A., who is superintendent for the 
Cubian Petroleum Co., of London, Eng- 
land, in Cuba ; John A., accountant in the 
office of James Peat & Sons, of Petrolia; 
Oswald D., a law student attending Osgoode 
Hall, Toronto; Norman B., Convery N. and 
Elizabeth A. J., who are all students in the 
Petrolia High School. 

Mr. and Mrs. Peat are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Peat 
is a Reformer and acted as President of the 
Petrolia Reform Association for a number 
of years. Fraternally he belongs to the Ma 
sons, the Sons of Scotland, the Royal Ar 
canum and the Ancient Order of the United 
Workmen. He is a man of exemplary life 
and possesses all the sterling traits of char 
acter for which the sons of Scotland are 
noted the world over. 



ALBERT A. COOK, one of the repre 
sentative farmers of Dawn township, Lamb- 
ton County, has a fine farm on Concession 
ii. west half of Lot 15. He is a self-made 
man in all that the term implies, having be 
gun his business career without capital, and 
what he possesses to-day represents years of 
judicious toil and management. He was 
born near Hamilton, in the County of Went- 
worth, May 13, 1843, son of Jonathan and 
Deborah Cook, and is a member of one of 
Wentworth County s old families. 

Jonathan Cook was born at Strad- 
brooke, County of Suffolk, England, Feb. 
20, 1804. and his wife was born in the same 
place in October, 1803. Jonathan s parents, 
Thomas and Sarah Cook, were natives of 
that county, where they both died. Deborah 
Cook, our subject s mother, was the daugh 
ter of Thomas and Jane Cook, who also died 
in England. Jonathan Cook was the only 
member of his father s family to leave Eng 
land. With his wife he left there June 28, 
1836, and after a ten weeks trip landed at 
Quebec, whence they made their way over 
the Welland canal, by way of boat, to Went 
worth County. There Mr. Cook started 
life in Saltfleet township, working on 
a rented farm eleven years for Thomas 
Stewart. Here our subject was born 
in a little log house. In 1847 Mr. 
Cook came to Dawn, purchasing land 
on the Qth Concession, upon which he 
lived until June of the same year, when he 
bought 100 acres in Concession n, our sub 
ject s present home, and moved his family 
to this new place, retaining, however, the 
other 200 acres. He erected a log house 
that was later replaced by a frame one, 
and substantial barns and outbuildings. 
There he died April 15, 1888, his worthy 
wife passing away in March, 1878. They 
were consistent members of the Baptist 
Church, in which Mr. Cook was a deacon, 
and he was one of the organizers of the 
Florence Church. Politically he was a 
stanch Conservative, was a member of the 
council of Dawn for fourteen years, and a 
member of the school board for a number of 
years. He was fraternally connected with 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Orangemen. His family consisted of the 
following children: Sarah, born in England 
in 1826, married in Canada Robert Pollard, 
who settled in Dover, County of Kent, where 
she died leaving two children, Caroline M. 
and Deborah L. Pollard. William, born in 
England in 1828, married Miss Dorothy Lee 
and settled in Caradoc, County of Middle 
sex, where lie spent his life as a farmer; he 
died in 1874, and left three children, Ma- 
hala (of the County of Elgin), Alcesta (of 
St. Thomas) and Mary E. (of St. Thomas). 
Caroline, born in England in 1830, married 
James Lee, who settled at Caradoc, Middle 
sex County, where she died, leaving two 
children, Clarissa M. (wife of Alfred Alt^ 
house) and Alfred Lee (deceased). 
Thomas, born in England in 1832, was edu 
cated for a teacher, a profession he followed 
in Kent County for a number of years, and 
he was township treasurer for a great many 
years, a position he held at the time of his 
death, in May, 1864. Mary A., born in 
Wentworth County in August, 1837, mar 
ried Paul W. Huff, of Dawn, where she 
died, leaving two children, Jonathan C. and 
Mary A. Jonathan A., born in Wentworth 
County in 1840, died young. Albert A. is 
our subject. 

Albert A. Cook is the only member of 
his father s family living. He grew up at 
his present home, which he had helped to 
clear in. boyhood, and meantime received a 
limited education. Ever since leaving school 
he has followed farming, on the tract he 
now owns, which he had managed for his 
father many years prior to the latter s death. 
On March 28, 1866, he married Miss Mar 
garet Crafts, born in Kent County, Oct. 6, 
1846, the estimable daughter of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (Blackburn) Crafts, old residents 
of Camclen, Kent County. Mrs. Cook was 
reared and educated in Kent, where her pa 
rents died. Mr. Cook brought his young 
wife to the old Cook home, which was 
burned down in August. 1890, and which he 
replaced with a modern one. He has re 
modeled the barns and improved his farm in 
other ways, making it one of the finest in the 
township. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Albert A. Cook have 
come four children: Debra E., born in May, 
1871, grew up at the old home, was educated 
in the district schools, and in December, 
1902, married George Osborne, of Clinton 
County, Pennsylvania, where they reside at 
the present time, Mr. Osborne following 
lumbering; they have two children, Mar- 
garete E. and Albert A. Florence E., born 
in 1875, i s tne w i* e f J onn McDonald, a 
farmer of Da\vn township, and they have 
three children, Minnie P., Mary M. and 
Catherine E. Jonathan A., born in 1879, 
married Miss Georgiana Milton, of Flor 
ence, and they reside on his grandfather s 
first homestead on Concession 9, Dawn 
township ; they have one son, William Al 
bert. Oliver E., born in 1889, resides at the 
homestead. 

Mr. Cook and his family are members 
of the Baptist Church, in which he has been 
deacon for thirty-five years. Politically he 
has always supported the Conservative 
party, and he was a member of the council 
for fourteen, years, and has filled the posi 
tion of school trustee since 1872. Fratern 
ally he is connected with the Order of 
Orangemen, No. 763, of Oakdale. 

ARCHIBALD DEWAR, now retired 
from active business life and residing in Pe- 
trolia, is of Scottish extraction. The first 
of his family of whom there are any definite 
data is Archibald De\var, his grandfather, 
who was born in the Highlands of Scotland, 
ancl there spent his entire life. His children 
were : Alexander, came to Ontario, locating 
in Lanark County, where he farmed until 
1849, and then located in Plympton town 
ship, County of Lambton, where he died; 
Malcolm died in the County of Lanark; 
Peter died in Lanark; John was the father 
of our subject. 

John Dewar came to Ontario in 1819, lo- 
lating in Lanark County, and in 1821 he 
married Margaret Buchanan, a native of 
Scotland, born in 1805. In 1849 ne came to 
Plympton township. County of Lambton, and 
the farm upon which he settled was on Lot 
22. Concession 4, and all covered with heavy 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



399 



timber, from which he cleared it, converting 
it into a very valuable piece of property. It 
remained in the family until 1892. Mrs. 
Dewar died in 1888, aged eighty-three years, 
six months, and Mr. Dewar died here Feb. 4, 
1890, aged ninety-three years, having been 
born in 1797. Both were Presbyterians in 
religious faith. In politics he was a stanch 
Reformer. Their children were : George, of 
Essex County, who was retired at the time 
of his death ; Margaret (deceased) , who mar 
ried Richard Williamson, of Plympton town 
ship ; Ann, widow of Archibald Anderson, of 
Plympton; Ellen (deceased), who married 
Archie Dewar; Janet (deceased), who mar 
ried Archie Dewar; Elizabeth (deceased) 
who married John Babkirk ; Archibald ; John, 
deceased; David (deceased), a miner in 
California; Alexander (deceased), who 
was a farmer on one-half of the old home 
stead; and Catherine, who married Archie 
McPhederan. 

Archibald Dewar was born in Lanark 
County, Ont., in 1835, and was only a boy 
when he came to Lambton County, so he has 
witnessed much of the development of this 
locality. His education was obtained in the 
old log sclioolhouse. His first business oper 
ations were conducted upon a farm, one-half 
of the old homestead, which remained in 
his possession until 1892, and in 1889 he 
embarked in the production of oil, continuing 
in this line successfully until 1900, when he 
retired. 

In 1861 Mr. Dewar was married to Miss 
Annie Doherty, a daughter of James and 
Rachel (Garrett) Doherty, the mother hav 
ing been born in the County of Lanark in 
1819, the same year as Queen Victoria. Mrs. 
Dewar was born in the same place in 1841 
(Nov. 12), the same year as King Edward. 
In 1849 the family came to Plympton town 
ship, which was their home for many years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dewar have had children as 
follows: David James, at home; Archibald, 
of Enniskillen township, who married Myrtle 
Garrett, and has one daughter, Marjorine; 
Dr. Alexander, of Detroit, who married An 
nie Louise Goodrich, of Detroit, and has one 
daughter, Margaret; Julia, who died at the 



age of twelve years ; Isabella, who died at 
the age of twenty-six years ; Albert, a drug 
gist at Oil Springs, married to Maude Les 
lie, of Detroit, by whom he has one daugh 
ter, Kathleen ; Julia, who died at the age of 
fifteen years; McLaurin, of Detroit; Addie, 
at home ; and Russel, who died at the age of 
live years. Mr. and Mrs. Dewar are consist 
ent members of the Presbyterian Church. 
In politics he is a Reformer. 

JAMES McKEUNE, one of the most 
highly-respected men of Euphemia township, 
Lambton County, now living retired, ten 
derly cared for by devoted children, was long 
one of the active and useful citizens of that 
part of the county. He was born Aug. 30, 
1820, in County Cavan, Ireland, a son of 
James and Constantia (Wood) McKeune. 

The family came to Canada in 1830, via 
Quebec, on a sailing vessel which took two 
whole months making a voyage on the ocean 
which the present steamers cover in a little 
more than a week. For three years they lived 
at Brockville, in Lower Canada, but in 
1833 tne y came to Euphemia township and 
settled on Concession 8, Lot 31. Here the 
father built a log cabin in which three sturdy 
sons were reared and which served as the 
home of the aged parents until they passed 
away. Of these sons, John, the eldest, mar 
ried and settled in Brooke, where both he 
and his wife died. The youngest, Henry, 
born in Ireland, went out to Australia in 
young manhood, to seek his fortune in the 
gold mines, and remained there until gold 
was discovered in California, when he went 
there and married ; he left two sons and one 
daughter, John, George and Emma, all resi 
dents of California. 

James McKeune attended school before 
leaving his native land and for several years 
after coming to Lower Canada enjoyed edu 
cational advantages. After reaching matur 
ity he married Mary A. Brownlee, who was 
born in 1826, in Ireland, daughter of James 
and Jane Brownlee, pioneers who settled in 
Eupemia township in 1832. Mr. McKeune 
lived on the old homestead for some years 
and then bought his present farm, in 1854, 



4OO 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



working hard to clear it from its wild state. 
The property had belonged to Dougal Camp 
bell, but Mr. McKeune did all the clearing 
and improving, and here the family has re 
sided ever since. The faithful wife died in 
1890. She was a most estimable woman, 
rising to every demand made upon her, and 
was devoted to the work of the English 
Church, in which she had been reared. Mr. 
and Mrs. McKeune had four children, name 
ly : William H. resides on his grandfather s 
old farm ; Jane, who was born and reared to 
womanhood on the present home farm, died 
in 1898. Thomas has lived always on the 
present farm and since his father has given 
up active management of affairs has most 
capably conducted the farm. Ettie resides 
at home. 

The family belongs to the Church of Eng 
land, in which Mr. McKeune has been one 
of the wardens for many years. Politically, 
father and sons are supporters of the Con 
servative party. In time past Mr. McKeune 
has filled many offices, serving for seven 
teen years as assessor of Euphemia ; he was 
then elected councillor and served a number 
of years, and was then elected deputy reeve, 
filling that position until he retired entirely 
from public life. He was also school trus 
tee for a long period. For years he has been 
a member of the Orangemen. 

James McKeune s life is an illustration 
of what may be accomplished through intel 
ligent industry, backed by integrity of char 
acter. In every way he has been a most 
worthy citizen, performing the tasks to which 
his fellow citizens called him with absolute 
fidelity and looking well after the comfort 
and welfare of his family. 

WILLIAM LUSCOMBE, a wholesale 
and retail meat dealer of Sarnia, is a man of 
power and enterprise. During his forty 
years residence in the place he has not only 
conducted a large and successful business of 
his own, but has played a leading part in 
public and social affairs. Gifted with the 
capacity of concentrating his energies upon 
the task at hand, he has performed his duties 
with a thoroughness which has redounded 



to his lasting credit. His business foresight 
and his large power of achievement he has, 
undoubtedly, inherited from his good En 
glish ancestors. 

Samuel Luscombe, father of William, 
born in England in 1810, was a successful 
meat dealer in Simcoe, Out., for many years, 
and a man of rare business ability. Reared 
in England, he there acquired a thorough 
practical training for the work of life. Dur 
ing his young manhood he married in his 
native land Caroline Clement, who was born 
in England in 1819. By this union there 
were nine children : John, now a resident of 
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. ; Samuel, who is a 
printer in St. Thomas ; William, who is men 
tioned below ; James, now a resident of Sim 
coe ; Mary, who is deceased ; Carrie, who 
married Charles Norris, of St. Thomas ; 
George H., a woolen manufacturer of Sim 
coe, who has also engaged in the electric light 
business and has served three terms as mayor 
of Simcoe ; Lizzie, wife of Robert Vance, 
who was injured in the railway accident at 
Battlecreek, and died in the hospital Nov. 2, 
1893; and Mary, the youngest, who is at 
home. In 1854, thinking to improve the con 
dition of himself and family in the sparsely 
settled districts of a new country, Mr. Lus 
combe came to Ontario and settled at Simcoe. 
A butcher by trade, he opened a market and 
engaged in the meat business. Keeping a 
good supply of choice cuts, and in all respects 
satisfying the demands of his customers, he 
met with good results and continued the 
business for the rest of his life. He died in 
Simcoe in 1876, and his wife in 1884. Mr. 
Luscombe, by years of hard work and by con 
ducting a strictly honest and upright busi 
ness, won for himself a solid and lasting 
prosperity. As a consistent member of the 
Methodist Church he never withheld his sup 
port from any worthy cause. In politics he 
always evinced a keen interest, and as a Re 
former was influential in his community. 

William Luscombe is a true son of Can 
ada. He has won a place for himself through 
his indomitable determination and energy. 
Born in England June 21, 1842, he there 
spent the first twelve years of his life. In 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



401 



1854 he came with his parents to Ontario, 
settling at Simcoe. where the greater part 
of his youth was spent. By assisting his 
father in the shop he early became familiar 
with the meat business ; but not wholly de 
termined upon making it his life work, on 
reaching his majority he entered a printing 
office, and there learned the trade, which he 
followed about one and a half years in Sim 
coe. Experience then deciding him to make 
the meat business the chief work of his life, 
he opened a shop in Simcoe. which he con 
ducted with success for another year and a 
half. In 1862, rinding- a more desirable out 
look in Sarnia. he moved there, and in com 
pany with Adam Clark opened another shop. 
With a ready power of making friends, and 
giving good satisfaction to customers, they 
met with success from the start. In 1864, 
confident of his power to run the business 
alone, Mr. Luscombe purchased his partner s 
interest and added the ice business, being 
the sole proprietor of the Sarnia Ice House, 
the only one in town, for years ; however, he 
gave that up a few years ago. For nine 
years, until 1873, ne continued as sole pro 
prietor of the shop, wise financial manage 
ment and a stead} increase of trade enabling 
him to enlarge his business considerably dur 
ing this period. In 1873 he received John 
Giles as a member of his firm, but the part 
nership continued for only one year, after 
which our subject took the entire business 
into his own hands again and conducted it 
alone for ten more successful years. At the 
end of this period, in 1884, he sold his meat 
shop to William A. Buchner, in order to fill 
the position of tax collector, to which he had 
been elected. So ably did he discharge the 
duties of his office that he continued his 
services for six years. In 1890 he resumed 
the meat business, entering the wholesale 
trade, and after one year added a retail de 
partment, since conducting both lines with 
marked success. His shop is a large one, 
doing an extensive business, and is consid 
ered one of the most reliable in the county. 
Mr. Luscombe s three sons are now in busi 
ness with him. He is the oldest dealer in the 
town, and buys throughout the country all 

26 



kinds of stock, hides, tallow, sheepskins and 
furs, paying the highest cash prices. He has 
the finest shop in Sarnia, and with his own 
boys puts up all the varieties of meat, poul 
try and game. They have a large private 
custom and extensive hotel and shipping 
trade, having retained most of the customers 
of years ago and won the lion s share of 
the new ones. 

On Aug. 13. 1866, Mr. Luscombe mar 
ried Miss Jane Crawford, who was born in 
Scotland July 16, 1847. daughter of John A. 
and Elizabeth (Graham) Crawford, and a 
woman of rare social attributes, standing 
high in her community. Prominent in lodge 
circles, she is past president of the Retekah 
Assembly of Ontario, and Lady Commander 
of Danforth Hive, L. O. T. M., of Sarnia, 
Ont. Mr. and Mrs. Luscombe have had 
nine children: Jennie married John E. 
Stepler, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have 
two children, Crawford E. and Jean Pauline. 
Lizzie is deceased. Maud married William 
Ayres, of Chicago. Bertha and Samuel are 
both deceased. William Edwin Clement, 
George Herbert Murray and John Arthur 
Crawford are in business with their father, 
Mildred married Walter E. White, a mer 
chant of Chicago. 

Mr. Luscombe possesses too much in 
herent vigor to confine his activities to one 
field of labor, and in the public affairs of 
Sarnia he has played no insignificant part. 
From 1873 to 1882 he served on the city 
council, discharging his duties with an accu 
rate knowledge of business and the keen wis 
dom of an able financier, much to the benefit 
of the community. In 1876 he acted as dep 
uty reeve, and as such was a member of the 
county council. Politically he is a strong 
Conservative. Keenly interested in the de 
velopment of the agricultural resources of 
his section, he has affiliated with the agri 
cultural society in Lambton County for 
thirty-five years, serving at different "times 
as president and director. Fraternally he 
stands high. He is the oldest Odd Fellow of 
the I. O. O. F. lodge at Sarnia, and the only 
one left of the members that were initiated 
on the night of its institution, Dec. 26, 1874; 



402 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



has passed through all the chairs, and repre 
sented it in the Grand Lodge of Ontario ; he 
has, with other members, initiated more than 
four hundred members, and is now its dis 
trict deputy for the Grand Encampment of 
Ontario for the third time. He is past presi 
dent of the S. of E., and is now acting as its 
supreme district deputy for the seventh year, 
filling the office with marked ability. Both 
he and his wife are substantial and influential 
members of the Methodist Church. 

John A. Crawford, father of Mrs. Lus- 
combe, is a son of Andrew and Marion (Ar 
thur) Crawford, who passed their lives in 
Scotland. John A. Crawford was born in 
that country in 1825, and during his young 
manhood married Elizabeth Graham, who 
was also born in Scotland. She died in 
Sarnia in 1896. at the age of seventy-six. 
In 1857 Mr. Crawford came to Ontario, 
finally settling in Sarnia. where he still re 
sides when at home. He took a trip to the 
old country (Scotland) last June (1905), 
this being his fourth trip in the last six years, 
and is hale and hearty, though now eighty 
years old. 

HENRY MARTIN SCOTT, a success 
ful and highly-respected retired farmer of 
Plympton township, County of Lambton, 
one of the pioneers of the county, was born 
in County Wexford, Ireland, April 15, 1820, 
a son of William and Ellen (Kough) Scott. 
The following is a genealogical history of 
the Scott family : 

(I) William Scott, Esq., J. P., son of 
William Scott, M. D., was born in Scotts- 
borough April 7, 1764, and married Eliza 
beth Roshorough, Aug. 14. 1786, and had 
issue as follows : Rev. William ; Alexander, a 
lieutenant in the I5th Foot, born Sept. 12, 
1789, died at Guadalupe, Nov. 26. iSn. un 
married; John, ensign in the nth Foot, born 
Sept. 12, 1791, was killed at Salamanca, July 
22, 1812 ; Robert, lieutenant in the 59th Foot. 
born July 4, 1793, was shipwrecked and 
drowned in Tramore Bay, in 1816; Thomas, 
lieutenant in the gth Foot, born Jan. 4, 1796, 
died in Trinidad, W. I., Dec. 21, 1821; 
Ralph, of Manor Highgate, County Fer 



managh, born Dec. 26, 1796, died Aug. u, 
1863, married in 1822 Hannah, daughter of 
Capt. Andrew Nixon, of Nixon, high sheriff 
in 1800, and a son of Alexander Nixon, of 
Nixon Hall, high sheriff in 1763; Rev. 
Henry, M. A., rector of Staplestown, Coun 
ty Catiow, Ireland, born Aug. 7, 1799, mar 
ried Eliza Dorcas, daughter of George Cum 
min, Esq., of Ballinroan, County Wicklow, 
and died March 15, 1877; Arthur, of Drum- 
ma Lodge, County Fermanagh, born Jan. 14, 
1802, married Dec. 14, 1832, his cousin, 
Everina Catherine, daughter of John Cro- 
zier, of Gortra, and died Feb. 23, 1870, while 
his wife died Aug. 5, 1866; Mary Anne, 
born Dec. 17, 1790, died in childhood; Mar 
garet, born May 3, 1798, died Jan. 13, 1884. 
William Scott, after the death of his 
wife Elizabeth, married Catherine, daugh 
ter of Robert Pooler, Esq., of Tyross, Coun 
ty Armagh, and she died July 22, 1813. His 
third wife was Letitia, daughter of Christo 
pher Bor, Esq., of Ballindolan, and she died 
Oct. 1 6, 1866, while he died in October, 

1843- 

(II) Rev. William Scott, rector of 
Hacketstown and Haroldstown, and Rural 
Dean of Clonmore, diocese of Leghlin, born 
Oct. 1 8, 1787, in Enniskillen, Ireland, mar 
ried Ellen, daughter of Thomas Kough, 
Esq., of New Ross, County Wexford. She 
died March 9, 1877, aged eighty-two years. 
Mr. Scott died Feb. I, 1866. Their children 
were : John Rosborough William, born in 
1813, died Sept. u, 1881. Thomas Robert 
Kough, born Jan. 12. 1816, married in De 
cember, 1839, Isabella, daughter of Dr. 
Blunden. of Clonmel, and emigrated to Can 
ada ; their children were three sons and eight 
daughters. Alexander, born Feb. 13, 1817, 
married a daughter of George Hyde, Esq., 
and died Oct. 23, 1862. Henry Martin, born 
April 15, 1820, married Reljecca Blunden, 
daughter of Christopher Blunden, Esq. Rev. 
Edward Barton, B. A., rector of Clonmore, 
diocese of Ossory, born Aug. 18, 1824, mar 
ried Feb. 3. 1869, Rebecca Anne, daughter 
of Rev. William A. Dobbyn, rector of Clon 
more, and rural dean of - . Ralph 
Robert, surgeon-major late H. M. D. (By- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



403 



land House Bath), born Feb. 5, 1832, mar 
ried (first) April 17, 1860, Mary Ann, 
daughter of Lieut. Gen. James Clarke, Char- 
nock Gray, Indian Army; she died Oct. 10, 
1860, and he married for his second wife 
Charlotte Mary, youngest daughter of 
Mather, Esq., J. P. of Glyn Abbot, Holywell, 
Flintshire. William, born July 13, 1833, 
died in 1848. George Arthur, Lieut-Col., 
retired, 2d Queen s Royal West Surrey 
Regiment, born Jan. 12, 1839, married 
Elizabeth Kingston, daughter of Frederick 
Trevan, Esq., of Port Isaac, Cornwall. 

(Ill) Henry Martin Scott spent his early 
boyhood in his native land, and in 1833 came 
to Canada with McWilliam Charles Hume, 
and for the following two years resided in 
Orillia, Out. In 1835 he removed to Lamb- 
ton County, and with his two brothers, 
Thomas and Alexander, took up land on the 
1 2th Concession, of Plympton township, and 
for the past seventy years has been an hon 
ored resident of this township. 

In 1865 Mr. Scott was married, in Plymp 
ton township, to Rebecca Blunden, daughter 
of Christopher Blunden, Esq. She died in 
1885, aged forty-five years. They became 
the parents of the following children : Wil 
liam Henry, born Jan. 2, 1867, married Eu- 
phemia, daughter of John Black, and has 
four children, Rebecca, John and Stanley 
and Myrtle, twins. John married Jeanette 
Laing, and has two children. Frederick and 

. Eliza was born March 19, 1872. 

George was born Nov. 12, 1879. One son 
died in childhood. Mr. Scott is numbered 
among the representative men of his town 
ship, and he and his estimable wife made 
many friends throughout Lambton County. 

WILLIAM McDOXALD is one of the 
prominent men of Brooke township. Lamb- 
ton County, being identified with agricultural 
interests to a very large extent. He resides 
on a farm on the I2th Concession, in Brooke 
township, Lot 22, in which township he was 
born March 10, 1841, son of Donald and 
Jane (McLean) McDonald, natives of Mull. 
Scotland. 

Dougal and Christina McDonald, his 



grandparents, came from Scotland to Nova 
Scotia in 1820, and there remained until 
1830, in which year they located in Brooke 
township, County of Lambton, Ont. At 
that time this section was a veritable wild 
erness, and the McDonalds settled in a little 
log cabin in which they lived for many years 
while clearing up a farm. The land was 
purchased from the government at $1.50. per 
acre. This farm Mr. McDonald afterward 
sold, removing at the time to Mosa. County 
of Middlesex, where both he and his wife 
died. They had the following family : Hec 
tor died in Nova Scotia. John grew up in 
Scotland, where he became a soldier, and 
served in the Russian war in 1830; he mar 
ried in Scotland and brought his wife to 
Canada, where he followed sailing on the 
lakes until his death. Donald became the 
father of our subject. James, born in Scot 
land, married Mary McMillan, of Mosa, 
County of Middlesex, in which place they 
settled, and where they both died. Nancy 
married Thomas Hardy, and settled in Met- 
calfe, County of Middlesex, where both died, 
leaving one son and one daughter, Joseph 
and Christine. Catherine married Hugh Mc 
Donald, and they settled in Oxford County as 
farming people; here Mrs. McDonald died 
in 1904, leaving a large family. Alexander, 
born in Scotland, married and settled in 
Sombra, County of Lambton, where both he 
and his wife died, leaving a family of eight 
children. The family of Dougal and Chris 
tina McDonald were among the establishers 
of the Presbyterian Church in this section, 
and were good Christian people. Politically 
they were all Grits. 

Donald McDonald was educated in the 
English and Gaelic schools of the old coun 
try. After his marriage in Nova Scotia he 
located in Brooke township, settling near the 
farm now occupied by his son William, and 
lived for many years in a little log cabin 
while clearing his farm. He also followed 
weaving. Mr. McDonald was also engaged 
for a time in the lumber districts of Mich 
igan, and he died while working at Port 
Huron, in 1853, leaving his widow with five 
children, as follows : Donald, born in Nova 



404 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Scotia in 1835, married Mary J. Sanders, 
of Warwick, and they reside in Huron Coun 
ty, Michigan, whither he moved in 1883, 
formerly operating a farm in Brooke town 
ship; they have these children William, 
John, Mary, Elizabeth, Johanna, Jane, 
George, Caroline, Catherine, Annie, Dougal 
and Isabella. Nancy, born in Brooke town 
ship in 1838, married Hugh McDonald, who 
removed to Saginaw County, Michigan, 
where she died leaving a family of six chil 
dren, Katie, John, Jane, Maggie. Mary and 
Lillian. William is mentioned below. John, 
born in 1843, married (first) a Miss \Vil- 
loughby, of Brooke township, and (second) 
Ellen McDonald, both of whom are now de 
ceased ; he removed to Huron County, Mich 
igan, where he died in January, 1905. leaving 
two children, Annie and Cecil. Dougal, born 
in 1846, learned the harnessmaking trade 
when a young man, and settled at Watford 
for a time, later, removing to Saginaw, Mich 
igan, where he still lives ; his first wife, Jen 
nie Benest, now deceased, left him one son, 
Albert, and his second wife, a Miss Ranier, 
also died leaving him one son, Sidney P. ; 
his third wife is a Michigan lady. 

William McDonald was reared at the old 
home in Brooke township and received his 
education in the district schools of the sec 
tion. When a young man he learned the car 
penter s trade, which, however, he did not 
follow to any great extent. In 1872 he pur 
chased his present home, buying fifty acres 
at first, and later adding fifty acres, now hav 
ing both of these tracts cleared, cultivated 
and improved, and furnished with good, sub 
stantial buildings. His present home was 
erected in 1869, and here he lived alone un 
til March 19. 1879, when he was united in 
marriage with Miss Annie C. McDonald, 
who was born in Ekfrid, Middlesex County, 
Nov. 27, 1846, daughter of Alexander and 
Mary (Campbell) McDonald, pioneers of 
that county. To this union have come chil 
dren as follows : Donald A., torn Jan. 24, 
1880, is engaged in farming on the home 
stead; Mary B., born March 18, 1883, is the 
wife of Donald Campbell, of the gth Con 
cession, Brooke township, and has one son, 



William A., born Sept. 3, 1904; Catherine 
died in childhood. 

In religion Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are 
connected with the Christian Church, which 
they joined in 1884. Politically he has al 
ways voted with the Reform party, and has 
acted in the capacity of trustee of schools in 
Brooke township. He is one of the good 
citizens and reliable men of his township, be 
longing to that class which gives a section 
honorable standing before the world. 

PETER DODDS, who departed this 
life July 9, 1902, at his late residence in 
Watford, Out., was for many years a prom 
inent business man of the village and one of 
the most genial and popular men in western 
Ontario. His friends were legion, and all 
who knew him honored and respected him 
for his many sterling traits of character. 

Mr. Dodds was born at Darlington, 
Darlington Bay, England, Eeb. 14, 1832. 
His early days were spent at Newcastle upon 
Tyne. At the age of twelve years he lost his 
father, also named Peter Dodds, and thus he 
was thrown upon his own resources, from 
that time until his death making his own 
way unassisted in the world, so that he was 
self-made entirely. His father, a merchant, 
married Margaret Watson, a native of Scot 
land, and to them two sons were born, Peter 
and Robert. The latter became an officer in 
Her Majesty s army and bore a gallant part 
in the Zulu war. He later presented to his 
brother a fine cane which had been given 
him by one of the Zulu chieftains. He is now 
connected with the factory of Sir William 
Armstrong, at Newcastle upon Tyne. 

When Peter Dodds found himself de 
pendent upon his own resources he decided 
that his best plan would be to learn a good 
trade, and he apprenticed himself to a tin 
smith. After mastering this business he 
successfully followed it for some time, open 
ing up a plant of his own, where he employed 
as many as eight to ten men, and there, as 
in his later business connections, he gained 
the respect and esteem of his employes by the 
just and honorable methods he employed. 
In 1866 he decided to remove to Ontario to 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



405 



secure a wider field of operation, and after, 
reaching the Province settled for a time in 
Toronto, removing his business from there 
to Lloydtown, thence to Woodstock, and in 
1868 to Watford. Here Mr. Dodds em 
barked in the business of a general merchant, 
and during his thirty-four years of business 
activity had the satisfaction of seeing his 
enterprises flourish and his interests expand. 
His business methods of honor and strict 
integrity won him immediate confidence, 
which was never broken. His trustworthy 
goods, his contentment over reasonable prof 
its, and his honest representations of his 
wares, made his establishment the most re 
liable one in this section. 

Mr. Dodds declined political preferment 
and public office. He was essentially a man 
of business and found, in the promotion of 
its many lines, full occupation for his time 
and energy. He amassed a large fortune, in 
those legitimate ways which made its posses 
sion a tribute to his industry and good judg 
ment. 

Mr. Dodds was four times married. In 
England in 1850, he married (first) Isa 
bel fa Patterson, by whom he had three chil 
dren : George, a tinsmith in Watford ; Jane, 
deceased wife of L. P. Keig; and Gordon, 
deceased. He married second, also in Eng 
land. Bridget Forester, and the following 
children were born to this union : Robert 
was a business man in Arkona, Out., where 
he died in 1890; he married Louisa M. B. 
Ella, daughter of Capt. Ella, of Victoria, 
B. C. Thomas, a hardware merchant at 
Watford, married Elizabeth Shaw, and they 
have children, Clair, Mary, Berenice, Ed 
ward and Velora; he belongs to the A. F. 
& A. M. and C. O. F. Samuel (deceased), 
who was a merchant in Watford, married 
Eleanor lies, and had one daughter. Merle. 
Mary married F. W. Tanner, of Toronto, 
Out. , and they had four children. Geraldine, 
Clarence. Harold and Reginald. Elizabeth 
married E. D. Swift, a dry goods merchant 
of Watford. Out., and they have children. 
Algie. Diamond. Thomas. Verna. Winni- 
fred and Mnrgerie. Dinah, Mrs. Haines. born 
in Watford/ resides in Detroit. Michigan. 



and has one son. Eric. Mr. Dodds married 
for his third wife, Mrs. Mary (White) 
Beedham, who died in Watford, July 12, 
1896, aged forty-six, and three children 
came to this union: (i) Peter J., born at 
Watford May 10, 1878, was educated in the 
public schools, and is now a prominent mer 
chant of Watford. On June 15, 1898, he 
married Mary White, and they have two 
daughters, Evelyn and Louise. He is a 
member of the Board of Trade and the C. 
O. F. (2) Joseph Garfield Roy. (3) Reti 
Maud. Mr. Dodds fourth marriage was 
to Mary McClure, but there was no issue to 
this marriage. 

In. the death of Mr. Dodds Watford lost 
one of her oldest business men, and one of 
her most highly esteemed and honored citi 
zens, and his children a sincere, kind and 
indulgent father. 

WILLIAM STOREY. As a hotel 
keeper, barber and tobacco dealer Mr. 
Storey has prominently identified himself 
with the business interests of Sarnia for fully 
thirty-eight years. Conscientious and ef 
ficient service has won him the confidence 
and respect of the community and wise bus 
iness management brought in good money 
returns. He was born in England July 21, 
1835, son of Philip and Sarah (Harmer) 
Storey. 

Philip Storey was a business man of 
prominence in his own community. Born 
in the County of Norfolk, England, he 
passed many years of his useful and suc 
cessful life in that country. His business 
was milling, which he followed for many 
year in his own country. Strict attention to 
his work and good service to his customers 
crowned his efforts with success. After 
some time, however, impressed with favor 
able reports of Ontario, Mr. Storey came to 
this country. Here he engaged in business 
and remained for several years. A preu-r- 
ence for his native land eventually caused him 
to return to England, and there he spent his 
last days, dying in 1899. 

Mr. Storey married Sarah Schreeve, 
who was born in England and was then 



406 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the \vido\v of Robert Schreeve, by whom she 
had one child. Air. and Mrs. Storey had 
seven children, four of whom now reside in 
England; John, who is engaged in farming;, 
Elizabeth, who married John Bailey; James ; 
and Sarah Ann. Of the others, William is 
mentioned below ; George came to Ontario 
in November, 1890, and is now engaged in 
farming in Sarnia township ; Edward was a 
sailor in the old country, but came to Can 
ada in 1890 and settled at Rat Portage, 
where he is now engaged in gardening. 

William Storey was reared to a life of 
business and faithful industry. He passed 
his early life in England, where he remained 
until the age of twenty-six. In 1861 he 
married, in England, Sarah Pratt, who was 
born near London, England, Xov. 14, 1838, 
daughter of George Pratt and they had 
eight children: (i) George William, now 
engaged in business with his father, married 
Mamie Palmer, and they have six children, 
Mamie, William, Gordon, Clifford, Edith 
and Edward. (2) Florence married James 
Yard, and they have one daughter, Irene. 
(3) Ellen Alice, who has never married, re 
sides in Sarnia. (4) Nellie and (5) Edith 
also have never married, and live at home. 
(6) Edward died at the age of a little over 
three years. (7) Ellen died when a little 
over three years old. (8) Arthur H. died in 
Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 3, 1897; he had 
one daughter, Gladys P. 

In 1 86 1, the year of their marriage, Mr. 
Storey and his wife came to New York City, 
and after a short residence there proceeded to 
Toronto, Ont. There he went into a barber 
shop and followed his trade for a number of 
years. A professional in his line, he met 
with good results. In search of better open 
ings, however, in August, 1865, he came to 
Oil Springs, Lambton County, where he re 
mained for about a year. Then he took a 
few months vacation abroad, sailing for 
England in 1866 and returning late in the 
fall of that year. Upon his return to Canada 
he went to Sarnia, and engaged as manager 
of the "Belchamber Hotel." A knowledge 
of the world and people enabled him to give 
good satisfaction, but he remained there for 



only about one year, preferring to follow 
his regular business. In June, 1867, he 
opened a barber shop in this place, and re 
sumed his trade. A large circle of acquain 
tances made during his hotel management 
brought him plenty of custom, and he soon 
had all the patronage he could possibly man 
age. So successful was he that he contin 
ued his trade for about fifteen years, closing 
out in 1882. During this period he had kept 
in his shop small supplies of tobacco goods, 
which he sold to customers, and he gradu 
ally engaged in this line of business more 
and more extensively, and upon closing out 
his barber business opened a regular tobacco 
shop, where he carried on jobbing and retail 
ing. This business he has since continued. 
He has made well out of it, and in 1874 
erected a commodious new building, which 
he still occupies. He is a skillful manager 
and is considered solid in his line. 

Mr. Storey possesses perseverance and 
enterprise. He has achieved success by at all 
times centering his forces upon one main 
line of industry, never making a change un 
less confident of bettering his prospects. In 
the public affairs of Sarnia he has always 
evinced a keen interest, and he keeps himself 
well informed upon the topics of the day. 
Politically he espouses the cause of the Con 
servatives. He and his wife are consistent 
Christians, he belonging to the Episcopal 
Church and she to the Methodist. Two 
prominent fraternal orders count him 
among their esteemed members, the I. O. 
O. F. and the Royal Arcanum, the local 
lodge of the latter from the time of its or 
ganization. As a prominent business man 
he belongs to the Commercial Traders As 
sociation. 

JAMES McLEAN. The sturdy char 
acter which Scotland s rugged hills and 
bracing climate have generated in all her 
sons, and which their descendants in turn 
have inherited, makes the Scottish element 
in a population a source of much strength 
and healthy vigor, and Canada may well be 
grateful to her sister country for the many 
who have emigrated from its shores to the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



407 



newer western land. In Plympton township 
one family who left the Old World to try 
their fortunes across the Atlantic is that of 
the McLeans, all of whom, except some of 
the younger generation, were born in Scot 
land. 

Donald McLean was a farmer in Glen 
Urquart, Inverness-shire, his native parish, 
where he was engaged in raising sheep and 
cattle. He married Miss Margaret Mcln- 
tosh, and both ended their days in their old 
home. Donald McLean was eighty when he 
died. He and his wife were members of the 
Presbyterian Church. Of the six children 
born to these parents all eventually came to 
America; Alexander settled in East Will 
iams township, Middlesex County; William 
settled in Plympton township, as did James 
also; Margaret married John Mclntosh and 
resides in East Williams ; Finlay lived in 
Plympton ; Donald resides in Detroit. 

James McLean was the first of the fam 
ily to come to Canada. He was born Nov. 
17. 1841, attended the public schools in his 
native parish, and although only a child did 
considerable work at home and for his 
uncle, William Mclntosh. In 1850 he ac 
companied his uncle on the voyage from 
Glasgow to Quebec, which they reached 
after a passage of eleven weeks on the 
"Three Belles." the first iron sailing vessel 
that ever crossed the Atlantic. They went 
to Hamilton, Ont., then to London by 
wagon, and finally to East Williams town 
ship, where they located. James worked 
there as a farmer three years, and then in 
London township during the summer. AYish- 
ing a better education, he went to school in 
1856-57, and then taught in McGillivray 
township, where he stayed eleven years, re 
ceiving twenty dollars a month. In 1867 he 
came to Plympton and ever since has made 
his home in Concession 7. He taught in 
Bosanquet, Plympton and Sarnia townships, 
but since giving up that profession has de 
voted himself to farming. He owns a fine 
property, witli handsome brick dwelling, 
good barns, etc., and is one of the largest 
sheep raisers in the township. He married 
Miss Anna Gillatly. daughter of John Gil- 



latly, Sr., and they have three children, John, 
Margaret, and Donald, all at home. James 
McLean is a Liberal in politics, a Presby 
terian in religion, and fraternally a member 
of the K. O. T. M., at Camlachie. 

Finlay McLean, deceased brother of 
James, followed him to Canada, and also 
settled in Plympton and engaged in farm 
ing on a fifty-acre tract which he brought to 
a high point of cultivation. He married 
Miss Margaret Davidson, daughter of Rob 
ert Davidson, who was born in Ireland. 
Their children, Margaret, Catherine, Flor 
ence, Donald, Finlay and Lillie, are all liv 
ing at home with their mother. Mr. McLean 
died in 1896 and was buried in Camlachie. 
He belonged to the Presbyterian Church in 
that place, and politically was a Liberal. 

William McLean, second son of Donald, 
and father of our subject. James McLean, 
was married in Scotland to Miss Johanna 
Scott, and their five children were all born 
in Inverness-shire, viz. : Donald, of St. 
Louis, Missouri : William, of Alaska : James ; 
Alexander, of Minnesota; and Annie, widow 
of George Napper. The family all left 
Scotland" in 1872, landed at Montreal, and 
came west to Plympton, where James and 
Finlay McLean lived. There William Mc 
Lean "bought a tract of fifty acres of bush 
land in Lot 10, Concession 7, and made it 
his permanent home. His death occurred at 
this home March 6. 1889, and his remains 
were interred in Knox s cemetery. He and 
his wife were both Presbyterians and his 
politics were those of the Liberal party. Mrs. 
McLean still lives at the old home, cared for 
by her son James. 

JAMES MCLEAN was born in the parish 
of Glen Urquart, June 8. 1865, and was seven 
years old when his parents came to Canada. 
Until he was sixteen he attended the town 
ship schools and helped his father on the 
farm, but at that age he started out for him 
self. Afer two years of work for farmers 
he went to the lumber region near Alpena, 
Michigan, where he remained a year, and 
then went west to Colorado and Idaho for a 
couple of years, spent in different occupa 
tions. Next he went to Washington and 



408 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



worked in the lumber district along the 
Fraser river and from there to similar em 
ployment in British Columbia. While there 
he received word of his father s illness and 
at once returned home, where he has re 
mained, engaged in farming and shipping 
stock. Mr. McLean s religious belief is 
based upon the Golden Rule, and his life is 
shaped to its teachings. He takes a deep 
interest in fraternal affairs, being a member 
of Huron Lodge,. A. F. & A. M., Cam- 
lachie, and also of the K. O. T. M. Tent at 
Camlachie. Politically he is independent. 
He also devotes much of his time to mu 
nicipal affairs. In 1902 he was elected to 
the position of township councillor, which 
he still holds. 

GEORGE WESTGATE, one of the 
oldest living pioneers of Warwick township, 
where he has made his home for the past 
sixty years, on the 4th Concession, south of 
the Egremont road, succeeded through his 
own efforts in- clearing himself a home from 
the wild land. He was in his active years 
one of the largest land owners and wealthiest 
agriculturists of the township, but he has di 
vided much of his land among his children, 
still retaining his home farm of 250 acres. 

Mr. Westgate is a native of Ireland, born 
at Ballinrobe. County Mayo, May i, 1825. 
Thomas Westgate. his father, was a native of 
the same place, and was a linen weaver by 
occupation. He was a yeoman, and partici 
pated in the taking of McKinley, the famous 
highwayman and robber, who was captured, 
hung, quartered and beheaded, and his head 
placed on a pole at the gate of Castle Bar. 
Thomas Westgate married Mary Trimball, 
and they became the parents of the following 
children: George; Eliza, who married M. 
Swatson ; Maria, who married Henry Rivers 
and resides in Watford ; Jarvis, a farmer of 
Warwick township; and Giel, who died 
young. In 1825 Thomas Westgate. with his 
wife and infant son, crossed the Atlantic with 
the intention of making a home in Canada. 
The little party landed in Quebec, and went 
as far as Locherne, but not liking 
the looks of the country, then in 



its wild state, Mr. Westgate returned 
to Ireland, and continued to reside 
there until 1845, \vhen he again sailed 
for Canada, having then a grown-up 
family for which to find a home. They 
sailed from Killala, and after a voyage of 
seven weeks and three days landed in Que 
bec, and. coming west to Ontario, located in 
the woods of Warwick township, where 100 
acres of land were purchased, and the little 
family settled down to make a home. With 
the assistance of our subject the father great 
ly improved the tract. There Thomas West- 
gate spent the remainder of his life, dying at 
the remarkable age of 103 years. He was 
active to the last, having taken good care of 
himself all of his life. He was buried in the 
6th Line cemetery, beside his wife, who pre 
ceded him to the grave by many years. They 
were members of the Church of England. 
Politically he was a Conservative. 

George Westgate attended the parish 
schools of his native country and worked 
upon the farm which his father rented until 
the family came to Canada. On settling 
in Warwick township he purchased 100 acres 
of land adjoining that of his father, having 
the north of Lot 29, 4th Line, on the 5th 
Concession, south of the Egremont road. 
He made his home with his parents. His 
father knew nothing about farming at the 
time they settled in Lambton County, so all 
the work fell on our subject. During the 
first five years he worked fifty acres of his 
place and the same number of his father s 
land, fencing same and making numerous 
other improvements, and he also turned over 
to his father the money he received for the 
crops on both places. His land was pur 
chased at $2.50 per acre, and he had three 
years to pay for it. in wheat, being allowed 
fifty cents a bushel for spring wheat, and five 
shillings for fall wheat. But although he 
commenced without a cent, he succeeded in 
paying off his debt in two years, and he has 
prospered in the same manner ever since. 
After many years of hard work he succeeded 
in putting- his land under cultivation, and 
here for the past sixty years he has made his 
home. He has added to his farm by pur- 







x,x^rW) 



IT <f 




COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



409 



chase, and accumulated in all 650 acres, most 
of which is now owned and operated by his 
sons. In 1892 Mr. Westgate retired from 
farming and purchased a fine residence in 
Watford, residing there with his wife and 
daughters until the death of Mrs. Westgate, 
Feb. 16, 1893, when he returned to the farm, 
and there has remained ever since. He built 
a fine brick residence and other buildings 
also furnishing his father s farm with a good 
brick house. He was able to help all his 
children with a good start in life, besides 
accumulating a substantial competence for 
himself, and he owes his success in life to his 
good management and his strict attention to 
business. He is greatly devoted to his fam 
ily, his home being a most happy one, and he 
is tenderly cared for by his devoted daughter. 
Miss Xorena. All the children are a credit 
to their parents and their training. Mrs. 
Westgate was a devoted wife and mother, 
and Mr. "Westgate has always endeavored to 
do his full duty by his children. He is 
known as an honorable man in all the rela 
tions of life, and is well thought of by all 
who know him. He is unusually active for 
one of his age, though past the four-score 
mark. 

Mr. Westgate was married in London, 
by Bishop Cronin, bishop of the Church of 
England, to Miss Margaret Lament, who 
was born Dec. 19, 1840, in Scotland, and 
died at the age of fifty three years, of heart 
trouble. Mr. Westgate and his children arc 
members of the Church of England, to which 
his wife also belonged, and they attend Grace 
Church, on the 4th Line, of which Mr. 
Westgate was warden for many years. He 
is a great Bible student and has read the 
Bible through over seven times. Politi 
cally he is a stanch Conservative, but 
no office-seeker. He and his wife were the 
parents of seventeen children, five of whom 
died in infancy. Jane married John Cook, of 
Warwick township, and they have seven 
children. Albert, William, Frank, Norman, 
Russell. Maggie and Gerald. Maria married 
George Peterson, a farmer of Warwick 
township; they have no family. Margaret 
married ^ illiam Widdis, of Alberta, X. W. 



T.. and has three children. Alma, Winifred 
and Harold. Thomas, a farmer of Warwick 
township, married Johnnina Burgar, and has 
six children, George, John, Thomas. Jean, 
Marian. and X ellie. Mary married John 
Acton, a farmer of Warwick township, and 
has seven children, Frederick, Mabel, Mag 
gie, Ella, Reto, Clayton and Estol. George, 
on the grandfather s homestead farm, mar 
ried Laura Edgar ; no children. Frederick, 
a farmer on the 2tl Line, married Rebecca 
Reycraft, and they have five children, Mag 
gie, Frank, John, George and Susan. Ida 
married George Matthews, of Warwick 
township, and they had four children, Clar 
ence, Reto, and two who died young. Eliza 
beth married Lawrence Dowden, of War 
wick township; they have no family. Xo 
rena is at home. Dora is matron of the Old 
Ladies Home at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 
Lila is a resident of Detroit. Our subject 
has thirty-five grandchildren. He joined the 
Loyal Orange Association at Adelaide many 
years ago. 

L. I. HUXT. The continued prosperity 
of the town of Alvinston, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, is the direct result of the 
efforts of its leading business citizens, one 
of these being L. I. Hunt, who has been in 
terested in the hardware line for a number 
of years. Mr. Hunt was born in March, 
1853. at St. Thomas, son of Hiram H. and 
Eliza (Caughill) Hunt, who were early 
settlers of Plympton. 

William Hunt, grandfather of L. L, 
was a native of Wales, as was his wife. 
Upon coming to Canada, the}- settled in 
Xiagara County, where they followed 
farming, and where both died. 

Hiram Hunt, father of our subject, was 
the only son of his parents, and was born at 
Port Robinson. Xiagara County, in 1829. 
There he was reared, and he received a lim 
ited education as schools in those pioneer 
days were few and far between. Mr. Hunt 
married Eliza Caughill, born in Elgin 
County, in 1830. (laughter of John Caugh- 
ill, who came to Canada from Pennsvlvania. 
In 1854 Mr. Hunt removed to St. Thomas, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he remained until 1862, and then lo 
cated in Wyoming, Lambton County, and 
engaged in a hardware and tinsmith busi 
ness. Here he made a permanent home and 
owned considerable real estate. He was reeve 
of Wyoming for ten years. At his death in 
1897, he left the following children : Maude, 
born in St. Thomas, married George 
Brown, of Savannah, Georgia, where he 
carries on a business ; Edward died at the 
age of seven years; Jane, born in 1857, mar 
ried William Coghill, a merchant of Wyo 
ming, and has four children; Herbert, born 
in 1863, in Wyoming, married a Miss Ban- 
ham, of Plympton, and at the time of his 
death was carrying on a tinsmith business 
at Wyoming, and left two children, John 
and Cecil; Arthur, born in 1866, married 
Miss Etta Pray, of Alvinston, and they now 
reside in Manitoba, where he is engaged in 
the hardware business; and L. I. is men 
tioned below. 

L. I. Hunt received a fair education in 
the public schools, and when a young man 
learned the tinsmith s trade of his father. In 
1877, he removed to Alvinston, where he 
embarked in business for himself and be 
came the owner of a hardware store and tin- 
shop. This he has continued to the present 
time, and has been eminently successful, 
handling the best goods, and receiving the 
patronage of the best people. In 1875 Mr. 
Hunt married Miss Fannie Mcllmurney, 
born in Warwick, daughter of William Mc 
llmurney, and to this union one son has 
been born, William, who was educated in the 
high schools of Alvinston, and is now his 
father s partner in his business. 

Religiously the family are members of 
the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Hunt 
is a trustee and treasurer of the board. In 
his political sympathies, Mr. Hunt has al 
ways been affiliated with the old Conserva 
tive party, and has been called upon to fill 
the office of councilman and reeve ; has been 
a member of the school board for sixteen 
years, and has been actively identified with 
municipal affairs, since the incorporation of 
the town of Alvinston. Fraternally he af 



filiates with the Foresters, while his son is 
a member of the Masonic Order. In busi 
ness matters Mr. Hunt is noted for his hon 
esty, and he has made a very efficient public 
officer. He is highly respected in the com 
munity. 

ROBERT HEAL has been identified 
with the agricultural life of Lambton 
County for practically half a century and 
in that time has worked his way from a 
humble beginning to a position of assured 
comfort and prosperity. He was born in 
the parish of Hartland, Devonshire, Eng 
land, Feb. 5, 1828. 

Robert Heal received a limited education 
in the parish school at Hartland, and then 
worked as a farm laborer until he came to 
Canada in 1847. The voyage was made on 
the sailing vessel "Rose," Capt. Yard, and 
lasted forty-five days. After landing at 
Quebec, he went to Port Hope, and for six 
years hired out as a farm hand at $100 a 
year. He removed at the end of that time 
to Sarnia, then a small town, and buying an 
outfit, was engaged in teaming for three 
years with considerable success. He then 
went to Enniskillen township, rented a 
farm of 100 acres in Lot 3, 8th Line, and 
spent five years there, occupied in stock- 
raising. From there he moved to a 2OO-acre 
farm on the loth Line, Moore township, 
where he was similarly engaged for an 
other five years, after which he bought 100 
acres and lived there one year. His final 
removal was to his present farm, Lot 7, Con 
cession 10, then a iso-acre tract of bush 
land, where he has spent the last thirty- 
eight years. In the beginning he experi 
enced all the usual phases of pioneer life, 
living in a log shanty and converting his 
timber as fast as it was felled, into cord 
wood, and selling it along the river front 
and in Sarnia. In comparatively short time 
the fruits of his labor were manifest, and 
now he has a well-worked farm, with a 
handsome brick house, good barns and many 
other improvements, and is there engaged 
in stockraising and general farming. His 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



411 



mind is still bright and active, but he has 
been so troubled with rheumatism that it 
has compelled his practical retirement. 

Mr. Heal has always been a prominent 
figure in local affairs. Strongly Conserva 
tive in his political principles, he was ap 
pointed in 1879 the first postmaster of 
Sykestown, receiving his commission under 
Sir John A. Macdonald s administration, and 
for twenty-five years he filled the position 
most satisfactorily. At the end of that time 
he resigned. He also served as school trus 
tee for three terms, during one of which he 
was secretary and treasurer. In religious 
faith he is a Methodist, and has been a trus 
tee and steward for thirty years, besides be 
ing a Sunday-school teacher, class-leader, 
and for twenty-five years the superintendent 
of the Sunday-school. His upright charac 
ter is universally acknowledged and he is 
held in the warmest esteem. 

The marriage of Robert Heal to Miss 
Ann La vary occurred March 15, 1854. She 
was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and 
died in Lambton County of heart failure, 
Jan. 20, 1893, after thirty-nine years of 
happy married life. She was also a mem 
ber of the Methodist Church. She bore her 
husband six children, as follows : Richard 
Henry, an oil operator and salesman in 
Brigden, Ont. ; William George, of Grand 
Rapids, Michigan; John, a farmer and oil 
operator on the homestead ; Lydia, who died 
at the age of fourteen ; Elizabeth ; and Rob 
ert of Toronto. 

JOHN BROWN, one of the old, pros 
perous and progressive farmers of Plympton 
township, Lambton County, Ont., residing 
on the loth Concession, was born in Dum 
fries, Scotland, Oct. 23, 1837, son of An 
drew and Jane (Hastings) Brown. 

Andrew Brown was born at Dumfries, 
Scotland, while his wife was born in Gallo 
way, Scotland, and came to Canada about 
1850, locating in Trafalgar township, Hal- 
ton County, where they resided for about 
two years, and then removed to the nth 
Concession, Plympton township. There they 
took up 100 acres of woodland, which was 



the west half of Lot 20, and on this they 
built a log house. A few years later the 
father died, and the land was brought to a 
high state of cultivation through the indus 
try of our subject, the only son. Andrew 
Brown s death occurred at his home June 13, 
1861, and his wife passed away Aug. 31, 
1885. 

John Brown came to Canada with his 
parents in 1850, and since that date has been 
a continuous resident of Plympton township. 
In addition to the 100 acres left him by his 
father, he purchased 100 acres, the north 
half of Lot 19, Concession 10, and on this 
farm he has resided for about twenty-four 
years. He is an industrious, progressive 
farmer, well and favorably known in the 
community. He has served very accept 
ably as member of the town council for ten 
years, and as reeve of the township for three 
years. 

On Oct. 12, 1861, Mr. Brown was mar 
ried in Plympton township, to Phoebe Mof- 
fatt, daughter of the late James and Eliza 
beth (Bernie) Moffatt. To their union 
have been born the following children : Jane 
Hastings, born Aug. n, 1863, died March 
12, 1891, married John Monroe, and had 
one daughter, ^Mary^BTTborn Nov. 8. 1888; 
Elizabeth, born May 19. 1867, married An 
gus McKinley, Jr., has four living children, 
Stanley, Eddieson, Jane and John ; Susan 
Matilda, born Nov. i, 1871, died June 30, 
1879; John Andrew, born Sept. 7, 1877, of 
Sarnia, Ont. ; James Lester, born May 20, 
1883, at home. In his political views Mr. 
Brown is a Reformer. The family are con 
sistent members of the Presbyterian Church, 
of which Mr. Brown is trustee. 

James Moffatt, the father of Mrs. 
Brown, was born in April, 1801, in Dum 
fries, Scotland, and his wife was born in the 
same neighborhood in the same year ; he 
died Oct. 25, 1879, and she died in 1865. 
They emigrated to Canada in 1833, being 
among- the very earliest settlers of York 
County. After a residence there of two 
years, they came to Plympton township, 
Lambton County, and purchased the farm 
on which Mr. and Mrs. Brown now reside. 



412 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The remainder of his life was spent in im 
proving his property. His circle of friends 
and acquaintances was unusually large, and 
he was sincerely respected by all, as a true 
friend, an obliging neighbor, and an upright 
and Christian man. To himself and wife 
were born the following children : Robert, 
deceased; Mary, deceased, who married 
Charles Goodall : James, deceased, who 
married (first) Elizabeth Gray, and (sec 
ond) Frances Smiley; Jane, who died un 
married in 1903; Margaret, deceased, who 
married Peter Curry; Isabella, deceased, 
who married James Campbell; Susan, de 
ceased, who married David Brown ; Eliza 
beth, widow of Robert Armor ; Matilda, de 
ceased in girlhood; Robert John, who died 
in boyhood; Phcebe, Mrs. Brown; Jessie, 
widow of William Hastings. 

One brother of Mrs. Brown, James 
Bernie, came to Canada about 185=5. He re 
sided at Plympton for about ten years, but 
subsequently removed to Port Huron, where 
he died. 

JOHN ARMSTRONG, a retired farmer 
of Enniskillen township, in Lot 27, Conces 
sion 14, is an Englishman by birth, from 
Cumberland, where he was born Nov. 9, 
1828, son of William and Jane (Hutchin- 
son) Armstrong, natives of that same shire. 
The parents remained for the greater part 
of their lives in England, but in their later 
years followed their children to Canada and 
made their home in the vicinity of London, 
where they both died. Their family consist- 
ed of eight sons and four daughters. 

John Armstrong was the eldest of the 
children. He attended school in his boy 
hood, and when he reached manhood worked 
as a farmer. In 1857, a year after he had 
married, he and his wife sailed for Canada 
from Liverpool. They came by way of New 
York, on the ship "Kangaroo," and were 
seventeen days on the voyage. They made 
their way at once to London, Canada, where 
for, two years Mr. Armstrong worked on a 
farm as a clay laborer. The succeeding 
twelve years he rented a farm in Middlesex 
County, and there made a start that enabled 



him, in 1868, to buy land in Lambton Coun 
ty, the 200 acres in the present homestead, 
most of which had to be cleared. Later he 
bought 300 acres of farm land in Plymp 
ton township, where he has put up two 
houses and added many general improve 
ments, such as barns, etc. His two sons re 
side there. In 1890 he put up the brick house 
in which his own family now live. 

Mrs. Armstrong was Miss Ann Skelton, 
who was born in Cumberland, England, in 
September, 1832, and was there married De 
cember 22, 1855, to John Armstrong. The 
ceremony was performed in the English 
Church by Rev. Mr. Wilkinson. She was 
the daughter of Henry and Jane Skelton, 
who both died in England in her girlhood. 
There are two sisters, one of whom, Mrs. 
Jane Steadman, is living in England, and the 
other. Elizabeth, who died in March, 1905, 
married Thomas Armstrong, of Lobo, Mid 
dlesex County, a brother of John Armstrong. 
The family born to the marriage of John and 
Ann Armstrong numbered nine, all born in 
Canada except the eldest, (i) Mary J., 
born in England, in 1857, is the wife of Rob 
ert Cooper, a farmer in Plympton township, 
and has eleven children, Anne A., Maggie, 
Mary E., William J.. Katie, George, Roy, 
Harvey, Venus, Daniel and Blanche. (2) An 
nie, born in 1859, married Richard Stone- 
house, of Concession 12, Enniskillen town 
ship, and has four children, Annie D., Maggie 
F., Joseph and John. (3) John, born in 1861, 
is the manager of the homestead, unmarried. 
V4) William H., 1863, married Miss Cathe 
rine Dewar, of Enniskillen township, and 
lives on a farm in Plympton township. Their 
two sons are James and John S. (5) Eliza 
beth. 1865, i the wife of Thomas Squire, a 
farmer in Enniskillen township, and has two 
children. Mabel and Melvin. (6) Thomas, 
1867, married Miss Jane Carr, of Lambton 
County, lives on a farm in Plympton town 
ship and has one son, Burt. (7) Catherine, 
1869, is the wife of James Stonehouse, of 
Wyoming, and has one daughter, Annie. (8) 
George, 1870, married Miss Ellen J. Alex 
ander, of Lambton County, and iias two 
daughters, Pearl and Ellen G. Thev live on 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



one of his father s farms in Plympton town 
ship. (9) Maggie, 1872, died in 1896. She 
had received a tine education, was a most 
cultured young lady and was the pride of the 
family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have been for 
many years members of the Church of Eng 
land, and faithful workers in it. The former 
has not only given generously of his means, 
but has long been one of the trustees and a 
lay delegate. In his political belief he is 
an adherent of the Reform party, but has 
had no public offices save that of school trus 
tee. He has, however, always been prom 
inent in every work promising to benefit the 
community and is essentially public-spirited. 
In every phase of life he has been scrupu 
lously honest, and has never sacrificed his 
principles. His nature was ever a charitable 
one, and many are the instances of his kind 
ness and generosity in time of trouble. He 
will always hold a warm place in the affec 
tions of his fellow men. 

WILLIAM NICHOLSON, postmaster 
of Kimball, and one of the well known farm 
ers of Moore township, is a man who had 
experienced many vicissitudes of life and 
seen much of the world before coming to 
Canada to settle permanently. He was born 
in England, near Carlisle, County of Cum 
berland, July 30, 1825, son of Joseph and 
Isabella (Ellwood) Nicholson. 

Joseph Nicholson and his wife were both 
natives of Cumberland. Their children num 
bered six, as follows : Mary Ann, born Feb. 
21, 1823, who married Joseph Tyson, of Am- 
bleside, England; Francis, born Dec. 19, 
1827, residing in London, Oht. ; Joseph, 
July 6, 1830, a carpenter residing in Bal- 
larat, Australia; Jane, Feb. 20, 1834, widow 
of Thomas Lathamore, and a resident in 
\Yest Manchester, England ; and Henry, 
April 24, 1836, and died in 1894. Mrs. 
Nicholson died in Cumberland, and was 
buried there. In 1852. after her death, Mr. 
Nicholson came to Canada and settled in 
Moore township, Lambton County. He had 
been a farm laborer in England, and engaged 
in farming in the new country for the rest of 



his life. His remains are interred in Suther 
land cemetery. He, as well as his wife, be 
longed to the Church of England, and he was 
politically a Liberal. Industrious, honest 
and with many good traits of character, he 
commanded the respect of all who knew him. 

William Nicholson received only a lim 
ited education in the English national schools 
and began in his youth to \vork at farm labor. 
In 1852, when the gold fever had struck Aus 
tralia, he joined those going to seek their 
fortunes in that new land, and embarked in 
a sailing vessel which was bound thither by 
way of the Cape of Good Hope. On arriv 
ing he started at once for the gold fields and 
met with considerable success there, al 
though much of what he made was lost in 
other ventures. After, seven years he re 
turned to his native place, and in 1860 mar 
ried Miss Jane Jackson, of Kirknvorld, Cum 
berland, England, daughter of Richard and 
Frances (Hodgson) Jackson. Two years 
later, with his wife and one child, he took a 
steamer at Liverpool for Canada, and landed 
in Quebec in fourteen days. He joined his 
father in Moore township, and bought a tract 
of 100 acres of bush land in Lot 15, Conces 
sion 5, which has been his home ever since. 
He built a cabin, and until his land was ready 
for cultivation he supported his family by 
selling staves made from the oak timber, 
which was felled on his land. Much hard 
work was required, but he succeeded in 
clearing his farm and getting it under cul 
tivation, while the house and barns he has 
built, and the many improvements which 
have been added, have made it a fine 
farm. He has added fifty acres to his first 
purchase, and is engaged in general farming. 

In February, 1900, Mr. Nicholson re 
ceived from Sir William Mulock the appoint 
ment of postmaster for Kimball, and has 
since that time filled the position to the gen 
eral satisfaction of the public. He is a 
strong Liberal, and an active worker for his 
party, although he has held no office except 
that of school trustee. He and his wife be 
longed to the Church of England before com 
ing to Canada, but the family now- attend 
the Baptist Church. Mr. Nicholson has 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made his own way in life unaided, and in 
spite of some reverses has been on the whole 
successful, while as an upright man and good 
citizen he stands high in the estimation of his 
fellow townsmen. 

Mr. Nicholson and his wife have had a 
family of nine children, as follows : Isabella, 
born in Cumberland, England, March 16, 
.1861. married James McKeegan, a farmer 
of Sombra township, and has seven children, 
Ellen, William, John, Vera and Viola 
(twins), Evaline and Alma; Joseph, Oct. 2, 
1863, is at home; Mary Ann, May 31, 1864, 
married the late William McRae, had five 
children, Flossie, Alma, Ida, Mildred and 
William, and resides in Sarnia; Richard, 
April 6, 1866, died in 1868; Jane, April 23, 
1869, is the wife of James Blake of Moore 
township; Sarah, March 16, 1871, is now 
Mrs. James Robb, of Sarnia; Ella, July i, 
1873, is at home; and Thomas H., Aug. 31, 
1878, and Albert, Dec. 19, 1880, are both r.t 
home. 

WILLIAM A. BRAYBROOK is one 
of the prosperous oil producers of Ennis- 
killen, where he is also a successful farmer 
and stockraiser. His property is described 
as Lots ii and 12, Concession 13, Lambton 
County, and his family are widely known 
through all the countryside. 

Mr. Braybrook is of English birth and 
parentage, having been born in Lincolnshire, 
England, Oct. 10, 1849. His parents were 
William and Elizabeth (Gibson) Braybrook, 
of old Lincolnshire families. His mother 
died when he was a lad of ten, his father 
lived until 1884. They were devout mem 
bers of the Church of England, and his fa 
ther was for many years sexton of the 
church in his home town. The children of 
William and Elizabeth (Gibson) Braybrook 
were as follows: Jane, wife of Mathew 
Adams, of Northamptonshire, England; 
James, a farmer of Lincolnshire, England; 
John, married and living in Lincolnshire; 
Thomas, a blacksmith, married and living 
in Lincolnshire; Betsy, wife of William 
Stanisby, of England; and William A., men 
tioned below. 



Y\ illiam A. Braybrook grew to manhood 
in his Lincolnshire home receiving but a 
limited education. At the age of fourteen he 
was apprenticed to the blacksmith s trade, 
and at nineteen went to work for John Al- 
lam, who became his father-in-law. After 
two years with Mr. Allam he opened a black 
smith shop of his own, which he carried on 
for sixteen years. In April, 1883, he sailed 
from Liverpool for Canada, and came to 
Wyoming, Lambton County, removing after 
a short stay to Petrolia. There he worked in 
the oil fields as engineer and blacksmith, and 
later became foreman for Mr. Edwards ; 
after six years with Edwards he was foreman 
for John McDonald three years. In April, 
1898, he purchased his present home, 246 
acres of the best oil property in Enniskillen. 

Mr. Braybrook has forty-four wells 
pumping oil on his property, thirteen of 
which he has put down since becoming the 
owner of the land. A powerful gas engine 
supplies all the power for farm and oil well 
purposes, and does all the pumping of the oil 
to the receiving station at Petrolia. The last 
six years have made Mr. Braybrook a wealthy 
man, and in addition to his oil property he 
engages extensively in stock-raising. He has 
over seventy head of fine cattle and seven 
horses on his place and has made extensive 
improvements on the property. 

In March, 1867, Mr. Braybrook mar 
ried Lizzie Allam, daughter of John and 
Eleanor (Peatling) Allam, both natives of 
Lincolnshire, where they lived and died. Mr. 
Allam died in 1875, and his wife in 1880; 
their surviving children are William, and 
Ellen, wife of J. G. Braybrook, both living 
in Lincolnshire, England ; and Lizzie, wife 
of William A. Braybrook, who was born in 
August, 1848, and grew up and was edu 
cated in England. 

The first child born to this union was 
William A., born in England in 1869, and 
educated there and in Canada. His health 
failing, his father and mother returned with 
him to England, where he died in August, 
1885, at the age of sixteen. Mr. Braybrook 
came back to Canada alone, but soon returned 
to England for his wife, and they once more 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



415 



came to the Xe\v World, resolved to make 
Canada tlieir home. Their other children 
were as follows: (2) Annie E., born in 
England in 1873. who married George \Y. 
Bell, and lives on the 8th Concession in En- 
niskillen ; she is the mother of Elizabeth H. 
Ida R., Lena P., Gladys R., George W. and 
Anna I. (3) John T., born in England, in 
1875, came to Enniskillen as a child, and 
there grew up and went into the oil business. 
He married Maggie Bell, daughter of John 
Bell, of Petrolia, and they live on his father s 
place, where he manages the oil industry ; 
their three children are Raymond, E. Hen 
rietta and Arthur. (4) Raymond, born in 
England in 1879, was educated in the Pe 
trolia schools, and was in the third year of 
high school when he was drowned, in 1898. 
at the age of nineteen, while at a Sunday- 
school picnic on Lake Huron, being taken 
with cramps while in bathing. He united 
with the Baptist Church at the age of eleven, 
and was an active worker in the Sunday- 
school; he was secretary of the Sunday- 
school, and in every way a most promising 
young man at the time of his death. (5) 
Frank, born in England in 1881, at 
tended the Copleston public schools, and 
Woodstock Baptist College. He began to 
study for the ministry, but through defective 
eye sight he was obliged to relinquish that 
profession. He lives at Copleston, and de 
votes much of his time to church work ; he 
and his family are members of the Bap 
tist Church, and he is superintendent of the 
Sunday-school at Marthaville. He is in the 
employ of Ingram & Crandall as foreman 
over their leases. He was united in marriage 
to Bessie Maud McDonnell, adopted 
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bigney, 
and they have one son, William Adam Rob 
ert, he being the third William Adam of he 
Braybrook family. 

In politics William A. Braybrook has 
always been an independent voter, and has 
never aspired to public office. He is a mem 
ber of the Odd Fellows, belonging to a lodge 
in England. He is one of the wealthy and 
progressive men of Enniskillen. and owes his 
success entirely to his own industry and exer 



tion. He began life a poor boy. and earned 
his first dollar at blacksmithing in an English 
country town. He is justly regarded as one 
of the able men of this county, where he is 
honored for his many sterling qualities. His 
life has been one of hard work, but he has 
the satisfaction of seeing it crowned with 
friends as well as material success. He and 
his wife may well be proud of their family of 
sons and daughters, men of good business 
ability, and highly respected as citizens, who 
would be a credit to any county or State. 

JOHN ROSS. The merchant tailoring 
interests of Sarnia are well represented by 
men who understand their business, and 
among them the one who enjoys the honor 
of having been engaged in this line longer 
than any of the others, is John Ross, whose 
popularity is universally recognized. 

John Ross, his grandfather, was a native 
of Scotland, and all of his business life was 
engaged in operating a mill in his native 
country. He had four children : Alexander, 
William, Mary and Margaret, all of whom 
spent their entire lives in Scotland, where 
they were born. 

William Ross, son of John and father of 
John Ross, of Sarnia, was born in 1811, and 
pursued the trade of a weaver all his life. He 
married Isabella Eddie, born in Scotland in 
1797, who was thirteen years her husband s 
senior. She lived to the advanced age of 
eighty-five years. Mr. Ross passed away in 
1848. To him and his wife were born these 
children: Alexander, born in October. 1831, 
came to Ontario and is now a resident of 
Washington, D. C, having retired from the 
business of merchant tailoring; John; and 
Mary, resides in Scotland. 

John Ross was born in Scotland. Dec. 
25, 1833, and in his native land learned his 
trade of merchant tailoring, which he has 
made his life work. In 1856, Mr. Ross came 
to Ontario, first locating at Hamilton, where 
he remained for a short time, and then settled 
in Paris, Ontario. From that community 
he went to St. Thomas, and on Sept. 5, 1873, 
located in Sarnia, where he has since re 
mained. For some time after coming to this 



416 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



city. Mr. Ross was engaged in the tailoring 
department of T. & James Symington, and 
in 1896, opened his merchant tailoring busi 
ness, which he now operates, his two sons 
being associated with him. His establish 
ment is one of the best in the city, and here 
are to be found at all times, a full assortment 
of the latest ideas in men s apparel, as well 
as linings, etc. The tailors employed are the 
best in the city, and the garments turned out 
by this house are perfect in every respect. 

In 1864, Mr. Ross was married to Miss 
Susan Durrand, daughter of Alexander 
Durrand. Mrs. Ross died in 1897, at the 
age of sixty-one years, the mother of four 
children : Isabella, who married William 
Bell, of Detroit, and has two children, Hazel 
and Edw. ; Daniel, a merchant tailor of 
Sarnia; Edward M., a merchant tailor of 
Sarnia, and a member of the Canadian Coro 
nation Contingent, sent to London as a rep 
resentative to the intended coronation of 
King Edward VII on June 25, and 26; Al- 
bertha, a teacher in the public schools of Sar 
nia. The father and his sons are members of 
the Reform party, and in religious affiliations 
are members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Ross is the oldest member of the I. O. 
O. F. in Sarnia, having joined the order in 
1871. He is a man who has won and held 
the respect of the people of Sarnia, and he 
is popular not only in business circles, but 
socially as well, while his children are young 
people of pleasing manner and marked ability 
in their several lines of business. 

ROBERT BROCK, who entered into 
rest eternal Jan. 19, 1899, was a typical pio 
neer of Lambton County, courageous and 
industrious, and he was actively interested in 
municipal affairs, his judgment and wisdom 
giving great weight to his views in the town 
ship and county councils, of which he was 
long a member. 

The Brock family came from Ireland 
about the middle of the nineteenth century. 
William Brock and his wife Susanna were 
of County Fermanagh, Ireland, where they 
were married, and where they lived until 
May, 1849. In that year they came to Can 



ada, and first located on Concession 15, Lon 
don township, Middlesex Count}-. After 
renting there for six years they settled on 
Concession 8, Enniskillen township, Lamb- 
ton County, taking up 200 acres of wild land. 
They made a clearing for their diminutive 
home, and there resided until 1881, when the 
father retired from active work and came to 
Petrolia, where he died in April, 1889, aged 
eighty years. The wife and mother passed 
away in April, 1876, aged seventy. They 
were both members of the Methodist Church, 
and for the last twenty years of his life Mr. 
Brock was a class-leader. To William and 
Susanna Brock were born the following 
children : Robert is mentioned below ; Rev. 
Thomas, a prominent Methodist minister, 
who died in Mt. Forest, Ont., married Ma 
rian Jenkins, and had three children, Nor- 
ville, Reginald and Stanley ; Mary is the 
widow of William Dundas, and lives in Pe- 
trolia ; Catherine, who died in Wyoming, 
Out., married John Dundas (deceased), a 
farmer in Wyoming, and had three children, 
all now deceased. 

Robert Brock was born in Enniskillen, 
County Fermanagh, Ireland, in December, 
1835. He followed his parents to Canada, 
and took up 100 acres of wild land on Lot 
6, Concession 9, Enniskillen township, 
which he developed into its present fine con 
dition. After his marriage he removed to 
this place, and first lived in a small two-room 
frame dwelling. Later he put up a good 
house, barns and outbuildings. He mar 
ried Anne Brock, who was born in St. Louis, 
Quebec, daughter of George and Isabella 
(Moore) Brock, and died April 17, 1887, 
aged seventy-four years and three months. 
He passed away Jan. 19, 1899. They were 
consistent members of the Methodist Church, 
and were both actively interested in church 
work. They were genuine, open-hearted pio 
neers, hospitable and kind, cheerfully and 
patiently bearing the hardships of those 
primitive days, and being always ready to 
lend a helping hand to friend or stranger, 
especially to the poor and afflicted, they ever 
had a warm place in the affections of their 
neighbors. They were the parents of eight 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



417 



children : ( i ) W. Albert, who lives on the 
east half of the Brock homestead, married 
Miss Carrie Coulter, of Moore township, 
daughter of Andrew Coulter, and they have 
five children, Annie, Xonna, Robert, Clar 
ence and Claude. Mr. Brock combines with 
his farming a business in farming imple 
ments, in Petrolia. He is a county coun 
cillor from Enniskillen. (2) Henrietta 
married Daniel Thompson, of Warwick 
township. (3) Thomas resides on Lot 14, 
Concession 8 ; he married Miss Carrie Tay 
lor, of Enniskillen, and has two children. 
Earl and Loren. (4) Mima is the wife of 
Joseph Wellington, of Moore township, 
where they reside. (5) Frederick married 
Mis> Maggie Gray, of Moore, lives there on 
a farm, and has two children, Graydon and 
Alma. (6) Richard, unmarried, is a livery 
man at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. (7) 
Reginald and (8) Charles are twins, and the 
former owns a fine farm, Lot 16, Concession 
8, in Enniskillen. He married Miss Mial 
Veal, of Enniskillen township. 

George Brock, father of Mrs. Anne 
(Brock) Brock, was born in the North of 
Ireland, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Weir ) 
Brock, the former of whom, a farmer, emi 
grated to Canada after the death of his wife, 
and settled at Adelaide. Ont, where he lived 
retired with his daughter, Mary. George 
Brock married in Ireland Isabella Moore, 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fowler) 
Moore, of County Fermanagh, where they 
remained. On coming to Canada George 
Brock settled at St. Louis, Quebec, and in 
1843 removed to Middlesex County, taking 
up land in the township of Adelaide. He 
and his wife were both members of the 
Church of England, and in that faith both 
died, he in 1890, aged eighty-four years and 
five months, and she in 1895, aged seventy- 
four years and three months. Their children 
were : William, a farmer of Middlesex 
county ; Ellen, who married James Tyler, of 
Sarnia, Ont. : Arthur, a farmer of Middlesex 
county ; Elizabeth, who died young ; Jemima, 
deceased wife of Charles Sifton ; George, a 
farmer of Middlesex County ; Richard, a 
farmer of that county ; Maria, who married 

27 



William Conkey, a farmer of Middlesex; 
Albert, a farmer of Middlesex County; Isa 
bella, who married a Mr. Holmes, a farmer; 
anil Anne, Mrs. Brock. Previous to his 
marriage with Isabella Moore, George Brock 
had married a Miss McCourt, by whom he 
had one daughter, Jane, now living in the 
County of Essex, widow of James Bacon. 

CHARLES BROCK, son of Robert, was 
born Xov. 21, 1882, on a farm now owned 
by him in Enniskillen township. He was 
educated in the Enniskillen schools and 
passed his life on the home farm, until Nov. 
if), 1904, when he removed to Sarnia, there 
to become an employe of the Grand Trunk 
Railroad Company. He is an enterprising 
and progressive young man, and is already 
well established in the world. On June 3, 
1903, he was united in matrimony to Miss 
Maud Carter, who was born in Petrolia, 
daughter of Charles and Mary Carter, for 
merly of England, and the}- have one son, 
Harrison Stanley. Mrs. Brock was educated 
in Petrolia, and is a woman of culture and 
refinement. She and her husband are mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, while in politi 
cal matters Mr. Brock votes with the Con 
servative party. He is a worthy son of his 
father, and is favorably regarded by all who 
know him. 

JOHN CARTER, one of the old resi 
dents and highly respected citizens of Moore 
township, Lambton County, was born April 
2, 1842, on the 8th Line, Lot n, Moore 
township, son of William Edward and Jane 
(Parker) Carter. 

The Carter family is of English descent, 
Edward Carter, the grandfather of our sub 
ject, being a native of England. He was in 
the marine service of the British govern 
ment, being a paymaster of a British man- 
of-war. He died in the prime of life, and 
was buried at Yarmouth, England, where he 
had made his home. He and his wife, who 
was a Miss House, had two sons. John and 
William Edward, the latter being the father 
of our subject. 

William Edward Carter was born on a 
British man-of-war, while it was coasting 



4i8. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



along the Irish coast, and was but seven 
years old when his father died. At this age 
he was taken by his uncle, Thomas Cross- 
well, a shoemaker, who took him to Canada 
with another lad, crossing the Atlantic in a 
sailing vessel and landing at Quebec. He 
spent two years along the St. Lawrence 
river. Coming to the County of Lambton 
Mr. Crosswell located along the St. Clair 
river, following his trade, and teaching it to 
both of the boys. They then located on the 
8th Line of Moore township, where Mr. 
Crosswell bought a 2OO-acre tract of land, 
and gave young Carter 100 acres, upon 
which he settled. Mr. Crosswell was later 
drowned, while crossing the St. Clair river, 
near Stag Island, and his body was found 
at Walpole Island, near Algonac, Michigan, 
where it was buried. Mr. Crosswell was a 
member of the Church of England. His 
wife afterward married a Mr. Foster. 

William Edward Carter, after settling 
on the tract given him by his uncle, set to 
work to clear it up, meanwhile following his 
trade of shoemaking. He erected a log 
house and made many improvements on his 
farm, where he died at the ripe old age of 
eighty-one years, active to the last. His 
death occurred April 30, 1900, and he was 
laid to rest in the Church of England cem 
etery at Colinville. He was a lifelong mem 
ber of the Church of England, while politi 
cally he was a Conservative. He married, 
in Moore township, Jane Parker, of Bath- 
urst township, Lanark County, who is still 
living, at the age of eighty years, making 
her home with her son, Wesley, in Sarnia 
township. The following children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Carter : 
Isabella died at the age of eighteen years; 
Thomas died in Moore township ; Jane Ann 
married Thomas McKitrick. an oil pro 
ducer of Petrolia; John is our subject; Eliza 
married Alexander Thompson, of Moore 
township; Sarah is unmarried; Margaret 
married Eli Taylor, of Brooke township; 
Fannie married Frank Ireland, of Petrolia; 
James met death by being accidentally shot 
in his youth; Wesley resides in Sarnia; 



Alexander is station agent for the Canadian 
Pacific Railroad Company at Chatham. 

John Carter attended the Colinville 
school, and grew up on his father s farm, 
upon which he remained until he was twenty 
years of age, when he started farming for 
himself on Lot u, Concession 9, on, a 100- 
acre tract, where he erected a log house. In 
1888 Mr. Carter built one of the finest brick 
residences in the township, \vhich cost over 
three thousand dollars, and also built sub 
stantial barns and outbuildings, and put his 
land in a good state of cultivation. He has 
successfully carried on stock and cattle rais 
ing and dealing. Mr. Carter is independent 
in politics, and while in Colinville served as 
school trustee for three years and was secre 
tary and treasurer of the board. He was 
one of the organizers of the Independent 
Order of Good Templars, being a charter 
member, and has lived up to his pledge, that 
he would never take a drink across a bar. 
He is a consistent member of the Bear 
Creek Presbyterian Church, to which his 
wife and family also belong. 

Mr. Carter married in 1874, at the Mc- 
Kellar homestead, on the 8th Line of Moore 
township, Miss Mary McKellar, the estim 
able daughter of James and Janet (McCall) 
McKellar, and a sister of the Rev. Hugh 
McKellar, an extended sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Carter was 
born in Argyllshire, Scotland. She is a 
Christian woman, a kind wife and a devoted 
mother. To Mr. and Mrs. John Carter chil 
dren as follows have been born : James 
resides at home with his parents ; Janet 
McCall married Joseph McCormick, of Lon 
don road. Plympton township, and they 
have one child, Kenneth ; Maggie May re 
sides at home; Annie Chestina resides at 
home. In business circles Mr. Carter is re 
garded as a man of good judgment and clear 
insight, while as a citizen and as a neighbor 
he is held in high esteem. 

JOHN S. SHIELDS, of Mount Pleas 
ant farm, one of the venerable citizens of 
Warwick township, now retired from ac- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



419 



live farming, tenderly cared for in his de 
clining years by his devoted son and daugh 
ter, is, although past the four-score mark, 
active in mind and body, and is now after 
years of hard toil enjoying the fruits of his 
early labors. Mr. Shields is Scotch to the 
core, and like all Scotchmen is opposed to all 
oppression, being a lover of freedom of 
thought and action. It was on account of 
the abuses of landlordism that he and his 
family left their home in Scotland to find a 
new home and peace in the wilds of Canada. 
Mr. Shields was born Nov. 24, 1825. near 
Gordon, Berwickshire, on Kirkhill farm 
(which his father rented), in the parish of 
Legerwood. 

George Shields, his father, was a native 
of the same parish, as were also his ances 
tors, who were prominent at the time of the 
Reformation, and members of the Coven 
anters, the name of Thomas Shields appear 
ing on the corner of the Established Church 
of Scotland as a member of that body. 
George Shields learned the trade of black 
smith, which he followed for sometime, later 
becoming a manufacturer of oatmeal, own 
ing a mill near Gordon. He also rented a 
farm, upon which the family made their 
home, and upon which he died, while still in 
the full bloom of manhood, in 1850. He 
was buried in the cemetery at Oxenham, in 
the faith of the Free Church of Scotland. 
Mr. Shields was married in Peebles to 
Martha Portus, daughter of Ronald Portus, 
and they had children as follows: George, 
who died young; Mary, widow of George 
Short; Margaret, also deceased; John S. ; 
\Yilliam, who died young; Andrew, who 
became a minister of the Presbyterian 
Church, and a missionary in New South 
"Wales; James, a resident of Brooke town 
ship; Rowland, who resides near Alvinston; 
Margaret (2). who married Archibald 
Campbell, of Mosa township. County of 
Middlesex; and Isabella, who married Neal 
Caswell of Mosa township. The eldest 
daughter in this family, Mrs. Mary Short, 
now lives at Calgary, N. W. T., with her son 
James, who is a minister of the Presbyterian 
Church. She has been a noble Christian 



woman all her life, faithfully attended her 
father in his last sickness, and did her full 
share of the toil of the farm and the removal 
to this country. As a Christian mother she 
trained her family in the fear of God, and 
they do credit to her example and teachings. 
Her oldest son, Adam Short, is at Queen s 
University, Kingston, and served as a mem 
ber of the commission to the States to inves 
tigate the subject of railway taxation. Mrs. 
Short takes a prominent part in religious 
missionary work in the Rocky mountains, 
and her door is always open to deserving 
travelers, her zeal and delight in good works 
never relaxing. 

John S. Shields attended school in his 
native parish until twelve years old, at which 
time he was obliged to start out to help sup 
port the family, his father not being in good 
health. Our subject s first wages were three 
pounds per year, which went toward the sup 
port of the family, and when he was able 
he did the farm work, after his father s 
death, he being the eldest, and took the care 
of the family on his young shoulders. In 
this he was greatly assisted by his widowed 
mother, who did her best to keep the little 
family together. It was a hard struggle to 
support a family of eight, and to keep up the 
rent, but this Mr. Shields succeeded in do 
ing. His landlord was one of the grasping 
kind, who always insisted on his rent, but 
would do nothing to assist his tenants in 
any way ; instead he did everything that he 
could to discourage and embarrass them, 
tearing up roadways through their farms, 
and committing other like outrages. Seeing 
such treatment, from the hands of the man 
for whom he was trying to raise money, our 
subject s independent spirit asserted itself, 
and in 1854. after disposing of his stock and 
grain, and leaving enough to carry on the 
family until such time as he could send for 
them. Mr. Shields sailed from Glasgow on 
the "Elizabeth." of Irvine, and after over 
five weeks on the water landed at Montreal. 
Coming west to Ontario he found employ 
ment at railroad work, on the Grand Trunk, 
making his home at Oakville, in the County 
of Halton, and after a year at that kind of 



420 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



work resolved to engage in farming. He 
consequently went to Mosa township, Mid 
dlesex County, where he purchased a tract 
of 150 acres of land, and, sending for his 
mother and family, established them there. 
Here the family made their home, and here 
the devoted mother passed away in 1900, 
attaining the ripe old age of ninety-three 
years. She was buried at Alvinston. 

Mr. Shields remained on the homestead, 
helping the family to establish their home, 
for six years, at the end of which time he 
purchased 100 acres on Lot 10, 6th Conces 
sion. Mosa township, which was all bush. 
There he settled with his young wife. He 
erected a little log home, and there carried 
on farming for nine years, during which 
time he lost four of his little children by 
diphtheria, on account of which he sold out 
and removed to Dorchester township, in the 
same county. There he purchased 100 acres 
of land, on which he continued until 1872, 
in which year he sold and purchased a 100- 
acre tract in "Warwick township, on Lot 28, 
Concession 2, north of the Egremont road, 
from Mr. Thompson, a barrister of London. 
Here he settled down to farming and stock 
raising and has continued on this farm for 
over thirty-two years. He erected a fine 
brick dwelling-house, barns and outbuild 
ings, and his home surroundings bespeak 
thrift, industry and progressive ideas. Mr. 
Shields added 100 acres to his farm and 
erected two fine barns, 70 by 35 feet and 
80 by 35 feet in dimensions, respectively, 
and on the place is to be found a fine maple 
grove, where he has manufactured maple 
syrup for years. Mr. Shields is now retired 
from active agricultural work, but still takes 
a great interest in his crops, his maple grove 
and his stock. 

Politically Mr. Shields is a Reformer, 
but although a stanch advocate of the prin 
ciples of his party he has never consented 
to hold public office. He takes a great inter 
est in roadmaking and is one of the foremost 
supporters of good roads in his vicinity. He 
is a consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church, attending at West Adelaide. Tem 



perate in his habits, he is also domestic, and 
is a good citizen. 

In 1857 Mr. Shields and Miss Marjr 
Campbell, daughter of Duncan and Euphe- 
mia (Campbell) Campbell, were united in 
marriage at the home of Duncan Campbell, 
in Mosa township. To them were born 
ten children, four of whom are now living : 
George died of diphtheria; Duncan, Mary 
and Euphemia (Effie) also died of that dis 
ease; James operates the homestead; Mar 
garet married Peter Cram, of Warwick 
township ; Isabelle is at home ; Mary Ann- 
married Donald D. Campbell, of Mosa 
township ; the other two died in infancy. 
Mrs. Shields died on the farm April 3, 1889, 
of heart disease, after thirty-two years of 
happy married life, and was buried in West 
Adelaide cemetery. She was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and was a good 
Christian woman. 

JAMES ALEXANDER FISHER, a 
well-known farmer and large landowner of 
Plympton township, Lambton County, was 
born Aug. 19, 1839, on Lot 14, Conces 
sion 8. 

The Fisher family is of Scottish descent. 
James Fisher, the grandfather of James 
Alexander, was born in Perthshire, Scot 
land, where he followed farming. There he- 
married and became the father of three sons 
and one daughter. One of the sons, Alex 
ander, died in Scotland, and the other two 
came to Canada, namely, John and James 
L., the latter of whom was superintendent 
of the Michigan Central Railroad at De 
troit for thirty years, and died there. Mr. 
Fisher and his sons came to Canada in 1832 
and located in the Province of Quebec for 
two years. Then he came to the County of 
Lambton and located on Lot 14, of Conces 
sion 8. He was preceded here by only a few 
earlier settlers. After securing fifty acres 
of a U. E. L. grant he settled down to its 
improvement and cultivation, but only sur 
vived three years, dying in 1837, and was 
buried on his own farm, as at that date 
there was no public cemetery in the town- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



421 



ship. He was a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and a man of sterling 
traits of character. In politics he was a Re 
former. 

John Fisher, father of James A., spent 
his "early life in Perthshire, where he was 
born in 1800, and accompanied his father to 
Canada. When he located on Concession 8 
the country was nothing but a wilderness. 
His 100 acres were heavily timbered and, 
like his neighbors, he was obliged to burn 
much of the wood in order to get potash, the 
commodity which would sell readily at Sar- 
nia, and bring in much needed money. Hard 
work and persevering industry finally ac 
complished the clearing of this land, and 
after improving it into a good farm he 
bought fifty acres more, which, in the course 
of time, he also succeeded in clearing and 
which he improved, building a fine frame 
residence and substantial barns and other 
buildings. At a still later date he bought 
still another 100 acres, in Concession 7. but 
this he sold. His death took place in 1877, 
when he was aged seventy-seven years, and 
he was buried at Camlachie. In public life 
he was very active, was a member of the 
township council, and the first reeve of the 
township, this position giving him a place on 
the county council, and subsequently was 
made warden of the county. He was always 
a strong supporter of the Reform cause. In 
religious belief and observance Mr. Fisher 
was a Presbyterian and attended the church 
at Camlachie. For a long period he was a 
trustee of the district school which was 
erected on his farm, and he always took a 
deep interest in school affairs. As an elder 
in the Presbyterian Church and a leader in 
educational and political matters he occupied 
a very high position in the public esteem. For 
many years he was one of the supporters, as 
he had been one of the organizers, of the 
Countv Lambton Agricultural Society, and 
he also served as a magistrate for many 
years, until his death. A man of irreproach 
able character, he was respected abroad and 
beloved in his home. 

John Fisher married, in Plympton town 
ship, Sarah Randall, who was born in Sur 



rey. England, daughter of Abraham Ran 
dall, who was drowned at Montreal, while 
on his way to Lambton County. One of his 
sons, Isaac, was a soldier in the rebellion of 
1837-38 under the government. Mrs. Fisher 
still survives, at the advanced age of ninety 
years, and is a beloved and honored member 
of her son s family. 

James Alexander Fisher was the only 
child born to his parents and is now one of 
the oldest surviving native-born citizens of 
Plympton township. In his youth he had 
but few educational opportunities, a fact 
which brought much regret to his father, who 
was deeply interested in education all his 
life. There was a little log cabin erected on 
the Egremont road, where the first teacher, 
John Casey, instructed the children of the 
neighborhood in the mysteries of reading, 
writing and "ciphering; and that had to 
suffice. Our subject grew up with his 
father, and as he assisted him absorbed much 
of his wisdom, for the father was a man 
of many gifts and much native intelligence. 
The death of the father was a great bereave 
ment, and the responsibilities of the large 
property fell upon the son. Mr. Fisher has 
continued the cultivation of 150 acres and 
lias engaged extensively also in stock rais 
ing. His improvements here are of the finest 
and most substantial character and the farm 
is one of the best, in the way of cultivation, 
in Plympton township. In the year 1897 he 
bought 100 acres of Lot 13, Concession 8, 
for $6,500, and his family is settled on that 
place. 

On June 27, 1870. Mr. Fisher was mar 
ried, at Strathroy, County of Middlesex, 
Ont., to Deborah Harvey, who was born in 
Warwick township, Jan. 17, 1848, daughter 
of Henry and Sarah (Applegate) Harvey, 
the former of whom is deceased, but the lat 
ter resides at Petrolia. with her son Joseph, 
at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. Fisher 
and his wife had nine children, namely: (i) 
John Alexander, on the home farm, mar 
ried Sarah Bridges, of Enniskillen township, 
and has one son, John Wallace. (2) James 
Lawson. engaged in the Petrolia oil fields, 
married Isabella Purcell, and has three 



422 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



daughters, Mary M., Irene D. and Miza I. 
(3) Joseph Henry married Henrette Wat 
son and farms the homestead ; they have two 
children, Albert R. and William H. (4) 
Alice May is at home. (5) Albert Edward, 
a farmer on part of the homestead, married 
Alva Mabel Xye, of Warwick, and has one 
son, William G. X. (6) Rose M. G. (7) 
William Charles, (8) Oliver M. and (9) 
Margaret Matilda are all at home. 

Mr. Fisher is a member of the Presby 
terian Church at Camlachie, and has been 
one of its officials for twenty years. For the 
past nine years he has been secretary and 
treasurer of School Section No. 13, and is 
one of the directors of the Plympton and 
Wyoming Agricultural Society. Mr. Fisher 
is one of the substantial, representative men 
of this locality, and commands the respect 
and enjoys the esteem of all who know him. 

MICHAEL KIRKPATRICK died June 
3, 1893. His widow, who lives on the home 
farm in Concession 10, Lot 7, is a native of 
Elgin County, born Nov. 18, 1838, daugh 
ter of Harrison and Eleanor (Smith) 
Thompson, pioneers of Elgin County. 

HARRISON THOMPSON was born in Eng 
land in 1816, and his wife in Ireland in 1806. 
Both came to Canada in early life, and they 
were married near Niagara Falls, in the 
County of Lincoln, Ont., in 1836. His fa 
ther had come to Canada earlier, spending 
the rest of his life in Lincoln County, and 
Harrison Thompson was left in England to 
finish his education and fit himself for the 
ministry. Such studies, however, became 
irksome, and he came to Canada and en 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1856 he 
removed to the township of Malahide, in the 
County of Elgin, and bought a farm near 
Strathroy. Later he removed to another 
farm, in Metcalfe township, where he re 
sided until his death, Aug. 12, 1905, at the 
age of eighty-nine years. His wife died in 
1880, leaving him with four children: (i) 
Agnes, born in Malahide, Ont., married 
Ralph Ferguson, of Metcalfe, and died leav 
ing a large family. (2) Isaac married Jane 
Course, of Lambton County, and they re 



side in the State of Oregon, with their five 
children, Charles, George, James, Newton 
and Ellen. (3) Mary, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, 
was the next child. (4) John, born in Mid 
dlesex County, is married and lives on a part 
of his father s homestead, with his wife and 
two sons, Harry and James. 

Mrs. Kirkpatrick was given a fine edu 
cation, partly under her father s instruction 
and partly in the public schools. Shortly be 
fore her. twentieth birthday, in September, 
1858, she was married to Michael Kirkpat 
rick, and for two or three years they lived 
in Strathroy, and then came to the present 
home, then only bush land. 

Mr. Kirkpatrick was a native of Ireland, 
born July I, 1831. His parents, Hiram and 
Hannah (Hughes) Kirkpatrick, came to 
Canada the following year, lived a time at 
London, and then settled in the County of 
Lambton, where the father died. When 
Michael Kirkpatrick and his wife first came 
to their new home in the wilds they lived in 
a little log house, where they remained for 
some years, while the place was being trans 
formed from wild land to a finely improved 
farm, but in 1886 they erected the fine brick 
residence in which Mrs. Kirkpatrick still 
lives, and also the large bams now on the 
place. The farm now is one of the finest in 
the county. Michael Kirkpatrick passed 
from this life June 3, 1893, strong in the 
faith of the Church of England. Politically 
he was an ardent Conservative and a man of 
influence, but he never aspired to office. He 
and his wife were the parents of thirteen 
children: (i) Eleanor A., born in 1859, 
married Thomas Haire, of Moore township, 
and died in 1885, leaving five children, Mary, 
Ida, John, Elizabeth and Wilburt. (2) 
George, born in 1861, lives at the homestead, 
unmarried. (3) Hiram, born in April, 1862, 
is also at home, and is unmarried, as is like 
wise (4) Harrison, born in 1862. (5) Al- 
mira C., born in January, 1864, is the wife 
of William Wray, of Moore township, and 
has two sons, John and Harvey. (6) Isaac 
X., Lorn in November, 1865, married Miss 
May Ross, of Lambton County. They now 
live in Detroit with their three children, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



423 



Rossie, Alma and Charles. (7) Alice N., 
born in 1868, married George Heal, of 
Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is now a 
widower with three children, Hazel, Russel 
and Alice. (8) Alfred J., born in October, 
1868, twin brother of Alice X., married 
Miss Lizzie Montgomery, of Lambton Coun 
ty, where they reside on a farm in Conces 
sion 10, Enniskillen township. They have 
no children. (9) Russell J., born in April, 
1871, married Miss Minnie Balls, of Ennis 
killen township, and lives on Concession 10. 
They have one daughter, Eleanor. (10) 
Ida, and ( 1 1 ) Ada, twins, were born July 

17, i873- Ida is the wife of ^ Villiam Balls > 
of Enniskillen township, Concession 10; she 
has no children. Ada is at home, unmarried. 
(12) John, born in January, 1876, is unmar 
ried and manages the homestead. (13) 
Minnie, born Oct. 4, 1882, has charge of the 
home and is a companion to her mother. Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick and her family are connected 
with the Methodist Church. The Kirkpat- 
ricks are ranked among the old and prom 
inent families of the county, and are wealthy 
owning much real estate. Each of the sons 
is the owner of a splendid farm and they are 
all among the enterprising and highly re 
spected citizens, while the aged mother is 
regarded with the warmest esteem by all. 



JAMES McDOXALD, who for, over 
sixty years has resided in Moore township, 
is one of its oldest living citizens and a well- 
known retired agriculturist. He was born in 
the parish of Rathiemurchus, Inverness- 
shire, Scotland, Jan. 4, 1829, to John and 
Christina (Grant) McDonald. 

John McDonald was a native of the same 
parish and there remained for a number of 
years after his marriage, engaged in agri 
cultural pursuits on a rented farm. He and 
his wife, Christina, had four children : Mar 
garet, who married James Welsh and died 
near Brigden, Out. ; Alexander, who died in 
Scotland; William, a retired farmer in 
Moore; and James. About 1845 ^ Ir - ^ I(> 
Donald, with his wife and three children, 
sailed from Greenock for Xew York via 
Liverpool, and after a voyage of six weeks 



and three days reached his destination. The 
family proceeded to Lambton County by the 
usual route, up the Hudson river, by rail to 
Buffalo, then by water to Detroit, and from 
there to Moore township. Mr. McDonald 
purchased 200 acres on the 6th Line, Lot 6, 
wild land, whereon he proceeded to build a 
log house and stable, and settled down to 
pioneer life. Before many years the climate 
proved too much for his constitution, and he 
died in 1851, aged sixty-four; his remains 
were laid in Bear Creek cemetery, and he 
was the first grown person to be buried there. 
It was a hard life for even the strongest, and 
so new was the country that there was no 
doctor, within twenty miles, nor a resident 
clergyman of any denomination, only occas 
ional itinerant preachers who held meetings 
in the different homes. Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Donald had been members of the Presby 
terian Church in Scotland and held fast to 
their faith in their new home. Mrs. Mc 
Donald died eight years after her husband, 
at the age of seventy, and was buried beside 
him. Politically he was a strong Reformer. 
They were a hard-working, upright couple, 
but neither lived long enough to enjoy the 
fruits of their labors. 

James McDonald was sent to the parish 
school in his native place and afterward 
helped his father on the farm. When he 
accompanied his parents to America he was 
sixteen years of age, and he was still living 
at home at the time of his father s death, 
about five years later. He and his brother 
William then took charge of the farm to 
gether, cleared it up, and after getting it un 
der cultivation divided the homestead be 
tween them. In time James McDonald 
bought his brother s part and still later pur 
chased another 100 acres, so that he now 
owns 300 acres. He made extensive im 
provements on the original homestead, built 
a good dwelling, barns, etc., and has devel 
oped it into a fine farm. He is now prac 
tically retired from all active farming, as 
his sons Alexander and James are now man 
aging his property, with great success. Like 
his father he always supported the principles 
of the Reform party, which has now become 



424 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Liberal party. Few men in the town 
ship are so well-read as Mr. McDonald, for 
he is a true student and keeps himself thor 
oughly informed on all the leading events of 
the year. In religious faith he and his wife 
are Presbyterians, and he has filled the office 
of elder and served as member of the build 
ing committee. Always a wide-awake agri 
culturist, he has been for years an active 
member in the Moore Agricultural Society. 
On Dec. 6, 1859, i" Moore, Mr. McDon 
ald was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
McBean, who was born in Inverness-shire, 
daughter of Angus and Mary (Grant) Mc 
Bean. To this union ten children have been 
born, namely: John, who is employed at 
Saginaw, Michigan, by the Standard Oil 
Company, married Margaret Mulholland 
and has two children, Eva and William J. 
Angus is at home. Christina is unmarried. 
William is residing in Alberta, Northwest 
Territory. Jean died in 1893. James, Jr., 
is on the homestead, as is also Alexander. 
Donald, who married Miss Isabella Gauld, is 
private secretary for Mr. Morse, of Fair 
banks, Morse & Co., Chicago. Margaret is 
at home. Lewis died at the age of fifteen. 

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are both do 
mestic in their tastes, have always been de 
voted to their home and family, and the chil 
dren all bear witness to the splendid training 
they received at home. Mrs.. McDonald is a 
woman of most charitable, kindly disposi 
tion, and has many warm friends. Her hus 
band is of a quiet, unassuming temperament, 
but in his long years among them his neigh 
bors have learned to recognize and appre 
ciate his many fine traits of character, and 
no man stands higher in the esteem of the 
community than he. 

RICHARD CODE. The common 
wealth of Ontario has shown considerable 
progress within the past century. New dis 
tricts have been redeemed from the wilder 
ness, and old ones make more prosperous. 
Lambton County is no exception to this rule, 
and numbers among its citizens men of ster 
ling integrity, who have the best interests of 
their section at heart. Among these may i:e 



mentioned Richard Code, better known as 
"Dick" Code, notary public, conveyancer, 
clerk of the gtii Division Court, and town 
clerk of Alvinston, Brooke township. Mr. 
Code was born Dec. 27, 1842, in Lanark 
County, son of George and Jane (Morris) 
Code, both of whom were born in Ireland. 

Capt. John Code, an uncle of Richard 
Code, was an officer in the British service 
and fought against Napoleon. He died at 
St. Helena, while guarding Napoleon, and 
his home in Ireland was in deep mourning 
for three days to do honor to his memory. 

George Code, the father of our subject, 
was educated in Ireland, coming when a 
young man to Canada, where he married 
Miss Jane Morris, of Perth, Ont., daugh 
ter of Joseph Morris, a settler of Lanark 
County, who came from Ireland. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Code settled in Beck- 
with township, Lanark County, where they 
made a permanent home, and there they died, 
Mr. Code in 1892, his wife surviving until 
1899. This good couple were connected 
with the Church of England. Politically 
George Code was a Conservative. Eleven 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Code, as 
follows: Joseph died in Huron County; 
John lives in the township of Ramsay, La 
nark County; George is a farmer in East 
Wakefiekl township, Wright County, Que 
bec; Abraham, born in Lanark County, is a 
merchant in the Northwest Territory; 
Thomas is a farmer of Huron County; 
\Yilliam lives on the homestead in Lanark 
County; Ann married Edward Chamney, of 
Beckwith, Lanark County; Sarah, deceased, 
married John Code, of Lanark County ; 
Rachel, deceased, married William Marshall, 
of Huron County; Mary, deceased twin to 
Richard, married Hugh Moore, of Carleton 
Place, Lanark County, and at her death left 
one daughter, Melissa; Richard is our sub 
ject. 

Richard Code grew up on the old farm 
and received his education in the district 
schools, commencing teaching when he was 
but fourteen years of age, and continuing 
in the Counties of Lanark. Huron and 
Lambton for six years. In 1872 he taught 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



425 



school in Alvinston. and then opened an 
office as conveyancer, in which line he has 
continued up to the present time. 

On Dec. 16, 1872, Mr. Code was married 
to Miss Emlyn Glover, who was born at 
Port Hope, Aug. 14. 1852, daughter of 
Thomas Glover a native of England. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Code settled in Al 
vinston, where, after its incorporation in 
1880, he was elected clerk, which office he 
has held continually up to the present time. 
Since 1887 he has been clerk of the Qth 
Division Court. At this time Mr. Code pur 
chased real estate in this section, and entered 
into the real estate business, which he has 
also continued. To Mr. and Mrs. Code the 
following children have been born : Abra 
ham S.. in Alvinston. where he is a land 
surveyor and civil engineer; Richard S., a 
civil engineer, making his home in Alvin 
ston ; Thomas G., learning civil engineering ; 
and Robert Y\ ., Angelina and Charles E., 
at home. 

The family are members of the Church 
of England, in which Mr. Code has been 
for a number of years an officer. Politically 
Mr. Code is a Conservative, and he has filled 
the office of township clerk for twenty-four 
years, and has been a notary public for 
twenty years. Fraternally he has connected 
himself with the Masonic Order, the Black 
Knights of Ireland, the United Workmen, 
the Independent Order of Foresters, and the 
I. O. O. F.. at Alvinston, in all of which he 
is a popular member. Mr. Code is a man 
known and respected in the township as an 
efficient public officer, and one who faith 
fully carries out any obligation into which 
he enters. 

WILLIAM McPHERSON, one of the 
oldest living pioneers of Warwick township, 
and a well-known agriculturist of that place, 
highly respected by all classes, is a native of 
Scotland, born in the parish of Concliffen, 
Perthshire, in November, 1824. 

The McPherson family originated in the 
Highlands. Gillis McPherson, father of 
William, was a native of Inverness, born in 
the parish of Lagin. He accompanied his 



parents to Perthshire, where he became a 
drover and farmer, and there he married 
Ann Puller, who bore him six children, five 
of whom were born in Perthshire, namely : 
William; Ann, now the widow of Duncan 
Monroe, and residing in the township of 
Bosanquet; John, who died in Warwick 
township; Joseph, a farmer of Warwick 
township; Gillis, also a farmer of Warwick 
township ; and Margaret, who died in young 
womanhood. 

Seeing his little family growing^ up 
around him, and with little prospects of es 
tablishing a home for them, Gillis McPher 
son determined to emigrate to the New 
World, where he hoped to better his condi 
tion and find a place where his children could 
earn a livelihood. In 1836, with his wife and 
five children, he left home and kindred to 
find prosperity in a new and strange land. 
Leaving Greenock, Scotland, on the "Plym 
outh Castle," a sailing vessel, after a voyage 
of fifty-two days they landed in New York, 
making their way to Caledonia, New York, 
where Mr. McPherson had a brother, Dr. 
Thomas McPherson. He arrived there with 
empty pockets except for two coppers, not 
having enough to pay the stage fare. Mr. 
McPherson was not afraid to work, and 
found employment at roadmaking, spending 
some little time at that labor. He then 
moved with his family to Williamsville, 
where he also found employment on public 
works, and where he continued until he re 
moved to Black Rock, near Buffalo. At the 
latter place he worked at roadmaking, and 
there made his home until 1840. when he 
crossed over the line into Canada, locating 
at St. Catharine s, Out., where he again 
worked at roadmaking. He later removed to 
Hamilton, thence to Ingersoll, County of 
Oxford, where he was engaged at roadmak 
ing until 1844, when he came to Lambton 
County, locating in Warwick township. This 
locality was chiefly a wilderness at that early 
period, with a few blazed trails and a few 
1< g huts to show the presence of white men. 
Wolves and deer roved through the forest. 
Mr. McPherson was obliged to chop his way 
through the wilderness to reach the 2oo-acre 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tract of land which has since been the home 
of the McPherson family. He bought the 
land for $2.50 per acre, Lot 19, Conces 
sion 6, and on it but little clearing had been 
done. He erected a little log house, where 
he installed his family. By hard work and 
with the help of his growing sons he suc 
ceeded in clearing up his land and became 
engaged in general farming. He lived to 
see his sons settled on good farms, which he 
helped them to obtain. At the time of his 
death he and his sons had 800 acres of well- 
cultivated land in operation. He attained to 
the ripe age of eighty-two, and was active to 
the last. He had an affliction of the throat 
which prevented him from swallowing his 
food, and he slowly starved to death, being 
not able to drink water toward the last, al 
though the day before he died he had visited 
one of his sons. He passed away at his home, 
in September, 1878, and was laid to rest be 
side his wife, who preceded him some years, 
in the cemetery at Arkona. He was a true 
Liberal in every sense of the word, and al 
ways supported that party, was an admirer of 
Hon. George Brown, the founder of the 
party, and was a true friend and supporter 
of the Hon. Alexander Mackenzie. He was 
a member of the Presbyterian Church, as 
was also his wife, who was a true helpmate 
and cheerfully bore many hardships. She 
lived but three years after coming to War 
wick, and died in the log cabin in 1847. 
After her death Mr. McPherson made his 
home with his son William, who gave him 
all the care and attention which is due a good 
father from a devoted son. 

William McPherson attended the public 
schools of his native shire, and later a private 
school. His opportunities to acquire an edu 
cation were very limited, as he had to work 
from an early age, and was but twelve years 
old when the family came to America. He 
worked with the father at the different points 
of Xew York State and Ontario in road- 
making, contributing to the support of the 
family. Coming to Warwick township with 
his parents, he found but little civilization, 
and he set to work with a strong will to help 
his father make a home. The fight for an 



existence was an uphill one, but he perse 
vered, and after years of hard and persistent 
toil had a fine tract of 200 acres of excellent 
land under cultivation, all of which was once 
a dense forest. He remained all his life on 
the homestead, and when his father gave 
up the management of the farm he took 
charge of it, and made a success of farming. 
He built a brick dwelling-house, barns, etc., 
and has been engaged in general farming 
and stock raising. During the sixty-odd 
years of his life in Warwick township he has 
seen many changes. The dense wilderness and 
swamps of the early days have been trans 
formed into well-cultivated farms; the little 
log cabins have given way to fine brick and 
frame dwellings; fine churches and schools 
are found in the former haunts of wild 
beasts; good roads and bridges have suc 
ceeded the blazed trails. He has also lived 
to see many of the hardy pioneers and sturdy 
men who carved this fertile spot from the 
primitive wilderness laid away to find the 
rest their earthly mission denied them. 

Mr. McPherson has played his own part 
well, and after an active life is still able, at 
the age of eighty-one, to do a day s work as 
well as he did seventy years ago. He has 
worked hard all his life. In those early days 
the nearest market was London to the east, 
and Sarnia to the west, forty miles either 
way. He possesses all his faculties to a 
marked degree, can read without glasses, and 
his hearing is unimpaired, and his step as 
elastic as ever. In politics he is a stanch 
Liberal, and in religious belief a Presby 
terian, attending church in Arkona. 

In the township of West Williams, Coun 
ty of Middlesex, Mr. McPherson married 
Janet Maxwell, a native of Glasgow, Scot 
land, and a daughter of Hugh and Margaret 
(Faulkner) Maxwell. She was a good wife 
and mother and was much devoted to her 
home. She was in poor health, for several 
years before her death, in November, 1893, 
at the age of sixty-eight years, and was laid 
to rest in the cemetery at Arkona. She was 
the mother of three children : ( i ) Gillis 
H., born on the homestead and educated in 
the township schools, is engaged with his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



427 



father on the homestead farm, and like him 
is a Liberal in politics. He married Harriet 
Ann Smith, and has five children, Jessie La- 
vinia, Charles Maxwell, Robert E., Winfred 
Irene and William. (2) Annie married 
Johnson Anderson, of Warwick, and has 
five children, William (who married Sarah 
Elizabeth Demery, and has one child, Du- 
gald Clark), Margaret Ann, Janet, Mary 
Alice and Leila Ada. (3) Margaret was 
educated in the public schools of the town 
ship, and is now at home with her father, 
caring for his in his old age. She is a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOSEPH McPHERSON, brother of Will 
iam, was born in the same parish in Novem 
ber, 1830, and came to America with his pa 
rents. He attended school when the oppor 
tunity offered, while in Xew York State, but 
at the age of nine began work with his fa 
ther on canal work and roadmaking, follow 
ing same both in New York State and in On 
tario. After locating in Warwick township 
he assisted the rest of the family in making a 
home in the woods. In 1863 he settled down 
to farming for himself on the farm where he 
now lives a tract of 200 acres on Lot 17, 
Concession 6, which was given him by his 
father. It was then all bush, and he erected 
a log cabin and settled down to make a home, 
succeeding after years of effort. He has 
made extensive improvements, and there the 
past forty-two years of his life have been 
spent. He built a fine frame dwelling-house, 
barns. etc|. When his son was ready to take 
charge of the farm he erected for him a fine 
brick dwelling on the homestead place. All 
his life he has been engaged in general farm 
ing and stock raising. Like all the family he 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
which he attends at Arkona. In political 
faith he is a Liberal. He has always been 
a hard worker, and is a good citizen, with 
many warm friends. 

In Bosanquet township Joseph McPher- 
son married Agness Ross, who was born in 
Ireland, a daughter of Robert Ross, who was 
an old settler of Bosanquet. Ten children 
were born of this union: Janet, at home; 
Anna; William J., who farms the homestead, 



and who married Lizzie Simmons ; Thomas, 
who died young; Agnes, who married Isaac 
Cruthers; Margery, at home; Margaret, at 
home ; Mary, at home ; Robert, on the home 
stead farm ; and Ada, a school teacher. Mrs. 
McPherson died in 1880 and was buried in 
Arkona. She was an active member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

DONALD McKELLAR, a well-known 
farmer and stock raiser and cattle dealer in 
Moore township, has been a resident of that 
township for more than fifty-two years, and 
is one of Lambton County s successful ag 
riculturists. He was born in the village of 
Appin, Argyllshire, Scotland, March 17, 
1847, son f Jl in an d Anna Agnes 
(McColl) McKellar. 

John McKellar was also a native of Ap 
pin, and was a tailor by trade. The children 
born to him and Anna Agnes McKellar 
were : Christina, who married Mitchell 
Miller, both of whom are deceased, and bur 
ied in Bear Creek cemetery; Margaret, Mrs. 
John Grant, of Cornnna ; and Donald. The 
father died in 1850, while still in the prime 
of life ; in his religious faith he was a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. The widow, 
who was left with her three children to pro 
vide for, determined to join a party which 
started, in 1852, to Canada. It comprised 
her sister, with husband and children, her 
father, Donald McColl, who was going to 
visit his brothers located in the Province of 
Quebec, and three other families. They 
sailed from Greenock on the "Ann Harley, 
and after ten weeks landed in Quebec, but 
with One missing from their band, for Don 
ald McColl had died during the voyage and 
was buried at sea. The others made their 
way to Hamilton in safety, and there made 
arrangements to take passage on a sailing 
vessel to Buffalo ; the date of departure was 
fixed, but because of some trifling delay the 
newcomers failed to reach the boat in time 
to embark, a fortunate accident, as it proved, 
for the boat was lost on the trip, with all the 
crew and passengers. Undeterred by such 
dangers, the party pressed on to the County 
of Lambton and settled in the wilds of 



428 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Moore township, to begin their pioneer 
life. 

Mrs. McKellar. in partnership with her 
sister s husband, James McKellar, bought 
200 acres of land in Lot 7, Concession 9, and 
the two families made their home together. 
Two years later Mrs. McKellar married 
again, becoming the wife of Henry Morri 
son, a native of Scotland, and they lived on 
a farm in Lot 8. Mr. Morrison was a well- 
educated man and for some years taught 
school in addition to carrying on his farm. 
He was a Presbyterian in religion, and an 
elder in the Bear Creek Church for twenty- 
five years. He was a Reformer in politics, 
as were most of his countrymen. Three chil 
dren blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mor 
rison : John S., now operating the home 
stead, who married Christina Duncan, and 
has three sons, Leslie, Royden and Henry; 
Sarah, at home ; and an infant that died. In 
1887 Mrs. Morrison was again left a widow, 
and her husband s remains were interred in 
Bear Creek cemetery. She is still living, 
aged eighty-nine years, and though the old 
est woman in the township is still active, 
and all her faculties are keen. She makes 
her home with her son John S. and her 
daughter Sarah. In her early days she en 
dured many hardships, but through it all 
succeeded in giving her children a good 
Christian training, and a bringing up that 
reflects great credit on her. She is a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and is held 
in special respect by all who know her. 

Donald McKellar was but four years 
old when he was brought to America and so 
grew up in the wilderness, for the settlers in 
Moore township were few and far between. 
There was, however, a district school, where 
he and the other children of the region were 
enabled to secure something of an education, 
some of them walking miles to reach the 
little log building. From an early age the 
boy worked with his step-father, and, when 
he reached eighteen he formed a partner 
ship with Archie McDermit and began life 
for himself. They bought a threshing outfit 
and ran. it together for four years, at the 
end of which time James McKellar bought 



out his partner, and they continued the bus 
iness together for eight years more, operat 
ing in Moore and Enniskillen townships. In 
1868 our subject bought the farm where he 
now resides and gave his whole attention to 
agriculture. It was a joo-acre tract form 
erly owned by John Neff, of Beverley town 
ship, Wentworth County, and thirty acres 
were already cleared when Mr. McKellar 
purchased it. He has done much hard work 
on it, and now has a splendid farm, having 
added to his holdings until he possesses 265 
acres. In addition to general farming he has 
for a number of years been engaged in the 
cattle business, handling more than fifty 
head during the winter season. He has 
been very successful and owes it all to his 
untiring industry and perseverance. He has 
splendid barns on the farm and in 1891 
erected one of the finest brick residences in 
the township, costing over $2,000. 

Mr. McKellar was married Dec. 4, 1872, 
by the Rev. Peter McDermit, to Miss Eliza 
beth Shanks, who was born near Hamilton, 
Nov. 29, 1848, daughter of John and Mary 
(Smith) Shanks, of Moore township, who 
are both deceased, and buried in Lake View 
cemetery ; they were devout Presbyterians. 
Mrs. McKellar is a woman of much culture 
and tact, while her home gives abundant ev 
idence of her ability as a housekeeper. No 
small share of her husband s good fortune in 
life is due to the interest and encouragement 
given by his wife. The children in their 
family are: Mary E., who married Francis 
J. Crone, of Sarnia township : John Hugh, at 
home, who married Flora Finlayson (he is 
a member of the I. O. O. F.) : William 
Henry, a ranchman in North Dakota, who 
married Sarah A. Crone; Annie, Archie 
Douglas and Herbert James, all at home; 
Donald Stuart, a clerk in the Grand Trunk 
Railway office at Sarnia : and Peter Ross, at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. McKellar are both 
members of the Presbyterian Church at 
Bear Creek, where he has been manager for 
thirty years. Mr. McKellar is a progressive 
man. who keeps himself thoroughly posted 
on all the events of the clay : a stanch Lib 
eral, he is a prominent worker for the party 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



429 



locally, and has been tax collector for the 
township for two years and assessor eight 
years. He takes a special interest in school 
questions, as he maintains that the future of 
the country depends upon the standards of 
patriotism and good citizenship instilled into 
the rising generation. For eighteen years 
he has been a trustee for School Section No. 
7, filling the office of secretary and treas 
urer. His party sent him as delegate to the 
convention that nominated the Hon. T. B. 
Pardee, of Sarnia, and the Hon. Alexander 
MacKenzie as Liberal candidates for Lamb- 
ton County, and he is a member of the execu 
tive committee of the West Lambton Lib 
eral Association ; he has also been secretary 
of the Moore Township Liberal Associa 
tion. He is a director of the Bear Creek 
Cemetery Association, and has been for a 
quarter of a century a member and director 
of the Moore Township Agricultural So 
ciety, of which he was president for three 
years; he belongs to the West Lambton 
Farmers Institute, in which he has filled the 
office of secretary and treasurer for six 
years. In May, 1905, he was appointed col 
lector of customs at Courtright, Ont., and 
three months later was transferred to Sar 
nia, Ont. Under the various responsibili 
ties which the confidence of his fellow citi 
zens has placed upon him he has ever been 
found trustworthy, efficient and tireless in 
his service, and is held in high esteem in the 
community. 

WILLIAM KEDWELL, an oil pro 
ducer of Enniskillen, is in every sense a self- 
made man, owing his prosperity to his own 
unaided efforts. He and his wife were 
among the early pioneers in Enniskillen, and 
their family occupies a prominent position 
in the community. 

William Kedwell was born in Glouces 
tershire, England, Sept. 5, 1830, son of 
Thomas and Hannah (Wheeler) Kedwell, 
both of whom lived and died in England. 
Thomas Kedwell was a farmer and gar 
dener, and he and his wife had five children, 
of whom Anna, Stephen, Daniel and Eliza 



beth died in England. The only one to come 
to this country was William, who landed at 
Quebec in 1853, after a voyage of six weeks. 
His education had been limited, and he 
turned to his father s occupation of farming, 
working in that capacity for a time in Nor 
folk County, Ontario, on the Lake. 

In 1864 Mr. Kedwell married Annie 
Becker, who was born in Norfolk County in 
November. 1844, daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah (Millard) Becker. Jacob Becker 
was a native of Catskill, New York, his wife 
was a Canadian, and after their marriage 
they made their home in Norfolk County, 
where they died. Mrs. Kedwell is the only 
surviving member of her family. She was 
brought up on a farm and educated in the 
district schools. After their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Kedwell lived for two years in 
Norfolk County, and in 1866 came to Pe- 
trolia, where, four years later, Mr. Kedwell 
bought his present home property, Lot 13, 
Concession 13, then all wild land. He 
cleared the land, built a home, and began 
drilling for oil, and has become one of the 
prominent oil producers of the region. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kedwell are 
as follows : ( i ) Isaiah, born in Enniskillen, 
Oct. 22, 1874, where he grew- up, is en 
gaged in the oil producing industry, and he 
and his family live near the family home; 
he married Lydia E. Williams, of the same 
place, and his children are Annie M., and 
Alice A. (2) John, born on March 29, 1877, 
and educated in the Rural public schools 
and Woodstock College, lives in Petrolia, 
Ontario, where he conducts a printing and 
publishing business; he married Annie M. 
Dowling, of Petrolia ; they have no children. 
(3) Horace, born March i, 1886, is unmar 
ried and living at home, engaged in the oil 
business. 

In politics Mr. Kedwell has always been 
identified with the old Reform party. He and 
his wife were among the early comers to 
Enniskillen, where they are among the most 
respected and honored citizens. Both are 
regular attendants of the Petrolia Baptist 
Church, Mrs. Kedwell being a member and 



43 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



especially active in all church work done by 
the ladies of the community. 

Air. Ked\vell came to Canada a poor 
boy, and owes his position as one of the suc- 
cessful men of Lambton County to his own 
honest and unflagging toil. 

HENRY McBRYAN, farmer and 
stockman of the 5th Concession of Bosan- 
quet township, Lambton County, is a na 
tive of Whitby township. Ontario County, 
born on Lot 34, Concession 5, Nov. 5, 1842. 
Henry McBryan, grandfather of our 
subject, was a native of Ireland, born in the 
County Fermanagh, where he was a small 
land owner and followed an agricultural life. 
He there married Mary Allingham, and they 
became the parents of the following chil 
dren : Edward; Ann (Nancy), who married 
John Sullivan, lived and died in Little York; 
Hugh, who was killed by the fall of a tree; 
Anna Belle, widow of John Watson, resid 
ing in Toronto ; Mary, deceased wife of Jo 
seph McCallum, a minister of the Methodist 
Church at Toronto ; and Thomas, who died 
in 1890 in Whitby township, Ontario 
County, on the homestead farm. 

In the early twenties Henry McBryan, 
with his wife and six children, left their na 
tive land to find a new home in the wilds of 
Canada. Sailing from Belfast on a sailing 
vessel for Quebec, they made their way from 
the latter place to Montreal, where two years 
were spent, at the end of this time removing 
into Ontario County, locating first at Co- 
bourg, Northumberland County, where he 
rented a tract of land and settled down to 
farming. Here seven years were spent and 
at the end of this time they removed to 
Whitby township, Ontario County, where a 
tract of 200 acres of land was purchased. 
Here Mr. McBryan settled down to pioneer 
life, and, with the help of his sons, finally 
succeeded, after years of toil, in clearing up 
"his farm. Besides owning his home farm he 
purchased land in Huron County, near Clin 
ton, and he died in 1852, aged sixty-seven 
years, being buried in Salem Church ceme 
tery, Pickering township, Ontario County. 
In religion he was a consistent Methodist, 



and in politics a stanch Conservative. His 
wife also died on the farm, in 1867, an d was 
laid to rest beside her husband. 

Edward McBryan, eldest son of Henry 
.McBryan, was born on the little farm in 
County Fermanagh, Ireland, and was but 
twelve years old when the family crossed the 
Atlantic for their future home. He attended 
school in Montreal, and there obtained an 
idea of the French language, which, in after 
years, he could speak fluently. He worked 
on the farm in Cobourg with his father, and 
later moved to Whitby township, Ontario 
County, where he engaged in farming for 
himself, on a loo-acre tract of bush land. 
Here he built a log house and settled down 
to pioneer life. Like his father, he worked 
hard, and later with the help of his sons 
succeeded in clearing up his farm, on which 
he made many improvements, including a 
fine brick dwelling house and a good set of 
substantial buildings. When his five sons 
were ready to start out in life for themselves 
he was able to give them farms, and he did 
his full duty as a husband, father and citi 
zen. He died in 1897, at the age of eighty- 
nine years, at his home, now the property of 
his son, William, and he was laid to rest in 
Salem Church cemetery, Pickering town 
ship, Ontario County. He was a member of 
the Methodist Church. Politically he was a 
stanch supporter of the principles of the 
Conservative party. Fie was a member of 
the Loyal Orange Association, was founder 
of Brooklin Lodge, Whitby township, was 
county master for many years, and was a 
member of the Royal Arch Masons. He was 
an active member of the lodge, and helped 
to establish many lodges in different sections 
of the Province. He was noted for his hon 
esty and high moral character. 

Edward McBryan was married in Co 
bourg, Ont, to Helen Wilson, who was born 
in County Fermanagh, Ireland, daughter of 
Thomas Wilson. She lived to be seventy- 
two years old, and died on the homestead, 
being laid to rest in the cemetery at Salem 
Church. She was a member of the Metho 
dist Church, a good Christian woman and a 
devoted wife and mother. She was the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



mother of ten children, named as follows: 
Mary, who married Philip Cooper, resides 
in fuscola County. Michigan; Anne, the 
widow of John Brander, resides in Arkona ; 
Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Samuel 
Tones, a farmer of Pickering township, On 
tario County; Isabella married William 
Bowels, of Brooklin. Out. : Hugh, a police 
magistrate who resides in Whitby; Henry; 
Edward, who was a farmer of Whitby 
township, died there in 1902; Jane lives on 
the homestead ; Thomas, a resident of Tus- 
cola County, Michigan, is a farmer; and 
William is farming on the homestead. 

Henry McBryan was educated in the 
township schools and grew up on the home 
stead farm, remaining with his father until 
1870 when he came west to Lambton 
County, and settled on a 2OO-acre tract of 
land in Bosanquet township, on Lots 5 and 
6, Concession 5. Here he settled down to 
farming for himself, and here he has re 
mained for the past thirty-five years, en 
gaged in general farming, stock raising and 
dealing. When his son, Edward, got ready 
to start out for himself, Mr. McBryan gave 
him the south one-half of the farm, while he 
operates the balance himself. Like his 
father and grandfather he has always sup 
ported the principles of the Conservative 
party, and was an admirer of that grand 
statesman, Sir John A. MacDonald. Mr. Mc 
Bryan has always taken an active part in pol 
itics, but not in the sense of an office seeker. 
He has for a number of years been chosen 
delegate for the nomination of candidates 
both for the Dominion and the Ontario par 
liaments, held at Watford. He serves as 
school trustee of district No. 5, Bosanquet 
township, and was collector of the school 
taxes for one term. He never shirked his 
duty as a citizen or as a Canadian, and when 
the "call came for volunteers in 1866. at the 
time Canada was invaded by the Fenians, he 
enlisted in the Brooklin Rifles. 34th Battal 
ion, tinder Captain Hodgson, Major McKen- 
zie and Colonel Dennison, and did frontier 
work for three months and twenty days, 
helping to take ninety prisoners. He re 
ceived a bronze Fenian medal, and a tract of 



189^ acres of land in Xew Ontario, Thun- 
derbay District, from the provincial govern 
ment. Mr. McBryan is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, which he attends at 
Arkona. He was one of the organizers and 
first stockholders of the Farmers Mutual 
Insurance Company, which was established 
in 1875, and has been a member of the board 
of directors for several years. He is strictly 
temperate in his habits and domestic in his 
tastes, taking a deep interest in his home and 
pride in his family. 

Mr. McBryan married March 15, 1870, 
in Pickering, Ont., Christina Smith, daugh 
ter of John Smith, who was a native of 
Scotland, and a settler of Ontario County. 
Mrs. McBryan has been devoted to her hus 
band and children, and is a faithful member 
of the Presbyterian Church. She is the 
mother of ten children : William, a graduate 
of the law department of the University at 
Lansing, Michigan, is now a lawyer in De 
troit, Michigan; Jessie married Samuel 
Stevenson and resides in Bosanquet town 
ship; Ellie, a graduate of the Forest High 
school, taught school for seven years, and is 
now the wife of Thomas McBryan of Cam- 
den Gore, Kent County. Mary is at home; 
Edward, who farms half of the homestead, 
married Jennie Gilliard: John Smith is a 
farmer of near Thedford; Sarah, a trained 
nurse, is a resident of Chicago ; Fred, a grad 
uate of the Forest High school, is now a 
school teacher at Edmonton. Northwest 
Territory; Wilson resides on the homestead; 
and Hugh is also at home. 

Mr. McBryan has lived a long, honorable 
and busy life and has seen and taken part in 
much of the wonderful development of his 
section of Lambton County. He has made a 
success of his vocation, and is esteemed and 
respected as a leading citizen of his town 
ship. 

ALENANDER KIDD, proprietor of 
"The Arlington" at Sarnia, is one of the 
most popular hotel managers in Lambton 
County, Ont., and has brought his house up 
to a standard of excellence which places it 
among the leading hostelries of the city. 



432 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Alexander Kidd, his father, was torn in 
Scotland, where he died in 1854, having 
spent his business life as a ship broker, be 
ing quite successful. The maiden name of 
his wife was Elizabeth Boycl, also a native of 
Scotland, and after the death of her husband, 
Mrs. Kidd came to Ontario, with her only 
child. Alexander, then a mere lad, settling in 
Hamilton, that Province. Here the boy 
grew to manhood, learning many useful 
things, and obtaining an excellent literary 
training in the good schools of Hamilton. 
As a clerk in the "Tecumseh Hotel," in 
Hamilton, Mr. Kidd began his career as a 
hotel-man, and gained further experience in 
this line in connection with the "Bellcham- 
ber Hotel," of Sarnia, to which city he re 
moved in 1872. In 1886, in partnership with 
a Mr. Cooney, Mr. Kidd secured the "Bell- 
chamber Hotel," which they conducted suc 
cessfully for five years. 

At this time, Mr. Kidd became inter 
ested in the lumber business in connection 
with heavy vessel interests on the lakes. 
This enterprise was successfully continued 
until 1899, when he decided to return to 
hotel life, and sold his interests and pur 
chased the hotel he now operates, and which 
he has already made so popular. During a 
portion of the time he was engaged in lum 
bering, Mr. Kidd, with a Mr. James O Riley, 
conducted the "Chapman House" in Sarnia. 
"The Arlington" is centrally located on 
the corner of Front and Wellington streets, 
and overlooks the St. Clair river, the pros 
pect being beautiful as seen from its win 
dows. The rooms are tastefully furnished; 
the cuisine is excellent, and no pains are 
spared to make guests feel thoroughly at 
home. Mr. Kidd superintends all the im 
portant details himself, and is a great fav 
orite with the traveling public, as well as his 
regular guests, being a man of genial dis 
position and pleasing manner. 

On Oct. 15, 1895. Mr. Kidd and Miss 
Nellie Veio were married, and four chil 
dren have been born to them : Alice Mar 
garet, Gordon Alexander, Douglas and 
Helen. Mrs. Kidd was born in 1872, in 
Potsdam, New York State, daughter of An 



drew and Julia (LaDuke) Veio. Mr. Kidd 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Fraternally, Mr. Kidd is a past master Ma 
son, and a member of the A. O. U. W. Both 
he and his wife have many warm friends. 

JOHN FARRELL, district agent for 
the Federal Life Insurance Company of 
Canada, with head office at Hamilton, is one 
of the best-known insurance men in western 
Ontario. He is a native of the Province, 
born in Warwick township, Lambton 
County, in a little log house on the 7th Con 
cession, north of the Egremont road. The 
Farrell family is of Irish extraction, as the 
name indicates, and the family home has been 
in County Tipperary. 

Timothy Farrell, grandfather of John, 
was a native of Tipperary, where he was a 
tenant farmer. He there married Mar 
garet Callahan, and they became the parents 
of six children : James, who now resides in 
Madison, Wisconsin; Richard, also of Wis 
consin; John, who died in Wisconsin; \Vill- 
iam, the father of John ; Mary, who married 
William Hamilton, and died in Milwaukee; 
and Ellen, who married Patrick Carey (both 
are deceased). In the early thirties Timothy 
Farrell turned to the New World to find a 
home for his family. With his wife and six 
children he sailed from Ireland for Canada. 
On their arrival they located in Plympton 
township, Lambton County, on a bush tract 
along what is now known as the Egremont 
road. They became engaged in farming. 
He died in Plympton, while his wife died on 
the present Farrell homestead, in Warwick. 
They were first buried on the farm in Plymp 
ton, but later removed to Sarnia and interred 
in the Catholic cemetery. 

William Farrell, son of Timothy and 
father of John, obtained a good common- 
school education in his native home, and was 
still in his teens when he came to Canada 
with his parents. He worked with them on 
their home in Plympton township until he 
started out for himself. Coming to War 
wick township he located on the 7th Conces 
sion, Lot 10, where he bought a tract of 
100 acres of bush land. At the time he lo- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



433 



cated there few improvements had been made 
in the township, there being no roads, 
churches, schools, or other evidences of civil 
ization, and there were even very few set 
tlers. He built a log house and set to work 
to make a home for himself. He was a hard 
working man, strong and active. The roads 
to Sarnia being but blazed trails and swamp, 
in order to keep his little family he had to 
walk to Sarnia for his flour and like neces 
sities, carrying them on his back through 
woods and swamp, a distance of thirty miles. 
He worked early and late in order to clear 
up his farm, but while still in middle life he 
had to give up work, and after two years of 
suffering from cancer he died at his home 
on Aug. 24, 1868, at the age of forty-seven 
years. He was buried at Warwick village, 
but later removed to the Beachwood cem 
etery, at Forest, Ont. Mr. Farrell was well 
known, and highly respected by all classes of 
people. He lived in harmony with his neigh 
bors, all of whom respected him for his 
Christian charities. In politics he was a 
stanch Conservative, and in religion a con 
sistent Roman Catholic. In that early period 
there were no Catholic churches nearer than 
Strathroy, where he and his family would 
go to attend to their religious duties until 
the congregation succeeded in erecting a 
church in Warwick village, which they at 
tended until 1875, when they joined the 
church in Forest. William Farrell married 
Bridget Whitely, a native of Tipperary, Ire 
land, daughter of Samuel and B ridget 
(Carey) Whitely, and a sister of Patrick 
Whitely, a well-known pioneer on the Lor,- 
don road, in Plympton township. After her 
husband s death Mrs. Farrell kept her chil 
dren together, educated them and worked 
hard. She died Dec. 17, 1884, aged fifty- 
four, and is buried beside her husband in 
Beachwood cemetery. Xine children were 
born to them, all of whom reflect credit on 
the good Christian training they received at 
their mother s knee ; James d ied when a 
young man; Mary resides at home; William 
also resides at home; Edward cultivates the 
old homestead; Samuel, who cultivates the 
west half of Lot 10, Concession 7, married 

28 



Mary Malley, and has seven children, Stan 
ley, James, Celia, Joseph, Xorah, Annie and 
Raymond; John is mentioned below; Annie 
is at home ; Ellie married Cornelius Malley, 
and has children, William, John D., Mary I. 
J. and Xorah Beatrice; Sarah Jane died 
July 10, 1880, aged fourteen years. 

John Farrell enjoyed but limited oppor 
tunities for an education. He attended 
school in Section Xo. 14, 6th Concession of 
Warwick, his first teacher being Duncan 
Campbell, who was a well-known educator 
in his clay. Mr. Farrell was but a boy when 
he lost his father, but reared under the foster 
ing care of a loving and devoted mother he 
followed her advice and counsel. From an 
early age he worked on the home farm with 
his brothers and sisters, helping to care for 
his widowed mother in her declining years. 
In 1889 he took up life insurance, first start 
ing as agent for the Manufacturers Life, 
with which company he spent one year. In 
1890 he accepted the agency of the Federal 
Life of Hamilton, so continuing for five 
years, when he was appointed district agent 
for the same company, his territory embrac 
ing western Ontario. He has made a suc 
cess of his work, having written over one 
million dollars worth of insurance, and is 
one of the best-known insurance men in 
western Ontario. He also gives some atten 
tion to farming, residing on the old home 
stead, and he now has 200 acres of the best 
land in the county, having in 1875 purchased 
100 acres adjoining the loo-acre tract pur 
chased by his father. At present it is all 
under cultivation except a small maple 
grove. In September, 1905, he completed a 
new residence on the site of the old home, 
which was erected in 1850. 

From an early age Mr. Farrell has taken 
a deep interest in public life, following in the 
footsteps of his father as a supporter of 
the principles of the Conservative party and 
being a strong admirer of the founder of the 
party, that great statesman, Sir John A. 
Macdonald. He has taken a deep interest in 
the party s success in both Dominion and 
Provincial affairs, and for over twenty years 
has been foremost in the fight during election 



434 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



contests, taking the stump for the Conserva 
tive candidates. He is one of the best cam 
paigners and organizers in western Ontario 
and lias few equals as a platform speaker 
and debater. At the resignation of the late 
Hon. James F. Lister, as member of the 
Dominion Parliament, in 1898, to accept a 
judgeship in the Supreme Court, Mr. Far- 
rell was nominated by his party to contest the 
West Riding of Lambton, and he was op 
posed by Dr. Johnson, of Sarnia, who de 
feated him. His name was placed before the 
convention held at Watford in September, 
1904, by his party, to nominate a candidate 
for the Provincial Parliament, and he re 
ceived a strong support of the delegates, but 
not enough to win the nomination. How 
ever, he worked hard for the successful can 
didate at the general election. He has spoken 
during political contests in Lambton, Kent, 
Middlesex, Perth and Huron Counties. In 
school matters he has taken always a deep 
interest, serving for eight years as trustee 
of School Section No. 14, and was secretary- 
treasurer during the time the fine brick 
school house was built. He has always taken 
a deep interest in school and church enter 
tainments, and has, for years, acted as chair 
man of these socials, encouraging the schol 
ars and giving prizes in all parts of the 
county. He attends all church picnics, re 
gardless of the denomination, and has never 
yet refused to contribute to worthy objects 
of charity. He is a big. whole-souled man, 
broad-minded and liberal in his ideas, with 
the genial Celtic temperament that makes 
him popular with all classes. He has never 
been known to refuse to help a friend, re 
gardless of the sacrifice such help may entail 
upon him. Those who know him best re 
spect him most. Whether in religion or in 
politics he has great tolerance for the opin 
ions of others. 

Mr. Farrell is one of the members and 
a director of the Union Agricultural Society 
of Forest, Out., and was president of the 
East Lambton Agricultural Society, filling 
that office eight years. In 1894 he was 
elected a director of the Western District 
Fair Association, of Watford, and has filled 



the office of president, and he is a member 
of the Western Fair Association of London. 
In 1904 he was elected a director of the 
Provincial Fair Association, being the only 
director west of London, and was three years 
East Lambton representative on the Western 
Fair Board of London. He takes a deep in 
terest in everything that is for the benefit of 
the county and Province. His voice has been 
heard in the little log school, in church halls 
and in auditoriums, he having addressed 
thousands of people on different subjects. On 
March 17, 1905, the Irishmen of Port Hu 
ron honored him by having him address 
them at their hall in Port Huron. He is a 
true Irish-Canadian, and takes great pride in 
Canadian institutions, progress and enter 
prise. 

JAMES MA1DMEXT, proprietor of 
Beaver Creek farm, and a well known citi 
zen of Warwick township and one of its 
leading agriculturists, is a native of that 
township, having been born on the 4th Line, 
Lot 3, July 1 8, 1846. 

The Maidment family are English, 
Henry Maidment, the father of James, hav 
ing been a native of Wiltshire, England, 
where he grew to manhood and engaged at 
different occupations. The family were for 
sixty years engaged on .the Gray estate in 
farming, and Henry Maidment was also en 
gaged in the homestead quarries, and learned 
lime burning. He was marrried in his na 
tive place to Maria Sharp, who bore him 
seven children, the eldest two of whom were 
born in England; William, a resident of 
Brooke township. Lambton County ; Thomas, 
who died in Warwick township; Alary Ann, 
who married Joseph Mellow, and died in Ar 
mada, Michigan ; Charles, of Bosanquet 
township ; Samuel, who died in Middlesex 
County ; James, who is mentioned below ; 
and Charlotte, who married George Cook, 
and both died in Michigan. 

In 1833 Henry Maidment and his wife 
and two sons left their native home for the 
New World. Coming to Canada with a 
party of friends, they landed at Quebec, and, 
coming west. Mr. Maidment left his wife 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



435 



and children in Toronto, while he and other 
intended settlers, made their way to Lamb- 
ton County, the party taking with them pro 
visions enough to last them for some time. 
London then had but two houses ; there were 
no roads, and it was necessary to procure a 
guide to pilot them, by way of Indian trails, 
to their new home. Locating in \Varwick 
township, near the Plympton line. Henry 
Maiclment built a log cabin on the east half 
of Lot 3, Concession 4. This land was 
owned by Squire Amsley, who gave in pay 
ment fifty acres of land, for every twenty- 
five acres cleared for him. After some time 
the Squire died, and Mr. Maiclment settled 
down to farming for himself, taking also the 
west half of Lot 3, upon which he worked 
hard to make a home for himself and his 
growing family. In that section of the 
country, besides no roads, there were no 
bridges over streams, and wild beasts 
roamed in the dense forests, making the life 
of the pioneer a difficult and perilous one. 
Like the other pioneers the Maiclment fam 
ily lived in a little log cabin, while Mr. Maicl 
ment, being a strong, able man, set to work 
to clear roads, giving more attention to this 
than to farming, his sons doing what they 
could to clear the farm. It might be said that 
the way to civilization was cut through the 
forests by Mr. Maiclment, many of the War 
wick and Plympton township roads having 
been cut through by him, and he also as 
sisted and encouraged the early settlers, and 
those not so ably fitted to the hard pioneer 
life. Mr. Maiclment built the first limekiln 
in the township, afterward having three in 
operation, and many of the chief buildings 
of that section used his lime in their con 
struction in the manufacture of brick. 

Mr. Maiclment did not make a success of 
farming and turned over the management 
of his place to his sons, while he, with his 
wife, removed to the town of Forest, where 
he spent some years, and where his wife 
died. Mr. Maidment then spent some time 
with his son, Samuel, on the London road in 
Plympton township, and here he died in 
March. 1886. he and his wife being hot 
buried in Warwick cemetery. They were 



members of the Church of England, while in 
politics Mr. Maiclment was a stanch Re 
former. For a number of years he was a 
member of the Loyal Orange Association, 
and during the rebellion of 1837-38, he took 
up arms in defense of his adopted country. 

James Maiclment s birth occurred in the 
little log cabin in \Yar\vick township, and 
he attended the log school house near the 
homestead. From an early age he worked 
on the farm, and when, at the age of seven 
teen years, he found the farm turned over to 
his management, the land was heavily en 
cumbered, and young James started out to 
clear the home from debt. This he accom 
plished in a few years, and not only this but 
had the tract on a paying basis. He gave his 
father a life lease on the property and made 
a home for his parents in Forest, where he 
supported and cared for them as long as 
they lived. General farming has been Mr. 
Maidment s business in life, although for 
several years he has been very successful in 
raising cattle, and his stock has taken many 
prizes at the fairs in this locality. He has 
made many improvements on his farm, 
erecting good buildings and a fine dwelling, 
and he operates 250 acres of land. When his 
sons were ready to start out in life for them 
selves he was able to give them something 
substantial to start on. and they have all 
proved good farmers. Mr. Maidment be 
longs to the Forest Union Agricultural So 
ciety, of which he was one of the organizers, 
the first president, and in which he has been 
a director for the past twenty-seven years. 
In public life Mr. Maidment is a Liberal, 
but independent. He is domestic in his 
tastes, a lover of home and family, and a 
good, reliable, representative citizen of War 
wick township. In his habits he is temper 
ate, and is noted for his pleasant and genial 
manner. He and his estimable wife are val 
ued members of the Presbyterian Church, 
which they attend at Forest. 

On Feb. 21, 1867, in Bosanquet town 
ship. Mr. Maidment was united in marriage 
with Miss Jennette Weatherston. born in 
Middlesex County, west, daughter of James 
and Catherine (Beatie) Weatherston, na- 



436 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



lives of Scotland, the former of whom died 
in Middlesex County, while the latter passed 
away in Bosanquet township. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Maidment have been born the follow 
ing children: Margaret; William Henry, 
who died at St. Joseph Hospital, London; 
James Edward, a farmer; John, farming on 
the homestead ; Arthur, on the homestead ; 
Walter, farming at home; Jennette, a mil 
liner at Buffalo ; Selena, at home ; Lillie 
Catherine, who attended Normal School, and 
is now engaged in teaching; Gertrude, at 
home ; and Robert, who died when five years 
old. 

JAMES PARK, a prominent farmer- 
citizen of Enniskillen, comes of good old 
stock, numbering among his forefathers 
some of the earliest settlers in Lambton 
County. 

The parents of James Park were Will- 
iam and Mary (Kitchen) Park, who were 
pioneers in their part of the country. Mrs. 
Park was born at Ancaster, near Hamilton, 
Ont., daughter of Andrew and Delia 
Kitchen, who moved to Canada from the 
United States. The latter were among the 
very early settlers in Plympton township, 
and both died there, at their old home. They 
had a large family, including besides Mary, 
wife of William Park, (i) Joseph, of Port 
Huron, and (2) Andrew, of Bay City, Mich 
igan, both of whom served throughout the 
Civil war in a Michigan cavalry regiment, 
Joseph drawing a government pension ; both 
are married and have families. (3) Hannah, 
who married Isaac Durance (deceased), and 
lives in Michigan. (4) Elizabeth, who mar 
ried George McCoy (deceased), of Michi 
gan. (5) Delila, who married John Bur 
gess, of Huyson s Island, Canada. 

William Park, father of James, was a 
ion of James and Euphemia (Sutherland) 
Park, who came over from Scotland and set 
tled in Dalhousie township, Lanark County, 
moving later to Plympton, where they made 
their home the remainder of their lives, and 
died at a good old age. Their children w r ere 
as follows : James, who settled near the old 
home in Plympton, and died in Wyoming, 



unmarried; Allan, born in Scotland, who 
lived for a time in Plympton, then moved 
to Torch Lake, Michigan, where he died 
leaving a large family; Catherine (de 
ceased), born in Scotland, who married 
Park Duncan, of Wyoming, and left a num 
ber of children; and William, who became 
the father of James Park. 

William Park was born in Cambuslang, 
Scotland, in 1819, and was a mere child 
when his father came to Canada. He grew 
up to the age of nineteen years in Dalhousie,. 
where he received most of . his education. 
After his marriage he and his wife settled on 
Concession 2, Plympton, where he owned 
and cleared 100 acres of land. They lived 
for a number of years in a little log house, 
and then built a more comfortable home on 
the old place. Late in life Mr. Park sold 
this property and bought a home in Wyo 
ming, where he lived in retirement until his 
death in 1895. His wife passed away in 
1885. She was a member of the Methodist 
Church, while he belonged to the Presby 
terian communion. In politics he was an 
active Reform man, working actively in the 
interests of his party. He had a family of 
nine children, of whom James Park was the 
oldest. 

James Park was born in Plympton 
township, Dec. 20, 1847, and as a boy at 
tended the schools of his native place. He 
helped his father clear up the home farm, 
and while yet a boy began work in the lum 
ber camps in winter, doing farm work in 
summer. On May 27, 1872. he married 
Jane Johnston, born in London township 
April 4, 1854, daughter of John and Mary 
Johnston, who were among the early settlers 
in Enniskillen. [Mrs. McMillen, a member 
of the Johnston family, supplies many inter 
esting facts relative to its history.] Mrs. 
Park, like all her family, was carefully edu 
cated, yet did not hesitate to begin her mar 
ried life as a settler on wild land. Their 
present fine farm and comfortable home has 
been carved out of the wilderness. Mr. Park 
cleared the bush, and has put up good build 
ings, and to-day owns one of the best cul 
tivated farms of the region. He also owns- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



437 



100 acres of farm land on Concession 7, op 
posite the home farm, which he has also 
cleared. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Park have been born 
five children, as follows: (i) Alary E., born 
at the present home, in July, 1873, is the 
wife of David Anderson, a farmer of \\~vu- 
ming, and they have three children, Leslie, 
Rnssell and Cecil. (2) James, Jr., born in 
1875, was educated in the district schools, 
and in* the Petrolia high school ; he became 
a teacher, and after two years at that profes 
sion, entered the Ontario School of Practi 
cal Science in Toronto, graduating, after a 
four years course, in 1905; he is now a 
B. A. Sc. and mining engineer in Cobalt, a 
promising young man in his profession. (3) 
Jane J., born in 1879, is at home; she was 
a student for some time in the Petrolia high 
school. (4) Margaret E., born in 1882, is 
at home; she also was a student in the Pe 
trolia high school. (5) William J., born in 
November, 1889, is at home. 

The family have all been brought up in 
the Presbyterian Church, and while not 
members of the church they support its 
work. In politics Mr. Park is a member of 
the Reform party, and has served on a num 
ber of political committees. He has filled 
the position of secretary of the school board 
since 1871. He began life on his father s 
farm and worked there until he bought his 
own land. Lot 19, Concession 6, Lambton 
County. He is one of the self-made men 
of the county, where he and his family are 
well known and highly esteemed. He comes 
of sturdy pioneer stock, of which he and his 
children are worthy descendants. 

ROBERT MILLIKIN, one of the 
prosperous farmers of the County of Lamb- 
ton, has been a resident of Sarnia township 
for all but the first three years of his life, and 
is therefore associated with the entire devel 
opment and progress of the region. He was 
born March IQ. 1849, to David and Marjory 
(Bowles) Millikin, at that time residing in 
Lanark County. 

David Millikin and his wife were both 
natives of Ireland, but met and married in 



Canada. The former was born in County 
Sligo in 1798. and came to America in 1822. 
His wife came from the same county in 
early womanhood, and was married at Sher- 
brooke, Lanark County, where Mr. Millikin 
at first settled on government land. He im 
proved this property and prospered, but in 
1852 decided to go farther west and begin 
again with a new country. In Sarnia town 
ship, Lambton County, he found a location 
that appeared to him to promise well, and 
purchased 100 acres in Lot 16, Concession 
2. The place in time more than justified 
his anticipations, but was then perfectly wild 
and traversed by no roads, so the new com 
ers had many hardships to endure, and be 
fore the work of clearing was fairly under 
way. the husband and father was taken, 
struck down by Asiatic cholera. He died 
Sept. 14, 1856, and upon the oldest son de 
volved the task of carrying on the home in 
the wilderness. His wife survived till Oc 
tober, 1894, when she passed away at the 
age of eighty-three, a prominent member 
of the Methodist Church, as her husband 
also had been. Their children were seven 
in number : Emanuel, the oldest, was the 
head of the family, after his father s death, 
and he settled on and improved the south 
half of the homestead ; Sarah Jane married 
Mirzah Proctor, an old settler of the county ; 
David, a resident of Sarnia, was a school 
teacher in his earlier years; Margaret Ann 
died of cholera, in 1856; Amelia married 
John Wardrop. of Sarnia; Adelaide, who 
died in 1880, was the wife of Joseph Mc- 
Roberts, of Sarnia; Robert was the 
youngest. 

Robert Millikin was born in Lanark 
County, but his earliest recollections are of 
the little log cabin on the Sarnia homestead, 
which his father had built on their first ar 
rival, and his school days were spent in the 
log school on the Cole farm opposite. For 
some time after the father s death the fam 
ily remained together, but when the oldest 
brother married the estate was divided, and 
Robert was given the north half. Much of 
his labor had already gone into the place and 
he has continued to improve his land, being 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



now extensively engaged in raising stock 
and grain. His farm is a fine piece of prop 
erty, and he has been more than successful 
in his operations. He is a Conservative in 
his politics, and with his family a stanch 
adherent of the Methodist Church. A neat 
little Methodist Church now stands on his 
farm. 

On Jan. 18, 1881, Mr. Millikin was 
married to Miss Jean, Hossie, and they have 
had five children, born as follows : Oscar 
Kinsley, June 19, 1882; Edgar Noble, Feb. 
27, 1884, who died at the age of four; Nor 
man Hope, March 10, 1886; Lillian Belle, 
Oct. 24, 1888; Roberta May, July 18, 1892. 
Mrs. Millikin belongs to another of the 
pioneer families of the adjoining township 
of Moore, and is of Scotch lineage. Her 
grandfather, Andrew Hossie, was born, in 
Stirlingshire, Scotland, July 5, 1792, and 
his wife, Janet Wilson, was born in the same 
locality May 17, 1795. They were married 
Jan. 23, 1818, and became the parents of 
nine children, namely : James, born Oct. 22, 
1818; Ann, Feb. 13, 1821 ; David, March 29, 
1823; Jean, July 22, 1825, widow of Alex 
ander Leys, of Sarnia; Andrew, Dec. 25, 
1827; William, Sept. 17, 1829; Walter N., 
Dec. 9, 1831; Janet, July 21, 1834; John, 
July 5, 1836. Andrew Hossie departed this 
life Nov. 25, 1857, and his wife s death oc 
curred May 13, 1873. 

David Hossie, father of Mrs. Millikin, 
was one of the best known men in Lambton 
County. A mere boy when his parents came 
thither, lie grew up with the country and 
has always been identified with it. His pa 
rents had left their Scottish home at Den- 
ney, Stirlingshire, in May, 1833. and settled 
first on the front concession, on the St. Clair, 
but in 1840 they moved back and made their 
home on Lot 16, Concession 12, of Moore 
township, the farm on which Burns Church 
now stands. David Hossie early became 
identified with public affairs; in 1856 he was 
appointed ensign of the 3d Battalion, Lamb- 
ton Militia, and in i8 6o, lieutenant. In 
municipal life, his first official position was 
that of justice of the peace. In 1856 he was 



elected to the council of Moore township, 
and was re-elected for four succeeding- 
years, and then was made deputy reeve. 
Chosen again in 1862, Mr. Hossie was in 
1869, and again in 1870, elected reeve. 
After an interval of six years he returned 
to the council again as reeve, and once again 
in 1 88 1. During his official term in 1869 
Mr. Hossie had been instrumental in install 
ing the drainage system in Moore township, 
but in time difficulties arose over its work 
ings, and while he was reeve in 1881 he suc 
ceeded in making a satisfactory arrange 
ment with the government over the points 
in dispute, so satisfactory a one, in fact, that 
it has been adopted since in similar troubles. 
His political views were those of a stanch 
Liberal, and he always stood firmly by his 
party, in whose ranks locally he was a 
power. His religious affiliations were with 
the Presbyterians, and he was an earnest 
church worker. The Burns Church was 
built on a part of his brother Andrew s farm, 
and he was for many years its secretary and 
treasurer. Still another position which at 
tested his standing among his fellows was 
the postmastership at Logierait, which he 
held from 1863 till a short time previous to 
his removal to Sarnia in 1886. 

David Hossie was married, Feb. 25, 
1848, in Moore township, to Miss Isabella 
Galloway, who was born March 28, 1828. 
This marriage resulted in a family of twelve 
children, born as follows : Andrew, Nov. 20, 
1849; Janet, Aug. 6, 1851 ; Jean, Mrs. Milli 
kin, Jan. 31, 1853; Ann, Aug. 22, 1854; 
Helen, Feb. 15, 1856; Alexander, Dec. 30, 
1857; D. Walker. Aug. 13, 1859; Isa Thom 
son, Oct. 10, 1861 ; Isabelle, Nov. 25, 1862; 
Clara E., Feb. i, 1865; Emeline, Feb. 19, 
1867; and George Albert, April 20, 1869. 
The father of this family filled out more 
than the allotted age of man, and when sev 
enty-two years old passed away after an ill 
ness of several months duration, on the 
morning of Feb. 15, 1895, lamented by a 
large circle of warm friends and admirers. 
His remains are interred in the Burns Church 
cemetery. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



439 



DONALD McLELLAN is prom 
inently identified with the cultivation of the 
soil in Lambton County, and is the owner of 
a handsome farm in Moore township, where 
he is one of the oldest living pioneers, hav 
ing been successfully engaged in farming 
there for over forty years as well as being a 
stock raiser and oil producer. He was born 
in Lobo township, Middlesex County, May 
18, 1835. 

The family, as the name indicates, are 
Scotch. Archibald McLellan, father of Don 
ald, was a native of Argyllshire, Scotland, 
where he grew to manhood and was a fish 
erman by occupation. There he married 
Margaret McKellar and they had one child, 
Duncan, born to them while there, and he is 
living in Lobo township. In 1829 Mr. Mc 
Lellan came to Canada by way of Quebec, 
and settled in Lobo township, Middlesex, 
which at that time was a wilderness. Locat 
ing on Lot 2, Concession 7, he settled on his 
100 acres of bush land, which he cleared and 
improved and built a fine dwelling and 
barns. Here he died at the ripe old age of 
eighty-one, and was buried in the Poplar 
Hill cemetery. In politics he was a Re 
former ; and in religion a Baptist. His first 
wife died in 1850, and after her death he 
married Margaret McCormick, a widow. 
Six children, beside Duncan, were born to 
Mr. McLellan by his first wife : John, born 
in Lobo township, now deceased; Archibald, 
in Komoka, Ont. ; Donald ; Peter, deceased ; 
James and Malcolm, twins, who both died 
in Lobo township, Middlesex County. 

Donald McLellan attended the district 
schools of Lobo township, and staid with his 
father on the homestead, until sixteen years 
of age when he went to live with his brother. 
Duncan, who taught him the carpenter s 
trade. He worked as a contractor and 
builder until 1863, when he came to Lamb- 
ton County, locating at Moore township on 
a tract of 100 acres of land. Here he built 
a log shanty and settled down to pioneer life 
making potash from part of his timber and 
converting the rest of it into cord wood. 
He cleared up and improved the 100 acres, 
building good substantial barns and out 



buildings and a fine frame dwelling. He 
then added fifty more acres to his farm, 
which one of his sons operated, later buy 
ing fifty more acres, having 200 in all, the 
whole being in a fine state of cultivation. He 
also has four oil wells in operation on his 
farm. 

Religiously he is a member of the Bap 
tist Church. In politics, although no office 
seeker, he has always been an active sup 
porter of the Liberal party, and has been 
school trustee of the Union school, Section 
No. 13, and was secretary and treasurer of 
same for about nine years. 

In 1864 Mr. McLellan was married in 
Sarnia township to Miss Agnes Thomson, 
born in Dalhousie, Lanark County, daugh 
ter of James Thomson. She died after 
thirty-six years of married life, May 27, 
1900, and her loss was keenly felt. She 
was a member of the Baptist Church, and 
was buried in the Hillsdale cemetery. To 
Mr. and Mrs. McLellan were born nine 
children : James, a farmer of Moore town 
ship, married Ida Bilow, and had three chil 
dren, two of whom are deceased; Margaret 
married Edward Strangways of North Da 
kota, and has seven children; Archibald, a 
farmer of Moore township, married Eliza 
beth Hodgins and has four children; Mal 
colm, a farmer of North Dakota, married 
Lillie Gammon and has three children ; Don 
ald, an oil operator of Moore township, mar 
ried Martha Rothwell, by whom he had one 
son, and died June 30, 1905 ; Peter, living in 
Dawn, married Ida Hodgins ; Mary married 
Gilbert Leckie, of Sarnia, Ont., and has 
three children ; Bertha and Walter, at home. 

Donald McLellan is a man who deserves 
the high esteem in which he is held by all 
who know him, and he has reared a family 
which has inherited many of his sterling 
traits of character. 

WILLIAM COULBECK, a retired 
farmer of Plympton, where he has resided 
for the past thirty-six years, was born at 
Tathweel. Lincolnshire, England, March u, 
1836, son of James and Elizabeth (Gains- 
li T:>ugh) Coulbeck. 



440 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



James Coulbeck, also born at Tathweel, 
was, like his father before him, gamekeeper 
on the estate of Squire Chaplain, and passed 
his entire life in England, \vhere he died at 
the age of eighty-one. He and his wife were 
both members of the Church of England. 
Mrs. Coulbeck was born in Cawthrop, 
daughter of John and Martha (Pridgen) 
Gainsborough, and was descended from the 
famous duke of that name. She also lived 
to eighty, and was the mother of twelve chil 
dren, two of whom died in infancy. The 
others were : Annie, widow of John Kitchen ; 
Rebecca, deceased wife of Benjamin Baum- 
ber; John, of Brantford, Ont. ; James, of 
Bradford, Michigan; Charlotte, deceased 
wife of Joseph Birkett, of England; Joseph, 
who served in the United States army dur 
ing the Civil war; William; Elizabeth, Mrs. 
Robert Fletcher, of England; Thomas, of 
Vancouver, B. C, and Richard, a well- 
known farmer of Essex County. 

William Coulbeck was sent to the parish 
schools until he was ten, then worked on the 
Chaplain estate until after he was seventeen, 
and spent the next two years as a farm la 
borer, receiving f 10 IDS. a year. In 1855, 
when he was nineteen, he left home for 
America, sailing from Liverpool. Five 
weeks later he landed in New York and from 
there made his way to Brantford, Ont., 
where he found employment, but received 
only $13 a month. The next year he went 
to Wisconsin and spent two years in railroad 
work. By 1862 he returned to Brantford, 
but moved soon to Oxford County, where 
he bought a tract of land, of which he cleared 
twenty-five acres in four years, selling his 
timber for railroad lumber. In 1868 he 
sold out, came to Lambton County, and 
bought 100 acres of bush land in Plympton, 
Lot 24, Concession n, where he built a 
small log shanty and settled down to pio 
neer life. The timber from this place was 
converted into logs, staves, hoops and cord- 
wood, and while it required much hard work, 
Mr. Coulbeck prospered from the beginning. 
In the thirty years he spent on the place he 
brought it well under cultivation, in 1897 
put up a good brick dwelling and substan 



tial barns besides adding steadily other im 
provements, and made a fine place of it. In 
1904 he retired from active life and gave 
the management of his farm to his son-in- 
law, John D. Tremaine. When he began life 
in Canada Mr. Coulbeck was fifty dollars in 
debt, but he worked hard and faithfully and 
is now enjoying the fruits of his toil. He 
not only owns a fine homestead, but gave an 
other good farm to his son, William H. Po 
litically he is a strong Conservative, but. has 
sought no office save that of trustee of 
school section No. 15, which he has filled for 
sixteen years. He is a member of the Ut- 
toxeter Methodist Church. 

Mr. Coulbeck s wife was Miss Margaret 
Kennedy, who was born near Edinburgh, 
Scotland, daughter of James Kennedy. They 
were married in Woodstock, Ontario in 
1862, and only fourteen years later, May 28, 
1876, Mrs. Coulbeck was called from this 
world, her remains being laid to rest in the 
Forest cemetery. She was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. There were eight 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Coulbeck, 
namely : Richard, who died at the age of 
twenty-six; Agnes, deceased when thirty 
years old ; Alfred, who died aged twenty ; 
William, a farmer near Uttoxeter. who mar 
ried Miss Elizabeth Faulkner, and has a 
daughter, Eunice; Elizabeth, Mrs. James 
Greer, of Port Arthur, has two children, 
Irene and Edna; Eunice, who married John 
Tremaine, and lives on the old homestead, 
has two children, Olmer and Jettie ; and two 
children who died in infancy. The family 
are well-known and highly respected. 

JAMES McKELLAR. Among the 
large, well-cultivated farms for which Moore 
township is noted is one owned by James 
McKellar, consisting of 250 acres located on 
the Brigden side road, upon which he carries 
on general farming and stock raising. 

Mr. McKellar was born Sept. 20. 1846, 
in Appin, Argyllshire, Scotland, son of 
James McKellar and grandson of Peter Mc 
Kellar, the latter a farmer near Glasgow, 
Scotland. James McKellar. father of our 
subject, was a native of Scotland, born in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



441 



1812. He married Janet McCall, daughter 
of Donald McCall, and a sister of Mrs. Mor 
rison, one of the oldest residents of Moore 
township. The following children were born 
to this union : Hugh, a minister of the 
Presbyterian Church at Hamilton, ordained 
at Alberta, Northwest Territory, married 
Miss C. McDermit, sister of Rev. Henry 
McDermit, a minister of the Presbyterian 
Church; Mary married John Carter, of the 
8th Line of Moore township; James is the 
subject of this sketch; John, a resident of 
Sarnia town, married Isabella Hossie, 
daughter of David Hossie, of Moore town 
ship; two children died in infancy. Mr. Mc- 
Kellar and his wife and four children, to 
gether with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Morrison, 
and her three children, and his father-in- 
law, Donald McCall, who died at sea. left 
their native country in 1852, crossing the At 
lantic in a sailing vessel to Quebec, and made 
their way to Hamilton, where they were to 
take a boat for Buffalo. They missed the 
boat and thereby saved their lives, as the 
boat was lost with its crew and passengers. 
The} then made their way to Lambton 
County, and the McKellar family settled on 
Lot 7, Concession 9, Moore township, on a 
tract of 100 acres, subsequently buying 100 
acres adjoining, which he later sold. Here 
Mr. McKellar settled down to a pioneer life, 
clearing his farm and erecting buildings, and 
became very successful. At the time of his 
death, in 1896. he was aged eighty-four 
years. Mr. McKellar was a consistent mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, while in poli 
tics he was a stanch Reformer, though no 
office-seeker. Mrs. McKellar died on the 
old homestead in 1876, at the age of fifty- 
eight years, in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church, and was buried in Bear Creek cem 
etery. 

James McKellar, Jr., the subject of this 
sketch, was but six years of age when he 
crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and he 
attended the schools of Moore township, 
growing up on the home farm, and assisting 
his father until he reached maturity, when he 
operated the homestead of 100 acres. In 
1865 he started farming for himself on 100 



acres of land on the Brigden side road, which 
he improved from bush land and put under 
cultivation. He made cordwood from the 
timber, making staves from the oak, and for 
these he found a ready sale along the St. 
Clair river. Mr. McKellar s hard labor has 
received its just reward, and he has been suc 
cessful in his farm operations, as well as 
in his stock raising, which he carries on to 
quite an extent. Mr. McKellar has bought 
other land in the township and is now the 
owner and operator of 250 acres of good 
land. In 1902 he sustained a loss by fire, his 
frame dwelling being burned to the ground. 
The building was worth about $2,000, and 
was only covered by insurance to the extent 
of $1,000, but he has replaced it with another 
frame structure. In 1900 Mr. McKellar 
moved with his family to Sarnia, where he 
put up a fine brick residence, on Brock street, 
in which they have since lived. The farm is 
now cultivated by hired help, though he 
spends most of his time there, in the spring 
and summer, overseeing and directing. Mr. 
McKellar is noted for his industry, his fair 
dealings and good citizenship. Politically 
he is a stanch Reformer, and he has been 
placed in positions of trust and authority by 
his fellow townsmen. He has served as a 
member of the township council for five 
years, and has been school trustee for six 
years. He has connected himself with the 
Presbyterian Church, attending the Church 
at Bear Creek. 

Mr. McKellar was married Sept. 4, 1872, 
in Moore township, to Miss Margaret Cal- 
lum, who was born in Moore township, 
Lambton county, Ont. Like her husband, 
she is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
To Mr. and Mrs. McKellar the following 
children have been torn: Lottie, who is at 
home ; Nettie Louise, a trained nurse ; Laura, 
also a trained nurse, who is a resident of 
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bruce, a shoe deal 
er, residing in Sarnia ; and Margaret, who is 
engaged as bookkeeper with her brother 
Bruce in Sarnia. 

Duncan Callum. Mrs. McKellar s father, 
came of a Highland Scottish family, and was 
born in Nairn, Scotland. For five genera- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



442 

tions the head of the family bore the name of 
Duncan. His parents, Duncan and Marga 
ret (Mertin) Callum, also of Nairn, were 
among the pioneer settlers of Lambton 
County, Ont, and here passed the remainder 
of their lives, Mr. Callum dying of fever 
before his son Duncan (Mrs. McKellar s 
father) arrived here. 

Duncan Callum, son of Duncan and 
Margaret, came to Canada and settled in 
Moore township about 1830, a few years 
after his parents, and there he passed the re 
mainder of his life, engaged in farming. 
There he married Euphemia McLean, a na 
tive of Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of John 
and Euphemia (Blaikie) McLean, of Glas 
gow, who were among the earliest settlers of 
Moore township and made a permanent 
home there. To this union were born the 
following named children : Duncan, who 
died in Moore township at the age of thirty- 
five years, married Margaret J. Hossie; Eu 
phemia, of Ebro, Minnesota, married Jona 
than Moors; John, of Sarnia, Ont., mar 
ried Christina McLaren; Donald, a shoe 
merchant of Sarnia, married Jennie McKel- 
lar ; Margaret is the wife of James McKellar. 
The father of this family died in 1897, at the 
age of ninety, while on a visit in Sarnia; 
the mother passed away in 1870, at the age 
of fifty-six, her death occurring on the farm. 
Both are buried in the Burn Church cemetery 
in Moore township. They were members 
of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics 
Mr. Callum was a Reformer. He served 
in the Rebellion of 1837-38. 

THOMAS STEADMAN. By a pro 
cess of natural selection, responsibility seems 
to devolve upon those best fitted to sustain 
it, and with each new efficient performance 
come new opportunities. Such has been .the 
life history of Thomas Steadman, of Ennis- 
killen township, who has been prominently 
identified with the life about him in its every 
phase, political, financial and religious. He 
was born in Plympton township, Lambton 
County, Out., March 6, 1842, son of Rob 
ert and Mary (Olver) Steadman. 

The paternal grandfather was Michael 



Steadman, who came to Canada and settled 
at Broadville, where he died. The maternal 
grandfather was William Olver, an officer 
in the English army, who came to Canada 
from England at the time of the Rebellion 
of 1836-37, and after the close of the war 
settled in Enniskillen township on Conces 
sion 14. In addition to his farming he 
taught school, and was also for many years 
a local minister. He and his wife both died 
on their old homestead. They had two chil 
dren, Mary and William; the latter settled 
in Wisconsin and there died. 

Robert Steadman was born in County 
Wexford, Ireland, in 1801, and his wife, 
Mary Olver, in England, in 1813. The 
former came to Canada when he was six 
teen years old, and for a number of years 
was a pilot on the boats plying the St. Law 
rence, after which he went to Lambton 
County, and settled on a farm in Plympton 
township, Lot 9, Concession i. He cleared 
this land, made his permanent home there 
and became one of the successful farmers of 
the county, owning some 600 or 700 acres 
which afterward descended to his sons. He 
died in 1876 in AVyoming, where he was 
then living in retirement, and his wife fol 
lowed him in January, 1886. They were 
among the founders of the Methodist 
Church in their vicinity. Politically, Rob 
ert Steadman was a Reformer, and for many 
years w ? as an officer on the school board. 
Their family numbered thirteen, of whom 
Thomas was the second child. The oldes.; 
was a daughter, Eleanor, who married Ed 
ward Metcalf and reared a large family. She 
and her husband are both deceased. 

Thomas Steadman grew up at home, 
studying with his grandfather Olver, and 
was given a fair education. At the age of 
sixteen he became manager of his father s 
business, of which he had control for a num 
ber of years. After his marriage the young 
couple lived at the Steadman homestead for 
four years, and then moved to Enniskillen. 
There Mr. Steadman purchased 200 acres of 
land, the place where his daughter now lives. 
He built a brick house and good barns, be 
sides adding many other improvements, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



443 



remained there seven years. For the follow 
ing four years he lived in Wyoming engaged 
in buying and selling real estate, and four or 
five farms passed through his hands in that 
way. In 1882 he purchased his/ present 
home, the Patterson place, in Lot 13, Con 
cession 14, on which he has made many gen 
eral improvements. He has put up a large 
brick house, fitted with modern conven 
iences, two large barns and other additions 
which made the property one of the hand 
somest and most valuable in that section. In 
the two farms, in Enniskillen and Plympton 
townships, Mr. Steadman owns 500 acres, 
all well cultivated and productive. 

On May 31, 1866, Thomas Steadman 
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane 
Stonehouse, who was born near Toronto in 
April, 1848, daughter of Joseph and Mary 
A. Stonehouse. The mother died at the 
home near Toronto, but Joseph Stonehouse 
was one of the pioneers of Enniskillen town 
ship, and there his daughter was educated. 
There was one other child, William, a resi 
dent of the township. Thomas and Sarah J. 
Steadman are the parents of eleven children. 
( i ) William J. died at the age of eleven. 
I j ) Minnie E., born Dec. 31, 1869, was edu 
cated in the public schools and the high 
school of Petrolia. She married William B. 
Smith and has one daughter, Sarah G. The 
family lives on the Steadman farm in Ennis 
killen. (3) Mariann Adeline, born Sept. 8, 
1871, is now living at home. (4) Thomas A. 
born in November, 1873, was a student at 
Belleville College. At the age of twenty- 
one he was given charge of a circuit in Dawn 
for one year, then the Malahide circuit one 
year, and then the Sheddon and Clinton cir 
cuit four years, in all. and then entered the* 
College of Toronto, graduating in theology. 
He is now stationed at Point Edward. Ont. 
He is a fine musician, as well as a popular 
minister. (5) Caroline, born Feb. 9, 1876, 
is housekeeper for her brother Thomas A. 
(6) Joseph R.. born in March. 1878, mar 
ried Miss Edith Duncan, of Wyoming, 
where they reside. He has been collector of 
Enniskillen township for six years. (7) 
Frederick Ellerbv, born May 24, 1880, is 



unmarried, at home, engaged in farming and 
stockraising. (8) Sarah J., born Jan. 28, 
1883, attended the High School of Petrolia, 
Model School of Sarnia and Normal School, 
Toronto, and is now a successful teacher in 
the county schools. (9) David M. was born 
Oct. i. 1884. (10) Olver Rov was born 
July 30. 1886. (ii) Wilbur S. was born 
March 19, 1888. The entire family are 
members of the Methodist Church, where 
Mr. Steadman has been for many years one 
of the liberal supporters, as well as an officer 
in the church. In politics Thomas Steadman 
has always been identified with the Conserv 
ative party. He has always been active in 
every movement for the advancement of the 
community and the confidence of his fellow- 
citizens in his integrity and good judgment 
is manifested by the fact that in Enniskillen 
he was reeve and councillor for fourteen 
years. For a number of years he has been 
president and director of the Agricultural 
Society, and is a director still ; is chairman 
of the township board of health and a di 
rector and vice-president of the Farmers 
Mutual Insurance Company of Lambton 
County, with which latter organization he 
has been connected for eighteen years. Al 
though entirely self-made, Mr. Steadman is 
now one of the wealthy men of the county, is 
very influential and his family is well known 
and very prominent. 

ALFRED T. MORRISON. Few resi 
dents of Brooke township, Lambton County, 
are more entitled to the esteem of their fel 
low citizens than is Alfred T. Morrison, of 
the 2d Concession, Lot 21, whose intimate 
relation to the agricultural interests of the 
county has made his name a familiar one in 
this part of the county. He was born in 
Glanford. Wentworth County, Sept. 2, 1864, 
son of Robert and Martha (Elly) Morrison. 

Robert Morrison was born in County 
Armagh, Ireland, in 1819, son of Samuel 
and Mary (Williamson) Morrison, who 
came from Ireland to Kingston among the 
early pioneers. Samuel Morrison later lo 
cated near Hamilton, where he died, leaving 
a family : Thomas, the only son of Samuel 



444 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



living, who is a retired merchant of Hamil 
ton ; David ; Robert ; Philip ; James ; Sam 
uel ; Elizabeth Morrison, wife of Thomas 
Swan, of Guelph: and Sarah J., deceased 
wife of James Mitchell, of Hamilton. 

Robert Morrison was educated in In 
land and was still young when he came with 
his parents to Canada. He married near 
Hamilton, at the old homestead, where he 
settled as a farmer until 1876, in that year 
locating in Brooke township, Lambton 
County. Here he and his sons cleared a 
farm from the wild land, and a few years 
prior to his death he retired to Alvinston, 
where he passed away in 1894. His wife 
was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1830, 
and is still living. In religion Mr. Morrison 
was a Presbyterian. He had these children : 
Cyvilla, born in Wentworth County, is the 
wife of W. J. Smail, of Highgate, Kent 
County, and has five children; Annie, born 
in Wentworth County, is the wife of Henry 
Smail, of Caradoc, and has a family of four 
sons; William E., who married Miss Annie 
Hagle, a school teacher of Warwick, and 
has one daughter, grew up at the old home, 
and now resides in Ridgetown, Ont, where 
he owns a market garden; James H., a mer 
chant of Inwood, married Miss Mary Blakie, 
of Brigden; Margaret, born in Wentworth 
County, is the wife of John Johnston, a 
business man of Detroit; Lena is the wife 
of Hugh McTagert, who resides near Glen- 
toe; John A., an editorial writer at Bis 
marck, North Dakota, married Miss Amelia 
Homer; Alfred T. is our subject. 

Alfred T. Morrison received his educa 
tion in Wentworth County, where he was 
reared to manhood. Coming to Brooke 
township, he became manager of the old 
homestead, where he has lived up to the pres 
ent time. In October, 1892, Mr. Morrison 
was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca 
White, born in Lanarkshire, near Glasgow, 
in October, 1865, daughter of William and 
Margaret (Grey) White, the latter now liv 
ing in Alvinston with her son William. Mr. 
and Mrs. White had these children: Mrs. 
Morrison ; Robert : Mathew : John, of the 
Northwest; William; James, of Brooke 



township; Jeannette, wife of William Wil 
son, of Detroit; Margaret, wife of Archie 
Monroe, of Euphemia; Agnes, wife of Rob 
ert McCartar, a farmer of Enniskillen; and 
one daughter who died in the old country 
before the family came to Canada. 

Mr. and Mrs. Morrison located on 
the old homestead, where they have lived to 
the present time. Our subject added fifty 
acres to the original purchase, and is now 
the possessor of 150 acres of fine productive 
farm land. These children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison : Maggie R., born 
in 1893, is a student at school; Gertrude E. 
and Kathleen, twins, were born in 1895; 
Robert W. was born in March, 1901. Mr. 
and Mrs. Morrison are members of the Cam 
eron Presbyterian Church of Euphemia, in 
which Mr. Morrison is one of the elders, and 
he has also been superintendent of the Sun 
day-school. Politically a Reformer, he has 
held the position of school trustee for sev 
eral years, and has proven himself a careful, 
conscientious, interested official. He is con 
nected with the Agricultural Society of 
Brooke, and shows his interest in such mat 
ters by attending the meetings regularly. 

JOHN TAYLOR. Among the prosper 
ous agriculturists of the County of Lamb- 
ton, residing in the township of Enniskillen, 
may be mentioned John Taylor, of Conces 
sion 10, who is a native of the county, born 
in Warwick June 12, 1860, son of James 
and Jane (Millen) Taylor. The parents 
were pioneers of Lambton County. David 
Taylor, paternal grandfather of John Tay 
lor, was born in England, where he died. 
Mr. Taylor s maternal grandfather was 
James Millen, who came to Canada as a pio 
neer settler in Lambton County, dying m 
Warwick township. 

James Taylor was born in Elksley, Eng 
land, in 1826. while his wife was born in 
Dundee, Scotland, in 1830. These two 
were married in Canada in 1854, settling in 
Warwick township, on wild land, and there 
they made their home, rearing a large fam 
ily, and dying full of years and noted for 
their piety. He was a member of the Church 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of England and she of the Presbyterian 
Church. The death of James Taylor oc 
curred in February, 1904, while his wife 
passed away April 9, 1904. They had 
shared together the hardships and pleasures 
of life for over forty-nine years, spending 
their married life at their old homestead in- 
Warwick. They bore together the difficul 
ties and hardships which attended the life 
of the pioneer settlers of this locality, and 
which were experienced to the utmost by 
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, who brought to every 
trial, however, that courage and fortitude 
which loyal Canadians have ever admired 
in the characters of their forefathers. They 
lived upright, conscientious lives, and left be 
hind them a record of usefulness that those 
who follow them may well make a stand 
ard of emulation. James Taylor was a man 
of exemplary character, and he was greatly 
missed in his locality. In politics he was a 
Reformer, but he never sought office. This 
worthy couple had children as follows: 
Man-, born in Warwick, now deceased, mar 
ried Daniel Stephenson, who settled in Sea- 
forth, Ont. where she died and left a daugh 
ter. Ada Stephenson; James, born in War 
wick, married Ella Sampon, of London, and 
settled in Lobo township as a farmer, and 
they have two daughters, Alice and Jennie ; 
John is our subject; Emily, born in War 
wick in 1863, now deceased, married James 
1- rayne, who settled as a butcher on the farm 
where she died in 1900, leaving two chil 
dren, Jessie and Gordon; Clara, born in 
1868, is the wife of Henry Frayne, who 
resides in Bosanquet township, and they 
have children as follows: Albin, Oscar 
Emily, Annie, Orville, Martha, Edith and 
A ictor; Wallace, born in 1870, is unmarried 
and is an invalid, residing on the old home 
farm. 

John Taylor was reared in Warwick 
township, and like his brothers and sisters 
received a public-school education. Having 
always taken an interest in farming, he in 
r8/9 purchased his present home of 100 
acres, which was then all wild land. At 
first he put a log shanty on it and commenced 
clearing off his land, living there as a bach- 



445 

elor for several years, until May 26, 1891, 
when he married Miss Mary J. Stewardson. 
She was born in Bosanquet township, Lamb- 
ton County, Oct. 25, 1862, daughter of 
Thomas and Fanny Stewardson, who came 
to the County of Lambton from England, 
and became early pioneers of this locality. 
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor settled in their farm 
home, and in 1895 - AIr - Taylor built a com 
fortable house. He put up his bank barn in 
1892, and has made other improvements 
from time to time, until he now has one of 
the finest farms in the township. One son 
has come to this marriage, David, born in 
March, 1893, who is now a student in the 
district schools. In religious connection 
-Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Methodist 
Church, and Mr. Taylor joins her in attend 
ing its services, and contributes liberally to 
its support. 

Politically Mr. Taylor is a Conservative, 
but like his father he has never sought office. 
He started life on his own resources, and is 
now ranked among Enniskillen s self-made 
men, having purchased land and cleared up 
a home from the wilderness. He is one of 
the county s practical and well-to-do farm 
ers, a good citizen, and a man highly es 
teemed by all who know him for his honest, 
upright, character, which is evidence of his 
sterling worth. Mrs. Taylor is a woman of 
many virtues and comes of a prominent old 
family of Lambton County. 



JOHN ROBBIXS, one of Moore town 
ship s grand old men, who has spent sixty 
years of his life in that locality, being among 
the oldest living pioneers, is a product of 
Canada, born Jan. 6, 1832, in Cooksville, 
Peel County. Ontario. 

The Robbins family is of Irish and Eng 
lish descent, but for over a century the name 
has been established in Ontario. Amariah 
Robbins, the father of John, was a native of 
Hastings County, where his father settled 
after emigrating from Ireland. Amariah 
Robbins grew to manhood in his native 
town, and there in his young years followed 
farming. He removed to Cooksville, Peel 
County, where he continued farming, and 



446 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



there he married Polly Lawrence, by whom 
lie had the following children : Jane married 
James Thrasher; William died in Michigan 
in 1900; Moses died in Cooksville; Abigail 
married William Proctor, and both are de 
ceased ; Rachel married Thomas Ruebot- 
liam, and both are deceased; Abijah is de 
ceased ; Daniel died in Northstreet, St. Clair 
county, Michigan; Henry resides in Michi 
gan ; Margaret died young ; John is our 
subject; Joseph died in Michigan; Stephen 
lives in Michigan; Sarah married William 
McKeller, and also resides in Michigan. 

Amariah Robbins brought part of his 
family to Lambton County in 1844, locat 
ing on the 8th Line of Moore township, 
where the remainder of his life was spent 
wi th his son Stephen, in Brigden. There he 
died in 1879, at the age of eighty-three 
years, and was buried in the Bear Creek 
cemetery. He was a member of the Meth 
odist Church, while politically he was a Re 
former. His wife died at the home of her 
son Daniel, in Northstreet, Michigan, where 
she was buried. 

John Robbins received but a limited edu 
cation, as the opportunities for learning in 
those days were confined to a subscription 
school, there being no public schools at that 
time. He was only in his thirteenth year 
when he journeyed with his father and other 
members of his family to the wilds of Moore 
township, and assisted his brothers in clear 
ing the farm, by cutting down the forest and 
converting in into timber. He was consid 
ered quite an axeman in his day, being one 
of the best hewers of wood in the township, 
making from thirty to forty dollars a month 
at this occupation. At the age of eighteen 
years, with the money saved from his wood 
cutting, Mr. Robbins purchased a fifty-acre 
tract of land, from William Smith, upoa 
which he started farming, and as time went 
on kept adding to this tract, fifty acres at a 
time, until finally he had accumulated 350 
acres now one of the best cultivated tracts 
in the township. Mr. Robbins built a fine 
brick dwelling house in 1897, and has good 
substantial barns. He has spent some time 
in horse and stock raising. He has led an 



abstemious, orderly life, and at an age when 
many have put aside all worldly enjoyments 
on account of infirmity he is hale and hearty, 
and in the possession of his mental and phys 
ical faculties. In these days it is rather re 
markable to find a man of Mr. Robbins s 
years who has never indulged in alcoholic 
beverages or tobacco, but such is his proud 
record, and he is a stanch advocate of tem 
perance, believing that this should be in 
stilled in the youth of the country, and that 
the home should be the place to set the 
example. 

Politically Mr. Robbins is a supporter 
of the principles of the Liberal party, and 
although never seeking office has always 
tried to do his full duty as a citizen, and has 
served as trustee of his school section. In 
religious matters he is a member of the 
Methodist Church, and has been steward 
and trustee of the church at Corunna. 

Mr. Robbins was married, on the 2d 
Line of Moore township, July 9, 1855, to 
Miss Mary Ann Gray, who was born in 
Hamilton, daughter of George and Barbara 
( Mann) Gray, both of whom were natives 
of Scotland and early pioneers in Moore 
township. Mrs. Robbins died at her home 
June 19, 1892, after thirty-seven years of 
married life, and was laid to rest in the 
Union cemetery at Mooretown. She was a 
Christian woman in every sense of the 
word, and was greatly devoted to her home, 
husband and family. She was an adherent 
of the Methodist Church, and was highly re 
spected and noted for her kindness of heart. 

The following children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. John Robbins : Catherine married 
Albert Brown, and at her death, on May 16, 
1904, at the Sarnia hospital, left two chil 
dren, Frederick Lewis and Lena Jane. 
George, a farmer, married Grace Payne, 
daughter of the late Joshua Payne, justice 
of the peace, and they have seven children, 
Mary, Florence, Joshua, Morell, Retta, 
Maurice B. and Earl. Barbara, wife of 
George Carleton, resides at Edmonton, Al 
berta. N. W. T. .and has had eight children, 
Eva M., Maggie, Delia, Georgie, William 
(deceased), Grace, Logan and Emma. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



447 



Minerva Jane married Joseph Brown, of 
Sombra township, and lias six children. 
Amos E., Mabel J., Ethel M., Elva S., Jessie 
M. and John R. Andrew, a farmer on the 
9th Concession, Moore township, married 
Margaret Brown and they have nine chil 
dren, Edna M., Edmoncl, Gordon, John H., 
Edward, Bertha. Frederick, Nora and Wal 
ter. Albert, a farmer on the 6th Line of 
Moore township, married (first) Sarah 
Ayre, by whom he had two children, Esther 
H. (deceased) and Delmer J. J., and (sec 
ond) Lizzie Wheeler. Emma is at home. 
Margaret died in infancy. Annie is at home. 
Frank, a resident of Denver, Colorado, mar 
ried Clara Baxter, who died April 29, 1905, 
and they had two children. Pearl and Stew 
art. Ida, who was a school teacher in Sar- 
nia township, and in the Northwest Terri 
tory, married William Marsh, of the 6th 
Line of Moore township, and has two chil 
dren, Ruth and Bessie E. Frederick, a res 
ident of Alberta, Northwest Territory, mar 
ried Minnie Everts, and they have two chil 
dren, James and Hazeline. Herbert and 
Alexander are at home. 

CHRISTOPHER BROWNLEE. a 
successful and enterprising agriculturist and 
stock raiser of Euphemia township, Lamb- 
ton County, located on Concession 8, Lot 
32, was born on his present farm in April, 
1839, son of William and Jane (Willis) 
Brownlee, natives of County Cavan, Ireland, 
who came to Canada in 1832. 

William Brownlee was born in 1807 and 
his wife in 1802. They came from their na 
tive country in a sailing vessel, landing at 
Quebec after six weeks on the ocean, and 
brought their youngest son, William, with 
them, John coming later with his grand 
father. Robert \Yillis. Settling on the pres 
ent home of our subject. Mr. Brownlee 
cleared up a farm from the bush, he and his 
family being among the earliest settlers of 
Euphemia township. Mr. Brownlee died at 
this home in 1883, and his wife in 1886. she 
being in her eighty-fourth year. Of their 
family of eight children, five are still living: 
John, born in Ireland, settled near the old 



homestead, where he died in 1893. leaving a 
widow and family ; Y\ illiam. born in Ire 
land, is a retired farmer of Wyoming; Jane, 
born in Euphemia township, is the widow of 
William Main, of Euphemia township, and 
has a family; Margaret, born in Euphemia, 
married George Annett. who died at Wat 
ford in 1905, leaving a family: Eliza is the 
wife of Dougald Monroe, a resident of the 
ist Concession of Brooke township, and has 
a family ; Henry died when a young man ; 
Mary A. died in young womanhood; Chris 
topher is our subject. 

Christopher Brownlee grew up at the old 
home, and received a limited education. He 
remained at the old homestead, where he has 
been manager ever since his fifteenth year, 
when his father put him in charge. On 
June 13, 1866, he married Miss Sarah Bas 
kerville, of Strathroy. daughter of Thomas 
and Ann Baskerville, and they settled on the 
old home place which Mr. Brownlee has 
nearly completed clearing; he has also 
erected all of the present buildings. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Brownlee the following children 
have been born : Adaline, the wife of Robert 
Johnston, resides in Euphemia. and has one 
son, Russell ; Louisa, the wife of Frank 
Dodge, resides in Manitoba, although he 
was formerly of Euphemia, where he owned 
a farm; Bertha is the wife of Leslie Moore- 
house, who resides in Euphemia. and has 
one daughter. Gladys ; Lena, wife of John 
W. Armstrong, resides in Brooke township; 
Walter H., manager of the home farm, mar 
ried in April, 1905, Miss Margaret Mitchell, 
born in Brooke, daughter of Samuel 
Mitchell, of that place: Nellie is at the old 
homestead ; William and Amelia died in 
childhood. 

Mr. Brownlee and his family are con 
nected with the Church of England. Polit 
ically he is a Conservative, has filled the 
office of school trustee for six years, and is a 
member of the county council at the present 
time. 

Thomas and Ann Baskerville, Mrs. 
Brownlee s parents, came to Canada in 1853 
and first settled at Ottawa, where he started 
business as a cabinetmaker, continuing thus 



44 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



for some years. He then removed to To 
ronto, remaining there three years, at the 
end of which time he located in Strathroy, 
where he and his wife spent the remainder 
of their lives, he dying in 1900 and his wife 
in 1903. They had children as follows: 
James, a mechanic of Chatham, Ont., mar 
ried Miss Rebecca Fleming, and had one 
son, Dr. Charles (he was a soldier in one 
of the Michigan regiments engaged in the 
Civil war in the United States, and served 
throughout that struggle, being twice 
wounded) ; John, a mechanic of Strathroy, 
married Miss Martha Creary, of Strathroy, 
and they have four children, Bertram, Will 
iam, Edgar and Lottie ; Rev. Thomas, who 
resides in Detroit, where he fills a pulpit in 
the Episcopal Church, married Miss May 
Armstrong, of Adelaide, and they have one 
son, Herbert, a lawyer of the United States ; 
Samuel, a mechanic of Toronto, married 
Martha Morish, of Toronto, and they have a 
family Lottie, Nellie, Gertie, Birdie, 
Arthur and Herbert; Robert married Julia 
Ralph, of Detroit, where he and his wife 
reside, and they have had three sons, Roy, 
Blake (who died in July, 1905) and Ralph; 
Anne, the wife of James Allen, of Toronto, 
has seven children, William, Thomas, Sam 
uel, Walter, Mabel, Dollie and Lillia; Mar 
garet, born in Dublin, Ireland, died when a 
young lady; Hattie, born at Ottawa, is the 
wife of George Allen, who resides in Chi 
cago, being an engineer of that city, and 
has a family Belle, Birdie, George, Charles 
and Edgar; Louisa, born in Canada, is the 
wife of Thomas Pearson, a farmer of Mid 
dlesex County, and has a family of four 
children, Otta, Winston, Esther and Leon 
ard; Sarah, Mrs. Brownlee, was the eldest 
daughter in this family. 

Mrs. Brownlee was born in Dublin, Ire 
land, in 1848, and was educated in Canada, 
where she grew to womanhood, having been 
four and a half years old when her parents 
came to this country. She is a lady of in 
telligence and refinement and has been a lov 
ing wife and devoted mother. 

For over sixty-five years Mr. Brownlee 
has been identified with the growth and de 



velopment of the community in which he 
resides, and he has proved himself a most 
useful citizen. He is most highly honored 
and esteemed by all who know him for his 
many admirable traits of character. 

GEORGE PEARCE, until recently the 
popular and efficient reeve of Enniskillen 
township, Lambton County, is an English 
man by birth, and the only one of his family 
to reside in Canada. He was born in Devon 
shire, England, Nov. 22, 1849, son f Will 
iam and Elizabeth (Trayes) Pearce. 

William Pearce and his wife were both 
born in England, in 1819. and died there 
Sept. 26, 1896, and in 1849, respectively. 
He was a sailor by profession. The seven 
children born to this union all remained in 
England save George Pearce, the others be 
ing Edward ; William, who died leaving one 
daughter, Sylvia, now Mrs. Hans von Per- 
null, residing in the Palazzo Saponara, Pa 
lermo. Sicily ; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Caw- 
ley ; Margaret, deceased wife of George 
Fudge, who left seven children; Emma, 
widow of John Bowden, who was killed in 
1902, leaving three children; and Maria, at 
home, unmarried. 

George Pearce grew up in England, and 
was educated in the public schools. Having 
his own way to make in the world, he left 
home at the age of nineteen and sailed for 
Canada, coming to Quebec. He was first 
employed in railroad work in London, and 
then in August, 1869, came to Petrolia, and 
worked by the day in the oil fields. He was 
employed as foreman by H. W. Lancey, and 
remained with him twenty years, the latter 
part of the time also operating wells on his 
own land, as in 1882 he had bought prop 
erty in Concession 12, his present home. He 
now owns twenty productive wells, and is 
one of the active operators of the region. 
The family residence is a handsome house 
erected some years ago. 

Mr. Pearce was first married, in Dela 
ware, Ont., March 27, 1877, to Miss Maggie 
Hughson, of Lambton county, daughter of 
John Hughson. She died March 27, 1881, 
aged twenty-seven years and eight months, 




^az^> 




COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



449 



leaving one son. William. This son \vas 
educated in the Petrolia high school, and is 
now an artesian \vell driller in Petrolia. On 
Jan. ii, 1882, in Petrolia, Mr. Pearce was 
united to Amnia Lighthart, of Petrolia, who 
was born in July, 1855, daughter of James 
Lighthart, and died Oct. 14, 1888. She left 
one son, Frederick, who was educated in the 
high school and now lives at home. The 
present Mrs. Pearce was formerly Miss 
Mary A. Trotter. She was born Sept. 19, 
1865, in the County of Frontenac, Ont., 
daughter of John Trotter, a farmer of Pitts- 
burg, that county, belonging to one of Fron 
tenac County s old families. Their union was 
solemnized in 1891 and two children have 
been born to them, Almeda and Stanley. 
Mrs. Pearce s father died at his home in 
Frontenac County, where his wife, whose 
maiden name was Eliza Scott, still lives. 
The others of the family who are still living 
are Alexander, Thomas, \Yilliam, Jane and 
Lizzie, the last named at home. Another 
sister, Ellen, was killed in the Grand Trunk 
disaster near "Wyoming, Dec. 26, 1902. 

Politically Air. Pearce is a Conservative, 
and has long been prominent in local politics. 
In 1891 he was elected a member of the 
council of Enniskillen township, and filled 
that office most satisfactorily until December, 
1899, entering upon the duties of reeve in 
January, 1900, which position he held till 
December, 1903; he was chosen by acclama 
tion. He is an enthusiastic lodge man and 
belongs to four orders, namely : The Inde 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 
65, of Petrolia: Court Pyramid. Xo. 412, 
Foresters, of Marthaville; United Work 
men, at Petrolia ; and the Maccabees, Lodge 
No. 108, at Marthaville. In religious belief 
he holds to the doctrines of the Church of 
England. Mr. Pearce is not only a popular 
man in his county, but is one who commands 
the unreserved respect of all, for his ability, 
energy, honesty and geniality combine to 
form a most admirable character. 

THOMAS BROWN, a native son of 
the "land o cakes" now capably filling the 
honorable office of reeve of Sarnia township, 

29 



is one of the thrifty farmers on the shores 
of Lake Huron. He was born in Dumfries 
shire, Scotland, the ancient home of the fam 
ily, in October, 1840, son of John and Grace 
(Reed) Brown. 

Thomas Brown, his grandfather, was a 
lifetime resident of Dumfriesshire, where he 
passed his years in strict adherence to duty, 
and as a law-abiding, respected citizen. His 
wife s maiden name was Rachel Brodfoot. 
Of the sons who came to Canada were John, 
Rev. David and Thomas. 

John Brown was born in Scotland, and 
there grew up, carefully trained to habits of 
industry and frugality. Upon reaching man 
hood he engaged in farming. He married 
Grace Reed, of Leeds Hills, who bore him 
eight children : Thomas ; William, unmar 
ried and occupying a part of the Sarnia 
township homestead; David, an engineer of 
St. Thomas; Miss Rachel, on the home 
stead; Mary, widow of James Whitman; 
Margaret, who died at the age of thirty 
years; Miss Grace, a professional nurse; and 
John, also on the home place in Sarnia town 
ship. Up to 1857 the family occupied the 
home in Scotland, but that year, when Mr. 
Brown was sixty years of age, he deter 
mined to come to Canada, inspired by his 
brother, Rev. David, whose glowing ac 
counts of the wonderful opportunities in the 
New World had induced other members of 
the family to seek the region where "the 
humblest may gather the fruits of the soil." 
Immediately upon landing in New York, 
after a voyage of eleven clays, John Brown 
started with his family for Lambton County, 
and there for the first ten years was a tenant 
farmer. He then purchased 100 acres on 
Lot 12, Concession 9, in Sarnia township, a 
tract that was but little cleared. To prepare 
a home on this land would have proved an 
impossible task for a man of his years, but 
in his sons Mr. Brown had most capable 
helpers, and the hardest of the labor was 
performed by them. The farm is delight 
fully located, bordering on the lake, with a 
good sandy beach, and it was almost all 
cleared when the father passed away, Feb. 
27, 1869, at the age of seventy- four. 



450 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Rev. David Brown, brother of John, was 
a Presbyterian minister in Scotland, and 
about 1840 came to Quebec, where he re 
mained six years. He then returned to Scot 
land as a delegate on the clergy land reserve 
commission, and remained there until 1855, 
when he returned to Canada and located in 
Lambton County, Ont. He made his home 
on Lot 6, Lake Shore, Sarnia township, but 
taught school in Plympton township for two 
years. His last days were spent with his 
nephew, Thomas Brown, and his death oc 
curred March n, 1884, at the age of eighty- 
two years. He never married. For one year 
he was township councillor, and for two 
years superintendent of schools. 

Thomas Brown, the present popular 
reeve of Sarnia township, was eighteen 
years of age when he accompanied his pa 
rents to Canada. His education and early 
training had all been acquired under the in 
fluence of the hardy Scotch race, and his nat 
ural energy well fitted him to contest 
undaunted with the natural wilderness 
that confronted him in Lambton County. 
He did his full share of labor in 
clearing the home farm, and then he 
rented an adjoining tract on the east, in Lot 
ii. In time he was able to buy the property, 
and it is now practically all -cleared and 
under cultivation, being devoted to general 
farming, in which the owner has met with 
no little success. His first dwelling was a 
little log house, which in 1901 was replaced 
by a large brick house that is one of the most 
comfortable in the township. 

Mr. Brown has taken a great interest in 
politics since attaining his majority. He ad 
vocates the principles of the Reform party, 
and is one of the leaders in township mat 
ters. In 1891 he was first elected a member 
of the Sarnia township council, and with the 
exception of one year he has served contin 
uously to the present time. In 1902 he was 
elected reeve, and at the end of his term was 
re-elected. He is prompt in the performance 
of his duties, and is a model public official. 
In church affairs he belongs to the Church 
of England. His social relations are with 



Maccabee Hive, No. 35, of Camlachie, as 
are those of his son. 

In Sarnia township, Feb. 22, 1871, Mr. 
Brown was married to Miss Flelen \Yilkie, 
who was born in Ramsay, Lanark County, 
Ont., Feb. 20, 1840, daughter of Robert and 
Janet (McFarland) Wilkie. Three children 
were born to them, but one, John, died at the 
age of six years. The others are : Robert 
W., who is interested with his father in the 
management of the home farm ; and Jessie, 
who is also at home. The family are much 
devoted to their home, and are esteemed by 
all who know them. 

Robert Wilkie and wife were both na 
tives of Scotland. They came to Lambtor 
County in 1850, and located on Lot 4, Con 
cession 9, Sarnia township, purchasing 100 
acres of land. Mr. Wilkie followed lumber 
ing for a few years, and then turned his at 
tention to farming. He died in 1896, at the 
age of ninety-four, and his wife passed away 
in 1889, at the age of eighty-seven. In poli 
tics he was a Reformer, and in religious 
faith a Presbyterian. His children were : 
Ann, who died young; Matthew and 
Charles, both deceased; Janet, widow ot 
Donald Thomas, of Vassar, Michigan ; 
George, deceased ; Margaret, of Bruce 
County, Ont., widow of John Ward; Helen, 
Mrs. Thomas Brown; Jean, who died 
young; Kate, widow of Daniel Jones, of 
Plympton township ; and Robert, who died 
young. 

GEORGE LEACH, a prominent 
farmer in Enniskillen township, residing on 
Concession 14, Lot 29, w r as born in the town 
of O Compton, Devonshire, England, on 
July 23. 1845. son of George and Elizabeth 
(Gould) Leach. 

The Leach family was an old one in 
England, and there the grandfather, John 
Leach, died. There were four sons and two 
daughters, all of whom except George, Sr., 
lived and died in their native land. George 
was born in Devonshire in 1812, and was 
given a thoroughly good education in Eng 
land. His wife, born in the same county in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



451 



1818, was the daughter of George and Eliza 
beth Gould. Her parents also came to Can 
ada, settled at Woodstock and died in Zorra. 
Mr. Leach married in England, and had fol 
lowed the trade of a butcher there for ten 
years before he and his wife sailed for 
Quebec in 1849. They made their home at 
first on a rented farm in the northern part 
of Oxford County, hut after thirteen years 
in that section they moved to Delaware 
township, Middlesex County, where Mr. 
Leach bought 100 acres of wild land, cleared 
it, put up good buildings, and finally made 
it into a fine farm. He had acquired 400 
acres of land at the time of his death, and 
was a wealthy and successful man. In poli 
tics he was a strong Liberal, interested in 
public matters and eminently fitted by his 
education and ability to hold any office, but 
he always refused every suggestion of seek 
ing such a position. In religious belief Mr. 
Leach and his wife were both members of 
the Church of England. They died at the 
old homestead, he on April 17, 1894, his 
wife in February, 1898. 

To George and Elizabeth Leach eight 
children were born, namely : Sarah, born in 
England, who died in Delaware township, 
when a voting ladv, as did also Bessie, the 

J o * 

second daughter; George; John, born on 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence during the voyage 
to Canada in 1849, wno married Miss Mary 
Thompson, of Delaware township, and re 
sides on a farm adjoining his father s old 
home; William, born in 1851, who married 
Miss Mary Turner, of Southwold, and lives 
on the old Delaware home; Mary, 1854, who 
is unmarried and living at her old home ; 
Sophia, 1856, who married Archibald 
Thompson, of Delaware township; Alberta, 
1866, who lives at home, unmarried. 

George Leach was educated in the 
schools of Oxford County, and as he grew 
older remained at home, assisting his father 
to clear the farm in Delaware. In Novem 
ber, 1876, he married Miss Mary Campbell, 
and for five years following they lived in 
Delaware, but finally moved to Enniskillen 
and bought the home in which they still 
live. They began in their present house on 



their uncleared property, but Mr. Leach has 
steadily prospered and to-day owns a well 
cultivated farm with fine house and barns, 
all achieved by his own honest industry. He 
also owns fifty acres adjoining his original 
purchase on the west. 

Mrs. Leach who was born in Southwold, 
Elgin County, in August, 1856, was the 
daughter of Colin and Jeanette (Monroe) 
Campbell, and of one of Delaware s pioneer 
families. Colin Campbell was born in Argyll 
shire, Scotland, in 1830, and his wife, al 
though born in Elgin County, in 1836, was 
of Scotch descent. Her parents, Donald and 
Mary Monroe, came to Canada in 1827. 
Colin Campbell was brought to Canada in 
childhood and educated in Elgin County, 
where he continued to reside through life. A 
farmer by occupation, he was a prominent 
man and active in public affairs, filling the 
positions of reeve and councilman for many 
years. In politics he was a Liberal and a 
Presbyterian in his religious belief. His 
honorable and useful life ended at his home 
in 1895, but his wife is still living and makes 
her home with a daughter, Mrs. Alexander 
McFarland, of Middlesex County. Their 
five children were : Donald, on the Delaware 
farm ; Nancy, Mrs. Thomas West, of Wood 
stock, Oxford County; Eliza, Mrs. McFar 
land ; Duncan, deceased, was a practicing 
physician of Toronto ; and Mary, Mrs. 
Leach. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of 
six children, namely : Gertrude, born in Del 
aware in 1877, is now residing with her pa 
rents; Jessie, 1880, who was graduated from 
the Watford high school, has taught sev 
eral years in Lambton County, and is now a 
student in the Toronto Normal ; Chester, 
born in Enniskillen in 1883, at home; Mur 
ray, 1885, also at home; Reginald, 1889. a 
student in the Watford high school ; Nor 
man, 1895. They are all young people of 
great promise of whom their parents are 
justly proud. Mr. Leach and his wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church and 
are prominent in all its work. Politically 
Mr. Leach has always been identified with 
the old Reform party. He takes a marked 



452 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



interest in school matters, and has served 
on the board of trustees for seventeen years. 
He is a man of influence in his community 
and a most highly respected citizen. 

ANDREW W. CRAIG, postmaster and 
retired fanner of Enniskillen township, 
Lambton County, now residing on Conces 
sion 5, Lot 31, was born on the Isle of 
Wight, Hampshire, England, March 27, 
1839, son of Andrew and Helen (Reid) 
Craig, both of whom were born at Paisley, 
Scotland. 

When Andrew Craig, the father of our 
subject, was eighteen years of age, he en 
listed in the Royal Scotch Greys from the 
town of Paisley, and served in the British 
army for ten years, having had experience 
in the Mounted Coast Guards previous to 
his enlistment. During his term of serv 
ice he married Miss Helen Reid, who passed 
away in Yorkshire, England, in the year 
1846, leaving him seven children: (i) El 
len married William Gordon, of Spokane, 
\\ ashington, and has one son, George A. 
(2) James, born in England, a retired mer 
chant of Toronto, has a family of seven 
children, James, Edward, Ada, Hypatia, 
Andrew, Blanche, and Stella. (3) Robert, 
torn in Edinburgh, Scotland, who came to 
Canada in 1853, married Jane Thompson, 
of Hamilton, where he settled and was in the 
employ of the Great Western Railroad for 
over thirty years. At the time of his death 
in 1896, he had a permanent home in Ham 
ilton. He left four daughters, Ellen (now 
Mrs. John McDowell, of Hamilton), Jessie 
(now Mrs. Archie Lowrie of Enniskillen), 
Amelia (wife of George Scull, of Sarnia) 
and Agnes, with Mrs. Scull, of Sarnia. (4) 
Elizabeth, born in Kent, England, married 
John Dean, of Gait, and died in 1881. (5) 
Andrew W. was fifth in the order of birth. 
(6) Peter was born in Yorkshire, England, 
the last resting place of our subject s mother. 
He came to Canada and married Miss Chris 
tina Grant, of Ingersoll. They settled at 
Windsor where he was engaged in the manu 
facturing business, and where his death oc 
curred in August, 1902; three children sur 



vive him, Mary (wife of Alex Pepa, organ 
ist of the Cathedral at Detroit), Alex (of 
Windsor) and Ernest (who was seriously 
wounded in the South African war). (7) 
Margaret A. died at sea on the way to Can 
ada at the age of five years. 

The second marriage of Andrew Craig- 
was to Martha Carrick, of Yorkshire, Eng 
land, in 1847. In 1848 Mr. Craig came to 
Canada but in 1849 returned to England. 
Five years later he again came to Canada, 
where, in Montreal, his wife died of cholera, 
leaving one son Thomas, a machinist of 
Franklin, Manitoba, who married Miss An 
nie Allison, and has two children, Annie and 
Charles. Mr. Craig married his third wife 
at Gait, Ontario, where she died in 1872. 

Andrew W. Craig received a fair educa 
tion in England. When thirteen years of 
age he went to sea, and followed sailing for 
sixteen years, crossing the Mediterranean 
and Baltic Seas and the Atlantic Ocean. He 
came to Canada, via Quebec, in 1865, set 
tling at Gait, where his father was located. 
Here he worked for one year for the Great 
Western Railroad at Chatham, then moved 
to Hamilton and sailed on the Lakes for two 
or three years. In 1866 he saw service dur 
ing the Fenian raid. In 1870 he moved to 
Wyoming, where he interested himself in 
oil for some time, and then engaged with 
Frank Ward as foreman on the Canadian 
Pacific Railroad, at which occupation he 
worked for two years. In the year 1880 he 
came to Enniskillen, and purchased 100 
acres of wild land, which he cleared up and 
made into his present fine home. In 1882 
he engaged with the Widman Lumber Com 
pany as foreman in the lumber operations in 
Lambton County, and for nineteen years was 
in their employ. Since 1902 Mr. Craig has 
lived a retired life. 

In August, 1860, Andrew W. Craig 
married Miss Elizabeth Staveley, who was 
born in Yorkshire, England, in August, 
1836, daughter of James and Rebecca Stave- 
ley, both of Yorkshire. Mrs. Craig died 
at our subject s home in May, 1901, leav 
ing four children: (i) James, torn in 
Hamilton in 1866, had a good educatioa 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



453 



and was a clerk, in Lambton County, until 
he removed to Spokane, Washington, where 
he now resides. (2) Charles born at Clin 
ton in 1869, grew up on the farm, and now 
resides in Euphemia township; he married 
Miss Jean Clark of Harrow, Essex County, 
and has four children, Grace, Charles, So 
phie and Agnes. (3) Rebecca, born in Wyo 
ming in March, 1871, and educated in 
Lambton County, in December, 1895, mar 
ried Henry S. Groff, of Welland County, 
son of Henry and Jessie Groff of Inwood, 
in which place his father died; Mr. Groff is 
manager of Mr. Craig s farm where he and 
his wife reside. (4) Eleanor, born in Wyo 
ming in 1874, received a fine education in 
the high schools, and was also given the ad 
vantage of a musical education, and is a 
very good vocalist; she is single and remains 
on the old homestead. 

Politically Mr. Craig has always voted 
the Reform ticket, but never aspired to office, 
although in 1900 he was appointed post 
master of Weidmann, which office he has 
since filled satisfactorily and efficiently. In 
fraternal circles he is a member of Court 
Weidmann, Xo. 350, Independent Order of 
Foresters. 

Andrew W. Craig is a man whose name 
as well as his word is respected, and he has 
always identified himself with all projects 
which promised the advancement of the 
community of which he is a very useful 
citizen. 

COLIN WALKER, a farmer of Brooke 
township, residing on his tract of land on 
Concession 9, Lot 18, was born May i, 1853, 
in Metcalfe township, Middlesex County, 
son of Archie and Sarah (Leitch) Walker, 
both of whom were born in Argyllshire, 
Scotland. 

James Walker, grandfather of Colin, 
came to Canada in 1830, where he and his 
wife started life on wild land, being among 
the early settlers of Middlesex County. They 
were the parents of seven children : John, de 
ceased ; Duncan, deceased ; Colin, deceased ; 
Dugald, deceased; Archie; Erne, who mar 
ried Archie Monroe, in Middlesex County; 



and Isabella, who married Samuel Mc- 
Dougal, of Metcalfe, Middlesex, County. 

Archie Walker was born in 1815, and 
was sixteen years of age when his parents 
came to Canada. He was reared in Middle 
sex, and after marriage settled near his fa 
ther s old home in Metcalfe, where he made 
a permanent home from wild land, and lived 
his entire life, his death occurring in 1883. 
Mrs. Walker died in 1902, at the age of 
eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Walker 
were among- the founders of the Presbyter 
ian Church in Middlesex County. Politically 
he was a stanch Reformer, and held the office 
of assessor of Metcalfe for a number of 
years. To these good people nine children 
were born, as follows : Isabella, torn in 
Metcalfe, married Xeil Campbell, of Brooke 
township, and at her death left a large fam 
ily; Jane married John W. Mcllwain, and 
resides on Concession 8, Brooke township ; 
Sarah, deceased, married Donald McAlpine, 
of Brooke township; Nancy, widow of Mai- 
comb McLachlin, has four children ; Mizie, 
born in Metcalfe, married James McBride, 
a merchant and grain dealer of Middlesex 
County; Hugh was reared in Middlesex 
County, where he married Miss Rachel Bell, 
and settled at Forest, where they now reside, 
and they have four children : William, born 
in 1855, married and settled in Exeter, Ont., 
where he now lives a retired life; John, born 
in 1858, married and lives on the old home 
in Metcalfe, Middlesex County; and Colin 
is mentioned below. 

Colin Walker grew up on the old home 
stead in Metcalfe, where he learned the car 
penter s trade, in conjunction with farming, 
which he carried on for some time. In 1884 
Air. Walker settled on his present farm of 
100 acres, which was at that time nearly all 
wild land, but he now has it nearly all cleared 
up, and has one of the best places in Brooke. 
He first lived in a log house, making it his 
home until 1898, when he erected his fine 
brick house, barns and out buildings. 

On May 23, 1884, Mr. Walker married 
Miss Annie McBride, born in February, 
1858, in Elgin County, daughter of Duncan 
and Mary (McCallen) McBride. Mr. Me- 



454 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Bride was born in 1828, in Scotland, son of 
Peter McBride who came to Elgin County 
from Scotland. Mrs. McBride was born in 
Elgin County, on Lake Erie, and still re 
sides at Mrs. Walker s old homestead in 
Elgin County. Her husband died at his 
home in Dun \vich township, in 1893, being 
at the time of his death in his sixty-fifth 
year. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Bride were as follows : James, a merchant 
of Walkers, Ont. ; Duncan, residing on the 
old home in Elgin County ; Amy, married to 
D. McGugan, of Ekfrid, Ont.; Mary J., 
wife of Alexander Turner, of Elgin County; 
Cassie E., married to James Gauld, of Elgin 
County ; Libbie, married to George Little, 
of Elgin County; and Annie, now Mrs. 
Walker, who was reared in Middlesex Coun 
ty, where she received a good education. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walker have always lived 
on the home which they now occupy. To 
them the following children have been born : 
Archie, residing at home ; Duncan P., who 
died in childhood ; Sarah E. ; Duncan J. ; 
Mary J. ; Hugh W. ; Maggie A. ; Mizena ; 
and Alma B. 

Religiously the family are members of 
Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Walker 
has been a trustee, and was on the committee 
on church work in Brooke township for 
years, and afterward was appointed as elder 
in the church. Politically he is a Reformer, 
and has filled the office of school trustee for 
several terms. Mr. Walker is in the enjoy 
ment of a fine home secured through his own 
industry, and he stands as one of the rep 
resentative citizens of Brooke township. 

PAUL KINGSTON, one of Lambton 
County s good, practical farmer citizens, who 
is engaged in cultivating the soil in Conces 
sion 13, Lot 21, Brooke township, was born 
in Toronto Dec. 2, 1855, son of Paul and 
Martha (Johnston) Kingston. 

Paul Kingston, Sr., was born in the 
south of Ireland in 1810, the son of Paul 
Kingston (i), who came to Canada in 1840, 
settling at Toronto, where he died in 1842. 
His wife Charity Langtry, whom he married 
in 1807, passed away the year previously. 



They had a family of fourteen children, of 
whom only three are now living: George, 
of Buffalo ; John, of Toronto, Ont. ; and 
Margaret, the wife of William Kingston, 
who lives near Forest, in Lambton County. 
Paul Kingston (2), the father of our sub 
ject, was educated in the old country, com 
ing to Canada in 1840 with his parents. Lo 
cating with them in Toronto he worked at 
his trade civil engineering and the build 
ing of locomotives. In 1852 he married 
Martha Johnston, who was born near Dub 
lin, Ireland, in 1832, daughter of Thomas 
Johnston, who came to Canada and settled 
in Toronto, afterward removing to the town 
of Palmerston. Our subject s father lived 
in Toronto until 1863, and then removed to 
the 1 2th Concession, Brooke township, where 
he owned land which he had purchased in 
1845. Here he settled and remained until 
his death, clearing a home for himself and 
family from the wild land. His death oc 
curred in 1890, his worthy wife passing 
away in December, 1881. He and his wife 
were consistent members of the old English 
Church. In political matters he was an 
active Conservative. They left a family of 
six children, all of whom are living : Annie, 
born at Toronto in 1853, resides at Wat 
ford; Paul, our subject, is the only son of 
his parents; Eliza, born in Toronto in 1859, 
resides in Watford; Fannie M., born in 1861, 
is the wife of James Kelly, who resides on 
the 1 2th Concession of Brooke, and has a 
family; Maggie, born in 1864, is the wife 
of James Coke, a resident of the nth Con 
cession of Brooke, and has a family ; Hen 
rietta, born in Brooke township in 1868, is 
the wife of Leonard Guy, a business man of 
Wyoming, and has a family. 

Paul Kingston (3) grew to manhood in 
Brooke township, where he attended the pub 
lic schools. Being the only son he remained 
at home on the farm until his marriage, Dec. 
31. 1884, to Miss Mary E. Shirley, who was 
born on the I2th Concession of Brooke 
township Aug. 3, 1855, daughter of George 
and Margaret (King) Shirley, pioneers of 
Brooke township. Mr. Kingston had pur 
chased his present farm, which then con- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



455 



sisted of wild land, before his marriage, and 
after clearing the land from timber and 
bush he erected his present brick house, in 
1891. He also built good substantial barns 
and outbuildings, made fine improvements, 
and has one of the best farms in the locality 
at the present time. In 1895 he purchased 
his father s old farm, and is now the owner 
of both, operating extensively. In 1904 he 
bought the Spalding farm, on Lot 21, Con 
cession ii. To Mr. and Mrs. Kingston 
five children have been born : Paul S., born 
July 13, 1886, was educated in the Watford 
schools and is now a teacher in Brooke town 
ship; Frederick B., born Oct. 13, 1888, re 
sides at home; George F. was born Jan. 16, 
1891; Kathleen, Jan. 15, 1895; ancl Dor ~ 
othy, born April 2, 1889 (died March 16, 
1902). 

Mr. and Mrs. Kingston are members of 
the Church of England. Politically Mr. 
Kingston, like his father, supports the Con 
servative party, has been a councillor of 
Brooke township for seven years, and a 
member of the school board for something 
like ten years. He is a member of the Order 
of Orangemen, Brooke Lodge, No. 746, in 
which he has filled many chairs, and he was 
connected with the 27th Battalion, St. 
Clair Borderers, in which he was a first 
lieutenant until the company was disbanded, 
serving as a soldier ten years. 

Mr. Kingston is one of the self-made 
men of Brooke township. He has been very 
successful in his farming operations and has 
supported all good movements in the com 
munity. He is very well known and highly 
esteemed. 

ARCHIE A. DAWSOX. a farmer of 
Enniskillen township, located on Lot 18, 
Concession 14, was torn July 13. 1863, in 
Plympton township. Lambton County, and 
was only six months old when brought to 
the farm he still occupies by his parents, 
Alexander and Catherine (Corkindale) 
Daw son. 

Alexander Dawson and his wife were both 
horn in Argyllshire, Scotland, he in 1829, 
and she in 1821. They were married in 1854, 



and came to Canada on their wedding trip. 
Mr. Dawson had been a head gardener in 
his native land, but after reaching the Xew 
World he began as a farmer, buying wild 
land and gradually transforming it into its 
present form. The road from the town line 
to his house was cut through by Mr. Daw- 
son himself. After nearly half a century on 
this place Mr. Dawson died very suddenly 
Sept. 4. 1898, but his wife lived and made 
her home with her son, Archie, where she 
was given the most devoted care by him and 
his wife, until her death Feb. 20, 1905, at 
the age of eighty-three years and eight 
months. Their four children were as fol 
lows : Jessie, who married Alexander Mc- 
Lachlin, and died in 1892, leaving one son, 
Allen, a clerk in the Sovereign Bank, Wyo 
ming; Miss Mary, born in Lambton County, 
and living in Enniskillen township with her 
aunt, Mrs. Corkindale; Alexander, born in 
1861, who married Miss Martha Osborn. of 
Plympton township, where they reside (they 
have no family) ; and Archie A., mentioned 
below. 

Archie A. Dawson grew up on the old 
homestead, of which he has been the man 
ager for many years. He was married April 
ii, 1893, to Miss Sarah Leitch, of Brooke 
township, born Nov. 2, 1871. Her parents 
were Hugh and Jean (McAlpin) Leitch. old 
pioneers of that section. The father was a 
native of Argyllshire, torn in 1843. an <l n s 
wife was born in Canada in 1846. They 
still reside in Brooke township. The daugh 
ter, Mrs. Dawson, was given a good educa 
tion in the township schools and is a cultured 
woman. She has borne her husband three 
children, namely : Jessie, born in March, 
1894; Anna B., in August, 1895; and Allen 
Leitch, Feb. 24, 1898. 

The Dawson family have always been 
Presbyterians, and were among the founders 
of Church work in the county. Politically 
Mr. Dawson is a Reformer. He is also an 
enthusiastic lodge man, and belongs to the 
Odd Fellows Lodge No. 147, of Wyoming, 
and to the Maccabees, Lodge No. 38, of 
Wyoming. Mr. Dawson represents a prom 
inent and well-to-do family of Lambton 



45 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



County, and is a worthy descendant. He is 
a man of many noble qualities, and is highly 
esteemed for his good citizenship and pro 
gressive public spirit. 

ROBERT S. OLIVER. It is almost 
impossible to write any account of the devel 
opment of the various Provinces of the Do 
minion without going into detail relative to 
the men and women who have been instru 
mental in establishing and maintaining the 
present prosperous state of civilization. 
Among these thus worthy of special mention 
is Robert S. Oliver, of Sarnia, County of 
Lambton, Ont., who has been a resident of 
that city since 1858, and played a very im 
portant part in the business and public life 
of the community. 

The earliest record of the Oliver family 
in the possession of Mr. Oliver is of grand 
father John Oliver, who was born in Corn 
wall, England, about 1769, and died in that 
vicinity about 1837. By trade he was a 
blacksmith, and he was a very worthy man. 
His children were : John, father of Robert 
S. Oliver ; Richard, who died in England ; 
Mary Anne, who married James Oliver (no 
relation), and Elizabeth, wife of Abner 
Chase. 

John Oliver was born about 1804, and 
followed in the footsteps of his father in. the 
choice of a trade, becoming a blacksmith. He 
remained in his native land, where he died in 
1833. He married Miss Elizabeth Hoare, a 
native of England, who later came to On 
tario, and died at the home of Robert S. 
Oliver in 1880. The latter was the only 
child of his parents, and was born in England 
July 15, 1830. While still in England he 
learned the trade of carpenter, and was there 
married to Jane Lang, torn in Cornwall. 
England, in 1826. Believing that there were 
more opportunities offered in the Xe\v 
World, in i8;7, they emigrated to Adelaide, 
Ont., where Mr. Oliver followed his trade 
for a year, and on May 24, 1858, they settled 
in Sarnia, there making a permanent 
home. 

Upon first locating in Sarnia Mr. Oliver 
followed carpentering, but later, taking ad 



vantage of a good opening, he embarked in 
a contracting and roofing business, in which 
he was eminently successful, and also took, 
contracts for work in the oil fields, besides 
the roofing business his son now conducts, in 
addition to various other interests. The pub 
lic career of Mr. Oliver has been a prominent 
and useful one. For twelve or fourteen 
years he served in the council of Sarnia ; he 
was deputy reeve of Sarnia, which office 
made him a member of the county council, in 
which he served his last term in 1866, having 
occupied it for about four years. Three 
times he has been the Conservative nominee 
for mayor of Sarnia, but the Reform party 
being in the majority he was each time de 
feated, although in 1900 he came within 
seven votes of being elected. Always inter 
ested in educational matters, Mr. Oliver 
served on the board of education of Sarnia 
for a number of years, and was also chairman 
of that body. For two years he was license 
inspector at Sarnia, and since 1860 has been 
constable, which office his father held in 
England. The club carried by the latter in 
the exercise of his duties in that office is now 
in the possession of our subject s daughter, 
Mrs. Godley. 

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver became the parents 
of the following family : John, of Sarnia, 
married Bessie Jenkins, by whom he has had 
children, Maude, Blanch, Bertha and Made 
line; Christine, wife of Isaac Bond, of Alvin- 
ston, Ont., has four children, Olive, Arthur, 
Mabel and Horace; Sarah never mar 
ried and resided at home until her 
death, June 17, 1904; Bessie, wife of 
George Godley, of Sarnia, has six chil 
dren, George, Gertrude, Bessie, William, 
Lillian and Robert. Mrs. Oliver passed away 
Oct. 30, 1904, aged over seventy-seven 
years, and was buried in Sarnia cem 
etery. She was a member of the Methodist 
Church, to which Mr. Oliver also belongs, 
and in the work of which they have taken an 
active part, enjoying in highest degree the 
respect and confidence of a wide circle of 
friends and fellow workers. Fraternally Mr. 
Oliver is a Chapter Mason, and he is also 
a member of the Sons of England. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



457 



J. W. SMITH, who was born June 18, 
1856, at Strathroy, Middlesex County, is 
a son of Alfred and Mary E. (Mitchell) 
Smith, and a grandson of George Smith, 
who was born in England and was a soldier 
in the British service. George Smith was 
stationed on the Island of Bermuda, and 
after being retired, a pensioner from the 
army, he brought his family to Middlesex 
County, where they lived for a number of 
years, and then located in Lambton County, 
where Mr. Smith died in 1895, his wife sur 
viving until 1892, when she passed away in 
Alvinston. Three daughters and one son 
were born to George Smith and his wife, 
namely : Caroline, born in Bermuda, mar 
ried George Patterson, and lives in Dawn, 
Lambton County; Annie, born in Bermuda, 
married Isaac Totten, of Brooke township; 
Mary, born in Bermuda, married Henry 
Faunt, of Moore township, and they are both 
deceased; and Alfred. 

Alfred Smith was born in the Bermuda 
Islands, but was brought by his father to 
Middlesex County, where he was reared to 
manhood. He married Mary E. Mitchell, 
born in Belfast, Ireland, and in 1864 re 
moved to Brooke township and settled on 
Concession 14, where he cleared up a farm 
from wild land. He later removed to Con 
cession 6, where he cleared the farm, upon 
which he now resides. His wife died in 
1901, leaving four children: Eliza, born in 
Middlesex County in 1850, married John 
Calhoun, of Concession i, and they have 
children, Sarah, Anne, Merilla, Minnie, 
John, Bella, Andrew, Benjamin and Gladys; 
Maggie, born in 1852 in Middlesex County, 
married Walter Berry, of Ingersoll, a re 
tired business man, and they have children, 
Delia, Lottie, Walter and Clara; Alfred S., 
born in 1863, in Warwick, married Miss 
Susan Gardner, of Brooke township, and has 
children, Elizabeth, Mary. Maude, Robert, 
William, Walter, Gordon and Gertrude, 
(they reside on the old homestead in Brooke 
township) ; and J. W., the subject of this 
sketch. 

J. W. Smith was reared in Brooke town 
ship, where he received a fair education, and 



when a young man engaged in farming and 
lumbering. In April, 1882, he married Miss 
Eliza Foster, born in September, 1855, in 
Metcalfe, Middlesex County, daughter of 
Thomas and Margaret (Whitcraft) Foster, 
and of one of Middlesex s old pioneer famil 
ies. Thomas Foster and wife were both born 
in Ireland, and came to Canada at a very 
early date, settling in Metcalfe, where he died 
in 1876, and his wife is still living on their 
old homestead in Metcalfe, aged eighty-four 
years. To Thomas and Margaret Foster 
the following children were born : Margaret, 
who married James Patterson, of Metcalfe, 
and has a family ; Eliza, now the wife of Mr. 
Smith ; Isaac, who married Bella Cram, has 
two children and resides on Concession 14, 
in Brooke township; and J. I., unmarried 
and living at the old homestead in Middle 
sex County. 

J. W. Smith first settled, after marriage, 
on Concession 5, in Brooke township, where 
he started clearing up a farm from wild bush 
land. He erected buildings and improved 
the property so that in 1894 he was able to 
sell it, and removed to Alvinston, where he 
bought real estate, and owned three or four 
different properties. In 1897 Mr. Smith 
removed to Warwick township, where he 
purchased a farm of 100 acres, which he im 
proved, erecting buildings and draining the 
land, and in 1900 purchased John H. 
Fairbank s farm on Concession 7, which 
consists of 200 acres, and here he now 
makes his permanent home. His land is 
well-cultivated, his buildings modern and 
substantial, and Mr. Smith makes use of all 
modern improvements in farm machinery. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Smith the following 
children have been born : Maggie E., born 
in September, 1883, in Brooke township, 
received her education in Brooke township, 
and in the Alvinston High school, and lives 
at home; Foster W., born in October, 1885, 
is a student in the Watford high school, 
and resides at home; and Gordon L, born in 
October, 1888, is a well educated young 
man. who resides at home with his parents. 

Religiously the family are connected 
with the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Smith s parents were also devout and val 
ued members, while Mrs. Smith s parents 
were members of the Church of England. 
Politically J. W. Smith is connected with 
the Conservative party, and has always taken 
an active interest in politics, and has kept 
well-posted on local and municipal affairs. 
He is at present serving as one of the trus 
tees of the school board of Brooke township, 
which position he has filled for a number of 
years. Fraternally he has connected himself 
with the Independent Order of Foresters of 
Watford, and is also a member of the Alvin- 
ston Masonic Order, No. 323, of which he 
is a very popular member. Mr. Smith is one 
of the honest, upright and much esteemed 
citizens of Brooke township, and a worthy 
representative of a respected pioneer family. 

WILLIAM H. PARKS. Since the dis 
covery of oil in Lambton County, many of 
its inhabitants have turned their attention to 
that line of industry instead of farming, 
which had been so well nigh universal be 
fore, and it has proved to be a most advan 
tageous charge, for not only has it been 
profitable in the individual instances, but it 
has also given a new impulse to the whole 
business life of the section. One of the 
successful oil producers of the county is 
William H. Parks, of Lot 8, Concession 12, 
Enniskillen township. He was born in Cam- 
den township, Addington County, Ont., 
Sept. 3, 1854, to Henry and Lucy (Dop- 
kins) Parks. 

The parents were both born and reared 
in eastern Canada, but in 1871 Henry Parks 
brought his family to Petrolia, where he 
followed his trade, that of cooper. A few 
years before his death, which occurred in 
1892, he gave up all active work, and made 
his home with his son William. His wife s 
death had taken place the preceding year, 
in Petrolia. They were the parents of eight 
children, namely : Roxie, who died at the 
age of sixteen ; Willard, born in Lincoln 
County, who now lives with his wife and 
children in Cherokee County, Iowa: Rillie, 
wife of Ernest Drader, of Marthaville; 
Maria, who married a Mr. Peterson, and 



died _ leaving no family; Permelia, wife of 
William Moore, of Enniskillen township, 
who has no children ; Rebecca, who married 
John Judson, of Marthaville; Julia, de 
ceased wife of Samuel Babcock, of Ennis 
killen township, who left three children; and 
William H: 

William H. Parks was educated in the 
district school near his home, but after the 
family moved to Petrolia he began working 
as a teamster in the oil district. Very soon 
after reaching his majority he was married, 
on Nov. 30, 1876, to Miss Eliza M. La- 
motte. At first the young couple settled on 
the old home in Concession 12, in Petrolia, 
which belonged to Mrs. Parks s father, and 
there Mr. Parks was engaged in the produc 
tion of oil; in 1889 he bought land in 
Marthaville, where he followed the same 
industry. He put up a new house, barns, 
etc., and has a well improved and valuable 
piece of property, while he has been suc 
cessful in his oil business and is one of the 
solid men of the township. He and his wife 
have had seven children, but only three are 
living: (i) Carrie M., born Feb. 19, 1886, 
was educated in the Petrolia high school and 
is living at home ; she also passed with first- 
class honors in music at the London Con 
servatory of Music, successfully passing 
seven examinations. (2) Blake, born Aug. 
23, 1888, is still at school. (3) Blanche was 
born Jan. 2, 1891. 

Politically Mr. Parks has always voted 
with the Conservative party. In religious 
faith he is a Methodist, and with his wife a 
member of that church. The only lodge 
with which he is connected is the Order of 
Maccabees. Mr. Parks is one of the reliable, 
prosperous citizens of the county, and by 
his many admirable traits of character has 
won a number of very warm friends. 

Mrs. Eliza M. (Lamotte) Parks was 
born April u, 1859, near Madison, AYis- 
consin. whither the family had removed the 
preceding year. Her parents, Francis and 
Margaret (Brown) Lamotte. were born in 
Canada and there married. They remained 
in Wisconsin fur two years, but returned to 
Petrolia in 1861, pioneer settlers on Conces- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



459 



sion 12, Lot 8, where Mr. Lamotte engaged 
in the oil business in 1868. There Mrs. 
Lamotte died in October, 1879. At pres 
ent Mr. Lamotte is a resident of Port Hu 
ron, and has retired from active business. 
At one time he had one of the best oil prop 
erties in this section, and he was one of Pe- 
trolia s first pioneers. Mrs. Parks was the 
eldest child of his family, and was educated 
in Petrolia and Marthaville. Francis H. is 
married and living in Portland, Maine. 
George is married and has a family, and is 
engaged as a merchant in Strathroy. Ida, 
deceased wife of Wallace Mann, of Oregon, 
left no family. Catherine is the wife of 
James Stock, of Port Huron, and has three 
children. Margaret married a Mr. Stone, 
of Oregon. Esther married a Mr. Collings 
of Detroit, but has no children. Erastus with 
his wife and two children, lives in Cleve 
land, Ohio. Horace, of Port Huron, is mar 
ried and has three children. Mr. Lamotte 
was a member of the Catholic Church, and 
his wife of the Church of England, but the 
children embraced the faith of the Methodist 
Church. The paternal grandfather came 
from France early in the century, and served 
as a soldier in the war of 1812. He was 
among the very first settlers in Lambton 
County. 

GEORGE STOXER, farmer and stock 
raiser of the ist Concession of Bosanquet 
township, is a native of the township, born 
on Lot 5, ist Concession, June 6, 1853. 

The Stoner family are of German extrac 
tion, but for many generations they have 
made their home in America. The first of 
the name in Canada was Christian Stoner, 
a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bucks 
County. There he grew to manhood, and 
there he was a land owner and farmer. He 
there married Elizabeth Xeff. He was a 
consistent member of the Mennonite Church, 
and in consequence of his faith and early 
training he was in opposition to wars aiK* 
revolutions. When the rebellion broke out 
in the thirteen colonies against the mother 
country, he as well as other members of the 
same faith, refused to take up arms. When 



the Americans gained their independence 
Christian Stoner became a sufferer from 
persecution by the Americans, on account 
of his early steadfastness to his principles. 
Feeling it safer to live under British rule he 
came to Canada in the early part of 1790, 
and located in Welland County, where he 
took up 400 acres of land. Returning to 
Pennsylvania, he induced a number of his 
relatives and friends to follow him to Can 
ada, where they could find freedom and 
make a home, and could keep the faith of 
their fathers. Mr. Stoner returned to Can 
ada with his wife and children, and located 
at Humberstone on his 400 acres, where a 
colony from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 
was established. The remainder of his life 
was spent on that farm, both he and his wife 
dying there. Mr. Stoner took no part in 
public matters, but was a firm adherent of 
the faith of the Mennonite Church. He was 
a good Christian gentleman, and did his 
duty to his family and his God. His chil 
dren were : John ; Annie, who married a Mr. 
Schich; Elizabeth, who married John Au 
gustine ; Mary, who married George Augus 
tine ; Christian ; Esther, who married Henry 
Stoner; Susannah, who married Daniel 
Xeff; Lydia, who married David Xeff; 
Leah, married to Benjamin Morningstar; 
Fannie, who married George Otte; and 
Abraham, who married Esther Hess. 

Christian Stoner, son of Christian, was 
born in Humberstone, in 1791. and there 
grew to manhood. He married Mary Au 
gustine. Later in life he removed with his 
wife and children to Middlesex County, lo 
cating in Lobo township, where he started 
into farming, being among the earliest pio 
neers of that section, where the remainder 
of his life was spent. He, like his father, 
was a member of the Mennonite Church, to 
which his wife also belonged. They had 
these children : Benjamin ; Annie, who mar 
ried Joseph Graves; Jonas; John, who still 
resides in Lobo township ; George, a resident 
of Tillsonburg; and Ellis, a resident of 
Lobn, Middlesex County. 

Jonas Stoner, the father of our subject, 
was born in Humberstone township, and 



460 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



there attended the subscription schools. He 
was still in his teens when he removed with 
his parents to Lobo township, Middlesex 
County. There he married Lucretia Zavitz, 
and after their marriage they came to Lamb- 
ton County, locating in Bosanquet township, 
where he purchased a tract of 147 acres on 
the ist Concession, Lot 5, from the Canada 
Land Company. He settled down to pioneer 
life, being one of the very first settlers in 
that part of the township. There were no 
roads, bridges or other evidences of civili 
zation, at this early day. Mr. Stoner erected 
a little log cabin, and there reared his family 
and succeeded in clearing his farm, which 
he cultivated and improved with better 
buildings as time went on. He later pur 
chased an loo-acre tract in Bosanquet town 
ship, 100 acres in Warwick township, and 
fifty acres near his old homestead, owning 
altogether 400 acres. He spent his active 
life on the farm, in his declining years re 
moving to the village of Arkona, where the 
remainder of his life was spent. He died at 
his home in 1904. and was buried at the Ar 
kona cemetery, his wife passing away in 
December, 1901, and being interred at the 
same cemetery. He was liberal in both his 
church views and in politics. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Stoner these children were born : Julia, 
deceased, was the wife of Joshua Thomas, in 
the banking business at Inwood; George; 
Elias, who makes his home in Toronto, was 
a prospector in the Klondike ; Hezekiah is on 
the homestead; Mary Alice, who married 
George Fair, resides in Arkona ; and two 
children died in infancy. 

George Stoner attended school in district 
No. 6, and after leaving school commenced 
work on his father s farm, and he has been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits since boy 
hood. He remained with his father until 
he was twenty-six years old, when he started 
in farming on his own account in Warwick 
township. He was given 100 acres by his 
father on Concession 5, and this he sold two 
years later, returning to Bosanquet town 
ship, locating on Lot I, Concession i, on 
the Stephen Cornell farm, which he had pur 
chased. This consisted of 146 acres, and 



here he has been engaged to the present time, 
doing general farming and cattle raising. 
He has been very successful in his opera 
tions, and his farm buildings compare fav 
orably with any in the township. Politically 
Mr. Stoner is a Liberal, and has been trus - 
tee of school district No. 6, for three years. 
He is a member of the East Lambton Farir 
ers Institute and the Canadian Order of 
Foresters of Arkona, of which he is vice 
president. He and his wife attend the Bap 
tist Church in Arkona. 

Mr. Stoner married in December, 1879, 
at the Hugh Mitchell homestead in Bosan 
quet township, Isabella Mitchell, born in 
New Dundee, Waterloo County, daughter 
of Hugh and Nancy (McAlister) Mitchell, 
both of whom were natives of Ireland. The 
parents of Mrs. Stoner are still living, and 
make their home in Strathroy. Two chil 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoner : 
Wilfred Mitchell, educated in the schools of 
Bosanquet, and later in the commercial col 
lege at Stratford, Out., is now a dental stu 
dent in the Chicago Dental College; and 
Norman George is attending the high 
school at Watford. 

EDWARD J. PETERS, a prosperous 
farmer and ditch contractor of Enniskillen 
township, Lambton County, who resides on 
his farm on Concession I, Lot 32, was born 
Oct. 10, 1864, at Surrey, England, only 
child of James and Frances (Chancier) 
Peters. 

James Peters was born in Surrey, Eng 
land, in August, 1829. He had been a sol 
dier in the British army for a number of 
years prior to his marriage, which occurred 
at Martin s Lodge. England. Jan. 21, 1863, 
to Miss Frances Chancier, born in Somer 
setshire, England, in 1833. After his mar 
riage he followed the trade of butcher until 
1871. when he came to Canada. He made 
the trip on one of the old North American 
sailing vessels, being six weeks on the ocean, 
leaving his wife and son in England until 
1874, when they joined him, via Quebec. At 
this time Mr. Peters was engaged as a ditch 
digger, but in 1879 bought a tract of wild 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



461 



land on the line of Enniskillen and Dawn 
townships, being, with William Walker, who 
also came from England, the first settler on 
the east end of the ist Line of Enniskillen. 
Out of this wild land Mr. Peters cleared a 
farm and made a permanent home for his 
wife and son. On account of not having 
been reared to agricultural pursuits or hard, 
physical labor of any kind, it was very diffi 
cult for Mr. Peters to clear the land for his 
pioneer home. Here he resided until 1892, 
when he sold this home, removing to Mani 
toba, where he lived only a short time, re 
turning then to Lambton County, where he 
lived until his death which occurred in 1902, 
his wife having passed away in 1899, while 
returning from a trip to England. Relig 
iously, this couple were members of the 
Church of England, while in politics Mr. 
Peters was a Conservative. James Peters 
passed through every phase of pioneer life, 
and lived to see the once wild country 
change into a highly cultivated region. 

Edward J. Peters, the only child of this 
worthy couple, obtained his education in the 
schools of England, later attending the To 
ronto schools. All of the hardships of a pio 
neer boy s life were experienced by young 
Edward, who worked with his father to 
clear the wild land. 

On June 26, 1890, Edward J. Peters 
married Miss Elizabeth Burr, born July 8, 
1863, on Concession 2, Euphemia township, 
the estimable daughter of Samuel and Mary 
A. (Hendershott) Burr, pioneers of Lamb- 
ton County. Samuel Burr died in Euphemia 
in September, 1892, his wife surviving until 
1901. Mr. Peters and his wife lived on his 
father s farm, until it was sold, when Mr. 
Peters bought land in Dawn township, 
where he removed. In 1893 they emigrated 
to Manitoba, remaining there until October, 
of that year, when they returned to Dawn, 
where for nine years Mr. Peters followed 
contracting as a ditch digger. He improved 
his Dawn township property, and sold it in 
1901, moving then to Inwood where he laid 
tile and dug ditches by contract. In March, 
1903. he purchased his present home in En 
niskillen, known as the Killmere property, 



where he has made many improvements. 

To Edward J. Peters and his wife have 
been born two sons, Earl J., born in 1891, 
and John Gay, born in September, 1899. 
Religiously, Mr. Peters is connected with 
the Church of England, while in politics he 
has always voted the Conservative ticket. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Indepen 
dent Order of Foresters of Euphemia, and 
the Order of Woodmen of the World, In- 
wood Lodge. 

Edward J. Peters is one of the first-class 
citizens of Enniskillen township, honest and 
upright, and always willing to do his part in 
promoting public improvements and in ad 
vancing the interests of the school and 
church. He has honestly made his own way 
in the world and through his industry has 
become thoroughly independent, and en 
joys the respect of all who know him. 

JAMES McGUIRE, an enterprising 
and energetic farmer of the County of 
Lambton, Ont., is engaged in agricultural 
pursuits on his fine farm located on Con 
cession 8, Lot 17, in Dawn township. Mr. 
McGuire s birth occurred Nov. 28, 1854, 
and his parents, George and Elizabeth 
(O Brien) McGuire, were natives of County 
Tyrone, Ireland, the former born in 1831 
and the latter in the following year. They 
came to Canada when young people, and 
were married in Brantford, where they 
lived some years prior to locating in Lamb- 
ton County. 

George McGuire s father died in Ireland, 
and his mother came to Canada, locating in 
Euphemia township, Lambton County, Ont., 
where she married (second) William Lee, 
and died in Florence. By her first husband 
she had children as follows : ( i ) George 
was the father of our subject. (2) Frank set 
tled and died in Dawn. (3) Andrew died in 
Florence, where he was a tailor for many 
years. (4) James, the only living son, is 
residing on his farm in Dawn township. (5) 
Sarah, born in Ireland, is now the wife of 
Anthony Hanks, a retired farmer of Flor 
ence ; she has children John ; Dr. Anthony, 
of Blenheim ; Frank, of Dawn ; Thurston, de- 



462 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ceased ; Elizabeth, wife of William Robinson, 
Blenheim; Josephine, married to William 
Hughes, of California, and Sarah E., the 
wife of C. Moon, of the States. (6) Fannie, 
born in Ireland, is the wife of William 
Thurston, of Marthaville, Enniskillen 
township. 

George McGuire came to Dawn town 
ship in 1856 and settled on Lot 17. Here he 
and his wife started life in a little log cabin 
in the woods, being among the first farming 
people in Dawn township. Here he died 
Sept. 27, 1887, ms wife surviving until 1898. 
They were connected with the Catholic 
Church. Politically he was a Reformer. 
Their children were as follows : Fannie, 
born in the County of Brant, is unmarried, 
and resides at the homestead, where she 
keeps house for her brother, our subject; 
James is mentioned below; Mary is the wife 
of James Sayres, of the nth Concession 
of Dawn, and has had children, Thomas, 
Ellen (deceased), Elizabeth, Sydney, Emer 
son, Frank, Rayborn, Edna, Mae and 
Myrtle; Patrick, born at the present home 
of our subject, married Miss Ellen Burns, 
daughter of Simon Burns, of Dawn town 
ship, and they reside on his farm on the gth 
Concession and have children, Elizabeth 
M., Maggie, Irene, Gertrude, Nora, Joseph, 
Laurence and George; Ellen, twin sister of 
Patrick, married John Miller, of Hartney, 
Man., and they have a family, Catherine, 
James, Frank, Roy, Ellen, Elizabeth and 
Leonidas; William married Miss Martha 
Lapp, of Dawn township, and they reside on 
the 6th Concession, where he follows farm 
ing (they have children, Elizabeth, Martha, 
Mary, George, Maggie, Kate, Annie, John, 
Leonard and Sarah) ; Frank, born in Dawn, 
is unmarried, and is a ranchman of Mani 
toba ; Catherine died in 1882, in young wo 
manhood. 

James McGuire grew up at his present 
home, where he has resided from boyhood. 
After the death of his father he became the 
manager of the home farm, which he helped 
to clear, and upon which he has made a great 
many improvements. The family are all 
members of the Catholic Church. Politically 



Mr. McGuire is a Reformer, and although 
never aspiring to public office accepted the 
position of pathmaster of Dawn township 
for several years. The life history of this 
well-known and successful farmer citizen of 
Dawn affords a good illustration of what a 
man may accomplish. He has the reputa 
tion of being a man whose word is as good 
as his bond, and his many sterling qualities 
have won him countless friends. 

DOUGALD E. McKELLAR was born 
on the farm which he now owns, on Conces 
sion 6, Lot 22, Brooke township, Lambton 
County, April 4, 1847, son of Alexander 
and Emily (Leitch) McKellar, and a grand 
son of Dougald McKellar. 

Dougald McKellar came to Canada from 
Argyllshire, Scotland, in 1817, and settled 
in Aldborough, Elgin County, where he re 
mained for some years. He then located in 
Mosa, Middlesex County, where he made a 
permanent home and died in 1854. His 
wife, Christine McKellar, died in 1852. and 
they left the following children: Donald. 
John and Mary all settled in Canada, but 
died in Michigan; Alexander, Dougald, 
Katie and Ann all died in Canada. 

Alexander McKellar was born in Aid- 
borough, Elgin County, in 1819, while his 
wife was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in 
1827. He was reared in Middlesex County 
and married in 1846. when he located in 
Brooke township, and on settling in the 
woods started cutting roads. He erected a 
log house, built partly of hewed walnut 
logs, and here made a permanent home, dy 
ing in 1852. He left Mrs. McKellar with 
three small sons, but she was not daunted, 
and continued to work the farm, to make a 
living for her little family. The sons were : 
Dougald E. is our subject. Alexander, who 
was born in 1849, married Miss Maggie 
Campbell, of Metcalfe. and they reside on 
the south half of the old Brooke homestead 
farm ; they have children, Katie, Emily, 
Christina. John, Annie, and Lulu Jean. Neil, 
born in 1851. was a farmer of Concession 9, 
Brooke township, where he died. 

At the time of his father s death Don- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



463 



s-ald E McKellar was a child of but five 

o 

years, and having of necessity to work on 
the farm when large enough received only a 
limited education. Such as he did receive 
was obtained by walking four miles to the 
little log schoolhouse. When he was old 
enough he became manager of the home 
stead farm of 150 acres, taking control of 
it when he was but fifteen years old, and be 
ing his mother s help and comfort. In No 
vember, 1875, Air. McKellar married Miss 
Annie McKellar. who was born in Metcalfe 
township, Middlesex County, in April, 1853. 
daughter of Duncan and Catherine McKel 
lar. and a member of one of Middlesex s 
old pioneer families. Mr. and Mrs. McKel 
lar settled on the old homestead, where he 
has made many improvements, erecting 
good buildings, and putting up his large brick 
house, which is one of the finest in the 
township, in 1885. His mother died in 
January. 1903. 

To" Mr. and Mrs. McKellar the follow 
ing children have been born : Emily resides 
at home; Alexander died in April, 1903, 
aged twenty-three years ; Catherine was edu 
cated in the Watford schools, where she 
graduated, followed teaching as a profes 
sion in the schools for three years, and is 
now a student of the London Normal 
School : Euphemia received her education in 
the Alvinston high school ; Mary A. attends 
the Sarnia Model School ; Georgena is a 
student in the Alvinston high school. 

The family are connected with the Pres 
byterian Church. Politically Mr. McKellar 
votes with the Conservative party. He has 
never accepted office, but he is well known 
in Brooke township, and is justly considered 
one of its best citizens. He is a man of the 
most excellent business judgment, and pos 
sesses, with his Scottish name, the thrift 
and integrity of the fine old stock from 
which he came. 

THOMAS L. JOHNSTON, a prom 
inent farmer and oil-producer of Enniskil- 
len, is one of the self-made men of Lamb- 
ton County, where he has lived since his early 
boyhood. He was born in County Armagh, 



Ireland, March 18, 1841, son of Charles R. 
and Annie (Looney) Johnston. 

Charles R. Johnston was born in 1806, 
his wife in 1816, both in County Armagh, 
where they grew to maturity and married. 
For a time after his marriage Mr. Johnston 
carried on a grocery store in Ireland, but in 
1844 came with his family to the New 
World. They landed at Montreal, after a 
voyage of eleven weeks in a sailing vessel, 
and went to Toronto, where Mr. Johnston 
found employment in a brick yard for one 
season. They then lived for a short time in 
the neighborhood of Brantford, and then 
moved to Plympton township, Lambton 
County, where Mr. Johnston bought a tract 
of wild land on Concession 5, London road. 
There he built a log cabin, and began clear 
ing the land, which was soon brought under 
cultivation. Before his death which oc 
curred in December, 1884. he had put up 
large and substantial buildings, and made a 
comfortable home for his family. His wife 
survived him until March, 1894. They were 
both earnest members of the Church of Eng 
land, and among the originators of the 
church work of Lambton County. Mr. 
Johnston was a strong Conservative in polit 
ical faith, and was well versed in history, and 
famous as a debater on all political issues. 
He was the father of ten children, as fol 
lows : ( i ) Thomas L. is mentioned below. 
(2) William, born in Ireland, in 1843, was 
brought up in Plympton township, where he 
married a Miss Hicks, of Michigan ; they 
settled in Alpena, Michigan, where he is a 
well-to-do farmer, and the father of a large 
family. (3) Joseph, born in Brantford, On 
tario, in 1845, wno married May Crane, of 
Michigan, has a family, and lives near Al 
pena, Michigan, where he is a wealthy 
farmer: he served in a Michigan regiment 
during the Civil war. (4) Mary A., born in 
Plympton, in 1848, is the wife of James 
Johnston, a well-to-do farmer of Sarnia 
township; they have no children. (5) 
Charles (deceased), born in Plympton in 
1850. married Martha Dell, of a Loyalist 
family of New England that settled in 
Plympton ; they lived on the homestead in 



464 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Plympton, where he died in January, 1899; 
they had no children. (6) Margaret, born in 
1852, died in 1881. (7) James, born in 1855, 
who grew up on the home farm, and married 
in Michigan, Iva Hill, of that State, has 
three children, William, James and Annie, 
and lives in Alpena, where he is a leading 
citizen; his sons are in the railroad service. 
(8) Robert, born in 1857, who is unmar 
ried, lives in Larnbton County. (9) Eliza, 
born in 1859, is the wife of Thomas John 
ston, a native of Lambton County ; their 
home is in Harrisvi le, Alpena County, 
Michigan, and they have children William, 
Melvin, Herbert, Maggie, John and Annie. 
(10) Sarah F. (deceased), born in 1862, 
married Benjamin McCormick, of Wyo 
ming; she died at Sarnia. in 1898, leaving 
two children, Fred and Lida. 

Thomas L. Johnston came with his pa 
rents to Lambton County, when a mere 
child, and received his principal education 
in the Plympton township schools. He re 
mained on the home farm until he was 
nearly thirty years old. Before leaving the 
farn-The paid off a $600 mortgage, and left 
it free of debt to his parents. In 1864 he 
went to Michigan and for nine years was 
employed in the lumber woods of Saginaw 
County. He returned to Lambton County 
in 1873 an< J purchased his present property, 
described as Lot 20, Concession 9, in the 
oil district of Enniskillen. He cleared the 
land, erected buildings, and began cultivat 
ing the soil, and in 1892 discovered oil. He 
now has seven oil wells, and has sold off 
twenty acres of his land at $100 an acre. His 
property is considered valuable as the whole 
of it is oil producing. 

On Feb. 22, 1877, Mr. Johnston mar 
ried (first) Sarah Ward, of Petrolia, who 
died at the present home, in 1882. She left 
one daughter, Gertrude, who is unmarried 
and at home. Mr. Johnston married (sec 
ond) Dec. 22, 1887, Susan Britney, sister 
of Oscar Britney, of an old Lambton 
County family. Mrs. Susan (Britney) 
Johnston had no children, and died in 
March, 1895. In August, 1897, Mr. John 
ston married (third) Mrs. Sarah Hobson, 



daughter of William and Jemima William 
son, of a family long settled in Bosanquet, 
Lambton County. Mr. Williamson was 
born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1817, his wife 
in County Armagh, in 1818; they both still 
live in Larnbton County. Their daughter, 
the present Mrs. Johnston, was one of six 
children. She married (first) William 
Hobson, a contractor and builder of War 
wick, where he died in 1895. Their chil 
dren were: (i) Ethel died in 1897, a young 
woman. (2) Priscilla, born in Warwick, is 
the wife of Oliver Jones, of Port Huron. 
(3) George, born in Warwick, in Novem 
ber, 1883, attended military school in Lon 
don, Ont., and enlisted in a Columbus, Ohio, 
regiment for service in the Phillipine 
Islands, where he has been in active service 
since 1903; he was wounded in a skirmish 
with the natives in February, 1904, and 
taken to the hospital in Manila. (4) Emma, 
born in Warwick, in 1886, is unmarried, and 
living at the home of her step-father. No 
children have been born to Mr. Johnston and 
his present wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are members of 
the Methodist Church, although their re 
spective parents were connected for years 
with the Presbyterian Church. In politics 
Mr. Johnston has always been a supporter 
of the Conservative party, but has never as 
pired to office. He comes of pioneer stock, 
and has himself been a pioneer in achieving 
his home. For some forty years he has been 
a member of the order of Orangemen, En 
niskillen Lodge. Mrs. Johnston comes of a 
fine old family, and is a lady of many vir 
tues and accomplishments. She and her 
husband are among the highly esteemed and 
prominent families of the county where they 
have a large circle of friends. 

COLE. The Cole family was one of the 
first to settle in Sarnia township, and for 
nearly seventy years the successive genera 
tions of that name have been leaders in the 
community, not alone in their agricultural 
enterprises, but in all phases of the life about 
them social, religious and political. As a 
family, with the exception of Samuel, the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



465 



emigrant, they have supported the policies 
of the Reform party, and in their religious 
faith have been devoted adherents to the 
teachings of Presbyterianism. 

The first of the name to cast his lot with 
the Canadians was Samuel Cole, who came 
to America in 1833. He was a native of Ire 
land, born in County Antrim. May 5, 17995 
as a young man he made his home in Belfast, 
and was there married, Aug. 6, 1823, to 
Mary Mclntyre. For some years they con 
tinued in Ireland, but in 1833 Mr. Cole sev 
ered his connections with the old country 
and set sail for the Xew World, landing at 
Quebec. He pushed on farther, stopping for 
a short time at Niagara and living for two 
years in the State of Xew York, but in the 
end Canada seemed to offer the best field for 
his efforts, and in 1835 he went to Lambton 
County, and located in Sarnia township, on 
Lot 10, Concession 2. land which he had se 
cured from the government. The shanty 
which he had put up hastily, to serve as a 
temporary home, caught fire before long and 
was burned, and as a new start had to be 
made in any case Mr. Cole moved to Lot 15, 
which appeared to be a more desirable loca 
tion. At that time there were no roads 
through the township, and all supplies had to 
be carried by hand from Port Sarnia. over 
what was simply a winding path through the 
woods, while the most frequent visitors were 
the wolves and other wild animals which 
were so numerous in the region. Mr. Cole s 
log house was built near the present home of 
his grandson. George Cole, and was occupied 
for over twenty years, while it continued 
standing much longer. In 1857 this house 
was superseded by a frame structure which 
was torn down only a few years ago. in 1898. 
Samuel Cole was an enterprising man and an 
energetic worker, and became possessed of 
considerable property. His death occurred 
Jan. 17, 1889. while his wile passed away 
before him, March 21, 1872, aged seventy- 
seven years. 

William Cole, son of Samuel Cole, and 
father of Samuel and George Cole, of Sarnia 
township, was born before the family left 
Ireland. June 21, 1824, and was therefore 



about eleven years of age when he first came 
to Lambton Count} . From the first he as 
sisted his father in clearing the land, and as 
the latter became advanced in years grad 
ually assumed the entire responsibility of the 
place. He added largely to the property, 
besides completing the clearing and develop 
ment of the original purchase-. In addition 
to his farming interests, which of themselves 
were on an extensive scale, he was one of the 
first in the county to take up cheese making, 
and was engaged largely in that industry 
for fifteen or twenty years. He was widely 
known and always took a leading part in 
every movement of local importance. He 
served on both township and county councils, 
as had his father before him. and he was 
equally prominent in church matters, serving 
as elder and as superintendent of the Sun 
day-school for twenty-five years. Mr. Cole 
was an unusually good public speaker, ready 
and forcible, and his appearance for an ad 
dress, whether on religious or agricultural 
topics, was a familiar and most acceptable 



one. 



On June 13. 1849. William Cole was 
united in marriage with Emily Taylor, of 
Sarnia township, who was born in South 
Sherbrooke, Lanark County, Out., July 4, 
1826, daughter of George and Rebecca (Mil- 
likin) Taylor, natives of Ireland; the former 
was of English ancestry and the latter of 
Scotch. Mr. and Mrs. Cole became the par 
ents of the following family: Mary Jane, 
wife of R. Shillinglaw, of Sarnia: Rebecca, 
deceased wife of James Steed, a prosperous 
farmer of Sarnia township ; Samuel ; 
George ; Maggie, wife of Charles Fleck, of 
Moore township; Carrie, wife of W. J. 
Crockard. of Moore township; and Annie, 
deceased wife of Andrew Elliott. Mr. Cole 
died April 20. 1890. and is buried in Lake- 
view cemetery. 

George and Rebecca (Millikin) Taylor 
were married in Ireland, but came to Canada 
in 1822. locating in Perth. Lanark County, 
Out., where Mr. Taylor took up land and 
remained until June, 1846, when he moved 
his family to Sarnia township, there 
purchasing land and making it his 



so 



466 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



home for the remainder of his life. 
He died April 20, 1865, at the age of 
eighty, and his wife passed away Sept. 17, 
1856, aged sixty -two years. They were 
members of the Church of England. Before 
emigrating to Canada Mr. Taylor served as 
a soldier in his native land. Mr. and Mrs. 
Taylor were the parents of the following 
children : ( i ) David is a retired farmer of 
Fairmount, North Dakota. (2) Jane, de 
ceased, was the wife of Roger Millikin. (3) 
Margaret, born in Matilda, Grenville Coun 
ty. Out., Nov. 17, 1824, is the widow of 
George Lucas, mentioned elsewhere. (4) 
Emily is the widow of William Cole. (5) 
George is a retired farmer of Sarnia town 
ship. (6) John, deceased, was a contractor 
and builder in Sarnia, Ont. (7) Benjamin, 
deceased, was a farmer in Reel Wing, Minne 
sota, and during the Civil war in the States 
served as a member of Company F, 6th 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, from 1862 
to 1864; he was confined for some time in 
a hospital, and at the last was honorably 
discharged for disability. 

SAMUEL COLE, son of William, was born 
on the family homestead, in the old log 
house, June 30, 1853, an(1 tnere spent his 
boyhood and youth. His education was re 
ceived in the little log schoolhouse on their 
property. As he grew older he helped clear 
the land and carry on the farm, and at his 
father s death his share of the estate was 175 
acres, on which he has ever since engaged in 
farming and stock raising. The good build 
ings on the place are almost entirely the re 
sult of his own efforts. He has been very 
successful in all his undertakings, and is one 
of the substantial men of the township. Mr. 
Cole is a leading spirit in political matters, 
and even more in educational affairs, in 
which latter he has taken an especially lively 
interest, and he has served fourteen years as 
a trustee of School Section No. 4; in 1902 
he was appointed justice of the peace, also 
holding municipal offices. Socially he be 
longs to the Foresters. For the past ten 
years he has been a member of the board of 
the West Lambton Agricultural Society. 
Samuel Cole has been twice married . On 



Jan. 8. 1879. e married Miss Barbara Shill 
ing-law, who was born in Sarnia, Out., and 
who died Oct. 12, 1892, aged thirty-four 
years. By this marriage there were four 
children. Bella, Emily, Ernest and Ethel. 
For his second wife Mr. Cole married, on 
June 1 6, 1896, Miss Maggie Murray, who 
was born in Plympton township, Lambton 
County, March 2, 1856, daughter of Robert 
and Mary (Telford) Murray, who were 
married in their native Scotland, and who 
came to Lambton County in 1849. By this 
union Mr. Cole has two sons, Murray and 
Gordon. The family belongs to the Presby 
terian Church, in which Mr. Cole has been 
an elder for the past twelve years, and super 
intendent of the Sunday-school for ten 
years. 

GEORGE COLE, son of William, was also 
born in the old log house, Feb. 8, 1855, and 
was educated in the home school. His 
whole life has been spent on his present 
homestead, and with his share of the family 
estate went the old home, in which he lived 
for many years, or until he built his present 
handsome brick house. To the 175 acres 
which he inherited he has added by purchase 
100 more to the west, and he carries on an 
extensive business in stock raising, besides 
his farming. He takes particular pride in 
the fine horses he raises. For some seven 
years with his father he manufactured 
cheese, but has since given it up. In town 
ship affairs Mr. Cole has much influence, and 
has served seven or eight years on the town 
ship council, five years as deputy reeve and 
two as reeve , the first year being chosen by 
acclamation. He is active too, in the work of 
the Presbyterian Church, of which he was 
treasurer, and he has been on the managing 
board for the past fifteen years. Socially he 
belongs to the I. O. O. F.", of Sarnia. 

On Nov. 19, 1884, George Cole married 
Miss Flora Jane Miller, of Point Edward, 
who was born in Moore township, Lambton 
County, July 25, 1860, daughter of William 
and Mary (Gibb) Miller. Four sons have 
been born to this union : Russell, Arthur, 
Harold and George. 

The lives of the different members of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



467 



Cole family have been interwoven with the 
history of the township, and the influence 
of the grandfather, father and sons may be 
traced in many places. For them was named 
the first postoffice in the neighborhood, at 
Cole s Corners, and it was continued under 
that name until about 1888. 

NEIL W. LECKIE has resided on his 
present home farm in Sarnia township for 
over thirty years, and during that time, by 
dint of industry and good management, has 
become one of the well-to-do farmers of his 
section of the County of Lambton. He is a 
self-made man, in the best sense of the term, 
having acquired a comfortable competency 
by his own efforts, and his ability has been 
recognized by his fellow citizens, who have 
chosen him to public office as their repre 
sentative in the municipal council. 

John Leckie, his grandfather, was born 
in County Down, Ireland, where he grew to 
manhood and married, subsequently remov 
ing to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived for 
a number of years. Finally, coming to the 
conclusion that he could better his condition 
in the Xew World, he emigrated with his 
family to Canada in 1821, and settled in the 
County of Lanark, where he engaged in 
farming for many years, until his removal 
to Moore township, County of Lambton, 
about forty years ago. There he continued 
to reside until the time of his death, which 
occurred when he was in his ninety-seventh 
year, and his wife, Elizabeth (McCracken), 
also died in Moore township, at the advanced 
age of ninety-five years. Their children were 
as follows : Alice (deceased) was the wife of 
\Yilliam Houston, of the County of Lanark; 
Elizabeth (deceased) married John Hous 
ton ; Rachel, Mrs. Andrew McGinnis, is still 
a resident of the County of Lanark; Ann 
(deceased) married William Gardiner; 
Mary (deceased) married George Hamilton ; 
Margaret died young; Jeanie (deceased) 
married John Jackson ; Robert moved to the 
County of Grey, where he died ; John, the 
first of the name to come to the County of 
Lambton, is mentioned elsewhere; William, 



the father of Xeil W., is mentioned below; 
Thomas died unmarried. 

William Leckie was torn in 1815 in 
Glasgow, Scotland, and was but six years 
old when the family crossed to Canada. He 
grew to manhood in the County of Lanark, 
Out., and there married Jane O Xeil, who 
was born near Brockville, Out., a daughter 
of Xeil O Xeil, of County Antrim. Ireland. 
William Leckie began farming on his own 
account in Ramsay township, County of 
Lanark, where he bought 100 acres of wild 
land, which he improved. In 1874 he sold 
and came to the County of Lambton, settling 
in Sarnia township, on Lots i and 2. in 
Block C, on land which he had purchased. 
It was partly cleared, but he erected all the 
buildings which now adorn the place. With 
the aid of his sons he soon completed the 
work of clearing, and there continued to 
farm until a short time previous to his de 
cease, when he removed to Sarnia. He lived 
retired until he passed away, July 5, 1896, 
in his eighty-second year, and his widow, 
born in February, 1821, still survives. As 
a farmer, Mr. Leckie succeeded through in 
dustrious application to his work, and he 
was a man who commanded the respect of 
all with whom he came in contact. He was a 
member of the Episcopal Church and a Con 
servative in political faith. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Leckie were born the following named 
children : John, a farmer of Moore town 
ship ; Xeil W. is mentioned below ; William 
lives at Port Arthur, Ont. ; Christina (de 
ceased) was the wife of James Moffett. of 
the County of Lanark; Robert lives on Lot 
4, 3d Concession ; Thomas, who now has the 
homestead, married Sarah Doherty. 

X T eil W. Leckie was torn Aug. 31, 1843, 
in Ramsay township, County of Lanark, and 
was there reared to farming, assisting his 
father in the work on the home place. He 
began farming for himself in his native 
township, but sold the property he had there 
acquired in 1872, in October of which year, 
he came to the County of Lambton. Here 
he has since resided on the west half of Lot 
1 6, 4th Concession. Sarnia township, which 



4 68 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



he bought at the time of his removal, and 
he has since acquired the west half of Lot 
14, in the 5th Concession, and the west half 
of Lot 15, in the 5th Concession, as well as 
100 acres in Block B. All this has been 
accomplished by years of untiring work, and 
he is now one of the most extensive farmers 
and stockmen in his township. Only eight 
acres of his home place were cleared when 
he removed to it, but the whole tract is now 
under cultivation, and he has excellent barns 
and a fine brick dwelling, heated by furnace 
and comfortable in every respect. Mr. 
Leckie has earned his place among the sub 
stantial men of the community, and is uni 
versally respected. He has been a public- 
spirited citizen of this section throughout 
the period of his residence here, and has 
taken a lively interest in local affairs. He 
is at present serving his fifth year as a mem 
ber of the municipal council. In politics he 
is a stanch Conservative, and his religious 
connection is with the Episcopal Church. 

On June 30, 1868, Mr. Leckie was mar 
ried in his native county to Agnes Yuill, and 
to this union have been born : Ella Jane, 
now the wife of Thomas Jolly, of Sarnia 
township ; William Albert, a farmer in Sar 
nia township, who married Florence In 
gram, and has two children, Lawrence St. 
Clair, and Fenton Y. ; Christina, wife of 
William Ingram, of Sarnia township, who 
has two children, Alexander and Neil Ross ; 
Leslie Alexander, a farmer, married Eliza 
Fair, of Arkona, in July, 1905 ; Harold Neil, 
Edmond Raymond and Edith Myrtle are all 
at home. 

Mrs. Leckie was born in the County of 
Lanark Dec. 12, 1846, daughter of Alex 
ander and Helen (Aikenheacl) Yuill, natives 
of Scotland, who emigrated to the County 
of Lanark, Ont.. where the father followed 
farming and stock breeding. 

JOHN MARTYN. The prosperity of 
any community depends largely upon the en 
terprise and progressive spirit of its citizens 
and among those who rightly belong to this 
class, is John Martyn, senior member of the 



firm of J. Martyn & Co., grain merchants,, 
tile and brick manufacturers, and operators 
of a grist mill and grain elevator. Mr. Mar 
tyn was born July 6, 1837, in Cornwall, Eng 
land, son of Joseph and Joanna (Swan) 
Martyn. 

John Martyn s parents came to Canada 
in 1848, first settling at Port Hope, and later 
removing to Strathroy, where they both 
died, leaving an only son, our subject. John 
Martyn had received his early education in 
England, and when a young man first en 
gaged in farming. He later embarked in the 
manufacturing business, having an interest 
in a woolen mill at Strathroy, where he re 
mained three years. In 1886 Mr. Martyn 
removed to Alvinston, purchased real estate 
and erected his gristmill and grain elevator, 
and engaged in the manufacture of tile and 
brick, with J. C. Bindner and the late George 
Patterson. Since Mr. Patterson s death, the 
firm has continued under the same name, J. 
Martyn & Co., the estate of Patterson still 
retaining an interest. 

Mr. Martyn was married in Metcalfe 
township, Middlesex County, to Miss Mary 
J. Finkle, formerly of Kingston, where she 
was reared. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Martyn removed to Strathroy, Ont., where 
he remained four years, in the manufactur 
ing business, and then came to his present 
residence in Alvinston, which he owns, with 
other real estate. To John Martyn and his 
wife the following children have been born : 
Dr. J. B., Beatrice, Gertrude, and Augusta. 

Dr. J. B. Martyn was educated at the 
Strathroy Collegiate Institute, later attend 
ing Trinity Medical College; he married 
Miss Jessie Rae, of Alvinston, where he has 
been a practicing physician since 1893. 

Religiously the family are connected 
with the Church of England. Politically 
Mr. Martyn has always been connected 
with the old Conservative party, and has 
acceptably filled the offices of councilman 
and member of the school board of Alvin 
ston, holding the latter position for several 
years. During the many years that Mr. 
Martyn has been in business he has gained 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



469 



the confidence of the people, and has proved 
himself worthy of the trust placed in him. 
He is justly regarded as one of the represen 
tative men of Brooke township. 

ANTHONY B. KITTERMASTER, 

civil engineer, who died at his residence in 
Sarnia, Oct. 18, 1903. was one of the old 
settlers of Lambton County, having located 
here over fifty years ago. In the practice of 
his profession he assisted materially in the 
development of his section, especially in the 
draining of the lowlands, and the construc 
tion of railroads. A thorough master of his 
art. his services were greatly in demand, and 
brought him in a large and steady income. 
He was horn in England Jan. 17, 1829, son 
of James and Mary (Zackery) Kittermaster. 

The Kittermaster family is an old Eng 
lish one, and the first member of which we 
have definite record is James, the grandfa 
ther of Anthony B. He was a resident of 
England, and married a woman of Welsh 
extraction, and by this union there were four 
children: James (who is mentioned be 
low), William, Richard and Catherine. 

James Kittermaster, father of Anthony 
B.. was a man of high cultivation, and a 
loyal, patriotic English citizen. He was born 
in England in 1796 and there spent his ear 
liest years. So strong was his military bent 
that when only a boy he entered the English 
army, and in the war of 1812 he came with 
the 49th Regiment to Canada, serving in 
the rank of lieutenant to Capt. Fitsgibon. 
Y\ ith his force he participated in the engage 
ments along the frontier, from Montreal to 
Fort William, acquitting himself with honor. 
After the war he returned to England and 
resumed his studies, which had been inter 
rupted by his military activities. Turning 
his attention sedulously to medicine, he was 
soon prepared to enter upon the active duties 
of that profession. Locating in Medding- 
ton. Warwickshire, England, he there opened 
an office and began practice. Marked ability 
and a thorough interest in his work won him 
a large and steadily increasing patronage, 
and he continued there until the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1876. 



Mr. Kittermaster married Mary Zack 
ery, who was Ijorn in England, and proved 
a sympathetic and wise helpmeet. She died 
about 1870. By this union there were 
eleven children : Dr. Henry Fitz James 
came to Lambton County about 1840, and 
died at Lake Burwell. in 1853. while paying 
a visit to a patient; Emily, Anna Maria, 
Jane and Mary, all died in England; the 
others are Edith. Fred, William, Annie. 
Anthony B. and Albert. 

Anthony B. Kittermaster passed his early 
life in England. In a cultivated and well- 
ordered home he received careful rearing, 
and in the schools of his section a superior 
education for boys of his day. As a final 
preparation for his life work he took a 
course of civil engineering, becoming, 
through patient study and practical work, 
very proficient in his line. Prospects of ex 
cellent openings in his business in Ontario 
induced him in 1851 to break home ties and 
come to that country. The undeveloped sec 
tions of Lambton County, which was being 
opened up to settlers, furnished a good field 
for his activities, and, settling here, he be 
gan following his profession. A master in 
his line, and conscientious in the perform 
ance of his work, he found no difficulty in 
securing all he wanted to do, and he contin 
ued there for the most part throughout his 
active life. He assisted in the excavation of 
ditches to drain the lowlands, thus making 
those tracts the most productive sections of 
the county. He was also employed in the 
construction of several railroads in the coun 
try, among which was the Lake Erie & De 
troit River railroad, upon which he was last 
engaged. Besides attending to the active 
duties of his profession Mr. Kittermaster 
also engaged in farming to some extent, and 
he purchased a splendid farm in Moore town 
ship, comprising Lot 30, of the River Front 
Concession, where he resided for many 
years. As an agriculturist he proved him 
self both progressive and practical, and his 
farm is a lasting evidence of his thrift and 
wise management. In 1886. deciding to re 
tire from active farm work, he moved to 
Sarnia, where he remained until his death. 



470 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



After passing the far milestone of threescore 
years and ten he retired from work alto 
gether, but he was well-preserved, in full 
possession of his faculties, and enjoyed a 
reasonable degree of good health. His re 
mains rest in Lake View cemetery. 

On Nov. 10, 1853, soon after his ar 
rival in Ontario, Mr. Kittermaster married 
Annie Gurd, who was born in Toronto, and 
is the sister of the late Robert S. Gurd. Five 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kitter 
master : James Henry is mentioned below ; 
Frederick William is also mentioned below ; 
William, general freight agent of the Cana 
dian Pacific Railroad at Chicago, Illinois, 
married Florence Dugald, daughter of the 
late James Dugald, of Windsor, who is also 
mentioned in the sketch of Duncan Dugald, 
to be found elsewhere; Jessie is deceased; 
Miss Mary is residing at home. 

Mr. Kittermaster, throughout his long 
and useful life, applied himself sedulously to 
the business in hand, preferring to perfect a 
few things than to scatter his energies over 
many. He was one of the most instrumental 
factors in the building up of Lambton Coun 
ty, and his services will not soon be forgot 
ten. As a strong Conservative he was in 
a quiet way influential in local politics. He 
was a man with a keen sense of honor, a 
thorough Christian gentleman, and with his 
wife a highly respected member of the Epis 
copal Church. 

JAMES HENRY KITTERMASTER, son of 
the late Anthony B. Kittermaster, is presi 
dent and general manager of the Lambton 
Loan Association of Sarnia, and a respected 
business man of that place. He was born 
on the banks of the St. Clair river Jan. 9, 
1855, and received his education in the dis 
trict school of the neighborhood. He grew 
up on the farm and followed farming in 
Moore township for many years, during 
which time he also extensively engaged in 
the lumber business, buying timber in many 
parts of Lambton County. In 1890, with 
others, he became interested in the salt works 
operated by the Sarnia Salt Company, and 
was thus engaged for ten years. In 1900, in 
company with Mr. T. J. Carter, he started 



the manufacture of salt near Moore Town,, 
under the firm name of Carter & Kittermas 
ter. He is also interested in the oil fields of 
Petrolia and Moore township, and in the 
Raleigh oil fields. On the death of his 
brother Frederick, of Sarnia, he succeeded 
him as manager of the Lambton Loan Asso 
ciation, making his headquarters in Sarnia. 

Mr. Kittermaster married Miss Fannie 
Gamble, daughter of Dr. Gamble, a physi 
cian of Moore Town. Mr. Kittermaster is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M. He is a 
stanch Conservative and quite active in the 
party. 

FREDERICK WILLIAM KITTERMASTER, 
second son of Anthony B., was born on the 
homestead in Moore township, near the St. 
Clair river. He first attended the district 
school of the township, later the high school 
of Sarnia, and took up the study of law with 
MacKenzie & Gurd. He was admitted to 
the Bar and practiced successfully in Sar 
nia for many years. He was appointed man 
ager, of the Lambton Loan Association, and 
was president of the board of directors at 
the time of his death, Jan. 19, 1904. He is 
buried in Lake View cemetery. He was a 
member of the Church of England, in which 
he was quite active, and was well-known 
and highly respected as a good man. He 
married Miss Louisa Pardee, daughter of 
the late Hon. T. B. Pardee. 

MARSHALL MACKLIN DOWX- 
ING, whose death occurring in Thedford, 
Aug. 15, 1890, cut short his career in the 
prime of life, was a man of many re 
sources, and as a lumber manufacturer and 
a live stock and grain speculator promi 
nently identified himself with the business 
interests of that section for many years. Flis 
force of character and his alert, keen intel 
lect were undoubtedly inherited from his 
good Irish ancestors. 

Mr. Downing was in every respect a self- 
made man. Born in Londonderry. Ireland. 
in 1850, he passed the first years of his 1i(<- 
in that country. So ambitions was he, how 
ever, that in 1862, at the early age of twelve 
vears, he came with his brother and mother 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to Ontario and in Scarboro township began 
life s battle. On such meager wages as twen 
ty-five cents per day he made his start, and 
by industry and push soon rose to a more 
remunerative position. Prudent and eco 
nomical, he was enabled before many years 
to embark in business by himself, and, going 
to West McGillivray, he opened a sawmill 
which he managed with excellent results 
for many years, shipping large quantities of 
lumber to the United States. Encouraged 
by the success of this enterprise, in 1867 he 
branched out in business and began specu 
lating in live stock, purchasing large quan 
tities of cattle, which he shipped to the east 
ern markets. In connection with this busi 
ness he purchased a splendid stock farm in 
Middlesex County, where he pastured many 
of his cattle. In addition to this enterprise, 
in 1874 he moved to Thedford and opened 
a warehouse for the buying and selling of 
grain. He had established the business on 
a large scale, and worked up a good trade 
when, in 1877, tlie building was destroyed 
by fire. Undismayed, however, he soon re 
built on a much larger scale, erecting a house 
with a capacity of 25,000 bushels, which was 
the finest structure of its kind at the time on 
the Grand Trunk line between Guelph and 
Sarnia. Resuming business there he con 
tinued his grain speculation for the most 
part throughout the rest of his life. Mr. 
Downing was a wise financier, and as fast 
as he made money he invested it to advan 
tage, in time becoming solidly prosperous, 
and owning considerable property in both 
Thedford and Park Hill. 

In 18/7 Mr. Downing married Miss An- 
geline Erb, a cultivated woman, of much 
ability, who since the death of her husband 
has devoted herself very closely to the edu 
cation of her children. In September, 1902, 
she moved to Forest to give them better edu 
cational advantages, and still resides there. 
Her family consisted of six children : \Yillia 
obtained her education in the schools of 
Thedford and Forest and at the Toronto 
Normal School, taught for a time, and is 
now the wife of John Campbell, of Bosan- 
quet township; Elsie died in 1892, at the age 



of twelve years; Cora Bell, who is engaged 
in teaching, acquired her education in the 
schools of Forest and the Normal ; Marshall 
Guy died in 1892, at the age of nine years; 
Lloyd St. Clair died in Clinton, Iowa, aged 
twenty years; Shelta Edna has also pre 
pared for the profession of teaching. 

Mr. Downing possessed both energy and 
skill in directing affairs, and through life 
kept steadily upon the rising plane. Gifted 
with great concentration, he confined him 
self mainly to business, but was also influ 
ential in other walks in life. In municipal 
affairs especially his word carried weight 
and by furnishing employment to many men 
he greatly benefited his locality. His wife 
and. family are leading members of the 
Methodist Church. 

Christian Erb, great-grandfather of 
Mrs. Downing, was born Jan. 25, 1768, and 
was a man of much force of character and 
marked ability. He had a son Jacob, who 
continued this line of descent. 

Jacob Erb, grandfather of Mrs. Down 
ing, was a resident of Ontario for many 
years. He married Salome Graybill, and 
among their children there was a son 
Abraham. 

Abraham Erb, father of Mrs. Downing, 
was born in Berlin, Ont, March 6, 1815, 
and received proper training. On Nov. 10, 
1835, he married Willia Clemens, who was 
born Oct. 17, 1817, and died Jan. 8, 1881. 
A fanner by occupation, Mr. Erb continued 
that industry for the most part throughout 
his active life. A man of energy, skilled in 
directing affairs, he prospered through life. 
His family for several generations were 
Methodists, and to that church he also be 
longed. Politically he was a Reformer. 

FREDERICK F. PARDEE, M. P. P., 
and a leading barrister of Sarnia, is about 
thirty-nine years old and has been a practic 
ing lawyer all the time in this city for 
about fifteen years. That he has been able 
during this short period to win a seat in the 
Provincial Parliament is due mainly to those 
inherent qualities of success imparted to him 
by a long line of prominent ancestors. 



472 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mr. Pardee is of French extraction. His 
paternal grandfather, a man of ability and 
influence, was born and reared in the old 
country. There during his young man 
hood he \vas married, and to him and his 
wife were born six children : George, Fred 
erick, Samuel, Timothy B. (who is men 
tioned below), Adeline (who married Mr. 
Garvey) and Rhoda (the wife of Mr. Nor 
ton). With an eye to his family s future, 
some time prior, to the American Revolu 
tion Mr. Pardee went to the United States, 
where he made his home for a while. At 
the opening of the war, however, as a United 
Empire Loyalist he came to Ontario, locat 
ing in the County of Leeds. There he passed 
the rest of his life. Mr. Pardee was a 
leading man of his county. He was an out 
spoken advocate of temperance, and as a 
platform orator on the subject won a wide 
reputation. 

Timothy B. Pardee. father of Freder 
ick F., inherited his father s assertive powers 
and his oratorical ability. Born in Leeds 
County in 1830, he there passed many years 
of his early life. So ambitious was he that 
in 1849, when but nineteen years old, he de 
cided to cast his lot with the gold hunters 
then pouring into California. A cool head 
and a ready art of making his way in the 
world crowned his efforts with success, and 
he engaged in mining in that State for some 
time. Encouraged by this experience he 
later went to Australia. After some varied 
experiences and wild adventures, however, 
he returned to his native county. Never 
content with a less strenuous life, he settled 
at Goderich, and began reading law with Ira 
Lewis, the present crown attorney. Carry 
ing into his studies the same determination, 
and masterful ability that had marked his 
previous career, he soon completed his 
work and was admitted to the Bar. 

In 1864 Mr. Pardee married Emma K. 
Forsyth, who was born in Lambton County, 
daughter of John Forsyth. Mrs. Pardee 
now resides in Sarnia. By this union there 
were seven children : Louisa H. ; Frederick 
F., who is mentioned below ; E. C, who is 
connected with the Bank of Montreal; J. B., 



now engaged in the real-estate business at 
the "Soo"; H. M. : and T. B. and E. K., 
who reside in Sarnia. 

In 1860 Mr. Pardee settled in Sarnia, 
where he became a lawyer of no small 
merit. A knowledge of all classes of men, a 
keen penetration into vice and treachery, as 
well as a high appreciation of truth and vir 
tue, marked him from the first as a man who 
would rise. In a short time he worked up 
a large practice, which he retained through 
out his life. His brilliant intellect and thor 
ough knowledge of law won him a foremost 
place among the members of the Bar in his 
section. He died in Sarnia in 1889. Mr. 
Pardee possessed those dominant traits of 
character eminently fitting a man for public 
service, and as a Reformer he was long 
prominent in politics. Through the merited 
esteem of his fellow-citizens, in 1867 he was 
sent to the Provincial Parliament, where his 
success in furthering the interests of his 
community marked him as just the man for 
the place, and he was honored with the office 
throughout the rest of his life, and was 
Provincial secretary and commissioner of 
Crown lands in the government of Hon. O. 
Mowat. Mr. Pardee had energy coupled 
with rare tact, was both forcible and logical 
in argument, and in every respect a credit 
to the Bar and his city. 

Frederick F. Pardee, though living a less 
varied life, has met with a success at the Bar 
not surpassed by his father. He was born 
in Sarnia in 1866, and has for the most part 
made his home in that city. At an early age 
he entered the schools of the place, where 
his rare powers of mind soon asserted them 
selves and were carefully developed. Mak 
ing rapid progress, at an early age he was 
enabled to enter the Upper Canada Col 
lege, from which he graduated in 1885. 
Both exceptional opportunities for study 
and inherent ability for the profession de 
termined him to prepare for the law, and set 
tling in Sarnia he there began reading for 
the work. In 1890 he passed his examina 
tion with credit and was admitted to the 
Bar. What patient investigation of cases, 
thorough equipment for the work, tact and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



473 



address could accomplish, that Mr. Parclee 
did from the start, and was soon recognized 
as a lawyer with a future. His practice 
steadily increased, and his popularity became 
unquestioned. He now has a standing in 
the profession worthy of a man of twice his 
years. 

In 1891 Mr. Pardee married Miss M. E. 
Johnston, daughter of the late Hugh John 
ston, of Goderich. By this marriage there 
has been one daughter, P. L. 

Mr. Pardee has shown himself eminently 
fitted for public leadership. Gifted with a 
large command of apt and forcible language, 
and a clear conception of the proper time to 
speak his mind, as a councilman in 1897 he 
did efficient service for the city of Sarnia. 
In fact so evident was his ability that the 
following year he was sent to the Lower 
House of the Provincial Parliament, as rep 
resentative for West Lambton. He also 
filled this place with marked dignity and 
much credit to himself. 

ALEXANDER SCOTT, M. D., M. B., 
M. C. P. S., L. M., L. R. C. P.. L. R. 
C. S., whose death in Forest Jan. 20, 1903, 
was a distinct loss not alone to his family, 
but to the professional, business and civil life 
to the County of Lambton and of all On 
tario, was born Aug. 9, 1841, in the South 
of Ireland. His remains rest in Beechwood 
cemetery. Forest. 

Adam Scott, his father, was born in 
1806, in the North of Ireland. Prior to his 
marriage he moved to the South of Ireland. 
He was a man of intellectual attainments, 
and in his native land held the office of land 
surveyor and had business relations with 
many of the owners of the largest estates. 
In 1847 he came to Ontario, locating in 
Middlesex County, where he found immed 
iate demand for his services as a teacher, and 
he continued in educational work until the 
close of his life. His death occurred in 
1896. Politically he was a Conservative. 
His family was reared in the faith of the 
Church of England. The children born to 
the first marriage of Adam Scott were : 
James and John, both of whom died in Ire 



land; Sarah Ann. wife of Alexander Fisher, 
of Michigan; Alexander; Elizabeth, who 
died April i, 1903, widow of John Guest, of 
Elginfield, Ont. ; Isabella, wife of William 
Scott; Mary Jane, widow of William Mc- 
Crann ; William, of Sombra township ; 
Barbara Ann. wife of Samuel Scott; and 
Adam G., a farmer at Moray, Ont. The 
mother of this family died in 1882, and the 
father remarried. 

Alexander Scott was a child of six years 
when his parents came to Ontario. The 
foundations of his literary education were 
laid by his able father, who watched with 
pride the developing of his son s intellect. 
When thoroughly prepared he left home and 
for some years engaged in teaching in War 
wick township. He then spent several years 
at great educational institutions, receiving 
his degree of M. D. at the Detroit College 
of Medicine; M. B., in 1872, at the Toronto 
University ; and his numerous other degrees 
in 1873, at Edinburgh University. In 1873. 
fresh from collegiate honors, Dr. Scott set 
tled for the practice of his profession at 
Forest, Lambton County. Success attended 
bis efforts, and for almost a third of a cen 
tury he devoted his professional skill to the 
residents of this section. Resolving to 
make this his permanent home, Dr. Scott 
invested largely in real estate here, and 
added to the beauty of the town by erecting 
eleven first-class buildings, of substantial 
character and attractive appearance, and be 
also built himself a beautiful home on the 
lake shore for a summer residence. His late 
home in Forest is a historic spot, the resi 
dence having formerly been one of the Gov 
ernment buildings of Ontario. Dr. Scott 
changed it into an imposing private resi 
dence, and it has been the scene of many so 
cial functions of a delightful character. 

On Mav i, 1874, Dr. Scott was united 
in marriage with Mrs. John A. (Richard 
son) Woodroffe, who was born in Kent, 
England, Jan. 28, 1838, daughter of George 
and Anzlee (West) Richardson, both of 
whom were born in the County of Kent. 
England, the former in 1808, and the latter 
in 1809; Mrs. Richardson s father. Henry 



474 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



West, was a timber inspector in England. In 
1839 Mr. and Mrs. Richardson came to Buf 
falo, New York, where he ran a bus line 
until, in 1850, he removed to Sarnia, Ont., 
where he died, while driving in a sleigh, in 
1858; the mother survived until 1900. Their 
only child besides Mrs. Scott was a son, 
Herbert, who emigrated to the United 
States, and during the Civil war served in 
the Confederate army ; he died at St. Louis, 
Missouri. By her first husband, John Wood- 
roffe, Mrs. Scott had two daughters : Selina 
Emma, born May n, 1857, who married 
Tom Maylor, a merchant at Forest; and 
Sophia May, born June 8, 1861, who mar 
ried (first) John J. Jones, and (second) 
Cyril Manby, a large fruit farmer at Niag 
ara Falls. Dr. and Mrs. Scott had the fol 
lowing children: George A., born in 1876, 
was graduated at the Toronto University in 
1896, with the degree of B. A., and is man 
ager of the Sovereign Bank at Stouffville, 
Ont. ; Reginald F., a hardware merchant at 
Forest, married Jessie McLellan ; and 
Charles R., who was a member of the first 
Canadian contingent sent out to take part in 
the South African war, is now a corporal in 
the United States navy, at Boston, Massa 
chusetts. They had also a daughter, Edith 
Elizabeth, adopted at the age of four months, 
who still resides at home. Mrs. Scott died 
April 8, 1905. 

Dr. Scott always took an active part in 
public matters in Forest, where he was health 
officer for many years. For twenty-seven 
years he was physician to the Indians at Ket 
tle Point and Stony Point Reserve, being 
one of the oldest Indian officials of this dis 
trict. For fourteen years he was chairman 
of the high school board of Forest, and was 
instrumental in securing the erection of the 
substantial high school building. Politically 
his sympathies were always with the Re 
form party. His fraternal connections in 
cluded membership in the Royal Arcanum, 
the C. O. F. and the K. O. T. M. He and 
his wife were active members of the Church 
of England. 

REGINALD F. SCOTT was born in Forest 
April 21, 1878, and received his literary ed 



ucation in his native town. In 1901 he 
formed a partnership with Tom Houghton 
and established the hardware firm of Scott 
& Houghton, which enterprise commanded 
a flourishing trade, and had bright prospects 
for a long and prosperous career. It was 
dissolved in 1903, when Mr. Scott purchased 
his partner s interest, and he has since con 
tinued the business alone. 

On Oct. 9, 1901, Mr. Scott and Miss 
Jessie McLellan, of Brisbane, Australia, 
were united in marriage, and they have one 
son, Lindsay McLellan. Mrs. Scott is a 
daughter of James and Agnes (Brodie) 
McLellan, the latter a daughter of Daniel 
and Christine (McFarlen) Brodie, who 
came from Scotland in 1850, locating in 
West Middlesex, where Mr. Brodie died in 
1851, at the age of fifty-one years; his widow 
died in 1880, aged seventy-six years. Mrs. 
Scott, who made the trip alone from Aus 
tralia, to become the wife of our subject, is 
a most charming and accomplished young; 
lady. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are pleasantly lo 
cated in their comfortable home in Forest, 
and are active members of the Presbyterian 
Church. In politics he is a Liberal. He is 
one of the rising young men of the town,, 
and he and his wife have a host of friends 
throughout the surrounding country, being 
very important factors in the social life of 
the community. 

ISAAC PICKERING, a prominent 
farmer and cattle dealer of Forest, comes of 
English extraction, tracing his ancestry back 
to his grandparents, Jeremiah and Mary 
Pickering, natives of Pickering, Yorkshire, 
England. Jeremiah Pickering was a farmer 
and cattle dealer. His children were as fol 
lows ; Jeremiah died in England ; John, a 
farmer of England, is now deceased; Har- 
land came to Ontario in 1847, locating in 
Halton County, where he engaged in farm- 
ing; William was the father of our subject. 

William Pickering was born in 1800 in 
England, where he was a horse and cattle 
dealer. In 1837 he came to Ontario, landing 
at Toronto, and later he settled in the town 
ship of Chinguaconsy, Peel County, taking 







\ 

^ 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



475 



up 100 acres of land which lie farmed until 
his death, in 1882. In England he married 
Mary Harland, of Yorkshire, Rosedale 
Abbey, England, who was born in 1804 and 
died in 1882. This venerable couple had 
been married fifty-five years at the time of 
her death. In religious faith they were 
Methodists, while politically he was a Re 
former. The children born to them were as 
follows : Hannah (deceased) married Benja 
min Ducker ; Mary is the widow of William 
Addy, of Brampton; Harland is a retired 
farmer of Brampton; Isaac is our subject; 
William (deceased), a carpenter, died in 
Chattanooga, Tennessee; Jeremiah is on the 
old farm. 

Isaac Pickering was born in what is now 
Brampton, Out., Nov. 6, 1837, when that 
locality was all bush, and there grew to man 
hood. He learned the cooper s trade, at which 
occupation he worked for ten years. He then 
took up farming in Peel County, and con 
tinued at that calling until 1871, when he 
came to Lambton County and purchased 200 
acres on Lot 16, Concession 12, Plympton 
township, known as the Switzler farm, 
which he still retains. He remained in 
Brampton for a time, however, not moving 
to Lambton County until 1872, when he pur 
chased 100 acres more, on Lot 14. Conces 
sion 14. He cleared up all his property, mak 
ing one of the finest farms in the county, on 
which he resided for two years, when he sold 
it and moved onto Lot 14, Concession 10, 
buying 300 acres, 200 of which had already 
been cleared. In 1880 he removed to Forest 
and purchased 100 acres adjacent to the 
town. Mr. Pickering has been in the grain 
business for seven years, and he has also 
been extensively engaged in cattle dealing, 
handling on an average a thousand head 
annually, and finding markets all over the 
country. While devoting a large portion of 
his time to this business, he still owns and 
continues to operate 600 acres of well-culti 
vated farming land. Mr. Pickering has been 
reeve of the town, member of the county 
council, mayor of Forest, and a member of 
the town council of Forest for a number of 



years, in all of his political offices discharg 
ing the duties faithfully and honorably. 

On Dec. 31, 1860, Mr. Pickering was 
married to Miss Margaret Hetherington, 
born in Toronto township, Peel County, 
Nov. 3, 1838, daughter of John and Ruth 
(Walker) Hetherington, and six children 
have been born to this union : Mary married 
Marshal B. Gardiner, of Aurora, Illinois, 
and has three children, Marshal, Earl and 
Gladys ; William, a veterinary surgeon of 
Forest, married Rebecca Dickey, a daughter 
of R. R. Dickey, of Forest; Ruth married 
Dr. Alexander, of Silverwood, Michigan ; 
Margaret married George Keifer, proprietor 
of the Norwood Register, and has one son, 
Harland; John H., a veterinary surgeon of 
Edmonton, Alberta, married Mrs. Jennie I. 
McFarland, and has one daughter, Marga 
ret; Maud is the wife of Albert Paltridge, of 
Goderich. and they have one daughter, Mar 
garet. The family belongs to the Methodist 
Church, and has always taken an active part 
in its work. In 1872, in 1882, and again in 
1885, Mr. Pickering visited the home of his 
ancestors, Pickering Castle, and spent con 
siderable time in looking up his ancestral his 
tory, discovering that the Pickerings were 
founded in England about the year 1000. 
Aside from being one of the wealthy men 
and prominent politicians of Lambton 
County. Mr. Pickering is a true friend and 
kind neighbor, and has a host of friends 
wherever he is known. 

John and Ruth (Walker) Hetherington, 
Mrs. Pickering s parents, came to Ontario 
from Cumberland, England, about 1830, lo 
cating in Toronto township, County of Peel, 
where they took up eighty acres of wild land. 
Mr. Hetherington never farmed, but fol 
lowed his trade, tailoring, until the last few 
years of his life, when he retired. He re 
mained on the farm, hiring the labor done, 
until his death, in 1866, at the age of sev 
enty-eight years. Mrs. Hetherington died 
in 1898. at the age of eighty-four years. 
They were members of the Methodist 
Church. They were the parents of the fol 
lowing named children : Isabella married 



476 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



John M. Smith, a meat dealer of Orangeville, 
Ont. ; Abigail married Daniel Leelands, a 
farmer of Toronto township. Peel County; 
John \vas a farmer, and was living- retired in 
Brampton, Ont., at the time of his death; 
Margaret is Mrs. Pickering; Robert is a 
farmer of Harrison, Michigan ; George died 
on the old homestead when twenty-four 
years old. 

HON. NEAL McMILLAX. Among the 
distinguished residents of Sarnia one who 
has won the high esteem of citizens of all 
shades of political opinion, by long public 
services of a conspicuous character, is Col. 
Neal McMillan, the United States consul. 
Mr. McMillan is a Canadian product of 
Scotch ancestry, and possesses many of the 
admirable attributes for which the natives of 
both countries have long been noted. 

Neal McMillan was born in the Prov 
ince of Quebec. Dec. 25, 1845, a grandson 
of Archibald McMillan, who was born in 
Argyllshire, Scotland, and there married 
Ann Cameron, who bore a name well known 
in song and story. In 1824 he brought his 
family to the Province of Quebec, Canada, 
settled down to agricultural life, and in the 
peaceful pursuit of this vocation passed the 
remainder of his days. 

One of the twelve children of Archibald 
and Ann McMillan was a son, Archibald, 
who was born in 1808, in Scotland, and was 
sixteen years of age when he came to Can 
ada. About the time of his majority he 
married Janet McNaughton, a native also of 
Argyllshire. Scotland, and a daughter of 
Dougal McNaughton, who had come to Can 
ada at the same time as did the McMillan 
family. In 1858 the father of Consul Mc 
Millan moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
where he engaged in farming and lumbering 
until his death, in 1894. The mother passed 
away in 1884. During his residence in the 
United States Mr. McMillan was identified 
with the Republican party, but never sought 
official recognition. Both parents were val 
ued members of the Presbyterian Church 
and highly esteemed members of the com 



munity. Their children were as follows : 
John, deceased, was a farmer in Ada, Kent 
County, Michigan ; Dougal is deceased ; Ar 
chibald is a resident of Jackson, Michigan ; 
Margaret is the wife of Albert Headley, of 
Walloon, Michigan; Neal is mentioned be 
low ; Kate is deceased ; Mary is the wife of 
A. H. Turner, of Ada, Michigan ; Janet is 
the wife of Warren Russell, of Middleville, 
Michigan. During the Civil war, in the 
United States, John, Dougal and Archibald 
were in the Union army from 1861 to 1865. 

Neal McMillan was only two years old 
when his parents removed to Michigan, am 1 
he received his educational training in the 
public schools of Grand Rapids and at De 
troit. In 1871 he entered upon his business 
career as a druggist at Rockford, Michigan. 
and continued so engaged until 1890. His 
aptness and interest in public life were early 
manifest, and after serving as school ex 
aminer, county clerk and supervisor of Al- 
goma township, Kent County, and several 
years as a member of the board of educa 
tion, at Rockford, he was in 1886, the choice 
of his party for the Legislature, and two 
years later was re-elected. Mr. McMillan 
has served in many other public capacities, 
one of these being that of State oil inspec 
tor which position he held four years. His 
reputation as a man of strict integrity has 
made him the selection for many administra 
tive duties, and in every case he has admir 
ably met the demands made upon him. In 
February, 1898, he was appointed to the 
United States consulate at Sarnia, by tru 
late President McKinley, whose most ex 
cellent discrimination was never better 
shown. 

In 1872 Mr. McMillan married Miss 
Florence A. Dockeray, who died in 1875. 
To this union was born one son, Ernest D., 
who married Bessie Sheldon, of Lansing, 
Michigan. In 1877 Mr. McMillan married 
Jennie A. Blake, who died in 1896, and was 
the mother of three children : K. Ethel and 
N. Grace, who are at home, and Grace, who 
died when five years old. In 1898, for his 
third wife, Mr. McMillan was united in mar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



477 



riage with Miss Myrtle Hyde. Like his 
other wives she is from Rock ford. Michi 
gan, and all were acquainted. 

Mr. and Mrs. McMillan attend the Pres 
byterian Church, and are leaders in social 
circles in Sarnia. He is a prominent mem 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, being grand 
master of the grand lodge of A. F. & A. 
M., of Michigan, and has also long been 
identified with the I. O. O. F. His ac 
quaintance is with the leading men of botb 
Michigan and Canada, and he fills the dis 
tinguished office to which he was so appro 
priately appointed with the efficiency and 
dignity it requires in a government repre 
sentative. 

NEIL LECKIE, one of the best known 
citizens of Sarnia township, has been popu 
lar in public life and prominent as an ex 
tensive farmer for many years. He rep 
resents one of the old families of Lambton 
County, his grandfather, John Leckie, hav 
ing come to Canada in 1821. John Leckie 
was born in County Down, Ireland, married 
Elizabeth McCracken, and lived for some 
time in Glasgow, Scotland, until he decided 
to come to Canada. He first located in Dal- 
housie township, Lanark County, Out., later 
moving to Moore township, Lambton Coun 
ty, and there he and his wife died at ad 
vanced ages. 

John Leckie, father of Neil and second 
son of John and Elizabeth (McCracken) 
Leckie, was born in 1813 in Glasgow, Scot 
land, and was therefore eight years old when 
the family came to the New World. He 
grew to manhood in Lenark County, and 
there married Ann O Neil, who was born in 
Ireland, daughter of Neil O Neil, and came 
to Canada with her parents in childhood, 
the family settling in the County of Lanark, 
where Mr. O Neil took up a farm, in Dal- 
housie township. In time John Leckie 
bought a farm of 100 acres on Mississippi 
Lake, same county, remained there six years, 
sold it, and moved to Ramsay township, pur 
chasing another, loo-acre farm, which was 
partially cleared. About 1853 he sold out 
and came to the County of Lambton, pur 



chasing 400 acres in the eastern part of 
Moore township. The land was wild and 
much hard work was necessary to put it in 
good condition for profitable farming, which 
however, he accomplished in good time, with 
the aid of his sons. At first they made potash 
and were engaged in getting out square tim 
bers, but as the land became tillable they 
gradually took up general farming, and they 
did their full share in reclaiming that sec 
tion from its primitive state. The region 
was all wild at the time of their removal 
thither, but now fine farms are to be seen on 
every hand. Here the father passed away 
at the age of seventy-one years, and the 
mother died in June, 1875, at the age of 
sixty years. Their family consisted of the 
following named children: John lives in 
Moore township, on part of the 4oo-acre 
tract previously mentioned ; Neil is men 
tioned below ; Robert lived in Moore town 
ship and later in Michigan, and was en 
gaged as a lumberman (he is deceased) ; 
William enlisted for service in the Civil 
war in the United States, was captured and 
confined in Libby prison, and after the war 
again went to the United States; Thomas, 
now deceased, was a resident of Moore 
township ; Stewart died in Seattle, \Vash- 
ington ; Gilbert is engaged in farming on 
part of the old home place in Moore town 
ship. 

Neil Leckie was born May 2, 1839, in 
Dalhousie township, County of Lanark, and 
was reared there, being fourteen years old 
when the family settled in Moore township, 
this county. For several years he assisted 
his father faithfully in the heavy work of 
clearing, making potash, etc., and in 1862, 
in his early twenties, struck out for British 
Columbia, spending eight years in the West. 
He was engaged in mining, and had his full 
share of the trying experiences and hard 
ships that fell to the lot of those who ven 
tured west at that early day, but he was used 
to hard work and had developed a plucky 
spirit in the rugged atmosphere of the pio 
neer section in which his youth was passed. 
Finally returning to Lambton County, he 
bought sixty-five acres in Sarnia township, 



478 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



along the Plank road, later adding consider 
ably to his holdings. He has devoted all his 
attention to general farming, with excellent 
results, and his farm shows the thrift and 
intelligent management of the owner. He 
has improved liis land in many ways, and is 
regarded as one of the progressive agricul 
turists of his section, having done much to 
raise the standard of farms and farming in 
his locality. Ever since his removal to 
Sarnia township, he has taken a lively in 
terest in the public welfare and local civic 
matters, and has served in various positions 
o f trust with an efficiency which speaks well 
for his business ability. He was a member 
of the township council, deputy reeve for 
five years, and is now serving his fifth con 
secutive year as member of the county coun 
cil. As an evidence of his popularity it may 
be mentioned that he has been chosen for the 
latter office each year by acclamation, with 
the exception of 1905, when he was elected. 
Such a record speaks for itself. In political 
sentiment Mr. Leckie is a Conservative. 

Mr. Leckie was married Oct. 3, 1871, to 
Miss Maud Millikin, who was born in Sar 
nia township, April 30, 1850, daughter of 
Emanuel and Anna (Hanna) Millikin, of 
Ireland, who came to Lambton County, 
Ont., in 1845, and took up 100 acres in Sar 
nia township, making it their home. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Leckie have come the following 
named children : John, who is engaged in 
farming in Moore township, on the 4th Con 
cession, married Miss Emma A. Finch, and 
has one son, Kenneth J. ; Fred is employed 
in the locomotive department of the Grand 
Trunk railroad and lives at home; George 
has a ninety acre farm in Sarnia township; 
Robert is at home; Joseph is also engaged 
in farming. The sons are all respected citi 
zens, and reflect credit on their home train 
ing. The family attend the Methodist 
Church. 

CAPT. JOHN TRACY. Of the many 
public-spirited citizens of whom Lambton 
County can boast none, perhaps, has done 
more for the advancement of his section or 
is more widely known and beloved than Capt. 



John Tracy, of Enniskillen township. His 
life has been spent in many lands and he has 
seen many vicissitudes of fortune, but 
through it all he has remained essentially 
the same loyal, upright and useful citizen. 
He was born near London, in March, 1823, 
son of John and Mary (Fife) Tracy, natives 
of England and Scotland, respectively, who 
lived and died in England. 

Capt. John Tracy was the eldest son, and 
was educated for the medical profession. 
After finishing his course in medicine he 
immigrated to Australia, and there was put 
in charge of the gold fields under the Brit 
ish government, a position which he retained 
three years. When the Crimean war broke 
out he received a commission in an Osmanli 
cavalry regiment and served in it to the close 
of the war in 1856. In December of that 
year he started for Canada, by way of Port 
land and Montreal, and then pressed on to 
Lambton County, where he bought land in 
Enniskillen township, and began to make 
his home. While developing his farm he 
also practiced medicine gratuitously among 
his neighbors, and was thus occupied until 
the discovery of oil in this section. Then he 
moved at once to Petrolia, and acted as land 
commissioner for various agencies in Can 
ada and the United States. Such employ 
ment lasted twelve years, during which pe 
riod he was a number of times elected to a 
place on the council of Petrolia, besides act 
ing as school trustee. He was likewise one 
of the founders of the English Church in 
Petrolia, and was not only warden for some 
time but also filled other positions in the 
church. During his residence in Petrolia 
Capt. Tracy was instrumental in bringing 
the branch railroad as well as in securing 
many other improvements in the place. 
About 1880 he returned to his farm in En 
niskillen township, and there engaged in oil 
producing on his own account, while he also 
leased and worked other lands near, and 
this has been his main interest ever since 
one. too, in which he has been very success 
ful. 

Capt. Tracy has been twice married, the 
first time to Miss Jane Cox, a native of Eng- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



479 



land, who died in Petrolia, in 1868. No 
children were born to this union. His sec 
ond marriage was to Miss Caroline Rams- 
den, daughter of John Ramsden, who came 
from Yorkshire, England, and settled at 
Blenheim, Kent County. The daughter was 
born and reared in the Canada home. She 
has been the mother of five children, all of 
whom received a fair education, mainly in 
the public schools of Petrolia. Agnes, the 
deceased wife of William Webb, of Lamb- 
ton County, left no children. Mary married 
Simon Baker, an Englishman, and they with 
their two children, Caroline and John P., 
reside in Enniskillen township, where Mr. 
Baker is engaged in the oil business. John 
grew up in the Petrolia home and still re 
sides in that town; he married Miss Jo 
sephine Bailey, of Lambton County, and they 
have two daughters, Dolly and Lucy C. Isa 
bella, the fourth child of Capt. Tracy, mar 
ried Thomas B. Mackey, and they reside 
with her father. Humphrey W. married 
Miss Mary Ennis, of Enniskillen township, 
and they have two children, George L. and 
Jessie May. 

In his political ideas, Capt. Tracy has 
always been one of the old Conservative 
party. With a keen interest in the public 
welfare, he has always been active in muni 
cipal affairs, and during his residence in Pe 
trolia held many official positions of trust 
and responsibility. In fraternal circles also 
he is a prominent figure and began his con 
nection with such organizations before he 
left England. He joined the Masonic order 
there and belongs to the Grand Lodge, being 
one of the leading Masons of Petrolia, and 
has been the representative of his lodge from 
its organization, as well as being District 
Past Deputy Grand. In religious belief the 
Captain and his family are members of the 
Church of England in Petrolia, in which he 
has always taken an active interest, and 
where he has held many positions. For 
many years he has been one of the leading 
citizens of the township and of Petrolia and 
has made many warm friends throughout 
that section. None stands higher than he 
in the general esteem, and he is loved by all 



who know him for his kindly, genial nature. 
He does conveyancing for the convenience 
of his neighbors, and devotes most of his 
leisure to reading and drawing, being re 
markably well read and quite accomplished 
as an artist. He has a number of oil paint 
ings which he himself executed. 

JOHN McHATTIE, clerk of the muni 
cipality of. Petrolia and an oil producer, of 
the County of Lambton, is of Scotch extrac 
tion and a son of George and Margaret 
(Duff) McHattie. The parents were both 
born in Scotland. George. McHattie was a 
fanner in the north of Scotland. In relig 
ious affiliations he and his wife were Pres 
byterians. To their union was born the 
following family : William, who came to 
Canada, located at Niagara Falls, where he 
is employed in the police department; he 
married Flora McKinion. James is residing 
on the old homestead in Scotland. John is 
our subject. 

John McHattie was born in Scotland 
Nov. 2, 1844, an d grew to maturity in his 
native land. He was engaged as salesman 
for. a wholesale sugar house for about six 
years. In 1877 he married Miss Jemima 
Linklater, a native of Aberdeen, daughter of 
Capt. Jame-s and Barbara (Allen) Linklater, 
and in 1880 Mr. and Mrs. McHattie emi 
grated to Ontario, locating at Niagara Falls 
for four years. In 1884 they removed to 
St. Clair, Michigan, Mr. McHattie taking 
a position as agent with the Michigan Cen 
tral Railroad Company. It was then known 
as the Canadian Southern. He remained 
with that road as agent until 1895, m l88 5 
coming to Petrolia, where in 1895 he en 
gaged in producing oil, in which line he has 
since continued with marked success. In 
March, 1899, ne was appointed clerk of Pe 
trolia, which position he still holds with 
credit to himself and honor to his party. 

The following family has been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. McHattie: James L., who is 
assistant ticket agent for the Illinois Cen 
tral Railroad Co., with headquarters at Chi 
cago; George, an accountant in the Bank of 
Toronto, at London, Ont. ; Flora ; William 



480 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



John, in St. Loin s. Missouri, with the Amer 
ican Express Co. ; and Margaret at home. 
Politically Mr. McHattie is a Reformer. 
Fraternally he is past master of Worthington 
Lodge, No. 260, A. F. & A. M., of Pe- 
trolia, and he is also a member of the S. O. S. 

WILLIAM MILLER. While Sarnia 
township is essentially a farming section, in 
the last few years there have been many dis 
coveries of oil in that region, and the new 
industry has been increasing rapidly. The 
largest resident operator in the township it, 
William Miller, a prosperous farmer, who 
still carries on his agricultural labors, but has 
combined with them the operation of sixteen 
oil wells. He is a native of the township, 
born Aug. i. 1847, son of John and Janet 
(Lyle) Miller. 

John Miller was a Scotchman, born in 
Glasgow in 1803. son of John Miller, Sr., 
who passed his entire life in Scotland, where 
he reared three sons and three daughters : 
John, Robert, James, Christina (who mar 
ried John Lee), Mary (who married Will 
iam Craig), and Margaret (who married 
Joshua Lockington). John Miller continued 
to live in Glasgow until he was eighteen. At 
that age he made the voyage to Canada, and 
settled first in Dalhousie township, Lanark 
County, where he secured a government 
grant of land for fifty acres, which he built 
upon and cleared. In 1836 he sold this prop 
erty and with his family removed to Lamb- 
ton County, where he bought fifty acres from 
Hon. Malcolm Cameron, in Lot 4, 
Concession 3, the first clearing made 
in that section. He built a log cabin 
and stable, cleared the land, and made 
his home there until 1855, when he 
sold the place to Andrew Alexander. His 
next purchase was 100 acres in Lot 4, Con 
cession 4, and he began anew the old hard 
struggle with the wilderness. The county 
then was almost covered with dense forests 
of hickory, elm, oak and buttonwood, im 
mense trees many of them, and William 
Miller recalls an elm seven feet in diameter, 
and an oak of six feet and a half, which, 
though large, were not unusual. There was 



no sale of these woods, and had it not been 
for the ready market for potash the land 
would never have been cleared as early as it 
was. The trees best suited for that purpose, 
however, often grew in the swamp, so the 
necessary work of cutting and hauling was 
made even more difficult. By the time the 
Miller family began on this new property the 
sons were large enough to assist in the work 
of clearing, and even the youngest had to do 
his part. 

John Miller was married in Dalhousie 
township to Miss Janet Lyle, daughter of 
Walter Lyle, a wheelwright, who died in 
Lanark County. She died April 8, 1872, 
aged fifty-nine years, and was survived by 
Mr. Miller until March 21, 1884, when he 
passed away at the old home on the 4th Line, 
Sarnia township, aged eighty-one, and was 
buried in the Burns cemetery. Their chil 
dren were: Margaret, deceased wife of 
Henry Mills; John, deceased, who was a 
farmer in Sarnia township; Mary, late wife 
of George Maine, of Sarnia township ; Wal 
ter, who died in 1901, a farmer in Chatham 
township, Kent County ; Robert, who lived 
only five years ; James, a resident of Sarnia ; 
William; Janet, wife of John Doig, of Pe- 
trolia ; Isaac, a ranchman in Montana, where 
he was killed by the Indians; and David, 
who owns the homestead. Mr. Miller, the 
father, was a member of the Reform party 
in politics ; he was a Presbyterian in religious 
belief, and for about four years of his life 
occasionally walked to Sarnia to church, fol 
lowing an Indian trail for eight miles through 
the unbroken forests. 

William Miller was only eight years old 
when his father moved to his last farm. 
He was sent to school for some 
years, walking back and forth the three 
miles, but as soon as he was large 
enough to use an ax he had to help 
in the clearing of the land, for every 
hand was needed. He assisted his father for 
a number of years, but at the age of twenty- 
six he bought his present home and started 
out for himself. Of this property, situated 
in the west half of Lot 3, Concession 2, about 
thirty acres had already been cleared, and a 




JOHN MILLER 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



481 



few small buildings had been erected. Mr. 
Miller continued the work of improving and 
clearing till he now has a splendid farm, 
while his buildings are among the finest in 
the township; the present barn was put up 
to replace one that was burned, and the hand 
some large brick house in which he resides 
was built in 1897. He has always been en 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
but his operations in oil are gradually taking 
more and more of his attention. He has sunk 
thirty-one wells in all, sixteen of which are 
pumping. He uses steam power and is the 
largest producer in the township. 

On April 2, 1873, ^ r - Miller married 
Miss Malina Mills, daughter of Robert Mills. 
a pioneer settler of Sarnia township, and to 
their union eleven children have been born, 
of whom only the oldest and the youngest are 
daughters : ( i ) Jessie Myrtle is the wife of 
Francis Pritty. of Sombra township, and the 
mother of Lyle, Ralph and Wilbert. (2) 
Wilbert Henry, a farmer of Sarnia township 
married Miss Laura Dawson, and they have 
three children. Wallace. Helen and Kenneth. 
(3) Robert John has the farm settled by his 
grandfather, Robert Mills ; he married Miss 
Rose Hair. (4) George Maine is a farmer 
in the township, and married Miss Mary 
Brownlee. (5) \Yilliam Walter still lives at 
home, although he owns a loo-acre farm in 
Moore township; he is an oil well driller. 
(6) Franklin James is engaged in oil opera 
tions. (7) Silas Mills is a farmer and oil 
producer. (8) Wesley Ivan, (9) Herbert 
Roy, (10) Isaac Orville and (n) Minnie 
Hazel, the last named a bright, wide-awake 
child of six. are all at home. Mr. Miller 
is a follower of the Reform party, but has 
never sought to hold office. He and his 
family are all members and regular attend 
ants upon the Moore Line Presbyterian 
Church, in which they are among the active 
workers. Mr. Miller has been very success 
ful in his undertakings, and is a well-known 
man in the county. 

Mrs. Malina (Mills) Miller comes of 
good pioneer stock. John Duncan, her 
great-grandfather, was a native of Hamilton, 
Scotland, and brought his family to Sarnia 



31 



township, Lambton County, in 1835. He 
taught school many years, and afterward 
engaged in the grocery business. He retired 
some time before his death, which occurred 
at his home in Moore township, in March, 
1858, when he was aged eighty-three years. 

James Duncan, grandfather of Mrs. 
Miller, was a weaver in Hamilton, Scotland. 
At the age of twenty he came to Canada, lo 
cating in Port Dalhousie. where he farmed 
and worked on the Welland canal. After his 
marriage he came to Lambton County, and 
in May, 1835, located in Sarnia township, 
taking up 200 acres of wild land. For a few 
months he taught school. In the Rebellion 
of 1837 he served as a soldier. A faithful 
member and deacon in the Presbyterian 
Church, he walked eleven miles to Sarnia 
each Sunday to attend service. He married 
Christina Chalmers, daughter of Robert and 
Isabella (Forest) Chalmers, of Hamilton, 
Scotland. The Chalmers family emigrated 
to Canada, and settled in Sarnia township. 
James Duncan died Dec. 15, 1874, aged sev 
enty-three years, and his wife passed away 
April 26, 1889, aged eighty-three, and both 
are buried in the Baptist cemetery in Sarnia 
township. They had fourteen children, seven 
sons and seven daughters, as follows : John, 
Robert and James, all three deceased; Isa 
bella, of Sarnia, who married Ronald Mc- 
Call, and had nine children ; Agnes, widow of 
John Miller, of Sarnia, and the mother of 
seven children ; Christina, of Sarnia town 
ship, widow of Robert Mills, and mother of 
Mrs. William Miller; Andrew, a retired 
farmer of Sarnia, who married and had four 
children ; Catherine, who married Alexander 
Lament, of Sarnia, and has three children : 
Alexander, of Kingston, Out, who has had 
nine children; Jane, who married Robert 
Purvis, a retired farmer at Sarnia, and has 
seven children ; Joseph, deceased, who mar 
ried twice and had twelve children; Anna, 
of Daytona, Florida, who married Silas 
Mills, and had seven children ; Marian, who 
died unmarried, aged twenty-nine years; 
William, a farmer at Vancouver, B. C, who 
married and has seven children. 

Robert Mills, father of Mrs. Miller, was 



482 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born in Bathurst, Out., and died in Sarnia, 
Aug. 29, 1891, aged seventy years. His re 
mains rest in Lakeview cemetery, Sarnia. 
By occupation he was a shoemaker and 
farmer. He was one of the first settlers in 
Sarnia township, taking up 100 acres of 
land. He was twice married. In 1845 he 
married Myra Wright, daughter of Capt. 
Abel Wright, a U. E. Loyalist, who came to 
Canada and took up land. To this marriage 
came four sons, namely: Silas, of Florida; 
Henry, manager of the Sarnia Street Rail 
way Company; Abel, of Sarnia, Ont. ; and 
Robert, of Detroit, Michigan. In April, 
1854, Mr. Mills married (second) Miss 
Christina Duncan, who was born in Dalhou- 
sie, Ont., and who now lives in Sarnia; 
This marriage was blessed with six children : 
Malina, who became Mrs. William Miller, of 
Sarnia ; William, a civil engineer of Denver, 
Colorado ; Isabella, who married Daniel Mc 
Laren, of Sarnia ; James, of Flint, Michigan, 
who married Mary Rowe; Thomas, of Kauf 
man, Texas, who married Eunice Hitch 
cock; and John, who operates the "Red 
Store" and is living with his mother in Sar 
nia, and who married Ethel W. Brennan. 

ROBERT G. McDONALD, M. D. Med 
ical science is growing more and more com 
plicated each year, with new discoveries and 
inventions multiplying as they are, so that 
the calling of a physician is one which offers 
more opportunities for development than any 
other. A quarter of a century ago it was 
the old and experienced physician whose 
services were preferred, but today the fact is 
recognized that his younger colleague may 
be better fitted to cope with disease on ac 
count of the better opportunities he has en 
joyed in acquiring his education. One of 
the leading and rising young doctors of Sar 
nia is Dr. Robert G. McDonald, who, al 
though he has not been a member of his pro 
fession for many years, is recognized as a 
n.;m of ability and skill. 

Dr. McDonald is of Scottish ancestry on 
the paternal side of the family, and of Eng 
lish-Scotch on his mother s side of the 
house. Robert McDonald, his grandfather. 



was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and in his 
native land married Margaret Low. In an 
early day in the history of western Ontario 
he came to the Dominion, locating at New- 
bury, Out., where he followed his trade of 
tailor for a number of years. He had a twin 
brother who settled near Newbury, and en 
gaged in farming. To Robert McDonald 
and his wife were born four sons : Arthur, 
Robert, Fremont and Duncan. Of these, 
Arthur was the father of Dr. McDonald. 
Arthur McDonald was born in Scotland 
in 1841, and came to Ontario with his par 
ents. He was married, in Montreal, to Miss 
Jane Barlow, who was born in Ireland, of 
English-Scotch parentage, being a daughter 
of Richard Barlow and his wife Jane Mc- 
McDonald. After his marriage Mr. Mc 
Donald engaged in the manufacture of pi 
anos. He served in the war of the Rebellion 
in the United States (1861-65). About 
1880 he settled in Sarnia and for ten years 
was the proprietor of the "Western Hotel" 
in that city, and was conducting this popular 
hostelry at the time of his death, in 1891. 
Mr. McDonald was a prominent member of 
the Masonic order. His political opinions 
made him a Conservative. Two children 
were torn to himself and wife: Robert G. 
and Flora, who with Mrs. McDonald reside 
on Christina street, in Sarnia. 

Robert G. McDonald was born in Mon 
treal, May 21, 1874, and was eight years of 
age when brought to Sarnia by his parents. 
His early education was acquired in the ex 
cellent schools of that city, and after grad 
uating from the high school, in 1894, lie en 
tered the medical department of the Uni 
versity of Toronto, from which he graduated 
in 1898. Immediately after this event he 
returned to Sarnia and began his life work, 
meeting with astonishing success. Already 
he has firmly established himself in the con 
fidence of the people, and his future is a very 
promising one. Politically he is a Conser 
vative, like his father before him. His re 
ligious views are in accordance with those of 
the Roman Catholic Church. In the fra 
ternal order of C. M. B. A. he is deservedly 
popular, as he is socially with his brother 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



483 



physicians, and he is also a member of the 
Maccabees, K. of C., Sons of Scotland, 
Royal Arcanum and C. O. F. 

ALEXANDER KENNEDY, now liv 
ing retired from active work at Point Ed 
ward, is a native of Scotland, born Jan. i, 
1847, son of John and Flora (MacDonald) 
Kennedy, the latter a daughter of John 
MacDonald, a cousin of the late Sir John 
MacDonald. 

John Kennedy, father of Alexander, was 
born in Scotland, in 1793, and died in 1881 
at Point Edward, being buried in Lake View 
cemetery; his wife died in 1870. John 
Kennedy and his wife came to Ontario in 
1853, locating at Woodstock. In 1867 he 
came to Point Edward, where he lived re 
tired until his death. He and his wife were 
members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
Their children were as follows : Ann, Mary, 
Donald, Ronald, Hugh, Angus, Duncan, 
John (of Sarnia), Ronald (2), and Alexan 
der, all now deceased but John, Alexander 
and Hugh. 

Alexander Kennedy came to Ontario 
Avhen about seven years of age. In 1858, 
-when a lad of eleven, he was engaged as a 
water boy by the Grand Trunk Railway 
Company, at the time of the construction of 
the road. In 1863 he came to Point Ed 
ward, there remaining with the Grand Trunk 
road until 1864, when he went to Sarnia 
township, where he continued with the rail 
road. Later he went to Strathroy, and 
thence to Chatham, where he was engaged 
with the late D. R. Van Allen. From Chat 
ham Mr. Kennedy went to Wallaceburg, 
where he followed sailing for a time, and in 
1892 returned to Point Edward, where he 
now resides. 

On Feb. 13, 1866, Mr. Kennedy and Miss 
Elizabeth MacDougall were united in mar 
riage. Mrs. Kennedy was born in Argyllshire, 
Scotland, in August, 1849, daughter of the 
late Capt. D. MacDougall, born in 1820, a 
sailor in Scotland and in Canada, who is 
now living retired in Point Edward, whither 
he came as captain of a vessel in May, 1865. 
He was master and owner of vessels at the 



time he retired. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy 
have been born the following children : Min 
nie ; Daniel ; Flora, wife of Hamilton Mur 
phy, by whom she has had three children, 
Arthur, Leo and Wilbur (deceased) ; John 
A. ; Henry; and Hugh, all of Point Edward; 
Peter, a sailor; and Arthur, a sailor. While 
in Chatham Mr. Kennedy was a member of 
the 24th Regiment, and since coming to 
Point Edward has belonged to the 27th 
Regiment. 

COL. ROBERT CAMPBELL, who de 
parted this life at his home in Watford Feb. 
12, 1883, was born in Ireland in 1815. 
About the year 1835 he came to Ontario, 
locating in Warwick township, Lambton 
County, when that locality was all a wilder 
ness. From the virgin land he developed a 
fine farm, upon which he made his home for 
a number of years, taking an active part in 
public matters as well as cultivating and 
improving his property. During a number 
of years he was an honored member of the 
township council, and many of the improve 
ments in Warwick were inaugurated and 
carried out by him. Later he sold his farm 
and settled in Watford, and there engaged 
successfully in conveyancing. He also acted 
for a number of years as colonel of the 27th 
Battalion of Watford, until 1882, when fail 
ing health obliged him to resign. After 
settling in Watford his ability as a regulator 
of public affairs was recognized, and he was 
placed in the city council and retained there 
for a long time. He was also reeve, and by 
virtue of that office a member of the county 
council, serving as a member of that body 
at the same time as Robert Rae of Thed- 
ford, and other prominent men of his day. 
The political faith of Col. Campbell made 
him in early life a Reformer, but as he grew 
older his opinions changed somewhat, and 
he joined the Conservative ranks. 

Col. Campbell was twice married. His 
first wife, whom he married in Ireland, tore 
him children as follows : Ellen married John 
Moore, of Winnipeg ; George was killed dur 
ing the Rebellion in the United States (he 
left no family) ; Jane married Mr. Lapman, 



484 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Petrolia, and has one daughter, Grace; 
Mary married George Kelly, of Warwick, 
and has five children, Dr. Robert G. (of 
Watford), Fred, William, Grace and Lillie; 
Grace (deceased) married William Kelly, of 
Brooke township; Robert who died unmar 
ried, was prominent in military circles; 
Alexander died unmarried. The mother of 
this family died, and on July 9, 1874, Col. 
Campbell married Mrs. Susanna Miller, 
widow of Mark Miller, and daughter of Isa 
iah and Mary Ann (Wilson) Currie, natives 
of Ireland. She was born in New York 
State in 1832, and by her marriage to Col. 
Campbell has one son, Robert John Camp 
bell, who for seven years was one of the pop 
ular teachers of Lambton County, and re 
sides with his mother in Watford. He mar 
ried Grissell Hume, a daughter of Alexander 
Hume, and they have one daughter, Mary 
Catherine. Col. Campbell was an Episco 
palian, and fraternally an Orangeman. In 
his death Lambton County and Watford lost 
a leading representative of the best elements 
of the community, and his memory is tender 
ly cherished in the hearts of a wide circle 
of friends, as well as in the bosom of his 
family. 



WILLIAM GAMMON, now living re 
tired at Forest, comes of English ancestry, 
the family having been founded in this coun 
try by his father, George Gammon, who was 
born in Hampshire, England, in 1799. In 
his native land George Gammon married 
Hannah Earl, a native of the same locality, 
born in 1798. In 1842 they came to Can 
ada, locating on Lake Ontario, near Hamil 
ton, where they followed farming. Thence 
they removed to Plympton township, Lamb- 
ton County, Ont., locating on Lot 22, Con 
cession 15, in 1860, their son William having 
settled in the township in 1852. There they 
passed the remainder of their lives, Mr. 
Gammon passing away in 1888, and his wife 
in 1885. They were members of the Bap 
tist Church, and he was a Conservative in 
politics. They had the following children: 
William is mentioned below; Harriet mar 
ried James Bannister, of Plympton; John of 



Essex County, a retired farmer, died about 
l8 77 5 James, a farmer, was at the time of his 
death living i n Lambton County (he had 
married and left a family) ; Ebenezer is a 
carpenter of Essex County; George is a 
farmer of Aldborough, Elgin County, Ont. ; 
Thomas resides on Lot 21, Concession 19, 
Plympton township. All of the sons were 
Conservatives in politics. 

William Gammon was born in England 
July 8, 1825, and came to Ontario with his 
parents. While living in his native land he 
engaged in farming, and followed that call 
ing after coming to this country, first work 
ing for various farmers, and later renting 
land near Hamilton. In 1852 he came to 
Lambton County, settling on Lot 26, Con 
cession 14, the land being all covered with 
bush, but he cleared this off and developed 
his farm into a valuable property. On it 
he has erected three residences, the first one 
having been built of the logs cut from the 
property. Later he replaced the primitive 
home with a house of frame, and still later 
he built the present substantial edifice of 
brick, supplied with all modern conveniences, 
and in it he made his home until 1900, when 
he retired to Forest, although he still owns 
the farm. In 1888 Mr. Gammon purchased 
live acres of land for $1,330, and on it built 
the house in which he now resides. When 
he first settled in the county he could have 
had the same property at $2.30 per acre, 
which goes to demonstrate the wonderful 
advance in property values during the past 
half a century. While residing on his farm 
Mr. Gammon served as school trustee of the 
township, and in politics has always been a 
Conservative. 

On Dec. 29, 1856, in Sarnia, Mr. Gam 
mon was married to Elizabeth H. Jennings, 
daughter of William and Ann (Colley) Jen 
nings. The Jennings family originated in 
Yorkshire, England, and the parents of 
Mrs. Gammon emigrated to Ontario in 1851, 
locating near Stony Creek. By trade Mr. 
Jennings was a carpenter and worked for 
some years in Saltfleet township, but died in 
1878 in England, and his wife who was torn 
in 1821, died in 1899, in Forest. The grand- 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



485 



father of Mrs. Gammon was John Jennings, 
born in 1792, and his wife was born in 1793, 
and they also emigrated to Ontario in 1851, 
and died in Plympton township. Their chil 
dren were : John ; William ; George, who 
emigrated to Australia ; and Mary, married 
to John Greenough. The children of Will 
iam Jennings were: Elizabeth H., who be 
came Mrs. Gammon ; George, of the United 
States; Sarah, who was married to Thomas 
Gammon ; John, who settled in Jackson, 
Michigan; Richard and Thomas, both of 
Forest; William, of Bosanquet township; 
Charles, of Sarnia; James, of the "Soo"; 
and Frederick, who is a resident of Pe- 
trolia. 

The following children were born to the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gammon : George, 
who resides on the old farm in Plympton, 
married Alfreda Bell, and has no children; 
Sarah Ann, who is now deceased, be 
came the wife of Francis Bell, and 
they had three children, Jewel, Elizabeth 
and Albert William ; Mary is married to 
Angus Morrison, resides in Dakota, and has 
one son, William G. ; Alice is unmarried ; 
Clara married W. W. Kemp, and has chil 
dren, Muriel and Irene ; Arthur, a farmer of 
Plympton township, is unmarried and re 
sides on the old homestead; Miss Annie 
keeps house for Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gammon are members of the Congregational 
Church, in the work of which they take an 
active part, and they are very highly respec 
ted throughout the neighborhood. It is a 
recognized fact that their success is fully 
merited. 

i 

NORMAN GURD, who recently suc 
ceeded his father as a member of the firm 
of Gurd & Kittermaster, of Sarnia. is a young 
man of marked ability. Though his pro 
fessional career has been short not exceed 
ing eight years he has won a high repu 
tation for himself and is looked upon as a 
man with a future. He comes of fine Irish 
stock, and numbers among his ancestors 
men prominent in business, military and pro 
fessional circles. He was born in Sarnia in 



1870, son of Robert S. and Sarah (John 
son) Gurd. 

Capt. William Gurd, grandfather of 
Norman, was the first of his line to break 
home ties and search out his fortune in the 
Xe\v World. Born in Ireland, he there 
passed many years of his life; and there, 
upon reaching manhood, he married Jessie 
Begg. By the union there were eight chil 
dren : Annie, who married Anthony Kit 
termaster, of Sarnia ; Robert S. ; Arthur, a 
grain dealer in Manitoba; William, an in 
ventor, residing at London, Ont. ; George, a 
lumber merchant of Missouri ; Jessie, who 
married R. M. Bucke, who is now deceased; 
Matilda, who died unmarried ; and Alfred, 
who is at present an oil producer at Pe- 
trolia. 

Reports of excellent openings in Can 
ada induced Mr. Gurd, some time prior to 
the Rebellion of 1837, to come to Ontario. 
After a short residence in Kingston he pro 
ceeded to Lambton County, where he acquired 
considerable land. For many years prior to his 
death he served as customs .collector, filling 
the duties of that office at Courtright, and 
also at Sombra, and proving himself a high 
ly competent official. Mr. Gurd always 
evinced a keen interest in public affairs, and 
was exceedingly influential. As a man of 
superior military ability, he served as cap 
tain in the Rebellion of 1837, and he after 
ward acted for many years as captain of a 
local military organization. In politics he 
was an outspoken Conservative. He was a 
man of good Christian principles, upright 
in all his dealings, and a consistent member 
of the Episcopal Church. 

Robert S. Gurd was one of the most dis 
tinguished barristers and prominent business 
men of Western Ontario. Born at Kings 
ton, Out., Dec. 30, 1837, he was but a small 
hoy when the family moved to Lambton 
County. In the public schools of Sar 
nia and at Caradoc Academy he acquired his 
early education, developing the keen percep 
tive powers, habits of industry, and taste 
for good literature which characterized him 
through life. With a decided inclination for 



4 86 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the profession of his choice, after leaving 
the academy he began his preparation there 
for with W. H. P. Vidal, of Sarnia. Step 
by step thoroughly mastering every detail 
of his work, he finally became possessed of 
a large fund of legal lore and practical ex 
perience. Well-equipped for his profession, 
in 1862 he began regular practice in Sarnia. 
in partnership with John A. MacKenzie, 
as a member of the firm of MacKenzie & 
Gurd. John A. MacKenzie was a man of 
no ordinary ability, and young Mr. Gurd 
was in no respect his inferior. The firm re 
ceived encouragement from the start, and in 
time became one of the strongest in the 
city. It continued unchanged until 188 , 
when Mr. Kittermaster was admitted as a 
member. In 1886 Mr. MacKenzie was called 
to the Bench, and the firm was afterward 
known as Gurd & Kittermaster, until the 
death of Mr. Robert S. Gurd. It is now 
Kittermaster & Gurd. Besides attending to 
his professional duties Mr. Gurd engaged in 
several business enterprises. He purchased 
considerable stock in the Lambton Loan & 
Investment Co., which was founded in 1844, 
and is now one of the foremost business 
concerns in the section. As a man of ac 
knowledged business ability he succeeded 
Robert Skilbeck as manager of this com 
pany, and by his skill in directing affairs, 
and his shrewd financiering, he was large 
ly instrumental in bringing the enterprise 
up to its present high status. Altogether, 
Mr. Gurd made every moment of his life 
tell for good. He died at his residence in 
Sarnia in 1896, after thirty-four years of 
active business and professional service in 
the place. 

In 1867 Mr. Gurd married Miss Sarah 
Johnson, who was born in the County of 
Kent, Out, daughter of James and Mar 
garet (McCollum) Johnson, and to this 
union there was born a family of five chil 
dren, namely: Mabel, who married Dr. 
F. B. Wilkinson, of Sarnia ; Norman, who 
is mentioned below ; Mary ; Jessie and 
Douglas. 



Mr. Gurd was always a man of many in 
terests. Besides attending to his various 
business and professional duties he gave 
much time to public affairs generally. 
Especially was he active in educational mat 
ters, and he served as director of Wycliffe 
College an Episcopal Divinity School af 
filiated with Toronto University and of 
Ridley College, performing his duties in 
that position with the same fidelity and 
thoroughness that marked his work in 
other lines. 

Norman Gurd has inherited his father s 
brilliant intellect and his large capacity for 
work. At an early age he entered the pub 
lic schools of Sarnia, and afterward became 
a student of Trinity College School, Pott 
Hope. After a short course there he en 
tered Upper Canada College, where he was 
graduated in 1889, at the early age of nine 
teen. Some years later, in 1896, he re 
ceived the degree of B. C. L., from the Uni 
versity of Trinity, Toronto. With a bent 
toward the law, upon leaving school Mr. 
Gurd entered his father s office in Sarnia, and 
began studying for the profession. He took 
to the work readily, and a short time after 
ward entered Osgoode Hall, finishing his 
preparation there in 1894. The same year 
he went to Peterboro, Out., and entering the 
office of A. P. Poussette, K. C., began regu 
lar practice. Prompt attention to his busi 
ness, and a thorough knowledge of same, 
won him the confidence of the community 
at once, and he soon had a thriving prac 
tice. For two years he continued there, es 
tablishing a firm reputation for himself. In 
1896, upon the death of his father, he came 
to Sarnia and became a member of the firm 
now known as Kittermaster & Gurd, and 
here he has since remained. In ability he 
is proving himself the equal of his father. 
He devotes himself unreservedly to the 
practice of his profession, and is conscien 
tious and faithful in the performance 
of every duty. Like his father he is 
a prominent member of the Lambton Loan 
& Investment Co., of Sarnia, of which 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



487 



he was elected vice president in February, 
1904. 

On June 14, 1898, Mr. Gurd married 
Miss Edna Wilkes, daughter of George H. 
Wilkes, and of this union there have been 
two daughters, Isabel and Helen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gurd move in the best 
circles of Sarnia, where they have many 
warm friends, and he is winning a large 
circle of acquaintances throughout the 
county. In politics he evinces a keen inter 
est, and espouses the cause of the Liberals. 
He possesses a high sense of honor, is 
strictly square in all his dealings, and his 
word is as good as his note. He and his 
wife are members of the Episcopal Church, 
and socially he affiliates with the Sons of 
Scotland, P. K. S., and B. P. O. Elks. 
He is a member of the Sarnia library board, 
and has been since its inception, and is vice- 
president of the Interior Library Associa 
tion. 

REV. ROBERT HAY, a minister in 
the Congregational Church, who now lives 
in well earned retirement, at Watford, Ont, 
is of Scotch extraction and possesses many 
of the sterling characteristics of that hardy 
race. 

The grandfather of Rev. Mr. Hay, 
William Hay, was a prosperous farmer in 
Scotland where he was born. He married a 
maiden of the neighborhood of Elgin, bear 
ing the name of Elsbeth Hay. Their chil 
dren were : John, Alexander and William, 
the first of whom died in his native land, the 
third came to Ontario and later went to Cal 
ifornia. 

Alexander Hay was born in 1787, in 
Scotland, and there married Jean Duncan, 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1790. In 
1821 they came to Canada, locating near 
Perth, where he followed the stone mason s 
trade, and where he secured a contract for 
putting in the stone work for the Rideau 
canal. He also engaged in a mercantile 
business. In 1835 he came to Warwick 
township, Lambton County, locating on 
Lot 9, Concession 6. which land he cleared 
up and occupied for a number of years. 



Later he settled on Lot 17, Concession 3, 
and there he died in 1871, his wife passing 
away in 1869. Mr. Hay was a man inter 
ested in educational and religious progress, 
and he served on the school commission and 
contributed liberally to the support of the 
Congregational Church. He was identi 
fied with the Reform party, and was on terms 
of intimate friendship with Hon. Malcolm 
Cameron, late of Sarnia. These children 
were born to him and wife : Janet, born 
Aug. 12, 1819, died on the Atlantic ocean, 
and was buried at sea; William, born Jan. 
1 6, 1821, was a Congregational clergyman 
in Brant County, Ontario; James, born 
Feb. 12, 1823, was a clergyman in Africa 
and Australia, and now resides at Brock- 
ville, Ont.; John, born Feb. 9, 1825, was a 
farmer in Warwick and died at Forest in 
1900; Archibald, born July 13, 1827, is a 
farmer of Lake County, Michigan ; Robert, 
born Dec. 31, 1829; Jane, born Aug. 2, 
1832, died unmarried, in 1901 ; and Mar 
garet, born April 12, 1834, is the wife of 
B. M. Brown, of Brownsville. 

Rev. Robert Hay was educated at the 
Toronto Congregational College where he 
graduated in 1859. He then settled at 
Pine Grove, near Toronto, as pastor of the 
Congregational Church, remaining ten 
years. His next charge was of five years 
duration in the State of Illinois, where he 
had the pastorate of Crystal Lake Church. 
He then returned to Forest where for five 
years he had charge of four congregations. 
Mr. Hay then went to Toronto in order to 
give his children educational advantages, in 
1884 coming to Watford to take charge of 
the church here. In 1894 he went to Eden, 
Quebec, where he remained seven years and 
then to Margaree, X. S., one year. Return 
ing to Watford, he retired from active work. 

On June 15, 1859, Mr. Hay married 
Miss Ann Juliet Wallis, born in England in 
September, 1838. Their children are: 
Alexander Joseph, born March 17, 1860, 
died in infancy ; Jessie Edith, born March 
28, 1 86 1, married A. L. Hay, of Detroit, 
Michigan, and has children, Pearl and 
Ralph; Dr. William Willis, born March 31, 



488 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1863, of Wallaceburg, married Isabelle 
Steinhoff, and they have one daughter, 
Gretta; Annie, born March 24. 1865, died 
in infancy; Dr. Ralph, deceased, born July 
ii, 1866; Robert V., a druggist of Toronto, 
born Aug. 28, 1868, married Dinah Dodds, 
and they have one son, Eric; Alfred, born 
Feb. 3, 1870, died in infancy; Ethel P., born 
Aug. 7, 1871, married Sidney McLeary, of 
Indianapolis, Indiana, and has two daugh 
ters. Maxine and Doris; Jean Duncan, born 
Jan. 13, 1873, is at home; Annie G., born 
Jan. .18, 1877, is a trained nurse; and Har 
old, born May 22, 1881, is at home. 

Politically Mr. Hay is a Reformer. Fra 
ternally he belongs to the Royal Templars. 
He has given long, faithful and distin 
guished service to his church, and is re 
garded as one of its scholarly and influential 
pastors. 

GEORGE COULTIS, who for over 
thirty years has been engaged in the manu 
facture of lumber in Bosanquet township, 
and since 1886 in Thedford, is one of the 
most prominent business men in his section 
of the country, turning out an extensive sup 
ply of all grades of lumber and articles made 
from the same, and also furnishing employ 
ment to a large number of workmen. Mr. 
Coultis is a son of William Coultis, who set 
tled in. western Ontario in the early days, and 
comes of a family noted for its ability am 
progressiveness. The early members are 
more fully mentioned elsewhere. 

George Coultis was born Jan. 23, 1841, 
in Pickering township, in the County of On 
tario, and there in a well-regulated home 
received careful training. At the age of 
fourteen he moved with his parents to Lon 
don township, Middlesex County, where he 
completed his preparation for life s activities. 
Inherent ability for carpentry led him at an 
early age to give some attention to that trade, 
and upon starting life for himself he fol 
lowed contract building near Camlachie, 
Lambton County, thorough work and 
promptness in execution establishing for 
him in time a good reputation in his line. Fur 
three years he continued his trade in the same 



locality. Ambitious to rise, however, at the 
end of this period, in company with his 
brothers John and William, he opened a saw 
mill in Forest. The business prospered from 
the start, and for eight years he continued 
it. Then, desirous of running" a mill of his 
own, he sold his interest to his partners and 
started in the same business in Bosanquet 
township. This mill he operated for two 
years and then purchased another in the same 
locality, which offered better inducements. 
With this last venture his business increased 
for a time and then received some setback 
caused by two fires, which occurred within 
four years, especially so since the buildings 
were uninsured. Undismayed, however, af 
ter each disaster, Mr. Coultis rebuilt, and in 
1886 erected the mill in Thedford, where he 
has since continued his business. Pushing 
this enterprise, he has from year to year 
greatly increased his trade, and has enlarged 
his establishment by the erection of a plan- 
ing-mill, and heading and shingle mill, and 
he has also put in a full line of machinery 
for the manufacture of all articles made from 
wood. The increase of trade decided him in 
1899 to take in his son Eric as a partner, and 
the firm has since been known as George 
Coultis & Son. In 1902 the orders became 
so large that the firm found it necessary to 
make a new timber purchase, and so bought 
the Rumps pinery. This it is now rapidly 
converting into valuable lumber, which is 
marketed far and near. In the steady pur 
suit of his industry Mr. Coultis has made 
exceptionally well, and he is now a most sub 
stantial citizen. In 1888 he erected the hand 
some residence in Thedford where he now 
resides, and in 1902 his son Eric also built 
an attractive home there. Since opening his 
mill in Thedford nineteen years ago Mr. 
Coultis has applied himself sedulously to his 
one main industry, his only interruption hav 
ing been caused by an attack of typhoid fever, 
with which he was afflicted in 1885. 

On May 4, 1875, Mr. Coultis married 
Miss Rose Ashworth. who was born Aug. 
2~. 1852, in London township, Middlesex 
County, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah 
(Hill) Ashworth, of that place, and grand- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



489 



daughter of Edmond Ashworth. To Mr. 
and Airs. Coultis have been born three chil 
dren : (i)Eric, the junior member of the 
lumber firm, born in Forest, Out, Feb. n, 
1878, married Eva Wheaton, and they have 
one son, George. He is a member of the W. 
O. W. at Thedford. (2) Lieut. Egbert, born 
in Jericho, Ont., Sept. 20, 1884, lives at 
home, and is employed as bookkeeper for his 
father ; he is a director of the Sovereign Life 
Insurance Company of Canada. He is lieu 
tenant of the 27th Regiment, St. Clair Bor 
derers, and is a member of the \V. O. \V. 
(3) Yera, born in Thedford Xov. 13, 1889, 
is living at home. 

Mr. Coultis s superior ability and keen 
interest in everything pertaining to the wel 
fare of the community have long made him 
a leader in public affairs, and he has offici 
ated both as a member of the council ot 
Thedford and on the school board, discharg 
ing his duties with marked efficiency and fi 
delity. As a large-hearted and broad-minded 
man he has never withheld his support from 
any worthy enterprise, and he keeps his busi 
ness eye steadily open for the interest of the 
general public. Socially he is a leader in 
Thedford, and his family are influential 
members of the Episcopal Church. Upon 
all public questions he is thoroughly inform 
ed, and in politics he affiliates with the Con 
servatives. He is a member of the Orange 
men, and was secretary and treasurer of the 
local lodge for about six years. 

Jonathan and Hannah (Hill) Ashworth, 
parents of Mrs. Coultis. of Rochdale, Lan 
cashire, England, were married there and 
came to Canada in 1840, locating on a tract 
of fifty acres in London township, Middle 
sex County. There Mr. Ashworth made a 
clearing for a log cabin in what was then 
a wilderness and commenced life anew, meet 
ing with all the hardships common in this 
region in those days, especially to one so 
totally unaccustomed to the life. In Eng 
land he had been a prosperous woolen man 
ufacturer. He died in 1873 at the age of 
sixty years, and his wife survived until 1888, 
reaching the age of seventy-six. They were 
Episcopalians in religious faith, and Mr. 



Ashworth was a Conservative in politics. 
They had a family of nine children, the first 
three born in England, the others on the old 
homestead in London township. Middlesex 
County: Miss Mary, now of London, Ont.; 
Miss Jane, of Granton, Ont. ; Hannah, 
widow of John Gibson, residing in London, 
Ont. : Edward, a machinist of Shepherd, 
Michigan ; Elizabeth, who married Hugh 
Young, a farmer of London township ; 
Sarah, who married Arthur Gibson, a 
farmer of Granton, Ont. ; Jonathan (de 
ceased), of Thedford. who ran a planing- 
mill; Rose, Mrs. Conltis; and David, on the 
old homestead. 

WILLIAM LOGIE, M. D., is a man 
of brilliant attainments and many interests. 
His medical lore was acquired in some of 
the best institutions in the country, and he 
has risen to a specialist in the treatment of 
eye, nose, ear and throat diseases. While giv 
ing Sarnia the benefit of his sixteen years 
practice he has identified himself with al 
most every movement for the benefit of the 
city, and has occupied foremost places in 
her political ranks, not excepting the office 
of mayor. His intellectual acuteness and 
his capacity for great achievements he has 
inherited from strong Scotch ancestors. 

William Logic, grandfather of Dr. 
Logic, was the one with the courage to take 
chances for himself and family in a new 
country. Born in Scotland in 1797, he there 
passed many years of fruitful labor. In the 
early fifties he came to Ontario, settling on a 
farm in Huron County, where he engaged 
in agriculture, successfully. A man of re 
markable physique, he worked up to the last 
minute, dying at the advanced age of ninety. 
Before leaving Scotland he married Eliza 
beth Daze, who died at the age of eighty- 
five. Seven children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Logic: William, who is mentioned be 
low : Thomas and James, who are now de- 
deceased ; John, also deceased, who was a 
Presbyterian minister; Walter and Chris 
tina, who are deceased; and Isabella, now a 
resident of Emerson, Manitoba. 

Mr. Logic took large views of life, and 



490 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



performed his duty faithfully in every 
walk. He was a kind parent, with an eye 
to his children s future. In politics he al 
ways evinced a keen interest and espoused 
the cause of the Liberals. He and his wife 
belonged to the Presbyterian Church. 

William Logic, father of the Doctor, was 
the eldest son of the pioneer. He was born 
in Scotland July 20, 1819, and when a 
young man, in the early fifties, came with his 
father to this country. During his young 
manhood Mr. Logic married, and after the 
death of his first wife, formed a second 
union, this time with Mrs. Joanna (Fyfe) 
Beveridge. Bv the first marriage there was 
one daughter, Janet, who married James 
Vonthron, of Huron County. By the sec 
ond marriage there were four children : 
Jennie married James Dunn, who is now 
deceased ; Dr. William is mentioned below ; 
James is a merchant at Port Huron ; one 
who died in infancy. By her first marriage 
Mrs. Logic had one son, John B. Beveridge, 
who now teaches in a business college in 
Brandon, Manitoba. 

William Logic gave early evidences of 
promise. Born in 1860 in Huron County, 
Out., he passed his youthful years in at 
tendance upon the public schools of that 
section. Here his investigating mind mas 
tered every task thoroughly, and the more 
difficult the lesson the greater his delight in 
learning it. Clearly he would turn to good 
account a higher education, and he was later 
sent to the Model School and from there to 
the Collegiate Institute in London, Out., 
graduating from the latter in 1878. At this 
period, facing the choice of a vocation, he 
decided for the present upon teaching, as the 
one thing for which he was really prepared. 
Going to Middlesex County, he followed his 
profession very successfully for four years. 
Then, in the Western University, at Lon 
don, Ont., he began the study of medicine. 
After two years he went to the Toronto Uni 
versity where he continued his studies for 
one year. Returning to the Western Uni 
versity he took his fourth year work there, 
and graduated. His degree of M. D. he 
received in 1886, from both institutions, and 



shortly afterward a license to practice was* 
granted him by the Ontario Medical Coun 
cil. In June of the same year, coming to 
Sarnia, he opened an office and began prac 
ticing. Careful and thorough in diag 
nosis, he met with good results from the 
start, and has continued to follow his pro 
fession in this city. He has availed himself 
of every opportunity for keeping abreast of 
medical science, taking in 1890 a course in 
the New York Polyclinic Medical School, 
and in 1900 a post-graduate course in the 
Post Graduate School, in eye, ear, nose, 
and throat diseases. Eminently successful 
in these cases, he has made a specialty of 
them since 1889. Most of these cases are 
treated in his office, which is at his hand 
some residence, at the northwest corner of 
the City Park, on Christina street, one of the 
most desirable locations in the city. He has 
built up a large and profitable practice, and 
is now considered one of the substantial citi 
zens of the place. 

In 1889 Dr. Logic married Jennie Do- 
herty, daughter of Thomas Doherty, of 
Sarnia. Two children have been born of 
this union, Olive Fyfe and William Douglas. 

Dr. Logic is one of the most popular and 
active men in the community. He repre 
sented the Third ward in the city council in 
1895-96, and again in 1900, for the last 
term being one of six chosen under the new 
regime for electing councilmen adopted that 
year. In 1897-98 he served as deputy reeve. 
The efficient and thorough manner in which 
he performed the duties of these offices 
marked him as a man eminently qualified for 
public positions, and in 1901 he was elected 
mayor. In this office he fully justified the 
confidence reposed in him, and in 1902 he 
was re-elected by an immense majority. In 
addition to performing the manifold duties 
of his office, including service on the hos 
pital trust and the library board, he is also 
acting as coroner. In 1901 he was the 
efficient president of the Lambton County 
Medical Association. .Politically he affiliates 
with the Liberals. He is interested in re 
ligious work, and he and his wife are highly 
esteemed members of the Presbyterian 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



491 



Church. Fraternally he belongs to the C. 
O. F., I. O. R, K. O. T. M., \V. O. W., 

A. O. F., and Tuscom Lodge, F. and A. M. 
(of which latter he is one of the examiners). 
He possesses the remarkable power of turn 
ing easily from one task to another, and this 
quality, combined with a masterful intellect, 
a magnetic personality, marked executive 
ability, and the highest integrity, makes him 
a strong character. 

DAVID ROSS, who has been postmas 
ter at Watford since 1876, has spent all but 
six months of his life in Lambton County. 
He was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, Dec. 
1 6, 1830, and was six months old when his 
parents, Donald and Catherine (McGregor) 
Ross, emigrated to Ontario. 

Donald Ross was born in Ross-shire, 
Scotland, in 1800, and died June 19, 1886, 
while his wife was born in the same county 
in 181 1, and died Feb. 8, 1884. They came to 
Ontario in 1831, locating at Little York, now 
Toronto, and in 1833 moved to Warwick 
township, Lambton County, settling on Lot 
1 8, Concession i, when that place was only 
a wilderness. There Donald Ross lived and 
made a home for himself and family, making 
his farm, which is now owned by his grand 
son George, one of the best in the county. 
Both Donald Ross and his wife were stanch 
Presbyterians, and in his political views he 
was a Reformer. To this pioneer couple were 
born children as follows : David is mentioned 
below ; John was farming on the old home 
stead until his death, June 13, 1905; Cath 
erine married Alexander Frazer and both 
are deceased; Margaret married William 
Luckham, of Petrolia ; Janet, of Learning- 
ton. Out., is unmarried; Ann died unmar 
ried; Georgiana (deceased) married Ed 
ward Thompson ; Elizabeth died unmarried. 

David Ross was born in Scotland and his 
boyhood days were spent on the old farm in 
Warwick, and as soon as he became old 
enough to use an axe he began assisting his 
father in clearing off the land, where he re 
sided until 1866. He then located in Wat 
ford, embarking in a grain business which 
he continued until 1873. While a resident 



of Warwick Mr. Ross served in the 
township council for some time, and in 
1876 he was appointed postmaster at Wat 
ford, which position he has filled ably ever 
since, giving complete satisfaction to every 
one concerned. 

On Aug. i, 1866, in London, Ont., Mr. 
Ross and Miss Mary Burwell were united in 
marriage. Mrs. Ross is a daughter of Will 
iam Burwell, who with his wife was a pio 
neer of Warwick township, having settled 
there in 1832, coming from Fingal, Out.; 
they were both born in Canada. Mrs. Ross 
was born in Warwick village Aug. 15, 1840, 
and has spent her whole life in 
Lambton County and London, Ont. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ross are consistent members of the 
Presbyterian Church. In political faith Mr. 
Ross \s a Reformer, and he takes an active 
part in local affairs. He and his wife are 
most highly regarded by all who know 
them, and they are justly regarded as repre 
sentatives of the best element in Watford. 

WILLIAM H. DALE, who enjoys the 
distinction of being the first druggist of 
Petrolia, established his business May i, 
1866. He is a native of England, a son of 
Joseph Dale, who was a wholesale merchant 
in England prior to coming to Ontario in 
J 857- Joseph Dale was born in England, 
and there married Hannah Pattison, also 
a native of that country. Upon coming to 
Ontario in 1857, Joseph Dale and family 
settled in Strathroy, Middlesex County, 
where the father engaged in farming 
for many years, but in 1868 removed to 
Wyoming, and there lived retired until his 
death. Mrs. Dale survived her husband a 
number of years and died in Petrolia. To 
this worthy couple four children were born, 
all of whom were born in England ; John B., 
a druggist of Wyoming ; William H. ; Jane 
Ann, who married Robert Rae, of Wyo 
ming; and George, deceased in 1898, who 
was a druggist in Courtright, Ont. 

William H. Dale was horn in England 
April 8, 1846, and was therefore eleven 
years of age when his parents came to On 
tario. He began his literary education in 



492 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



England, continuing it in Strathroy, and 
after completing it, he entered a drug store 
at Wyoming, and thoroughly learned the 
drug business. In 1866, when twenty years 
of age, he settled in Petrolia, and opened his 
first place of business. At that time there 
were no drug stores in the place, and he was 
the pioneer in his line. Since then he has 
built up a fine business, and in connection 
with his drug store he operates the C. P. R. 
Telegraph Line which was established in 
Petrolia. During his long business experi 
ence Mr. Dale has never taken a partner, 
preferring to manage his business alone. In 
politics he is a life-long Reformer, and 
greatly interested in the success of the can 
didates of that party, although he has never, 
aspired to office. A thorough business man, 
enterprising and clear-headed, he has firmly 
established himself in the confidence of th e 
community, and enjoys an old and very fine 
patronage from the best people of the 
county. 

GEORGE CROSSLEY, now living re 
tired at Forest, is a member of one of the old 
families ot the county, which was estab 
lished in the New World by Samuel Cross- 
ley, a native of England, who came to Penn 
sylvania in an early day, and from that State 
to Ontario in 1805. Upon arriving in On 
tario he settled in King township, County ".i 
York, on Lot 9, Concession 3, and there died 
about 1830. His children were as follows: 
John and Israel, both of the United States ; 
Rebecca; Phoebe; Daniel and Pearson. All 
are now deceased. 

Daniel Crossley, father, of our subject, 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1805, and was 
only three months old when brought to York 
county by his parents. He spent his life in 
that county, in Concession 5, King township, 
dying in 1842 in the faith of the Methodist 
Church. He was a Reformer in politics. He 
married Ann Downey, born in England in 
1807, and died in Ontario, daughter of 
Henry Downey. The children of Daniel 
and Ann Crossley, were: George; Aaron, 
a carpenter of Ontario, who died at Glencoe ; 
Henry, a blacksmith, who died unmarried; 



James, who died at Petrolia ; William, a car 
penter of York County; Sarah, who mar 
ried William Clowe, and went to the States, 
but both are now deceased; Hannah, who 
married, and is now deceased ; Caroline, who 
married Samuel Feme of York County. 

George Crossley was born in King town 
ship, York County, Sept. 12, 1827, and there 
grew to manhood attending school in the old 
log school house. On April 21, 1852, he 
married Margaret Wells, daughter of Job 
and Hannah (Davis) Wells. Mr. Wells 
was born in England in 1795, and came to 
Ontario in 1807, locating in York County, 
on the present site of Aurora. Here he fol 
lowed farming until his death. He was a 
Presbyterian in religious faith, and a Con 
servative in political principle. His wife 
was born in Canada in 1797, a daughter of 
Samuel Davis, who came from Pennsyl 
vania settling in York County, where he 
died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wells 
were as follows : Mary, who married David 
McDougall; Samuel, a miller; Benjamin, 
deceased, a blacksmith at Petrolia; George, 
a farmer of Aurora ; Jane, who married John 
Page; Fannie, who married David McDou 
gall ; Margaret, Mrs. Crossley, born in York 
County, March 29, 1835; William, a mer 
chant of Hamilton. Mr. Wells married a 
second time, the maiden name of his wife 
being Elizabeth Delhenly, by whom he had 
four children : Job, a farmer of York Coun 
ty; David, of North Dakota; Peter, of Bo- 
sanquet township; and Anna, who married 
William Maloy. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Crossley settled in the County of York, but 
in 1856 located in Bosanquet township, 
County of Lambton, locating on Lot 13, 
Concession 13, and there cleared up a fine 
farm. Later they sold this and settled on 
Lot 7, Concession 8, and made it their home 
until 1897, when they removed to Forest. 
Mr. Crossley enjoys the distinction of being 
the oldest magistrate in Lambton County, 
having been appointed to that office in 1860, 
and he has always supported the Reform 
party. Children were torn to Mr. and Mrs. 
Crossley as follows : Hannah, who married 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



493 



James Stephenson, and their daughter, 
Frances Ethel, married John Scoffin, by 
whom she has two children, Marita and 
Edna ; Daniel, who married Mary Turner, 
and has children, Ethel, Myrtle and Pearl; 
Mary, who married John Way, and has one 
daughter, Annie M. ; Elizabeth, who mar 
ried George Ross, and has children, George 
C, Morgan B., Robert G., and Emily; 
Frank, who married Emma McCordic, and 
has children, May, Elsie and Martin Pier- 
son; Jane, who married John Bell, of Bo- 
sanquet township ; Emma, who married 
Charles McCordic, and has children, Irene 
C., Iva Blanche, Grace and George Wilfred ; 
Frances M., of Forest. Mrs. Crossley is a 
consistent member of the Methodist Church, 
to which Mr. Crossley contributes liberally. 
The Crossley family is one of the best known 
in the county, and its various representatives 
are among the substantial people of the sev 
eral communities in which they reside, and 
of them, Mr. George Crossley is worthy of 
special mention. 

ALEXANDER TAYLOR McDON- 
ALD. The name of McDonald is well- 
known in Ontario, the family having been 
located here since 1806, and its representa 
tives are to be found throughout the Do 
minion. One of the best known members of 
this family is Alexander Taylor McDonald, 
now living retired from active business life 
at Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario. 

The family originated in the Isle of Tiree, 
Scotland, where the grandfather, Daniel Mc 
Donald, was born about 1780. He married 
Flora McDonald, a young lady of the same 
name, but not related to him, and in 1806 
they came to Ontario, settling in Kent Coun 
ty, in what is now Dover township, where, 
after clearing up a farm, he engaged in agri 
cultural pursuits and resided until his death, 
in 1840. His wife died some time later. 
In Scotland they were members of the Pres 
byterian Church, but joined the Methodist 
Church after locating in Ontario. Their 
children were : John, the father of Alexan 
der T. McDonald, of Sarnia; Duncan, born 
in Scotland ; Hughey, born in Scotland ; 



Mary, who married Donald MacDonald; 
Alexander; Daniel; Allen who was killed 
while working on a canal, being crushed by 
a land-slide; and Hector and Nancy, twins, 
the latter the wife of James P. MacDonald. 

John McDonald, the father of Alex 
ander T. McDonald, of Sarnia, was born 
Dec. 22, 1800, in Scotland, and died near 
Wallaceburg, Kent County, in 1861. His 
occupation was that of a farmer, and he 
owned and carried on a fine farm. His poli 
tical opinions were such as to make him a 
member of the Reform party, and he served 
in the council of Sombra township, in which 
his farm was located. His wife died in 
1840, at the age of forty-one years; her 
maiden name was Nancy McDonald. Like 
his mother, John McDonald s wife bore the 
same name, but was no relation to him. In 
religious faith both were members of the 
Baptist Church. Their children were : Neil, 
of Marine City, Michigan, for many years a 
sailor; Allen, deceased, for many years a 
sailor; Flora, who died unmarried; Mary, 
who died at the age of two years ; Alexander 
Taylor; Lauchlin, a farmer, of Sombra 
township ; Christina, married to Daniel Kins 
man, of Toronto; Jane, married to Charles 
Odell; Hector, deceased, who married Abi 
gail Marshall, and was a farmer of Sombra, 
Lambton County; John, deceased, who was 
a sailor ; and Nancy, deceased. 

Alexander Taylor McDonald was born 
in Sombra township, County Lambton, Jan. 
2 9> : 835- After reaching his majority he 
sailed on the lakes for fifteen years, being 
employed on the steamers "Emerald Light 
No. 2," "Reindeer," and "City of Buffalo." 
After leaving the lakes Mr. McDonald was 
married, Jan. 29, 1861, to Miss Jane Milli- 
ken, daughter of John Milliken. Her birth 
occurred in the County of Perth, Out., June 
28, 1835, and her parents, John and Helen 
(Young) Milliken, of Ireland, came to 
Lambton County, in 1853. They were 
farming people. To this marriage four chil 
dren have been born : Adelia, wife of James 
Lucas, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere ; 
Emma, unmarried, residing in Sarnia ; Ber 
tram Alfred, in a furnishing store at Sarnia; 



494 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and William Ernest, living at home. After 
his marriage Mr. McDonald settled on a 
farm in Sombra township, and remained 
there for eight years. He then removed to 
Wallaceburg, and for several years was a 
successful grocer of that city. In 1881 he 
built the barge "Gondola," which for four 
years he operated between Wallaceburg and 
Detroit. At the end of the four years he 
sold the barge, and in 1889 located in Sar- 
nia, where he embarked in a cooper business. 
The love of the water still remained with 
him, however, and in 1893 he became con 
nected with the Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry 
Co., which he served faithfully until April 
29, 1902. 

The political opinions of Mr. McDon 
ald make him a stanch Conservative. His 
fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic 
order, in which he is deservedly popular. 
Mrs. McDonald and her daughter are Meth 
odists, and earnest workers in that church. 
Mr. McDonald is a man who makes friends 
wherever he goes, and is highly esteemed by 
all who know him. In his various enter 
prises he met with success, and he always 
did what he believed his entire duty, no mat 
ter what the consequence. No man stands 
higher in the respect and confidence of his 
fellow townsmen than does Mr. McDonald, 
and he is an excellent representative of the 
sturdy Scotch element in his community. 

CHRISTOPHER MACKENZIE, one 
of the leading oil producers of Petrolia, and 
a leading man in that section, is a descend 
ant of worthy Scotch ancestors. His grand 
parents, John and Barbara (MacKay) Mac 
kenzie, spent their lives in Scotland. 

Rev. David Mackenzie, the father of our 
subject, was born Dec. 31, 1799, in Inver 
ness-shire, Scotland, and died May 5, 1860, 
in Westminster, Ont. In 1830 he married 
Miss Annie Dodd, who was born in 1810 in 
Northumberland, England, and died in Pe 
trolia, Ont.. April 22, 1894. In 1833 Rev. 
David Mackenzie and his family left Scot 
land, coming to Ontario and locating at St. 
Thomas, where he built the first Presby 
terian Church in that city, of which he was 



the pastor for a few years. From St. Thomas 
he removed to Woodstock and erected there 
the first Presbyterian Church in the city, 
continuing as its pastor four years. His was 
the first brick residence built at Woodstock. 
At the close of his pastorate at that place, 
finding his health impaired, by the advice of 
his physician he settled on his farm at West 
minster, and there his useful life closed. He 
was acknowledged to be one of the best edu 
cated men of his day and spoke both Eng 
lish and Gaelic fluently. Politically he was a 
Reformer, and a subscriber, from its first is 
sue, of the Globe, the leading Reform paper 
of Ontario. The following children were 
born to Rev. David Mackenzie and his wife : 
David, formerly a business man of Petrolia, 
now lives retired in Chicago; John (de 
ceased) was a merchant at Petrolia, of the 
firm of Mackenzie & Carey; Christopher is 
mentioned below; Barbara H. is the wife of 
Julius Ansley; Elizabeth, Mrs. S. M. Fra- 
ser, is a resident of London; William, of 
Toronto, is a traveling salesman ; Gilbert, of 
Toronto, is salesman for a Glasgow firm ; 
Jane is the wife of Rev. Mark Turnbull, rec 
tor of St. George s Church, at Goderich; 
George died at the age of seven years. 

Christopher Mackenzie was born Oct. 
15, 1836, at St. Thomas, Ont., and enjoyed 
the educational advantages afforded by the 
public schools of Woodstock. On reaching 
his majority he engaged in farming at West 
minster for twenty years, during which time 
he cleared up a fine farm, planted shade and 
orchard trees, and erected comfortable and 
appropriate buildings. His residence and 
farm were among the finest in the county. 
This property he sold in 1871, and then 
settled at Petrolia, when the town was al 
most wholly in the east end. Here he en 
gaged in general merchandising, in which he 
continued for nineteen years, in the mean 
time becoming interested in the oil business. 
Since 1890, when he disposed of his mer 
cantile business, he has been engaged as an 
oil producer. This business he entered in 
1872. by the purchase of one acre of land, 
which was in the woods and covered with 
water, paying for the same the sum of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



$1,030. Here he put down his first well in 
1872. It proved a fine one, producing 100 
barrels per day. He is now the operator of 
seventy-two wells, all under his personal 
supervision. His lumber business he dis 
posed of to James and John Kerr. 

On Oct. i. 1867, Mr. Mackenzie mar 
ried Miss Catherine W. Webb, whose par 
ents, Richard and Elizabeth (Sawyer) 
Webb, came to Ontario in 1833, and settled 
in the County of Middlesex, where she was 
born. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mac 
kenzie are: Francis Richard David, is a 
commercial traveler of New York City ; 
Annie Eleanor is the wife of William J. 
Savage, manager of the Vaughn & Fair- 
bank Bank, of Petrolia, and they have one 
son, Reginald; Reginald George is a bar 
rister at Petrolia; Catherine Jane married 
Herbert Goldie, of Gait, Ont,, who is in the 
mill business; Kathleen Florence is at home; 
Edward Christopher, who was paymaster 
for the Clurd Steel Co., at the "Soo," died 
Aug. 26, 1903. 

Mr. Mackenzie is the oldest member of 
the board of education in point of service, 
his interest in educational matters being 
one of his leading characteristics. Politically 
he is a Conservative. Religiously he and his 
family belong to the English Church. The 
pleasant family home was erected at Pe 
trolia in 1887, and there a generous hospi 
tality is extended to many friends. 

JAMES HOLMES CROCKARD, pro 
prietor of the Evergreen Stock farm, is a 
breeder of fine imported and domestic cat 
tle, and is also extensively engaged in gen 
eral farming. He was born May 27, 1870, 
on his present homestead, son of Alexander 
and Margaret (Mclntyre) Crockard. 

Alexander Crockard was born at Saint 
Field, County Down. Ireland. Sept. n, 
1832. In April 1849, when hardly more 
than a boy, he set sail for America, an 
eventful trip, as the ship was wrecked and 
succeeded with difficulty in making her way 
to New York. After landing Mr. Crockard 
pushed westward and settled in Romeo, 
Michigan ; later he removed to Port Huron, 



495 

and was for a number of years employed as 
a sawyer in the lumber mills. In 1866 he 
came to Sarnia township, and began farm 
ing, but it was two years before he pur 
chased land of his own. Then he bought 
100 acres in Lot 12, Concession i, wild 
property which he at once began to clear. 
His first house was a log building, which in 
1884 was replaced by a handsome brick 
building, in which James Crockard now 
lives. In 1889 a11 the barns were burned in 
a fire which started from a threshing en 
gine, and although this entailed a heavy 
loss, they were quickly replaced by others 
that are among the finest in the township. 
Alexander Crockard prospered and was en 
abled to add to his land holdings until he 
owned 375 acres, of which different pieces 
are now owned by his sons. When he landed 
in New York he had only twenty dollars and 
was nearly penniless by the time he reached 
Rome, but he became one of the wealthiest 
farmers in the township, all achieved by his 
energy and absolute honesty. 

In 1856 Alexander Crockard married 
Margaret Mclntyre, and to them were born 
children as follows: Miss Jennie, residing 
with her brother James Holmes; William, of 
Moore township, who married Caroline 
Cole, and has one son. Alexander; Clarence 
of Moore township, who married Mary Mil 
ler, and has one son, Clarence M. ; Clara, 
who is the wife of David Gilland, of the 
Northwest Territory and has one son, David 
A. ; Alexander, who married Emma Elliott, 
of Sarnia township and has two sons, Jo 
seph and William K. ; Joseph, deceased, who 
married Mary Brodie, and had one daugh 
ter, Margaret I.; and James Holmes. Of 
these children Joseph was a Presbyterian 
minister who received his training for the 
ministry in a seminary in South Carolina, 
and received his first call in that State; he 
died in January, 1899, aged thirty-two. Mrs. 
Alexander Crockard passed from life Aug. 
31, 1895, and her husband followed her five 
years later, Oct. 30, 1900. He was a nnn 
of prominence in the township in many dK 
ferent lines, and had done much to promote 
its advancement. An adherent of the Re- 



496 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



form party, he was for years a magistrate 
for Lambton County, and for six years did 
efficient service on the township council. 
An active member of the Burns Presbyte 
rian Church, he served as trustee for years 
and was one of the building committee when 
the new church was erected. He was prom 
inent in Masonic circles, and was a charter 
member of the A. F. & A. M., of Port Hu 
ron. School matters aroused his keenest in 
terest, and he did much to help the cause of 
education in the county. Broad-minded, 
progressive and of sterling character, Lamb- 
ton County owes him much. 

James Holmes Crockard grew up on the 
home as it was changing from its wild state 
to its later cultivation, and he obtained a 
splendid practical training as a farmer. 
Later he spent two years in the Northwest 
farming, but returned in 1899, and after his 
father s death the following year the old 
homestead came into his possession, and he 
has since been fully occupied there. Besides 
his general farming he carries on a work 
that his father inaugurated, namely that of 
raising thoroughbred stock. His place is 
known as the Evergreen Stock farm, and 
well deserves the name. 

Mr. Crockard was united in marriage 
Dec. i, 1903, to Miss Jessie Wright, daugh 
ter of David and Margaret (Brodie) 
Wright, of Moore township. They are Pres 
byterians in their religious faith, and Mr. 
Crockard belongs to the Reform party in pol 
itics. Just in the prime of life, he has the 
world still before him, and the future prom 
ises even more than the present has be 
stowed. 

PETER GRAHAM, ex-member of the 
Provincial Parliament, now deceased, who 
during his long and honorable career was 
one of the best-known public men and 
worthy citizens of Lambton County, was a 
native of England, born in the parish of 
Kirkoswald, Cumberland, July 18, 1820. 
His father, Thomas Graham, who was a 
native of the same place, later came to Can 
ada, locating in Binbrooke, Ont, near Ham 



ilton, where he was engaged in farming, and 
where he died. 

Peter Graham attended school in his 
native parish, and was but fourteen years 
old when he crossed the Atlantic with his 
parents, in 1834, bound for their future 
home in Canada. He first located in Corn 
wall, Ont., where he worked on a farm, and 
three years later he took up arms in the de 
fense of his adopted country in the William 
Lyon Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837-38. 
From Cornwall Mr. Graham removed to 
Binbrooke, County of Wentworth, where he 
worked for a year or two. At the age of 
twenty he married Catherine Chambers, a 
native of Scotland. The young couple be 
gan life without a dollar. They came west 
to Lambton County in 1854, locating in 
Warwick township, on Lot 12, Concession 3, 
and took up the usual business of life in the 
"oods. He bought a soldier s right of 200 
acres, and, erecting a little log home and 
stable, set to work to clear a farm for him 
self. By hard work he succeeded in putting 
his land under a good state of cultivation. 
In all his work he was greatly assisted by his 
growing sons. He erected a fine brick house 
in due time, and good barns, by his taste 
making his home and surroundings attrac 
tive. This farm is now owned by George 
Brent, who bought it after Mr. Graham 
retired from active work, and 100 acres are 
owned by Robert Harper. The success Mr. 
Graham made of farm life was accomplished 
by hard, systematic work and strict attention 
to his business. 

In public life Mr. Graham was always 
a strong Liberal, ever supporting the princi 
ples of the Reform party as laid down by its 
founders. He was elected a member of the 
board of councilmen of Warwick township, 
and was elected by that body deputy reeve. 
He also served as reeve of the township and 
as member of the county council. When the 
County of Lambton was divided into two 
ridings, in 1874, he was chosen by his party 
as the standard-bearer to contest the riding 
for the Provincial Legislature in January, 
1875. He was opposed by the late George 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



497 



Shirley, the Conservative candidate, and was 
elected by a majority of 181. At the gen 
eral election in 1879 lie was again nominated 
by his party, was opposed by George Shirley, 
and was elected June 5th, by a reduced ma 
jority. In the general election of 1883 he 
was again the candidate of his party, being 
opposed by "William Alex. Lucas, of Alvin- 
ston, the Conservative candidate, and he car 
ried the riding by a majority of 113. In the 
general election of 1886 he was once more 
chosen by his party, this time being opposed 
by Dr. U. M. Stanley, whom he defeated by 
a majority of 239. He served the riding 
faithfully and well for sixteen years, gave 
his support to many useful measures which 
were for the benefit of the Province and his 
own riding, and was the author of the Drain 
age Act. In 1890 he was appointed by the 
Ontario government as bursar of the Asy 
lum for the Insane at Hamilton, which posi 
tion of trust and responsibility he faithfully 
filled up to his death, which sad event took 
place at Hamilton, Out., July 19, 1900. His 
remains were taken to Warwick township, 
to the home of his son Peter, and from there 
buried in the family plot in Bethel cemetery. 
His life was one of honesty and upright deal 
ings. He was a person of genial, frank 
manners, which won for him the esteem of 
all classes. Many of his Warwick friends 
were found among his political opponents. 
Few men in public life enjoyed the friend 
ship and good-will of all parties in so large 
a degree as did Mr. Graham. He was 
known as the war-horse of the Reform party 
in East Lambton, and was devoted to his 
party and its principles, never shirking his 
duty. In both his public and private life he 
was worthy of emulation. His life history 
will live in the hearts of the people who 
knew him best. He was a consistent mem 
ber of the Methodist Church, and the beau 
tiful edifice at Bethel is a living monument 
of the great zeal he demonstrated in aiding 
in its erection. He was chairman of the 
building committee, and was one of the first 
organizers of the Bethel Methodist Church. 
He was also interested in the erection of the 
Methodist parsonage at \Yar\vick village. 

33 



Mr, Graham supported everything that 
was for the benefit of the township and coun 
ty, and was one of the original promoters of 
the Warwick Agricultural Society, which 
he helped to organize, and of which he was 
the first president. He was noted for his 
sterling character, was a well-read man, 
broad-minded and liberal. 

Mrs. Graham, who shared her husband s 
trials and hardships in their early struggle in 
making a home for themselves and children 
in the then new country, did not live to share 
the honors which his indomitable will and 
sterling character won for him. She passed 
away suddenly on Feb. 30, 1872, at the age 
of forty-nine years, after a happy marriage 
of thirty-two years. She was laid to rest in 
the Bethel cemetery, where now she and her 
husband sleep side by side. She was also a 
member of the Methodist Church, and was 
a good Christian woman, devoted to her 
home and family. Ten children blessed their 
marriage : Elizabeth, who married Joseph 
Coulter, and resides in Michigan ; Margaret, 
deceased wife of Nicholas Luckham, of War 
wick; William, who died in young manhood; 
Thomas, who was an ordained minister of 
the Methodist Church, and died at Thames- 
ford, Oxford County; James, who died 
young ; George ; Mary, who married Charles 
H. Stevens, and resides in Adelaide town 
ship, Middlesex County; Catharine, who 
married Neil J. Graham, a well-known con 
tractor of London, Ont. ; Peter ; and Jane, 
who died young. 

For his second wife Mr. Graham married 
Mrs. Ward, a widow, whose maiden name 
was Celestia Jane Cutler. Three children 
were born to the second marriage: Milfred, 
who died young; Arthur, who died young; 
and Theodore, a resident of Toronto. 

GEORGE GRAHAM, son of the late 
Peter Graham, of Warwick township, was 
born Nov. 24, 1852, in Binbrooke. Went- 
worth County, and moved to Lambton 
County with his parents. He attended 
school in the township of Warwick and 
worked on the homestead with his father 
until he became of age. At this time he 
took up farming, operating the 2oo-acre tract 



498 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of the homestead on shares, which he con 
tinued for three years, growing the first year 
4,700 bushels of grain. He then obtained 
100 acres of the homestead, which he farmed 
until 1 88 1, when he sold out to his brother 
Peter. Going to Michigan he worked in the 
timber region until 1887. when he went to 
the Pacific coast, to Washington Territory, 
locating in Adams County, where he took 
up a homestead of 160 acres and a timber 
homestead of 160 acres. He added to this 
1 60 acres more, making in all a tract of 480 
acres of land on which he made improve 
ments. In 1898 he put down a well 325 feet 
deep, costing over $1,000, which enabled him 
to supply his neighbors with water by the 
barrel. He raised as high as 6.700 bushels 
of grain a year and continued there until 
1900, when he sold the i6o-acre homestead 
tract and rented the 320 acres remaining. 
On account of his wife s poor health he re 
turned to Warwick and bought a fifty-acre 
tract of the Hagle homestead, at Birnam, 
where he made improvements and which he 
is now farming. Like his father, he is a 
Liberal, but he is no office-seeker. He is a 
good Christian man, progressive and enter 
prising, and a kind and loving father. 

On June 23, 1880, Mr. Graham married, 
in Warwick township, Mary Maria Lee, of 
Warwick township, daughter of T. D. Lee, 
a well-known citizen of Watford, a full 
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. 
Mrs. Graham is a devoted wife and mother 
and much beloved. Children as follows have 
come to Mr. and Mrs. Graham : Maggie 
Lina, born in Warwick in April. 1881. mar 
ried Norman Thomas, and resides in Adams 
County, Washington ; Glen was born in 
September, 1890; Harold, in June, 1894; 
and Frederick Peter, Jan. 5. 1898. The 
family are well liked in the community in 
which they live. 

PETER GRAHAM, son of the late Peter 
Graham, was born on the Graham homestead 
Sept. 12, 1860, and attended the district 
school of his native township. He remained 
at home with his father until he reached his 
majority, when he struck out for himself, 
going to the State of Wisconsin, at the head 



of Lake Superior, where he found employ 
ment in the lumber region of that section, 
remaining there two seasons. Returning to 
Lambton he worked on the homestead for a 
while and then started out for himself on a 
fifty -acre tract a part of the homestead, to 
which he added later the fifty acres of his 
brother George, who went west. There Mr. 
Graham farmed until 1887. when he sold 
out to Robert Harper, and bought his pres 
ent farm on Lot 15, Concession 5, where he 
has been engaged in general farming and 
stock raising. He has made many improve 
ments on his farm, erecting barns and siloes, 
and is engaged in the dairy business. For 
several years he was interested in stock-rais 
ing and feeding. He was a member of East 
Lambton Farmers Institute, and takes a 
deep interest in township affairs, etc. He 
represented the David Maxwell Implement 
Company of St. Mary s for five years. 

Politically, like his father, Mr. Graham 
is a strong Liberal and takes a deep interest 
in the township affairs and school matters. 
In 1899 he was elected member of the board 
of councilmen of Warwick township; the 
following year all the board was elected by 
acclamation, the only time in the history of 
the township, and the next year Mr. Graham 
was elected by a larger majority than any 
other man on the board. He served three 
years, when he resigned. He served as trus 
tee of School Section No. 4 for fifteen years. 
Like his father he is a consistent member 
of Bethel Methodist Church, filling the office 
of trustee, steward and recording steward 
of the circuit, and he has filled the office 
of class-leader. 

In Warwick township, June 15, 1886, 
Mr. Graham married Susanna Ross, daugh 
ter of David M. Ross, and nine children have 
been born to them, as follows: Wilbert, 
Edward, Stanford. David, Mary Feme, 
Peter, Jr., Thomas C, Reva Catherine and 
Neil Douglas, all living at home. Mr. Gra 
ham is a member of the Woodmen of the 
World, and is popular in the order. His 
pleasant manner and sterling characteristics 
entitle him to the esteem and good-will of 
all worthy people. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



499 



JOHX LAXG, a prosperous retired 
.farmer of Plympton township, Count} - of 
Lambton, Ont., and one of the pioneers of 
the county, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
May n, 1823 son of Joseph and Jeanette 
(Lockhart) Lang, both natives of Glasgow. 
In 1829 the parents of our subject, and 
three children, including John, came to 
America, locating in the township of Dal- 
housie. County of Perth, where they pur 
chased a farm and remained fourteen years. 
They then settled in Lambton. buying a 
farm on the Lake shore, Plympton town 
ship, and lived for about fifteen years. Once 
more they sought a new home and found it 
in Minnesota, and they there spent the re 
mainder of their lives. 

"While attending school in Dalhousie 
township, John Lang also worked upon his 
father s farm, and there remained until 
1850, when he bought his own home of 100 
acres, west half of Lot 15, Concession 13, 
Plympton township. At the time he pur 
chased the land it was covered by a dense 
forest, but during the fifty-five years he has 
made it his home, he has brought the land 
into an almost perfect condition, and enjoys 
a handsome income from his broad acres. 
Upon the farm he has erected a handsome 
brick house, commodious barns, and neces 
sary outhouses, and all his improvements 
bespeak intelligent foresight and excellent 
management. 

On Oct. 20, 1857, Mr. Lang was united 
in marriage with Isabella Gray, daughter of 
James and Euphemia (McPhail) Gray, of 
Sarnia. She died in June, 1902, aged sixty- 
seven, and is buried in the Beachwood cem- 
etery at Forest. This marriage was blessed 
with the following children : James, de 
ceased, who married Dorothy Ross, and had 
two children. Olive G. and Ruby B. ; Joseph, 
in the butcher business, in Manitoba; John, 
deceased, who married Elizabeth Mack, and 
had one daughter, Edna ; Jessie who mar 
ried Robert Goderich, of Port Huron, Ont., 
and has one son, Milton; Euphemia married 
William Gilbert, a carpenter at Bay City, 
Michigan, and had five children, Isabella 
-(deceased), Harvey G., William (de 



ceased), Andrew and William (2) ; Alex 
ander, at home; Andrew, an engineer on 
the Grand Trunk railroad, at Sarnia ; Jane, 
who married John Scott, a farmer of Plymp 
ton, and has two children, Fred and George ; 
Robert L., of Sarnia, Ont., working for the 
railroad. All the members of this large 
family have been connected with the Pres 
byterian Church. Mr. Lang although re 
tired from active life, is a man of unusual 
intelligence, well-posted on current events, 
and a pleasant companion. His fellow- 
townsmen honor and respect him. and he is 
an admitted authority upon the events of 
pioneer days. 

JOHX HEXDRA, for many years one 
of Enniskillen s best known and most pop 
ular residents, and a man of influence in 
local affairs, was born in Truro, Cornwall, 
England, April 16, 1832 to Thomas and 
Anna (Blewitt) Hendra. 

Thomas Hendra and his wife were also 
natives of Cornwall born in 1795 and 1796. 
respectively. They remained in England 
many years after their marriage, and Mr. 
Hendra was employed in a tin smelter. In 
1859 they came to Canada, whither their 
son William had preceded them, and joined 
him in making a home in Enniskillen town 
ship, County of Lambton, Ont. In those 
days the forest was practically unbroken, 
and the Indians were almost the only inhab 
itants, but the newcomers built a log house 
and bravely started in to make a home. Mr. 
Hendra wholly devoted his attention to ag 
riculture afer coming to Canada, and became 
one of the successful farmers of his region. 
His death occurred Sept. 22, 1871, and that 
of his wife April 14, 1882. In Canada they 
were connected with the Methodist Church. 
Mr. Hendra was a strong Conservative. 
They were the parents of eight children, all 
born in Cornwall. The first two, (i) 
Thomas and (2) Jane, died in England. (3) 
William, born in May, 1827, was educated 
in England, and at the age of sixteen came 
to Canada, he being the real pioneer of the 
family. He lived at first at Westminster, 
with his uncle William, who is still a resi- 



;oo 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



dent of that place, now aged ninety-two. 
Later he went to Enniskillen and purchased 
land in Concession 7, Lot 6, which is still 
the family homestead. There he was joined 
by his parents, and there he still makes his 
home, in the family of his brother John, for 
he himself has been a lifelong bachelor. (4) 
Ann, born May 5, 1829, was educated in 
England, and after reaching Canada mar 
ried Joseph Payne, of Moore township, 
where they now live with their only son 
Thomas. (5) John was the third son. (6) 
Mary, May 10, 1833, married Malcolm 
Gunn, of the County of Lambton, and set 
tled in Dawn, where she died in January, 
1903, leaving no children. (7) Henry, Au 
gust, 1835, was educated in England, and 
was a young man when he came to Canada. 
He married Miss Maggie Moffett, of 
Perth County, lived in Concession 8, Ennis 
killen, for some time, and then moved 
to their present home at Westminster, near 
London. They have no children. (8) Eliza 
beth. Aug. 10, 1837, married Arthur Stokes, 
of Sarnia township, and lived for some years 
near Oil Springs, where Mr. Stokes died in 
1896, leaving his wife and seven children, 
viz.: Mary, deceased; Thomas, of Petrolia; 
Elizabeth, Mrs. William Patterson, of Pe 
trolia ; William, of Alberta, who is married 
and has one son, George ; Edith, Mrs. James 
Read, of Park Hill; Millie, Mrs. John Hug- 
gins, of Manitoba ; and John, of Petrolia, 
who has a wife and one daughter. 

John Hendra grew to manhood in Eng 
land, received an ordinarily good education, 
and learned the trade of wheelwright. He 
took a position in 1856 with the Cobra Con 
solidated Mining Company of England, and 
worked in Cuba for three and a half years 
on contract with this company. His voyage 
to Cuba was made on a sailing vessel and 
occupied seven weeks. In 1861 he joined 
the rest of the family in Enniskillen, coming 
from Cuba by way of New- York. Since that 
time he has remained at the farm except for 
a year or two when he was engaged in mer 
cantile business in Centralia, County of 
Huron. He has put up new buildings on 
the old place, a good house and barns, and 



has added many improvements. He has- 
been very successful in his agricultural 
operations, and now has 200 acres including 
the original homestead, and nearly all of it 
is under cultivation. 

Fourteen years after coming to Canada, 
Mr. Hendra was married, the ceremony oc 
curring April 5, 1875, when Miss Lizzie 
Moffat became Mrs. John Hendra. She 
was born in Blanshard, County of Perth, 
Sept. 18, 1852, daughter of William and 
Maggie Moffat, an old pioneer family of the 
County of Perth. The parents were born 
in Ireland and died in the County of Huron, 
leaving six daughters and one son, three of 
whom are still living. Mrs. Hendra was 
very well educated, a woman of much cul 
ture, and for some years was one of the 
most successful teachers in the Huron and 
the Lambton County Schools. Her death in 
February, 1896, in the prime of her wo 
manhood, was a great loss, felt not only by 
her family, but throughout the neighbor 
hood, which had for many years known her 
many kindly deeds. She was the mother of 
nine children : ( i ) Maggie A., married 
Herbert Patterson, in November, 1901, 
and they live on one part of the 
Hendra homestead. There are two chil 
dren. (2) Thomas W., born in August, 
1877, died in 1898. (3) Eva J., 
June, 1879, was given a good education, and 
in August, 1903, became the wife of Arthur 
Atchinson, of Sarnia. He was a machinist 
by profession, but now is engaged in farm 
ing in Dawn. (4) Maud E., Feb. 13, 1881, 
died in 1901. (5) Sarah E.. May 27, 1883, 
died in December, 1895. (6) Daisy, April 
1 6, 1885, was given a fair education in the 
home schools and is now Mr. Hendra s 
housekeeper, filling her mother s place in the 
family. (7) Gertrude A., Sept. 3, 1888. 
(8) Florence E., Oct. 2, 1890, and (9) John 
J. B., November, 1893, are all at home, at 
tending school. 

Mr. Hendra with his family, belongs to 
the Methodist Church. He has always man 
ifested a keen interest in public affairs, and 
has been a prominent figure in. local politics, 
a supporter of the Reform party. For seven 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



501 



years he acted as treasurer of Enniskillen, at 
the end of that period resigning the position. 
For one term he filled the office of council 
man, and for six years was secretary and 
treasurer of the Enniskillen school board. 
Always anxious to promote agricultural in 
terests, he has long been a member of, and 
for thirteen years secretary and treasurer of 
the Agricultural Society. He was at one 
time, also, a member of the order of Orange 
men. Aside from his prominence in public 
affairs, Mr. Hendra s private life has been 
a constant influence for good, for his in 
tegrity, sympathy and benevolence have won 
the hearts of all, and many unfortunate 
ones have been turned to better ways and 
gained renewed courage by his wise and 
kindly counsel. 

JUDSOX G. FINCH, for many years a 
merchant and at present an extensive farmer 
and oil operator in Sarnia township, repre 
sents one of the pioneer families of Canada 
and bears a name well-known in the very 
early days. His great-grandfather was 
Elder Finch, who was sent from Great Brit 
ain in the interests of the Baptist Church, 
and who spent many years traveling through 
Canada, mainly in eastern Ontario, carrying 
on his missionary work. Many of the min 
isters who afterwards became prominent in 
the affairs of the Baptist denomination in 
Canada, were ordained by Elder Finch. 

Thomas Henry Finch, son of the Elder, 
came from England with his parents, and 
during most of his life resided in Toronto, 
where he conducted a general store. His 
last years were spent at Komoka, where he 
died at the advanced age of eighty-nine. His 
wife, three years his junior, lived to the same 
age. They had a large family of whom only 
the third daughter is still living. Salinda, 
the eldest daughter, became the wife of a 
Mr. Edwards; one daughter married a Mr. 
Beckwith ; Henry, deceased, was a prom 
inent merchant and hotel proprietor at Ayl- 
mer. Out. ; Thomas resided at Aylmer, Out. ; 
William was a farmer at Komoka ; Jane, the 
third daughter, wife of Eliphalet Gustin, 
lives in London, Out. ; David Wellington ; 



the youngest daughter married Mr. Furguer- 
son. of Strathroy. 

David Wellington Finch began life for 
himself as a farmer, on a farm in the 8th and 
9th Concessions, township of South Dor 
chester, County of Elgin. He added to his 
holdings till he finally owned 400 acres, and 
was one of the prosperous farmers of that 
region. His death occurred in 1866, while 
he was still comparatively young. His wife 
was Miss Rebecca House, by whom he had a 
family of thirteen children, viz. : Atlanta, 
Mrs. Fawcett, of Belmont ; Martha Ann, de 
ceased wife of Samuel Hambley; Melissa, 
deceased wife of Reuben Hambley ; Henry, 
a farmer in Harrietsville ; Sarah Belle, Mrs. 
Ballah of Calgary, Alberta; John W., a 
farmer in Aylmer, Ont. ; Rebecca, Mrs. 
Jackson, of Manitoba ; Judson G. ; Retta, 
Airs. Shirk, of Hamilton; Culver, a farmer 
in Mapleton, Ont. ; David Densil, a farmer 
in Mapleton, Ont. ; Nellie, of Elgin County ; 
and Lillian, Mrs. John McTavis, of Bel 
mont. The maternal grandfather was Cap 
tain House, a U. E. Loyalist who came to 
Canada from Pennsylvania in the first years 
of the century, and settled in Elgin County, 
where he drew government land from Col. 
Talbot, the land agent at St. Thomas. He 
served in the war of 1812, and took a prom 
inent part in the battles of the Niagara 
frontier, especially at Lundy s Lane. His 
Avife was a Miss Bacon, a relative of Lord 
Bacon, and they were the parents of thirteen 
children. 

Judson G. Finch was born in South Dor 
chester, Elgin County, Oct. 19, 1852. As a 
boy he attended the home school, and then 
helped on the farm. He continued to assist 
in managing the homestead for some time 
after his father s death, and also owned a 
farm in the next concession. This property 
he disposed of later, going to Belmont, 
where he went to school and at the same 
time speculated to some extent. In May, 
1878, he went to Mandamin, Lambton 
County, and bought the stock of general 
merchandise owned by John Russell, later 
purchasing the building also. In this busi 
ness he continued till the fall of 1903, when 



--,02 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



he sold to the present proprietors, Ewart & 
Barnes. While in the mercantile business 
Mr. Finch was also extensively engaged in 
farming ; his home place, consisting of nine 
ty-five acres of thoroughly developed farm 
ing land, was purchased in 1886. His resi 
dence, the largest farm house in the county, 
was built in 1888, and is 38 by 32 feet, with 
an annex 20 by 26 feet, full two stories. Be 
sides this valuable property, Mr. Finch 
owns another 100 acres in Lot 2, Conces 
sion 3, Plympton township, also well-im 
proved. A number of oil wells have been 
sunk there, which are producing largely, but 
Mr. Finch has lately sold the rights to these. 
At present he is confining his attention al 
most entirely to farming, and makes a 
specialty of stock raising and buying and 
selling cattle. 

On Oct. 1 6, 1879, Air. Finch was mar 
ried to Miss Jessie Cuthbertson, who was 
born in Sarnia township, Dec. 17, 1857, sis 
ter of William Cuthbertson of Sarnia town 
ship, and they have had five children : Delia 
is the wife of Dr. T. A. Ewart of Morenci, 
Michigan, and has one daughter, Catherine 
E. L. ; Cuthbert is in business in Regina, 
N. W. T. ; Eva, Harvey and Jessie are at 
home. The family are all members of the 
Mandamin Presbyterian Church. Politically 
Mr. Finch is a Conservative, and socially 
belongs to the Foresters and the Maccabees. 
Wealthy and influential, Mr. Finch is one of 
the prominent men of the county, and he has 
many warm friends. 

JOHN AVOODWARK, postmaster at 
Wheeler, Out., and a successful farmer of 
Enniskillen township, Lot 4, Concession 3, 
was born Sept. 28, 1838, near Whitby, York 
shire. England. His father died when he 
was but a child, and when eleven years of 
age he came to Canada with his step-father 
and mother and his half-brother, reaching 
Halton County in 1850. Here he grew to 
manhood, working on farms in the summers 
and attending the Nelson township schools 
in the winters, until 1862. Then he engaged 
with the Grank Trunk Railroad Co., in the 
locomotive department, and there served five 



years, making his home at Point Edward. 
In 1866 he left the Grand Trunk system 
and came to Oil Springs, where he engaged 
as an engineer and driller, having charge 
of the machinery department. After ac 
cumulating sufficient means he purchased 
fifty acres of land adjoining his present 
home, which he cleared up and transformed 
into a fine farm. His improvements are ex 
cellent and the land is under a fine state of 
cultivation. 

In 1865 Mr. Woodwark married Miss 
Nancy A. Thompson, the estimable daugh 
ter of James and Jane (Hobson) Thompson, 
and a member of one of the old pioneer fam 
ilies of Enniskillen. Her parents were na 
tives of Scotland and England respectively. 
Mrs. Woodwark was born Oct. 16, 1845, > n 
Haldimand County, and was educated in 
Canada. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Woodwark settled on the present home place,, 
at that time the property of James Thomp 
son, but later becoming the property of Mr. 
Woodwark through purchase. He has 
added to the original tract until he now owns 
200 acres of fine farming land. This has 
been the family home ever since, and here 
have been born six children, namely : Jane, 
born in 1865, is now the wife of William 
Engals, of St. Clair, Mich., and they have 
four children, David, John, George and 
Nancy; Mary K., born in 1868, is the wife 
of James B. Scott and they have three chil 
dren, Bessie, Bloss and Beulah; John R., 
born in 1871, the manager of the homesteud 
farm, is unmarried; Sarah E., born in 1873, 
is the wife of William Doolan, who resides 
on Concession 3, in Enniskillen, and they 
have had one son, John, now deceased ; 
James I., born in 1876, a millwright by 
trade, married Jessie Black, of Brigden, and 
they now reside in Sarnia (they had one 
son, Ottamer. now deceased) ; Hannah died 
Dec. 14, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Woodwark 
also adopted a daughter, Clara I. McBean, 
who was born in London and was reared and 
educated in their home. 

In 1891 Mr. Woodwark was appointed 
postmaster at Wheeler, an office he still most 
efficiently fills. Politically lie is a Conserva- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



53 



live. The family is connected with the 
Church of England. Mr. \Yoodwark is a 
self-made man, having provided for his own 
necessities from boyhood, and his success but 
shows the value of industry, energy and 
economy. 

James Thompson, father of Mrs. Wood- 
wark, died in February, 1891, and his wife 
in 1868. They had five children, the two 
survivors being Mrs. Woodwark and her 
brother, Alexander Thompson, of Oil 
Springs. 

For thirty-seven years, Mr. Woodwark 
has been identified with the progress and de 
velopment of his section and he has proven 
himself a most useful citizen. Since his ap 
pointment as postmaster he has managed 
official affairs at his own home, and that he 
has continued so long in the office speaks 
forcibly as to the confidence felt in him by 
his fellow citizens. 

GEORGE FULLER, a highly respected 
citizen of Warwick township, Lambton 
County, now living retired on the township 
line, was born in the Province of Quebec, in 
the electoral district of Jacques Cartier. 

The grandfather of our subject, also 
named George Fuller, was born in County 
Cork, Ireland, where he followed the occu 
pation of milling. In the early twenties he 
came with his family to Quebec, locating in 
the electoral district of Jacques Cartier, 
where he spent some time, later removing to 
Southern Ontario and locating at Ancaster, 
Brant County, which was then a new coun 
try, and where he remained but a few 
months. Coming thence to Middlesex Coun 
ty, Ont., he followed farming until 1844, 
when he came West to the County of Lamb- 
ton, and settled down to farming in War 
wick township. Here he spent the remain 
der of his life. 

William Fuller, the son of George, was 
also born in County Cork, and came to Can 
ada with his parents, growing to manhood 
in the Province of Quebec. There he 
married Matilda Black, a native of County 
Down. Ireland, and she bore him children 
as follows: George; John, deceased; Cath 



erine, who married Henry Settington, of 
Warwick township; Jane, who died young; 
Thomas, who died in Leamington, where he 
had been engaged in banking ; William, who 
died in British Columbia; Ann, wife of John 
Kersey, and residing in Flint, Michigan; 
Matilda, married to Henry Hume, of Wat 
ford; Esther, wife of George H. Wyne, a 
banker of Watford; Margaret, who died 
young ; Samuel, a resident of Manitoba ; and 
Sarah Fannie, who married Robert J. Tan 
ner, of Ottawa. Mr. Fuller, with his wife 
and family, composed at that time of four 
children, came to Ontario in 1838, locating 
in Adelaide township, Middlesex County, 
where he engaged in farming for many 
years. After retiring from active life he 
came, in 1873, to Watford, Lambton Coun 
ty, where he lived retired and died in 1881, 
his wife surviving until 1892; both were 
buried in Warwick village cemetery. They 
died in the faith of the Methodist Church. 
Mr. Fuller was a Reformer. 

George Fuller, was but six years old 
when he came to Ontario with his parents, 
and he here received his education, from his 
father. He never attended school three 
months in his life. He worked at home on 
the farm until 1854, when he came to Lamb- 
ton County and purchased 200 acres on the 
2d Line, south of the Egremont Road, in 
Warwick township, Lot 30. Here he re 
mained over fifty years, successfully engaged 
in farming and stock raising. Mr. Fuller 
finally retired from active life, and came to 
the line of Warwick township, where he and 
his wife have since resided, owning a small 
tract of land. 

Mr. Fuller, married, in 1854,- Miss Sarah 
Clark, born at St. Catharines, Ont., daughter 
of William Clark, and the couple celebrated 
their golden wedding in 1904, surrounded 
by their children and grandchildren. The 
children born to them were : John C. is a 
farmer of Bosanquet township; Mary died 
when thirty-one years old; Jane married 
David Johnson, a fruit grower of Warwick 
township ; William T. is a general merchant 
of Watford ; Philip is a butcher and stock 
buyer of Watford; Francis Joseph is a 



54 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



farmer in Warwick township; Sarah mar 
ried Thomas Marsh, owner of Spring Mills, 
West Williams; George T. is a farmer on 
the old homestead ; Hannah L. married Rob 
ert Arthur Gait, of Warwick township; 
Samuel Robert is at home. 

Mr. Fuller is a Liberal and in early life 
was very active in the interest of his party. 
He served as tax collector of Warwick town 
ship for a number of years, but now takes 
no active interest in politics. He was for 
many years a local preacher in the Method 
ist Church, but in 1878 became connected, 
with the Church of God, which faith he has 
since adhered to. 

PATRICK BARCLAY, who for forty 
years was postmaster of Petrolia, and 
was one of the prominent old pioneers, died 
at his home in this city, April 20, 1902. Mr. 
Barclay was born Sept. 8, 1827, at Paisley, 
Scotland, son of Matthew and Mary (Flem 
ing) Barclay, the former of whom was a 
soldier in the Peninsular wars under Sir 
John Moore, and his father founded the 
factory for the manufacture of the celebrated 
Paisley shawls, closing out the business in 
1832, when Matthew Barclay moved to 
Ontario and located in Halton County. 

In 1853 Patrick Barclay came to Ennis- 
killen township, Lambton County, where he 
purchased a farm on Lot 14, Concession 10, 
and in 1854 built thereon a substantial house 
within the corporate limits of Petrolia. In 
1861 he was one of the four men who gave 
Petrolia her name, a very appropriate one. 
When a postoffice was first proposed to be 
established here, Mr. Barclay was made 
postmaster as the most eligible man for the 
position, and he served with public approval 
until his death. In 1853 he was made en 
sign of the 3d Battalion of Lambton. and 
in 1860 became its lieutenant. For thirty 
years he was treasurer of Petrolia, and for 
many years was a justice of the peace. 

In religious belief Mr. Barclay was a 
life-long Presbyterian, and was one of the 
thirteen men who founded the Presbyterian 
Church at Petrolia. He was officially con 
nected with it until his death, and during 

o 



his long and busy life, it was his pleasure 
to be one of its liberal supporters. 

Mr. Barclay was twice married, first to 
Catherine Cornwall, who at death left two 
sons, W. G. of Alberta, and George B. of 
Joliet, Illinois, who married Elsie Wilson, 
and has one daughter, Mary Bell. On June 
25, 1873, Mr. Barclay married (second) 
Miss Margaret L. J. McKee, daughter of the 
late David McKee, one of the early settlers 
of Middlesex County, and to this union two 
children were born : Marie, who was edu 
cated in the public schools of Petrolia, and 
the Ladies College at Brant ford ; and Wal 
ter P., a member of the class of 1903, at 
Toronto University. 

Mr. Barclay was a man who took an 
active part in all that concerned Petrolia, 
and was one of the first oil operators in this 
section, a business in which he continued 
as long as he lived. Although not an active 
politician, he believed in the principles of 
the Reform party. For many years he had 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and had attained to high position in it. As 
one of the first settlers at Petrolia and an 
official for forty years, he was well known to 
almost every resident, and was universally 
esteemed. His death was considered a loss 
to the community, removing as it did, one 
who had bravely borne much of the "heat of 
the day," and had clone much to make the 
paths of those who followed easier to travel 

NATHANIEL D. BOWLBY. Among 
the self-made men of Lambton County, who 
have been successful in life may be men 
tioned N. D. Bowlby, who is farming a. tract 
on Concession 8, Lot 26, in Brooke town 
ship, and also carries on carpentering and 
contracting. He was born May 14, 1854, 
near St. Thomas, in Elgin County, Ont., son 
of Daniel and Charlotte (Reid) Bowlby, 
members of a pioneer family of Brooke 
township. 

Daniel Bowlby was born in 1814, in El 
gin County, while his wife was born in the 
Lowlands of Scotland in 1821. They were 
married in London, Ont., and settled in El 
gin County, where he worked at his trade of 




PATRICK BARCLAY 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



505 



shoemaker, until in 1854, when they re 
moved to Brooke township, County of Lamb- 
ton, and settled on a bush farm. Mrs. 
Bowlby was the daughter of George Reid, 
a soldier who served in the battle of Water 
loo, and who, after the close of the war, lo 
cated in Middlesex County, where he and 
his wife lived until a few years previous to 
their deaths, when they came to live with 
our subject s parents. Mr. Bowlby made 
Brooke township his permanent home, giv 
ing up his shoemaking trade, and building 
a log cabin on his farm, where he resided 
until his death, in 1872, his wife surviving 
until 1887. This worthy couple were con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church, 
in which he was class leader and trustee for 
many years. Politically a stanch Reformer, 
Mr. Bowlby never aspired to office, being a 
domestic man. Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby were 
the parents of three sons : George O., born 
in 1849, i Elgin County, was reared on the 
home farm, and married Miss Alma Edgar, 
of Lambton County, and they removed to 
"Wisconsin, where he died in 1888; Alex 
ander, born in 1857, married Miss Janet Mc- 
Intyre, of Dorchester County, and they set 
tled at Lapier, Middlesex County, where he 
followed cabinet making and general con 
tracting and building, dying there in No 
vember, 1900, the father of three children, 
Lottie M., (who married Evan McGregor), 
Anne L. and Alma (who reside at home) ; 
and Nathaniel D. 

Nathaniel D. Bowlby grew up at the old 
home where he has always lived, being four 
months old when his parents came to Brooke 
township. He worked on the farm until of 
age when he engaged in carpentering and 
building, and at the same time looked after 
the home farm. With his brother Alexan 
der he did contracting until 1885, anc l from 
that time until 1903 carried the bus 
iness on alone, but his land consum 
ing so much of his attention he then 
abandoned all other work. On June 
23, 1880, he married Miss Elsie Sutton. born 
June 15, 1859, in Elgin County, daughter of 
Anthony and Betsy (Gilbert) Sutton, pio 



neers of that county. Anthony Sutton came 
to Canada from Ireland and settled in Elgin 
County, where he died, his wife having died 
when Mrs. Bowlby was a child. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Sutton the following children were 
born: George, of Michigan; Zacharias, of 
Northwest Territory ; Henry L., of Dutton, 
Ont. ; Christopher, of Elgin County; Fran 
ces, now Mrs. Wait, of Dutton ; Betsy, who 
married E. H. Bowlby, of Elgin County; 
and Elsie, wife of Nathaniel D. Bowlby. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby settled in Brooke 
township, and there they have resided to the 
present time. The log cabin of his father was 
replaced by a large modern frame building 
which Mr. Bowlby himself erected. To him 
and his wife these children have been born : 
Charlotte, born April 16, 1881, died in 1902, 
at the old home; Daniel G., born Dec. 6, 
1883, is at home; Agnes M.. born March 6, 
1885, Alexander H., born Dec. 26, 1887; 
May E., born Dec. 29, 1889, is a student of 
the schools; Sarah D., born Dec. 8, 1892; 
Elsie W., born May 10, 1897. 

Religiously Mr. Bowlby and his wife are 
connected with the Methodist Church. Po 
litically Mr. Bowlby has always been identi 
fied with the Reform party, but has stead 
fastly refused office; except that of school 
trustee. Socially he belongs to Napier 
Court, C. O. F. He is well known and high 
ly respected in the community in which he 
has lived so long, and he bears an enviable 
reputation for honesty and integrity. 

WILLIAM MOWBRAY. The Moore 
township of to-day, with its well cultivated 
farms, handsome brick and frame dwellings, 
lava roads and substantial bridges, is difficult 
to associate with the Moore township of 
sixty years ago, when it was only a swampy 
wilderness where wild animals roamed at 
will, where the only road was a blazed trail, 
and when only two or three brave pioneer 
families had ventured to settle. This great 
change has all come about during the years 
of William Mowbray s residence in the re 
gion, and he has done the part of a good citi 
zen in furthering the work of development. 



506 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



He was born in England, in Killdale, York 
shire, eight miles from the river Tees, May 
g, 1829. 

Thomas Mowbray, father of William, 
was also born in England, in February, 
1797, and there grew to manhood, making 
fanning his occupation. While a young man 
he moved to Killdale, and there married 
Miss Thomasina Langlay, the mother of 
William, who was their only child. Mrs. 
Mowbray died in 1840, and two years later 
the bereaved husband and his thirteen-year- 
old son left their native land and sailed from 
Middlesborough, Yorkshire, for Quebec. 
After a six weeks passage they landed there, 
and making their, way to Montreal took the 
steamer "Shamrock" for Kingston. This 
ill-fated vessel blew up during the trip, and 
of the 1 20 passengers fifty-seven lost their 
lives. Both Mr. Mowbray and his son were 
very severely injured, but escaped with their 
lives. When they were able to leave the 
hospital in Montreal, to which they had been 
carried, they went on to Toronto, or Little 
York, as it was called then, and finally, in 
1843, reached Lambton County, where they 
settled in what is now Sombra, on the St. 
Clair river front. Three years later they 
moved to Moore township and bought a 
loo-acre tract of bush land, where they built 
a log shanty and made a permanent resi 
dence. At that time there were only three 
other settlers in the region. Mr. Mowbray 
at first made potash from the timber, selling 
it in Sarnia, and then after getting his land 
cleared he engaged in farming for more 
than thirty-seven years. In his declining 
years he was cared for by his son and daugh 
ter-in-law, and died in their home in the 
spring of 1883, aged eighty-seven. He was 
buried in Fromefield cemetery, Moore town 
ship. He was a member of the Methodist 
Church, a stanch Reformer in politics, and a 
good man and citizen. 

William Mowbray attended national 
school until he left England, but in Canada 
he had no further opportunity for receiving 
instruction and had to carry on his own edu 
cation as best he could with the aid of what 
ever school books he could get hold of. He 



is today one of the best mathematicians in 
the county, a great Bible student, and a care 
ful reader of many of the world s master 
pieces. All his life he has been specially in 
terested in bee culture, has subscribed for 
many of the publications on bees, both in 
Canada and other places, and is an author 
ity on the subject in the county, having had 
half a century of experience in apiculture. 

On settling in Moore township William 
Mowbray helped his father in the labor on 
their new property and from that time 
worked in close association with him. At 
the father grew older the son gradually as 
sumed the entire management of the farm 
and added many improvements, erecting a 
good house, barns, etc., and carrying on af 
fairs very successfully. While a small man 
physically he has always done his full share 
in every task, and has accomplished much, 
so that he can now rest in the consciousness- 
of having nobly fulfilled his duty in every 
relation of life. In his views he is a stanch 
Reformer and active in local politics, having 
been assessor, of Moore township for six 
years; his first term was in 1862 and his 
last in 1875. He also served on the town 
ship council for one term. The agricultural 
development of the country has always been 
deeply interesting to him and he was sec 
retary of the Moore Township Agricultural 
Society for a long time and of the County 
Society for twenty years. Religiously Mr. 
Mowbray is a Methodist, belonging to the 
Church in Corunna, where he has served as 
recording steward, member of the building 
committee, secretary and trustee, and has- 
been an active worker in the Sunday-school. 
A man of good character, domestic tastes- 
and with well trained mind, he stands as a 
good type of farmer and citizen. 

Mr. Mowbray has been twice married, 
the first time Aug. 28, 1855, to Miss Mary 
Jane Brock, daughter of Thomas and Mar 
garet (Weir) Brock, old settlers of Plymp- 
ton township. Mrs. Mowbray died Feb. 5, 
1858, and was buried in Fromefield ceme 
tery. She was a member of the Methodist 
Church. Two daughters came to this union : 
Margaret Ann, born Oct. 6, 1856, married 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 






507 



in 1887 Andrew Hossie, of Moore town 
ship, and they have three sons, Andrew L., 
William C. and Clifford. Mary Elizabeth, 
born Jan. 28, 1858, lived only a little over a 
month. For his second wife Mr. Mowbray 
chose a sister of his first wife. Miss Alice 
Brock, who lias proved herself a devoted 
wife and mother, She is also a Methodist. 
Their union occurred April 3, 1858, and they 
had children as follows : Mary Jane, born 
March 10, 1859, died in September, 1863; 
Thomas Langley, born Nov. 23, 1860, died 
Sept. , 1863, of diphtheria, as did also 
Mary Jane; Frances Alice, born Feb. 5, 
1863, died July 3, 1886; Eliza Emily, born 
Sept. 25, 1865, is the wife of John Miller, of 
Moore township, and has three children, 
Elva, William L. and John E. : Harriet Re 
becca, born May 10, 1868, married Marshall 
Hicks, of Plympton township; Clara Wil- 
helmina. born Jan. 23, 1871, died of diph 
theria Nov. 20, 1878; William Oscar, born 
March 24, 1874, is a farmer in Moore town 
ship; John Herbert, born July 7, 1876, liv 
ing- on the homestead, married Dec. 27, 
1902, Georgina Sharp, and has one son, 
Graydon; Harriet Maud, born Oct. 20, 1878, 
died in 1879. 

MURDO McLEAY, now living re 
tired at Watford, is of Scotch extraction, 
and the first in his family of whom there are 
any definite data was John McLeay, his 
grandfather, who was born in Scotland, and 
lived and died there. His children were: 
Elizabeth married J. F. Elliott ; Donald, died 
in Ontario; Dugald served in the English 
army, was present at the battle of Waterloo 
in 1815, receiving a medal for bravery, and 
died in England ; John became the father of 
our subject. 

John McLeay was born in Ross-shire, 
Scotland, in 1797, and in early life entered 
the service of the Hudson Bay Company, 
with whom he remained for five years. He 
then connected himself with the Sir, John 
Franklin Land Arctic Expedition, from 
which he received the following honorable 
certificate of character which is carefully 
preserved by his family : 



Admiralty, 1st Xov.. 1827. 

This is to certify that John McLeay served as 
steersman in the Land Arctic Expedition under my 
command from Aug. 30, 1824, to Nov. I, 1827. dur 
ing all of which time his conduct was steady, correct 
and exemplary ; and he actively performed the du 
ties of his station. 

Given und.r mv hand this day. 

[Signed] JOHN FRANKLIN, Capt. R. X.. 
Commander of the Land Arctic Expedition. 

In 1832 John McLeay married Margaret 
McKinzie, who was born in Ross-shire, 
Scotland, in 1804, and the}" emigrated to 
Ontario in 1834, locating in Warwick town 
ship, Lambton County, on Lot 18, Conces 
sion i. There Mr. and Mrs. John McLeay 
resided until his death, Aug. 30, 1853. Mrs. 
McLeay surviving until 1876. Both were 
consistent members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he was a Reformer. 
The children born to himself and wife were : 
Philip (deceased), a farmer on the old 
homestead, who never married ; Murdo ; 
Robert (deceased), a farmer and sawmill 
operator; John (deceased), who was a phy 
sician in Lobo, Ont., where he left a family; 
and William, of Watford, clerk of the court. 

Murdo McLeay was born in Ross-shire, 
Scotland, April 15, 1833, and came to On 
tario with his parents in 1834, locating about 
four miles from Watford, on 200 acres. The 
father also secured a grant of 200 acres from 
the government for services rendered under 
Sir John Franklin, and a grant of 1,000 
acres for his services with the Hudson Bay 
Company, on which part of the city of Win 
nipeg now stands. Our subject remained 
on the old farm until he was eighteen years 
of age, when he went to Toronto and entered 
the normal school, and after finishing a 
course he taught in Warwick township for 
three years. His next occupation was con 
ducting a dry-goods establishment in Ham 
ilton for a year, when he settled at Widder, 
Ont., and there was also engaged in the dry- 
goods business, in partnership with James 
Harmon. After three years, however, in 
1859, he located in Watford and erected the 
first store building in that city, on the pres 
ent site of McLaren s drug store, and there 
he carried on a successful business for, about 
twenty-five years, when he retired from act- 



508 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ive life. In 1865 Mr. McLeay was appoint 
ed postmaster of Watford and held that po 
sition for eight years, discharging the duties 
very acceptably. He was also express agent 
and in charge of the Dominion Telegraph 
Co. In 1873 he erected a business block, 
63x38, and also the "Taylor Hotel," at a 
cost of $6,000. For nearly thirty years he 
served on the school board of Watford, and 
was chairman at the time of the erection of 
the present school building, selecting the 
plans for that building in connection with 
Dr. Gibson. 

On Aug. 6, 1857, Mr. McLeay married 
Miss Janet Glendenning, a daughter of Alex 
ander and Margaret (Park) Glendenning, 
natives of Scotland, who came to Ontario in 
1844, locating in Scarboro, near Toronto, 
where the father farmed, but in 1852 they 
removed to County Middlesex, and there the 
father continued farming until his death, in 
1889, at the age of seventy-two years. The 
mother passed away in 1845, a ged thirty- 
three years. Mrs. McLeay was born in 
Scotland, Feb. 17, 1839. She bore her hus 
band the following children : Margaret Grace 
married Dr. Arthur D. Smith, of Mitchell, 
Out., and has one daughter, Evelyn; Dr. 
John Alexander, of Atlanta, Georgia, was 
a physician of Watford ten years, during 
which time he was the promoter of the elec 
tric light and water works at that place (he 
is married) ; Franklin died in London, Eng 
land; Florence, an elocutionist of note, re 
sides at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. McLeay 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, of 
which Mr. McLeay is an official member. 
Politically he is a Conservative, while fra 
ternally he is a member of the Royal Ar- 
-canum. Enterprising, energetic, a man of 
affairs, Mr. McLeay has played an import 
ant part in the upbuilding of Watford, and 
is one of its representative men. 

THOMAS WEST SMITH, now living 
retired from active business at Forest, is a 
native of Ontario, and one of the representa 
tive men of the County of Lambton. 

Jethro Smith, his grandfather, was torn 
in Vermont in 1779, and served in the War 



of 1812. and at the age of 105 years he went 
to Detroit to draw his pension. He died in 
the State of Michigan, and was a very won 
derful old man. He was three times mar 
ried, and his first wife bore him a son, Hor 
ace, born in Vermont in 1817. 

When still a young man. Horace Smith 
located in Ontario, and married Susanna 
Rush, born in 1820 in Canada, who now 
resides at Toronto, at the age of over eighty 
years. Her father, Peter Rush, was born in 
Wales, from which country he emigrated to 
Pennsylvania, but later located in Canada. 
To Horace Smith and wife these children 
were born : Benjamin, who went to the Uni 
ted States; Thomas West; Martha, widow 
of Thomas Shane, of Lansing, Michigan. 
Horace Smith died in 1840, and his widow 
married Charles Pratt by whom she had the 
following children, William, Charles, Al 
bert, Orrin, John, Frank, Nathaniel, Sarah, 
Jane and Joseph. 

Thomas W. Smith was born in Tecum- 
seh township, County of Simcoe, July 23, 
1838, and was educated in a little log school 
house. In 1867 Mr. Smith engaged in the 
hotel business at Keswick, continuing there 
one year, when he returned to the County of 
Simcoe and also operated a hotel there for 
five years. Then locating in Forest, he took 
charge of a hotel on the present site of the 
"Johnston House," on Main street, and con 
tinued in this line for six years. At that 
time he retired from active business life, with 
the exception of a short time when he was 
engaged with J. O. Wisner, of Brantford, 
in the implement business. Since locating 
in Forest, Mr. Smith has served two years 
in the council ; his popularity was evidenced 
by his being elected by acclamation. 

Mr. Smith has been twice married, the 
first Mrs. Smith having been Hannah 
Adams, born in Ireland in 1840, daughter 
of James and Jane (McChesney) Adams, 
who came to Ontario in 1840, locating at 
Port Hope, where Mr. Adams died, while 
his widow survived him a few years, pass 
ing away in Toronto. Mrs. Smith died in 
1894. leaving two children: Ida, who mar 
ried George Wild, by whom she has four 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



509 



children; Mary Josephine, who married C. 
S. Rawlings, by whom she has four sons, 
Allen, Claude, Vaughn and Howard Stan 
ley. In 1896 Mr. Smith was united in mar 
riage with Mrs. Mary (Goble) Gammon, 
widow of Frederick H. Gammon, and they 
have two children, Mary and Gordon Rob 
ert. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Robert and 
Jane Goble, the former of whom was born 
in 1833, in England, and the latter in Ire 
land in 1834. They came to Ontario in 
1869, locating at Woodstock. Robert Goble 
was born in 1809, son of John and Mary 
Goble, and he died in 1868, and his widow 
in 1880. By her, former marriage Mrs. 
Smith had three children, Vera Maude; 
Harry, who died at the age of eight years; 
and Olive Myrtle. Mr. Gammon was born 
in England in 1861, and died in 1892. Mr. 
Smith is a member of the Brethren Church, 
while Mrs. Smith adheres to the Congrega 
tional Church. Politically Mr. Smith is a 
very stanch Reformer, and takes an import 
ant part in local affairs. Fraternally he is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and the Masonic 
order, and is popular in both organizations. 
The members of the Smith family are prom 
inent in the social life of the community and 
enjoy in highest degree the confidence and 
respect of all who know them. 

DAVID FITZGIBBOX was one of the 
first settlers of Point Edward, as well as 
one of the most genial gentlemen of the 
County of Lambton. Mr. Fitzgibbon is of 
Irish birth, born on the Emerald Isle, in 
1837, he being a son of Patrick Fitzgibbon, 
who served for thirty years on a British man- 
of-war in the Royal Navy, and who died in 
Ireland. Patrick Fitzgibbon married Jo 
hanna Anderson, also a native of Ireland. 
After the death of her husband Mrs. Fitz 
gibbon emigrated to Ontario with our sub 
ject, and her death occurred in Point 
Edward 

David Fitzgibbon landed in Quebec when 
he was nineteen years of age. From Quebec 
he went to Montreal and there remained 
fourteen years, during which time he learned 
the printer s trade, but instead of following 



it engaged as steward on the Grand Trunk 
ferry, thus continuing for ten years. When 
the Grand Trunk railroad was extended to 
Point Edward, Mr. Fitzgibbon was a pas 
senger on the first train which pulled into 
that station. For some time after settling 
there he was connected with the Grand 
Trunk railroad running between that point 
and Port Huron. In 1881 Mr. Fitzgibbon 
opened the first billiard parlor in Sarnia, 
and operated it for about two years, then re 
turning to Point Edward, and building the 
"Montreal House," but later lost it by fire. 
In 1884 he built the "Queen Hotel," a fine 
three-story brick building, supplied with all 
modern improvements, where for eighteen 
years Mr. Fitzgibbon conducted a first class 
hotel, it being one of the best in West Lamb- 
ton. 

Mr. Fitzgibbon and Mary Rogers were 
united in marriage in Xew York State. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgibbon were born the fol 
lowing children : Rose, who resides at home, 
assisting in conducting the hotel ; Minnie, 
deceased ; Cecelia ; David, one of the lead 
ing lawyers of Port Huron; Charles, de 
ceased; Alice, who married E. J. Hayes; 
Fannie, deceased; and Harry and Matthew, 
at home. Mr. Fitzgibbon and family are 
consistent members of the Roman Catholic 
Church. During his long residence in Lamb- 
ton County, Mr. Fitzgibbon has made many 
friends, all of whom unite in honoring him 
for his many excellent traits of character. 

WILLIAM FULLER, one of the suc 
cessful business men and an implement 
dealer of Watford, Ontario, is of Irish ex 
traction, he tracing his ancestry back to his 
grandfather, George Fuller, who was born 
in Ireland in 1783, and there married. 

In 1828 he and his wife emigrated to 
Canada, locating near Beckwith for a short 
time, after which they removed to Adelaide, 
County of Middlesex, and for six years en 
gaged in farming. In 1834 the family set 
tled in Warwick township, County of 
Lambton, on Lot 26, Concession 2, when 
the county was all covered with brush. Here 
they cleared up a nice farm, and died full of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



years, consistent Christian people. Their 
children were : William, deceased, was a 
farmer on the Adelaide homestead; and 
George, Jr. 

George Fuller, Jr.. was born in Ireland 
in 1819, and was only nine years of age when 
brought to Canada. Upon reaching his ma 
jority he continued farming on the old farm 
in Warwick, where his death occurred in 
1887. In politics he was a Conservative, and 
in religion a Methodist. He married Miss 
Elizabeth Lucas, daughter of Andrew Lucas, 
a native of Ireland, who died in Brooke 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas came to 
Ontario and settled at Beckwith, but in 1835 
came to Brooke, and there lived until they 
died. Their children, fourteen in number, 
were as follows: John, deceased; Thomas, 
deceased ; Andrew, a retired farmer of 
Brooke township; Henry, deceased; Mary, 
deceased, who married Elijah Tompkins; 
Elizabeth ; Jane, deceased, who married John 
Body ; James, deceased ; George, deceased ; 
and the others all died young. The children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. George Fuller were: 
Ann, deceased, married William Kersy; 
\Villiam; Jane died young; John is a mer 
chant in Arkona ; George died at the age of 
fourteen years : Catherine is the widow of 
James Hume; George Wesley died young; 
Mary Jane married William Settlington; 
Thomas is on the old farm in Warwick; 
Elizabeth married C. Barnes ; Maria married 
Frank Lamb ; Wesley is a merchant at Ar 
kona. 

William Fuller was born in Warwick 
township, April 18, 1847, an( l was educated 
in the public schools, and Cobourg Collegiate 
Institute. He farmed on the old homestead 
for some time, and then purchased the west 
one-quarter Lot 27, Concession 3. For three 
years he remained there, when he purchased 
100 acres on Lot 2, Concession 5, where he 
made his home until 1899, when he settled in 
Watford, and engaged in the implement busi 
ness, since which time he has been very suc 
cessful, firmly establishing himself in the 
confidence of the community. 

On Oct. 20, 1874. Mr. Fuller was mar- 
Tied to Miss Mary Elizabeth Levalley, 



daughter of Paul and Jane (Kerr) Levalley. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller 
are : George Albert, a farmer, who married 
Adella Dovvding, of Adelaide township, Mid 
dlesex, and has one son, William George 
Clarence; Eda Jane, who married H. J. 
Richardson, a farmer of xAxlelaide township, 
Middlesex; and Elizabeth who died in in 
fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are consistent 
members of Methodist Church, in which they 
take a prominent part. Politically Mr. Fuller 
is a Prohibitionist, and has served one term 
in the Watford Town council. Energetic, a 
good business man, and loyal citizen, Mr. 
Fuller is justly numbered among the leading 
men of Watford, and he and his family have 
many friends both in the city and the sur 
rounding country. 

C. F. REID, one of the prosperous oil 
producers of Petrolia, County of Lambton, 
is a native of York County, and a son of 
William and Mary (Scott) Reid. 

William Reid was born in Ontario about 
1830, while his wife was born in Ogdens- 
burg, New York. He was a tailor, but during 
the latter part of his active life he engaged 
in farming, and he is now living retired in 
Forest. Religiously William Reid and rn v 
wife are Methodists, and politically he is a 
Reformer. 

C. F. Reid was born Feb. i, 1854. His 
educational advantages were somewhat lim 
ited. When a young boy he was taken by his 
parents to a bush farm in York Count} , and 
upon it he endured with them the hardships 
of pioneer life, and learned practical farm 
ing. When about twenty-three years of age 
Mr. Reid engaged in business on his own ac 
count as a farmer and salt manufacturer in 
Warwick township, Lambton County, and 
continued in both lines for about five years. 
For sixteen years in all he was a farmer. In 
April, 1893, he settled in Petrolia, purchas 
ing a half interest in the oil business of G. 
D. Longhead, and this partnership contin 
ued for about three years, when Mr. Reid 
bought his partner s interest. He was sole 
owner of forty-three wells in Petrolia, oper 
ating nine years, and sold out to the Can- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ada Crude Oil Co., being now manager for 
that company in the County of Lambton. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Reid married Miss Diana 
V. Longhead, daughter of William Long 
head, of Forest. Mr. and Mrs. Reid are con 
sistent members of the Baptist Church. Po 
litically Mr. Reid is a Reformer, and fra 
ternally he is a Chapter Mason and a mem 
ber of the C. O. F. and the W. O. W. He is 
one of the successful oil producers of his 
locality, and his property is regarded as 
among the most valuable in the Petrolia oil 
fields. His success is certainly well merited, 
and he has the warm friendship of a large 
circle of acquaintances. 

WILLIAM CABLE, one of the oldest 
living natives of Warwick township, Lamb- 
ton County, and one of its most successful 
agriculturists, was born on Lot 21, Conces 
sion 2, north of the Egremont Road, in War 
wick township, Feb. 14, 1840. son of Henry 
and Mary Ann (Lefever) Cable. 

Henry Cable was born June 17, 1801, in 
the County of Norfolk, England, and there 
learned the trade of stonemason, which he 
followed until coming to Canada. He mar 
ried Mary Ann Lefever, who was born in 
the County of Norfolk, of French extraction, 
and they had one child born to them in Eng 
land, who was an infant when, in 1831, they 
sailed from Liverpool for Canada. Their 
vessel met with storms on the Atlantic and 
was driven onto the shores of Newfound 
land, where in the heavy fogs they encoun 
tered icebergs. During the hardships of this 
voyage their infant son. James, died, but 
they were permitted to keep the little body 
and they buried it at Kingston. After this 
sad beginning in the country to which they 
had come they made their way to Lambton 
County and were among the first white set 
tlers to locate in Warwick township. The 
country was almost entirely uncultivated and 
the wild animals still roamed through the 
forests, there being many deer and bears in 
this region. Mr. Cable settled on 100 acres 
of bush land on Lot 21, Concession 3, being 
the first settler. One can scarcely imagine 



this well cultivated region when there were 
no roads and only Indian trails leading to 
his lonely little log cabin, and when the 
nearest place to obtain flour or any of the 
other commodities of civilized life was miles 
away. He went east to London or west to 
Sarnia, and carried his purchases home on 
his back through the forest where dangers 
lurked on every side. They had expected to 
face hardships in their pioneer life, but 
sometimes hunger was an unwelcome guest. 
At one period they existed for six weeks on 
boiled bass wood leaves and weeds that grew 
in the forest, and even then they had no salt 
with which to flavor what kind Nature had 
provided to keep them from actual starva 
tion. 

When, in the ordinary course of life, 
people talk of hard work, they know scarcely 
the meaning of the word in comparison to 
what it meant to these struggling pioneers. 
It took years of toil to clear the farm and to 
put it under cultivation, but this he later suc 
ceeded in doing and subsequently he bought 
an additional tract of 150 acres which he 
also improved. His entire active life was ab 
sorbed in his agricultural pursuits, but some 
years before his death he retired from farm 
ing and took up his residence at Arkona, 
where his wife preceded him to the grave in 
1872, and his death took place Jan. 17. 188^. 
They were laid to rest side by side in the 
cemetery at Arkona. Both were most 
worthy members of the Church of England, 
members of the congregation of St. Mary s 
in Warwick village. In political sentiment 
he was a stanch Conservative and was a 
member of the Loyal Orange Association, 
the pioneer lodge, of which he was master, 
and he also served as county master. 

The nine children born to these pioneers 
Canada were: John, who died in Warwick 
township ; Miss Martha, who resides in Sag- 
inaw. Michigan; Catherine, who married 
Alexander Donaldson, and died in Michi 
gan : Maria, who married Moses Atkinson, 
of Warwick township; William, mentioned 
below ; James, who died in Detroit. Michi 
gan ; Benjamin, a member of the police force 



(12 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



at Ingersoll, Ont. ; and Henry and Charles, 
both deceased. 

William Cable was the fifth member of 
his parents family of children born in Can 
ada and in his boyhood there were very few 
educational chances for young people. In 
fact he was twenty-two years old when the 
first opportunity was given him to attend 
school and even then he could only go in the 
intervals when his Services were not re 
quired on the farm. His teacher, Murdo 
McLeay, now makes his home in Watford, 
a man advanced in years. 

Until he was twenty-six years old, our 
subject remained assisting on the home farm 
and then started out for himself on a tract of 
fifty acres, near the old homestead, on the 
second line north of the Egremont Road. 
Here he built a small frame dwelling house 
and set about clearing up his farm. After 
two years of industry here he sold this prop 
erty and bought a tract of 100 acres on Lot 
18 where he engaged in farming for two 
years and, upon selling that to advantage, 
he came to the 4th Line North, where he pur 
chased 140 acres, formerly owned by Henry 
Hagle. Here he erected a fine brick dwell 
ing and made other extensive improvements 
and engaged in general farming until 1894, 
when he bought 100 acres opposite to his 
home on Lot 18, Concession 5. 

This farm, bought in 1894, was known 
as the Francis Crone farm, and on it he 
erected another fine brick dwelling house, 
and here he has resided until the present 
time, carrying on extensive farming. His 
son Henry operates the i4O-acre farm but 
Mr. Cable has added to his former purchase 
by adding the /5-acre John Thomas farm, 
and is now operating 175 acres, engaged in 
cattle raising, dealing and feeding. 

Mr. Cable has come to the time of life 
when he can, if he so desires, retire from 
active work, his long years of good manage 
ment and hard work having brought him 
ample returns. He is a man noted for his 
honorable character, and is thoroughly re 
spected wherever known. In every relation 
of life he is a man of character, as husband, 
father, neighbor and citizen. He has always 



been devoted to his children, affording 
them every advantage in his power and 
furthering their comfort in all ways he 
could. When his daughter married he built 
a fine brick home for her, and is proud of his 
grandchildren. 

On April 4, 1871, at Port Huron, Mr. 
Cable married Catherine Zavitz, born in 
West \Villiams, Middlesex County, daugh 
ter of Joseph and Jane (Davis) Zavitz. 
They have had five children, as follows : 
Henry, who married Elizabeth Turner, has 
three children, William, Albert and Fred 
erick, and farms the homestead as men 
tioned ; William died aged twenty-one years, 
with diphtheria; Rubie died aged nineteen 
years with diphtheria; Martha married 
George Turner, a farmer of Bosanquet, and 
has one son, Cresswell, and John is at home. 
Mr. Cable s four grandsons, William, Al 
bert, Fred and Cresswell, are bright youths 
who give promise of possessing the energy 
and good qualities which have been notable 
in the family for generations. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cable are members 
of Bethel Methodist Church and he was a 
member of the building committee and has 
been a trustee and steward. Politically he 
is a sound Conservative and has always sup 
ported the fundamental principles of Sir 
John A. MacDonald. He is one of the old 
est living members of the Loyal Orange As 
sociation, having joined the Howden lodge 
when eighteen years old, and thus has been 
an Orangeman for upward of a half cen 
tury; he affiliates with Lodge Xo. 116, .in 
Warwick village. He is also a member of 
A. F. & A. M., being master of the lodge at 
Arkona, and is a member of the C. O. F. at 
the same place. In July, 1905, Mr. Cable 
was appointed to his present office of justice 
of the peace. 

EDWARD OLIVER, M. D., deceased. 
Almost forty years of efficient medical serv 
ice, seventeen years work on the board of 
health, and a long period of military leader 
ship, briefly summarize Dr. Oliver s useful 
ness in Sarnia. But pages of choicely se 
lected words and carefully constructed sen- 





J 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tences might fail to portray the true nobility 
of the man his patient deeds of kindness, 
anxious and self-forgetful moments by beds 
of sickness and distress, impartial perform 
ance of duty alike to the rich and the poor, 
a character, in fact, who took his pattern 
from the Great Physician and followed in 
the every-clay walks of life closely in that 
Master s footsteps. 

Dr. Oliver was born in London, England, 
Sept. n, 1829, son of Nathaniel Oliver and 
grandson of John Oliver, both natives of 
England. Nathaniel Oliver passed the 
greater part of his business life in London, 
where he not only won success for himself, 
but gave his children a good start on the 
road to fame and fortune. For an occupa 
tion he engaged in the hardware business, 
and, keeping a shop of no small merit, had 
a large and profitable trade for many years. 
Mr. Oliver married Elizabeth Lawrence, and 
they had several children, two of whom set 
tled in Ontario, William and Edward. The 
former, Dr. William Oliver, born in London 
in 1824, came to Ontario in 1852, but after 
a number of years located near Chicago, Illi 
nois, where he has been engaged in practice 
for some time. He has one son, Ellis Oliver, 
who now practices medicine in Chicago. 

Edward Oliver started life under the en 
couraging beck of fortune. He was early 
sent to some of the best schools of London, 
where, evincing a strong intellectual bent, 
he continued for many years. Later he be 
gan the study of medicine in that city, re 
ceiving an excellent start in a well-equipped 
institution. In 1854 he came to Ontario, 
and soon afterward entered Victoria College, 
Toronto, where he completed his professional 
studies, graduating in 1866 with the degree 
of M. D. The same year he opened an office 
in Sarnia and began regular practice. His 
wise diagnosis of cases, his close attention to 
details, and his thorough and well-applied 
knowledge, soon won him the confidence of 
the community. His practice enlarged from 
year to year and gradually extended far into 
the surrounding country. Constant demand 
for his services kept him at the post of duty 



for over a third of a century, and though 
in his seventy-sixth year at the time of his 
death, March 11. 1905, he had all he could 
possibly attend to. He was coroner of the 
county for the last thirty-seven years of his 
life. In 1888, as a man of prominence in 
his profession, he was appointed health 
officer, a position which he ever afterward 
filled with eminent ability. In 1889, soon 
after he entered upon his duties, a smallpox 
epidemic broke out in the place, but due to 
his watchfulness and untiring efforts only 
a few deaths occurred from it, a fact which 
redounded to his lasting credit. So greatly, 
however, were his powers and strength taxed 
during this ordeal that, as soon as it was 
over, he found it necessary to take a trip 
abroad for his own health. Going to Eng 
land, he spent considerable time in revisiting 
the scenes of his childhood. In 1902 he car 
ried Sarnia through a second smallpox epi 
demic, with equal credit to himself. 

On Nov. n, 1856, Dr. Oliver married 
Miss Mary Spear, who was born in Paris, 
Ont., daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
(Capron) Spear, natives of Scotland and 
Vermont, respectively, who were married in 
Canada. Mr. Spear was a land speculator. 
Dr. and Mrs. Oliver had no children of their 
own, but reared an adopted son, Edward 
Alexander Oliver, who was a prominent 
clergyman of the Episcopal Church for many 
years, his last charge being in Toronto. His 
health becoming impaired, he went to Colo 
rado, where he died in 1897. He left one 
son, Edward Alexander. 

Dr. Oliver, in spite of the pressure of 
professional work, found time for outside 
affairs. He was the oldest member of the 
volunteer force of Upper Canada, and was 
the organizer of the second company in that 
locality. During the Fenian raid he served 
his community as captain for six months 
at Cornwall, Ont., winning for himself dis 
tinction. At the time of his death he was 
retired from the service. He was a man of 
the highest integrity of character, and a high 
ly esteemed member of the Episcopal 
Church, to which Mrs. Oliver also belongs. 



33 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Socially he is a member of the Sons of Eng 
land. Through years of hard public service 
he won the lasting regard of the people of 
Sarnia. 

JAMES LUCAS. The pioneers of On 
tario merit highest respect from those who 
are reaping the benefits of their struggles 
with the wilderness and the many perils 
which lurked therein. Among the best known 
of these worthy people was the late George 
Lucas and his wife Margaret (Taylor) Lu 
cas, a complete sketch of whom appears else 
where in this volume. Of their sons, James 
Lucas, of Sarnia, Lambton County, is a lead 
ing representative of the family. 

James Lucas was born in Sarnia, at No. 
201 West Victoria street, which is the pres 
ent site of his livery establishment, Feb. 7, 
1854. He received a grammar-school edu 
cation in his native city. After attaining his 
majority, he decided upon entering the liv 
ery business, and in 1881 established him 
self at his present location. At that time 
there were but two establishments in this 
line in the city, one owned by Mr. Thomas 
Dundass, and the other by Mr. Robert Whit- 
march. When Mr. Lucas, then not much 
more than a boy, entered into competition, 
they were certain that his career as a livery 
man would be short and that he would come 
out of the venture richer in experience, but 
poorer in pocket. However, they did not 
understand their man, for Mr. Lucas thor 
oughly comprehended the requirements of 
the business, and knew how to grasp oppor 
tunities and gain patrons. To-day he is still 
in business at "the old stand," owning the 
bus and hack line, while he has from twelve 
to twenty horses in his stables for the accom 
modation of the general public. His assort 
ment of various vehicles is good and thor 
oughly up-to-date. His establishment is 
completely equipped with all modern ap 
pliances, and his drivers are experienced and 
careful. 

In 1884 Mr. Lucas was married to Miss 
Adelia MacDonald, daughter of Alexander 
and Jane (Milliken) MacDonald. To this 
union the following children have been born : 



Carrie ; George Arthur, deceased ; Mabel ; 
Walter ; Jean, and Robert. Mrs. Lucas is a 
member of the Methodist Church, while Mr. 
Lucas adheres to the faith of the Church of 
England. 

Politically Mr. Lucas is a Conservative. 
He served for one term in the council of Sar 
nia. and was on the board of works. Ever 
since the establishment of the present fire 
department he has been a member of it, and 
always furnishes a team for the hook and 
ladder wagon. In 1888 Mr. Lucas was first 
appointed mail collector of Sarnia, being re- 
appointed in 1892, 1896, 1900, and 1905. 
Mr. Lucas is a life member in Victoria 
Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., of Sarnia, 
having joined that order in 1878, in which 
year he also became connected with the I. O. 
O. F. He is also a member, of the K. of P., 
and is deservedly popular in all his fraternal 
relations. As a business man, a public offi 
cial, and in private life, Mr. Lucas is a man 
who inspires respect, and his success is but 
the just reward of honest effort directed 
along the right lines. 

DR. EDWARD P. WESTELL. Vet 
erinary surgery has been brought to a point 
of perfection scarcely appreciated by those 
who do not understand the value of horses 
or the many and complicated diseases to 
which they are liable. Among the success 
ful veterinary surgeons of Sarnia, Lambton 
County, Out, is Dr. Edward P. Westell, 
who is also the proprietor of the "Hotel Nor- 
mandie." 

The Westell family was founded in On 
tario by James Westell, grandfather of Ed 
ward P., who was born in Cumberland, Eng 
land, in 1802, and there married Bell 
Pringle. In 1837 he came to Ontario, locat 
ing at Toronto, where for a short time he 
followed the trade of gunsmith, later settling 
on a farm at Humber, near Weston, Ont. 
After a few years he removed to McGil- 
livray, where his death occurred in 1875. 
Politically James Westell was a Conserva 
tive. To himself and wife were born the fol 
lowing children: Robert, now deceased; 
lames, a retired farmer of Middlesex; Rich- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ard, a farmer; John, father of Edward P.; 
Pringle, deceased ; Mary, who married 
Thomas Holley; Bell, deceased; and Eliza 
beth, deceased, who married Ouinton Mc- 
Gill. 

John Westell was born in England in 
1833, and was four years of age when 
brought to Ontario by his father. While a 
youth he assisted his father upon the farm, 
and later embraced agriculture as his life 
work, owning and operating a fine property 
in Middlesex County, until his death, which 
occurred in 1863. The maiden name of his 
wife was Maria Miller, and she was born in 
Ontario April 14, 1836, a daughter of Jacob 
Miller. At present she is residing in Al- 
mont, Michigan. John Westell was an ard 
ent Conservative politically, taking an active 
interest in local affairs. His religious opin 
ions were in accord with the teachings of the 
Baptist Church, of which he was a mem 
ber. At his death he left two sons, Dr. Ed 
ward P. and Parker; the latter, now de 
ceased, married a Miss Goodrich, but left no 
children. 

Dr. Westell was born in Middlesex 
County, Oct. 12, 1856, and received the 
literary part of his education in the excellent 
public schools of his native place. In 1880 
he was graduated from the Toronto Veterin 
ary College, with the degree of V. S. Im 
mediately after securing his degree. Dr. 
Westell settled at Arkona, remaining 
there, however, only a short time, as he was 
appointed by the Dominion government in 
spector of American cattle passing through 
Canada, and placed in charge of American 
cattle vaccination. For eighteen years Dr. 
Westell continued in these offices, with head 
quarters at Point Edward, in 1898 settling 
at Sarnia. where he purchased a livery busi 
ness and the "Belchamber House." On Jan. 
i, 1902. however, he closed out his livery 
establishment and sold his hotel, purchasing 
the "Hotel Normandie," which he now oper 
ates as a first-class hostelry, commanding a 
fine patronage from the traveling public, as 
well as a number of his townspeople. 

In 1881 Dr. Westell was married to Miss 
Bell Williamson, daughter of John William 



son. Mrs. Westell was born in the County 
of Lambton, June iS, 1856. To her mar 
riage has been born one daughter, Blanche, 
now the wife of Frank Mitchell, a business 
man of Sarnia ; they have one daughter, 
Marguerite. Politically Dr. Westell is a 
Conservative, and for five years, while re 
siding at Point Edward, represented his 
party in the city council, and was also a 
member of the county council. He is a Royal 
Arch Mason, and also has fraternal affilia 
tions with the I. O. O. F., the K. P., the L. 
O. S., and the Royal Arcanum. 

GEORGE DOUGLAS. Enniskillen 
township, County of Lambton, Out., ap 
pears to be peculiarly favored as an agri 
cultural center, for it has within its boundar 
ies some of the best farms in western On 
tario, all of which have been redeemed from 
the wilderness through the industry, thrift 
and energy of pioneers, who, braving the 
terrors of the unsettled country, made in this 
locality their homes. Today the children 
and grandchildren of these pioneers reap, 
where their ancestors sowed, and the entire 
community is prosperous because of those 
beginnings years ago. 

The name of Douglas is one well known 
in Canadian history, and today, one of the 
prosperous farmers of Enniskillen township 
worthily bears it, he being Mr. George Doug 
las of Lot 26, gth Concession. He was torn 
in Perth, Aug. 17, 1863. son of Arthur and 
Jane (Ovans) Douglas, both of whom were 
born near Montreal, Canada, he in 1832, 
and she in 1842. 

Arthur Douglas was the son of Benja 
min Douglas, a native of the North of Ire 
land, who came of Scotch ancestry, as the 
name proves. Early in the nineteenth cen 
tury, Benjamin Douglas became a pioneer 
settler of Quebec, where he lived and died. 
He was married twice, and had children by 
both marriages. By his first wife, whose 
maiden name was Moore, his family was as 
follows : John, lives near Leamington, 
County of Essex, and has a family; Benja 
min moved to British Columbia, where he 
died, leaving a family ; Mary, deceased, mar- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ried George Montieth, of Niagara Falls, and 
left a family; Arthur. The latter, the sec 
ond child in order of birth, was reared near 
Montreal, \vhere he was fairly well educated. 
Early in life he clerked in a dry goods store 
in Xew York City for some three years, 
after which he went to Australia, this being 
in the year 1855, when the gold excitement 
was at its height. He remained in that far 
away country for five years, working in the 
gold mines, and his efforts were rewarded 
with success. Having attained his object, 
Mr. Douglas returned to the County of 
Perth, where he married, and began life as 
a pioneer farmer in Elma township, and 
there he and his wife still reside on the home 
stead they have cleared and improved. Both 
are most excellent people, regarded very 
highly, and are consistent memters of the 
Presbyterian Church. The political affilia 
tions of Mr. Douglas are with the Reform 
party, and he has given it his hearty sup 
port without thought of, or desire for, po 
litical office. 

Eleven children came to bless their 
union: George; David, born in 1866, who 
was educated for the profession of teaching, 
in the high schools, but is now bookkeeper 
for the Ewan Canning Co., of British Col 
umbia, married Miss DeBeck, of British 
Columbia, and has four children ; Mary, 
born in 1867, married A. T. Muir, of West 
minster, a druggist, and has three children, 
Kenneth, Kate and Gene; John, born in 
1869, married a Miss Thompson, has one 
daughter, and settled in Wallace Town, near 
St. Thomas, where he is engaged in the oil 
business; Robert, born in 1871, received a 
high school education, and is a resident of 
Xew Westminster, B. C, where he is en 
gaged in lumbering (he is unmarried) ; 
Maria, born in 1873, is a professional nurse, 
resides at Atlin Lake, B. C., and is unmar 
ried ; Jennie, born in the County of Perth, 
in 1876, is unmarried, and is a milliner of 
New Westminster, British Columbia ; 
Charles, born in 1878. unmarried, graduated 
from the University of Toronto with the de 
gree of B. A., receiving at the same time 
many prizes, winning the Blake scholarship 



at the matriculation examination, and med 
als from several of the departments, and is 
now a resident of Ottawa, where he is em 
ployed in the civil service department under 
the government; Arthur, born in 1883, > s un 
married, residing at the old farm in the 
County of Perth; Margaret, unmarried, is 
also at the home place; one died in infancy. 
George Douglas, the subject proper of 
this sketch, received a high school education 
in the County of Perth, where he grew to 
manhood. He lived at home engaged in 
farming until 1888, in which year he went 
to British Columbia, and for a year rented 
land. In 1889 he purchased his present home 
where he has since remained. For a year 
he lived alone, on Dec. 24, 1890, marrying 
Miss Maggie Wilson, daughter cf George 
and Mary Wilson, old pioneers of Ennis- 
killen township. The young people took up 
their residence upon Mr. Douglas farm and 
bent their energies toward clearing off their 
land. Their first house was struck by light 
ning and burned down, but was soon replaced 
by another. To this improvement Mr. Doug 
las has added barns, outbuildings and ma 
chinery, and the farm is well kept up, Mr. 
Douglas never losing an opportunity to add 
to his improvements. The excellent order 
prevailing bears testimony to his efficiency, 
thrift and good management. 

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are the parents of 
children as follows: William, born Aug. 
13, 1892; Mary, born Sept. 3, 1893; Robert, 
born Dec. 23, 1895; Charles, born June 28, 
1897; Maggie, born Aug. 25, 1899; Jean, 
born May 25, 1902. The religious affilia 
tions of the family are with the Presbyter 
ian Church. Politically Mr. Douglas "is a 
Reformer. In 1896 he was elected to the 
office of school trustee, now serving his third 
term. Fraternally he is a member of the 
Canadian Order of Chosen Friends, and he 
holds the offices of recording secretary and 
past grand councillor in his subordinate 
council. 

Having spent his life upon the farm, Mr. 
Douglas is well versed in ordinary farm 
work and also in scientific methods, knowing 
well how to make practical application of his 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



knowledge. Both he and Mrs. Douglas are 
held in the highest esteem by all who know 
them. Their home is open to all, a generous 
and gracious hospitality being dispensed to 
those who gather there. Mrs. Douglas has 
many estimable traits of character, and has 
aided her husband in his work not only by 
her own efforts, but by cheering and en 
couraging him. To her household she is 
homemaker and house mother ; to her neigh 
bors, she is a kind and sympathetic friend, 
charitable and energetic. Such people as 
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas give the right bias to 
a community, and exert a very strong in 
fluence for good wherever found. 

JAMES McGLTRE. one of the well 
known residents of Dawn township. Lamb- 
ton County, now retired from business ac 
tivity, has his home on Concession 10, Lot 
21. He was born in County Mayo. Ireland. 
June 14, 1834, a son of James and Fannie 
(Johnson) McGuire. 

The parents were natives of Ireland, 
where the father died when James was a 
1x;y, after which Mrs. McGuire married 
William Lee, who came to Canada in 1840, 
her children by her former marriage accom 
panying her. They spent eight weeks on the 
Atlantic ocean and landed at Quebec. Set 
tling at Kingston for two years, they then 
moved to Wentworth County, where they 
lived until 1860, when they came to Dawn 
township, Lambton County. The mother 
died at Florence. She left no children of her 
second marriage, and those of her first were : 
Patrick, who became a sea captain, later 
went back to Ireland, married and remained 
there ; he was part owner of a vessel. An 
drew died at Florence in young manhood. 
Frank married, became a farmer in Dawn, 
and died there. George is the father of 
James McGuire, whose sketch will be found 
elsewhere. Fannie became the wife of Will 
iam Thurston. Sarah (deceased), born in 
Ireland, married Anthony Hanks, who In/es 
in Florence. James is our subject. 

James McGuire is the only surviving/son 
of the family of children who accompanied 
the mother across the wide seas. He grew 



up in Canada and married Julia Kennedy, of 
Brantford, who died there after about eigh 
teen months of married life. On Xov. 28, 
1858, he married (second) Margaret Ma 
laney, born in \Yaterford, Ireland, in 1840, 
daughter of William and Mary Malaney, 
who came from Ireland to Brant County, 
Out., among the early pioneers. Her pa 
rents died in Brantford. leaving a family, all 
of whom are deceased except Mrs. McGuire 
and one brother, Michael Malaney, of 
Brantford. 

Mr. McGuire came to this county in 
1866 and purchased land on Concession 10, 
where he and wife settled in a little log house 
in the bush and here he made a good home. 
He had 200 acres which he. cleared and has 
one of the finest farms in Dawn township 
on which have been erected fine buildings. 
Honest industry and good management were 
the foundation stones on which he built. 

Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have had chil 
dren as follows: Andrew, born Oct. i, 1859, 
married Nora Burns, of Dawn, and they live 
on Concession 5 ; they have two children, 
Loretta and Veronica. William, born 
April 30, 1 86 1, married Annie Kane, of 
Brooke, and they reside in London, where 
he is in business as a lumber merchant ; they 
have children Margaret, Dorsey. Laucon 
and Andrew. Sarah, born Feb. 24, 1863, 
died Oct. 24, 1866; James J., born in Dawn 
Aug. 27, 1864, married Ida Bateman, of 
Chatham, and they reside in London, he be 
ing a traveling salesman ; they have five 
children. Isabella, Eugene. James, John and 
Margaret. Catherine, born Feb. 27, 1866, 
is the wife of Charles Sauvey. of Wallace- 
burg, a merchant. Margaret, born April 
21, 1867, is a milliner in Nova Scotia. 
Thomas D. M., born July 26, 1868, is the 
manager of the home farm. Minnie, born 
Aug. 26, 1871, is at honje. The children of 
this family are all educated and respected 
members of society. 

Mr. McGuire and his family all belong 
to the Catholic Church. Politically he has 
always been a member of the Reform party. 
On numerous occasions he has filled public 
offices, has been a member of the board of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



health for seventeen years, for twenty-eight 
years has been a member of the school board, 
as trustee, and for two years was councillor. 
His son Andrew is at present a member o, : 
the council. The family is universally es 
teemed. 

JOHN LETT, now living retired from 
business at Watford, and one of its repre 
sentative men, is of Irish descent, the family 
having for its progenitor John Lett, whose 
entire life was passed in Ireland. There he 
married Sarah Saunders, also a native of 
Ireland, where she, too, died. Of their fam 
ily two sons, James and John (2), emigrated 
to Ontario. 

John Lett (2) was born in County Kil 
kenny, Jan. 5, 1794, and he made the voyage 
in 1822, locating in the County of Lanark. 
After living for some time in that County, 
he located in Brooke township, Lambton 
County, in May, 1847, an( i cleared up a fine 
farm, making this his home until his death, 
Xov. 4, 1878. For many years he was a 
consistent Methodist, as was his wife. The 
latter, whose maiden name was Mary Saun 
ders, was born in Ireland about 1800, and 
died in Lanark County, aged forty-four. 
Their children were : Thomas, a farmer of 
Brooke township, who later settled in Mich 
igan and there died ; Sarah, who died un 
married ; Robert, on the old farm in Brooke 
township, unmarried; John (3); James, a 
farmer of Brooke township; Maria, widow 
of Michael Stedman ; Ellen, who married 
James Pollock ; Samuel, a farmer of Brooke 
township, unmarried ; and Jane, deceased, 
who married Thomas Saunders. 

John Lett (the third in direct line to bear 
the name) was born in Beckwith township, 
Lanark County, Nov. 1 1, 1830, and was only 
a boy when he was brought to Brooke town 
ship. Upon attaining to maturity, he set 
tled on Lots 1 8 and 19, Concession 13, 
Brooke township, where he cleared up an 
excellent farm and made it his home until 
1888, when he sold the property to his 
brother, James Lett, and settled in Watford. 
Since locating in this city he has lived re 
tired for the greater portion of the time, al 



though he has occasionally worked at his 
trade of coopering. 

On Aug. i, 1859, Mr. Lett married 
Miss Mary Wilson, daughter of William 
Wilson, and one son, Benjamin, born to this 
union, died, aged two years ; four others died 
in infancy. Mr. Lett is a Conservative in pol 
itics, but since living in Watford has not as 
pired to public office, although while resid 
ing in Brooke township he was tax collector 
during the year 1856. He has been an of 
ficer and member of the Methodist Church 
for many years, having connected himself 
with that denomination when a boy. Indus 
trious, frugal, enterprising, Mr. Lett spent 
his youth, young manhood and middle age 
in hard work, and is now- living retired, and 
he enjoys in highest degree the confidence 
and respect of his neighbors and friends. 

J. ELI PERKINS, though in his very 
prime at the time of his death, Dec. 26, 
1903, was for years one of the leading oil 
producers of Petrolia, Out., and a leading 
cattle dealer of Lambton County. 

Mr. Perkins was of English extraction 
on the paternal side and of Dutch extraction 
on the maternal side. The family was 
founded in Canada by William Perkins, his 
grandfather, who came from the United 
States and settled in Nova Scotia, where he 
married Harriet Crealman. They reared a 
family of five children, the youngest of 
whom was Alonzo Perkins, of Petrolia, and 
the eldest James Perkins, father of our sub 
ject. 

James Perkins was born in Nova Scotia 
Jan. 25, 1825, and in 1846 came to Elgin 
County, Ont, where he engaged in farm 
ing until 1863. He then removed to Oil 
Springs, Lambton County, and engaged in 
the oil business. In 1865 he settled at Pe 
trolia, becoming one of the first oil producers 
in that place. He also engaged in the cattle 
business, and in both lines was most suc 
cessfully engaged until his death, on Nov. 
19, 1895. He owned considerable property 
in Enniskillen township, his first purchase 
of land being Lot 20, Concession u, which 
is now owned by his sou Cvrus F. Mr. Per- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



519 



kins was a member of the Petrolia council 
for many years and politically he was a Re 
former. In fraternal connection he was a 
Mason. Both he and wife were identified 
with the Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Per 
kins was a member. On March 14, 1850, 
Mr. Perkins married Mary Yansickle, who 
was born Jan. n, 1832, daughter of James 
and Susan (Minor) Vansickle, and still sur 
vives. The children of James Perkins and 
wife were as follows : Susan, Mrs. O. Smith ; 
Cyrus Francis, of Galicia, Austria, where he 
is an oil producer and a mineral valuator for 
the government; Jacob, an oil operator; J. 
Eli; and Mary, deceased, who was the wife 
of Loyd Harris, of the Massey-Harris Co., 
Brantford, Ontario. 

J. Eli Perkins was born Xov. 4, 1863, 
in Elgin County, and was educated in the 
public schools of Petrolia. In 1882 he en 
gaged in the oil business, becoming one of 
the leading operators in the locality, and he 
was scarcely less well known as a feeder and 
raiser of fine Short Horn cattle. Mr. Per 
kins was the manager for Berghein & Mc- 
Garvey, of Hanover, Germany, in the oil 
business, thus gaining a very practical 
knowledge of the best German methods. He 
acquired considerable property, owning sev 
eral fine farms in Enniskillen township, on 
Lot 20 and Lot 4, Concession 13. Though 
so constantly pressed with business affairs 
he took an active interest in the welfare and 
good government of the place, and for eight 
years was a member of the council at Pe 
trolia ; he once filled the office of reeve. 
Mr. Perkins was just forty at the time of 
his death, yet he had accomplished what 
few men can hope for in a long lifetime. It 
was not only his success as a business man 
and leader in public affairs, however, that 
made him prominent. His high character 
and remarkable personality gave him un 
usual standing among his fellow men. and 
no man in Petrolia occupied a more enviable 
position in public esteem. He was laid to 
rest in Hillsdale cemetery, mourned by all 
who knew him. 

In 1888 Mr. Perkins married Miss 
Sarah Becker, daughter of the late Edward 



Becker, an early settler and contractor at 
Petrolia, and two sons were born to this 
union, namely : Edward C. and James 
Franklin. Politically Mr. Perkins was a 
Reformer, and fraternally he belonged to 
the Masons and the Royal Arcanum. 

JAMES CUSHEX, of Sarnia, began his 
career as a British soldier ; his last position 
was that of turnkey for the Lambton County 
jail. Eor his disciplinary power, his prompt 
and strict performance of every duty, he 
signalized himself in both walks. Xow. in 
his seventy-seventh year, he is living retired 
at his pleasant residence on Durant street. 

Mr. Cushen comes of good Irish stock. 
His father, James Cushen, Sr., was born in 
Ireland about 1780. Taking advantage of 
all the means within his grasp of cultivating 
his tastes and procuring knowledge, he was 
a man of education and intelligence. For an 
occupation he followed the carpenter s trade 
for the most part throughout his active ca 
reer. Strict attention to business and skill 
ful workmanship crowned his efforts with 
success. He died in Ireland in 1832. Dur 
ing his young manhood he married Xora 
Carey, a refined woman, who was born in 
Ireland, and spent her life for the most part 
in that country, dying there. Six children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cushen : Will 
iam, Michael (who are now deceased) and 
Mathew all settled in the United States ; the 
others are James, Mary and Susan. Mr. 
Cushen was a man who always kept abreast 
of the times, and interested himself in poli 
tics. In religious matters he had strong 
convictions, and he belonged to the Roman 
Catholic Church. 

Public events to a certain measure de 
cided the career of James Cushen, Jr. Born 
in Ireland, Sept. 17, 1829. he there in a 
well regulated home received careful rear 
ing. When he reached the age of seventeen 
years the British government was issuing 
calls for soldiers to go to the Indian war, 
and with the loyal heart of youth he offered 
himself in response. From the time of his 
enlistment he served regularly in the army 
for many years. After the Indian war, in 



520 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1856, lie was sent to Canada, and there sta 
tioned at Kingston for some time. Later lie 
joined the Canadian Rifles, in which he 
served until November, 1868, when he re 
ceived an honorable discharge, with the rank- 
erf sergeant. As a soldier he was valiant and 
strong, never wavering in the performance 
of the slightest duty. As a lasting proof of 
his efficiency he has three medals, one 
from the Turkish government, one from 
Queen Victoria for long service and good 
conduct, and a third from the English gov 
ernment as a reward for service in. the Ind 
ian war. In 1868 Mr. Cushen came to Sar- 
nia and took up his residence on Durant 
street, as a civilian. He did not, however, 
remain long inactive, in May, 1869, receiv 
ing an appointment as turnkey for. the 
Lambton County jail. From the first there 
was no question concerning his efficiency. 
His years of rigid military life had prepared 
him for the work. His presence was com 
manding, and he was keenly sensitive to 
every duty. For thirty-three years, until 
December, 1901, when he resigned his posi 
tion, he continued in the office. To his credit 
it may be said that at that time he was the 
oldest official occupying a similar position in 
northern Ontario. In addition to filling this 
position he engaged in the real-estate busi 
ness to some extent. He has erected five 
comfortable dwelling-houses in the block 
in which he resides, and from the renting of 
which he draws an income. He also draws 
a pension for military service. In 1854 Mr. 
Cushen married Margaret Barry, who was 
born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1830, daugh 
ter of Cornelius Barry. The following chil 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cush 
en : (i) William started life as a. telegraph 
operator in Sarnia, and later filled the posi 
tion of accountant in the Bank of Commerce. 
Resigning after a while, he went to Detroit 
and hired out as bookkeeper for the Cornhill 
Co. He eventually settled in Peoria, Illi 
nois, first taking charge of the office of a 
large iron company, and later engaging in 
the coal and lumber business with his 
brother. He died in Peoria, Dec. i. 1899. 
He was married to Man- McDermott. and 



their children died young. (2) Michael, who 
was in partnership with William in the coal 
and lumber business, is nmv running it alone. 
He has never married. (3) Mathew is now 
a merchant of San Francisco, California. 
(4) James, who was a printer of Sarnia, is 
deceased. ( 5 ) Susan married Robert H. Mc- 
Call of Evanston, Illinois. They have no 
children. (6) Mary Ann married Joseph 
McGill, of Corunna, Ont, and they have nine 
children, Albert William, Frank. Eva, John, 
Susan, Marjorie, Hugh, Louisa and Abel. 

Mr. Cushen is a man of marked deter 
mination and decision of character. Not 
afraid to speak his mind, he exerts a strong 
influence wherever he goes. Politically he 
is affiliated with the Reform party. He and 
his wife are highly respected members of the 
Roman Catholic Church. 

W. H. HAMMOND (deceased), one of 
the leading oil producers of Petrolia, Lamb- 
ton county, Ont., and police magistrate of 
that municipality, was one of the pioneer 
settlers of that now thriving city. 

Mr. Hammond was born in Lincolnshire, 
England, Feb. 18, 1837. tne san ">e > ear that 
Queen Victoria ascended to the throne, and 
he remained in his native land until 1857, 
when he determined to seek his fortune in 
the western world. On July 17. 1857, ne 
reached Wyoming, Ont., and engaged as a 
laborer on the Great Western railroad, now 
the Grand Trunk. Leaving this location he 
went to Kent County, where he operated a 
flour and saw mill for another man and thus 
continued until 1859. vvhen he removed to 
Sarnia and for six months was employed 
in the "Western Hotel." During this time 
Mr. Hammond had managed to save some 
money, and while residing in Sarnia he at 
tended a horse sale and purchased a horse 
for $30.50. Having a horse, he proceeded 
to make him useful. Buying a consignment 
of apples he went from Sarnia to Watford, 
and thence to other places, selling his fruit 
along the way, and meeting with marked 
success. When he had disposed of the con 
signment lie returned to the hotel. Soon 
thereafter he engaged to furnish provisions 




W. H. HAMMOND 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



-,21 



to the laborers on the Grand Trunk rail 
road between Port Huron and Detroit, con 
tinued along this line for a short time, and 
in 1 86 1 settled in Port Huron, where he car 
ried on a meat business successfully. On ac 
count of the trouble in the States at that 
time, however, he returned to Ontario and 
settled in Petrolia, and has since continued 
to make that city his home. When he came 
to Petrolia there were only three houses in 
its western portion, and these were only log 
shanties. There were two or three business 
houses in the east end, but the present sites 
of the Grand Trunk depot, the Methodist 
Church and the "Engineers Hotel" were 
covered with timber. It will therefore be 
seen that Mr. Hammond witnessed the 
growth of Petrolia almost from the begin 
ning, and that he played an important part 
in this same development is equally true. 

It was through the representations of a 
John Bryant, of Petrolia, that Mr. Ham 
mond entered into the oil producing business, 
which resulted so advantageously for him. 
His first work along those lines was the 
casing of a large amount of oil for European 
markets. He then purchased a half interest 
in a refinery at Oil Springs, which business 
he removed to Petrolia and later sold. After 
that he engaged extensively in the production 
of oil, owning a number of good wells in the 
township of Enniskillen. In addition to his 
oil interests Mr. Hammond later took the 
contract for cutting down "The Durham 
Creek Hill" for the plank road which was 
built at an early day. Not only was Mr. 
Hammond successful with his business ven 
tures, steadily rising from the position of a 
poor man to that of one of the leading busi 
ness men in his locality, but he was promi 
nent also in municipal affairs, having held 
-every office within the gift of the people- 
serving as reeve, and as member of both city 
and county councils, and in 1897 he was ap 
pointed police magistrate, which office he 
acceptably held until his death. He was a 
man admired and beloved wherever known, 
children especially fairly worshiping him. 
He was particularly liberal in his contribu 
tions to all worthy causes, and by his good- 



hearted disposition and kindly ways won a 
high place in the esteem of his fellow-citi 
zens. He passed away March 6. 1904, 
mourned by many whose lives he had made 
brighter, and was laid to rest in Hillsdale 
cemetery. 

On June 30, 1864, Mr. Hammond and 
Miss Eliza Anderson were united in mar 
riage. They had no children. In 1891 Mr. 
Hammond built the pleasant home on Pe 
trolia street where he and his wife dispensed 
a gracious hospitality. He was a consistent 
member of the Church of England, as is 
also Mrs. Hammond. In his political faith 
Mr. Hammond was always a Reformer. 

Mr. Hammond was a son of George 
Hammond, and a grandson of Thomas 
Hammond, both of whom spent their entire 
lives in England. His brother, George 
Hammond, came to Ontario and for some 
time worked for Mr. W. H. Hammond in 
his refinery, and he died at Petrolia leaving 
two sons, William and George, and three 
daughters, Emma, Minnie and Lizzie, the 
last named living with her uncle from child 
hood. 

ROBERT J. PARK, a prosperous 
farmer of Enniskillen, is active in municipal 
affairs in his community, where he has held 
many local offices. 

The Park family is of Scotch extraction, 
and the emigrant ancestor was Hugh Park, 
who was one of the early settlers in Lanark 
County. From there he came, in 1838, to 
Plympton township, being among the first 
to locate in that section of the County of 
Lambton. He and his wife, Jeanette Hay, 
made a home in the wilderness, and left a 
family of five sons and six daughters. The 
only survivors are: Andrew, a resident of 
Sarnia ; Jane, widow of Duncan McXaugh- 
ton, of Marthaville ; and Mary, unmarried 
and living at Sarnia. 

Arthur Park, father of Robert J.. was 
born in Lanark County, Ont, in March. 
1828. He grew up on the farm, and worked 
for his father until he began life for him 
self, on Lot 9. Concession 3. He cleared this 
land, erected buildings, and made a home 



/ 



C22 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



and a good farm out of what had been a 
wilderness. At his death. March 27, 1902, 
he was one of the prosperous fanners of the 
section. Arthur Park married Mary Mc- 
Auslin, who was born in Lanark County in 
February. 1832. She is still living in 
Plympton, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
"\Villiam Saunders. Mr. and Mrs. Park were 
both members and active workers in the 
Methodist Church, of which he was one of 
the trustees. In politics he voted with the 
Reform party. For a number of years he 
was one of the trustees of the school board. 

The children of Arthur and Mary (Me- 
Auslin) Park were as follows: (i) Hugh 
died at the age of eighteen. (2) Robert J. is 
mentioned below. (3) Agnes, born in 
Plympton in 1866, married Robert Water- 
field, section foreman on the Grank Trunk 
railroad, and lives at Wyoming. They have 
no family. (4) Jeanette, born in 1863, mar 
ried James Harrison, of Plympton township, 
an engineer in the oil business. (5) William, 
born in Plympton, in 1866, married Mary 
A. Strangway, of Plympton, and they have 
two children, Robert and Lulu, and live on 
Concession 5, Enniskillen. (6) Silas, born 
in 1868, who married Anna Anderson, of 
Plympton, who died in 1903, leaving two 
sons, Vaughn and Victor. He lives on the 
homestead at Plympton. (7) Lillie, born in 
1874, married William Saunders, of Plymp 
ton. They have one daughter. 

Robert J. Park was born in Plympton, 
May n, 1858, attended the common 
schools, and worked on the home farm until 
he became of age. In 1882 he bought his 
present property in Lot 14, Concession 8, 
then wild land, which he has cleared and 
improved. On June 24, 1891, he married 
Miss Maggie Kemp, a native of Enniskillen, 
daughter of Alexander and Mary (Archi 
bald) Kemp, descendants of Scotch families. 
The young wife was brought to the rough 
home, and had her share in making it the 
comfortable and pleasant place it is to-day. 
They have had two children: Cora M., born 
Feb. 18, 1892; and Arthur, born June 25, 
1896. 

Mr. and Mrs. Park are both adherents 



of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he 
belongs to the Reform party. For five years, 
he has been secretary of the school board ; 
in 1897 he was elected deputy reeve, and 
ably filled the position for three years. In 
1904 he was elected a member of the town 
ship council. He is prominent as a farmer 
and widely and favorably known for his 
active public spirit. 

DAVID B. MILLS, one of the pros 
perous oil producers of Petrolia, comes of a 
family which was founded in Ireland at the 
time of the Commonwealth in England, and 
the member of whom he has definite data is 
Robert Mills, his grandfather, who was born 
in Ireland. Among his children was a son 
George, who became the father of our sub 
ject, and who was born in Ireland in 1792. 
In 1825 he married Miss Martha Charleton, 
born in Ireland July 26, 1802, daughter of 
Francis Charleton. The family was orig 
inally English, though Francis Charleton 
was Scotch. By trade George Mills was a 
saddle and harness maker, and when he em 
igrated in 1832 and settled in Kingston,. 
Ont., he found sufficient work to keep him 
busy. After five years he removed to Nap- 
anee, where he died March 19, 1876, while 
his wife passed away July 30, 1887. In 
religious conviction they were both Metho 
dists, while in politics Mr. Mills was a Con 
servative. Their children were as follows: 
John, born April 17, 1826, went to Califor 
nia, but died in Bath, Ont. ; George, born- 
Sept. 15, 1827, is a resident of Napanee, 
Ont.; Sarah Ann, born Dec. 14, 1828, mar 
ried A. C. Davis and lives in Toronto; Will 
iam, born Nov. 19, 1830, is deceased; David 
B. was born Jan. 27, 1835 ; Matilda, born 
May 4, 1837, is deceased; Charleton, born 
March 28, 1840, of Cleveland, Ohio, is a 
prominent oil and mineral speculator; 
Eliza Jane, born Feb. 17, 1842, lives in To 
ronto. 

David B. Mills was born in Kingston, 
Out., and educated in Xapanee. where he 
learned the saddlery and harness making 
trade. He followed this calling for ten 
years, and then purchased the scow "Jane 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



523 



Maw," which he sailed for some time. In 
i SS_> he settled in Petrolia to look after some 
property for his brother, F. C., and the Hon. 
John Stephenson, and since then he has been 
quite extensively engaged in the oil business 
on his own account. In politics Mr. Mills 
is a Conservative; he represented his party 
on the school board for eight years and also 
served very ably as a member of the city 
council. 

On June 26, 1882, Mr. Mills married 
Miss Minnie Maud Dunning, who was born 
in Prince Edward County, and is a daughter 
of Francis Dunning. One son, Charleton 
Arthur, was born to them in Petrolia June 
2, 1883. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mills" are 
consistent members of the Methodist 
Church, and fraternally he is connected with 
the Orangemen. They are widely known 
and very highly respected, and Mr. Mills is 
recognized as one of the men who have con 
tributed largely toward the present pros 
perity of Petrolia. 

GEORGE SITTER, a well known 
farmer and fruit-grower of Warwick town 
ship, of which place he has been a resident 
for over fifty years, is a man well known 
and highly respected. He was born May 5, 
1846, in Rainham township, County of 
Haldimand, Ontario. 

The Sitter family is of French descent, 
and the home of the family was in the Prov 
ince of Alsace, France, now a part of the 
German Empire. Nicholas Sitter, grand 
father of our subject, was a native of the 
above Province, and there grew to manhood, 
following the peaceful pursuit of farming. 
He had fought under the great Emperor 
Napoleon, during that great general s won 
derful career. In France Mr. Sitter mar 
ried Barbara Phillips, and they became the 
parents of eight children : Nicholas, Cath 
erine, Peter, Jacob, Valentine, Barbara, 
Christina and Caroline. At that time in 
France it was customary for all boys, when 
they reached the age of eighteen years, to 
begin training to enter the army, and as the 
sons of Mr. Sitter had no desire to enter the 
army, they influenced their father to dispose 



of his holdings and sail for America. This 
he did in 1836, making the trip from Havre 
de Grace to New York, whence the little 
band of home-seekers made their way to On 
tario, locating in Haldimand County. They 
were among the earliest settlers of Rainham 
township, and there they settled down to 
pioneer life. The country was new at this 
time ; wolves, bears, deer and other wild 
animals roamed the forests; there were no 
schools or churches, and no roads to guide, 
except the trail of the Indians. In fact there 
were no traces of civilization whatever. It 
was in such a country that the little band 
settled, taking up 100 acres of land, and 
here, after erecting a little log cabin, started 
to clear a home from the forest. After years 
of hard work this was accomplished, new 
buildings were erected, and Mr. Sitter, be 
fore his death in 1857, saw tne farm in a 
fairly cleared condition. His wife died in 
1885, and they were buried in Rainham 
cemetery. They were members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

Nicholas Sitter, the father of our sub 
ject, was a native of France, born there in 
1818, and there received his education, most- 
Iv in German. After locating in Rainham 
township, he, with his brothers, assisted his 
father in clearing a home. He married 
Catherine Fess, also a native of Alsace, 
France, daughter of Soloman Fess, who 
came to Canada about the same time as did 
Mr. Sitter. Nicholas and Catherine (Fess) 
Sitter were the parents of : David, a resi 
dent of Forest, Ont., who married Hannah 
Mumma ; Anne, who married \Yilliam Mum- 
ma ; Peter, of Sarnia township, who mar 
ried Matilda Chriestler; George, our subject ; 
Nicholas, who died in "Warwick township, 
and who married Cinderella Lampman ; and 
Barbara, who married Isaac Burse, of Ark- 
ona. In the latter forties the family sold out 
their holdings in the County of Haldimand 
and located in the County of Lambton, pur 
chasing a tract of 100 acres of land on Lot 
21, Concession 5, of Warwick township, and 
there settled down to claim a home from the 
wilderness. There the remainder of Nich 
olas Sitter s life was spent. He also pur- 



524 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



chased 100 acres of land near Bethel, War 
wick township. He lived to the ripe old age 
of eighty-four years, dying in 1902, and 
was buried in the Mennonite cemetery, in 
which faith he died. His wife died in 1879 
on the farm, and was buried in the same 
cemetery. 

George Sitter attended the schools of 
AYanvick township, being quite young when 
the family left the County of Haldimand. 
He worked on the farm with his father, upon 
Avhich place he has spent his entire life, hav 
ing taken the management of the place after 
his marriage, and he and his wife taking 
charge of his father in his declining years. 
Air. Sitter has made many improvements on 
the old farm, and he continued actively to 
operate it until 1904, when he turned the 
management over to his son, and erected a 
fine dwelling house and barn, just south of 
the homestead, where he is now living en 
joying the fruits of his early labors. For the 
past ten years he has been engaged in fruit 
raising, principally small fruit, for which he 
finds a ready market in Sarnia. Mr. Sitter 
is very fond of horses, and owns some of the 
finest horse-flesh in the township. For a 
number of years- Mr. Sitter conducted a 
cooper shop at Thedford, making barrels, 
etc. He is a man of enterprise, and progres 
sive ideas, is a good citizen, and is popular 
with all classes. 

Mr. Sitter was married, Jan. 19, 1879, 
by the Rev. Henry Haultin, Lutheran min 
ister, to Miss Caroline Schrader, who was 
born in Alsace, France, daughter of Nich 
olas and Catherine (Dindinger) Schrader. 
The father of Mrs. Sitter died in his native 
place, and his widow and Mrs. Sitter came 
to Ontario, locating in Hay township, Coun 
ty of Huron. Mr. and Mrs. Sitter are mem 
bers of the Mennonite Church, in which he 
is a deacon. 

The children born to Air. and Mrs. 
George Sitter are as follows : Solomon, a 
farmer of Sarnia township, married Clara 
Zimmerman, and they have two children, 
Ida and Emanuel. Nicholas, who operates 
the homestead, married Amelia Trowel, and 
thev have one daughter. Irena. Jacob mar 



ried Jessie Munger, and resides in Bosan- 
quet township; they have three children, 
Lloyd, George and Gordon. Rosa Ann mar 
ried William Allen, and resides in Thed 
ford ; they have three children, George, Car 
rie and Margery. Barbara Ann is at home. 
Catherine married Thomas Millman, of 
Bosanquet township. Margaret and Carrie 
are at home. Sophia married Harold Smith, 
of Arkona, and has had two children, Flos 
sie (deceased) and Beatrice. Elizabeth and 
Emanuel are both at home. 

ZACHARIAH JACKSON, for over a 
quarter of a century a farmer in Enniskillen 
township, was born and reared in Brock- 
ville, the son of William and Annie (Run 
ning) Jackson, and grandson of William 
Jackson, Sr. The latter is still living in lona, 
where in October, 1903, his friends celebrated 
the hundredth anniversary of his birth. In 
September, 1872, Zachariah Jackson married 
Miss Ellen Brison, who was born in Febru 
ary, 1856, in Plympton township, Lambton 
County, and was reared and educated there. 
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jackson began 
housekeeping in a little log cabin on a tract 
of bush land in Enniskillen, hardly to be 
recognized in the present well cultivated 
farm with its good buildings. There Mr. 
Jackson died Jan. 13, 1899. He was a con 
sistent member of the Methodist Church, in 
which he was an active worker and had 
served as steward for many years. In poli 
tics he was a Conservative, and socially be 
longed for over twenty years to the Order of 
Orangemen, Lodge No. 536, Plympton. 
He was beloved and esteemed for his many 
qualities and generous nature, and the rec 
ord he left of useful and conscientious living 
might well be emulated. His widow has 
since become the wife of James W. Goold, 
of Guelph, Out. She is a member of the 
Methodist Church. 

The death of Mr. Jackson left his wife 
and a family of young children, which great 
ly increased her cares and responsibilities, 
but she is. a woman of strong and noble char 
acter, and a devoted mother. The eldest 
daughter, Emma, born in June, 1874, is the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



525 



wife of Joseph Anderson, of Point Edward, 
and has two daughters. Pearl and Elsie. 
James B., born in April, 1876. married Miss 
Edith Merritt, of Enniskillen, has one 
daughter, Elsie May, and lives in Conces 
sion 6. Lettie N., horn in April, 1878, is 
the wife of Levi Jones, of Plympton, and has 
one son, Willard. William, born in March, 
1880, married Miss Sarah Raven, of Ennis 
killen, has one son, William E.. and lives on 
a part of his mother s farm. Laura, born in 
October, 1882, is the wife of John Ross, a 
merchant at Point Edward. Lavinia, born 
in April, 1883, is at home. Mary E. died in 
girlhood, in November, 1894. Mabel J. was 
born in December, 1886. Alexander Z., in 
June, 1898. Pearl I., in December, 1890. 
George W., Sept. 5, 1894. Herbert S., in 
September, 1896. Ellen E., in August, 
1899.^ 

William Brison, grandfather of Mrs. 
Ellen (Brison) Gookl, came from Ireland 
and was among the first residents of Plymp 
ton township, where he and his wife both 
died. They left two sons, William and 
James, the former of whom died in War 
wick. 

James Brison, father of Mrs. Gookl, 
was born in Ireland, and accompanied his 
parents to Canada, where he began life for 
himself, buying wild land in Plympton and 
making his permanent home there. In poli 
tics he was an active Conservative, and he 
held a number of county offices ; in religion 
he and his wife were Presbyterians. .Mr. 
Brison married Annie Williamson, daugh 
ter of John and Ellen Williamson, who set 
tled on Bear Creek, Enniskillen, where Mrs. 
Brison was born. Mr. Brison died in 1897, 
but his wife is still living in her old home. 
Eleven children were born to them : ( i ) 
Annie married (first) Hugh Kelly, of 
Plympton, by whom she had four children, 
James, John, Hugh and Susan. After Mr. 
Kelly s death she married John Houston, of 
Wyoming, and has had one daughter, An 
nie. (2) John, born in Plympton, made his 
home there and married (first) Miss Han 
nah Dell, who died leaving two children, 
John and Lavinia. By his second wife, Miss 



Matilda Lucas, he has had no children. (3) 
William married Miss Lavinia Reese, of 
Plympton, for his first wife, and after her 
death Miss Emma Robinson, by whom he 
has had two children, Cora and George. (4) 
James died in early manhood. (5) Ellen 
has been previously mentioned. (6) Mag 
gie, born in 1859, is the wife of Alexander 
Thompson, of Plympton, and has six chil 
dren, John, Wesley, Albert, Lawrence, Ro- 
sie and Harold. (7) Joseph, born in 1861, 
married Miss Isabella Williamson, and lives 
on his farm in Plympton. Their five chil 
dren are James, Katie, Isabel, Maggie and 
Myrtle. (8) Eliza, born in 1863, is the wife 
of Tames Wyant, of Saginaw, Michigan, 
and has three children, Russell, Cora and 
Leslie. (9) Richard, born in 1865, lives on 
the old homestead, unmarried. (10) Ben 
jamin married Miss Isabella Dewar, has 
one son, Howard, and lives in Plympton. 
(n) Lavinia is the wife of Frank Maid- 
ment of Plympton, and has one son, 
Arnold. 

WILLIAM J. BEATTY. Among the 
prosperous farmers of Enniskillen township 
may be mentioned the name of William J. 
Beatty, who resides on his finely cultivated 
farm on Concession i, Lot 28. He was born 
March 17, 1860, in Sarnia township, son of 
James and Margaret (Porter) Beatty, pio 
neers of Sarnia township. 

John Beatty, his grandfather, came from 
Ireland to Toronto, where for twenty years 
he followed the trade of a baker. Later he 
came to Sarnia township and resided with 
his children on a farm, which had been 
cleared by his sons James and Benjamin. 
John Beatty died at the Sarnia home, leav 
ing four children : John and William, who 
later on settled at St. Thomas; Benjamin, 
who followed the lakes until he removed to 
the Sarnia township farm and both he and 
his brother James remained on adjoining 
farms. 

James Beatty settled on the old London 
road, five miles from Sarnia, where he made 
a permanent home from wild land, and died 
in 1894, his wife surviving until 1896. In 



526 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



religion these good people were consistent 
members of the Methodist Church. In poli 
tics Mr. Beatty was a Conservative, and he 
filled a number of local offices, among them 
those of councilor and reeve. Of their ten 
children eight still survive: Maggie and 
Sarah died in childhood; William J. is our 
subject; Benjamin, a member of the Salva 
tion Army in Sarnia township, lives in St. 
John, New Brunswick; Susan, born in 1866, 
married Alfred Worts, of Enniskillen town 
ship, and has a family of four children; 
Martha, born in 1869, married John Mon 
roe, of Enniskillen, and has three children, 
Norman, Maggie and Katie; James, born in 
Sarnia in 1870, a boilermaker for the Wa- 
bash Railroad Co., married Miss Hind, of 
St. Thomas, where they now reside; Eliza 
beth, torn in 1873, married Martin Yates, 
who lives on the old Beatty homestead in 
Sarnia township; George, born in 1876, a 
railroad employe, resides in the Northwest; 
Mary J., born in Sarnia in 1878, is a dress 
maker of Sarnia. 

William J. Beatty was reared to man 
hood on the old homestead and received a 
fair education in the district schools, work 
ing on the farm until of age, when he bought 
fifty acres of land in the township of Sarnia, 
which he cleared and upon which he erected 
buildings for a home. Later he sold this 
farm back to his father, and in 1892 he pur 
chased ioo acres of wild land, his present 
home, which he cleared and greatly im 
proved. His first house burned and in 1899 
he erected a new substantial modern home 
and a large bank barn, now having one of 
the finest farms in the section. 

On June 12. 1888, Mr. Beatty married 
Miss Elizabeth Gallic, who was born in De 
troit, Michigan, March 22, 1860. a daugh 
ter of William Gallic, of Scotland, now de 
ceased. Her mother lives at Point Edward, 
and has attained the ripe old age of eighty 
years. To this union have come four chil 
dren : Edna, born in Sarnia in 1889; Gor 
don, bom in Sarnia in 1892 ; Hattie B., born 
at the present home in September, 1896, and 
George A., born in 1898. 

Politically Mr. Beatty has always been a 



firm supporter of the Reform party, and he 
is now filling acceptably the office of secre 
tary and treasurer of the school board. The 
family attends the Presbyterian Church. 
Fraternally Mr. Beatty is a member of the 
Order of Foresters, Weidmann Lodge. 

In recalling the early days of the life of 
James Beatty and his wife in Sarnia town 
ship one is led in thought to the pioneer, 
times in this section, when, in place of com 
fort, plenty and privileges of all kinds, civil 
ization was making but slow progress. They 
performed well their parts in life and are 
remembered with affection and respect. 
Their son, the subject of this record, is a 
worthy representative, and during his thir 
teen years residence here has invariably dis 
played the qualities which cause him to be 
honored and esteemed by all who know him. 

NATHANIEL McCORDIC, one of the 
oldest living pioneers of Bosanquet town 
ship, where he has made his home for over 
fifty-five years, is now spending the evening 
of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of 
his early labors, happy in the companionship 
of his devoted wife. Mr. McCordic s life 
has been one of hard work, and during his 
half century in this township he has seen 
many changes. He was born in New Bruns 
wick, along the St. John river, March 15, 
1830. 

Robert McCordic, the father of Nathan 
iel, was a native of Ireland, where he grew 
to manhood, and when a young man came to 
New Brunswick, settling along the St. John 
river, where he engaged in farming. He 
there married Maria Fletcher, a native of 
Nova Scotia. Their children were: James, 
who died in Bosanquet township: Nathaniel, 
our subject; Susan, deceased; Nancy, who 
died in young womanhood ; Sarah Ann, wife 
of Thomas Tremball, of Arkansas; Robert, 
who resides in Zion City, North Dakota: 
William, of Brooke township; Isaac, who 
died in 1896; Maria, who married Archi 
bald Cameron, of Plympton township: and 
Alma, who married Frank Clock, and re 
sides in Zion City, North Dakota. In the 
earlv forties Mr. and Mrs. McCordic located 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in Ontario, settling in Yarmouth township, 
Elgin County, on a tract of 100 acres. Here 
he became engaged in farming, spending 
his entire active life in that section, and after 
he retired from farming he made his home 
with his son Nathaniel, with whom he died 
at a ripe old age. His wife died while living 
with her son James, in Bosanquet township, 
and they both rest in the little cemetery at 
Arkona. He was a member of the Church 
of England, while she adhered to the Bap 
tist faith. Politically he was a stanch Con 
servative. 

Nathaniel McCordic was only ten years 
old when he came to southern Ontario with 
his father, and he attended the schools of 
Yarmouth, Elgin County. He worked at 
farm labor until 1850, when he came to 
Lambton County, locating in Bosanquet 
township, where Jura is now located. There 
he settled down to pioneer life on 100 acres 
of land, which he purchased from the Can 
ada Land Co., for $3 per acre, and which 
was all bush land at the time. There were 
few settlers there, no schools or churches 
within miles, no roads made, Indian trails 
being the only guide for the settlers, and a 
bridge was something unknown. Here Mr. 
McCordic settled down to make a home, and 
here he has resided for over fifty-five years. 
He has now one of the fine farms of the 
section, which his youngest son is operating 
for him. Mr. McCordic is noted as an en 
tertainer, and has taken active part in many 
church, school and social entertainments, no 
entertainment being complete without him. 
He won the respect of all classes, and is 
known all over the township for his hon 
esty and honorable dealings. Politically he 
is a stanch Conservative. He was one of 
the first members of Loyal Orange Lodge, 
No. 819. of Jura, in which he has filled the 
office of deputy grand master. He is an ad 
herent of the Baptist Church. 

Mr. McCordic was first married in Bo 
sanquet township, to Margaret Campbell. 
born Sept. 6, 1832, daughter of John Camp 
bell, and to this union came : Mary Ann, 
born July i, 1854, is the widow of George 
Perry, of Lobo township, Middlesex Coun- 



ty; Maria, born March 13, 1856, is de 
ceased; Sarah Elizabeth, born March 12, 
1858, married James Grant, and resides in 
Manitoba (they have nine children) ; Ra 
chel Amanda, born Aug. 24, 1860, deceased, 
was the wife of Albert Spearman; Albert 
Edward, born March 31, 1863, died young; 
Amelia, born May 20, 1865, married J. P. 
Spearman, of Bosanquet township, and they 
have six children. Mr. McCordic s second 
marriage was to Anne Stewart, of Warwick 
township, by whom he had children as fol 
lows : Georgina, born Sept. 5, 1869, mar 
ried Hugh Russell; Isabella, born Nov. I, 
1872, married Nathaniel Neely, and lives in 
Chicago; Lillian, born Jan. 28, 1874, mar 
ried William Evens, of Bosanquet town 
ship, and they have three children ; Nathan 
iel, born April 23, 1876, died in 1891 ; Ben 
jamin, born July 2, 1878, who operates the 
home farm, married Margaret Finn and they 
have two children. 

Mr. McCordic s present wife was Mar 
garet D. Mclntire, a native of Lobo town 
ship, daughter of Duncan Mclntire. She is 
a member of the Baptist Church. 

JOHN CAMPBELL, who owns 150 
acres of land in Concession 6, Lot 29, Brooke 
township, Lambton County, was born in 
June, 1828, in Argyllshire, Scotland, son of 
Archie and Margaret (McCullam) Camp 
bell, who were also born in Argyllshire. 

Archie Campbell and wife emigrated to 
Canada as early as .1842, and settled in 
Brooke township, making the journey on a 
sailing vessel that was six weeks on the trip, 
and came to Brooke township, via Quebec. 
They settled in the woods on Concession 6, 
where Mr. Campbell made a permanent 
home from wild land, and there they lived 
in a little log cabin, where he died in 1865, 
while his wife survived until 1867. They 
were the parents of the following children, 
of whom our subject is the only one living: 
Donald settled in Brooke township, where 
he left a family; Duncan, born in 1830, set 
tled on the old homestead, where he died in 
1885; Catherine married William Leitch. of 
Metcalfe, Middlesex County; Mary, mar- 



528 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



riecl William Webster, who settled in Brooke 
township; Margaret, born in 1838, married 
Alexander Campbell, of Brooke township ; 
Erne, born in 1843, married Hugh Mcln- 
tyre, who settled in Middlesex County; 
and John. 

John Campbell received a limited edu 
cation in the place of his nativity, and was 
reared on the farm. When a young man he 
engaged with John P. Clark, as his man 
ager in his fishing ventures on the Lakes, 
following that occupation for several years. 
In 1853 he married Miss Christie A. Camp 
bell, born in Middlesex County, in 1832, 
daughter of Duncan and Effie Campbell. 
Mrs. Campbell s parents were among the 
first settlers of Mosa township, and Mrs. 
Campbell was the first white child to be born 
there. John Campbell and his wife settled 
on the home which he now owns, which he 
cleared up from wild land, in 1881 replacing 
the log cabin with a large, modern, brick 
house. Here Mrs. Campbell died in 1896, 
having been an invalid for seventeen years. 
The following children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. John Campbell: (i) Euphemia, 
born in 1854, married Hugh Downie, of 
Brooke township, and at her death left these 
children, Christie L. (who married John 
Dubes, of Duart), Maggie, Malcolm, John 
(who lives with his grandfather), and Peter 
D. (2) Duncan, born in 1856, was reared 
on the home farm, where he received a fair 
education. In November, 1899, he married 
Miss Belle Walker, who was born in 1867, 
daughter of Dougal and Mary Walker, pio 
neer farmers of Middlesex County. Mr. 
Campbell brought his wife to the old home 
stead, where she resided until her death, 
July 21, 1904, passing away in the faith 
of the Presbyterian Church ; she was a noble, 
worthy Christian woman, and was beloved 
by all, and her death came as a severe shock 
to countless friends. (3) Peter, born at the 
present home, resides in Metcalfe on his 
farm; he married Miss Betsy Monroe, of 
.Mosa, and they have these children, John 
A.. Christie and Emerson. (4) Donald re 
sides on his farm in Metcalfe township; he 
married Miss Barbara Crann, and has three 



children, Tennie Bell, Robert and Elda M. 
(5) Margaret was reared at the home, where 
she received a fair education in the public 
schools. She nursed her invalid mother for 
seventeen years. (6) Mary married Elijah 
Armstrong, a farmer of Euphemia, and has 
children, Charles M., John E., Christina M. 
and James R. (7) Katie, born at the old 
homestead, married William Leitch, of Met 
calfe township, and they have three children, 
Marguerite, John W. and Alexander Neil. 
(8) Christina married Frank Allin, of Eu 
phemia. 

Religiously this family are connected 
with the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. 
Campbell has long been one of the trustees 
and an officer. He was one of the founders 
of the church in this section, and has always 
been very active in its work. Politically Mr. 
Campbell, as well as his sons, affiliates with 
the Reform party, but he has never con 
sented to hold office. He engages in a gen 
eral line of farming, with his son. Duncan. 
His efforts have met with much success, and 
he is placed with the solid, substantial men 
of Brooke township. 

ROBERT FRANCIS STOCKDALE, 
Collector of Customs at Courtright, is one 
of the best-known men of that part of the 
County of Lambton, where the family name 
has been a familiar one for over seventy 
years. 

George Stockdale, father of Robert F., 
was a native of Yorkshire, England, where 
he grew to manhood and learned the trade 
of a carpenter and joiner. While quite 
young he came to America and settled in 
Detroit, where he and a brother, Joseph 
Stockdale, also a carpenter, followed their 
trade. Mr. Stockdale worked with his 
brother for some years and was engaged in 
the construction of many public buildings in 
Detroit, including the State buildings, and 
also the county structures, and St. Paul s 
Episcopal church. In the early thirties, soon 
after his marriage, Mr. Stockdale moved to 
the County of Lambton and bought 100 
acres of land in Lot 12, on the St. Clair 
river front, a small portion of which had 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



already been cleared by the Indians. It 
was in the days when there was no road 
there, only an Indian trail, and the family 
saw many privations and much hard work 
before Mr. Stockdale got his land cleared 
and ready for cultivation. In the Rebellion 
of 1837-38 he served as a volunteer and 
was stationed along the river front. He died 
Aug. 26, 1856, at the comparatively early 
age of fifty-six, and his widow, Elizabeth 
(Coombs) Stockdale, was left in that new 
land with only her young sons to depend 
upon. She survived for nearly forty years, 
gave her children good Christian training, 
and after a long and useful life passed away 
Oct. 22, 1894, aged eighty-one years. She is 
buried beside her husband in Sutherland 
cemetery. They were members of the 
Church of England. The nine children born 
to George and Elizabeth Stockdale were : 
Elizabeth, Mrs. William Beal, of Detroit; 
George C. ; Robert F. ; Clara, deceased wife 
of Adam Courtney, and mother of five chil 
dren ; John ; Alonzo, who died at the age 
of sixteen ; Mary, widow of Augustus Dar- 
row, of Detroit; Amelia, who married Capt. 
William D. Neal, of Moore township; and 
Louise, at home. 

Robert Francis Stockdale was born at the 
homestead Nov. 13, 1839. Brought up in 
the wilderness as he was he had but one 
month s schooling during his whole life, for 
at his father s death he and his brother had 
to assume the whole charge of the farm. 
That one month he went to the little log 
schoolhouse in Section Xo. i. then taught by 
Mr. Wiggin, an Englishman. Mr. Stock- 
dale has, however, educated himself, learn 
ing much in the school of observation and 
experience. After doing his part in provid 
ing for his mother and the younger children 
he finally started out for himself, taking the 
south half of the homestead, where he built 
a dwelling, barns, etc., and carried on farm 
ing and stock raising until 1890. He then 
sold to his brother George, bought the Day 
farm of 120 acres, and worked there for four 
years, after which he rented the place and 
accepted the position of superintendent of 
the Stag Island farm for Mr. Nelson Mills, 

34 



of Marysville, Michigan. He remained there 
ten years, during which he was made collec 
tor of customs for the government, and then 
in September, 1904, was made collector of 
customs for the port of Courtright, succeed 
ing John McKenzie Lott. This position of 
trust and responsibility he fills to the general 
satisfaction. His farm was sold in 1901, 
and he now makes his home in Courtright. 

On Sept. 22, 1864, Robert F. Stockdale 
was married to Miss Mary Jane Gaw, who 
was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, and was in 
ever} way a most admirable woman. She 
has borne her husband four children : 
Edith died at the age of eleven; Frank is a 
resident of East Courtenay, British Colum 
bia ; Lottie, Mrs. George Bowan, of Moore 
township, has four children, Edith, Geral- 
dine, Sinclair and Georgia ; Estella is at 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale are both mem 
bers of the Church of England, in which the 
former has been vestryman and warden, and 
he is at present lay delegate to the London 
Synod. He belongs to the K. O. T. M., at 
Courtright, and to the I. O. F., Camp 
Sylvan, of Courtright. Because of his own 
early limitations Mr. Stockdale has always 
been keenly interested in the advancement 
of education, and has served as trustee for 
School Section No. i. A strong Liberal in 
politics, he has been made commissioner of 
roads and ditch construction. Although of 
a quiet disposition, Mr. Stockdale is very 
genial and cordial, has many friends, and is 
a man whose native ability and manly in 
tegrity have won the respect of all. 

GEORGE COOMBS STOCKDALE, brother of 
Robert F., was born Sept. 14, 1837. He at 
tended no school, and began early to work 
on the farm. When he and his brother 
divided the homestead he built a home on 
his half and continued to farm there until 
1890, after which he bought the other part 
from his brother, and has since been tilling 
the whole 100 acres, engaging also in stock- 
raising. Like his brother he is a Liberal in 
politics, and a member of the Episcopal 
Church, in which he lias been warden. Al 
though domestic in his tastes he has never 



53 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



married, but with his sister Louise lias kept 
up the home, and cared for both his mother 
and grandparents in their last years. 

JOHN STOCKDALE, the third brother, was 
born June 26, 1844, was educated in School 
Section No. i, and remained with his older 
brother until he was of age. He then went 
into business for himself, buying and selling 
cordwood to the lake steamers, and was thus 
engaged fifteen years, after which he again 
took up farming, and has ever since been so 
engaged on the old Kittermaster farm, a 
fifty-acre tract. It has been his home since 
1878, and he has farmed the same with 
much success. He married Annie, daughter 
of the late Capt. Thomas Neal, of Moore 
township, but in 1902 he lost his wife, who 
was buried in the Sutherland cemetery, 
Moore town. She was a member of the 
Church of England. Of the nine children 
born to them, six died in infancy, and the 
others are : Laura, who married Major 
Robert G. Stewart, of Courtright; Roy, a 
sailor on the lakes ; and Reta, at home. 

John Stockdale is of the same political 
faith and religious persuasion as his brothers, 
has been a school trustee many years, is a 
member of the A. F. & A. M., Moore Lodge, 
No. 294, is a Master Mason, and also be 
longs to the I. O. O. F. at Courtright. A 
member of the church for twenty-five years, 
he has continued the family record for serv 
ice as vestryman and warden. 

George Coombs, the maternal grand 
father of the Stockdale brothers, was a na 
tive of England, and learned his trades of 
saddler and harnessmaker there. He was 
engaged under Wellington as an army sad 
dler. He came to Canada when Ontario was 
just being opened up and was given by the 
British government a soldier s grant of land 
on the St. Clair river front, in Sombra town 
ship. He tried to settle there, but there were 
no neighbors, the country was a wilderness, 
and his wife was once lost in the woods, and 
was led to the river by nn Indian who by 
chance ran across her in the woods, so they 
decided to get nearer civilization and went 
to "Detroit, then a mere village. He plied 
his trade there for manv years and then in 



their old age he and his wife came to Lamb- 
ton County, where they were cared for by 
their daughter, Mrs. Stockdale, and her chil 
dren. Mr. Coombs died in his ninety-ninth 
year, while his wife was nearingher one hun 
dredth birthday when she passed away. 
They were buried in Sutherland cemetery. 
Both were members of the Episcopal Church, 
and they were worthy Christian people. 

FINLAY SMITH. In the death of 
Mr. Smith Nov. 23, 1904, there was re 
moved from Plympton township one of the 
most useful and trustworthy citizens of the 
count}- one who had been identified with 
its interests from the pioneer days, when he 
felled the forests that he might build a home 
in the wilderness. He was born in Inver 
ness-shire, Scotland, Feb. 4, 1827, son of 
Duncan and Margaret (McGilvary) Smith, 
both natives of Inverness-shire, who never 
left Scotland. Of their other children, Dun 
can and John, were both farmers, and died 
in Australia, and Angus, a school teacher, 
died in Australia. Of the half-brothers and 
sisters of Mr. Finlay Smith, Farquhar is a 
retired farmer at Park Hill, Out. ; and Janet, 
widow of John Stewart, lives in Australia. 

Mr. Smith received his education in his 
native land, and in early life was engaged in 
herding cattle and in general farm work. 
In 1850 he came to America, spending about 
eight months in Ohio, but in 1851 he and 
his brother removed to Plympton, Lambton 
County, where they took up 100 acres of 
land, each, in Lot 19, Concession 13, which 
at that time was in a wild state. Here they 
at once went to work to make a home. 
They first built a log shanty, and lived in it 
while they chopped down the trees, and con 
verted the land into a farm. For over fifty 
years Mr. Smith resided upon the property 
he wrested from the wilderness, and was 
one of the progressive men of his township. 
The forest was long since converted into 
productive fields and orchards, and a com 
fortable dwelling and commodious barns 
took the place of the log shanty, attesting to 
his industry, thrift and good management. 

Mr. Smith was always quite active in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



531 



township affairs, having served as township 
reeve for six terms, school trustee for a num- 
oer of years, and he always supported the 
principles of the Reform party. During his 
earlier days, Mr. Smith taught school in 
Lamhton County, and was very popular with 
his pupils. In religious affiliations he and 
his family are Presbyterians. 

Mr. Smith was twice married. His first 
wife, whom he married in Plympton town 
ship, was Ann McKay, a native of Plymp 
ton township, who bore him the following 
children : Daniel Angus ; John Alexander ; 
Margaret, deceased; Catherine Ann, who 
married Colin McKay, and lives in Mani 
toba. Mr. Smith married (second) at Lon 
don, Ont.. Jan. 21, 1864, Miss Jeannette 
\ v ilkinson. daughter of Duncan and Jane 
(McKinlay) Wilkinson. Mrs. Smith was 
born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in January, 
1829. Two children were born of the second 
marriage : Jane, at home ; and Duncan, a 
farmer on part of the home farm, who mar 
ried Lily Cairns, and has three children, 
Lorene, Nellie and William. For many 
years Mr. Smith was regarded as one of the 
most successful farmers of the township, 
and his efforts in behalf of the locality, as 
a public official, added to his popularity. His 
remains rest in McKay s cemetery on a part 
of the old farm. His family is very highly 
respected, both in the church and in social 
circles, and they have many friends through 
out Lambton County. 

Duncan Smith, son of the late Finlay 
Smith, was born on the present homestead, 
Aug. 24, 1867, and he remained at home un 
til his marriage. He then moved to another 
part of the same farm, having 400 acres in 
his farm. For the- past nine years he has 
been school trustee. In politics he is a Re 
former, and in religious views a Congrega- 
tionalist. On Jan. i, 1896, he married Lily 
Cairns, and has three children : Lorene, 
Nellie and William. 

THOMAS EBENEZER EDGAR, for 

many years one of the best known and most 
highly respected men of his locality, died at 
his late home in Forest in September, 1900. 



Mr. Kdgar was born in Scotland, and he 
inherited in marked degree, the integrity of 
character and the persevering industry so 
characteristic of the Scotch people. In all 
his business transactions through life, his 
straightforward methods gained him the 
confidence of all with whom he dealt. He 
came to Ontario in the early fifties, and for 
some years was a railroad contractor, during 
which time he was located at Port Stanley, 
Hamilton, St. Thomas and Forest, coming 
to the last mentioned place about 1855. Here 
he took a contract for the grading of about 
two miles of the Grand Trunk Railroad in 
that locality. Later he went to Huron 
County where for a short time, he was en 
gaged in the building of highways. Upon 
his return to Forest he built the "British 
Queen Hotel," just west of the residence of 
Reginald Scott. This hostelry Mr. Edgar 
conducted for about twenty-three years, 
after which, having accumulated a comfort 
able competence, he retired from active bus 
iness during the remainder of his life. In 
addition to his residence he owned the 
ground located on the south side of King- 
street from Mr. Lacheid s store to Main 
street, and at one time owned a farm in 
Plympton township. Mr. Edgar was not 
only a man of business ability but of intel 
lectual endowments also. He was a thor 
ough student in the science of geology, and 
at his death left a work on that subject, 
ready for publication. He had also engaged 
in other literary work and left a manuscript 
entitled "Annie Laurie," being led to give 
this name on account of the interest he felt in 
the home of the "Annie Laurie" celebrated 
in song, near which his own birth took place. 
Few more gifted men ever lived in Forest 
than the late Mr. Edgar. 

Mr. Edgar was twice married, first in 
his native land, to Euphemia Thompson, who 
was born in 1822, in Scotland, and to this 
marriage these children were born : Maggie, 
deceased wife of John Tenant; Elizabeth, 
deceased wife of Isaac Mercier; Catherine, 
wife of Daniel McLeod, of Nelson, B. C. ; 
Jessie, married and living at Westminster; 
Jennie, wife of Thomas Jennings; Emma, 



532 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



who married F. D. Thurston (deceased) and 
died leaving children, Edith (of New York 
City) and Edgar A. (of "The Soo") ; 
Thomas, who died at the age of six years; 
Grace, deceased ; and John Alexander, in a 
confectionery business at Forest. After the 
death of the mother of these children, Mr. 
Edgar married (second) in 1881, Annie 
Elizabeth Wick, born in England, daughter 
of John and Annie (Hooper) Wick, the lat 
ter of whom was born in England in 1814, 
and still resides in Ontario, whither the fam 
ily removed in 1852. Mr. Wick was born 
in 1810, and died in 1872. Mrs. Edgar had 
one sister who married a Mr. Greer, and is 
now deceased. 

Mrs. Edgar is one of the most highly es 
teemed ladies in- Forest. She is a musician 
of rare ability, coming of a musical family, 
and is a welcome addition to Forest society. 
She is attached to the Presbyterian Church, 
of which her husband was also a member. 
Politically Mr. Edgar was identified with 
the Reform party. His death was a distinct 
loss to Forest and he left behind the record 
of the estimable life of a Christian gentle 
man. 

PETER W. KECK, a prominent 
farmer and oil producer of Petrolia and one 
of the oldest settlers of that place, comes of 
Dutch ancestry, and his parents were natives 
of Pennsylvania. His birth occurred in 
Jackson County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1836, and 
he is a son of David and Mary (Baer) 
Keck. The latter, born in 1810, is now 
making her home with a daughter in Ohio. 
David Keck was a stonemason by trade. He 
died in middle life, leaving children as fol 
lows : Edward, a farmer of Michigan ; 
James, of Ohio ; Peter W. ; Francis, of War 
ren, Ohio; Samuel, deceased; David, a 
farmer of Michigan; John, a farmer of 
Michigan; Daniel, deceased; Mary, who 
married Lewis Enzer ; Luanda, deceased ; 
and Sarah, who married Henry Enzer. 

Peter W. Keck went to Michigan in 
early manhood and there married Sarah 
Granger in 1863. She was born in New 
York State in April, 1839, daughter of John 



and Mary (Flemings) Granger. Immedi 
ately after their marriage the young couple 
settled in Marshall, where Mr. Keck fol 
lowed the cooper s trade. In 1866, attracted 
by the accounts of the oil boom in Petrolia, 
they moved to that place, and Mr. Keck be 
came manager for a Marshall and Battle 
Creek company of oil producers. Later he 
purchased an interest in an oil refining com 
pany, and in time sold at a profit. He then 
engaged in drilling oil wells, in which work 
he continued until 1902, when he sold his 
last drilling rig. Among the wells he drilled 
were some of the best producers in the vi 
cinity. During this time, for ten years, he 
successfully conducted a hotel in Petrolia. 
At present he lives in Petrolia. His farm ad 
jacent to the city is devoted principally to 
stock raising. Mr. Keck is one of the oldest 
oil men in Petrolia. 

The children born to himself and wife 
are as follows : Ferdinand Elsworth, born in 
Marshall in 1864, is a newspaper man in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Charles A., a 
driller, who died Dec. n, 1901, married 
Lotta White and left two children, Olive 
and Mary; Effie Aurella married Neil Mc- 
Gill, and has two children, Hazel and 
Vaughn. Mr. and Mrs. Keck are members 
of the Methodist Church, in which they take 
an active part. Politically Mr. Keck is a 
Conservative, and for several years he served 
as a member of the school board of Petrolia. 

WILLIAM JACKSON, an enterpris 
ing farmer of Sarnia township, was born 
Dec. 12, 1855, in Moore township, the son 
of John and Jean (Leckie) Jackson. 

John Jackson was of Scotch parentage 
and was born in Glasgow, Dec. 21, 1822. 
He began working when only a boy of nine 
years, being employed as a printer s "devil." 
When twelve years old he came to Canada 
with the Monteith family, and first lived in 
Dalhousie township, County of Lanark, but 
about sixty years ago moved to the County 
of Lambton and bought the east 100 acres 
in Lot 7, Concession 2. in Moore township, 
then perfectly wild land. He built a small 
cabin and made some preparation for setting; 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



533 



up housekeeping, and then returned to Dal- 
housie township to be married. His wife 
was Miss Jean Leckie, daughter of John 
Leckie, and the young couple at once started 
for their home in the wilderness. By boat 
they went to Hamilton, then by rail to Lon 
don and for a part of the remaining distance 
they were obliged to go on foot, carrying 
their provisions with them. Their house 
hold goods meantime were sent around by 
way of the lakes. As the timber on his 
place was cut, Mr. Jackson made potash, 
thus securing some income while he was 
getting his farm cleared. The first small 
abode was occupied a while, then a hewn 
log house was put up, and, later, some forty 
years ago, a mortared frame house was built. 
This old home is still standing. The mother 
of the family passed away at the age of fifty- 
seven years, Dec. 18, 1881. Mr. Jackson was 
a stanch Liberal in his politics, and for a 
number of years held office as justice of the 
peace. In religious belief he was a faithful 
Baptist and served as deacon in the church. 
The family born to John and Jean Jackson 
were as follows : John L., a grocer in Chi 
cago; Robert, proprietor of a planing and 
lumber mill in Petrolia; Elizabeth, deceased 
in 1899, wno lived at home until they broke 
tip housekeeping in 1894, after which she 
resided with her sister in Petrolia; William, 
who died in infancy; Ellen, wife of Albert 
Duncan, police magistrate and ex-county 
warden of Petrolia; William; Thomas, de 
ceased, a farmer on Lot 10, Concession i, 
Moore township, who married Bella Mary 
Chalmers; Alice, who lived but two years; 
Joseph, who is engaged in business in To 
ronto: and George H., a farmer who died 
Oct. ir, 1888, aged twenty-five. 

William Jackson was born in the old 
hewed log house and there grew up, at 
tending school in a log school built on, a 
corner of his father s farm. He remained 
at home assisting on the place till he was 
twenty-seven, and then started out for him 
self on a loo-acre farm which he bought in 
Lot 7, Concession i, Sarnia township. About 
sixty acres of this had already been cleared 
and Mr. Jackson was not long in clearing 



the rest, making it ready for cultivation. His 
farm is now well-developed, and he carries 
on general farming, but a few years ago oil 
was discovered there, and he has begun to 
operate in that line. The present residence 
was built in 1884, the year of his marriage, 
and all other buildings on the place have 
been improved and remodeled. 

On Dec. 17, 1884, Mr. Jackson married 
Ellen M. Fletcher, of Oil Springs, daughter 
of Edwin and Annie (Heath) Fletcher; she 
has borne her husband six children, viz. : 
Earl Heath, born March 22, 1886, who as 
sists his father on the farm ; Lloyd Douglass, 
April 27, 1888; Alice Annie, Feb. 24, 1890; 
George H., Aug. 28, 1892; Edith Beatrice, 
Oct. ii, 1898; John Edwin, Nov. 26, 1902. 
The family attend the Baptist Church, where 
Mr. Jackson has served as deacon for the 
past fifteen years. Politically he is a Liberal. 
Both he and his wife are members of the 
Maccabees and hold office in that organiza 
tion. They are popular in the community 
and are regarded with the greatest esteem 
by all who know them. 

WILLIAM KELLS, a retired farmer 
of Enniskillen township, living on Lot 6, 
Concession 14. was born in Ireland, in 1823, 
son of George and Sarah Kells. 

George Kells and his wife were natives 
of Ireland, and came to Canada as early as 
1824. They settled in York County, and 
remained there till a few years before Mr. 
Kells death, when he bought a farm in War 
wick, Lambton County. There both Mr. and 
Mrs. Kells died, the parents of ten children. 
William, who was the eldest son, remained 
at home off and on until he was of age, be 
ing hired out among farmers from the time 
he was a good-sized boy, and turning his 
wages over to his father until he was of age. 
He had little opportunity for education, be 
ing kept at work. After becoming of age 
he saved his wages until he had enough to 
buy some wild land, in Concession 14. He 
cleared space for a home, put up a little log 
cabin, and there brought his young wife, 
whom he married the same year, 1852. Al 
though he started with almost no capital 



534 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



except the ax on his shoulder, his untiring 
industry won the day, and before leaving 
his farm he had thoroughly improved it and 
built a large house and good barns. Later 
he removed to Wyoming. Mr. Kells wife 
was Miss Elizabeth Hodgson, daughter of 
David and Annie Hodgson, and was born 
in Yorkshire, England. Her parents were 
pioneers in Enniskillen township, where they 
settled after their arrival from England, on 
Concession 14. Mrs. Kells, who was called 
from this world in September, 1894, aged 
sixty-three, was a woman of many Christian 
virtues and was always an active worker in 
the Church of England, to which she be 
longed. She was the mother of ten children : 
(i) George, married Miss Grace White- 
head, of Plympton, and they settled on a 
farm purchased by his father in Enniskillen 
township. They have a family of six, Eliz 
abeth, Annie, William, Robert, Sarah and 
Eva. (2) David was killed when a young 
man by a fall from a stable he was building 
for himself in Enniskillen. (3) Mary is the 
wife of Joseph Holling, a farmer in Plymp 
ton, and they are the parents of ten chil 
dren, John, Fannie. Mary, Lizzie, Jennie, 
William, Joseph, Gilbert, Lydia and James. 
(4) Jennie married William Parks, of 
Plympton, and has three children, Harry, 
Eva and Harvey. (5) James married Miss 
Annie Brooks, of Enniskillen, and lives on a 
farm in Bad Axe, Michigan. They have no 
family. (6) Maggie is the wife of John 
Dowlar, a contractor and builder of Sarnia. 
They have no children. (7) William mar 
ried Miss Hilda Ellaner, of Lambton 
County, and lives on the old Kells home 
stead. They have one son, Ernest. (8) 
Sarah is the wife of Gilbert Hogarth, an 
Englishman. Their home is in Bad Axe, 
Michigan. They have two children, Frances 
and Lizzie. (9) Annie was given a good ed 
ucation in the Enniskillen schools, grew up 
on the farm, and in May, 1903, married 
George Rogers, of Petrolia, where he was 
born and reared and where he is now en 
gaged in the oil fields. ( 10) John died at the 
age of nine. 

William Kells is one of Lambton 



County s most worthy citizens and well de 
serving of praise for the courage and untir 
ing energy he has displayed in his success 
ful struggle with life. In politics he has 
always supported the Reform party; relig 
iously he is a member of the Methodist 
Church, which he was largely instrumental 
in founding in Enniskillen township. 

JAMES CAMPBELL, a well known ag 
riculturist of Warwick township, Lambton 
County, where he has been resident some 
forty-five years, was born June 30, 1832, in 
Glasgow, Scotland. 

Robert Campbell, father of James Camp 
bell, was born June 21, 1799, in the parish 
of Fernicarry, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, a 
son of Robert and Jean (McFarlaine) 
Campbell, a full history of whom is found 
elsewhere. Robert Campbell (2), the 
father of James, learned the trade of shoe 
maker, which he followed through young 
manhood in his native parish, and then 
moved to Greenock, where he carried on a 
shoe and leather business. While residing 
here he married Elizabeth McLean, who was 
born at Greenock, daughter of John McLean, 
who was a well-known elder in the Presby 
terian Church in that parish. Robert Camp 
bell and his wife moved to Glasgow, where 
he continued his shoe and leather business, 
and there the family lived until 1840. Mr. 
Campbell began to realize as he saw his chil 
dren growing up about him that the time 
would come when there would be no opening 
for them in a business way, and becoming in 
terested in Canada .from the reports sent him 
by his father and brother, who were alread 
established there, the time came when he was 
prepared to risk his all in the long journey 
to the New World. On May 22, 1840, with 
his wife and four children, he set sail in the 
vessel "Jane Haddow," and safely reached 
Xew York after a voyage of seven weeks, 
on July ii, 1840. The} continued on their 
way from that great United States city, sail 
ing up the Hudson river as far as Albany. 
The Erie canal had been completed a few 
years before, and by way of it they crossed 
the State of Xew York to Buffalo, thence 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



535 



proceeding to Middlesex County, Ont., and 
finding the other members of the family. 
\vho were engaged in farming in Ekfrid 
township. Middlesex County. 

In 1846 Robert Campbell bought a tract 
of 200 acres of land, on which he erected a 
log cabin and started out as a pioneer. A 
few words state the fact, but it took many 
years to transform his land into a well im 
proved farm even with the assistance of his 
sturdy sons. At length the time came when 
the sons could do the farm work and Mr. 
Campbell could devote his time to school 
teaching. He taught for a considerable time, 
not only his own children but those of the 
other settlers in the neighborhood, and was 
the very first teacher in this locality. After 
ward he gave his whole attention to the man 
agement of his farm and lived on it in peace 
and plenty until the age of seventy-five years. 
He died in May, 1874, and was laid to rest in 
the Murry cemetery in Ekfrid township. His 
devoted wife survived him until 1892, when 
she also passed away and was laid by his 
side in Murry cemetery. Both were con 
sistent Christians, she a member of the Pres 
byterian Church, while he was an adherent <if 
the Baptist Church. Like all true Scotchmen 
he was a Reformer and supported the prin 
ciples laid down on the founding of that 
party. 

Robert Campbell and his wife became 
the parents of eleven children, five of whom 
were born in Scotland, viz. : Robert, born in 
Glasgow, died in Ekfrid township, where he 
was a well known teacher ; James is the sub 
ject of this sketch; Janet (Jessie) married 
James Alexander, and died in Ekfrid town 
ship; Jane married John Campbell; Mar 
garet died in Scotland in infancy. The others 
of the family were : Mary, born in Ekfrid 
township, married John Corneil ; Elizabeth 
is a storekeeper in the County of Middlesex ; 
John, a farmer of Ekfrid township, married 
Jane McDougal ; Duncan, who resides on the 
old homestead, married Jessie Fletcher ; 
Margaret, widow of James Gentleman, re 
sides in Ekfrid township; Donald is a resi 
dent of Willis. Washington, U. S. A. 

James Campbell, the subject proper of 



this sketch, attended a private school in Glas 
gow until he was eight years old, when the 
family came to the new home. Settling in 
the woods, he had fewer advantages than 
many children of his age have, but his father 
assisted his children in the way of education 
and he improved all his opportunities and 
became a well informed man. Being the 
second eldest son in the family, heavy re 
sponsibilities fell upon him, and he had much 
to do in the way of clearing up the farm. 
He remained at home assisting until 1859, 
when he began to teach school, teaching for 
two years in Ekfrid and Xissouri townships, 
and then coming to Warwick township and 
locating on Lot n, Concession 5, North. 
This was a tract of 100 acres of bush and 
swamp land, and here he started into farm 
ing, first building a log cabin and making 
necessary improvements of various kinds. 
One year later he married and brought his 
young bride to the humble log home which 
her cheerful acceptance of hardships made 
bright and cheery. He taught school in the 
township for about two years, but since then, 
a matter of over forty years, he has 
given his time to agricultural pursuits. \r. 
1887 Mr. Campbell erected his present fine 
home, a brick structure which combines util 
ity with comfort, and his substantial barns 
give an idea of thrift and plenty. His sons 
have added fifty acres to his original tract 
and have placed the whole 1 50 acres under a 
fine state of cultivation. 

Like his honored father. Mr. Campbell 
is a stanch Reformer, and he has always- 
taken a deep interest in party affairs. For 
three years he was a member of the town 
ship council and served one term as deputy 
reeve, by virtue of which he had a seat in 
the county council. Mr. Campbell has shown 
his devotion to the educational interests of 
his section by consenting to serve for over 
twenty-five years in school offices, giving his 
time, attention and advice to this very im 
portant branch of county work. In religious 
belief he is a Congregationalist. 

Mr. Campbell was married. April _>-. 
1863. in Warwick township, by Rev. Daniel 
McCullom, a minister of the Congregational 



536 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Church, to Miss Margaret Brandon, sister 
of Thomas Brandon, of Warwick township. 
Mrs. Campbell died Oct. 21, 1898, after an 
illness of but two weeks. For thirty-five 
years she had been her. husband s loving com 
panion, and cheered his path when every 
thing looked dark in the early years, and 
when it seemed as if only hard labor would 
be their portion through life. She lived to 
enjoy ease, peace and comfort, and is re 
membered with affectionate consideration by 
her devoted family and a large circle < 
friends. She was laid to rest in Bethel cem 
etery. For a number of years she had been 
a member of the Plymouth Brethren 
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were the pa 
rents of fourteen children, four of whom died 
in infancy. The others all reached maturity, 
and were given every chance to develop into 
the intelligent, respected members of society 
which they have become, a credit to their 
rearing and to their neighborhood. Six be 
came school teachers. The family roll reads 
as follows in 1905 : Robert Alexander, died 
March 23, 1870. Matilda Jane, was educated 
in Warwick township and Sarnia high 
school, taught school in Warwick and 
Brooke townships, and is now the wife of 
George McElroy, of Brown City, Michigan, 
and has four children, Thomas, William, 
Richard and Margaret. Elizabeth died 
March 29, 1870. Letitia was educated in 
the Warwick township schools, Strathroy 
high school, and the normal school at Ot 
tawa, and then taught school for eight years 
in Kent and Lambton, prior to her marriage 
to Joseph Mills, of Warwick township. 
Robert Duncan died Sept. 15, 1886. Mary 
Elizabeth died Feb. 14, 1887. James was ed 
ucated in the Warwick schools and the 
Strathroy and Forest high schools, and 
after teaching two years entered the Sagi- 
naw (Michigan) Medical College, where 
he was graduated with the degree of M. D. 
and is now practicing at Stanwood. Michi 
gan : there he married Margaret McFarlane. 
Jessie married (first) Samuel Carroll, and 
(second) Alexander Hutchwith, and resides 
in Sombra township. John Malcolm operates 
the homestead farm. Agnes is now teaching 



school where her father taught forty years 
ago, and resides at home. Margaret, Will 
iam, Grace Wilhelmina and Laura Helen 
are at home. The family attends the Baptist 
Church in Forest. 

Mr. Campbell has been identified with 
many of the paramount interests of his sec 
tion. Since 1895 he has been secretary of 
the Maple Grove Cheese Factory, the largest 
enterprise of its kind in this part of Ontario. 
Its output, last year, was to the value of 
$18,000. He is a representative man of this 
part of the county, one of standing and judg 
ment, education and information, and whose 
hospitality is known all over Warwick town 
ship. 

WALTER B. J. WILLIAMS, editor 
and proprietor of the Sarnia Post, has, by 
dint of hard labor and wise management, 
won an established reputation in the news 
paper world. He has been in the business 
continuously for twenty-four years, and for 
eighteen years has been running his present 
periodical, an independent newspaper. Prac 
tical in business, and yet outspoken in his 
views, he has worked up a large circulation. 

Mr. Williams family is of good English 
stock, with a preponderance of literary tastes, 
coupled with skill in directing affairs, and 
the result has been the production of a large 
number of publishers, now to be found in 
various parts of the United States and 
Ontario. Charles Williams, grandfather of 
Walter B. J., was a lifelong resident of 
England. He there married and had sev 
eral children, among them Benjamin H. 

Benjamin H. Williams, father of Walter 
B. J., was a man of parts. Born in England 
in 1831, he there in a cultivated community 
received careful rearing. A desire for great 
er opportunities than lay within his grasp 
led him to break home ties, and in 1850, at 
the age of nineteen, he came to America, first 
locating in the State of New York. After a 
short residence there, however, he moved to 
Hamilton, Ont., where he remained for some 
time. While in this place he made the ac 
quaintance of Apphia Suzanna Henderson, 
a teacher and a woman of rare cultivation, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



537 



whom he soon afterward married. She was 
born in London, England, in 1832, and when 
nine years old came to Ontario. Here she 
availed herself of every opportunity within 
her grasp of cultivating her literary tastes, 
and in time thoroughly perfected herself in 
the English branches, becoming a recognized 
mistress of the derivation of words, and 
possessing an exceptionally fine command 
of language. For a number of years she fol 
lowed the profession of teaching, first in the 
Central school at Hamilton, where she had 
a class numbering 170 boys, and later in the 
Toronto Normal school, winning for herself 
an excellent reputation in both places. She 
died in Florida in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Will 
iams had seven children, three of whom grew 
to maturity: (i) Edwin C.. now of San 
Diego, California, married Miss Louisa 
Reaume, who died in 1888, and they had the 
following children who still survive : Lome, 
who is a graduate of West Point ; E. C., Jr. ; 
Walter, of Cleveland, Ohio ; and William 
Mitchell, of Sarnia. (2) Walter B. J. is 
mentioned below. (3) Apphia Matilda mar 
ried George E. Xiles. and they reside at 
Chrisney. Indiana, where he is ex-president 
of the village and is now serving as village 
treasurer. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Williams 
settled at Buffalo, Xew York, where he was 
engaged in business for some time. Later 
he moved to Port Dalhousie, Ont, where he 
conducted a hardware store and was man 
ager of the hydraulic works. He resided 
there for some time, and then moving to the 
Georgian Bay district engaged in the same 
business. Induced by a better opening in 
Port Huron, Michigan, he afterward moved 
there, and for some time operated a shingle- 
mill. He soon afterward disposed of this 
business and later, with his two sons, inaugu 
rated the daily, Sunday and weekly Tele 
graph, a well-circulated newspaper of Port 
Huron. This, with the aid of his sons, 
Edwin C. and Walter B. J., he conducted for 
some time. His next business change was 
even more marked and pronounced than his 
previous ones had been, and we find him in 
Florida, engaged in the cultivation of orange 



trees. This industry, however, proved in 
sufficient to meet the demands of his relent 
less activity, and he soon afterward founded 
the Citrus County Star, which he conducted 
with success for some time. At this period 
the illness and death of his wife had begun 
to make inroads upon his health and decided 
him to make a trip to England, where he 
went in 1889, and there, about two weeks 
after his arrival, he died. 

Walter B. J. Williams has achieved suc 
cess mainly by confining his efforts to one 
pursuit. Born in Port Dalhousie, Ont., Jan. 
2, 1862. he was still quite young when his 
parents moved to Port Huron. In the public 
schools of that city he acquired his education, 
developing the keen perception, strict atten 
tion to business, and taste for good literature. 
which have ever since characterized him as 
a man. By the experience on the Telegraph 
he early received practical training in news 
paper work, which has been of invaluable 
service to him. In the fall of 1885 he went 
to Florida, and started an orange grove, but 
the climate being ill-suited to his health, in 
February, 1887, he returned to Ontario, and, 
settling at Point Edward, took over a news 
paper known as the Point Edward Post, 
established the previous Christmas Day by 
his father. As a man of energy and fertile 
resources he mastered the difficulties beset 
ting a newspaper easily, and continued the 
publication of this periodical for five years. 
Then, in 1892, finding a good bargain in the 
Sarnia Sun, a paper founded in 1885. he 
made the purchase and consolidating that 
periodical with the one he had been running 
he established the Sarnia Post. Keen in 
sight into the tastes of the community, and 
tact in presenting his views, won him the 
confidence of old subscribers and brought in 
new ones. The paper is independent in poli 
tics, and now has a wide circulation. 

On April 30, 1890, Mr. Williams mar 
ried Miss Mary Jacob, who was born in 
Chatham, Ont., daughter of George Jacob, 
who was killed in the battle of the Wilder 
ness, while serving with the Northern army 
in the American Rebellion. He was a rela 
tive of Commodore Grant, who is further 



538 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



mentioned elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Williams have been horn six children : Wal 
ter Russell and Edwin George (twins), Ruth 
Alexandria, Alfred Joyce and Grant Barthe 
(also twins), and Dorothy Mary. 

Mr. Williams possesses rare foresight, 
combined with great energy. Not only can 
he conceive of a practical idea, but he can 
also carry it into effect. As an editor he is 
untiring in his efforts, and finds his chief 
dfelight in mastering the obstacles besetting 
his path. In the social and religious life of 
his city he is active. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church, being among its substantial 
supporters. Fraternally he affiliates with the 
A. F. & A. M., R. A. M., and K. T., the 
K. O. T. M., and S. of S. 

PETER McCALLUM (deceased) wrote 
the following account of his own life: "I, 
Peter McCallum, was born in the Parish of 
Inverary, in Culuha, Glenshira, on the fifth 
day of December, in the year 1812. Was 
the youngest of a family of eight five boys 
and three girls. Before I was a year old 
my father moved from there to St. John, 
where he lived for twenty-seven years. The 
parish school, which was about a mile dis 
tant, was where I got my education. The 
teacher s name was Mr. Bain; was an old 
soldier and was in. the battle of Copenhagen. 
He was a very good teacher and was pre 
centor in the Established Church. At the 
age of seventeen I went back to Glenshira 
and hired with a Mr. Turner as herds boy, 
receiving two sterling for six months. After 
that I was at different places in Argyllshire 
as a shepherd, going occasionally to Glas 
gow and Falkirk with sheep and cattle. 

"In 1842 married Catherine McArthur, 
and settled in Drimuanmclach, in the parish 
of Killean, as shepherd for Dr. James Hall. 
After two years we moved to Ardary, in 
Kilmichael parish, Loch Awe. From there 
we moved to Dunoon, still remaining with 
the same master, Mr. McDugald, where I 
stayed until 1850, when my wife s relatives, 
who were coming to America, persuaded me 
to come with them. It was very much 
against Mr. McDugald s will that l came, 



as I had been engaged with him for another 
year. After selling our cattle and a few 
sheep and our household furniture we sent 
our luggage and such things as we intended 
to take with us to Ardrishaeg to be for 
warded to Greenock, from which place we 
intended to sail. Then we visited our friends 
in the mother land for the last time, after 
which we traveled toward Greenock, cross 
ing Loch Fyne to Coval at Strachur, from 
thence on our way to Dunoon we heard the 
cuckoo cooing for the last time. I then went 
to Glasgow to arrange for our passage, also 
for a collie dog which I thought a good deal 
of, and which was a good deal of trouble. 
From there I went to Greenock and we all 
hoarded the boat called the Wainsworth, 
and bid adieu to the hills and heather. It 
was on the I4th of June that we set sail from 
Greenock. We were towed out as far as Ailsa 
Craig by a tug, and before the tug left us a 
stowaway was found who was running away 
from his wife, so he was sent back. We got 
out of sight of land the first day, then it was 
two weeks before we sighted an ocean 
wandered. The Wainsworth was a strong 
boat but very slow. We were overtaken by 
several storms. In one very severe storm 
three masts went overboard with two sailors, 
who were in the rigging (fifteen of the pas 
sengers died of smallpox and measles) . The 
boat had to go to Cape Breton to be re 
paired, where we had to wait two weeks. 
From there we went to Gross Island in the 
St. Lawrence river. It was there we first 
met Mr. Secular, now of Forest. When we 
landed at Montreal we left that boat and 
boarded another which took us as far as 
Kingston, from there we went to Toronto, 
Queenstown, Buffalo, and finally landed at 
Port Stanley; altogether we were twelve 
weeks on the journey. We visited some 
friends in Southwold and Westminster 
before coming to Bosanquet. We came 
to Donald McKellar s on the 2(1 Con 
cession and stayed there about two 
weeks after viewing the land. Then 
Dougald McArthur and f went to the 
agent to get the lots we were looking 
at. We found him at Brewster s Mill, now 



LOMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



539 



Grand Bend. Dougald took the land on the 
Ridge Road now occupied by Mrs. Jean Mc- 
Artlnir. While we were building a shanty 
on his place word came that the place that 1 
intended to take had been taken up. I then 
got Lot 19, on Concession 12, and the In 
dians were my nearest neighbors. I got men 
from the 2cl, 4th and 6th Concessions, and 
Mr. Bradley from Forest to build my shanty. 
It was built on the Indian trail. After we 
got the roof on the shanty I got Aaron Tool, 
who had a yoke of oxen, to bring our lug 
gage from the ist Concession where we had 
left it in a barn owned by John Elliott. 
When Mr. Tool left, our first act was to pray 
for mercy and protection in our new home. 
Before we had the house finished a Baptist 
minister by the name of Elder Williams, who 
preached at Bosanquet Corners, now Ar- 
kona, passed our place on his way to the 
Lake Shore. I was glad to see a man pass 
ing. Shortly after this another man came 
along, this time a Mr. Armstrong. I 
thought I was fortunate to have stumbled 
on a minister s track although I had wan 
dered so far into the wilderness. I had to 
make a road to allow the wagon to go 
through the bush. My wife had to pull 
turnips the next day for Mr. Tool for bring 
ing our luggage, and I had to turn carpenter 
and put floor and door in the house with the 
assistance of an axe and auger. By this 
time six hens and a rooster had perched in 
the brush heap that I cleared off the lot that 
the shanty was built on. When I was laying 
the floor a hen-hawk came and scared the 
hens. I hurried to put together my double 
barrelled gun which I had bought at Mont 
real. While I was thus engaged the hawk 
came back and caught a hen right at the 
door, but, on seeing me, he let her go and 
was hurrying away when I shot him. I said 
to myself, like George Buchanan Give me 
your hand so that you will not do it again. 
After getting the floor laid and the door 
hung (which had to be hung with wooden 
hinges and pins for nails) I undertook to 
build a chimney with clay and split wood. 
The first tree I felled was a large oak. and as 
I had no experience in such work was very 



much afraid the tree would fall on the shanty 
and I called my wife out to be out of danger, 
but it happened to go the opposite way. We 
were there but a few days when Donald 
Thompson and his wife and brother, Mal 
colm, who had taken land beside us, came. 
Shortly after, another neighbor came, in the 
person of Mr. Pringle from Yarmouth, who 
took up Lot 1 8. By this time winter had set 
in, and it was with great difficulty that we 
cut the logs to build a shanty for him which 
kept us employed for three weeks; but after 
all he did not come to settle there. Our 
next difficulty was with the mice, of which 
there were not a few in the shanty and we 
had no means of catching them, so I went to 
Duncan Johnson s (who is now in Mani 
toba), and got a cat, and was no sooner 
home with her than she caught three mice. 
Our provision for the winter consisted of 
flour which was brought from Lobo, and po 
tatoes which we had bought from a Mr. 
Dewar, of Plympton, and half a beef that 
Dougald McArthur and myself had bought 
in Lobo. (This old friend of mine died in 
Kansas recently.) 

"Towards spring Elder Williams of Ar- 
kona held meetings in the shanty owned by 
Mr. Dawson on the Ridge Road, now owned 
by A. Nimmo ; people came several miles t; 
attend the meetings. During the winter we 
were busy underbrushing and preparing the 
land for the spring crop. In chopping down 
the maples we saw sap running, so we boiled 
some down and made a small cake of sugar 
which we sold for a York shilling to Mr. 
Gustin, who came from London township 
and was going to see his son at Lake Valley 
Grove. This was our first sale of any pro 
duct of Canada. About this time a Mr. 
Durand started a store near where the cel 
ery farm now is, and had as clerk a Mr. 
Brown from Glasgow. On my way to the 
store one day I met Mrs. Rae, mother of 
Robert Rae of Thedford, and had a short 
conversation with her about the hardships 
of the pioneer s life. Near the store there 
lived an Indian chief by the name of Quigna, 
who shortly before had sold out to Allen 
Kennedy. One day, in the spring, Mrs. D. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



540 

Thompson came to our place on a visit and 
got my wife to go out to the creek to fish. 
They took with them an old carving fork 
(which we brought from the old country), 
and put a long handle in it to spear the fish 
with and were very successful in catching 
some suckers; often after that they went 
there to fish. (Mrs. Thompson is still living 
on the old homestead.) Another time while 
she was looking for the cows she got lost, 
and the little settlement turned out to look for 
her but did not find her that night, but on 
the next day her brother and some others 
found her near about where William Nimmo 
now has his house. The first question she 
asked her brother was Did you bring me 
anything to eat? Before planting time we 
heard that an Indian by the name of Stone 
had potatoes to sell, so Mr. Thompson and 
myself went with a yoke of oxen and a 
sleigh to buy some. While there the Indian 
showed us a United States bill and asked us 
if that was good money. We told him we 
did not know, but when we paid him with 
silver money he said that was good because 
it had the Queen s head on it. We had a 
good deal of difficulty in getting the potatoes 
home, the oxen got tired and did not want 
to draw, so we got one on each side and tried 
to keep them straight but finally we got stuck 
and left the potatoes and sleigh there and 
went home with the oxen. The next day Mr. 
Thompson s brother, Malcolm, who was a 
better teamster, went back with the oxen 
after the potatoes and sleigh. That year I 
raised seventy bushels of potatoes. When 
we planted the corn the squirrels were so 
plentiful that they took a great deal of the 
seed out. 

"Our nearest postoffice was at Adelaide 
village, which was nineteen miles from our 
home, and I walked that distance more than 
once to see if there was a letter, and when 
one did come it was a letter with a cheque 
on the bank, and I had to go to London to 
get it cashed; then I was enabled to buy a 
yoke of oxen, which I got from a Mrs. 
Moore in Warwick. I also got a yoke and 
logging chain. I next got a cow, and 
thought then that I was in a fair way at 



farming. We then got a bell to put on the 
oxen, and a compass to guide us in the 
woods. During that summer a number of 
people passed in search of land to buy, and 
especially on Sundays the settlers would take 
strangers to see the Indian settlement. One 
day the Rev. Mr. Scott, a Presbyterian min 
ister (then of London, but who is now 
dead), and John Campbell, of the third con 
cession (who went along as guide, and who 
is also now dead), visited all the new settlers 
of Bosanquet. They traveled on foot. This 
minister took a great interest in supplying 
us with missionaries and ministers, and sent 
us forty dollars to help us build a church, 
which after a time was built at Pine Hill. 
Among the first to come after Mr. Scott s 
visit was a Mr. Fraser, a catechist of Lon 
don township, who held meetings in Mr. 
McLellan s house on the 5th Concession. 
Mr. Eraser s two sons, Donald and Alex 
ander, took up land at the Lake Shore that 
year, and were afterward elders in Ravens- 
wood Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery 
of London then extended as far as Sarnia, 
Chatham and Windsor, and the county coun 
cil held their meetings at Sandwich. 

"In May, 1852, I sold my place to two 
brothers by the name of Eves, and bought the 
north half of Lot 10, Concession 6, from 
Dougald McLaughlin. I built a house on 
the place and settled down to work. The 
place is now owned by George Wilson. The 
first meeting to arrange for preaching in the 
section was held at the house of Alexander 
Mclnnis. The next week another meeting 
was held at Dougald McKellar s, who is 
now in Thedford, and the Presbyterians 
from all around attended the meetings. Mr. 
Brown, before spoken of, acted as secretary. 
Mr. Campbell and myself were appointed to 
write to the Presbytery to supply us with a 
minister, and at the same time it was de 
cided to hold the services in the school on 
the place owned by Mr.. Kietchim, now 
owned by David Smith. The Presbytery 
first sent us a man named Mr. Clark, a mis 
sionary; he was also treasurer for the Pres 
bytery, and a very good man who looked 
after the interests of the people. Those who 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



were sent alter that to preach were Rev. Mr. 
McPherson, of West Williams; Rev. Mr. 
Sutherland of Ekfrid; Rev. Mr. McCaul, 
Chatham; Rev. Mr. Walker, also of Chat 
ham; and Rev. Mr. King, of Buxton; then 
we had a student, a Mr. Ferguson. The min 
isters boarded with Donald McKellar. About 
that time Rev. Mr. Walker, who was going 
to Sarnia to be placed, passed through by our 
place, and spent a night with us. He was 
afterward clerk for the Presbytery of Lon 
don. Our first settled minister was Mr. 
Blont, who was a godly man and won many 
friends during his short stay. While here he 
married a Miss Kennedy of West Williams, 
lately out from Scotland. He preached at 
Pine Hill and Ravenswood. It was at that 
time that the church was built at Pine Hill. 
for which Rev. Mr. Scott gave the forty dol 
lars. Mr. Blont was delicate, so after bid 
ding a sad farewell to the congregation here 
they started for the Old Country, but when 
on the St. Lawrence river the vessel sank, 
and he and his wife and son were drowned. 
Our next minister was Rev. Mr. Goodfel- 
low ; he was here but a short time when he 
married a Miss Martin of Windsor, and took 
up housekeeping in Arkona, where he 
preached occasionally. He remained with 
us several years. His son and daughter are 
still living. In his time the Manse was built 
at Pine Hill, it being the house now occu 
pied by George Thompson. Mr. Goodfellow 
moved from here to Xova Scotia, where his 
wife died. He married again but he and his 
wife are both dead now. Mr. Goodfellow 
was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. McAlpine, 
who stayed with us a few years and then 
went to St. Mary s. He was succeeded by 
the Rev. Air. Currie, who followed the ex 
ample of other ministers, and married Miss 
E. Jarvis shortly after coming. Steps were 
taken to have the place of meeting changed, 
so a church was built in Thedford in 1877. 
The contractor was Mr. Robinson of Sarnia, 
and the building committee : T. Kirkpatrick, 
Donald McKellar, T. Carmichael, J. Gordon, 
H. McXabb, Mr. Grierson, J. Dallas, and 
myself. Mr. Kirkpatrick proved a great 
help as he was a mason. Of this number 



four have passed away to their rest, and two 
have moved away. Air. Kirkpatrick laid the 
corner stone, and a few years ago Airs. Kirk 
patrick gave a bell for the church, which 
calls us to the house of God. In his will 
Air. Kirkpatrick left four hundred dollars to 
the church and Sabbath-school, and of this 
one hundred dollars was expended in pur 
chasing a library. A few years ago Alrs.- 
Parker, then a member of this church, gave 
a clock to the church. She has since moved 
to Forest. The congregation has been 
steadily growing, and prospering although a 
large number have died since our minister 
was first placed among us. In the year 1885 
a new Alanse was built close to the church, 
and with Air. Currie s good taste and labor 
he has made a beautiful lawn with hedge and 
evergreens. 

"Xow to return to the 6th Concession. 
We were not long there when a Sunday- 
school was started by the efforts of William. 
Smith and myself. It was held every Sun 
day afternoon in my house. After a time 
Air. Smith removed from there and his 
brother David took his place in the Sunday- 
school. The scholars came from between 
the Ridge Road and the Boundary, and 
were taught from the Bible and the Shorter 
Catechism, there being no other lesson helps. 
This continued for some time till the school 
house was built on Luke Robinson s place 
(now owned by Henry AIcBryan), then the 
Sunday-school was held in the school-house. 
At that time the wolves and bears were 
abundant. The first sheep I had was carried 
off by a wolf, and another time a bear took 
a calf out of the field and took a pig from 
Alexander Alclnnis. One time when Dou- 
gald Campbell (now dead), who lived 
about where George Sutherland now lives, 
was out looking for the cows, near what is 
now the back of Air. Jaap s farm, he saw a 
bear with two cubs, and he at once climbed an 
ironwood tree which unfortunately was not 
very strong so that he could not go up very 
high. When the bear saw him it got on top 
of a little knoll where it could reach his foot, 
and tore the back of his foot badly. Just 
then his dogs sighted the cubs and was bark- 



542 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ing at them, so the bear left Dougald to at 
tend to the cubs. He at once got down and 
hurried off to the nearest house, which be 
longed to Robert Crawford, who then lived 
on the farm now owned by Alex. McNabb. 
When he got there and saw the blood on his 
foot he could not move, and Mr. Crawford 
had to carry him home. Another time when 
some one was going through the woods he 
saw a bear and a couple of cubs. He told 
the people and the neighborhood turned out 
in search of the bear. On seeing so many 
men the cubs climbed up a tree, but were 
shot, and when they fell we were as fright 
ened to touch them as we had been when 
they were alive. We did not see anything 
more of the bear, and were not troubled with 
them after that. 

"The first school that was built was a 
shanty built on the corner of Mr. Terrace s 
farm, now owned by Mr. Armitage. The first 
teacher was Miss Star and when she left Miss 
Hill came. After coming to the 6th I was 
appointed a school trustee and continued in 
that office on and off for twenty years. 
Shortly afterward I was appointed justice of 
the peace. Dissatisfaction had arisen about 
the place where the school was situated, some 
wanting to have it moved to the side road 
between the 6th and 8th Concessions. A day 
was appointed to have a meeting about it, but 
on that day there was a child s funeral. Some 
wanted to have the meeting postponed but 
this we could not do, and the majority were 
in favor of having the school on the side 
road. It was built on the farm then owned 
by Peter Campbell, where it stayed for 
some time, but trouble again arose, and No. 
5 section was divided into three sections, 5th, 
8th and loth. The 8th and loth joined and 
built a school of their own on. the farm of 
Tas. McCordic, but this school was burned, 
and after some time they built a brick school. 
It was at this time that the red school was 
built on the 6th. and after some time it was 
replaced by a brick one built on J. Dallas 
farm, where we will now leave it. 

"In the year 1868 I suffered a severe 
loss in the death of my wife after a lingering 
illness of several years. We had taken a 



young girl to raise by the name of Janet 
McArthur, in the year 1861. Soon after we 
took a nephe\v of my wife to raise, Peter 
McArthur, who was about eight months old. 
Shortly after this my nephew came out from 
Scotland to help me work my farm, and I 
bought one hundred acres, one fifty adjoin 
ing the lot I had, and the other was the west 
half of Lot 13. He thought he could make 
more money speculating, so he left me after 
a couple of years. He married Miss E. Mc- 
Lellan and went to live at Wallaceburg, 
where they still live. A few years after mv 
wife died Janet McArthur took her sister 
Isabella, to stay with her for company, and 
I sent them to school and gave them all a 
good education. 

"Thos. Piggott, Sr., had built a cheese 
factory on the Ridge Road ; after he had run 
it a year or two the Ridge Tree Cheese Com 
pany bought him out and ran the factory 
very successfully till Oct. 23d, 1887, when 
it was burned. This was a great loss to the 
company; however, they soon got to work 
and put up a new factory. After the first 
factory was bought the cheese company 
founded a lodge called the Grange, and 
got a Mr. Cole from Bear Creek to organize 
the society. We used to hold our meetings 
upstairs in the factory. I was appointed 
secretary for a time. I took orders and we 
sent away to the wholesale Grange store for 
our supplies, keeping a kind of store. .\n 
evening was appointed for our meetings, 
when the goods were distributed. We did a 
rushing business for a few years and had an 
oyster supper occasionally and had a very 
enjoyable time. We also had Grange pic 
nics, in the summer, when we went to Mr. 
Smith s grove in Warwick, and had a num 
ber of speakers from a distance. After a 
time it was thought advisable to move the 
Grange. It was then taken to John McKay s, 
and when he sold out the Grange went down. 
The number of the lodge was 104, and was 
called Ridge Tree Grange. In addition to 
all the other organizations, the society had to 
start a Township Insurance Company, but 
not having the number of members required 
we tried to form an East Lambton Insur- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



543 



ance, and succeeded. This is now known 
as the East Lambton Fire Insurance Coin- 
pan} . 

"In the fall of 1881 I sold Lot 10, on the 
6th Concession. Some years previous to this 
I had moved to west half of Lot 13, 5th Con 
cession, where I lived until I sold out and 
moved to Thedford in April, 1895. 

"On Oct. 7, 1 88 1, I was again married to 
Miss N. McArthur, of St. Thomas. In the 
spring of 1883 we took another girl to raise, 
in the person of Maggie McArthur, who is 
still with us." 



In April. 1895, Mr. McCallum and his 
estimable wife moved to the village of Thed 
ford, principally for the purpose of being 
near the church which he loved so well, and 
where he was to be found worshipping every 
Sabbath as long as the state of his health per 
mitted. Mr. McCallum lived a contented, 
pious, Christian life, loved and respected by 
a large circle of friends and acquaintances, 
until he departed this life and entered into 
his reward. 

WESLEY C. PRAY (deceased). 
Among the eminent men of Lambton Coun 
ty, whose names are still familiar and whose 
memory is still green, none is called with 
more expressions of regret and esteem than 
the late "Wesley C. Pray, whose death oc 
curred at his home in Alvinston, Brooke 
township, May 17, 1898. Mr. Pray was 
born Dec. 19, 1865, at Ogdensburg, Xew 
York, son of William and Mary (Braith- 
waite) Pray. 

"William Pray settled for some time in 
Alvinston. where he engaged in the manu 
facture of hoops and staves. In 1902 he re 
moved to Indian Head, Northwest Terri 
tory, where he is still engaged in business. 

Wesley C. Pray was the only son of his 
parents, and received his education in Buf 
falo. \Vhen his parents came to Alvinston. 
our subject engaged as bookkeeper, with his 
father s business. Mr. Pray married Miss 
Ada Crawford, of Alvinston, Ont., only 
daughter of Dr. Allen and Almyra (Patter 



son) Crawford, who came as pioneers, from 
Scotland to Canada. Dr. Crawford prac 
ticed medicine in Boswell, before coming to 
Alvinston, in 1877, and was highly esteemed 
in that place, as well as here, where his death 
occurred in 1888. Full of charity and 
thought for others, Dr. Crawford had hosts 
of friends wherever his work led him, while 
his sound judgment and sterling character 
won him a place in the front rank of men of 
refinement and education. Mrs. Crawford 
died in 1891, in the faith of the Methodist 
Church. Two children were born to Dr. 
and Mrs. Crawford : Clare, a student in the 
London Business college; and Ada H., now 
Mrs. Pray. Dr. Crawford was a Reformer 
in politics. 

During his residence in Alvinston. Mr. 
Pray purchased a brick residence on Main 
street, in which Mrs. Pray now resides. Re 
ligiously Mr. Pray was a consistent member 
of the Methodist Church. In political sym 
pathy he was a Reformer, and for several 
years held the office of reeve. At his death 
he left the following children : Harrison 
C., Alma H., and Allen T., all of whom are 
students in school. Socially he was a mem 
ber of the A. F. & A. M. : the C. O. F. ; the 
I. O. F.. and the I. O. O. F., all of Alvinston, 
Ontario. 

During his honorable and useful life, 
he displayed those characteristics, which en 
title him to the remembrance and esteem of 
his fellow citizens. 

DANIEL DUNHAM. Among the 
progressive and representative men of 
Plympton township, Lambton County, Out., 
is Daniel Dunham (brother of David Dun 
ham, mentioned elsewhere), born in Yau- 
ghan township, York County, Ont., March 
31, 1848. When he was five years of age, he 
went to live with a married sister, Mrs. Wil 
liam F. Ward, and when nine years old went 
to Dorchester, where he acquired a limited 
education. Still later he came to Plympton 
township with his brother David, and took 
up 100 acres of rough land in Plympton 
township. This he subsequently sold to 



544 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



David, and purchased the loo-acre farm on 
which he now resides, and which he has 
brought into a high state of cultivation. 

At Arkona, Lambton County, Dec. 30, 
1869, Mr. Dunham was united in marriage 
with Miss Harriet Ellen Snively, daughter 
of David and Elizabeth Snively. Mrs. Dun 
ham was born in Welland County, Ont., 
Xov. 4, 1849, and died Oct. 25, 1890. They 
became the parents of the following chil 
dren : Samuel Curtis, born July 8, 1871, 
married Catherine Curtin, June 21, 1902, 
and resides in Silver Creek, New York; 
James B., born March 14, 1873, married, in 
April, 1899, Ida Florence Stockdale, and re 
sides at Burlington, Ont. ; Franklin Evert, 
born April 16, 1880, married Rachael 
Freele, Dec. 25, 1901, and resides in Plymp- 
ton township ; Harriet Emma, born Dec. 28, 
1883; Ethel May, born March 4, 1885. 

Mr. Dunham has filled the office of 
school trustee, very acceptably. He and his 
family are consistent members of the Meth 
odist Church, of which he is class leader. 
In political affiliations he is independent, pre 
ferring to vote for the man rather than to 
be bound by party lines. He is a member 
of the C. O. F., of Forest, and has held the 
office of chaplain for the past five years. 

Mrs. Dunham was the second daughter 
of David and Elizabeth Snively, and the 
family moved to Dorchester township, where 
Mrs. Snively died when Mrs. Dunham was 
a child. Mrs. Dunham was converted at a 
revival meeting held at Harrietville when 
she was eighteen years of age, and since then 
has been a consistent Christian woman. Dur 
ing their married life Mr. and Mrs. Dunham 
have passed through the various trials and 
privations incident to pioneer life, but now 
they appear to have forgotten much that was 
bitter, and enjoy recalling the pleasures of 
those early days, in their comfortable home, 
surrounded by the comforts their thrift and 
industry have provided. There they dis 
pense a generous and deeply appreciated hos 
pitality to their many friends, and enjoy the 
blessings sent them as a reward of upright, 
conscientious living and earnest, hard work. 



JOHN FOSTER, one of Enniskillen s 
most advanced and successful farmers, has 
made a scientific study of agriculture and 
has attained most gratifying results from his 
efforts and experiments. He was born in 
Cumberland, England, Dec. 3, 1845, but has 
lived in Canada since he was five years old. 
Joseph and Ann (Rowntree) Foster, his 
parents, were both born in Cumberland in 
the year 1811. They married there, and all 
their children were born before they emi 
grated to Canada, in 1 850. They made their 
home from the first in Middlesex County, 
Ont., where Joseph Foster bought wild land 
in McGillivray township, which he gradually 
developed into a good farm. There he died 
in 1893, an d his wife was taken away a year 
later. They were members of the Church of 
England and Mr. Foster was a Conservative 
in politics. Their children were as follows : 
Annie died in childhood; Levi, who was a 
farmer in Dawn township, died Oct. 14, 
1905, unmarried; Thomas lives with his 
wife and family in Brown county, Minne 
sota ; William died at the homestead, unmar 
ried; Joseph, who lives on a farm in Middle 
sex County, is married and has ten children, 
Joseph, David, John, James, Mary Ann, 
Maggie, Mabel, Lillie, Susanna and Milly; 
George died in London, Ont., Jan. 4, 1905 ; 
John is our subject; James, unmarried, is a 
farmer in McGillivray, Ontario. 

John Foster attended the schools of Mid 
dlesex and began early to make his own way 
in the world. His first employment after 
leaving home was in the woods, making lum 
ber, in which he was engaged for five years. 
In 1870 he was married, and for seven years 
lived on his father s old homestead, he and 
his wife coming to Moore township, Lamb- 
ton County, in 1878, and settling on a fifty- 
acre farm. It had been slightly improved, 
and Mr. Foster finished the work, putting 
up new buildings and making a fine farm of 
his place, which included fifty additional 
acres purchased later. In 1894 he bought 
the William Anderson farm, in Enniskillen, 
known as "Greenwood," which was one of 
the most highly productive places in the 






^ j 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



545 



county. He keeps himself thoroughly posted 
on the best and most advanced agricultural 
methods, applies them to his own property, 
and is a most progressive and successful 
farmer. His residence is beautifully situated 
on high ground, surrounded by a magnifi 
cent tract of -woodland on one side, and on 
the other by large lawns shaded by evergreen 
trees which unite to make it a picturesque 
spot, and an ideal home for either summer or 

winter. 

Mrs. Foster was a Miss Mary Tweddle, 
torn in Northumberland, England. Nov. 22. 
1850. She was brought to Canada by her 
parents, William and Elizabeth (Orel) 
Tweddle, who were pioneer settlers in Lon 
don township. Middlesex County. The 
father is now living in retirement at Ailsa 
Craig, Out., owns a large amount of land, 
and is well-to-do. The mother passed away 
at their home in 1895, aged seventy-seven 
years. They had six children, viz.: (i) 
Richard, who lives in the County of Middle 
sex, is married, and his five children. (2) 
Robson, a Middlesex farmer, is married, but 
has no children. (3) John, who lives on the 
old homestead, has three children. Amy, 
William and Joseph. (4) Annie, formerly a 
school teacher, is now at home with her 
father. (5) Clarissa married William Rob 
inson, of the Northwest Territory, and has 
ten children. (6) Mary. Mrs. Foster, wife of 
our subject, was educated in Middlesex 
County. 

Two daughters have been born to John 
and Mary Foster. Annie and Elizabeth J., 
the former in Middlesex County, and the 
latter in Moore. Annie grew up and ^ was 
educated in Moore, and is now the wife of 
John Graham, an Enniskillen farmer in Con 
cession 2 ; their children are named Mary E., 
Sadie, Annie, Levi and John. Miss Eliza 
beth J. Foster attended school in both Moore 
and Enniskillen, is intelligent and refined, 
and a most devoted companion to her 
parents. 

In religious connection the family are 
Presbyterians. In political issues Mr. Foster 
has always supported the Conservative party. 
His life "has been a successful one, and his 



prosperity has been achieved by his own un 
aided efforts and is a monument to the abid 
ing power of industry, intelligence and in 
tegrity. He is highly respected in the com 
munity, as is also his wife, a woman of many 
admirable traits. 

JOHX ARMSTRONG, a prosperous 
general merchant and postmaster of Brig- 
den. Moore township, Lambton County, who 
owns and operates a branch store at Brad- 
shaw, is one of the county s best known citi 
zens, having been identified with the growth, 
prosperity and progress of this section for 
over a quarter of a century. Mr. Arm 
strong was born April 23, 1846, in Zorra 
East township, Oxford County, Ontario. 

Arthur Armstrong, his father, was a na 
tive of Ireland, born in County Fermanagh, 
in 1810, and there grew to manhood and en 
gaged in farming. He came to Canada in 
1835 in a sailing vessel, via Quebec, settling 
in the Niagara District, where he spent five 
years on a farm, and while there he enlisted 
in the British army, seeing service during 
the Mackenzie .Rebellion of 1837-38. In 
1838 he came, to Oxford County, buying a 
tract of land in Zorra West township, being 
among the first settlers in that section. Here 
he settled and began the life of a pioneer, 
building a small log house, and by hard work 
he succeeded in clearing his farm which he 
improved extensively, building a fine dwell 
ing-house and barn. After remaining five 
years he moved to Zorra East and went 
through this experience again. There the 
remainder of his life was spent, his death 
occurring in 1884, at the ripe old 
age of seventy-four years. Arthur Arm 
strong was a devout member of the Church 
of England and gave the land upon which 
the cemetery stands, the same being a por 
tion of the old homestead. He was a stanch 
Conservative, but was no politician and did 
not seek public office. While in the Niag 
ara District, he married Susan Everett, who 
was born in Canada, on the Niagara river, 
and whose parents were natives of New Jer 
sey and of German descent. She died on 
the farm, and both Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong 



35 



546 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



are buried in the Church of England ceme 
tery. Eight children were born to this 
union, three of whom died young : Mary 
(deceased) married Joseph James; Jacob is 
deceased ; John is our subject ; Hannah mar 
ried William Regan; Robert is deceased. 

John Armstrong attended the district 
schools of his native township, and received 
a fair education, although in those days, the 
country being new, the opportunities were 
extremely limited. He grew up on the farm, 
where he remained until of age, assisting 
his father in farming. Wishing to see what 
opportunities presented themselves to young 
men in the western country, he started for 
the west, going as far as Wisconsin, where 
he spent a year, principally engaged in con 
tract work. Seeing that Canada afforded 
better opportunities he returned home, and 
for five years engaged in public work, build 
ing bridges in his own and adjoining town 
ships. In 1873 he built the wooden bridge 
over Smith creek, which is still standing, in 
a good state of preservation, after over 
thirty-three years of use. In this year he 
gave up contract work and started farming, 
buying land near his father s home which he 
farmed for five years. In 1878 he rented 
his farm and came to Lambton County, be 
coming a partner with John Dawson, his 
wife s brother, in the general merchandise 
business at Brigden. For four years the 
business was conducted under this partner 
ship, Mr. Armstrong, at the end of this time, 
assuming the whole business, which he has 
successfully carried on for the past twenty- 
three years, adding to the general merchan 
dise business, a millinery and tailoring de 
partment, chinaware, crockery, carpets, etc. 
The establishment is now one of the largest 
in the County of Lambton. 

In the year 1889 Mr. Armstrong com 
menced the construction of his present fine 
business block, built of brick, one of the 
finest and most substantial in the county ; its 
cost was six thousand dollars. In 1893 Mr. 
Armstrong opened his branch store at Brad- 
sha\v, under the management of W. J. 
Bnnvnley. and the success which has been 
gained by the new branch as well as the main 



store testifies to the excellence of the goods 
and the business ability of Mr. Armstrong. 
In 1897 he started another branch, at In- 
wood, under the management of his nephew, 
W. R. Dawson, who for nine years was a 
clerk in the store at Brigden, to whom Mr. 
Armstrong has lately sold his In wood 
branch. In 1902 Mr. Armstrong erected 
a large cold storage building in Brigden, the 
only structure of the kind in the county, and 
up-to-date in every respect. It is 26 by 50 
feet in dimensions, and has a capacity of five 
carloads. Mr. Armstrong is a man of en 
terprise and besides his business interests 
owns 200 acres of well-cultivated farm land, 
150 acres in Enniskillen township, and fifty 
acres in Sombra township, upon which he 
carries on stock raising and general farming. 
His fine brick residence in Brigden is one 
of the most beautiful homes in the county. 
It is fitted with all modern improvements 
and no pains have been spared to make the 
home comfortable. 

Mr. Armstrong is not a politician, but 
he is a stanch member of the Conservative 
party, to which his father belonged. He 
\vas appointed postmaster at Brigden in 
1882, under Sir John A. Macdonald s ad 
ministration, and has filled that office for 
the past twenty-two years with credit and 
satisfaction. Personally Mr. Armstrong is 
a family man, strictly domestic in his habits. 
He and his family are members of the Church 
of England, but as there is no church of that 
denomination in Brigden they attend the 
Presbyterian Church. 

On June 18, 18/3, Mr. Armstrong was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Dawson, of Blen 
heim township, Oxford County, Ont., 
daughter of the late Thomas and Eliza 
( Wooverton) Dawson, and five children 
have been born to them : Arthur, born in 
East Zorra township, attended school in 
Moore township and at Upper Canada Col 
lege, received his business training in his 
father s store, and since 1902 has been en 
gaged in business at Oil Springs, having 
bought out the business of Alexander Wil 
son ; he married Edith Walker, daughter of 
John Walker, and one son, John, has been 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



547 



burn to them. Clara A., \vlio was educated 
in the Brigden and Sarnia high schools, 
married C. C. P. Rausch, of St. Louis. Mis 
souri. Iva died young. Robert W., educated 
at the home schools and at the Chatham bus 
iness college, is at- home with his father. 
Lyla M. is at home. 

SUTHERLAND JOHNSTON, cus 
tom officer at Sarnia and for a number of 
years a leading druggist and reliable phar 
macist of that place, was born Jan. 26, 1855. 
and is a son of the late Dr. Thomas William 
Johnston, extended mention of him and fam 
ily being found elsewhere. 

Mr. Johnston was educated in the public 
schools of Sarnia, and served his apprentice 
ship to the drug business with F. A. Grem- 
mill, of Sarnia, afterward taking a course in 
pharmacy in the L nited States. He then 
commenced business for himself, during 
1875-76 in Bay City, Michigan. Returning 
to Sarnia. he opened a business here in Sep 
tember, 1876, and for twenty-one years was 
located in the Durand block, on West Front 
street, in 1897 removing to East Front 
street. His residence is located on East 
Christina street. He controlled a large part 
of the trade in the locality, not only because 
he was a native of the city and of an old 
and distinguished family, but because of the 
confidence he inspired by his unvarying care 
fulness and complete comprehension of his 
most important business. In September, 
1902, he sold his business to P. T. McGih- 
bon, and in February, 1903, was appointed 
custom officer at the port of Sarnia. Mr. 
Johnston has never given much attention to 
public matters, the demands of business usiu 
ally requiring all his time and energy. 

On July 15, 1885, Mr. Johnston was 
married to Miss Margaret Foulds, a native 
of Sarnia, and a daughter of James and 
Grace (Cameron) Foulds. James Foulds 
wr.s born in 1830, at Renfrew, Scotland, and 
came to Ontario at the age of eleven years. 
After spending some time at Perth, Brock- 
ville and Goderich he in 1841 settled in Sar 
nia. where he engaged in a baking and con 
fectionery business, and here he died in 1896. 



He was a man of prominence in Sarnia. and 
served in the council for several years. His 
wife, born on Wolfe Island, preceded him to 
the grave in 1892, at the age of fifty-six 
years; her life, from the age of seven years, 
was spent in Sarnia. James Foulds and his 
wife had the following children : Elizabeth, 
who is the wife of John McGregor, of De 
troit, Michigan; Margaret. Mrs. Johnston; 
Martha, who is the wife of William Steed, 
of Johannesburg, South Africa; Charlotte, 
who married J. C. Mills, of Jarvis, Out.; 
James, who is engaged in mining at Johan 
nesburg, South Africa: Edgar, who died at 
the age of twenty-two years ; Frank, who is 
engaged in the confectionery business at 
Waterloo, Iowa; and Ethel, who is unmar 
ried and resides at Johannesburg. James 
Foulds was a son of William and Elizabeth 
(Kinninmond) Foulds, the maiden name of 
the latter s mother ( whose parents had a 
farm at Wemyss, in Fife County) being Os 
wald. The birth of William Foulds oc 
curred in Fife, Scotland, in 1803. His fa 
ther was William Foulds. of Ayrshire, and 
his mother s maiden name was Wilson, and 
her parents lived in Paisley. William Foulds, 
father of James, came to Canada in 1841, 
and settled in Lambton County, and died 
there in 1876. The mother of Mrs. John 
ston. Grace (Cameron) Foulds. was a 
daughter of Donald and Janet (Ramsey) 
Cameron, and a granddaughter of Hugh and 
Margaret (McClellan) Cameron, of Glen 
garry, Ont. Hugh Cameron was a son of 
Allen Cameron, a farmer of Loch Aber, 
Scotland. Janet Ramsey, the wife of Don 
ald Cameron, was a daughter of Gilbert and 
Grace (Anderson) Ramsey, of old Rattray. 
Scotland, and the latter was a daughter of 
James and Janet (Nichol) Anderson, of 
Blairgowrie, in Scotland. Gilbert Ramsey 
was the son of David Ramsey and Elizabeth 
Mingis, of Rattray. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston both have an an 
cestry of which they may justly feel proud. 
A family of four children has been born to 
them, namely : Dorothy, Grace, Gilbert 
and Eliza. Mrs. Johnston is a valued mem 
ber of St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church of 



548 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sarnia. Mr. Johnston is fraternally con 
nected with the Masonic order, holding mem 
bership in St. Simon Cyrene Preceptory, 
No. 37, K. T. ; Wa\vanosh Chapter, No. 
1 5 ; and Victoria Lodge, No. 56. In his po 
litical sympathy he is with the Reform party. 
He stands high in the estimation of his fel 
low citizens, and he and his family enjoy 
a pleasant social life and have a wide circle 
of friends. 

HENRY E. TEW, who has a farm of 
150 acres on Concession 2, Lot 13, is one of 
the representative farmers and stock buyers 
of Enniskillen township, Lambton County. 

Henry E. Tew was born near Paris, 
Brant County, May 17, 1847, son of Will 
iam and Jane (Wilkins) Tew, both of whom 
were born in England. The father of Will 
iam Tew was William Tew, who died in 
England, leaving the following children : 
Rev. Henry, deceased; Dr. John, deceased; 
Arthur, a resident of Brant County; and 
William. William Tew, the father of Henry 
E., came to Canada when a young man and 
settled in Brant County, where he married. 
Here he engaged as a butcher and drover, 
which trades he followed until he retired 
from active business life. He and his worthy 
wife still reside in Brant County on the home 
which he cleared from wild land. They are 
devout members of the Methodist Church. 
To them have been born the following chil 
dren : William, a veterinary surgeon of Mich 
igan, is the father of two children; Arthur 
resides at the old homestead ; Mary married 
Joshua Gillam, of Burford, Brant County, 
and has four children; John is at home; An 
nie married William Hull and has two sons ; 
Edward married the daughter of Mr. Cook, 
of Brant County, and settled at Brantford, 
where he died in 1897, leaving two children : 
Archie married Miss Kate Freil, of Dawn, 
where they now reside, having three chil 
dren, Myrtle, Eva and Edward; Henry E. is 
our subject. 

Henry E. Tew was educated in Brant 
County, where he grew to manhood, coming 
to Lambton County at the age of nineteen. 
Here he worked for three years at lumber 



ing, after which he engaged in the butcher 
trade, at which he continued for sixteen 
years. During that time he purchased his 
present fine farm, which at that time was 
solid wood land. On June 9, 1887, he mar 
ried Miss Mary Pelton, who was born in 
Brant County, Oct. i, 1859, daughter of 
Hamilton and Hannah Pelton, and a mem 
ber of one of Brant County s oldest families. 
To Henry E. Tew and wife have come four 
children: William, born in 1889, a student 
at the Oil Springs high school; Vera, born 
in 1890; Lorena, born in 1894; and Minnie, 
born in 1898, who took the first prize at the 
Toronto Fair out of 5,000 children present, 
for being the handsomest child. 

In religion this family are members of 
the Methodist Church and politically Mr. 
Tew is an active supporter of the Conserva 
tive party. He has long been considered one 
of the best farmers in the township, and is 
highly esteemed for his genial disposition 
and upright character. 

WILLIAM J. MACALPIN, one of 
Warwick township s well-known citizens, 
and the representative of the Lambton 
County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 
is a native of the county, born south of the 
London Road, in Warwick township, May 

9, 1849- 

Andrew Macalpin, his grandfather, was 
a native of Scotland, where he learned and 
followed the trade of cotton weaver. There 
he married a Miss Mills, and they became 
the parents of six children, as follows : \\ ill- 
iam; Peter, who resides in Michigan; Rob 
ert, deceased; Andrew, a resident of Sarnia; 
Eliza, who married Robert Burns, of Park 
Hill, Ont. ; and Janet, the widow of William 
Frederick Smith, residing in Warwick. In 
1822 Mr. Macalpin, with his wife and little 
family, came to Canada, first locating in 
Sherbrooke, Lanark County, in which sec 
tion they were among the first settlers. There 
he farmed among the rocks, trying to sup 
port his family. In 1835 he came to Lamb- 
ton County, locating on part of the farm his 
son William had taken up in 7832. He died 
at the home of his son, Andrew, in Sarnia 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



549 



township, in 1845, at tue a & e f seventy, and 
was buried in the Banyan cemetery in Sar- 
nia township. He was a stanch Liberal. In 
his religious views he was a Baptist, and for 
years he was a local preacher in Lanark 
County, being also one of the pioneer preach 
ers of Lambton County. His wife died on 
the farm in Lanark County in 1834. agc-< ; 
fifty-five years, and was buried at Perth, in 
that county. 

William Macalpin, eldest son of Andrew, 
was born in Scotland, about iSu, and was 
eleven years old when he crossed the Atlantic 
with his parents. He received little educa 
tion either in the schools of his native coun 
try or in the Xew World. He grew to man 
hood in the rough country of Lanark 
County, and was in his twenty-second year 
when he came to Lambton County, alone. 
However he was well used to pioneer life. He 
purchased a tract of land, comprising 200 
acres in Warwick township, Lot 3, Conces 
sion 3, S. E. R., just south of the London 
Road, near the Plympton line. At that early 
da} r there were no roads, only Indian trails 
to be guided by, only a few settlers within 
miles, a little !og cabin here and there, and 
the forest abounding \ v ith wolves and other 
wild animals. Here he settled to make a 
home, cutting his own lumber for his first 
home, a little log cabin. Shortly after ar 
riving he sold half of his land to W r illiam 
F. Smith, his brother-in-law (whose widow 
now owns it), retaining the other half for 
his own use the part now owned by his son 
William. Here he spent a life of hard work. 
He succeeded finally, with the assistance of 
his sons, in clearing up his farm, but it was 
only after years of toil. At that early day 
there was little or -no demand for timber, 
which was cut down and converted into 
potash, for which there was a good market. 
Mr. Macalpin was a volunteer in the Rebel 
lion of 1837-38. He died on his farm Dec. 
7, 1878, and he is buried in the Brick 
Church cemetery, in the County of Lambton. 
He was a stanch Reformer. He was a mem 
ber of the Baptist Church, and was very ac 
tive in church affairs. He was a member of 
the British Bible Society in Warwick town 



ship and was president of the Warwick 
branch for a number of years. 

Mr. Macalpin married, in Lanark 
County, Alice Smith, who was born in Burk- 
head, near Glasgow, and died Feb. 10, 1898, 
on the farm, being laid to rest beside her 
husband. She was also a member of the 
Baptist Church and was a good, kind, Chris 
tian woman. They had these children : 
Ellen, who died young; Andrew, who farms 
a part of the homestead ; Jane, who married 
Archibald Wark, of Plympton township; 
Robert, physician and surgeon of Petrolia ; 
John, a well known oil operator, who died 
in 1904 in Petrolia; Miss Elizabeth, who re 
sides on the old homestead; William J., our 
subject; and two children who died in in 
fancy. 

William J. Macalpin was educated in the 
public schools of the district, where he has 
been engaged in farming all of his life. He 
cultivates fifty acres of the homestead farm, 
on which he has made many improvements. 
Besides farming Mr. Macalpin has devoted 
many years to the insurance business. He 
was agent of the Imperial Life Insurance 
Co., of Lambton County, for several 
years, and was one of the promoters of the 
Lambton County Fanners Mutual Life In 
surance Co., being auditor of the company 
for several years. Since 1895 he has been 
agent for the company in Warwick and 
Plympton townships. Politically he is a 
stanch Liberal. He was assessor and tax 
collector of the township for a number of 
years, offices which he filled with credit to 
himself and to the satisfaction of the com 
munity. For ten years he has been a mem 
ber of the board of license commissioners for 
the East Riding of Lambton. and was chair 
man of the board for a like period. He was 
one of the organizers of the East Lambton 
Farmers Institute and was its second vice- 
president for two years, being now its secre 
tary-treasurer. Mr. Macalpin is a member 
of the Sons of Scotland and the Royal Tem 
plars. He is connected with the Baptist 
Church, and like his father is a member of 
the British and Foreign Bible Society, being 
president of the Warwick branch, a posi- 



550 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion he has held for the past five years. He 
has been an active prohibition worker for 
main- years, and was chief organizer of the 
temperance forces in the Referendum cam 
paign of 1902, putting up the largest vote 
in the Province. 

On Dec. 13, 1876, Mr. Macalpin was 
married in Warwick township to Miss 
Elizabeth Kenward, who was born in War 
wick township, daughter of Thomas Ken- 
ward, a full sketch of whom will be found 
elsewhere. Mrs. Macalpin died Sept. 13, 
1887, an( l was burned in St. Mary s Church 
cemetery, Warwick village. She was a 
member of the Church of England, was a 
good wife and mother and a Christian wo 
man. Two children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Macalpin: Judson, a butter manufac 
turer of St. Mary s, and Lena May, a 
trained nurse at the Yonkers (New York; 
Hospital. 

FRANCIS DUFFY. Perhaps there is 
no investment, considered even from a finan 
cial standpoint, which pays better than a life 
well-spent. During the years of upright liv 
ing there is nothing wrong to overcome, and 
when the strife is over, and the evening of old 
age arrived, there are no vain regrets. The 
example set by a man who has passed 
through the temptations of life unscathed, 
and yet who has achieved success by his hon 
orable efforts, is an excellent one, and one to 
be long remembered. Such a man is Francis 
Duffy, of Alvinston, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, who was for many years 
a successful contractor and farmer, but who 
now is living retired. 

Francis Duffy was born in County Mon- 
aghan. Ireland, April 17, 1832, son of Pat 
rick and Margaret (McNally) Duffy, both 
natives of Ireland, where the father was born 
in 1800, and the mother in 1806. When 
these excellent people came to Canada, they 
made the journey on a sailing vessel, via 
Ouebec, and eleven weeks were thus con 
sumed. Coming direct to Oxford County, 
Ont., they settled in the township of Nor 
wich, where they lived and died, the father 
passing away in 1839 and his wife in 1848, 



both devout members of the Roman Catho 
lic Church. In politics the father was a 
Conservative. Patrick Duffy was a man of 
superior attainments, highly educated, and 
his services were often required in the courts 
of his new home. Not only did he speak his 
own language, but also Gaelic, and did yeo 
man service to the Scotch. Flis education 
did not interfere with his ability as a fanner, 
for he cleared up a fine farm, and developed 
it into a very valuable piece of property. 
Seven children were born to Patrick Duffy 
and wife: (i) Sarah, born in 1821, married 
Edward O Connor, deceased, who settled in 
Oxford County, and there left a family. (2) 
James, born in 1823, lives on the old home 
stead in Oxford County; he has a family. 
(3) Patrick, born in Ireland in 1826, mar 
ried and settled on the homestead, where he 
died in 1892, leaving a family. (4) Francis. 

(5) John, born in Ireland in 1834, married 
and settled in Durham, Oxford County, 
where he followed his trade of blacksmith- 
ing; he is now a farmer and has a family. 

(6) Owen, twin brother to John, died at the 
age of twenty- four. (7) Peter, born in Can 
ada in 1839. emigrated to Iowa when a young 
man, and is engaged in the railroad business; 
he married a daughter of Judge Topluff, of 
Dubuque, Iowa, and has a family. 

The early life of Francis Duffy was 
spent like that of many boys on a pioneer 
farm, attending school whenever opportun 
ity offered, and at all times working upon the 
farm. As soon as he was old enough, he 
commenced learning the carpenter s trade, 
and followed that calling all of his active life, 
developing into a builder and contractor, and 
making a specialty of bridge contracting. 
Many of the most substantial bridges in 
Lambton County have been erected by him. 

On Nov. i, 1857, Mr. Duffy was united 
in marriage with Miss Adaline Cramer, a 
native of Niagara County, New York, 
where she was born Oct. 6, 1830, daughter 
of Nicholas and Elizabeth Cramer, of the 
same locality. Nicholas Cramer was born 
in New Jersey, of German parentage, while 
his wife, whose maiden name was Hum< 
man, was burn in I ennsvlvania. Thev settled 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Niagara County, where they farmed, and 
he followed blacksmithing until his death. 
Two children were born to him and his 
wife: Elizabeth, Mrs. McDonald; Mrs. 
Duffy. 

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Duffy 
settled in Oxford County, where they re 
mained until 1859, when they emigrated to 
Brooke township, Lambton County, bought 
land on the 8th Concession, upon which he 
made a home for his family, and there he 
followed farming and contracting until his 
removal to Alvinston in 1886. lie then 
bought a good lot, and erected his present 
comfortable home, which is one of the best 
built houses in the place. For eighteen years, 
he has been timber buyer for Roach & Co., 
of Quebec. He owns considerable realty in 
Alvinston and throughout Brooke township, 
and is a man of means, not only thoroughly 
understanding how to make money, but 
what is still more important, how to save, 
and then how to invest it. 

Xine children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Duffy: Margaret, born in Oxford 
County in 1858. married John Kinkaid, of 
the gth Concession, Brooke township, and 
they have three children. Miner, William and 
Calvin : Charles, born in Oxford County in 
1860, is unmarried, and resides on the old 
home ; Francis, born in Oxford County, and 
now residing at Sheffield, Pennsylvania, 
where he is engaged in milling, married Miss 
Lizzie Dartch. of Canada, and -they have one 
daughter, Myrtle M. ; Sarah, born in Brooke 
in 1865, married Thomas McMann, of En- 
niskillen, and they have one daughter, Clara ; 
Peter, born in 1868, now residing in Detroit, 
where he works for the Michigan Central 
railroad as bridge builder, married a Miss 
Bell Livingston, of Middlesex County, and 
has one son, John F. ; Edward, born in 
Brooke township, in 1869, settled in Alvins 
ton. where he was a fanner and contractor 
until his death. Aug. 28, 1897, when he left 
a widow formerly Miss Katie McLean of 
Brooke township, and two sons, Vernard and 
Orville; John H., born in Brooke township 
in 1871. settled at Alvinston, where he 
worked at his trade contracting and building 



until his death, Oct. I, 1895, leaving a 
widow, formerly Miss Margaret Bowie, of 
Brooke and two children, Harriet and John ; 
Adelia B., born in 1874, is the wife of John 
Perry, of Burlington Beach, near Hamilton, 
where he is engaged in business, and they 
have seven children, Francis, Kate, William, 
Mary, Gertrude, John and Glorie A.; Nich 
olas, born in Brooke township in 1879, mar 
ried Miss Kate Bowie, of Brooke; they re 
side in that township on his farm on the nth 
Concession, and have four children, Will 
iam, Leslie, Irene and Charles C. 

Religiously Mr. Duffy and family are 
consistent members of the Catholic Church, 
and Mr. Duffy is one of the founders and 
builders of the church at Alvinston. Po 
litically he has always been a Conservative, 
and has filled the position of member of the 
council for nine years in Brooke township; 
has been deputy reeve for two years ; tax 
collector for seven years ; for one year he was 
a member of the council of Alvinston and 
has been treasurer of the same place since 
1895, a period of nine years. As before 
stated, Mr. Duffy owes his success to his 
own efforts and thrifty habits, and while he 
has been furthering his personal interests, he 
has not neglected public affairs, but has 
given liberally of his time and money to aid 
in advancing the county and township. As ;\ 
result he is widely and favorably known, and 
honored by a wide circle of friends. 

DAVID \V. PI. LUCAS, proprietor of 
one of the finest and best-equipped bakery 
and confectionery establishments in western 
Ontario, is one of the leading business men 
of Sarnia, County of Lambton, and is a na 
tive of that city, born Dec. 30, 1865. He is 
a son of the late George Lucas, an extensive 
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this 
volume. 

The literary education of Mr. Lucas was 
obtained in the public schools of Sarnia. and 
at the age of seventeen years he began to 
earn his own living as clerk for the Canadian 
& American Express Co.. the agent being 
Mr. Michael Fleming. For five years Mr. 
Lucas remained in this capacity, and then en- 



552 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tered the employ of Peter Clark, with whom 
he remained as clerk for five years. At the 
expiration of this time, as he had saved con 
siderable money, he purchased an interest in 
Mr. Clark s business, the firm becoming- 
Peter Clark & Co. This partnership contin 
ued for six years, when Mr. Lucas sold his 
interest to Mr. Clark, and in 1900 he pur 
chased ihe bakery and confectionery estab 
lishment of James G. Foulds. Since coming 
into possession of this business Mr. Lucas 
has enlarged the facilities, and refitted the ice 
cream parlors, putting in entirely new fix 
tures and modern appliances and conven 
iences of every kind. In the conduct of his 
business Mr. Lucas employs four lady clerks, 
three bakers, one cake maker, one ice-cream 
maker and two delivery men. All orders are 
promptly filled and delivered and great cour 
tesy is shown to all customers. In addition 
to his bakery goods Mr. Lucas carries a full 
and varied line of fine confectionery suitable 
for the retail and wholesale trade, all of 
which he manufactures and he enjoys a large 
and constantly increasing business. 

On June 28, 1893, M r - Lucas and Miss 
Isabel A. Forde were married, and five chil 
dren have been born to them : Harry Taylor, 
born May 29, 1894; George Elliot, Feb. 3, 
1896; James Forde, April 30, 1898; Helen 
Isabel, May 5. 1900; and Anna M., Dec. 28, 
1903. Mrs. Lucas was born in Sarnia, a 
daughter of John and Annie (Elliot) Forde. 
John Forde and his wife were born in Ire 
land, she in County Fermanagh. They came 
to Sarnia. Prior to that Mr. Forde was in the 
English army, and after settling in Sarnia he 
was in the registry office as clerk until the 
time of his death. Mrs. Forde was a member 
of the Church of England. The children of 
Mr. and Mrs. John Forde were : Ida Mar 
garet, unmarried; James Elliott Loomis, of 
Washington State ; John, also of the State of 
U ashington ; Isabel Annie, Mrs. Lucas ; and 
Harry, of the State of Washington. Mrs. 
Lucas maternal grandfather, James Elliot, 
was born in Ireland and died there. His 
children by his first union were: Isabel Mar 
garet, Sophia Annie, Mary Jane, and John, 
of Liverpool. By a second marriage he had 



two daughters, Louisa and Nettie McCabe. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are stanch members 
of the Church of England. Politically Mr. 
Lucas is a Conservative, and his fraternal 
affiliations are with the I. O. O. F., the Ma 
sonic Order and the K. O. T. M. Enter 
prising, possessed of keen foresight and the 
ability to grasp opportunities as presented, 
Mr. Lucas has gained his present position in 
a surprisingly short time, and his future is a 
very promising one. 

JAMES KNOX CAIRNS, clerk of the 
township of Plympton, is a well-known pub 
lic character, for he is not only prominent in 
township politics, but is a leader in church 
work, is active in fraternal circles, and has 
been very successful in his farming opera 
tions. He is a native of Scotland, born in 
Roxburghshire, June 28, 1847. 

James Cairns, grandfather of James K.. 
was a farm laborer in Roxburghshire and 
there married Miss Elizabeth Paterson, of 
the same region. There were seven children 
in their family : ( i ) George was the first of 
the family to come to Canada. He went at 
first to California during the gold excite 
ment, but later made his home in Lambton 
County, in Plympton township. His last 
years were spent in Michigan. (2) Thomas 
was a landowner in Forest and there died. 
(3) Ann married David Lunam, of Plymp 
ton, and there died. (4) Catherine married 
William Symington, of Plympton, and there 
died June 28, 1905. (5) Peter became the 
father of James K. (6) John is deceased. 
(7) Eliza married Richard Richardson, one 
of the California "forty-niners," and settled 
in Minnesota. 

James Cairns and his wife came to Can 
ada in the latter part of the forties, settled 
in Lot 14, Concession 9, Plympton town 
ship, on a fifty-acre tract of land, and began 
their pioneer life in a log cabin. The rest of 
their lives was spent there engaged in farm 
ing, and they died within a short time of 
each other, their remains being laid in the 
Knox Church cemetery at Camlachie. They 
were devout members of the Presbyterian 
Church, which they helped to organize in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



553 



Camlachie. Mr. Cairns reached the age of 
eighty years, and was all his life a strong- 
Liberal. 

Peter Cairns was born in Roxburghshire 
and attended national school there. He 
was put to work at an early age and when 
he grew 4 older worked in the coal fields of 
Newcastle. England. He married Miss 
Mary Knox, of Scotland, a daughter of 
James Knox, who was of the same family as 
the great Scotch reformer, John Knox. Of 
their four children, the first two, twin girls, 
died in infancy; Eliza became the wife 01 
Allen Gray and died in Plympton; James 
Knox was the only son. In 1850 the family 
came to Canada. Their voyage from Glas 
gow to Xew York lasted six weeks ; then 
they went up the Hudson to Albany, by 
canal to Buffalo, and thence to Lambton 
County. They spent the first year and a half 
on the farm of George Cairns, but after that 
lived on their own farm, in Lot 1 7, Conces 
sion ii, where Peter Cairns bought TOO 
acres. He farmed it for two years and then 
sold out and purchased instead 100 acres in 
Lot ii. Concession 10, where he built a log 
house, and improved and cultivated the 
farm, which he operated for ten years. At 
the end of that time he exchanged it for an 
other loo-acre tract, on the lake front, in 
Lot 27, built a frame house, good barns, etc., 
and was engaged in agriculture there until 
1884, when he removed to Camlachie and 
spent his remaining years there. He died 
Feb. n, 1 894, aged seventy-four, and was 
buried in Knox cemetery. 

Mrs. Mary Cairns had died at the home 
stead in 1872, and her remains were interred 
in the family lot in Knox cemetery, where 
her husband was afterward buried. Twelve 
years after her demise Mr. Cairns married 
again, his second choice being Mrs. Mary 
McGee, widow of Robert McGee. She sur 
vived Mr. Cairns four years, passing away 
March 13, 1898, and is buried in Wyoming. 
The family were members of the Presby 
terian Church. In politics Mr. Cairns was an 
uncompromising Liberal, was active in pub 
lic affairs, and particularly interested in 
school matters, serving for several years as 



trustee. He was a member of the town 
ship council for eight years and one term 
acted as deputy reeve, a position which gave 
him a seat in the county council, but he was 
obliged to give up the office at the end of 
one term on account of his health. He was 
a man of good, reliable character, and was 
very fond of his home. 

James K. Cairns was but three years old 
when he came to Canada, and grew up in 
Plympton township. He had no opportuni 
ties for education further than those of the 
district schools, and from an early age helped 
his father in the farm work. After his moth 
er s death his father gave the management of 
the farm to him, and when the latter retired, 
in 1884, he gave the property to his son. In 
the twenty years since then Mr. Cairns has 
engaged there in general farming, has made 
extensive improvements and has been very- 
successful in his operations. His marriage 
occurred June 28, 1875, in Forest, where 
he was united to Miss Dora Benson, who was 
born in Plympton township, daughter of 
John and Mary Benson. John Benson 
served twenty-one years in the British army, 
and fought on the battlefield of Waterloo, 
whither he was accompanied by his wife. 
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cairns has been 
blessed with four children, namely : Francis 
Peter died at the age of nineteen, and was 
buried in Knox cemetery; Lendell B., late a 
resident of Saskatoon, Northwest Territory, 
died of typhoid fever in the hospital at Han 
nah, North Dakota, Nov. 13, 1905, aged 
twenty-six years, seven months, sixteen days 
(during the last two weeks of his illness his 
parents were in constant attendance at his 
bedside) ; George Knox is at home; Albert 
Edward is a teacher at Flett s Springs, Sask. 
Mrs. Cairns has proved herself a true help 
meet and a devoted wife and mother! 

Mr. Cairns has been a participant in pub 
lic matters for a long time and is a strong- 
Liberal, although his stand on matters in 
volving principles only is an independent one. 
For seven years he was assessor of the town 
ship and in 1896 was elected by the council 
as township clerk, to succeed William 
Douglas. He has ever since retained the 



554 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



office, and his administration of its duties 
lias been very satisfactory to the public. He 
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Huron 
Lodge of Camlachie, and has been master of 
the lodge, while he is also a member of \Ya- 
\vannsh Chapter, at Sarnia. He belongs to 
the K. O. T. M. at Camlachie, and to the 
Sons of Scotland at Aberarder. A member 
of the Congregational Church at Plympton, 
he is deacon and Sunday-school superinten 
dent and active in church work in general. 
His standing in the community is high and 
his influence a strong one in the township. 

GEORGE ATKINSON (deceased) 
was one of the pioneers in Plympton town 
ship, where he was a well-to-do farmer and 
landowner for many years. 

George Atkinson was born in Yorkshire, 
England, Feb. u, 1824, son of Thomas and 
Mary (Blankie) Atkinson. Besides George 
they were the parents of the following chil 
dren : Mary married Jeremiah Hart ; Bessie 
married Francis Simpson; William married 
Jane Masterman; Jane married James Wil 
son; Thomas died young; and Hannah mar 
ried William Simpson. All died in England 
but George. George Atkinson was brought 
up on the farm in his native place, and there, 
in 1848, married Mary Hayes, who still sur 
vives him. She was born in Yorkshire, Eng 
land, Jan. 28, 1824. daughter of Ralph and 
Rebecca (Douglas) Hayes of England. 
Ralph Hayes was a farmer, and he and his 
wife spent all their lives in England. They 
were members of the English church. They 
were the parents of Mary, who married 
George Atkinson; John, who married Eliza 
beth Gibson; and Ralph, Joseph and Will 
iam, who all three married and had families. 

In 1851 George Atkinson and his wife 
came to America, landing in New York City 
from where they went to Toronto, and until 
1855 lived in what is known as the Gore of 
Toronto. They then moved to the County 
of Lambton, and settled on the west half of 
Lot 20. Concession i, Plympton, a loo-acre 
tract of bush land. Mr. Atkinson built a 
shanty and later a log house and began clear 
ing his land, and many years of hard work 



made it one of the good farms of the region. 
As time went on he erected a brick dwelling 
house, substantial barns, and farm buildings, 
and made many improvements. He also 
bought land in Lot 9, Concession i, which he 
improved. By untiring industry he achieved 
success, and died Feb. 18, 1891, after forty 
years of hardy pioneer life. He was a mem 
ber and trustee of the Methodist Church. In 
politics he affiliated with the Liberal party. 

The children born to George and Mary 
(Hayes) Atkinson were as follows: Thomas 
is deceased ; William, who married Ellen 
Kessan, and had three children, Mary E., 
William G. A. and John R., is a farmer on 
Lot 9, Concession i ; George lived at the 
homestead; Mary Ann married John W. 
Clark, of Brooke township and has three 
children, Margaret M., Mary J. and William 
J. ; Ralph lives at the homestead ; and Re 
becca Jane is at home. 

Mrs. Atkinson and her daughter are 
adherents and active workers in the Metho 
dist Church. Mrs. Atkinson still lives on 
the farm where she has spent over fifty years 
of her life. She has seen a great deal of pio 
neer life, its pleasant and unpleasant fea 
tures ; she has worked hard, and has her re 
ward in a comfortable home, loving children 
and affectionate friends. 

RICHARD McCLEMENS. Among 
the well known and highly respected citi 
zens of Moore township, may be mentioned 
Richard McClemens, a native of Ireland, 
who was born near Belfast, County Down, 
in March, 1831. 

Andrew- McClemens. the father of Rich 
ard, was born in the same county, where 
he was a tenant farmer. He married Jane 
Ball, and they had the following children: 
John ; Martha, who married Alexander Wil 
son ; Margaret married David Copelton ; 
David ; Jane, who resides with her brother 
Richard ; Mary, who married Alexander 
Gracey; and Richard. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Andrew McClemens died in their native 
home, and were buried there in the Presby 
terian faith. 

Richard McClemens attended the public 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



schools of his native place, and grew up on 
the home farm, where he assisted his fa 
ther. At the age of eighteen years he left 
Ireland, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing 
vessel, and landing at Quebec, made his wav 
from there to Ontario, where he worked in 
and around Hamilton for some time, prin 
cipally at farm labor. He finally located in 
the County of Lambton, and settling in 
Moore township where he had friends from 
the place of his nativity, among them Henry 
McGurk, he bought a tract of land of fifty 
acres on Lot 15, 8th Line, Moore township. 
Mr. McClemens cleared up his farm as best 
he could at intervals working out among the 
farmers. After getting his fifty acres un 
der cultivation, he bought 100 acres on Con 
cession 9, which he also improved. In 1889 
he bought his present home, on Lot 18, Con 
cession 9. Later purchasing 100 acres more, 
he became the owner of 350 acres of well 
cultivated land. Mr. McClemens has en 
gaged extensively in cattle raising, and in 
this venture he has been eminently successful. 

Mr. McClemens is a stanch Conserva 
tive, but has never accepted an office, except 
that of school trustee, which position he has 
filled very satisfactorily. He has always 
been an ardent admirer of Sir John A. Mac- 
Donald and his principles. In his religious 
views he is a consistent member of the 
Knox Presbyterian Church, on the 8th Line, 
and helped to build the church building. 

On June 28, 1868, Mr. McClemens was 
married, in Moore township, by the Rev. 
John Thompson, a Presbyterian minister, to 
Miss Jessie Cowans, born near Edinburgh, 
Scotland, daughter of James and Margaret 
Cowans, old settlers of Moore township. 
Their children were : Andrew James, Alex 
ander, Richard Jr., John, Jane, Laura and 
George, all at home, and two who died in 
infancy. The McClemens family is one 
which is well-known and highly respected in 
Moore township. 

JOSEPH KAUPP. The history of the 
Dominion should justly be a record of the 
lives and sufferings of those who braved the 
privations of the wilderness and conquered 



difficulties which appeared almost insur 
mountable. Half a century ago agricultural 
life was a far different matter from what it 
is today, when science and inventive genius 
have done so much toward lifting burdens 
and simplifying farm work. Then, too, 
farmers lacked means of transportation. Set 
tlements were far apart, and wild animals 
and still more savage Indians lurked in every 
cluster of trees. Deadly perils surrounded 
the pioneers, and yet they came out victors 
in the unequal fight, and the result of their 
endeavors is shown today in the great pros 
perity to be found, especially in western On 
tario. 

Among the very early settlers of Sarnia 
was Joseph Kaupp, a prominent business 
man, who resided in the city from 1852 un 
til his death, which is still fresh in the mem 
ory of his fellow citizens. He was a son of 
John Kaupp, a native of Germany, who was 
a butcher during his active business life. 
Among his children were : Lawrence, of 
Lambton County, who was engaged in the 
meat business, and died at Point Edward, 
Ont., in 1903; Joseph; Michael, a prosperous 
retired butcher and farmer in Germany ; and 
Fred, now deceased, who was a farmer in 
Huron County, Michigan. 

Joseph Kaupp was born in Germany in 
1832, and learned the meat business in the 
establishment of his father. In 1850 he emi 
grated to the United States, visiting Buffalo, 
and later locating in New York City, where 
he engaged in butchering for a short time. 
His next change was made to Detroit, where 
he followed the same business until he lo 
cated in Sarnia, in 1852. After coming to 
this city he established the first meat market 
in the place, and during his entire business 
life engaged in that line of activity exclu 
sively. For. a short period he was located at 
Point Edward, and while there was a mem 
ber of the council, but after returning to 
Sarnia he took no active part in political mat 
ters, although always a strong Conservative. 
Mr. Kaupp owned considerable real estate 
at Point Edward and Sarnia, and he spent 
his time looking after his property, having 
disposed of his meat business in 1897 to his 



.556 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



two sons, William and Joseph, who still con 
tinue it, under the name of Kaupp Brothers. 
From that time he lived retired until his 
death, which occurred Nov. 10, 1903. He 
is buried in Lake View cemetery. 

After locating at Sarnia Mr. Kaupp was 
united in marriage with Miss Caroline 
Klump, who died in 1884, aged fifty-two 
years. Four of the children born to this union 
are living, namely : William, a member of the 
firm of Kaupp Brothers, married Miss Maria 
O Neil, by whom he has three children, 
Joseph, William and Bertha; John, who is 
engaged in the meat business at the "Soo," 
married Miss Minnie Ferkie, by whom he 
has two children, Reah and Carl; Joseph, a 
member of the firm of Kaupp Brothers, mar 
ried Minnie McGlaughlin ; Nellie married 
William Frazer, and had one son, Gordon, 
who was drowned with his father in the river 
St. Clair. After a lifetime of honest toil Mr. 
Kaupp enjoyed his prosperity in his latter 
years, secure in the love of his children and 
the respect and esteem of his fellow towns 
men. He was a member of the Presby 
terian Church, and fraternally affiliated with 
the K. of P. at Port Huron, Ontario. 

GEORGE CARR, one of the prominent 
farmers of Enniskillen township, on the 5th 
Concession, Lot 18, was born Aug. 15, 1857, 
in Bedfordshire, England, a son of Thomas 
and Ann (Coleman) Carr, the former of 
whom was born in Bedfordshire in 1814, 
and the latter in 1820. Thomas Carr died 
in 1894, having been a farmer all his life. 
His widow still survives and lives in Eng 
land. George was the second eldest of his 
parents children and the only one who came 
to Canada, the others being: Henry, of 
England; Elizabeth, wife of William Buck 
ingham, of England; and Mary, wife of 
Thomas Snotsel, of England. All are well 
settled in life, with families of their own. 

George Carr was reared in England and 
worked at farm duties there until 1870, 
when he came to Canada. For a year and a 
half he worked on a farm at Bath Mar. 
Kingston, in 1872 coming to Oil Springs. 
Here he found work as a laborer in sawmills 



and on railroads, and in this way he earned 
the means to purchase his present farm. 
This he accomplished in 1876. It was all 
bush land, entirely wild. He cleared it up, 
cutting down the timber, and, with the help 
of a cheerful, capable wife, has transformed 
it into one of the fine homes of the town 
ship. He owns another farm in this town 
ship, which is also under cultivation. 

On Oct. 15, 1872, Mr. Carr was married 
to Miss Eleanor Wayman, who was born 
near Kingston, Jan. 20, 1852, daughter of 
Walter and Elizabeth (Ashland) Wayman, 
of English and Canadian origin, respect 
ively. Mrs. Wayman died when Mrs. Can- 
was but a young girl, and Mr. Wayman died 
in November, 1902. Mrs. Carr is one of 
twelve children born to her parents. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Carr came children as follows : 
William, born at Oil Springs in 1873, mai - 
ried Jane Armstrong, and they reside on a 
farm adjoining the Carr homestead (they 
have four children, Harold, Jane, Charles and 
Annie) ; Ernest, born in Enniskillen, in 1876, 
is at home; Walter S., born in April, 1885, 
and John, born in 1888, are at home. Thomas 
E. died in boyhood, aged six years. 

Religiously the family belongs to the 
English Church. Politically Mr. Carr has 
always voted with the Conservatives, but 
he has never desired political rewards. 

Starting out in life in Canada, in 1870, 
with a capital of two dollars, Mr. Carr has 
changed his condition very materially, being 
counted among the responsible and up-to- 
date citizens of his locality. He has been 
successful beyond his early dreams and has 
accumulated his fortune by his own efforts. 
He is highly esteemed both for his sterling 
traits of character and for those qualities 
which make him a good neighbor, a kind 
parent, and one whose first interest is always 
for the welfare of his family. 

ARCHIBALD B. FERGUSON is a 
well known resident on the 6th Line, Plymp- 
ton township, where he is a prosperous and 
progressive farmer. He is a native son of 
the township, born Oct. 28, 1851. 

The Ferguson family is of Scotch extrac- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



557 



lion, and the first to come to America \vas 
Dougal Ferguson, grandfather of Archibald 



B. Ferguson. Dougal Ferguson was a son 
of Duncan Ferguson, who was born in Ar 
gyllshire, Scotland, son of Dougal, a native 
of the same place, and a miller by occupa 
tion. The family were all members of the 
Established Church of Scotland. 

Dougal Ferguson, grandfather of Archi 
bald B., grew to manhood in his native 
place, learned the trade of tailor, and en 
gaged in that business, in Glasgow. He 
married Ellen Lyle, a native of Glasgow, and 
in the early twenties came with his wife and 
two children to make a home in Canada. 
They settled first at Dalhousie, Lanark 
County, Ont, remained there until 1827, 
and then moved to Ramsay township, in the 
same county, where for some years they lived 
on a farm. In 1837, Mr. Ferguson sold that 
property, and came to Lambton County, 
where he located on the 2d Line, Plympton 
township, near the Sarnia line. He bought 
200 acres of bush land, put up a log house, 
and the family began a life of pioneer work 
and hardship. By years of unremitting toil 
the land was cleared and brought under cul 
tivation, and a substantial house and barn 
were erected in place of the original primi 
tive buildings. The dwelling house was one 
of the first brick dwellings in that part of the 
country. One of the first sources of income 
from the land was potash, which was manu 
factured by burning the timber from their 
farm. It was carted to Sarnia with oxen, 
and from there shipped to Montreal. Mr. 
Ferguson spent the remainder of his life on 
his farm, and passed away in 1862, aged 
sixty-four; he is buried in the old cemetery 
at Sarnia. He was a Liberal in politics. He 
and his wife were members of the Presby 
terian Church. She lived to be ninety years 
old, dying in January, 1879, and is buried at 
Sarnia, in Lake View cemetery. She was 
the mother of children as follows : Duncan, 
who became the father of Archibald B. ; 
Dougal (deceased), who married Margaret 
Morrison; Margaret, who married John 
Brunette, and lives on London Road, 1 lymp- 
ton township; Archibald, who married 



Maggie Dewar (now deceased) and lives in. 
Alabama; John (deceased), who married 
Agnes Duncan; Mary, who married Dun 
can Ferguson (both are deceased) ; Agnes, 
who married William McGregor (both are 
deceased) ; and William (deceased) who 
married Catherine Clark, who resides in 
Sarnia. 

Duncan Ferguson was born in Glasgow, 
and came with his parents to Canada when 
a child. He was still a youth when they 
moved to Lambton County, which was a 
new country then, where the experiences of 
everyday life were rough and hard, yet such 
as to develop true manliness and vigor. As 
a young man he began life for himself on 
Lot 19, Concession 4, Plympton, a 200 acre 
tract of bush land, on London Road. He 
put up a log cabin, and began clearing his 
land, making potash, which he sold in Sar 
nia. By dint of steady, hard work he de- 
veloped a good farm on which he put sub 
stantial improvements; his home, built in 
1844, was among the first brick houses on 
the London Road. 

Duncan Ferguson married in Plympton 
township, Jane Young, a native of Lanark 
County, daughter of. James Young. She 
was a sincere Christian, and member of the 
Presbyterian Church of South Plympton, 
which she and her husband helped to organ 
ize. They were both active in church work. 
Mr. Duncan was a man of temperate habits 
and domestic tastes, fond of his home and 
family. He was a Liberal in politics, but 
never an office seeker. His death resulted 
from the effects of a fall down stairs, at the 
age of sixty-four years ; his wife died at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. McDougal ; both 
are buried in the South Plympton Church 
cemetery. The children of Duncan and Jane 
(Young) Ferguson were as follows : Mary, 
who married Alexander Dewar, of Plympton 
township; Ella, who married James Arm 
strong, of Plympton ; Dougal, who died in 
early manhood; Archibald B., who is men 
tioned below; John, a gold prospector in the 
Klondike; Barbara Jane, who married Don 
ald McDougal, of Plympton; Agnes Mar 
garet, who died aged thirty-seven years ; and 



558 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Susan, who married Alexander McDongal. 

Archibald B. Ferguson was born on the 
farm. Lot 19, Concession 4, Plympton town 
ship, Oct. 28, 1851. He grew up on the 
farm, and attended district school on Lon 
don Road. After attaining his majority he 
left home and bought a tract of 150 acres of 
bush land, on Lot 19, Concession 6, Plymp 
ton, and followed in the steps of his father 
and grandfather, in carving a home out of 
the wilderness. He began with the pioneer 
log cabin, and put in his years of hard work 
at clearing and burning timber, selling cord- 
wood, and getting the land under cultiva 
tion. In 1888 he built a fine brick home, 
and erected other substantial buildings, and 
he does a successful business in farming and 
stockraising. 

On Dec. 9. 1880, Mr. Ferguson mar 
ried, in Plympton township, Helen Arm 
strong, who was born in that township, 
Nov. 26, 1854, daughter of the late James 
Armstrong, a well known citizen. Their 
children are as follows : Margaret, who mar 
ried Edward Rainshury, and lives in the 
Northwest Territory ; Mary and Duncan 
Loyal, who are at home ; and a son who died 
in infancy. Mrs. Ferguson is a lady of 
kindly, genial disposition, devoted to her 
home and family. She and her husband are 
members of the Methodist Church at Ut- 
toxeter. Mr. Ferguson is a liberal in poli 
tical faith, but has never cared for office. For 
nine years he served as secretary and treas 
urer of the school board of Section 10. He 
is a member of A. O. U. W., of Wyoming, 
Out. The family is well known and highly 
esteemed in the community. 

WILLIAM B. CLARK, who passed out 
of life Sept. 27, 1900, at his late residence 
in Sarnia, was for many years one of the 
county s most active and successful business 
citizens. Of English ancestry, Mr. Clark 
possessed a large proportion of those attri 
butes which have made men of his race 
prominent in almost every honorable calling 
over the whole world s expanse. 

George Clark, the grandfather of Will 
iam B.. was torn in London, England, where 



he passed his entire life, and reared a family 
to honorably perpetuate his name. His son, 
Edward A. Clark, the father of the late Wil 
liam B., was born in London, England, in 
1800, and in his native city prepared for the 
practice of the law. Seeking wider oppor 
tunities, he came to Canada, and settled in 
the city of Montreal, where he engaged in 
his profession. During the Rebellion of 
1837 he was made the police magistrate for 
Lower Canada, and traveled from place to 
place in the interests of the British Govern 
ment. When the trouble had subsided Mr. 
Clark, in association with Judge Burrett, 
was appointed to settle the losses for the 
Canadian Government, in connection with 
that trouble, and after this responsible task 
was accomplished he resumed his law prac 
tice in Montreal. 

Mr. Clark was thrice married. His first 
union was with Miss Arabella Bradley, a 
daughter of Col. Bradley, and the children 
of this marriage were five in number, name 
ly: Edward A., Frederick C, William B., 
James C. and Georgina. The second mar 
riage of Edward A. Clark was to Miss 
Georgiana Fornerit, a daughter of Col. For- 
nerit, and five children were born to this 
union, as follows: A. C., Albert F.. Emily 
(the wife of William Cowie, deceased), and 
Henry and George, both deceased. The 
third marriage of Mr. Clark was to Miss 
Georgiana Cuthbert, a daughter of Hon. 
Ross Cuthbert. No children were born to 
this marriage. 

William B. Clark, the third of his fa 
ther s children, was born in 1825, in Mon 
treal, Quebec. In 1837, choosing a business 
career instead of a profession, he entered the 
business house of John Dougal, of Montreal, 
in a clerical capacity, remaining there until 
1839, in which year he came to Sarnia, the 
population of which at that date numbered 
only seventy. For seven years he was a 
clerk in the business house of Archibald 
Young, and later had business associations 
with Mr. James Porter. In 1846 Mr. Clark, 
then but twenty-one years of age, embarked 
individually in a mercantile and forwarding 
business, which grew to such dimensions 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



559 



that he was said to be the most widely kno\vn 
man in shipping circles in western Ontario. 
For years he had the responsibility of supply 
ing the Lake Superior posts of the Hudson 
Bay Company. He became possessed of a. 
large amount of dockage along the St. Clair 
river, establishing and maintaining for main- 
years a line of steamboats plying between 
Sarnia, Wallaceburg and Dresden, until the 
building of the Lake Erie & Huron railway. 
This line of steamers proved to be. in those 
days, of untold value to the commercial in 
terests of Sarnia. From the beginning he 
prospered and in 1856 he built the first of 
his brick blocks, on West Front street, in 
1886 erecting, on the south, the second five- 
story brick block, the same now occupied by 
Clark & Fowler, the Clark Coal Co. and 
apartments. 

Mr. Clark possessed admirable qualities 
of head and heart, but was always a man ab 
sorbed in his business, finding little pleasure 
in politics or other outside enterprises. His 
activity in his own line brought him wealth 
and prominence, but it was only in private 
life that he was thoroughly known, a man 
of the kindliest impulses, unostentatiously 
liberal and of unimpeachable integrity. His 
business was conducted on lines which pro 
claimed its reliability, and Mr. Clark con 
tinued its actual manager until a short while 
before his death. He voted the Reform 
ticket as a matter of principle. Through 
life he belonged to and liberally supported 
the Presbyterian Church. 

The first marriage of the late William 
B. Clark was to Jane Young, a daughter of 
his first employer at Sarnia, and to this union 
two daughters were born : Helen, who mar 
ried Michael Harris, and has children. 
Helen, Muriel, Susie, William, Eileen and 
Edmund; and Jennie, the wife of John Ran- 
kin, of Hamilton, whose children are, \Vill- 
iam, Helen, Jean and Marjory. The sec 
ond marriage of Mr. Clark was to Jane El 
lis, who survives, and continues to reside in 
Sarnia. The children born to them were : 
Emily. William B.. Georgiana, James C, 
Belle, Frederick and Louise. 

William B. Clark (2) was born in Sar 



nia Feb. 22. 1867. and is the senior member 
of the firm of Clark & Fowler, merchants, at 
Sarnia. His education was acquired in the 
schools of Sarnia and Upper Canada Col 
lege. In politics he supports the Reform 
party. In 1896 he married Catherine Steed, 
and they have three children, Catherine, 
Emily and Margaret. Both he and his wife 
belong to the Presbyterian Church. 

JAMES C. CLARK was also born in Sar 
nia, Feb. 27, 1871, and was educated in the 
city schools and at Upper Canada College. 
Upon the death of his father he assumed 
charge of the forwarding, storage and coal 
business, and in his hands it will probably 
continue to healthily expand. In 1902 he 
married Annie Fleming, and they have one 
child. Kathleen. Like his brother he belongs 
to the Reform party, and also, like the other 
members of the family, affiliates with the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Frederick Clark resides in Detroit. 

Belle Clark married E. V. Brown, of 
London, and they have one daughter, Helen. 

Louise Clark married William E. Will 
iams, of Sarnia. 

Emily Clark married Albert Bradley, and 
Loth were killed in 1893 in the Grank Trunk 
railroad wreck at Battle Creek, Michigan. 
They left two children, Jean and William B. 

Georgiana Clark is deceased. 

DAVID DUXHAM, a progressive 
farmer of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, residing on the west half of Lot 30, 
1 2th Concession, was born in the township 
of Vaughan, York County, Ont., March 13, 
1846, son of James and Harriet (_Foulger) 
Dunham. 

James Dunham was born in County Suf 
folk, England, in 1803, and came to Canada 
in 1835, locating in Vaughan township, 
County of York, where he was one of the 
pioneer settlers. Some years later, he re 
moved to a farm on the 4th Concession of 
Yaughan township, and in 1857 settled in 
Dorchester, where he purchased a farm, and 
upon it spent a number of years, but subse 
quently he sold this farm. He afterward 
bought two and one-half acres, in the same 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



township on which he spent the declining 
years of his life, passing away after a well 
spent life, Sept. 19, 1882. The mother of 
our subject was also a native of England, 
and came to America with her husband, dy 
ing in Dorchester May 7, 1882. The follow 
ing children were born to them : Lucy, 1 lar- 
riet, James, Isaac, Susan, Dina (deceased), 
John, Ann, David, Daniel, Samuel and 
William. 

David Dunham did not have the oppor 
tunities to secure an education which are of 
fered to the children to-day, but what he did 
have he made the most of, and the few 
hours he could be spared from the arduous 
duties of the farm he filled to the utmost 
with hard study. For twenty-five years he 
remained in Vaughan township and Dor 
chester, but in 1870, he and his brother Dan 
iel came to Lambton County, and purchased 
100 acres on the I2th Concession of Plynip- 
ton township, of which about twenty-seven 
acres were cleared. Some years later, he 
bought his brother s half of this farm, and 
all his interest in the stock on same, and there 
he still resides. 

On Nov. 1 6, 1871, Mr. Dunham was 
married in Dorchester to Miss Sarah Lu- 
cinda Ward, daughter of Rufus and Sarah 
Ward, and to them have come the following 
children: Arthur Artemus, born Sept. 27, 
1872, married Caroline Maud McLaughlin, 
and has six children: Gertrude H., Archie 
D., Emily R., Joseph H., Lillie and Stanley; 
Mary Alferetta, born July 29, 1874, mar 
ried John P. Chamberlain and has three chil 
dren, Wilbert E. E., Lucincla F. A. and 
Mabel A. C. ; and Elmer Henderson, born 
Aug. 27, 1876. 

In politics, Mr. Dunham is a Conserva 
tive. The family attend the Congregational 
Church, and are honored in that body. Mr. 
Dunham is a member of the W. O. W., of 
Forest. He is one of the highly honored ag 
riculturists of Plympton township. His 
word is as good as his bond, and his strict 
integrity in business matters has won for him 
an enviable position among his fellow towns 
men. 



WILLIAM H. HARDING, one of 
Enniskillen s most popular citizens, and a 
man whose genial nature and optimistic dis 
position have made him a host of friends all 
over Lambton County, has in his sixty-odd 
years of life seen a variety of experience and 
of people that has enriched and enlarged his 
views, and made him able to understand men 
and to help them by this very understanding. 
He was born in Prescott, Ont., July 22, 
1843, son of John and Phoebe (Mosher) 
Harding. 

John Harding was an Englishman, born 
in Yorkshire in 1809. His wife s birth oc 
curred in Ogdenshurg, Ont., in 1813. He 
came to Canada prior to the Rebellion of 
1837, in which he served, and met and mar 
ried Phoebe Mosher. They made their home 
for a few years at Prescott, and spent the 
succeeding fourteen years on Dundas street, 
near Hamilton, where Mr. Harding kept a 
hotel. The next move was to Sarnia, in 
which city he was employed as a butcher, 
and then finally to their permanent home in 
Wyoming, Ont., where Mr. Harding en 
gaged in business for the rest of his life. His 
life was brought to its close Aug. 18, 1883, 
but his wife is still living and makes her 
home with her daughter, Mrs. Bitner, in 
Clinton, Iowa. She is the mother of four 
children, viz. : William H. ; Alary, born at 
Prescott, who married John Bitner, of Clin 
ton, Iowa, and has a family; Mosher, 
born at Prescott, who is married, has a 
family, and is a blacksmith in Clinton, Iowa ; 
and Martha, who married James Clark, of 
Chicago, and has four children. 

William H. Harding was only fourteen 
years old when he started out for himself, 
being employed first in the "Belchamber 
Hotel" stables in Sarnia. After several 
years of that work, in 1861, he drove the 
stage between Wyoming and Oil Springs, 
continuing thus for four years, and then 
took the contract for the mail and stage route 
between Wyoming and Oil Springs, which 
was first opened in 1861. In April, 1862, he 
drew the people .from Wyoming to Oil 
Springs, in a stone boat, through the mud. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Later he took the route from Sarnia to Oil 
Springs and ran the stages there for one 
year. His marriage occurred during this 
period, and he and his wife first lived at Oil 
Spri igs, but in 1868 he moved to Petrolia 
and became occupied in teaming, being en 
gaged in this line for eight years, after which 
he turned his attention to agriculture. After 
twelve years on a rented farm on the loth 
Line. Enniskillen. in 1888 Mr. Harding- 
bought his place in Concession 9, whereon 
he made many improvements, put up better 
buildings, and brought it to its present high 
state of cultivation. It has been the family 
home ever since he first acquired it. 

William Harding chose for his wife Miss 
Mary A. Brichan. to whom he was united in 
marriage July 1 6, 1866. She was born in 
Halton County, Jan. i, 1836. granddaugher 
of Rev. David Brichan. D. D., of Scotland, 
and daughter of one of Lambton County s 
earliest pioneers. Wellington Brichan. The 
latter was born in Scotland, in 1811. and his 
wife, Jane Mitchell, was born in England 
in 1809. They met and married in County 
Peel, Ont., and in 1846 settled in Ennis 
killen, in Concession 8, risking their lives in 
a frontier country infested with wolves and 
Indians. Mr. Brichan with his own hands 
hewed out the logs for the little cabin which 
was their home for some years. The near 
est market then for supplies was Sarnia. A 
cabinetmaker by trade. Mr. Brichan was em 
ployed at that work in Churchville for twelve 
years, and then purchased his farm, which he 
eventually cleared, put up good buildings, 
and made it into a fine home, their permanent 
abiding place. He was a very prominent 
man in local affairs and possessed of great 
influence. A scholarly man, of good educa 
tion, he was well fitted for public responsi 
bility, and was long an office-holder, being 
township clerk of Enniskillen for twenty- 
one years. He belonged to the Reform 
party. He and his wife were members of the 
Presbyterian Church and helped to found the 
first one of that denomination in Enniskillen. 
Both passed away some years ago. Mr. 
Brichan in September, 1882, and his wife 
Aug. 9, 1889. He was a man of solid worth 

36 



and one whose place will not easily be filled. 
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Brichan. of whom (i) Mary A.. Mrs.. 
Harding, was the eldest. She was educated 
in the Churchville schools. (2) David, born 
in 1838. remained at the homestead, married, 
and died soon alter, leaving no family. (3) 
John, born in 1840, married Miss Mary Has- 
brook, of Michigan, resides there, in Gratiot 
count} , and has one son, Wellington. (4; 
James and ( 5 ) Wellington both died young. 
(6) Elizabeth lived only three years. (7) 
Richard, born in Enniskillen in 1848, mar 
ried Miss Jennie Graham, of Enniskillen. has 
two sons. Norman and Allen, and lives in 
Saginaw County, Michigan. 

To William H. and Mary A. Harding 
only two children have come, both sons. 
Wellington, the eldest, born at Oil Springs 
in 1867, married Miss Minnie O Dell. of 
Petrolia. Later he was sent to Austria in the 
interest of a Petrolia oil company, and 
though he and his wife remained there only 
two years his health became so impaired dur 
ing that time that it resulted in his death at 
his father s home in 1894. He left no chil 
dren. The second son. Henry, born in 1872, 
married Miss Fannie St. Mary s, of Ennis 
killen, and now resides in Petrolia, in the em 
ploy of J. H. Fairbank. He has two chil 
dren : David, born in 1896; and Mary, born 
in 1899. 

The Harding family are all members ot 
the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. 
Harding is identified with the Reform party. 
Always interested in educational matters, he 
is a member of the Enniskillen school board. 
He was formerly a member of the I. O. O. 
F., but is now connected only with the Mac 
cabees, Petrolia Lodge, Xo. 10. Probably 
no man is personally so well known in Lamb- 
ton County as "Billy" Harding, as he is 
affectionately termed, for his many years as 
stage driver and mail carrier brought him in 
contact with all the people residing near Pe 
trolia. Sarnia and Oil Springs, while his 
genial, sunshiny nature made him many 
friends among all classes. He and his wife 
are essentially open-hearted and hospitable, 
and in all seasons, either of gay social inter- 



562 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



course or of sickness and grief, their home is 
open to their friends or to any one in need 
of assistance. Mr. Harding is public-spir 
ited and a good citizen, foremost in every 
progressive movement, and his place in the 
esteem and affection of his fellow townsmen 
is an assured one. 

WILLIAM J. WRAY. One of the rep 
resentative citizens of Moore township, who 
has been identified with its interests all his 
life, is William J. Wray, who belongs to one 
of the old and honorable families of this sec 
tion, having been born March 29, 1856, on 
the old homestead on Lot 1 1, Concession 1 1, 
Moore township. 

The Wray family is of Irish descent. 
William Wray, the grandfather of our sub 
ject, was born in County Cavan, Ireland,, 
where he grew to manhood and was a tenant 
farmer. He married first Ann Brownlee, 
and she became the mother of six children : 
John, who died in Moore township; Ann, 
who married William Ouigley, and is now 
deceased; William, a retired farmer of 
Moore township; James, who died in York 
County; Fannie, who married William Sar 
gent, and died in 1904 in Sarnia; and Mrs. 
Peter Herrine. William Wray married for 
his second wife, Bessie Matherson, and they 
had two children: George, a merchant of 
Sarnia ; and Sarah, who married Henry 
Tuck, and died in 1900 in Sarnia, where he 
also died. 

In 1837 the Wray family left their native 
home and made the trip from Ireland to 
Montreal in a sailing vessel. They located in 
what was then Muddy York, where Mr. 
Wray followed farm labor and contracted 
for clearing land. In 1845 he brought his 
family to the County of Lambton, locating 
on the nth Concession, Moore township, 
on a tract of 200 acres of bush land, where 
Mr. \Vray spent the remainder of his life, 
dying in 1878, at the age of eighty years, and 
was laid to rest in the Providence cemetery 
on the loth Line of Moore township. Mrs. 
Wray died a short time after her husband, 
and was laid beside him. They were both 



consistent and devoted members of the Meth 
odist Church. 

John Wray, eldest son of William, was 
born in Ireland and came to Canada with his 
parents. When the 200 acres of land were 
bought in Moore township, John Wray took 
the west half of the property, on Lot 1 1 
where he settled down to farming. There 
were no roads in that section at this time, 
and the Wray family were among the earliest 
settlers in that part of the township. Mr. 
Wray farmed successfully, and made many 
improvements on his property, putting it 
under a good state of cultivation. He died 
in 1880 at the age of sixty-five years. He 
was interred in the Providence cemetery. He 
was a member of the Methodist Church, and 
was a steward and trustee of the church. 

John Wray married in Toronto, the-: 
Little York. Sarah Anderson, a native of Ire 
land, and they became the parents of these 
children : Catherine, who married W r illiam 
Craig, and resides on the Lake shore in Sar 
nia township; Annie, who married George 
Anderson, of Sarnia; Fannie, who died 
young; William J. ; and Margaret, who mar 
ried Laughlin McClaren, of Moore town 
ship. Mrs. Wray died in 1885, on the farm, 
and was buried by her husband s side. She 
was a member of the Methodist Church. 

William J. Wray s boyhood days were 
spent on the homestead, where he grew to 
manhood and received his education in the 
public schools. At his father s death he be 
came manager of the home, and has been 
ever since. He has made many improve 
ments to the farm, having built a fine brick 
dwelling, and has added 150 more acres to 
the farm, owning and operating altogether 
250 acres of land, all of which is in a good 
state of cultivation. He raises and ships 
cattle and hogs, doing as large a business in 
this line as any one in the township. 

Politically Mr. Wray is a stanch Con 
servative, and has been trustee of the school 
of the roth Line. In fraternal circles he is 
affiliated with the I. O. V. of Brigden and 
the K. O. T. M.. of Osborne. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Church. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



563 



On Jan. 18, 1893, Mr. Wray was married at 
the Kirkpatrick homestead in Enniskillen 
township to Almira Kirkpatrick, a member 
of the well known Kirkpatrick family o> 
West Lambton, a full history of whom will 
be found elsewhere. Two children have bee; 
born to this union : John Herbert and Har 
vey Gordon. 

ADAM ENGLISH, of Sarnia, Indian 
Agent for the Cbippewas, has held his pres 
ent position for the^ past twenty-one years. 
The son of a pioneer, accustomed from his 
youth to adventure, he possessed both the 
knowledge and the keen interest in his busi 
ness which, from the start, insured him suc 
cess. His hardihood, forceful character and 
quick detection of treachery and vice, traits 
of invaluable service to him in dealing with 
the crude, undeveloped Indian nature, have 
been imparted to him by his good Irish an 
cestors. 

Thomas English, grandfather of Adam, 
was one of those unflinching hard workers 
fitted by nature to wrestle with the difficul 
ties besetting life in a new country. Born in 
Ireland in 1/71, he there passed many of the 
fruitful years of his long and active life. 
During his young manhood he married, in 
Ireland, Abigail Watt, who was also born in 
that country. By this union there were six 
children : \Yilliam, who is mentioned below ; 
Abigail ; Sarah ; Jane ; and John and 
Thomas, who were farmers in Middlesex 
County. In 1820. though somewhat ad 
vanced in years, Mr. English, with an eye to 
liis children s future, came with his family to 
Ontario, and after some prospecting settled 
upon a tract of wild land in London town 
ship, County of Middlesex. This defiant 
woodland called forth his full strength to 
its subjugation, but in a short time he trans 
formed it into a fruitful farm, not unlike, in 
character, those of his own native soil. Here 
he and his worthy wife passed the rest of 
their lives, he dying in 1846, and she some 
years later, at the advanced age of ninety. 

William English, father of Adam, pos 
sessed a high-strung, ardent nature, the kind 
which impels a man to put into action 



thoughts that move him strongly. Born in 
Ireland in 1800, he there spent the early 
years of his somewhat eventful life. In 1820, 
upon reaching manhood, he came with his 
parents to Ontario, where he played no small 
part in transforming London, township, 
County of Middlesex, into an inhabitable and 
fruitful farming region. By 1837 he was 
one of the most loyal and patriotic citizens of 
his adopted country, and when the rebellion 
broke out, he did not hesitate one minute to 
volunteer his services against the rebels. As 
it happened he, with Isaac Collins, was one of 
the guards placed over the first rebel prison 
ers who were confined in jail in London. 
Oddly it was not a dangerous guard, though, 
as the guns carried were of the percussion 
lock sort, and some of them utterly lockless, 
as was that of Collins. Since the prisoners, 
however, were in ignorance of this fact, the 
discipline of the guard was not impaired. 
During this war Mr. English proved himself 
a thoroughly faithful and courageous sol 
dier. In fact, too free with his services, he 
incurred an illness from exposure which, 
three years later, in 1840, resulted in his 
death. 

During his young manhood, Mr. English 
married Nancy Bailey, daughter of Adam 
Bailey, who was born in Ireland, and at an 
early date came to Middlesex County, Out. 
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
English : Mary, now deceased, married 
James Creighton; Thomas B. is now a resi 
dent of London; Adam is mentioned below; 
Abigail, now deceased, married John Weir; 
Jane married William J. McFadden. who is 
now deceased ; William is an oil producer 
and farmer of Petrolia, Out. ; John is de 
ceased ; Annie married Joseph Creighton, 
who is deceased ; Robert is a farmer in the 
Northwest Territory. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
English commanded the highest esteem in 
their community, and both exerted an influ 
ence on the side of right and progress. As a 
thoroughly good Christian he affiliated with 
the Friends. She. before coming to Ontario, 
belonged to the English Church, but later 
united with the Methodists. 

Adam English s life has given expression 



564 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in no small measure to the manly spirit of the 
old pioneering days of the County of Mid 
dlesex. Born there in 1830, he passed his early 
years on the old homestead, where the abund 
ance of wolves and deer furnished plenty 
of thrilling incidents. He well remembers, 
even yet, a long tedious ox-team ride to town 
and back, with howling wolves on his home 
ward track, and how when, at that journey s 
end, cowering in a blanket on the top of his 
load of feed bags, his anxious mother climbed 
to him to see that no harm had befallen him. 
Until her voice reassured him he was certain 
a wolf had got him. Capable, even as a 
child, at the early age of seven, at the open 
ing of the rebellion, he at one time went 
alone on horseback to London, a distance of 
seven miles, to bring home the war news 
As a preparation for his life work he learned 
the carpenter s trade, which during his young 
manhood he followed as a regular business 
for a number of years. The steady growth 
of his section furnished plenty of work in his 
line, and as a master of his art, especially 
gifted in overseeing workmen, he made a 
thorough success of his industry, promi 
nently in the building branch of it. Later, 
however, finding a better opening in the oil 
business of his section, he went to London 
and established a refinery. Here, meeting 
with as good results as any one could de 
sire, he continued for fifteen years. During 
this period, in 1853, ne received his appoint 
ment as Indian agent for the Chippewas, a 
tribe numbering about four hundred and 
fifty. Opening an office at Sarnia, he per 
formed the duties of this position for a 
number of years in addition to conducting 
his other business. Since then he has given 
his entire attention to it, being still engaged 
in the work. That he has filled the place so 
long speaks for itself of his efficiency. 

On Dec. 27, 1855, Mr. English married 
Miss Eliza Crockett, daughter of George and 
Jane (Creighton) Crockett, early settlers of 
Middlesex County. Mr. and Mrs. English 
have had two sons : William, now mayor of 
Petrolia, is engaged in the oil business in that 
city, and is also manager of the Crown Loan 
Society of the place ; he married Ella Lancey. 



George, for some time a dry-goods merchant 
of Petrolia, married Lucy Bailey, and they 
have two children, William Gibson and 
Bertie. 

Mr. English has come to the front almost 
entirely by his own efforts. Possessed of keen 
foresight, good judgment and a large capac 
ity for pushing affairs, he has taken fe\v if 
any backward steps during his long and busy 
career. A man of strong religious convic 
tions, both he and his wife are highly re 
spected members of the Methodist Church. 
He is well informed upon all public ques 
tions, and politically affiliates with the Con 
servatives. 

HUTCHINSON JAMES NASH, 

M. D., of Forest, is the oldest physician of 
that city, if not of County Lambton. He is 
a son of Richard Herbert and Sarah (West) 
Xash, and a grandson of Richard and Mary 
( Herbert) Nash, of County Limerick, Ire 
land, where they spent their days. Their 
family of nine children all remained in Ire 
land. The two daughters, Mary A. and 
Jane, both died unmarried ; the seven sons 
were: Richard H., William, Edward, Her 
bert M., Col. John, Hays and Francis J. Col. 
John Nash was at the time of his death, the 
retired colonel of the 79th Highland Regi 
ment, with which he served in all its engage 
ments, and he was the last surviving officer 
of his command. 

Richard Herbert Nash was born in Ire 
land March 7. 1770, was educated at the Un 
iversity of Dublin, and for a number of 
years after he had completed his course was 
professor of oriental languages in Trinity 
College, Dublin. For thirty years there 
after he was rector of the parish of Ardstraw, 
in Ireland, holding the latter position at the 
time of his death, Jan. 16, 1847. On July 
7, 1807, he married Sarah West, who was 
born in Ireland in 1784, and died in 1860. 
To them were born the following children : 
Richard, a graduate of the University of 
Dublin, afterward practiced law for some 
years, and still later settled in Australia; 
Rev. George (deceased) was also a grad 
uate of the University of Dublin ; Rev. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



565 



Francis (deceased) was a graduate of the 
same university; Alfred (deceased) was 
graduated from Dublin and came to Ontario, 
and for a number of years was a successful 
farmer in Warwick township, Lambton 
County ; Hutchinson James is mentioned be 
low ; Mary is deceased; Sarah is deceased; 
Margaret is a resident of Dublin, Ireland. 

Hutchinson James Xash was born in 
Ireland Feb. 28, 1828, began his literary 
training in the Royal School at Dungannon, 
and completed it at Trinity College, Dublin. 
In 1847 ne came to Ontario, locating in War 
wick township, on Lot n, Concession 3, 
which property he operated as a general 
farm. Later he sold it at a good figure, and 
in 1858 entered the Toronto School of Med 
icine, from which he was graduated in 1861. 
He at once settled in Warwick township and 
practiced his profession for seven years. He 
then settled in Forest, when that place was 
but a small town, and for more than a third 
of a century he has ministered to those in 
need of his services, attaching his patients to 
him by his courteous, genial manner as well 
as by his professional skill and knowledge. 
Dr. Xash is a member of the Church of Eng 
land, in which he has been a warden for a 
number of years. 

On May 24, 1848, in the township of 
Warwick, Lambton County, Dr. Xash was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Fenner, who was born in Ireland Oct. 6, 
1829, and came to Ontario in the early for 
ties. The following children have been born 
to Dr. and Mrs. Xash: Llewellyn (de- 
cased ) . a telegraph operator in Chicago, 
married, and he and his wife Dora had three 
children, Maggie, George and Llewellyn; 
Richard, a machinist of Detroit, Michigan, 
married Ann Snow and they have had three 
children, Maude, Mamie and Llewellyn (de 
ceased) ; George (decease;!) was a telegraph 
operator. 

In political matters Dr. Xash is inde 
pendent, and fraternally he is a member o f 
Forest Lodge. Xo. 263, A. F. & A. M.. of 
which he is also past master. The Doctor 
is one of the best educate;! citizens of Forest, 



as well as leading physician of the locality, 
and has been medical health officer of Forest 
since it was a town. The influence he has 
had upon the advancement of the community 
can scarcely be overestimated. 

GEORGE DEXHAM, late of Petrolia, 
was one of the oldest druggists doing busi 
ness in County Lambton. He had made his 
way through many discouraging experi 
ences, but lie never lost his determination to 
excel, persevering until he owned a fine busi 
ness and possessed the complete confidence 
of his community. 

Mr. Denham was of English extraction, 
and traced his family back to his grand 
father, Benjamin Denham, who was born 
and always resided in England. Among his 
children was a son Christopher Richard 
Denham, the father of George, who was born 
in London, England. He was twice 
married, and by his first wife had no chil 
dren. In April, 1825, he married Mary Ann 
Marshall, who was born Feb. 3, 1798 and 
died in Toronto Sept. n, 1873. Mr. Den 
ham passed away at Woodstock in 1856, 
while there on a visit. In 1836 Christopher 
R. Denham emigrated to Ontario, locating 
in what is now Toronto, where he purchased 
TOO acres of wild land. This property is 
no\v in the very heart of the city of Toronto. 
His occupation was that of an architect, and 
he also became the owner and operator of a 
foundry in Toronto. The children born to 
this worthy pioneer were : Elizabeth ; Benja 
min John ; George ; Kate ; Martha Mary Ann, 
Mrs. Reynolds ; and Robert, a contractor of 
Michigan. 

George Denham was born in Toronto 
June 1 6, 1837, and there grew to manhood 
there receiving his literary and pharmaceuti 
cal education. Mr. Denham began as a drug 
gist in 1854, at Chatham, Out., but later set 
tled in Oil Springs, taking charge of a drug 
business there. Through the dishonesty of 
those in whom lie had placed unlimited con 
fidence he suffered heavy financial loss, but 
he did not allow this to discourage him, and 
kept steadily on working, finally owning 



5 66 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



one of the best drug stores in Lambton 
County, located in the city of Petrolia. 

From the time he located in Petrolia Mr. 
Denham took an active part in local affairs 
and he served for some time both in the coun 
cil and on the board of education. He was 
married to Miss Sarah Catherine Smith, a 
daughter of Robert H. Smith, and a native 
of Newmarket. The following children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Denham : Robert G., 
who is a confectioner in Petrolia ; Mary 
Elizabeth, married to George S. Stokes, and 
the mother of two children, Lillian and 
Mary; Christopher John, of Montana; W. 
A. G.. a druggist of Petrolia, now conduct 
ing his father s old stand ; and Miss Victoria, 
at home. Politically Mr. Denham was a 
Conservative, while fraternally he was a 
Mason, a member of the I. O. F. (in which 
he is past high chief ranger), the K. O. T. 
M. (in which he has filled all the chairs), the 
I. O. O. F. (in which he has also filled all the 
chairs), and the L. O. L. (past county mas 
ter). Mr. Denham was one of the most 
genial and courteous gentlemen in Petrolia 
and numbered his friends by legions. He 
died there Jan. 18, 1903, mourned by many 
old friends and neighbors. He was buried 
in Newmarket, Ontario. 

JOHN GIBB. Very many of the early 
settlers of Lambton County were born in 
Scotland, that country contributing many 
of the citizens who now make this part of 
Ontario notable for its thrift and material 
and intellectual development. Among these 
is John Gibb, who has been a resident of 
Lambton County since he was twelve years 
of age, has seen much of its encouraging 
growth, and has done his part in bringing 
present prosperous conditions about. 

Archibald Gibb, his grandfather, was 
born in Scotland, and there married Jane 
Lingston, of East Calder. near Edinburgh. 
Here he carried on business as a carrier. He 
reared a family of six children, viz. : George, 
who kept what was known as "The Ragged 
School," in Edinburgh, for indigent chil 
dren: Archibald, who was a farmer; Rob 
ert, who became the father of John Gibb, of 



Sarnia ; Jane, who married William Dun 
can; Elizabeth, who married George West; 
and Margaret, who married Andrew Mun- 
gle, a merchant of West Calder. 

Robert Gibb was born Aug. 4, 1804, and 
when he had attained to the age of nine 
years was considered old enough to be a 
herder of cattle. At the age of eighteen 
years he went to clerking in the establish 
ment of his brother-in-law, Mr. Mungle, and 
remained with him for twenty-one and a 
half years. In 1826 he married Margaret 
Gowan, a daughter of John Gowan, and in 
1843 they emigrated to Canada, locating in 
Ontario, in Moore township, Lambton 
County, on Lot 24, Concession 12. Here 
they lived some years, later moving to Point 
Edward, where Mr. Gibb died in 1891, at 
the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
His widow died in 1901, at the age of nine 
ty-five years and ten months. They were 
most worthy members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and lived quiet, useful and blame 
less lives. Mr. Gibb was a member of the 
Keform party. Their children were the fol 
lowing: Archibald, a farmer of Moore 
township; Mary, the wife of William Mil 
ler, of Point Edward; John; Jean, the wife 
of Capt. Stewart, of Courtright; and Rob 
ert, a resident of Sarnia. 

John Gibb, the third member of the 
above family, was born Sept. 13, 1831, in 
Scotland, and was twelve years of age when 
his parents brought him to Ontario. He 
grew to manhood, engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, and for thirty-six years cultivated 
a farm on Lot 27, Concession 12, in Moore 
township, during this time clearing the land 
and developing one of the best farms in the 
locality. In 1892, after these years of act 
ivity, Mr. Gibb sought ease and well earned 
comfort, moving to his pleasant home in 
Sarnia, on the northeast corner of Welling 
ton and College avenues. 

On June 21, 1860, Mr. Gibb was mar 
ried to Miss Margaret McGregor, a daugh 
ter of Peter and Ann ( Stewart) McGregor, 
and a granddaughter of Alexander and Janet 
(McDonald) McGregor. Children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Gibb as follows : Rob- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



567 



ert, who is a farmer in Moore township, 
married Ann Warwick, and has one daughter 
Edith ; Annie is the wife of James Shanks, 
of Sarnia, and they have children, Harrison, 
Irma and Frances Willard ; Peter is de 
ceased; Maggie Henderson, deceased, was 
the wife of William A. Smart; Gregor, who 
is a farmer in Moore township, married Vic 
toria Thompson. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibb are esteemed 
members of the Presbyterian Church. In 
political faith he is in sympathy with the Re 
form party. 

Alexander McGregor, paternal grand 
father of Mrs. Gibb, was born about 1781, 
in Perthshire, Scotland, and in iSiS made 
his home in Perth, Out, becoming a large 
farmer there. During his residence in Scot 
land he had been a shepherd. His death oc 
curred in 1844, his widow surviving until 
1857. Their children bore these names: 
John, Peter, Duncan, Margaret, Catherine, 
Isabella, Janet, James and Donald. 

Peter McGregor, the father of Mrs. Gibb, 
was born Sept. 8, 1814, in Scotland, and 
was four years old when his father located 
in Canada. Until 1852 he engaged in farm 
ing in Perth, following the same occupation 
after he removed to Sarnia township, Lamb- 
ton County. His death occurred in 1889, 
and that of his wife in 1885. Their children 
were : Janet, the widow of Daniel Clark ; 
Donald, who went to the Klondike region ; 
Margaret, Mrs. Gibb; Alexander, deceased; 
Miss Christine, who resides on the old home 
stead in Sarnia township; Duncan, deceased; 
Allen, who is in California ; and Peter, who 
farms on the old homestead. Mr. McGregor 
was a Conservative in his political views. 
He and his wife were Presbyterians, and they 
carefully reared their children in the same 
religious faith. All of these families are 
most highly respected and belong to the very 
best class of Lambton s County residents. 

GEORGE ODELL, a retired farmer of 
Enniskillen township, residing on Lot 7, 
Concession u, is of English extraction, hav 
ing been born in Bedfordshire, England, 
Sept. 26, 1829, son of James and Mary 



(Mailes) Odell. The parents were both 
born in 1807, and it was not until they were 
well along in years that they left their na 
tive England. They made the voyage to 
Canada in 1871, and settled near Kingston, 
where Mr. Odell worked at gardening for 
some years before finally making his home in 
Lambton County. He located in Petrolia 
and lived there until his death. His wife 
survived him until 1890. Their thirteen 
children, all born in England, were as fol 
lows : Mary, who died in England : Will 
iam, who died in Canada in 1902, leaving a 
wife and family ; James, who was killed in 
Australia, where he lived; Harriet, born in 
1831, who married George Cox, of Lamb- 
ton County, and has eight children ; Jane, 
born in 1834, wife of Amos Baker, of Eng 
land; Sarah, widow of the late \Villiam 
King, of England ; Susannah, who died in 
England when a young girl ; Thomas, who 
was drowned near Kingston in early man 
hood ; Harry, who died in England in 1901 ; 
Emma, who died in England ; Louisa, de 
ceased wife of George Spacey, of Petrolia; 
George; and Ellen, of Sarnia, Ont., widow 
of Charles Witworth, and the mother of 
three children. 

George Odell grew up in his native land 
and learned the trade of a shoemaker, which 
he followed until he came to Canada and 
entered upon agricultural pursuits. He 
brought his wife and family to Canada the 
same year his parents came, and settled near 
Kingston, in Hastings County. He rented a 
farm there for eight years and next moved to 
Enniskillen township, where he rented his 
present home. Six years later he purchased 
the property, which was largely bush land, 
and began the work of clearing it. Until 
1891 he lived in a log house, but in that 
year he erected his present modern brick 
house, large bank barns and all the other 
buildings now on the place. He has de 
veloped his farm into a fine homestead and 
has been very successful in his management 
of it. Mr. Odell was married and had a 
family of nine children before leaving Eng 
land. The date of his union was 1851, and 
his wife was Susan Webb, daughter of Will- 



5 68 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



iam and Annie Webb, of an old English 
family. Their family numbered in all ten 
children; (i) James, torn in 1852, married 
Miss Emma Peters, of Dresden, and now 
lives on Concession 4, Enniskillen township, 
with his wife and family. The children are 
named George, Mary, Martha, Harry, Ada, 
Pearl and John. (2) George, born in 1854, 
married Miss Annie Carr, of Petrolia. lives 
in Dawn, and has seven children, William, 
Milton, George, Leslie, Kenneth, Hazel and 
Bruce. (3) Phoebe, born in June, 1856, 
married William Smith, of Petrolia, and 
has twelve children, Annie, Phoebe, Mary, 
Susan, May, Pearl, Cora, George, Joseph, 
Arthur, Percy and John. (4) Henry, born 
in 1858, is at home, unmarried. (5) Susan, 
torn Aug. 30, 1860, was educated in the 
schools of eastern Canada. In May, 1889, 
she married Mr. Shaw Priestley, of York 
shire. England. They lived in Petrolia for 
a short time and then went to Manitoba, 
where he died in 1899. The widow now 
lives with her father. Her. only daughter, 
kuby, died in 1895, a g e t5 four years and six 
months. (6) William, born in 1862, mar 
ried Miss Emma Hyde of Petrolia. They 
settled in Enniskillen and there he died 
March 24, 1899, leaving five children, Rob 
ert, Daisy, Noble, James G. and Annie. (7) 
Jennie born in 1864, married William Booth 
of Petrolia, who died leaving three children, 
George, Chester and Hazel. (8) Annie, 
born in 1863, is the wife of Joseph Mat 
thews, principal of the Marthaville schools, 
and they have one son Vernon. (9) Sarah, 
born in 1869, is the wife of John Gascione, 
of Enniskillen township, and has one son, 
J. Henry. (10) Thomas, born in Canada 
in 1872, married Miss Florence Smith, of 
Oil City. They reside in Detroit, Michigan. 
and are the parents of three children, Flor 
ence, May and Audrie. The mother of this 
large family died Nov. 27, 1895, aged sixty- 
four years. 

George Odell and his family all belong 
to the Methodist Church, as did also his 
wife. They have always taken a prominent 
part in church work and Mr. Odell has been 
class-leader for a number of years. In poli 



tics he is a Conservative. A man of exem 
plary character and most kindly disposition, 
he is universally admired and. liked, while 
his invariable activity in every movement 
which promised to benefit the community 
increased the confidence felt in him. Start 
ing a poor man, he has been very successful, 
and he and his children are numbered among 
the leading citizens of the township. 

DUNCAN McLACHLAN. The Can 
ada Business College, of Chatham, of which 
Mr. McLachlan is the president, is one of the 
many leading factors contributing to the best 
interests of that city. An institution the 
prime object of which is to prepare young 
men and women for successful business posi 
tions brings a large revenue into the city, and 
is an enterprise whose good work will live 
after its noble founder has passed away. 
This educational institution was founded in 
1876, by Duncan McLachlan, and was 
opened for business Nov. 3Oth. of that year, 
with the enrollment of one pupil, Alexander 
McLachlan. a brother of the president. This 
first pupil is now the president of the Inter 
national College at Smyrna, Turkey. From 
that humble beginning, over a quarter of a 
century ago, the number of pupils has in 
creased to over 300, according to the state 
ment for the year ending 1900. The faculty 
has grown from one member, in 1876, to 
eleven, six of whom are regular teachers. 
three assistants and two lecturers. This is 
the only business college in Canada which 
has continued for twenty-seven years under 
the same management, and it is a matter of 
note that pupils of Mr. McLachlan are at the 
head of great colleges all over Canada and 
the United States. Among those in Canada 
may be mentioned : James Westervelt, prin 
cipal of the Forest City Business College, at 
London. Out. ; R. E. Gallagher, at the head 
of the Canada Business College, at Hamil 
ton, Ont. ; W. H. Shaw, of the Central Busi 
ness College, of Toronto ; W. J. Elliott, of 
the Central Business College, at Stratford; 
and II. T. Gough. of St. Thomas Business 
College. For the year ending in June prior 
to the receiving of this information, the insti- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



569 



tution had enrolled pupils from 138 cities, 
towns and hamlets ; from six States in the 
United States: from Newfoundland; from 
thirty counties and districts of Ontario ; and 
its graduates are to be found all over the 
, world. 

The life history of the man through 
whose efforts this college has reached its 
present high degree of usefulness is both 
interesting and instructive. Mr. McLachlan 
is a native of the County of Wellington, 
Ont, of Scottish ancestry, a son of Malcolm 
and Christine (McDonald) McLachlan, and 
a grandson of Daniel and Mary (McDon 
ald) McLachlan. Daniel McLachlan was 
born in Scotland about 1783, and married 
Mary McDonald, also a native of Scotland. 
They were among the very early settlers in 
the County of Peel, Ont., where they en 
gaged in farming, and reared the following 
children : Charles, Malcolm, John, Daniel, 
Lachlan and Alexander, all deceased ; Cle- 
mina, the wife of Alexander McLachlan, the 
Canadian poet ; Mary, deceased, the wife of 
Daniel McMillan, and Xancy, the widow of 
Neil Brown. 

Of this family, Malcolm McLachlan, the 
father of Duncan, was born in Johnstone 
in 1814, and was five years of age when his 
parents brought him to Ontario. His first 
marriage was to Jane Kirkwood, and the 
following children were born to this union : 
Daniel, of Victoria, B. C. ; William, of 
Seattle, Washington; Robert, of Orcas Isl 
and ; Margaret, deceased ; and Mary, de 
ceased. The second marriage of Mr. Mc 
Lachlan was to Christine McDonald, daugh 
ter of Duncan and Catharine McDonald, 
and the children born to this union were : 
Duncan ; John, who is a deputy sheriff at 
Ottawa ; Alexander, who is principal of the 
International College at Smyrna, Turkey ; 
Charles, a physician in New Rockford, 
North Dakota, vice-president of the Bank 
of New Rockford, and ex-member of the 
State Legislature; Malcolm, who is president 
of the McLachlan Business University at 
Grand Rapids, Michigan; and James, who is 
manager of an elevator at New Rockford, 
North Dakota. 



President McLachlan was born Sept. 19, 
1852. in the township of Erin, County of 
Wellington, Out., where he was reared and 
where he attended the public schools and 
later took a course in the Rockwood Acad 
emy. His educational work began early, 
for lie was still a young man when made 
principal of the public school at Glen Will 
iams, where he remained one year. At the 
conclusion of this service President McLach 
lan entered upon his career as a student in 
the British American Business College at 
Toronto, where he graduated in 1872, thor 
oughly qualified in every detail of this line of 
educational work. In September, 1872, he 
accepted the position of instructor in pen 
manship in the Canada Business College, 
Hamilton, and in 1873 became a partner in 
the institution, this partnership continuing 
until 1879. In the meantime, in 1876, he 
had founded the Canada Business College, at 
Chatham, which he has personally conducted 
ever since. 

In 1891 Mr. McLachlan was united in 
marriage with Emma Hall, the one daughter 
of this union being Jean. Christine. Mrs. 
McLachlan died in 1894. and in 1897 he 
married Miss Jennie Elder, by whom he had 
two children, Louise A. and Kenneth Dun 
can. Religiously he is a Presbyterian. Po 
litically he is a Reformer, and socially a 
member of Barton Lodge, No. 6, A. F. & 
A. M., of Hamilton, Ontario. 

WELLINGTON R. J. LUCAS, the 
youngest of the five sons born to the late 
George and Margaret (Taylor) Lucas, of 
Sarnia, is engaged in business with his broth 
er, D. W. H. Lucas, conducting a large and 
flourishing wholesale and retail bakery and 
confectionery establishment. He is regarded 
as one of the city s rising young business 
men. For a full history of his father, who 
was a very prominent man, the reader is 
referred to the extensive sketch of him which 
appears elsewhere in this volume. 

Wellington R. J. Lucas was born in Sar 
nia. Xov. 26, 1868, and received his literary 
education in the public schools and the Col 
legiate Institute of that city. In 1891 he 



570 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



went to Nebraska as clerk for the Union 
Pacific Railroad Company, and remained in 
that position four months, when he accepted 
a position with the United States Express 
Company, at Ashland, Wisconsin. At the 
expiration of two years he left the employ 
of that company, and after a short visit in 
Sarnia went to St. Louis, Missouri, and was 
with the Cudahy Packing Company ; thence 
he went to Chicago, to attend the World s 
Fair. Returning to Sarnia, he again at 
tended the Collegiate Institute. In 1895 Mr. 
Lucas was connected with his brother, 
George, in a harness business, and remained 
with him until 1900, when he joined another 
brother, D. \V. H. Lucas, in establishing the 
present house. The Lucas brothers thor 
oughly understand all the details of the 
business, and have built up a very large trade 
by sound methods, enterprise and square 
dealing. Although theirs is a new concern, 
its future is assured, and their continued 
prosperity is almost certain. 

On Oct. 22, 1901, Mr. Lucas and Eva 
Lavina Brown, daughter of James Brown, 
deceased, were united in marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lucas are members of the Church of 
England. In his political faith Mr. Lucas 
follows the example set by his father, and 
is a strong Conservative. His fraternal af 
filiations are with the I. O. O. F., and the 
C. O. F., in which organizations he is de 
servedly popular, as he is also in social cir 
cles. 

JOHN LOCKIE, a well-known farmer 
of Plympton township, was born in Kirk 
cudbright, Scotland, June 22, 1841, son of 
James and Mary Anne (Marjoribanks) 
Lockie. 

James Lockie, a native of Roxburgh, 
Scotland, was for most of his life a farmer 
and large cattle dealer in Dumfriesshire, 
where he and his wife both died, he in 1878 
at the age of seventy-three and she in 1860 
at the age of forty-five. Both belonged to 
the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). 
They were the parents of the following chil 
dren : Mary. John, Jane, Elizabeth, Davina, 
Ann, Catharine and William (in Ireland). 



John Lockie grew to manhood in his na 
tive place and was given a good education 
in the public schools. He worked on the 
farm until he was twenty, and then left 
Scotland for Canada, locating first at To 
ronto; he remained there for some time and 
then went to Lambton County, where he 
spent two years working for Thomas Bull- 
man, of Sarnia township, and John Gillatly, 
Sr., of Plympton. He then started for him 
self on a bush farm in Lot 18, Concession 
6, Plympton, where he has ever since lived, 
engaged in farming and stock raising. He 
has erected a good dwelling and barns and 
now has a well cultivated and profitable 
farm. He and his family are all Presby 
terians. In politics he is a Reformer. Of 
domestic habits, Mr. Lockie is one of the 
best read men in the township, and is well 
posted on current events. 

On Oct. 30, 1868, Mr. Lockie was mar 
ried to Miss Helen Gillatly, the eldest 
daughter of John Gillatly, a well-known citi 
zen of Plympton. To this union four chil 
dren have been born, namely : Bessie, born 
March 9, 1870, married William McBrain, 
of Sarnia township; James, born July 24, 
1871, is at home; William John, torn Dec. 
6, 1873, of Sarnia; and Annie Gillatly. born 
April 4, 1876, at home. The two sons have 
much mechanical genius, and James has 
made a number of violins and other similar 
instruments. The family is a well-known 
one, in the township, and is held in high es 
teem by all. 

ROBERT SHARPE, a prosperous 
farmer and oil operator of Sarnia township, 
was bom Feb. 10, 1868, in the immediate 
locality in which he is now residing. His 
parents, Benjamin and Eliza (Irwin) 
Sharpe, were inhabitants of Lambton Coun 
ty for nearly fifty years. 

Benjamin Sharpe was born in County 
Cavan, Ireland, in 1833, and remained there- 
till after his marriage. Then, with his bride, 
whose home had been in County Monaghan, 
he started for Canada, and after an unevent 
ful voyage of three weeks landed at Mon 
treal. Mr. Sharpe had relatives in Sarnia. 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



township, so they \vent directly thither and 
settled on a fifty-acre farm in Lot 5, Conces 
sion 2. This land was low and wet and 
very heavily wooded, but in time it was 
cleared and made into a good farm. The 
only returns for some years were from the 
potash into which, like most of his neigh 
bors, Mr. Sharpe converted his timber. 
This first tract he cleared alone, but on an 
adjoining fifty acres which he afterward 
added he was aided by his sons. The family 
dwelling was always on the first piece of 
property and in the beginning was only a 
small log shanty, but that was soon replaced 
by the larger and more comfortable log 
house where the family lived for thirty years. 
Benjamin Sharpe continued his active work 
up to some five years of his death, which oc 
curred May-io, 1903, when he was aged 
seventy years. His wife had passed away 
before him, Oct. 10, 1898, aged sixty-seven. 
They were Presbyterians, and for many 
years Mr. Sharpe was a manager of the 
Moore Line Presbyterian Church. In poli 
tics he was a Conservative, and always kept 
well posted on public affairs, but his great 
est activity was in the cause of prohibition. 
The children born to him and his wife were : 
William, proprietor of the Sarnia Soda 
Water Works ; Alexander, a farmer in the 
1 4th Concession of Sombra township; Ben 
jamin, a blacksmith in Sarnia ; Thomas, who 
died when three years old ; Eliza, who died 
at the age of one year; Robert; and Amelia, 
wife of Dugal McDougall, of the I2th Line, 
Enniskillen. 

Robert Sharpe gmv up on the home 
farm, was given the best education the local 
schools afforded, and then as he grew older 
took charge of the homestead. After his 
father s death fifty acres of the old place 
fell to him and he has since continued farm 
ing there. About five years ago he dis 
covered oil on his land and began his opera 
tions in the oil business. He gets his power 
for the work from a gas engine, and has 
now eight wells pumping. In both lines of 
work he has been successful, and although 
still comparatively young has an assured 
place among the responsible men of the com 



munity. Politically he is a Conservative, 
and in his religious belief a Presbyterian. 

On Dec. 31. 1895, Mr. Sharpe was uni 
ted in matrimony to Miss Margaret Menzie, 
born on an adjoining farm Jan. i, 1872. 
daughter of George Menzie, a pioneer of 
the township. To their union have been born 
four children. Earl Robert, Jessie Margaret, 
Clifford Irwin and Grace Tena. The fam 
ily home, a fine brick house erected in 1893, 
is equipped with a hot air furnace, and many 
other conveniences for comfort. 

JOSEPH PAYNE, the well known 
councillor of Moore township, is one of the 
most prosperous farmers of the region, 
where he was born and has passed all his 
life. 

Joshua Payne, father of Joseph, was 
born in Wiltshire, England, and there grew 
to manhood, earning his livelihood as a 
farm laborer. He came to Canada as a 
young man, locating on the Niagara river, 
and finding employment on the farms in the 
vicinity. At the end of four years he had 
risen to the position of foreman on an estate 
of 400 acres, and he left that place and came 
to Lambton County. He located on 100 
acres of bush land on Concession 8, Moore 
township, where he put up a log house and 
began the life of a pioneer. By hard work 
he cleared and cultivated his land, and re 
placed the first rude buildings with substan 
tial structures, adding 250 acres to his farm, 
and becoming one of the largest land own 
ers in the section. He saw his life work- 
crowned with success, and died in 1889, at 
the age of seventy-eight. He was a member 
of the Reform party in politics, but was 
never an office seeker, and always reserved 
the right to vote according to his own best 
judgment. He was an earnest member of 
the Church of England, and for many years 
was warden and vestry-man of the church 
in Mooretow-n. He served as a volunteer 
in the Rebellion of 1837-38. 

Joshua Payne married in Niagara, Jane 
Wilkin, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, 
and who died on the Canadian farm in 1892. 
She is buried beside her husband in the Suth- 



572 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



erland cemetery at Mooretown. She was 
all her life a member of the Church of Eng 
land. The children of Joshua and Jane 
(YVilkin) Payne were as follows: Annie, 
who died young; Eliza, who is unmarried 
and lives in Mooretown ; Mary Ann, who 
died in infancy ; Sarah, who is unmarried, 
and lives in Mooretown ; Jane, who mar 
ried David Richmond, of Moore township ; 
Marv, who died young; Joseph, who is 
mentioned below; Rebecca (deceased), who 
married Philip Hoskins, of Moore town 
ship ; and Grace, who married George Rob- 
bins, of Moore township. 

Joseph Payne was born on the farm on 
8th Line, Moore township, April n, 1852, 
and attended school in Section No. 3, of that 
township. He worked with his father on 
the home farm until he started out for him 
self, buying 100 acres in the west half of Lot 
24. Concession 8. There he has built a fine 
brick house, and put up large barns and 
other buildings, and has engaged success 
fully in general farming and stock raising. 
Since the death of his father he has also car 
ried on the homestead farm, which he now 
owns. His unfailing industry and strict at 
tention to business have made him one of the 
successful agriculturists of the region, as his 
200 acres of well cultivated land attest. 

On Feb. 26, 1879, Mr. Payne married 
Emma Galloway, a native of Moore town 
ship, daughter of John Galloway. Mr. Gal 
loway was born in Scotland, and became a 
farmer in Moore township, where he spent 
many years of his life. He was reeve of the 
township for some time, and there died. The 
children of Joseph and Emma (Galloway) 
Payne are as follows : Joshua E., Mary and 
Joseph John Wilfred, all at home. Mr. 
Payne is a Liberal in politics, was elected to 
the township council in 1904, and takes an 
active part in the affairs of the township. 
He is a member and chief commander of the 
order of Chosen Friends, Commandery No. 
325, at Corunna, and has been sent as a rep 
resentative of the order to the Grand Coun 
cil in Toronto. Like his father he has made 
a success of his life in all its phases, as a 
business man. a citizen and in his domestic 



relations. He is a member of the Church 
of England, was for seven years warden and 
vestryman of the church at Mooretown, and 
is at present lay-delegate to the synod at 
London. He has also served as a member 
of the church building committee. He is a 
man of genial temperament, popular with 
all classes of the community. 

JOHN DIXON ECCLES, J. P., de 
ceased, who departed this life at Watford, 
Dec. u, 1882, was well and familiarly known 
as "Squire Eccles." He was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, in 1817, and emigrated to 
Ontario in 1835, locating in Warwick town 
ship, when that now prosperous locality was 
a great wilderness. There he cleared up a 
fine farm and made his home until remov 
ing to Watford in 1879, to assume the du 
ties of secretary to the East Lambton Farm 
ers Mutual Insurance Company. While re 
siding in Warwick township, Mr. Eccles took 
an active part in local affairs, and was a 
member of the township council for many 
years ; he also filled the office of reeve, and 
on account of that was a member of the 
county council. In 1874 Mr. Eccles was 
warden of the county, and was also one of 
the oldest magistrates, he having been ap 
pointed when the counties of Lambton, Es 
sex and Kent were united in one district. 
After settling in Watford, Mr. Eccles took 
an interest in politics, and at the time of his 
death he was clerk of the Division Court, as 
well as secretary of the insurance company, 
and he always espoused the cause of the Re 
form party. In religious matters he was a 
member of the Congregational Church. 

Mr. Eccles was twice married. By his 
first wife, Mary B., he had the following 
family: Mrs. William McLeay; Martha, 
who married Col. Kennard ; Alice, who mar 
ried Joshua Thomas ; Mary Jane, who mar 
ried James F. Elliott, of Watford; Daniel, 
of Toronto, who married Charlotte Selly, 
and had children, Gertrude, Stanley and 
Vera; Dr. F. R., of London, Ont., who mar 
ried Martha L. Wood; John D., deceased, 
who married Elizabeth Elliott, by whom he 
had children, James F., F. R., Mamie and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



573 



Annie ; Charles, deceased. The second wife 
of Mr. Eccles was Isabella Alexander, 
widow of David Alexander, and he married 
her in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Eccles had a 
daughter, Isabella. The maiden name of 
Mrs. Eccles was Ross, and she is a daughter 
of Thatcher and Christina (Ross) Ross, 
the former of whom was born in Scotland 
in 1802, and died in 1847, while his wife 
was born in the same country in 1809, and 
died in Toronto in 1854. The family came 
to Toronto in 1851, where Mr. Ross fol 
lowed the shoe business. Two children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross, John (de 
ceased) and Isabella, Mrs. Eccles. 

In the death of Mr. Eccles Watford lost 
one of its representative citizens and prom 
inent pioneers, as well as a man who was 
deeply interested in the prosperity of the 
cii} , and who contributed largely of his time 
and means to forward its interests. His 
memory is tenderly cherished, not only by 
his immediate family, but in the hearts of 
his numerous friends throughout the entire 
county. 

WILLIAM MILLER, who departed 
this life at Point Edward, was a son of John 
and Flora (Tagert) Miller, natives of Scot 
land where they spent their entire lives. Will 
iam Miller was born in Scotland, and when 
a young man came to Ontario, where he fol 
lowed the business of boilermaking during 
the greater part of his life. He had two 
brothers, John and Matthew, who came to 
America. 

William Miller married Miss Mary Gibb, 
who was born in Scotland in 1827, and 
came with her parents to Ontario in 1843. 
The Gibb family is mentioned elsewhere. 
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
lived for a time in the township of Moore, 
from which locality they moved to Detroit, 
where Mr. Miller followed his trade. In 
1870 they moved to Point Edward Mr. 
Miller s business being just over the river, 
at Fort Gratiot, Michigan and there lo 
cated, making that place their home until his 
death. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born the 



following- children: (i) John, a farmer in 
Moore, married Emily Mowbray, and 
by her has four children, Alvira, William, 
John Elmer and Emily Merrill. (2) Mar 
garet is the wife of William Shanks, by 
whom she has one son, John Russell. (3) 
Flora is the wife of George Cole, by whom 
she has four sons, William, Samuel Arthur, 
Harold and George Edgar. (4) Mary is the 
wife of Clarence Croker. (5) Agnes and (6 i 
Robert are at home. 

WILLIAM GAMMON, a successful 
carpenter of Forest, enjoys the distinction of 
being the oldest member of that trade in the 
city, and is a pioneer builder of the county. 
Mr. Gammon is a native of England, born 
Dec. 12, 1830, son of James and Sarah 
(Aubery) Gammon. James Gammon was a 
brother of George Gammon, the father of 
William Gammon, a farmer, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere. The father of our sub 
ject was born in 1807, in England, where he 
followed farming and died about 1877. To 
himself and wife were born the following 
children: Lucy, who died in England; Will 
iam; Mary Ann, the widow of Mr. W. W. 
Wooly. of Bay City, Michigan; Elizabeth, of 
England ; and Ellen, Jane, Frances, Emma, 
Laura and John, all of England. 

William Gammon was educated in the 
Church of England schools in his native 
land. He served seven years as an appren 
tice to the carpenter s trade, which he fol 
lowed in England for fourteen years. In 
1870 he emigrated to Ontario, locating at 
Forest, where he has since been successfully 
engaged. He has erected many of the resi 
dences of that city, including his own, which 
is constructed in a manner which reflects 
credit upon his skill. When he located in. 
Forest the land was almost entirely covered 
with bush, but now beautiful residences, well- 
tended grounds and flourishing business 
streets stand as monuments to the industry 
and enterprise of the citizens. 

While still in England, in 1858, Mr. 
Gammon was married to Miss Eleanor Har 
vey, who was born Dec. 24, 1838. a daughter 
of William Harvey, and ten children were 



574 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



born to this union: Frederick (deceased) 
married Mary Goble, now the wife of T. \V. 
Smith, a sketch of whom will be found else 
where ; Maggie married George McGee, of 
Sarnia. and they have had children Colon, 
George, Lillie, Kathleen, Irene, Elsie, Fran 
cis and Albert; Albert lives in California; 
Robert is a resident of Forest : James resides 
at St. Paul. Minnesota, and has two children, 
Vera and Robert ; Thomas, of Sarnia, mar 
ried Edith Pelkey. and has four children, 
Hazel, William, Cecil and Edith; Lillie mar 
ried Malcolm McLellan, of Osborne, and 
their children are Hazel, Lillian and William 
D. ; Mary is a trained nurse in the Sarnia 
Hospital ; Francis married Julia McLeod, 
and they have two children, Adeline and 
Francis ; Gertrude married Dr. J. G. Lefere, 
of Pine Valley, Oregon, and has one son, 
Adlai H. D. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gammon are consistent 
members of the Congregational Church, 
to which they give their liberal support. For 
a number of years Mr. Gammon was a mem 
ber of the Reform party, but recently he has 
changed his political vie\\"s and is now inde 
pendent. The position of the Gammons in 
Forest is an excellent one, Mr. Gammon hav 
ing gained the esteem of all who know him, 
while he and his family have made many 
friends throughout the neighborhood. 

WILLIAM STOKES, a prominent citi 
zen of Petrolia, has been an oil producer in 
this locality for a number of years. He is a 
native of Sarnia township, Lambton County, 
a son of one of the pioneer settlers of the 
county. 

The Stokes family, which is of Scotch 
extraction, was founded in Canada, by 
Arthur Stokes, the grandfather of our sub 
ject, who was horn in 1760. at Glasgow. 
Scotland. In 1812 he came with his family 
to Dalhousie township, Lanark County, 
where he engaged in farming, and died there 
in 1858. In his native land, Arthur Stokes 
was a weaver by trade. He was twice mar 
ried, the children of the first union being: 
Arthur. John and William, the second son 
becoming the father of our subject. The chil 



dren of the second union were David and 
Mary. 

John Stokes was born in 1/96 at Glas 
gow, Scotland, and came to Ontario with 
his parents, in 1812. After reaching his ma 
jority he tried farming in Lanark Count}-, 
but finally decided to locate on more desir 
able land in Lambton County, making the 
journey to his new home on foot. In Sarnia 
township he purchased the title to lot 5, 
Concession 2. of an U. E. L. settler, and 
started immediately to clear the land. After 
he had succeeded in the erection of a com 
fortable log house, Mr. Stokes sent for his 
wife, who made a part of the trip, with the 
children, by boat, and the remainder by 
ox-team, Mr. Stokes meeting and welcoming 
them at the boat landing. Then they started 
on their long trip through the forest, finally 
reaching the new home, which was yet in 
such a wilderness that the wolves could be 
continually heard howling. These brave, 
courageous pioneers spent their lives here, 
Mr. Stokes clearing up a fine farm. Here 
Mr. Stokes died in July, 1874. Mrs. Stokes, 
formerly Mary Paul, was born in 1809 at 
Glasgow, Scotland, and was married in 1827. 
She survived her husband many years, dying 
in October, 1901. A family of thirteen chil 
dren grew up around this pioneer hearth 
stone, many becoming most highly regarded 
citizens of this locality. 

\\ illiam Stokes was born June i =;. 1844, 
in Sarnia township, on the old homestead, 
and his first business venture wa,s a partner 
ship with his brother Samuel in the construc 
tion of underground oil tanks, a firm which 
probably did more business in that line than 
any other in the county. While thus en 
gaged. Mr. Stokes became also an oil pro 
ducer, and during recent years has given his 
entire time to that line of work. He owns 
forty-six oil wells^ all of which are within 
the corporate limits of Petrolia. in which 
place he settled in 1866. 

In 1866 Mr. Stokes married Miss Ke- 
becca Dennis, who was born in 184;, in 
Cornwall, England, daughter of William 
and Elizabeth Dennis, natives of England, 
who came to Canada in 1844 and located in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



575 



Lambton County, and were early settlers of 
Petrolia. After coming to Ontario they en 
gaged in farming and so continued until they 
died. A family of four children has been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, namely: Ma- 
linda married Charles Chadwick. and they 
have two children Helen and Thornley; 
Albert Ernest, a torpedo dealer at Petrolia, 
married Clara Woodward : Cora married 
John Chapman, of Chicago, Illinois ; Blake 
is a jeweler in Assiniboia, X. \Y. T. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stokes are valued members of the 
Baptist Church, to which he gives liberal sup 
port. Politically he is a Reformer, and fra 
ternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. 

DAXIEL McCART. one of the oldest 
grocery merchants of Sarnia. is a man of 
many achievements. He made his start by 
following the lakes : since embarking in the 
grocery business he has given a great deal 
of his time to public affairs, and as an ener 
getic man of keen business insight, conscien 
tious in the performance of the slightest 
duty, he has the entire confidence and respect 
of his fellow citizens. 

Mr. McCart comes of good Irish stock. 
His uncle. James McCart is the first of whom 
we have any definite record. He was born 
in Ireland, and there spent many years of his 
life. About 1830 he came to Ontario, and 
located near Perth, being the first of his fam 
ily to settle in this Province. A carpenter 
by trade, he followed the occupation very 
successfully for some years in that section, 
in 1838, moving to Sarnia. where he contin 
ued the same line of work. After a time he 
purchased a vessel, the "Olive Branch," 
which he operated some years, and while en 
gaged in this business he resided in Kings- 
t< :n. Out. He was a man of ability and made 
a success of whatever he turned his hand to. 

Daniel McCart. Sr.. brother of James, 
and father of the Daniel whose name heads 
this sketch, made his way in life by the con 
scientious and steady pursuit of one line of 
business. Born in Ireland about 1802, he 
there made his home for many years. For 
an occupation he took up sailing, which he 
followed for some time in his native land. 



Induced by his brother s favorable reports of 
Ontario, in 1840 he broke home ties and 
came to this country, settling in Sarnia. 
Shortly after his arrival he purchased a sail 
ing boat, and engaged in-the freight business 
on the lakes. Moderate rates and previous 
experience enabled him to make a success of 
his industry, and he continued it for many 
years, in fact he followed the business up to 
the close of his life. He died in 1870. in his 
sixty-ninth year. 

Before coming to Ontario Mr. McCart 
married in his native land Margaret McEl- 
heron, who was born in Ireland. She died 
in Sarnia in 1865. By this marriage there 
were three children : James died at the age of 
eighteen years ; Ann is the widow of Will 
iam McElheron. and resides in Sarnia ; Dan 
iel is mentioned below. 

Mr. .McCart possessed both industry and 
the power of turning it to the best account. 
He conducted a large business and made 
money out of it. He always evinced keen 
interest in public affairs, and in politics af 
filiated with the Conservatives. He was a 
consistent member of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

Daniel McCart grew to manhood with 
ideals of a sea-faring life before him dimmed 
somewhat by the thoughts and fancies forced 
upon him by his inland environments. Born 
in Ireland, in the autumn of 1835, he was 
but a mere child when he came with his pa 
rents to Ontario and settled in Sarnia. In 
what was then a little lakeside village he 
grew to manhood, receiving a practical 
though rudimentary education in the public 
schools. From taking little trips with his 
father on the lakes he early became initiated 
into the management of boats, and acquired 
some valuable knowledge of the freight bus 
iness. Xaturally, upon reaching manhood, 
he engaged in the same line of work. In 
1 854, when about nineteen years old, he 
made his start, taking as a partner William 
Fyan. Purchasing one of the elder Mr. 
McCart s boats, they opened a freight carry 
ing trade on the lakes, and by close attention 
to business and shrewd management soon 
had all the work they could possibly attend 



576 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to. Energetic and persevering, they contin 
ued this profitable business for many years. 
Then bad luck befell them, and the boat was 
lost on Lake Huron. Mr. McCart now de 
cided to go before the mast, and took a po 
sition on a boat engaged in the grain trade, 
between Chicago and Buffalo. Thus he con 
tinued until 1864, having been engaged in 
the business on the lakes altogether for ten 
years. During this period, in spite of the 
loss of the boat, he made well out of his en 
terprises, and returning to his home city, 
Sarnia, he opened a grocery store there, on 
the site occupied by his present building. 
Good service and square dealing enabled him 
to work up a fine custom in a short time, and 
wise financial management put it on a secure 
footing. Sure of himself, he continued the 
business, and from time to time enlarged his 
stock of goods and made other improve 
ments in the store. In 1876 he erected a 
fine new building, the one in which he is now 
conducting business. He has. continued his 
industry steadily from the time he first 
started, altogether for thirty-eight years, and 
he is now known far and near as one of the 
solid, honest business men of Sarnia. 

In 1874 Mr. McCart married Miss Car 
oline Donnelly, who was born in Lambton, 
County, daughter of William Donnelly, who 
is now deceased. Of the children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. McCart \Yilliam died at the 
age of twelve years, and the following re 
side in Sarnia : Caroline, who married 
George Dawson; Edward, who is in business 
with his father ; Louis ; Miss Margaret ; 
Kathleen, who also lives at home; and Will 
iam (2), who is attending school. 

Mr. McCart. as a prominent, public-spir 
ited business man, has long taken a keen in 
terest in the welfare of his city. So evident 
has been this fact that through the merited 
esteem of his fellow citizens he has filled many 
places of honor, serving on the city council 
with marked efficiency for many years, and 
acting as a member of the separate school 
board for over thirty years. Fraternally he 
stands high, and is a charter member of the 
C. M. B. A. at Sarnia, the seventh body of 
that order established in Canada. He has 



passed all the chairs, and since Dec. 31, 
1892, has served as secretary. He possesses 
rare perseverance and great energy. He has 
achieved success by always centering his 
forces upon one line of business at a time, 
never turning aside for something else with 
out a very urgent cause. Politically he af 
filiates with the Conservatives. He is a 
thoroughly good Christian gentleman, and 
an esteemed member of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

The maternal grandparents of Mr. 
McCart, the McElherons, were natives of 
Ireland, and late in life came to Ontario, set 
tling in Lambton County, where they en 
gaged in farming. Some of their children 
also came to Ontario, among them, as has 
been suggested, Margaret, the mother of Mr. 
.McCart, who came with her husband in 
1840. 

JAMES SMITH. Among the promi 
nent citizens of Colinville, Moore township, 
Lambton County, is James Smith, reeve of 
Moore township and postmaster at Colinville. 
He is the owner of a fine grain and stock 
farm, and is engaged in buying and selling 
cattle. Mr. Smith was born June 16, 1856, 
in the township of Moore, on a farm adjoin 
ing the one where he now resides, son of 
Samuel and Sarah (McGurk) Smith. 

Samuel Smith was born near Belfast, 
County Down, Ireland, son of William and 
Elizabeth (McGowan) Smith, a full sketch 
of whom will be found elsewhere. Samuel 
Smith was but twelve years of age when he 
crossed the Atlantic ocean with his brother, 
Robert Sturgeon Smith. After arriving in 
Canada he lived with his uncle, Alexander 
Reid, in Beverley township. County of Went- 
w-orth, and worked at farming in and around 
Watcrdown until he located in Lambton 
County. There he bought 100 acres of land 
in Lot 16, Concession 9. Moore township, 
erected a log house and settled down to 
farming. By hard work and strict attention 
to business Mr. Smith succeeded in clearing 
his farm, upon which he made extensive im 
provements, building a fine home, barns and 
out-buildings. He later added a tract of 200 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



577 



acres to his farm, making in all 300 acres 
under operation. In 1894 he retired from 
active life and with his wife removed to 
Sarnia, where he still resides. Politically 
he is a Reformer, but he is no office-seeker. 
In his religious views he is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. 

Samuel Smith married, in Moore town 
ship, Miss Sarah McGurk, Ixirn in Belfast, 
Ireland, a sister of Henry McGurk, a full 
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. 
Mrs. Smith is still living, in full enjoyment 
of all her faculties. She and her husband 
had issue : James, mentioned below ; Henry 
M., farmer and owner of a sawmill in Moore 
township, who married Elizabeth Heal; and 
Margaret, who married Capt. John Neal, 01 
the St. Clair river. Moore township. 

Tames Smith attended the district 
schools, and later was a pupil in the Com 
mercial College at London for one term. He 
was reared on his father s farm, upon which 
he worked from early boyhood until he 
reached the age of twenty-six years. He 
then started in the lumber business with his 
brother. Henry M.. supplying railroad ties 
and ship timber, and followed this occupa 
tion for a number of years, after which he 
settled down to farming. He took up a tract 
of 1 50 acres in Lot 1 5, 8th Concession, 
Moore township, where he cleared up a 
home, and putting it in a good state of culti 
vation engaged quite extensively in stock 
raising upon the place, and erected a fine 
brick dwelling and large barns. Mr. Smith 
is also the owner of 100 acres in Lot 22, 
same Concession, which he uses for pasture 
purposes. 

Politically James Smith is a Reformer. 
He was elected in 1896 to the Moore town 
ship council, in which he served four years. 
He was deputy reeve for three years and for 
a like number of years a member of the 
county council. In 1899 he was elected reeve 
of Moore township, which office he has con 
tinuously filled up to the present time, and 
has given the town a good administration. 
In 1892 he was appointed postmaster, which 
position he has also held up to the present 
time. He has held the office of school trus- 

37 



tee for three terms. He was secretary and 
treasurer of the Moore Agricultural Society 
for fifteen years, and in 1905 was elected 
president of the same. Fraternally Mr. 
Smith has associated himself with the A. F. 
& A. M., Leopold Lodge, Xo. 397, of Brig- 
den, in which he has filled the office of mas 
ter, and with the I. O. O. F., Lambton 
Lodge. Xo. 277, of Brigden. 

On Dec. 24, 1882, Mr. Smith married 
Miss Lizzie Eleck, who was born in Moore 
township, daughter of Robert Fleck, who is 
mentioned elsewhere, and four children have 
been born to this union : Alvin J., Violet S. 
M., Walter J. and Clifford S., all of whom 
are at home. Both as a public official and pri 
vate individual Mr. Smith has made many 
friends, and the success which he has gained 
has been well earned. 

DAVID COXBOY, one of the well- 
known agriculturists and stockmen of 
Plympton township, where he and his brother 
Thomas resided on the London Road for 
some forty-five years, enjoys the distinction , 
of being one of the largest landowners in 
that section. His birth occurred in County 
Sligo, Ireland, in January. 1836, and his 
brother was born in the same county in 
1839. The Conboy family were all members 
of the Established Church of England. 

Thomas Conboy, the father of these 
brothers, was also born in County Sligo, Ire 
land, and engaged in farm labor until 1840 
when he died, leaving his wife with thirteen 
small children. The maiden name of his. 
wife was Margaret Melican. and four of 
their children now reside in Plympton town 
ship. Lambton County, James, Catherine, 
David and Thomas. After the death of the 
father, the mother came to Canada, and there 
spent the remainder of her days in Plymp 
ton township, dying at the home of James in 
1883, surrounded by the four children afore 
mentioned, none of whom have married. 

James is engaged in general farming on 
the London Road. 

Catherine makes her home with him. 

David attended the national school of his 
native county, and also a private school, and 



5/8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



worked -with his father as a farm hand. In 
1856, he came to Ontario, locating at York, 
Haldimand County, where he worked at 
farm labor. When he came to Lambton 
County, he settled on the London Road, with 
his brother James, and followed farming on 
a 2oo-acre tract for eleven years. At that 
time he began farming for himself, the 
brothers dividing the farm, and each taking 
100 acres. Later, he added fifty acres, and 
now operates 150 acres, farming and rais 
ing stock, which he sells. He is a member 
of the Church of England, and takes pleasure 
in reading and studying the Bible. In poli 
tics, he is a Conservative, and is a good, sub 
stantial man, well liked throughout the town 
ship. 

THOMAS CONBOY was born in County 
Sligo in 1839, and being very young when 
he lost his father, his opportunities for secur 
ing an education were limited. He was 
still a youth when he came with his 
mother and brothers to Haldimand County, 
locating in Seneca township. For three 
years he was storekeeper for Robert H. 
Street, and later was with James Thompson, 
at Cayuga, same county, receiving fifteen dol 
lars per month. From there he removed to 
Plympton township, with the rest of the fam 
ily, and, after working for a short time as a 
farm hand, he bought his present fine farm 
of 100 acres, paying for it fourteen dollars 
per acre. To this he added fifty acres more, 
and since 1870 he has been engaged in deal 
ing in cattle, buying and selling. He is an 
excellent judge of cattle, and is often, calle 
upon to act as an expert appraiser. His land 
was in a wild condition when he obtained it, 
and many weary days of hard work were re 
quired to place it in its present excellent con 
dition. 

By his industrious habits, his energy and 
foresight, he has worked his way steadily to 
the top. Like his other brothers he has never 
married. He is a strong Conservative, but 
has never desired political office. He believes 
in applying the Golden Rule to every day 
convictions, and he and his brothers are 
highly esteemed wherever known. 



ANDREW HOLMES, who during his 
life was a well known and highly respected 
citizen of Moore township, was born in Ire 
land in 1829, son of Andrew Holmes. 

Andrew Holmes was a tenant farmer in 
Ireland, but in 1845 ne emigrated to Canada 
on a sailing vessel consuming ten weeks in 
the voyage. He brought his children with 
him, and all of them found excellent homes 
in the New World. Owing to illness, An 
drew Holmes and his son Andrew were de 
tained at the quarantine station at Quebec, 
where the father died. Later the balance of 
the family made their way west, locating in 
York County, near Toronto, where they 
found employment at farm work. 

With his two brothers, John and David, 
Andrew Holmes removed to Lambton 
County and locating in Enniskillen town 
ship, bought 300 acres of land. Andrew 
cleared up his 100 acres, and resided upon his 
property until 1878, when he sold it and lo 
cated in Moore township, buying a tract of 
150 acres, on Lot 2, Concession 9, all scrub 
land. Once more he cleared off his property, 
with the help of his sons, and soon had the 
land under cultivation. A comfortable 
house was built, a barn and necessary out 
buildings arose, and all the improvements 
made were good in character, and enhanced 
the value of the farm. As time went on. he 
added to his possessions, in 1890 buying 100 
acres on the 8th Line, which property was 
known as the Stonehouse farm. Mr. Holmes 
was a successful fanner and stockraiser. and 
spent the remainder of his life upon his prop 
erty, dying Jan. 1 1, 1896, from Bright s dis 
ease. His remains were tenderly laid to rest 
in the cemetery on the 8th Line. He died, 
as he had lived, firm in the faith of the Eng 
lish Church. In politics he was a Conserva 
tive. \vhile fraternally, for forty years he 
had been a member of the L. O. L. 

In July, 1865. Mr. Holmes married Miss 
Emma Maria Ross, born at Toronto, daugh 
ter of George Ross, of Huron County. She 
died on the farm Oct. 8, 1886, and is buried 
in the 8th Line cemetery. Her religious 
faith was that of the Church of England, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



579 



she was a devoted wife and mother and most 
excellent lady. Nine children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes: (i) George, born 
Sept. 17, 1867, in Enniskillen township, at 
tended school in Moore township, and 
worked upon the farm with his father; now 
he and his brothers operate the homestead, 
and are engaged in several other lines of 
business. (2) Thomas, bom April 23, 1869, 
in Enniskillen township, was also educated 
in the schools of Moore township. After the 
death of his father, he with the other chil 
dren took charge of the farm of 300 acres, 
and it is now devoted to general farming and 
stock raising. The brothers also deal exten 
sively in stock, and operate several oil wells 
on their property. Thomas Holmes is active 
in township affairs and served as tax col 
lector during 1901 and 1902, and in 1905 
was assessor of Moore township. (3) 
Martha married Albert Barwise, of Ennis 
killen township. (4) Susan is at home. (5) 
John, born Oct. 27, 1875, in Enniskillen 
township, was educated in Moore township, 
and is engaged with his brothers in operat 
ing the homestead and other business enter 
prises. (6) William is a druggist of Toronto. 
(7) Andrew and (8) Mary are at home. (9) 
Margaret died in infant} . 

The Holmes family is a very well known 
one throughout the County of Lambton, and 
the Holmes boys are young man of thrift and 
enterprise. They are all Conservatives, and 
men of substance whose word has weight in 
the community. Their business enterprises 
are in a flourishing condition, and the future 
is very bright before them. 

J. H. HUME, who is engaged in a fire 
insurance business at Watford, Out., and is 
also the efficient telegraph operator and 
ticket agent for the Canadian Pacific Rail 
road at that point, is a native of Lambton 
County. He is a son of one of the honored 
old pioneers of Warwick ownship. 

The Hume family is of Irish extraction 
and the grandfather of our subject was born 
in the Emerald Isle. After his death, his 
widow and children, came to Ontario, in 
1831, and located at Smith s Falls. The fam 



ily comprised these children: (i) Henry, 
who was the first citizen to locate land in 
Lambton County, came to Warwick township 
in 1832, and settled on a part of Lot 27, 
Concession 4, S. E. R. ; and after securing 
his land he returned to Smith s Falls and 
later located on Lot 25, Concession 6, War 
wick township, where he died. (2) John was 
the father of our subject. (3) Ellen married 
William Hume, and settled on Lot 19, Con 
cession 6, Warwick. (4) Elizabeth married 
James Hume, and settled on Lot 25, Conces 
sion 2. 

John Hume was born in Ireland and 
there married Margaret (Tremble) Bole, 
and came to Ontario in 1831, and to War 
wick township in 1833. He located on land 
first secured by his brother Henry, built a log 
shanty and lived there until 1834, when he 
located on Lot 25, Concession 6, on one-halt 
of which his brother Henry also settled and 
there both died. This property John Hume 
cleared up and made a fine farm, there pass 
ing his life until his death at the age of sev 
enty-two years. His widow also died here 
aged seventy-tw T o years. Both were con 
sistent members of the Methodist Church. 
Politically Mr. Hume was a Conservative. 
By her first marriage. Mrs. Hume had one 
son, James Bole, who also came to Ontario 
in 1831, and the children of the second mar 
riage were : Mary Ann, deceased ; Samuel, 
deceased, a clergyman in the Methodist 
Church ; Jane, the widow of John Hastings, 
and living at Watford; J. H., of this sketch; 
Margaret, who married John Mitchell, of 
Watford ; and Rebecca, wife of William Lu 
cas, of Grey County. 

J. H. Hume was born in 1844, in War 
wick township, and there grew to manhood. 
Until 1882, when he removed to W r atforcl, 
he engaged in farming on the- old home 
stead. Coming to Watford he engaged in 
the insurance business, to which he afterward 
added the Canadian Pacific Railroad agency. 
His residence here has been marked with in 
terest in municipal affairs, and for a number 
of years he was one of the most useful mem 
bers of the city council, and during his long 
incumbency of the office of reeve, was bv vir- 



5 8o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tue of that office a member of the county 
council. His public service has included 
some sixteen, years, during which time he 
has advocated many systems of reform, and 
has promoted many movements for the pub 
lic welfare. In politics he is a Conservative, 
and fraternally a member of the C. O. K 
Mr. Hume married Miss Celia Cam 
bridge. In religion he and his wife are 
Methodists. 

CHARLES F. COLTER, D. D. S. 
Among the young professional men at Pe 
trolia, who have won laurels in their calling, 
who have played an important part in the 
world s history as well, and still find time 
to take a healthy, hearty interest in present 
day events, may be mentioned Dr. Charles 
F. Colter, the successful young dentist. 

Dr. Colter was born in Strathroy, Out., 
Jan. 16, 1869, son of Charles and Elizabeth 
(Howe) Colter. When he was twelve years 
of age his parents removed to Petrolia, and 
that place has been his home ever since. 
When about twenty years of age he went to 
Detroit, Michigan, and for eighteen months 
was employed in a dental office there. Re 
turning to Petrolia, he spent one year work 
ing for his father in his present office. He 
then went to Toronto, and entered the To 
ronto Dental College whence he was gradu 
ated in 1893, receiving the degree of D. D. S. 
from Trinity University. Immediately after 
graduation he opened his present office, and 
he has acquired a large clientele. He is a 
master of his profession, and is thoroughly 
up-to-date in all his methods. In 1898 he 
was gazetted as an officer in the 27th regi 
ment, Canadian militia, but in 1900 he re 
signed his commission to enter the South 
African service. In London he enlisted as a 
gunner in Ottawa Battery D. and was dis 
charged as sergeant on board the boat at Hal 
ifax in 1901. During his term of service he 
was in charge of London gun Xo. 3. His 
battery participated in thirty-two engage 
ments, among them being the battles of Bel 
fast and Lydenburg. Dr. Colter was one of 
the fortunate members of his battery, inas 
much as he enjoyed perfect health during all 



the time he was in service, and did not lose 
an hour s time. He was offered a commis 
sion in the Royal Horse Artillery, but de 
clined to accept. After his return home Jan. 
12, 1901, he resumed the practice of his pro 
fession. Dr. Colter is very fond of athletic 
games both for pleasure and for exercise, 
and is ever doing what he can towards mak 
ing them popular among the young men. 

Fraternally Dr. Colter has reached the 
eighteenth degree in Masonry, and he also 
belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the K. P. In 
politics he is a Reformer, and his religious, 
connection is with the Church of England. 

On Oct. 1 6, 1902, in Belleville, Ont., Dr. 
Colter married Miss Lillian M. Foster, 
daughter of Byron Foster, of Belleville^ 
Ont., and one son, Charles Howard, has 
blessed this union. 

ALFRED DUNLOP, who is engaged 
in the milling and grain business at Watford,. 
Ont., is a native of Lambton County, and a 
son of one of the pioneer settlers of Warwick- 
township. The first of the Dunlop family of 
whom we have record was Duncan Dunlop, 
who was born in Scotland in 1/96, and died 
in Warwick township, Lambton County, in 
1869. He was a soldier in the British army, 
and lost his right leg at the battle of Water 
loo in 1815. In 1832, accompanied by his 
two sons, Duncan, Jr., and James, he came 
to Ontario, the wife and mother having died 
in Scotland. One daughter remained in her 
native land and died there. 

On coming to Ontario in 1832, Mr. Dun- 
lop settled for a short time near London, but 
in 1838 came to Lot 18, Concession 2, S. E. 
R. Warwick township, and here his son Dun 
can, the father of our subject, cleared up 245 
acres of land and there the father died as did 
the other son, James. 

Duncan Dunlop, Jr., was born in Scot 
land in 1819, and was nineteen years of age 
when he accompanied his father to the dense 
forests of Warwick township. Here he 
cleared up a fine farm and resided upon it 
until he retired from active business life in 
1897. At that date he and wife moved to 
Arkona where they live at ease, and in every 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Avay respected. In 1839 Duncan Dunlop 
married Eliza Smith, who was born in 1820, 
in England, and came in 1832 to Ontario, on 
the same vessel with the Dnnlops. Thirteen 
children were born to this marriage, as fol 
lows : Mary Ann married Elijah Bruce of 
Grand Rapids, Michigan; William, deceased, 
a farmer in Warwick, married Ellen Thomp 
son, and they had children, Jane, Eliza, 
Mary, George, Lotta, Jessie, William, Tillie, 
Lillie and Edith; Alfred; Euphemia married 
Jonas Zavitz, of Brooke, and has four chil 
dren, Ethel, Norman, Omer and Elsa ; 
Louisa married Andrew Cutler, and has five 
children, Andrew, Flora, .Albert, Minnie and 
Milton ; Charles married Maggie Weir and 
they had children, Minnie, Rena, Gladys and 
Isabella; Harriet married James Spearman, 
of Bosanquet. and has one son, John ; Han 
nah married Shedrich Gale, of London, Ont, 
and has children, Grace, Walter, Arthur, 
John and Gardiner; Malcolm, a miller by 
trade, married Jennie Helborn, and they have 
children^ Arthur, Harry, Eva, Orville, 
Chester and Wilfrid Laurier; James, a car- 
riagemaker of Forest, married Amy Slaugh 
ter, and they have children, Arthur, Ethel 
and Grace; Eliza Jane married Rufus Rus 
sell, of Bosanquet, and has three children, 
Gertrude. Ila and Florence ; Matilda married 
Nathaniel Boyd ; and John, a farmer on the 
old homestead, married Jane Cutler, and 
they have children Merle, Clayton and 
Ivan. 

Alfred Dunlop was born Feb. 28, 1845, 
in Warwick township, where he grew to ma 
turity and assumed the duties of an agricul 
turist. In 1870 he moved to the village of 
Warwick, and embarked in saw and flour 
milling for about seven years, and then spent 
two years at Watford in the same business, 
and about the same length of time in Ar- 
kona. Fie then returned to his farm in 
Warwick, and one year later, removed to" 
Flympton township, where he engaged in 
milling for seven years, permanently locating 
in Watford in the same business. In settling 
here Mr. Dunlop purchased a mill on the site 
of his present fine structure, fitting it up with 
modern machinery, including rollers. This 



mill was destroyed by fire in 1895, and the 
present mill was built in its place. This 
plant is fully equipped and very satisfactory 
products are turned out, the patronage re 
quiring Mr. Dunlop to give steady employ 
ment to four men besides himself. 

On May 22, 1871, Air. Dunlop married 
Miss lane Eliza Smith, born in Warwick 
township, daughter of James and Betsey 
(Smith) Smith, the former of whom was a 
son of George Smith, a very early settler in 
Warwick township. The children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop now surviving are: 
Lorena is at home ; George Albert, a miller 
at Watford, married Leila Carter, and has 
one son, La Verne; Alvenetta May, and Al 
fred Clair are both at home. Politically Mr. 
Dunlop is a Reformer, and fraternally a Ma 
son and a member of the K. O. T. M. He 
erected his present handsome brick residence- 
at the corner of Front and Warwick streets, 
in 1902, and there his friends are always sure 
of a hospitable welcome. 

NORMAN KIMBALL, now living re 
tired in the town of Forest, has been iden 
tified with the best interests of Lambton 
County since October, 1862. The family 
settled in that localiy in 1846, the family 
having been founded in Ontario by the 
father of Norman Kimball, who was born 
in New York state about 1800, and when a 
young man migrated to Lower Canada. In 
Brantford he married Mary Whiting, a na 
tive of that place, and settled in the County 
of Middlesex, when there were but three or 
four families in the present city of London, 
the county seat of that county. Here Mr 
Kimball farmed for a number of years, and 
later he located in Adelaide, where his death 
occurred in 1871, his widow surviving some 
time. Politically he was a member of the 
Reform party. The children born to himself 
and wife were as follows : William settled in 
Sombra township, Lambton County, in July. 
1846, cleared up a farm, and there died ; Nel 
son died in London, where he had been a 
farmer; John was a farmer in Euphemia 
township, where he died; Isaac settled in 
Michigan; Jane married Benjamin Sntton; 



582 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Norman is mentioned below ; Eliza married 
John Moorehead, and later a Mr. Love joy, 
and settled in Minnesota. 

Xorman Kimball was born in London, 
Middlesex County, Dec. 28, 1832, and 
there commenced his business life as a 
fanner. On Oct. i. 1862, he located on Lot 
4. Concession 2, Warwick township, when 
that locality was all bush, and cleared up a 
fine farm of 100 acres, leaving twenty acrei 
in timber. Here be made his borne until Oc 
tober, 1901, when he settled in Forest, and 
has built a pleasant home on Albert street, in 
which he enjoys freedom from all business, 
having disposed of his farm when he 
left it. 

On Dec. 31. 1855, Mr. Kimball married 
Miss Ellen Atwood, daughter of Robert and 
Rebecca (Brice) Atwood. Robert Atwood 
was born in England in 1806, and his wife- 
was born in 1816. In 1848 they emigrated 
to Warwick township, Lambton County, 
Ont., where Mr. Atwood died in March, 
1887; his widow, though advanced in years, 
is still hale and hearty, and makes her home 
with Mr. and Mrs. Kimball. Robert At 
wood was a son of John and Elizabeth 
(Sheppard) Atwood, both also natives of 
England, and John Atwood was a son of 
Richard Atwood, who was also born in Eng 
land. Mrs. Kimball was born in England 
May 27, 1837, and came to Ontario with her 
parents in 1848. Three children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Kimball : Emma mar 
ried Samuel Bailey, of Plympton township, 
and has two children, Roberta and Mary; 
Albert (deceased) married Julia Flagg an; 
had three children, Xorman, Walter and 
Truman, who with their mother reside at 
Lake Linden, Michigan ; John married Eliza 
beth McDonald, of Granton, and has five 
children, Frank, Llewellyn, Mary, Eunice 
and Donald. 

Politically Mr. Kimball is independent, 
and while taking an interest in local affairs 
has never desired office. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Masonic order, and he is a 
man who stands very high in the confidence 
of the people of bis community. 



ALEXANDER E\\TNG. Among the 

trans-Atlantic countries whose people have 
settled in Ontario, the "land of the sbillalah 
and the shamrock" has contributed a large 
and important quota, and the happy, genial 
nature of the inhabitants of the Emerald Isle 
is a prominent characteristic of the members 
of this race who have so materially assisted 
in the development of Western Canada. A 
prominent citizen of Petrolia, Alexander 
Ewing, is of Irish ancestry for many gen 
erations. His great-grandfather. John 
Ewing, reared a numerous family in Ireland, 
one of his sons, also John, born in London 
derry, being the first of the number to come 
to Canada. He reached this side of the At 
lantic and settled in Wellington County, Ont., 
where he engaged in farming for a time and 
then removed to Sarnia and later to Sarnia 
township where he died. He married Han 
nah Porter, also of Ireland, who died also in 
Sarnia. Their children were : John of To 
ronto; William, father of our subject; Mary, 
Mrs. John Gibson; Alexander, deceased; 
James, of Toronto ; Samuel, of Gait, Ont. ; 
Thomas ; and Robert, of Toronto. 

William Ewing was born in Wellington 
County. He came to Sarnia in 1867, where 
for some time he engaged in teaming between 
that city and Oil Springs, in connection with 
an oil business. In 1871 he came to Petrolia, 
and here became an oil producer and contin 
ued in the oil teaming business also. His 
death occurred Nov. 15, 1900. He was con 
ceded to be one of the best judges of horses 
in Ontario, and owned some fine specimens 
of draft horses, on which he took premiums- 
at the fairs at London and Toronto. Politi 
cally he was a Reformer. Religiously he was 
a Baptist, as was also his wife. Her maiden 
name was Elizabeth Smith, and she was born 
on the Atlantic ocean while her parents were 
on the voyage to Canada. The children of 
William Ewing and wife were: William, 
who died in 1896, a commission merchant; 
Alexander; Margaret, deceased; and Rob- 
bert. in the commission business at Denver, 
Colorado. 

Alexander Ewing was born Feb. 28, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



583 



1872, at Petrolia. and was educated in the 
public schools. He began his business career 
as a driller in the Petrolia oil fields. During 
1891-3 he was engaged in the same business 
in Australia, and then was associated with 
his brother for two years in a grocery busi 
ness. In 1897 he went to Colorado, and 
spent four years in gold mining, but returned 
to the oil fields of Petrolia and became an oil 
producer, in which business he is still en 
gaged, owning sixty wells in this vicinity, all 
of which he pumps from one power house. 
In addition to this great enterprise, Mr. 
Ewing also carries on, with a partner, a wood 
yard with full steam appliances for both 
cutting and splitting. He is a man of un 
usual energy and understands how to push 
his business to meet popular demand. 

In 1892 Mr. Ewing married Miss Emma 
Dupois, daughter of John Dupois, an early 
settler of the County of Lambton. Two sons 
have been born to this union. Fred Alexan 
der and Vernon. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing are 
members of the Baptist Church. In politics 
Mr. Ewing supports the Reform party. Fra 
ternally he belongs to the A. O. F. 

GEORGE MORGAX. now in his eigh 
ty-ninth year, is one of the old residents of 
Sarnia township, having settled on a farm 
there about fifty years ago. For fully twen 
ty-five years he took a strong hand in the 
development of the agricultural resources of 
his section, and since then has resided in 
Sarnia, availing himself of a little well- 
earned leisure. 

Mr. Morgan comes of good English an 
cestors. His grandfather. William Morgan, 
was a man of a mechanical turn of mind, and 
possessed considerable ability. He was born 
in 1760. Preparatory to an occupation in 
life he went into a shipbuilding yard to work 
as a carpenter for some time. Talent for the 
craft, and strict attention to business, enabled 
him to acquire considerable proficiency at it, 
and he later followed it for a regular busi 
ness. After many years of usefulness he 
died in 1839, in his eightieth year. By his 
marriage there were three children : James 
who is mentioned below; Sarah, who mar 



ried William Tumblance and Elizabeth, 
who married John \Yhite. 

James Morgan, father of George, won a 
place for himself by hard manual labor. 
Born in England in 1785, he there passed 
his life. The son of a hard-working man, he 
early felt the necessity of winning his own 
bread, and, securing a position in the mines, 
shouldered his responsibilities. After becom 
ing accustomed to the work he made good 
wages, and continued in the same pursuit 
throughout his business life. Mr. Morgan 
married Ann Batton. who was also born in 
England, and by this marriage there were 
seven children: The first four died as fol 
lows: Elizabeth, in the State of Xew York, 
where she had resided for some years pre 
viously : William, in England; James in 
Lambton County, where he was engaged in 
farming for some years : and Thomas, in 
ling-land. George is mentioned below. May 
Ann and Henry both died in England. 

George Morgan, coming of a family of 
sober, industrious laborers, was naturally 
possessed of considerable ability in the same 
line. Born in England Oct. n, 1817, he 
there, in an orderly and thrifty community, 
grew to manhood. Sympathy with the hard 
life of his father forced him early out into 
the world for himself. After a while he rose 
to the position of a contractor in coal mines, 
sinking pits and tunnels, and as a skilled 
workman, gifted with the ability of directing 
affairs, he continued in this line very suc 
cessfully for many years in his own country. 
During his young manhood he married in 
England Mary Ann Morgan, and by this 
union there were nine children, four of 
whom are living, four dying in infancy. 
Lydia married Samuel L. Clark, of Sarnia 
township, and they had three children, Flos 
sie, George and Lillie. Ben Parks, now a res 
ident of Sarnia, served during the Fenian, 
raid, in Sarnia, under Capt. Davis; he mar 
ried Euphemia McGregor, and they have one 
son. George. Lea married Thomas Clark, of 
Detroit, and they have seven children, Fred, 
Alice. George. Edward, John, Howard and 
Trixie. George A. of Detroit, married Me- 
rilla Cox, and has one daughter, Gertrude. 



584 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 






Alice (deceased) married David Alexander. 

In 1849 ^ r - Morgan came with his fam 
ily to Ontario. Finding- in Sarnia township, 
Lambton County, a fine 3Oo-acre timber 
tract, upon which stood a deserted log house, 
he purchased it and moved there. In spite of 
the fact that a previous occupant had become 
discouraged over the thought of clearing and 
breaking it, Mr. Morgan faced his work 
cheerfully, and in a short time had made 
some very marked improvements in the place. 
Determination and wise management en 
abled him to clear up large tracts in the 
course of years, and here he carried on agri 
culture very successfully. After twenty-five 
years he had one of the most valuable and 
attractive farms in the community. By 1876, 
feeling that he had done his share of labor 
ious work, he removed to Sarnia, where he 
has since resided. He has invested in con 
siderable property in the place, and owns 
besides this a loo-acre tract in the township 
outside the city. He has realized good profits 
upon his investments, and has been living in 
retirement for many years. 

Air. Morgan has long identified himself 
with public and social affairs. He was the 
principal factor in the building of the No. 
5 school in Sarnia, and was secretary and 
treasurer of that section for twenty-one 
years. In politics he affiliates with the Con 
servatives. He is a noble Christian man. a 
member of the Episcopal Church. Though 
now far advanced in years, he is well-pre 
served and possessed of keen faculties. Fond 
of reminiscences, he relates stories of the 
early days of Sarnia. of the bad roads and 
deep mud, and of how. on one occasion, a 
horse that had wandered from the stable into 
the street became mired and froze to death 
during the night. He remembers distinctly 
an old log store that stood on the site now 
occupied by Mrs. Robert Grant s beautiful 
residence, and he also tells how peaceable In 
dians used to spread out their deer for sale 
on streets now bustling with business. 

FREDERICK C. KEWLEY, one of the 

thriving young farmers of Sarnia township, 
is a grandson of the first man to draw a gov 



ernment grant in Moore township, and the 
family name has been a familiar one in 
Lambton County ever since. Mr. Kewley 
was horn on the old homestead Xov. 22, 
1862, and is a son of Edmund and Jane 
(Collins) Kewley. 

The Kewley family came originally from 
the Isle of Man, where the great-grandfather 
of our subject, William Kewley, was born, 
and where he died. The grandfather, also 
named William, grew up there and remained 
on the island till 1826. He was twice mar 
ried, both times before leaving his native 
land. His first wife bore him six children, 
viz. : John, a seafaring man, who was 
drowned ; Jane, wife of a Mr. Caine, cousin 
of the famous novelist; William and Eliza 
beth, who both remained on the island ; Dan 
iel, who came to Canada and located first 
in Moore township, and later on Lot 16, 
Concession 3, Sarnia township ; and Thomas, 
who went to Ohio at an early date and has 
been lost sight of. The second wife, whose 
name was Ann Curmod, was the mother of 
Isabella, widow of John Chase, of Port Hu 
ron; Henry, who went to the Black Hills 
during the gold excitement and remained in 
the West; and Edmund, father of Fred 
erick C. 

William Kewley had been engaged in 
fanning in the Isle of Man, and followed the 
same occupation after coming to Canada. 
lie made the voyage alone in 1826, and the 
family were to join him later, when he had 
become established in the new country. He 
settled at Guelph, and remained there till 
J 833. when he was joined by his wife and 
the younger children, and they went together 
to Lambton County. In the fall of that year 
they settled in Moore township, on Lot n, 
on the river front, and to secure the grant, 
which was the first one issued in that town 
ship, William Kewley walked to Chatham. 
After four years that place was sold and the 
family moved to Sarnia township, Lot 14, 
Concession 4. There they built a log house, 
a few rods northeast of the present Edmund 
Kewley homestead, and the grandfather 
made his home there till his death, in July, 
i8=;6. at the age of seventy-six years. His 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



585 



wife died two years later, aged seventy-five. 
Both were buried in the Lake View ceme 
tery at Sarnia. In religious belief Mr. Ke\v- 
ley was a devout Methodist. 

Edmund Kewley. also a Manxman by 
birth, was born in the parish of Kirk Kan- 
ders, May /, 1826. A child of seven when 
his mother brought him to Canada, he never 
theless remembers the trip vividly, especially 
the ocean voyage from Liverpool to Quebec 
in a sailing vessel, when they were three 
weeks and four days on the water. From 
Quebec they went to Montreal, then took a 
boat to Kingston : another carried them from 
Buffalo to Detroit, and a third thence to 
Moore township. \Yhen they finally settled 
in Sarnia township Edmund Kewley was 
eleven years old, and he recalls now with 
amusement how impossible it seemed to him 
then that the dense forests and swampy lands 
about them could ever be converted into good 
farming property. There was no school 
near them, but the boy was sent for a short 
time to one in Port Huron. As he grew a 
little older he assisted in the work of clear 
ing, and in fact did the greater part of it, 
eventually, as only forty acres had been 
cleared when his father died. He had learned 
the carpenter s trade, and found it more to 
"his advantage to take such employment away 
from home and hire others to clear his land. 
Mr. Kewley still owns that original 200 
acres, and there is now no finer farm in the 
county. His farming operations have been 
carried on on a large scale and he has met 
with unusual success. Though now seventy- 
nine years of age. he is still hale and hearty, 
and the management of his large property 
is principally in the hands of the two sons 
who are still at home. Politically, Mr. Kew 
ley is a Conservative and a stanch party man. 

In 1857 Edmund Kewley was married to 
Miss Jane Collins, a daughter of James and 
Margaret (Graham) Collins. The former 
was a native of Phelpstown, Ireland, whence 
lie emigrated in early manhood and came to 
Canada, settling in .Huron county in the early 
clays. The issue of this marriage was eight 
children, as follows : William, an engineer 
on the Pere Marquette railroad, who mar 



ried Miss Hannah Coe and resides at Port 
Huron; Frederick C. : Edmund, at the head 
of affairs at the homestead ; Emily, who died 
at the age of seven ; John, who married Miss 
Rebecca Rivers and is fanning in Sombra 
township; Annie, who died at the age of 
twenty; Henry, at home; and Robert C., 
now traveling in the west. 

Frederick C. Kewley grew up on his 
father s farm and was a school boy in the 
very section over which he is now serving 
as trustee. He remained at home till 1888 
and then bought his present farm of fifty 
acres in Lot 13, Concession 4, in addition to 
which he now owns twenty-five acres in Lot 
13, Concession 5. He carries on general 
farming, is thrifty and enterprising, and has 
been very successful thus far in his under 
takings. His home place has large substan 
tial barns and a handsome frame dwelling- 
house, all of which he has erected. 

On Feb. 26, 1889. Mr. Kewley was mar 
ried to Miss Melinda Ann Taylor, who was 
torn in Brooke township March 22. 1866, 
daughter of Thomas and Fanny (Hartley) 
Taylor, the former of whom, a native of 
Montreal, was one of the early settlers of 
Lambton, on the i2th Line. Brooke town 
ship. Mr. Taylor died in 1873, aged forty- 
three, when Mrs. Kewley was seven years 
old. Mrs. Taylor, a native of England, came 
to Canada, and was married to Mr. Taylor 
in Strathroy : she is still living, in the Sas 
katchewan, N. \V. T., at the age of sixty- 
three. Like her husband, she belongs to the 
Methodist Church. Mrs. Kewley was one of 
five children, as follows: Frederick \V.. who 
died young; Melinda Ann; \Yarner Cram, 
of Port Nome. Alaska ; Georgiana Hartley, 
who died when only twenty-two ; and John 
Thomas, a farmer of Saskatchewan, X. 
\Y. T. 

To Frederick C. and Melinda Ann Kew 
ley have been born one daughter and three 
sons, namely : Lottie Hartley, June 6. 1890 ; 
Xorman Charles. Feb. 2. 1899. who died 
when one year and ten months old: Stewart 
Taylor. Oct. 30. 1901 ; and Gordon Edmund. 
Dec. 10, 1903. Frederick C. Kewley is a 
Conservative in his political views, but so far 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



has taken no very active part in public life. 
He is regarded as one of the promising 
younger men of the region, and has the re 
spect and esteem of all. 

DAVID TROTTER, an oil producer at 
Petrolia, is a native of Scotland, where he 
was born Dec. 12, 1832, a son of Robert 
and Agnes (Crawford) Trotter, both of 
whom were natives of Scotland. The pa 
ternal grandparents were George and - 
( Xesbit) Trotter, the former being a skilled 
loom weaver, which occupation his son Rob 
ert also followed. The children of the lat 
ter were : George, Robert and James, who all 
lived and died in Scotland; Jean, widow of 
John Virtue; William, who died in Scot 
land ; Isabella, deceased wife of David Fair- 
bum ; John, who emigrated to the United 
States; Mary, living in Scotland, a maiden 
lady; and David, our subject. 

In his native land after obtaining a little 
schooling in his own locality, our subject 
learned the trade of blacksmith and worked 
at the same for one year in Scotland, and for 
two years in England, when, in 1857, he 
came to Canada, locating at Paris, Ont. Here 
he followed his trade for one year, and then 
went to Port Dalhousie and spent six months 
working in a flouring mill, resuming work 
at his trade, at Thorold, where he was lo 
cated for more than three years. In 1862 
he went to Caribou, British Columbia, and 
was there one year engaged in gold mining 
and work at his trade, later going to Cali 
fornia, where he found plenty of work at 
blacksmithing through the Sacramento Val 
ley. Mr. Trotter then went by way of the 
Isthmus of Panama, back to Scotland where 
he enjoyed a visit with his parents, but 
three weeks after, returned to America, 
landing at New York, going thence to Mon 
treal. There lie followed blacksmithing for 
two years. 

On June n, 1866, Mr. Trotter married 
Miss Catherine Simpson, of St. Catharine s, 
Ont., born in 1844, who died Aug. i, 1890. 
After marriage he settled in Petrolia and for 
six years engaged in a blacksmithing busi 
ness and then embarked in a grocery busi 



ness. This he also followed six years, but in 
1878 he entered the oil business and soon be 
came a producer, and still continues in the 
business. He is one of the older residents 
of the place, and is thoroughly acquainted 
with the benefits and the drawbacks of the 
business which has made Petrolia a great in 
dustrial center. In 1886 he erected his resi 
dence, on a valuable piece of ground pur 
chased from J. H. Fairbank. 

Mr. Trotter has been one of the prom 
inent citizens, serving as chairman of the 
school board ; as one of the license commis 
sioners for many years; and for ten years 
as president of the Reform Association of 
West Lambton. Mr. Trotter s children, like 
their mother, have passed away. His house 
hold affairs are under the careful and capable 
supervision of his niece, Miss Elizabeth 
Parker. 

JAMES LUNHAM. The Lunham fam 
ily is one of the best known in Lambton 
County, where James and Andrew have been 
engaged in farming for a number of years 
and where their father, David, before them, 
was a prominent agriculturist of Plympton 
township. 

David Lunham, deceased, son of David 
(i), was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, 
and there grew to manhood, engaged in 
farming. He married there Miss Annie 
Cairns, whose sister, the widow of William 
Symington, lives near the Lunham home. 
In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Lunham, with two 
children, sailed from Scotland for Quebec, 
and coming to Ontario, located in Plympton 
township, Lambton County, along Lake 
Huron. A year later they moved to Lot 15, 
Concession o, where he bought 100 acres 
from James Symington, a little of which was 
already cleared. He settled down there to 
pioneer life, one of the earliest settlers, and 
there lie remained until his death on Oct. 
i. 1897, at the age of eighty-seven. As his 
timber was cut, he made potash for which he 
found a market in Sarnia and thus secured 
an income while he was getting his land into 
condition for farming. lie worked hard, 
cleared his land and prospered so that he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



587 



was enabled to buy seventy-five acres in 
Concession 6. a tract which he gave to his 
son David. He and his wife had been de 
voted to each other during life and five weeks 
after the death of her husband Mrs. Dun 
ham followed him to the grave, being buried 
beside him in Camlachie cemetery. She was 
eighty-two years old. They were devout 
members of the Presbyterian Church, and 
proved their Christianity in their lives. Mr. 
Lunham was a Liberal in politics, but never 
sought to hold office. The children of this 
worthy couple were : Eliza, Mrs. John Gil- 
latly, deceased in 1903: Catherine, who died 
young; a baby girl who died at the quar 
antine station in Quebec; Elizabeth, who 
died young; Annie, who married Adam 
Murray, and died in Plympton ; Catherine, 
who died young ; David, a farmer in Conces 
sion 6. Plympton, who married Miss Jean- 
ette Ross ; Margaret, widow of David Gil- 
latly, residing in Plympton; Jeanette. who 
married John Page, a well-known farmer of 
Enniskillen ; Bessie, who died in young wo 
manhood ; James; Ellen, Mrs. George Lun 
ham, of Detroit; and Andrew. 

James Lunham was born July 27, 1857, 
attended the public school in Section 13, 
and remained at home assisting his father 
until the latter s death. At that time he and 
his brother Andrew took charge of the farm, 
and he has ever since been engaged in stock 
raising and general farming. He has built 
a home for himself and added many im 
provements. A Liberal in politics, he is in 
terested in public affairs, and has been for 
the past nine years a trustee of School Sec 
tion Xo. 13. filling the office of secretary and 
treasurer. He attends church at Camlachie 
and is a man of the strictest temperance in 
all his habits. 

Mr. Lunham was married Oct. 12, 1887, 
by the Rev. George McLennan, to Frances, 
daughter of David and Mary Thomas, who 
was born on the Thomas homestead at Cam 
lachie. Her father died July i, 1881, and 
her mother makes her home with Mrs. Lun 
ham. There have been no children born to 
this union. 

ANDREW Lux HAM was educated and 



reared like his brother and now operates the 
west part of the homestead. He is an ardent 
Liberal, but is not active in politics. He 
married Miss Jane Page, daughter of John 
and Jane (McCullom) Page, and they have 
had two daughters born to them, Beatrice 
Jane, and Gladys. The Lunhams are good 
citizens and are regarded with much respect 
by their neighbors. 

DAXIEL CLARK. Old residents of 
Sarnia remember well this prominent busi 
ness man and efficient public servant, who 
died in Martintown. the place of his birth, 
while on a visit. Aug. 27, 1889. For thirty 
years he conducted a first-class grocery store 
m Sarnia, and by square dealing, shrewd 
management and remarkable enterprise not 
only won a solid and lasting prosperity, but 
also the confidence and highest esteem of his 
fellow-citizens. Persistency, his dominant 
trait of character, he inherited from a long 
line of hardy and determined Scotch an 
cestors. 

Peter Clark, father of Daniel, was born 
in Scotland, and there passed many years of 
his life. At an early date he entered a tailor 
shop, and there by strict attention to business 
soon mastered the trade. Upon starting life 
for himself he engaged in the tailoring busi 
ness, and being a skilled workman met with 
good results. The hope, however, of a bet 
ter opening in a new country induced him in 
1829 to come to Ontario. Both competent 
and energetic, he soon settled at his trade, 
and for many years carried on a profitable 
industry. He spent the rest of his life in 
Ontario, and there died. During his young 
manhood he married Janet McEwen, a wo 
man of cultivation and refinement, and by 
this union there was a son named Daniel. 
Mrs. Clark died in Ontario. 

Daniel Clark was reared in an atmos 
phere of business. Born at Martintown, 
Out., Feb. 9. 1829. he there passed about ten 
years, when his father dying, he went to 
Carleton Place. There at the age of fourteen 
he entered a tailor shop and learned the use 
ful trade, which lie followed about fifteen 
years, at the same time acquiring practical 



588 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



knowledge of business. Finding the trade 
distasteful to him, but confident of his ca 
pacity for conducting a large industry, in 
September, 1859, he came to Sarnia and 
opened a grocery store. Wise management 
and a ready art of winning custom soon 
placed the business upon a solid foundation. 
From time to time he enlarged his stock of 
goods, and improved his store in other re 
spects. Keeping good articles and conduct 
ing a strictly honest business, he soon won 
the entire confidence of the people, and his 
store was long considered one of the most re 
liable shops of its kind in the city. He con- 
tinned his trade throughout the rest of his 
life. 

Soon after settling in Sarnia, on Sept. 
29. 1859, Mr. Clark married Janet McGre 
gor, who was born in 1838, daughter of 
Peter and Ann (Stewart) McGregor, who 
are mentioned below. Mrs. Clark is still re 
siding in the handsome residence at the cor 
ner of Vidal and Maria streets, erected by 
her husband in 1880. Five children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark: Peter, who 
succeeded to his father s grocery business, 
married Clemmie Henderson. Annie is the 
wife of Rev. Hugh William Locke, and they 
have four children, Russel, Clark, Muriel 
and Beecher. Jessie and William are de 
ceased. Edward, who is in St. Louis. Mis 
souri, married Mayme Boyd. 

Mr. Clark possessed great energy and a 
rare power of concentrating it. He achieved 
success through the steady pursuit of one 
main industry, but also found a little time 
for public affairs, and for one term repre 
sented his ward very efficiently in the city 
council. As a man of strong religious con 
victions he belonged to the Methodist 
Church. At one time he affiliated with the 
F. & A. M., but at the time of his death was 
not an active member. Politically he 
espoused the cause of the Conservatives. 

Alexander McGregor, grandfather of 
Mrs. Clark, was a native of Scotland, and a 
resident of that country for many years. 
There he married Janet McDonald, and in 
1818 they came with their children to On 
tario, locating near Perth. There, some time 



later, both Mr. and Mrs. McGregor died. 
This couple had a son named Peter. 

Peter McGregor, father of Mrs. Clark, 
took a strong hand in the development of the 
agricultural resources of Sarnia township, 
and was also active in public and religious 
affairs. Born in Scotland, Sept. 8, 1814, he 
was but a small boy when he came with his 
parents, in 1818, to Ontario. He was reared 
near Perth, and there trained to habits of 
industry and thrift. For an occupation he 
followed farming to a great extent through 
out his business life. In 1852 he moved with 
his family to Sarnia township, and there set 
tled upon a fine farm, where he pursued his 
industry for the rest of his life. Gifted with 
a large capacity for work, and skill in man 
agement, lie made a thorough success of ag 
riculture. He died Oct. 12, 1889. During 
his young manhood he married Ann Stew 
art, who was born in Scotland, June 15, 
181^, daughter of Donald and Christina 
(McDonald) Stewart. To Mr. and Mrs. 
McGregor were born eight children : Janet, 
Mrs. Clark, who is mentioned above: Don 
ald : Margaret, who married John Gibb, of 
Sarnia : Alexander, who is now deceased ; 
Christina, who has never married and re 
sides at home ; Duncan, deceased ; Allen, a 
resident of California; and Peter, who lives 
on the old homestead. 

Mr. McGregor was a man of influence in 
his community, and as a Conservative acted 
on the township council for one year. He 
was interested in religious work, and be 
longed to the Presbyterian Church. 

HENRY WELLINGTON. Among 
the representative farmers of Moore town 
ship, Lambton County, Henry Wellington 
stands prominently as a good citizen, enter 
prising business man and farmer of the first 
class. Mr. Wellington was born in Corn 
wall, England. Aug. 28, 1838, son of Jona 
than and Sarah (James) Wellington, and 
a younger brother of Mark Wellington, of 
Plympton township, a full history of whom 
will be found elsewhere. 

Henry Wellington was educated in the 
parish schools of his native home, although 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



589 



he received few educational advantages. He 
was. but thirteen years of age when he came 
to Canada with his parents and he attended 
the log school in Bosanquet township, Lainb- 
tmi County, where his father had settled. 
This log school was taught by Major James 
Parkinson. Mr. \Yellington, after obtain 
ing whatever education he could at the log 
school, was bound out by his father to a shoe 
maker in order that he might learn the shoe- 
making trade. He was apprenticed to a 
Mr. Ephraim Land, for three and a half 
years, but only served three years of his ap 
prenticeship, not caring to go any further in 
this line of work, as for his work he only re 
ceived his board and clothing. He returned 
home but staid only a short time, leaving for 
Sarnia, from which place he shipped up Lake 
Superior to work in the copper mines, spend 
ing two years there, for which work he re 
ceived thirty dollars a month. From there he 
went to Illinois, locating in Elizabethtown, 
Jo Daviess County, working for a year 
and a half in the lead mines. Subsequently 
he removed to Colorado, working in the gold 
mines for two years, and from there to Ne 
vada, where he worked in the gold and sil 
ver mines five years. After leaving here he 
took a trip to the Pacific coast, visiting Cali 
fornia, returning to Canada by the Isthmus. 
Arriving in Canada he settled in Plympton 
township, Lambton County, where he 
bought 100 acres on the 6th Line, upon 
which was a small clearance. Here he set 
tled down to work, clearing his farm and 
putting it into a good state of cultivation, 
and here he lived until 1883 when he sold 
out and came to Moore township, locating in 
Concession 10, Lot 20, where he bought 
1 50 acres of partially cleared land. Here he 
has spent the last twenty-one years in farm 
ing, stock raising and cattle dealing. He 
has made many improvements in the farm, 
building a fine dwelling, good barns and 
out buildings and added 150 acres more to 
his original farm. His farm is now culti 
vated by his sons, who have leased 300 acres 
of land of the Indian Reserve in Sarnia 
township for pasture purposes. 

Mr. Wellington was married in Plymp 



ton township, Dec. 13, 1866, to Miss Cath 
erine Mclntire, a sister of John Mclntire, of 
Plympton township, a history of the family 
appearing elsewhere. Three children have 
been born to this union, as follows: (i) 
Joseph John, born in Plympton township,, 
Dec. 28, 1867, was educated in the district 
schools, and remained on the farm with his 
parents until after marriage, when he re 
moved to 100 acres of land adjoining his 
father s farm on the West side, where he is 
now extensively engaged in cattle raising 
and dealing and general farming. On Sept. 
20. 1903, he married Miss Minnie Brock, of 
Enniskillen township, and one child was 
born to them, Alma Ethel, who died in in 
fancy. They are members of the Methodist 
Church, in which he has been a steward for 
seven years at Corunna, and was a delegate 
to the Methodist Conference at Wingham, 
Huron County, and he is also secretary of 
school district Xo. 4, Moore township. (2) 
Henry Jonathan, born in Plympton town 
ship, Dec. 26, 1868, was educated in Plymp 
ton and Moore townships, and has followed 
railroading for many years, and is now an 
engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railroad; 
he is a member of the I. O. O. F. (3) Don 
ald Mclntire, born in Plympton township 
Jan. 13, 1872, was educated in the district 
schools of Moore township, grew up on the 
homestead and has always been engaged in 
farming. He now has charge of the home 
farm, operating 200 acres and is also inter 
ested with his brother Joseph in the cattle 
business. He is a member of the Methodist 
Church and belongs to the Epworth League 
at Corunna. 

Mr. Wellington has always been a strong 
Conservative, which does not mean that he 
is an office seeker or politician, although he 
has shown quite an active interest in school 
matters, and has been a trustee of school dis 
trict Xo. 4. He and Mrs. Wellington are 
devout members of the Methodist Church 
at Corunna, where he has been a steward and 
trustee. Mrs. Wellington is a lady of re 
finement and belongs to one of the best 
known families of Plympton township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wellington adopted Jessie McKen- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 






590 

zie, whom they reared, and who married 
William Hossie, of Moore township. Mr. 
\Yellington is generally considered one of 
the best farmers in his neighborhood and 
the appearance of his fine farm upholds the 
statement. He is also a man of integrity 
and enjoys the esteem of his fellow citizens. 

JOSEPH MclNTiRE, father of Mrs. 
Wellington, was born in Argyllshire, Scot 
land, where his boyhood days were spent, 
and which he left at the age of seventeen. 
In 1820 he came to Canada, in a sailing ves 
sel, landed at Quebec, and then made his 
way to Xew Glasgow, where he found em 
ployment in the lumber mills on the Ottawa 
river. Later he settled down to farming 
and remained there until 1833, when he re 
moved with his family to Lobo township, 
Middlesex County, Ont. There he bought 
a tract of 100 acres of land, whereon he re 
mained twenty years. In 1853 he sold his 
farm and came to Lambton County, locat 
ing on Concession 7, in Plympton town 
ship, where he bought 400 acres of bush land 
and erected a log cabin. He was one of the 
first pioneer settlers of the region and he 
spent the remainder of his life there, actively 
engaged as long as physical strength per 
mitted. He died at the age of ninety years, 
in December, 1893, and was buried in Black- 
well cemetery, Sarnia. In politics he was 
a stanch Liberal. He was one of the first 
members of the Presbyterian Church in this 
region, but later became identified with the 
Methodist body and was one of the founders 
of that church at Maxwell. 

Mr. Mclntire was married at Xew Glas 
gow to Nancy Mattison, who was born in 
Ross-shire, Scotland, daughter of Alexander 
Mattison. who brought his family from that 
country to Canada, locating first at Cape 
Breton, where his wife died. The latter 
part of his life was spent in Plympton town 
ship, where he died at the age of 103 years, 
and he was buried in Oban cemetery. Mrs. 
McTntire died at the age of sixty-six years, 
on the home farm, and was interred in Black- 
well cemetery. She was a worthy member 
of the Methodist Church. They had seven 
children born to them, namely : John, of 



Plympton township ; Alexander, a resident 
of Winnipeg, Man. ; Duncan, a farmer in 
Plympton township; Catherine, wife of 
Henry Wellington, of Moore township, 
Lambton County; Donald, a resident of 
Plympton township, on the homestead farm ; 
Janet, deceased ; and Joseph, who is a re,-i- 
dent of British Columbia. 

GILBERT LECKIE, son of the late 
John Leckie, was born on the homestead on 
Lot ii, 1 2th Line, Moore township. Nov. 
4, 1857, and received his education in the 
district schools. Mr. Leckie worked with 
his father until the latter retired, when our 
subject received one hundred acres, part of 
the old homestead, where he has remained, 
and has improved same with ditching, etc. 
On this property Mr. Leckie has carried on 
general farming, dairying and stock rais 
ing. 

In 1879 he embarked in the threshing 
business with William Leckie as partner, 
which partnership was continued for twelve 
years, until Mr. Leckie went into the busi 
ness on his own account, and has met with 
great success. Politically Mr. Leckie is a 
Conservative, but has never sought office. 
He is a consistent member of the Presby 
terian Church, which he attends at Osborne. 
He is socially inclined, and is a member of 
the I. O. F., of Brigden, and the K. O. T. 
M., of Osborne. 

On Oct. 29, 1883, Gilbert Leckie mar 
ried Miss Polly Robinson, who was born in 
Petrolia, Out., daughter of Thomas and 
Mary (Hunter) Robinson, natives of Ire 
land, and of the earliest settlers in Lambton 
County, Ontario. The only child of this 
union died in infancy. Mr. Leckie is held 
in high esteem in this county. 

ARTHUR W. ELLIS. No field de 
mands more from one who would succeed in 
it than dues journalism, for nothing needs 
more force and originality, a closer touch 
with men and events or a more ceaseless 
outgo of life and energy than does the man 
agement of a successful newspaper. Arthur 
\Y. Ellis, the editor and proprietor of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Wyoming Enterprise, is well fitted by nature 
and training alike for the career he has un 
dertaken. 

Mr. Ellis was born in Walkerson, Brant 
township, Bruce County. Feb. 7. 1881, son 
of John and Anna (McCann) Ellis. The 
former was a carpenter in that town, of 
English birth, and died in 1884. when his 
son was only three years old. The boy at 
tended the public and high schools in his 
native town, and there, too. learned the 
printer s trade under \V. R. Telford, editor 
of the Herald. From that office he went to 
Montreal, and spent two years in the print 
ing department of the Herald of that city, 
and next went to Toronto and was employed 
eight months by Warwick & Rutter, govern 
ment printers. In 1901 Mr. Ellis came to 
Wyoming and went into partnership with 
X. T. Harvey, publisher of the Enterprise, 
and in September of the following year, 
bought out that gentleman s interest, as he 
was going to San Francisco, California, his 
present abode. 

The Enterprise was started July 14, 
1893, by E. L. Mott, who conducted it two 
and a half years ; it was then bought by E. V. 
Donelly, who in turn sold out five years later 
to Mr. Harvey. Under Mr. Ellis it has 
taken on new life and is a bright up-to-date 
paper. As the proprietor is Independent in 
politics, the paper reflects his views. Mr. 
Ellis is a member of Burns Lodge, Xo. 153, 
A. F. & .V. M.. Wyoming; Jubilee Camp, 
K. O. T. M., Wyoming, and the C. O. W. 
O. W. 

STUART D. MACKENZIE, M. D., 
C. M.. M. R. C. S., L. R. C. P. Among 
the leading exponents of the medical pro 
fession of Sarnia, County of Lambton, Ont., 
Dr. Mackenzie occupies a very enviable po 
sition, and is highly regarded not only as a 
physician, but also as a man. He is a son 
of the late Charles Mackenzie, ex-M. P. P., 
a full sketch of whom appears elsewhere. 

Stuart D. Mackenzie is a native of Sar 
nia. born Jan. 8. 1880. and received an excel 
lent literary education in the public schools 



and Collegiate Institute, finishing at the Up 
per Canada College. Toronto, from which in 
stitution he was graduated in 1897. Upon 
the completion of his literary studies he en 
tered the well-known McGill University, at 
Montreal, and completed a medical course in 
1901, graduating with the degree of M. D., 
C. M. He then entered the Government 
Hospital at Sarnia, where he remained as an 
interne until June, 1902, at which time he 
went to Europe. He continued his studies 
in the famous hospitals of London, England, 
where he received his degrees of M. R. C. 
S.. and L. R. C. P. in 1903. Before return 
ing home he traveled extensively, visiting 
Australia, India, etc., reaching Sarnia again 
in November, 1904. 

In his religious connections Dr. Mac 
kenzie is a Presbyterian. His ideas with re 
gard to political matters make him an en 
thusiastic supporter of the principles of the 
Reform party. Having had exceptional ad 
vantages Dr. Mackenzie comes to his life 
work fully equipped, and already stands very 
high among the younger members of his 
profession, while personally his pleasant, 
genial manner wins him many friends. He 
is a member of several college fraternities. 

GEORGE HOWARD, now living re 
tired at Watford, comes of honorable old 
English ancestry. His father, John How 
ard was born about 1/69, in England, and 
married Ann Ball, also a native of England 
who died there. His death occurred in 
1842. Their children were as follows: 
James, a woolen manufacturer, as was his 
father ; Ann. who married a Mr. Howard 
(no relation), and died in England; Henry, 
also engaged in woolen manufacturing; 
Eliza, who died in England unmarried aged 
ninety-one years; Maria, who died in Eng 
land ; John, a woolen manufacturer who died 
in England; and George. 

George Howard was born Xov. 21, 
1817, in Gloucestershire, England, and there 
followed the wool manufacturing business 
until 1858. when he came to Ontario and 
located at Adelaide, near Strathroy, where 



592 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



he farmed until he came to Watford in 1872. 
Here he hecame bookkeeper for the late Mr. 
Dodds, and since retiring from that position 
has lived retired. 

Mr. Howard was married (first) in Eng 
land, to Elizabeth B. Haskew. and their two 
children were : George Robert, a resident 
of Winnipeg, a solicitor of prominence, who 
married lane Sewall, and has children, Ma 
bel, Veronica, Penelope and Percy ; and 
Henry B., a resident of Chicago, who mar 
ried and has one daughter, Lena. The 
mother of these two sons died, and Mr. 
Howard was married (second), June n, 
1867, to Sarah Williams, daughter of Dr. 
Roger S. and Maria Ann (Dyke) Williams, 
the former of whom was born in 1/97, in 
England, a son of Roger Williams who died 
there. Dr. Williams married in England 
and came to Ontario in 1837, locating on 4th 
Line, S. E. R., Adelaide township, County 
of Middlesex, when all that locality was still 
a wilderness. Here he remained for a season 
and practiced medicine, but later removed to 
Strathroy where he died in 1880, his wife 
having passed away in 1878. They were 
members of the Church of England. In 
politics he was a Conservative. Their chil-- 
dren were : Roger, a farmer, died aged sev 
enty years ; Mary, deceased, married Rich 
ard Browne, son of Capt. Browne; Sarah 
became Mrs. Howard; Maria married Wil 
liam Crone, and is deceased; John lives re 
tired in Strathroy; Lawson, a farmer, died 
unmarried, in 1900; William died unmarried, 
aged thirty-three years; Deborah is Mrs. 
Charles Sewell, of Toronto ; and Annie and 
Jane died unmarried. Mrs. Howard was 
born in England, and was seven years of age 
when she came to Ontario. Two sons have 
been born to our subject and wife, namely: 
Rev. Roger S. Williams, a clergyman of the 
Church of England, at Mitchell, married 
Jennie Tweedy, daughter of Dr. Gilbert 
Tweedy, and they have one daughter, Sarah 
Glynne; and Oswald Wilfred, a professor 
in the Montreal Diocesan Theological Col 
lege, married Georgiana Eva Gillespie, 
daughter of Rev. John Gillespie. Politically 
Mr. Howard is Conservative in his views. 



Both he and wife are members of the Church 
of England, in which faith they carefully 
and successfully reared two sons who reflect 
great credit upon them. 

JOSEPH OSBORNE, an enterprising 
farmer of Plympton township, Lambton 
County, was horn Sept. 3, 1833, in Glasgow, 
Scotland. Of his paternal ancestors he 
knows nothing, but his grandparents on his 
mother s side were Adam Crawford and 
Margaret Taylor, of the old town of Stir 
ling, Scotland, through whom there was a 
large number of relatives. 

Nothing of importance occurred during 
the first nine years of our subject s boyhood, 
but he remembers that he was a very trouble 
some lad to keep indoors. Having no play 
mates but a brother who was kept at school 
or apprenticed out, his great delight was to 
see the sights and roam the streets of Glas 
gow. Though not much inclined to com 
pany with other boys, he would stroll along 
the Bromielaw, and knew all the ships and 
small steamers that then plied on the Clyde, 
or spend hours along the Glasgow and Pais 
ley canal and other places of note. There 
was no trouble in keeping him indoors at 
night, for the names of Burke and Hare, the 
noted Edinburgh murderers, were at that 
time a terror to all little boys throughout 
Scotland. The mention of the names of 
Burke and Hare was more restraining to the 
juveniles of Glasgow than the strap or 
shorter catechism. 

In 1842 his parents moved from Glas 
gow to the Powniill of Aldie. in Perthshire. 
The railroad from Glasgow to Edinburgh 
was opened but a short time before that, and 
he remembered the cars had no seats or cov 
ering, and though it rained all the way. the 
only shelter the passengers had was umbrel 
las. The year 1842 was a memorable one in 
the annals of Scotland. The Queen and her 
husband, Prince Albert, made their first royal 
visit to this part of the British Isles. Our 
young subject was taken to see the Queen as 
she passed through the town of Kinross on 
her way to the Duke of Athol s residence 
in the Highlands of Perthshire. There was 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



593 



no railroad then in that part of Scotland. 
Her Majesty and Prince Albert rode in an 
open carriage, so all the people had a fine 
view of her. 

In 1843, a memorable year also, for it 
was in this year that the disruption of the 
Established Church of Scotland occurred, he 
was hired out as a herd boy. This was the 
most wearisome time of his life. The farm 
er, a bachelor, with two plowmen to work 
the farm, and an old maid to keep house, 
were the only inmates of the farmstead. 
From early morning to late at night he was 
kept busy back in a lonely moor with the 
cows, where the chief and only vegetation 
was whins, broom and heather. Like many 
another herd laddie, he ran away, was taken 
back, ran away again, and his time had to 
be made out by his elder brother. Xext year 
he was hired in the same capacity, but in a 
much better place; here was a wife and chil 
dren, his pockets were stuffed with bread 
and cheese, and a Scotch plaid given him in 
wet weather. Until he was thirteen years of 
age his education did not amount to much, 
nor had he any inclination for school work, 
but in the winter of 1847 ne was coaxed to 
attend Fossa way Free Church school, and 
continued three successive years, making 
such progress in the study of mathematics 
and the ancient classics of a country school 
that steps were taken to enter him in the 
University. 

At this time, as an outcome of the dis 
ruption in the Established Church of Scot 
land in 1843, discussions on religious ques 
tions were very strong in his neighborhood. 
Listening to these controversies led him to 
change his mind and abandon the career he 
had marked out for himself. In 1851 he 
accepted a position in the Scotch drapery 
business in London, at which he continued a 
year, but, not liking the business, he returned 
to Scotland in 1852. Emigration at this 
time to Australia, Cape of Good Hope and 
America, was drawing from Scotland a great 
many young men, and having received a 
pressing invitation from his brother, who 
had preceded him two years, to come out to 
Canada, he. with his father and mother, in 

38 



the early spring of 1853, took passage for 
Xew York, with Port Sarnia, the county 
town of Lambton, as their terminus. Cross 
ing the Atlantic fifty years ago was an event 
in one s life not soon forgotten. Steam was 
beginning to be used, but the passage money 
was high, so our little party with between 
four or five hundred other immigrants took 
passage on the American packet-ship "Har- 
monia," leaving the Bromielaw, as the wharf 
at Glasgow is called, and reaching Xew York 
fifty-two days later. The landing was made 
on Monday, July 4th. which day was spent 
in watching the celebration of American 
independence, and on the evening of the 
following Tuesday a sail up the Hudson for 
twenty-two miles took the party to the rail 
road station at Pierpont, where they em 
barked for Dunkirk, on Lake Erie, which 
was reached on Thursday morning. Trans 
ferred here to a steamer. Lake Erie was 
crossed and Detroit reached on Friday morn 
ing. Changing here to the river steamer 
"Ruby," Port Sarnia was reached the same 
afternoon, and foot set for the first time on 
Canadian soil. The little party was met here 
by the brother, who had rented a house for a 
month, but after staying two weeks in Sarnia 
they became so impatient to get out to the 
bush, and be at home, that a wagon was 
engaged and the last part of the journey was 
completed. Being in the summer season the 
roads were good, but the wagon road ended 
within a mile of their destination, the rest 
being bush with no road but an Indian trail. 
The help of a settler with a yoke of oxen and 
a long sleigh was obtained, and by follow 
ing the trail around fallen trees and swamps, 
the heart of a two-mile clump of bush was 
reached, and the party safely landed along 
side of a little log shanty, covered with elm 
bark, and nothing in sight but woods on 
every side. Of that little party, the subject 
of this memoir is the only one alive today, 
and when he landed there in the woods, 
where he has ever since resided for the last 
fifty years, his total assets were eighteen 
pence of pocket money. It is well his fin 
ances were low, for his first experiences in 
backwoods life were so disappointing that if 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



594 

he had had the money it would have been 
used to take him back to Scotland. 

In November, 1853, when recovering 
from a spell of sickness, he was waited on 
by two school trustees from the township of 
Enniskillen. A schoolhouse had been built 
on the loth Line of that township, in the 
spring of that year, and a teacher hired for 
six months, but at the end of four and one- 
half months he had resigned and the trus 
tees could not draw the government grant 
unless the school was kept open at least six 
months in the year. The object of the visit 
of the two trustees was to engage Mr. Os- 
borne for the remaining one and one-half 
months, and to continue his services if satis 
factory on both sides. The bargain was not 
an unusual one in the early days of our 
school system, fourteen dollars per month 
and "lard around," that is, the teacher to 
stay so long at each house as there were 
children going to school from that family. 
The proposal was so novel a one that he ac 
cepted the terms, and, passing the County 
Board for the examination for teachers, he 
began the work of "teaching the young idea 
how to etc., in a small log house in the 
middle of the woods where the town ol 
Petrolia now stands. Not a house or clear 
ance was in sight, and as this was the only 
school at this time in the whole township of 
Enniskillen some of the children had to come 
from long distances. The boarding around 
gave our young pedagogue an experience 
much need ed at the time, and which has 
proved valuable through life, as it made him 
acquainted with the inner life of the first 
settlers of our Province. All the boarding 
houses were log buildings composed of one 
apartment, that served for kitchen, dining- 
room, sitting-room, bedroom, etc., a large 
open fireplace serving for cooking, heating 
and light. Stoves were beginning to be in 
troduced and where these were used home 
made candles threw a dim light over the 
apartment. In few of the houses was there 
any reading matter, not even a weekly news 
paper, and in the long evenings the male 
members would gather round the blazing 
logs, sing songs or tell stories of other days, 



while the women were busy knitting socks 
and mitts, or setting the dough for the mor 
row s consumption. When bedtime came 
the "master" was always honored with a bed, 
while a shakedown was laid out for the 
youngsters. The six weeks were, however, 
satisfactorily made out, and a second en 
gagement was entered into at an advance of 
salary and a change in the boarding arrange 
ment. A third arrangement for nine months 
was made, and a fourth offered, but as he 
had given himself to hard study he wished a 
higher school, and obtained the one in his 
own section in Plympton, which he taught 
for five consecutive years. A sixth engage 
ment was offered him, but he declined and 
obtained a still higher classed school in 
which he did his last public teaching, for 
having married, in 1860, Miss Janet Mc- 
Auslan, he retired to the farm, where he has 
continued ever since. 

Like many retired school teachers he has 
been called upon to fill offices of trust and 
usefulness. Avoiding politics and municipal 
matters, he has been president and secretary 
of several organizations, of a religious, liter 
ary and agricultural nature. Several of his 
acquaintances have had him to draw up their 
wills and appoint him their executor. In this 
capacity a good many thousands of dollars 
of other people s money have passed through 
his hands and he has always obtained an 
honorable discharge from the Surrogate 
Court. Having kept up his acquaintance 
with the ancient classics he has given private 
lessons and assisted ministers and school 
masters in their acquiring a knowledge of 
the Greek and Latin languages. 

As a literary recreation for his spare 
moments he uses his pen in writing for the 
press and has contributed not a little to the 
antiquarian researches of our country, be 
sides a variety of miscellaneous sketches. 

After rearing a family of eight children, 
all of whom are alive, he was bereaved of 
his partner in life. Jan. 12. 1898. His chil 
dren are: Richard, a farmer and landowner 
of Enniskillen township; Robert, a ranch 
man at Chadron, Nebraska : Martha, mar 
ried to Alex. Dawson, of Plympton town- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



595 



ship; John, a ranchman of Gillette, Wyom 
ing; Nelson, on the old homestead; Mary, 
married to Robert Love, of Sarnia ; Jane, on 
the old homestead; and Josephine, married 
to \Y. G. Richardson, of Cayley, Alherta, 
Northwest Territory. 

DAVID MANNEN has been a resident 
of Moore township for about half a century, 
and now lives on the 7th Concession. His 
birth occurred July 12, 1834, in Beverley 
township, County of Wentworth, Ontario. 

The Mannen family is of Irish descent 
and has been identified with Canada for over 
a century. John Mannen, the grandfather 
of David, was the first of this branch of that 
name to come to Canada. He was a native 
of Ireland and a soldier in the British serv 
ice. In the latter part of the eighteenth cen 
tury he came to Canada, locating in County 
Wentworth. where he became the owner of 
200 acres of land, situated in Beverley town 
ship. John Mannen was killed by the fall of 
a tree, while engaged in clearing the old 
government road, and was buried on the 
homestead. He weighed over 400 pounds, 
and was very powerful and active. He mar 
ried a Mrs. Goodale, and they became the 
parents of several children. 

John Mannen, one of the sons of John, 
and the father of David, was born Jan. 14. 
1806, at Glanford. Wentworth County, and 
removed to Beverley township with his par 
ents, there growing to manhood. He chose 
farming as an occupation, and became the 
owner of half of the homestead, his brother 
David taking the other half, and here John 
Mannen spent his life engaged in general 
farming and stock raising. He became suc 
cessful and bought land in both Moore and 
Enniskillen townships. He died March 30, 
1872. at the age of sixty-six years, and was 
buried in the Baptist cemetery at Dumfries, 
Out. He was a deacon in the church. Po 
litically he was a Reformer, and he was a 
good and useful citizen. John Mannen mar 
ried (first) Eliza Person, who was torn July 
18, 1807, and died May 5, 1839, the mother 
of these children: Jane, who married Henry 
Rouse ; Matilda, who died young ; David ; 



William, who died young; John, a resident 
of Moore township; and Perry, deceased. 
Mr. Mannen s second marriage was to Han 
nah Van Sickle, widow of James Maguire, 
and their children were: Daniel, who is on 
the old homestead ; Benona. who resides at 
Onondaga, Out., a farmer; Elizabeth, a 
resident of Manitoba, married to Joseph 
Thompson ; George, a resident of Went 
worth County ; and Robert, deceased. Mr. 
Mannen s second wife died at Onondaga, 
Ont., with her son, and was buried in the 
Baptist cemetery at Dumfries. 

David Mannen attended the subscription 
schools of his native township, there being 
no public schools until his school days were 
nearly over. He worked on the home farm 
with his father until he was of age, when his 
father gave him and his brother John a 200- 
acre tract of land in Moore township. Here 
the two brothers located in 1858 and started 
life in the bush, David taking the west half 
of Lot 5, Concession 7. He erected a log 
shanty in which he lived while making a 
home, and by hard work succeeded in clear 
ing up a farm, which he now has in a good 
state of cultivation, and upon which he built 
a tine brick dwelling house in 1884, at a cost 
of $2,000. He built barns and added 100 
acres of land to his property, west of the 
homestead, and owns also fifty acres in En 
niskillen township. Mr. Mannen was the 
second settler in Moore township to own a 
threshing outfit, which he successfully oper 
ated for eighteen years, also operating in 
Sombra. Sarnia and Enniskillen townships. 
He is still active, but there is no necessity 
for him to work hard, as he is ably assisted by 
his sons, who are young men of promise and 
character. Mr. Mannen is a stanch Lib 
eral, but has never aspired to public office. 
He has the reputation of being a man of hon 
esty and integrity, is domestic, temperate in 
his habits, and a kind father, and as such is 
highly respected in the community. He is 
a member of the Baptist Church of Brigden. 
On Feb. 17, 1869, Mr. Mannen married, 
in Moore township. Miss Sarah Jane South, 
daughter of John South, and a sister of Mrs. 
Robert H. " Baxter, of Moore township. 



596 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mrs. Mannen died at her home Feb. 19, 
1901. For a long period she devoted herself 
closely to the care of an invalid mother. She 
was a true Christian woman and was buried 
in Bear Creek cemetery. The children born 
to Mr. and Mrs. David Mannen were : John 
died young ; Bert, who resides at home, mar 
ried Orra Neil, daughter of John Neil, and 
one child has been born to them : Leona ; Al- 
bertha J. (deceased) married Joseph Potter, 
of Moore township, and they had three chil 
dren, Jennie, Verna and Albertha; Robert 
V. died at the age of twenty-five years; Ar- 
verill resides at home. 

JOHN MANNEN, of the 7th Conces 
sion, Moore township, is a well known resi 
dent of the community where he has spent 
the past forty-six years of his life. He was 
torn in Beverley township, County of Went- 
worth, Jan. 27, 1837, son of John Mannen, 
and a brother of David Mannen, previously 
mentioned. John Mannen was educated in 
the schools of his native township and was 
reared on his father s farm, where he re 
mained until of age, and then located with 
his brother David in Moore township. He 
settled on the 200 acres of bush land given 
to him and his brother by his father, and 
worked with his brother about ten years, 
when they both married, and dividing the 
property farmed by themselves. John took 
the east 100 acres and built a fine frame 
dwelling, the work being done by his broth 
er-in-law, J. J. Kerr, the well known con 
tractor. Here Mr. Mannen settled down to 
pioneer life, clearing up his farm, draining 
the land and erecting fine barns. He later 
bought fifty acres more in Enniskillen town 
ship, which he sold in 1904. He is still 
operating the homestead and, like his brother 
has made a success of his agricultural work, 
and has also engaged in cattle raising. 

Mr. Mannen was married at the Kerr 
homestead, March 10, 1869, in Moore town 
ship, on the 8th Line, by Rev. Peter McDer- 
mid. to Miss Mary Kerr, who was born in 
Donhill. Scotland, daughter of Peter and 
Mary (Donald) Kerr, and a sister of John 
and James Kerr, well known citizens of the 
County of Lambton. Mrs. Mannen died at 



her home July 14, 1893, a ^ ter being an in 
valid three years. She was buried in Bear 
Creek cemetery. She was a loving wife and 
mother and a consistent member of the Bap 
tist Church,, which she joined in 1875, being 
baptized in the St. Clair river, near Court- 
right, by Rev. M. Blanchard, and remaining 
a member until her death. Mrs. Mannen 
received her education in the Moore town 
ship schools and the high school at Sarnia, 
and taught school in Enniskillen township 
for two years. Children as follows were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. John Mannen : Mary 
Agnes, born Dec. 17, 1870, resides at home; 
John, born April 23, 1872, a farmer of the 
State of Montana, married Euphemia Xes- 
bit, daughter of David Nesbit, and they have 
two children, Lila Margaret and John Ken 
neth; Overtoil Erskine, born July 22, 1873, 
married Mary Goring, of Enniskillen town 
ship; Peter M. S., born April 18, 1876, died 
Oct. 22, 1894, and is buried in Bear Creek 
cemetery; Annie Beulah, born April 5, 1881, 
married Julius Arnold, of Bradshaw, and 
has t\vo children, Agnes G. and Robert H. ; 
Hope Judson, born Oct. 18, 1883, resides at 
home. 

Mr. Mannen s children attend the Bap 
tist Church at Brigden, in which he is a dea 
con and teacher in the Sunday-school. He 
was one of the founders of this church. In 
politics he is a Liberal, but he is no office 
seeker. Mr. Mannen is not only a good and 
useful citizen, but a man of honor and in 
tegrity, whose word is as good as his bond, 
and he enjoys the confidence of the entire 
community. 

JOHN L. KNAUFF, of Point Edward, 
is one of the oldest barbers in Ontario, hav 
ing followed the business for more than 
thirty years, and has been a resident of Point 
Edward since 1874. His ancestors came to 
Lambton County, in 1833. 

Mr. Knauff is of German extraction, 
liis grandfather, Nicholas Knauff, having 
been born in Bavaria, Germany, where he 
was a printer and bookbinder, and where he 
died. His two sons were Frank and John 
Nicholas, the latter the father of our subject. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



597 



John Nicholas Knauff was born in 1825, 
in Bavaria, and there learned the jeweler s 
trade. While still a young man, he emi 
grated to Xew York City, thence to Wilkes- 
Barre, Pennsylvania. There he married 
Eva Shydel, horn in Pennsylvania in 1830. 
John Nicholas Knauff followed his trade 
there for some time, and then went to Buf 
falo, New York, and there engaged in a ho 
tel business for three years, after which he 
spent some time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
Newport, Kentucky. At the outbreak of 
the Rebellion in the States, he enlisted in 
1861 in the iO7th Ohio Regiment, as a pri 
vate, and by the time his three years of serv 
ice had expired, he had been promoted to the 
rank of lieutenant. He re-enlisted at Buf 
falo, and was made a captain and served un 
til the close of the war. He then established 
a jewelry business at Cliippawa, Out., and 
continued until his death in 1877. His widow 
survived until 1899. During his residence 
at Cliippawa, he tilled the office of county 
constable. His children were : John L. ; 
Kate, wife of Paul Blundy; Annie, wife of 
Dr. Slocum, of New York City; Joseph, of 
Buffalo, an engineer on the Delaware, Lacka- 
wanna & Western Railroad; Carrie, wife of 
"Nl. Boland, of Rochester, N. Y. ; Theresa, 
wife of Joseph Hoker, of Buffalo; and 
Frank, a fireman on the New York Central 
Railroad. 

John L. Knauff was born at Mauch 
Chunk, Pennsylvania, June 3. 1853, and was 
educated at Buffalo, New York, where he 
also learned his trade. He practiced his 
trade for three years at Cincinnati, then at 
Buffalo for a short time, and at Chippawa. 
Out., for a year, and then, after another 
short stay in Buffalo, came to Point Edward 
May 26, 1874. He owns several choice lots 
in this place and upon one is situated his 
place of business. 

On Aug. 15. 1876. Mr. Knauff was uni 
ted in marriage with Miss Mary Egan, 
daughter of Michael and Catherine 
(O Brien) Egan. the former of whom served 
through the Rebellion in the States. Mrs. 
Catherine Egan was born in Ireland in 1819, 
a daughter of John and Sarah (Dorsey) 



O Brien, who came to County Lambton 
when the country was a wilderness, and they 
were one of five families in Warwick town 
ship. Mr. O Brien died in 1863, and his 
widow in 1867, both aged seventy-five years. 
Michael Egan, torn in 1817, in about 1835 
came to Ontario where he died in 1869, 
his widow surviving until 1894, and dying 
at Port Huron. Their children were : Sarah, 
wife of Alexander Stoliker; Bridget, wife 
of James Butler, of Port Huron; James, 
drowned in the St. Clair river in 1890; 
Mary, Mrs. Knauff; Michael, of Port Hu 
ron; Patrick, of Port Huron; Catherine, 
wife of N. E. Corry, of Port Huron ; Jo 
hanna, deceased; and Edward, a marine en 
gineer. All were born in Warwick township, 
County of Lambton. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Knauff have been born children as follows : 
John E. ; James F., a sailor ; Mary, who mar 
ried Charles Lacey, of Battle Creek, Mich 
igan; Sarah; Leo, deceased; Aloysius; An 
nie; and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Knauff are 
members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Royal Arcanum 
and the K. O. T. M. He was town coun 
cillor one year. 

JOHN PAUL, a retired farmer, now 
one of the highly esteemed citizens of Sar- 
nia, is living there surrounded with the com 
forts of life and ministered to by willing de 
scendants. He has been a resident of Can 
ada since 1830, having been brought here 
when a child, from his native Scotland. 

The Paul ancestry may be traced to a 
John Paul, a native of Scotland, who was 
the great-grandfather of John Paul, of Sar- 
nia. He had a son to whom he gave the 
family name of John and who was born in 
1761. and died in 1851. In early manhood 
he married Belle Moore, who died in Scot 
land, leaving one son, Andrew. Prior to 
1821 he married a second time, and with 
his family emigrated to Canada, the second 
wife, however, not surviving the long voy 
age. She did not see the new home in Lan 
ark County, where Grandfather John Paul 
located. The land was situated in Dalhousie 
township and was still wild and uncultivated, 



598 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and here Mr. Paul spent the balance of his 
life. 

Andrew Paul, the only son by his father s 
first marriage, was born in 1801, in Scot 
land, where he was reared to manhood. 
Seven years of his life were spent as a sol 
dier in the British army, and at the time of 
the battle of Waterloo, he was on his way 
with his command to take part in it, when 
the news came of the surrender of Napoleon. 
The daughter of John Mugo, Miss Jane 
Mugo, of Scotland, became his wife, and 
they reared a family of eight children, as 
follows : Margaret, who married John Mc- 
Cullough, is deceased, as is also her husband ; 
John is our subject ; William is a retired 
farmer of Perth, Lanark County; James is 
deceased ; Robert, who was a farmer in Dal- 
housie township, Lanark County, died in 
February. 1904; Bell and George are both 
deceased; Jean became the wife of Joseph 
McVay. 

In 1830, ten years after his father had 
emigrated to Canada, Andrew Paul fol 
lowed with his family, locating in Dalhousie 
township, Lanark County. Prior to coming 
to Canada he had followed the weaving trade 
for some years, but in the new land he en 
gaged in farming and so continued until the 
time of his death, Jan. 22, 1849, at the age of 
forty-eight years. 

John Paul, the son of Andrew and Jane 
(Mugo) Paul, was born in the city of Glas 
gow, Scotland, Oct. 16, 1823, and was a lad 
of six and a half years when the long 
journey was made to Canada which con 
sumed eight weeks and five days. In, 1848 he 
married Miss Janet Donald, a daughter of 
John and Marion (Duncan) Donald, both 
of whom were born in Scotland, the mother 
in 1799; the father died July 2, 1889, the 
mother living to be eighty-one years of age. 
Mrs. Paul was born in Lanark County. April 
26. 1824, and still survives, enjoying the 
quiet comforts of home in Sarnia, where she 
and husband are most highly valued in the 
Presbyterian Church. They have had eight 
children, namely : Andrew married Jessie 
Remvick, and both are deceased ; their two 
sons are John and Frank. Marion, who is the 



wife of Andrew Park, of Plympton, has 
these children, Albert. Herbert, Frank, Mag 
gie, Thomas, Russel and Elizabeth. Jane, 
who is deceased, married Robert McGregor, 
and has these children, Jessie (who married 
a Mr. Parvis and has two sons, William 
Ralph and Robert F., great-grand-children 
of our subject), Maude, Clara (deceased), 
Rose, John, Peter, Fred P. and Florence. 
John, who married Jessie Ewart, has these 
children, Maggie, Edith, Fred, William, 
Robert and Jessie. Thomas married Lizzie 
Ewart, now deceased, and has children- 
John Keith, Jennie and Maggie Mabel. 
Maggie, who married A. E. McDonald, has 
had children, John, Margaret (deceased), 
William Robert and Edward. Frank mar 
ried Maggie Eraser, and they have had three 
children, Elizabeth (deceased), Janet and 
Marion. William Robert, of Sarnia, Ont., 
married Minnie Longhead, and had one 
daughter, Aileen, deceased. 

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Paul set 
tled in Plympton township, Lambton 
County, on Lot 5, Concession 3, and there 
they resided for many years, Mr. Paul mak 
ing a fine farm out of the wild bush land. 
Since 1892, with his wife, he has resided in 
Sarnia, one of his sons cultivating the farm. 
He has been a director of the Lambton 
County Loan & Investment Company for 
the past thirty years. In his political sym 
pathies Mr. Paul affiliates with the Reform 
party. His long life has been such as to en 
dear him to his large family and to insure 
him the confidence and respect of his com 
munity. 

ROBERT DOUGLAS, a prosperous re 
tired farmer of the I2th Concession, Plymp 
ton township, Lambton County, was born in 
the village of Streetsville, Peel County, Ont.. 
Aug. 12, 1831. son of James and Margaret 
(Oliver) Douglas. 

lames Douglas was born in the High 
lands of Scotland and came to Canada when 
sixteen years of age. 1 le was a son of John 
and Jeanette (Wallace) Douglas, who emi 
grated to Canada in 1824, and took up land 
in Toronto township. Peel County, Ont.. be- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



599 



ing among the very first settlers of that 
county, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives. The children of James and Mar 
garet Douglas, the parents of Robert, were : 
John, born in Peel County, June 13, 1828; 
Robert; Mary, widow of John Beattie, of 
Forest; Jeanette, who married Edward 
Coyne, whom she survived, residing in Tra 
falgar township, Halton County, Out. (her 
death occurred in 1904) ; Charles, who died 
in early manhood; Margaret, wife of John 
Cordingly, a resident of Halton County; 
Ann Jane, who died in childhood ; Thomas, 
residing in Halton County ; Peter, who died 
in early manhood; Ellen, who died in early 
womanhood; and James, a resident of Al 
berta, N. YV. T. 

Robert Douglas remained on the home 
stead farm until he was twenty-three years 
of age, in 1854 coming to Lambton County 
and taking up 200 acres of land, 100 in the 
1 2th Concession, Lot 18, and the other 100 
in the i3th Concession, Lot 16. This land 
was then covered with a dense forest. Here 
he has continuously resided for over fifty 
years, steadily clearing off his land and im 
proving it, until to-day he is surrounded by 
fields and buildings "which denote his indus 
try, thrift and good management, while he is 
taking a well-earned rest, the farm work 
being attended to by his sons. 

Robert Douglas was married in the vil 
lage of Streetsville, Dec. 29, 1864, to Mar 
garet Douglas, who was born in Streetsville, 
Feb. 28, 1834, daughter of Donald and Mar 
garet (MacFarland) Douglas of Streets 
ville. To their union have been born the fol 
lowing children: William J., born April 10, 
1867, married Jane Mack, and resides in 
Plympton township ; they have two children, 
Robert E. and Frances J. John was born 
April 13, 1871. Miss Ida E. is at home. 
Mabel, born June I. 1873, died Oct. 21, 
1900. Miss Adelia. born June 28, 1875, > s 
at home. Charles S., born Dec. 6, 1877, is 
at home. The family was brought up in the 
Presbyterian Church, but attends the Con 
gregational Church, in which they are much 
respected. In politics Mr. Douglas is a Re 
former, but he has never sought for public 



preferment. He is numbered among the sub 
stantial farmers of Plympton township, and 
he and his wife are highly esteemed through 
out the neighborhood. 

SAMUEL DAVID BARNES, a highly 
respected and prominent resident of Wat 
ford, Ont., is of English extraction, and the 
family was founded in Canada by the grand 
father. Jonathan Barnes, who was born in 
England about 1767. There he married 
Hannah Herbert, and in 1812 they came to 
the Dominion, locating in Brant County, 
Out., where he followed his trade of brick- 
making. They afterward came to Warwick 
township, Lambton County, and here both 
he and wife died, leaving children: Sam 
uel, John, Arabella, Catherine, Peter and 
Charles M. 

Charles M. Barnes was born in the city 
of New York in 1812, shortly after his pa 
rents landed in America on their way to On 
tario. He learned the tailor s trade, but in 
1845 settled on Lot 15, Concession 3, N. E. 
R., Warwick township, Lambton County, 
and engaged in farming until he retired from 
business activity in 1885, when he settled in 
Forest. He married Ann Inch, a native of 
Dublin. Their children were: Joseph Ed 
win, in the States; Jonathan, Mary Jane and 
Matilda, who all died young; Mary Ann, de 
ceased, was the wife of James Bowley; 
Samuel David; Charles A., an inspector of 
schools for East Lambton ; and L. Elizabeth. 

Samuel David Barnes was born in Brant 
County in 1843, and was two years of age 
when "he came to the home in Warwick 
township. On reaching manhood he en 
gaged in farming on a part of the old home 
stead, and later owned and operated two 
other farms in the same township. In 1901 
he sold his property, and in the next year 
settled in Watford. For the past twelve 
years he has been successfully engaged in 
the insurance business. For many years Mr. 
Barnes has been identified with the Reform 
part\", but as a strong temperance man, he 
consented to be the candidate on the Pro 
hibition ticket for Parliament in 1890. He 
is a man who enjoys universal esteem. 



6oo 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mr. Barnes has been twice married, first 
in 1870 to Louise Hogle, who died in 1893, 
leaving six children, as follows: Charles, 
principal of public schools at Arkona, mar 
ried Elizabeth Fuller, and they have chil 
dren. Louis Hogle and Bessie Lucas; 
Annie Ellen married John Thompson, of the 
North West Territory, and they have one 
daughter, Lois Ella May; Samuel Augustus 
Gordon, a teacher in the North West, took 
his degree at Winnipeg; Lois Ada Maude 
married William Brent, and they have chil 
dren, Gordon D. and Lois May; Henry 
G., formerly a student at Winnipeg College, 
is now in North Dakota ; Carrie Bell Ger 
trude was educated at Alma College in music 
and elocution. The second marriage of Mr. 
Barnes was to Mrs. Ruth (Cherry) Boyd, 
widow of John Boyd, and one daughter has 
been born to this union, Alma Reta Victoria. 
Both Mr. Barnes and wife belong to the 
Methodist Church. Fraternally he belongs 
to the Masons, the C. O. F., Chosen Friends, 
and in the latter order was sent as repre 
sentative through the North West Territory. 
He spent nine months in British Columbia, 
and was so pleased with that section of the 
country that he purchased land in Alberta, 
and a farm of 160 acres in the Saskatchewan 
Valley near Flett s Springs. His foresight 
told him that that section is bound to be the 
great wheat depot of the world. 

JOHN NELSON WELLS, who was 
one of the successful and prominent resi 
dents of Moore township, and who owned 
extensive timber interests in Alabama, was a 
native of Lambton County, born in Bosan- 
quet township, Jan. 21, 1858. 

(I) William Wells, the first of the Wells 
family in Ontario, was born in England, 
where he married and reared a family, whom 
he brought with him to Canada early in the 
nineteenth century. He came to Canada an 
a major in the British army in the war of 
1812, and after its close settled on govern 
ment land at Aurora, in King township, 
County of York, Ont, where he made a 
permanent home, owning i.ooo acres which 
still belong to the Wells family. He passed 



the rest of his life as a farmer. His chil 
dren were : Robert, James, John, Job, Jo 
seph, Jacob, Elizabeth and Margaret. 

(II) Job Wells, son of William, born in 
England, also became a farmer, having re 
ceived government land in King township, 
County of York, which he cleared and im 
proved and cultivated. There lie spent his 
life. He served with his father in the war of 
1812, although only a lad of thirteen, and 
during the Rebellion of 1837-38 volunteered 
for the government service. In 1819, in 
Aurora, he married Miss Hannah Davis, 
who was born in 1800, in Pittsburgh, Penn 
sylvania, daughter of Samuel Davis, a native 
of England, who resided in Pennsylvania 
until the close of the war, when he came to 
.Canada. Mrs. Hannah (Davis) Wells died 
in 1888 in King township, and is buried 
there. She was the mother of children as 
follows: Mary (deceased) married David 
McDougal, of Elgin County, who for his 
second wife, married his wife s sister, Fan 
nie ; Samuel is mentioned below ; Jane mar- 
,ried John Page, who died in Elgin County : 
Benjamin, a blacksmith of Oil Springs, died 
in 1898; George, born in Elgin Count)-, now 
resides in Bosanquet, Ont. ; Margaret mar 
ried George Crossley, of Forest; William, 
also married, resides near Hamilton, where 
he is one of the old pioneer school teachers. 
After the death of his first wife Job Wells 
married Betty Delehentey, and had four chil 
dren by her : Job lives on. Young street, near 
Aurora ; David, a farmer, resides in Dakota ; 
Peter is a resident of Lambton County: and 
Anna married a Mr. Malloy, of Stoveville, 
Ont. The mother of these children also died 
in King township, and is buried there. Job 
Wells reached the age of eighty-four. The 
family adhered to the Episcopal faith. 

(Ill) Samuel Wells, eldest son of Job 
Wells, was born on a farm at Aurora, York 
Count v. Aug. 20, 1822, and when young 
located in King township, where he grew to 
manhood and followed farming. When a 
young man he learned the carpenter s trade, 
which work he followed until his marriage. 
Subsequent to his marriage he began hunter- 
ing in King township, and has continued in 




JOHN N. WELLS 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



601 



that business to the present time. About 1852 
he moved to Lambton County, and settled 
on a bush tract of fifty acres in Concession 
10. Bosanquet township, which he cleared 
and developed into a good farm. He also be 
came interested in the lumber trade, and 
owned and operated a sawmill. Selling out 
in 1884, he lived for a short time in Ennis- 
killen township and then spent twelve years 
in Florence, Euphemia township. There he 
owned and operated another sawmill and did 
business successfully. In time he trans 
ferred his home to near Oil Springs, Ennis- 
killen township, and has ever since been in 
the lumber business in Enniskillen. He re 
sides on Lot 24. Concession 2. Although 
advanced in years he is still active and one 
of the town s best citizens. He is a Conserv 
ative in his political views, and is a member 
of and active worker in the Methodist 
Church. 

Mr. Wells was married in 1848 in 
Vaughan township, County of York, to Miss 
Hannah Gordon, a native of that township, 
daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Elliott) 
Gordon, who were of Scottish descent. Chil 
dren as follows have been born to this union : 
Eliza, born in 1849 m Elgin County, mar 
ried John Dickinson, of King township. Sa 
rah, born in 1851, married William Men- 
henick, of Oil Springs. Lambert Welling 
ton, born in Lambton County in 1853, is a 
graduate of the London schools, and resides 
in Colorado, where he owns mining interests. 
John N.. born in 1858, is mentioned below. 
Samuel H., bom in 1859. an oil producer of 
Petrolia, married Miss Vandewater, of Oil 
Springs, and has four children. Alfred, 
born in 1862, died in his youth. Wilburt, 
born in 1865, married Miss Lindon, of Flor 
ence, Ont., and they have four children ; he 
was a hardware man, but is now farming 
near Regina, N. W. T. Mary died when 
young. 

(IV) John Nelson Wells attended the 
district schools in Bosanquet. and from his 
youth worked with his father on the farm 
and in the mill. On reaching his majority 
he left home to make his own way and pro 



ceeded first to North Dakota, where he had 
an uncle living. For two years he was em 
ployed at Fargo, Cass County, and there 
commenced farming, for himself. He 
bought 320 acres of railroad land, to which 
he afterward added 160 acres, and operated 
the whole tract till 1896, when he sold out, 
returning to Canada with $12,000. He lo 
cated on the old Creighton homestead, of 
TOO acres, in Moore township, on the St. 
Clair river front. After a few years he sold 
the part lying east of the road, and retained 
the tract on which he built his late residence, 
a handsome three-story frame dwelling. 
This house is one of the finest on the river 
front. He made extensive improvements on 
his place, laying out beautiful lawns, and 
made it into an ideal summer home. For the 
last few years of his life during the summer 
season Mr. and Mrs. Wells opened their 
home to summer tourists and could accom 
modate eighteen or twenty guests, who 
found it a delightful place to rest and who 
received every attention. During the win 
ters the family went South, as Mr. Wells 
had extensive lumber interests in St. Clair 
county, Alabama, where he and his brother 
Samuel H. were in partnership, operating 
lumber mills under the firm name of Wells 
Brothers. Mr. Wells was a shrewd and suc 
cessful business man, one who gained his 
high position by his industry and strict at 
tention to every detail of his affairs, and he 
was thoroughly progressive in his ideas. He 
took a specially keen interest in fraternal 
matters and belonged to the A. F. & A. M., 
Goose Run Lodge, No. 19, of North Da 
kota; was also a member of the I. O. O. V., 
Florence Lodge. No. 196; and of the Mod 
ern Woodmen, Lodge No. 22, of Hatton, 
North Dakota. Mr. Wells passed away 
May 13, 1905, and is buried in the Frome- 
field cemetery. 

Mr. Wells was married Jan. n, 1893. in 
King township, County of York, to Miss 
Alice Malinda Wells, daughter of David 
Wells. To their union one daughter was 
born, Dorothy Evaline, now a bright and 
promising child of eight years. Mrs. Wells 



602 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



is a cultured woman, who fully sympathized 
with all her husband s progressive ideas, and 
proved an admirable wife and helper. The 
family attend the Methodist Church at Co- 
runna. 

ANDREW S. ANDERSON, who for 
many years has been in the livery business at 
J orest, and is one of the city s prominent res 
idents, was born April 4, 1839, at Edwards- 
burgh. Out, on the St. Lawrence river, a 
son of Levi and Lillian (Sparrowhawk) 
Anderson. 

Levi Anderson was born in Ontario in 
1814 and his wife was born in Ireland in 
1816, being brought to the State of New 
York by her parents in 1818. Her death oc 
curred in the township of Matilda, County 
Dundas, Ont, on the old homestead, in 1854, 
Mr. Anderson surviving her until 1882; he 
died about six miles from his old homestead 
in Matilda township. After their marriage 
Air. and Mrs. Levi Anderson settled on Con 
cession 6, in Matilda township, on the St. 
Lawrence river, where he engaged in farm 
ing and followed his trade of carpenter. Po 
litically he was a Reformer, and for many 
years he served as school trustee. His re 
ligious convictions made him a Methodist, 
and he was very active in his denomination. 
The following children were born to him 
self and wife: Alexander, a farmer of Min 
nesota; Andrew S., our subject; Lucinda 
(deceased), who married William Mc- 
Keever; Ezra A.; Frank, of Matilda, Ont.; 
Steven, a farmer of Matilda; and Horatio 
S., who is in the livery business in Chicago. 
Andrew S. Anderson has spent his entire 
business life in Lambton County, whither he 
came in the fall of 1861. His literary train 
ing was received in the log school-house of 
his native locality. In 1861 he engaged in a 
blacksmith and carriage repairing business 
on the lake shore, continuing in that line for 
nine years, after which he removed to For 
est and followed the trade of carpenter for 
about a year. He next turned his attention 
to the hotel business, and in 1879 started in 
Ins present line. He has become one of the 
leading liverymen of the town. In 1901 he 



completed his present brick livery barn, lo 
cated near the depot, fully equipped with 
every modern appliance, which is conceded 
to be the finest of its kind in Lambton 
County. A full line of carriages and other 
vehicles is carried, while ten horses are kept 
busy meeting the demands of the public. The 
drivers are reliable men and all of the equip 
ments are entirely modern. 

In January, 1862, Mr. Anderson and 
Miss Ellen Jones, daughter of John and 
Mary Jones, of Plympton township, were 
united in marriage, and the following chil 
dren have been born to this union : Charles 
A. is with his parents in Forest; Frank H., a 
veterinary surgeon of Evanston, Illinois, 
married Miss Anna Hartrey, of that city, 
now deceased, by whom he had three chil 
dren, Raymond, Rose and Ruth (who died 
in infancy) ; William is deceased ; Clarence 
A., a veterinary surgeon of Port Forest, 
Illinois, married Kittie ; Winnie 

married Howard Fraleigh, of Forest, by 
whom she has one son, Sidney. Mr. and 
Mrs. Anderson are consistent members of 
the Church of England. Politically he is a 
Reformer and an active worker in his party, 
and fraternally he is a member of the I. 6. 
F. and the K. O. T. M. The success which 
has attended his efforts is well merited, and 
the esteem in which he is held by his fellow 
townsmen is but the natural result of hon 
orable dealing and manliness of character. 
He served ably in the town council for five 
years from 1885 to 1890. 

ROBERT JACKSON, who is engaged 
in the lumber, coal, sash and blind, and also- 
in the oil business at Petrolia, is a native of 
Moore township. Lambton County, son of 
John and Jane (Leckie) Jackson, of Scotch 
extraction. 

John Jackson was born in Scotland in 
1812, and in 1825, at the age of thirteen 
years, he came to Lanark County, Ont., 
where he remained until 1844. during which 
time he met the lady who later became his 
wife. In 1844 ne came to Moore township, 
Lambton County, and settled in the woods,. 
on Lot 7, Concession 12, where he pur- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



603 



chased 100 acres of land for $1.25 per acre. 
After clearing a small bit and building here 
a log shanty, he returned to Lanark County, 
and there married Jane Leckie. daughter of 
John and Elizabeth (McCracken) Leckie, 
pioneers of Lanark County. After seventy- 
one years of married life, John Leckie died 
in Moore township, aged ninety-six years, 
his wife dying aged ninety-four years. 

After marriage John Jackson and wife 
started on the long and then arduous trip to 
the ne\v cabin home prepared by Mr. Jack 
son. They came by boat to Hamilton, then 
by stage to London, and the distance of 
sixty miles from London to Moore town 
ship, they made on foot, following Indian 
trails and whatever roads they could find. 
This home was made happy by love and con 
tentment ; here the children were born, and 
here the faithful mother died; Mr. Jackson 
still survives and resides with a son in Moore 
township. He has always been a Reformer 
in politics, and for many years was a jus 
tice of the peace and was generally known as 
"Esquire" Jackson. Both he and wife be 
longed to the Baptist faith. To these most 
estimable people were born eight children, 
our subject being the second, and the others 
as follows: John, a merchant in Chicago; 
Lizzie, deceased; William, a farmer in Sar- 
nia township ; Ellen, wife of Albert Duncan, 
of Petrolia; Thomas, deceased; Joseph, of 
Petrolia ; and George, deceased. 

Robert Jackson was born in 1848, and 
attended the schools in his neighborhood. He 
learned the carpenter s trade which he fol 
lowed for a time, and then purchased the 
lumber business of J. C. Houston & Co., of 
Petrolia, to which he has since added other 
commodities, and in addition is one of the 
important oil producers of the county. He 
has served one term in the Petrolia council, 
but takes no very active part in politics be 
yond voting the straight Reform ticket. 

In 1876 Mr. Jackson married Miss 
Maria Fleck, daughter of Robert Fleck, one 
of the early settlers of Moore township, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere. The four 
children born to this marriage are : Blanche, 
an accomplished young lady, bookkeeper in 



her father s office; Estelle, at home; Blake, 
in business with his father ; and Merle at 
home. The family belongs to the Baptist 
Church. Since 1870 Mr. Jackson has been 
a Mason, and is past master of Petrolia 
Lodge. 

SAMUEL \\". EDWARDS, who is ex 
tensively engaged in the stock business and 
farming in Warwick township, Lambton 
County, has been a breeder of Clydesdale 
horses, Shorthorn cattle and sheep for many 
years, and since 1898 he has been a dealer 
in cattle. He is of Irish extraction, a son of 
the late Thomas Edwards, and a grandson 
of Francis Edwards, born in Ireland in 1765, 
where he married and whence in 1822 he 
emigrated to Ottawa, Out., there remaining 
until 1837. That year he came to Warwick 
township, Lambton County, and there he 
died in 1862, his wife passing away in about 
1830. Their children were: James, de 
ceased, a farmer of Warwick township, 
where he located in 1826, the first of the fam 
ily to come to Lambton County; Thomas; 
Mary ; Alice. 

Thomas Edwards, father of our subject, 
was born in Ireland in 1819, and came with 
his parents to Ottawa in 1822, and in 1837 
to Warwick township, where he located on 
Lot 25, Concession 3. He cleared up an 
excellent farm, becoming the owner of 250 
acres. During the Rebellion of 1837 he 
gave the government valuable service, and 
was also in the Fenian Raid. Politically he 
was a Reformer, and his religious convic 
tions made him a Methodist. His death 
occurred in 1885. In 1859 Thomas Ed 
wards married Susan Ward, born in Quebec 
in 1834, and she now lives on the old home 
stead aged seventy-one, and active for her 
years. The children born to Thomas Ed 
wards and his wife are : Samuel W. : Ezra 
A. married Lizzie McKenzie, and had chil 
dren, Allan W., Grace, Florence and Alex 
ander ; Walter married Jennie Smith, and 
has two children, Orville and Clayton ; Jo 
seph W. married Annie Gillatly, and their 
children are Wilfred and Asa ; Ida married 
Elijah Levans, and has one son, Lyle; Her- 



604 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



bert A. married Annie Trafford, and has two 
children, Eric and Burton; Mary married 
Charles Watson, and has two children, Min 
nie and Hazen. 

Samuel W. Edwards was torn in War 
wick township, April 20, 1860, and was 
educated in the public schools of that lo 
cality. Upon reaching his maturity he en 
gaged in farming on the east half of Lot 
24, Concession 2, which farm he still owns. 
Here he made a specialty of raising fine 
horses, cattle and sheep, and continued along 
these lines very successfully until 1898, when 
he located in Watford and he was there very 
largely engaged in buying and shipping cat 
tle. In November, 1903, he returned to his 
farm. 

On Oct. 22, 1890, Mr. Edwards was uni 
ted in marriage to Miss Amelia Houlton, 
(laughter of Henry Houlton. Four children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards : 
Bertha A., Thomas H., Clifford Henry and 
Florence I. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are 
consistent members of the Methodist 
Church. Politically Mr. Edwards is a Re 
former, while fraternally he is a member of 
the Order of Foresters. In their beautiful 
home, surrounded by comforts provided by 
ample means, he and his wife dispense a 
.gracious and warm hospitality, and they are 
important factors in the social life of the 
community. 

JOHN NORMAN DOUGLAS, one of 
the leading young progressive farmers of 
Plympton township, Lambton County, was 
born on the homestead in this township, 
March 27, 1871, son of John J. and Cath 
erine (McKinlay) Douglas, pioneer settlers 
of Lambton County, the former a native of 
Streetsville, Ontario, and the latter of 
Scotland. They were married in Plymp 
ton township, and there remained engaged 
in farming. They were members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and in politics the fa 
ther was a Reformer. He died Nov. 26, 
1892, aged seventy-two, but the mother, who 
was born March 26, 1841. survives, and 
makes her home in Forest, Out. Their chil 
dren were: Charles A., a bookkeeper of 



Forest, who married Jessie Mack ; and John 
Norman. 

The education of John Norman Douglas 
was acquired in the schools of his native 
township, and his entire life has been spent 
on the homestead farm, which is one of the 
most productive in Lambton County, and 
consists of 200 acres of excellent land. 

On March 27, 1894, Mr. Douglas was 
united in marriage with Miss Alice M. Ross, 
daughter of Robert and Eliza (Benson) 
Ross. This union has been blessed with two 
children: Katie Irene, born Aug. 18, 1896; 
and Mildred Beatrice, born Aug. i, 1903. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Douglas attend the Con 
gregational Church, where they are highly 
esteemed, and they are numbered among the 
social leaders in the township. Socially he 
belongs to Lodge No. 105, I. O. O. F., For 
est, and politically he is a Reformer. As a 
farmer, Mr. Douglas ranks among the best, 
while personally he is much liked for his 
pleasant, genial manner and accommodating 
spirit. 

KING HOUSTON, one of the older 
oil producers of Petrolia, and an early set 
tler of that locality, is of Scotch descent. 
In the early history of the family some of 
the Houstons moved from Scotland to Ire 
land, and there the grandfather of our sub 
ject, Robert Houston, was born, and there 
he spent his entire life. To Robert Houston 
and his wife were born these children : Will 
iam, father of King; and Sarah, who mar 
ried James Montgomery, and both are now 
deceased. 

William Houston was born in Ireland, 
and there married Ann Houston, a cousin. 
In 1847 tne y emigrated to Ontario, and for 
two years lived in Montreal, from which 
place, in 1849. they moved to Enniskillen 
township, County of Lambton. Mr. Houston 
having purchased Lot n, Concession 10, 
consisting of 200 acres, for sixty dollars. 
Later they settled on the present site of Pe 
trolia, Mr. Houston having rented 200 acres 
on Lot 14, Concession 10, for ten dollars 
per year for three years. He tried to pur 
chase this property but was not successful, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



605 



although he offered four hundred dollars 
for the entire property, which was a good 
price at that day. The late Mr. P. Barclay- 
later purchased it for six hundred dollars, and 
subsequently sold it for $25,000, oil having 
been discovered on the land. A little later 
Mr. William Houston sold Lot n, Conces 
sion ID, for the purchase price, and bought 
from the Crown Lot 16, Concession 9, 200 
acres. This he subsequently sold for $4,500. 
The property was all bush land when Mr. 
Houston took charge of it, and he cleared it 
off and spent many years upon it, he dying 
in 1889, and his wife in 1894. Both were 
Presbyterians in religious belief, and po 
litically Mr. Houston was a Reformer. They 
were the parents of Robert, deceased in 
1872, who married Elizabeth Anderson, and 
had a large family ; John, deceased, who 
married and had a family ; Christopher, of 
Petrolia, who married Miss Hyde; and 
King. 

King Houston was torn in Ireland 
March 13, 1843, and was only six years of 
age when taken by his parents to Enniskil- 
len township. There he grew to manhood and 
began his business life. Upon reaching his 
majority Mr. Houston engaged in farming 
on the old homestead, but in 1870 embarked 
in the oil business, and in 1880 purchased 
die east half of Lot 14, Concession 9, 100 
acres, on which he has over fifty wells in 
operation. Since 1878 Mr. Houston has 
been manager of the oil wells of T. H. Small- 
man, of London, Ont, for whom he oper 
ates over 100 wells. 

Mr. Houston has been twice married, 
his first wife having been Jane Ingram, a 
sister of Henry Ingram, whose sketch ap 
pears elsewhere. To this union came : 
George Henry, who died at the age of nine 
years. The mother died, and in 1890 Mr. 
Houston married Miss Annabell Henderson, 
a native of Oxford County, and a daughter 
of John Henderson. Four children have 
been born of this union : Earl ; Mearl Bea 
trice; King W.; and Wallace. Mr. and 
Mrs. Houston are consistent members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and politically Mr. 
Houston is a Reformer. 



MRS. MARGARET (CURRY) HAR 
RISON, widow of John Harrison, and one 
of the highly esteemed residents of Dawn 
township, County of Lambton, belongs to 
one of the old and prominent families of this 
county. She was born at Brantford, April 
28, 1845, daughter of Robert and Margaret 
(Crawford) Curry. 

Robert Curry was one of the pioneers 
who came to Brantford in 1843, \\here he 
settled and reared his family, while working 
at his trade of stone mason. He died at 
Brantford in March, 1857, while his worthy 
wife survived until May, 1904, being eighty- 
six years old at the time of her death. They 
left a family of the following children : 
Elizabeth, born in Ireland, is the widow of 
James Lee, of Brantford, and has a family 
of nine children: Joseph, Mary, Matilda, 
Maggie, John, David, Elizabeth, Sarah and 
Reginald ; Alexander, born in Ireland, when 
a young man enlisted in His Majesty s looth 
regiment, and served nine years and seven 
months (he was discharged on account of 
disability and died several months later) ; 
Robert, torn in Ireland, died when a young 
man, of twenty-three years; William, born 
in 1847, died \vhen a young man; James, 
born in Brantford County, died aged eight 
een years ; Mary died in young womanhood ; 
and Margaret, our subject. 

Margaret Curry grew up in Canada, and 
received a limited education, attending the 
public schools of her native place. In April, 
1863, she married John Harrison, a native 
of Lancashire, England, born June 16, 1824, 
son of John Harrison, who died in the Old 
Country; John Harrison, Jr., came to Can 
ada when a young man, and in 1857 engaged 
with the Grand Trunk Railroad, at Brant 
ford, where he met Mrs. Harrison. They 
made their home in Brantford until 1867, 
when they removed to Dawn township, and 
purchased the home now owned by Mrs. 
Harrison. There they lived in a small log 
house, and made improvements on the place. 
Both husband and wife were strong, healthy 
and willing, and their labor was awarded 
with a prosperity not experienced by every 
one. The bush plat has become an excellent 



6o6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



farm, the log house has given way to a sub 
stantial frame residence, while frame barns, 
stables and sheds make up the necessary 
outbuildings of a comfortable farm. Mr. 
Harrison s life affords a good illustration of 
what a man may accomplish merely through 
the force of his own industry. He won suc 
cess for himself and family, and maintained 
through all trials an honestly won reputa 
tion for unimpeachable integrity. He passed 
away after a lingering illness, Aug. 15, 
1901, in the faith of the English Church. 
A Liberal in politics he was collector of 
Dawn township for five years. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Harrison had three 
children: (i) John, born Feb. 14, 1864, 
received a district school education, and grew 
to manhood on the farm, where he has al 
ways resided, becoming the manager when 
quite young; on Sept. n, 1895, he married 
Maggie Down, born in County Elgin in 
1871, daughter of John and Matilda Down, 
a well-to-do family of Elgin County, who 
settled there on coming from England. Mrs. 
Harrison was educated in the high school 
of St. Thomas, and is a lady of culture and 
refinement. Mr. Harrison was elected town 
ship auditor in 1891, a position he filled 
twelve years, and in 1904 was elected treas 
urer of Dawn, still holding that office. (2) 
Mariah, born at Brantford, Dec. 16, 1866, 
is the wife of James A. Johnston, formerly 
of Lambton County, no\v a prosperous mer 
chant of Bozeman, Montana, and has three 
children: Guy, Olive and Elizabeth. (3) 
Robert J.. born in Dawn, in September, 
1871, is a widower, having been married in 
Montana, and is employed by the Lander 
Furniture Co., of Butte, that State. 

Mrs. Harrison, our subject, lives alone 
in one of the homes erected by her late hus 
band, and near that of her eldest son, John, 
who lives in the latest home built by his fa 
ther on the homestead. The difficulties and 
hardships which attend the lives of the pio 
neer settlers of our country were experienced 
to the full by Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, who 
through every trial, displayed that courage 
and fortitude which loyal Canadians so ad 
mire in the character of their forefathers. 



Mrs. Harrison has a very large circle of 
friends, who always find kindness and hos 
pitality at her hands in times of sickness and 
trouble. She is a faithful member of the 
Church, and is a lady of strong Christian 
character and was a faithful wife. 

CAPT. JOHN McNAB. The shipping 
interests of any lake city are always import 
ant, and offer many fields of operation to 
those whose natural tastes lead them to en 
gage in a life upon the water. Especially is 
this true in Sarnia, Lambton County, Out., 
for it occupies a very desirable location with 
relation to the lake traffic, and among the 
lines which connect it with other ports is the 
one between Sarnia and Duluth. One of 
the best-known vessels of this line is "The 
United Empire," and fully as well-known is 
her genial captain, John McNab, who is one 
of the oldest mariners of this locality. 

Capt. McXab was born in Scotland, a 
son of Robert McNab, a native of that coun 
try, born in 1813. His wife s maiden name 
was Mary Black, and she was also a native 
of Scotland. In 1856 the family emigrated 
to the Dominion, selecting the County of 
Grey, Out., as a place of residence. Here 
the parents engaged in agricultural pur 
suits, and remained, highly respected and 
honored citizens. The father died in Feb 
ruary, 1904, aged over ninety, the mother 
dying in December, 1903, aged ninety-three. 
To this worthy couple four sons and seven 
daughters were born, the sons being : Rob 
ert, a mariner, who was drowned ; Andrew 
and William, farmers in the County of Grey ; 
and Capt. John. 

Capt. McNab was born June 14, 1843, 
in Argyllshire, Scotland, and he was only 
thirteen years of age when the family exodus 
was made. As early as 1850 he began his 
career as a seafaring man as deck hand on 
the side propeller "Clifton," plying between 
Owen Sound and Collingwood. From this 
steamer Capt. McNab went to the Detroit 
& Cleveland line and then to the Beatty line, 
as wheelman on the "\Yaubuno." In 1874 
he became captain of the "Silver Spray," 
plying between Collingwood and the "Soo," 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



607 



and later he was made captain of the "City 
of Owen Sound," plying between Colling- 
wood and Duluth, thence going as captain 
to the steamer "Campena." In 1893 Capt. 
McXab was placed in command of the "Uni 
ted Empire," one of the three well-known 
boats of the Beatty line, plying between Sar- 
nia and Duluth. The other two boats are 
the "Monarch" and the "Huronic," the latter 
being considered the finest boat ever built 
in Canada ; she was placed in commission in 
May, 1902. For forty years Capt. McNab 
has been engaged in a seafaring life and 
knows the upper lakes as a rural resident the 
country surrounding his home. In 1895 he 
changed his residence from Owen Sound to 
Sarnia. 

The Captain was first married, in 1874. 
to Marion Brown, of Scotland, and they 
had two children : Miss Maggie, who is 
teaching school in Sarnia ; and Mary, wife 
of Robert G. McKay, of Owen Sound. 

In 1884 Capt. McXab was united in mar 
riage with Bessie McXab, also of Scotch 
parentage, and to this union have been born 
three children : Aleck, Jessie and Islay. The 
Captain and his wife are stanch members of 
the Presbyterian Church. His fraternal 
affiliations are with the A. O. U. W. and 
the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a member 
of the Reform party. Fie is a public-spirited 
man, favoring all measures calculated to 
prove beneficial to the community at large. 
His record shows his reliability, strict ad 
herence to duty and thorough grasp of his 
calling, but it cannot give a true idea of the 
man himself, or express the high esteem in 
which he is held by the officials of the Beatty 
line as well as the many friends he is con 
stantly making. Honorable, upright, un 
flinching in the discharge of his duties, yet 
possessed of a pleasant manner, Capt. Mc 
Xab is one of the most popular officers on 
the upper lakes. 

JOI1X P.ATTICE. a well-known resi 
dent of Enniskillen township, Lambton 
County, was torn near Xassagaweya. Hal- 
ton County, Dec. 26, 1860. son of Chester 
and Elizabeth (Wright) Battice. 



Chester Battice was born in Toronto in 
1823, of French parentage, and his wife was 
born in England in 1828. Their marriage 
occurred in Canada, and they made their 
home for some years at Toronto, after which 
they moved to Hamilton. There he followed 
staging and mail carrying, which he had be 
gun before his marriage. From there he 
went to Caledonia and became sawyer for a 
mill company. After fifteen years in that 
position he removed in 1882 to Petrolia, 
continuing to reside in that city until his 
death, in October, 1904. Of his children, 
John is the eldest son. Maggie, born in the 
County of Haldimand, is the wife of John 
Oliver, an architect in Port Huron, and has 
had six children. Alice, Marion, Willard, 
Arthur, Earl (deceased) and Ella (de 
ceased). Jane married (first) James Mann, 
of Petrolia, by whom she had four children, 
Frank, James. Amber and John ; after Mr. 
Mann s death she married Jacob Anderson. 
Eliza (deceased) married Oliver Riddle, of 
Oxford, and had five children, Lizzie, 
George, Emma, Mary J. and Louisa. Harry, 
born in Caledonia, married Miss Mary J. 
McCort, of Petrolia, and has two daughters, 
Pearl and Gladys ; he is engaged in electrical 
work for the Port Huron Company. Lizzie, 
born in Haldimand County, is the wife of 
George Haley, of Petrolia, an oil producer, 
and has had nine children, Samuel. Alfred, 
Cora, Anna, Kenneth, Retta, Hazel, Violet 
(deceased) and Gordon. Mary is the wife 
of Daniel \Yoolsey. of Marthaville. Pru 
dence, born in Xassagaweya, married 
George Allonby. of Muskoka, who died in 
Petrolia, leaving nine children ; his widow 
has since married Richard Rump, of God- 
erich. 

John Battice was educated in a private 
school in the County of Haldimand under 
the instruction of Col. Mulvay, now of 
Manitoba. As a young man he learned the 
trade of a machinist and when only eighteen 
years of age went to the oil fields of Petrolia 
and started life as a driller. After some 
years of work for others he purchased his 
own outfit and began to sink wells on his own 
responsibility, putting down a number in 



6o8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



both Petrolia and Sarnia township. After 
his marriage, in 1887, he moved to the En- 
niskillen farm which he now owns, Sub-Lots 
19 and 20, in Concession 10, put up. a fine 
house and other buildings, sunk wells, and in 
every way improved the property so that it 
is now one of the well-developed places of 
the township. He has three wells. In Janu 
ary, 1887, he married Christina Gondie, of 
Plympton, who was born in 1861, .daughter 
of John and Jane Gondie, pioneers of that 
region. She has borne her, husband two 
children, Jennie E. and William R. 

For the past nineteen years Mr. Battice 
has belonged to the Salvation Army, of 
which his wife is also a member, and he has 
during that time given largely of his time, 
talents and means to the work of redemption 
and the spread of a truly Christian spirit. 
He has had a broad experience in religious 
work and is devoted to his labor for the im 
provement of his fellowmen. His interests, 
however, are far from being confined to this 
one field, and he is always equally ready to 
work for any cause for the good of the com 
munity in which he lives, taking an active 
part in municipal affairs. He generally sup 
ports the Conservative party at the polls. He 
holds the position of policeman and con 
stable for Petrolia. Mr. Battice is also an 
active lodge man and belongs to the Cana 
dian Foresters at Petrolia, Lodge No. 63, 
and to the Orangemen. Lodge Xo. 195, of 
the same city, in which latter he has held 
various positions. Starting in life entirely 
on his own resources, Mr. Battice is now one 
of the self-made men of whom the county 
may well be proud. 

SAMUEL WELLS, a prosperous and 
leading business man of Enniskillen town 
ship, Lambton County, resides on Conces 
sion 2, Lot 24. He was born at Aurora, 
York County, Aug. 20. 1822, son of Job 
and Hannah (Davis) Wells. 

William Wells, the father of Job, ant; 
grandfather of Samuel, came to Canada as 
a major in the British army in the war of 
1812, and after its close settled on govern 
ment land at Aurora, where he made a per 



manent home, owning 400 acres of land, 
which still belongs to the Wells family. At 
his death he left the following children : 
Robert, James, John, Job, Joseph, Jacob, 
Elizabeth and Margaret. 

Job Wells served with his father in the 
war of 1812, although only a mere lad at 
the time. In 1819 he married, in Aurora, 
Miss Hannah Da.vis, who was born in Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, in 1800, daughter of 
Samuel Davis, a native of England, who re 
sided in Pennsylvania until the close of the 
war, when he came to Canada. After his 
marriage Job Wells followed farming, hav 
ing received government land which he 
cleared and improved. His first wife died 
in 1838, the mother of eight children, as fol 
lows: Mary (deceased) married David Mc- 
Dougal, of Elgin County ; Samuel is men 
tioned below ; Jane, widow of John Page, of 
Vaughan, Ont., has three children : Benja 
min, a blacksmith of Oil Springs, died in 
1898 (he was married) ; George, born In 
Elgin County, now resides in Arkona, Lamb- 
ton County, Ont. (he has married twice) ; 
.Margaret married George Crossley, and they 
have seven children ; William married and 
resides near Hamilton, where he is one of 
the old pioneer school teachers; Fannie (de 
ceased) married David McDougal, and had 
three children. Job Wells had four chil 
dren by his second marriage, to Betty Dele- 
hentey, namely : Job, who was on the old 
homestead, which has been sold; David, who 
resides in Warwick ; Peter, of Lambton 
County ; and Ann, married to James Maloy, 
of Forest. The mother of these also died, in 
King township, and is buried there. Job 
Wells reached the age of eighty-four. The 
family adhered to the Episcopalian faith. 

Samuel Wells received a district-school 
education while working on his father s 
farm. When a young man he learned the 
carpenter s trade, which work he followed 
until his marriage. In 1848 he married Miss 
Hannah Gordon, daughter of Isaac Gordon, 
a member of one of Elgin County s old 
Scotch pioneer families. After his marriage 
Mr. Wells took up lumbering in King town 
ship, and has followed this work to the pres- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



609 



ent time. In 1852 he sold his interests in 
Elgin County, removing to Bosanquet, 
Lambton County, where he engaged in the 
sawmill business until 1860, when he was 
burnt out. He rebuilt and continued his 
operations here until 1884, when he came to 
EnnisKillen township, where he has contin 
ued until the present date. While his busi 
ness interests are located in Enniskillen. he 
occupies a beautiful home in Oil Springs, 
the property of Mrs. Wells. 

To Samuel Wells and his wife eight chil 
dren have bei:n born : Eliza, born April 3, 
1849, in Elgin County, married John Dick 
inson, of Creemore. and they have children, 
Frank, Herbert. Maud, Jessie, Harry, Roy, 
Lloyd and Wilbert. Sarah, born Sept. 2, 

1852, married William Menhenick, of Oil 
Springs, an oil operator, and has one daugh 
ter, Waneta Cora. Lambert Wellington, 
born in the County of Lambton in October. 

1853, is a graduate of the London schools, 
and resides in Colorado, where he owns min 
ing interests. John X.. born in October, 
1858, migrated to Dakota when a young 
man and in a few years returned 
with $12,000, and he later resided 
near Moore, where he owned a large 
summer resort; he married a Miss 
\VelIs. and they had one daughter. Dorothy. 
Samuel H., born in 1859, is an oil producer 
of Petrolia : he married Miss Emma Vande- 
water. of Oil Springs, and has four children, 
Lila, Percy, Sydney and Helen. Alfred, 
born in 1862, died in his youth. Wilburt, 
born in 1865, resided in Florence, Ont., 
where he was engaged in the furniture busi 
ness and undertaking, but is now farming 
near Regina. X. \V. T. ; he married Miss 
Rhoda Linden, of Florence, and they have 
four children. Charles, Xellie. Harry and 
Jaqueline. Mary died when young. 

Politically Mr. Wells is a prominent 
member of the Conservative party and while 
a resident of Bosanquet held the office of 
school trustee. He was a delegate to the 
Liberal convention of Enniskillen in 1903. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Order of 
Orangemen in Lambton County, while re 
ligiously he is an active worker in the Metho- 
"39 



(list Church. Mr. Wells is thoroughly prac 
tical, and has worked his way to the front 
by his natural adaptability and strict atten 
tion to business. 

JOSEPH PATTIXSOX. a substantial 
>tock farmer of Brooke township, Lambton 
County, now living on his fine farm on Con 
cession i, Lot 21. was born at his present 
home May 23, 1866, son of Joseph, Sr., and 
Elizabeth ( McXill) Pattinson. 

Joseph Pattinson, Sr., was born in Eng 
land, and his wife was born in Scotland, 
where she was reared to womanhood. Her 
father died in Scotland, and her mother 
brought the family to Lambton County, 
where she met her husband. After being 
married, Mr. and Mrs. Pattinson settled on 
the present home of our subject, and here he 
cleared up a farm from wild land, later pur 
chasing 250 acres more, which he also 
cleared, operating both farms. He died at 
his first home in Brooke township, while his 
wife died in September. 1890, while residing 
with her son, our subject. Joseph Pattinson, 
Sr., and his wife had six children, one daugh 
ter dying when one year and nine months old. 
Joseph Pattinson grew to manhood on 
the old home farm, where he has always re 
sided. He tenderly cared for his aged 
mother in her declining years. After her 
death, he added fifty acres to the home place, 
upon which he erected a fine brick house. 
Since boyhood he has been interested in the 
stock business, in which he has been very 
successful, owning one of the finest stock 
farms in Brooke. Mr. Pattinson has never 
married. Fie is connected with the Church 
of England, of which his father was a com 
municant. His mother was a consistent 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Pattinson is identified with the Reform 
party, but only takes a good citizen s interest 
in political affairs, never aspiring to public 
office. 

STEPHEX CORXELL. who died in 
Thedford, Xov. 12, 1895, was a man of many 
attainments. His force of character, execu 
tive ability, thorough knowledge of business 



6io 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and large fund of general information es 
pecially fitted him for public service, and for 
years he was one of the most popular and 
successful candidates for local offices. 

Mr. Cornell \vas of good Welsh ances 
try, his great-grandfather Cornell, who set 
tled in the State of New York, haying been 
born in Wales. Sylvanus Cornell, grand 
father of Stephen, was born in the state of 
New York, about 1749. Reared to farm 
work, upon reaching manhood he chose that 
occupation for his life work. In 1812, after 
marriage, he came to Wentworth County, 
Ont, and settled upon a tract of new land in 
Waterloo township. He improved this 
place, making it in time one of the most at 
tractive farms in his locality. He continued 
agriculture in this vicinity throughout the 
rest of his active life, and here in 1829 he 
died. He was the father of ten children : 
John A., a farmer of Wentworth, who also 
acted as a local preacher for the Dunkards ; 
Samuel, a farmer of Waterloo township; 
Joseph, who was engaged in agriculture in 
Beverly township ; Enoch, who is mentioned 
below ; William, a farmer of Waterloo town 
ship ; Aaron, a farmer of Beverly township ; 
Bruen ; Sarah, who married a Mr. Moore, of 
Beverly township; Annie, who married a 
Mr. Wolcott, of Waterloo township; and 
Rhoda, who married a Mr. Hillborn. 

Enoch Cornell, father of Stephen, a 
thrifty agriculturist, was born in the State 
of New York, in 1/88, and there received 
the ordinary rearing of fanners boys of his 
locality. Practical knowledge of agriculture 
decided him upon reaching manhood to en 
gage in that pursuit ; and this he followed for 
the most part throughout his active career. 
During his young manhood he married in 
Ontario, Mary Sipes, who was born in 
the State of New York, and of this 
union there were nine children : Sylvanus, 
who was a farmer of Bosanquet township, 
died in Manitoba. Joanna married Daniel 
Wintermute. Harriet was the wife of 
Aaron Cornell (she is now deceased). Jo 
seph and Andrew, who were both residents 
of Bosanquet township, are now deceased. 
John and Jonas are now residents of Thed- 



ford. Stephen is mentioned below. Han 
nah, who married Alexander Ketchie, is now 
deceased. 

After marriage Mr. Cornell settled upon 
a tract of new land in Beverly township, 
Wentworth County, Ontario, and began 
making improvements. Well-directed ef 
forts enabled him in a short time to trans 
form the wild tracts into neatly furrowed 
fields and verdant pastures, and he event 
ually became one of the prosperous farmers 
of the county. He continued the pursuit of 
agriculture in that locality for the rest of 
his life, and here, in 1848 he died. Mr. 
Cornell combined a large capacity for work 
with sound judgment and keen intellectual 
qualities. Possessed also of marked perse 
verance, he confined himself mainly to one 
main industry. He found time, however, 
for discharging his religious and public ob 
ligations, and as a Conservative was influen 
tial in local affairs. In religious sentiment 
he and his family were Dunkards. 

Stephen Cornell was born in Beverly 
township, County of Wentworth, Aug. 26, 
1826, and there on his father s well con 
ducted farm grew to manhood. He received 
good rearing and possessed of a naturally 
bright intellect, availed himself of every op 
portunity for cultivating his studies. As a 
young man eager to make a start in life, he 
entered a sawmill, and there, giving strict 
attention to business, worked for some years, 
commanding good wages. Preferring, how 
ever, to engage in business for himself in 
1853 he purchased a splendid farm in Bo 
sanquet township, County of Lambton, 
where he settled and engaged in agriculture. 
This place he put under excellent cultivation, 
equipped with everything necessary for mak 
ing a success of all branches of general farm 
ing, and as a result raised some of the finest 
products marketed in the county. From time 
to time he also improved the buildings, and 
eventually had one of the most attractive 
farms in the locality. He continued here 
until 1882, when he retired from active 
work and moved to Thedford. A wise man 
ager, he made well out of his industry, and 
was considered one of the most solidly pros- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



611 



perous men of the county. He made his 
home in Thedford for the rest of his life, in 
all about thirteen years, giving- his attention 
mainly to public affairs and to his invested 
interests. 

In 1845 Mr. Cornell married Sarah 
Main. She still resides in Thedford. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Cornell were born ten 
children: (i) David A., born July u, 
1846, now a druggist in the State of Mich 
igan, married Melissa Smith, and they have 
four children : Hetty, Alexander, Lena, and 
Annie. (2) Mary Ann, born Jan. 25, 1848, 
married Elisha Hill (he is now deceased), 
and they had five children, Low, 
Ethel. Webster, Warner and Cecil. (3) Dr. 
Warner, born Feb. 16, 1850, now an eye and 
ear specialist, of Port Huron, married An 
nie Irwin. and after her death Josephene 
Deary. No children have come of his mar 
riages. (4) Webster, born April 20, 185 , 
now a resident of Reed City. Michigan, mar- 
Tied Eliza Smith, and they have no children. 

(5) Dr. Daniel B. Cornell, an eye and ear 
specialist of Superior, married Maggie Mit 
chell, and they have one daughter, Edna. 

(6) Alexander A., born July 31, 1856, now 
a farmer of the State of Michigan, married 
Maria Parkinson, and they have no children. 

(7) Jonas S.. born March 18, 1859, also a 
farmer of Michigan, married Emma Park 
inson, and they have four children : Annie, 
Lida, Newton, and Webster. (8) Welling 
ton A., a farmer of Bosanquet township, 
married Hannah Boyle, and they have four 
children : Stephen. Maggie, Sarah and 
Phoebe. (9) Dr. Eliphalet, an eye and ear 
physician of Port Huron, Michigan, mar 
ried Mollie Rose. (10) Dr. Newton Cor 
nell, now deceased, married Alice Crooker- 
ton, and they have one daughter, Alice 
Newton. 

Mr. Cornell, as has been said, was es 
pecially fitted for public service, and for 
years filled at different times the offices of 
deputy reeve, and reeve of the township, as 
well as that of warden of Lambton County. 
After taking up his residence in Thedford. 
he acted as magistrate of -that place for 
many years. His sound judgment and con 



scientious attention to every detail of his 
various offices won for him the unlimited 
confidence of the general public. He was a 
man of firm religious convictions, sincere, 
honest, and charitable in all the affairs of 
life, and was long an active member of the 
Baptist Church, to which his family still be 
long. Fraternally he stood high, and was 
for years a most prominent member of the 
A. F. & A. M. As a well informed, capable, 
public-spirited man he won for himself 
friends in all circles. 

David Alain, father of Mrs. Cornell, was 
born in 1794, and in 1810 came to Canada 
and settled in Ontario. Here he passed the 
rest of his life, dying in 1866. His wife, 
Elsie (Weaver) Main, was born in the State 
of Pennsylvania, and died in Ontario, in 
1873, at the advanced age of eighty years. 
Both were prominent and exerted an in 
fluence for good over the various communi 
ties in which they resided. 

JAMES STEWART, a successful re 
tired farmer of the I2th Concession, of 
Plympton township, and a man widely 
known and greatly respected, was born in 
County Monaghan, Ireland, about 1831, 
son of Samuel and Agnes (Gilbraith) Stew 
art, both natives of Ireland, who spent their 
entire lives in their native land. 

James Stewart came to Canada when he 
was about eighteen years of age, and lo 
cated at Hamilton, Ont., where he was em 
ployed in the lumber business. In 1850, he 
moved to the County of Lambton, and pur 
chased 100 acres of land on the I2th Con 
cession. Plympton township, on which he 
built the customary log house, and for fifty- 
five years he has been a continuous resident 
of this township, and ranks among the old 
est and most honored citizens of the county. 

On Sept. 28, 1864, Mr. Stewart was 
united in marriage with Mary Ann Beatie, 
at Oakville, Ont., and she is a daughter oi 
Joseph and Mary Ann Beatie, born in Coun 
ty Down, Ireland. Four children were born 
of this union : Matilda Jane, born Sept. 4, 
1865. married William Straghem, and re 
sides at Detroit. Michigan ; William Henty, 



6l2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born Oct. 16, 1866, died in July, 1896; Ag 
nes Emma, born Aug. 16, 1869; Samuel, 
born July 8, 1875, died in November, 1899. 
Mrs. Stewart died March 31, 1880, and is 
still deeply mourned by her husband and 
family. The members of the Stewart fam 
ily are all honored in the several communi 
ties in which they make their homes, and 
Mr. Stewart has every reason to be proud 
of his children. 

JOHN MILES, a well known citizen of 
Bosanquet township and one of its success 
ful agriculturists, is a native of Canada, born 
in the township of Burford, Brant County, 
Ont, Sept. 28, 1842. 

The Miles family are of Irish extraction, 
having made their home for generations in 
County Tyrone, where the grandfather of 
our subject, also named John Miles, was 
born. His father and the grandfather of 
Major General Miles, of the United States 
army, were brothers. John Miles grew to 
manhood in County Tyrone, where he mar 
ried Mary Baker, the following children be 
ing born to the union, Joseph, John, Rachel, 
George, Samuel, Robert and Elliott, all of 
whom are now deceased, with the exception 
of Elliott, who makes his home with his 
daughter. Mrs. Walker, in Enniskillen 
township. Lambton County. After mar 
riage John Miles, the grandfather, came to 
Canada with his w r ife and children, locating 
in Burford township, Brant County, where 
he settled on a fifty acre farm and spent the 
remainder of his life engaged in general 
farming, dying at the age of eighty-four 
years. Here his wife also died, and they 
were both buried in the cemetery of the 
Church of England, of which religious faith 
they were members. He was a strong Con 
servative. 

John Miles (II), the second son of John 
Miles, was born in County Tyrone, where he 
grew to manhood. Mr. Miles came to Can 
ada at the age of eighteen years, crossing the 
Atlantic in a sailing vessel. Landing at 
Quebec, he remained there a few months, in 
the employ of the Government, drilling and 
blasting the old French walls. Then he found 



employment in Xew Jersey, where he spent 
four years. Returning to Ireland he induced 
his parents to come to Canada, and accom 
panied by his father and mother and their 
family, with the exception of his brothers 
Joseph and William, who were members of 
the Irish constabulary, and did not join the 
family until the fallowing year, he returned 
to Canada. On reaching their new home, 
John Miles purchased 100 acres of land, fifty 
of which he sold to his father, retaining the 
other fifty for his own use. The country 
was new, the land covered with brush, and 
the settlers few. John Miles erected a little 
log house and stable, and succeeded in clear 
ing his farm and putting it under cultivation. 
This he exchanged for a loo-acre tract, 
previously owned by John Baldwin, which 
was located on the loth Concession of the 
same township. This he also cleared and 
later bought another 100 acres on Section 
29, Concession 9, which became his per 
manent home, and where with the help of his 
growing sons, he made a fine farm. He built 
a handsome brick dwelling house, 28 by 40, 
with a kitchen 20 by 24. erected barns and 
made other necessary improvements, and 
here spent the remainder of his life. He died 
at the age of seventy-three years, and was 
laid to rest in the Burford street cemetery. 
He was a member of the Church of England. 
Politically he was a strong Conservative. 
John Miles spent his entire life in hard work 
and was noted for his honesty and industry. 
In Ireland he belonged to the Loyal Orange 
Association. 

John Miles married in Burford township. 
Brant County, Rachel White, a native of 
County Tyrone, Ireland, and she lived to the 
ripe old age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Miles 
was a devoted wife and mother, and a good 
Christian woman, belonging to the Church 
of England. She bore her husband fourteen 
children, four of whom died in infancy. The 
ten who grew to maturity were : Lucinda, the 
widow of John Summerville, who resides in 
Forest ; Nancy, who marrried William Mor 
rison and resides at Owen Sound ; John ; 
Mary, the wife of Robert McKenzie, resid 
ing at Norwich, Oxford County ; William, a 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



613 



farmer of Burford township; Rebecca, who 
married Richard McKenzie and resides in 
Burford, Brant County ; Joseph, a resident 
of Norwich, Oxford County; Rachel, who 
married Duncan McGill and resides in War 
wick township. Lambton County ; Mariah, 
who married James Shillingham and resides 
in Burford township ; and George, also a 
resident of Burford township. 

John Miles (III) attended the district 
schools of his native township, ami from 
early boyhood worked on his father s farm, 
where he remained until his twenty-fourth 
year. He then struck out for himself, com 
ing west in 1866 to Lambton County, arriv 
ing in Bosanquet township on Easter Sun 
day. He purchased a sixty acre farm from 
Alexander McDonald, half of which was 
cleared, and upon the clearing stood a small 
log house and frame barn. Here Mr. Miles 
settled down to make a home, and after years 
of hard labor succeeded in clearing up the 
remainder of the land and making a fine 
farm. In 1875 ne erected a handsome brick 
dwelling house, and a few years later, losing 
"his barns by fire, added a frame barn costing 
$1,500.00. He purchased forty acres more 
land, on Lot 36. South Boundary, which he 
also cleared, and he now owns and operates 
100 acres of some of the finest farming 
land in the township. He has made farm 
ing and cattle raising and feeding his life oc 
cupation and has been eminently successful. 
For six years Mr. Miles engaged in pressing 
hay. and was one of the first to introduce the 
Dedrick press for baling hay. During the 
time he was engaged in this line, Mr. Miles 
baled thousands of tons of hay in Warwick, 
Plympton and Bosanquet townships, and for 
European markets, handling the business of 
G. Trembly & Sons, of Montreal. Mr. Miles 
is a man of enterprise and progressive ideas 
and is always ready to support any project 
calculated to be of benefit to his township. 
He is a Conservative, and has always sup 
ported the principles of that great party, tak 
ing active interest in its success. Mr. Miles 
is well read, broad minded and up-to-date, 
and his farm is a school of stock raising. Re 
ligiously he belongs to the Presbyterian 



Church, which he attends at Forest. A man 
of strong character and positive views, he 
commands both respect and liking. 

Mr. Miles was married in Warwick vil 
lage, to Martha Craig, born in County An 
trim, Ireland, daughter of Robert Craig. 
Mrs. Miles is greatly devoted to her home, 
and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Eight children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Miles, all boys, viz. : three who died in 
infancy ; John, who died from the effects of 
the kick of a horse, at the age of six years ; 
Robert, a carpenter and joiner of Sarnia, 
who married Elizabeth Bender, of Ontario; 
Joseph, a resident of Manitoba; William, 
who owns large properties in Bosanquet 
township, but makes his home in Sarnia ; 
and George, a resident of British Columbia. 

JOIIX A. CRAWFORD, a retired car 
penter and real-estate man of Sarnia, is prob 
ably one of the best known citizens of that 
place. For over forty years he has been 
known there, and his public-spirited enter 
prises, among which have been the laying out 
of a street in the city and the erection of 
several residences, have especially com 
mended him to the community. 

Born in Scotland May 15. 1825. Mr. 
Crawford has inherited from good ancestors 
both strength of character and a masterful 
intellect, undoubted promoters of his emi 
nently successful career. His father. An 
drew Crawford, was a thoroughly com 
petent workman and a man of wise business 
insight. He was born in Scotland Jan. 17, 
1780, and there for the most part spent his 
useful and active life. In early years, pre 
paratory to shouldering the responsibilities 
of life, he learned farming and the trade of a 
stonemason. Proficiency soon rewarded his 
faithful apprenticeship, and upon reaching 
manhood lie applied himself unreservedly to 
the pursuit of his trade. Thoroughness of 
work and a large capacity for pushing his 
enterprises redounded to his success from the 
start, and he carried on a profitable business 
in this line during the greater part of his 
mature life. He died July 2. 1863. In early 
manhood he married Marion Arthur, who 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was born in Scotland May 8, 1782, and who 
proved a faithful helpmeet throughout her 
married life. She died Xov. 3, 1865. Of 
this union there were ten children : Sarah 
(who married David Ferguson), William, 
Janet (married James Borland), James, 
Hugh, Marion (married David Love), 
Elizabeth (married Archibald Hodgen), 
Andrew, David and John A., the two last 
named, both residents of Sarnia, being the 
only survivors. 

John A. Crawford passed his early years 
in Scotland working in the woods, and farm 
ing. As a practical means of earning his 
livelihood at an early age he set about learn 
ing the carpenter s trade, and possessed of 
inherent ability in that line soon mastered all 
the details. In 1847, soon after attaining his 
majority, he married Elizabeth Graham, a 
woman of character and ability, who was 
born in Scotland in 1820. As a sympathe 
tic encourager to her husband in all his pro 
jects she was of invaluable service to him 
throughout their, married life. She died in 
Sarnia in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford 
have had two children : Jane married Will 
iam Luscombe, who has a sketch elsewhere; 
Elizabeth married David Winter, now de 
ceased, and of this union there were two chil 
dren, John Crawford and David Duke. 

In 1857 Mr. Crawford, with faith in the 
growing industries and the large openings of 
a new country, came with his family to On 
tario, first locating at Komoka. There he 
remained for some time, looking about for a 
desirable position. Xot finding business as 
thriving as he wished he later, in 1859, went 
to Port Huron. Here again there seemed 
too much competition in his line, and a trip to 
Sarnia promising the desired outlook he soon 
moved there and began following his trade as 
a regular carpenter. Good workmanship, 
and promptness in meeting his engagements, 
brought him all the business he could pos 
sibly attend to, and he continued there for 
sometime. In 1861. however, finding some 
thing better in Oil Springs, he went there 
and carried on his trade steadily for three 
years. Returning to Sarnia in 1864, he con 
tinued his business uninterruptedly for many 



years, the growing industries of the place 
and the opening up of new portions of the 
city bringing him plenty of profitable work 
of a high order. But his alert intellect and 
large capacity for achievements could not 
confine their activities to the sphere of the 
ordinary carpenter; and in 1865, with solid 
faith in the increasing value of city prop 
erty, he invested in five acres of land along 
what is now Crawford street. Wisely laying 
these out into city lots he in time sold main/ 
of them at a considerable profit. On others 
he erected substantial residences, upon which 
he has also realized good interest upon his in 
vestments. Crawford street, which was 
named in his honor, is now one of the fine 
streets of the city, due mainly to his enter 
prise and artistic workmanship. Though he 
has now disposed of considerable of his city 
property he still retains some, having sev 
eral valuable city lots. 

Mr. Crawford has shown himself a 
strong man physically and intellectually. 
Sound in judgment, keen in foresight, his 
word upon business matters has long carried 
weight with his (fellow-citizens. His re 
markable powers of achievement have also 
commended him to the people of Sarnia. and 
won him hosts of admiring friends. He is a 
man who has always kept abreast of the 
times and is well informed upon all public 
matters. Politically he is a strong Reformer. 
A man of unquestionable honor, he is re 
spected in all circles. The Presbyterian 
Church, to which his wife also belonged, 
counts him among its substantial members.. 

ALBERT W. FREER. Lambton 
County numbers among its citizens men of 
probity and wide experience, who devote 
their energies to the cultivation of the soil 
and the development of the agricultural pos 
sibilities of this greatly favored portion of 
Ontario. Among these men is Albert W. 
Freer, of Lot 28, 8th Concession of Ennis- 
killen township, who is a native of the Prov 
ince, having been born in the western part of 
the County of Middlesex Xov. 23, 1867. son 
of Henry and Mary (Foster) Freer, pimieers 
of that localitv. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Henry Freer was born in Warwick, 
Lambton County, Sept. 14, 1841, while his 
wife was born in Middlesex County the fol 
lowing year, she being a daughter of George 
and Sarah Foster, who came to Canada from 
England and settled as pioneers in Middle 
sex County, where they later passed away, 
highly respected by all who knew them. The 
paternal grandparents of our subject were 
Arthur W. and Eliza (Danford) Freer, na 
tives of Ireland, who emigrated from the 
land of their birth to Canada, settling in 
Warwick as early as 1837. Arthur W. 
Freer was a soldier in the British army, and 
participated in the great battle of Waterloo. 
Later he was sent to the Dominion, was pro 
moted to the rank of colonel, and as such 
was engaged in the rebellion of 1837-38. On 
account of the great bravery he displayed he 
was rewarded by a pension of one hundred 
pounds a year and 200 acres of land in 
Lambton County. Settling on this prop 
er:}-, he spent some useful and happy years, 
and died there in 1846, leaving three sons: 
William, George and Henry. Of these, 
William moved to Vancouver when a young 
man, and still resides there, having become 
very successful. George died in boyhood, 
and Henry became the father of Albert W. 
Freer. 

The widow of Arthur W. Freer later 
married Barnard Knight, and moved to Mid 
dlesex County, where Henry Freer grew to 
manhood. By her second marriage she had 
five children : James, John, Arthur, Sarah 
(who married William Murphy, of Middle 
sex County), and , all living in Mid 
dlesex County. 

Henry Freer was taught farm work on 
his step-father s estate, and in 1866. marry 
ing Miss Mary Foster, of Middlesex County, 
he started out in life for himself on wild 
land. Working early and late, he cleared 
up a fine farm, and added to it until he now 
owns 450 acres, and is regarded as one of 
the most substantial farmers of his locality. 
He has been honored with the office of coun 
cillor, which he has filled with honor to his 
constituency and credit to himself, for nine 
years, representing Metcalfe township. To 



Mr. and Mrs. Henry Freer have been born 
children as follows : Albert W. is mentioned 
below. George, born in 1869, resides near 
his father in Middlesex County; he married 
Anne Richardson, of Middlesex County, and 
has three children, Clifford, Areta and Merle. 
Emma, born in 1871, married William 
Watt, of the 8th Concession of Enniskillen 
township, and they have a son, Verne. 
Edna, born in 1874, in Middlesex County, 
married William Dowding, of London, Ont., 
and has one daughter Irene. Thomas H., 
born in 1877, resides on the gth Concession, 
where he is a prosperous farmer; he married 
Miss Clara Richardson, of Middlesex 
County, and has two children, Elton and 
Ernest A. Eliza, born in 1880, is residing 
at home. Annie, born in 1883, is also resid 
ing at home. Arthur, born in 1886, Dora, 
born in 1887 and John A., born in 1888, are 
all at home. 

Albert W. Freer was educated in Mid 
dlesex County and passed the required ex 
amination for entrance into Strathroy Col 
legiate Institute. He completed the course 
in Goldsmith s Business College, in Detroit. 
He was married on Christmas Day, 1889, to 
Miss Matilda Edwards, daughter of James 
and Jemima Edwards, pioneers of the 
county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. 
Mrs. Freer was born in Middlesex County, 
Dec. 10, 1871, and was well educated in the 
schools of that county. The children of Mr. 
and Mrs. Freer are: Gordon, born in 1891 ; 
Arthur, born in 1893; Lillie, born in 1895; 
Arena V., born in 1897; Cecil W., born in 
1901 ; and Albert B.. born in 1904. The 
religious affiliations of the family are with 
the Church of England. Mr. Freer has al 
ways been a supporter of the Conservative 
party. He has served as a member of the 
school board, and as trustee of Enniskillen 
township for two years, and is one of the men 
of influence in his locality. He is command 
ing master of Inwood Lodge. Xo. 105, 
Orangemen, and was also deputy master 
while residing in Middlesex County. He is 
also a member of the Order of Chosen 
Friends, in which he is steward. He is a 
man of such admirable characteristics that 



6i6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he enjoys the respect of all who know him. 
and is ranked among the men of Enniskilleii 
township, who have had much to do in mak 
ing it what it is to-day. 

After his marriage, Mr. Freer removed 
to Enniskillen, settling on the 8th Conces 
sion, where he made many improve 
ments, among others erecting a fine barn. In 
1889 he sold this property to David Mann, 
and purchased the Wright farm, on the 8th 
Concession, on which lie has erected a large 
barn and cleared up the greater portion of 
the land, making many improvements, until 
he now has one of the finest estates in Lamb- 
ton County, consisting of 100 acres in a high 
state of cultivation. He has always worked 
hard, endeavoring to make the most of his 
possessions, and his efforts have been re 
warded with well-merited success. 

Belonging as he does to one of the old 
pioneer families of Ontario, from boyhood 
he has taken a great interest in the future of 
the Province, and since removing to Ennis 
killen he has put special efforts forth to make 
that portion of the Dominion the garden spot 
of the world. As a private citizen, public 
official and kind friend he has lived up to his 
ideals, and proved himself a loyal, upright, 
honorable gentleman. 

PETER MCGREGOR BROWN, 

M. B., one of the rising young medical prac 
titioners of Lambton County, was born 
March 17. 1865, in Sarnia township, son of 
Thomas W. Brown, a well known agricul 
turist of Sarnia, and grandson of Peter 
McGregor. 

Dr. Brown was reared on this grand 
father s farm, whose namesake he is, and 
was educated in the district schools. The 
death of his grandfather, when he was fifteen 
years of age, threw him entirely upon his 
own resources and what he has accomplished 
must be attributed to his own industry and 
natural ability. Ambitious to enter profes 
sional life, the youth took advantage of every 
opportunity, and managed to pass through 
the Sarnia High School with credit and pre 
pared himself for teaching. For four suc 
cessive years Dr. Brown taught school in 



Enniskillen township. Provident care of his 
earnings made it possible for him to enter 
the Toronto Medical University, in 1887, 
where he spent four years, in the meantime 
teaching one year again, in Bosanquet and 
Warwick to\\nships. After these years of 
study, work and self denial, in 1892 he was 
graduated from the Medical Department of 
the Toronto University, with the degree of 
M. B. After a short residence at Sarnia, he 
located at Camlachie, in Plympton township, 
following Dr. Bell, and during the past 
twelve years he has demonstrated his pro 
fessional ability and has become a prom 
inent factor in the township s public and so 
cial life. He is the present health officer of 
the township, and the reputation it has for 
good sanitary condition may be attributed to 
his watchful care. His practice covers a 
large territory and he bids fair to reach a 
high plane in his profession. He is a Lib 
eral in politics, and belongs to the various 
medical societies of note, and is also a mem 
ber of the Sons of Scotland, at Forest. 

Dr. Brown married Miss Elizabeth 
Cairns, daughter of Joseph Cairns, one of 
the leading citizens of Plympton township. 
She is a lady of many accomplishments and 
a favorite in the social circles of Camlachie 
and both she and husband are valued mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

PETER MCGREGOR, the grandfather of 
Dr. Brown, was born in Argyllshire, Scot 
land, son of Robert McGregor and a de 
scendant of a noble old family of that name, 
identified with the history of Scotland back 
to early days. In young manhood Peter 
McGregor came to Canada, landing at Que 
bec, where he spent several years working on 
the Lachine canal. Associated with French 
men in this work, he learned the language 
and became able to speak and read French. 
He had become proficient in Gaelic as well as 
in English, in his native land. From Quebec 
he came to Ontario and located in Beckwith. 
Lanark County, where his uncle, Alexander 
McGregor, was located, and here he followed 
farming for some time, and then embarked 
in the hotel business at Frank-town, in the 
same county. In Beckwith he married Mary 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



617 



McGregor, his cousin, daughter of Alex 
ander McGregor. In 1846 they came to 
Lambton County, with their five children, 
and located on Concession 5, London road, 
in the township of Plympton, where he 
bought 150 acres of land and settled down 
to farming, in addition to hotel keeping. His 
public house was the first in this section, and 
as it was located on the stage road between 
London and Sarnia, it became well known 
and was liberally patronized. He continued 
to accommodate the traveling public for 
some eleven years, and during all this time 
was noted for his temperance and genuine 
hospitality. He was an ideal host and thor 
oughly understood the secret of making his 
visitors comfortable, and thus was popular 
and highly esteemed. He continued alto 
gether, in the hotel business, for some twen 
ty-one years. After giving up this business 
he settled quietly down to agriculture, oper 
ating 200 acres of land. At one time he 
owned fully 300 acres, but disposed of much 
of it prior to his death. 

Mr. McGregor was a prominent man in 
every way. He was appointed a member of 
the first township council, and was actively 
interested in all the progressive movements 
of the time. The first meeting of the council 
took place in his home. He was police mag 
istrate and was the first postmaster of Oban, 
which name he gave the office. He was one 
of the organizers and leading members of the 
Presbyterian Church in Plympton township, 
and one of its most liberal supporters. In 
politics he was a stanch Liberal. Full of 
years and honors he died March 22, 1880, 
and his remains rest in Lake View cemetery 
in Sarnia, the first body ever placed in that 
beautiful "God s Acre. He was a valued 
member of A. F. & A. M., having been made 
a Mason at Glasgow, Scotland. The death 
of his wife took place in 1878, and her re 
mains now lie by the side of her husband. 
They had six children, namely : Mary, who 
married Thomas W. Brown, of Sarnia 
township, they becoming the parents of Dr. 
Brown ; Isabelle. of Sarnia ; Jessie, who died 
in childhood; Margaret, wife of James Ox- 



enhani, of Plympton township; Robert, on 
the old homestead ; and Ellen, who is the 
wife of John Duncan, of Sarnia township. 

DUGALD McMURPHY. The subject 
of this memoir, whose proper name was 
McMurchy. was born in Argyllshire, Scot 
land, in 1825. His early days were spent 
amongst the hills and dales of his native 
shire in the usual employments of the hardy 
peasants of that country, which has sent out 
brave men who have done honor to the land 
of their birth in all parts of the world. When 
about twenty-four years of age, he was mar 
ried to Miss Mary McLachlan, a pupil of the 
late John Walker, grammar school teacher 
of Sarnia. and a descendant of the famous 
Clan McLachlan, that can trace its existence 
prior to the days of Robert Bruce. 

At the time of the marriage, emigration 
from Scotland was setting in strongly for 
the New World. Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy 
were encouraged by friends, who had pre 
ceded them, to come out to Canada and after 
the birth of their first child they decided on 
taking the advice of their Canadian friends, 
and at once set about preparing to emigrate. 
Love of kindred dwells strong in the High 
land heart. It was a sorrowful parting when 
the young couple, with their first-born son, 
left their Highland home in 1851, to seek 
their fortunes in the backwoods of Upper 
Canada. Crossing the Atlantic in those days 
was a trying experience, but a kind Provi 
dence watched over the little family and they 
reached Lobo, in the neighboring County o f 
Middlesex, in safety. There they found 
themselves amongst friends and relatives 
from the Old Land, and there they very 
wisely stayed for a couple of years until they 
both learned something of the ways of the 
country. But a desire to make a home of 
their own led the husband to the west, where 
in the township of Plympton he took up the 
east half of Lot n, in the y\ Concession, 
surrounded on both sides with solid bush. 

It will be no libel to say that at that time. 

the fall of 1853, it was the most unprom 
ising bush lot in the whole township, out of 



6i8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



which to construct a home. On the east side 
was a deep tamarack swamp, and on the west 
a black ash swale, while a light soil ridge 
ran back to where they built a comfortable 
log house. Both husband and wife were 
strong healthy people, and by uniting the 
thrift and perseverance characteristic of the 
Scottish Highlander, their labor was re 
warded with a prosperity not experienced by 
everyone. To-day that unprepossessing lot 
has become an excellent farm, the log house 
has given away to a substantial frame resi 
dence, while a frame barn, stables and sheds 
make up the necessary outbuildings of a com 
fortable farm home. 

For thirty-four years the writer enjoyed 
the friendship of Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy 
as neighbors, and while both of us were 
clearing our land many a good log pile we 
have put up in exchanging work, while the 
only contention that ever came between us 
was which one of the two would get the 
browse end up first. 

In the old log house eight children, six 
sons and two daughters, were born, making 
nine of a family, all of whom are to-day alive 
and comfortably settled. 

On this farm Mr. McMurphy made 
money enough to buy a second hundred acres 
in the vicinity, which he still owned at the 
time of his death. In 1887, when years and 
hard toil were beginning to tell their tale, the 
couple retired from the farm, but not until 
they had built a comfortable brick residence 
in Sarnia. Shortly after taking up his resi 
dence there, Mr. McMurphy was chosen as 
town councillor for the South Ward. Both 
were members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and through life Mr. McMurphy was a 
stanch Liberal in politics. 

In the spring of 1904, while nailing a 
board, he made a slight abrasion on the back 
.of his hand, of which no particular notice 
was taken at the time, but some time after 
symptoms of blood-poisoning caused anx 
iety, and he was advised to enter the General 
Hospital, Sarnia. Here he was treated by 
the doctors, and pronounced in a fair way of 
recovery, but while returning from a walk he 
was overcome with a fainting spell as he 



reached the hospital. Being placed in bed, 
good hopes were entertained that he would 
soon be around again, but unfavorable symp 
toms setting in, he gradually became weaker. 
Appetite failed and for a day or two before 
the end came, death was expected any hour. 
At 6 o clock on the morning of April 3Oth, 
the spirit winged its flight to regions beyond 
only four months after the death of his 
beloved partner in life. His deathbed was 
surrounded by all of his family who could 
possibly be present. The funeral took place 
on the following Monday, from his residence 
in Sarnia to Lake View Cemetery, a short 
distance from the southern shore of 1 ,ake 
Huron, and was attended by a large follow 
ing of sorrowing friends, who had ever 
esteemed him as a good neighbor and an 
obliging friend. The pall bearers were 
chosen from his oldest friends in Plympton 
and his nearest neighbors in Sarnia, showing 
that he had left the world without an enemy. 
[Written by Joseph Osborn, Plymptorr 
township.] 

DUNCAN McMURPHY is a prom 
inent farmer citizen of Enniskillen town 
ship, living on Lot 25, Concession 6, where 
he has one of the fine farms of the district. 
He is of Scotch parentage, but was born and 
reared in Canada. 

The parents of Duncan McMurphy, both 
natives of Glasgow, Scotland, were Dugald 
and Mary McMurphy, the latter born in 
1823, the former in 1825. Mrs. McMurphy 
came of a prominent Scotch family ; her pa 
rents lived and died in her native land, but 
one of her sisters and two brothers came 
over and settled in America. Colin McLach- 
lan is a resident of Port Huron, and has a 
family of five children ; John McLachlan 
was a bachelor, and died at the home of 
Dugald McMurphy, his brother-in-law, in 
Plympton township; and Ann is the wife of 
Edward Gillen, of Plympton. Dugald Mc 
Murphy, father of Duncan, was the only son 
of his family to come to Canada, and he re^ 
mained in Scotland until 1850. after the 
birth of his eldest son. Archibald. Coming 
to Plympton township, he and his wife set- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



619 



tied on a tract of wild land in Concession 3, 
right in the heart of the wilderness, where 
they put up a log house and began their 
married life in the new country. Eventually 
Mr. McMurphy cleared a large area of land, 
erected substantial buildings, and became one 
of the prosperous farmers of his district. In 
1887 he bought real estate in Sarnia, and 
there built a fine home in which he lived until 
his death, in April, 1904. His wife passed 
away in January of the same year. Both 
were active members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. McMurphy was one of the 
founders of the Church at Wyoming, where 
for many years he was one of the elders. In 
politics he was a warm supporter of the Re 
form party, and during much of his life he 
held municipal office; while a resident of 
Sarnia he was a member of the city 
council. 

The children born to Dugald and Mary 
(McLachlan) McMurphy were nine in num 
ber. ( i ) Archibald, born in Scotland in 
1849, learned the trade of blacksmith in his 
youth, but never followed that occupation ; 
he married Flora Knight, of Brooke town 
ship, and their home is on a farm in Dawn 
township ; they have four sons, Dugald, Stan 
ley, Duncan and Archibald ; Mr. McMurphy 
is an oil producer, with business interests at 
Oil Springs. (2) John, born in Canada in 
1853, entered the employ of the Grand Trunk 
Railway Co. (then the Great Western) as 
a telegraph operator at Wyoming; later he 
was operator at London, Ont.. being in the 
service of the road ten years. Later he spent 
some years in Omaha, Nebraska, and from 
there went to Evans. Colorado, where he is a 
merchant; he is unmarried. (3) Duncan, 
born in 1855, is mentioned below. (4) 
Mary, born in 1857, married Andrew Clem- 
mie, of Plympton township ; they have four 
children. William, Dugald, Mary and 
Annie, and live at Port Huron. (5) Jessie, 
born in 1860, married Robert Park, of 
Plympton township ; they have seven chil 
dren, Adeline, Clara, James. Colin, Archi 
bald, Carrie and Xettie. and live on the old 
Park homestead. (6) Dugald, born in 1862, 



grew up on the farm and as a young man 
went to Salt Lake City, and tried his fortune 
in the gold and silver mines; he returned in 
1884, married Katie Bostick, of Alvinston, 
and they now reside in Los Angeles, Cali 
fornia, with their four children. (7) Colin, 
born in 1865, married a lady of Salt Lake 
City ; they live in that place, where he is a 
city marshal. (8) Donald, born in 1868, 
married Miss Vina Moulton, of Petrolia ; 
they live on the old place in Plympton town 
ship, and have three daughters, Blanche 
Adeline, Mary Hazel, and Annie Delia. (9) 
Angus, born in 1870, is unmarried, and en 
gaged in railroad work in the United States, 
making his home in Kansas City, 
Missouri. 

Duncan McMurphy was born in Flymp- 
ton, April 8, 1855, and remained at home on 
the farm until he was twenty-seven years old. 
In 1880 he bought his present property, then 
all wild land, which he has cleared and im 
proved into one of the fine farms of the sec 
tion. 

In November, 1881, Mr. McMurphy 
married Mary Andrews, daughter of George 
and Sarah (Anslow) Andrews, born in 
Lambton County, in May, 1861. Mr. and 
Mrs. Andrews were both natives of England, 
and came to Wyoming, Out., where he en 
tered the railroad service. Mrs. Andrews 
died in 1883; her husband in 1900. They 
had a family of five daughters, as follows : 
Sarah, wife of William Blackwell, of Lon 
don. Ont. ; Charlotte, wife of George Link, 
of the State of Oregon ; Rosie, wife of James 
Jarvis, of Hamilton, Ont. ; Emma, wife of 
Albert Steadman, of Bad Axe, Michigan ; 
and Mary, wife of Duncan McMurphy. 

Mr. and Mrs. McMurphy were pioneers 
and have literally created their home out of 
the wilderness, making it blossom and bear 
fruit. In addition to his home farm, Mr. 
McMurphy is the owner of his father s old 
home in Sarnia. Both he and his wife are 
active members of the Presbyterian Church, 
in which work they take a great interest. In 
politics Mr. McMurphy adheres to the Re 
form party. For nine years he has filled the 



62O 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



place of trustee on the school board with 
credit and ability. He is a prominent and 
wealthy citizen of Enniskillen township, 
where he and his wife have a large circle of 
friends. 

MRS. WILLIAM ELLIS, the venerable 
lady with whom this sketch is concerned, 
and who is probably one of the best known 
and highly esteemed residents of Brooke 
township, where the whole of her married 
life has been passed, is the widow of one of 
the township s highly respected men. Mrs. 
Ellis was born Dec. 15, 1819, in Dnnwich, 
County of Middlesex, daughter of Donald 
and Mary Mclntyre. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre were both born 
near Glasgow, Scotland, where they were 
reared and married, coming to Canada in 
1814, and they were among the very first 
families in Middlesex County. They brought 
four children from Scotland, and made the 
voyage on a sailing vessel, which was four 
teen weeks on the ocean. They located in 
Middlesex County, coming by the way of 
Quebec, in a wagon, cutting their own roads 
a great part of the way, and the first night 
of their stay in the woods, was spent with 
leaves for beds. Mr. Mclntyre started clear 
ing and made this place his permanent home, 
dying here in May, 1844; his wife died in 
the year 1843. They were the parents of ten 
children, only two of whom still survive: 
L. W. Mclntyre, of Buffalo; and Mary, Mrs. 
Ellis. The other children were : John, of 
Dunwich ; Donald, of Ekfrid ; Katie, married 
Richard Beaurie, deceased, of Clearville, 
Ont. ; Duncan, died at the age of three years ; 
Andrew, of Dunwich, died in his youth ; 
Colin died when a young man; Maggie 
married Duncan Mclntyre, who settled at 
Dunwich ; Bella, married John Mclntyre, of 
Dunwich. 

Airs. Mary (Mclntyre) Ellis received a 
limited education in the public schools of 
Dunwich. On June 13, 1837, she married 
William Ellis, born June 29, 1816, in East 
Gunstead, County Sussex, England. He 
left England when a boy of twelve years, and 
went to live with his sister in Rochester. Xew 



York, remaining there about six weeks be 
fore coming to Canada. For two years after 
his marriage he lived in Dunwich, then pur 
chased 100 acres of land, near Glencoe, and 
there lived four years, finally purchasing the 
present home near Alvinston. At this time 
all of this land was heavily wooded. All the 
milling was done on Lake Erie, this being 
before the Alvinston mill was erected, and 
the farmers came all the way from as far as 
Sarnia to do their milling. Mr. Ellis estab 
lished the stage line between Watford and 
Alvinston, which he drove for a number of 
years. At the time the Ellis family settled 
here there were few settlers in this section. 
Mr. Henry Coon being the nearest neighbor. 
Their first shelter was a log house, which 
Mr. Ellis built, but later he erected a frame 
house and cleared up the homestead farm, on 
which he died Dec. 18, 1893. Mr. Ellis un 
derwent privations and struggles against 
seemingly insurmountable obstacles in clear 
ing of farms, and advancing the cause of 
civilization, and he has gone to his final re 
ward, but his work, as that of many others, 
will ever remain as a monument to his mem 
ory. A Methodist in religious views, benev 
olent and kind, a good neighbor, a kind 
father and a faithful husband, he possessed 
the confidence of all and was loved by all. In 
politics Mr. Ellis was a Liberal, and was an 
active worker in the party, although he never 
aspired to political office. 

To Mr. and Mrs. William Ellis these 
children were born : ( i ) Elizabeth, born in 
April, 1840, married Henry Sharp, of Al 
vinston, and they had a family of nine chil 
dren, Andrew. Maggie (deceased). Cora, 
Ella, Jessie. Mary and three that died in in 
fancy. (2) Daniel, born in July, 1842, was 
reared to manhood, and settled on a farm in 
this township; he married Isabella Wilson, 
of Brooke township, and at his death in 1884 
left his widow with the following children, 
Mary A., Daniel, Elizabeth and Vinia. (3) 
\Villiam, born in June, 1844, is employed by 
a railroad company, and resides in Antwerp, 
Ohio ; he married Fannie Warren, of Brooke 
township, and they have one daughter, Min 
nie. (4) Andrew, born in Oct., 1846, resides 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



621 



in Alvinston, and is one of the leading auc 
tioneers of Lambton County. He married 
(first) Miss Eliza Weeks, who died leaving 
<>ne son, William, of Alvinston: and he 
wedded (second) Miss Katie A. Holden, of 
Brooke township, by whom he has had one 
son, John. (5) Mary, born May 31. 1849, 
married James Oaks, a retired farmer of Al 
vinston. and they have children, Bertie, 
Ida. Herbert, Leslie and William. (6) Mar 
garet, born in October, 1851. married John 
Luke, a farmer of Brooke township, and they 
have children, Robert, Alma M., Ethel, 
Minnie, Eva and Maggie. (7) Sarah J.. born 
in November, 1853, married Thomas Xes- 
bitt, of Brooke township, and at her death 
she left three sons, William, Llewellyn and 
Joseph. (8) Isabella, born in February, 
1855. married Joseph Priest, of Brooke 
township, and has four children, Edna M., 
Susan, Blanche and Charles. (9) Anne E., 
born in June, 1857, married George McAl- 
pine, of Brooke township, and they have two 
children. Pearl and Ellis. (10) Susan, born 
in May, 1859, for a number of years a teacher 
of the public schools of Lambton County, 
married John Merwood, of Alvinston, 
where she died, (n) Katie L., born in Au 
gust. 1 86 1, married Edward Wintermute, of 
Comber, Essex County, and they have three 
children. Otto, Elva and Roy. (12) John L., 
born in September, 1863, grew up at the old 
homestead, where he married Miss Martha 
J. Temple, born at Xapier, County of Mid 
dlesex, and they reside with Mrs. Ellis at the 
old home, of which he is manager ; they have 
seven children, George H., Evelyn, Lottie 
M., John W. A., Hazel C, Mary E. and 
Frank S. (13) Martha, born in October, 
1869, married William Warren, of Ennis- 
killen township, and they reside in Manitoba ; 
they have three children, Clare. Charles and 
John. In religious views Mrs. Ellis is con 
nected with the Methodist Church, of which 
she has been a devoted member for many 
years. 

JOHX BROWX. postmaster and mer 
chant at Edy s Mills, Concession 8, Lot 30. 
Dawn township, was born May i, 1872, in 



that township, a son of James and Annie 
(Thompson) Brown, pioneers of Dawn. 

John Brown, the founder of the family 
in this country, came from Scotland in 1846 
and settled in Scarborough township, York 
County, where he worked at his trade of 
blacksmith for a time. He then located in 
Dawn township, where he remained a num 
ber of years, and then returned to York 
County and there passed the balance of his 
days. His children were as follows: Janet, 
widow of James Craig, still resides in Edin 
burgh, Scotland; Jeanie, who came to Can 
ada, is the widow of John Weir, of York 
County; Violet is the widow of William 
Thompson, of Tillsonburg, Out. ; Isabella 
married Robert Bell, a farmer of St. Mary s. 
Out. ; Margaret married William Burton, of 
Illinois, who moved from York County to 
the States in 1880, and there is engaged in 
farming (they have a family) ; Agnes (de 
ceased) was the wife of John Thompson, of 
Scarborough township; Marion died in 
young womanhood; William H.. who came 
to Canada with his parents and settled on 
Line 8, in Dawn, married Fannie McGuire, 
and they have a family ; James is the father 
of our subject. 

James Brown was born in Peebles-shire, 
Scotland, in 1830, and his wife was born in 
1835 in Scarborough township, York 
County, daughter of Simon Thompson, a 
pioneer of that township. There Mrs. Brown 
was reared to womanhood. She and James 
Brown were married in 1861 and came to 
Dawn township the same year, settling on 
Lot 1 6, Concession 8, where they carved 
out a home from the wilderness. This is 
but one more of the hitherto unwritten rec 
ords of the courage and industry, sweetened 
by affection, which have converted what was 
once a great unbroken stretch of forest and 
wild land into the smiling, productive farms 
of the present. Mr. Brown started life in 
Dawn township hampered in his earlier years 
by lack of ample means. But he has always 
been a man of great industry, and now has 
come to be considered not only one of the 
successful farmers and stock raisers of his 
locality, but a man who has nobly identified 



622 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



himself with every interest which has 
brought about educational and religious 
progress here. He was called upon to part 
with the wife who had shared his pioneer 
hardships in December, 1893. She was a 
consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church and in the early days was active in 
having the church firmly established here. 
She has been missed by her church, her fam 
ily and the community. Mr. Brown still 
continues to reside on his comfortable old 
homestead and is interested in raising fine 
stock. He owns one of the most valuable im 
ported Clydesdale horses in Dawn. He is a 
man of substantial fortune and of sterling 
character. 

The four children of James Brown and 
wife are: Elizabeth, born in Dawn, married 
Mathew Coubrough, who resides in Conces 
sion 3, Dawn, and has become the mother of 
twelve children; Maggie is the wife of Lach- 
lin McNeil, who resides in Concession 7, and 
has one son, Archie; Simon left home in 
young manhood, going to the Pacific coast, 
and the last known of the wanderer was that 
he was in the Klondike region; John is the 
subject of this sketch. 

John Brown received a fair education in 
the schools of Dawn Center, growing to 
manhood strong and useful to his father on 
the home farm, where he remained until pre 
pared to begin life for himself. Finding his 
inclinations led in another direction he be 
came a merchant, and in 1902 established 
himself in the mercantile business at Edy s 
Mills which he has continued to the present 
time, meeting with the success which attends 
industry and honest methods. As a man of 
stability he was appointed postmaster and 
has made a very popular official. 

In June. 1902. Mr. Brown was mar 
ried to Miss Ethel Stephenson, who was born 
Dec. 23, 1882, in Forest, Lambton County, 
daughter of George A. Stephenson, who 
was a general merchant and postmaster at 
Dawn Centre for a number of years and is 
now a resident farmer of Dawn. Mrs. 
Brown, an only daughter, is a lad} of edu 
cation and culture and for some years was a 
teacher in Lambton County. Mr. and Mrs. 



Brown have two children : Ethel Mona and 
Marian. 

In his political sentiments Mr. Brown has 
been in accord with his father, both of them 
actively supporting the Reform party. For 
twenty-five years James Brown was a mem 
ber of the council, for twenty-two years con 
tinuously. At the present time our subject 
is president of the Reform Association of 
Dawn. He belongs to the Masonic frater 
nity, being a member of Sydenham Lodge, 
No. 255. of Dresden. Both Mr. Brown and 
his wife were reared in the Presbyterian 
Church. Their pleasant home at Edy s Mills 
is their own and Mr. Brown also owns other 
property, his capital coming originally from 
the sale of a farm. 

FREDERICK E. LEWIS. In a region 
populated almost entirely by practical farm 
ers, most of whom have reaped material suc 
cess, it is an indication of no little ability, 
study and actual experience when a young 
man is accorded a place in the very front 
rank of professional farmers. Such, how 
ever, is the reputation already gained by 
Frederick E. Lewis, a young farmer who has 
devoted his whole attention to his calling, 
studying all the newest theories and apply 
ing practically all the best methods of his 
day. He is one of Lambton County s own 
sons, born in Petrolia Oct. 9, 1869, to Will 
iam H. and Elizabeth (Tennent) Lewis, and 
comes of an old Canadian family. 

William Lewis was born near Ottawa, 
lived at one time in the County of Middle 
sex, where he married Miss Elizabeth Ten 
nent, and finally came to Lambton County. 
His wife was a native of Middlesex County, 
but her father, William Tennent, had come 
to Canada from Scotland, settled near 
Luckin and there died. In 1860 William 
Lewis and his wife moved to Petrolia, where 
he engaged in a general merchandise, flour 
and feed business ; afterward he was also in 
terested in the production of oil. During his 
residence in Petrolia Mrs. Lewis died, in 
1871, and later, with his four children, Mr. 
Lewis moved to Fnniskillen. and made a 
new home there in Concession 7, on hush 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



623 



land, which he cleared and developed into a 
good farm, and where he remained until his 
death. There were four children : Thomas, 
born in Petrolia in 1860, went to California 
when a young man, and is there engaged in 
stock raising; he is married but has no chil 
dren. Catherine, born in Wardsville, mar 
ried Thomas Hudson, of London township, 
and died, leaving three children. Cora, Vera 
and Lewis. Minnie born in Petrolia, is the 
wife of W. H. Stotten, but has no children. 
Frederick E. was the youngest. 

Frederick E. Lewis grew up in Petrolia 
and there attended school. Since completing 
his education his attention has been entirely 
devoted to agriculture. After his father s 
death the homestead became his property and 
he carried it on most successfully. He put 
up a good brick house, gradually added many 
improvements to the whole place, and in 
1902 sold it. He purchased instead Arthur 
Hume s farm, in Lot 17, Concession 13, En- 
niskillen, one of the finest places in the 
county, and is continuing his operations 
there. 

Mr. Lewis was married April 13, 1898, 
to Miss Annie Ingram, born in Enniskillen. in 
1878. To their union three children have 
been born, namely : Xorman E., Feb. 26, 
1900; Vera J.. July. 1903: and Viola E., 
Sept. 20, 1904. Mr. Lewis was brought 
up under Methodist teachings, his parents 
belonging to that church, but he and his wife 
have both united with the Presbyterian 
Church. In his political belief Mr. Lewis is 
a Conservative, as his father was before him. 
Although young and a man who has had to 
depend on his own resources, he is active and 
enterprising, and has already made an as 
sured position for himself, while his neigh 
bors all bear testimony to his good citizen 
ship, his honest industry and keen intelli 
gence, qualities which have united to make 
him one of the popular men of Enniskillen. 

AVILLIAM J. BENTLEY, L. D. S., 
D. D. S., the leading dentist of Sarnia, 
Lambton County, Ont., is descended from 
one of the earliest settlers of the county. A 
full account of the Bentley family is given 



in the history of Dr. D. B. Bentley, which is 
to be found elsewhere. 

Dr. \Yillinm J. Bentley was born in War 
wick township, March 3, 1871, and his lit 
erary education was acquired in the public 
schools of his native town and in Forest. 
About the year 1890, Dr. Bentley was en- 
yaged by the Ann Arbor Railroad Company, 
and remained in its employ for four years, 
when he was one of the surveyors who laid 
out the route of the Chippewa Valley Rail 
road, a road which has as yet never been 
built. After his work for this company was 
completed, Dr. Bentley returned to the Ann 
Arbor Railroad Company for one year, and 
then the following two years were spent in 
the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company. Subsequently he engaged for a 
short time with the Hocking Valley Rail 
road Company. At the completion of his 
railroad career, Dr. Bentley took up the study 
of dentistry, for which he had always had a 
strong inclination, and in 1900 was grad 
uated from the Toronto University with the 
clegree of D. D. S., and at the same time he 
received the degree of L. D. S. from the 
Royal College of Dental Surgeons of To 
ronto. On March 26, 1901, Dr. Bentley re 
ceived from the State Board of the State of 
Ohio, a license to practice dentistry in that 
State. Immediately after graduation. Dr. 
Bentley opened an office in Sarnia, where he 
has built up a good, substantial practice, 
which is constantly increasing, and comes 
from the leading people of the city. In 1901 
Dr. Bentley was appointed sergeant major 
of the No. 6 Field Hospital, A. M. C, and 
in that capacity was a representative of the 
contingent at the Coronation ceremonies of 
King Edward. In 1905 he was appointed 
army dental surgeon. Politically Dr. Bent- 
ley is a member of the Reform party. His 
fraternal relations are with the Masonic or 
der, the I. O. O. F., and the B. P. O. E. Dr. 
Bentley is one of the leading professional 
men of Sarnia. and occupies a very enviable 
position socially. Although still a young 
man. his skill in his chosen profession is so 
great that his success has been steady and 
his continued prosperity is assured. 



624 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ROBERT STURGOX SMITH, one 
of the venerable retired residents of Moore 
township, Lambton County, who has spent 
a long and useful life in this section of On 
tario, is held in respect and esteem lay neigh 
bors and friends, his associates during this 
long period. Mr. Smith s birth occurred 
Tan. 12, 1828, near Belfast, County Down, 
Ireland. William Smith, father of our sub 
ject, was born near Belfast, and up to the 
time of his death could vividly recall the Re 
bellion of 1798. He was a tenant farmer. 
He married Elizabeth McGowan, and they 
became the parents of the following children : 
James, who died near Waterdown, Went- 
worth County, Out.; Mary (deceased), who 
married John Shanks ; Joseph, deceased, who 
was a farmer in South Dakota ; Jane, who 
married William Dornan (both died in 
Hamilton) ; a daughter who died in infancy; 
William, who died in Waterdown ; Robert 
Sturgon, our subject; and Samuel, a retired 
farmer of Sarnia, Out. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
were members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Robert S. Smith attended the national 
schools of the place of his nativity, and at 
the age of fifteen years, with five of his fam 
ily, left Ireland, embarking at Belfast in the 
sailing vessel "Arabian Knight," com 
manded by Capt. James Rainey. After a six 
weeks voyage they landed at Quebec in 
1843. Mr. Smith and his brother Samuel 
found a home with his uncle. Alexander 
Reid, in Beverley township, Wentworth 
County, Out, where he found employment 
at farm labor, for which he received only 
a little clothing. The next spring he worked 
with a farmer named William Rice, receiv 
ing twenty dollars, with board and lodging , 
the first year. He remained in Wentworth 
County until 1850, when he removed to 
Lambton County and settled down to farm 
ing on a clergy reserve of 100 acres, in Lot 
15, Concession 9, which was all wild land. 
He made this his home for over fifty-five 
years. After erecting a log cabin he went, 
to work in the woods, making cord-wood 
from the timber, for which he found a ready 
sale along the banks of the St. Clair river. 
Thus he obtained a start, for he was very 



poor, indeed, when he settled here. By hard 
work he managed to clear up his farm, and 
put it under cultivation, adding seventy-five 
acres to it by purchase, and he has prospered 
by industry and good management. When 
his sons were ready to make homes for them 
selves, he assisted them greatly. He has 
been engaged extensively in the cattle raising 
business, in which he has gained success. For 
the past twelve years the farm has been culti 
vated by his two sons. Mr. Smith is a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, in which he 
has been an elder for a number of years. In 
politics he is a Liberal, and has served as 
school trustee. 

Mr. Smith s first marriage, in 1857, in 
Hamilton, was to Miss Selina Francis, who 
was born in Hamilton, daughter of Jacob 
and Fanny (Phelps) Francis. She died in 
1870. the mother of the following children: 
May B. (deceased) married George Hack 
ney, and had one son, Robert O. William 
Francis, a resident and merchant of British 
Columbia, married Xettie Freeman, and they 
have seven children, Marjorie, May, Jessie, 
Douglas, Neil, William and Esther. Mary 
Elizabeth (Minnie) married James Brown, 
of the 8th Line, and has two children, Ken 
neth and Chester. Robert John, a farmer of 
the 8th Concession. Moore township, married 
Elizabeth White, and they have three chil 
dren. Frances, Robert and Earl. David Mc 
Gowan resides at home. Samuel James is 
at home. Herbert Phelps, a merchant in 
North Dakota, married Julia Hague, and has 
three children, Orphal, Lloyd and Howard 
Wildrue. 

Mr. Smith married (second) in 1873, in 
Moore township, Miss Margaret White, 
daughter of Alexander and Margaret White. 
Mrs. Smith is noted for her charity and hos 
pitality. She has no children of her own, 
but she has reared her husband s children 
to maturity, and they all look upon her as 
a mother and love her as such. She is 
greatly devoted to her family, and while she 
has suffered greatly from sickness during 
the last several years, she bears all patiently, 
and is a good wife and Christian woman. 

The White family, from which Mrs. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



625 



Smith is descended, is of Irish descent. Alex 
ander White, her father, having been born 
in County Down, Ireland, near Belfast. 
There he married Margaret Xiblick, and the 
children born to them were : John, who died 
in Moore township ; Agnes, widow of Wen 
dell Brown, residing in Moore township ; 
Robert, who makes his home with Mrs. 
Smith ; Elizabeth, who married Robert 
Smith, and died in Sarnia ; James, deceased ; 
the foregoing children were all born in Ire 
land, and the children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
White in Canada were: Margaret, wife of 
Robert Sturgon Smith ; Alexander, of 
Moore township; William, deceased; and 
Mary, who died at the age of two and one- 
half years. 

In 1830 Mr. White came to Canada with 
his wife and five children, and settling near 
Hamilton followed farming, and bought land 
in Moore township for his sons. He was a 
Liberal in politics, and in religion was con 
nected with the Presbyterian Church. His 
wife, after her husband s death in 18^4. re 
moved to Moore township and passed the re 
mainder of her life with her children, dying 
at the age of ninety-four years, in the faith 
of the Presbyterian Church ; she was buried 
in Bear Creek cemetery. 

Robert S. Smith has successfully carried 
on general farming, raised good stock, and 
continued to improve a property which is 
now valuable. His standing in the com 
munity is that of an honest, upright and pub 
lic-spirited citizen. 

ALEXANDER D. McLEAX. Peter 
McLean was born in Inverness, Scotland, 
and married Catherine Murray, also a na 
tive ot that place. Coming to Canada they 
settled in Ekfrid, Middlesex County, as early 
as 1840, where the village of Appin now 
stands. Here Mr. McLean made a perma 
nent home, clearing it up from wild land, but 
in 1859 they removed to Brooke township, 
and settled on Concession 8, Lot 25, the 
present home of his grandson, Alexander D. 
McLean. Here they both died, Mr. McLean 
in 1870, while his wife survived until 1879. 

Hector McLean was the only son of 
40 



Peter, and was born in Scotland in 1819. 
He was but a toy when his father came to 
Canada, and here Hector McLean married 
Flora McXeil. born in Scotland, in 1822, 
daughter of Xeil and Christie McXeil, who 
came to Canada among the early settlers. 
Mr. and Mrs. McXeil settled in Ekfrid, 
Middlesex County, where they died, leaving 
a family of six children : John, a resident of 
Ekfrid, Middlesex County; Flora, now Mrs. 
McLean ; Alexander, deceased ; Mary, de 
ceased; Sarah, deceased, who married Ar 
chie Johnston, of Ekfrid; and Christie, de 
ceased, who married Alexander McXeil, of 
Brooke township. Hector McLean had re 
ceived a good education in Canada, and for 
several years taught school in Middlesex 
County. In 1846, the year of his marriage, 
he located on the old McLean homestead in 
Ekfrid, where he lived until 1859, and then 
purchased a home, where he cleared up a 
farm from wild land. He built a log cabin, 
and there he resided until his death in 1864. 
Religiously he was a consistent member of 
the Baptist Church, and was very active in 
church work. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hector McLean the 
following children were born: (i) Peter, 
born in Ekfrid in 1847, married Miss 
Amanda Bowlby, torn in Middlesex Coun 
ty, and they settled adjoining his father s 
homestead, where at the time of his death, in 
1885. he left his widow with these children, 
Hector, Mary (deceased), Eliza (a teacher 
in the home schools), Christian and Amy. 
(2) Christie, torn in Ekfrid in 1849, mar 
ried Thomas Warren, of Metcalfe, Middle 
sex County, and she died leaving three 
daughters. Flora A.. Christina B. and Mary 
J. (3) Xeil, born in 1852. in Ekfrid, mar 
ried Miss Jessie McVicar, of Brooke town 
ship, and they settled near the old homestead 
where he owned a farm at the time of his 
death in April, 1884; he left two daughters, 
Christie M. and Jessie X. (4) John, born 
in 1859, in Middlesex County, married Miss 
Sarah A. Black, of Rodney, and they reside 
on Concession 8, Lot 23, in Brooke town 
ship, where lie owns a fine farm. (5) Hec 
tor, born in 1861, died at the age of twenty- 



626 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



three years. (6) Donald, torn in 1864, 
died at the age of twenty-four years. (7) 
Mary and (8) Sadie, died in childhood. (9) 
Alexander D. is the suhject of this sketch. 

Alexander D. McLean was reared on the 
farm and received a good education in 
School District No. 4, in Brooke township. 
When a young man he became manager of 
the old homestead, where he has continued 
to the present time. Mr. McLean and his 
brother erected a large bank barn in 1865, 
and in 1871 built the present large brick 
house, Mr. McLean having purchased the 
old homestead, and ever since its purchase 
has been making general improvements, un 
til at the present time he has one of the finest 
farms in the locality. 

On June 24, 1896, Mr. McLean married 
Maggie Pollock, born on Concession 12, 
Brooke township. Nov. 14, 1876, daughter 
of James and Ellen (Lett) Pollock, one of 
Brooke township s old families. Mr. and 
Mrs. McLean have always lived on the home 
stead. They have a family of six children : 
Peter N., born June 20, 1897; Maggie, torn 
Oct. 12, 1898; Martin J., born April 4, 
1900; Flora J., born Aug. 7, 1901 ; Christie 
A., born April 25, 1903, and Pearl, born 
Oct. 30, 1904. Religiously the family are 
connected with the Baptist Church. In 
politics Mr. McLean is a Reformer and has 
held the positions of deputy reeve for two 
terms, member of the council for two terms, 
and collector of taxes of Brooke township 
one term. Fraternally he has associated 
himself with the Social Friends order of Al- 
vinston. Mr. McLean is a well-known man, 
and is highly esteemed throughout the town 
ship. 

WILLIAM D. SUTTON, an enterpris 
ing implement dealer of Oil Springs, Lamb- 
ton County, is serving very acceptably as 
reeve of the village. He was torn in Thorn- 
dale, County of Middlesex, March 31, 1870, 
son of Richard and Frances (Donaldson) 
Sutton. 

George Sutton, the father of Richard 
Sutton, was an early pioneer of York Coun 
ty, settling there with his wife, and there 



they both died. They left a family of two 
sons and three daughters, the sons being 
William, a retired farmer of St. Thomas, 
and Richard, the father of our subject. 

Richard and Frances (Donaldson) Sut 
ton were both born in England, he in 1832 
and she in 1835. They were married in 
Woodstock, and settled in Middlesex Coun 
ty, where they made a permanent home. 
During the greater part of his life Richard 
Sutton was a manufacturer of vehicles, but 
some years ago he retired from active life 
and purchased a home in North Perth, where 
he and his wife celebrated their golden wed 
ding Aug. 10, 1904. Children were born to 
them as follows : Maggie, the eldest, was 
burned to death when twelve years old ; Fan 
nie, born in Middlesex County, is the wife 
of John Askew, a merchant of Bothwell ; 
Mary is the wife of J. W. Holme, an oil 
producer of Oil Springs, and they have two 
sons, Burt and Gordon; Nellie, the wife of 
Alfred Trusler, a ranchman of the North 
west, has three sons, Roy, Richard and John ; 
John married Miss Emma Mercer, of Bay 
City, Michigan, and now resides in Phila 
delphia, where he is employed in a shipyard ; 
Jessie is the wife of C. F. Bennett, an oil 
driller of Australia, and they have six chil 
dren, Frances, Frederick, George, Charles, 
Mattie and Norman. Jennie, unmarried, is 
a milliner at Port Rowan; Margaret, un 
married, lives at home; Alice died in child 
hood; William D., our subject, was the sec 
ond son and eighth member of the family. 

William D. Sutton received a high school 
education in Trowbridge, and at the age of 
twenty-one started in business as a hard 
ware merchant at Milverton, near Stratford, 
continuing in that line for six years. In 
1897 he sold out and came to Oil Springs, 
where he has since been engaged in the im 
plement business, handling a full line of farm 
machinery, as well as an extensive stock of 
carriages, wagons and cutters. 

On Nov. 28, 1894, Mr. Sutton was mar 
ried to Miss Sarah Rae, who was torn in 
North Perth in August, 1874, daughter of 
James L. Rae, a pioneer and enterprising 
merchant of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Sut- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



627 



ton first settled in Milverton, where he had 
valuable real estate, and later came to Oil 
Springs, where he purchased the fine home 
in which they have since resided. To this 
union have come the following children : 
\Yallace C, born at Milverton in 1895; 
Gordon K., born in 1897; and Richard Rae, 
born in 1899. 

Politically Mr. Button is prominently con 
nected with the Conservative party, has held 
the office of councilman for two years, and 
in 1904 was elected reeve of Oil Springs, a 
position which he still holds. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Odd Fellows, Ridgely 
Lodge, Xo. 250. of Oil Springs. In religion 
he is a member of the Church of England, 
as are his parents. 

Mr. Sutton has made many warm friends 
since coming to Oil Springs, where he has 
worked hard in the interests of the com 
munity, and all who know this active young 
business man unite in saying that he is an 
ideal citizen as well as a faithful public 
servant. 

SAMUEL HITCHCOCK. The manu 
facturing interests of Sarnia are many and 
varied, the product of the city s factories 
finding a ready market all over the Domin 
ion as well as in foreign countries. An en 
terprising and public-spirited citizen until 
recently engaged in this line of commercial 
activity is Samuel Hitchcock, former manu 
facturer of the Huron Bicycle. He is a na 
tive of Point Edward, County of Lambton, 
born Dec. 27, 1868, a son of the well-known 
M. A. Hitchcock, of that place, whose life 
is extensively treated of elsewhere. 

Samuel Hitchcock received his literary 
education in the public schools of Sarnia, 
while his training in business life has been 
obtained by close observation and experi 
ence. In 1894 he formed a partnership with 
F. B. Hitchcock, his brother, and the firm 
engaged in the manufacture and sale of bi 
cycles, also conducting a large jewelry es 
tablishment in Sarnia. Four years later the 
brothers divided the interests," F. B. Hitch 
cock retaining the jewelry business, while 
Samuel Hitchcock continued the manufac 



ture and sale of bicycles, his Huron make 
being a great favorite and heavy seller. He 
followed modern business methods and 
steadily extended his fields of operation, fol 
lowing that line until April, 1904, when he 
disposed of that business and engaged in the 
fishery business with his father, of Point 
Edward. 

On Dec. 16, 1896, Mr. Hitchcock was 
married to Miss Etta Leitch, daughter of 
Rev. R. \Y. Leitch; her great-grandfather 
was a native of Scotland. Among his chil 
dren was a son, Neil Leitch, the grandfa 
ther of Mrs. Hitchcock, who married Miss 
Ellen \Yahhup. Their son. Rev. R. \V. 
Leitch. the father of Mrs. Hitchcock, mar 
ried Miss Elizabeth Echlin, and to them 
were born the following children: Ethel- 
bert, Etta (wife of subject), Edgar and 
Herbert. Two children have come to Mr. 
and Mrs. Hitchcock; Stewart, born Oct. 23, 
1898, and Kathleen, born June 23, 1901. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, in the work of 
which they take an active part. Fraternally 
Mr. Hitchcock is a Mason, a member of the 
K. O. T. M., and of the Royal Arcanum, 
and is popular in all those orders. His po 
litical opinions are such as to make him a 
supporter of the principles advocated by the 
Reform party. Enterprising, possesse d of 
marked business ability, he is justly regarded 
as one of the leading young men of Sarnia, 
while socially, he enjoys the respect and es 
teem of a large circle of friends. 

_ JAMES GLOVER, of Petrolia, and one 
of the leading men of that city, comes of 
Irish descent, the family being founded in 
Ontario in 1840 by his father s brother, who 
located in Huron County. James Glover is 
a son of John and Elizabeth N. Glover, of 
Ireland, where they were born and spent 
their entire lives. Their children were: 
\Yilliam, of Ireland; George, who settled in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but later re 
turned to Ireland; Andrew, of Ireland; 
James; Jane of Benton, Wisconsin; and 
Elizabeth and Mary Ann, who both died in 
Ireland. 



628 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



James Glover was born in Ireland in 
1845, and in his native land learned the 
trade of blacksmith, which he followed for 
some time. In 1870 he removed to Ontario, 
settling in Petrolia where for thirteen years 
he followed his trade, and in the meanwhile 
he purchased a farm on Lot 4, Concession 
1 1 . Moore township, County of Lambton, 
and he is now occupied in its cultivation, al 
though he resides in town. 

While he was living in Ireland he mar 
ried Mary Ann Ingram, born in that country 
in 1847, a daughter of William and Mary 
(Faucet) Ingram, early settlers of Ontario. 
Mr. and- Mrs. Glover have had children as 
follows : William, deceased ; John, of Cali 
fornia, who married Mabel Jackson; Eliza 
beth, who married John Ferguson, of Pe 
trolia ; George, of Borneo ; Fred, Albert and 
Maude, all of Petrolia. Mr. and Mrs. Glover 
are members of the Church of England, and 
politically Mr. Glover, is a Conservative. 
Both of these most excellent people, as well 
as their children stand very high in the esti 
mation of the community, and the success 
which has attended the efforts of Mr. Glover 
is well merited. 

JOHX DALLAS (deceased) during life 
was one of the well known citizens of Bo- 
sanquet township and a prominent agricul 
turist. He was born in 1831, in Perthshire, 
Scotland, the family being one of promin 
ence in the Highlands. 

Alexander Dallas, first of the name of 
whom we -have direct knowledge, was the 
grandfather of the late John Dallas and was 
born in Perthshire, Scotland, where he lived 
and died. 

James Dallas, son of Alexander and fa 
ther of John, was also born in Perthshire, 
where he spent the early days of his boy 
hood prior to going to Edinburgh, where he 
learned the wheelwright and blacksmith 
trade, following it as long as he remained in 
Scotland. In Perthshire he married Cather 
ine Cameron, and they had these children 
born to them : Alexander, who died at Shake 
speare, Perth County, Ont. ; James, who was 
a land owner in Huron County, where he 



died; Isabella, who now makes her home 
with her nephews and nieces in Bosanquet 
township ; John ; and three who died young 
in Scotland, where the mother also passed 
away. 

In 1843, after the death of his wife, Mr. 
Dallas with his four motherless children 
came to Canada, locating in Perth County, 
near Stratford. Here he followed farming 
during the remainder of his life, dying at 
Shakespeare, and he was buried in North 
Easthope township, Oxford County. Mr. 
Dallas was a consistent member of the Pres 
byterian Church. All his life he had been a 
stanch Conservative. 

The late John Dallas was twelve years 
old when he came across the Atlantic with 
his father and he had already had some 
schooling, which he supplemented by attend 
ance in the public schools of Perth County. 
When the Grand Trunk Railroad was being 
built through Ontario, he became an employe 
of that company as a telegrapher and was 
made station agent and operator at Thecl- 
ford, Lambton County, and later at Forest, 
where he continued until 1867. Although 
he was doing well and was highly thought 
of by his employers, Mr. Dallas long had 
cherished a desire to settle down on a farm 
of his own and the wish became so strong 
that he resigned his place and moved to a 
tract of 100 acres on Lot i, Concession 7, 
property which he had purchased from Luke 
Robinson some time previously. More than 
half of this land was still uncleared and the 
residence on the place was only a small frame 
house. Here he settled down in the woods, 
surrounded by pioneer conditions, which he 
accepted as the inevitable adjuncts of a new 
country. Unceasing industry and persever 
ing effort soon had made great changes. 

In the course of time, Mr. Dallas had 
increased his land to 150 acres, which he 
improved with good buildings, making a 
very nice, comfortable home. He was al 
ways much interested in agricultural ad 
vancement and was one of the first organ- 
izers of the Lambton County Farmers Mu 
tual Fire Insurance Company. In 1875 after 
its organization, he was made the first presi- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



629 



tlent and remained a member of the board of 
directors until 1895 when he resigned from 
the duties of that position and accepted the 
agency of the company in the district of 
"West Williams and Bosanqnet townships. 
This office he held up to his death, which took 
place, July 21, 1901, at the age of seventy 
years. He was laid to rest in Arkona ceme 
tery. 

During the whole of his long and busy 
life he was a stanch Conservative, and he 
adhered to the principles of that great party 
leader. Sir John A. Macdonald. In 1876 he 
was elected a member of the board of coun- 
cilmen of Bosanquet township and served 
one term with the greatest efficiency. He 
was <>ne of the organizers of the Ridge Tree 
Cheese Company, of which he was secretary 
and treasurer as well as a stockholder for 
many years. 

Mr. Dallas is recalled as a very earnest 
student of the Bible. Its wisdom was well 
known to him and few occasions arose when 
some apt quotation would not rise to his lips. 
On all other literature he also was well in 
formed and he kept abreast of the times in 
public affairs. He was affiliated with the A, 
F. & A. M. lodge at Theclforcl and followed 
closely the teachings of the fraternity. For 
many years he was a worthy member of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he was an 
elder. He was a good citizen, a devoted fa 
ther and kind husband, a man who was liked 
by all classes of people and one who lived an 
honest, upright, helpful life. 

Mr. Dallas was married at Stratford, 
Ont., to Catherine Anderson, who died at 
her home, July 17, 1893, an( l was laid to 
rest in Arkona cemetery. She was a faith 
ful member of the Presbyterian Church, a 
good, Christian woman. They were parents 
of these children : Mary, who was educated 
in the Bosanquet township schools, the Col 
legiate Institute at Sarnia, Stratford Busi 
ness College, and the Toronto Normal 
School, taught school for five years and died 
in 1892, aged twenty-eight years; James, 
who died in March, 1901, at home, aged 
thirty-four years ; Catherine, residing at 



home ; William, a commission merchant at 
Detroit, who married Rosa Jolley ; John 
Spence, on the homestead ; Jessie, residing 
at home; Archibald, who is a student at 
Knox College, Toronto, where in 1905 he 
took the degree of B. A. and is preparing 
for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church ; 
and Robert G., who is also on the homestead. 
Since the death of the parents, John S. 
and Robert G. are operating the homestead 
and they have made many fine improve 
ments, including the building of a handsome 
brick residence at a cost of something like 
$1,800. They are young men of intellect, 
industry, and honesty, a combination capable 
of accomplishing wonders. Politically they 
are Conservatives. They are thoroughly re 
spected by all who know them, as are their 
sisters. The younger generation all belong 
to the Presbyterian Church. The family is 
one closely united in family affection and all 
are most worthy representatives of the par 
ents who have passed to their reward. 

JOHN S. DENNIS (deceased) owned 
and cultivated the farm in Enniskillen now 
occupied by his widow, and was one of the 
most respected citizens of that township. 
He was born August 12, 1855, in Sarnia 
township, son of John and Betsey (Stokes) 
Dennis, residents of Oil City, and descended 
from old English families. In 1879 he mar 
ried Lizzie Smith, who was born May 5, 
1859, in Perth County, Ont.. and after their 
marriage they lived on a rented farm in the 
township of Moore until 1893, when he pur 
chased the present farm of 100 acres. This 
was partially wild land, which has been 
cleared and brought under cultivation and 
improved into one of the best farms of the 
region. Mr. Dennis made extensive im 
provements in the way of ditching, fencing, 
farm buildings, etc. His death occurred at 
his home Feb. 16, 1901, and he left a widow 
rind four children out of their family of five: 
Clarence R.. born in 1882, who is unmarried 
and living on the home farm, which he has 
managed since his father s death ; Lawrence 
W.. born in 1885 ; Wesley \\ ., born in 1888; 



630 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Florence E., born in 1893, who died in Oc 
tober, 1894; and Lottie May, born Novem 
ber, 1895. 

Mr. Dennis was connected with the Meth 
odist Church, of which his widow is an ac 
tive member. His parents are well known 
also in church work among the Methodists. 
In politics he belonged to the Reform party. 
He was one of the enterprising younger 
farmers of Enniskillen, where he may almost 
be reckoned with the pioneers, as he and his 
wife made most of the improvments on their 
property, in Lot 7, Concession 7, and built up 
their fortunes by hard and unceasing toil, by 
which their children profit. Mr. Dennis was 
much esteemed and beloved by all who knew 
him, as a man of kindly disposition and up 
right conduct. He was a consistent member 
of the Methodist Church, and his record of 
usefulness in the community is one worthy 
of emulation. Mrs. Dennis is known among 
a large circle of friends and neighbors for 
her hospitality and her ever ready help in 
time of sickness and trouble. She was a 
worthy helpmeet to her husband, is a de 
voted mother, and an earnest and faithful 
Christian. 

Thomas and Katie (McDonald) Smith, 
parents of Mrs. Dennis, were among the pio 
neer settlers in Sarnia township, Lambton 
County, coming thither in 1862, from Perth 
County, Out., where both were born, the 
father in December, 1828, the mother in 
May, 1828. Mr. Smith is still engaged in 
farming. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Church. The following chil 
dren were born to them : John E. is a black 
smith of Sutorville, Out. ; Maggie is the wife 
of William Dennis, a farmer of Enniskillen 
township ; Janet is the wife of John A. Land, 
a farmer of Manitoba; Ellen is the wife of 
Thomas Pike, of Kerrwood, a farmer; James 
is a farmer of Oil City ; Lizzie is the widow 
of John S. Dennis; Thomas is a railroad me 
chanic; Ann is the wife of Alex. Aiken, a 
blacksmith of Mandamin. Out. ; George, of 
Wanstead. Ont., is a blacksmith; Hannah 
married James McKee, a blacksmith ; Daniel 
is deceased; Joseph is a farmer in Manitoba; 



David of Mandamin, is on the old home 
stead ; William is a merchant in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. 

ALEXANDER SPALDING, who de 
parted this life in Warwick township, Lamb- 
ton County, Dec. 6, 1861, at the age of six 
ty-nine years, was one of the early settlers of 
the township, and a man widely known and 
highly esteemed. His birth occurred in Scot 
land in 1/92, and he there was united in 
marriage with Jean Wallace, who was born 
in Scotland, in 1800, and who died in War 
wick township in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. 
Spalding came to Ontario in April, 1850, 
locating on Lot 27, the second line of War 
wick, and there cleared up a farm where 
they spent the remainder of their, days, both 
dying firm in the faith of the Presbyterian 
Church, of which they were devout mem 
bers. In political faith Mr. Spalding was a 
Reformer and took an active part in school 
matters in the township, and at the time of 
his death was a member of the school board. 

The children born, to this most excellent 
pioneer couple were as follows : Robert, de 
ceased, was a machinist and died unmarried ; 
Jean married Thomas Heaman, and is now 
deceased ; Thomas and Elizabeth were 
twins, of whom Thomas lives at St. Clair. 
and Elizabeth is the wife of Robert Robin 
son; Christina died in Scotland; Alexander, 
deceased, was a fanner of Brooke ; Margaret 
married Charles McCully, of Michigan ; 
James was a farmer of the old homestead ; 
John is deceased; Isabella lives in Watford. 

During his long and useful life Mr. 
Spalding followed the teachings of his creed, 
and was an honorable, upright gentleman 
and one who not only accumulated a fair 
portion of this world s goods for his children, 
but also left behind him an untarnished name 
and unblemished record. 

RANDAL KENNY is one of the old 
reliable grocery dealers of Sarnia, and is also 
prominently identified with the Gas & F.lec- 
trie Light Co., and the Sarnia Electric Rail 
road Company, lie is enterprising, shrewd 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



631 



in business, and at the same time strictly 
square in all his dealings. His success is due 
to both good business training and inherent 
ability. He was born in County Cavan, Ire 
land, April 26, 1848, and comes of the best 
Irish stock. 

His grandfather, William Kenny, was 
well born and spent his life for the most part 
in Ireland. Here he was known as a gentle 
man farmer, and gave attention to agricul 
tural pursuits throughout his business life. 
By his marriage there were three sons, John, 
Thomas and Randal, and one daughter, 
Mariah. 

Rev. Thomas Kenny, father of Randal, 
was a life-long resident of Ireland. He was 
an Episcopal clergyman. He married Jane 
Meyler, who was born in Ireland, and of this 
union there were six children, of whom the 
first three are now deceased : William ; Ame 
lia ; and Jane, who married James Bell. 
Dorotha resides at Sarnia; Thomas is a 
wholesale grocer there; and Randal is men 
tioned below. Mr. Kenny was energetic and 
farsighted. He was not only a hard worker, 
but a man who realized good money returns 
for his labor. 

Randal Kenny inherited both his father s 
capacity for hard work, and his keen busi 
ness discernment. In a cultivated home, in 
County Cavan, Ireland, he received good 
rearing, and in that locality a thoroughly 
practical education. A taste for business de 
cided him at an early age to enter a mer 
cantile house. Here for six years he gave 
his services as an apprentice, acquiring in 
that time a large fund of business experi 
ence. The hope of bettering his prospects 
in a new country, induced him, in 1866, to 
come to Ontario. Locating in Sarnia. he 
there secured a position in the office of the 
registrar of deeds of Lambton County, which 
he filled very acceptably for eight months. 
Then he accepted a more paying clerkship 
with Mosurett & Co.. grocery dealers of 
Srirnia, who are now in business at Toronto. 
Ready capital, and confidence in himself in 
fluenced him to go into partnership with his 
brother Thomas, and purchase the business. 
Efficient service and a fine line of goods re 



tained old customers, and brought in new 
ones. The business prospered from the start, 
and the firm, T. & R. Kenny, continued un 
broken for fourteen years. Then Thomas 
withdrew, and established a wholesale house, 
and Randal was left sole proprietor of the 
retail business, which he has since continued. 
He has enlarged his trade and improved his 
store, and is now conducting a very exten 
sive industry. He has a full line of fancy 
and staple groceries, keeps ten employees in 
his service, and is doing an annual business 
of fifty thousand dollars. As a wise finan 
cier. Mr. Kenny has always invested his 
savings so as to procure large interests and 
at the same time to benefit his fellow citizens ; 
and he now owns considerable stock in the 
Sarnia Gas & Electric Light Co., of which 
his brother Thomas is president, and he has 
also an interest in the Sarnia Electric Rail 
road, of which he is director. 

In 1881 Mr. Kenny married Elizabeth 
Jobson, who was born in Ireland. Xo chil 
dren have come of this union. Though Mr. 
Kenny s achievements are largely of a busi 
ness nature, his influence has been a telling 
one upon the community in general. He is 
progressive, philanthropic, and has always 
kept an eye out for the good of his city. In 
all circles he has friends, and he stands high 
fraternally, affiliating with the I. O. O. F. 
and the Royal Arcanum. Politically he es 
pouses the cause of the Conservatives. Both 
he and his wife are influential members of 
the Episcopal Church. 

WILLIAM WILLIAMSON, now liv 
ing retired from business cares at Watford, 
is of Irish extraction, the family being 
founded in Ontario by his father, Richard 
Williamson, who was born in Ireland in 
1799, and who died in Watford Jan. 10, 
1883. 

In his native land Richard Williamson 
married Rebecca Doke, born in Ireland in 
1/89, and died in Warwick township in 
1874. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson emigrated 
to Ontario in 1840. locating in Perth, but in 
1 847 settled in Warwick township, on Lot 
6, Concession 4. where they cleared up a fine 



6 3 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



farm. Here they made their home, and here 
the wife died, after which Mr. Williamson 
removed to \Yatford, and there as in War 
wick township, took an interest in Reform 
politics, although not aspiring to office. Both 
he and his wife were devout members of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he was an 
elder. The children born to Richard Will 
iamson and wife were: David, deceased, was 
a farmer of Warwick; John, deceased, was a 
farmer of Warwick; Sarah married William 
Higgins ; Mary, deceased, married John 
Holmes ; Rebecca is the widow of James 
Kelly; Elizabeth, deceased, married James 
Connor; Richard, of Warwick is unmarried; 
Joseph lives in Warwick ; James is a farmer ; 
William. 

William Williamson was born in Sher- 
brooke, Out., in 1837, and was but a boy 
when brought to Warwick township by his 
parents. He has spent nearly all of his life 
in this locality. Upon attaining to maturity, 
he learned the trade of a shoemaker, and fol 
lowed it successfully for many years in Wat 
ford, and also in Plympton, but about 1882 
he retired from business and now lives in 
Watford. In political faith he is a Re 
former, but like his father before him he does 
not take any active part in local affairs. By 
hard work, industry and thrift, he accumu 
lated means, and firmly established himself 
in the confidence and esteem of his neigh 
bors, and has many friends in the neighbor 
hood. 

XELSOX HILBORX. a pioneer farmer 
in Bosanquet township, has been a resident 
of that locality for nearly fifty-one years. 
The fine old homestead there, where he is 
now carrying on a highly successful indus 
try, he helped his father to hew out of the 
wilderness. 

Mr. Hilborn is paternally descended 
from fine English stock, and from the mater 
nal line draws good Pennsylvania-Dutch 
blood. His great-grandfather Hilborn was 
the first of his line to settle in America, and 
made his home for the most part in Pennsyl 
vania. Among his children was a son named 
Joseph, who continued the line of descent. 



Joseph Hilborn, grandfather of Xelson, 
was born in Philadelphia, about 1/83, and 
at an early date came to Ontario, settling 
upon a farm in Waterloo County. Here he 
engaged in agriculture for the most part 
throughout Ins active career, and, being an 
energetic man and a shrewd manager, was 
remarkably prosperous. His activities, 
however, were soon cut short, as his death 
occurred at the early age of thirty years. He 
married Esther Cornell, daughter of Syl- 
vanus Cornell, and to Mr. and Mrs. Hilborn 
were born three children : Thomas, who is 
now deceased ; Annie, who married William 
Anglemyer, and died at the advanced age of 
ninety years; and John C, who is mentioned 
below. 

John C. Hilborn, father of Nelson, was 
a man of ability and many attainments. He 
was born at Preston, Ont., May n, 1813, 
and in a well-ordered home received careful 
rearing. In the schools of that vicinity he 
acquired a good education, and being of an 
intellectual bent availed himself of every 
opportunity for cultivating his literary 
tastes. For an occupation he chose tanning, 
which he followed from the age of fourteen 
to the age of twenty-four. About 1852 he 
settled upon a tract of wild land in Bosan 
quet township, where he cleared up a line 
farm for himself, and there he also followed 
tanning, and, giving strict attention to bus 
iness, and being skillful in pushing affairs, 
he made an unqualified success of his work. 
In addition to his other enterprises Mr. Hil 
born early began acting as preacher for vari 
ous rural communities, and for fully sixty 
years acted in that capacity, even in his bus 
iest seasons giving much time to this work. 
A wise and frugal manager, he made well 
out of his various enterprises, and in time 
became one of the well-to-do citizens of 
Bosanquet township. After many years of 
fruitful work he retired from his labors, and 
took up his residence with his son for twelve 
years. Then he was married again, to Airs. 
Susan Toole. and removed to Thedford, 
where he lived retired until his death. Feb. 
23, 180,8. at the age of eight v-four years and 
nine months. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



63: 



During his young manhood Mr. Hilborn 
married Sarah Anglemyer. who was born in 
Pennsylvania in 1809, and who died in 1878. 
By this union there were nine children : Jo 
seph, who is now a resident of Guelph ; 
Elizabeth, who married Andrew Mitchell; 
Adam and Samuel, who died young; Nelson, 
who is mentioned below ; Margaret, who 
married Lyman Swan, and is now deceased ; 
William, a farmer of Bosanquet township; 
John, a farmer of the same locality ; and 
Jacob, who is engaged in farming in Mich 
igan. 

Mr. Hilborn was gifted in many lines and 
possessed the rare power of making a suc 
cess of whatever he turned his hand to. He 
was an indefatigable worker, had rare bus 
iness ability, and exerted a strong influence 
in all walks of life. His devotion to his 
work and his high moral attributes, as well 
as his many social graces, won him the re 
spect and confidence of the community, and 
he made friends for himself at every step in 
life. 

Nelson Hilborn was born in \Yaterloo 
township, Waterloo County, July 28, 1842, 
and was a boy when his parents came to 
Lambton County and settled in Bosanquet 
township. Capable for his years, he even 
then went to work, ax in hand, to cut down 
the timber on his father s new farm. He 
also assisted in removing the timber which 
during the winter became lodged in the ice, 
for about a mile west from Thedford, along 
the Grand Trunk railroad. Ambitious for 
an education, he passed his evenings after a 
hard day s work in study, beside an old-time 
tallow candle, and in this way acquired a 
large fund of useful and practical knowl 
edge. It was during this early period that 
the .town of Thedford was laid out, and it 
was Mr. Hilborn who drove the yoke of 
oxen to mark the site. Reared as a pio 
neer, upon reaching manhood he was not 
afraid to take a hand at any work which fell 
his way, and as a young man he cut and split 
cord\\nod into stove lengths, which he 
hauled to Pine Hill and marketed, receiving 
Si. ^5 per cord and his dinner. On Sept. 17, 
1868, Mr. Hilborn married Miss Margaret 



L. Mitchell, who was born in New Bruns 
wick, daughter of Andrew Mitchell. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Hilborn have been born three 
children: Franklin, who died at the age of 
four years; Miss Sarah Esther, at home; and 
John Nelson, a farmer of Bosanquet town 
ship, who married Mrs. Maud (William 
son) Laughlin. 

After his marriage Mr. Hilborn settled 
upon the farm in Bosanquet township where 
he now resides. With a $6,000 debt upon 
his shoulders he went to work with energy 
and determination, and. by economy and 
wise management soon removed the incum- 
brance. He also improved his property, and 
in time made it into one of the most attrac 
tive farms in the locality. He has trans 
formed large areas into well-furrowed grain 
fields and thriving gardens, and raised 
thereon some of the most valuable crops pro 
duced in the vicinity. A good manager, he 
has made well out of his industry, and is 
now one of the wealthy farmers of his local 
ity. His place embraces 150 acres, has at 
tractive buildings, and is well equipped with 
everything necessary for carrying on his in 
dustry successfully. 

Mr. Hilborn possesses great energy and 
the wisdom to direct it properly to the every 
day affairs of life. He is a hard worker, and 
has derived good money returns from his 
labors. His achievements and his force of 
character have won him the confidence of 
the community, and he is widely known and 
everywhere most highly respected. A con 
sistent member of the Methodist Church, he 
is a man of firm religious convictions and 
throughout his life has espoused the cause of 
every enterprise for the uplifting of his fel 
low-citizens. Politically he affiliates with the 
Conservatives. He has been a most con 
scientious husband and father, and has as 
sisted his children to good places in life. 

Andrew Mitchell, Mrs. Hilborn s father, 
was born in Ireland in 1812, and his parents 
were of Irish and Scotch birth, respectively; 
they were married in New Brunswick. He 
married Annie Rutherford, who was born 
in Scotland in 1814. They came to Canada 
in 1844. settling in New 1 runswick, and 



634 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



about ten years later, in 1854, moved to a 
farm in Bosanquet township, Lambton 
County, where Mr. Mitchell engaged in ag 
ricultural pursuits. He died there in 1882, 
Mrs. Mitchell passing away in 1870. He was 
a member of the Episcopal Church, she of 
the Methodist. Their children were as fol 
lows : William, of Sundriclge, Muskoka, a 
carpenter; Catherine, deceased wife of Arch 
ibald McKinnen; Mary Jane, of Sarnia, 
Out., widow of William Fleming; John, 
who died in Detroit, Michigan, in 1903; 
Andrew, a farmer of Brown City, Michigan, 
who married Elizabeth Hilborn, sister of 
our subject; Margaret L., Mrs. Hilborn; 
Charles, who died at the age of twelve ; and 
Maria, deceased wife of Joseph Lusby. 

JOHN DOBBIN (deceased), for many 
years one of the highly respected farmers 
and good citizens of Enniskillen township, 
who passed away April i, 1895, was born in 
1826. in County Cavan, Ireland, and was a 
son of Leonard and Margaret Dobbin, who 
passed their whole lives in County Cavan. 
Their three children, Jane, John and Leon 
ard, all came to Canada. The one sister was 
the widow of William Smith. She married 
(second) John Tate, who died in Sarnia, 
Ont.. and she, with her three children, went 
to New Mexico, where she subsequently 
died. One of her sons, Alexander Smith, re 
turning to Canada, settled at Oil Springs. 

The late John Dobbin remained three 
years in the State of New York prior to com 
ing to Canada, in 1866. He entered into the 
oil business at Oil Springs and continued 
there until he came to the farm occupied by 
his son William S., on Lot 14, Concession 4, 
Enniskillen township. Before coming to 
Canada he married Jane Sharpe, daughter of 
Alexander and Jane Sharpe, who were born 
and who died in County Cavan, Ireland. 
Mrs. Dobbin was born in 1830 and four of 
her sisters and brothers emigrated to Illi 
nois, where they still reside. She died in 
1891. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dobbin remained on the 
present home farm and there reared an ad 
mirable family, one which is respected 



wherever known. Children as follows were 
born to them : ( i ) Maggie, the eldest, 
died in the State of New York, in childhood. 
(2) Alexander, born in New York, was 
reared in Lambton County and married Jen- 
nette McPhee, of Enniskillen. They moved 
to Winnipeg, where he died in 1901, leaving 
his widow with five children, Ella, Flossie, 
Alexander, Christie and Dora. (3) Mary J., 
born in New York, has always been the 
mainstay in household affairs, the true and 
faithful daughter who ministered to her pa 
rents, and, withal, a lady of culture and all 
womanly accomplishments. (4) William S., 
born March 8, 1866, is one of Enniskillen 
township s most enterprising young farm 
ers, and has owned the old homestead 
and operated it for a number of years. 
(5) Leonard, born in 1868, in Canada, mar 
ried Bella McPhee of Enniskillen, and they 
reside on Concession 4, and have a family of 
four children, John, Leonard, Walter and 
Stella. (6) Maggie (2), born in 1870, in 
Lambton County, is the wife of Jonathan 
Perkin, a ranchman in California, and they 
have six children, Henry, Lewis, Jacob, 
Jennie, Mary and Martha. (7) John, born in 
1876, in Enniskillen township, left home in 
young manhood and located in California, 
where he married and is engaged in Business. 
The late John Dobbin was a man well 
and favorably known all over the township, 
respected for his many sterling traits of 
character, among which was strict honesty. 
He was very charitable and gave largely of 
his means whenever he found worthy objects. 
He was a man of intellectual acquirements 
and was one of the best Bible students in his 
locality. For years he was a consistent mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church and was 
Sunday-school superintendent, both in Ire 
land and Canada. Politically he was a Con 
servative. He belonged to the order of 
Orangemen, at Oil Springs. 

HERBERT WEST, a farmer and stock- 
raiser on Concession n. Lot 15, Plympton 
township, was born July i, 1858, son of 
Stephen West, born in 1815. in Croyden, 
County Kent, England. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



635 



Stephen West learned the trade of ship 
carpenter, serving an apprenticeship of six 
years, and was not twenty years of age when 
he crossed the ocean to Canada. He located 
at Kingston, Out., and was employed in the 
ship yards there, and was made an overseer 
of construction. When the rebellion of 
1837-8 broke out, he entered the British 
service, and took part in the battle at Pres- 
cott and the old windmill. After this he re 
moved to Toronto, which was then known 
as Muddy York, and here he followed the 
trade of builder, erecting many of the houses 
on the Kingston road. Removing to Plymp- 
ton township, he settled on a fine tract of 
land, which he later left as be found be could 
not obtain a secure title, and he then moved 
to Lot 15, Concession u, where he bought 
200 acres of bush land. He sold the west 
100 acres to John Barker, now owned by 
John Copes. Mr. West settled on the east 
loo-acre tract, where he erected a log shanty 
the first year, and settled down to the grad 
ual clearing of his land. This included the 
making of potash from his timber, which he 
sold at Sarnia, the trip, with his ox wagon, 
taking him two days to make. Here he spent 
the rest of his active life, building house and 
barns and putting all his land under a fine 
state of cultivation. A few years prior to bis 
death he removed to Forest, where he lived 
a retired life, giving his son Herbert charge 
of the homestead. There he died in 1899, and 
was buried in the Forest cemetery. His 
rearing had been in the Church of England, 
but as no church of that kind had yet been 
organized in his neighborhood, and as he 
was a man of moral life and exemplary 
character, he joined the Methodist Church, 
and until his death was a good and accept 
able member. In his early life he was a 
Conservative, but later, he united with the 
rest of his family in upholding the principles 
of the Reform party. 

A man of domestic tastes, Stephen West 
married early, selecting a most estimable 
young lady. Mary Ann Thomas, born of 
Welsh parents, in the neighborhood of 
Kingston. Thirteen children were born to 
this union, and they were named as follows : 



\\ . H., a retired farmer residing in Mani 
toba ; Stephen, residing at Forest ; George, a 
farmer in Muskoka ; Frederick, of Bruce 
Mines; James, an engineer at Fort Coving- 
ton. Xe\v York; Thomas, a member of the 
police force at Port Huron; Herbert, subject 
of this sketch ; Sarah Ann, widow of Joseph 
Griffin, of Xew York State; Esther, deceased 
wife of William Crotbers; Emily, widow of 
Abraham Hudson, of Georgetown, Out. ; 
Mary, who married R. H. Morris, of Port 
Huron ; and the two youngest children died 
in infancy. The mother died at Forest. She 
was a consistent member of the Methodist 
Church. 

Herbert West was reared on the home 
farm and attended the school in the loth 
Concession, remaining with his father until 
he had grown to young manhood, when he 
removed to the State of New York and ac 
cepted employment on a dairy farm there, 
where be received thirty dollars a month. 
Mr. West then returned to the homestead 
where he assisted in the farming during the 
summer seasons, and in the lumber regions 
of Michigan during the winters, continuing 
to make bis home with his father. When the 
father retired to Forest, Mr. AYest took 
charge of the farm. For the past twenty- 
t\vo years he has carried on farming and 
stock raising here with good success. Under 
his management the 100 acres have produced 
fine crops, and he has raised some of the best 
cattle and hogs in the township. 

Mr. West was married at Niagara Falls 
to Harriet Dalton, who was born at Niagara 
Falls, a daughter of Frank Dalton, a fruit 
grower there. A family of eleven children 
has been born to this union, namely : Frank, 
the only one away from home, lives at Sault 
Ste. Marie: and Maud, Emily. Frederick, 
Alice, Ethel, Jennie, Herbert, Charles, Pearl 
and Clara Irene. Mr. West has given his 
children every advantage possible in the way 
of educational opportunities and social envir 
onments and it is one which is very popular 
through Plympton township. 

The West family all belong to the 
Presbyterian Church at Aberarder. In poli 
tics Mr. West is a Liberal, but is a man who 



6 3 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



has never sought political prominence. He 
is a prominent memher of the I. O. O. F., 
and belongs to Aaron Lodge, No. 236, at 
Camlachie, holding the office of grand mas 
ter, and he also belongs to the encampment 
at Forest. On occasions he has been a rep 
resentative to the Grand Lodge at Xiagara 
and at Forest and Toronto. He is a man of 
large ideas and enlightened mind, and thus 
ably fills the office of vice president of the 
public library at Aberarder, and is one of the 
directors. 

BENJAMIN ZAVITZ. One of the 
self-made men of Brooke township, who has 
met with much success in life, entirely 
through his own efforts, and has become a 
well-known and highly respected citizen of 
his community, prominent in local matters, 
and the owner of a fine farm on Concession 
9, Lot 13, is Benjamin Zavitz. Mr. Zavitz 
was born Sept. i. 1839, in Lobo, County of 
Middlesex, son of Benjamin and Esther 
(Augestine) Zavitz. 

George Zavitz. the grandfather of Ben 
jamin, Jr., came to Canada from Pennsyl 
vania, previous to the Revolutionary war, 
and settled at Port Colborne. he being one 
of the United Empire Loyalists that came 
from Pennsylvania. He settled along the 
Welland canal, where he cleared up a farm, 
and at his death left a family. Mr. Zavitz 
first wife was a Miss Cutler, and after her 
death he married her sister. To him and 
his first wife these children were born : Jonas, 
Jessie, John, Benjamin and Sarah, the latter 
of whom married Abraham Neff. 

Benjamin Zavitz, Sr., was born in 1806, 
and his wife in 1809. They were married 
in 1830, and in that year removed to Lobo, 
Middlesex County, where, with his brother 
Mr. Zavitz started clearing the wooded land 
for their farms. In recalling the early days 
in the life of Benjamin Zavitz and his wife 
in Brooke township, one is led in thought 
to the pioneer times of this section, when, in 
place of comfort, plenty and privileges of 
all kinds, civilization was making but slow 
progress. While the men cleared the land, 
the women spun flax to make the clothes 



worn by the family, and for a number of 
years the teams used in the work on the 
field were teams of oxen. They performed 
well their parts in life and are remembered 
with affection and respect. Religiously this 
worthy couple were Baptists, and among the 
founders of the first Baptist Church in Lobo, 
of which Mr. Zavitz was made a deacon, 
serving in that capacity until his death. He 
was taken into the Church as early as 1835, 
and was always one of the leading active 
members, and a liberal supporter. Politically 
he was a stanch Reformer. Mr. Zavitz s 
death occurred at his home in Lobo, in 1884, 
while his wife survived until 1902, being at 
the time of her death in her ninety-second 
year. 

Benjamin and Esther Zavitz were the 
parents of the following children : Mary A., 
born in Lobo, in 1831. married Thomas Try- 
hern, who settled in London, Middlesex 
County, and at her death left these children, 
John, Isaac. David, Thomas, Luanda, Sarah 
and Alice; George, born in 1833, s a retired 
farmer of Watford, where he has a family ; 
Luticia, born in 1835, married John Lam 
bert, a retired farmer of Watford; Samuel, 
born in 1840, married Miss Mary Orchard, 
and they settled on Lot 12, in Brooke town 
ship, where he owned a fine farm, and at 
the time of his death in 1899 e ft these chil 
dren, Arthur, Ida, Ernest, Edith, Flossie 
and Rosa; Elizabeth, born in 1843, cnec l m 
young womanhood; Jonas, born in 1845, 
married Miss Phoebe Dunlap, of Lambton 
County, and they reside in Brooke township, 
where he has a farm on the loth Concession, 
and has four children, Norman, Omar, Ethel 
and Elsie; Alfred, born in 1847, married 
Miss Melissa Gadsby, of Ontario, and they 
settled on a part of the old homestead in 
Middlesex County, where he died in 1897, 
leaving these children, Walter, Clayton, 
Stanley, Ida, Mary and Viola ; Joram, born 
in 1849, married Miss Elizabeth Ann Coke, 
of Brooke township, and now lives on the 
old farm in Lobo. and has these children, 
Stanford, Flavia, Winnie, Laura and Pearl ; 
and Benjamin. 

Benjamin Zavitz received a district 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



637 



school education in the little log school house 
in Loho, Middlesex County, and worked on 
his father s farm until eighteen years of age, 
when he took his L ncle John Zavitz s farm 
to work on shares, which he did for eight 
years. On Dec. 20, 1864, Mr. Zavitz mar 
ried Miss Barbara Stephenson, born in \\~ar- 
wick, Lambton County, January 9, 1844, 
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Scott) 
Stephenson, one of the pioneer families of 
Warwick, who came from Scotland. Mr. 
Stephenson and his wife were both born in 
1800, and married in Canada, settling in 
Warwick at a very early day. They both 
died at their old home in Warwick, he in 
1874, and his wife in 1876. They were the 
parents of five children, namely : Jemima 
married Henry "Chalk, deceased, of War 
wick ; Joseph resides on Concession 9, Lot 
i. in Brooke township; Robert and George, 
both reside in Michigan ; and Barbara, now 
Airs. Zavitz, was reared on her father s farm 
in Warwick, and received a district school 
education. 

By the time he was married Mr. Zavitz 
had accumulated enough money to purchase 
his present home, at that time all wild land. 
He worked hard to clear this land up. and 
at the time of their first settling, the home in 
which they resided was a log cabin, which 
was replaced in 1892 by his excellent, large, 
brick house. After clearing up the original 
piece of land, Mr. Zavitz added by purchase 
time and again, until he now owns a fine 
I5o-acre tract, consisting of some of the 
best cultivated land in the community. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Zavitz, the 
following children have been born : Alvin 
owns a farm of his own in Brooke township ; 
Elton married Mrs. Ellen Douglass, of 
Brooke township, and they reside in Dawn 
on his farm, and have one daughter, Bar 
bara ; Elizabeth married Daniel Maddock, of 
Brooke township, and has three children, 
Cecil, Basil and Mary P. ; Olive residing at 
the old homestead, is a highly cultured young 
lady ; and Morley C. lives at home with his 
parents. 

In the matter of religion Mr. and Mrs. 
Zavitz are consistent members of the Baptist 



Church, of which Mr. Zavitz is also a lib 
eral supporter. Politically, while never 
seeking public office, preferring a domestic 
life, Mr. Zavitz has always held up the ideals 
of the Reform party. Benjamin Zavitz is a 
worthy representative of his parents, and 
during his forty years residence in this com 
munity he has invariably displayed the qual 
ities which cause him to be honored and es 
teemed by all who know him. The history 
of his life is one that is good to read, show 
ing, as it does, what a youth with limited re 
sources can accomplish by applying himself 
closely to the duties that come in his way, 
and depending more upon his own sterling 
traits of character for success than upon 
any help from outside parties. 

FREDERICK BUTLER, a prominent 
citizen of Lambton County, is of English 
descent, and was himself born in Bucking 
hamshire, England, Oct. 2, 1846. His pa 
rents, William and Hannah (Brock) But 
ler, were born in that same shire, and passed 
their whole lives in their native land. Of 
their children, two, Henry and Frederick, 
came to Canada, the others remaining in 
England. 

The two brothers came to this country 
in 1868 and settled in Warwick. Henry 
married Miss Alice Smith, and was engaged 
in farming until his death in 1889. He left 
a family of five children. 

Frederick Butler received his education 
in the common schools of England, and was 
a young man of twenty-two when he came 
with his brother to America. He reached 
Canada by way of Portland, Maine, travel 
ing thence by the Grand Trunk Railroad to 
London, Ont. His first work was done for 
William Thompson, of Warwick township. 
Later he spent two years in the lumber 
camps of Michigan. By the fall of 1873 ne 
had accumulated means to buy land of his 
own, and he chose the place on which he 
still lives. It was then wild land and he 
started at once to clear it, keeping "bache 
lor s hall" the first year in a log cabin which 
he had put up. He has now cleared seventy- 
five of the 100 acres, in 1893 built a large 



6 3 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bank barn, and in 1897 erected his handsome 
modern brick house. The farm, located on 
Concession 13, Lot 26, in its buildings and 
general state of cultivation, is one of the 
finest farm homes in Enniskillen. 

On Sept. i, 1873, occurred the union of 
Frederick Butler and Miss Rebecca Griffith. 
Miss Griffith was born in 1849, in Renfrew 
County, daughter of John and Sarah Griffith 
natives of Ireland. Her grandfather was 
one of the first school teachers in London in 
his young days. Her father settled in Ren 
frew County" originally, later served in the 
Rebellion of 1837 and after the close of 
that trouble moved to Warwick township; 
later he retired and moved to Watford, Out., 
where he and his wife both died. A son, 
James, lives in Brooke township, and an 
other daughter is Mrs. John McKellar, of 
Hamilton. Frederick and Rebecca Butler 
are the parents of seven children, namely: 
Albert E., born in July, 1874, a resident of 
British Columbia ; Wellington, born in 1876, 
who died in 1889; Sarah J., born in 1879, 
who married William Tanner, a farmer in 
Warwick, and has one daughter, Thelma; 
Ernest Sidney, torn in 1880, who married 
Miss Margaret Pelligan, of British Colum 
bia where they now live; Mary E., born in 
April, 1885, at home; Wilson V., born in 
1887, at home; and Eva M., born in 1893, a 
student in school. Ernest S.. after going to 
British Columbia, enlisted in the English 
army in South Africa and served through 
the entire war ; he was at the battle of Harts 
river, and in a number of skirmishes. 

In political views Mr. Butler is a stanch 
supporter of the Conservative party, and for 
a year acted as trustee on the school board. 
He belongs to the Maccabees, Jubilee Camp 
No. 38, in Wyoming, and in religious affil 
iation is a member of the Church of Eng 
land. His wife belongs to the Methodists, 
as her parents were connected with that 
church. Mr. Butler is one of Enniskillen s 
good, honest and popular citizens, well de 
serving the high esteem in which he is held 
by all, for his kindness, hospitality and up 
right dealings. 



H. A. COOK, who is engaged in the 
furniture and undertaking business at Wat 
ford, Ont, is the proprietor of the first 
business of the kind ever established here, 
his father having been its founder. 

The Cook family is of English extraction, 
and was planted in Ontario by Henry Cook, 
father of our subject. Henry Cook was born 
in Gloucestershire, England, and on coming 
to Ontario located at Westminster. He there 
learned the cabinetmaking business, and in 
1870 embarked in same in Watford. He 
erected a factory in which he employed about 
fourteen men, and to this business he added 
undertaking, being, as noted, the pioneer un 
dertaker here. He continued his business 
until his death in August, ^ 1897, when his 
son, H. A. Cook, assumed "charge, and has 
most successfully conducted it ever since. 
Henry Cook married Melissa Kennard, born 
in Warwick township, of an old pioneer 
family of Lambton County. They became 
the parents of these children: H. A.; Let- 
tie, who married Harry Bradley; Clarence, 
a commercial traveler of Toronto, who mar 
ried Carrie Madden, and has one son, Harry; 
and Warren, of Toronto. 

H. A. Cook was born in 1871. in Wat 
ford, and was educated in the public schools. 
He learned the furniture and undertaking 
business with his father, and succeeded the 
latter. For many years the business was 
conducted on Trent" street, which property 
our subject once owned, but in 1902 he pur 
chased a brick block on Main street, and 
now has commodious and convenient quart 
ers. Adjacent to this business block is the 
oldest building in Watford, one Avhich was 
erected by James Murry, and it is also owned 
by Mr. Cook. 

In 1897 Mr. Cook married Christine 
McLeary, daughter of Robert McLeary. the 
latter an old settler of Warwick township, 
where Mrs. Cook was torn. She is a con 
sistent member of the Presbyterian Church, 
which Mr. Cook also attends, and he liber 
ally contributes to its various charities and 
missions. Mr. Cook has never taken any 
active interest in public affairs, but votes 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



639 



with the Conservative party. Fraternally 
he is connected with the Masons, the \\ . O. 
W. and the I. O. L. 

JOHN FAWCETT, now living retired 
after forty-five years of farm life in the 
township of Bosanquet, where by his hard 
work and good judgment he succeeded in ac 
cumulating a large tract of land, is spend 
ing the evening of his life in the enjoyment 
of the fruits of his labor. His retirement 
from active life is an enforced one, on ac 
count of lameness, the result of an accident 
to his limbs. Mr. Fawcett was born in the 
township of Scarborough, in the East Rid 
ing of York, Ont., March 16, 1835. 

\Yilliam Fawcett, the father of John, 
was a native of Cumberland, England, where 
he learned the trade of stone mason and 
worked in the lead and coal mines. In his 
native country he married Jane Armstrong, 
and two children were born to them there. 
In the latter part of the twenties William 
and Jane Fawcett with their two children 
crossed the Atlantic for their future home, 
and arriving in Canada, located in what is 
now the township of Scarborough, where 
Mr. Fawcett purchased 200 acres of land, 
half of which he gave to his brother Isaac. 
Here he settled down to pioneer life, but not 
being accustomed to farm labor, the struggle 
was an up-hill one. He built a log house 
for his little family, and when his sons grew 
old enough they cleared the farm, while the 
father worked at his trade of mason, and 
helped to build roads through the forest. 
He succeeded in this line and built a fine 
frame dwelling house, 30x40, and made 
many improvements on the farm. When his 
sons were ready to settle down themselves, 
Mr. Fawcett bought them land and gave 
them a start in life. When he retired from 
active work he built a home on the farm, 
in which he and his faithful wife spent the 
remainder of their days, and there he died 
aged seventy-two years. His wife passed 
away at about the same age, and they were 
both interred in the Scarborough cemetery. 
They were faithful members of the Method 
ist Church. Politically he was a Conserva 



tive. The children born to this estimable 
couple were : William, born in England, 
who is now, at the age of seventy-eight 
years, living retired in Toronto ; Mary, de 
ceased, born in England, who married 
Thomas White, also deceased, and lived in 
Pickering, Ontario County ; Jane, born in 
York County, who is the widow of Jere 
miah Annus, of Scarborough ; Isaac, who 
resides at Hollands Landing, York County; 
John; Edward, a resident of British Colum 
bia ; Elizabeth, unmarried ; and Ellen, who 
married John Taylor, and resides in Pick 
ering. 

John Fawcett attended the subscription 
schools of Scarborough township, and later, 
on their establishment, the free schools. 
From early boyhood he worked on the home 
farm, where he remained until the early six 
ties, when with his wife and two children, he 
came West to Lambton County, settling on a 
tract of 100 acres on the I4th Line of Bo 
sanquet township, which property had been 
purchased for him by his father. Here he 
settled down to farming and has made his 
home ever since. The little log house, 
roughly plastered on the inside with mud, 
gave no promise of becoming the beautiful 
dwelling now owned by Mr. Fawcett; 
neither did the heavily wooded brush land 
much resemble the fertile, productive farm 
which he now owns. There were but few 
settlers in the region, the few who lived in 
the locality dwelling along the lake shore. 
The life of the farmer in the early days was 
anything but easy, but John Fawcett was 
not one to give up, and through tireless en 
ergy succeeded in not only clearing his orig 
inal tract, but in also putting under cultiva 
tion 250 acres more which he had been able 
to add to the first 100. When his sons grew 
to manhood Mr. Fawcett gave over some of 
his farm duties, but never retired entirely 
from active work until the accident occurred 
which deprived him of the use of his lower 
limbs. Mr. Fawcett had built a fine dwell 
ing house, and some good substantial farm 
buildings, and while roofing the latter fell, 
breaking his right leg. In 1902 he met with 
another accident, when in falling he hurt his 



640 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



left leg, and the two together have incapaci 
tated him for active work. In consequence 
of his misfortune he has had to leave the 
operating of his farm to his son, Thomas 
George. Mr. Favvcett and his wife are mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, which they 
attend at Forest. Politically he is a Liberal, 
and has always supported that ticket. 

On Sept. i, 1859, Mr. Fawcett was uni 
ted in marriage with Elizabeth Jackson, in 
Scarborough township, York County. Mrs. 
Fawcett was born in Scarborough town 
ship, the daughter of Robert and Ann (Wil 
son) Jackson, natives of Yorkshire, Eng 
land, and early settlers of York County, 
where they died. Mrs. Fawcett, although in 
her seventieth year, is still in full possession 
of all her faculties, is very active, and is a 
good Christian woman, devoted to her hus 
band and family. 

To Mr. and Mrs. John Fawcett these 
children have been born : Robert William, 
an architect, who married Jane Little, and 
resides in Sarnia; Edward, a farmer of Bo- 
sanquet township; Mary Jane, who married 
Edward Collins, and resides in Chicago, Illi 
nois; John Henry, a farmer of Bosanquet 
township, who married Fanny Acton ; Al 
bert James, also a farmer of Bosanquet town 
ship, who married Annie Brush ; Thomas 
George, who operates the old homestead in 
Bosanquet township; Elizabeth Ann, who 
married John Dew, and resides in Bosanquet 
township; Jackson Erie, principal of a pub 
lic school of Toronto, who married Annie 
Joy, and Frederick Charles, who died in in 
fancy. 

All of the members of John Fawcett s 
family are consistent members of the Meth 
odist Church, and the family are well known 
and highly esteemed in Bosanquet township. 



tano in 1820, locating in the County of Lan 
ark, where he engaged in farming (luring his 
active business life. His death occurred 
Feb. 14, 1857, in Sarnia, at the home of his 
son, James Flintoft, Sr., then sheriff of 
Lambton County. His children were: ]ohn, 
Job, Sally, Hannah, - - and James. 



JAMES FLINTOFT, the present sher 
iff of Lambton. County, and the second in 
cumbent of that office since the establish 
ment of the county, is descended from an 
cestors who were born in Yorkshire, Eng 
land. 

Christopher Flintoft, his grandfather, a 
native of Yorkshire, England, came to On- 



James Flintoft, Sr., the father of James, 
was born in England in 1806, and died in 
Sarnia July i, 1878. In 1820, he came to 
Perth, locating in the County of Lanark 
with his parents. On reaching his majority, 
he engaged in lumbering in that county for 
a number of years, and about 1844 came to 
Sarnia. In 1845 he erected a mill on the 
present site of King s mill, and operated it 
for a time, disposing of it to Mr. Malcolm 
Cameron, for whom he managed it. In ad 
dition he carried on an extensive lumbering 
business, but withdrew from all other inter 
ests upon his appointment as sheriff of the 
new County of Lambton, in 1853. Upon 
assuming the duties of this office he devoted 
his entire time to their discharge, and con 
tinued in this capacity until within a few 
years of his death, when he was succeeded 
by his son, James Flintoft, Jr. 

James Flintoft, Sr., married Rebecca 
Wier, a native of Ireland, who came to On 
tario with her parents in 1813, and died in 
Sarnia in 1884. Two children were born of 
this marriage, James and a child that died 
in infancy. 

James Flintoft, Jr., was born at Perth, 
Lanark County, Jan. 7. 1842, and was only 
a boy when his father removed to Sarnia. 
Here he received his literary education, later 
reading law with the late Timothy Pardee. 
About the time he completed his legal studies 
his father s failing health made his help 
necessary, and in 1869 he was made deputy 
sheriff, on July 6. 1872, being appointed 
sheriff to succeed his father. He has held 
the office ever since, his calm, steady adher 
ence to duty, his discrimination and courage, 
making him almost invaluable. 

On June 22, 1870, James Flintoft and 
Miss Cassie F. Goodson were united in mar 
riage, and four children have been born to 
them : James Herbert ; George Aubrey, in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



641 



his father s office ; Frances Maude ; and Ed 
ward Percy, a member of the class of 1903 
at Osgoode Hall, Toronto. Mrs. Flintoft is 
a daughter of the Rev. George Goodson, and 
she is a member of the Methodist Church, 
which the sheriff attends, and to which he 
contributes liberally. Fraternally Sheriff 
Flintoft is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
the K. O. T. M. Few men are more highly 
esteemed in Lambton County than he is. not 
only as a public official, but also as a private 
citizen, and the regard in which he is held 
is richly deserved. 

DAVID AND JOHN WILSOX, two 
well known young men and successful farm 
ers of Plympton township. County Lamb- 
ton, are sons of Thomas Wilson, who, now 
retired, resides on the homestead farm. 

THOMAS WILSON was .born in 1831, in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, son of John Wil 
son, of the same county. The family orig 
inally was Scotch, but for generations lived 
in Ireland. John Wilson died in Ireland, but 
his widow came to Canada and made her 
home with her son Thomas, where she died 
at the age of ninety-one years, and was laid 
to rest in the Lake View cemetery at Sarnia. 
She was the mother of the following chil 
dren : John, of Sarnia township, a retired 
railroad man ; Thomas ; Robert, of Sarnia 
township; James, who died in Ireland; 
Sarah Jane, who died young; and William. 

Thomas Wilson grew to manhood in his 
native land where he followed the occupation 
of farming, and prior to his marriage, he 
spent one year engaged in mining in Scot 
land. After his marriage to Elizabeth Cam- 
muck, in Ireland, he sailed with her for 
America, and landed at the port of Xew 
York. Later he went to Philadelphia, and 
there worked with the horses in a riding 
school for two years, and then concluded to 
join his two brothers in Ontario, Canada. 
With his wife and child, he reached Canada, 
locating first on the London road, Plympton 
township, Lambton County, where he 
worked at weaving and for farmers until he 
secured a small tract in Sarnia township. 
After a few years he removed to the London 

41 



road, Plympton township, where he bought 
a fifty-acre tract of land which was part of 
his brother William s farm, and here he set 
tled down to make a permanent home and 
has resided ever since. After -the death of 
William he purchased the remaining fifty 
acres, which was the balance of the 100 acres 
first purchased by William. His wife died 
June fi, 1889, on this farm, and was buried 
in Lake View cemetery. She was a worthy 
member of the Church of England. Mr. 
\\ ilsun is a stanch Conservative. In Ireland 
he joined the Orange Association. The four 
children of Thomas Wilson and wife were: 
John, born at Philadelphia; David; Mary 
Ann, wife of Charles Robertson; and Rob 
ert, of London, Ontario. 

John Wilson, son of Thomas Wilson, 
was brought to Plympton township with his 
parents in boyhood. With his brother 
David he is operating some 200 acres of land. 
Both he and his brother are young men of 
energy and have progressive ideas which 
they are putting to the test, and are meeting 
with encouraging success. John Wilson is 
unmarried. He is a member of the C. O. F. 

David Wilson, son of Thomas Wilson, 
is associated with his brother John in exten 
sive farming and stockraising. Both were 
educated in the public schools of this town- 
sin ]), and both men are held in general es 
teem. Mr. Wilson, like his brother, is un 
married. He attends the Methodist Church, 
which is on part of his farm. Fraternally 
he is connected with the K. O. T. M. 

The late William Wilson, youngest 
brother of Thomas Wilson and husband of 
Mrs. Annie Wilson, was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, and accompanied his 
mother to Canada, locating in Plympton 
township. He bought fifty acres o f land, 
and later another fifty, and settled down to 
farming and stock-raising, and was so en 
gaged until his death, July 27. 1887. when 
he was buried in the Oban cemetery, located 
on David Wilson s farm. He was a man of 
sterling character, one whose word was as 
good as his bond. In politics he was a Con 
servative. 

\\ illiam Wilson married (first) Jessie 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mann, who died on the farm without issue. 
He married (second) Annie Morrison, 
daughter of the late John Morrison. Mrs. 
Wilson is a lady of culture, education and 
amiable qualities. The whole family is well 
known and much respected in Plympton 
township. 

AIRS. MARGARET McLEAN. wife 
of the late Hector McLean, and daughter of 
Duncan and Isabella (Turner) Gordon, \vas 
bom in County Elgin, in September, 1844, 
was educated in the county schools, and in 
December, 1864. was married to Mr. Hector 
McLean. 

The Gordon family were pioneers in El 
gin County, coming from Scotland, where 
both Duncan Gordon and his wife were born, 
and where they married. They came to Can 
ada in an early day and settled on a farm in 
Elgin County, where they cleared up their 
land and made a home for the rest of their 
lives. Mr. Gordon passed away there in 
1894, while his wife survived until July, 
1903. Religiously they were Presbyterians, 
and in politics Mr. Gordon was a Reformer. 
A family of seven children were born to this 
couple, three of whom are still living, (i) 
John, born in Scotland, married Miss Jean- 
ette McCullom, of Elgin County, and settled 
at Delaware, Out., where he died in 1886, 
leaving three children. Margaret, Duncan 
and Christina. (2) Margaret became Mrs. 
McLean. (3) Angus, born in Elgin County, 
married Miss Nancy McGrugden, has two 
sons, Neil and Duncan, and lives in Plymp 
ton. (4) Duncan died at the old home, un 
married. (5) Jessie, married Air. Neal An 
derson of Elgin County, both of whom are 
now deceased, leaving no family. (6) Chris 
tina died unmarried. (7) Mary is the wife of 
(ieorge McLachlin, a resident of Fingal, El 
gin County ; they have no children. 

Hector McLean was born in Caradnc. 
Out., in 1839, son of Charles and Ann Mc 
Lean, who came thither from Scotland. 
After their marriage, Mr. McLean and his 
wife settled on wild land in Enniskillen, 
Concession 8, Lot 8, and began their house 
keeping in a little log house. Here they 



lived and labored together for fourteen too 
brief years, and then, in 1898. Mr. McLean 
was stricken down, leaving his wife to make 
her own way in the world for herself and 
her children. Mr. McLean was a Baptist in 
his religious faith, and a Reformer in his po 
litical views. The children were as follows: 
( i ) Charles, unmarried, is manager of his 
mother s farm. (2) Duncan, who married 
Miss Mary Johnson, of Enniskillen, resides 
on his farm there on Concession 6, and has 
three children, Duncan G., Robert H.. and 
Isabella. (3) Isabella and (4) Annie were 
twins, who died in young womanhood, in 
1899 an d 1902, respectively. (5) John died 
when a young man. in March, 1901. (6) 
Maggie is unmarried and lives with her 
grandmother Gordon in Elgin County. The 
sons in this family are Reformers in their 
political affiliation. 

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. 
McLean has carried on the homestead her 
self, assisted by her son Charles as he grew 
old enough. They have prospered, have 
added many improvements, put up good 
farm buildings and erected a large modern 
brick house. Mrs. McLean is a woman of 
unusual ability as a manager and financier, 
and the way in which she has carried on her 
place has been accorded the highest admira 
tion by her neighbors, themselves farmers 
who know what difficulties she had to meet. 
Mrs. McLean has from childhood been a de 
vout Presbyterian, and has exemplified in 
her life the doctrines she professed, for her 
Christian spirit has made her a source of 
comfort and help to all who were in trouble, 
and her hospitality has been unfailing. Her 
children are repaying her years of care and 
toil for them by a devotion that is as deep as 
it is well-deserved. 

JOHN PALMER JARMAINE. one of 
the well known agriculturists of the 6th 
Concession of Plympton, where he lias been 
located for the past thirty-six years, engaged 
in general farming and stock dealing, was 
born in the township of Westminster, Mid 
dlesex County, Oct. 14, 1842. 

The Jarmaine family is of German ex- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



643 



traction, but generations ago a branch was 
established in England, and there Henry 
Jarmaine, father of our subject, was born, in 
County Suffolk. His parents were people 
of importance and wealth. Henry was given 
excellent educational advantages and after 
leaving boarding school, his father sent him 
to Canada to learn practical farming. At 
that time he was about seventeen years of 
age. When he came to Middlesex County, 
he placed himself under Benjamin Cook, 
who was one of the farmers on his father s 
estate in England at one time. Mr. Cook 
owned 100 acres of timber land in West 
minster township 15 acres of which had been 
cleared, and here the young man was set to 
work chopping down timber and clearing the 
land for cultivation. We have no record 
of his showing any dislike for this rough, 
outdoor life, so different from what he had 
experienced in England, and he most prob 
ably recognized its healthful character, for, 
when he had reached his majority, he pur 
chased land for himself. This consisted of 
100 acres of bush land in the same county, 
on which he built a log house and settled 
down to farming. This land he cleared, cul 
tivated, improved and occupied for a number 
of years, and then removed to Caradoc town 
ship, where he bought another tract of 100 
acres and again settled down to farming and 
continued to cultivate, improve and operate 
this farm until 1892, when he retired, re 
moving to a comfortable home in London, 
Out., where both he and wife, aged eighty- 
four years, are enjoying the comforts of 
healthful old age, surrounded by all things 
they can desire. Both Mr. Jarmaine and 
wife are consistent members of the Church 
of England. In political sympathy he is a 
strong Conservative. 

In Westminster township, Mr. Jarmaine 
married Mary Cook, born in Suffolk, Eng 
land, a sister of Benjamin Cook, and a most 
estimable lady, beloved by her family and a 
large circle of friends. Their children were : 
John Palmer ; Ellinor. who married Sidney 
Treanor, and resides in California; Edward 
and Robert, deceased ; Henry, who operates 
the homestead farm in Caradoc township; 



and Benjamin, residing in London, Ontario. 
John Palmer Jarmaine attended the pub 
lic schools of his native township and 
worked at home with his father until he re 
moved to Caradoc township. He continued 
to farm in Westminster township until 1868, 
when he came to Lambton County, and lo 
cated on Lot 1 6, 6th Concession, of Plymp 
ton, on the Francis Fair farm, which con 
sists of 100 acres, a part of which had been 
cleared. This farm Mr. Jarmaine has been 
operating ever since. He made some im 
provements immediately, and lias continued 
making improvements until now he has a fine 
home, commodious barns and all the sur 
roundings which make a comfortable and 
pleasant rural home. 

Fraternally Mr. Jarmaine is connected 
with the K. 6. T. M. of Wyoming. Relig 
iously he belongs to the Church of England. 
Politically he is a strong Conservative, but 
he has never been prevailed upon to accept 
political office. 

Mr. Jarmaine was married (first) in 
Westminster township, County of Middle 
sex, to Emily R. Wright, born in England, 
daughter of John Denver Wright and widow 
of Dr. Cutler. Two children were born to 
this union, namely: (i) Mabel, who married 
G. Thomas Core, of Plympton township, 
died in Enniskillen township, and was bur 
ied at Errol: she left two children, Emily 
and Percy. (2) Marion married Albert 
Brent, of the London road, Plympton town 
ship, and they have one son, Stanley. Mrs. 
Jarmaine had one child born to her first 
marriage, Evelyn Cutler, deceased. Mrs. 
Jarmaine died on the farm in October, 1899, 
and was buried at Errol, in the cemetery con 
nected with the Church of England." She 
was a lady of many virtues. 

On Dec. 16, iqoi, Mr. Jarmaine was 
married at Brussels. Out, to Laura L. 
( Keating) Wetherill, widow of Robert 
WetheriU, and daughter of James Keating. 
She was born at Fergus, Wellington County, 
Ont. The Keating family of which Mrs. 
Jarmaine is a descendant is of Irish and 
English extraction. 

Capt. James Keating, grandfather of 



644 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mrs. Jarmaine, was born in Ireland in 1/85, 
was in the British service in the war of 
1812, as a commissioned officer, and was re 
tained by the Government and sent to Sim- 
coe, Ont., where he served as pension agent 
until his death in 1849. He invested in real 
estate there, and had a fine home at the time 
of his death. He married Jane Brown, born 
in 1800, at Rochester, New York, daughter 
of James Brown, of Holland extraction, 
who took part in the American Revolution. 
Their children were : Thomas, who located 
at Chatham, Kent County, Ont., became a 
leading citizen, served as town clerk and 
county recorder for many years, cared for 
his aged mother, and died in 1876; James; 
Charlotte ; Mary, wife of William Thomp 
son, of Simcoe County; and John, a well 
known resident of Oil Springs. 

James Keating, father of Mrs. Jarmaine, 
was born in 1834, in Simcoe County, where 
he grew to manhood. He attended the Barry 
grammar school, and was educated as a civil 
engineer. He was employed as a surveyor 
in the construction, of the Great Western & 
Grand Trunk Railroad, but was compelled 
to retire from surveying on account of rheu 
matism. In 1 86 1 he located at Oil Springs, 
and was one of the founders of the place, 
taking an active part in its business matters 
and public affairs. For a number of years 
he was one of the leading merchants of that 
locality, was made reeve of the village and 
for a long time was the postmaster. He was 
a man of great enterprise and of strict in 
tegrity. The place was much indebted to his 
public spirit for its growth and development. 

James Keating married Harriet C. 
Mitchell, in November. 1862. and these chil 
dren were born to them : Henry T., who is a 
medical practitioner at Montreal ; Bertrand, 
also a physician, a specialist on the eye and 
ear, located at Denver, Colorado ; Jane, who 
married Richard Grant ; Minnie S. C., who 
died young ; Clara H., who married Rev. 
George Abey, a clergyman of the Church of 
England, of Ontario; Mary, who died 
young; Xora E., who married Dr. A. G. 
Hodgins, and lives in Honolulu ; Charlotte, 



who married Dr. F. G. Wallridge; and 
Laura L. 

Mrs. Jarmaine was (first) married to 
Rnbert Weatherill, who was a merchant at 
Oil City for a number of years and then en 
gaged in a brokerage business and still later 
in fruit growing and farming. He died on 
his farm on the 2d Line of Plympton, from 
the effects of blood poisoning. He was sur 
vived by a widow and three children : Helen 
E. \V.. R. James and B. Peter. Mrs. Jar 
maine is a most estimable lady, beloved and 
admired for her many womanly attractions. 

DAVID WHITTAKER, now living re 
tired at Point Edward, County of Lambton, 
was for many years a railroad engineer. He 
was born Oct. 21, 1835, in England, son of 
George and Sarah (Crothers) Whittaker,. 
both of whom were born in 1800. 

On reaching his majority, George Whit- 
taker learned the weaver s trade and fol 
lowed that business through life. Both he 
and wife were consistent members of the 
Methodist Church, and in that faith died, 
he in 1878, and she in 1842. They reared 
these children : John and Kay (now de 
ceased) were weavers in England; William 
was a cabinetmaker of Halifax, N. S., and 
died in 1903; and David. 

In 1861 David Whittaker came to Kent 
County, Ont., and resided for a time at To 
ronto, engaged in work for the Grand Trunk 
Railroad, being a fireman for one year there, 
and then filled the same position for the same 
length of time with the Michigan Central. 
From there he went to the New York Cen 
tral, and after six months of firing he was 
promoted to the position of engineer between 
Syracuse rind L tica, New York. In this po 
sition he remained for three years, and was 
then offered a position with the Missouri & 
Pacific with headquarters at St. Louis, Mis 
souri. The climate did not agree with him, 
and he returned to Toronto, engaging as en 
gineer for the Grand Trunk Railroad, with 
which corporation he continued until 1899. 
Since 1872 Mr. Whittaker has invested his 
earnings, and when he became weary of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



645 



active life on the road, he was able to retire 
with a competency, and select his place of 
residence. He secured a pleasant home in 
Point Edward, and now is in the enjoyment 
of ease earned by hard work in the past. 

Mr. Whittaker has been twice married. 
In 1855 he was united with Mary Gunning , 
born in Ireland, in 1835, daughter of John 
Gunning. She died Sept. 29, 1889, in Point 
Edward, a consistent member of the Church 
of England. She left motherless these chil 
dren : Sarah, who married Robert Weefer, 
and has children. Gertrude. Alfred, Ar 
nold. Ernest and \Yillinni: William, of Sar- 
nia, who married Emma Yehlin, and has 
one daughter, Irene ; George, a mechanic at 
Port Huron, who married Anna Churney : 
Pierce, a machinist in Chicago, who married 
Annie Minor, and has children, Gertrude, 
Ruby. Effie, Anna, and Genevieve ; Maria, 
who married Edward Everets, has children. 
Emma, Gertrude, and Arthur. Mr. Whit- 
taker married (second) Mary Clayton. Both 
he and wife belong to the Methodist Church. 
Politically he is a Conservative, and as such 
has served in the town council several years. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic bod 
ies; the I. O. O. F.. in which he is Xoble 
Grand: and the Brotherhood of Engineers. 
Mr. Whittaker enjoys the esteem of many 
friends, and is a well-known and useful citi 
zen of Point Edward. 

EDWARD HALES. The soil of Ennis- 
killen township is peculiarly adapted for use 
in the manufacture of brick and tile, and 
among those successfully engaged in this 
branch of industrial life may be mentioned 
Edward Hales, who is conveniently located 
on Concession 2. Lot 24. Mr. Hales was 
born in Cobourg. Northumberland County. 
Nov. 30. 1842, the son of William and 
Esther (Keeler) Hales. 

William Hales was born in 1813 in Staf 
fordshire, England, where he spent his early 
youth. When still a young man he came to 
Canada, and settled in Cobourg. Northum 
berland County, where he followed the trade 
of stone-cutter and brick making, being con 
tractor for the Grand Trunk and Govern 



ment Railroad, making the first tile by hand 
that was made in Canada. In 1849 ne came 
to Port Hope. Durham County, where he 
followed his trade until his death, which oc 
curred in 1868. His first wife was Esther 
Keeler, born in Staffordshire. England, in 
i Si 8. who died in 1856. leaving eight chil 
dren ; Harriet, born at Cobourg, who married 
William Alliff. of Sandwich, Kent County; 
Henry, born in 1840 at Cobourg, who is a 
brick maker of Minneapolis; Edward, our 
subject; Amos, born in 1865 at Cobourg, 
who owns a brick yard at Minneapolis ; Fan 
nie, born in 1867 at Cobourg. who married 
George Welbourne, a decorator and painter 
of Detroit, Michigan; Hiram, born in 1869. 
a brick and tile manufacturer and dealer of 
Brigden. Lambton County: Charles, who 
married a Miss Finn, and has a brick and 
tile yard and general store in Kent County ; 
and James, born in 1870. who lives at Mill- 
brook and works for a Northumberland 
County railroad company. 

Edward Hales received his education in 
the schools of Port Hope, where he was 
reared to manhood, learning while young the 
trade of brickmaking. In 1864 he embarked 
in business for himself, starting his first 
brick works in Cavan. Northumberland 
County, where he remained five years, after 
which he removed to Brighton, where he 
continued brickmaking for four years. After 
a few years in business in Mill Brook he re 
moved in 1875 to Alvinston, in Brooke 
township, where he manufactured brick and 
tile until 1895, when he sold out and re 
moved to Rochester, Michigan. Here for 
two years he shipped sand and brick material 
to Detroit, after which, in 1897 e came to 
his present place of business, again engaging 
in the manufacture of brick and tile, in which 
business he has since had success. 

In November. 1869. Mr. Hales was 
married to Miss Mary J. Delyell. born in 
Cornwall, Out.. Feb. 22. 1839, daughter of 
John Delyell. a native of Ireland, and one 
ot Cornwall s pioneer citizens. Mrs. Hales 
received her education in Northumberland 
t < innty where she was reared to woman 
hood. To Edward Hales and his wife three 



6 4 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



children have been born : Frederick, who 
died in Alvinston at the age of ten years; 
William E., born at Brighton, Northumber 
land Count} , in 1872, who is a railroad man 
in the office of the Lake Shore Railroad at 
Detroit, who married Miss Floe Alliss, and 
has one son, Cecil ; and Samuel D., born 
in 1880 at Alvinston. a painter and decora 
tor, who makes his home with his parents. 

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Hales are con 
nected with the Presbyterian Church, in 
which they are active workers. In politics 
Mr. Hales has been prominently identified 
with the Reform party and has held the office 
of councillor for two years, while he was a 
resident of Alvinston, and was a school trus 
tee there when the high school building was 
erected. In fraternal circles, Mr. Hales is 
very popular, belonging to the Masonic 
Order at Maple Grove, and the Odd Fellows, 
Grand Lodge of Kingston. 

Mr. Hales stands among the self-made 
men of Enniskillen township. His success 
in the industrial world has been brought 
about by his own enterprise and ability and 
the honorable position which he now holds 
in the estimation of his fellow-citizens has 
been won by his sterling traits of character. 

MRS. CATHERINE McVlCAR. 
Among the highly esteemed residents of 
Brooke township, Lambton County, is Mrs. 
Catherine McVicar. widow of Ncvin 
Me Vicar, whose death occurred in 1880. For 
the past forty-five years Mrs. McVicar has 
been a resident of this locality, during which 
time she has greatly endeared herself to a 
large circle of friends. A widow for a quar 
ter of a century, she first managed her large 
property alone but later was assisted by her 
son. The farm is situated on Concession 9, 
Lot 1 8, and is one of the most highly culti 
vated in this section. Mrs. McVicar was 
born June 4, 1838, in Mosa, Middlesex 
County, daughter of Robert and Betsey 
(McLachlin) McAlpine. both of whom were 
born in Argyllshire, Scotland, the former in 
1800, and his wife in the year of 1802. 

The parents of Mrs. McVicar came 
from Scotland to Canada, in 1832, when 



they were young people, and Mrs. McAlpine 
was the daughter of Hugh McLachlin, who 
located in Canada and settled in Mosa, 
County of Middlesex, about the same time 
the McVicars settled there. Robert McAlpine 
brought his mother, two brothers and a sis 
ter to Canada, and settled in the County of 
Middlesex. John McAlpine, Robert s father, 
died in Scotland, while his wife and children 
all died in the County of Middlesex, Ont. 
Robert McAlpine was a very prominent man 
in Mosa, being one of the leading elders of 
the Presbyterian Church and a founder of 
that church in Mosa. His death occurred in 
1887. The following children were born to 
Robert McAlpine and wife: Daniel, born in 
1840, married Miss Sarah Walker, deceased, 
of Metcalfe, and he now resides in Brooke 
township, with his family; Hugh, born in 
1842, married Flora Leach, and follows 
farming in Mosa, where he has a family ; 
Xeil, born in 1846, married Miss Misie 
Leach, and settled in Brooke township, 
where he died in 1880; Archie, born in 1852, 
married Annie Walker, and settled on the 
farm adjoining that of his father, and here 
he died in August, 1882, leaving one daugh 
ter, Betsy J., who resides with her mother at 
the old homestead; Janet, born in 1836, died 
at the old home in. Mosa ; Catherine became 
Mrs. McVicar; Mary married Alexander 
McAlpine, of Metcalfe, County of Middle 
sex, and has a family of four daughters ; 
Sarah married Duncan Campbell, a cattle 
and stock buyer of Mosa, and has a family 
of six children; Betsey resides in Alvinston; 
Flora, born in Mosa, married Hugh Leach, 
of Alvinston and has two children ; and Jcn- 
nett, the youngest, born in Mosa, died at the 
age of twenty-two years. 

Catherine McAlpine was reared in Mosa, 
Middlesex Count} , where she received but a 
limited education. She married Nevin Mc 
Vicar, born in 1836 in. Scotland, son of 
Archie and Margaret (Karr) McVicar, pio 
neers of the County of Middlesex. The 
same year of their marriage, 1859, Mr. and 
Airs. McVicar removed to the home in 
which Mrs. McVicar no\v lives, and settled 
in a little log cabin in the woods, where they 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



647 



started life together. Here Mr. McVicar 
died in 1880. leaving his widow with 
nine children : Maggie, born in November, 
1859, died when a young lady; Janet, born 
in 1861, married Neil McLain, deceased, of 
Alvinston, and has two daughters, Christie 
M. and Jessie N. ; Archie, born in Novem 
ber, 1862, now residing on Concession 8, 
married Miss Mary A. Gumming, of Brooke 
township, and has three children, Jessie, 
Maggie and Nevin ; Betsey, born in October, 
1864, married John McPhail, a farmer of 
Brooke township, and they have four chil 
dren, Maggie, Nevin, Catherine and Dougal 
J. ; Robert, born in June, 1866, now farming 
in Brooke township, married Miss Agnes 
Dolby, and has two children. Pearl and 
Nellie; John, born in May, 1869, a farmer in 
Brooke township, married Miss Sadie 
Campbell; Sarah J., born in May, 1871, 
married Edward Reeder, a farmer in Brooke 
township; Daniel, born in January, 1874, 
is a sailor on the Lakes; Nevin, born in May, 
1876, grew up at the home where he re 
ceived a fair education, and manages the 
home farm; and Neil, born in 1878, is 
single and remains at the old home. 

Religiously Mrs. McYicar and her fam 
ily are consistent members of the Presbyte 
rian Church, where Mr. McVicar was one 
of the trustees and committeeman during 
most of his life. Politically Mr. McVicar 
was an independent voter and took an active 
interest in municipal affairs. Mrs. McVicar 
is well-known in her locality, and is very, 
highly regarded. She is one of the surviv 
ing members of that pioneer band which the 
present generation regards with the greatest 
measure of respect and esteem. 

MARTIN J. WOODWARD, a petro 
leum expert and oil operator of many years 
standing at Petrolia, is a native of New York 
State, where his father and grandfather were 
born. The latter, Jesse Woodward, found 
ed the family in Ontario, coming here prior 
to the troubles of 1837. Pie settled in Ox 
ford County, and continued school teaching, 
a vocation he had followed in his native 
State. His wife was also a native of New 



York, and she died in Oxford County. Their 
children were : Dewitt Clinton, father of 
our subject; Emery; Milo; William; So- 
phronia ; Almeda ; and Rosanna. 

Dewitt Clinton Woodward was born in 
i Si 6, in the Empire State, and accompanied 
his parents to Ontario, where he was reared 
and educated. He married Ann Martha 
Quatermass, born in New York, in which 
State they resided for some time after. After, 
coming to Oxford County, Mr. Woodward 
like his father, engaged in teaching, but later 
went into the mercantile business near In- 
gersoll, Oxford County, and at Mt. Elgin, 
where he continued until his death, in 1854. 
While deer hunting, in his younger days, he 
had the misfortune to lose his right arm 
from the accidental discharge of his brother s 
gun. In his political views he was a Re 
former. In religious observance he was a 
Baptist, while his wife was a Presbyterian. 
The children born to this worthy couple 
were the following : Martin J. ; Minerva, 
Mrs. Elgin Clark; Annie, Mrs. John Cronk; 
and George, who died young. 

Martin J. Woodward was born in 1845, 
in New York, and was a child of tender 
years when brought by his parents to On 
tario. He grew to manhood in Oxford 
County and obtained his education in the 
grammar school at Ingersoll and the mili 
tary academy at London. Thus equipped in 
military tactics, Mr. Woodward was made 
captain of Company i, St. Clair Borderers, 
which position he held for some time. He 
acquired his first experience in the oil busi 
ness in Pennsylvania, from which State he 
came in 1866 to Bothwell, Kent County, 
and was there engaged for a short time in 
the lumber business. In 1867 he settled at 
Petrolia where he began both producing and 
refining oil. He was interested in the con 
struction of four refineries in which he also 
had a financial interest. In 1897 he went to the 
East Indies as manager for the Shell Trans 
portation Co., and as -superintendent of one 
of the largest oil refineries in the world. 
Here he remained for four years, but finally 
resigned on account of the extreme heat of 
that climate. After coming back to Petrolia 



6 4 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



he resumed his work as an oil expert, and 
is superintendent of construction of refiner 
ies as well as a petroleum expert. 

During a period of forty years Mr. 
Woodward has been connected with the oil 
business. On his return from the East In 
dies he made a business trip into Russia to 
examine oil territory in the dominions of 
the Czar. His thorough knowledge of the 
oil business includes complete comprehen 
sion of other lines pertaining to it and one 
would have to go far to find a more enter 
taining or learned man than Mr. Woodward. 
In 1869 Mr. Woodward married Ma 
tilda Cornwell, and the four children of this 
union are : Dewitt Clinton, of Alberta ; Clara, 
wife of Purney Stokes; George, of Alberta; 
and Matilda, at home. Politically Mr. 
Woodward is independent. Fraternally he 
is a Master Mason. 

ALBERT EDWARD KETCH, editor 
and proprietor of the Alvinston Free Press, 
of Alvinston, Out., which was established in 
1885. is a well-known and useful citizen. 
He was born Dec. 26. 1870, at Manchester, 
England, a son of Edward and Sarah Ann 
(Twigg) Ketch. The father of Mr. Ketch 
died in Manchester in 1877, at the age of 
sixty-two years, but the mother survives and 
resides in England. He was a member of 
the English Church, to which his widow be 
longs. Their children were: George and 
Thomas, who followed their father s trade 
of toolmaker. at Birmingham ; Albert E., of 
Alvinston; Henry, a brass finisher, in Eng 
land; Amelia, wife of Thomas Allen; and 
Clara, wife of A. Leonard, of London. 
Ontario. 

Albert E. Ketch attended the public 
schools of his native place until 1885, when 
he crossed the ocean to Canada, locating at 
Toronto, where he entered the printing estab 
lishment of Warwick Brothers. He re 
mained for three years at Toronto, working 
in different offices, and then went to London. 
Out., and spent three years in a military 
school there, receiving a certificate: he then 
spent three months in a c-ivalrv school at 
Quebec, taking a first-class certificate. Upon 



his return to London he worker! in different 
offices until 1893. when he came to Alvin 
ston and was employed by Mr. E. L. Mott 
for one year in his present office. He then 
purchased the Oil Springs Chronicle, which 
he carried on at Oil Springs for six years, 
and upon selling out came to Alvinston and 
in August, 1899, purchased the Free Press. 

This journal was organized in 1885 by 
Raynes & Jacques, passing into the hands of 
Mr. Tye, of Watford. Mr. Nott, of Norwich, 
E. L. Mott, of Norwich, and Fred Cummer, 
of Strathroy, prior to the time Mr. Ketch 
assumed charge. In a very short period he 
had increased the circulation from 800 copies 
to 1025. He has a very ably edited paper, 
and there is every promise of it becoming the 
leading one of this section of the Province. 

Mr. Ketch was married Oct. 7, 1893, at 
Alvinston, to Helena P. Willsie, of Avon, 
Ont.. daughter of Henry Willsie, of Elgin 
County. They have three children: A. 
Harold W., Lyla M. and C. Hazel. The 
family belong to the M. E. Church. Politi 
cally Mr. Ketch is a Conservative. Frater 
nally he belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and to 
the I. O. O. F., at Alvinston. He is a mem 
ber of the school board of Alvinston. and is 
a resident who takes a deep interest in the 
welfare of his town. 

M RS. JAMES N. BROOKS, the owner 
of a farm in Lot 9, Concession 14, Ennis- 
killen township, has been a resident of Lamb- 
ton County since childhood, and both as 
daughter and wife has experienced to the 
full the hardships of pioneer life. She was 
born near Toronto, York County, May 15, 



The parents of Mrs. Brooks, John and 
Frances (Benton) Metcalf, were natives of 
Lincolnshire, England, where they grew up 
and married. In 1834 they embarked on a 
sailing vessel for Quebec, and after a voyage 
of three months reached their destination. 
Mt. Metcalf had been a gardener in England, 
and after coming to this country undertook 
general farming. He rented a farm in York 
County, where he remained until 1852. In 
that vear he went to Lambton Countv. and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



649 



bought 200 acres of wild land in Enniskillen, 
in Concession 14; he cleared part of the land, 
built a log house and made every prepara 
tion possible to secure the comfort of his 
family who had remained in York County. 
He returned there, but while they were still 
perfecting their arrangements for the re 
moval. Air. Metcalf was taken sick and died. 
His wife was left with eight children, whom 
she brought to Enniskillen the year follow 
ing her husband s death, and settled down 
in the home he had made ready there. A 
large portion of the land was cleared by her 
sons and she lived on the same until her 
death in April, 1884. She and her husband 
were both consistent members of the Church 
of England. 

(i) Edward Metcalf, the eldest son of 
this family, grew up on his mother s home 
stead, and remained there for some years 
after his marriage to Miss Eleanor Stead- 
man, of Enniskillen. Afterward he moved to 
the J2th Line, where he purchased a farm 
and lived there until seven years prior to his 
death, when he retired and moved to Pe- 
trolia. where he died in January, 1902. He 
left eight children, John, James, Edward, 
Charles, Thomas, Francis, Xellie and Rob 
ert. (2) Joseph, torn in York County, in 
1835. remained at home as manager for his 
mother until his death in December, 1865. 
He was unmarried. (3) Annie became the 
wife of lames Brooks. (4) Mary, 1839, is 
the wife of William McMann, a prominent 
farmer of Plympton township. They have 
two children: Cordelia. Mrs. McMann; and 
Orson J., of Plympton. (5) Ellen, 1840, 
married Charles Latour, of Sarnia, where 
she died, leaving no children. (6) Eliza 
beth, 1843. married William Montgomery 
of Lambton County. They now reside in 
Manitoba, and have ten children. James, 
John, Frances, Joseph, Charles, Charlotte, 
Sarah. Minnie, George and Fred. (7) Cor 
nelius, 1844. married Miss Jane Steadman, 
of Enniskillen. where they live on a farm. 
They have eight children, Joseph, Mary A.. 
Lizzie, Eli. Edward, Cornelius. Nathaniel 
and Lillie. (8) Rebecca, 1846, married 
Alexander Arnold, of Lambton County; 



they settled on her mother s homestead for 
some years, and then moved to Plympton 
t< iwnship, where both died. They were the 
parents of John, Ruby and Edward. 

Miss Annie Metcalf was educated in 
York County before the family moved to 
Lambton County. As a young lady she 
worked as a dressmaker in Sarnia seven 
years, and then. June 9, 1862, married James 
X. Brooks. Mr. Brooks was born in Plymp 
ton Dec. 17, 1837; his parents. James and 
Margaret Brooks, came from Glasgow, 
Scotland, to Lambton County, among the 
very first settlers, and located in Plympton 
township. Mr. Brooks, Sr., was a soldier 
in the "War of 1837-38. The son was given 
a fair education and brought up to farming. 
For a year and a half after his marriage to 
Miss Metcalf the young couple lived with 
his parents, and then Mr. Brooks bought the 
present homestead in Enniskillen. It was 
then wild land, and in the beginning he built 
a log house, and that still continues to be his 
wife s home. He cleared up the large farm, 
put up a good bank barn and was doing very 
well when his untimely death occurred in 
April. 1884. His widow was left in com 
fortable circumstances, and with five chil 
dren, the two eldest grown up. The family 
were all connected with the Presbyterian 
Church, to which the parents had belonged 
for many years. Politically Mr. Brooks was 
a Reformer, but was never an active poli 
tician. Early inured to the hardships of 
pioneer life, he had the qualities which en 
abled him to battle successfully with the 
world, and he was highly esteemed in the 
neighborhood, where he was regarded as a 
loyal citizen, and an honorable and upright 
man of generous and kindly nature. 

(i) Margaret E., eldest child of James 
and Annie Brooks, was born in May, 1863. 
She married Charles Yidean, lives on Con 
cession 10. in Enniskillen, and has a family 
of seven children, \YillianiJ., Clara. Maggie, 
Bessie, Ella, George I. and Gertrude. (2) 
James B., born in December. 1864, married 
Miss Jane Service, of Enniskillen. He is an 
employe of the Michigan Central Railroad 
Company, residing at St. Thomas, and has 



650 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



seven children, James F., Anna R., Gladys, 
Herbert, Clara M., Eleanor and William. 
( 3 ) John, horn in June, 1867, engaged in 
1896 with an English company to prospect 
for oil in Java, and the East Indies, where 
he remained four years and a half. Return 
ing to Canada he remained there until 1903, 
when he was sent by the Royal Dutch Com 
pany, of England, to look after their oil in 
terests in Borneo. He has been very suc 
cessful there, and and has struck three flow 
ing wells. He has never married. (4) Jo 
seph, born in May, 1870, became the man 
ager of the farm on attaining manhood, and 
remained with his mother until 1902, when 
he began for himself as engineer for one of 
the oil companies in the Enniskillen district. 
In 1897 he married Miss Sarah Servers, of 
\Yyoming, daughter of David Servers. They 
have one son, James N., Jr., the fifth to bear 
the name, James Brooks. (5) Annie E., 
born in July, 1871, married Thomas Knapp. 
They reside in Marthaville, where he is en 
gaged in oil drilling, and have three daugh 
ters, Anna R., Lillian M., and Maggie E., 
triplets. Mrs. Knapp was finely educated 
as a musician, and for nine years was organ 
ist in the Presbyterian Church of Martha 
ville. The two brothers, Joseph and John 
Brooks, are members of the order of For 
esters. Lodge No. 268, of Marthaville. The 
mother of this family, who all reflect the 
greatest credit upon their parents, is now 
nearing her three-score years and ten, and 
has a long life of good works to look back 
upon. She is a woman of the truest Chris 
tian character, and her neighbors have only 
words of praise and endearment for. her. 

XEIL MUNROE, one of the represen 
tative men of Brooke township, who owns 
and operates a stock farm on Concession 9, 
Lot 2, is prominently identified with stock 
interests in this section. Mr. Munroe was 
born May 24, 1856, in Mosa, Middlesex 
County, son of John B. and Margaret 
(Leitch) Munroe. 

John B. Munroe was born on Lot I, Con 
cession 7, in Mosa, Middlesex County, May 
2, 1830, son of Neil B. and Jeannette (Fer 



guson) Munroe, who were born in the High 
lands of Scotland and came to Canada in 
1819. They settled for some years in Elgin 
County, after which they removed to Mid 
dlesex County, and settled in Mosa, where 
they made a permanent home. Neil B. Mun 
roe died in July. 1874, his wife having 
passed away in 1851. Their children were 
as follows: Sarah, wife of Hugh Dewar; 
Mary, who married Duncan Downey ; Jean 
nette, married to Andrew Atchison; Colin; 
George; John B. ; and Archie. All of the 
foregoing are deceased, with the exception 
of Archie, who is still living in Middlesex 
County. 

John B. Munroe was reared in Middlesex 
County, and there he married Miss Maggie 
Leitch, daughter of Neil and Jeannette 
(Munroe) Leitch, both born in the High 
lands of Scotland. 

Neil Leitch was the son of John Leitch, 
who came to Canada the same year i 
Munroe family did. His wife, who had been 
Miss Flora Johnson before marriage, died 
on the ocean making the journey. John 
Leitch died in 1843, leaving this family: 
Margaret, deceased; Mary, deceased; 
Nancy, deceased, who married William Cul- 
bert; Belle, deceased, who married Malcolm 
Down; Donald, deceased; Hugh, deceased; 
Alexander; and Neil, the father of Mrs. 
Munroe. Neil Leitch was one of the pioneer 
farmers of Middlesex County, and to him 
and his wife these children were born : Colin, 
deceased ; Archie, deceased ; Neil, deceased ; 
John, a resident of Mosa ; Alexander, resid 
ing on the old homestead in Mosa; Flora,, 
wife of Archie Leitch of Metcalfe; Jean 
nette, wife of Colin Monroe; Isabella, wife 
of Angus McLean, of Brooke township ; 
Mary, wife of Malcolm Leitch of Glencoe; 
Sarah, residing on the homestead ; and Mar 
garet, mother of our subject. 

Mrs. Munroe was born Dec. 17, 1830, in 
Mosa to\vnship, where she and her husband 
first settled after marriage. There they re 
sided until he purchased a home in Brooke 
township, in 1875. taking- up 200 acres of 
wild land, later, however, selling 100 acres, 
and erecting a log house in which he lived 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



6; i 



until his death Aug. 5, 1889. Mrs. Munroe 
is still living on the homestead with her son, 
Xeil. our subject. Mr. and Mrs. John B. 
Munroe were the parents of the following 
children : Miss Jeannette. resides on the 
farm; Mary lives at the homestead; Isabella, 
born in 1860. is a resident of Dawson City, 
Klondike, where she teaches music ; Sarah 
died in 1900; George died in July, 1900; 
Colin, born in Mosa, owns a farm adjoining 
the one belonging to our subject ; Duncan 
resides at home; Archie owns a farm in con 
nection with his brothers in Brooke town 
ship ; John is a resident of the Klondike ; and 
Xeil. 

Xeil Munroe received a district school 
education in Mosa, and when his father was 
taken with a serious attack of rheumatism, 
which confined him to his bed for thirteen 
years, and ultimately hastened his death, 
Xeil took charge of the home farm, and with 
his brothers cleared up the greater part. He 
now owns the old farm, while his brother 
owns the one adjoining. Mr. Munroe has 
spent his time raising valuable Shorthorn 
cattle and thoroughbred horses, and has 
some of the finest stock in this part of the 
county. 

Religiously the family are all connected 
with the Disciples Church. Politically Mr. 
Munroe is a Conservative, but has never as 
pired to office, although he has always taken 
a public spirited interest in the welfare of the 
town, and has generously supported every 
movement which his judgment has led him 
to regard as beneficial. He is universally 
esteemed throughout the township. 

JOHX SIMPSOX. a wealthy farmer 
and large land owner of Plympton township, 
is one of the self-made men of Lambton 
County, where he has won his prosperity by 
steady hard work. He is one of the oldest 
settlers in the township, which he has seen 
develop from the most unpromising material 
undrained swamp into a prosperous, 
well-settled farming country. 

The Simpson family came originally 
from Scotland, but several generations ago 
some of its members went over the border, 



and settled in Cumberland, England. The 
eldest son was always named either \Yill- 
iam or John, a tradition still kept up in the 
family. William Simpson, great-grandfa 
ther of John, was torn in Roxburghshire, 
Scotland, and there learned the art of weav 
ing. He moved into Cumberland, where he 
followed his trade. He was noted among 
his fellow townsmen for his exemplary Chris 
tian character and strict honesty, and always 
went by the name of "Honest William." He 
had four daughters and two sons, the inevit 
able John and William. John Simpson, 
grandfather of John, was a weaver by trade, 
but later gave it up and engaged in the gro 
cery business. 

John Simpson, father of John of this 
sketch, was born in Cumberland, and re 
ceived an unusually good education. He 
was especially skilled in penmanship, and 
specimens of his handwriting are yet pre 
served in the church records of Camlachie, 
Plympton township, and in other documents 
in the possession of his sons. He married, 
in his native place, Wilhelmina Armstrong, 
born in Northumberland, England, daughter 
of William, and sister of the late James Arm 
strong, of Plympton. Several children were 
born to them in England, and in 1852 they 
decided to come to Canada where the oppor 
tunities were greater. They embarked at 
Liverpool, in a sailing vessel, and after a 
voyage of forty-five days landed at Xew 
York. From there they went by river to 
Albany, where for some time Mr. Simpson 
worked at his trade of shoemaking. With 
a large family to support there was not much 
prospect of getting rich by making shoes in 
Albany, and they went to London, Ont., ac 
complishing the long journey on foot, as 
there was no money to pay for other means 
of travel. After two years in London, where 
Mr. Simpson worked at his trade, they came 
to Plympton township, and settled on the 
Egremont Road, where he bought 200 acres 
of wild land. A log cabin was put up for 
the family home, and they settled down to 
a rough pioneer life. Mr. Simpson made 
potash from the timber which he cleared off 
his land, and sold it to McKenzie in Sarnia. 



6 5 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



\\ ith the help of his sons he cleared and cul 
tivated his land, making improvements from 
time to time, and lived to the good old age 
of ninety-three, being active almost to the 
day of his death. He worked at his trade 
in addition to his farm work, until he was 
ninety. He died March 9, 1901, of sheer 
old age. and was buried in the cemetery at 
South Plympton. He was for many years 
a member of the Presbyterian Church of 
Camlachie, but later joined the South Plymp 
ton Presbyterian Church, where he was a 
deacon. He was an earnest Christian, a de 
vout Bible student, and a great reader. In 
politics he was a Liberal and held the office 
of assessor and tax collector for years, also 
serving as school trustee. His wife died on 
the farm Dec. 16. 1888, at the age of sev 
enty-eight. She was a member of the Pres 
byterian Church, and is buried beside her 
husband at South Plympton. Their children 
were as follows : John, who is mentioned 
below; William, who lives in Enniskillen 
township; Elizabeth, who married Walter 
Jardine. of Plympton township ; Margaret, 
who is the widow of Alexander Gillatly, and 
lives in Wyoming; James (deceased) ; Jane, 
who married Joseph Williamson, of War 
wick township ; Joseph, who lives in Plymp 
ton township; Adam, who lives in Plympton 
township; and Robert, who lives at the 
homestead. 

John Simpson was born in Cumberland, 
England, Jan. 28, 1835, attended school in 
his native place, and at the age of twelve be 
gan working at the shoemaking trade with 
his father. He also took his share of farm 
work both in England and in Canada. He 
earned fifty cents a day at farm work in Lon 
don township, and. when the family settled 
in Plympton township, he -came home and 
helped to clear the new farm. In 1857 he 
began life for himself on a 5o-acre tract of 
land. He burned the timber for potash, 
which he sold in Sarnia, carting it the twenty 
miles by ox-team. By long hard work, he 
succeeded in clearing his land, brought it 
under cultivation, and erected a home, barns 
and farm buildings. He then bought fifty 



additional acres, and later bought a tract of 
200 acres in Enniskillen township, 100 acres 
of the latter farm is now carried on by the 
son of Mr. Simpson. His holdings now ag 
gregate 230 acres, all of which represent 
arduous toil, self-denial and unceasing per 
severance. He began life on borrowed cap 
ital, but is now one of the most prosperous 
men of the county, where over fifty years 
of his life have been spent. 

On April 14, 1856, Mr. Simpson was 
married in Plympton, by Rev. Daniel Mc- 
Callam, to Margaret Jardine, of that town 
ship. She died Dec. 4, 1894, and is buried 
in the Uttoxeter cemetery. She was a mem 
ber of the Methodist Church, and an earnest 
Christian. Her death occurred suddenly 
from the bursting of a blood vessel. She 
was the mother of the following children : 
John, born Sept. 4, 1857, who lives in En 
niskillen township; Robert, born Nov. i, 
1859; Margaret, born Nov. 30, 1861, who 
died in 1863; Wilhelmina, born Sept. n, 
1863, who married William Shea, of Plymp 
ton township; Margaret, born Sept. 8, 1865, 
who married David Shea, of Plympton 
township; William, born Aug. 14, 1867, 
who is at home; Walter, born Nov. 7, 1869, 
who lives at Westminster, Middlesex Coun 
ty; Annie, born Jan. 19, 1872, who died in 
infancy; James, born Aug. 19, 1873, wno 
is at home; and Martha, born Nov. 17, 
1877. 

Mr. Simpson is an independent in poli 
tics. He is a member of the Methodist 
Church, of Uttoxeter, where he has been 
steward for ten years. He is a man of tem 
perate and domestic habits and has a large 
circle of warm friends in the community, 
where he resides. He has wrested success 
and prosperity from the wilderness, and had 
the satisfaction of helping to develop the 
resources of his adopted country. 

JOSEPH L. ROBERTSON, in his life 
time a respected citizen of Marthaville, En 
niskillen township. Concession 12, where his 
widow still resides, was born in 1827, in 
Paradas, Spain. In 1853 he married Phoebe 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



653 



Harmer, who was born in Norfolk. Eng 
land, March 23, 1833, the second daughter 
of William and Elizabeth (Long) Harmer. 
William Harmer and his wife were born 
in Norfolk, and remained there a number 
of years after their marriage. In 1843 they 
came to Canada by way of Quebec, and for 
the first year lived near Toronto on Yonge 
street. They then went to Perth County, in 
its pioneer days, and made their permanent 
home there. Mrs. Harmer passed away in 
1865, and her husband in 1878. They were 
members of the Church of England. Of 
a family of nine children, all born in Eng 
land, five are still living. ( i ) Sarah is the 
widow of Charles Eord, of Perth County, 
and is the mother of William, Charles. Rob 
ert, George, Elias, Mary and Linda. (2) 
Phoebe is the widow of Joseph L. Robertson. 
(3) James married and settled on a farm in 
Perth County. His children are Elizabeth, 
Mary. James, John. Jennie and Erank. (4) 
Betsey married Joshua Bell, of the County 
of Perth, and both are deceased; they left 
one son, John. (5) William married in 
Perth County, but settled for some years at 
Comber, Essex County, where he kept a 
hotel. Later he moved to Detroit, built the 
"Harmer Hotel" at the Michigan Junction, 
and there died in 1899, leaving a family. 
(6) John married and settled near London, 
and has a family of eight. (7) Samuel, a 
blacksmith of Forest. Lambton County, has 
three sons. (8) Robert settled in Detroit, 
where he died leaving an only son. (9) 
Mary A. married James Cowley, of Perth 
County, who moved to Ohio, and there both 
died, leaving two children. 

Mrs. Phoebe (Harmer) Robertson re 
ceived the greater part of her education in 
Perth County, and there grew to woman 
hood. In October, 1853, she married Joseph 
Rooertson. whose joys and sorrows she 
shared for over forty years. Mr. Robert 
son was the son of John and Agnes Robert 
son, natives of Scotland, the former a soldier 
in the British army. It was during his pe 
riod of service in Spain that his son, Joseph 
Roljertson was born, in the city of Paradas, 
in 1827. Later the parents came to Canada 



and settled at Eergus, where the father and 
mother both died. All the children born to 
them are also deceased. About two years 
after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Robert 
son moved onto a farm which they rented in 
the County of Perth. In 1878 Mr. Robert 
son came to Enniskillen township, and was 
engaged there in drilling and engineering 
work in the oil fields. His widow owns three 
acres of oil lands in Enniskillen township. 
In the course of his residence there he bought 
the present homestead, built the house in 
which his widow still lives, and passed his 
last years there. His death occurred in May. 
1895. He and his wife were devoted mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, and were very 
active in Church work. Politically Mr. 
Robertson was a Conservative. He was a 
man of the most upright character, and 
practiced in his life the teachings of his re 
ligion. His neighbors and friends all ad 
mired and respected him and his death was 
greatly regretted. 

Mrs. Robertson is the mother of ten chil 
dren, seven of whom are living.: (i) Eliza 
beth, born in 1855, is the wife of Charles 
Cole, an Englishman ; they live in Conces 
sion 12, Enniskillen, and are the parents of 
William, Charles, Therza, Ida, Lillie and 
Bessie. (2) Agnes, torn in County Perth 
in 1857, was educated for the teacher s pro 
fession. She married David Humphrey, a 
Michigan farmer, and has ten children, 
Mary. Alice, Cassie, Nettie, Nellie, John, 
Alexander, Garrison, Beatrice and Daisy. 

(3) Jennie, born in Perth County, died at 
the Enniskillen home when a young lad} . 

(4) John, born in Perth County, in 1861, 
grew up at home and there died in January, 
1904. His occupation was that of an en 
gineer in the oil district. (5) William, born 
in the County of Perth, in 1863, married 
Miss Mary Brennan, of Lambton County, 
resides in Enniskillen, and has five children, 
Lulu, Kate, Alma, Nellie and May. (6) 
Alexander, born in the County of Perth in 
1865, was in Borneo for some years as a well 
driller. He now farms in Enniskillen. He 
married Amanda Burnham. (7) Mary A., 
born in Perth County in 1866, is now the 



654 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



wife of Albert Latham, of England, and has 
two sons, Fred and Charles. He is employed 
in railroad work in Sarnia. (8) Emily, 
born in Lambton County, in 1869, is the 
wife of Frank Spunvay, of England. They 
live in Port Huron and have three chil 
dren, Lancaster, Ida and Samuel. (9) Asa, 
born in Lambton County, in 1873, nves at 
home. (10) Isabella died at the age of 
four. The sons are all Conservatives in poli 
tics, like their father before them. 

Mrs. Robertson is widely known in the 
community for her many deeds of charity 
and her life has been spent in doing good and 
she is spoken of in every home by the affec 
tionate name of "Grandma Robertson." In 
her home she has been a devoted wife and 
mother, and her children are a comfort and 
.solace to her in her declining years. 

\\TLLIAM HACKNEY, who died at 
his residence in Thedford, Jan. 6, 1890, was 
one of the pioneers of Lambton County. 
Coming to this section in 1850, for nearly 
forty years he took a strong hand in the de 
veloping of its agricultural resources, and 
by his efficient business management as well 
as his close application to work, won for 
himself a very solid prosperity. Born in 
England in 1826, he was the son of John 
and Jane (Butler) Hackney. 

John Hackney was a man of ability and 
great force of character, and passed his life 
in England. Upon reaching manhood he 
married Jane Butler, and they had several 
children, among whom were : William, who 
is mentioned below; Jane, who married Joe 
Baily. and resides near Petrolia, Ont. ; and 
Robert, who is now deceased. After mar 
riage Mr. Hackney remained in England, 
and in the steady pursuit of business pro 
vided a good home for himself and family, 
and in the course of time attained to a con 
siderable degree of prosperity. After many 
years of most fruitful work both he and his 
wife died in England. Mr. Hackney pos 
sessed the sturdy English virtues of honesty, 
courage and sound moral principles, as well 
as thrift, industry and keen business discern 
ment. He was well-known, influential, and 



possessed many warm friends in his com 
munity. 

\Yilliam Hackney was reared in Eng 
land, under the influences of a well-ordered 
home and progressive institutions. Trained 
from a child to habits of industry and self- 
reliance, as a young man he was both ener 
getic and capable. Reports of excellent 
openings for men of push and ability in Can 
ada decided him in 1850, when about twen 
ty-four years old, to come to this country. 
In Sarnia township, Lambton County, Ont., 
he soon procured an excellent tract of wild 
land, where he settled and began making 
improvements. A wise manager, not afraid 
of work, he soon cleared up large tracts, 
put them well under cultivation, and in time 
raised some of the best products marketed 
in the county. He also erected good build 
ings and equipped the place with everything 
necessary for conducting all branches of 
general agriculture. As a result at the end 
of his twenty-three years residence there the 
place was exceedingly valuable. Selling out 
to good advantage, he then purchased a farm 
in Bosanquet township, which he cultivated 
with his usual efficiency for many years. In 
the meantime, however, he took up his resi 
dence in Thedford, where he passed the rest 
of his life. Remarkably successful in all his 
ventures he amassed considerable property. 
During his young manhood Mr. Hack 
ney married, in England, Martha Carlisle, 
who was born in that country in 1824. She 
is a woman of marked ability and was of 
great assistance to her husband in all his 
undertakings. After the death of Mr. Hack 
ney she married a Mr. Hohvell, who is also 
now deceased. She is still living at her 
residence in Thedford, where she is sur 
rounded by many warm friends. She is a 
noble Christian woman, and a consistent 
member of the Episcopal Church. No 
children came of this marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hackney, but they adopted one son, 
William Alexander Hackney, son of Robert 
Hackney, and he married Emily Shepherd ; 
thev have two sons, Robert Clifford and 
David S. 

Mr. Hackney possessed that brendth of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



intellect and large capacity for work which 
enabled him to achieve success at every step 
in life. As a man of marked force of char 
acter and great ability, he exerted a large 
influence in all walks of life. In politics he 
was a Conservative, and his word carried 
Aveight in local affairs, but giving himself 
unreservedly to the pursuit of business, he 
never found time for. office holding. Large 
hearted and generous, he gave his support 
to every worthy enterprise. He was a man 
of marked integrity and was a consistent 
member of the Episcopal Church. 

MRS. ROBERT GUBBIXS. The es 
timable lady whose name opens this sketch 
is one who is as well-known through Brooke 
township, for her kindness and hospitality, 
as for all the other qualities which go to 
make the best of mothers, the kindest of 
neighbors and the most consistent of Chris 
tians. Mrs. Eliza Gubbins is the widow 
of the late Robert Gubbins, and she was born 
June 19, 1839, in McGillivray township, 
Middlesex County, daughter of Robert and 
Mary (Glavin) Merrick, pioneers of that 
county. 

Robert Merrick was born Aug. 12, 1812, 
in the North of Ireland, while his wife, Mary 
Glavin, was born at the same place, in July, 
1818. They were married in January, 1837, 
and came to Canada, via Quebec, on a sail 
ing vessel, the following year. They first 
settled in Middlesex County, where he 
cleared a farm from bush land, and lived for 
some years. They then removed to Brooke 
township, on Concession 9, where he cleared 
another farm, and made a permanent home 
on Lot 14. where Mrs. Merrick died Aug. 
1 8, 1854, leaving her husband with twelve 
children : ( i ) Benjamin, deceased, was a 
resident of Huron County. Michigan, en 
listed in the Civil war. in the gth Michigan 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was 
wounded at Antietam. later re-enlisted and 
was given a captaincy, serving until the close 
of the war. He then returned to Michigan, 
and resided until 1898. when he went South 
for his health, dying the same year, leaving 
his wife with two children, William and 



Frederick, both of Bay City, Michigan. (2) 
Eliza is mentioned below. (3) John follows 
farming in Memphis. Michigan ; he married 
Annie McLachlin, of Brooke township, and 
has these children. Gordon, Louis, Eliza 
beth, Jane, Ella, Mabel and Merle. (4) Will 
iam, torn in Middlesex County, married 
Miss Alice Hayes of Michigan. For a while 
they resided in Port Huron, and then re 
moved to Bad Axe, where he was sheriff for 
twelve years. He later was elected county 
judge, and at the time of his death in 1898 
was internal revenue collector of Huron 
County, Michigan. He left his widow with 
three children. William F.. Alva R. and Gail, 
i 5 ) James, born in Ontario, married Miss 
Annie Lyons, of Saginaw. Michigan, where 
the}- settled, he being a sawmill operator, 
and at his death in 1897. ne et "t two chil 
dren. May and Fern. (6) Margaret, born in 
Ontario, married James Breslin. deceased, 
and at the time of his death had three chil 
dren, Albert, Louisa and Lillie. (7) Nellie, 
born, in Ontario, married A. J. Smith, a 
lumberman of Michigan, and has two chil 
dren, Guy A. and Maud. (8) Robert, born 
in Middlesex County, married Miss Stella 
Haskett. and lived in Michigan for some 
years, but is now a resident of Seattle, 
Washington ; he has two children, Flossie 
and Robert S. (9) Joseph, born in Middle 
sex County, married Miss Margaret Doyle, 
of Strathroy, and has rive sons. Charles, 
William, Karl. Arthur and Leo; he is a 
carriage builder of West Branch, Michigan. 
( 10) Mary A. died at the age of nine years, 
(n) Abigail, born in Middlesex County, 
married Richard Smith, clerk of Huron 
County. Michigan, and has three children, 
Nettie, William B.. and Richard D. (12) 
Jerry M.. born in Brooke township, married 
in Bay City, Michigan, Miss Polly McDon 
ald, and settled at Bay City, Michigan, 
where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick were 
members of the Church of England, while 
politically, Robert Merrick was a Conserva 
tive. Mrs. Merrick was one of the most 
highly esteemed ladies of the neighborhood, 
where she was well-known for her many 
good qualities, her kindness of heart and her 



6 5 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



bounteous hospitality. Robert Merrick in 
every relation of life was a good man and a 
first-class citizen. 

Eliza Merrick was reared in Middlesex 
County, where she married Robert Gubbins, 
Nov. 24, 1859. Mr. Gubbins was born in 
Dublin, Ireland, in 1829, son of Dan Gub 
bins, and was the only one of his family to 
come to Canada. The other children were 
John and Sarah. After marriage Mr. and 
Mrs. Gubbins settled on the homestead 
which the widow now occupies. The build 
ings were at first made of logs, but after a 
eood farm had been cleared, these crude 

o 

buildings were replaced with substantial 
ones, where the couple lived until Mr. Gub 
bins death Aug. 31, 1889. leaving his widow 
with five children: Louisa, born in 1861, 
married Charles Ross, deceased, formerly a 
farmer of Brooke township, and at his death 
left a daughter, Estle F., who died in young 
womanhood; Fred W., born in 1863, grew 
up at home, now residing on the homestead, 
married Miss Elizabeth S. Raycraft, of 
Glencoe, and has one daughter, Roberta ; Dr. 
Robert M., bom in 1865, graduated from 
the London schools, followed teaching for 
some years, in 1892, graduating from a 
Medical college of London, and now is a 
practicing physician of Ceresco, Michigan ; 
Ella, born in 1868, married Walter Annett, 
a farmer on the I2th line in Brooke town 
ship, and has five children, Ivan E., Violet 
O., Robert G., Calvin A., and Leonard W. ; 
and Stella A., who was graduated from the 
Strathroy Collegiate Institute, and for five 
years was one of Lambton County s 
teachers, married John A. Rose, a hardware 
merchant of London, and has three children, 
Kathleen M., John F. L. and Charles A. G. 
Mr. Gubbins was a consistent member of 
the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Gubbins care 
fully reared her children in that faith. Po 
litically he was a Reformer, but never as 
pired to public office. In business circles Mr. 
Gubbins was regarded as a man of good 
judgment and clear insight, while as a citi 
zen and a neighbor he was held in high es 
teem. 



THOMAS RIC11ARDSOX BOOTH- 
MAX, reeve of the township of Sombra, and 
a well known agriculturist, was born near 
Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, Eng 
land, Xov. 22, 1844, son of John Boothman, 
a native of the same place. 

John Boothman was a dyer in a large 
cotton factory in his native country, and there 
he died, while still in young manhood. He 
married Catherine Boothman. and of that 
union our subject was the only child. After 
the death of her first husband Mrs. Booth 
man married (second) John Scott, a wid 
ower, and the father of one child, Isabella, 
who married Benjamin King, and died in 
Moore township, Lambton County. Three 
children were born to John and Catherine 
Scott: Ellen, who married Samuel Leggett, 
of Sarnia township : George, a resident of 
Sarnia ; and Catherine, who died on. ship 
board while coming to Canada with her pa 
rents. In 1853 Mr. Scott, with his wife and 
five children, left their English home for 
Canada, sailing from Liverpool on the sail 
ing-vessel "Washington." While crossing 
the ocean cholera broke out among the pas 
sengers, 115 being affected with the dread 
disease, and many died, including Mrs. Scott 
and her infant daughter, both of whom were 
buried at sea. After a voyage of six weeks 
and three days the vessel landed at New 
York, and the little band made their way to 
Ontario, locating in Xelson township, 
Halton County, where Mr. Scott followed 
shoemaking. From there he went to Point 
Edward, County of Lambton. where he held 
the position of storekeeper for the Grand 
Trunk Railroad Company, and spent the re 
mainder of his life, passing away in his six 
ty-seventh year. 

Thomas Richardson Boothman was very 
young when his father died, and was only 
nine years old when he crossed the Atlantic. 
His chances for an education were very lim 
ited, for after reaching this country he spent 
but a short time in the public schools. He 
started out to work at a very early age, 
among the farmers of the section, receiving 
as wages from four to six dollars per month, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



657 



and continued to work thus until he grew to 
manhood, when he went to the States, work 
ing in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, at what 
ever lie could find. Later he returned to 
Canada and purchased a tract of 100 acres 
of land in Harwich township, County of 
Kent, which he farmed for a short time. He 
then returned to Nelson township, County of 
Halton. where he did teaming for four years 
at a fiourmill, during which time he sold 
his farm in the County of Kent. He then 
came to the County of Lambton, and, locat 
ing in Moore township, on Lot 1 1 , Conces 
sion 3, purchased a tract of 100 acres, erected 
a log house, and settled down to farm. Three 
years later he sold that place and removed to 
Sombra township, where he bought 128 
acres of land, the south half of Lot 3, Con 
cession 6. This he also farmed for three 
years, at the end of which time he rented his 
farm and went to Moore township, where he 
operated the farm of his father-in-law for 
seven years. At the end of that time he re 
turned to his own place, where he has been 
located for the past twenty-one years. 

Politically Mr. Boothman is a stanch 
Conservative and a great admirer of the 
principles of Sir John A. Macdonalcl. He 
was elected a member of the council in 1889, 
serving five years, three years of which, as 
deputy reeve, he also sat as a member of the 
county council. In 1896 he was elected 
reeve, being again elected in 1905, and he is 
holding that office at the present time. Fra 
ternally he is connected with the A. F. & 
A. M., St. Clair Lodge, at Sombra, and the 
I. O. F., at Port Lambton. He and his fam 
ily attend the Ward Line Methodist Church. 
He is a member and director of the \Yest 
Lambton Farmers Institute, and was for 
many years a member of the Sombra Agri 
cultural Society ; was a director in the \Yal- 
laceburg Cheese & Butter Co., and of the 
Sydenham Valley Canning Co., of Wallace- 
burg. His connection with these various en 
terprises is indicative of his intelligent, pro 
gressive spirit. He is actively interested in 
everything which promises to contribute to 
the welfare of his section, and is regarded 
as an eminently useful citizen, one who can 

42 " 



be depended upon to do his duty in the most 
liberal sense of that expression. 

On Dec. 14. 18/4. Mr. I .oothman was 
married in Sarnia to Miss Janet Cameron, 
who was born in Moore township, daughter 
of Angus and Christina (Mathison) Camer- 
on, both of whom were natives of Scotland 
and old settlers of Moore township. County 
of Lambton. To Mr. and Mrs. Boothman 
have come two children : Clara C, who mar 
ried \Yilliam Bowles, of Sombra township, 
has two children, Gladys L. and Hazel lone. 
Xellie is at home. Mrs. lioothman and her 
daughters are members of the Ward Line 
Methodist Church, in which both of the 
daughters have acted as organist for a num 
ber of years, and in the work of which they 
are quite active. 

WILLIAM DROUPE, late a popular 
and public-spirited citizen of Enniskillen 
township, was a resident of County Lamb- 
ton from his fifteenth year. He was born 
Aug. 9, 1844, son of James and Martha 
(Ennis) Droupe, natives of County Cavan, 
Ireland. 

William Droupe, the paternal grandfa 
ther, came from Ireland to Canada as early 
as 1820. He lived on government land in 
County Lanark till 1859, and in that year 
moved to Lambton County, and settled in 
Enniskillen township, in Concession 14. 
There he and his wife, Frances, whom he had 
married in Ireland, both died. They were 
the parents of eight children, viz. : John, 
deceased, who lived on Concession 14; 
Thomas, of Lambton County: William, de 
ceased, who lived in that county; Charles, 
who died in Lambton County in early man 
hood; Jane, deceased wife of Henry Webb, 
of County Lambton; Fannie, deceased wife 
of Donald McLaine, of the same county; 
Eliza, late wife of James Minzen, of the 
same county; and James. 

James Droupe grew to manhood and was 
educated for the profession of surveyor, 
which he followed for many years. In the 
beginning he went to Lambton County as a 
surveyor in the government employ and then 
decided to settle there. He first occupied 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



land in Plympton township, spent four years 
in Moore township, and then located per 
manently in Enniskillen on wild land, among 
the early settlers in that township. He made 
some improvements on his place and estab 
lished the family there in a permanent home, 
but lived only a few years after settling 
there. His death occurred in 1865, and his 
widow married John Gordon, of Concession 
10. She passed away in January, 1903, 
leaving three sons to Mr. Gordon, John, 
Robert and Thomas, all of Lambton County. 
Her children by her marriage to Mr. Droupe 
were as follows : William ; Arthur, who 
died when a young man; John, a resident of 
Petrolia ; James, the first of the family born 
in Lambton County, a resident of Bowling 
Green, Ohio, who is married but has no chil 
dren ; David, unmarried and living with his 
brother William; Mary A., widow of John 
Chittick, of Petrolia, who now resides in 
London with her only child, Martha ; Eliza 
beth, wife of Adam Armstrong, of Brandon, 
Manitoba, and mother of Martha, James, 
David. William, Barbara and Mary. 

William Droupe received only a limited 
education in bis youth and remained on the 
farm with his father until he started in life 
for himself. He married in 1869 and lived 
at the old homestead for some years until he 
purchased his late home, then known as the 
Henry Gooden farm. All the buildings now 
on his father s old place, where he lived 
twenty years, were put up by him, and the 
farm is now occupied by his son. His own 
property, in Lot 5, Concession n, was al 
ready improved when he bought it, and has 
since been brought to a much higher point 
of cultivation. 

In November, 1869, Mr. Droupe was 
united in marriage to Miss Diana Gascoine, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth Gascoine, 
pioneers of Lambton County, who came 
thither from England. Mrs. Droupe was 
born in March, 1849. and was reared and 
educated in Enniskillen township. She is 
the mother of eight children : ( i ) George, 
born in November, 1870, married Miss Janet 
Falconer, of Lambton County, resides in Pe 
trolia and has three children, Margery, Jan- 



etta and William J. (2) Martha, born in 
1872, is the wife of Albert Richmond, of 
Petrolia, and the mother of Lida and Edna 
M. (3) John G., born in October, 1874, 
married Miss Maggie Ennis, and lives on 
the old Droupe homestead. He has no chil 
dren. (4) William J., born in March, 1877, 
married Miss Clara Videau, of Lambton 
County, and has one daughter, Addessa D. 
Mr. Droupe is engaged as a machinist in 
Port Huron. (5) Ida, born in June, 1879, 
is the wife of James Stone, a resident of Pe- 
tralia, and has one daughter, Maud. (6) 
Robert H., born in October, 1881, married 
Miss Maggie Videau, of Petrolia, resides in 
Enniskillen township, and has one daughter, 
Bessie E. (7) Margaret D., born in May, 
1885, lives at home, unmarried. (8) Mary 
E., torn in September, 1888, lives at home. 
On Nov. 16, 1904, the family removed to 
Petrolia, and there Mr. Droupe died Jan. 4, 
1905. He is buried in Hillsdale cemetery. 
Mr. Droupe was a member of the Meth 
odist Church, to which his widow also be 
longs, and like him she takes active part in 
its work. In politics Mr. Droupe was a sup 
porter of the old Conservative party, but 
while he displayed an intelligent and un 
selfish interest in public affairs he never held 
office, save as school trustee, in which ca 
pacity he served most efficiently several 
years. Fraternally he belonged to the order 
of Orangemen. He was one of the town 
ship s most public-spirited citizens, always 
ready to do any thing in his power to ad 
vance the interests of the community, and 
was a man of winning disposition and of 
most irreproachable conduct in all phases 
of his life. His home was ever the center 
of a most generous hospitality, he and his 
wife having a large number of friends who 
held them in the warmest esteem and af 
fection. 

NEIL McCOLL, one of the prosperous 
and extensive landowners and farmers of 
Plympton township, Lambton County, Out, 
was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, May i, 
1837, son of Donald and Christina (Mc- 
Laughlin) McColl, natives of Argyllshire, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



659 



who came to America in 1849, locating in 
Ekfrid township, Middlesex Co., Out. There 
they spent the remainder of their lives, the 
father dying in 1889, aged seventy-eight, and 
the mother Aug. 21, 1867. Their remains 
are interred in Glencoe cemetery. The chil 
dren born to this worthy conple were : John, 
deceased, married Miss Mary McKenzie, 
who survives him and resides in the town 
ship of Ekfrid; Isabella, deceased; Christina, 
deceased, who married James Henderson ; 
Donald, deceased, who married Mary Mc- 
Intyre : Alexander, deceased ; and Xeil. 

Neil McColl came to Canada with his 
parents when twelve years of age, and ac 
quired his education in the schools of his 
native land, and Ekfrid township, and for 
fifteen years resided on the homestead. In 
1 86 1, he purchased 100 acres of bush land, 
in Plympton township, a portion of which 
he cleared, building upon it a log house. 
prior to removing to the township. He was 
married, Feb. 27, 1866, in Ekfrid township, 
to Elizabeth MacKenzie, daughter of Will 
iam and Mary (Chisholmn) MacKenzie, 
and, on the sixth of the following month, he 
and his wife removed to Plympton, where 
they have since resided. In 1890 Mr. McColl 
purchased another 100 acres on the opposite 
side of the road, and both farms are now in 
an excellent state of cultivation. In 1883, 
Mr. McColl erected a fine brick dwelling, 
comfortably fitted with modern conveniences. 
His barns and other outbuildings are large 
and well kept, and in addition to general 
farming, he raises a large number of fine 
cattle. Both Mr. and Mrs. McColl are con 
sistent members of the Forest Presbyterian 
Church, of which he is an elder, and they 
take an active part in all of its good work. 

William Chisholmn, the maternal grand 
father of Mrs. McColl, came to Nova Scotia, 
locating in Pictou. X. S., where he resided 
until 1849, when he removed to Glencoe, 
Out., and spent the remainder of his life. 
He and his wife are interred in Glencoe 
cemetery. 

William MacKenzie was born in Ross- 
shire, Scotland, but he later removed to 



Pictou, X. S. Mrs. McColl was born in 
Pictou. X. S., Jan. n. 1847. 

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Coll were: John Alexander, born April 15, 
1867; Christina, born Aug. 2, 1868, died 
Nov. IT, 1873; William James, born May 
28, 1870, died Nov. 19, 1873; Mary Isa 
bella, born July 18, 1872, died Nov. 13, 
1873; Jeanette, born Aug. 18, 1874, married 
Garson Harlton, a farmer of Middlesex 
County, and has one son ; Margaret, born 
Dec. 5, 1876; Donald, born Jan. 18, 1876; 
Elizabeth, born April i, 1881. died April 8, 
1 88 1 ; James Hugh, born June n, 1884; 
Catherine Mary, born July 31. 1886; Will 
iam Richard, born Nov. 10. 1888; Malcolm 
Roy. born March 23. 1892. 

ELLIS LLOYD, who is now retired 
from farming and who makes his home on 
the farm which he cleared up and put under 
cultivation on the i5th Concession of Bo- 
sanquet township, is a man well known and 
respected by all classes. He has lived a 
sober, industrious life and has done his full 
duty as a citizen, father and husband. He 
is a native of Wales, born in the parish of 
Lenver, near Rissen. Denbighshire, Mav ? 
1827. 

David Lloyd, father of Ellis, was a na 
tive of the same shire, and was a farmer by 
occupation, a calling that he followed all his 
life. He married in his native home Mary 
Jones and they became the parents of five 
children, namely : Edward, who died in 
Muskoka, Ont. ; John, who died in the old 
country ; Ellis ; Margaret, a resident of Min 
nesota ; and Mary, who died in Minnesota. 
Both the father and mother died in their na 
tive home and were buried there. He was a 
strong supporter of the Calvinist doctrine, 
while the mother was a member of the Es 
tablished Church of England. 

Ellis Lloyd attended the parish schools 
of his native country, and worked at farm 
labor at home until he reached the age of 
twenty years, when with his brother Ed 
ward he started for the new world. They 
sailed from Liverpool on the two-masted 



66o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



vessel "Wilson," which carried freight in 
stead of passengers, and after nine weeks 
passage they landed at Quebec. They then 
came west to Ontario, settling in Durham 
County, where Mr. Lloyd found employ 
ment on a farm, at which he continued for 
four years. He then started in farming for 
himself, renting a tract of land in Cavan 
township, which he operated for ten years. 
In 1862 he located in Lambton County, set 
tling on a tract of land which he had pur 
chased seven years before from William Mc 
Lean. This was on Lot 15, J5th Conces 
sion of Bosanquet township and was all bush 
and swamp land. Here he settled down to 
make a home. He erected a little log house, 
and with his wife and several small children 
started to improve the land. This he worked 
hard to do but the land at this time was so 
swampy that he found it impossible to sup 
port his family, so he rented 100 acres of 
land in Plympton township, where he located 
his family and where he settled down to 
farming and sheep raising. During his spare 
time he endeavored to clear up his own farm. 
He spent five years on the rented place and 
then moved his family back to the other 
farm. He built a small frame dwelling 
house, erected barns, and spent much money 
in tiling and draining and making many im 
provements, and his land, after many years 
of hard labor, rewarded his efforts and be 
came productive. 

Mr. Lloyd is a stanch Conservative and 
has always taken an active interest in the 
party and its principles. He has given much 
attention to school affairs. During his 
younger years he adhered to the Calvinist 
doctrine, but in 1867 he was converted by 
hearing a Methodist minister, the Rev. Will 
iam McLean, preach, and since that time has 
been an ardent believer in that faith. He 
joined the Congregational Church, and has 
served as deacon and elder in the Lake Road 
Church. He takes a deep interest in church 
matters and is a great Bible reader. He is 
strictly temperate and has been all of his 
life, never touching strong drink or tobacco. 
Mr. Lloyd was married in Durham 
County to Elizabeth Shepard, who was born 



in Norfolk, England, and died in 1894, after 
over forty years of married life, during- 
which time she was a devoted wife and 
mother. She died after a short illness at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. Thompson of 
Bosanquet township, and was taken to her 
home from which she was buried in Beach- 
wood cemetery. She was a good, Christian 
woman and a member of the Congregational 
Church. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Lloyd were as follows ; John ; James, a 
resident of Cavan township, Durham Coun 
ty ; Mary, who married Sylvester Kinzie, and 
resides in Forest ; Edwin, a farmer near the 
homestead ; David, a farmer of Brooke town 
ship; John, who resides at home, after hav 
ing spent twenty years in the West; Jervis, 
a farmer, who resides in Minnesota ; Ellis, 
Jr., on the homestead; and Agnes, who mar 
ried Archibald Thompson of Bosanquet 
township. 

JOSEPH BARRETT, of Petrolia, 
is one of the old settlers of the place and 
one of the old-time oil producers of Lamb- 
ton County. His birth took place in March, 
1833, in Devonshire, England, and his pa 
rents were John and Sarah (Chapman) 
Barrett. The father was born in Cornwall, 
England, and died at Bristol, in 1893, aged 
ninety-nine years. His wife was a native of 
Devonshire, and died in 1874, aged sixty. 
Their children were : William, who died in 
South Wales; Edward, a sailor, deceased; 
Joseph; Mark, an engineer, who died in 
South Wales ; Isabella, who died of fright 
at a great fire in Devonshire, England ; 
Grace, living at Bristol, wife of John Pope; 
John, who came to Ontario and was drowned 
at Toronto ; David, of London, a postilion, 
in the employ of King Edward ; Joshua, liv 
ing in Devonshire; and Mary, also lives in 
England, widow of a Mr. Pope. 

Joseph Barrett was reared to manhood in 
his native land, and engaged there and in 
South Wales in mining. In 1862 he came 
to Ontario and settlechin Petrolia, Lambton 
County, where he was engaged some years 
as an employe in the oil refining business. 
In 1877 he began business as a producer on 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



66 1 



his own account, was very successful, and at 
the present time, with his sons, owns and 
operates sixty oil wells, forty of which are 
in Petrolia and twenty on his farm in Sarnia 
township. Mr. Barrett and sons are also 
stockholders in the Petrolia Wagon Works, 
established in 1902. For the past twenty 
years, in partnership with his sons, he has 
engaged in the manufacture of valve cups. 

On March 28, 1857, Mr. Barrett was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Cann, who was born in Devonshire, Eng 
land. March 24. 1837, and a family of five 
children has been Iwrn to this union, namely : 
Sarah, wife of William Lucas, of Wyo 
ming : William, an oil producer with his fa 
ther and brother Charles, who married Mary- 
Allen and has two daughters. Myrtle and 
Helen: Mary, widow of Benjamin Tomlin- 
son, who has one son, Lyle ; Ellen, who mar 
ried Fred Endress, of Manitoba, and has one 
son. George ; and Charles, an oil producer 
of Petrolia. who married Lena McVicker 
and has three children. Hazel, Frances, and 
Joseph. He has been a member of the Pe 
trolia School Board for three years. His 
son William has served in the town council 
for the past three years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barrett are members of the 
Methodist Church. Politically he is a Con 
servative, his sons adhering to the same 
party. He has had a long life full of busi 
ness experiences, but is not prevented by his 
seventy years from being at his post of busi 
ness, where his vigor and activity would do 
credit to a much younger man. He has seen 
the wonderful growth of this flourishing 
town, and it is due to the intelligence and in 
tegrity of such men as he. that so much pros 
perity has attended it. 

MRS. SARAH WHEELER, who owns 
a fine farm on Concession 3, Lot 6, Ennis- 
killen township. Lambton County, belongs 
to an old and honorable family of this sec 
tion, and is the widow of one of the most 
highly respected men of this locality. 

Mrs. Wheeler was born March 21. 1857, 
at Petrolia, Lambton County, daughter of 
John and Mary (Gooden) Baker, pioneers 



in Lambton, and natives of Nova Scotia. 
Samuel Gooden, the maternal grandfather, 
settled at Petrolia. in 1848. He was born 
in England, went thence to Xova Scotia, 
and finally made a permanent home on Con 
cession 10, County Lambton. on Crown 
land. His family consisted of three daugh 
ters, one of whom, Mary, married John 
Baker, in 1851, in the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, and they settled at Petrolia, where 
Mr. Baker followed the business of wagon- 
making and also engaged in farming. At 
the time of their settlement, this now bust 
ling, thriving city was but a village of two 
houses, and oil production, as it is to-day, 
was not even dreamed of. Here John Baker 
lived until the death of his wife, in 1871, but 
a few years after he removed to Palmyra, on 
Lake Erie, where he died in 1886. Both fa 
ther and mother of Mrs. Wheeler were 
Christian people, and were active in found 
ing the Methodist Church in this section. Po 
litically Mr. Baker was affiliated with the 
Conservative party. John Baker and wife 
have long since passed to their eternal re 
ward, but they are not forgotten, nor has 
the influence of their worthy lives passed 
away. There still remain residents of Pe 
trolia who recall with sentiments of grateful 
regard, the kindness and sympathy shown 
them in earlier days by these good people, 
who were as unostentatious in their chari 
ties and kindnesses as they were generous in 
bestowing them. Such a heritage is a pre 
cious one to bequeath to succeeding genera 
tions. Their nine children were. Samuel, 
born in 1852, died unmarried in 1894; Jane, 
born in 1854, was the wife of John Harris, 
of Palmyra. Ont, and died in 1898, leaving 
a family; William H. died in childhood; 
Sarah is mentioned below ; John, born in 
1859. died in young manhood, in 1879; Ben 
jamin G., born in 1860, died in young man 
hood; Robert, bom in 1862. resides at Pe 
trolia ; James O., born in 1865. resides on his 
farm in Concession 3, Enniskillen ; Mary 
A., born in 1867, died in childhood. 

Sarah Baker grew to womanhood, and 
was educated in the schools of Petrolia. One 
of a family of nine children, she, with two 



662 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



brothers, are the only survivors. On Jan. 
7, 1880, she was united in marriage with 
Edward D. Wheeler, born April 7, 1840, in 
England, son of Henry and Eliza (Dewey) 
Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were na 
tives of England. The paternal grandpar 
ents, William and Sarah Wheeler, came to 
Canada from England at a very early day, 
and settled at Westminster, Out, where 
they died. Henry Wheeler came to Lambton 
County and settled on Concession 3, in En- 
niskillen township, the same now owned by 
our subject. Here he cleared up a fine farm 
and died March 16, 1886, survived by his 
widow until 1902, when she passed away at 
the age of eighty-one years. 

Edward D. Wheeler, the only son of the 
above named, succeeded to the homestead 
and carried on agricultural operations here 
until his death, which occurred June 23, 
1899. He left a widow and six children, 
namely : Eliza, the eldest, born on the 
homestead, remains with her mother and is 
a lady of education and refinement; and 
Henry E., Arthur W., George J., Samuel 
R. and John T. 

The late Edward D. Wheeler was one of 
the most highly esteemed men of this lo 
cality, one who was kind in disposition, char 
itable and forbearing, scrupulously honest 
in his dealings and an example of persever 
ance and industry. To his children he left 
the record of a blameless life. They have 
grown into representative members of so 
ciety, capable of taking part in all of life s 
serious duties and are respected wherever 
known for their sterling traits of character. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler 
have been reared in the faith of the Method 
ist Church, in which body Mr. Wheeler was 
a steward and class leader for many years. 
Mrs. Wheeler has also been an active worker 
in the various departments of the church, and 
is honored and valued in this connection. 
The Conservative party has always been the 
political organization with which the Wheel 
ers have been identified. Henry Wheeler 
was a member of the Petrolia Council for 
nine years, and was also school trustee, an 
office which Edward Wheeler capably filled 



for a period of six years. In all the move 
ments relating to public improvements and 
social reforms in his locality, Edward D. 
Wheeler gave liberally of time and, when 
necessary, financial assistance. In every 
sense of the word he was a true and loyal 
Canadian. 

Mrs. Wheeler is passing the evening of 
life surrounded by all that can render exist 
ence pleasant the affection and devotion of 
children, the comfort of ample means and 
the respect of those who have watched her 
develop from a useful young womanhood 
into one of the most highly esteemed wives, 
mothers and neighbors of Enniskillen town 
ship. 

THOMAS JOHNSON, of Plympton 
township, County of Lambton, fulfills the 
idea of the modern phrase, "grand old man, 
possessing all those attributes and character 
istics which call forth respect, veneration, 
admiration and affection. 

Thomas Johnson, who has made his 
home for some fifty-four years in Plympton 
township, was born Oct. 25, 1824, in the 
parish of Ruthfort, Yorkshire, England, a 
son of Thomas and Ann Johnson, the former 
of whom was an employe on the estate of 
Squire Jolley, where our subject s parents 
spent their lives. They were worthy mem 
bers of the Church of England. 

Thomas Johnson, our subject, attended 
a subscription school for a short time, but 
the charge was a shilling a week and shil 
lings were not plentiful in his home and thus 
his education was shortened. As soon as 
old enough he worked for neighboring farm 
ers and was very proud when he was able 
to earn seventeen pounds a year. He worked 
in his native neighborhood until 1851, by 
which time he had saved the sum of $300, 
and with this little capital he started into 
domestic life. He married Bessie Nelson, 
born at Yorkshire, England, daughter of 
Robert Nelson, a farmer and land owner of 
that locality. The young couple were filled 
with a desire to start for the other side of 
the Atlantic, where friends had already gone 
and prospered, and at length they broke the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



663 



old home ties and embarked at Liverpool, 
on April 8th. two weeks after their mar 
riage, on a sailing vessel which safely con 
veyed them to New York. They crossed 
the State to Rochester, and thence proceeded 
to Quebec, where Mr. Johnson s uncle, 
George Graves, was tocated. They finally 
reached the Province of Quebec, after a long 
and weary time of travel and they settled at 
Maskinonge, where they remained five 
years. These were years of the greatest im 
aginable hardship. They were in a settle 
ment made up almost entirely of poor French 
people, who, although of kind and hospit 
able nature, were not better off than the 
young English settlers. In addition to every 
other hardship, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had 
little to subsist on, during the whole time 
there, not having once even seen a barrel of 
flour. 

Finally Mr. and Mrs. Johnson resolved 
to no longer endure such wretchedness, and 
soon after they actually gave their land 
away and set out for Ontario. In 1856 they 
located in Plympton township, County of 
Lambton, on the 2cl Line, where they rented 
land of Archibald Ferguson. Mr. Johnson 
secured some work on the constructing of 
the Great Western Railroad, and five years 
later, they removed to Concession 4, London, 
Road, settling on a tract of 100 acres in Lot 
i . Here the timber was so dense he had to 
cut down trees in order to find a spot on 
which to erect a house. While conditions 
were still almost unsupportable, both Mr. 
Johnson and his courageous wife had 
learned many things since leaving their Eng 
lish home, and were better prepared to en 
dure trials than when they first settled in 
Quebec. His timber was cut down and con 
verted into potash, which brought a good 
price, and by its sale and the sale of cord 
wood, he secured enough money with which 
to provide a few necessities. 

In the meantime, sturdy sons were grow 
ing up, made strong and robust by their open 
air lives, and with their assistance, Mr. John 
son cleared his farm, put it under a good 
state of cultivation, built a comfortable resi 
dence in place of the log cabin, erected barns 



and outbuildings, made fences and started 
orchards, in fact, in a surprisingly short time 
this wilderness farm had sprung into the 
front rank with the best in the township. 
In the course of time Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
were able to assist their children in making 
homes of their own, and this family is one 
of the most responsible and respected in 
Plympton township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had thirteen 
children, seventeen grandchildren, and eight 
great-grandchildren. Mrs. Johnson has also 
reared and educated three of her grand 
children. The surviving members of the 
family of children were : William, a farmer 
on London road, Plympton township ; Rob 
ert, a farmer on the London road, who mar 
ried Sarah Montgomery, and has two chil 
dren, Gerardine and Burrell ; Lizzie, wife 
of Christian Pulse, of Sarnia township ; 
John, an engineer on the Grand Trunk, Sar 
nia, who married Sarah Wilson, and has one 
son, Austin; Miles, a farmer in Manitoba, 
owning 600 acres of land ; George on the 
homestead, who married Maud Peasley, and 
has two children, Viola and Vergin ; Lena, 
who married Xelson Mitchell, of Sarnia 
township, and has four children, Earl, Flor 
ence, Kennan and Olive. Those members 
of the family who have passed away are : 
Annie, wife of Apolis Hitchcock, who left 
six children, Joel, Eunice, Bertie, George, 
Frank and Norman; Eliza, wife of Martin 
McLoughton, who left four children, Gil 
bert, Ida, Frank and Harvey ; Sarah and 
Thomas, who died young, and two babes 
died in infancy. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been 
blessed with good health, and it is a matter 
of pride with her that she never lost a day 
from the harvest field during the rearing of 
this large family. Her spirit of kindness ex 
tends over the whole neighborhood, but she 
is also a woman of determined character, 
otherwise she could never have passed 
through the pioneer hardships which en 
compassed the family for so long a time. 
With all her busy round of duties she has 
somehow found time to cultivate her mind 
and set an example of Christian cheerfulness 



664 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to those around her. Both she and husband 
were reared in the Church of England but 
the Methodists were the pioneers in this sec 
tion, and our subject and \vife became iden 
tified with that church. 

In politics Mr. Johnson is a strict Con 
servative and was a very active supporter of 
the late Sir John A. Macdonald. Although 
the snows of eighty years have silvered his 
head, he is vigorous both in body and mind, 
keeps well abreast of the news of the day, 
enjoys social companionship, and is a most 
interesting entertainer of the passing visitor. 
Among the many incidents of the early life 
in Canada, Mrs. Johnson recalls the careful 
use she made of a pound of tea which she had 
brought all the way from England. When 
so many calamities came upon them in the 
Province of Quebec, how every tiny leaf was 
measured, almost counted. When it finally 
gave out no more could be obtained. Their 
fare was buckwheat, oatmeal and maple 
sugar, as long as they remained in Quebec. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are passing their de 
clining years in a comfortable little home of 
their own. erected near the homestead farm 
house. They enjoy every comfort they de 
sire, and are looked upon with esteem, re 
spect and affection by family, friends and ac 
quaintances. 

ERNEST DRADER. a prominent busi 
ness man of Petrolia, and one of the many 
self-made men of whom Canada may justly 
be proud, was born near Kingston, Fron- 
tenac County, Ont., July 24. 1835. son of 
John and Nancy Drader. 

The parents were of German parentage, 
and also natives of the region near Kingston. 
After their nnrringe they settled on a farm 
in thai vicinity, where they passed their en 
tire lives. John Drader was a soldier in the 
Rebellion of 1836-37. Of the ten children 
born to John and Nancy Drader several died 
young, and the others were: Ernest, the eld 
est ; John, who lived near Kingston, and die;! 
leaving a family there; Joseph, a resident of 
Alberta, Northwest Territory: \Villiam, 
born in Frontenac County, now a resident of 
Chatham, Kent County; and Mary, born in 



Frontenac County, wife of the late William 
Milligan, of Lambton Count}-. 

Ernest Drader received a limited educa 
tion in the district schools in eastern Can 
ada. He early learned the trade of carpen 
ter and worked as a contractor and builder 
for a number of years. After his marriage 
he settled near Kingston, but three years 
later, in 1866. he moved to Petrolia, pur- 
chased oil lands, and has ever since been en 
gaged in oil production. He is one of the 
most prominent operators of Petrolia, for 
he owns other property, in Marthaville and 
various parts of the township. Until a very 
short time ago his residence was in Petrolia, 
where he owned city real estate, but lately 
he has moved his family to Marthaville. 
Starting life entirely on his own resources, 
he has steadily prospered until now he has 
become one of the extensive and wealthy oil 
producers of the county, all due to his own 
unaided enterprise, ability and courage. 

In 1863 Mr. Drader was united in the 
bonds of matrimony to Miss Arilla Park, 
who was born near Kingston, daughter of 
Henry and Lucy Park, and a member of one 
of Canada s old pioneer families. Her ma 
ternal grandfather, Henry Dopking, was a 
soldier in the Revolution, and fought with 
the French under Gen. LaFayette. Mrs. 
Drader s father was born in the State of 
New York, settling after his marriage in 
Enniskillen, as his wife was a Canadian. 
There they lived and died. Mr. Park was 
one of the pioneer local preachers of the 
Methodist Church. Five of his children are 
still living, namely: Willard. who lives with 
his family in Cherokee, Iowa: Permelia, 
wife of William Moore, of Enniskillen. who 
has no children; Rebecca, wife of John Jud- 
son, who resides with his family in Lambton 
County; William, of Marthaville; and Mrs. 
Drader. Seven children have been born to 
Ernest and Arilla Drader: (i) Henry, born 
Feb. 26, 1864, near Kingston, was educated 
at Belleville College. He married Miss Cora 
McLaughlin, of Lindsay, and they live in 
Romania, where he is employed by a gov 
ernment oil company, of London, England, 
for whom he has traveled a number of years. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



665 



He has three children, Lewis, Alice M.. and 
Cecil. (2) Minnie, born in June, 1865, a 
music teacher, is the wife of Frank Rosen- 
burg, now a resident of Alberta. Their 
two daughters are Rellie and Ottie Bell. 
(3) Frank, born at Petrolia March 16, 
iSn8, was educated in the schools of that 
city. From his youth he was engaged 
around the oil wells and is now foreman for 
an oil firm located in Austria, where he has 
worked for fourteen years. He married 
Miss Katie Linden, of Lambton County, 
and has four children, Lawrence, Cecil, 
Lena and William D. (4) William Ernest, 
born April 13, 1871, was an oil driller and 
of a company in New Zealand, where he died 
Aug. 9, 1897. (5) Charles, born March 
22, 1874, married Miss Maggie Parsons, of 
Lambton County and they have one daugh 
ter, Lorna. He is engaged in oil production 
in Enniskillen, where they reside. (6) Alba, 
born Xov. 23, 1877. was educated in the Pe 
trolia high school and Alma College, and 
lives at home. (7) John A., born Jan. u, 
1880, is foreman and oil driller in Alberta 
for an American company. 

Mr. Drader has always taken an active 
part in public affairs in various lines. He 
is independent in politics, always voting for 
the best men; he has himself filled the posi 
tion of councillor for Enniskillen for five 
years and has held other local offices. He and 
his wife are both members of the Methodist 
Church, and he has regularly been one of the 
liberal givers. Their religious connection 
is naturally with that denomination as the 
parents of both himself and wife were al 
ways active members thereof. Fraternally 
Mr. Drader has been for many years a Ma 
son, and he is a charter member of the order 
at Petrolia. In whatever he has undertaken, 
whether of public or private business, Mr. 
Drader has shown himself to be able and re 
sourceful, and he commands the highest re 
spect from all with whom he has been as 
sociated. 

THOMAS A. LAMPMAN. Bosanquet 

township, probably more than any other sec 
tion of Lambton County, has made great ad 



vances in agricultural development and pub 
lic improvement and this is mainly due to 
the fine class of citizens who make it their 
home and regulate its public affairs. One 
of these is found in Thomas "A. Lampman, 
township reeve and general farmer, who was 
burn in this township, on Lot A, Concession 
2, Jan. 31, 1862. 

Charles Lampman, father of Thomas 
A., was a native of Ontario County, and was 
born in Reach township. His father came 
from the United States, being among the 
United Empire Loyalists, who preferred 
British rule to that of a Republic. 
Charles Lampman grew to manhood in his 
native home, where he received but a limited 
education. He made farming his life occu 
pation. Dec. 25, 1849, ne married Char 
lotte Merriott, and in the early fifties re 
moved to Lambton County, with his little 
family, locating on Lot A, Concession 2, 
where at that period there were but few 
settlers, all of whom lived in log houses. 
Here Mr. Lampman purchased 100 acres of 
bush land, which he undertook to clear. 
Building a little log house, he worked hard 
to make a home for himself and family, and 
after years of toil, succeeded in getting his 
land into a state of cultivation. He later 
erected a large frame dwelling and barns, 
and then purchased 100 acres more, the 
homestead now owned by his son Robert S. 
When he located in Bosanquet township, all 
that Mr. Lampman possessed was an axe 
and fifty pounds of flour, which he had car 
ried through the woods on his back. After 
long years of hard work he succeeded in life, 
but did not live long to enjoy the fruits of 
his labors, dying of kidney trouble in June, 
1890, at the age of sixty-seven years. He 
was buried at the cemetery at Arkona. Mr. 
Lampman was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Church. Politically he was a 
strong Liberal, but was no office seeker, con 
senting to fil.l the office of school trustee 
only. 

Mr. Lampman s first wife died on the 
farm and was buried in the cemetery at 
Arkima. She left three children : Cinder- 
ilia, the widow of George Saunders, who is 



666 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



living in Nebraska; Albert, who is farming 
an eighty-acre tract which his father pur 
chased for him in Michigan; and Amerilla, 
who died at the age of nineteen years. Mr. 
Lampman married (second) Rebecca Sey 
mour, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, who died 
on the homestead in June, 1878, and was 
also buried in Arkona cemetery. She was 
a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. 
Lampman and bis second wife had two chil 
dren. Robert Seymour and Thomas A. 

Thomas A. Lampman was educated in 
the schools of Bosanquet township, School 
Section No. 6, and also attended the school 
at Arkona, where he received his certificate 
to teach. He spent three years as teacher, 
t\vo in "\Yarwick township and one year on 
the loth Line of Plympton, north of Cam- 
lachie. He worked from early boyhood on 
the home farm, where he remained until 
his father s death, when be started in to 
farm for himself and has been engaged ever 
since in general farming and stock raising. 
He lost his house by fire a few years ago but 
built another, and is now contemplating 
erecting a brick dwelling. He has made 
many improvements on his farm and has 
constructed a concrete foundation under bis 
barn. Mr. Lampman is a stanch Liberal and 
has always supported that party s principles. 

In 1892 Mr. Lampman was elected a 
member of the board of councilmen of Bo 
sanquet township, and served in that ca 
pacity, for three years. He sat as deputy 
reeve one year, and was a member of the 
county council by virtue of the deputy reeve- 
ship, during which time the first concrete 
tiles were put in the township. In 1900 he 
was elected reeve of Bosanquet township, 
and has served five years, one time being 
elected by acclamation. The other four 
elections Mr. Lampman fought and won by 
good majorities. During his term as reeve 
of the township the first iron bridge there 
has been erected. He is a popular official, 
who has the interests of the community at 
heart. In 1890. under the government of 
Sir Oliver Monett. he was elected justice of 
the peace of Bosanquet township, and since 
that time has faithfully performed the duties 



of that office, no appeals having been taken 
from his judgments. He is a member of 
the I. O. F., Rock Glen Lodge, Arkona, and 
has filled the offices of Chief Ranger and 
secretary. 

Mr. Lampman was married in Bosan 
quet township, Oct. 14, 1891, to Miss Mar 
garet E. Lean, born in that township, daugh 
ter of the late R. L. Lean, and to this union 
have been born : Ruth ; Alice A. ; Alfred, 
who died in infancy; and Alma Eliza. Mr. 
and Mrs. Lampman are valued members of 
the Methodist Church, in which he has been 
Bible class teacher for twelve years, and su 
perintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. 
Lampman shows his interest in matters agri 
cultural by his membership in the East 
Lambton Farmers Institute. 

WILLIAM STINSON, an enterpris 
ing farmer and bridge builder of Enniskil- 
len township, Lambton County, resides on 
Concession 3, Lot 21. He was born near 
Simcoe, Elgin County, in November, 1845, 
son of James and Mary (Smith) Stinson, 
natives of Ireland, who came to Canada in 
their youth and married at Smith s Falls. 

After their marriage, the parents of Will 
iam Stinson removed to Glencoe, Elgin 
County, where the father made a permanent 
home and followed farming until his death, 
which occurred in 1882; his wife passed 
away in 1871. They were the parents of four 
children : Sarah, born near Glencoe, who 
married Charles Bylow, a cabinet maker of 
Petrolia, and bad six children, Edward, 
Mary, William, Matilda, Ida and Charles; 
Caroline, who married George Youse and 
settled near Simcoe, where both died, leaving 
children as follows, John, Carrie, Minnie, 
George and Mary; Matilda, born at Simcoe, 
Ontario, who married William Humes, 
a farmer of Brooke township and has four 
children, William, Minnie, Annie and Jo 
seph ; and William. 

William Stinson obtained his education 
in the district schools of Elgin County, and 
when a young man followed farming and 
lumbering. In 1869 he was married to 
Miss Ida Manete, who was born in Elgin 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



667 



County, a daughter of William Manete, one 
of Elgin County s old French pioneers. 
After his marriage he removed to Petrolia 
\vhere for a number of years he followed 
contracting as a bridge builder. In 1883 he 
bought his present farm in Enniskillen town 
ship, which by hard labor he changed from 
a growth of wild bush land into a well cul 
tivated farm. Here, in September, 1898, his 
wife died, leaving five children: Annie L., 
born in 1871, who married Robert Beveridge 
of Concession 3, Enniskillen township, and 
has one daughter, Ida; Velma, born in 1874, 
who married George McLouie, of Ennis 
killen township, and has one son, William ; 
Millie, born in 1878, who resides at the 
homestead; William, born in 1880, residing 
at the homestead, where he ably assists his 
father on the farm and in his bridge build 
ing business; and Frank, born in 1883, who 
married Miss Ida Odell of Enniskillen town 
ship, and resides in Petrolia. 

In June, 1899, Mr. Stinson was married 
to Mrs. Maggie McClonie, the estimable 
daughter of Mathew and Sarah J. (Drake) 
Swain, natives of England, who settled, first 
at Berlin, later removing to Wyoming, 
Lambton County, where they still reside. 
Mrs. Stinson who was born in Berlin, in 
1868, married a Mr. McClintock, now de 
ceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stinson are devout mem 
bers of the Church of England, in which de 
nomination they are highly esteemed. Mr. 
Stinson has always been identified with the 
Conservative party. In fraternal circles he 
is very popular, being a member of the Ma 
sonic Order at Tillsonburg, where he was 
formerly very prominent in lodge work. He 
is also a member of the Order of Foresters 
nf Petrolia. Mr. Stinson is a man of re 
liability and influence in his neighborhood 
and enjoys the esteem of all who know him. 

MICHAEL DUGGAN (deceased), 
who died on his farm in Enniskillen town 
ship. Oct. 3, 1877. after a long and busy 
agricultural life, was an estimable citizen and 
a much respected man. Pie was born in the 



parish of Lismore, County Waterford, Ire 
land. 

Dennis Duggan, the father of Michael, 
was a native of the same county as his son, 
and was engaged in the cattle business, rent 
ing 300 acres of land, which he used for pas 
ture. He lived to the ripe old age of ninety- 
five years, and died in his native parish, firm 
in the faith of the Catholic Church. He was 
the father of eight children, six sons and 
two daughters. Most of the sons located in 
the United States, settling in New York and 
elsewhere. One of the daughters, Mrs. Con 
don, settled in Australia, with her family. 

Michael Duggan received a fair educa 
tion, and, like his father, became engaged in 
the cattle business. When his father retired 
Michael and his brother Maurice continued 
the business, renting the 300 acre tract, be 
coming quite extensively occupied in cattle 
raising and dealing, shipping their stock to 
the English market. In 1840 he married in 
the parish of Lismore, Mary O Donnell, 
born in 1812. Having large rents to pay, 
and seeing there was not much prospect for 
a home for his growing family, Mr. Duggan 
turned to the New World, where he hoped 
his sons would have a chance to make a home 
for themselves. In 1852, with his wife and 
six children, he left his native home, and 
crossing to Liverpool, took passage on a sail 
ing vessel to Canada, and after a nine weeks 
voyage landed at Quebec. Making their 
way West, the little party reached Hamilton, 
where Mr. Duggan s cousin. Dr. Duggan, 
was located, where they spent a short time. 
From there they removed to Haldimand, 
where he rented a farm of 100 acres. The 
farm he operated four years, when he located 
in the County of Lambton, making the jour 
ney bv stage as far as they could, the re 
mainder being made by ox-team. Mr. Dug 
gan bought a tract of 100 acres of land on 
the loth Concession of Enniskillen town 
ship, near what is now the town of Petrolia, 
and which is now known as the A. C. Ed 
wards place. Here he started pioneer life in 
the wilderness, when the town of Petrolia, 
which now boasts 5,000 inhabitants, had not 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



a house standing. Mr. Duggan established 
his family in a little log house and set 
tled down to clear up his farm, in which he 
was finally successful, being aided by his 
sons. 

Seeing a future for the section in which 
he had made his home, Mr. Duggan sent his 
oldest son to Toronto to buy the tract of land 
on which the town of Petrolia now stands, 
but the son only got as far as London, where 
lie bought another tract north of the home 
stead, the other lot. which later became the 
prosperous town of Petrolia. being pur 
chased later by J. & J. Kerr. AYhen oil was 
discovered in that section of Enniskillen 
township, farm property rose in value and 
Mr. Duggan disposed of his tract for a good 
price, buying 200 acres on the I2th Line 
East, in 1867. where the permanent home of 
the Duggan family was made. Here a fine 
frame dwelling was erected, good barns and 
outbuildings were built, and many improve 
ments were made. Mr. Duggan became en 
gaged in cattle dealing, and by his indus 
try and good judgment succeeded in becom 
ing the owner of 1000 acres of land, all of 
which was under cultivation at the time of 
his death. He was one of the largest tax 
payers in the township. 

When Michael Duggan first came to 
Lambton County he found only a few of his 
countrymen who were scattered in different 
sections, and no church nearer than the St. 
Clair river, where Mr. Duggan and his fam 
ily were compelled to walk to attend their 
religious duties. Stations were held in the 
little log homes by Catholic missionaries for 
the few Catholics who lived in that section. 
Mr. Duggan helped to establish the first 
Catholic church in Petrolia. and to the time 
of his death was firm in the faith of that 
religion. Mr. Duggan was a charitable, 
Christian man, and his death removed one 
of the best citizens of Lambton County. He 
was a man of energy and courage and ac 
complished a great deal, and was able to 
leave a large estate to his family. He was a 
man of great force of character, and was 
noted for the traits of thrift and persever 
ance that were bequeathed him by his an 



cestors. He instilled in his children lessons 
of honesty, sobriety and industry, and his 
life was such that it is worthy of emulation. 

Michael Duggan died Oct. 3, 1877, in 
his seventy-ninth year, while his worthy and 
devoted wife followed him to the grave Aug. 
9, 1889. They are both at rest in the Catho 
lic cemetery at Wyoming, where a large and 
beautiful monument marks their last resting 
place, erected by their two devoted sons, 
Maurice and William. 

Nine children were born to Michael Dug 
gan and his worthy wife, as follows: (i) 
Dennis, now deceased, is mentioned else 
where. (2) Michael and (3) John, died in 
infancy. (4) Maurice was educated in the 
national schools of Lismore, and attended 
the public schools of Haldimand County and 
Enniskillen township. He has spent all of his 
life in farming and stock raising and dealing 
and is one of the best known cattle dealers 
in Lambton County. In his younger days 
he spent some time in the Western States, 
and since his father s death has carried on 
the large farming interests and cattle deal 
ing business with great success. He is well 
known and highly respected, and is noted 
for his honorable dealings. He is a stanch 
Liberal, but no office seeker. He now makes 
his home in Petrolia. (5) James, the fifth 
child of Michael Duggan, was killed by fall 
ing from a load of wood, and was buried in 
the Catholic cemetery at Wyoming. (6) 
Patrick and (7) William were twins, the 
former of whom died in infancy. William 
has always been engaged in farming and 
like all the other members of the family is 
kind and generous. He is a stanch Liberal. 
He is now retired and makes his home in 
Petrolia. (8) THOMAS F. DUGGAN was 
educated in the public schools of the town 
ship, and in St. Michael s College at To 
ronto, and later at Bryant & Stratton s Busi 
ness College, from where he was graduated 
in 1875. He has been engaged for eight 
years in the manufacture of lumber in Moore 
township, near Brigden, which business he 
sold to engage in farming on the 8th Con 
cession of Enniskillen. In 1904 he bought 
the Commercial Hotel at Wyoming in part- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



669 



nership with James Dempsey, which they 
have conducted very successfully ever since. 
Thomas F. Duggan married Annie Staple- 
ton, daughter of James Stapleton, and 
both are members of the Catholic Church, 
while in politics he is a Liberal. (9) 
Alary Elizabeth was educated in the 
schools of Enniskillen township, and the 
convent of the Holy Name on Lake Huron, 
Sarnia, where she received a musical and art 
education, and became a fine needle and pen 
artist, and the home is decorated with many 
samples of her skill. She was a cultured, re 
fined young lady, but death called her away 
in 1886, and she was laid to rest in the Cath 
olic cemetery at Wyoming. 

Beside their own children Mr. and Mrs. 
Michael Duggan reared other relations who 
were left orphans by the death of their pa 
rents, Elizabeth Dempsey and her brother 
James, the latter of whom is in the hotel 
business with Thomas Duggan; Elizabeth 
Dempsey received a musical education, and 
is now the wife of Francis McGarvey, a 
grocery merchant of Petrolia, and has two 
children : Maurice Francis Raymond and 
James Joseph. 

ELI WARNER. Alvinston, County of 
Lambton, is well located for a manufactur T 
mg center, and a number of enterprising 
men, recognizing this fact, have established 
here various mills, and carry on a large vol- 
,ume of business. Among those thus en 
gaged is Eli Warner, manufacturer of wool 
ens, who was born at Chatham, County of 
Kent, Sept. 30, 1852, the only child of" Eli 
and Annie (Mason) Warner, pioneers of 
Alvinston. 

The elder Eli Warner was born in Ba 
den, Germany, Jan. 9, 1824, while his wife 
was born in Leeds, England, July 15, 1822, 
eldest child of John and Sarah Mason, na 
tives of England, who came to Canada at 
a very early day, settling at St. Catharines, 
where Mr. Mason operated a woolen mill. 
Mr. Mason died in Florence, County of 
Lambton, and his wife in Morpeth. The 
elder Eli Warner was the son of Anthony 
Warner, the latter of whom came to Amer 



ica and settled on a farm in Erie County, 
New York. At the age of sixteen years Eli 
left home to serve an apprenticeship in a 
woolen mill near Buffalo, and after complet 
ing his apprenticeship, he crossed the line 
into Canada, and was employed in a woolen 
mill near Niagara Falls. In 1847, he mar 
ried and settled at St. Catharines, where he 
learned the jewelry trade, following that for 
some time. Later, he moved to Chatham, 
which was then a village, and was manager 
of the first woolen mill in the County of 
Kent. Later on, he embarked in the jewelry 
business. At that time Morpeth was a nour 
ishing village, and seeing great opportuni 
ties, Mr. Warner decided to remove to that 
locality, and erect a carding and fulling mill. 
This he operated successfully for a few years, 
and then went to Blenheim, and erected a 
mill there and operated it for eight years. 
Leaving that place, he erected a mill at Wal- 
lacetown, County of Elgin, and controlled it 
for about eight years. In 1881, he saw an 
excellent opportunity for a mill at Alvinston, 
and moving there, erected the mill now 
owned and operated by his only son, Eli, 
who had entered the business with him at 
Wallacetown. This partnership was con 
tinued until the death of the father, in April, 
1904, aged eighty years and three months. 
His wife passed away June 30, 1886, aged 
almost sixty-four. 

Mr. Warner, Sr.. was urged several 
times to enter municipal politics, but pre 
ferring private life, he always refused. A 
man of few words, he was profuse in good 
actions, and always followed the dictates of 
his conscience. His charity was broad and 
comprehensive, and if he "could not speak- 
good of a fellow creature, he said nothing. 
All his life he was active in the Church of 
England. In politics he was a Conservative. 
In addition to his other interests, he was an 
active promoter of the Alvinston fire bri 
gade, of which he was an honorary member, 
and that organization testified to its appre 
ciation of his many virtues by placing a 
magnificent wreath of ferns upon his re 
mains at the last sad offices. Mr. Warner 
was an ardent musician, and supported the 



670 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD " 



Alvinston band. In addition to his other 
talents, he was a man of remarkable me 
chanical ability, and was always making im 
provements in his mills with his own hands. 

Eli Warner, Jr., the subject proper of 
this sketch, was well educated in the schools 
of the County of Kent, and early entering 
the woolen mill of his father, learned the 
trade from the beginning, so that when he 
was taken into partnership, he was able to 
conduct the business with a thorough knowl 
edge of all its details. 

On Sept. 28, 1885, Mr. Warner, mar 
ried Miss Marian Cleveland, a native of 
Blenheim, born in April, 1853, a daughter 
of John and Euphemia (Laurie) Cleveland, 
pioneers of the County of Kent. Mrs. War 
ner is a highly educated lady, who was a 
teacher prior to her marriage. Her parents 
died in Harwich township some years ago. 
Her brothers and sisters reside in Kent 
County, and are among the leading residents 
of that locality, the family being an old and 
excellent one. Two children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Warner : John E., born in 
Elgin County, in September, 1886, was edu 
cated in the Strathroy Collegiate Institute. 
Later he studied pharmacy and is now lo 
cated at Alvinston, where he enjoys an ex 
cellent business. Edwin C, the second son, 
died in infancy. 

The religious affiliations of Mr. Warner 
and his wife are with the Presbyterian 
Church, of which Mr. Warner has been choir 
leader for some years, and he has also long 
been a trustee of the church. His wife is an 
active worker in the church, and both are 
accounted among its leading members. Po 
litically, Mr. Warner, like his father, is iden 
tified with the Conservative party, and for 
six years has served ably as member of the 
council, as well as of the school board. Of 
the latter he has been a member for the past 
eight years. Pie is a member of the Ma 
sonic lodge of Alvinston, of which he is past 
master, the A. O. U. W.. of Alvinston, and 
he is also a member of the Canadian Order 
of Foresters, Alvinston Lodge No. 67. Suc 
cessful in business, an honorable public offi- 
cial, an excellent citizen, Mr. Warner is 



justly regarded as one of the representative 
men of Lambton County, and one of whom 
his fellow townsmen may well be proud. 

WALTER WILLIAM STRAXG- 
WAYS (deceased) was a successful and 
widely known farmer of Plympton town 
ship, where his genial manner and well stored 
mind drew around him a large circle of 
friends and admirers. 

The Strangways family was one of 
wealth and prominence in England, the 
grandfather of Walter William being Sir 
Stephen Strangways, rirst earl of Illchester, 
in Somersetshire. Illchester is famous 
among other things, as being the birthplace 
of the celebrated Roger Bacon. A brother 
of Sir Stephen s was Thomas Fox Strang 
ways, Brigadier-General of the Royal Ar 
tillery, and one of the ablest officers of those 
who fell at the battle of Inkerman, Nov 5, 
1854. 

William Thomas Homer Strangways, 
son of Sir Stephen, was a barrister at Wey- 
hill, Hampshire, England, a gentleman of 
culture and influential position. He married 
Mary Ann Tyrell, a lady of high social 
standing, who died and was buried in Wey- 
hill. They were both members of the Church 
of England. Their children were as follows: 
(i) Edward inherited the estate and lived 
and died in England; his daughter Louise, is 
the widow of General Harding, and resides 
at Hampton Court Palace. England. (2) 
Charles is a farmer in Pilkington township. 
Wellington Co., Ontario. (3) William (de 
ceased) was a resident of Ontario, and died 
in Buffalo. (4) Frederick T. (deceased) 
was a farmer and magistrate at Beeton, Sim- 
coe County, Out, where he died. (5) 
George James (deceased) was a farmer in 
Pilkington township, Wellington county, 
where he died. (6) John deceased in 1904, 
was a well known farmer of Plympton town 
ship. (7) Catherine (deceased) married 
Charles Doman. and died in Plympton 
township; (8) Walter William is mentioned 
belo\v. 

William Thomas Homer Strang\vays 
followed his profession in Hampshire, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



671 



gave all his children a thorough classical 
education. According to English law the 
estate went to the eldest son, and the others 
of the family came to the New World to 
seek their fortunes. After the death of his 
wife Mr. Strangways came out to Canada 
and spent his declining years with his young 
er children, dying at the home of his son 
Frederick T., at Beeton, Simcoe County, 
where he is buried. 

\Yalter William Strangways was horn 
at Weyhill, Hampshire. England, Jan. I, 
1839, and received a college education. He 
was, so to speak, brought up in the lap of 
luxury, with no training for work, which 
made the privation of his later life doubly 
hard. While still in his teens he left home, 
without the knowledge of his parents, and 
joined the British army. Through the in- 
ihience of a titled gentleman to whom his 
identity was made known, his release was 
secured, and at the same time this noble 
friend sent him a small silk cravat, embroid 
ered with the initials of the donor, with the 
promise that if he ever needed assistance it 
would be forthcoming on presentation of 
this silken talisman. Mr. Strangways never 
made use of the unique gift, but kept it as an 
earnest of good fortune. In 1857 at the age 
of eighteen, he left home and came to Can 
ada, where he joined his brother, Frederick 
P., in Innisfil township. Simcoe County. 
There he spent two years learning some 
thing of farming, and then went to London 
township, Middlesex County, where he 
bought 100 acres of land, on which he re 
mained until 1861. Meantime he married 
Harriet Galliford. who was born in Devon 
shire, England, daughter of the late Robert 
Galliford, and his wife Mary Ann Salter. 

His first venture not proving successful, 
Mr. Strangways sold out and came to Lunib- 
ton County, where he and his bride made a 
IT ime with his brother John, becoming joint 
purchasers of a 2OO-acre tract of land in 
Concession i. Plympton township. Mr. 
Strangways owned the east half of Lot i, 
for which he paid seven and one-half dollars 
an acre. There were no roads in that part 
of the county, the land was all covered with 



bush, and the dwelling was only a rough 
log cabin. There the young couple began 
housekeeping in the heart of the wilderness, 
with but few near neighbors. Their first in 
come was derived from potash made from the 
timber cleared off the land. Both Mr. Strang 
ways and his young wife worked hard, and 
by their united efforts finally developed a 
fine farm and reared a fine family of chil 
dren. The early training of Mr. Strangways 
and his unfamiliarity with manual labor 
made his struggle the more difficult, and his 
success the more marked. He passed the re 
mainder of his life on his farm making ex 
tensive improvements from time to time, 
including a frame dwelling house and large 
barns. He not only made a success for him 
self, but saved enough to give his sons a 
, start in life, and the latter have proved them 
selves worthy descendants of their parents. 
Mr. Strangways died at his home Dec. 23, 
1902, and was laid to rest on Christmas Day 
in Brook s cemetery, Plympton. For some 
time he had been a sufferer from heart dis 
ease. He was a Liberal in politics, but in no 
sense an office seeker. He was a man great 
ly devoted to his home and family, of tem 
perate habits and quiet, scholarly tastes. He 
was an adherent of the Presbyterian Church 
at Mandamin, as are all his" family. Mrs. 
Strangway still lives at the homestead farm 
which she carries on. Her life for over forty 
years has been one of devotion to her hus 
band and family, and she has proved a noble 
helpmeet in every experience of life. She 
was an only daughter, and had one brother, 
John, now a resident of Thorndale, Middle 
sex Co., Ontario. Her father died when she 
was a young girl, and her mother married 
(second) Philip Squire, father of Thomas 
Squire, a well known farmer of Enniskillen. 
Mr. and Mrs. Strangways had a family 
of twelve children, as follows: William 
John, who married Annie Growder. and is a 
farmer in Enniskillen township; Mary Ann, 
who married William Parks, of Enniskillen; 
Frederick James, who married Margaret 
Bird, and is a land owner and farmer of 
Enniskillen; Thomas, who married Birdie 
Barkley, and is a land-owner and farmer of 



6 7 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Enniskillen; Ellen, who married William 
Slatcher, of Dawn township; Richard, who 
married Lavina Colby, and is a farmer and 
land-owner in Enniskillen ; Ethel Elwood, 
deceased; Catherine Elizabeth, who married 
Wilfred Hamilton of Sarnia; Philip H., de 
ceased: Sarah Phillippa, who is at home; 
AdolpVms; and an infant who died in child 
hood. Mrs. Strangways and her daughter 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which they are active workers. Mr. Strang 
ways had a warm place not only in the af 
fections of his family, but of a large circle 
of warm friends, who cherish the remem 
brance of his refined and cultivated taste and 
gentle manner. 

GEORGE W. HOIAVELL. formerly a 
popular hotel and livery man of Thedford, 
now retired, has had wide business experi 
ence, having for a long period been engaged 
in blacksmithing and hotel-keeping in addi 
tion to conducting other enterprises. Far- 
sighted and energetic, he has for the most 
part kept on the rising plane of life, and is 
now one of the solid men of the town of 
Thedford. 

Mr. Holwell is of English extraction, 
and many of his family were sailors. His 
grandfather, Thomas Holwell, a man of re 
markable vitality and great ability, followed 
the calling of "a tailor for the most part 
throughout his long and active career. He 
resided in England, prospered through life, 
and lived to the advanced age of ninety-four 
years, dying in England in 1864. His wife 
died young. By this marriage there were 
two children : George came to Ontario, and 
is now living in retirement in Winnipeg, 
where he js a large landowner ; Thomas is 
mentioned below. Mr. Holwell possessed 
great energy, and even near the close of his 
long life was remarkably well preserved, for 
at the age of ninety-two he could thread his 
needle without glasses. 

Thomas Holwell, father of George W., 
was a forceful successful business man, who 
passed many years of his life in Brantford, 
Ont. Born in 1810, in. a pleasant little Eng 
lish community, he received careful rearing. 



As a boy he became interested in his father s 
business, and as soon as he was old enough 
entered the shop and learned the trade. 
Strict attention to business and inherent 
ability for the work enabled him to master 
all tlie details in a short time, and as a young 
man he continued to follow the trade. 
About this time he married in England 
Mary Spencer, who was born in that coun 
try in 1806. She died in Thedford, June 5, 
1885. By this union there were seven chil 
dren : Harriet, who married George Brown, 
the postmaster at Shakespeare; George W., 
who is mentioned below ; William, who died 
in 1869; Sarah, who married J. R. Stewart, 
a resident of Stratford; Ered, who is post 
master and town clerk of Baden; Elizabeth, 
who married E. A. Cairncross; and Mary 
|ane. who married James McLauchlan. 

Some time after marriage, in 1837, Mr. 
Holwell came to Ontario. Arriving there 
upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, he en 
listed and in 1837-38 rendered valiant serv 
ice to his country. A skilled workman, at 
the close of the rebellion he found no diffi 
culty in securing work at his trade, and in 
1840, having found a good opening in 
Brantford, he sent for his family and set 
tled there. Time proved he had made a wise 
business choice, and continuing to prosper, 
he remained there for fully twenty years. 
Desirous of a change, at the end of this 
period he moved to Hamburg, and there 
opened a shop. Excellent service won him 
a high class of patronage, and he remained 
there for some time. Upon the arrival of 
his brother George in Ontario, however, he 
sold this business to him and moved to 
Shakespeare, opening another shop, which 
he managed with his usual success. In the 
steady pursuit of his trade he succeeded in 
accumulating considerable property, and 
after some years retired from active work 
and took up his residence with his son 
George W., in Thedford, where he died in 
1900. 

Mr. Hohvell s career was marked by un 
tiring energy, and an unswerving devotion 
to one main industry, and by a conscientious 
desire to serve his fellow men to the best of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



6/3 



his ability, which was of no ordinary range. 
Possessed of high ideals, and an eye that 
could abide nothing less than perfection, he 
would never turn out a piece of work which 
would not in every respect redound to his 
credit. \Yhile business for the most part en 
grossed his attention, he nevertheless found 
time for other obligations, and socially he 
was well known in the best circles. Upon 
public questions he was well informed, and 
politically he affiliated with the Conserva 
tives. Both he and his wife were interested 
in all good works. He belonged to the Epis 
copal Church, and she to the Baptist. 

George W. Holwell inherited his father s 
taste for thorough workmanship, and much 
of his rare business ability. Born in Leices 
tershire, England. June 21, 1836, he was 
about two years old when taken by his pa 
rents to Ontario. In Brantford he grew to 
manhood, and in the well established schools 
of that section obtained a good education. A 
taste for mechanics decided him at an early 
age to learn the blacksmith s trade, and, giv 
ing close attention to the business in a shop 
in Brantford, he soon perfected himself in 
that line. Starting out for himself, he soon 
secured a position with the Water Engine 
\Yorks Company, of Brantford. Conscien 
tious and efficient work won him at once the 
entire confidence of the firm and for seven 
years he remained there, earning good 
wages. Then, finding what seemed a more 
desirable opening with A. B. Orr, of Strat 
ford, be went to that place and worked at 
his trade for one year as foreman, when 
he was induced to accept a position in a job 
bing shop there. Unpleasant business rela 
tions resulted in his giving up this work at 
the end of three months, and he then took a 
position in the "Albion House." There he re 
mained for two years, earning a good salary 
and acquiring valuable experience in a new 
line of business. As a result at the end of 
this period he secured a position as manager 
of a hotel for Andrew Alexander, of Sar- 
nia, where he remained for one year. Xow 
enabled to conduct a business of his own, he 
came to Thedford and opened a hotel on the 
corner of Main and Victoria streets, now 

43 



conducted by Alack McKinzie, and making 
;; success of this business continued it for 
twelve years. In 1872 be took possession 
of what is now the "Holwell House," which 
he remodeled in 1878 and made into one of 
the most pleasant hotels in the County of 
Lambton. Keeping a first-class bouse, and 
giving excellent service, he won a high class 
of patronage, and as a hotel manager was 
popular throughout his section. Some 
years ago be withdrew from hotel-keeping, 
but he still owns the building. In connec 
tion with his hotel-keeping, in 1873 he 
opened a livery stable in the place, which he 
conducted until 1903, when he sold out to 
F. R. Jennings. He had greatly enlarged 
the business from time to time, purchased 
some of the finest bred horses, and had some 
of the most elegant turnouts to be found in 
the county. Moderate prices secured him a 
patronage from far and near, and he pros 
pered in that as in all his ventures, and, be 
ing a wise financial manager, is now one of 
the solidly prosperous business men of the 
place. 

On April 20, 1858, Mr. Holwell was 
married, in Stratford, Ont., to Miss Mi 
nerva Sperry, who was born Jan. 19, 1834, 
at St. Catharines, and died Jan. 18, 1902. 
She is buried in Ridgewood cemetery. Mr. 
and Airs. Holwell had no children of their 
own, but they adopted Fanny Darling when 
she was thirteen months old, and she still 
makes her home with Mr. Holwell. She 
was born in Toronto, Ont.. and on March 
17, 1884, at Port Huron, Ont.. married J. 
H. Powell, who is a veterinary surgeon and 
carries on an extensive celery farm in Lamb- 
ton County. To this union came one son, 
George H., torn Sept. 5. 1886, who is an in 
telligent young man and teller in the Sov 
ereign Bank of Exeter. Ont. He received 
his education in the public schools and high 
school at Park Hill and later graduated 
from the Toronto Veterinary College, prac 
ticing veterinary surgery to some extent in 
addition to attending to his duties at the 
bank. 

Mr. Holwell is a man of decidedly pro 
gressive ideas, thoroughly up-to-date, and 



674 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



has many excellent social attributes, which 
have won him friends at every step in life. 
His force and decision of character have 
won him the respect of all, and are strong 
promoters of his success in business. He is a 
man of high moral principles, perfectly 
square in his dealings, and has long been a 
consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church. As a Liberal he is influential in 
local politics. Fraternally he affiliates with 
the A. F. & A. M. and he is past master of 
Cassia Lodge, No. 116, of Thedford, which 
position he has filled with marked fidelity 
and ability for nine years. 

THOMAS ROSS, member of the board 
of councilmen for the Fourth Ward of Bo- 
sanquet. and a prosperous farmer and stock- 
dealer, is one of the township s well known 
citizens. He is a native of Canada, born in 
the township of Pittsburgh, County of Fron- 
tenac, Ont., Oct. 2, 1859. The Ross family 
is of Scotch extraction, but for generations 
its representatives made their home in North 
umberland, England. 

Robert Ross, father of Thomas, was 
horn in Northumberland, and there grew to 
manhood, learning the trade of cabinet 
maker. In 1845 ne turned to the West, 
where he wished to make a home. Sailing 
from England, he landed in Quebec, but 
proceeded on his journey westward to On 
tario, locating in Pittsburgh, County of 
Frontenac, where he started pioneer life in 
the woods. He settled on a tract of fifty 
acres of land, where he erected a home and 
engaged in general farming and lumbering 
until 1868, when he sold out and came to 
Lambton County, locating on Concession 12, 
of Bosanquet, where he purchased land and 
settled down to farming. He worked hard, 
and with the help of his sons, succeeded. At 
the time of his death he was the owner of 
^oo acres of land in Bosanquet, which is now 
nwned and operated by his sons. He built 
a fine brick dwelling house, barns, etc., and 
this part of his estate is now operated by his 
son. George. He was a hard working man 
all his life, and he passed away on his farm in 
1898, at the age of seventy-three years, and 



was lurried in Beachwood cemetery, Forest. 
He was a stanch Liberal in politics, and a 
Presbyterian in religious belief. He mar 
ried in the County of Frontenac, Margaret 
Vair, who was born in that county, daugh 
ter of John Vair. She is still living on the 
homestead, quite active, at the age of sev 
enty years a good Christian woman, de 
voted to her home, and consistently follow 
ing the teachings of her chosen faith the 
Presbyterian. Ten children were born to 
this worthy pioneer couple : Thomas; John, 
a farmer of Bosanquet township ; William, 
a farmer in Warwick township ; Charles and 
James, both farmers in Bosanquet ; George, 
who operates the homestead farm ; Isabella, 
at home ; Elizabeth, a resident of North Da 
kota ; and Jane and Annie at home. 

Thomas Ross was but nine years old 
when he came to the County of Lambton, 
with his parents, and attended the district 
school. He worked at home with his father 
until he started into farming for himself on 
a loo-acre tract on Lot n, Concession 13, 
given him by his father. He built a fine 
brick dwelling house and barns, and planted 
a fine apple orchard. His extensive improve 
ments soon made his farm one of the best in 
that locality, and he later added to it a fifty- 
acre tract of the Governlock farm, now oper 
ating 150 acres, all under a good state of 
cultivation. For some years he has been en 
gaged in cattle raising and dealing. For 
seventeen years he engaged in threshing, 
having two traction engines in operation, but 
in 1903 he sold out to devote his entire time 
to his farming. At one time he also en 
gaged in carpenter work, framing many 
barns, etc.. in the township. By his industry 
and careful management lie has made a suc 
cess. He is a man of progressive ideas and 
public spirit, a stanch Liberal in politics, al 
ways supporting the principles of the party 
as laid down by its founders. In 1896 he 
was elected member of the board of council- 
men of the Fourth Ward of Bosanquet, and 
he has been re-elected for the past nine years. 
He was deputy reeve of the township for two 
years before the new law came in force, and 
"he sat at the countv council board for one 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



675 



term. He has taken deep interest in the 
township, and in his ward, and he was the 
means of having three iron bridges con 
structed in his ward, as well as other im 
provements. He also has taken deep inter 
est in the public schools, and was for nine 
years a member of the board of trustees of 
school section Xo. 15. serving as secretary 
and treasurer. He is a member of Ravens- 
wood Presbyterian Church, as is also his 
wife. Fraternally he belongs to Cassia 
Lodge, A. F. & A . M., Thedford. 

Mr. Ross was married at the Clark home 
stead, to Rosie Clark, daughter of Hugh 
Clark, a well known citizen of Bosanquet 
township, and three children have blessed 
this happy home: Clark. Mary and Robert. 

REV. JOHX BREXXAN is the be 
loved young priest who has in his charge the 
parish of St. Joseph, at Corunna, and that 
of St. Charles, at Courtright, Moore town 
ship. He is one of the youngest and most 
energetic priests of the London diocese, 
where he has done much to build up the work 
of his church. 

John Brennan. father of Father Bren- 
nan. was born in Ireland, whence he came to 
"Wellington County, and later to Kent Coun 
ty. Ont. He settled at Chatham, where he 
was appointed by the late Conservative gov 
ernment to the Inland Revenue Department, 
at Walkerville, and he now resides in Wind 
sor. He married Elizabeth Sterner, who 
came of a German family. Their children 
were as follows : David, in the employ of 
the Inland Revenue Department, at Hamil 
ton : Mary, a sister of the Ursuline Order in 
Michigan; Annie; John, mentioned below; 
Isabella, Rose. Joseph. Frank. Elizabeth, 
Maggie and one that died in infancy. 

Father Brennan was born in Puslinch. 
Wellington County. July 7, 1877. and was 
educated in the Separate schools of Chat 
ham, and the Collegiate Institute at Wind 
sor. Ontario. From early youth his most 
cherished desire was to enter the priesthood, 
and after graduating from the lower schools 
he attended the College of the Assumption, 
at Sandwich, Ontario, and in 1898 entered 



the Grand Seminary at Montreal. There he 
received his theological training, and was 
ordained to the priesthood, Oct. 23. 1901, 
by Bishop McAvay. of the diocese of Lon 
don. Father Brennan said his first mass in 
Windsor, Out., Oct. 25. 1901, and was ap 
pointed assistant to the late Father Traher, 
at London. After a short time in that po 
sition he was given the charge of St. Joseph 
Parish, Corunna. as successor to Father 
Mugan. It is the oldest parish in the dio 
cese, having been established in 1827. by 
Jesuit missionaries, who came from Detroit 
to minister to the spiritual needs of the 
French settlers along the St. Clair river. 
Father Brennan has made many improve 
ments in its buildings and equipment through 
his energetic management. He has built a 
brick parish house at a cost of $3,000 and 
made other advantageous changes. He is 
also in charge of the parish of St. Charles 
at Courtright, holding services at both places 
every Sunday. Father Brennan is a man of 
progressive ideas, a fine preacher as well as 
pastor, one who believes in active, aggressive 
work, and who holds the confidence and 
affection of his people. 

DAXIEL WOLSEY, an oil driller of 
Enniskillen township, residing in Lot 9, 
Concession 12, is of English parentage, but 
was born in Canada, in Oxford County, 
March 21, 1849. the son of Thomas and 
Mary (Hagen) Wolsey. 

Thomas Wolsey was born in X orfolk- 
shire, England, in 1800, his wife in the same 
locality in 1814. They married there and 
came to Canada somewhere in the early 
3o s settling on wild land in Oxford Coun 
ty, in Blenheim township. In 1862, when 
this had been developed into fine farming 
land, Mr. Wolsey sold out and moved his 
family to Petrolia. where he bought prop 
erty in Concession 13. Enniskillen township, 
and again went to work to redeem a home 
from the wilderness. Some years later he 
moved to Marthaville and bought oil lands 
which proved very productive. In the home 
on this third place he lived until his death, 
in September, 1901 ; his wife had passed 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



away ten years previously. In Canada they 
were members of the Methodist Church and 
very earnest workers. Politically Mr. W61- 
sey was a Reformer. Thirteen children 
comprised the family horn to Thomas and 
Mary \Volsey. ( i ) John, born in England, 
married Miss Lizzie L pp, resides in British 
Columbia, and has six children, Mary, 
Emma, Barbara, Sarah, David and Thomas. 
(2) Barbara, born in England, married the 
late George Scarf, of Oxford County, where 
she also died, leaving a son, Oscar. (3) 
Nancy, born in Canada, married the late 
George Ferguson, of Marthaville, who left 
four sons and three daughters, George, 
Thomas, James, John, Olive, Sarah and Lot 
tie. (4) Mary A., born in Oxford County, 
is unmarried and lives in Victoria, B. C. 
( 5 ) Sarah, born in Oxford County, married 
Elijah Harmer, of Manitoba, where she died 
in 1899, leaving a family. (6) Daniel. (7) 
Lizzie, born in Oxford County, in 1851, is 
the widow of Andrew Smith, of Victoria, 
B. C., and has three sons, Frank, James and 
Patrick. (8) Charlotte, bom in Oxford 
County, married John Scott, of Lambton 
County, and has since died, leaving two sons, 
Frank and Andrew. (9) Amanda, born in 
Middlesex County, married Andrew Don 
aldson, of Victoria, B. C., and has three chil 
dren. Allen, Douglas and Reta. (10) 
George, born in Middlesex County, married 
Miss Mary Ferguson, of Lambton County. 
He was formerly an oil man in Petrolia, but 
now lives in Sarnia. His children are named 
Gertrude, Lizzie and Maxwell, (n) Will 
iam, born in Middlesex County, married 
Miss Angeline Took of Lambton County, 
and resides with his family on a farm in 
Manitoba. (12) James, born in Petrolia, 
went when a young man to Austria; while 
engaged there as an oil driller he died in 
1890, unmarried. (13) One named William 
died when young. 

Daniel Wolsey passed his boyhood and 
youth in Oxford and Middlesex Counties, 
and was given a good education in the dis 
trict schools. After the family moved to 
Lambton County, he worked both on the 
farm and at oil drilling until he started out 



tor himself. As he had the previous experi 
ence in the latter line, he continued to fol 
low that for a number of years, both for him 
self and for other parties. In 1900 he 
bought his father s old homestead in Mar 
thaville and now lives there. He was mar 
ried in December, 1873, to ^i ss Mary M. 
Battice, born in Norfolk County, in 1850, 
daughter of Chester and Elizabeth Battice, 
now of Lambton County. For a number of 
years after their marriage they lived in En- 
niskillen township, before purchasing the 
present home. Mrs. \Volsey is a member of 
the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wolsey 
are the parents of seven children. ( i ) 
Thomas H., born in 1874, grew to manhood, 
at home, and learned drilling under his fa 
ther s instructions. In 1897 he was em 
ployed by a company to go to Russia and 
drill for oil along the Caspian Sea. Since 
living there he has married an English lady. 
(2) Orville, 1876, married Miss Annie 
Drader, of Petrolia, has a son Daniel E., and 
lives in Marthaville. (3) Barbara M., 1879, 
is living at home. (4) Andrew, 1881, mar 
ried Miss Ada Currie of Lambton County, 
resides in Marthaville, and has a daughter, 
Mary F. (5) Daniel was born in 1884, (6) 
James, in 1889, and (7) John, in 1892. 

Daniel Wolsey has always been identi 
fied with the old Reform party and is a pub 
lic spirited citizen, but has never aspired to 
office. Fraternally he belongs to the Inde 
pendent Order of Foresters, No. 412, Court 
Pyramid, of Marthaville. The family is 
one held in high esteem for many es 
timable qualities and Mr. \Volsey stands as 
a good type of the representative citizens of 
the township. 

ADAM DELMAGE, who ranks among- 
the oldest and most prosperous of the County 
of Lambton s pioneer settlers, now residing 
on the 1 2th Concession of Plympton town 
ship, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, 
about 1829, though no record of the exact 
date is obtainable. He is a son of Mathew 
and Ann (Rose) Delmage, both natives of 
the Emerald Isle, the former of County Tip- 
perary, and the latter of Queens County. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



677 



The father of our subject was the first man 
to enlist in the Irish Constabulary on its 
formation, and served as a sergeant in this 
branch of the service. His death occurred in 
Queens County, Ireland. 

Robert A. Delmage, a brother of our sub 
ject, was the first of the family to come to 
Canada, and he located in the township of 
Trafalgar, County of Halton. About two 
years thereafter, when Adam was about six 
teen years of age, he was induced by his 
brother to come to America, and upon his 
arrival, he resided with Robert for about 
three years. In 1853, he came to Plympton 
township, and purchased 100 acres, although 
at that time there were but few settlers on the 
1 2th Concession Line. He at once began 
clearing up the land, which at that time was 
in its primitive state, and in order to have 
shelter, lie put up a log shanty. This land 
was the west half of Lot 20, I2th Conces 
sion. Later, he bought fifty acres of the 
west quarter of Lot 19, i2th Concession, and 
two years later, purchased the east quarter 
of the same lot. Five years later on he 
bought the other quarter, making one hun 
dred acres. Still later on, some sixteen 
years, he bought the other one-half, making 
200 acres. In 1896, he bought the west 
one-half of Lot 23, 100 acres, and now owns 
400 acres, and resides on Lot 23, on which 
he has a two-story brick house, a good barn, 
104x60 feet, and also another barn. The 
win ile 400 acres are in a high state of cultiva 
tion. He deals largely in cattle, and grows 
large quantities of corn and other cereals. 

Mr. Delmage was married, in Plympton 
township. March 2. 1872, to Martha Daw- 
son, a native of Belfast, Ireland. These chil 
dren were born to them : Sidney, Albert, 
Jennie (wife of Daniel McKinlay). Anson, 
Maude and William. In politics, Mr. Del 
mage is a stanch Tory. The family attend 
the Congregational Church, where they are 
very active. 

The family of Delmage originated in 
Germany, from whence its representatives 
removed to Ireland. Members of the same 
family are to be found in Goderich town 



ship, and elsewhere in Ontario, and wherever 
they are, they are people of importance in 
the community. 

WILLIAM COWAN, a retired farmer 
of Enniskillen, who with his estimable wife 
is enjoying the twilight of life in comfort 
amply earned by earlier years of special trial 
and hardship, is one of Canada s adopted 
sons, born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 
1826. His parents were John and Mar 
garet (Mitchell) Cowan, who both lived 
and died in their native land. 

John Cowan and his wife were the pa 
rents of eight children, three of whom died 
in Ireland. Eliza, one of the daughters, 
married Andrew Fair, and came to Petrolia, 
where both died many years later. Frank, 
if living, is a resident of New Jersey. Sarah, 
the wife of Albert Jeffries, of New Jersey, 
died, leaving a family. Susannah married 
John Brown, and lives in New Jersey. 

William Cowan grew up in Ireland, and 
worked at farming there till he came to 
America in 1856. He had previously to that 
time, in 1849, married Miss Ellen Whit- 
croft, who was born in County Monaghan. 
in April, 1832. She was the daughter of 
Henry and Elizabeth (Lachen) Whit- 
croft, who were both born in that same 
county, and lived and died in Ireland. They 
were members of the Church of England. 
Mrs. Cowan was the only daughter and was 
given a fair education in the Irish schools. 
She left Ireland with her husband while her 
parents were still living. One son, Thomas, 
remained in Ireland, is married, has a fam 
ily and lives on his father s old homestead. 
William, the oldest son, married Miss Eliza 
Bags, of Ireland, and settled on a farm 
there, where it is supposed he is still living; 
his two sons, Henry and William, are mer 
chants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

A\ illiam Cowan and his wife came to 
Canada from Belfast, via Quebec, and were 
live weeks on the voyage. They had left 
their eldest child, a (laughter, in Ireland, 
but brought with them their son. Landing 
in Canada without a dollar, both parents 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



were obliged to strain every nerve to secure 
a footing in this new land. The wife, with 
her son, remained in London, and worked 
for different families there, while Mr. 
Cowan went to Plainfield, New Jersey. For 
six years the two worked thus apart, al 
ways hoping and toiling for a home together 
in the future. At the end of that time they 
had earned sufficient means, to buy bush 
land in Brooke township, and there the re 
united couple began their years of farming. 
Mr. Cowan cleared that property and de 
veloped it and then later another farm in 
Enniskillen. This second purchase was the 
present homestead in Concession 6, Lot 7, 
situated west of Petrolia ; this also was wild 
land and Mr. Cowan once more began the 
arduous task of clearing it. The work has 
long since been accomplished, substantial 
buildings have been erected and it is one of 
the large and well cultivated farms of the 
township. Mr. Cowan still owns the former 
place, although in 1899 he and his wife de 
cided to leave that home and reside with 
their son Samuel on the other farm. 

Nine children have been born to Will 
iam and Ellen Cowan, (i) Eliza, the eldest, 
did not join her parents in Canada till she 
was a young lady. She married George 
Large, of England, and now lives in Sanilac 
County, Michigan. She has three children, 
Lula, Charles H. and John R. (2) Margaret 
died in Ireland in childhood. (3) Frank, 
born in Ireland in 1855. died in 1901. (4) 
John A., born in Canada in 1861, married 
Miss Louisa Smith, of Canada, and settled 
at Inwood. There she died, leaving three 
children, Elva E., Flossie A. and Maud E. 
(deceased), who were taken into their 
grandparents home. (5) W. Henry, born 
in Enniskillen in 1864, died in 1901, on the 
same day as his brother Frank. Both had 
most promising careers open before them 
and left many warm friends. (6) Sarah A., 
born in 1866, is the wife of Thomas Bailey, 
of Concession 4. Enniskillen, and has one 
daughter, Ellen J. (7) David Samuel, 
1868, is unmarried and the owner of the 
farm in Concession 6, where he has the care 



of his aged parents. (8) Thomas died in 
childhood. 

\Yilliam Cowan is a member of the Pres 
byterian Church, but his wife was brought 
up under the teachings of the Church 
of England, and still remains a member of 
that denomination. Politically Mr. Cowan 
is a Conservative, and fraternally belongs 
to the order of Orangemen, Brigden lodge. 
This aged couple have seen many trials dur 
ing their long married life, endured separa 
tion from each other in addition to ceaseless 
labor, and have suffered the loss of two sons 
in the very prime of their lives, but their 
courage and energy, their perseverance 
through all discouragements, have never 
failed, and have now brought them to a 
serene old age, surrounded with every evi 
dence of material success and brightened by 
the affection not only of their children but 
of a large circle of warm and devoted 
friends. 

McINTYRE. The Mclntyre family of 
Bosanquet township, now represented by 
Duncan and Dugal Furgeson. Mclntyre, 
men of sterling worth and noted for their in 
dustry and honesty and high moral char 
acter, was founded in Canada by Dugal 
Mclntyre, the father of Duncan and Dugal 
F., and a man whose life and character is 
worthy of record. 

Dugal Mclntyre was a native of the 
parish of Carmichael, in Argyllshire, Scot 
land, a son of John, who was a farmer, and 
who died there. Dugal Mclntyre grew to 
manhood in his native home, and learned 
there the trade of wheelwright, which he 
worked at as a journeyman. There he mar 
ried Margaret Furgeson. and they had two 
children born to them in their native coun 
try, Duncan and John. Seeing little pros 
pect of making a comfortable living for him 
self and family in Scotland, Dugal Mcln 
tyre decided to turn to the Xew World, and 
left his home and fatherland in. 1843 on the 
sailing vessel "Marlin." Sailing from 
Greenock, after a long passage of over nine 
weeks the little bark landed at Quebec, but 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



679 



during the voyage across the Atlantic, Mr. 
Mclntyre s infant son, John., died, and was 
buried in mid-ocean. Making their way by 
water from Quebec, the family landed at 
Hamilton, and from there traveled by 
wagon to Elgin County, locating in the 
township of Dunwich, where Mr. Mclntyre 
purchased a tract of land, upon which one 
year was spent. Disposing of this land, Mr. 
Mclntyre removed his family to Middlesex 
County, locating in Lobo township, where 
he started into pioneer life, buying a tract 
of 100 acres of bush land on which was sit 
uated a little log cabin, which served as the 
family home. Here Mr. Mclntyre farmed 
for seventeen years. He was a hard worker 
and finally succeeded in clearing up his 
farm, which he sold in 1861. In that year 
he located in Lambton County, on Lot 54, 
Lake road west, on a tract of 165 acres, 
which he had purchased of the Canada Land 
Company at $3 per acre. The farm was all 
bush and Mr. Mclntyre had to cut down the 
timber to enable him to erect a little log 
shanty. With the help of his sons he was 
enabled to clear up his farm, and to make 
improvements, and he later built a larger 
house of hewn logs. Mr. Mclntyre spent 
the remainder of his life upon the farm, dy 
ing in 1880 at the age of seventy-three 
years, and he was laid to rest in Ravens- 
wood cemetery. He was a stanch Liberal, 
but was no office seeker. He attended the 
Presbyterian Church at Ravenswood. His 
devoted wife followed him to the grave in 
1891, aged seventy-seven, and was laid be 
side him at Ravenswood. Mrs. Mclntyre 
was also an attendant of the Presbyterian 
Church at that place. The children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre in Canada were: 
Edward, who was drowned in Michigan and 
was buried at Ravenswood; Neil, a farmer 
of Bosanquet township, who died there; 
Nancy and Margaret, who died in young 
womanhood; Archibald, who died in Bosan 
quet township ; Dugal Furgeson ; Elizabeth; 
and three children who died in infancy. 

DUNCAN MC!NTYRE, the eldest of the 
family now living, was born in Argyllshire, 



Dec. 3, 1839, and was still in childhood 
when he came with his parents to Canada. 
He attended school in Lobo township, Mid 
dlesex County, where his father had settled, 
and there he grew up, working on the farm 
with his father. On locating in Bosanquet 
township he continued to help his father un 
til he started in farming for himself in 1874, 
on his present farm of 100 acres in the i3th 
Concession of Bosanquet township, at Kin- 
ard. Here he has farmed for the past thirty- 
one years, and has also dealt successfully in 
stock. He erected a brick house and barns 
and made other extensive improve 
ments on the farm, and added fifty 
acres to the original purchase. With 
the help of his son he is now operat 
ing 150 acres of Bosanquet s best land. Mr. 
Mclntyre is a man of the strictest integrity. 
Of a quiet disposition, he is honest and hon 
orable, domestic in his tastes and temperate 
in his habits, and he is very well known and 
highly respected. He is a stanch Liberal, 
but takes no more than a good citizen s in 
terest in politics. He is connected with the 
Ravenswood Presbyterian Church, and was 
one of the organizers of the church in this 
section. 

Mr. Mclntyre married in Bosanquet 
township, in November, 1864, Jane Mcln- 
tire, a native of Yarmouth, Elgin County, 
daughter of Dugal Mclntire, a na 
tive of Scotland and an old pioneer of 
both Yarmouth, and of Bosanquet town 
ship, in which latter place he died. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Mclntyre have been born two 
children, Mary Ann and John Edward, both 
at Home. Mrs. Mclntyre is a woman of 
domestic tastes, and is a devoted wife and 
mother and a true Christian woman. After 
suffering for years with ill health, she finally 
lost her eyesight, but great as is her afflic 
tion, she bears her trouble patiently, and with 
that Christian fortitude for which she is 
noted. 

Dl GAL FURGESOX MclXTYRE, the 

younger brother of Duncan, who now oper 
ates the homestead, was bnrn in the town 
ship of Lobo, Middlesex County. Oct. i, 



68o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1854, and was but a child when the family 
removed to Bosanquet township. There 
he attended the district schools and attended 
to his farm duties, having been engaged in 
agricultural pursuits since boyhood. He 
was but seventeen years of age when he took 
charge of the homestead, which he worked 
with good results. After the death of his 
father he continued to operate the farm, and 
to take care of his aged mother. Since that 
time Mr. Mclntyre has added fifty more 
acres to it. and the entire property is well 
cultivated and tiled. He erected a fine brick 
duelling in 1884, which he lost by fire. This 
he replaced by a large frame house. In 1900 
he also lost his barn and its contents by fire, 
caused by being struck by lightning, and re 
sulting in a loss of $2,000. His barn he 
also rebuilt. Mr. Mclntyre is a good farmer 
and cattle dealer, and is considered one of 
the substantial business men of the town 
ship. He married Feb. 14, 1893, in Bosan 
quet township, Anna Belle McGill, daughter 
of Peter McGill. Mrs. Mclntyre, like her 
husband, is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, which they attend at Ravenswood. 
Four children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Mclntyre : Margaret Isabel ; Jennie 
Elizabeth; Archibald, who died at the age 
of two and one-half years; and Duncan 
Xeil. 

Mr. Mclntyre has always been a stanch 
Liberal, and has served in the township coun 
cil from the 3d ward for six years, being 
elected in 1899, and serving ever since. He 
was deputy reeve for one session, and sat 
in the county council. During his term of 
office Mr. Mclntyre worked hard and took 
a deep interest in the drainage of the town 
ship and other like public necessities. He 
served as school trustee of school section 
Xo. 8, for one term and has held minor 
offices. Fraternally be affiliates with the A. 
F. & A. M., Cassia Lodge, of Thedford, 
and the K. O. T. M., of Ravenswood. lie 
is a member of the East Lambton Farmers 
Institute, and also belongs to the Union 
Agricultural Society of Forest, in which lie 
has been a director. 



JAMES KELLY. Among the sturdy 
pioneers of western Ontario, Mr. James 
Kelly, of Sarnia, Lambton County, enjoys 
the distinction of being one of the oldest 
business men of his city. He has seen the 
country develop almost from its primitive 
state to the flourishing province it now is. 

Mr. Kelly comes of North of Ireland 
parentage, his father, William Kelly, hav 
ing been born in the Emerald Isle about 
1780. When old enough he joined the Eng 
lish army in which he served for many years. 
He was twice married, and his second wife, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Flintoft, 
was the mother of James Kelly. She was 
an aunt of Sheriff James Flintoft, of 
Lambton County. About 1816 William 
Kelly, while still in the English army, came 
to Ontario, being stationed at Prescott, 
where he met and married Miss Flintoft. 
Later he was transferred to Quebec, whence 
in 1833 he returned to England to secure 
his discharge, but upon his arrival he was 
taken sick and died, and his remains were 
laid to rest in his native land. To William 
Kelly and wife were born the following chil 
dren : Christopher, deceased, who was for 
many years in the lumber business in Lan 
ark County ; James ; Philip, who died 
young; Hannah, widow of Carr Thompson, 
of Perth; and Robert, engaged in the fruit 
growing business, at Beamsville, Ontario. 

James Kelly was born at Prescott, Out., 
Oct. 27. 1822. After the death of his father 
his mother settled in Perth, where James 
grew to manhood, being" educated in the 
public schools of that community. In 1851 
he came to Sarnia and for three years was 
engaged in the clothing and tailoring busi 
ness. At the expiration of this time an 
opening appeared at Oil Springs, where he 
located, and carried on a general merchan 
dise and oil business, being very successful. 
After five years he sold his interests and re 
turned to Sarnia, resuming mercantile bus 
iness, in which he continued until 1871. At 
this time he disposed of his business, and 
for a short period was in the Northwest. 
After returning once more to Sarnia he en- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



68 1 



gaged in a grocery business of which he dis 
posed advantageously, after building it up 
to large proportions, and turned his atten 
tion to a confectionery business. This he 
later sold to MacKenzie Bros., but retained 
the building in which it was located. In 
1898 Air. Kelly purchased his present resi 
dence on George and Mitton streets, and 
here he now conducts a confectionery busi 
ness, being so active that he is not Content 
to rest from business life, but must still be 
engaged in some pursuit. As he is very ex 
pert in this special line, his goods are in 
great demand by those who know and appre 
ciate their excellence. 

Before leaving Perth, Mr. Kelly was 
married, in 1844,10 Miss Margaret Dudgeon, 
a native of Ireland, who was born about 1823 
and died at Sarnia in 1893. Nine children 
were born to this union : "William Henry, a 
landowner of the Northwest; Annie Maria, 
of Sarnia; Alfred, deceased: Alex., a busi 
ness man of Sarnia, who married Ada Hark- 
ness ; Robert, of Seattle, Washington, a 
printer; Alma, who is the wife of H. E. 
Alexander, of Detroit, and has one son, 
Thomas ; John ; James, deceased ; and Fred, 
of Seattle. 

Politically Mr. Kelly is a Conservative. 
His religious home is in the Methodist 
Church, of which he has been a member for 
many years. Although Mr. Kelly is over 
eighty years of age he is wonderfully hale 
and retains his faculties to a remarkable de 
gree. His accounts of the early days of the 
Dominion are very entertaining, and Sarnia 
is justly proud of this sturdy man, who has 
made the city his home for so many years, 
and done much toward its development and 
advancement. His friends are numerous 
and he is revered and esteemed by them, as 
well as by his children and their children, 
and his old age is made happy by the love of 
his descendants. 

JOHN FERGUSON, farmer, stock 
raiser and dairyman of Plympton township, 
County of Lambton, member of the Plymp 
ton board of councillors, and one of the best 



known citizens in this locality, was born 
May 23, 1859. 

Alexander Ferguson, father of our sub 
ject, was born at Market Hill, East Kilbride, 
Lanarkshire, Scotland, June 9, 1808, a son 
of Malcolm Ferguson, a native of the same 
place. The latter was a member of the 42nd 
Highland regiment, one thousand strong, 
which fought at the battle of Waterloo, un 
der Wellington, in which historic fight, this 
regiment lost 700 gallant soldiers. After 
this battle the remaining members of this 
noble regiment were given their discharge. 
Later, Mr. Ferguson went to England, and 
there his life closed. Malcolm Ferguson 
was twice married, first to Ann Smith, who 
died when her son Alexander was an infant. 

Alexander Ferguson was taken by his 
maternal grandmother who reared him to 
the age of fifteen years, when he came to 
Canada with his uncle, James Smith, locat 
ing in Ramsay township, County of Lanark, 
Out., with whom he remained until 1825, 
when he learned the trade of carpenter. After 
becoming an expert in this craft he learned 
the trade of ship joiner and worked at it un 
til 1850, in the meantime spending a short 
time at Oswego, New York. In 1850 he 
came with his family to the County of Lamb- 
ton, locating at Errol, on Lake Huron, in 
Plympton township, where he established 
his family and worked at his trade at vari 
ous points, one of these being Newport, now 
Marine City, Michigan, where he spent five 
years working in the ship yards. In 1853 
lie turned his attention to farming and set 
tled in Concession 8, Lot 3, where he erected 
a house, and, assisted by his son, became one 
of the substap .al men of Plympton town 
ship, owning a farm of 120 acres. On this 
farm he died in March, 1887, aged seventy- 
nine years, and was buried in the Errol 
cemetery. For many years he was an ad 
herent of the Presbyterian Church, which he 
attended at Camlachie. Politically he was 
a strong Conservative. His public and pri 
vate life were without a stain, and he was 
honored and respected wherever known. 

In 1842. at Brockville, Ont., Mr. Fer- 



682 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



guson married Marian Smith, born in Scot 
land, daughter of William Smith, a native 
of Scotland, who came to Canada and 
settled in the County of Lanark. Later he 
moved to Ingersoll and still later to Plymp- 
ton township, where he subsequently died. 
Mrs. Ferguson died on the farm in Novem 
ber, 1901, aged eighty years, and was in 
terred in the cemetery at Errol. She also 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Their children were : Alexander, a lumber 
manufacturer at Oil Springs; Jane, widow 
of John Griff, of Sarnia; William, who 
sailed on the lakes several years and finally 
drifted out of the knowledge of his family; 
Malcolm, a publisher at Avonmore, Stor- 
mount County, Ont., formerly the publisher 
of Public Opinion at Bridgen, Ont.; John, 
of this sketch; and Janet, Isabella and El- 
nora, who still reside on the old homestead. 

John Ferguson attended the public 
schools of his township, and has remained 
on the home farm. He is interested in gen 
eral farming on his portion of the home 
stead, sixty acres, to which he has added 
twenty-seven more, and he also carries on 
dairying and stock raising. 

In 1900 Mr. Ferguson was elected a 
member of the township council and was 
afterward re-elected by acclamation until 
1905, when he was defeated. During his 
connection with public affairs he has been 
able to bring about many improvements and 
is valued for his devotion to public interests. 
Fraternally Mr. Ferguson is a member of 
the A. F. & A. M. ; the K. O. T. M., and the 
Sons of Scotland, of Sarnia. 

MRS. JOHN NELSON, the owner of 
a large farm in Enniskillen township. Lot 
12, Concession 14, is one of the widely- 
known residents of that section, where she 
has lived ever since her first marriage. She 
was born in Kingston, Ont., March 16, 
1843, daughter of James and Ann (Patter 
son) McMahan. 

James McMahan was the eldest son of 
John and Elizabeth (Moran) McMahan, 
of Ireland. The parents came to Ontario 
and settled on a farm near Kingston, where 



the father died. One son, John, lived on a 
farm in Plympton township and there died. 
James was born in Ireland in 1812, grew 
up in Canada, and early learned the trade 
of a ship carpenter, which he followed until 
1846, when he moved to Cobourg and 
bought a farm. In 1860 he sold the prop 
erty and purchased another farm near Pe- 
trolia, but after living there a short time he 
sold that also and settled on wild land in 
Concession 12, Moore township, which lie 
cleared and made into a permanent home. 
James McMahan married, in 1838 or 183!), 
Miss Ann Patterson, who was born in Ire 
land in 1819. Her parents, John and Ann 
Patterson, migrated to Canada, and settled 
near Kingston, where they died leaving six 
children, all now deceased. They all mar 
ried and lived near Kingston, and there some 
of their children still reside. James Mc 
Mahan and his wife were both members of 
the Church of England, and politically he 
was a Conservative. His death occurred in 
1873, and his wife s in 1883. 

The children born to James and Ann 
McMahan numbered ten, nine of whom grew 
up: (i) William, born at Kingston, mar 
ried Mary Armstrong, of Enniskillen town 
ship, and resides in Plympton township, a 
prosperous farmer and stock dealer. He 
has no children. (2) Annie, Mrs. Nelson, 
was the next child. (3) Maria died while 
a young lady. (4) John A., born at Kings 
ton, married Miss O Neil, of Lambton Coun 
ty, and lives on a farm in Enniskillen town 
ship. They have five children, Alice, Mag 
gie. Robert, Cora and William. (=;) Thomas 
torn in Kingston, resides in Enniskillen 
township, and is a widower with ten chil 
dren, Mabel, Sidney. Thomas, Pearl, James, 
Arthur, Ella, Wallace, Gertrude and Myrtle. 
(6) Helen, born in Cobourg. married (first) 
Malcolm McNaughton, of Plympton town 
ship, and had three children, James. Jennie 
and William. After Mr. McNaughton s 
death she married William English, of Pe- 
trolia. They have no children. (7) Hen 
rietta, torn at Cobourg, is the wife of John 
S. McKenzie. of Lambton County. They 
have no family. (8) Frederick, born in 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



685 



Cobourg, married Miss Lizzie Elliott, of 
Moore township, and they live on his fa 
ther s old homestead. They have five chil 
dren, Lena, Annie, Charles, Grace and 
James. (9) Augustus, horn at Cobourg, 
married Miss Isabella Forbes, of Moore 
township, and they live there, on a part of 
the old homestead; they are the parents of 
five children, Gladys, Helen, Willie, Har 
vey and Bruce. 

Annie McMahan grew to womanhood at 
Cobourg and was educated in the schools 
there. In 1864 she was married to William 
Dunlop. of Plympton, and they settled just 
on the town line of Enniskillen. There Mr. 
Dunlop died in 1871, leaving his wife with 
three children, namely : Minnie, born in 
Enniskillen, who married John L. Gardner, 
of Sarnia, and has five children, Jettie, Will- 
iam, Jean, Robert and Olive; Elizabeth, 
who is the wife of George McFedron, of 
Moore township, and has two sons, William 
and Frank ; and Lena, born in Moore town 
ship, who married David Richardson, 
of Plympton township, but has no 
children. In 1879 Mrs. Dunlop mar 
ried John Xelson, a prosperous oil pro 
ducer of Petrolia, of Irish birth. They 
settled on the present homestead, formerly 
the property of William Dennis, where in 
1892 Mr. Nelson erected a large brick 
house, and he also put up commodious barns 
and other necessary buildings. There they 
lived happily until Mr. Nelson s death, Aug. 
8, 1894. Mr. Nelson had been for many 
years a stanch Presbyterian, while in politics 
he was a Conservative. He was a man very 
highly esteemed by all, and his death was 
deeply regretted. Mrs. Nelson was left with 
two children by her second marriage : Miss 
Henrietta, at home ; and Augustus, unmar 
ried, who manages his mother s farm. Mrs. 
Nelson is also a member of the Presbyterian 
Church and is one of its faithful workers. 
She is a woman of most estimable character, 
and commands the respect and admiration 
of those who know her. The family has 
always been a prominent one in Enniskillen 
township. 



ROBERT LAWR1E CRAISE, who 
departed this life at his late residence in Pe 
trolia street, Petrolia, Jan. 26, 1901, was 
one of the most highly respected citizens of 
that place, which had been his home since 
1866. Mr. Craise was a native of Stanford 
township, Welland County, Out., where he 
was born March 12, 1847. He was a son 
of Adam and Eliza (Lawrie) Craise. 

Robert L. Craise received his literary 
training in the public schools of his native 
county and after spending a few years with 
his uncle. Robert Lawrie, at St. Catharines, 
Mr. Craise traveled extensively in the States, 
and in 1866 settled in Petrolia, and there 
after devoted himself to the interests of that 
city. At the time of his location there, the 
place had only been chartered five years, so 
that he aided in its development almost from 
the very first. During the Fenian Raid, Mr. 
C raise was a member of the Horse Guard. 
His settlement in Petrolia was about the time 
that oil was discovered in its vicinity, and 
Mr. Craise became connected with the West 
ern Canada Oil Co., now the Ontario Land 
and Oil Co., and superintended the laying 
of the pipeline for that concern, being very 
proficient in that class of work. His suc 
cess with their line was highly appreciated 
by the firm, who always held him in high 
est esteem, and he was always regarded as a 
man of strictest probity and ability. 

On Oct. 25, 1871, Mr. Craise and Miss 
Clara H. Boyce were united in marriage. 
She is a daughter of William and Annie 
(Cramp) Boyce, early settlers of Petrolia. 
Mr. Boyce was born in England and his 
widow who still survives, was born in the 
same country in 1820. Six children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Craise : Clara 
Lawrie is at home; Robert, an oil producer 
of Leamington, Out., married Maggie Raw- 
lings; Lawrie, of Petrolia, succeeded to his 
father s business connections with the On 
tario Land & Oil Co., which speaks well for 
both father and son ; Oliver is now attend 
ing the Toronto University ; John is an oil 
producer of Leamington ; and Lottie is at 
home. 



68 4 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Craise \vas a man who took a deep 
interest in educational matters, and while a 
resident of Petrolia served on the school 
board. In politics he was a Reformer. His 
religious affiliations were with the Presby 
terian Church. Fraternally he was a mem 
ber of the I. O. O. F. for many years. Mr. 
C raise s long residence in Petrolia made him 
well acquainted with almost all the people, 
and he had the best interests of the city at 
heart. In his death Petrolia lost one of its 
most highly esteemed citizens, and his family 
a devoted husband and kind and indulgent 
father. 

THOMAS GOVENLOCK, one of the 
highly respected men of Bosanquet town 
ship, and one of its most successful agricul 
turists, was born Nov. 29, 1829, in Rox 
burghshire, Scotland, a son of John and 
Jane (Flowers) Govenlock. 

John Govenlock, the father, was also a 
native of Scotland, where he was a farmer 
and plowman. He there married Jane 
Flowers, and they had four children, name 
ly : Thomas, of this sketch; Mary, wife of 
Andrew Davidson, who met his death 
through accident in this township; Adam, 
who also died from the effects of an acci 
dent ; and John, who died of smallpox in 
infancy. 

In 1837 the parents and their four chil 
dren left their Scottish home for the Do 
minion of Canada, sailing from the port of 
Annan for Liverpool and thence for Quebec. 
The frail little sailing vessel finally reached 
that port after eight weeks and two days on 
the ocean, during which time smallpox had 
broken out on board and all the Govenlock 
family fell victims to the dread disease. The 
infant son died of this sickness and his little 
body was consigned to the sea. The father 
did not recover and died at quarantine on 
Goose Island, where the unfortunate family 
was obliged to stay for ten long weeks in the 
hospital. This was a very sad entrance into 
the land toward which they had started with 
such high hopes. Even after they were per 
mitted to leave Goose Island a very cheerless 



future faced the widow and her three father 
less children. 

That Mrs. Govenlock was a woman of 
more than ordinary force of character, her 
whole subsequent life proved and it was 
shown by her immediate resolve to make a 
home for herself and children through her 
own efforts. Her little means served to 
transport them by boat to Hamilton and then 
by wagon to Westminster township, Mid 
dlesex County. That whole expanse of 
country was one vast wilderness, without 
dwellings, bridges or even roads, and far 
and wide few traces of civilization could be 
seen. The whole of the western country 
was then in turmoil on account of the Will 
iam Logan McKenzie Rebellion, which 
lasted for some two years. 

It would seem as if everything conspired 
to make conditions unusually hard for the 
lonely mother and little ones. She selected 
a home right in the woods, buying one-third 
of a 200-acre tract then owned by three 
brothers by the name of Wilson, of which 
four acres had been cleared and here she 
went to w ork bravely. She hired a man to 
chop down the trees and then began the 
clearing of a farm, while in a couple of 
years she was assisted by her good children. 
As years of hardship and toil passed, peace 
and comfort finally came as their result and 
she lived to see her little farm productive 
and valuable, and many more acres added 
with substantial improvements of all kinds. 
Her boys had grown to noble manhood in 
spite of the hardships under which they 
grew up and have been a credit to a mother 
who was one in a thousand. The sons added 
to the farm until they had 300 acres of well 
cultivated land, which in later years was 
owned by her son Adam. This son died 
from accidentally falling from a tree and his 
remains were laid away at Pond Mills in 
Westminster County. The mother made her 
home with her grandchildren, where her 
beautiful, helpful life closed in 1883, at the 
advanced age of ninety-five years, and she 
\vas buried in the Pond Mills cemetery. She 
was a true Christian woman, a consistent 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



685 



member of the Presbyterian Church. The 
good influences of such a character and the 
records of such a noble self-sacrificing life 
are not lost in her death. 

1 liomas Govenluck was but seven years 
old when he crossed the Atlantic ocean with 
his parents and suffered with the rest of the 
family. He was old enough to remember 
many of the dreadful details. Being the 
eldest of the family, he was the one to give 
his mother the most assistance and helped 
as far as his strength would permit to found 
the home in the Canadian forests. He was 
a pupil in the first school at Pond Mills in 
Westminster township, but his schooling- 
was limited as the clearing and cultivating 
of sixty-six acres of bush and forest land 
was no light task. The time came, however, 
when he was able to buy another sixty-six 
acre tract adjoining the homestead and with 
the help of his brother Adam, this land also 
was cleared up. They worked jointly to 
put it under cultivation and erected a good 
frame house, barns and other necessary 
buildings. 

Mr. Govenlock remained there until 
1870, when he sold his part of the farm to 
his brother Adam and came west to Lamb- 
ton County, locating on Lot 6, Concession 
13, in Bosanquet township. Here he bought 
1 50 acres of land, fifty of which are on Con 
cession 14, Lot 6, and here he settled down 
to make a home. His main business has 
been farming and stock raising and he has 
met with great success. His son John now 
operates the west fifty acres of the farm, 
where he has put up a comfortable home and 
good buildings. The name Govenlock is 
held in high esteem in the township, repre 
senting not only first class agriculturists but 
honorable and upright men. Mr. Govenlock 
has a fine home here which he constructed 
himself, having done considerable carpenter 
work while living in Westminster township. 
Thomas Govenlock was married in W r est- 
minster township in 1857 to Mary Hare, 
born in that township, daughter of William 
Hare, who was a native of Argyllshire, 
Scotland, and a pioneer of Westminster 
township. Mrs. Govenlock is greatly de 



voted to her home and family, and is a good 
Christian woman. She belongs to the Bap 
tist Church, which she attends at Forest. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Govenlock have been born the 
following children : Jenet, deceased wife 
of James Frayne, of Forest; Jane, deceased 
wite of Joseph Hendell; Agnes, who mar 
ried Arthur Gannon and resides in Sarnia; 
U illiam, who resides in Manitoba; John, a 
farmer; and Robert, who died in infancy. 

In his political belief Mr. Govenlock is 
a stanch Reformer. He is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., of Forest. Although lib 
eral in his religious belief, Mr. Govenlock 
is a man of temperate habits, and strong 
morals. He is very well known in the com 
munity and very highly respected. 

HUGH WALKER a prosperous 
fanner of Plympton township, residing on 
the 1 4th Concession, was born in Metcalfe 
township, County of Middlesex, Out, Feb. 
->/, 1843, son of Archibald and Sarah 
(Leach) Walker, both natives of Argyll 
shire, Scotland, who come to Canada about 
1831, locating in the County of Middlesex, 
where they spent the remainder of their 
lives. Their parents were among the pio 
neer settlers of that county, locating there 
when the entire county was covered with a 
dense forest. 

Archibald Walker was a son of James 
and Nancy Walker. Sarah Leach was a 
daughter of Hugh L. and Sarah Leach. To 
Archibald Walker and wife were born the 
following children : Isabella, deceased, mar 
ried Neil Campbell; Hugh L. ; Jane mar 
ried John McElwaine; Sarah, deceased, 
married Donald McAlpine; Nancy is the 
widow of Malcolm McLaughlin ; Colin; 
William; Miza married James McBridle; 
and John H. The father of this family died 
m December, 1882,. while the mother died 
m 1903, at an advanced age. 

Hugh L. Walker acquired his education 
m the old log school house of his native 
township, and spent his early life upon the 
homestead farm, learning the lessons of 
thrift and industry, which were to prove of 
so much material benefit to him later on in 



686 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



life. In 1869, he purchased a farm of 129 
acres in Plympton township, it being the 
east three-quarters of Lot 24. i^th Conces 
sion, and moved upon it the following year. 
For thirty-five years he has been a contin 
uous resident of the township, and improved 
his property until it ranks among the best 
farms in the County of Lambton. 

Mr. Walker was married at Arkona, 
Ont., June 20, 1872, to Rachel Elizabeth 
Bell, a daughter of James and Ann (Stone- 
house) Bell, and to this union have been 
born five children : Henrietta, deceased ; 
John ; Lena ; Edith, deceased ; Ethel. The 
family all attend the Presbyterian Church, 
and are accounted among the leading people 
of Plympton. 

ROBERT CLARK, a well-known 
farmer of Enniskillen township, owning 
property in Lot 24, Concession n, is of 
Scotch descent, born in Perthshire, Scot 
land, Jan. n, 1842, to Robert and Jeanette 
(Hutton) Clark. 

Robert Clark, Sr., and his wife were 
also natives of Scotland, and remained in 
that country for a number of years, after 
their marriage. In 1850 they took the voy 
age to Canada via Quebec, and at first set 
tled at Dover, but later they moved to Mid 
dlesex County and made their permanent 
home near Metcalfe, where Mr. Clark 
cleared a farm. His wife died there in 1871 
and he thereafter made his home with his son 
Robert until he himself passed away in June, 
1882. In their religious belief they were 
Presbyterians, and politically Mr. Clark 
was a Conservative. Of the seven children 
born to them, Robert was the sixth; Jean 
ette the oldest, born in 1832, married Peter 
McKay and settled at Port Ronner, Ont., 
where they both died, leaving a family; Isa 
bella, 1834, married the late John Bowie, of 
Middlesex County, who died leaving her 
with a family; John, 1836, married Miss 
Frances Marr, of Middlesex County, and 
they now reside in Coleman, Michigan with 
their three children, Robert. Jane and John ; 
Jane, 1838, is the wife of Sylvester Moore, 
of Middlesex County, and has five children, 



William, Jane, David, Peter and Caroline; 
-Mary, 1840, married the late James Emer- 
ich, of Metcalfe, by whom she had three 
children, Priscilla, Maria and John ; James, 
1844, married Miss Elizabeth Brown, of 
Middlesex County, has two daughters, 
Rachel and Emily, and lives on a farm in 
Concession 4, Enniskillen township. 

Robert Clark, who was only eight years 
old when the family came to Canada, re 
ceived most of his education in Port Dover. 
Although still in boyhood when his parents 
moved to Middlesex County, he worked on 
the farm from that time until he started out 
for himself. He remained in that same 
county for thirteen years after his marriage 
and then in 1879 bought wild land in En 
niskillen township, and moved thither. This 
place he has cleared and improved until now 
lie has 100 acres of well cultivated land, 
with two good barns on it and other smaller 
buildings. Mr. Clark s attention has been 
mainly concentrated on his farming opera 
tions, and he has taken little part in politics, 
although he has always voted the Conserva 
tive ticket. 

In May, 1865, Mr. Clark was married 
to Miss Nancy Boyd, of Middlesex County, 
born in September, 1845. She was the 
(laughter of Thomas and Charity ( Mc- 
Clain) Boyd. The parents were of old Can 
adian families, both born in Lower Canada, 
and they lived for many years in Middlesex 
County. Late in life, however, they moved 
to Blaine, Michigan, where they both died 
in their farm home. Their family was a 
large one, namely: Mary, wife of William 
Burdon; Sarah, widow of the late William 
Lucas : William, of London ; Robert, of Illi 
nois ; Ellen, Mrs. James Dowling, of Chi 
cago; John of St. Louis; Laura, Mrs. Henry 
Howe, of London; Thomas, of Chicago; 
Evelyn, wife of Thomas Johnston, of Port 
Huron, Michigan; Marion, wife of Alexan 
der Young, of Blaine, Michigan ; and 
Xancy, Mrs. Robert Clark. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of a 
family of ten surviving children; two. by 
name Cora and John, died in childhood. The 
oldest, Isabella, born in 1866, still lives at 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



687 



home, unmarried; Robert H. (1867) is un 
married and is a railroad man in Detroit, 
also owning a farm in Enniskillen township; 
Charity (1869) married William Black- 
stock, a well-to-do Enniskillen farmer, and 
has two children, James and Cora ; Thomas 
(1871) unmarried, is the owner of a farm 
in Enniskillen township; John (1873) is 
likewise a farmer in that section; James S. 
(1875) married Miss Florence Lett, of 
Brooke, resides in Petrolia, and has two chil 
dren, Bertha R., and James H. ; Henry W. 
(1876), David L. (1878), Myrtle M. 
(1880) and Charles W. (1889), are all at 
home, unmarried. 

Mr. Clark and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Church and have always been 
active in its work, the former serving- as 
steward. Mrs. Clark is a woman of the 
truest Christian spirit and a thorough Bible 
student, unusually well versed in Scriptural 
literature. Her husband is also one of the 
most worthy and deserving citizens of the 
County, who has bravely made his own way 
in the world and come through all the hard 
ships of pioneer life to his present position 
of assured comfort. Politically he is a Con 
servative. 

JOHN OVAXS. Among the farmers 
who have clone so much to develop the re 
sources of Lambton County, is John Ovans, 
a native of Chateauguay County, where he 
was born near Montreal, July 30, 1839, the 
son of David and Jane (Blackburn) Ovans, 
and a member of an old Canadian family. 

The paternal grandfather, Thomas 
Ovans, was a Scotchman, who immigrated 
to Canada and settled near Montreal, where 
he remained until he died. David, the only 
son who lived to grow up, was born in the 
old country, at Roxburghshire. His wife was 
horn east of Montreal, and after marriage 
they settled there in Chateauguay County, 
where he cleared his land and made a per 
manent- home for his family. He died in 
1853, but his wife survived till 1894, when 
she passed away, aged ninety-three. They 
were Presbyterians in their religious belief. 
Politically Mr. Ovans was a Reformer and 



very active in local affairs. The nine chil 
dren torn to him and his wife were: (i) 
Thomas, a retired farmer of Ormstown, 
Chateauguay County, where he lives with 
his wife and family: (2) James, who 
moved when a young man to Portage coun 
ty. Wisconsin, where he married, settled on 
a farm and has four children: (3) Janet, 
the wife of James Harley, of Petrolia, and 
the mother of twelve children : (4) David, 
who resides on the old homestead with his 
wife and seven children; (5) John; (6) 
Agnes, born in 1841, the wife of the late 
John Barr, of Chateauguay, and the mother 
of Robert, David and James; (7) Jane, 
born in 1843, w ^ e of Arthur Douglas, of 
Elmo, Perth County, by whom she had a 
large family: (8) William, 1845, living on 
Concession n, who married (first) Miss 
Euphemia Swinton of Lambton County, by 
whom he had five children, and (second) 
Miss Mackelroy, who died in 1902, leaving 
no children; (9) Charles, 1848, who mar 
ried and settled in Perth County, where his 
wife died, leaving four children. 

John Ovans attended school near Mon 
treal and received a fair education. From 
boyhood he worked on the farm and for a 
number of years after his father s death had 
charge of the place for his mother. After 
his marriage he left home and about 1870 
went to Petrolia. where he was employed in 
an oil refinery. He secured a part interest 
in some wells and also engaged in the pro 
duction of oil. In 1877 ne bought a tract 
of seventy-five acres of bush land in Con 
cession io, and once more took up the life 
of a farmer, clearing the land and erecting 
good building;, till he finally made it into 
one of the well-conducted and profitable 
farms of the township. His brother Will 
iam came to Enniskillen about the same time 
and cleared up another farm from wild land, 
su chat both had to undergo all the trials of 
a pioneer; but they overcame their difficul 
ties and by their own unaided efforts have 
reached their present positions of comfort 
and ease. It is to such courage and enter 
prise that Canada owes her development of 
today. 



688 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



On Christmas Day, 1869, Mr. Ovans 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Weather- 
stone, who was born in Chateauguay Coun 
ty, Sept. 14, 1840. Her parents, Robert and 
Dannie (Baird) Weatherstone came from 
Scotland and about 1820 settled in that part 
of Canada, one of the old pioneer families 
of the County. To this union of John and 
Elizabeth Ovans were born five daughters 
and a son. (i) Maria J., born in Chateau 
guay County in 1870, is the wife of Richard 
Johnstone, of Concession 8, Enniskillen, and 
has three children, William, Eva and Mary 
E. (2) Janet E., born in Petrolia in 1872, 
grew up at the homestead, is unmarried and 
is housekeeper for her uncle Charles. (3) 
Charles, born in Petrolia in 1875, is at home, 
a bachelor. (4) Isabella, born in Petrolia 
in 1877, married Byron Kimberley, a fanner 
in Dresden, and has two children, John and 
\\~allace. (5) Mary A., born at the present 
home in 1879, was educated in the district 
schools of Enniskillen, where she was grad 
uated in 1894. She is still at home. (6) 
Margaret, born in 1881, is a dressmaker 
in Petrolia. This whole family are con 
nected with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Ovans is a supporter of the political doc 
trines of the old Reform party. He is a man 
of admirable character in every respect, 
manly, honest, generous and hospitable, and 
has a large circle of warm friends. 

JAMES POTTER, a prominent farmer 
of Enniskillen, was born in Burford town 
ship, Brant County, Out., July 4, 1859, to 
John and Jane (Brown) Potter. 

John Potter was born in Ireland in 1828. 
His wife s parents, George and .Jeanette 
Brown, came from Scotland and settled in 
Burford township. John Potter came to 
this country when a young man. met and 
married Miss Brown, and made his home 
permanently in Burford township, where he 
cleared up wild land and made a good farm. 
There his wife died in 1874, and he after 
ward moved to Brigden, where he lived in 
retirement until his death, in June, 1892. A 
Conservative in politics, he was in religious 



faith a Presbyterian, as was also his wife, 
and they helped to found and support the 
Presbyterian Church of that section. Six 
children were born to them, as follows : ( I ) 
Eliza J., born in Brant Count} , Ont., mar 
ried Henry Virtue, and resides at her 
father s old home in Brant County. She 
has eight children, Jennie, Matthew, John, 
Allen, Xorman, Robert, Xellie and Clara. 
(2) James was the eldest son. (3) Thomas 
married Miss Ida Goring, of Lambton 
County, and has one daughter, Nellie. They 
reside on Concession 8, Enniskillen. (4) 
( ieorge is unmarried, and lives at Brigden. 
(5) David, a bachelor, owns a farm on the 
Moore town line. (6) Joseph married Miss 
Bertha Manning, Moore, resides there on 
his farm, and has three children, Jennie, 
Verna and Bertha. 

Mrs. Joseph Potter died at the home 
stead in February, 1904. John and Jane Pot 
ter were among the pioneer settlers of the 
county, and the hardships they encountered 
only made them more ready to help others 
along, so that they were held in the warmest 
esteem for their helpful, useful lives and for 
their perfect integrity and uprightness. 

James Brown grew up at the old home 
stead, received a fair education, and re 
mained at home for some time, helping to 
clear up his father s farm. In 1891 he pur 
chased his present home in Concession 8, 
Lot 10, and began life for himself. On 
Christmas Day of that year he brought to 
this home his bride, who was Miss Jessie 
Everett, born June 20, 1867, in Thames- 
ville, Kent County, where her parents, 
Thornton and Sarah Everett, were old set 
tlers. Thornton Everett was born Feb. 13, 
1827, his wife on Sept. 16, 1837, and they 
were the parents of the following named 
children : Susan, became the wife of Fred 
Lampman, a farmer of Sombra township, 
and had four children, Cyril, Hazel (de 
ceased), Orval and Ruby. Francis, who 
married Clara McFarland, and had one sun 
Vernon McF., died in 1902 in Moore town 
ship, where he was a farmer. Jessie is Mrs. 
Potter. Anna married William Hammond, 




i& 




COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



689 



of St. Clair, Michigan, and has one daugh 
ter, Thelma. 

Mr. and Mrs. Potter have made a fine 
place of their property, adding many im 
provements. They have had three children: 
Vida, born May 27, 1893; Ila, born Aug. 2, 
1898; and Doris, born Nov. 26, 1901. Re 
ligiously the family are Presbyterians, and 
politically Mr. Potter is a Conservative, but 
not an active participant in local affairs. He 
has made his own way in life, and has won 
his present comfortable and assured posi 
tion by his honesty and integrity. He is 
genial and kind-hearted, always ready to 
help the unfortunate in life, is a good citi 
zen, and a man highly respected by all who 
know him. 

WILLIAM JACKSON, a highly re 
spected citizen of Sarnia, is one of the best- 
known railroad men in western Ontario, 
having been connected with the Grand 
Trunk Company for more than a quarter of 
a century. He comes of a family of railroad 
men, his father and five brothers having 
been identified with that line of work during 
the greater part of their lives. 

Air. Jackson s family is of Irish extrac 
tion, and it was founded in Ontario by his 
father. \Yilliam Jackson, who was born in 
Ireland in 1819 and there married Maria 
Sloan, who also was a native of the Emer 
ald Isle. In 1842 they emigrated to On 
tario, locating at Fort Erie, where they lived 
for twenty-five years, Mr. Jackson acting as 
engineer of the Grand Trunk Ferry-boat 
between Fort Erie and Buffalo, New York, 
for the last twenty years. Prior to that he 
was a pilot on the lakes between Montreal 
and Toronto, Ont. He died in Fort Erie in 
1901, his widow, who was born in 1827, 
still surviving, a beloved member of her 
son s household. These parents reared a 
family of six sons, all of whom have been 
associated with railroad work, and all but 
William are married and have families. 
George A. is a Grand Trunk engineer, be 
tween Fort Erie and Buffalo ; Thomas is an 
engineer on the New York Central railroad ; 
William is mentioned below; James, who 

44 



was formerly a conductor on the Grand 
Trunk line, is engaged in farming in the 
Northwest ; Henry is an engineer on the 
Grand Trunk road, between Fort Erie and 
Buffalo ; Joseph is a clerk in the office of the 
Grand Trunk line, at Fort Erie. 

\\ illiam Jackson, of Sarnia, was born 
Feb. 16, 1856, at Fort Erie, Ont., and ob 
tained an excellent education in the schools 
in that vicinity. His entrance into business 
was in the capacity of a messenger boy in 
the office of the Grand Trunk Railroad Com 
pany, at Fort Erie, and he remained in that 
position for one year, after which he worked 
as yard switchman for one year. In 1880 he 
was placed in charge of one of the Grand 
Trunk freight trains, as conductor, running 
between Fort Erie and Stratford, and filled 
this position with efficiency until he was pro 
moted, in 1901, since which time he has op 
erated the Limited Express as conductor 
of the fastest and finest train belonging to 
the company. That he has attained so prom 
inent and responsible a position in the serv 
ice of the Grand Trunk shows that he not 
only possesses the necessary technical and 
practical knowledge of his business, but that 
his personal reliability has won him con 
fidence from the company and the public. 

Fraternally Mr. Jackson is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of 
the branch of the O. R. C. at Stratford. Po 
litically he adheres to the principles of the 
Conservative party. He is held in high es 
teem in Fort Erie and Sarnia, and his fam 
ily name is one of the best known in railroad 
circles in this locality, universally associated 
with careful and capable attention to duty. 

McCONNELL. The McConnell family 
has for over sixty years been identified with 
the growth and prosperity of Plympton 
township, members of the family being 
among the early settlers of that part of 
Lambton County. Plympton township ranks 
with the best in Ontario in point of indus 
try, intelligence and wealth, and owes its 
prosperity to the character of its original 
settlers. 

The McConnells are of Irish descent 



690 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and the first to come to America was James 
McConnell, father of John and William De 
Lap, who are mentioned below. James Mc 
Connell was born in County Armagh, and 
there passed his boyhood and early man 
hood, following the occupation of farming, 
as a tenant farmer. He married Abigail 
De Lap, also a native of County Armagh, 
whither her French ancestors had fled from 
religious and civil persecution in their na 
tive country. The De Laps were Hugue 
nots, and the McConnells are members of 
the Church of England. Mr. and Mrs. Mc 
Connell began their married life in Ireland, 
and there six of their seven children were 
born. In, 1844 the whole family left the 
country and sailed from Belfast on a vessel 
bound for Quebec, where they landed after 
a voyage of forty-five days. 

John De Lap. a brother of Mrs. McCon 
nell, had previously come to Canada, and 
settled in Plympton township, where he 
bought TOO acres of land for himself, and 
over 100 for Mr. McConnell, in Lot 7, Con 
cession 7, and to this home came the family 
and began their new life in a small log 
house. The country was very sparsely set 
tled at that time, there were no roads, no 
ditches, the land was swampy, and there 
were no schools. Mr. McConnell did 
not live to enjoy any benefits of the 
new life, but died after he had resided 
but a few months in Canada, having con- 
tracted fever and ague, and there being no 
physician within reach who might have 
saved his life, he died at the age of fifty- 
two, and was buried on the farm, as there 
was no burying ground in that new country. 
After the death of her husband Mrs. 
McConnell struggled along the best she 
could, trying to keep the children together 
and make a home. She suffered great hard 
ship and privation, but a mother s loving 
heart helped her through, and she lived to 
see her children grow up to a manhood and 
womanhood worthy of their parentage, and 
creditable to the community. She was a 
firm adherent of the Church of England, and 
gave her children the best of Christian train 
ing. She will long be remembered as a wo 



man of noble courage, an efficient worker 
and devoted mother, deserving a place in the 
annals of the pioneers of Plympton. She 
died at the age of seventy-two, and was 
buried in the Presbyterian Church ceme 
tery at Camlachie. 

The children of James and Abigail 
(De Lap) McConnell were as follows: ( r ) 
Joanna, who died in Leamington, Out, in 
February, 1905. married Reuben Trusler, of 
Forest, and had the following children : 
Elizabeth (deceased) ; Alfred, a resident of 
Northwest Territory ; Jane, who married Al 
bert Twiss, of Glencoe; Emma, widow of 
James Minton, and living in British Colum 
bia ; Clara, a teacher; Edith, who lives in 
British Columbia; and Adeline, who is un 
married and at home. (2) John is men 
tioned below. (3) Elizabeth, who married 
\Villiam Patterson, had six children, as 
follows: Jennie, who is a teacher; William, 
who lives in Chicago; Jane (deceased); 
Andrew, who is a commercial traveler; 
Adeline, who married Peter McCray; and 
Ernest, who lives in Medicine Hat, North 
west Territory. (4) Jane married Donald 
McPherson, and had one child, Emma (de 
ceased). (5) William De Lap is mentioned 
below. (6) Abigail married James Robin 
son, of Camlachie, and had one child, Ada, 
who married Robert Joynt, of Plympton 
township. (7) Thomas, who was born in 
Lambton county, after the death of his 
father, and now lives in Silver Cliff, Col 
orado. 

Jonx MCCONNELL was born in County 
Armagh, Ireland, May 4. 1832. and he ob 
tained a limited education in the schools of 
his native place. He was a lad of twelve 
when he came to Canada with his parents, 
and there were no schools in the rough coun 
try in which they settled. The death of his 
father occurred when they had been but six 
months in Plympton, and" John was obliged 
to go to work to help support the family. 
He worked for the neighboring families at 
odd times, and .with the help of his younger 
brothers began to clear the farm. In the 
course of time a good farm was developed 
and another 100 acres bought for his brother 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



691 



"William, in Lot 8. east of the original farm, 
which John later took in exchange for the 
homestead. He got the second farm under 
cultivation, erected barns and other build 
ings, at the same time doing much toward 
the support of his mother and sisters. Mr. 
McConnell has lived to see wonderful 
changes and improvements in the township, 
toward all of which he has done his part. 

On. May 24, 1876, John McConnell 
married Marie Jackson, daughter of the late 
Thomas Jackson, and a native of "Westmore 
land County, England. The children of this 
union were as follows : Thomas, who man 
ages the home farm; Lena, at home: Mar 
garet jane and Ethel, who both died in in 
fancy: Gertrude, at home: Agnes (de 
ceased) ; and Lottie, at home. Mrs. McCon 
nell and all her family are members of the 
Church of England. She is a devoted wife 
and mother, and an active church worker, a 
kind and hospitable friend and neighbor. 
Mr. McConnell is a man of domestic tastes 
and temperate habits, whose entire life has 
been devoted to agriculture, with the excep 
tion of seven years in Camlachie. where he 
engaged in the meat business. He is known 
among his fellow citizens as a man of strict 
honesty, industry and keen intelligence. He 
has seen the region about him developed 
from a wilderness inhabited by bear, deer, 
wolves, etc., with neither roads nor ditches, 
into a prosperous farming community, lie 
has himself helped to build the roads, dig 
the ditches and clear and cultivate the land, 
whose only connection with the outside 
world sixty years ago was a blazed trail, 
which later became the stage road between 
London and Sarnia. Mr. McConnell was 
a great admirer of Sir John A. Macdonald, 
and is a loyal adherent of the Conservative 
party. He has served as school trustee for 
his township. Like all his family, he is a 
devout member of the Church of England. 

WILLIAM DE LAP McCoxxELL, 
younger brother of John, was born in 
County Armagh, Ireland, Feb. 2, 1841, 
and was brought to Canada by his parents 
at the age of three and a half years. He 
scarcely recalls his father, who died soon 
after the family removed to Canada and his 



opportunities for schooling in the wilder 
ness to which they came were very limited. 
\Yhat little education he had was obtained 
in the free school kept by Mr. Neil, a gen 
tleman of means and education, who gath- 
ired the neighboring children about him and 
taught them as best he could. William 
spent most of his boyhood in helping his 
elder brother to clear and cultivate the farm. 
Later he bought the 100 acres adjoining the 
original farm, which his brother John sub 
sequently exchanged with him for the home 
stead. Mr. McConnell engaged in general 
farming and stock raising on the old farm 
until 1880, when his failing health neces 
sitated a change, and he rented the farm and 
went on a visit to England, Ireland and 
Scotland. Returning to America, he went 
out to Colorado, and spent nearly two years 
in Pueblo, with his younger brother, 
Thomas. Erom there he went to North 
west Territory, and later into British Co 
lumbia, and remained in that part of the 
country for eight years. He then returned 
to Ontario and settled in Camlachie. where 
he remained until 1894, engaged in cattle 
dealing. In that year he came back to the 
farm where he has since resided, engaged in 
general fanning and stock raising. 

Mr. McConnell is a man of quiet tastes, 
fond of his home, which is kept for him by 
his two sisters. Like his brother John, he 
is a stanch Conservative, and an. admiring 
follower of Sir John Macdonald. He is a 
member of the Church of England, and is 
warden of the church at Camlachie. which 
he has attended for many years. He is a 
man greatly liked and respected in the com 
munity with whose progress his whole life 
is identified. He has known all the hard 
ships and privations of pioneer life, and has 
lived to see the wilderness reclaimed, and to 
realize that he has done his share in making- 
it a place of homes, schools and churches, 
where once only the wild beasts had their 



dwelling. 



WILLIAM YOUNG, one of the best 
known citizens of Moore township, where he 
is a well-to-do and prominent farmer, has 
resided in Lambton County for over half a 



692 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



century. He is a native of the parish of 
Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland, born 
Sept. 6, 1829, son of Robert and Jane (Wil 
son ) Young. 

Robert Young was a native of the same 
locality, and worked many years as a joiner. 
He married Jane Wilson, a native of Led- 
desdale in the same county, and a family of 
six children were born to them, as follows : 
William, John, Hellen, James, Robert and 
George. The two eldest came to New York 
in 1851, where they were joined by their 
parents and the four younger children in 
1852. The voyage to America meant seven 
\veeks on the Atlantic. They remained in 
:hat city until the spring of 1853, when they 
moved to Detroit, and after looking over 
the district, they located in Moore town 
ship, Lambton County, at what is now the 
village of Brigden. There Mr. Young 
bought 200 acres of bush land, built a log 
house, and settled down to clearing land and 
farming for the remainder of his life. He 
passed away in 1872 at the age of seventy- 
four years, while his wife died in 1877, aged 
seventy-three years, and both were interred 
in Bear Creek cemetery. Mr. Young be 
longed to what was known as the United 
Secession Church in Scotland, and belonged 
to the Whig side in politics. He was a man 
of good character, and with all the sturdy 
virtues which marked the pioneers of Lamb- 
ton county. 

William Young when a boy in Scotland, 
attended both private and parish schools, 
where he received a fairly good education. 
He was taught the joiner s trade by his fa 
ther. He crossed the Atlantic in the bark 
"Adam Carr," of Glasgow, taking five 
weeks, and found suitable employment in 
New York City, where he lived with his 
brother John until they were joined by their 
parents. They then decided to go on to On 
tario, William accompanying them, and as 
sisting in establishing them in Moore town 
ship, after which he went to Detroit, work 
ing at his trade, first as a journeyman, and 
later as a foreman. In 1864 he gave up his 
trade as his main occupation, and settled on 
a farm in Moore township, located on the 



banks of Bear Creek at Lot 9, Concessions 2 
and 3. He has cleared and improved the 
greater part of his farm, and -has it in a high 
state of cultivation. He has met with great 
success in the breeding of Shorthorns and 
thoroughbred Oxford Down sheep, the most 
of his young stock being sold to his neigh 
bors for breeding purposes. 

Mr. Young has been a director in the 
township and \Vest Lambton Agricultural 
Societies for almost a lifetime. In politics 
he is a liberal Conservative. He was a mem 
ber of the Moore council for five, years, and 
was also elected as a member of the county 
council, during which time he took an active 
part in securing a House of Refuge in the 
County of Lambton. He is also a justice 
of the peace. 

_ On Oct. 27, 1858, Mr. Young married 
Miss Janet Brown, who was born in Edin 
burgh, Scotland, March n, 1828, daughter 
of the late Robert Brown, of Moore town 
ship. Mrs. Young has proved herself 
a proper helpmeet and true wife and 
mother, and to her assistance and co 
operation Mr. Young ascribes a great 
measure of his success on the farm. 
Children as follows have been born 
to this union: Jessie, who lived eleven 
months; Robert, who resides on and culti 
vates the homestead, and who married Miss 
Sarah Walton, and has three children, Will 
iam W., Janet Marion and Annie Hellen; 
John, whose farm corners with the home 
stead, and who married Martha J. Pretty, 
and has children, Charles, Janet Amelia,. 
Annie and James Russel ; Janet McDuff, 
who is the wife of William J. Johnston, a 
veterinary surgeon in Brigden, and has one 
son. William J. ; and Jane Ann, who died 
aged seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Young are 
members of the Bear Creek Presbyterian 
Church, and are considered up-to-date citi 
zens in the community in which they live. 

GEORGE YOUXG was horn in 
Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland, and 
was still in childhood when the farnily 
came to Canada. He attended school 
in Moore township, and worked at the car- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



693 



penter s trade with his father until eighteen 
years of age, when he went to Chatham and 
learned the carriage and blacksmith business 
with his cousin, William Gray, of the firm of 
William Gray & Sons. Here he worked 
three years, and then followed the trade as 
journeyman at Detroit and other places. 
After the death of his father Mr. Young re 
turned home, and settled on the fifty-acre 
homestead in Moore township, which he 
operated, working also for a short time at his 
trade. In 1884 he sold the farm and bought 
a tract of 100 acres on Lot 4, Concession 3, 
in Moore township, which was all bush land. 
He cleared a small space and built a home, 
and then settled down to clear up his farm, 
putting up his own barns and other build 
ings, and converting the timber cut into 
cordwood. Mr. Young then tiled his farm, 
putting down over 20,000 tiles. By his hard 
work and tireless energy he succeeded in 
making his farm one of the best in Moore 
township, and he was actively engaged on 
the same until 1904, when he located in 
Brigden, leaving his son James in charge of 
the farm. Politically Mr. Young is a stanch 
Conservative. He attends the Presbyterian 
Church. He is a member of Leopold Lodge, 
A. V. & A. M., Brigden; is a Royal Arch 
Mason, and has been a member of Wawan- 
osh Chapter, Xo. 15, of Sarnia, for over 
twenty years. He also belongs to the I. O. 
O. F., and the K. O. T. M., at Brigden, and 
the A. O. F., at Chatham. Mr. Young has 
served as school trustee in school section 
No. 17, and takes a deep and active interest 
in all matters educational. 

George Young was married in Sombra 
township to Elizabeth Harkness, born in 
Moore township, sister of James Harkness. 
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Young, as follows : James, who married 
Isabella Granille. is at home on the farm; 
David is at home; George died in infancy. 
Mrs. Young died at her home in Brigden. 
in October. 1904, and was buried in Bear 
Creek cemetery. She had suffered greatly 
for a number of years, with nervous trouble. 
She had been a devoted wife and mother. 



and a good Christian woman, and died in the 
faith of the Presbyterian Church. 

George Young has been a practical, suc 
cessful farmer, one who thoroughly under 
stands his business, as is evidenced by his 
years of prosperity. He is essentially a 
self-made man, and has always taken his 
place with the leading men of his township. 
His children reflect credit upon their parent 
age and home influence, and Mr. Young 
commands the respect of all who know him. 

JOHN O NEIL, a farmer and stock- 
raiser in Plympton township for more than 
half a century, was born in the township of 
Dalhousie, County of Lanark, Nov. 20, 1837, 
son of Neil and Ann (McCaa) O Neil. 

The O Neil family are of Scotch extrac 
tion, but for several generations they lived 
in Ireland, and Neil O Neil was born there 
in County Antrim. He became a farmer, 
and married Miss Ann McCaa. They 
had one child born there, and in 
1825 they left their native land for 
Canada. Settling in the Province of 
Quebec, Mr. O Neil was employed as 
a mason on government work until he 
removed to Ontario. He bought a tract of 
200 acres of unbroken, rocky land in Dal 
housie township, Lanark County, and began 
his pioneer life, meeting with more than the 
usual difficulties in getting his land uncleti 
cultivation. But he persevered, and re 
mained there a number of years before sell 
ing. Meantime he had bought 200 acres in 
Plympton township, Lambton County, a 
part of the United Empire Loyalist grant, 
and his son settled on it some years before 
his father followed. Neil O Neil then made 
his home on half the original purchase, and 
spent the rest of his life there. He and his 
wife were cared for in their old age by their 
son John ; they reached the ages, respective 
ly, of eighty-two and eighty-four years, and 
were buried in the Methodist Church ceme 
tery. Mrs. O Xeil died when on a visit to 
one of her daughters. Mr. O Xeil in the old 
country had belonged to the Church of Eng 
land, but had connected himself with none in 



694 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Canada ; the lives of both him and his wife, 
however, were founded on the teachings of 
the Golden Rule, and they were very worthy 
people, liked and respected by all. Mr. 
O Xeil was a Liberal in politics. Their 
children were: Ann, who married John 
Leckie, of Sarnia, and had one son, Neil; 
Jane, Mrs. William Leckie, of Sarnia; 
Sarah, Mrs. Peter Cuthbertson, of Sarnia 
township; Robert, who died in Plympton; 
Margaret, Mrs. William S. Thorn, of En- 
niskillen township; Mary, deceased wife of 
James Brooks; Susanna, Mrs. Alexander 
McDougal, of Sarnia ; and John ; and others 
died young. 

John O Neil enjoyed few opportunities 
for getting an education, as he only attended 
school four years and had no good teach 
ers. From boyhood he worked with his fa 
ther on their farm, and was still in his teens 
when they moved to Plympton township. 
As his father was getting old, John soon as 
sumed charge of the farm, located in the 
east half of Lot 4, Concession i, and by con 
stant hard work got the place under cultiva 
tion, and has ever since been engaged there 
in general farming and stock raising. The 
home was at first merely a log cabin, but 
later John O Neil put up a fine frame 
dwelling, while the barns and other build 
ings are now all that could be desired. 

Mr. O Neil was married, in the County 
of Lambton, Sept. 8, 1862, to Margaret, 
(laughter of James Brooks, and sister of the 
late James Brooks, Jr. Their family con 
sists of nine children, namely: Maggie, 
Mrs. William Manser, of Enniskillen town 
ship; Christiana, who married James Hall, 
of Enniskillen township; Neil, of the same 
section; James, an Enniskillen farmer, who 
married Miss Hannah Maw ; Mary, at home; 
John, a bookkeeper and conducting an insur 
ance business in the North West Territory ; 
William, at home; Robert, of Sarnia: Es- 
telle, Mrs. James M. Brooks, of Sarnia town 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. O Xeil are both people 
who are very domestic in their tastes and 
devoted to their family, while the filial care 
they gave to his parents in their last years 
was all that could have been wished, their 



life is moulded according to the Golden 
Rule, and they are broaclminded, liberal peo 
ple, ready to support every worthy object, 
whether for church, school or county. Mr. 
O Neil is a strong Liberal in his political 
views, and is a good citizen, liked and re 
spected. 



GEORGE DONALD, a well known 
agriculturist of Bosanquet township, is a na 
tive of that township, born at Pine Hill, 
Feb. 2, 1852. His father, Archibald Donald, 
was born in Dalhousie township, Lanark 
County, in 1822, son of George Donald, \vho 
was a native of Scotland, and among the 
pioneer farmers and land owners of Dal 
housie township, where he died while his 
family were still young. 

Archibald Donald was still a boy when 
he came to Lambton County with his 
brother. He located in Enniskillen town 
ship and worked out among the farmers, and 
also in the lumber mills in different sections 
of the county, working for Mr. Durancl of 
Sarnia. the late Hon. Alexander McKenzie 
and Malcolm Cameron. He took many rafts 
down the St. Clair river to Windsor, "taking 
the lumber that was used to build the Sand 
wich jail down the St. Clair and Detroit 
rivers in rafts. He became the owner of 
200 acres of land in Enniskillen and Plymp 
ton townships and in 1849 located in Bosan 
quet township, where he became engaged in 
the lumber business. He purchased the 
David Smith flour and sawmill at Pine Hill, 
for which he paid $7.000, and which he oper 
ated for twenty years. He did not make a 
success of his milling venture, however, so 
purchased land on the 8th Concession of 
Bosanquet township, upon which he settled 
in 1869 a "d where he spent the remainder 
of his life, engaged in general farming and 
stock raising. Here he died from concussion 
of the brain, Feb. 23, 1886, aged sixty-four 
years, being buried in Pine Hill cemetery. 
Mr. Donald attended the Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he was a Liberal. He 
married. April 7, 1851. in Bosanquet town 
ship. Catherine McKellar. born in Argyll 
shire, Scotland, daughter of Donald and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



695 



Mary (McKellar) McKellar, and to this 
union were born: George, Feb. 2, 1852; 
Sarah, Jan. 5, 1854, who died young; Agnes 
born March 14, 1856, who married John 
Borthwick, of Bosanquet township; Archi 
bald, April 22, 1858, who died in infancy; 
Archibald (2) Nov. 15, 1860; Catherine, 
June 25, 1863, who married Walter Bell, of 
Bosanquet township; Jessie Bell, Oct. 22, 
1865, who married Charles Behnke and re 
sides in Florence, Oregon ; and Mary Ann, 
July 14, 1869, who married Robert Culley, 
of Forest, Ont. Mrs. Donald is still living 
on the old homestead, and although seventy- 
seven years old is quite active and in the full 
retention of all of her faculties. 

George Donald was educated in the pub 
lic schools at Pine Hill, and worked on the 
homestead with his father. He settled down 
after the latter s death on the east half of the 
homestead, a tract of fifty acres, to which he 
afterwards added by purchase fifty more, 
now operating a tract of 100 acres, on which 
he has made extensive improvements. In 
1886 he erected a fine barn and in 1892 a 
concrete dwelling house. In politics he is 
Independent and in his church views liberal. 
He is an enterprising and progressive farm 
er, and one of the successful men of his 
township. 

Archibald Donald, the brother of George, 
was born at Pine Hill, attended the schools 
of the township, and, like his brother, has 
made farming his life s occupation. Since 
his father s death he has been engaged in 
general farming and stock raising on the 
homestead, upon which he erected a fine 
dwelling, and upon which he has made 
many improvements. Politically he is a 
Liberal. 

Mr. Donald married Ellen Lithgrow, 
daughter of Robert, and to this union have 
been born : Harvey Gladstone, May 30, 
1894; Robert Archibald, Aug. 30, 1895; 
Roy Brownlee. Sept. 29, 1897; George 
Alexander, Nov. 5, 1899; Arthur Edward, 
Oct. 20, 1901. and Fred McKellar, June 21, 
7904. Mr. Donald is very well known and 
highly respected in Bosanquet township. 



WILLIAM OVANS, a member of one 
of Lambton County s most respected pioneer 
families, was born in Quebec, July 31, 1847, 
the son of David and Jane (Blackburn) 
Ovans. 

David Ovans was the son of Thomas, and 
came with his father from their native Scot 
land to Quebec, where they were among the 
earliest settlers. The father engaged gen 
erally in funning and remained in that sec 
tion for the rest of his life. David married 
Miss Blackburn, who was born in Quebec, 
and he was a farmer like his father all his 
life. He died in 1860 and his wife in 1896, 
the latter over ninety years of age. Eight 
of their nine children are living, one, Charles, 
having died in June, 1905. 

William Ovans was next to the young 
est of the family and was educated in the 
schools of Quebec. He learned the trade 
of a blacksmith and when a young men went 
to Perth County to pursue his calling. After 
three years there he moved in 1871 to 1 e- 
trolia. and, giving up his trade, was engaged 
for some time in refining oil. He owned 
real estate in that city and made his home 
there for five years. In 1876 he bought his 
present home property, then wild land, lo 
cated in Enniskillen, Lot 23, Concession n, 
which he cleared and made a good farm, 
well developed and with all suitable build 
ings. Mr. Ovans marriage occurred the 
year following his removal to Petrolia, where 
he was united to Miss Euphemia Swinton, 
of Perth County. She was the daughter of 
Thomas and Margaret Swinton, who came 
from Scotland to Canada and settled in 
Wentworth County, where they both died. 
There Mrs. Ovans grew up and was mar 
ried. Ten years after they settled on their 
farm, in May. 1886, when in the very prime 
of life, Mrs. Ovans passed from this world, 
leaving her husband with a family of five 
children, namely : David, horn in Petrolia, 
now a resident of the United States; .Mag 
gie, born in Petrolia, who was educated in 
the Enniskillen schools and died in April, 
1904; Thomas, born in Enniskillen. a 
farmer at the homestead ; Jean, born in En- 



696 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



niskillen, who was given a fair education 
and is a young lady of culture ; and Phemie, 
who was educated in the Enniskillen schools 
and the Petrolia high school and who has 
been a successful teacher for three years. In 
1888 Mr. Ovans married a second time, hav 
ing chosen for his wife Miss Maggie McEl- 
roy, of one of Lambton County s oldest and 
highly respected families. In 1902 she also 
died, leaving no children. 

Mr. Ovans and his family have all be 
longed to the Presbyterian Church of 
Brooke and Enniskillen, where he is one of 
the elders and has always taken an active 
part in the Sunday-school, both as teacher 
and superintendent. Politically he has al 
ways voted the Reform ticket, has shared 
in the party s work and has served both as 
pathmaster and as trustee on the school 
board. He is known as a public-spirited 
citizen, an enthusiastic church worker and a 
man of the most upright character and 
kindly charitable disposition. 

SAMUEL STOOP. The Emerald Isle 
has furnished Canada with many of her 
prominent citizens, among whom is Mr. 
Samuel Stoop, now living retired at Forest, 
Lambton County, enjoying the fruits of toil 
in the days of his early life in Canada. His 
birth occurred in County Monaghan, Ire 
land, in 1825, and he is the son of Samuel 
and Sarah (McCrae) Stoop, both natives 
of that country. They were fanning people 
in Ireland and became the parents of the 
following children : John, Mary, Sarah and 
Agnes, nil of whom died in Ireland; Jane, 
now residing in Ireland; James A., a retired 
farmer of Plympton township: and Samuel, 
the subject of this sketch. 

Samuel Stoop emigrated to the Domin 
ion of Canada in 1850, stopping first at Gor 
don Island, near Kingston, Out., and later 
locating on Yonge street, Toronto, where 
he worked upon a farm. Still later he set 
tled in Hamilton. Out., and finally he 
selected Plympton township, Lambton 
County, where he purchased 200 acres of 
wild land, on Lot 15, Concession 15. Six- 



years later his brother James came to On 
tario and took one-half of the property. 
The brothers purchased a yoke of oxen for 
$120, and by hard work and unre 
mitting energy they cleared their land. 
\\~hen they were through with their oxen 
the young men were fortunate enough to sell 
them for the purchase price. They met with 
many adventures and endured the hard 
ships incident to the times, but came out of 
the struggle wealthy men. Mr. Stoop re 
mained in Plympton township, until 1880, 
when he settled in Forest, where he has since 
lived retired looking after his investments. 
Of late years he has suffered somewhat 
from rheumatism but his mental faculties 
are unimpaired. 

The religious faith of Mr. Stoop makes 
him a stanch Presbyterian, he having ad 
hered to that faith from childhood, and he 
has been very prominent in. the work of that 
denomination in his vicinity. The first 
Presbyterian church in Plympton township 
was a little log edifice, which he assisted in 
building, and his means were contributed 
liberally when it was replaced by a substan 
tial frame structure. Few men have done 
more toward developing this section of 
country than has Mr. Stoop, both in the of 
ficial position of postmaster and as a private 
citizen. His efforts secured the first roads, 
made of logs, and replaced them by the 
present more enduring and substantial ones, 
and he has always advocated all measures 
calculated to prove of benefit to the com 
munity. Politically he has been a Conserva 
tive, but his efforts have been directed priv 
ately, more than through the medium of 
preferment. Mr. Stoop is one of the genial 
gentlemen of the old school, courteous and 
kind-hearted, an excellent talker, and one 
who can entertain by exciting stories of the 
days when the prosperity of the community 
seemed but an Utopian dream. 

GEORGE DENNIS, one of the prom 
inent farmers of Enniskillen township, is of 
English descent, the son of William and 
Elizabeth (Matthews) Dennis, natives of 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



697 



Cornwall, but was himself born in Lambton 
County, Ont., on his present homestead, 
June 20, 1851. 

William Dennis was born Nov. 5, 1806, 
and his wife just twenty-five days later. 
They were married in 1827, and continued 
to make their home in England until the 
early 40*5 when they came to Canada by way 
of Quebec, on a sailing vessel, which was 
six weeks on the voyage. The first two 
years they lived near Toronto, and then 
moved to Lambton County, where William 
Dennis bought the family homestead, cleared 
it with his sons help, and in the course of 
time erected three different houses on it. 
The first two were log, but the present struc 
ture is frame, and was built before his death 
in 1870. His wife died in 1876. Both were 
devout Methodists, and Mr. Dennis was for 
many years a local minister. Politically he 
was a Conservative. Of their eleven chil 
dren (i) Henry is mentioned below. (2) 
William, born in England, in 1831, married 
first Miss Hulda Patterson, who died in 
Lambton County, leaving five children, Bar- 
sheba, Emma, Ellen, Harvey and Maud. 
His present wife was Miss Lutitia Rush, 
and they live on a farm in Wales, with 
their four children, Fred, Bessie, Alice, and 
Laura. (3) John, born in England in 1833, 
married Miss Lizzie Stokes, of Lambton 
County, and they reside in Oil City. They 
have nine children, Elizabeth, John, Mary, 
Ephraim, Fannie, Earl, Edith, Reza and 
Jennie. (4) Elizabeth, born in England in 
1836, married Lemuel Haskin, and they 
moved to Michigan, where both died, leav 
ing a large family, George, John, Samuel, 
Sherman, Charles, Frank, Sarah, Louisa, 
Ida. Mary. Nellie and Ada. (5) Jane, 
born in England in 1838, married the 
late William Richmond, a livery man of Pe 
trolia. (6) James, born in 1840, married 
Miss Caroline Rush, of Canada, lives on a 
farm in Huron County, Ont., and has seven 
children, Ernest, Walter, Henry, Malissa, 
Carrie. Bertha and George. (7) Samuel, 
born in 1842. married Miss Ophelia Patter 
son, of Enniskillen township, lives as a re 
tired farmer in Sarnia, and has three sons, 



Alfred, Leslie and Friend. (8) Rebecca, 
born in 1844, is the wife of William Stokes 
and mother of Ernest, Blake, Linda and Cora. 
(9) Joseph and (10) Mary, twins, were 
born in 1848. Joseph was killed in child 
hood, and Mary married Thomas Wilson, 
of Petrolia. She has since died leaving no 
children. ( 1 1 ) George is the youngest of 
the family. 

George Dennis was educated in the En 
niskillen schools. He remained at home 
with his parents until they passed away, and 
has since owned the property himself. In 
1883 the buildings on the place burned, and 
the present ones were all put up by Mr. Den 
nis ; among them are two very large barns 
and other buildings necessary, besides the 
house. 

On Feb. 12, 1874, Mr. Dennis was mar 
ried to Miss Flora Livingston, born in Ap- 
pin, Middlesex County, Ont., July 27, 
1856. To this union nine children have 
been born, the four eldest of whom are mar 
ried, (i) William and (2) Angus were 
born in February, 1875. The former mar 
ried Mabel Dell, of Plympton, and resides 
in Port Huron, where he works as an engin 
eer. Their two children are named Reta 
and Dell. Angus wife was Miss Rose Will 
iams, of Petrolia. They live in Winnipeg, 
with their two doughters, Rena and Clara. 
(3) George, born in 1876, married Jennie 
Williams, and is a shipper in a wholesale 
house in Winnipeg. (4) Melville, born in 
September, 1878, married Miss Blanch Way- 
lett, of Petrolia. They also live in Winni 
peg, and have one daughter, Lizelle. (5) 
Donald, born in 1880, (6) Frank, in 1882, 
(7) Stanley, in 1885. (8) Agnes, in 1891, 
and (9) Flora, in October, 1900, are at 
home. 

Mrs. Dennis was a daughter of Angus 
and Agnes (McTaggart) Livingston, who 
were both born in Scotland, and came to 
Middlesex County among the early settlers. 
In 1864 they moved to Lambton County 
and settled in Plympton township, where 
they passed from this world in May, 1891, 
and November. 1890, respectively. Their 
eight children were : Mary, wife of Will- 



6 9 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iam Stonehouse, of Plympton township; 
Peter, of North Dakota; Donald, of Court- 
right, Lambton County; Cassie, Mrs. Joseph 
Bostock, of North Dakota; Duncan, of 
Grass Lake, Michigan; Angus, an express 
man in St. Louis; Elizabeth, Mrs. James 
Walker, of Rocanville, Assa. ; Flora, Mrs. 
Dennis, who was educated in the Plympton 
schools. 

Mr. Dennis was brought up in the faith 
of the Methodist Church; politically he has 
always been a Conservative. The son of a 
pioneer family he has passed through all the 
vicissitudes of such life, and now has won 
his way to a position of honor and respect 
among his fellows. He and his wife are 
most favorably known to all and have many 
friends. 

HENRY DENNIS, a retired farmer 
now living in Wyoming, County of Lamb- 
ton, has been a resident of the county for 
over fifty years. This period beginning in 
pioneer days, he has naturally been a witness 
to most of the development of the region 
from its primitive state, and has himself 
participated in the work to no small extent. 

Mr. Dennis was born Jan. 9, 1828, in 
Cornwall, England, eldest child of William 
and Elizabeth (Matthews) Dennis, and was 
still in his teens when the family left the old 
home, in 1846, for Canada. Hard work was 
the rule of his active life, and began at an 
early age, for he never had the privilege of 
attending school, a fact which he has always 
regarded as a great handicap in business 
matters. That he has succeeded in spite of 
his lack of early advantages argues well for 
his native ability and persevering industry. 
After his arrival in Ontario he worked at 
Oakville, County of Halton, until 1851, 
when he joined the family in Enniskillen 
township, County of Lambton. and bought 
100 acres near the paternal home, paying for 
same nine shillings six-pence per acre. 
Building a log cabin for himself and his 
young wife he took up farming on his own 
account, and continued on that place for 
several years, living in typical pioneer style. 



Selling out, he moved to Plympton town 
ship, same county, locating a loo-acre tract 
along the Egremont road, which was his 
home for the next twelve years, and where 
he carried on general farming. Again he 
sold out, and his next move was to the ist 
Concession in Plympton township, Lot 8. 
where he purchased 200 acres and engaged 
in farming and stock raising on an exten 
sive scale. He followed these pursuits suc 
cessfully until 1889, in which year he de 
termined to give up active labor, and accord 
ingly sold 100 acres of his farm to his son 
Henry S., who farms the entire 200 acres of 
the home farm. Mr. Dennis put up a house 
for himself in Wyoming which he has since 
occupied, enjoying in peaceful retirement 
the accumulations of long years of industry. 
His grandson, William H., son of Henry, 
Jr., lives with him and his wife. During 
his active years Mr. Dennis devoted himself 
to his work with a steady industry which in 
sured successful returns for his labor, and 
took his greatest pleasure in his home and 
farm, which he kept up in every respect, 
neglecting nothing that would add to its 
value or appearance. Though he is a stanch 
Conservative he has never taken any active 
part in public life, but as a man of high 
moral standards and upright life he has al 
ways been regarded as an excellent and val 
uable citizen. His religious connection is with 
the Church of England. 

Mr. Dennis was married at Oakville in 
1849, to Mary Sanderson, a native of York 
shire. England, daughter of William Sand 
erson, and, like himself, a member of the 
Church of England. To this union were 
horn children as follows: William, now a 
resident of Moose Jaw, X. \V. T. ; Mary, 
deceased wife of William Stamm ; Elizabeth, 
Mrs. John Hoskins; a son that died in in 
fancy; Henry S.. married (first) in 1884, 
Jane Pedrick. who died at the birth of her 
only child. William Henry, and (second) 
Kate Moffatt, and has three children, Elgin 
Lyle, Iva Maria and Ena May, all living; 
Jane, wife of Josiah Hoskins. of Brooke 
township; Olivia, married to John A. Gal- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



699 



braith, of Plympton township; Rachel, Mrs. 
Joseph Hall, deceased; Nelson, of Moose 
Jaw, X. \V. T. ; and Cyrus Wesley, who died 
when eighteen and a half years old. 

MARK WELLIXGTOX. a well known 
retired agriculturist and a pioneer settler in 
Lambton County, was horn in Cornwall, 
England, in the parish of Luxyan, June 22, 
1832, son of Jonathan and Sarah (James) 
"Wellington, natives of that same parish. 

Jonathan Wellington married in Eng 
land, and had a family of eight children born 
there, viz. : Mary Ann. widow of the late 
Joseph Pascow, of Plympton; Jane, who 
married Thomas James, of Bosanquet town 
ship; Mark; John, who died in Bruce mines, 
County Algoma, Ont. ; Peter, deceased at 
Blackwell ; Henry, of Moore township ; Will 
iam, a resident of Bosanquet; and Maria, 
who married the late William Sproule and 
lives in the Sproule homestead in Plympton. 
In 1852. with his wife and children, Jona 
than Wellington embarked on the sailing 
vessel "Bell of Patstoe" and after a voyage 
of forty-five days landed at Quebec. He 
went west to Lambton County where his 
brother-in-law, Mr. James, lived, bought a 
tract of 150 acres of bush land and settled 
down there. He built a log house which is 
still standing, and engaged in cutting and 
selling his timber, to be made into lumber, 
staves, etc. His whole life was spent there 
on his farm, and when he passed away his 
remains were buried in Gustin cemetery. He 
was a member of the Methodist Church, and 
a Reformer in politics. His wife, who was 
also a Methodist, passed her last years with 
a daughter and was buried beside her hus 
band. She was a woman of genuine Chris 
tian character and devoted to her home and 
family. 

Mark Wellington was well educated in 
the district schools of England and was 
twenty years old when he came to Canada. 
He stayed with his father in Bosanquet for 
four years busy in the sawmill, then was at 
Sarnia two years, and later bought fifty acres 
of land in Bosanquet. After a short time 



there, however, he moved to Plympton, pur 
chased first 125 acres in Lots 5. 6 and 7, and 
later added more until he increased his land 
to 300 acres, which has since been divided 
among his three sons. He sold his timber 
to the Grand Trunk Railway, and after get 
ting his land cleared was engaged in gen 
eral farming, stock raising and the dairy 
business until 1901, when he retired. He 
was not only a good farmer, but is a prac 
tical business man with progressive ideas and 
was the promoter of the Vinar cheese fac 
tory, besides being a director and president 
of the company. Air. Wellington was also 
for eighteen years the salesman for it. A 
Methodist in his religion, he was one of the 
organizers of the local church, and was a 
member of the committee. Politically he is 
a Liberal and has served as school trustee 
-for several years. 

On Oct." 28, 1856, Mr. Wellington was 
united by Rev. Mr. Troope, a Presbyterian 
divine, to Miss Anna Thomas, daughter of 
John and Frances Thomas, pioneers of 
Plympton, where Airs. Wellington was born 
on the old homestead. To this union have 
been born eleven children, viz. : Jonathan 
Thomas, born July 29, 1857, and died Xov. 
24. i8f>i ; Frances (Fannie), born July 22, 
1859, who married James L. Walker of 
Port Huron ; Sarah and Abram. twins, born 
May 29, 1861, of whom the former married 
Delhi Whiting, a Plympton farmer, and the 
latter married Miss Mary Elizabeth Mode- 
land, and lives on the homestead: Annie 
Maria, born March 9, 1863, Mrs. Leonard 
Mather; David Thomas, born March 2, 

1866, living at home, and married to Miss 
Isabella Faris; Mary Jane, born Dec. n, 

1867, Mrs. Robert Matthews; Alma, born 
Dec. 6, 1869, Mrs. Richard Matthews; Julia, 
born July 2, 1872. who married Rev. Mr. 
Walter Milson, a Methodist minister at 
Wheatley, Kent County ; Catherine, born 
May 25. 1875, and died June 2, 1875: and 
Charles Taylor, born June 24, 1876, who 
married Miss Eunice J. Xeadom, and lives 
on the homestead. The Wellington family 
have for the past twenty-nine years held 



700 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



family reunions in Bright s Grove, Lambton 
County, and the relatives gather from all 
parts of Canada and the United States. 

Mrs. Wellington belongs to the Thomas 
family, which is of Welsh descent. Her 
grand father, John, spent his whole life in 
his native land, where he reached the age 
of 104 years and his wife 102. His son 
John married Miss Frances Reece and in the 
early thirties came with his family to Can 
ada, sailing from Liverpool to Quebec. He 
went first to Sarnia, then settled in Plymp- 
ton on Lot 5, on the Lake Huron front and 
made his permanent home there. His tract 
of land consisted of 100 acres bought from 
the government, and the family made their 
home first in a little log house there. Mr. 
Thomas had learned the trade of a mill 
wright in England and followed it in Can 
ada, putting up the first gristmill in his vi 
cinity. Like the other pioneers of those 
earliest years, he also made potash and sold 
it to provide the necessaries of life. All the 
furniture in that first home he made himself. 
He was one of the very first settlers in 
Plympton and went there while the country 
was still overrun by wolves, bears and other 
wild animals. Mr. Thomas was a Reformer 
in politics; in religion a Presbyterian, he 
was a great Bible student as well as a gen 
erally well read man. Of temperate habits 
and with the usual sturdy physique of the 
pioneer, he reached the age of eighty-four 
years, and his remains were interred at Cam- 
lachie. His wife died at the farm, aged 
eighty-six, and was buried in the same cem 
etery She belonged to the Baptist Church. 
John and Frances Thomas had a family _of 
eleven children, one of whom died in in 
fancy. The others were : John, deceased, in 
one "of the Western States; Thomas, de 
ceased in Sarnia; Reece, who died in Thed- 
ford, Bosanquet township; David, who died 
in Camlachie: Jemima. Mrs. James Hous 
ton of Camlachie; W r illiam. deceased: Dan 
iel, who died in Plympton; Henrv. who also 
died in Plympton : Eliza, who resides in Sar 
nia, the widow of the late William Houston; 
and Anna. Mrs. Mark Wellington. 



SIMON BLUNDEN, who is now 
among the oldest living pioneers along the 
shore of Lake Huron, stands foremost 
among the representative citizens of Bosan- 
quet township, where he is engaged in gen 
eral farming and stock raising. The whole 
of his life has been spent near the shores of 
Lake Huron, and he has seen much of the 
hardship that falls to the lot of the pioneer. 
He is a native of Ireland, born Dec. 15, 
1836, in County Kilkenny. 

Christopher Blunden, father of Simon, 
was a native of the same county, and was a 
son of wealthy parents. He was a man of 
education and refined taste, and was a lover 
of the hunt and outdoor sports. His younger 
days were spent in his Irish home, but his 
roving disposition caused him when a young 
man to cross the ocean to America, where 
he remained some little time. He then re 
turned to Ireland and married Catherine 
Blunden, and two children were born to 
them in Ireland : Traver, who died in 
Plympton township; and Simon. In 1837 
Christopher Blunden with his wife and two 
young children crossed the Atlantic, to make 
their home in the wilds of Canada. Sailing 
from Queenstown, Ireland, in a sailing ves 
sel to "Quebec, the little party made their 
way next to the shores of Lake Huron. 
They settled on Lot 43 on the lake shore in 
Plympton township, where he bought 300 
acres of land from the government, all of 
which was brush and swamp. Here he set 
tled down to the life of a pioneer, erecting a 
log cabin in which his little family made 
their home. Mr. Blunden, not being used 
to hard work, found that clearing up a farm 
from the woods was an uphill fight, but 
when his sons grew old enough he found 
help in them, and he continued in the work 
until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. 
He was buried in the cemetery at Hillsbor- 
ough, on the lake shore. He was a member 
of the Church of England and a strong Con 
servative. His wife also died on the farm, 
in the faith of the English Church. The 
children born in Plympton -township were : 
I fumphrey. a resident of Sarnia township ; 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



701 



Rebecca, who married Henry Scott, now de 
ceased; John, residing on the old homestead; 
Quentis, who died on the old homestead; 
Rose, of London, Ont. ; Edward, a resident 
of Detroit, Michigan. 

Simon Blunden was still in infancy when 
he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, and 
in consequence has no recollection of the 
ocean voyage or the long travel through the 
unexplored regions of Ontario. He grew 
up in the woods on the lake shore, when 
there were only two or three other settlers on 
Lake Huron, and no school, church or 
other evidence of civilization. He had but 
little opportunity for attending school in that 
region and was well up in his teens when his 
chance for an education came. Then it was 
only to attend during the winter months, in a 
little log school house with its rough desks 
and split rail seats. His teacher was a 
Scotchman, Mr. Cameron. The greater 
part of Mr. Blunden s education was re 
ceived in the school of experience, most of 
his youth being spent on his father s farm. 
There he remained until 1862 when he came 
to Bosanquet township, and settled down to 
farm for himself on Lot 65, Lake road east, 
a seventy-five acre tract of bush land. Here 
he settled down to pioneer life, erecting a log 
house, and starting at once to clear up a 
home. Working long and faithfully, after a 
quarter of a century of hard labor he suc 
ceeded in putting his land under cultivation, 
and in building barns and making many 
other improvements. In 1890 he sold this 
farm and purchased the Jacob Clements 
farm, a 100 acre tract known as the Lake 
View farm, on Lot 71, where for the past 
fifteen years he has been engaged in farming 
and stock raising. By his hard work and 
good management he has made a success of 
his life work and is considered one of the 
substantial men of his township. In his 
politics he is a Reformer, and was a sup 
porter of Hon. Alexander McKenzie. Mr. 
Blunden has always taken an active interest 
in the township and county agricultural so 
cieties. He is a. broad minded man and is 
liberal in his religious views. 

Mr. Blunden was married in Bosanquet 



township, at the Rawlings homestead, to 
Miss Lovina Rawlings, born in England, 
daughter of the late John Rawlings, and a 
sister of the late Albin Rawlings. Mrs. 
Blunden is a lady of refined taste and is de 
voted to her home and family. She and her 
daughters are members of the Church of 
God, which they attend on the lake road. 
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Blun 
den have been: Sanford, a farmer of this 
township, who married Sarah Lean; Alinda, 
who married William Hill, and resides in 
Plympton township; Albertia, who married 
William Beattie, and resides in the North 
west Territory; Alma, who married Henry 
Hudgson, of Lake Shore road; Florence, at 
home ; and Lena, at home. 

PETER OSBORNE, one of the prom 
inent and enterprising farmers of Enniskil- 
len township, Lambton County, who resides 
on Concession 7, Lot 25, West, was born in 
Plympton township, March 17, 1859, son of 
Adam and Agnes (McCausland) Osborne, 
early settlers of Lambton. 

Adam Osborne was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, and is a brother of Joseph Os 
borne in whose sketch will be found a full 
record of the Osborne family. Adam Os 
borne married Agnes McCausland, who was 
born in 1835, in Lambton County, daugh 
ter of Robert McCausland, who came from 
Scotland and settled in Plympton, being 
among the pioneers. Adam Osborne died in 
Wyoming, where for some years prior to 
his death he had lived a retired life. His 
widow still survives and lives with her 
daughter, Mrs. Knight. Thirteen children 
were born to Adam and Agnes Osborne, as 
follows : Maggie, born in Plympton town 
ship, married Stephen Impitt, of Manitoba; 
Agnes, wife of John Alexander, of Mani 
toba; Peter; Robert, born in 1862, mar 
ried Agnes Lamoine, of Enniskillen, where 
they reside, and they have one daughter, 
Mary; Marian, born in 1865, married Will 
iam Knight, of Wyoming, Lambton County, 
and has three sons; William, born in 1867, 
married Miss Jessie Oxenham, of Wyoming, 
and they reside in Aurora, where he en- 



7 2 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gages in the manufacture of butter; Alex 
ander, born in 1868, is a farmer of Orange 
Ridge. Manitoba; James resides in Winni 
peg; Alfred and Adam, both reside in the 
Northwest; Mary married John McKay, a 
resident of Brigden. Lambton County; 
Katie married John Cowan, of Petrolia, and 
has one son. John; Manford, born at the old 
home in Plympton, resides in Wyoming. 

Peter Osborne was educated in Plymp 
ton, where he grew to manhood, and began 
life for himself, working as a ditcher and 
farmer. He continued in those lines until 
1886. when, with his brother. Robert, he 
purchased 100 acres of wild land on Con 
cession 7, Enniskillen township, where they 
each cleared a farm, erected large houses 
and barns, and made improvements. 

On Dec. 21, 1887, Mr. Osborne married 
Miss Elizabeth Doig, daughter of Robert 
and Jean (Jenkins) Doig, natives of Scot 
land who settled in Sarnia. To Peter and 
Elizabeth Osborne six children have been 
born, three of whom died in childhood. The 
surviving children are: Eleanor A., born in 
1890; Loretta, born December, 1893; and 
Ernest P., born in 1901. Religiously, al 
though reared in the Presbyterian faith, the 
family now take an active part in the work 
of the Methodist Church, of which they are 
highly respected members. Like his fa ther, 
Mr. Osborne has always voted the Reform 
ticket and although never aspiring to public 
office has always been an active worker in 
that party. Peter Osborne inherits all of the 
good and manly qualities of the Osborne 
family, which is known and respected 
throughout the county. 

CORNELIUS O BRIEN is one of the 
best known settlers of Plympton township, 
as his whole life has been spent on a farm on 
the Lake Huron front, in Lot TO, where he 
was born July 7. 1848. 

George O Brien, father of Cornelius, 
was a native of Ireland, born in Tipperary, 
where he grew up accustomed to farming. 
When a young man he left home to better his 
condition in the New World, and landing 
in Quebec in the late 3o s, decided not to re 



main in Canada, but to try the United 
States. He located in Ohio, along the 
Miami river, where he was employed on 
public works, but in 1840 he returned to 
Canada and came to Lambton County, Out. 
He first bought fifty acres in Sombra town 
ship, but soon sold this tract and moved to 
Plympton. where he bought another piece 
of bush land, 100 acres in Lot 10. and there 
settled down permanently. While cutting 
the timber on his place, he supported himself 
by making potash, which he sold in Sarnia, 
and in time, by hard work and strict econ 
omy he succeeded in getting his farm cleared 
and under cultivation. He was very suc 
cessful in his operations, built a good dwell 
ing house, made extensive improvements, 
and also acquired a fifty-acre tract near the 
homestead, and another in Concession 8. He 
died at his home in 1875, and was buried at 
Sarnia in the cemetery devoted to members 
of the Catholic Church. Mr. O Brien was a 
devout Catholic, and in the early days when 
the only services were those held in the log 
houses by visiting priests, his home was al 
ways open to them, while after a Catholic 
Church was organized in Wyoming, he and 
his wife and family attended, although it was 
ten miles away. Politically Mr. O Brien 
was a Conservative. 

At Baltimore, Michigan, in 1846, Mr. 
O Brien was married to Miss Bridget Hicky. 
who was born in County Clare, Ireland. 
Mrs. O Brien survived her husband until 
April 4, 1897, when she too passed away at 
the home of her son, aged eighty-two. She 
also was buried in St. Mary s cemetery at 
Sarnia. A good Catholic and true Chris 
tian, she was likewise a devoted wife and 
mother, and she reaped her reward in the 
care which her son and his wife gave to her 
through the long years of her widowhood. 
She was the mother of two sons, but the 
younger. Michael, was drowned in Lake 
Huron in 1870. His remains are interred 
beside those of his father. 

Cornelius O Brien was educated in the 
public schools of Section No. 12. and grew 
up on the farm, accustomed to that life. 
After his father s death he assumed the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



charge of the homestead, and is now the 
owner of 166 acres of well cultivated land, 
where he has followed general farming and 
stock raising. He has made many improve 
ments on the homestead and has been very 
successful, for he possesses the traits of en 
ergy, industry and thrift. Of a genial, so 
cial nature, he is very popular with all 
classes of people, and his home is open to all 
in the truest hospitality. He and his family 
are Catholics. Politically he is independent 
and has never sought to gain office or par 
ticipate in politics to any great extent. 

The marriage ceremony uniting Cor 
nelius O Brien and Miss Elizabeth Ellen 
Savoy was performed in the Catholic Church 
at Sarnia Jan. 24, 1882. Miss Savoy was 
born in that town, the daughter of Joseph 
and Jane (Hubbart) Savoy, the former of 
whom is still living in Sarnia, while the 
mother died at her home there in July, 1904. 
The following children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. O Brien: Mary A. and George 
A., both of whom have passed the entrance 
examinations for the high school; Jennie; 
Cornelius J. ; Joseph ; Agnes ; Lizzie and Wil 
fred, who both died young; and Gordon 
Michael. All reside at home. 

JAMES JOHNSTON, engaged in 
farming and stock raising on the 8th Con 
cession in Euphemia township. Lot 33. is 
one of Lambton County s representative 
men. He was born in County Roscommon, 
Ireland. May 22, 1835. son of James and 
Mary Johnston. 

the parents were natives of Ireland, 
where they were married and remained un 
til 1842, when they came to Canada, settling 
on the nth Concession in Euphemia (form 
erly Zone) township, Lambton County. 
Out. They came via Quebec, and were two 
months making the trip across the ocean. 
After coming to Canada Mr. Johnston made 
a permanent home on the nth Concession, 
where he died in 1867. His wife died with 
our subject in i88r. Mr. and Mrs. John 
ston were consistent members of the English 
Church, in which they took an active part. 
Of their eight children Maria, the eldest. 



married William Johnston, who settled in 
Middlesex County, and there they both 
died; Robert married and settled in Brooke 
township, where he died in 1895, leaving a 
family; George (deceased) married and set 
tled on the 7th Concession, where he died 
in 1902. leaving a large family; Eliza is the 
widow of James Chambers, and resides in 
Tort Huron, where she has a family; Jane. 
born in Ireland, is the widow of Thomas 
Burns, who was a saddler of Ingersoll and 
died leaving a large family ; Catherine, born 
in 1840, married George Johnston, who re 
sides on the loth Concession in Euphemia 
township, and has a family: William, born 
in 1842, is a resident of Brooke township, 
Lambton County, and has a large family; 
James is our subject. 

James Johnston was but a boy when his 
parents came to Canada, and with his 
brothers helped the father to clear the farm 
and make a home. He remained at home 
until twenty years old. and then purchased 
his present home, which at that time was 
all woodland, and which he purchased with 
money earned by himself. He opened up 
the roads and cleared up a piece of land, 
large enough to build a log cabin, in which 
he resided while clearing the rest of the land, 
that being his home until 1881, when he 
erected a fine modern brick dwelling house, 
large barns and outbuildings. He has 
cleared 100 acres of land, all of which he 
lias under cultivation. Mr. Johnston also 
purchased a farm, adjoining his own, for 
his son. 

On May 21, j86o. Mr. Johnston mar 
ried Miss Eleanor Tully. born in Euphemia 
township in 1843, daughter of Edward and 
Alice Lee Tully. and a member of one of 
Euphemia township s pioneer families, who 
came from County Wexford, Ireland. Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of nine 
children, eight of whom survive: Mary A. 
is the wife of Thomas Clements, a success 
ful farmer of Euphemia. and has one son. 
Russell; Alice Johnston is the wife of John 
Patterson, of Euphemia, and has one son, 
Thomas: Robert J. married Adda Brown- 
lee, of Euphemia township, and they reside 



704 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on the farm adjoining- that of his father and 
have one son, Russell ; William T. died in 
young manhood, in 1896; Elizabeth married 
Thomas Armstrong, of Euphemia township, 
and has two children, Ivan and Myrtle, and 
they now reside in South Dakota on a stock 
farm; Katie is the wife of Thomas Brown, 
a farmer of Euphemia, and has three chil 
dren. Violet, Lula and Laura; Clara taught 
school until she married Charles Stephens, 
of Euphemia township, where he carries on 
agricultural operations, and they are the pa 
rents of two daughters, Iva and - ; 
Amelia is the wife of Joshua Cox, of 
Euphemia township, and they have one son, 
On-ill ; Frederick, unmarried, is operating 
the home farm. 

In their religious belief Mr. Johnston 
and his wife are members of the Church of 
England in which he has been a warden for 
twelve years; he has always taken an active 
part in church work. In political questions 
he is a Conservative, but he has never as 
pired to political office, preferring the quiet 
of his home to the activity of public office. 
His life affords a good illustration of what 
a man may accomplish through the force of 
his own industry and intelligence. Mr. 
Johnston has won for himself and family a 
place among the representative people of 
Euphemia township, and his reputation in 
the community is that of an honest, upright 
man. He has been public-spirited and has 
prominently identified himself with all 
movements promising the welfare of the 
community for the past fifty years. 

GEORGE V. WYANT, assessor and 
collector of Petrolia, Ont., and clerk of En- 
niskillen township, is a native of Canada, of 
Dutch descent, born in Etobicoke township, 
York County, Jan. 13, 1854. 

Peter Wyant, great-grandfather of 
George V., was born in Holland and came 
thence to America, settling in Ohio, where 
he died. His son, Burgoyne Wyant, was 
born in that State in 1803. As a U. E. Loy 
alist, he left the United States and removed 
to Canada in the early days, and settled in 
the County of York, where he was one of the 



pioneers. He and his wife both died on the 
old homestead there, the parents of a large 
family, of whom one son, George, is still 
living, in the Perry Sound District. 

Joseph Wyant, eldest son of Burgoyne, 
was born in York County, Oct. 29, 1832, 
and his wife, Susannah Tuke, a native of the 
same county, was born Oct. 24, 1832. Jo 
seph Wyant was a lumberman and made his 
borne in Collingwood, Simcoe County, until 
the death of his wife, in 1867, after which 
he resided in Petrolia, although his real home 
and interests were still in Collingwood. His 
demise occurred in 1882. He and his wife 
were. consistent members of the Church of 
England. They were the parents of five 
children, of whom George V. is the eldest. 
James, born in York County in 1856, resides 
with his family in Saginaw, Michigan, 
where he is in business. Eliza, born in 
York County in 1859, married Samuel 
Odell, and lives with her husband and chil 
dren in Saginaw. John, born in York 
County in 1861, married Miss Sarah Mc- 
Ilwain, and lives on a farm in Plympton 
township; they have no children. Arthur 
died in York County in childhood. 

George V. Wyant was educated in the 
public schools of the County of Simcoe, and 
after leaving school learned the trade of a 
painter. He followed same for a few years 
and then moved to Enniskillen, in October, 
1876, engaging in farming. He cleared up 
his land, put up good buildings and though 
he started with small means became one of 
the prosperous farmers of the township. In 
May, 1901, he sold that property and pur 
chased real estate in the city of Petrolia, 
where he built the home in which he now 
resides. Always a Conservative, Mr. Wyant 
has been closely identified with politics and 
has held many responsible positions. In 
1890 he was elected collector of the town 
ship, for four years filled the office of as 
sessor, and in 1896 was chosen township 
clerk, a position he has filled ever since, to 
the entire satisfaction of his constituents. 
In 1905 he was appointed collector and as 
sessor of the town of Petrolia, Ont., and 
fills all these positions most efficiently. 





s 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



705 



Mr. Wyant s marriage occurred Oct. 
22, 1879, when he was united to Miss Annie 
Murray, daughter of Kenneth and Elsie 
(McDonald) Murray, prominent pioneers 
of County Oxford, where he died. He was 
a prominent farmer of that section. Mrs. 
Murray still resides on the old homestead. 
To Mr. and Mrs. \Yvant five children have 
been born, as follows : Elsie J. ; Alton L., 
now clerk in the Fairbank Banking House 
of Petrolia; Vernon T., a high school stu 
dent; Allen B., and Winifred G. A. The 
family are all members of the Church of 
England. Mr. Wyant is a prominent lodge 
man and belongs to the local organization 
of the Foresters and the Woodmen. He 
started in life limited both as to education 
and means, but endowed with the sterling 
qualities which have enabled him to over 
come both impediments and to take a place 
among the prominent and influential citi 
zens of Petrolia. He has also many admir 
able social traits which have made him many 
close friends and won him general pop 
ularity. 

JOHN McMAHAN, one of the leading 
and representative men of Lambton County, 
residing in Plympton township, where he 
owns and operates a fine farm, was born in 
Lennox County, June 6, 1846, son of the 
late John and Jane (Fairburn) McMahan. 
Our subject is also half brother of James 
McMahan, of Plympton, and first cousin of 
the well known county councilor, William 
H. McMahan. 

When but an infant our subject had the 
misfortune to lose his mother, and was taken 
to Camden township, Addington County, by 
his father. In his new home he attended 
school and worked for his father, and also 
as he grew older, was hired out to the neigh 
bors in lumber camps. Early becoming self- 
reliant, at the age of seventeen years he came 
to the township of Plympton, Lambton 
County, and worked on a farm and in the 
lumber regions until 1870. He then began 
farming upon his own account, on an 100- 
acre farm, on the 3d Concession. He then 
built a log house, and brought his wife to 

45 



settle down with him in a pioneer life. Both 
of them worked hard, practiced strict econ 
omy, and in time a frame house replaced the 
log one, and upon this property they ha ve 
lived thirty-four years, carrying on general 
farming and cattle raising. Mr. McMahan 
has long been a breeder of Shorthorn Dur 
ham cattle, and deals extensively in cattle 
and horses. His premises are in excellent 
condition, and demonstrate his ability as a 
farmer and practical manager. In politics 
he is a Conservative, but has never consented 
to hold any office. Fraternally he is a mem 
ber of the Loyal Orange Association, No. 
964, Wyoming, and the A. O. U. W., also 
of Wyoming. He is a strong supporter of 
the Plympton Township Agricultural So 
ciety, of which he is a member. In religious 
views he endeavors to follow out the teach 
ings of the Golden Rule, and he is a man 
widely esteemed by all who know him. 

In February, 1867, Mr. McMahan mar 
ried Christina Chalmers, youngest sister of 
Alexander Chalmers, of Plympton, a full 
history of whom is given elsewhere. Five 
children have been born of this marriage : 
John C, a farmer of Manitoba, married Ann 
Dowler, and has one daughter, Jannie ; Isa- 
belle married Ernest King, of Plympton, 
and has two children, Manford and Lewis 
W. ; James died in childhood ; Manford died 
at the age of thirteen years; Ethel is at 
home. Mrs. McMahan was born in Plymp 
ton township, March I, 1846, and comes 
from one of the oldest and best known famil 
ies of this locality. She is a devoted wife and 
mother, and a lady most highly esteemed 
throughout the neighborhood. 

WILLIAM EADY, one of Lambton 
County s best citizens, who has worked his 
way to the front from a very modest begin 
ning, was born in Carleton County, April 26, 
1837, the son of Robert and Mary (Hurst) 
Eady, old pioneers of Canada. 

Robert Eady was born in Hampshire, 
England, in 1787, and his wife in Stafford 
shire in 1791. They were married in Eng 
land but spent very little of their married 
life there as Mr. Eady was in the British 



706 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



army. In 1813, during the War of 1812-15, 
he was ordered to Canada and served there 
until peace was declared, when he left the 
army and settled in Carleton County on a 
farm. Some years later he moved to Hor- 
ton township, Renfrew County, where he 
bought land for a home, cleared it and there 
remained till his death, in December, 1864. 
His wife lived with her son William after 
her husband s death and passed away in Pe- 
trolia in 1873. They were the parents of 
eleven children. Elizabeth, deceased, mar 
ried John Hicks, of Michigan. George was 
born while his parents were in Spain ; he 
married and settled at Horton, Renfrew 
County, where he died, leaving a family. 
Robert, torn in Montreal, Canada, married 
and settled at Horton, where he also died, 
leaving a wife and children. Mary, born in 
Kingston, married John Slack and died in 
their home in Petrolia, leaving a family. 
Jane married John Richardson and lives 
with her husband and children at Horton. 
John settled in Enniskillen township, where 
he died, leaving a wife and children. Thomas 
(deceased), was a farmer in Michigan, who 
also left a family. Ann married Young 
New, reared a family and died at their home 
in Horton. Richard lives with his wife and 
children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Will 
iam is the subject of this biography. James 
lives with his family on a farm in Horton. 

\Villiam Eady grew up and was educated 
in Renfrew County. He married early and 
settled on a farm in that county, where he 
remained till 1866 and then sold out in order 
to purchase land in Petrolia, where he has 
ever since been engaged in the oil business. 
He owns twenty-two acres of land in Con 
cession 12, Lot 9, where he resides, besides 
100 acres in the oil belt of Enniskillen. He 
moved from Petrolia to his present home in 
1889, and has become one of the successful 
oil producers of the section. He has thirty- 
four oil wells. 

Mr. Eady chose for his wife Miss Eliza 
Johnston, a native of Ireland and the daugh 
ter of John and Annie Johnston. Mrs. John 
ston died in Ireland and the father with four 



daughters came to Canada and settled in 
Renfrew County. Some years later he 
moved to Petrolia and there died in 1899. 
He had five daughters, namely : Jane, Mrs. 
John Thompson, of Renfrew County; Cath 
erine, Mrs. David Spence, of Petrolia; 
Georgine, Mrs. Joseph Jeffries, of Renfrew 
County; Annie, Mrs. John Mahew, of Ire 
land; and Eliza, Mrs. Eady, who was born 
April 6, 1841. To William and Eliza .Eady 
six children have been born, (i) Robert, 
the eldest, born in Renfrew County in 1859, 
married Miss Jennie Davison, of Goderich, 
and resides in Wyoming, Plympton town 
ship. Robert Eady is a member of the Ma 
sonic order in Petrolia. (2) Mary, born in 
Renfrew County, in 1862, married James 
Flet, a machinist of Petrolia. (3) Eliza, 
born in 1863, married George Mitten, in the 
oil business in Sarnia, and has two children, 
Gladys E. and Annie G. (4) George, born 
in Petrolia in 1868, married Miss Ellen Rob 
inson of Wyoming, and resides in Ennis 
killen township, where he is in the oil busi 
ness. (5) William, born in Petrolia in 
1870, married Miss Emeline Hopper, of 
that same place, and they reside there with 
their two children, Alma and Annie G. (6) 
Thomas H., born in Petrolia in 1876, mar 
ried Miss Ellen Brownlee, who died leaving 
him one son, Wilbur L. Thomas resides at 
home and is the manager of his father s oil 
business. 

William Eady and his family are all con 
nected with the Methodist Church, although 
his parents were members of the Church of 
England when they came to Canada. Po 
litically the father and sons alike have al 
ways been identified with the old Conserva 
tive party and are types of Canada s best 
citizens, although no one of them has ever 
joined the ranks of office holders. From the 
age of eighteen William Eady has belonged 
to the Loyal Order of Orangemen, and is 
also a member of the Order of Canadian 
Foresters. Starting in life with nothing to 
rely on save his own ability. Mr. Eady has 
been very successful in a financial way, but 
has at the same time won a reputation for 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



707 



honorable dealing and uprightness of char 
acter that is truly enviable, and which has, 
together with his kindly disposition, made 
him hosts of friends. 

PETER LA PIER, late a highly es 
teemed farmer of Moore township, Lambton 
County, who resided in the village of Cor- 
unna, was born June 26, 1819, at Riviere 
ties Caches, Province of Quebec, a son of 
Louis La Pier, who spent his life in the 
Province of Quebec. 

Peter La Pier was born at a time and in 
a place where the advantages of education 
were very limited, and he did not get an op 
portunity to attend school. He was reared to 
manhood on his father s farm, with whom 
he worked until twenty-five years of age, 
when he left his native home for the West. 
Coming to Haldimand County, he worked in 
the lumber regions and at other employ 
ment including farm work, and by denying 
himself everything but the absolute necessi 
ties of life, he managed to save enough to 
buy fifty acres of land, which he so improved 
and cultivated that he was able to sell in 
1853 at a good profit. Coming to Lambton 
County he located on Concession 10, Lot 16, 
in Moore township, where he bought a tract 
of 100 acres of bush land and built a small 
log cabin. To this home he brought his 
family and began the life of a pioneer, and 
by hard work succeeded in clearing up his 
farm and making extensive improvements. 
Later he added 150 acres to his original es 
tate, and in all things he was eminently suc 
cessful. The farms are now worked by his 
sons, and are in a high state of cultivation. 
After forty years of hard work. Mr. La 
Pier retired from active life, and removed 
his family to Corunna. where he bought a 
dwelling house on Lyndock street, where he 
resided enjoying the fruits of his hard later, 
tenderly cared for by his devoted daughters. 
He was in excellent health and in possession 
of his full faculties until his death which oc 
curred March 27. 1905. Mr. La Pier was a 
stanch Conservative, and always supported 
the principles advocated by that party, and 
for fourteen years efficiently filled the office 



of constable. Like his father he was a stanch 
adherent to the Catholic faith, and was one 
of the first members of St. Joseph s Catho 
lic Church at Corunna. Mr. La Pier was 
>ne of the old pioneer residents of this part 
of the County, and in a most interesting way 
could recall the events of the early days. 
He was most highly respected and very well 
known. 

On Jan. 7, 1850, Mr. La Pier married at 
Cayuga, County of Haldimand, Barbara 
Degursie, born near Paris, Out., daughter 
of the late Joseph Degursie. She died Dec. 
23, 1899, aged seventy years. To them were 
born fifteen children, as follows: Mary 
Ann married John Krohn ; John died in 
1898; Sarah died when a young woman; 
Felix resides at Port Robinson, Indiana; 
George is engaged in farming on the home 
farm; Josephine married Edward Graff of 
Port Huron ; Edward died in infancy ; Fran 
cis is on the home farm ; Joseph is^ also on 
the homestead; Euphemia, a nurse, resides 
with her father; Peter died young; Matilda 
married Benjamin L. Robair, of Sarnia; 
Philomene resides at home; and Louis and 
Julius both died voting. 

ALEXANDER McLEAX. a well- 
known and progressive farmer in Conces 
sion 10, Plympton township, has resided 
there for over half a century, since the days 
of his infancy, and he has experienced all the 
phases of pioneer life. He was born in Bo- 
sanquet township, Lambton County, in 
March. 1852, son of Alexander and Ellen 
(Cameron) McLean. 

Alexander McLean, the father, was born 
in Inverness, Scotland, and there grew up, 
following farming. He married Miss Ellen 
Cameron, and at once brought his wife to 
America, crossing on a sailing vessel, and 
they landed at Xew York. Mr. McLean 
found employment in the western part of the 
State in a distillery, one having a capacity 
of 245 bushels of grain a day. and in it 
worked up from an ordinary laborer to en 
gineer. The plant afterward failed, but Mr. 
McLean had previously removed to Canada 
and located in London township, Middlesex 



70S 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



County. There he bought a tract of land, 
comprising thirty acres, operating it a short 
time before selling out, and then bought 
sixty acres in the same locality. After a 
few years he sold this place also to Edmond 
Russell, who was afterward murdered by 
his wife, and went to Bosanquet township, 
Lambton County. There he farmed until 
1853, and then located in Plympton, where 
he bought 100 acres of bush land in Conces 
sion 10, Lot 15. He settled down with his 
family in a little log cabin, and like the other 
pioneers of the day, made potash from the 
timber cut in clearing his land, and thus 
made a living until his land was ready for 
cultivation. He made many improvements 
on his farm, built a frame house and barns, 
nnd got everything into very good condition. 
Later he bought another 100 acres east of 
his homestead and gave it to his son John. 
His hard work and close attention to Juici 
ness made him very successful, and he was 
able to provide well for all his children. 
His wife died Feb. 8, 1890. and his own de 
mise followed in about a year. May 31, 
1891; they were buried in Errol cemetery. 
Mrs. McLean attended the Presbyterian 
Church, but her husband was not connected 
with any denomination, although he made 
the Golden Rule his invariable principle of 
action. He was a Liberal in politics, and 
universally known as an industrious, honest 
man and good citizen. The children in the 
family were nine, of whom Alexander is 
the only one living. They were : Eliza 
beth, who died young ; Christina, Mrs. Jo 
seph Trott, of Plympton ; Ellen, Mrs. John 
Robertson ; Anne, Mrs. David Robertson ; 
Jane, wife of the late N. D. Fortes; Katie, 
Mrs. Samuel Nicholson ; a child deceased in 
infancy ; Alexander ; and John. 

Alexander, McLean was only a year old 
when his father moved to Plympton town 
ship, and he grew up there on his father s 
farm, attending the district school. For 
some years before his father s death he had 
charge of the homestead, and after that event 
it became his own property. He has made 
many improvements, has added fifty acres 
and is engaged in both general farming and 



stock raising, in which he is very successful. 
Mr. McLean is noted both for his industry 
and his strictly honorable dealings, and as 
he has a very genial manner, he is both re 
spected and popular. He is a Liberal in poli 
tics, but an independent one, and not an act 
ive participant in local affairs. He is broad- 
minded and a good citizen, while like his fa 
ther, his religion is the Golden Rule. He 
belongs to the I. O. O. F., Acorn Lodge, No. 
23, in Camlachie, holding office of Past 
Grand; and is a member of the Aberarder 
Library committee. 

In 1897, m Camlachie, Mr. McLean was 
married to Miss Maggie McCauley, daugh 
ter of E. McCauley, of Brigden, Ont, and 
to their union two children have been born, 
Mary Ellen Cameron and Alexander, Jr. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. McLean have many 
warm friends. 

MRS. GEORGE GERMAN, for many 
years a resident of Lambton County, was. 
born at Napanee, Lennox County, Canada, 
Nov. 15, 1839, the on ly daughter of William 
and Catherine (Holcomb) Russel. 

William Russel was born in Ireland and 
his wife in Lennox County, where she grew 
to womanhood. She was the daughter of 
John Holcomb, who came to Canada from 
the United States. Mr. Russel left Ireland 
when he was eighteen years old, in company 
with his brothers, Thomas and Joseph, who 
likewise became early settlers in Lennox 
County and reared families there. William, 
the youngest, married and settled there on a 
farm which proved to be his permanent 
home, and on which he and his wife both 
died, she in 1882 and he in 1890. The Rus- 
sels and Holcombs were both families who 
were prominent in the Methodist Church, 
as they were all members of it, while Mrs. 
Russel s father and her son John were local 
ministers in Lennox County for many years. 
Mrs. German was the only daughter born 
to this couple, but there were six sons, (i) 
(". Fletcher became a general insurance agent 
at Toronto. He had been well educated and 
for a number of years taught in the Toronto 
high school. He married Miss Maria Dixon, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



709 



of Canada, who was left a widow in 1886, 
with five children, John, Jerome, Edith, 
Frank and Arthur. (2) Rev. John was 
given a classical education and fitted for a 
teacher, but later entered the theological 
school in Toronto and prepared himself for 
the ministry, in which he labored for thirty- 
seven years. He is now living retired in 
London. His wife was a Miss Hester Kerr, 
of Brockville, by whom he had seven chil 
dren, Ella, Minnie, Laney, Hattie, Dr. John, 
Jean and William. (3) Nelson, married 
Miss Mary J. English, of Lennox County, 
settled there on a farm, and has had three 
children : Amos, deceased ; Martha, Mrs. Wil 
liam Lloyd; and Bruce. (4) Andrew mar 
ried Miss Clara Parks, of Lennox County, 
settled in Napanee, and, after teaching in the 
high school some years, began farming, 
which occupation he followed till his death, 
in 1878. His wife died soon after, leaving 
three children, William, Fred and Nellie. 
William is a resident of Seattle, Washing 
ton, unmarried, while the two younger chil 
dren were brought up by their aunt, Mrs. 
German, who gave them all the care and the 
educational advantages which her own chil 
dren enjoyed. Fred is now a general in 
surance agent in Montana and Nellie has 
married Roy Burgess, of Petrolia. (5) 
Anson married Miss Samantha Spencer, of 
Lennox County, and made his home in Pe 
trolia, where he was engaged in the oil busi 
ness. His death occurred in 1889, and there 
were no children to survive him. (6) 
James, born in 1848, is one of the leading 
insurance men of London. He married Miss 
Emma Attletine. of Napanee, and has three 
-children, Percy, Cyrus and Rose. 

Mrs. German attended the schools of Len 
nox County, and received a good education. 
In March, 1860, when in her twenty-first 
year, she was united to George German, 
with whom she passed thirty-five years of 
married life. Mr. German was born May 
3, 1838, in Lennox County, the son of Gar- 
r.ett and Catherine (Groomes) German, both 
Canadians by birth. He grew up on his fa 
ther s farm and after marriage continued to 
live in that County till 1888. In that year 



he purchased 200 acres in Lambton County, 
located in Lot 18, Concession n, Enniskillen 
township. He added many improvements 
to the place, put up substantial buildings, in 
cluding a large bank barn and fine country 
home, and prepared to spend many happy 
years there. But five years later, in Janu 
ary, 1893, he was called from this world 
while still in the prime of life, and his widow 
was left alone in the home. Mr. German 
was, like his wife, a member, of the Method 
ist Church and politically belonged to the 
Reform party. A man of the most upright 
character and conscientious life, he was uni 
versally regarded as a good citizen and a 
trustworthy friend, who could be relied on 
for help and sympathy in distress. 

Mr. and Mrs. German were the parents 
of five children, all born in Lennox County, 
(i) Catherine, born in January, 1861, mar 
ried Emory Clemens, an Enniskillen farmer, 
and has six children, Gertrude, Roy, Harry, 
Edna, Pearl and Clifford. (2) Wesley, 
June, 1864, received a fine education and 
was graduated from Belleville College at the 
age of eighteen. He married Miss Ella 
Martin, of Lambton County, and resides in 
Sarma, where he is engaged in business. 
They have one son, Vaughn. (3) Anson, 
April i, 1868, married Miss Josie Buckley, 
of Wyoming, and has four children, Earl, 
May, Delma and Harold; he is a business 
man of Sarnia. (4) Andrew, June 29, 
1870, grew up on the farm like the others, 
but he has remained there and since his fa 
ther s death has been manager of the place. 
In March, 1899, he married Miss Laura 
Brown, of Enniskillen, daughter of William 
Brown, and they are the parents of Mabel 
and Cecil. (5) Dewart, April 4, 1877, went 
west to Montana, where he is engaged as 
traveling agent for a Montana firm. His 
wife was Miss Phoebe Peterson, of Sarnia. 
The sons are adherents of the Reform party 
and are wide awake on all questions of pub 
lic interest. Andrew German is a member 
of the Maccabees, Lodge No. 10, of Petrolia, 
has been one of the leading bass singers in 
the Methodist Church for eight or ten years 
and is a popular young man socially. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Mrs. German, the mother of this family, 
is a lady of great culture and refinement, 
who was not only given a fine education as a 
girl, but has continued to improve her mind 
ever since, as she comes of a family natur 
ally scholarly. In all the hardships of their 
earlier years, she was a true helpmeet for 
her husband, and has been a wise and de 
voted mother, whose children are now re 
paying her for all her care. For over forty 
years she has been a member of the church 
and in all that time has been foremost in its 
work, besides doing much in a charitable 
way privately. 

HARRIS ALBERT SPEARMAN, 
one of Bosanquet township s native sons and 
a well known and highly respected citizen 
and farmer, was born Sept. 20, 1865, on 
Lot 28, South boundary, Bosanquet town 
ship, Lambton County, Ontario. 

The family of which Mr. Spearman is a 
member, is of Irish extraction, the members 
having- made their home for many years in 
County Tipperary. Simon Spearman, 
grandfather of our subject, was born in that 
county, where he learned the trade of black 
smith, an occupation he followed in his na 
tive land. There he married Margaret Nap- 
per, who bore him thirteen children, nine of 
whom grew to maturity : Benjamin, who 
in Adelaide township. Middlesex County ; 
Susanna, who married first a Mr. Long, and 
after his death a Mr. Malier, and died in Ire 
land ; William, who died in Bosanquet town 
ship; Jane, who married William \Vebb, 
and died in Michigan ; Simon, who died in 
Dawn township, Lambton County : John ; 
James, who died at Dawns Mill. Kent 
County, Andrew, who died in Michigan; 
and George, who died in Dawn township, 
Lambton County. 

In the early thirties Simon Spearman 
with his wife and eight children crossed the 
Atlantic to make their home in Canada, and 
after twelve weeks voyage on a sailing ves 
sel, located in Huntingdon County, Quebec, 
where Mr. Spearman followed his trade, and 
where the rest of his life was spent. He 
also owned land, which was operated by his 



sons, and he lived to a ripe old age. He and 
his worthy wife were members of the 
Church of England. Politically he was a 
strong Conservative. 

John Spearman, the son of Simon, was 
but seven years old when he came to Canada 
with his parents, and he had no opportunity 
to acquire an education of the commonest 
kind, the schools in Quebec at that early 
period being confined to those of the French. 
Mr. Spearman worked at home witli his 
father on the farm, and here he remained 
until twenty-five years old, when, leaving 
home, he came west to Ontario, locating in 
Dorchester township, Middlesex County, 
near Spearman s Corner, which place was 
named after relatives of the family. He 
drove a team from London to Hamilton for 
several years, and in 1855 located in Lamb- 
ton County, on Lot 28, South boundary, 
Bosanquet township, on a tract of 114 acres 
which he purchased from the Canada Land 
Company, paying three dollars per acre. His 
land was all bush, and to reach it he had to 
underbrush the road. Here he built a log 
house and made a home for his wife and 
children, while he set to work to clear up 
his farm: Mr. Spearman worked tirelessly, 
early and late, for many years, receiving as 
sistance in his task only when his sons were 
old enough to work. Then for many years 
they worked together finally getting the land 
in a good state of cultivation. There being 
no market for lumber in those days, the tim 
ber cut from the farm was made into logs 
and burned. The nearest markets were 
London to the east, and Sarnia to the west. 
Mr. Spearman spent his active life on his 
farm, later buying 750 acres on Lot 6, gth 
Concession, Bosanquet township, now oper 
ated by his son, James, also purchasing a 
tract of 100 acres in Brooke township, on 
Lot 4, Concession. 3. now operated by his 
son, John. He remained on the homestead 
farm until 1897 when he removed to Forest, 
where he and his dvoted wife lived until his 
death. Feb. 8. 1905. Mr. Spearman passed 
away quietly and peacefully, being afflicted 
with no illness, in the faith of the Church 
of England, and was laid to rest in Beach- 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



711 



wood cemetery. Politically he was a 
strong Conservative, and served as a school 
director. He was a charter member of Jura 
Lodge, No. 819, Loyal Orange Order, and 
was a member of the county lodge. He 
always took an active interest in the work 
ings of the order, the lodge meeting in his 
home for fourteen years. 

John Spearman was married in Hunt 
ingdon County, Quebec, to Charlotte 
Smith, born in Devonshire, England, 
daughter of James Smith, an old settler of 
Quebec. Mrs. Spearman is still living at 
her home in Forest, active, and in the full 
possession of all her faculties ; she is a mem 
ber of the Church of England. She has had 
the following children : James and Simon, 
twins, the latter of whom died in infancy, 
and the former of whom, James, married 
(first) Annie Irwin, and (second) Harriet 
Dunlap, and follows farming in Bosanquet 
township; Elizabeth married Thomas 
Bailey, and resides in Euphemia township; 
Margaret, married John Silk, of Brooke 
township; Jane married William McCordic, 
of Bosanquet township ; Charlotte Levina 
married John Sterrett, and resides in Sar- 
nia; John is a farmer of Brooke township; 
Simon (2) died at the age of eighteen 
years ; Harris Albert ; Robert Henry died at 
the age of seven years; Annie, the widow of 
Edwin Michaels, resides in Forest. During 
the Fenian raid in 1866 Mr. Spearman was 
a volunteer, and served gallantly to protect 
his home and country. 

Harris Albert Spearman attended the 
district school No. 10, which was all the op 
portunity he had to receive an education. 
From an early age he worked on the home 
farm, assisting his father and brothers to 
cultivate the place, and also assisted 
in clearing the 100 acres in Brooke 
township. In 1887 Mr. Spearman pur 
chased the homestead from his father, 
the latter still living there, however, 
until 1897. For the past sixteen years 
Air. Spearman has been successfully en 
gaged in general farming and the raising 
and feeding of stock. In 1903 lie built a 
fine brick dwelling house, and he has made 



many improvements on the farm, including 
the raising of the barns and the building of 
brick foundations under same. Politically 
he is a stanch Conservative, always sup 
porting the principles of that party as form 
ulated and laid down by that great states 
man, Sir John A. MacDonald. Mr. Spear 
man was elected a member of the board of 
councilmen of Bosanquet township in 1896, 
and served in that capacity for four years, 
the last year as deputy reeve, which was the 
last year that the old law was in force. Dur 
ing his terms in the council many improve 
ments were made in the township, a 120- 
foot iron bridge being built across the river 
Burwell. In 1900 Mr. Spearman was a 
candidate for the reeveship of Bosanquet, 
and in a three-cornered fight the election re 
sulted in a tie between Mr. Spearman and 
Mr. Thomas Lampman, the township clerk. 
Mr. George Sutherland, the clerk, giving 
Mr. Spearman the deciding vote, he per 
formed the duties of that ofnce for a month, 
but lost the election on a recount, Mr. 
Lampman being declared elected. Frater 
nally Mr. Spearman is connected with the 
Arkona Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M., of 
which he is past master; is past master and 
a member of Jura Lodge, No. 819, Loyal 
Orange Order, has filled the office of master 
for two years, and is a member of the county 
lodge. He is a member of the Chosen 
Friends of Jura, to which his wife also be 
longs, and in which he has passed all of the 
chairs. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., 
No. 1 08, Forest, and also connected with 
the Patrons of Industry. He and his wife 
attend the Methodist Church. 

Mr. Spearman was first married in 
Strathroy, Middlesex County, to Rachel 
McCordic. of Bosanquet township, and she 
died one and a half years after their mar 
riage, and was laid to rest in the Arkona 
cemetery. Mr. Spearman s second wife was 
Miss Elizabeth Thompson, born in Warwick 
township, daughter of the late James and 
Margaret (Calvert) Thompson," the latter 
of whom makes her home in Sarnia, while 
the former died in Warwick township. Mrs. 
Spearman is highly cultured and a lady of 



712 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



refinement, and is greatly admired for her 
many lovable traits of character. She is de 
voted to her home and family, and is a good, 
Christian woman. To Mr. and Mrs. Spear 
man t\vo children have been born : James 
Mason and Pearl Gladys, the latter of whom 
met with a painful accident near her home, 
when eight years of age. A wagon passed 
over her shoulders and chest, and from the 
effects of this accident the child died in her 
mother s arms twenty minutes later. This 
sad occurrence has cast a deep shadow over 
the once happy household. 

JAMES EBENEZER BANNISTER, 
a prosperous farmer on the i4th Concession 
of Plympton township, Lambton County, 
Ont., was born on the homestead farm, Lot 
22, 1 4th Concession, Nov. 25, 1865, son of 
James and Harriet (Gammon) Bannister. 

James Bannister was born in Suffolk, 
England, Nov. 6, 1817. In 1836 he emi 
grated to America and located at Salt Fleet, 
near Hamilton, Ont., and there he resided 
until 1852, engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
In the above mentioned year, he moved to 
Plympton township, Lambton County, 
which at that time was covered with a dense 
forest, and there were but a few log cabins in 
that locality. He purchased first 100 acres 
of forest, Lot 24, west one-half, i5th Con 
cession, but never lived on this land. Later 
he purchased 200 acres, Lot 22, i4th Con 
cession and on this he at once erected a com 
fortable log cabin, which served him and 
his devoted wife as a home until 1871, when 
he built the commodious home now occupied 
by his son James Ebenezer. He was a good, 
stanch Conservative in his political views, 
and while not a member of any church, al 
ways upheld the doctrines of the old Bap 
tist Church. He was an honest, upright 
man in all his business transactions, firm in 
his convictions, a practical farmer, and be 
loved by all who had the pleasure of his ac 
quaintance. In addition to his land in 
Plympton township, he purchased forty 
acres in Huron County, and fifty acres in 
Gosfield. Essex County, anl this land he 
gave to his sons. 



James Bannister was twice married. His 
first wife, whom he married at Salt Fleet, 
Ont., March 15, 1846, was Elizabeth Mar 
shall, who died July 2, 1847. O ne daugh 
ter was born to this union, Eliza, born Feb. 
19, 1847. On Oct. 1 6, 1848, he married 
Harriet Gammon, who was born Feb. I, 
1827, and they became the parents of the 
following children: Elizabeth, born July 18, 
1849, now resides at Dorchester, Ont. Amos, 
born April 27, 1851, lives in Plympton 
township. John Earl, born Nov. 17, 1852, 
resides in Plympton township. George Eli, 
born Oct. 10, 1854, resides in Gosfield town 
ship, Essex County. William Albert, born 
Feb. 15, 1859, resides at Great Falls, Mon 
tana. Charles Thomas, born May 15, 1859, 
resides in Gosfield township, Essex County, 
Unt. Naomi Jane, born April 6, 1861, died 
Feb. 1 6, 1864. Hannah Charlotte, born 
May 20, 1863, lives in Montana. James 
Bannister, the father, died Oct. 31, 1903. 

GUSTAVUS WILSON, of Plympton town 
ship, was born in Durham County, Ont., 
son of Samuel and Ann (Howden) Wilson, 
both natives of Ireland, who came to Can 
ada at an early date, being among the pio 
neers of County Durham. Samuel Wilson 
was accidentally killed by the falling of a 
tree, when Gustavus was only three years of 
age. The mother spent the remainder of her 
life in Durham County. The other children 
born to Samuel Wilson and wife were : John, 
who married a Miss Scott, and resides in 
Michigan ; Samuel, who married the widow 
of John Wellington, and resides in Michi 
gan ; Richard, who married Miss Ross, and 
resides at Thedford, Lambton County ; and 
one that died in childhood. 

Gustavus Wilson was educated in the 
country schools of his native township, and 
his entire life has been spent in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1859, he purchased land on the 
Lake road, and subsequently bought forty- 
seven acres on No. 9 Side Road, on which 
he pursued farming on an extensive scale 
until 1892, when he retired and went to live 
with his son-in-law, Mr. Bannister. 

Gustavus Wilson was married in Dur 
ham County, Ont., to Margaret Owens, a 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



713 



native of that county, and they have had 
the following children: John, born April 15, 
1858; Joseph Albert, born May u, 1860, 
died in childhood; Theodore, born April 5, 
1863, residing in Forest; Annie, Mrs. Ban 
nister, born April 22, 1867; Mary Ella, 
born Dec. 10, 1869, deceased in childhood; 
William, born May 17, 1873; Almeda May, 
born Oct. 19, 1877, and died in childhood; 
Thomas Elmer, born April 17, 1879. 

JOHN GROWDER, a farmer in En- 
niskillen township, Lot 20, Concession 10, 
was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in May, 
1829, the son of Alexander and Amelia 
(Lamont) Growder. The parents were born 
in Liverpool, England, and in Argyllshire, 
Scotland, respectively, were married in the 
city of Liverpool and then settled in the 
wife s native land. Mrs. Growder did not 
live long and left her husband with the one 
son, John. 

John Growder was brought up by an 
uncle, Alexander McNabb, of Scotland, and 
was sent to the public schools of that coun 
try. In his youth he learned the trade of a 
carpenter and was only seventeen years of 
age when he started for Canada to pursue his 
trade in that new land. He sailed from 
Glasgow to Quebec, spending six weeks on 
the voyage, and when he landed had only 
fifty cents in his pocket to begin life on. 
For a few years he worked as a carpenter at 
Belleville, Canada, and later in Brooke 
township and in Detroit. His next venture 
was in the copper mines of Michigan, but 
after a short stay in that region he walked to 
St. Paul, Minnesota, and took a steamer 
down the Mississippi to Louisiana, where he 
worked at the cotton gins some time. By 
1856 he was ready to return to Canada and 
settled in Enniskillen, where he bought the 
property on which he now lives, 200 acres of 
wild land which he immediately began to 
clear. He put up a log house and entered 
upon the usual experiences of pioneer life, 
for he was one of the very early inhabitants 
of that section. He has since erected good 
substantial buildings and developed the place 



into a fine farm, which has brought him 
profitable returns for all his labor. 

After twelve years of bachelor life on 
his farm, Mr. Growder was married, July 
14, 1868, to Miss Catherine McKellar, of 
Mosa township, Middlesex County. Miss 
McKellar, who was born Aug. 14, 1838, 
and died Feb. 17, 1905, belonged to 
one of the early pioneer families of that 
county, for her parents, Archie and Jeanette 
(Black) McKellar, were among the first 
settlers. They came from Argyllshire, 
Scotland, and were granted their land in 
Middlesex by Col. Talbot, agent for the 
English government. Mrs. McKellar passed 
away there in her home in 1840, but her 
husband survived her until 1878. They 
were members of the Disciples Baptist 
Church. Eight children were born to them, 
as follows : Nancy, widow of the late John 
Patterson, of Aldborough, Kent County ; 
Peter, who lives with his family in Wis 
consin ; Duncan, a resident of Duluth ; 
Mary. Mrs. Hugh Ferguson, of Middlesex 
County; Effie, deceased wife of Duncan 
Ferguson, of Middlesex County; John, who 
died in Montana, leaving three children; 
Donald, who died at his home in Michigan 
in February, 1904, leaving five children; 
and Catherine, Mrs. Growder. A family of 
five children has come to John and Catherine 
Growder, four sons and a daughter, all now 
in prominent positions in life. 

( i ) Archie Growder, the eldest son, was 
born at the Enniskillen homestead in 1869. 
In 1893 ne immigrated to Australia and 
lived for ten years, after which he returned 
home ; it was only for a brief stay, how 
ever, as March 24, 1904, he started again, 
this time to Borneo, where he is engaged in 
prospecting for oil for an English syndicate. 
(2) John, born in 1871, in early manhood 
went to India in the interest of a London oil 
company, and has been there now for eight 
years. (3) Peter, 1872. is the manager of 
the home farm. (4) Alexander, 1875, grew 
up at home, and became a proficient oil 
driller. In 1899, however, he abandoned 
that occupation and went to British Colum- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



bia, where he is engaged in mining. (5) 
Annie Media, born in February, 1878, is the 
wife of William Strangways, an Enniskillen 
farmer, and has four sons living, Archie, 
John, Roy and Leonard, while the two 
daughters, Hattie and Jessie, are both de 
ceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Growder are members of 
the Baptist Church. Politically he has al 
ways supported the Reform party and has 
been quite an active worker for it, while he 
filled for a time the position of pathmaster, 
an office whose duties he discharged most 
efficiently. His early years were hard ones, 
for he had to make his own way and he and 
his wife can look back upon many difficulties 
which they faced together, but his sturdy 
industry and honest independence brought 
their own reward in his present affluence and 
in the hearty respect and liking so freely ac 
corded by their many friends. Mr. Growder 
has been a useful and public spirited man, ac 
tive in every movement for the improvement 
of the community, while as a neighbor he is 
universally spoken of in the kindest terms 
for his hospitality, generosity, and chari 
table spirit. 

ELGIN WOOD, who is well-known to 
the citizens of Sarnia and the wholesale 
fruit trade as a business man of energy and 
commercial integrity, is a native of Canada, 
born in Middlesex County, Ontario, and he 
descends from an old and honorable family. 

Caleb Wood, the great-great-grand 
father of Elgin Wood, was born Aug. 29, 
1723, on Long Island, New York, and he 
died in New Brunswick, Sept. 20, 1794. His 
marriage was to Mary Vail, who was born 
on Long Island, Jan. 9, 1725, and who died 
in Upper Canada, March 5, 1796. 

Israel Wood, son of Caleb and Mary 
Wood, was born on Long Island, Jan. 28, 
1749, and died in Upper Canada, May 29, 
1817. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
of Ruth Gould, was born in New York 
State. Dec. 25, 1748. and died in Upper 
Canada. May 12, 1829. Their children 
were: Phoebe, born Dec. 20, 1768; Sarah, 
born May 12, 1771; Plat, born Jan. 25, 



1773; Keturah, born Oct. 26, 1774; Sam 
uel, born Sept. 14, 1778; Jacob, born Aug. 
14, 1782; Israel, born May 23, 1/85; 
Caleb, born May 26, 1787; and James, born 
July 11, 1791- 

James Wood, son of Israel and Ruth 
Wood, was born near the St. John River, 
in Canada, the older members of the 
family being natives of Long Island. On 
Jan. 17, 1817, James Wood married Cath 
erine Gustin, who was born in Charlotte- 
ville, Norfolk County, on Lake Erie, March 
1 8, 1796. He died Oct. 12, 1864, aged 
seventy-three years, three months and one 
day. His widow survived until Sept. 12, 
1872, when she passed away aged seventy- 
six years, five months and twenty-three 
days. The children bom to this most 
worthy couple were the following : James, 
born Jan. 5, 1818; Sidney G., Oct. 5, 1819; 
Isaiah, March 20, 1821; Alanson G., Dec. 
20, 1822; Ruth P., Jan. 26, 1826; and 
Rebecca Ann, Dec. 2, 1829. 

Israel Wood left Long Island with his 
family during the time of the American 
Revolution, and in the same year settled in 
Canada. He was true to the mother coun 
try, and rather than take up arms against 
her as a U. E. Loyalist he settled in Upper 
Canada. 

James Wood, son of Israel, married 
Catherine Gustin, daughter of John and 
Abigail (Smith) Gustin, whose other chil 
dren were: Abigail, who married Elder 
Mayhew, of West Oxford ; Sophia, who 
married Jacob Wood, of West Oxford, in 
1804; Jemima, who married Israel W r ood, 
at Norwich, Jan. 29, 1806; Charles, of Vic 
toria, Lake Erie; Rachel, who married 
Samuel York, and died leaving no children ; 
Freelove, who married (first) John Man 
uel, and (second) John Stern; Eliphalet, 
who lived at Lobo, Middlesex County, and 
died at the age of ninety-three years ; Isaiah, 
who also resided in Middlesex County; and 
Salome, who married Henry Edwards. John 
Gustin, the father of this family, was born 
in Germany, from which country he came 
to Canada, and after his marriage, located 
at Charlotteville, making the journey over 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Indian trails from Fort Erie, accompan 
ied by his wife and two children. At the 
outset of the journey, they had two horses, 
but on the road, one of these was stolen by 
the Indians. By occupation John Gustin 
was a miller, and he followed the milling 
business in Charlotteville. where he built a 
mill which stands on the same spot to-day. 
Shortly after their settlement in Charlotte 
ville, the Woods and the Ryersons arrived, 
and Abraham Powell opened a mercantile 
business, the first in this part of the country. 
Calico sold at this time for Si a yard. Abra 
ham Powell married Ruth Wood, an aunt 
of the grandfather of Elgin Wood, and her 
son, Israel Wood Powell, was a member of 
Parliament for many years. Of the above 
mentioned Wood family, Isaiah W r ood be 
came the father of Elgin W r ood. 

Isaiah Wood was born March 20, 1821, 
and Sept. 14, 1841, he married Lavina 
Chapman Woodrow, daughter of the late 
Joseph Woodrow, of Norwich, and they lo 
cated for a time in Michigan, later moving 
to Iowa. On May 24, 1861, they returned 
to Ontario, and located at Sarnia, operating 
a farm on the London road. There Mr. 
Wood died in 1899, and there his wife still 
resides at the age of eighty-five. Politically 
he was a Reformer. Both he and wife were 
members of the Methodist Church. They 
had these children born to them : Sidney 
G., a resident of Detroit ; Joseph, a farmer 
of Sarnia township; Lanson H., a resident 
of North Dakota; Elgin, of Sarnia; James 
F., deceased, who was with his brother El 
gin, in the fruit business; Nancy, wife of 
Uriah Varnum, of Sarnia township; W. O., 
deceased; Mrs. Johnston, of Minnesota; 
Mrs. Woodhall, of Minnesota; and Frank 
lin, deceased. 

Elgin Wood was born in Middlesex 
County. Dec. n, 1848, but it is in Sarnia 
where he has developed into a successful 
business man. He began life for himself in 
the capacity of a clerk, and in 1873, in part 
nership with his brother, J. F. Wood, he en 
gaged in the fruit and produce business, 
under the firm name of J. F. Wood & Co., 
which name has been retained although J. 



F. \Vood died in 1885. His business meth 
ods have been such as to entitle him to the 
confidence of both the trade and the public, 
and Mr. Wood is widely known as a re 
liable dealer. In public life he has found 
time to serve on the council of Sarnia. For 
the past twelve years he has been a member 
of the Sarnia board of education and has 
served two years as chairman of the same. 
.Many business enterprises of more or less 
moment have claimed his attention, one of 
these being the founding of the Woodrowe 
Beach Summer Resort, a venture which has 
prospered ever since 1896. Fraternally he 
is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the 
A. O. U. W. 

On Jan. 12, 1875. Mr. Wood was mar 
ried to Mary A. Rowe, daughter of the late 
Capt. James Rowe, of Whitby. and to this 
union have been born these children : Elgin 
Rowe, deceased ; Charlotte Louise, wife of 
John Doherty, of Sarnia ; Gertrude ; Emma ; 
Edith ; James Gordon ; Marion ; Elliott and 
Jean. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of 
the Methodist Church. In political sym 
pathy Mr. AYood is a Reformer. 

, 

THOMAS CORE, farmer and stock 
man of Plympton township, is one of the 
well known residents of the County of 
Lambton, and he was born July 18, 1862, in 
Lancashire, England. 

Walter Core, father of Thomas, was 
also born in Lancashire, where he learned 
the trade of carpenter, and followed the 
same many years in his native country, sev 
enteen of which he was employed on the 
docks at Liverpool, holding the position of 
foreman mechanic for some eight years. In 
Lancashire he married Cecelia Crook, and 
they had these children: William E.. now 
deceased, was a resident of Michigan ; 
James H. is a farmer and landowner in 
Michigan; Mary E., deceased, was the wife 
of Dudley Joynt, of Plympton township; 
Thomas ; Walter resides in Enniskillen 
township ; Lucy married Finley Chalk, and 
resides in Warwick township. Early in. 
1868. Mr. Core, with his family consisting 
of wife and five children, left his native 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



country for Canada, hoping to find a good 

location where his children could provide 

for their futures. Coming to Huron 

County, Ont, he located for a short time in 

Clinton, .but soon discovered that conditions 

there would not suit him, and he came on 

south to Lambton County and settled in 

Plympton township. Here he purchased a 

loo-acre tract of bush land on Concession 

8. This purchase about exhausted his few 

resources, but he built a small home and set 

about clearing up his farm. . His sons were 

able to give him considerable assistance and 

he soon had his land ready for cultivation. 

At a later date he erected dwelling and 

barns, and made all the improvements which 

go to make a comfortable home, and here he 

spent all his active years. Before his death 

he removed to the home of his son Thomas, 

where his wants were carefully looked after 

as long as he lived, and he died May 29, 

1904. His remains rest in the cemetery of 

the Church of England at Errol, the funeral 

having been conducted by the Rev. Mr. 

Gunne, of Wyoming. For years Mr. Core 

had been a devoted and consistent member 

of the Church of England. He was a stanch 

Conservative in politics, but he never sought 

any political office. His wife died on the 

farm in 1882, and she, too, was laid to rest 

in the cemetery of the church she so dearly 

loved through life. 

Thomas Core was but five years old 
when the family left England and came to 
Canada. He attended the district schools 
of Plympton township, and assisted his fa 
ther on the farm until his majority, when 
he went to Michigan. In that State he 
worked in various sections and occupations 
for two years, and then returned to Plymp 
ton township, and worked for three years on 
the farm of his father-in-law, John P. Jar- 
maine. Mr. Core then bought a farm of his 
own on the 8th Concession of Enniskillen 
township, consisting of 100 acres, for which 
he paid $1150. This farm like the one his 
father had bought years before, was all bush 
land, and years of hard work were required 
to put it into such shape that Mr. Core, ten 
years later, was able to sell it for four times 



the amount he had paid for it. He had made 
extensive improvements, building excellent 
structures of all kinds, and making it one of 
the valuable properties of that section. 

After disposing of his first farm, Mr. 
Core purchased 100 acres on Lot 12, Con 
cession 6, which had been the property of 
R. P. Campbell, and for the past few years 
he has been successfully engaged here in 
general farming, stockraising and feeding. 
His fine modern brick dwelling and com 
modious barns and other buildings mark this 
farm as one where method and good man 
agement prevail. Finding his farm too re 
stricted on account of the increase in his 
cattle and stock, he purchased an additional 
fifty acres which he uses for pasturage pur 
poses. 

Mr. Core was married in Plympton 
township to Mabel Jarmaine, born in West 
minster township, County of Middlesex, 
daughter of John Palmer Jarmaine, men 
tioned elsewhere. Mrs. Core died in 1896, in 
Enniskillen township, and was buried in the 
cemetery of the Church of England at 
Errol. She was a lady of beautiful char 
acter, a good Christian woman, loving 
mother and devoted wife. She left two 
children, Emily and Percival John, both at 
home. 

Mr. Core is much respected in Plymp 
ton township, where he has shown himself 
not only one of the good farmers, but one 
of the progressive and public spirited citi 
zens. In his political views, like his father, 
he is a stanch Conservative, but holds no 
public office, although thoroughly qualified 
to do so. Reared in the Church of England, 
he has always been faithful to her precepts 
and teachings, and is now filling the office of 
warden in the church at Camlachie. He has 
made a success of his life because of his in 
dustry, perseverance and ability. Temper 
ate in all things his influence has always 
been good and he enjoys the respect and es 
teem of all who know him. 

_ HENRY BRITNEY, one of the most 
reliable and solid citizens of Lambton 
County, living in Lot 22, Concession 10, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



717 



Enniskillen township, was born in New 
Brunswick, Feb. 12, 1843, tne son ol Henry 
and Ann (Seeley) Britney. The grandpa 
rents on both sides of the family came to 
New Brunswick from Pennsylvania during 
the Revolutionary war, and were among the 
settlers known as United Empire Loyalists, 
although themselves of German parentage. 

Henry and Ann Britney left New Bruns 
wick and settled on wild-land at West Zorra, 
near Woodstock, but after farming there 
for some years they moved in 1852 to En 
niskillen township and once more started to 
redeem land from the wilderness. A house 
and stable of logs were built and in time 
the land was cleared and developed. Six 
teen years later, in August, 1868, Henry 
Britney died and his sons were left to carry 
on the farm. The mother also passed away, 
May 1 6, 1872, only four years after her hus 
band s death. They were both members of 
the English Church and politically Mr. 
Britney was a Conservative. The family 
consisted of five sons and two daughters, as 
follows : ( i ) Norval, born in New Bruns 
wick in November, 1832, who married Miss 
Jane Moore, of New Brunswick, settled on 
a farm in Enniskillen, Concession 8, and 
died in 1896, leaving two daughters Annie 
and Charlotte; (2) Jerome, born in 1834, 
unmarried, who has always lived at home, 
assisting in the management of the farm; 
(3) Obediah, July, 1836, who married Miss 
Tillie Moore, of Michigan, lives on his farm 
in Enniskillen, Concession 4, and has four 
children, William, James, Wallace and 
Alice; (4) Melvina, May, 1839, who died 
at the age of sixteen; (5) Allen, who died 
when three years old; (6) Sophie, 1844, 
educated in the schools of Lambton County, 
who remained at home, caring for her pa 
rents, and later as housekeeper for her 
brother; and (7) Henry. 

Henry Britney has, since the death of his 
parents, shared with his brother Jerome the 
care of the homestead, which has steadily 
improved under their hands. Besides clear 
ing much of the land themselves, they have 
built a large house, good barns, and added 
general improvements until the place is now 



one of the desirable farms of the county. 
Neither brother is married. The family 
started as pioneers, with very limited means, 
but by their industry and honesty they are 
now among the prosperous farmers of the 
region, and very highly respected for their 
untiring efforts. They are people of solid 
worth, good citizens and helpful neighbors, 
and their kindly disposition and upright 
conduct have won them many friends. 

Politically, Henry Britney is a Conserva 
tive, but no aspirant for office, although he 
and his brother have both been active in all 
measures tending to benefit the region. Re 
ligiously the family are all members of the 
Seventh Day Adventists, and earnest 
workers in that church. 

ROBERT SMITH, a well known agri 
culturist of Warwick township, is a man 
well known and highly respected in the com 
munity. He is a native of Enniskillen town 
ship, born on a farm which is the present 
site of Petrolia, May 10, 1861. 

William Frederick Smith, the father of 
our subject, was a native of Germany, born 
in Sax-Gotha, Feb. 23, 1818, and there he 
received a good German education. He 
worked at farming and in the vineyards 
with his father, but, not wanting to join the 
German army, left his native country at the 
early age of nineteen years, for America, 
where he hoped to find freedom. He sailed 
from Bremen on a sailing vessel in 1837, 
and after a ten weeks voyage, landed in 
New York without friends. He found em 
ployment with a fish company, afterward 
going to Baltimore and working in a piano 
factory for six months, when, not caring 
for that business, he joined the American 
army, as cook in the mess department, and 
served throughout the Indian uprising in 
the Western States. After spending three 
years in the service, he was mustered out at 
Fort Greshot, and in 1842 came to Lainb- 
ton County, where he took up farming, locat 
ing on the London Road in Warwick town 
ship. He purchased a bush tract on Lots 2 
and 3, of 150 acres, which had been the 
McAlpin property, and here he settled down 



7 i8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



to pioneer life. He erected a little log home 
in the wilderness, there being but a few set 
tlers in that section at that early day. His 
nearest markets were Sarnia to the West 
and London to the East. There were no 
roads but Indian trails, no churches nor 
schools within miles, and wolves, bears and 
deer infested the forest. Mr. Smith worked 
hard and succeeded in clearing up his farm, 
later adding 100 acres, and also seventy-five 
acres in Enniskillen township, what is now 
the town of Petrolia. Here he erected a 
lumber mill, and for six years was engaged 
in the manufacture of lumber. Mr. Smith 
endorsed about this time a note for a friend, 
a Mr. Smart, of Sarnia, for $1800. When 
this note fell due Mr. Smart was unable to 
pay, and as a consequence Mr. Smith was 
forced to sell his mill and farm, never re 
ceiving a cent in return from Mr. Smart. 
After this Mr. Smith gave his whole atten 
tion to farming the homestead, upon which 
the remainder of his life was spent. He 
brought to the township the first threshing 
machine, a tread-power mill which he had 
purchased in Albany, New York. This was 
taken to Lambton County by way of water, 
and from Lake Erie to Warwick township 
by team. While working this machine Mr. 
Smith met with a painful accident, his hand 
being severed at the wrist, having become 
caught in the machine. Mr. Smith, never 
theless, worked hard up to the time of his 
death. He bought a 2OO-acre farm in War 
wick township, near Forest, which he later 
sold, operating the loo-acre homestead, now 
belonging to our subject, until his demise. 
He erected a frame dwelling house, fine 
barns, and tiled all of his land. Mr. Smith 
died on his farm April 7, 1898, at the age 
of eighty years, two months, and was buried 
in the cemetery at Warwick village. He 
was a member of the Baptist Church, and 
was a Reformer in politics. 

Mr. Smith married in Warwick town 
ship, Janet McAlpin, born in Scotland, 
aunt of W. J. McAlpin. of Warwick town 
ship, a sketch of whom will be found else- 
where. Mrs. Smith is living at the age of 
eighty-five years; she is a member of the 



Baptist Church. Eight children were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Frederick, who 
operates a part of the old homestead; An 
drew, a contractor and builder, who died in 
Petrolia ; Peter, who makes his home in the 
States ; William, a resident of the North 
west Territory; Elizabeth, at home; Ben 
jamin, who died young; Robert; and Alice, 
at home. 

Robert Smith grew up at the homestead, 
assisting his father on the farm, and attend 
ing the district schools. In 1887 he went 
to North Dakota, in company with his sis 
ters Elizabeth and Alice, and there he took 
up a homestead of 480 acres for his sisters 
and himself. He later increased this by pur 
chase, having 900 acres, and here he re 
mained three years. At the end of this time 
he sold out and returned home, where he has 
remained ever since, engaged in farming 
and stock raising, and with his sisters, car 
ing for their aged mother. 

Politically Mr. Smith is a stanch Re 
former, and although he has never sought 
public office, takes a great interest in the 
success of that party. He is a member of 
Calvary Baptist Church, to which religious 
organizations his sisters and mother also 
belong. Honest and upright in all of his 
dealings, Mr. Smith has a host of friends 
who enjoy his business success. 

DONALD FAIR SMITH. It is by no 
means infrequent that among rural com 
munities are found men of the truest poeti 
cal feeling and instinct, a temperament often 
seemingly fostered by the close touch in 
which they live with nature and which some 
times has power to lift their daily round of 
prosaic toil in field and meadow to a higher 
plane of ideality. One such, who like his 
own favorite Burns, has lived the humble 
life of a farmer and yet felt the stirrings of 
a poet s spirit, is Donald Fair Smith. Not 
only is Mr. Smith a well-read man, a true 
lover of books in general and of poetry in 
particular, but he himself has given utter 
ance to verse of no little merit, sometimes 
patriotic, as when he sings of Canada s 
beauties and possibilities, sometimes of other 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



themes which appeal to the feelings of all 
men. 

To the outward eye the life of Donald 
F. Smith has been like that of most of those 
about him. His father, William, was a 
Scotchman, born at Inverness. Leaving his 
native land when a young man, he came to 
Canada, rented a farm in Nelson township, 
County of Halton, Ont., and there married 
Miss Margaret Fair, who was also born in 
Roxburghshire, Scotland. She died when 
Donald F. was still a child, and the father 
afterward married again, a Miss Austin, 
and moved to Nebraska, where he is still 
living on a farm. Donald F., born in Nel 
son township, Halton County, Feb. 4, 1858, 
was one of six children, the others being: 
George R., an engineer at St. Thomas, Ont. : 
Frank and John, both in Nebraska; Mary, 
who died young; and Bessie, Mrs. Frank 
Schram, of Plympton, a poetess of marked 
ability. 

After the mother s death, Donald F. left 
the schools of Nelson township which he 
had begun to attend, and going to the home 
of his uncle, Francis Fair, lived with him 
and attended the schools of Hamilton. His 
first independent venture in life was as a 
sailor on the Great Lakes, as an able seaman. 
About 1872 he went into the sawmill busi 
ness at Camlachie, where for fourteen years 
he was in the firm of Stirrett & Smith and 
afterward continued the business alone. 
Finally selling out. he turned to farming, 
bought a 150-acre place known as the Rus 
sell farm, and settled down on his present 
home in Plympton, Concession 8, where he 
has been engaged in farming and stock rais 
ing. He is an independent in politics, with 
his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church 

Camlachie, and is a member of the Sons 
of Scotland, and of Huron Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., at Camlachie. 

On Jan. 4. 1888, at Seaforth, County of 
Huron, Mr. Smith was married to Miss 
Margaret Ferguson, a native of that place. 
Mrs. Smith is highly educated, taught in the 
County of Lambton three years, is cultured 
and refined and fully shares her husband s 
fondness for books and poetry. Mr. and 



719 

Mrs. Smith have three children, William 
Burns, Archibald Francis, and Teanet 
McNabb. 

WILLIAM J. WATT is one of the pros 
perous young farmers of Enniskillen who 
has made his own way in the world, and 
though only in his early thirties is already 
a successful man. 

The grandparents of William J. Watt 
were Robert and Mary (Blair) Watt, who 
came from Ireland as early as 1832, and 
after living for a time in Toronto settled in 
Middlesex County. There they made a per 
manent home, where both passed away, the 
father in 1883. Their children were: Rob 
ert, who is now a resident of the State of 
Iowa; John, who never married, and died 
at the homestead ; Mary, who is the widow 
of Samuel Maclntyre (they had a family, 
and lived in Randolph County, Illinois) ; 
Margaret, born in Middlesex County, who 
is the wife of John McCullough, and lives 
in Sanilac County, Michigan; Adam be 
came the father of William J. 

Adam Watt was born in Ireland, where 
he received most of his education. After 
his marriage he located in Metcalfe town 
ship, Middlesex County, where he later 
bought wild land, which he cleared, and 
where he made his home. He died there in 
February, 1904. He married Ellen Horn 
by, a native of Perth County, daughter of 
William Hornby, who came to Perth Coun 
ty from England, and died in the new home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Watt were connected with the 
Methodist Church at the time of the death 
of the former, although in early life he had 
been a Presbyterian. He was superintend 
ent of the Sunday-school for many years and 
a leader in Bible-class and Sunday-school 
work. In politics he was an active Con 
servative, and filled a number of county 
offices. His widow still lives at their home 
in Metcalfe township. Their children were 
as follows: Mary J.. born in Middlesex 
County, is the wife of Daniel McLane, a 
stock dealer of that county; they have two 
children. Lillie and Oliver. Elizabeth (de 
ceased) married William Ross, of Lambton 



/20 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



County ; they had no children. Robert, born 
in Middlesex County, married Annie Ross, 
of Brooke township, where they reside, wirh 
their five children, Maggie, wife of John 
Brigham, of Middlesex County, who has 
three children, Maggie, James and John; 
James and Adam, who are unmarried 
(Adam is in the railroad employ) ; Oscar, 
is at home; and Fred, who is a student at 
the Strathroy high school. William J. is 
mentioned below. 

William J. Watt was born in Metcalfe 
township, Middlesex County, May 10, 1871, 
and was educated in the county schools. He 
remained on the home farm until 1899, 
when he came to Enniskillen and bought 
property in Lot 23, Concession 8, where he 
cleared a large area for farming. In May, 
1903, his home was burned down, and after 
that he exchanged that property with John 
MacElroy, for his present farm of 100 acres, 
Lot 22, Concession 8, with good house, barn 
and other improvements. He is now the 
owner of one of the fine farms of Ennis 
killen. 

On Oct. 30, 1900, Mr. Watt married 
Emma Freer, who was born in Metcalfe 
township, Aug. 27. 1872, daughter of Henry 
and Mary Freer, of an old settled Middlesex 
County family. The grandfather of Mrs. 
Watt was a colonel in the War of the Re 
bellion in Canada. Mrs. Watt received a 
fair education in the township schools. She 
and her husband have two children : Mel- 
vin Verne, born Sept. 13, 1901, and Stanley 
Eugene, born March 30, 1905. They are 
members of the English Church, in which 
Mrs. Watt was organist for a number of 
years. In politics Mr. Watt votes the inde 
pendent ticket. He is highly esteemed by 
his large circle of acquaintances, and ranks 
among the enterprising and successful 
younger farmers of Enniskillen. 

WILLIAM WILLIAMS. The finan 
cial and commercial interests of Sarnia are 
in the hands of men with ability, strength 
and fitness for positions of great trust. To 
this fact is clue much of the general pros 
perity of the city, as well as of the entire 



county, and among those thus prominent is 
Mr. William Williams, manager and sec 
retary of the Sarnia Gas & Electric Light 
Company. 

The Williams family is of Scottish or 
igin, his grandfather, George Williams, 
having been born in 1766 in Scotland, 
where he married a Miss Dickson, who was 
also of Scottish birth. Among their chil 
dren was a son William, the father of Mr. 
Williams, of Sarnia. He was born in 
Scotland Jan. i, 1820, and followed the 
trade of shoemaker all of his active business 
life. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
of Martha Emslie, was also born in Scot 
land, in 1822, and she is still living (1905), 
residing in her native country. Mr. Will 
iams passed away in 1875. The following 
children were born to these most worthy 
people : Dr. Alexander, who is deceased ; 
William ; George, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a 
merchant tailor ; Ellen ; Ann ; Jane ; Mary ; 
John, Master of Arts in his native land ; and 
Benjamin, deceased. 

William Williams, the younger, was 
born in Scotland Sept. 9, 1846, and in Sep 
tember, 1868, deciding to seek his fortune 
in the New World, he emigrated to the Do 
minion, locating at Sarnia, where for twen 
ty-five years he has steadily worked for 
ward, becoming one of the foremost men 
of the city. For a quarter of a century Mr. 
Williams has been engaged in the tailoring 
business with George Leys, being eminently 
successful. In 1891 he was appointed sec 
retary of the Sarnia Gas & Electric Co., and 
the following year was made general man 
ager as well as secretary of that organiza 
tion. 

The Gas Company of Sarnia was organ 
ized in 1884, and in 1893 the electric plant 
was added. In 1892 the gas plant had only 
150 meters; in 1904 this number had been 
increased to 1200. The electric plant has 
already placed 300 meters. The company 
has a capital stock of $250,000, and the fol 
lowing officers : Thomas Kenney, president ; 
William Williams, manager and secretary; 
John Bell \Villiams, assistant secretary; A. 
G. Wheeler, electrician; and W. B. Collins, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



721 



W. Storey, David Milne, George Leys and 
Thomas Kenney, directors. Under the able 
management of Mr. Williams the affairs of 
the company are in a very flourishing con 
dition, and its methods are such as to meet 
with the approval of the community in gen 
eral. Mr. Williams has associated with him 
in this undertaking some of the leading 
moneyed men of Sarnia, and the directorate 
is especially strong. With such men as 
these at the head of the company its pros 
perity is assured, and a very nattering fu 
ture is before it and those who have been 
instrumental in founding the institution. 

On Oct. 5, 1871, Mr. Williams was 
married to Miss Christina Bell, a native of 
Sarnia and daughter of the late John Bell, 
a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. Six chil 
dren have been born to this union : Will 
iam, who is deceased ; George Leys, second 
mate on the steamer "Mariposa" ; John Bell, 
assistant secretary of the Sarnia Gas & Elec 
tric Co., who married Laura Sisson; Henry, 
superintendent of the Guelph gas works, 
who married Nellie Christie; and Jean 
Crawford and Nellie, at home. The re 
ligious opinions of Mr. Williams and his 
wife have made them members of the Pres 
byterian Church. Politically Mr. Williams 
is a Reformer and takes an active interest 
in local affairs. Fraternally he is a Mason 
and a member of the Royal Arcanum and 
the Sons of Scotland. 

ANGUS McNABB (deceased), who 
for over a half century was a well known 
citizen of Bosanquet township, where he was 
a successful agriculturist, settled there when 
that section of Lambton County was mostly 
a wilderness, there being few settlers there, 
and those making their homes in little log 
shanties. There were no roads but Indian 
trails, no churches or schools, and very few 
evidences of civilization. Mr. McNabb lived 
to see this state of things changed. Before 
his death he had seen the township nearly 
all cleared up; dwellings made of brick and 
stone replacing the little log cabins; good 
public schools..established where his children 
and grandchildren could receive a good ed- 

46 



ucation; churches of different creeds 
erected, where men could worship their God 
all this he saw during a half century. 
Railroads, country roads and good iron 
bridges have taken the place of the blazed 
trail. Mr. McNabb played his part in 
the development of the township, both as a 
good husband and father and an honest and 
upright citizen. He was from that sturdy 
race, the Scotch, born in the parish of 
Comrie, Perthshire, Nov. 12, 1814 son of 
Duncan McNabb. 

Duncan McNabb, a native of the same 
shire, was a shepherd and there he died in 
1824. He married Christina Campbell, and 
they had eight children: Peter, who died in 
Scotland; Alexander, who also died in 
Scotland, at the age of ninety-three years; 
John, who died at Shakespeare, Perth 
County, at the age of ninety-two years; 
Angus and Isabella, twins, the latter of 
whom died in Scotland ; Robert, who died in 
Wisconsin; Duncan, who also died in Wis 
consin; and Jenet, who married a Mr. Mc- 
Farline, and died in Scotland. The mother 
of this family also died in Scotland, and was 
buried there. She and her husband were 
members of the Church of Scotland. 

Angus McNabb had but little opportun 
ity for an education, being only ten years 
old when his father died. At that early age 
he was forced to go out and make his own 
way in the world, and followed the occupa 
tion of drover for several years. June 14, 
1843, he married Margery Cameron, a na 
tive of the Highlands, born at Morven, the 
Isle of Mull, Argyllshire, and the day after 
their marriage they sailed for Canada, 
where they hoped to make a home. They 
landed at Montreal. Aug. 16, 1843. ^r. 
McNabb found employment on a farm near 
Lachine, Province of Quebec, filling the po 
sition of overseer, and there he spent seven, 
years. From there he came west to Lamb- 
ton County, taking his wife and four chil 
dren, and in 1850 they located in Bosanquet 
township, where he had purchased 100 acres 
of land on Lot 5, 4th Concession, of Bosan 
quet township, from the Canada Land Com 
pany, paying $2.50 per acre. Here he set- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tied down to pioneer life, being- among- the 
first settlers of that township. The land was 
all bush and he had to cut the timber to find 
room to erect his little log cabin. He had to 
make the furniture from rough timber, mak 
ing table, stools and bedsteads of this rough 
material. The first two years of his pioneer 
life in Bosanquet township, Mr. McNabb 
had to go to Port Stanley and other points 
and work in the harvest fields and at rail 
roading, in order to support his family. He 
worked hard from the start, and succeeded 
after years of toil in putting his farm under 
cultivation, being assisted by his sons. 
When his little log shanty was erected, all 
he had left was twenty-five cents, but by the 
time his children were ready to start out in 
life he was able to give them a helping hand. 
He later added fifty acres to his farm, oper 
ating 150 acres, all under cultivation, and 
built a good frame house and barns. This 
farm is now owned and operated by Mr. 
McXabb s son, Duncan. Angus McNabb 
also engaged in fruit culture and at the 
Colonial and Indian Exhibition, in London, 
England, 1886, he received a diploma and a 
bronze medal, as first prize for the Snow 
apples, and the Northern Spy apples, which 
he exhibited there. He likewise gave con 
siderable attention to stock raising. Mr. 
McNabb, although not large in stature, was 
a remarkably strong man, but during the lat 
ter years of his life suffered greatly from 
kidney trouble and in 1897 underwent an 
operation, which, no doubt, hastened his 
death. Mr. McNabb passed away on his 
farm, Oct. 5, 1901, aged eighty-seven years, 
and he was laid to rest in the cemetery at 
Arkona. The funeral service was conducted 
by Rev. H. Currie of Thedford. assisted by 
the Rev. A. E. Hannahson, of Arkona, whu 
took for his text: 2cl Cor. 5th Chapter, loth 
verse: "For we know that if our earthly 
house of this tabernacle were dissolved we 
have a building of God eternal in the 
Heavens." The pall-bearers were Thomas 
Crawford, D. Carnaghan, H. Catt. William 
McPherson, James Gordon and William 
Martin, all of whom had been his lifelong 
friends. He was a Liberal in politics, but 



was no office seeker. A member of the Pres 
byterian Church, as was his wife also, they 
attended it in Arkona. Airs. McNabb, the 
partner in all her husband s trials, struggles 
and labors, passed away on the farm. May 
14, 1899, aged ninety-one years, after fifty- 
six years of happy married life. Mr. and 
Mrs. McNabb rest side by side in the Ar 
kona cemetery. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Angus McNabb four 
children were born : ( i ) Hugh, who was 
born in Lachine, Quebec, came to Bosan 
quet township with his parents and grew to 
manhood on the farm, which he assisted his 
father in clearing, receiving his education in 
the common schools. He sailed the lakes 
for a few seasons but after his marriage fol 
lowed fanning on Robert Rea s farm in 
Bosanquet township. In 1878 he went to 
Manitoba, where he now makes his home, 
being a large land owner of Minnedosa. He 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically he is a Conservative. Mr. Mc 
Nabb married (first) Margaret Mclntyre, 
daughter of Dugal Mclntyre, of Kinnard, 
Bosanquet township, and she died in 1879, 
having borne him eight children, four of 
whom are now living, as follows : Margery, 
who married John Nichol. who died in Man 
itoba : Archibald, a farmer ; Angus, also a 
farmer : and Jennie. The children that died 
were : Dugal and Duncan, at the home in 
Bosanquet township; Mary and Margaret, 
who died in Manitoba. Mr. McNabb mar 
ried (second) in 1880 Jenet McCarter, of 
Bosanquet. by whom he had five children. 
Robert, Arthur, Peter Colin, Cameron and 
Douglas, all at home. 

( - ) Margaret the second child of Angus 
McNabb. died at the age of thirteen years. 

(3) Christena McNabb devoted her life 
to the care and attention of her parents, and 
in her father s last years, when lie was suf 
fering agonies, made him as comfortable as 
possible and gave him the care that only a 
loving daughter can give. She is single, re 
sides on the old homestead, and is an ad 
herent of the Presbyterian Church and a 
good. Christian woman. 

(4) Duncan McNabb, the youngest 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



23 



child of Angus, was born near Lachine. 
Quebec. July 13. 1848. and was but two 
years old when he came to Bosanquet town 
ship with his parents. He attended the pub 
lic schools of his township, his teacher. Alex 
ander Thompson, now being a physician in 
Strathroy. Duncan McXabb grew up on 
the farm, and when he reached maturity he 
rented the old homestead for some time. 
after which he purchased his present farm of 
100 acres, which was owned by Samuel 
Smith, and on which was a fine brick dwell 
ing house. Here he has done much building 
and tiling and added other improvements. 
He has been engaged in general farming and 
cattle raising and dealing, and is now the 
owner of 250 acres of land, having acquired 
the old family homestead of 150 acres. For 
the past few years Mr. McXabb has been a 
great sufferer from atrophy, and is now an 
invalid from its effects. He bears his 
trouble well, however, as a true Christian 
gentleman. He is a member of the Presby 
terian Church, and attends at Arkona. Po 
litically his sympathies are with the Liberal 
party. 

Duncan McXabb married. March n, 
1878, at the Thomas homestead in War 
wick township. Miss Mary Thomas, the cer 
emony being performed by the Rev. Mr. 
Hay. a Congregational minister. Mrs. Mc 
Xabb is a daughter of John Thomas. Six 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
McXabb: Marjorie. who married George 
C. Hall, of Bosanquet township, and has 
one child. Lillie May ; Lizzie Jane, at 
home; Julia M., at home; Isabella, who died 
at the age of two years ; Angus Mervin, at 
In ime; and Floyd, who died young. 

JAMES HOUSTOX. To few men is 
it given to look back upon as long a life of 
usefulness as lies behind James Houston, 
of Camlachie. its oldest citizen in length of 
residence, and one of Plympton s first pio 
neers. He is a native of Scotland, born in 
Renfrewshire, at Linwood, near Paisley, 
April 17, 1818. son of James and Susan 
(Mour) Houston. 

James Houston, the elder, was of Scotch 



parentage, but was torn in Ireland, and re 
mained there employed in fanning un til 
after his marriage. He then moved to 
Scotland, and located at Greenock where he 
was engaged in loading vessels. During 
the Napoleonic wars he was drafted for serv 
ice in the English arm}-, but on account of 
his young family was excused. Removing 
to Linwood he remained there until 1833, 
when he emigrated with his family from 
Scotland to Canada, and went westward to 
Plympton township, where he acquired land 
and worked as a farmer until his death, at 
the age of seventy-seven. His wife also 
died at the homestead, and both are interred 
in the cemetery at Camlachie. They were 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 
There were seven children, all now deceased, 
except James, namely : Rebecca. Mrs. 
Thomas Patterson, of Sarnia township; 
Susan, Mrs. William Hastie; Martha, Mrs. 
John Davidson; Sarah, who died in Scot 
land ; Daniel, who lived in the United States ; 
Thomas, first a teacher, then a well known 
business man of Sarnia ; and James. 

James Houston was educated in the pub 
lic schools of Scotland, and worked there at 
different occupations until a year after his 
parents had gone to Canada, when he fol 
lowed them. Sailing from Greenock. after 
a six weeks passage he landed at Xe\v York, 
took a boat up the Hudson to Albany, then 
by canal to Buffalo, thence to Detroit by 
Lake Erie, and finally boarded the little 
steamer "Red Jacket" for the trip to Sarnia. 
There he started on foot through the woods 
to join his father in Plympton, but meeting 
Indians soon after, he was so frightened that 
he ran back to Sarnia. Encouraged by as 
surances that they would not hurt him. he 
started again, and reached his destination 
safely. X T ot long after reaching Plympton 
township, he took up a homestead for him 
self, a tract of eighty-five acres of bush land, 
on which he built a little log house, and at 
first supported himself bv making potash. 
and selling it in Sarnia. where the necessary 
household supplies had to be secured. Pro 
visions in those days were very high and 
flour could be gotten no nearer than De- 



724 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



troit, where it cost fourteen dollars a bar 
rel. It was only by the hardest work that 
Mr. Houston succeeded in getting his place 
cleared and cultivated, but he prospered 
eventually and built a good brick house and 
barns. He devoted himself to farming and 
stock raising until 1897, when he gave the 
management of the farm to his son William, 
and buying a home in Camlachie, is now en 
joying there the fruits of his hard labor, 
cared for by his daughter. Always patriotic 
and a good citizen, when the rebellion of 
1837-38 broke out, Mr. Houston enlisted in 
the government service, was stationed at 
Sarnia under Col. Wright, and did his whole 
duty until he was mustered out at the close 
of the insurrection. He has ever been a Lib 
eral in every sense of the word, and has fol 
lowed and supported George Brown, Mac- 
Kenzie and others, but while thoroughly 
alive on every public question, he has never 
participated actively in politics. Mr. Hous 
ton is one of the best read men in the town, 
thoroughly posted in the leading events of 
the day, and a great Bible student. In re 
ligious belief he is a Presbyterian, and is a 
man of fine character and of most temperate 
habits. 

In 1845 Rev - Mr. McAllister, of Plymp- 
ton, united in marriage James Houston and 
Miss Jemima Thomas, daughter of John 
and Frances (Reece) Thomas. They passed 
more than half a century of happy married 
life together, but March i, 1899, Mrs. Hous 
ton passed away very suddenly in her home 
at Camlachie. and was buried in the ceme 
tery there. She was of a beautiful Chris 
tian character, a true helpmeet and a devoted 
wife and mother. She bore her husband 
twelve children, as follows : Frances, her 
father s housekeeper; Martha, deceased wife 
of Arthur Manly; Eliza, deceased; Susanna, 
Mrs. John Marrow, of Plympton township ; 
Jemima, Mrs. James Clements, of the North 
west Territory; Rebecca, wife of Albert 
Xims (now deceased), a cheese manufac 
turer of Michigan ; Barbara, Mrs. Walter 
Gardner ; James, agent for the Canadian Pa 
cific Railway Company at London, Ont. and 
married to Miss Agnes Manly; John; 



Thomas, of Manitoba; William; and Alex 
ander, agent for the Canadian Pacific Rail 
road at Oakdale, Man., who married Minnie 
Chapman. 

WILLIAM HOUSTON, son of James, who 
is now operating his father s farm, was born 
in Plympton, Feb. 4, 1867, was educated in 
the township schools and then assisted his 
father on the farm until 1897, when the en 
tire management was handed over to him. 
Besides his farming and stock raising inter 
ests, he is engaged with James McLean in 
buying hogs, which they in turn sell in Pe- 
trolia and other markets, an enterprise in 
which they have met with considerable suc 
cess. Mr. Houston was married Feb. 15, 
1899, to Miss Millie Minor, of Adelaide, 
Ont., daughter of Reuben Minor and a 
woman of much culture and refined tastes. 
Mr. Houston with his wife is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church at Camlachie; po 
litically he is a Liberal, and has served as 
trustee of School Section No. 20, being sec 
retary and treasurer of the board. 

JOHN HOUSTON, another son, who is now 
living retired in Thedford, was born in 
Plympton, Feb. 26, 1856. After finishing 
the district schools, he remained with his fa 
ther until he was nineteen, then learned tele 
graphy and became agent for the Grand 
Trunk Railway at Camlachie. After three 
years there he was transferred to Sarnia as 
ticket agent, and two years later took a posi 
tion with the Canadian Pacific Railway at 
Brandon. During his seven years there he 
became interested in the cattle trade, and 
has continued so up to the present, even al 
though he is practically retired in Thedford. 
He was married in that city, in 1891, to 
Miss Hattie Cornell, born at Arkona, daugh 
ter of James Cornell. No children have been 
born to their union. Mr. Houston is a Lib 
eral in politics, and is likewise broadminded 
in his religious views. He is a member of 
the I. O. O. F., at Sarnia. 

ROBERT AIKEN is the owner of one 
of the finest farms in Concession 7, Ennis- 
killen, and is prominent as a public-spirited 
citizen and an earnest church worker and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



member. Although born in Scotland he has 
spent almost his entire life in Canada, his 
parents settling there when he was a mere 
child. 

The parents of Robert Aiken were David 
and Annie (Simpson) Aiken, both natives 
of Aberdeen, Scotland, where the former 
was born in May, 1828, and the latter in 
1833. A few years after their marriage 
they came to Canada, and settled in Lamb- 
ton County, where two brothers of David 
Aiken had previously settled. William, the 
oldest, became a resident of Detroit, Michi 
gan. A younger brother, John, came over 
from Scotland later, and settled in Michi 
gan, where he died. James, the third, lived 
and died in Moore township, on Concession 
10. His sons, Alexander, James, George 
and Albert, are residents of some of the 
western States; his daughters, Dolly, Mar 
tha, Lizzie and Bella, all live in Sarnia 
township. The only sister, Margaret, also 
came to Michigan, where she met her death 
in a railroad disaster; she was unmarried. 

David Aiken on coming to Canada first 
made his home on a rented farm in Moore 
township, after which he bought a tract of 
bush land in Enniskillen, Concession 8, 
which he cleared, and on which he erected 
good farm buildings. He lived on this 
property until his death in March, 1899, and 
his widow still resides in the neighborhood. 
He and his wife were devoted members 
of the Presbyterian Church, where for 
many years he was an officer. He was an 
adherent of the Reform party, in politics, 
and for several years served as one of the 
school trustees. 

The children of David and Annie (Simp 
son) Aiken were as follows: (i) George, 
born in Scotland, grew up in Canada, and 
there married Florence Graham, of Lamb- 
ton County: they have one son. Sidney G., 
and reside in Toledo, Ohio, where Mr. 
Aiken is employed as a ship s carpenter; 
(2) Robert, born in Scotland, is mentioned 
below; (3) Elsie, born in Canada in 1859 
; unmarried, and is a trained nurse in 
Montreal, where she studied her profession; 
(4) Annie, born in Moore, in 1866. was ed 



ucated in the Collegiate Institute of Canada, 
antl fitted herself to become a teacher; she 
is unmarried, and at home with her mother ; 
(5) Sarah, born in Enniskillen, is the wife 
of James Fielding, a Montreal business 
man, and their children are Gladys, James, 
John and Mary; (6) James, born in Ennis 
killen, on the home farm, died in early man 
hood; and (7) David, born in Canada, mar 
ried Mary Ingram, of Enniskillen, and their 
home is on Maud street, Petrolia ; their chil 
dren are Minnie, Sadie, Ethel, Sherman, 
Arthur and Leonard. 

Robert Aiken was born in Aberdeen, 
Scotland, in November, 1857, and was 
brought to Canada before he was two years 
old; he received a district school education, 
and remained at home on the farm until his 
marriage in 1882. He then settled on his 
present property in Lot n, Concession 7, 
which he has cleared, and on which he has 
erected substantial buildings, and he now 
owns one of the finest and best cultivated 
farms in his Concession and is one of the 
well-to-do farmers of the county. 

Mr. Aiken married Jane Ingram, 
daughter of James and Jane Ingram, who 
came from Ireland, and were among the 
earliest settlers in Lambton County. They 
lived and died on a farm in Concession 9, 
Enniskillen. Their only daughter besides 
Mrs. Aiken is deceased ; their other children 
being Henry, now county treasurer at Sar 
nia; and Alexander, of Los Angeles, Cal. 
Mrs. Aiken was educated in the Enniskillen 
schools. The children of this union are as 
follows: Annie M., born in Enniskillen in 
1883, unmarried and living at home; Eliza 
J., born in 1885, unmarried, and at home; 
Henry J., born in 1886; Robert J., born in 
1888; Dolly, born in 1890; Lila, born in 
1892; Mary, born in 1895; Elmer; and 
Alexander V., born in 1900. 

Mr. Aiken has always adhered to the Re 
form party in politics; he has been one of 
the school trustees of Enniskillen, for sev 
eral years, and has filled many positions of 
public trust. He and his wife are members 
of St. John s Presbyterian Church, where he 
is one of the elders, and where for three 



726 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



years he has been Sunday-school superin 
tendent. Mrs. Aiken has taken an active 
part in raising funds for the new church 
building, she and Mrs. Donald McMasters 
being the leading spirits in this good work. 
Mr. Aiken is a .member of the Macca 
bees, Lodge Xo. 10, Petrolia. He is a man 
who has made his own way, with no outside 
aid, and from a poor boy has come to be a 
prosperous citizen. He is prominent in re 
ligious and civic affairs, and his family is 
well and favorably known throughout the 
count}-. Mrs. Aiken is only sister of Henry 
Ingram, county treasurer, at Sarnia, and 
one of the prominent men of Sarnia, repre 
senting one of its oldest families. 

CHARLES A. FARR, an old oil pro 
ducer and prominent business man of Pe 
trolia, Lambton County, is of English ex 
traction, his grandfather, William Farr, 
having been born in England, where he 
spent his life. 

William Farr, father of Charles A., was 
born in England, and married Annie Allen, 
a native of the same country. About 1844 
they came to Ontario, locating in London, 
whence they made their way to Westmin 
ster, and there farmed until their settlement 
in Sarnia, where they died, he in 1879, and 
she in 1889. In politics William Farr was a 
Conservative, and both he and his wife were 
consistent members of the Baptist Church. 
Their children were as follows: Mary (de 
ceased) was twice married, both times to 
men by the name of Sheppard, though they 
were no relation; Joseph was a wagon- 
maker in London, Out., later settled in Sar 
nia and conducted a livery business for some 
time, and afterward, about 1862, went to 
British Columbia, where he died in October, 
1901 ; Rebecca, who died in Westminster, 
married Caleb Flawn : William is a resident 
of Sarnia ; Annie is the widow of Arthur 
Shore; Sarah married William Sawyer, of 
Ohio; Elizabeth married a Mr. Brown; 
Charles A. is our subject. 

Charles A. Farr was born in England 
June 23, 1834, and was but a boy when 



brought to Ontario. At the age of twenty 
he began to work as a carpenter, but later 
engaged in a lumber business and continued 
along that line for two years. His next un 
dertaking was horse dealing. In 1861 he 
settled in Wyoming and ran the stage to Oil 
Springs, and in 1864 he located in Sarnia 
and conducted a stage route between that 
place and Oil Springs. At the expiration of 
two years he sold his route and conducted a 
livery establishment in Sarnia for some 
time, he having conducted this business while 
engaged in running his stage route. In 1870 
he engaged in a hotel business in the east 
end of Petrolia, and carried on his house 
successfully for twenty-eight years, in the 
meanwhile engaging in the oil business, and 
continuing his livery stables. In 1880 he 
went into the raising of thoroughbred stock, 
making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle, 
Berkshire hogs and Leicester sheep, and also 
conducted a farm. In all of his operations 
he has been exceedingly successful, and at 
the same time lie has gained and retained 
the confidence and respect of a large circle 
of friends. He has had a number of heavy 
losses by fire, with little insurance, but he 
has survived them. 

On June 26, 1861, Mr. Farr was mar 
ried to Miss Charlotte Buckingham, a native 
of England, born in 1840, who died in 1870. 
They had the following children : Joseph 
died at the age of nineteen years; Minnie 
married John Phalon, and has two children, 
Bert and Jean ; Elizabeth is unmarried ; 
James Allen, now in North Klonclyke. mar 
ried Mamie Bird, and has one son, Joseph. 
On June 30, 1875. Mr. Farr married Miss- 
Ellen Buckingham, a sister of his first wife, 
and their children are: Charles, who mar 
ried Minnie Hammond, is a hotel man at 
Petrolia ; Nellie and Maude are unmarried ; 
Fred is in California; Lulu and Alice are 
unmarried; Gordon is at home. All are 
consistent members of the Methodist 
Church. In politics Mr. Farr is a Conserva 
tive. He is a member of the Masonic order 
of long standing, having taken the Royal 
Arch degree, and he is also a member of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



order of Orangemen. While carrying on 
the stage line, Mr. Farr delivered to the first 
postmaster of Petrolia, Mr. Barclay, the first 
consignment of mail to that office. 

REUBEN J. MONROE, a farmer and 
stock raiser of Enniskillen township, was 
born in Caradoc, near Strathroy. Middle 
sex County, Sept. 9, 1853, the son of 
Towner and Eliza (Cook) Monroe. 

Towner Monroe was a native of Scot 
land, and his wife a Canadian. In 1850 they 
settled at Marthaville, Lambton County, 
Out., where he was engaged in farming for 
the remainder of his life. His death oc 
curred in 1863, while Mrs. Monroe, who 
was his second wife, survived him until 
1895. Of the family four children were by 
the first marriage, namely : Elizabeth, Mrs. 
Cassidy, of Iowa ; Sarah, wife of Mr. Har- 
ter, of Kansas ; Mary, who died young ; and 
John, who married Maggie Fallen and died 
in Exeter, where he was a high school 
teacher. By his second marriage Mr. Mon 
roe became the father of : Reuben J. ; Sam 
uel, of California ; James, a miner in Cali 
fornia ; and Lydia, born in Marthaville, who 
married Edward Tilley. a sailor and en 
gineer on the lakes. She died in Michigan, 
leaving seven children, as follows : Olive, a 
teacher in Michigan, as is also the second 
daughter, Lillie; Inez: Edward; Lucy; 
Reuben ; and James, deceased. 

Reuben Monroe grew up in Enniskillen 
township, attending school there and also 
while still young working at teaming and 
farming. He continued to be thus employed 
until his marriage, April 10, 1877, to Miss 
Mary O Xeil. after which they settled on a 
rented farm in Moore township for two 
years. In 1880 he purchased the present 
place in Enniskillen, Lot 21, Concession 12, 
then only wild land. He cleared the farm 
and put up first a frame house, where they 
lived until 1891, and then erected the good 
brick house in which the family now lives, 
as well as barns and other buildings. Mr. 
and Mrs. Monroe endured together the priv 
ations of pioneer life and by their industry 
and wisely directed energv have worked 



their way steadily to the front among the 
successful farmers of the region. 

Mrs. Monroe, who was born in Plymp- 
ton township, May 30, 1856. was the daugh 
ter of Robert and Margaret (Perden) 
O Neil. The parents were both born at 
Daihousie, but moved to Plympton. They 
settled there on a farm, where Mr. O NeU 
died in 1889. His wife still resides on the 
old homestead. They were among the most 
respected residents of the township and 
their family of five daughters and three sons 
are well known and esteemed citizens. Mrs. 
Monroe received her education in the En 
niskillen schools. She has borne her hus 
band three children, viz. : Maggie, born at 
the family homestead in December, 1878, 
who married John Thompson, of Enniskil 
len. has a son. Sherley A., and lives in Con 
cession 12; Aylmer. 1881, unmarried, who 
is a skilled workman and moulder in the 
foundry shops at Sarnia ; and William, 
1885. still at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are both members 
of the Methodist Church. In political views 
he is a Conservative and always has been 
interested in every question affecting local 
interests, doing all in his power to promote 
the welfare of the community; he has. how 
ever, never sought to hold political office. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Order of 
Foresters in Wyoming. Both Mr. Monroe 
and his wife have many estimable qualities 
that have endeared them to their friends, 
who have always found them most hospit 
able and helpful in times of trouble. 

WILLIAM R. DAWSON, a merchant 
of Inwoocl. Brooke township, Lambton 
County, and one of the prominent young 
business men of the town, was born Oct. 9, 
1869, in Oxford County; son of William 
A. and Amelia (Kenny) Dawson, both of 
whom were born in Oxford County, On 
tario. 

\\ illiam A. Dawson was the son of 
Thomas Dawson. who came as a pioneer to 
Canada from England, and his wife Amelia 
Kenny, was the daughter of Patrick Kenny, 
a native of Ireland, and also one of Can- 



728 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ada s pioneers. William A. Davvson and 
wife are still living, making their home in 
Sombra township, Lambton County. They 
had these children : William R. ; John, of 
Colorado; Silas, a merchant of Fernie, 
British Columbia, who married Ethel Fos 
ter, of Bruce Mines, Ont. ; Maggie, wife of 
Thomas Sinclair of Hamilton, and the 
mother of one son William ; Laura, wife of 
\Yilbert Miller, of Sarnia township, and the 
mother of three children ; Purvis, on the 
homestead; Warren, of British Columbia; 
Miller, of the same place; Frank, a traveling 
salesman of Winnipeg; and Irl, of Brigden, 
Ontario. 

William R. Dawson received his early 
education in the schools of Lambton 
County, and the public schools of Sombra, 
also attending a commercial school at Chat 
ham. When fifteen years old he became a 
clerk in the store for John Armstrong, of 
Brigden, where he remained ten years, be 
coming confidential clerk. He then worked 
five years as a salesman in Norwich, Oxford 
County, and in 1897 located in Inwood as 
manager for Mr. Armstrong, remaining as 
such until 1903, when he purchased Mr. 
Armstrong s interest in the business, and 
since that time has been conducting the 
business for himself, owning the largest and 
best general business in Inwood. He carries 
a $25,000 stock. 

On Sept. 7, 1904, in Tillsonburg, Ont., 
Mr. Dawson and Mrs. Minnie Cheyne were 
united in marriage, the lady being the 
daughter of George S. and Christine (An 
derson) Turner, and widow of William 
Cheyne, by whom she had one child, Wil 
frid, born in 1893. Religiously Mr. and 
Mrs. Dawson are members of the Church 
of England, in which he is a warden. He 
has always been -identified with the Con 
servative party, but has never aspired to 
office. Fraternally he is connected with the 
Odd Fellows, at Alvinston and the Royal 
Arch Masons of Petrolia, and is popular in 
these orders. Mr. Dawson started his bus 
iness career as a clerk, and through the 
force of his own industry has placed himself 
among the leading business men of his com 



munity. He has won the confidence of the 
citizens of Inwood by his honesty and in 
tegrity, and has made many friends, who en 
joy his social prominence and business suc 
cess. 

HECTOR MACKENZIE. In the death 
of Hector MacKenzie, at his home in Pe 
trolia, June 5, 1896, this section lost one of 
its pioneer settlers and much respected citi 
zens. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
June 1 6, 1827, a son of Hector and Janet 
(Cameron) MacKenzie, descending from 
two of the most distinguished clans of his 
native land. Children as follows were born 
to his parents: Margaret; Alexander, who 
came to Ontario, and later became clerk of 
the Surrogate court at Guelph ; Mary Anne, 
Mrs. John Cameron, who died in Scotland; 
Donald, who died in Australia; John, who 
died in Australia ; Hector ; Jessie, Mrs. Hec 
tor Walker, of Scotland ; Martin, who set 
tled in the United States ; William ; Ken 
neth ; Hughina, who married Rev. Mr. 
Campbell, a missionary to India, and died 
in that country; and Duncan, who died in 
Scotland. 

Hector MacKenzie was born June 16, 
1827, at Glasgow, Scotland, and in his na 
tive land learned to be a machinist. In 1854 
he came to Canada and located in the village 
<>f Waterloo, Ont., here following his trade 
until he removed where prospects were bet 
ter, at Dundas. Some time in 1865 he and 
Mr. T. Draper built in Petrolia the first ma 
chine shop ever erected in the place. From 
the east end it was transferred to the ground 
on which the "Iroquois Hotel" now stands, 
and from there to Robert street. Mr. Mac- 
Kenzie s partnership with Mr. Draper, 
formed when he first came, was terminated 
in 1879, when Mr. Draper disposed of his 
interest and the two sons of Mr. MacKenzie 
were admitted, this partnership lasting until 
1890. when the firm was changed to the Oil 
Supply Company, of which James Joyce is 
president, John A. MacKenzie manager, and 
W. L. MacKenzie superintendent. This 
firm is now conducting the business organ 
ized by Hector MacKenzie in 1865. and the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



729 



same honorable methods are used which re 
sulted in so much success formerly and 
which it was a source of pride for its 
founder to preserve. Mr. MacKenzie was 
himself a fine mechanic, and his skill in that 
line as well as his executive ability counted 
for much in the effective running of the 
plant, especially in the early days. At pres 
ent about fifty men are employed in the 
shop, which is up-to-date in every particu 
lar, being supplied with all the latest ma 
chinery adapted to the work general re 
pairing and the manufacture of all kinds of 
oil well supplies, engines, and well boring 
tools. 

On Sept. II, 1854, at Holyoke, Massa 
chusetts, Hector MacKenzie married Miss 
Mary Council, who was born at Glasgow, 
Scotland, Feb. 10, 1833. Her parents, John 
and Catherine (McNeil) Connell, lived and 
died in Scotland, Mr. Connell passing away 
Nov. 1 8, 1848, at the age of fifty-eight 
years, his wife on April 19, 1837, at the age 
of thirty-nine. They were members of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he served 
many years as elder. He was employed as 
a dresser in the mills. Eight children were 
born to them : John, who died in Scotland ; 
Robert, who died in London, England ; An 
drew, also deceased in London, England ; 
James, who died in Scotland ; Alexander, 
who died in New York City; Mary, Mrs. 
Hector MacKenzie; Christina, who married 
Chadwick Hawthorn and died in Massa 
chusetts ; and Elizabeth, Mrs. McKay, now 
a widow, residing in Holyoke, Massachu 
setts. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hector MacKenzie 
were born the following children : ( i ) 
Jessie is the wife of William Knox, of On 
tario. (2) Hector married Davina Bonner, 
but left no children. (3) JOHN A. MAC 
KENZIE, a manufacturer at Petrolia, was 
married at Petrolia, Oct. 3, 1883, to Miss 
Charlotte Germain, daughter of Henry Ger 
main (deceased), who was an early settler 
in Bosanquet township, this county, and 
was a farmer. John A. MacKenzie was 
born July n, 1859, i" Dundas, was 
educated in the public schools, learned the 



machinist s trade with his father, and is 
now manager of the Oil Supply Company 
and a director in the Petrolia Wagon 
Works. He is a Reformer in politics and 
a Presbyterian in religion. (4) WILLIAM 
L. MACKENZIE, born May 23, 1866, in 
Dundas, was educated at Petrolia, learned 
the machinist s trade, and is now superin 
tendent of the Oil Supply Company. Po 
litically he is a Reformer, and in religion a 
member of the Church of England. He was 
married in Wyoming, Ont., April 12, 1893, 
to Miss Mary Ogalvie Sullivan, daughter 
of William, and they have five children, 
Hector, Tena, John, Jessie and William. 
(5) Alexander, (6) Agnes, (7) Robert and 
(8) Christina died young. (9) Miss Mary 
is at home. (10) Martin Duncan is a resi 
dent of Petrolia. 

Politically Mr. MacKenzie was a Re 
former. He was a consistent member of 
the Presbyterian Church, to which religious 
body his widow also belongs, and fraternally 
he belonged to Lodge No. 194, A. F. & A. 
M., Petrolia. He was too much taken up 
with business affairs to give any time to 
politics or public matters, and would never 
accept office, though he was highly thought 
of by all his fellowmen. 

JOHN McGEACHY (deceased), a 
member of an old and well-known family in 
Lambton County, where they have always 
been prominent citizens, was born in Ar 
gyllshire, Scotland, in May, 1832. the sec 
ond son of Hector and Christina (Colville) 
McGeachy. 

Hector McGeachy was born in Argyll 
shire in 1794 and was the only son of his 
parents who both died in Scotland. There 
were three sisters, Katie, deceased wife of 
George Boyd, of Goderich ; Isabella, deceased 
wife of Mr. Tragier, of Canada: and Bar 
bara, late wife of Archie McVicker, of 
Harwich, Kent County. Mrs. Christina C. 
McGeachy was also a native of Argyllshire, 
born in iSoi, the daughter of Robert and 
Margaret Colville. The parents came to 
Durham County. Ont., and there died. Of 
their ten children the six oldest are de- 



73 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ceased, William, John, Alexander, Robert, 
Jams and Jane; Christina was Mrs. Mc- 
Geachy; Margaret married Dr. William 
Allison, of Bowmanville, a leading physi 
cian of Canada ; Mary died unmarried ; as 
did also Agnes. Mr. McGeachy and his 
wife both grew up in Scotland, married and 
lived there some years before coming to 
Canada. Making the voyage to Quebec, 
they were four weeks on the ocean and after 
reaching this country settled first on a farm 
east of Toronto. In 1848 they moved to 
Elgin Count}-, in Southwold township, 
bought a tract of wild land and made their 
permanent home there. His death occurred 
at the homestead in July, 1871, and that of 
his wife seven years later, in November, 
1878. In religious belief they were Presby 
terians. Politically Mr. McGeachy was a 
strong Conservative and was specially in 
terested in school questions, serving as a 
trustee on the board for many years. He 
belonged to the Masonic Order in Elgin 
County and was one of its active 
workers. 

Seven children were born to Hector and 
Christina McGeachy. (i) Robert, the eld 
est, born in Scotland, grew up in Canada 
and died in 1893 near St. Thomas. He 
never married. (2) Mary, born in Scotland, 
was educated in Canada and for some years 
was one of Elgin County s successful teach 
ers. She now lives at home. (3) John is the 
subject of this biography. (4) Margaret, 
born in Canada, was given a fair education 
and has spent her life at home, where she 
has always been the mainstay, and where 
she had the care of her parents in their de 
clining years. (5) Jane, born in 1837, mar 
ried John Turner, of Southwold, a prosper 
ous farmer, and has had nine children : Rob 
ert ; Maggie ; James, who died in young man 
hood ; Angus, who died at the age of twen 
ty-four; William: Duncan; Allison; Chris 
tina ; and Ernest, all at home. Mr: Turner 
is an active worker in the Southwold Church. 
(6) Dr. William studied in Toronto and 
later was graduated from the Montreal 
Aledical College. He married Miss Char 
lotte Macintosh, of Elgin County and set 



tled in Iowa, where he is still a practicing 
physician. Mrs. McGeachy died in 1902, 
leaving one son, John. (7) Dr. Duncan 
studied in Toronto also and later was grad 
uated from the medical department at Ann 
Arbor, Michigan. He settled in the 
State of Ohio, where he was a prominent 
physician till his death in June, 1882. He 
married Miss Lr/.z.ie Myers, of Ohio, who 
died in October of that same year, 1882, 
leaving one son, W r illiam .C, who was 
brought up in the home of his uncle John. 
Both William and Duncan McGeachy have 
been prominent in Masonic work. 

John McGeachy grew up at the old home 
in Elgin County and in time became the 
manager of it. He remained there till 1880 
when he sold the farm and moved to 
Euphemia township, Lambton County, 
where he continued to live for fifteen years. 
In 1895 ne anc l his two sisters came io the 
present home in Enniskillen. Concession 7, 
Lot 10, which had been bequeathed to them 
by their brother Robert. Mr. John 
McGeachy erected a new barn on the place, 
besides making general improvements. His 
death took place there in the home, March 
22, 1904, an irreparable loss to the two 
sisters who had always depended upon him. 
Politically Mr. McGeachy, like all his broth 
ers, supported the Conservative ticket. The 
whole family were connected with the Pres 
byterian Church and during the years of 
his residence in Elgin County, John Mc 
Geachy was a devoted worker in the Sab 
bath-school. While he passed compara 
tively few years in Enniskillen, he had be 
come in that short time very popular among 
his new neighbors ancl made a large circle of 
friends who felt his death deeply. He was 
honorable, upright and generous in private 
life, while in public matters he was always 
foremost in every movement that promised 
to be of advantage to the community. His 
home was one of cheerfulness, and "his life 
was devoted to assuring the comfort and 
happiness of his sisters. The McGeachy 
family was one of unusual ability, and as 
all were well educated they were always 
prominent citizens in their locality. 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



731 



JAMES O BRIEN (deceased) for many 
years was a valued resident of Plymptun 
township and settled on the 6th Line before 
any improving had been done in that sec 
tion. He managed to clear up a large tract 
of land and place it under cultivation. 

Mr. O Brien was a native of Ireland, 
born in County Tipperary, a son of John and 
. Catherine (O Mara) O Brien, the others 
being: Nancy, John, Michael, Dennis and 
Mary. During the great famine in Ireland, 
in 1846-7, when many died of starvation and 
when all who could escape, rled to other 
lands, John O Brien, with wife and children 
left Ireland in the hope of safely reaching 
the New World where it would be possible 
to find a home and subsistence. With many 
others they embarked on a frail sailing ves 
sel, which was over crowded, and when fever 
attacked the passengers, John O Brien, wife 
and child Mary, fell victims, and were buried 
in the sea. 

Mr. O Brien s sons made their way to 
Kingston, Ont., where James O Brien found 
friends and obtained work on the railroad 
in which he continued until 1850. After his 
marriage in that year he and his wife came 
by wagon, to Lambton County, and located 
on the 6th Line of Plympton, the families al 
ready settled there being the Sproules, the 
McConnells and one or two others. There 
were no roads yet laid out. but they followed 
a blazed trail through the woods, at a later 
date Mr. O Brien assisting in cutting down 
trees, and making a road of two miles to 
reach the open. He bought 100 acres here, 
built a small log house, burned timber for 
potash, cleared his land, journeyed to Sar- 
nia by ox teams, thirteen miles away, for his 
supplies, but by hard work he continued to 
prosper through many years. Subsequently 
he bought another 100 acres east of the 
homestead for one of his sons, and was pre 
paring to erect here a comfortable home for 
himself and family, when his death occurred, 
Dec. 16, 1877, after a short illness. He was 
interred in the Catholic cemetery at Sarnia. 

Mr. O Brien attended tlie Catholic 
Church at Wyoming, and was a good, Chris 
tian man, one who did his full duty as father 



and husband,, as churchman and citizen. 
During the early days in Plympton town 
ship there were no Catholic churches yet 
established in the township, and the priests 
visited their parishioners several times a 
year. Stations were frequently held in the 
log house of Mr. O Brien, mass was said, 
and KL!> Communion was administered to 
the faithful. In those days when it was a 
hard struggle to gain a mere subsistence, 
Mr. O Brien was fortunate in having a faith 
ful, cheerful, resourceful wife like Mrs. 
O Brien. She reared a large family and 
made them so happy and comfortable that 
she is remembered with the greatest affec 
tion. She also took her place in the harvest 
field, and while her husband was attending 
to the chopping and clearing she also per 
formed feats of strength and endurance 
which would put a housemother of the pres 
ent day to shame. On many occasions this 
faithful wife and mother would start out 
from her home, before daylight, to walk 
through a Canadian blizzard, over only a 
blazed trail, the thirteen miles to Sarnia, 
carrying her basket in which she would 
bring back, by nightfall, the precious little 
packages of tea and sugar which her family 
would have necessarily done without except 
for her devotion. Mrs. O Brien has a very 
distinct memory of these and other hard 
ships the pioneers had to go through with, 
and the fortitude they possessed should sure 
ly be commemorated in chronicles such as 
this. 

In 1849, at Hamilton, by Rev. Father 
Gordon, the late James O Brien was mar 
ried to Ann O Mara, born in County Tip 
perary, Ii eland, and who came to Canada 
with her parents in 1847. She still survives 
and is cared for by her son, James O Brien, 
who now operates the old homestead farm. 
She became the mother of nine children, 
whom she reared and trained with Christian 
care. She recalls occasions when, in their in 
fant illnesses she has hastened as far as Port 
Huron in order to have them baptized, the r e 
being then no settled priests in Lambton 
County. She has been an attendant of the 
Wyoming Catholic Church ever since ifs 



732 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



organization. While Mrs. O Brien is well 
known and universally esteemed, she seldom 
cares to leave the homestead, except for the 
call of duty, and has never been in a railroad 
car, and has no desire to go. Her family 
record is as follows : A son that died in in 
fancy ; John, a farmer east of the homestead, 
who married Mary Holland; Sarah, who 
married Eugene Mason, of Plympton town 
ship ; Kate, deceased, was the wife of Michael 
Langan, of Plympton township; James, on 
the homestead farm; Michael, Margaret, 
Michael J. (2) and another all died in in 
fancy. 

Since the death of Mr. O Brien a fine 
brick dwelling house has been built on the 
homestead, and many other substantial im 
provements have been made. Both the late 
Mr. O Brien and his son James were sup 
porters of the Liberal party. The present 
James O Brien is one of the most highly 
respected citizens of Plympton township. 

OLIVER M. COX, one of the rising 
young farmers of Enniskillen township, is a 
native of this region, belonging to one of 
the pioneer families, and was born in Petro 
lia, Feb. 17, 1873. 

His paternal grandparents were William 
and Elizabeth Cox, who were born in Eng 
land, there passing their entire lives. Their 
three children were : William, father of 
Oliver; James, who died in England in early 
manhood ; and Walter, who is married and 
living on the old homestead with his two 
children, William and Alice. 

William Cox was born in Dorsetshire, 
England, in October, 1824, and his wife, 
Mary McEachran, in Clydesdale, Scotland, 
in 1838. Her parents came to Chatham, 
Kent County, where they died, leaving a 
family of five children. Mr. Cox was given 
a fine education in England, both in the class 
ical studies and in the technical work of a 
civil engineer. In 1849 when a young man 
he came to Canada, via Portland, and set 
tled in Chatham, Kent County, where he was 
at work for four years. He then purchased 
a farm in Raleigh township, and engaged in 
farming, but some years later sold out and 



moved to Oil Springs, County of Lambton, 
where he took the contract for carrying the 
mail from Oil Springs to Petrolia. In 1875, 
during the early days of the oil industry 
there, he changed his residence to the latter 
city, and remained there four years. His 
last move was to his late farm, which he 
purchased in 1879. It is located on Lot 
4, Concession 10, and was then wild, but 
he cleared it, erected the house and barns 
which stand there now, and developed it at 
last into a fine farm. He was married in 
1860 to Miss Mary McEachran, who shared 
with him all the early hardships. She was 
taken from him in June, 1896, leaving four 
children. Mrs. Cox was a lady of many 
Christian virtues, an active worker in the 
Baptist Church, and her death was greatly 
lamented. William G., born at Oil Springs 
in 1869, was her eldest son; he now lives on 
a farm in Concession 10, Enniskillen town 
ship, unmarried. Lizzie, born in Oil Springs, 
in 1870, married the late Charles Whitford, 
of Milwaukee, where she still resides; she 
has no children. Oliver M. was the third 
child. Robina, born in 1876, is unmarried, 
and lives with her brother William. 

Oliver M. Cox was given a fair educa 
tion in the schools of Enniskillen township 
and of Petrolia, and then became his father s 
helper on the farm. For some years he has 
been manager of the place, although for the 
first three years after his marriage he lived 
on his brother William s farm, engaged in 
the dairy and stock business. In 1903 he 
came back to the old homestead, of which he 
is now owner, and he and his wife cared for 
his aged father until his death which oc 
curred Feb. 3, 1905, when he was laid to rest 
beside his wife in Hillsdale cemetery. 

On June i, 1899, Oliver M. Cox was 
married to Miss Catherine Logan, who was 
born in 1874. in Enniskillen township, 
daughter of John and Ellen Logan, prom 
inent pioneers of the county. Mrs. Cox was 
educated in the district schools and the Pe 
trolia high school. She has borne her hus 
band three children. John W., born Aug. 19, 
1900; Evelyn M., born April 6, 1903; and 
Alice, born Nov. 28, 1904. Mr. Cox and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



733 



his wife are members of the Methodist 
Church. In his political belief he is like his 
father, an active Conservative. A self-made 
man, he is one of the well-to-do and prom 
inent citizens, and is regarded by all with 
much favor. 

EDWARD CAMPBELL, the owner 
of "Evergreen Farm," in the 7th Conces 
sion of Plympton township, is one of the 
best known citizens of this region. For the 
past fifty years he has been engaged in farm 
ing and stockraising in this township, and is 
now one of the few remaining pioneers. Mr. 
Campbell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 
March 8, 1834, son of John Campbell, who 
was born in Westmeath, Ireland. 

John Campbell grew to manhood in 
Westmeath. one of twelve brothers, all 
of whom became soldiers in the Brit 
ish army. He had one sister. As a 
member of the 82(1 regiment John 
Campbell took part in the memorable 
battle of Waterloo, which marked the 
defeat of the great Xapoleon. In 1834 
he was sent to Gibraltar and spent three 
years at the fortress on the great rock, and 
was a participant in the exercises connected 
with the coronation of the late dearly be 
loved sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Vic 
toria. After many years in the British serv 
ice, this faithful and trusted soldier was 
prostrated by ill health, and was finally dis 
charged. Upon his return he located at 
Barnsley, England, where he followed weav 
ing for three years. John Campbell married 
Jane Davis, also a native of Ireland, and 
our subject was born to them, ten years be 
fore they decided to seek a new home, and 
better industrial conditions on the other side 
of the Atlantic. The sailing vessel out from 
Liverpool, to which they trusted their des 
tinies, brought them safely to New York, 
after a voyage of forty-five days, and they 
subsequently reached Kingston, Ont. Mr. 
Campbell here engaged in a hotel and livery 
business for several years, with fairly good 
success, and then removed with his family 
to Cleveland, Ohio, where he followed team 
ing until 1850, when he sold out and came 



to the County of Lambton, locating on the 
line of Plympton, on Lot 2, where he se 
cured a farm of 100 acres. With the inten 
tion of becoming a farmer and large land 
owner, Mr. Campbell now directed every 
energy in this direction. He cleared up his 
farm out of its wild state, and built a cabin 
and stable of logs secure from the attacks of 
the wild creatures of the forest, which were 
still here in great numbers. Like other set 
tlers of the locality, his timber that could 
not be sold for cord wood, he converted into 
potash and sold the same at Sarnia. 

Mr. Campbell made wonderful improve 
ments here, and was better fitted than many 
others, to endure the hardships of pioneer 
ing, on account of his years of army service. 
He made one trip after settling on his farm, 
and that was to the gold fields of California, 
going by way of Cape Horn. He did not 
remain long in that State, returning to his 
farm and its more certain rewards, and here 
his last years were spent, his death occur 
ring at the age of seventy-one years and six 
months, and he was buried in Lake View 
cemetery. His wife had died on the 
farm, aged forty-four years, and was 
also buried in Lake View cemetery, 
at Sarnia. Both Mr. and Mrs. Camp 
bell were consistent members of the 
Church of England, in their younger days, 
but were too faithful Christians to cling to 
creed when no church of their choice was 
near, and both united with the Methodist 
Church on the 6th Line. In politics Mr. 
Campbell was a strong admirer and sup 
porter of the late Sir John MacDonald, one 
of the first to cast a vote for that statesman 
at the time of his first election to Parliament. 
He always warmly supported him and con 
tributed liberally to the campaign expenses. 
His livery horses were used without charge, 
and his hotel gave free entertainment to the 
workers for this idol of the Conservative 
party. He was an active member of the 
Loyal Orange Association, having joined 
the same in Ireland. 

Edward Campbell, the subject proper of 
tli is sketch, had many unusual experiences 
in his childhood days, including life at Gib- 



734 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



raltar and crossing the great Atlantic ocean. 
His education was secured in the public 
schools at Kingston, and in that city he re 
calls seeing Sir John MacDonald, who ex 
cited his boyish admiration, and for whom he 
always had sincere regard and esteem. 
This great statesman, the father of United 
Canada, always had his support, and the 
principles he advocated are the ones Mr. 
Campbell still votes for. It was his 
privilege, in those early days of the rising 
young attorney s fame, to drive him from 
point to point, and thus to gain a personal 
knowledge which increased his regard. 

Our subject accompanied the family to 
Cleveland and later to Plympton township, 
where he has lived for over fifty years, re 
maining on the homestead farm until 1876, 
when he moved to his present farm which 
was owned at that time by Mr. Walker. Mr. 
Campbell left his son. Moses on the home 
stead. 

This change entailed another long period 
of hard work, but, with the help of his sons, 
Mr. Campbell cleared up his farm and in 
1876 erected a fine brick dwelling, the first 
in that section. With an eye to beauty, he 
planted a fine lot of evergreen trees which 
took kindly to the location, and which now 
have grown into groves which make "Ever 
green Farm" true to its name, and one of the 
most attractive homes in the township. 
Through care, industry and economy, Mr. 
Campbell has not only been able to lay up a 
competency for old age, but has given each 
son a farm of 100 acres and assisted them on 
the path of independence. No other farmer 
in the township has looked so well to the 
future welfare of his family. 

On FeB". 9, 1859, Mr. Campbell married, 
at Sarnia, Rev. Mr. Salter of the Church of 
England officiating, Mary Ann Willoughby 
born in Ireland, daughter of Charles Wil 
loughby. She passed away March 30, 1894, 
after thirty years of happy married life, and 
was laid to rest in the Lake View cemetery 
at Sarnia. She was a good. Christian 
woman, devoted to home and family and a 
consistent member of the Methodist Church. 



A family of twelve children were born, of 
which five sons died in infancy, the others 
being : John, a well-to-do farmer of Plymp 
ton township, married Rebecca Sutcliffe, 
and has four children, Mabel Ann. Thomas 
Manley, Hazel Henrietta and John Edgar; 
Charles, also a farmer in Plympton town 
ship, married Mary Almira Patterson, and 
has five children, Edward, Henry, Caroline 
M., William Milton and Mary Irene ; Moses, 
on the original homestead, married Isabella 
Mclntire, and they have children, Gordon 
Willoughby, Cecil Willoughly, Edward 
Charles and Mary Ann ; Edward, formerly 
a farmer in Enniskillen township, now a 
resident of Sarnia, married Mary Elizabeth 
Colter, of Sarnia, and has a daughter, Mary 
Ann; Mar}- Jane Elizabeth, who mar 
ried in June, 1904, Fred Somes, is organist 
of the Methodist Church and member of the 
Ladies Aid Society ; Henrietta married 
Thomas \\~. Patterson, of Plympton town 
ship, an active church worker and a member 
of the Ladies Aid Society ; and William 
George Henry, on the homestead, was mar 
ried, in June, 1904, to Jennie King. 

This family was carefully reared and 
reflect credit upon their home training which 
began in early childhood. They have grown 
into honorable and upright men and women 
who worthily represent a fine old family. 
Mr. Campbell has always liberal supported 
the public schools and set the example of 
thoroughly educating his own children. 
Equally has he instilled into them pride of 
country and patriotism for a United Canada. 
In Mr. Campbell the Methodist Church 
in this section has found a strong supporter, 
and he has taken his share of the respon 
sibility attending its organization, has served 
on the building committee and in the offices 
of steward and trustee. For many years he 
has been associated with several of the lead 
ing fraternal organizations, and belongs to 
the A. F. & A. M., at Camlachie; and the A. 
O. F. and the K. O. T. M., both of Sarnia. 
He is held in the highest respect, and is con 
sidered one of the leading and representative 
men of this part of Lambton County. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



735 



CHARLES GOULD. To all who have 
willingly risked their lives in their country s 
service, special honor is due, but few among 
England s sons can look back with a juster 
pride in their military career than can 
Charles Gould, now an Enniskillen farmer, 
but whose best years both of youth and man 
hood, were spent in the British army, in 
which he enlisted as a bugler when only 
twelve years old. 

Charles Gould was born in Marcock, 
Somersetshire, May 17, 1840, the son of 
Thomas and Isabella (Graham) Gould, na 
tives of that same county. Charles is the 
only one of the family now living, as his 
only brother, Thomas, was killed in England 
in 1874, while on duty as chief of police. 
Until he was twelve Mr. Gould s boyhood 
passed like that of any English lad, but at 
that age he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers as 
a bugler, and after only one year of service 
in England, left his native land never to re 
turn. Ordered first to Gibraltar, the regi 
ment proceeded from there to India to sup 
press the mutiny, being under Gen. Abi- 
loch s command. In this campaign, the first 
and last signals for battle were sounded by 
the little bugler of the Fusiliers. From In 
dia the regiment in which Mr. Gould was 
went to Malta and was in service there 
against the Greeks, after which it was or 
dered to Gibraltar and did garrison duty 
there for five years. At the end of that time 
came the Fenian troubles in Canada and Mr. 
Gould was among those ordered there, land 
ing at Quebec. An engagement occurred at 
St. Almos where the Fenians were over 
powered with heavy losses. From there the 
regiment returned to Quebec, and then was 
stationed at Brantford for garrison duty. 
After two years there Mr. Gould pur 
chased his discharge and retired from 
the army after eight years of service as a 
boy, and nine years and 100 days as an en 
listed man. He was a noted bugler and at 
a contest in Montreal took the grand medal 
offered to the best bugler in the service. 

After leaving the army. Mr. Gould re 
mained in Brant County, and in 1873 was 
there married to Miss Isabella White, who 



was born there June 26, 1853. They made 
their home there for several years and Mr. 
Gould was at one time employed by the 
Grand Trunk Railway, but after two years 
in that work he brought his family to Pe- 
trolia, in 1878, and settled there, occupied 
at the oil fields as a laborer. He finally de 
termined to devote his attention to agricul 
ture, and at first rented a farm in Enniskil 
len on the twelfth line. He prospered in his 
operations and in seven years was enabled 
to buy the place where he now lives. Con 
cession 8. Lot 3. Since purchasing this 
farm in 1885, he and his sons have cleared 
up much of it, put up buildings and gener 
ally improved it. There are five children in 
the family, three sons and two daughters, 
(i) Arthur, born in Brant County, in 1873, 
married Miss Lizzie Brenan, of Enniskillen, 
has one daughter. Isabella, and is engaged 
in the oil business in Marthaville. (2) John 
E., 1876, is at home, unmarried. (3) Isa 
bella, born in Enniskillen township, in 1880, 
was educated in the Petrolia high school and 
now lives at home. (4) Charles, 1882, was 
well educated in the home schools and is still 
at home assisting in the labor of the farm. 
(5) Sarah, 1886, is also at home. 

Mrs. Isabella (White) Gould was the 
daughter of Henry and Sarah (Trill) 
\\ bite, natives of England, who came to 
Canada and settled among the very early in 
habitants of Brant County, where Mrs. 
White is still living. Mrs. Gould was reared 
and educated there and her six sisters and 
two brothers all made their homes there. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. White are as fol 
lows : Johan ; Edward, of St. George : Jo 
anna, Mrs. Charles Rector, of Morrison; 
Amanda, Mrs. Benjamin Martin, of Bow- 
manville; Susan, Mrs. Jacob Knight, of 
Paris; Ellen, Mrs. George Stally ; Annie, 
Mrs. Frederick Stehartzburg, of Bowman- 
ville; Adelaide. Mrs. Benson Pelton, who 
lives on one of the finest farms in Brant 
County; and Isabella. 

Mr. Gould has been a stanch supporter 
of the old Conservative party, but has never 
taken an active part in politics. The family 
have been brought up under the teachings of 



736 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the Church of England. The farming oper 
ations carried on by Mr. Gould have been 
successful and he is regarded as one of the 
enterprising agriculturists and good citizens 
of the section, while his kindly spirit and 
upright conduct have won him many friends. 
But it is naturally his military record which 
his fellow-citizens look upon with the deep 
est pride and admiration, and for which 
they honor him as a loyal and patriotic sub 
ject. 

HENRY ROBERT DIER, a leading 
merchant of Aberarder, Plympton township, 
County of Lambton, Ont., and postmaster 
of that station, was born in Forest, Aug. 23, 
1871, son of Robert and Hannah (Mercier) 
Dier. 

The education of young Dier was ob 
tained in the public schools of Forest, where 
he was an intelligent and apt pupil, and at 
the same time he was attending school, he 
worked upon the farm. Leaving school, he 
occupied himself with farm work and similar 
lines until 1900, when in May of that year 
he established himself as a merchant, and in 
November, 1900, was appointed postmaster, 
which office he still efficiently fills. He is 
one o c the leading young business men of 
the place, and his business shows a healthy 
and steady increase. 

On June 5, 1900, Mr. Dier was married 
to Frances Thomas, daughter of Henry and 
.Mary (Palmer) Thomas. Two children 
have been born to this marriage : Beulah, 
born March 12, 1901, and Ellen, born Feb. 
24, 1904. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dier are very 
highly esteemed by their many friends 
throughout the county, and they are justly 
regarded as social leaders in Aberarder. 

JOHN MITCHELL, who for over 
forty years has made his home in Sarnia, 
during the greater part of that period held 
positions of trust and responsibility in rail 
road service, for about fourteen years serv 
ing as conductor on the Great Western line, 
and for over twenty-eight years as mail 
agent on the same road. The length of time 
he retained his situations speaks for itself 



of his ability. Personally he is a man of 
high cultivation and many attainments, 
commanding the instinctive respect of even 
casual observers. 

Mr. Mitchell was born in Royal Edin 
burgh, Scotland, April 10, 1832, son of 
David and Susan (Brown) Mitchell. David 
Mitchell was a highly intellectual and thor 
oughly well-cultivated gentleman, who filled 
with marked ability posts of honor in his na 
tive land. Born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 
1786, he grew to manhood under the re 
fining influence of a good home, and re 
ceived, in the schools of his native land, 
something more than the ordinary educa 
tion given boys of his time. Upon reaching 
manhood he turned his schooling to good 
account in earning a livelihood for himself 
and family, and served very acceptably as 
solicitor of the Supreme court of Scotland 
for many years. Though death with him 
occurred at the early age of fifty, he left a 
record of which his descendants have occa 
sion to be proud. He was united in 
marriage with Susan Brown, who after 
her husband s death made her home for the 
most part in Scotland. Occasionally, how 
ever, she came to Ontario, where she made 
short visits with her son. She lived to the 
advanced age of eighty-two, and died in 
Scotland, her native land, in 1899. By this 
union there was only one child, John, who 
is mentioned below. 

John Mitchell passed many of his early 
years in attendance upon the excellent 
schools of Galashiels, where he laid the 
foundation of his exceptionally fine educa 
tion. After leaving school, desiring to fol 
low some lucrative trade, he hired out as an 
apprentice to a lithographer in Edinburgh. 
A well trained intellect enabled him to mas 
ter this art in a short period, and he after 
ward turned it to good account in winning a 
place for himself in life. At the early age 
of twenty-three, in 1855, desirous of find 
ing a larger field for his activities than the 
overcrowded districts of his own country af 
forded, he came to Ontario, and remained 
in London for some time. Later he went to 
Boston, Massachusetts, and opened a litho- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



graph establishment, which he conducted 
with much success for several years. 

In 1859 Mr. Mitchell married, in Lon 
don, Ont, Miss Emily Dalley Wilkins. 
They have had no children of their own, but 
they have reared an adopted daughter, 
whom they took under their care when she 
was a year old, and whom they had chris 
tened Emily M. E. Mitchell. She was born 
Dec. 25, 1864, and was married in 1883 to 
William Morrison, train dispatcher for the 
Grand Trunk road, residing in Sarnia. Mr. 
and Mrs. Morrison have had three children, 
Clayton, Ollie and Norma. Mrs. Morrison 
is an accomplished organist, and has played 
the organ in some church ever since she was 
ten years old. For the past five years she 
has been organist of St. Paul s Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mrs. Mitchell was born June 3, 1833, in 
Salisbury, England, and in 1834 was 
brought to Canada by her parents, Edward 
and Mary Sarah (Dalley) Wilkins, the 
family settling in London, Ont. There they 
resided about twenty years, and there the 
father died. He was a prominent contrac 
tor and builder. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins 
were born four children : Emily Dalley, 
Mrs. Mitchell; William, now a contractor 
and builder of Sarnia ; Erastus, also a con 
tractor and builder, who died in Detroit, 
Michigan; and Alfred, a retired merchant, 
of Los Angeles, California. The parents 
were both members of the Established 
Church of England. Mrs. Wilkins married 
for her second husband J. B. Merrill, and 
by that union had two children : Dr. F. A., 
of Boston, Massachusetts; and Sarah S., 
deceased, who was the wife of Frank Fer- 
nald, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Mer 
rill passed her last days at Sarnia. with her 
daughter, Mrs. Mitchell, with whom she 
resided for fifteen years prior to her demise. 
She was a member of a distinguished fam 
ily, Mrs. Mitchell being a cousin of Henry 
Bede Dalley, late prime minister of Aus 
tralia, who died in 1888. 

Some time after his marriage Mr. 
Mitchell returned to London, Ont., and there 
in 1 86 1 engaged as conductor on the Great 

47 



737 

Western railroad. Careful attention to de 
tails, and a courteous but firm treatment of 
passengers, won him the confidence of his 
employers, and he continued in this position 
until 18/5. Then he entered the mail serv 
ice, in which he continued until 1902, retir 
ing at the age of seventy. He was clear 
headed, and conscientious in his work to the 
last, seldom finding it necessary to rectify 
mistakes, and performed his duties with a 
thoroughness which few are able to attain 
in his position. Soon after taking his posi 
tion as conductor, on Jan. 21, 1861, he 
moved to Sarnia, which at that time was 
only a village of a few hundred inhabitants. 
Here he has since made his home, witness 
ing the incoming of large industries, the 
opening up of new residence portions, and 
the development into the flourishing city of 
nine thousand inhabitants which it now is. 
Though business has given him but little 
time for attendance upon public and social 
duties Mr. Mitchell is well known in Sar 
nia, and much esteemed there. He is in 
terested in all good works, and he and his 
wife are influential members of the Presby 
terian Church, of which he has been elder 
for a numbr of years. He has always been 
interested in music, and until he was twenty- 
years old was a well-known vocalist and 
elocutionist, taking part in most of the local 
entertainments. Both by nature and educa 
tion he is a scholar, and his library contains 
a collection of choice and carefully selected 
books, among which he spends all his leisure 
hours. Among his collection is a well writ 
ten biographical history of Galashiels, the 
city which he holds in fond remembrance as 
the scene of his school days. In his cozy 
home are also many fine paintings and pic 
tures, and relics which he prizes very highly. 
On political subjects he is well informed] 
and has always affiliated with the Reformed 
party. 

\\TLLIAM J. ALEXANDER, a worthy 
farmer of Enniskillen township, Lot 3, Con 
cession 6, belongs to one of the pioneer fam 
ilies of the County and is of Irish stock. 
He was born in Peel County, Jan. 13, 1856, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the son of Alexander and Mary E. (Ken 
nedy) Alexander. 

Alexander Alexander was born in Ire 
land in 1800 and on reaching manhood came 
to Canada. He married Miss Kennedy, who 
was torn in Scotland in 1810, and they be 
gan life on a farm in Peel Comity. - After, 
some years he moved to Moore township, 
Lambton County, and in 1857 settled there 
on bush land. This was their home for 
many years but finally the father and mother 
went to live in the home of their son Will 
iam. Mr. Alexander passed away in 1872, 
his wife not till 1895. They were connected 
with the English Church. Politically he 
was a Conservative, and fraternally he be 
longed to the Masonic Order in Moore town 
ship. There were eight children, all born in 
Peel County, namely : David, who married 
Miss Markham, of Moore, has five children 
and lives on the old homestead in Moore; 
Mary A., widow of the late Solomon Hyatt, 
who left several children ; John, who has 
four sons and lives on a part of the Moore 
homestead; Sarah J., wife of Richard Cros 
by, of Moore township, and mother of ten 
children ; Edward, who with his wife and 
three daughters, lives in Sarnia; Margaret, 
who married James Norwood, of Moore 
township, and has ten children ; Charles, 
who married Miss Markham (deceased in 
1896), settled in Moore and there died in 
1903. leaving seven children; and William 
James. 

William J. Alexander grew up at the old 
homestead, was educated in the Moore dis 
trict schools, and remained at home till his 
marriage. He then settled on his present 
property, which he has brought from a wild 
state to a high point of cultivation, and on 
which he has put up large modern buildings 
with all the latest improvements. His wife 
was a Miss Isabella Rawson, to whom he 
was united in 1878. After eleven years of 
happy married life she was called to a better 
world, leaving three children: John and 
Wesley are at home : Pearl is the wife of 
James Edwards, of Michigan, and has one 
son. Paul. May 8, 1889. Mr. Alexander 
took to himself a second wife, Miss Mary 



Sharp, who was torn in York County, near 
Toronto. To this union four children have 
come, as follows: Eva, born in 1890; Clara 
M.. 1892; Mary, 1894; William J., 1902. 

Mrs. Mary S. Alexander was the daugh 
ter of William and Mary Sharp, natives of 
Ireland. They came to Canada, lived first 
in York County and then moved to the vi 
cinity of Oil City, in Enniskillen. There 
Mrs. Alexander was educated. The father 
died in 1894, leaving his wife and a family 
of five children, of whom only the daugh 
ters are married : Jane, who is the wife of 
Ira Windover, of Concession 6, Enniskillen 
township, and has a family; William, who 
lives with his mother; Adam; Joseph, at 
home; and Mary, Mrs. Alexander. Mr. 
Sharp belonged to the Order of Orangemen. 

The Alexander family are among the 
highly respected people of the section and, 
like so many others, have worked their way 
to their present honorable and assured posi 
tion through all the discouragements and 
hardships of the pioneer days. Politically 
Mr. Alexander is a Conservative. His wife 
and family are connected with the Presby 
terian Church. 

GEORGE WEBSTER, the popular 
proprietor of the "Franklin House," at 
Forest, Ont, was born in Toronto, Sept. 
27. 1852, son of George and Sarah (Rich 
ardson) Webster, of Edinburgh, Scotland, 
and Armagh, Ireland, respectively. 

The parents of our subject were married 
in County Armagh, Ireland, and removed to 
Toronto in the spring of 1852, where they 
remained three years, Mr. Webster working 
at anything he could find to do. In 1855 
they removed to London township. County 
of Middlesex, renting a farm until 1861, 
when they removed to Poplar Hill, at which 
place Mr. Webster purchased a hotel, which 
he operated until his death Aug. 10, 1876, 
aged forty-seven years. .He was interred in 
the cemetery at Birr, Ont. Mr. Webster 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and his wife belongs to the Church of Eng 
land. Mrs. Webster, who is still living, is 
very active, and is in full possession of all 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of her faculties. Politically Mr. Webster was 
a Conservative. He and his wife had these 
children: George, our subject; Sarah, who 
married Eli Bartley, clerk of Lobo town 
ship. County of Middlesex; Martha, de 
ceased, who married John Hodgin, also de 
ceased; Elizabeth, of Toronto, widow of 
Ralph O Neil; Mrs. Gunn. deceased, whose 
husband was a minister of the Baptist 
Church in New York State; William J., 
bookkeeper and secretary of the National 
Printing Company. Chicago, Illinois. 

George Webster, our subject, is the 
fourth of that name, and he has a son and 
a grandson by the same name. Mr. Web 
ster was married Dec. 24, 1877. to Miss Al- 
fretta McCall, who was born in Williams 
township. County of Middlesex, daughter of 
Dougall McCall of Scotland, an early set 
tler of the County of Middlesex. Her 
mother s maiden name was Bartley. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Webster have been born: 
George, a dentist of Port Huron, Ont., 
married Rosie Opper, who died March n, 
1902, leaving one son, George, four months 
old, whom our subject is rearing: and 
Thomas, Pearl, Daniel and Ila. all at home. 
George Webster remained with his pa 
rents until thirty years of age. when he pur 
chased his present hotel. This he operated 
until May 6, 1899. when he rented the hotel 
and retired to Port Huron, remaining there 
but four months, at the end of this time re 
turning to Forest. He lived retired until 
May, 1902. when he again engaged in the 
hotel business, and has continued as the pro 
prietor of the popular "Franklin House." of 
forty rooms, ever since. The hotel is fitted 
up with all modern improvements hot 
water, steam heat and electric light and is 
surrounded by a beautiful lawn. 

Mr. Webster is a member of the A F 
& A. U of Forest, the Royal Arch of 
Park Hill. C. O. F.. of Forest, and of the 
Royal Arch of Sarnia. He is a member of 
the Church of England, and his wife of the 
Believers in Christ. Politically he is inde 
pendent. In his day Mr. Webster was a 
noted athlete, and was well known as the 
London, Ont., runner, and has many med- 



739 

als. In 1878, at Penn Van. New York, Mr. 
Webster defeated Fred W. Stone, champion 
of England, in the 100 yard dash, his time 
be| ng 9*4, and for this race lie wap trained 
in Buffalo. Mr. Webster has many friends 
m Forest who enjoy his social prominence 
and business success. 



EDWIN TANNER, of the Egremont 
Road, Warwick township, is a man well 
known and highly respected for his high 
moral character and honesty. He is a native 
of England, being born in Wiltshire Oct 
io. 1834. 

Joseph Tanner, the father of Edwin, 
was a native of the same place, where he 
grew to manhood and was reared to the life 
of a farmer. For fourteen years he was an 
overseer of a large estate owned by Squire 
Henry Young. Joseph Tanner was united in 
marriage with Mary Tanner, who died in 
her native home, where she was buried She 
was a member of the Church of England 
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tanner seven chil 
dren were born, the eldest dying in infancy; 
Charles, who died in Warwick township in 
1904: Annie, resides in London, England - 
Joseph, who died in Warwick township ; Al 
fred, who also died in Warwick township- 
Edwin, our subject; and Elizabeth- who 
died in England. In 1839 Joseph fanner 
and his four sons left England for Canada, 
tihe two daughters being left with" their aunt 
Sailing from Bristol they landed in New 
York after a voyage of six weeks, and after 
coming up the Hudson river to Al 
bany, traveled from there to Buffalo by 
canal, down Lake Erie to Port Stanley and 
from there the little party made their way 
through the woods to Warwick township 
Here a tract of land was bought in the 
woods, on what is now the Egremont 
Road, and the sons started to hew out a 
home, while the father taught school in the 
township. This profession the father fol 
lowed the remainder of his life, making his 
home with his sons. He died at the age of 
sixty-two years, from the effects of emi 
grant fever, and was laid to rest in the 
Church of England cemetery at Warwick 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



740 

He was a member of the Church of Eng 
land. Politically he \vas a Conservative. 

Edwin Tanner attended school in the 
township, his opportunities for an educa 
tion, however, being somewhat limited. He 
remained at home with his brothers, clear 
ing the bush farm, and he remained at home 
until twenty-three years of age, when he 
started into farming for himself, buying a 
tract of forty acres of bush land in War 
wick township. This he cleared and oper 
ated for several years, and then sold it and 
purchased fifty acres more, upon which he 
farmed until iSSo. In this year, selling his 
farm, he purchased the homestead on the 
Egre mont Road, a tract of 100 acres, and 
for a quarter of a century Mr. Tanner has 
been operating this farm, also engaging in 
stock raising and sheep herding. Since 
boyhood Mr. Tanner has been a hard 
worker, has been sober and industrious, and 
has achieved success entirely through his 
own efforts. He is noted for his honesty 
and integrity, and does his full duty as a 
good citizen and a loyal subject. He is a 
stanch Conservative, and has always sup 
ported the principles of Sir John A. Mac- 
Donald. He is no office seeker. For many 
years Mr. Tanner was a member of the 
Loyal Orange Association, in which he. was 
a valued comrade. In his religious views 
he is connected with the Church of Eng 
land, of which he is a regular attendant 

Mr. Tanner was married Feb. 9, 1860, 
in Warwick township, and his wife, Jane, 
died Sept. 20, 1897, and was buried in Wis- 
beach cemetery. She was also a member of 
the Church of England, and was a good 
Christian woman, and a kind and loving 
wife and mother. She and her husband had 
these children: William, who died young; 
Charles, a farmer in Enniskillen township; 
Melissa, who is married and lives in Wat 
ford ; Eliza, now deceased ; Albert, a dentist 
in the Northwest Territory; William, at 
home; Violet, who died young; Eveline, 
who also died young; Annette, at home, 
and one daughter that died young. 

The Tanner family is well known and 



highly respected in the community in which 
they have for so many years made their 
home. 

ROBERT BROWNLEE, farmer and 
oil producer of Enniskillen township, 
County of Lambton, has resided on his pres 
ent farm in that, township for over forty 
years, and during that time has become one 
of the most substantial farmers of his sec 
tion of the county. 

Mr. Brownlee was born Aug. 15, 1841,. 
in the township of Dalhousie, in the north 
ern part of the County of Lanark, son of 
David and Christina (Dunlap) Brownlee, 
both of whom were natives of \Voshie, 
Scotland. The father of David Brownlee 
died in Scotland, leaving his wife with a 
family of five children, namely: John and 
Robert both left families, who reside in 
Canada and the United States; David, the 
father of Robert, is mentioned below ; Janet 
married and died in Scotland ; Marion mar 
ried and died in the United States. 

David Brownlee came to Canada in 
1820, bringing his mother, and they settled 
on government land in the County of Lan 
ark, Ont., settling on wild land which he 
cleared and on which he made a permanent 
home. Here he and his wife and mother 
died, after spending many years in comfort 
able enjoyment of their new home. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brownlee were consistent mem 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, to which 
church their ancestors for many generations 
belonged. Their family consisted of five 
sons and three daughters, all born in the 
County of Lanark: (i) James moved to 
Minne sota when a young man, engaged in 
farming there and now lives retired in St. 
Paul, Minnesota. He married Miss Lizzie 
(iordon, who was born in Canada, of Scot 
tish parentage, and they had a family of 
twelve children. (2) John died when a 
young man. at the old homestead. (3) Rob 
ert is mentioned below. (4) David, born in 
April, 1842, came to Petrolia when a young 
man. and married Miss Jane Park, of 
Plympton township. He settled in that 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



township and cleared up a farm, where they 
still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee have 
one son, David W. (5) William, born in 
1849, st iH resides on the old homestead. He 
married Annie Fisher, of the County of 
Lanark, and they have a large family. (6) 
Agnes, born in 1852, now deceased, was the 
wife of Thomas Donald, whose father, now 
also deceased, was one of the pioneer school 
teachers of the County of Lanark; Thomas 
and Agnes Donald came to the County of 
Lambton and settled in Plympton township, 
where Mrs. Donald died leaving a large 
family. Mr. Donald is also deceased. (7) 
Margaret, born in 1856, is the widow of 
Hugh MacLean, who was formerly a mer 
chant in the County of Lanark and subse 
quently moved to the Northwest Territory, 
where he became a farmer and stockman. 
He left a large family, all of whom reside 
in the Xorthwest. (8) Mary, born in 1859, 
is the wife of Robert Ferguson, who resides 
at Whitby, Canada, on a farm ; they have no 
family. 

Robert Brownlee grew up on the farm 
in Lanark, remaining at home until he 
reached his majority, and received such ed 
ucation as the public schools of the locality 
afforded. In 1862 he came to the County 
of Lambton and made a purchase of wild 
land on Lot 5, Concession 12, in Enniskillen 
township, where he settled and has re 
mained ever since. He first erected a little 
log cabin, where he kept bachelor s home for 
five years, until his marriage. He then 
erected a frame house to which he brought 
his young wife, and that was their home 
until the erection of the modern brick dwell 
ing which now adorns the place, and which 
was put up in 1892. Mr. Brownlee has 100 
acres of well cultivated land, all of which 
lias been cleared since it came into his pos 
session, and all the improvements on which 
have been made by him. Besides putting 
the land in fine condition he has erected 
large barns and outbuildings, and every 
thing about the place indicates that the 
owner is a thrifty, energetic man, one who 
takes a proper pride in the appearance of 
3iis home and surroundings and is willing 



to work hard to maintain it. Mr. Brownlee 
has taken a public-spirited interest in the 
affairs of his township and county, but be 
yond assisting to elect good men to office 
by the conscientious use of his vote he has 
taken no active part in such matters, the 
only office he ever consented to hold being 
that of member of the school board. His 
political support has been given to the Re 
form party. He has, however, done his full 
share toward the development and opening 
up of his neighborhood, first as a pioneer 
farmer, and latterly as an oil producer. He 
and his son Alfred have a number of oil 
wells in operation on the home place, and 
have done well in this line as well as in their 
agricultural work. Mr. Brownlee has placed 
himself in comfortable circumstances by 
years of persistent industry, having in his 
earlier years experienced all the difficulties 
and hardships which attend the lot of the 
pioneer in a new country, and in all his ca 
reer has displayed that courage and forti 
tude which have ever been the pride of the 
sturdy race to which he belongs. He has 
lived an upright, conscientious life, and de 
serves fully the respect which is accorded 
him wherever he is known. 

On June 2, 1867, Mr. Brownlee was 
married to Miss Barbara Brooks, who was 
born Aug. 16, 1849, in the County of 
Lambton, daughter of James and Mar 
garet (Waddell) Brooks, who came from 
Scotland in an early day and settled in 
Plympton township, County of Lambton, 
being among the pioneer settlers of the re 
gion. Here they passed the remainder of 
their lives, dying in Plympton township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were old school Pres 
byterians in religious faith, and were among 
the founders of the church in Lambton. 
Their family consisted of three sons and 
four daughters, namely : James, who is now 
deceased ; William, who lives on the old 
homestead ; John, a resident of Port Austin ; 
.Margaret, wife of John O Neil, of the 
County of Lambton: Elizabeth, wife of 
James Beattie, of the County of Perth ; 
Annie, wife of Byron Mudge. now residing 
in Sarnia ; and Barbara, Mrs. Brownlee. 



742 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Three children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Brownlee : (i) Maggie, born in 
1868, completed her education in the high 
school at Petrolia, and is now the wife of 
Edward Hopper, of Enniskillen, who owns 
a home there, and is engaged as agent for 
the Deering Harvester Company. They 
have had five children Muriel (who died 
when ten years old), Alvin, Lloyd, Emer 
son and Iva. (2) Alfred D., born in 1871, 
grew up on the home place and received an 
excellent education. He has always re 
mained at the homestead, and now looks 
after the farm and oil interests of his 
father, whose excellent business ability he 
seems to inherit. Like his father, he is serv 
ing on the school board, and he is one of 
the well-known young farmers of the sec 
tion. Fraternally he unites with the I. O. 
F., holding membership in Pyramid Lodge, 
No. 412, of Marthaville. In 1898 he mar 
ried Miss Edna Brock, of Wyoming, 
County of Lambton, whose parents, George 
and Jennie Brock, were among the early 
farming people in the county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brownlee have passed ail their mar 
ried life on his father s farm. They have 
had three children, of whom Frederick J. 
died when three years old; Annie, born in 
November, 1900, and Eva, born in January, 
1903, survive. (3) Christina, born in 1874, 
received a high school education and at 
tended Petrolia Institute. In December, 
1896, she became the wife of Thomas 
Eady, of Enniskillen, an oil producer of this 
section, and they had one son, Wilbur L. 
Mrs. Eady passed away in February, 1900, 
at her home in Enniskillen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee are prominent 
members of the Presbyterian Church at 
Marthaville, of which he is a trustee, and 
they have been identified with the interests 
of that denomination for many years. They 
have always encouraged and supported re 
ligious and benevolent enterprises, and are 
well known for their kindly and charitable 
dispositions and exemplary lives. No fam 
ily in Enniskillen township is held in higher 
esteem than the Brownlees. 



FRANK J. McKEE, yardmaster at 
the Sarnia Terminal Station, has spent his 
entire active life in connection with railroad 
matters. He is of Irish extraction and the 
family was established in Ontario by his late 
father, George McKee. 

George McKee \vas one of a family of 
children born to his parents in County Fer 
managh, Ireland. He married Catherine 
Brock, and they came to Ontario, locating 
on the Bayfield Road where he engager! in 
farming. In 1870 they removed to Point 
Edward, where Mr. McKee was night bag 
gage man for the Grand Trunk Railroad, 
and he continued as such until his death in 
March, 1879, one of the most reliable and 
valued employes. Religiously he was a 
member of the Church of England. Politi 
cally he was a Conservative, and fraternally. 
an Orangeman. Mrs. McKee still resides at 
Point Edward, in the possession of good 
health and unimpaired mental faculties. She 
was the devoted mother of these children : 
Alexander, of Port Huron; Elizabeth, de 
ceased wife of George Dunlop; Ellen, de 
ceased wife of William Shingles, baggage 
master of the Port Huron Terminal Sta 
tion ; Thomas, deceased, of Winnipeg ; 
George, deceased; Mary, wife of J. Lester, 
of Sarnia ; Wellington, deceased ; Nelson, 
of Port Huron ; Frank J. ; and Albert, of 
Pottsville, Pennsylvania. 

Frank J. McKee was born Oct. 15, 1865, 
in the home on the Bayfield Road. In 1880 
when but fifteen years of age, he entered 
into the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad 
as an engine wiper, but soon was promoted 
to the position of manifest clerk of the Chi 
cago & Grand Trunk Road, going from 
there to the Port Huron & Northwestern 
Railroad, where he remained until 1882, 
when he was made yard master of the Ter 
minal Station at Point Edward for the 
Grand Trunk. In 1892, on the completion of 
the St. Clair Terminal, Mr. McKee was 
transferred to that point in the same 
capacity. 

In 1892 Mr. McKee was married at 
P>attle Creek, Michigan, to Mary Stewart 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Turner, daughter of William S. and Lucy 
(Stewart) Turner, natives of England. 
They came to Ontario in 1879, an d ne is 
now an engineer at Battle Creek, Michigan. 
Mrs. McKee was born in 1874, in London, 
England, and was five years old when her 
parents came to Canada. Five children have 
been born to this marriage, viz. : Ralph Ellis, 
born June 30, 1893; Arvilla Frances, born 
May 14, 1895 ; Gordon Xelson, born April 
/, 1897; Franklin Stewart, born Sept. 25, 
1899; and Gladys, born March 31, 1902, 
died in 1903. 

Mr. and Mrs. McKee are valued mem 
bers of the Methodist Church. Fraternally 
he belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows and 
Orangemen. He has been school trustee for 
two years. In 1902 Mr. McKee erected an 
attractive and comfortable brick residence at 
Point Edward. The family is held in the 
highest esteem in this locality. 

JOSEPH JOSHUA JARVIS. For 
over a quarter of a century the name of Jar- 
vis has been well known in Moore township, 
where several of the family are to-day 
counted among the well-known and re 
spected citizens. The first to settle there 
was James Jarvis. a native of Oxfordshire, 
England, born near Oxford, June 8, 1820. 
James Jarvis, ST., father of James, was 
a native of the same county and followed 
carpentering as his lifelong occupation. He 
died in Fritwell and was buried there, a 
member of the Catholic Church. James 
Jarvis married Miss Elizabeth Rutter, a 
member of the Church of England, whose 
death also occurred in Fritwell. Eleven 
children were born to their union, of whom 
nine lived to maturity. Four sons settled 
in Canada, and one son in England, the 
daughters all settling in England. 

James Jarvis (2), son of James, enjoyed 
only limited opportunities for an education, 
attending the parish night schools for a 
time. At the age of thirteen he had 
to begin making his own living and for 
three years was employed in hunting 
stables in Wiltshire and Somersetshire, 
earning only his board and clothing. At 



743 

the end of that time he secured employ 
ment as a footman, at five pounds a year, 
and after two and a half years got a similar 
position with Sir Alexander and Lady 
Hood, at twenty pounds a year. He re 
mained there also two and a half years and 
then in 1840 went to London, where he 
filled a footman s place for a couple of years 
at an advance of four pounds a year. He 
then decided to change his occupation en 
tirely, and spent the next year driving a 
ginger beer wagon, which proved a much 
more lucrative position, as he made from 
two to three pounds a week. He neverthe 
less abandoned this and turned his attention 
to the making of jewelry cases, at a profit 
of a pound a week. He was thus engaged 
for ten years, and then in 1855. w tn n s 
wife and a family of four children, left 
England behind him, sailing from the East 
India Docks, London, on the sailing-vessel 
"Southampton," for the Xew World. After 
a thirty days voyage Mr. Jarvis and his 
family landed in New York and at once 
made their way to Canada, journeying by 
the Hudson river as far as Albany and then 
by railroad to Ontario. A brother. Charles 
Jarvis, had previously located in Oxford 
Count}-, and the newcomers joined him at 
first, settling there on a rented farm. After 
a year James Jarvis moved to West Oxford, 
where he rented another farm for a year and 
then migrated again. This time he went to 
Middlesex County and rented a loo-acre 
farm in Dorchester township, where he re 
mained engaged in its cultivation for seven 
years. His next move was back to West 
Oxford, where he rented 150 acres from his 
brother Joseph, operated it for five years, 
and then installed himself on a 2oo-acre 
tract in West Zorra township for the fol 
lowing seven years. In 1877 he came to 
Lambton County and established himself 
permanently on the east half of Lot TO. Con- 
ion f>, Moore township, where he bought 
100 acres. The following year he settled 
his family there and it has been their home 
ever since. Mr. Jarvis has been constantly 
adding improvements on the place, and has 
carried on general farming and stock raising 



744 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



with much success, so that when his sons 
were ready to start in life he could help 
them to secure homes of their own. 

During the earlier part of his residence 
in London Mr. Jarvis had married, Aug. 
14, 1843, Miss Dorothy Sackville, who was 
born near the river Tweed, daughter of Gil 
bert and Margaret Sackville. Both be 
longed to the Church of England, which 
they attended in Mooretown. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jarvis enjoyed more than the usual span of 
happy married life, for they lived to cele 
brate not only their golden wedding, but 
also the sixtieth anniversary. But before 
the sixty-first year had passed Mrs. Jarvis 
was called to the better world, passing away 
after a short illness, in February, 1904. Her 
remains are interred in Sutherland ceme 
tery. She bore her husband twelve children 
and was a most devoted wife and mother. 
Five of the family died young, and the 
others were as follows : Margaret Catherine 
is the mistress of her father s home at the 
present time ; James Sackville is a farmer in 
Concession 8 ; Dorothy is the wife of Rob 
ert Ross, of West Zorra township ; Eliza 
beth married Alexander Brown, a farmer in 
Concession 8, Moore township ; Emma is 
Mrs. Henry Pelton, of West Zorra: Gilbert 
and Joseph Joshua are mentioned below. 

Joseph Joshua Jarvis was born in the 
township of North Dorchester, Middlesex 
County, Feb. 5, 1862, and grew up on his 
father s farm, assisting in the cultivation of 
the same. When he started out for himself 
his father helped him to buy his present 
home, in Lot 19, Concession 7, located just 
opposite the old homestead, and there he has 
carried on farming and stock raising. Al 
though a young man he has been active for 
a number of years in township affairs, and 
has served seven years as assessor, thus be 
coming known, in every home in the section. 
He is an ardent Conservative and a hard 
worker for his party. He and his wife are 
members of the Church of England, in 
which he holds the offices of warden and ves 
tryman. He is also a strong lodge man, be 
longing to the A. F. & A. M.. Leopold 
Lodge, No. 397, of Brigden, in which he is 



past master; and to the C. O. F., Court No. 
970, of Colinville, in which he is court dep 
uty. He is an enterprising, energetic man, 
much respected and greatly liked. 

On Dec. 19, 1888, Mr. Jarvis was mar 
ried to Miss Jane Neal; of Moore township, 
daughter of Capt. Thomas Neal, and sister 
of Capt. William D. Neal, of Courtright. 
To this union four children have been born, 
Florence M., Thomas Neal, James Garnet 
and Herbert K. 

GILBERT JARVIS, another son of James 
Jarvis (2), was born in Dereham township, 
Oxford County, Ont., July 25, 1858, and 
was sent to the public schools there for his 
education. After moving to Moore town 
ship he worked at home until 1882, when 
he began operations for himself on a tract 
of land in Concession 5, just south of his 
father s property, and there he is still living, 
engaged in farming. In 1891 he branched 
out into tilemaking and put up a plant cost 
ing about $1,200, and with an output of 
100,000 tiles per year. His market extends 
over Moore and adjoining townships, and 
he has been very successful in this enterprise, 
as well as in brickmaking, in which he has 
since engaged. He is hard-working, enter 
prising and progressive, and has made a sure 
place for himself among the substantial 
men of Moore township. 

In October, 1882, Gilbert Jarvis was 
married in the village of Lakefield, Peter 
borough County, Ont., to Miss Harriet Wil- 
helmina Fitzgerald, who was born in Peter 
borough, daughter of George Fitzgerald. 
Six children have been born to this union, 
namely : Emma Jane, Edmond, James Hovv- 
aard, Clara, George Clifford and Mildred 
Irene. 

JOHN WOODLEY, an oil producer 
and farmer, with residence at Petrolia, 
comes of English ancestry. The family was 
founded in Ontario by James Woodley, his 
father, who was a son of John Woodley, who 
lived and died in England, but his father 
was a native of Scotland. 

James Woodley was born in 1804. in 
England, and died Jan. 22, 1887, at Ty- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



745 



rone, Out. In England he married Ann 
Brinscomb, born in 1808, and they came to 
Ontario in 1835, locating in Darlington 
township, Durham County. There he fol 
lowed farming and milling, and later re 
moved to a farm in the same township, and 
there both he and wife died, the latter in 
1873. They were Methodists in religious 
faith. In politics he was a Reformer. The 
children born to them were : Elizabeth, 
widow of Mathew Cole; John; Mary Ann, 
wife of Stephen Cotton, of Toronto; Joanna, 
wife of John Hoskin; James, deceased, a 
farmer in Durham County; William, a re 
tired farmer in Lindsay, Ont. ; Richard, a 
farmer and lumberman of Durham County ; 
Thomas, a farmer on the old homestead; 
Charlotte, wife of Henry Elliott ; Eliza, who 
died at the age of three years; and Samuel, 
a farmer of Durham County. 

John Woodley was born March 10, 
1834, in England, and was but one year old 
when his parents brought him to Canada. 
He grew up on the old Durham county 
farm, and attended the best schools in the 
neighborhood. In 1856 he went to Elgin 
County, Dunwich township, and farmed 
until 1859, when he came to Petrolia. Here 
he purchased a farm of 140 acres, on Lot 
i> Concession 12, in the township of En- 
niskillen, a large part of which he cleared 
from the bush. Here has been found a fine 
field for oil wells. He has served most ef 
ficiently in the township and city council and 
has been school trustee, and is a man of 
large means and much prominence. 

In October, 1855, Mr. Woodley married 
Catherine Brisbin, daughter of Joseph and 
Mary (Brisbin) Brisbin. the former of 
whom was born in 1812, and the latter in 
1815, in Canada, the latter still residing in 
Ontario. Mrs. Woodley was born in Dar 
lington township June 29, 1837. The chil 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Woodley were: 
Mary Ann. widow of Norris Stotts, has 
children. Alberta, Laura, John Alfred, Lil 
lian. Kate, Walter. Delia. Elma and Garnet ; 
William, a driller of artesian wells in Aus 
tralia, married Caroline Cummings ; Laura 
married John Oliver, and they have chil 



dren, George, Ethel, Leslie and Lawrence; 
John, a well driller in Australia, mar 
ried S. Marilda Hume, and they have 
one daughter, Estella ; Arietta married 
Edward Metcalf, and they have children, 
Percival and Myrtle; and Viola May mar 
ried Andrew Maitland and they have chil 
dren, Ruby, Clarence, Norman, Carlos and 
Raymond. Of the grandchildren, Alberta 
Stotts married Walter Clark, and they have 
children, Elsie and Cora ; Laura Stotts 
married Edwin Julian and they have chil 
dren, Verna and Norris Edwin ; John Al 
fred Stotts married Jemima Brown ; and 
Lillian Stotts married David Templeton. 
Mr. Woodley is a Reformer and a Mason. 
Religiously he and wife are Methodists. 

WILLIAM J. BOURNE. Among the 
successful farmers of Brooke township, 
Lambton County, may be mentioned Will 
iam J. Bourne, who is actively engaged in 
cultivating his fine farm on Concession 6, 
Lot 13. Mr. Bourne was born Sept. 18, 
1862, in Nissouri, Middlesex County, son 
of Elias and Eliza J. (Greer) Bourne, 
members of one of Canada s old families. 

Elias Bourne, grandfather of William J. 
Bourne, was born in Ireland, and, coming to 
Canada, settling near Smith Falls, County 
of Lanark, in Ontario. Here he set 
tled and left a family of four sons and three 
daughters, as follows : William, the eldest, 
settled near Chatham, Kent County, where 
he died; Thomas resides at Smith Falls. 
Lanark County, in Ontario, at the old 
Bourne homestead; Lloyd married, and 
settled near Toronto, where he is engaged in 
farming; Elias is the father of our subject; 
Fannie, deceased, married A. Kinney, of 
Lanark County; Mariah, deceased, married 
J. Norris, of the States; and Ellen married 
David McKinn, of Michigan. 

Elias Bourne, the father of our subject, 
started farming for himself, when a young 
man, in Middlesex County. Here he mar 
ried, and in 1864 removed to Brooke town 
ship, Lambton County, where he started 
farming on Concession 10, and here he 
made a permanent home from wild land, 



746 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



residing here until 1896. At this time he 
purchased a farm on Concession 7, where he 
lived until the death of his wife, on March 
ii, 1901, when he went to reside with one 
of his daughters in Michigan. The children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Elias Bourne were as 
follows: (i) Elias, bom in Middlesex 
County, married and lives in Sarnia, where 
he is engaged in business ; he has children : 
Victoria, Arthur, Rachel and Florence. (2) 
Mary, born in Middlesex County, married 
Ormsby Clark, deceased, of Michigan, and 
has these children, Irwin, Frank, Moses, 
Mabel and Paul. (3) Alexander married 
Miss Ellen Early of Adelaide, and they set 
tled in Brooke township, then moved to En- 
niskillen township, where they remained 
until 1904, when they removed to Al 
berta, Northwest Territory, where he fol 
lows farming; they have three children, 
Edna, Early and Verne. (4) Elizabeth 
married George McCabe, and they reside on 
Concession 10, in Brooke township, and 
have these children, Alexander, Mary, 
Ellen, Robert, Lena and Lizzie. (5) Lloyd 
married Miss Sarah Styles, of Brooke town 
ship, and they reside on his farm in Brooke 
township; they have children, Gladys, Lou- 
ella, Russell, Minnie, Robert, Basil, Maude 
and Vera. (6) David is a railroad man in 
the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railroad 
Company ; he married Maggie Smith, of 
Brooke township. (7) Thomas H. married 
Miss Ada Hughes, of Middlesex County, 
and they reside on his father s home on Con 
cession 7, Brooke township ; one daughter 
has been born to them, Edna. (8) William 
J. is the subject of this sketch. 

William J. Bourne received a fair edu 
cation in the public schools of Brooke town 
ship, and was reared to manhood on the old 
home farm. He followed farming on the 
home farm (which he now owns) until his 
marriage, and then started farming for him 
self, in 1882 purchasing his present home, 
which was then all wild land. He cleared it 
up until it became a fine productive farm, 
and in 1889 he erected the home in which 
he now resides, also a large bank barn. 

On March 19, 1890, Mr. Bourne mar 



ried Miss Mary J. Richardson, born in 
Adelaide, Middlesex County, in January, 
1867, daughter of John and Jane Richard 
son, one of Middlesex s old families. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bourne have always resided at the 
home which they now occupy in Brooke 
township, and a family of six children have 
been born to them as follows: Ada Pearl, 
born Feb. 9, 1891, is now a student in the 
high schools of Alvinston; Lena E., burn 
April 27, 1893, > s a student in the home 
schools; Lettie E., born June 3, 1895 ; Willie 
E., born May 13, 1897; Mary I., born Aug. 
12, 1900, and Beatrice J., born Dec. 3, 1902. 
Religiously the family are members of 
the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Bourne 
is steward, and is one of the active workers 
in that church. Mr. Bourne s parents were 
connected with the Church of England. Po 
litically Air. Bourne is an active member of 
the Reform party, as was his father, and he 
has served as secretary and treasurer of the 
school board, since 1891. Mr. Bourne is a 
self-made man, having started in life with 
no means, and by the force of his energy 
and strict attention to business has forged 
to the front ranks among the men of his 
community. Mr. Bourne is well known and 
highly respected throughout Brooke town 
ship for his many sterling traits of character. 
With his highly esteemed father, Mr. Bourne 
has been identified with the progress and 
development of his part of the county 
many years, and has always shown himself 
interested in any movement that promised 
good to the community in which he made his 
home. lie is well known as a useful citizen. 

JOHN SMITH, ESQ., a venerable ex- 
magistrate and retired farmer of Enniskillen 
township. Lambton County, is passing the 
closing years of his long and useful life on 
Lot 22, Concession 14. He was born in 
Glasgow, Scotland, Oct. n, 1815, son of 
Rev. James and Jane ( Richie) Smith, both 
natives of Scotland. 

Rev. James Smith brought his family to 
Canada in 1821. landing at Quebec after six 
weeks on the ocean. They settled in Lanark- 
County, where the father cleared up 100 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



747 



acres in Lanark township. He died in 1862, 
in the faith of the Baptist Church. He was 
four times married, first to Ann McFarland, 
who died in Scotland three years after mar 
riage, the mother of two children : Isabella, 
who married, and one that died in infancy. 
His second union was with Jane Richie, who 
also died in Scotland, and by whom he had 
Robert and John (a twin of one that died 
in infancy) and several who died in infancy. 
For his third wife he married Margaret 
Auld, who died in 1848 in Lanark County, 
Out., and they had five children, all now de 
ceased : James, Margaret, William, Eliza 
beth (all of whom married and reared fam 
ilies) and Annie (who died in infancy). By 
his fourth marriage, to Airs. Margaret Barr, 
he had no children. 

Robert Smith, one of the sons by the 
second marriage, received a good education 
in the schools of Glasgow, Scotland, and 
taught school for several years, with much 
success, in Lanark County, but in his 
young manhood he was stricken with con 
sumption, and died in 1838, aged thirty 
years, in the town of Renton, Scotland. 

John Smith was too young to attend 
school in Scotland before the emigration of 
the family to Canada, and consequently his 
education was all acquired in Lanark 
County. He applied himself to his studies 
with the diligence of his race, and when old 
enough to take up the battle of life for him 
self he began as a teacher, continuing thus 
for six years in Lanark County. In 1843 he 
came to Enniskillen, where he purchased 
100 acres of his present homestead. Erect 
ing a log cabin, he began the work of clear 
ing his farm, and during the winters when 
out-door work was impossible he taught 
school. For four terms he taught in the old 
hall at Petrolia. When he married he 
brought his young bride to the home where 
they passed the years of their wedded life. 
Mr. Smith bcame one of the wealthiest farm 
ers in his locality, owning 200 acres of 
highly productive land, all in a high state of 
cultivation, now in charge of his son Arch 
ibald. 

I" : ^55 ^ r - Smith was appointed a 



magistrate of Enniskillen, by the court of 
the Queen s Bench, to take affidavits. How 
ever, being coroner, he could not qualify un 
til he resigned, which he did in 1863, con 
tinuing to hold the office until very recent 
years. In 1861 he was elected councilor, 
which office he held four years, and for 
some years he was a member and trustee of 
the school board. For some six years he has 
filled the office of assessor. Mr. Smith has 
conscientiously looked after every respon 
sibility laid upon him, and by his fine execu 
tive ability and methodical business habits 
he has given very able administration of 
affairs in his various positions. Since Sep 
tember, 1841, he has been a member of the 
Baptist Church. Though now at the age of 
ninety years, and retired from active work, 
so accustomed are his friends and neighbors 
to rely upon his superior judgment that they 
still frequently go to him for advice. His 
whole life has been lived after high ideals, 
and he has constantly carried into his every 
day life the teachings of his religious be 
lief. He is honored and beloved by all. 

On Dec. 21, 1838, Mr. Smith was mar 
ried by Rev. William McCleister, to Miss 
Barbara Young, who was born in Paisley, 
Scotland, Oct. n, 1817, daughter of Arch 
ibald and Mary (Dougall) Young, the latter 
a sister of John Dougall, the noted Xew 
York publisher. She died May 4, 1890, the 
mother of nine children, namely : ( i ) Mary, 
born in Lanark County, Jan. 12, 1840, is the 
widow of Joseph Maclntyre, a business man 
of Sarnia, and has four children, Joseph (a 
merchant of Montreal), Jack (a merchant 
in Peterboro), Barbara (wife of John 
\Ya1ker. of Dakota) and William (a clerk 
in Sarnia). ( 2 ) Margaret, born April 7, 
1842, is the wife of Robert Hayward, of 
Wanstead. Out, and has/ seven children, 
Janet, Maggie, William, Edward, Jack, Bar 
bara and Archie. (3) Isabella J., torn March 
24, 1844, died March 14, 1866. (4) James 
E., born May 10, 1846, married Margaret 
Ramsey, of Plympton. where they now re 
side and they have seven children, "Christina, 
Henry. Nellie, Myrtle, Maggie, Maud and 
Janet. (5) Barbara born May 10, 1849. died 



748 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Sept. i, 1867. (6) Alice, born Sept. 10, 
1851, married John Johnson, a school 
teacher in Sarnia, and has four children, 
Mammie, Jean, Barbara and Wallace. (7) 
Helen, born Oct. 24, 1856, married James 
Squires, of Plympton, and they have five 
children, Lula, Ora, May, Philip and Har 
old. (8) Archie, born Aug. 27, 1860, grew 
up on the old farm, where he has been man 
ager for a number of years. In November, 
1890, he married Eliza Butler, who was born 
in October, 1875, in Brighton, Sussex, Eng 
land, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth 
(Leavitt) Butler, who emigrated from Eng 
land to Wyoming, Ont. Three children 
have been born to them: Russell, in 1891; 
Elizabeth, in 1894; Barbara, in January, 
1900. (9) Robert R., born Aug. 15, 1863, 
now resides on his father s farm. He mar 
ried Sarah Wheeler, of Lambton County, 
and has five children, Irene, Sidney, Eldie, 
and Victor and Oscar (twins). The family 
were reared in a Christian home, and trained 
to usefulness, and the surviving ones all hold 
to the teachings of their youth, and all are 
worthy members of society. 

ROBERT AULD, one of the oldest liv 
ing pioneers of Warwick township, where he 
is a well known farmer and fruit grower, is 
a native of Scotland, born in Linlithgow- 
shire, Oct. 18. 1834. For over sixty years 
the family has been represented in East 
Lambton. 

William Auld, father of Robert, was 
also a native of Linlithgowshire, and there 
grew to manhood. He was a weaver by 
occupation, and followed that trade exten 
sively, having a number of looms and em 
ploying about fifty hands. This was in the 
days when the looms were operated by hand 
power. The advent of labor saving machin 
ery soon put an end to that kind of work, and 
Mr. Auld turned to the New World where 
he hoped to find a home for his family. In 
1838. with his wife, whose maiden name 
was Agnes Allen, and six children, he left 
Scotland. At Liverpool he set sail for New 
York, and after nine weeks on the water 
landed in America. Then making their way 



up the Hudson to Albany, thence by canal 
to Buffalo, and across to Canada, they com 
pleted the long journey by team to Hamil 
ton, and Warwick township, Lambton 
County, Ont. Mr. Auld had purchased a 
soldier s right of 200 acres of land, north of 
the Egremont road, Lot 13, Concession 
2. This land was all a wilderness except 
five acres, which had been cleared, and its 
only building was a diminutive log shanty. 
There were but few settlers in the township, 
no schools, no churches and no roads, the 
only guide to the traveler being the blazed 
trails through the unbroken timber. The 
nearest markets were London and Sarnia. 
With the help of his sons, Mr. Auld set about 
the clearing of his land, and soon had large 
areas under cultivation. He remained on the 
farm until his wife died in 1861. She had 
proved herself a faithful wife and mother, 
cheerfully bearing the hardships of pioneer 
life for the sake of her family. Her remains 
rest in the cemetery at Watford. They were 
both members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Auld then sold the farm to his sons, and 
returned to his native Scotland with the in 
tention of there spending the rest of his days. 
After the stirring scenes in the New World, 
the quiet of the Scotch hills could no longer 
satisfy him, and he again came to Canada, 
this time locating in Hamilton, where he 
married a widow, Mrs. Dalley. There he 
died in 1876, and was buried there. His 
wife died there also, and was laid to rest in 
the same cemetery. In politics he was a 
believer in the principles of the Reform 
party, and an earnest admirer of the Hon. 
George Brown, being .one of those who 
urged Mr. Brown to stand for Lambton. He 
later supported Hope MacKenzie, and after 
him the Hon. Alexander MacKenzie. prem 
ier of Canada 1874-78. He was well posted 
on public events, and for years was a sub 
scriber for the Banner, published in Toronto 
by Peter Brown, and he was a reader of the 
Globe from the time it was first published in 
London by Hon. George Brown, and later 
published in Toronto. William Auld be 
came the father of seven children by his first 
marriage, one of whom died in infancy. The 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



749 



others were : Margaret, who married Will 
iam Dixon, and both died in Hamilton ; 
William, who became a prominent farmer in 
Warwick township, and there died; John, 
who died in early life, and who was the 
father of John A. Auld, a member of the 
Provincial Parliament for South Essex, 
and editor of the Amherstburg Echo; Janet, 
who married Charles Janes, and both died 
in Warwick; James, who became a large 
land owner, and died in Hamilton ; and 
Robert. 

Robert Auld, the only survivor of the 
family, was but four years of age when he 
was brought by his parents to the New 
\Vorld. His opportunities for an education 
were limited. He first attended a private 
school taught by James F. Elliott, an Irish 
school teacher, and later a public school in 
a little log schoolhouse, one of the very first 
in the county. While still a young boy he 
did teaming between London and Sarnia, 
carrying provisions, etc. He continued to re 
main at home until his father gave up the 
farm, and he then bought the south part of 
the farm, consisting of 105 acres. There he 
settled down to work for himself, and he 
has since been steadily engaged in agricul 
tural pursuits. Besides general farming he 
has given careful attention to the growing 
of fruits and berries, as well as stock rais 
ing and feeding. For many years he has 
had a high reputation as an apiarist, and he 
has met with success in all his undertakings. 
He has erected a fine brick dwelling house, 
and has good barns and out-buildings. Al 
though now past seventy years of age, he is 
quite active, and attends to all his business, 
and keeps himself well abreast of the times. 
His son Andrew still lives on the homestead, 
and ably assists his father. 

Mr. Auld is a member of the East 
Lambton Farmers Institute, and the East 
Lambton Agricultural Society, for a. num 
ber of years filling the office of president. 
Politically he is a stanch Liberal. For eight 
years he was a member of the Warwick 
township council, and for a number of years 
was trustee of School District No. 2. He 
was a delegate to the great Liberal conven 



tion held in Toronto in 1884, under the 
leadership of the Hon. Edward Blake and 
others. Like his father before him he is a 
faithful member of the Presbyterian Church,, 
attending Knox Church on the Main Road. 

Mr. Auld is quiet and domestic in his 
tastes, and temperate in his habits. He is 
greatly in favor of high license and the non- 
treating system. He is highly respected by 
all who know him, and he has many friends. 

In Watford, by the Rev. William Deas, 
a Presbyterian, divine, Mr. Auld was mar 
ried to Ann Harrower, who was born in 
Warwick township, daughter of Andrew and 
Sarah (Williamson) Harrower. Like her 
husband, Mrs. Auld is an active member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and she is noted 
for her kindness of heart, and her helpful 
ness to all in times of need. Eight children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Auld, 
namely : William, a farmer in Warwick 
township, who married Martha Moore; 
James, who makes his home in Watford; 
Agnes, who married Calvin Hodgins, of 
Plympton township; Sarah, housekeeper 
for William K. Vanderbilt, Sr., of New 
York; Andrew,! on the homestead; Mar 
garet, who married L. Luckham, of War 
wick ; Nettie, who married George MacKen- 
zie, of British Columbia; and Annie, who 
married James Hunt, and lives in Sarnia. 

EZRA NEWELL. Among the enter 
prising farmers and public-spirited citizens 
of Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
may be mentioned the name of Ezra Newell, 
whose fine farm is located on Concession 7, 
Lot 28. Mr. Newell was born Sept. 13, 
1862, in Dorchester township, Middlesex 
County, a son of Alexander and Lorena 
(Demaray) Newell, pioneers of Middlesex 
County. 

Alexander Newell was the son of Robert 
Newell, who came from County Armagh, 
Ireland, and was one of the first settlers of 
Dorchester township. His wife was Mary 
(Wolly) Newell. At his death he left the 
following children : Robert J., who settled 
and died on the old home in Middlesex 
County; John, who resided in Dorchester 



75 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



township until in 1882 he moved to Sanilac 
County, Michigan, where he still resides; 
Margaret, who married James Johnston, of 
Elgin County, and has a family of six chil 
dren ; William G., who lives on the old home 
in Middlesex Count}-, and has a family of 
eight children: Martha, who married John 
Woolly, of Battle Creek, Michigan, and at 
her death left four children ; and Alexander. 
Alexander Newell, born July 12, 1832, 
was reared to manhood in his native Can 
ada, and at an early age learned the trade of 
shoe making, which he followed vintil his 
marriage in 1854. At that time he pur 
chased land in Dorchester township, which 
he cleared and commenced to cultivate. In 
1868 he removed to Adelaide, Middlesex 
County, where he cleared up a bush farm, 
living there until his retirement from active 
life in 1902, when he removed to Strathroy. 
Here he lived until his death, which occurred 
in January, 1904, his wife still surviving. 
Mrs. Newell was born in 1837, near 
Toronto, daughter of Benj. V. and Martha 
(Varnam) Demaray, the former of whom 
was a U. E. Loyalist and a soldier in the 
Rebellion of Canada. In religion Mr. and 
Mrs. Newell were active members of the 
Methodist Church, in which he was an of 
ficer for many years. In politics he was a 
Conservative. 

To Alexander and Lorena Newell, nine 
children were born : ( i ) Henry, born in 
1854, married Miss Eliza Demaray, of 
Plymouth County, Iowa, where he is a pros 
perous farmer, and has two children, Mel- 
vin and Irene. (2) W. D., born in 1856, a 
practicing physician of Sarnia township, 
was a school teacher for some years before 
taking up the study of medicine, graduating 
at Toronto. He was united in marriage to 
Miss May E. Woodward, of Middlesex 
County. (3) Robert B., born in 1859, a 
painter and artist of Spokane, Wash., mar 
ried Miss Mima Ramsey, of Middlesex Coun 
ty, and has two sons, Clifford and Russel. 

(4) Ezra is the subject proper of this sketch. 

(5) Naomi, born in 1864, married Warren 
A. Wooley, of Adelaide, Middlesex County, 
and has two children, Gertrude and Ross. 



(6) Cyrus, born in 1869 in Adelaide, a 
successful merchant of Burr, married Miss 
Hattie Foster, of Middlesex County, and 
has three children, Stella, Cecil and Hattie. 

(7) Frank A., born in 1871, is a prosperous 
merchant of Glen Rae, Lambton County, 
married Miss Jane White, of Middlese x 
County and has the following children : 
Myrtle, Wesley and Maggie. (8) Asa R., 
born in 1874, married Miss Flora Harris, of 
Middlesex County and resides on the old 
homestead in Adelaide, having two chil 
dren, David A., and Flora. (9) Jennie, born 
in 1876, resides at the home in Strathroy. 

Ezra Newell grew to manhood in Mid 
dlesex County, where he received a fair edu 
cation in the district schools, and remained 
on his father s farm, until at the age of 
twenty-one he started in life for himself. 
At that time he went to Iowa and while in 
that section made a trip which covered all 
of the Western States to the Pacific coast, 
returning to Canada in 1886. In 1887 he 
purchased his present home, then all wild 
land, where he erected a small log cabin 
and started fanning. 

On May 9, 1888, Mr. Newell married 
Miss Maggie E. Slater, born March 2, 1868, 
in Cobourg, daughter of Thomas and Mar 
garet Slater, and of one of the old families of 
Peterborough, who are both now living in 
Adelaide. Mrs. Newell was educated in the 
Strathroy Institute and is a lady of culture 
and refinement. Mr. Newell and his wife 
settled in the cabin home until in 1898, when 
he erected his present dwelling, which is 
fitted with all modern improvements. In 
1893 ne erected a fine bank barn. Since com 
ing to Enniskillen township in 1887, Mr. 
Newell has cleared up 250 acres of land. 

In their religious affiliation Mr. and 
Mrs. Newell belong to the Methodist 
Church. Mr. Newell being a steward and 
trustee of the church at Shiloh, and one of 
the liberal supporters of that body. In pol 
itics he has always been identified with the 
Conservative party and has filled the office 
of trustee on the school board for nine 
years in Enniskillen township. Fraternally 
he is a member of Enterprise Tent No. 97, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of Glen Rae, where he has been commander 
for six years. 

Coming as he does from one of the old 
and highly respected pioneer families of 
Canada, Mr. Newell has proved himself a 
worthy member of it, and nobly borne his 
part in the development of his township. By 
his many excellent qualities of heart and 
mind, he has made many friends and is 
justly numbered among the representative 
men of Lambton County. 

FREDERICK JAMES McMAHEN, 
a well known citizen of Moore township, 
was born near Baltimore, Out, April 4, 
1858, son of James and Ann (Patterson) 
McMahen. He attended the district schools 
of Moore township, School Section No. 15, 
and after leaving school worked on the farm 
in Moore township, where his father had 
moved during his boyhood. As soon as he 
was old enough he assumed the management 
of the entire 200 acres, and after his father s 
death the west half of the place became his 
own property. He improved the place ex 
tensively, built a residence and has been con 
tinuously engaged there in general farming 
and stock raising, while since the discovery 
of oil in that region he has developed a num 
ber of wells on his farm. He has been uni 
formly successful in all that he has under 
taken, and is now one of the well-to-do and 
influential men of his section. 

Mr. McMahen was married in 1885 to 
Miss Elizabeth Elliott, born in Delaware, 
Ont.. daughter of William Elliott, now of 
Moore township. The children born to their 
union are: Lena May, Annie, Charles W.. 
Grace and James F. Mr. McMahen is a 
prominent lodge man, a charter member of 
the K. O. T. M. at Osborne, where he has 
held all the offices and has been commander. 
A Conservative in politics, he serves as trus 
tee of the Jackson school, on the Twelfth 
line. Religiously he is a Presbyterian, is 
manager of the church, and a member of the 
building committee. Mrs. McMahen is also 
an active member of the church, and they are 
both well-known and esteemed members of 
the community. 



JOHN . McLACHLEN, a prosperous 
farmer and former merchant of Dawn town 
ship, Lambton County, located on Lot 21, 
of the 4th Concession, was born in East 
Williams, Middlesex County, March 27, 
1853, son of John and Catherine (McKen- 
zie) McLachlen, one of Middlesex County s 
pioneer families. 

John McLachlen, Sr., was born in Cale 
donia, New York, in 1805, and his wife, 
Catherine in Malahide, Ont., in 1809. The 
latter was a daughter of Donald McKenzie, 
who came from Scotland, settling in Mala 
hide where he died. John McLachlen set 
tled in the County of Middlesex, where he 
made a permanent home, and he and his wife 
both died in 1891. They were consistent 
Old-School Presbyterians, he being an elder 
for many years. Politically he was a Con 
servative. They were the parents of twelve 
children : Donald, born in Middlesex County 
in 1835, married and settled near Park Hill, 
where he owns a fine farm ; Susan, born in 
1837, is the wife of Alexander McDonald, 
who resides on a farm at Arkona : Mary, 
born in 1839, married James Crnickshank, 
and removed to Nebraska, where she died in 
1897; Catherine, born in 1841, married 
Peter Cruickshank, who settled in East 
Williams, Middlesex County, where he died, 
(she died in Sombra) ; Jennett, born in 1843, 
married John Levi, of East Williams; 
Nancy, born in 1846, married John Ped- 
den, and lives in Adelaide, Middlesex 
County; Archie, born in 1856, married 
Mary Webster, of Dawn, and they reside on 
liis farm on the 5th Concession ; John was 
the seventh in the family ; James, born in 
1858. is married and lives on the old home 
stead in the County of Middlesex; Alexan 
der, born in 1860, married and settled on a 
part of his father s old homestead in East 
Williams; the others died young. 

John McLachlen s education was limited 
to the public schools, which he attended 
while working on the farm. He remained 
at home until his twenty-first year, when he 
started out in life on his own account, rent 
ing the homestead for three years, and later 
a farm in Adelaide for one year. Locating 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



in Dawn in 1875, he purchased 150 acres of 
land, upon which he first built a little log 
cabin, 12 by 14, in which he and his family 
lived until he built his present home, in which 
he has since lived. On May 21, 1872, Mr. 
McLachlen married Miss Annie Melville, 
born in the County of Middlesex, in 1855, 
daughter of Peter and Belle Melville, a pio 
neer family who came from Scotland. To 
Mr. and Mrs. McLachlen have been born 
five children: (i) John A., born in 1873, 
resides on the farm adjoining his father on 
the 4th Concession ; he married Miss Sarah 
Sutherland, and has three children, Annie 
C., Mary B. and Nelson. (2) Mary, born in 
1875, is the wife of Alfred Medd, of Dawn, 
and has one son, M. Edward. (3) Lau 
rence, born in 1878, is at home. (4) Cather 
ine was born in 1889. (5) William was born 

in 1897. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. McLachlen 
are members of tire Presbyterian Church, 
he being an elder for many years. Politi 
cally a Conservative, he was elected to the 
council two years, and is a school trustee and 
a constable. While engaged in the mercan 
tile business Mr. McLachlen was postmas 
ter, having the Bentpath postoffice in the 
store. 

HENRY POWELL, a leading citizen 
of Euphemia township, Lambton County, 
whose stock farm of 200 acres is located in 
Concession 10, Lots 17 and 18, was born 
there Oct. 4, 1852, son of John and Jane 
(Brownlee) Powell. 

John Powell was born in County Tip- 
perary, Ireland, Jan. 14, 1806, and his wife 
was born in County Cavan, Ireland, Oct. 10, 
1810. He came to Canada with his parents 
when nine years of age, the family settling 
at Ottawa, where the parents took up farm 
ing. In 1829 John and his brother Thomas 
came to Lambton County and took up ad 
joining tracts, each obtaining 100 acres, to 
reach which they were obliged to chop their 
way. Several years later Thomas sold his 
land, removing to Southampton, Out, 
where he farmed until his death. John 



Powell in time increased his possessions to 
200 acres, now owned by his son Henry, 
with whom he lived during his later years, 
after retiring. 

Mr. and Mrs. Powell were married at 
the old Brownlee homestead in Euphemia 
township and started life together in a little 
log cabin on the present farm. Later he 
built a larger and better cabin of hewed logs 
in which the family lived until within a few 
years of his death, when he resided in his 
fine brick house with our subject and where 
he died Oct. 25, 1890, aged eighty-four 
years. His wife passed away Feb. 16, 1893, 
in her eighty-third year. She was respected 
and beloved by her family and a wide circle 
of acquaintances. They were both active 
in founding and extending the work of the 
Church in England in this locality, and Mr. 
Powell was an earnest Bible student. He 
was an active Conservative and was prom 
inent in municipal affairs. He served as a 
soldier during the Rebellion of 1837-38. In 
his early days he was connected with the 
Orangemen s organization. He was un 
usually well thought of by all, being a hard 
worker, industrious, with no bad habits, us 
ing neither tobacco nor intoxicants. 

John Powell and his wife had children 
as follows: Jane, born in 1838, is the wife 
of David Gage, who resides in Mosa, Mid 
dlesex County; John, born in 1840, one of 
the prosperous farmers of Euphemia town 
ship, married Mary Morehouse, and has 
children, John H., Anna, Letitia, Minnie 
and Frederick; William, born in 1841, men 
tioned elsewhere, resides in Brooke town 
ship; Mary, born in 1844, is the widow of 
William Robinson, of Newbury, Middlesex 
County, Ont., who left five children, John 
H., William F., Mina, Margaret M. and 
Jane A., the last named deceased ; Margaret, 
born in 1847, is the wife of Robert Me- 
Cutchin, a farmer in Middlesex County, 
whose children are Mary J. (wife of Wil 
son Hobbs), Ernest and Lena (a student in 
Toronto University) ; Frank, born in 1849, 
residing in Brooke township, near his 
brother William, married Mary Andrews, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 753 

EmeSt Powe " is one of the wardens. Politically 

r 

a number of years He became the owner well as in pnvate iff s "m rctS 

ol the :tarm during h,s father s lifetime. In and esteemed. Mr and Mrs Powe hav 
1890 he built the fine brick residence on the one daughter, Pauline L bo r Tuv T 

homestead, and in 1892 erected the large 1901 
bank barn, one of the largest stock barns in 

the section. He has been particularly sue- MrTT , T 

cesstul in handling stock and is known all f W1LLIA M SIMPSON, SR., a retired 

over the township as one of the best-in- :r and one of the most hi ghly respected 

formed men on this subject. Since 1804 he Enmskillen township, Lambton 

has not engaged in grain farming giving *J re ^ ldin & on Lot 27, Concession 4, 

the greater part of his time to buying and p 3S , 5" Sept * 9 l8 3 6 > in Cumberland, 

selling stock. During the summer seasons f" g , nd . and comes of Scotch descent, 

his fields have many herds of fine cattle be- parents were born in Cumbe 

ing prepared for the market. He has also T^ VCry " ear the Scottl sri line. They 

dealt in real estate and is a capable well- * J " and Wilhell na (Armstrong) 
balanced business man. 

Mr. Powell was married Tan ^o 1807 - J mpson, father of William, was 

in Forest, Ont, to Miss Eliza Cowan who I J , h " a " d Elizabet h (Armstrong) 

was born in Brooke township, the estimable W% d " Cumberl and County, 

daughter of Alexander and Martha Km" ) ? , f ^^ f whom had foll ^ the 

Cowan, pioneers. Mr. Cowan died at For- 

est, June 4, 1900, leaving a widow and one arrn l a f . 



, , ere 

Mrs. Powell s brother, E. J. Cowan is man 
ager and shipper for a New York firm at 
Yokohama Japan; he married a Canadian 
lady and they have three children, Marion 
Hayden and Helen, who seem to thrivt 
the Orient. W. J. Cowan, Mrs. Powel " 
eldest brother, died in Manitoba lea , 

five children, Eva, AtooSte FS3f T 
Cynthia and Harold. H. K. Cowan ted t ended 
young manhood, at Watford. Martha tie 



g , ^ ? reater part of 
a ld er in the B "tish 
Waterlo - Of his 



, , an one arrn af . 

daughter, Serena, who still reside there 5 children f " O Wat u erlo - Of his 

Mrs. Powell s brother, E. J. Cowan is man chiklren two sons, John and Robert, 

ager and shipper for a New York firm at ^ f ? na , da , but the others ^ in the 

Yokohama Japan; he married a *"* ^^ ^ at P rt 



Tn 
l an l i 

nf ve^ i 

; 



" 



c- 

Sim P son left his native 

Tl ^ fr m a Sail - 
had been six weeks and 
St rmy waters of ^ At- 
SimpS " as 
" A "^ and 



^ 



wife of Dr. R. K nde f Mil nn r 

Toronto, and they have one daughter, Mar- 

Mrs. Powell was educated in the Wat 
ford public schools and is an intelhgent wo 
man, much interested in church work both 
she and her husband being devoted members 
of the Church of England in Bothwel, 



m 






r hey reached London > Ont. 

f r tW > ears but 
P1 ym pton town- 

reached in Oc tober, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



754 

with the assistance of his sons transformed 
it from its wild state into a good farm and 
comfortable home. Here his wife died, Dec. 
14, 1888, aged seventy-three years, and he 
died March 11, 1901, at the age of ninety- 
three years. They were consistent members 
of the Presbyterian Church, he being an 
elder in the Camlachie Church in Plympton 
township for many years. In politics he was 
a stanch Reformer and for a long period 
was collector of taxes for Plympton. 

These old, prominent and respected peo 
ple of Plympton were blessed in basket and 
in store. They were the parents of ten chil 
dren : (i) John, the eldest, born in England, 
is one of the successful farmers of Plympton 
township, is married and has a family. (2) 
William is the subject of this sketch. (3) 
Jennie died in girlhood, in England. (4) 
Elizabeth, born in 1839, is the wife of Wal 
ter Jardine, of Concession 9, Plympton, and 
has a large family. (5) James, born in 1841, 
married Margaret H. Duff, of Plympton, 
where he died in 1888, survived by his 
widow and three children, John, Jennie and 
Wilhelmina, who live on Concession 5, En- 
niskillen. (6) Maggie, born in 1842, is the 
widow of Alexander Gillatly, of Wyoming, 
and has two daughters, Wilhelmina and Bes 
sie. (7) Jane, born in 1844, married Jo 
seph Williamson, of Warwick, and at her 
death, left a large family, living in Lamb- 
ton County. (8) Joseph, born in 1846, is 
unmarried, and lives on the old homestead 
in Plympton. (9) Adam, born in 1852, in 
Middlesex County, Ont., was reared in 
Lambton County, where he married Mar 
garet Shea, of Plympton, and they reside on 
the old homestead and have one son, John 
A. (10) Robert, who was born in Plympton, 
married Rachel Shea and they reside on a 
part of the old homestead and have one 
daughter, Edna Shea. 

William Simpson was educated in the 
common schools of his own country, and 
after coming to Canada, assisted his father 
on the homestead farm until he started out 
for himself. 

On April 21, 1857, Mr. Simpson mar 
ried Rachel Scott, born in Lanark County, 



Ont., in April, 1836, a daughter of John and 
Rachel (Riddell) Scott. The Scott family 
is an old pioneer one of Plympton township. 
The parents both were born in Roxburgh 
shire, Scotland, and came to Canada in 
youth, were married at Montreal, and until 
1843, lived in various sections, wherever 
Mr. Scott found work at his trade. In that 
year they settled on Concession 7, Plympton 
township, and he was the first blacksmiith 
there. He continued to work at his trade 
and to operate his farm as long as his active 
life continued, dying on his own property in 
1888, preceded by his wife, in 1882. Mr. 
Scott was one of the founders of the Pres 
byterian Church in Plympton, and served as 
a deacon for many years. Politically he was 
a Reformer, but never aspired to office. Of 
his eight children, three survive, namely 
James, born in 1838, in Lanark County, who 
resides on the lake shore in Plympton town 
ship, and has a family ; George, born in 
Plympton, who resides on the old home 
stead there, married Annie McKinley an3 
has five children ; and Rachel, Mrs. Simpson. 
Those deceased are : Thomas ; Robert ; John, 
who died at Petrolia ; William, who married 
and moved to Michigan, where he died in 
1898, leaving a widow and two children; 
Elizabeth, deceased wife of James Brown, 
of Moore township. 

William Simpson and wife first settled 
on Concession 8, Plympton township, where 
he improved a farm from its state of nature, 
and on which he lived for twenty-seven 
years, while his family were growing 
up. In 1883 he sold his Plympton 
farm and purchased his present one, which 
contains 200 acres. This farm also was in 
its primeval state when Mr. Simpson came 
to it, and all the cultivation and improving 
has been done under his management. He 
continued to buy land so that his sons might 
settle around him, and now owns 600 acres 
in Enniskillen township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have had these 
children born to them. ( i ) Agnes, deceased, 
was born in 1858, married William Watson, 
who resides on Concession 12. in Enniskil 
len, and had four children, Rachel, Mary, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



755 



James and Minnie. (2) John, born in 1860, 
married Ellen Stett of Forest, is a farmer of 
Enniskillen and has three children, Ella, 
William and Alice. (3) William, born in 
1862 married Ruth Peacock, of Lambton 
County and they moved to Sault Ste. Marie, 
where he died in March, 1902, leaving a 
widow and three children, Mabel, Orville 
and Cleveland. (4) Thomas, born in 1864, 
married Annie Parks, of Enniskillen, and 
they have a home near his father and have 
six children, William, Jane, Hugh, Edith, 
Tames and Mabel. (5) James, born in 1866, 
died in 1890, a promising young man. (6) 
Robert, born in 1869, married Mabel Mc- 
Mann, of Enniskillen, where they reside on 
Concession 4. (7) George, born in 1871, 
married Emily Peacock, of Enniskillen, 
where they reside on Concession 4, and have 
three children, Cecil J., Nellie and William 
R. (8) Mina, born in 1873, was married in 
1900 to John Peacock, now deceased. They 
settled as farmers in Enniskillen and his 
death was felt as a calamity by the whole 
community. His young widow resides at 
her parents home, with her one little daugh 
ter. Alma R. (9) Adam, born in 1875. mar 
ried Sarah Donald, of OiTSprings, and they 
reside on his farm on Concession 2, Ennis 
killen. and have two children. Rachel and 
Donald. (10) Laird, born in 1878, married 
Bella Simpson, of Enniskillen, and they re 
side on a part of the old homestead and have 
one daughter, Bessie B. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are 
Presbyterians. Both he and his son John 
are elders of the Oil City Presbyterian 
Church. Politically he has always been iden 
tified with the old Reform party, and has 
been treasurer and trustee of his township 
for nine years. 

A recapitulation of the lives of Mr. 
Simpson and his family may be both inter 
esting and profitable. Mr. Simpson started 
out a poor young man and his success illus 
trates what may be accomplished through in 
dustry and honesty. For over forty years 
he has been connected closely with the pro 
gress and development of Plympton and En 
niskillen townships and has proved himself a 



most useful citizen in the land of his adop 
tion. The difficulties and hardships which 
attended the life of our pioneer settlers were 
experienced to the full by these good people, 
who through every trial displayed that cour 
age and fortitude which loyal Canadians 
have ever admired in the character of their 
forefathers. 

Mr. Simpson has always been one of 
Enniskillen s most public spirited citizens 
and has actively promoted every measure 
which promised to benefit the community 
in which he has lived so long and honor 
ably. He is loved and esteemed by all who 
know him for his kindly disposition and up 
right character. He is known far and wide 
as "Honest William" and deserves to be 
looked on as one of the grand old men of the 
locality. His estimable wife, like her hus 
band, is noted for her Christian virtues and 
she, too, has won a place in the affections of 
all who know her. In times of neighbor 
hood sickness or trouble, she is always ready 
to do her part in alleviating distress, while 
her kindness and hospitality make even the 
stranger feel welcome. They have reared a 
noble family who delight to minister to them 
in their declining years. 

JOHN BARWISE, a prominent farmer 
and public spirited citizen of Enniskillen 
township, is a Canadian by birth, from York 
County, born just north of Toronto, Feb. 
12, 1853, the son of Thomas and Diana 
(Barnes) Barwise, a pioneer family of 
Lambton County. 

The maternal grandparents were John 
and Jane Barnes, who were of English birth. 
They came to Canada and settled in York 
County, where Mrs. Barwise was born in 
1 827, and where she was reared and educated. 
The paternal grandparents, John and Eliza 
beth Barwise, lived and died in England. 
They left two sons, Thomas and John. The 
latter, after coming to the New W r orld, was a 
sailor on the lakes, with his home at Detroit. 
There he died, leaving two children, both 
residents of the L nited States. Thomas 
Barwise, father of John, was born in Cum 
berland County, England, in 1824, and re- 



7^6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ceived a fair education before leaving that 
country. After coming to Canada, he spent 
some years in York County, was married 
there and spent his first five or six years of 
married life on a farm there, which he 
rented. In 1857 he removed to Enniskillen 
township and took a farm on the line of Con 
cession 7, Moore township. This he cleared 
and developed, living at first in a log house. 
Later he built the frame house in which he 
was living at the time of his death in 1889. 
His wife passed away there in October, 
1898. They were active members of the 
Methodist Church and helped to found Zion 
Church in Moore township. Politically Mr. 
Barwise was a Conservative and very prom 
inent in local affairs. He was the first coun 
cilman chosen from his district and served 
for fourteen years. He was one of the suc 
cessful men of the region, influential in pub 
lic life and fortunate in his financial opera 
tions. At the time of his death he owned 
400 acres of land in the county. 

Eight children were born to Thomas 
and Diana Barwise : ( i ) William, born in 
York County, in 1850, married Miss Char 
lotte Sherman, of Petrolia. He is engaged 
in the railroad business, resides in Califor 
nia and has a family. (2) John was the sec 
ond son. (3) Sarah J., 1856, is the wife of 
William Hall, a farmer on Concession 12, 
Enniskillen township, and has two children, 
Joseph and Clara. (4) Jonathan, born in 
Enniskillen township in 1858, married Miss 
Jennie Hick, of Moore township. Since 
1900 they have lived in Buffalo, New York, 
where he has a vineyard. (5) Albert, 1860, 
received a high school education and later 
married Miss Martha Holmes, daughter of 
Andrew Holmes, of Moore. They live on a 
part of his father s homestead, where he has 
added buildings and made many improve 
ments. They have a family of two children, 
Lila C. and Albert E. (6 ) Mary, 1863, is 
the wife of Thomas Wilson, who lives on the 
4th Line in Enniskillen. Their four chil 
dren are named Elizabeth, Thomas, Wilford 
and Stella. (7) Lillie, 1865, married Peter 
Shaw, a contractor and builder in Brigden, 
Moore township, and has three children, 



Edna, Rea and Earl G. (8) Robert, 1868, 
is unmarried and remains at home. 

John Barwise grew up in Enniskillen 
township, attending the district schools, and 
lived at home till his marriage, in January, 
1879, to Miss Annie Hall, daughter of Jo 
seph and Ruth (Hodgins) Hall, prominent 
pioneers in the township. Miss Hall had 
also been sent to the Enniskillen schools aud 
received a good education. After their 
marriage the young people started life on 
the farm which has been their permanent 
home. Originally bush land, it has been 
cleared and developed into a fine farm and 
there is a handsome residence standing upon 
it. In 1899 Mr. Barwise bought an addi 
tional fifty acres adjoining, on which com 
modious buildings have also been erected. 
Mr. and Mrs. Barwise have only one child, a 
son, Thomas J., born in December, 1882, 
and still living with them at the homestead. 
The parents are members and liberal sup 
porters of the Methodist Church. Mr. Bar- 
wise is an intelligent and public-spirited cit 
izen who is always ready to promote any 
measure for the improvement of the com 
munity, is much interested in educational 
questions and has served as a trustee of the 
schools for three years. Politically he is a 
Conservative. 

Both Mr. Barwise and his wife are very 
popular through the community for their 
kindly disposition and many helpful deeds, 
while their upright conduct in every situation 
has secured them unstinted respect. 

GEORGE BELL. William Bell, the 
father of George, w : as born in 1828, in Cum 
berland, England, and came to Canada when 
eighteen years of age. He settled in On 
tario County, where he made a permanent 
home, and commenced farming. William 
Bell married Miss Jane Graham, born in 
Cumberland, in 1838, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Willis) Graham, who came from 
England and settled in Ontario County, 
making their homes in Pickering township, 
where they spent their entire lives. William 
Bell died there in March, 1876, while Mrs. 
Bell survived until Aug. 29, 1896. Re- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



757 



ligiously these good people \vere members 
of the Church of England, while in politics 
Mr. Bell was a Conservative. They were 
the parents of the following children : ( i ) 
George. (2) William, bom in Ontario 
County in 1863, is a farmer; he married 
a Miss Alvina Orris, of Whitby township, 
and has children, Clara and Susan. (3) 
Phyllis, born in 1865, married Charles A. 
Lynn, a business man of Waterloo, Ontario 
County, and has children. Earl, Alfred, 
James, Nellie, Verne and Keith. (4) Archie, 
born in 1868, was reared in Ontario County, 
then removed to Lambton County, where 
he purchased a farm on Concession 6, in 
Brooke township, and here he now resides; 
he married Miss Jane Adair, of Brooke, and 
they have three children, George, Leland 
and Clara. (5) Mary, born in 1870, mar 
ried John Lynn, who settled in Ontario 
County, and at her death she left the follow 
ing children, Mabel. Walter, Louella, Al 
berta, George. Willie and Winnie. (6) 
Thomas born in 1872, is now a resident of 
Prince Albert, Northwest Territory, where 
he has a ranch. (7) Jennie, born in 1876, 
married Perry Johnston, a business man of 
Whitby township. 

George Bell, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Ontario County, thirty miles 
east of Toronto, April 17, 1861, and grew 
to manhood in Pickering township, where 
he received a district school education. He 
was fifteen years old when his father died, 
leaving him the care of the farm and the 
family to raise, and for a number of years 
he lived on the old homestead. In Decem 
ber. 1883, Mr. Bell married Miss Agnes 
Watson, born June 30. 1859, in Whitby 
township, County of Ontario, daughter of 
Thomas and Barbara (Salmon) Watson, 
one of Ontario s old pioneer families. 
Thomas Watson was born in Lanarkshire, 
Scotland, and his wife were born near Glas 
gow, daughter of Thomas Salmon, who 
died in Scotland. Mr. Watson was mar 
ried in Scotland, and, coming to Canada in 
1850, settled in Ontario County, where he 
followed lumbering and farming. He died 
in 1878, and his wife passed away in 1862. 



They were the parents of these children : 
Robena, who married George Thompson, of 
Manitoba; Elizabeth D., bora in Scotland, 
who married Andrew Young, and settled in 
Dufferin, Ontario; Mary, born in Scotland, 
who wedded the late J. S. Thompson, of 
Whitby township, and has children, John L., 
Barbara L., James S. and Joseph B. ; Will 
iam, born in Scotland, who married Emma 
Barnet, of Whitby township, where he is a 
retired farmer; Thomas, born in Scotland, 
who now resides in Peel County, and who 
married Miss Kate Russell, of Dufferin, 
Ont, and has children, Russel, Bertram, Ce 
celia and Helen; James, born in Scotland, 
and no\v a retired oil producer of Toronto, 
who married Miss Maggie Ross, of Dundee,, 
Scotland; John, born in Ontario County, 
and now residing in Oil Springs, who 
married Miss Bella Lemon, of Ontario 
County, and has children: Felice, Ernest, 
Manley and Bertram ; Bertram, born in On 
tario County, who left home when a young 
man, and has never since been heard of, but 
is supposed to be in the States; and Agnes, 
reared and educated in Ontario County, who 
is now the wife of Mr. Bell. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bell settled at Whitby, 
for one year after marriage, and then re 
moved to Oil Springs. In the spring of 
1886 Mr. Bell purchased real estate in Oil 
Springs, and worked for J. H. Fairbank, 
in the oil business. In 1888 he became fore 
man for Mr. Fairbank in his land interests 
in Brooke township, where he owns r,ooo 
acres of land. Mr. Bell cleared ten farms 
from this land, and erected fencing and 
buildings. He was also overseer in the 
work on the sawmill, during his fifteen years 
superintendency. 

In 1900 Mr. Bell purchased 200 acres 
of this land, and erected a large, brick house, 
large barns and good, substantial outbuild 
ings, and has been actively engaged in 
farming for himself since the year 1904. To 
Mr. Bell and his wife the following chil 
dren have been born : Jennie W.. born in 
Whitby township, in 1884. educated in the 
Alvinston high school, and now holds a po 
sition in the Thomas Williams Home, an old 



758 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



people s institution of St. Thomas; Bessie, 
born in Brooke township, in 1888, is a stu 
dent in the Watford high school ; and Will 
iam S., born in 1892, in Brooke township, 
is a student in the public schools. Relig 
iously the family are members of the Pres 
byterian Church. Politically Mr. Bell is a 
Reformer, and although never aspiring to 
office, he has consented to serve as school 
trustee. 

It is with feelings of justifiable pride 
that Mr. Bell looks back over his eighteen 
years connection with Mr. Fairbank s in 
terests. During all these years he has en 
joyed the esteem and confidence of his em 
ployer, and the mutual respect they have en 
tertained for each other has made their 
relations both pleasant and profitable. 

THOMAS FAMILY. Among the old 
and honored pioneer families of Lambton 
County, may be numbered that of Thomas, 
which for nearly three-quarters of a century 
has been identified with the progress and de 
velopment of Warwick township. 

When the first of the Thomas family 
settled in Warwick township, there was no 
evidence of civilization in that section, no 
roads or bridges, no churches or schools, and 
nothing to guide the pioneer but Indian 
trails, surrounded in those clays, as they 
were, by wolves, bears and other wild beasts. 
The nearest market was Sarnia to the west, 
or London to the east, and the life of the 
pioneer was a difficult and dangerous one. 
It took men of the stamp of the sturdy Eng 
lish, Welsh, Scotch and Irish to convert a 
wilderness into fine farm land, and it may 
also be said that this same stock brought edu 
cation and religion into this region, once the 
home of the savage. Among these brave 
and persevering people the members of the 
Thomas family did their full share. The 
original pioneers of this family have long 
since gone to their reward, but their children 
and grandchildren are carrying on the good 
work in perpetuating that untarnished name, 
which was. and still is noted for honesty, in 
dustry and Christianity. 

John and Enoch Thomas, brothers, were 



the founders of the family in this section. 
They were natives of Wales, born in Cardi 
ganshire, one of the maritime counties of 
South Wales. John Thomas s birth occurred 
in 1809, and he grew to manhood in his na 
tive place, learning the trade of cloth dress 
ing. His brother Enoch was married there 
to Jane Rees, and in 1832 John Thomas, 
and Enoch Thomas and his wife and family 
left their native land for the West, there to 
make their, future home. Sailing from Liver 
pool on a sailing vessel they reached New 
York after many weeks, where a young 
neighboring girl, Elizabeth Rees, who had 
made the passage with the Thomas family, 
and who was to become the wife of John 
Thomas, found employment, while the rest 
of the party made their way West, sailing 
up the Hudson river to Albany, thence to 
Buffalo by canal and down Lake Erie. They 
then made their way as best they could to 
what is now Warwick township, finding 
themselves to be among the first white set 
tlers there. They located on Lot 17, 3d Con 
cession, taking 100 acres of land each. Here 
John Thomas settled down to make his fu 
ture home. He was the first white man to 
chop a stick north of what is now the Egre- 
mont road, and he made his home with his 
brother Enoch, both working together in 
clearing up their land. The Thomas broth 
ers had much to discourage them in those 
early days, there being no roads nor bridges ; 
they were compelled to walk many miles 
along blazed trails; and to carry on their 
backs through wood and streams flour and 
other necessities which were required by their 
families. By dint of hard work John Thomas 
succeeded in making somewhat of a clearing 
on his farm, and in the center of this he 
erected a log cabin and stable. Here he re 
mained for seven years, and he then went to 
New York to claim his wife, the younger 
sister of his brother s wife, whom he had not 
seen since leaving New York. John Thomas 
and Elizabeth Rees were married in New 
York in 1839. an( l immediately started for 
their new home in the wilderness, sailing 
up the Hudson river to Albany, thence by 
canal to Buffalo, down Lake Erie to Detroit, 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



759 



up the St. Clair river to Sarnia, making part 
of the journey across the ice on foot, drag 
ging the boat with them. At Sarnia the 
young bride was compelled to get a pair of 
strong boots to enable her to walk to their 
home in the woods. Leaving Sarnia on a 
Friday morning they started on their long 
journey afoot through the woods, and after 
hours of weary walking reached a little log 
hut in the w y oods, where Mrs. Thomas was 
compelled to give up, being unaccustomed to 
the rough, heavy shoes and the hard, frozen 
paths. In the hut, which was in Plympton 
township, they found some children, whose 
parents w r ere out in the woods chopping, and 
here Mrs. Thomas was made as comfortable 
as was possible, but was compelled to go 
without any food except some boiled wheat, 
which she thought had been cooked for the 
swine. The little hut consisted of one room, 
and here the bride of but a few weeks was 
compelled to stay, while her husband made 
his way to Warwick township to procure a 
horse, upon which Mrs. Thomas rode to her 
new home. Here she found a party, who 
in honor of her safe arrival had arranged a 
feast and dance, in which Airs. Thomas re 
fused to participate, the day being Sabbath 
but went to her humble log home. 

The young couple settled down to farm 
ing, but after several years Mr. Thomas sold 
his 100 acres of land and purchased 200 
acres on the east half of Section 19, which 
land was all bush. This he cleared, with the 
assistance of his growing sons, and as time 
went on he added to his original purchase, 
at the time of his death the family owning 
650 acres of land, all of which was under 
cultivation. He built a fine home and barns 
and made great improvements on his farm. 
Mr. Thomas took great interest in fruit cul 
ture, especially in the growing of apples, 
and while in his orchard, June 14, 1867, he 
climbed an apple tree to take off caterpillars, 
and fell, striking on his head and injuring 
his spine, thereby losing the use of his legs 
and hands, being for fourteen years unable 
to help himself in any way. During his 
years of suffering he developed his mental 
faculties, becoming a great reader and noted 



for his argumentative qualities, possess 
ing a strong will and a belief that what he 
thought was right. For these fourteen years 
his ever faithful wife ministered to him 
with all kindness and loving devotion. Death 
called him May 21, 1881, at the age of sev 
enty-two years, and he was laid to rest in 
Bethel cemetery. He had been a member of 
the Congregational Church, having been an 
organizer of the Zion Church. Politically 
he was a stanch Reformer, but never sought 
office. During the William Lyon Macken 
zie Rebellion of 1837-1838 he played a sol 
dier s part in the suppression of the uprising. 
Mr. Thomas took a great interest in the 
schools of the township and was a director 
on the school board. Mr. Thomas was a 
very strong temperance man, and always 
lived up to what he preached in this regard. 

Mrs. Thomas, who had been the partner 
in all of his trials and sorrows for forty-two 
years, followed him to the grave just five 
years after his death, May 23, 1886, and was 
laid to rest beside him in the Bethel ceme 
tery. She was also a member of the Con 
gregational Church, and was a kind and lov 
ing mother and a good Christian woman. 
These children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
John Thomas: William, born Sept. 21, 
1840, died Sept. 21, 1841; Annie, born 
March, 1842, died July 20, 1853; 
John, born Dec. 4, 1843, is a banker 
at Inwood, County of Lambton, mar 
ried Lucy Smith; Mary, born May n, 1845, 
married Duncan McNabb, of Bosanquet 
township; Elizabeth, born Dec. 23, 1846; 
Joshua, born July 6, 1848. now conducting 
a banking business at Inwood, married 
(first) Jullia Ann Stoner, (second) Mary 
AlcFarline and (third) Alice Eckels; Ra 
chel, born June 13, 1850, married George 
Logan, of Bosanquet township ; Sarah Jane, 
(>< Tn March 10, 1853, married Robert Mc- 
Kenzie, of Warwick township ; and Enoch W. 

ENOCH W. THOMAS was born Jan. i, 
1856, and received his education in the com 
mon schools. He worked at home with his 
father until he was twenty-seven years old, 
when he took charge of his present farm of 
200 acres, 100 of which were given him by 



760 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



his father. The tract was bush land on the 
west half of Lot 16, Concession 5, and he 
settled down to make a home for himself, 
erecting, in 1882, a fine brick dwelling 
house. Since then he has added fifty acres 
to his farm, having altogether 250 acres, all 
of which is under cultivation. Here Mr. 
Thomas has carried on general farming and 
stock and cattle raising and feeding, and has 
also engaged in dairying. He is noted for 
his industry and honesty, and is a good citi 
zen. He has been trustee of the School Sec 
tion No. 4, for twelve years. He is a mem 
ber of the East Lambton Farmers Institute, 
and has always taken an active interest in 
agricultural matters. He is domestic and 
temperate in his habits, and is a representa 
tive man of his township. 

Mr. Thomas was married in Warwick 
township, Jan. i, 1884, to Margaret Lee, the 
daughter of T. D. Lee, of Watford, and to 
this union two children were born : Mer- 
vin Rees, born Oct. 24, 1882, educated and 
reared at Watford, resides on the home 
stead; and William McLean, born in July, 
1887. attended high school at Watford. 
Mrs. Thomas died June n, 1888, from the 
effects of a cold, and was buried at Bethel 
cemetery. 

GEORGE DRESSEY, one of the re 
spected retired citizens of Oil Springs, 
Lambton County, who has been identified 
with the interests of this section since 1885, 
is a native of the United States, and is an 
honored member of that organization known 
all over America, the Grand Army of the 
Republic. 

Mr. Dressey was born Sept. 17, 1833, at 
Breadport, Vermont, a son of Joseph and 
Catherine Griswold, but assumed the name 
of his adopted father in later years. The fa 
ther of Mr: Dressey was born in England 
and after he emigrated and settled in Ver 
mont, he married and resided there until he 
went as a soldier in the Indian war in Flor 
ida, and he was in the service fourteen years. 
As all trace of him was finally lost, it is sup 
posed that he was killed in some engagement 
and the record of his death mislaid. In 1850 



Mrs. Catherine Griswold left Vermont and 
accompanied the family of Joseph Griswold, 
her father-in-law, to Toledo, Ohio, and this 
grandfather later went to Detroit, Michigan, 
where he died. 

Mrs. Griswold had three children : Jo 
seph, who married, died in Monroe County, 
Michigan, in 1857, leaving three daughters 
and one son, Edward, who was killed at the 
battle of the Wilderness, while serving in 
the Civil war in the States, as a member of 
the 1 7th Michigan regiment; Daniel, the 
youngest, born in 1835 m Vermont, enlisted 
in a Michigan regiment and served until 
wounded at Chickamauga, when he was dis 
charged and is now a resident of Toledo, 
Ohio, and has six children, Daniel, Charles, 
William, Winnifred, Laura and Gertrude. 

George Dressey was the second son of his 
parents. After his father had enlisted for 
the Indian war, he was adopted by Reuben 
Dressey, of Vermont, and he remained in 
the home of Mr. Dressey and obtained his 
education, until his mother removed to To 
ledo in 1850, when he accompanied her, re 
taining the name of his adopted father. He 
found employment on the farms adjacent to 
the city and in factories there, where he 
kept busy until the opening of the Civil war. 
In answer to the first call for volunteers, he 
enlisted in a Virginia regiment, known as 
the "Old Virginia Murderers," on account 
of its good marksmanship. 

Mr. Dressey served through his first 
three months in Virginia, commanded by 
Col. Steadman, of Toledo, and took part in 
the battle at Phillipi. In September, 1861, 
he re-enlisted, in the 4th Michigan Inf., 
under Col. D. A. Woodbury, of Monroe 
County, Michigan, and served in the army 
of the Potomac through three years. He 
participated in many of the most serious 
battles of the war, including: Carricksford; 
Mechanicsville; seven days at the Wilder 
ness; Malvern Hill, where the gallant col 
onel of the regiment was killed ; Harrison s 
Landing ; Antietam ; was with General 
Burnside s forces at Fredericksburg; the 
second battle of Mechanicsville; and three 
days with General Meade at Gettysburg. His 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



761 



final battle before the expiration of his term 
of enlistment was the last battle of the Wild 
erness. Tired out with such strenuous serv 
ice, the brave soldier returned to Michigan 
in 1864, but soon after we find him again in 
the army, a veteran, in the 7th light artil 
lery, in which he continued to serve until the 
close of the war. This happy event found 
the regiment at New Orleans, and before his 
discharge in August, 1865, Mr. Dressey 
participated in the battle at Mobile, Ala 
bama. Remarkable as it is, he survived the 
dangers of this long service and escaped 
much of the general sickness, so that he was 
almost never out of the ranks on the day of 
battle. He well deserves the pension ac 
corded him by his own grateful country. 

After the end of hostilities and the 
settling of the country once more to peaceful 
pursuits, Mr. Dressey learned the trade of a 
carpenter and millwright, at which he 
worked in Michigan, and also engaged at 
lumbering at Muskegon Bay and other 
points. Ere long he had learned another 
self supporting trade, that of expert sawyer. 
In 1885 he came to Canada, in the interest 
of a lumbering firm known as the Chamber- 
lin Mills Company, of Brigden, Lambton 
County, and he continued for three years 
with this firm. Subsequently he came to Oil 
Springs where he followed sawing until 
1887. He owns a home there, as well as 
real estate in Michigan. 

In 1887 Mr. Dressey married Mrs. Ellen 
Barnes, born in 1842, near Niagara Falls, a 
daughter of Abram and Ellen (Gray) 
Whistler. They came to Canada from Penn 
sylvania and settled at Chippawa, near Ni 
agara, where Mr. Whistler died Aug. 9, 
1903. His widow still resides on their old 
farm in Welland County. There Mrs. 
Dressey grew to young womanhood and 
married George Barnes, a blacksmith of St. 
Catharines. He was born in England and 
came to Oil Springs in 1861, where he fol 
lowed his trade for many years and also en 
gaged in a hotel business before his death, 
in August. 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes 
had children as follows : John, a hotel 
keeper at Oil Springs ; Hannah ; George, of 



Oil Springs, who married Annie Campbell, 
of Petrolia; Abram, of Oil Springs; Sam 
uel, Archie, Mary and Thomas, all of the 
same place. The family belongs to the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Dressey was always affiliated with" 
the Republican party in the United States 
and has supported the Conservative party 
in Canada. He values his membership in 
Butterworth Post, No. 9, G. A. R., at Cold- 
water, Michigan, where he is held in honor 
by his comrades. 

Few private soldiers endured more of 
the real hardships of war than did Mr. 
Dressey in defending principles he believed 
to be right. His Grand Army connection re 
calls the events of many a bloody field and 
deed of valor and heroism. While admir 
ing the country of his adoption, and having 
a warm heart for the many friends he has 
found across the border, he can not help a 
patriotic pride in the land of his birth, and 
all the more so, because of his faithful, loyal 
service to her in the time of her greatest 
need. 

THOMAS KENNY, for the past 
twenty years a wholesale grocery dealer of 
Sarnia, is one of the foremost business men 
of that place. He is president of the Sarnia 
Gas & Electric Light Co.. holds the same 
office in a Sarnia road company, and 
is a leading member of the Board of Trade. 
Possessed of marked executive ability, he 
manages his various enterprises with an ease 
that is a marvel to many of his friends. 

Mr. Kenny comes of a race of hard 
workers and efficient business men. His 
grandfather, William Kenny, was of Irish 
extraction, and a man of a large influence. 
He was born in Ireland and there spent his 
entire life. By his marriage there were 
four children : John, Thomas, Randal and 
Maria. 

Thomas Kenny, father of the Thomas 
whose name heads this sketch, was a busi 
ness man of some prominence in Ireland, his 
native land. During his early manhood he 
married Jane Meyler, who was born in Ire 
land* and of this union there were six chiK 



762 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



dren: William, deceased; Amelia, deceased; 
Jane, deceased wife of James Bell ; Dor 
othea, now residing in Sarnia ; Thomas 
mentioned below ; and Randal, a retail 
grocery dealer in Sarnia. Inherent ability 
and a large capacity for pushing ahead 
crowned Mr. Kenny s efforts with success. 
He died in Ireland. 

Thomas Kenny, son of Thomas, was 
reared to a life of strong activity. Born in 
Ireland, in 1843, he there passed his youth 
and early manhood. In a well-ordered 
home he received careful rearing, and by as 
sisting his father procured regular, practical 
training for the duties of life. Reports of 
good business openings in Ontario led him 
in 1867 to come to this country. Locating 
at Owen Sound, he there secured a position 
as clerk in a hardware store, where his strict 
attention to business and his winning man 
ners secured him the esteem of both em 
ployer and customers. Confident of his 
ability to conduct a business of his own, after 
two years he came to Sarnia, and there en 
gaged in the grocery business. First class 
goods, prompt service, and square dealings 
won him custom. The patronage increased, 
and he found it necessary before long to 
greatly enlarge his stock of goods. Wise 
financial management put the business on a 
solid foundation, and he continued in this 
line for fourteen years. Then, leaving his 
brother Randal, who had been connected 
with him, in charge of the retail house, he 
opened in Sarnia a wholesale grocery store, 
in 1883. Pushing his enterprise with the 
same determination and wise foresight 
which had marked his previous business 
management, he succeeded far beyond his 
highest expectations. He has been especially 
fortunate in having no competition in the 
place during all these years, and his is still 
the only wholesale grocery store in Sarnia. 
Mr. Kenny has made exceptionally well in 
business, and as fast as he has accumulated 
money, he has invested it to good advantage. 
He is now a large stockholder in the Sarnia 

& - Road Co., and also in the Gas & 

Electric Light Co., serving as president of 
both. Of the last named company the gas 



plant was established in 1883, and the 
electric light one in 1891. The company 
now has a capital of one hundred thousand 
dollars. 

In 1875 Mr. Kenny married Mary 
Scott Haskins, who was born in Ireland, 
and they have one son : William Howard, 
who is engaged with his father in business. 

Mr. Kenny has confined his activities 
almost entirely to the business sphere of his 
city, but there his influence has been so pro 
nounced that it has been felt in all circles. 
As a member of the Board of Trade he has 
been a special local power. He is keenly in 
terested in politics, and affiliates with the 
Conservatives. In all circles he is highly re 
spected, and the Episcopal Church numbers 
him among its most substantial members. 

THOMAS BRANDON, a well known 
stock farmer and land owner of Warwick 
township, Lambton County, was born in this 
township on Lot u, Concession 5, North, 
June u, 1856. 

James Brandon, father of Thomas was 
born in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he 
was reared on a farm. There he married 
Matilda McElroy, a native of the same 
county, and they became the parents of the 
following children : John, who is a practic 
ing physician at Ancaster, County of Went- 
worth ; Letitia. widow of Adam Baird, of 
Warwick township; Margaret, deceased 
wife of James Campbell; Agnes, wife of 
.Alexander Karr, of Bosanquet; William, 
deceased, a farmer of Warwick township; 
James, a farmer, also deceased ; Thomas ; 
and Matilda, wife of Robert Porter, of 
Bosanquet township. 

Mr. Brandon saw his family growing 
up around him with no probable chances to 
improve their condition in that locality, and 
thus was led to leave Ireland and seek better 
opportunities across the ocean. Leaving his 
family behind until he had looked into con 
ditions, as became a wise man, he emigrated 
to New York. A short time there discour 
aged him and he returned to his native land. 
Early in the fifties, however, he decided to- 
make a second attempt, and locate in Can- 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ada, and with his wife and six small chil 
dren, set out to cross the great ocean again. 
The little party safely reached Warwick 
township, Lambton County, and he located 
on Lot n, Concession 5, on a tract of 100 
acres of wild hush land. Here he set to 
work to make a home in the wilderness, 
erecting first a small log house and a barn, 
and. with the hearty co-operation of his 
growing sons, sturdy, healthy lads, he 
cleared this tract and put it under cultivation. 
More land came into his possession, and 
when his sons started out to make homes for 
themselves he made things easy for them by 
aiding them in their efforts. Through contin 
ued hard work and close economy he made 
his enterprises successful. In those early days 
when the family first settled here, the near 
est market on the east was London, and on 
the west Sarnia ; and before roads and 
bridges were constructed transportation to 
and fro was a matter of great inconvenience. 
James Brandon lived to the age of eighty- 
three years, and he was tenderly cared for 
by his daughter, Mrs. Alexander Karr, with 
whom he died in October, 1897. He was 
laid to rest by the side of his devoted wife 
who had preceded him in 1890, in the little 
Bethel cemetery, in Warwick township. She 
shared his joys and sorrows for over fifty 
years, and left behind her the memory of a 
good wife, a devoted mother and a con 
sistent Christian woman. Mr. Brandon 
was nothing of a politician. He believed in 
giving support to only those men who were 
qualified to be leaders, irrespective of party 
ties, and was always ready to do his full 
duty as a citizen. Both he and wife were 
worthy members of the Presbyterian Church. 
Thomas Brandon, the subject proper 
of this sketch, was reared on his father s 
farm and assisted in its clearing. He at 
tended school when possible, but educational 
opportunities were very different at that 
time in Warwick township in comparison to 
the present. He adopted farming as his 
life work, and before the death of his father 
had the whole management of the home 
stead in his hands. He took great interest 
in the place and made improvements as fast 



703 

as means permitted, and subsequently added 
1/5 acres to the original tract and is now 
operating 375 acres. This makes him one 
of the largest land owners in the township. 
For a number of years he has been exten 
sively engaged in stock dealing and feed 
ing, and has also been a leader in this line in 
Warwick. His methods are approved by 
his neighbors, and he has set an excellent 
example by handling only good stock, which 
pays in the long run. 

Mr. Brandon is a pleasant man to meet, 
quiet and unassuming in manner, yet so 
thoroughly instructed in all the details of 
agriculture that his superior knowledge al 
most confuses his visitor. He takes a deep 
interest in his home and in religious and edu 
cational matters. He is a deacon in Eben- 
ezer Congregational Church of Warwick 
township, and in 1905 had been appointed to 
this honorable and responsible office for the 
fourth time. In political life he supports 
the Reform ticket, and takes a very lively 
interest in the success of the Liberal party. 
During four years he filled the office of dep 
uty reeve, and as such was a member of the 
county council. Mr. Brandon is a strictly 
temperate man, having tasted neither strong 
drink nor tobacco in his life. 

Mr. Brandon was married Jan. 3. 1894, 
by Rev. James Pritchard, a minister of the 
Presbyterian Church, to Mary Burns, born 
at Ekfrid, County of Middlesex, Ont, 
daughter of Henry and Mary Ann (Rose) 
Burns, the former of whom died in 1903, 
and was buried in Bethel cemetery, while the 
latter makes her home with Mrs. Brandon. 
Mrs. Brandon is a lady of taste, educa 
tion and refinement, one who understands 
the making of a delightful home. She is a 
devoted member of the Congregational 
Church and is interested in charities and 
mission work. Mr. Brandon is a member 
of the East Lambton Farmers Institute and 
of the East Lambton Agricultural society. 
He shows an interest in all movements 
which promise to promote the welfare of 
Warwick township and Lambton County. 
In every way he is a representative man of 
this locality. 



764 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



DANIEL MORRISON, one of the 
public-spirited citizens and self-made men of 
Lambton County, residing on a farm in 
Enniskillen township, Lot 29, Concession 
11, is a native of Scotland, born Dec. 28, 
1851, the son of Murdock and Anna (Mc 
Kay) Morrison. 

The parents were born in the Highlands, 
married there and emigrated thence to Can 
ada early in 1852. Mr. Morrison was well 
educated, and always followed farming as 
an occupation. After a voyage of six weeks 
on a sailing vessel he and his family landed 
at Quebec and then made their w-ay west 
ward till they reached Oxford County, 
where they lived on a shore farm in East 
Nissouri. After several years Mr. Morri 
son purchased a home in that vicinity and 
lived there till his death in 1868. His wife 
and family remained there for four years 
and then moved to Lambton County, where 
the sons bought wild land in Lot 30, Con 
cession II, Enniskillen, and cleared up a 
farm. They put up a log house, built barns 
and made general improvements, and the 
mother spent the rest of her life in that 
home, passing away April 14, 1883. Mr. 
and Mrs. Morrison were both consistent 
members of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which faith they had been brought up. Of 
their children, Neal, the eldest, was born in 
Scotland, in 1848; he lives on the old home 
stead, unmarried. Daniel was the second 
son. John, born in Oxford County, in 1853, 
grew "up in Lambton County and when _ a 
young man purchased a farm for himself in 
Enniskillen ; he lived there till his death in 
1900, unmarried. Alexander, born in 1855, 
married Miss Jeanette Steel, of Enniskillen, 
and lives on a farm in Dawn township. 
Jemima, born in 1857, died at the home 
stead in 1894. Thomas, born in 1859, died 
at home in March, 1885: he was one of the 
well educated and promising young men of 
the county. Alexander C. born in 1861, 
a bachelor, lives on a farm he owns in En 
niskillen. Lot 22, Concession 8. 

Daniel Morrison was educated in the 
district schools of Oxford County, and after 
going to Lambton County, was occupied on 



the farm there, helping make the home. 
Some years later he began for himself on a 
rented farm ; his brother John was his part 
ner for eight years in this enterprise, but at 
the end of that year they ended their con 
nection and Daniel bought his present prop 
erty, 100 acres of wild land. Here he 
cleared a farm, put up good buildings and 
now has one of the well-cultivated farms in 
the township. Mr. Morrison was married 
April 15, 1885, to Miss Elizabeth Cable, 
who was born in Sanilac County, Michi 
gan, in February, 1867. She was the 
daughter of John and Harriet Cable, pio 
neers of Warwick township. Mr. Cable 
died when Mrs. Morrison was a little girl 
but her mother still lives with her. The 
other children were : John, of Alpena, Mich 
igan, where he lives on a farm with his wife 
and children; Martha, Mrs. Robert Jack 
son, who lives at Sault Ste. Marie and has 
six children; Catherine, widow of the late 
John Hurst, of Detroit, who has two chil 
dren ; Annie, deceased wife of Samuel Help, 
of Petrolia, who left three children ; and 
Jerusha, deceased, the second wife of Sam 
uel Help. 

Daniel Morrison and his wife have no 
children of their own, but they have adopted 
a boy and girl, Walter Johnstone and Lillian 
Johnstone Morrison, whom they took into 
their home when they were very young. The 
children were born in Windsor, Essex 
County, April 13, 1889, and in November, 
1897, respectively. 

In their religious belief, Mr. Morrison 
and his wife are members of the Presbyte 
rian Church and Mr. Morrison has been 
manager and chairman for a number of 
years, as he helped to found the Brooke and 
Enniskillen Church. Politically he has al 
ways been a stanch adherent of the old Re 
form party, taking active part in its work 
and has been postmaster, besides serving as 
delegate to the county convention. He is a 
prominent and patriotic citizen who works 
to advance every movement for the benefit 
of his section, is of exemplary character and 
conduct, and possesses the highest respect 
of his friends and neighbors. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



765 



THOMAS W. BROWN, a worthy rep 
resentative of the agricultural class in Sar- 
nia township, County of Lambton, where 
his father was an early settler, is one of the 
enterprising men of his county. He was 
born in County Down, Ireland, April 22, 
1836, of Scotch descent. 

Arthur Brown, his father, was born in 
the same county, about fifteen miles from 
Belfast, a son of Thomas Brown. He grew 
to manhood in the Emerald Isle, and there 
learned the trade of linen weaver, which he 
carried on in connection with farming. He 
married Susan Brown, daughter of James 
Brown, and seven of their children were 
born in Ireland. In 1842 accompanied by 
his wife and family Arthur Brown set sail 
from Belfast on the bark "Standard," for 
Quebec, arriving after a voyage of eight or 
nine weeks. He proceeded at once to Leeds 
township, County of Megantic, about fifty- 
five miles east of Quebec, and there engaged 
in farming. In June, 1846, he took his 
family to Lambton County, and there settled 
on one hundred acres of the west half of 
Lot 4, Concession 4, Sarnia township. This 
tract was originally settled by one Robert 
Miller, and was improved only by a small 
shanty. This shanty sheltered Mr. Brown 
and his family for two years, and then he 
built a hewed log house, which he later 
clapboarded, making it one of the best 
houses of its day. It was afterward de 
stroyed by fire, and in its stead was erected 
the comfortable house that is found to-day. 
Besides clearing the land he burned potash, 
and in time added greatly to his real estate 
holdings, buying all of Lots 4 and 5, on 
Concession 5, and the west half of Lot 12, 
Concession 6, making in all, including the 
homestead, about 600 acres. In time he be 
gan in the lumber business, getting out 
heavy timber for the Quebec trade, in which 
he was assisted by his older sons. Prosper 
ity attended his efforts in the New World, 
and he died quite well-to-do. His death oc 
curred July 24, 1876, when he was seventy- 
six years of age. His wife died in June, 
1882, also aged seventy-six, and both lie 
buried in Lake View cemetery in Sarnia. 



They were members of Irwin Methodist 
Church, which Mr. Brown assisted in build 
ing, and to which he was a faithful contrib 
utor. In politics he was a Grit, but he was 
an admirer and supporter of Sir John Mac- 
Donald. To Arthur Brown and wife were 
born the following children: John P., a 
farmer in Sarnia township, who married a 
Miss Parkinson; Ann Jane, wife of Robert 
Miller, of Detroit ; Thomas W. ; James, de 
ceased; Osborne, deceased; Alexander, un 
married and on the homestead; Samuel, of 
California; Catherine, who died in child 
hood; Miss Susan, of Sarnia; and Cath 
erine, widow of John McDonald, of Sarnia. 

Thomas W. Brown was about six years 
of age when he accompanied his parents to 
Canada, but he remembers well the incidents 
of the voyage. The schools in Quebec, and 
in District No. I, Sarnia township, afforded 
him his advantages for an education. He 
first attended the school on the Second Line 
taught by Ebenezer Watson. The home 
school was taught by a Mr. Dingman and 
Archibald Dewar, the latter afterward be 
coming school inspector for the County of 
Huron. Our subject assisted his father in 
the work of clearing the homestead, and in 
procuring lumber off the later purchases. 
On May 29, 1861, he located on the east 
half of Lot 4, Concession 5, of which but 
four or five acres had been cleared. In 1860 
he had built there a comfortable frame 
house, a part of which is still standing, and 
in 1886 he erected the brick house that ranks 
among the best in the township. All the 
land has been cleared and all the improve 
ments made by him. He has made careful 
study of all improved methods and machin 
ery and has one of the most up-to-date farms 
in the county. 

In Plympton township, May 29, 1861, 
Mr. Brown was married to Mary Brown 
McGregor, who was born in Lanark County, 
daughter of Peter and Mary McGregor. 
She died May 28, 1881, the mother of the 
following children : (i) John R., a barrister 
in British Columbia, and a member of the 
Provincial Parliament for Greenwood, was 
educated in the district schools, Sarnia Col- 



766 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



legiate Institute, and in Toronto. He mar 
ried Florence Whitmarsh, and has one son, 
Thomas W. (2) Peter McGregor, a physi 
cian at Camlachie, was educated in Sarnia 
and in Toronto University; he married 
Elizabeth Cairns. (3) Arthur, a veterinary 
surgeon in Sarnia, married Ida Eacrett, and 
has one son, Gordon. (4) May married 
William Henderson, M. D., of Sarnia, and 
has a son, Stewart. (5) Frederick William 
is now forming Maccabee lodges. 

In politics Mr. Brown is a Reformer, al 
ways taking a keen interest in the party. For 
twenty-two years he was a member of the 
council as deputy reeve and reeve. He has 
always had school affairs close to his heart, 
and for about thirty years was secretary and 
treasurer of the School Section No. I. For 
many years he was a prominent figure in all 
local affairs, and it was not until quite re 
cently that he began gradually to retire to 
private life. He is a man of unquestioned 
integrity, deserving of the esteem of the 
general public. 

ROBERT LETT, who is a most highly 
steemecl resident of Brooke township, 
Latnbton County, is the owner of a fine farm 
on the 1 3th Concession, Lot 18. He was 
born at Carlton, near Ottawa, July 19, 1825, 
son of John and Maria (Saunders) Lett, na 
tives of Kilkenny, Ireland. 

The parents of Robert Lett were mar 
ried in their native country, and came to 
Canada, via Quebec, in a sailing vessel tak 
ing about six weeks to make the trip. They 
located in Beckwith, Lanark County, in 
1822, where he settled as a farmer, and here 
they lived until 1846. In this year, our sub 
ject located in Brooke, and purchased a farm, 
then all wild land, to which he brought his 
father. Here Mr. Lett died in 1879, aged 
eighty-five, his wife having passed away in 
1845, aged forty-five. They had these chil 
dren : (i) Robert. (2) Thomas, born in 
Ireland in 1821, was reared in Ottawa, where 
he married Jane Crage, of Ireland, and then 
removed to Brooke, where they lived until 
1862, moving in that year to St. Clalr Coun 
ty, Michigan, dying there in 1900. (3) 



John, born in 1829, married Mary Wilson, 
of Ireland, and they now reside in Watford, 
he being a retired farmer of Brooke. (4) 
James, born in 1831, married a Miss De 
borah Sanders of Brooke and they reside on 
the farm adjoining our subject s on the I3th 
Concession of Brooke; they have these chil 
dren, Hezekiah, Mariah, Sarah, Jane, Ber 
tha, Flora and Howard. (5) Mariah, born 
in Ottawa in 1833, married Michael Stead- 
man, of Ireland, and they lived some years 
in St. Clair County, Michigan, before re 
turning to Brooke, where he was killed in 
1863, by the fall of a tree; he left one son, 
John, who lives on one of our subject s 
farms, and who married Sarah Searson, of 
Brooke, by whom he has had two children, 
Muriel and James. (6) Ellen, born in Ot 
tawa in 1836, is the wife of James Pollock, 
on the 1 3th Concession of Brooke, and has 
nine children, Mariah, Jane, John, Katie (the 
wife of Malcomb McLarty), Mrs. Alexan 
der McLain (of Brooke), Nellie, George, 
Rebecca and Adeline. (7) Samuel, born in 
September, 1838, resides with our subject at 
the homestead. 

Robert Lett was educated near Ottawa 
in the district schools, where he received a 
fair education. When a young man he taught 
school in that section of the country, and in 
1846 located in Brooke, where he purchased 
200 acres of wild land, starting life as a pio 
neer farmer. He made a home for himself, 
and has purchased adjoining lands, now own 
ing 450 acres in one block, most of which is 
cleared and improved. Mr. Lett has never 
married. The family \vere formerly con 
nected with the English Church, but later 
associated themselves with the Methodists. 
Politically our subject has always supported 
the Conservative party, but has never as 
pired to office. He has lived a long life, and 
has been permitted to see the wonderful 
changes which have come to this section since 
his first advent here, and he takes a great in 
terest in them. 

FRANK S. ANDERSON, one of the 
substantial and representative farmers of 
Enniskillen township, Lambton County, re- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



767 



sides on his well cultivated estate, located on 
Concession I, Lot 13, Mr. Anderson was 
born at Fredericksburg, Ont., April 10, 
1857, the son of John and Jennett (Vander- 
watter) Anderson, both of whom were born 
in that place, the former in 1826 and his 
wife in 1819. 

John Anderson was not only a member 
of one of the old pioneer families of Canada, 
but was also one of the most prominent and 
efficient men of his time. After his mar 
riage he moved to Sheffield, where he fol 
lowed farming until the year 1869, when he 
came to Petrolia and engaged in farming on 
Concession 8, Enniskillen township, making 
a permanent home there. His wife died in 
January, 1885, he surviving her until June, 
1893. Both were consistent members of 
the Methodist Church, being very active 
workers in same. John and Jennett An 
derson had eight children : ( i ) William D., 
born in 1849, married (first) Miss May 
Roundhill, by whom he had three children, 
John, Sarah and Mary; he married (second) 
Miss Maggie Armstrong, who died leaving 
a daughter, Lulu; and he married (third) 
Miss May Hamilton, his present wife, and 
they reside in Moore, where he follows farm 
ing. (2) Andrew, born in 1852, married 
Miss Maggie Mclhvain of Lambton County, 
and resides in Dawn township, where he fol 
lows farming and oil drilling, and has seven 
children. Frank, Mabel, Frederick, Andrew, 
Etta, John and Ethel. (3) Martin, born in 
1854, married Miss Edith Graham and they 
reside in Sarnia and have three children, 
Loie, Minnie and George. (4) Sarah mar 
ried William Mclhvain, section foreman for 
the Michigan Central Railroad, at Oil City, 
and they have seven children, Phoebe, Vio 
let, Thomas, Nora, William E., Lydia and 
Lawrence. (5) Frank S. is the subject of 
this sketch. Three sons died young. 

Frank S. Anderson received his early 
education at Addison, Ont., and later was a 
student at Enniskillen, where he grew to 
manhood. At an early age he learned oil 
drilling in Petrolia, and followed this work 
for four years, when he engaged in farming. 



On Jan. 4, 1881, he married Miss Annie 
Berry, who was born at Caistor, Elgin Coun 
ty, May 12, 1863, and died Nov. 7, 1904, 
the daughter of James and Elizabeth 
(Rouse) Berry. The parents were natives 
of England, who settled in Petrolia in 1873, 
where they still reside. After his marriage 
Mr. Anderson settled in Moore on a rented 
farm, where he resided for three years, at 
that time renting near the town hall in En 
niskillen township. In 1890 he purchased 
his present 1 5o-acre farm, which at that time 
was wild land, but which lie has cultivated 
until now it is one of the most desirable 
farms in this vicinity. Mr. Anderson also 
owns fifty acres adjoining his home, upon 
which his son resides. To himself and wife 
were born the following named children: 
James, in 1882, who married Miss May Mc- 
Kee, of Port Huron, and resides in Oil 
Springs, having one son, Frederick B. ; 
Frank L., in July, 1884, who married Miss 
Minnie Neil, of Enniskillen, and resides near 
the old homestead; Eva J., in November, 
1887, still at the old home; Edna, in Janu 
ary, 1890; Ethel P., March 10, 1893; 
Blanche, in 1896; and Bloss H., Jan. 4, 
i8 99 . 

Religiously, this family are connected 
with the Methodist Church, of which they 
are liberal supporters. Politically, Mr. An 
derson has always been identified with the old 
Conservative party, although he has never 
aspired to office. He is well known in fra 
ternal circles, being a member of the Inde 
pendent Order of Foresters in Oil Springs, 
and of the Order of Orangemen of West 
End, Petrolia. His wife was also formerly 
a member of the Foresters, where she was 
Chief Ranger, and was a delegate to the 
High Court at Gait in 1893 and at Sarnia 
in 1894. 

Frank S. Anderson took to agricultural 
pursuits at an early age and has followed 
that occupation throughout life, meeting 
with good success. He is a careful business 
man, manages his affairs judiciously, and 
is possessed of tireless energy. He has many 
friends throughout the community and is ex 
ceedingly popular. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



NATHANIEL BOSWELL has been 
called the "grand old man" of Wyoming, 
Plympton township, where for many years 
he has been identified with many of its bus 
iness enterprises. His home is one of the 
finest in the township, and is surrounded by 
large and beautiful grounds. Mr. Boswell 
was the founder of the town of Brigden, 
Lambton County, and the promoter of many 
of its industries. 

Mr. Boswell was born in Bythorne, 
Northamptonshire, England, March 20, 
1832, the youngest of a large family, of 
whom we have record as follows : Mary A., 
who married William Leveritt ; Sophia, who 
married a Stewart; Caroline; Samuel; Ed 
ward, who married and had four children; 
Thomas, who married and had two sons; 
Fanny; Sally, who married William Edis 
and had eight children ; four who died 
young; and Nathaniel, who is the only sur 
vivor. The father, who was a baker by 
trade, died when Nathaniel was three 
months old, and he was only seven when his 
mother passed away, so that he was left en 
tirely to his own resources. He had no 
chance to attend school, and had to earn his 
own living almost from babyhood. When he 
was nine years old he set out on foot for 
London, over sixty miles away, with a single 
half-crown as his entire fortune. On reach 
ing London he found work on the Victoria 
docks, and remained there until the breaking 
out of the Crimean war, in 1854. He then 
went into the army as a teamster, and 
worked in that capacity all through the war. 
By that time he had managed to save 200, 
and determined to try his fortune in Amer 
ica. He sailed from Liverpool in 1856, with 
1,250 other passengers, and landed in New 
York after a passage of thirty days. He 
made his way to Toronto, where he obtained 
employment at track laying on the Great 
Western railroad. He then spent a year 
laying track for the Buffalo & Lake Huron 
Railway Co., now owned by the Grand 
Trunk, from Stratford to Goderich, Out., 
and it was he who put the cut through Sea- 
box hill, said to be the highest hill in Can- 1 
ada. After this he went to Sarnia and took 



a contract for forty-five miles of track of the 
Great Western railroad. His next work 
was in the United States, where he was su 
perintendent of track construction for the 
Chicago & Rock Island Railway Co., on 
forty miles of road bed. He then went to 
St. Louis and laid ninety miles of track for 
the Union Pacific railroad, and then ninety 
miles of the Memphis & Tennessee railroad. 
His next move took him to New Orleans, 
where he formed a partnership with Thomas 
Hayes, for the construction and grading of 
track. One of their contracts involved a 
cost of $65,000. In 1858 they took the con 
tract for fifty-five miles of railroad on the 
Island of Cuba, the first piece of railroad in 
that country. This they finished in nine 
months, and on its completion were tendered 
a banquet by the railroad officials and lead 
ing business men of Havana in recognition 
of the satisfactory manner in which the work 
had been done. 

On his return to the United States Mr. 
Boswell located in Memphis, Tennessee, and 
went into the business of compressing cot 
ton, but just as he was making a success of 
this enterprise the Civil war broke out. His 
sympathies being with the South, Mr. Bos 
well bought a river steamer, the "Silver 
Wave," and began running the blockade in 
the White and Red rivers, carrying cotton, 
sugar, molasses, etc. For some time he was 
successful in dodging the Yankees, but in 
1864 he was obliged to surrender to Gen. 
Banks, who confiscated his cargo, worth 
nearly half a million dollars, and destroyed 
his papers. The "Silver Wave" was turned 
into a hospital boat and Mr. Boswell was re 
tained in the service until the close of the 
war. He appealed to the Federal govern 
ment for compensation for his lost cargo, 
but his claim was not acted upon, as his 
papers had been destroyed. He took the 
matter before the United States courts, but 
after a legal battle costing over $17,000, for 
lawyers fees, etc., he failed to receive any 
satisfaction. He returned to Canada, and 
settled at Oil Springs, which at that time 
had a population of 7,000 and there he be 
came interested in the oil industry. Later 




NATHANIEL BOSWELL 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



769 



he \vent into the hotel business, building 
three hotels, the largest accommodating 500 
guests. In connection with this he also con 
ducted a livery, having forty-five horses, 
and ran a stage between Oil Springs, Pe 
trol ia and Wyoming. 

In 1867 Air. Boswell established the 
"American Hotel 1 at Petrolia, which he 
conducted for two years and three months. 
He became the owner of the famous Pitts- 
burg oil well, yielding 1,200 barrels of oil 
per week. He sold out these interests in 
1873, and went to what is now Brigden, 
Moore township, where he bought 100 acres 
of the old Grant farm, the south half, on 
Concession 5, on which land he founded the 
present prosperous town of Brigden. He 
erected a nourmill, established a brick and 
tile yard, a blacksmith shop, a large saw 
mill, and put up sixteen houses for the use 
of his men. He was engaged in business at 
Brigden for five years, during which time 
he erected a fine brick residence, later owned 
by Dr. F. R. Seager, and destroyed by an 
explosion of gas in 1904. 

In 1878 Mr. Boswell came to Wyoming 
and became interested in various enterprises. 
He built a flourmill, where he also manu* 
factures oatmeal, and for several years was 
proprietor of the "Commercial Hotel." In 
1887 he constructed two reservoirs, at a 
large expense, from which he has since sup 
plied the Grand Trunk Railway Co., with 
1 50,000 gallons of water per day, and also 
given the town of Wyoming its water sup 
ply. In 1889 he built his beautiful home, 
which is surrounded by fine grounds. He 
gives most of his attention at present to his 
water plant. In spite of his years he is 
strong and active, and although not posing 
as a strictly temperance man is a man of 
sober habits and one who commands the re 
spect and liking of the community. He is 
popular alike with rich and poor, and 
greatly admired for his business enterprise 
and progressive ideas. His lack of early 
education he has regarded as a serious hand 
icap to him all his life, but he has won in 
spite of all difficulties and discouragements. 

Mr. Boswell married (first), in 1865, at 

49 



Oil Springs, Mary Ann Greene, who was 
born in New England, and died in Brigden, 
where she is buried. Her children were: 
Jennie married Charles McFadden, a rail 
road man, of London, Out., and has eleven 
children; W illiam, who lives in Seattle, 
Washington, married and has three chil 
dren; Fannie married Frederick Yerks, su 
perintendent of the street railway at Lorain, 
Ohio, and has one daughter. Mr. Boswell 
married (second) Mrs. Cleopatra (Rans- 
low) Durand, widow of Rowland Durand, a 
well known hotel man and citizen of Wyo 
ming, where he died. Mrs. Boswell is a lady 
of education and culture, descended from an 
old New England family. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boswell are members of the Church of Eng 
land and the Congregational Church, respec 
tively, though she attends the Presbyterian. 
Mrs. Boswell was born in Vermont, and 
raised there by an uncle, Rev. George W. 
Ranslow, a Congregational preacher. 

THOMAS HOUSTON. In the death 
of this man at his residence in Sarnia, in 
1895, Lambton County lost a foremost bus 
iness man and an efficient public servant, 
and the Christian Church one of its most 
stanch and substantial members. Possessed 
of a bright, clear intellect, and a large ca 
pacity for pushing affairs, success seemed 
with him almost a natural gift. Determina 
tion and perseverance were stamped upon his 
countenance, and emanated from every 
movement. Too deeply molded into his in 
nermost character were these sterling traits 
to be the result of education alone they 
were undoubtedly imparted to him through 
a long line of rugged Scotch ancestors. Born 
in Scotland April 20, 1820, he was the son 
of James Houston. 

James Houston, a man of marked power 
and energy, passed the latter years of his ac 
tive and fruitful life in Lambton County. 
In 1833, deciding to cast his lot with pio 
neers in a wild country, he came to Ontario, 
and after some prospecting procured a tract 
of unimproved land near Camlachie, where 
he proceeded to make a home for himself. De 
terred by no obstacle, but meeting the rough 
tasks before him with his usual energy and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



determination, he cleared, broke and culti 
vated his land, and, in time, had as desirable 
a farm as any in the vicinity. Here he la 
bored and continued for several years in 
fact, he spent the rest of his days upon this 
fine, new farm he had hewn out of the stub 
born Ontario woods, dying in February, 
1846. He and his wife had six children: 
Rebecca; Susanna, who married William 
Hartie; Daniel, an iron manufacturer, who 
died in Virginia; James, of Camlachie, Ont, 
now the only survivor of the family; Mar 
tha, who married John Davis ; and Thomas. 
Thomas Houston passed the crucial 
period of youth under the influence of the 
conservative and elevating institutions of 
Scotland, his native land. Fond of books, 
and gifted with a keen, active brain, he there 
procured more than the ordinary education 
given boys of his day. Naturally, upon 
reaching the what-to-do-for-a-living period 
of life, his student nature turned to the pro 
fession of teaching, which he followed with 
marked success for several years. In 1840, 
following his parents to Ontario, he hired 
out as teacher of the new school the first 
one just opened in Errol. A commanding 
presence and a well-trained mind won the 
confidence of his patrons from the start, and 
he continued his labors with the youth of 
that community for five years. So energetic 
was he and so zealous to further the educa 
tional opportunities of girls and boys in his 
section that during this period he devoted 
his evenings largely to giving private in 
struction. Finally, in 1846, however, decid 
ing upon a change of vocation, he came to 
Sarnia, and hired out as manager of the 
George Durand general store, also receiv 
ing the appointment of deputy postmaster. 
Performing his duties with thoroughness 
and conscientiousness, he gave excellent sat 
isfaction, and continued in this capacity for 
five years. Then, in 1849, m company with 
the late Daniel Mackenzie, he opened a store 
in Sarnia for the sale of general merchan 
dise. Wise financial management, and a 
ready art of securing patronage and giving 
satisfaction to customers, brought desired 
results and he continued this business for 



seven years. During this period he had been 
enabled to lay aside a considerable sum, and 
in 1856, on account of poor health, and see 
ing a good chance for an investment in real 
estate along the lake shore in Lambton 
County, he purchased property and moved 
there. Here he remained until 1872, look 
ing after his business, which realized good 
interest upon his money. At the end of this 
period he moved to Camlachie, and there 
opened another general merchandise store, 
which he conducted with his usual success 
for eight years. During his residence here 
the first postoffice was opened in the place, 
and, as his excellent repute as a man of bus 
iness and education gave him prestige 
among the citizens, he was made postmaster, 
a position which he filled with ability for a 
long time in addition to carrying on his 
other industry. About 1880, deciding to 
avail himself of a little well-earned leisure, 
he closed out his business and returned to 
Sarnia, where he remained for the rest of 
his life. 

On Dec. 18, 1849, Mr. Houston, mar 
ried Miss Eliza Thomas, who was born in 
Wales on Oct. 29, 1827, daughter of John 
and Fanny (Reese) Thomas. In 1833 she 
came with her parents to Ontario, set 
tling in Plympton township, Lambton 
County, and has been a resident of this 
county for over seventy years, all of which 
period has been passed within ten miles of 
her present residence ; no other resident of 
this region has been here as long as she. She 
still fondly cherishes the memory of her hus 
band, and the adventurous incidents in her 
early pioneering days. Mrs. Houston is of 
a happy, cheerful disposition, a noble Chris 
tian woman, and a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church. She and her hus 
band had no children of their own, but 
reared four: Rev. James Haistie; Mrs. Rob 
ert Manley, who is now deceased ; Mrs. John 
Cook, of Owosso, Michigan ; and Thomas 
Houston Manley, of Sarnia. 

Mr. Houston, throughout his long and 
successful life, held the confidence and re 
spect of his fellow citizens. Of his busi 
ness career little more need be said, except 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



that it was characterized by honesty and in 
tegrity. In politics he always evinced the 
keenest interest, and as a Reformer was in 
fluential in the local affairs of his county. 
Both" as commissioner and magistrate he 
served his community very efficiently for 
some time. As a man of strong religious 
convictions, he was an active and consistent 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

John Thomas, father of Mrs. Houston, 
was born in Wales in 1783, and there spent 
many years of his long and useful life. At 
an early age he learned the carpenter s trade, 
which he followed with success for many 
years. In 1833 he came with his family to 
Ontario, and settled in Plympton township, 
Lambton County, which was at that time a 
vast wilderness. The incoming of settlers 
and the building up of the community fur 
nished him plenty of work, and he here fol 
lowed his trade of carpenter for many years. 
Mr. Thomas was married twice, his second 
wife being Fanny (Reese). By his first 
marriage there were three daughters, who, 
iipon his departure for Ontario, remained in 
\Vales. By his second marriage there were 
ten children : John, Thomas, Reese, David, 
AYilliam, Daniel, Henry, Jemima, Annie 
(who married Mark Wellington) and Eliza 
(who is mentioned above). 

JOHN RAILTON SMITH has, in his 
capacity of tax collector for Plympton town 
ship, become one of the best known men in 
his section of the County of Lambton. To 
his credit it may also be said that he has be 
come popular wherever he has been called, 
either as an official or by his business inter 
ests, and he represents the intelligent agri 
cultural class which has made his locality 
noted among the thrifty and prosperous 
farming communities of the county. 

Mr. Smith is a native of the County of 
York, Ont, born Aug. 19, 1852, near Wes- 
ton, and is of English ancestry and parent 
age, his father Railton Smith, having been 
a native of Yorkshire, England. The family 
being in moderate circumstances he had no 
opportunity for receiving an education, in 
fact he did not learn to read until long after 



he had grown to manhood, and hard work 
was the rule of his life from early boyhood. 
He was employed on the Elmpole estate, 
owned by William Whiting, Esq., and there 
grew to manhood, finally becoming a fore 
man on the estate. In 1851 he was married 
there to Jane Ruddick, who was also a na 
tive of Yorkshire, and a few days after their 
marriage the young couple started for the 
New World, embarking at Hull for Liver 
pool, where they took passage on a sailing 
vessel for Quebec. Mr. Smith had decided 
that the prospects in the western hemisphere 
were better than those in his native land, and 
his subsequent experiences proved that he 
was right : but when he arrived in Canada 
his possessions consisted of an English sov 
ereign and a few articles of household fur 
niture a bed and other necessities. Coming 
west to Ontario, Mr. and Mrs. Smith first 
located in Toronto, where he found employ 
ment with Mr. William Graham, who was a 
large storekeeper, lumberman and land 
owner in the Gore of Toronto, in the County 
of York. Mr. Smith was foreman on his 
estate for four years, during which time, by 
strict economy, he had managed to lay by a 
little money. Encouraged by the start he 
had made, he resolved to commence farming 
on his own account, in 1856 moving to the 
County of Kent. Locating in Orford town 
ship, he rented a farm of 100 acres, which he 
carried on for several years, removing thence 
to Aldborough township, County of Elgin, 
where he bought 200 acres on the plains. 
Here he built a fine frame dwelling and made 
other improvements, continuing to farm 
there until 1877, in which year he sold out 
and moved to the County of Lambton. He 
bought 200 acres on the London road, in 
Plympton township, half of which he oper 
ated, the other half being cultivated by his 
son John. Mr. Smith devoted himself to 
general farming and sheep raising on that 
place, where he resided for ten years, at the 
end of that time selling his 100 acres to his 
son John. He then bought a 2OO-acre tract 
on the Line of Enniskillen township, the 
original homestead of Thomas Steadman, on 
which he passed the remainder of his active 



772 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



life. In 1891 he retired from agricultural 
pursuits with a good competency, after a life 
of incessant industry, and took up his home 
in Wyoming. There the remainder of his 
days was passed in peaceful retirement, 
though he was quite active up to within a 
year of his death, which occurred March 4, 
1901, when he was seventy-three years and 
six months old. Mr. Smith led a long life or 
usefulness, and after his emigration to the 
Xew World saw pioneer life in many of its 
phases in different parts of Ontario, doing 
more than the ordinary share in clearing and 
developing the country which was then just 
heing opened to its present usefulness. The 
years brought him prosperity and happiness, 
and he was able to give his growing family 
advantages which he had never dreamed of 
in his youth. All in all, he was a creditable 
citizen in the different communities where he 
made his home, and was respected by all who 
came to know him as a type of the sturdy, 
thrifty English agriculturist who makes his 
work count for the good of his locality as 
well as for his own profit. He was domestic 
in his habits, a devout member of the Meth 
odist Church, and a true Liberal in his poli 
tical faith, always supporting the principles 
of that party. 

Mrs. Smith, who was his devoted life 
partner for nearly fifty years, survived un 
til Jan. 2, 1904, and was laid to rest beside 
him in Wyoming cemetery. She had made 
her home in Wyoming after Mr. Smith s 
death, but spent Christmas with her son 
George, in Plympton township, was taken 
sick there, and passed away a week later. 
She was a true Christian woman, a lover of 
home and family, and worked hard to give 
her children a good home and proper train 
ing. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born six 
children, namely: John Railton is men 
tioned farther on. George is a farmer in 
Plympton township. Maggie died Jan 13, 
1 877, at the age of thirteen years. Annie 
married Daniel Lurner, a jeweler of Sarnia. 
William resides on the homestead. Thomas 
owns and operates the George G. Hartley 
farm, which is located in the 2d Concession, 
in Plympton township. 



John Railton Smith attended district 
school in Orford township, County of Kent, 
and later was a pupil in the Wardsville 
grammar school, in 1870. He was reared 
to farming, being trained to agricultural pur 
suits under his father, and when his father 
came to the County of Lambton and bought 
a 2oo-acre tract he gave his son John fifty 
acres, the latter buying another fifty acres. 
He cultivated and improved this 100 acres, 
and in 1887, when his father sold the home 
stead, our subject bought it, selling his 100 
acres. He made his home on his father s old 
place until 1896, in which year he sold the 
farm and bought his present property, from 
John Wheeler, Esq. This place is situated 
in Lot 19, ist Concession, in Plympton town 
ship, and here for the past eight years Air. 
Smith has been engaged in general farming 
and the raising of good horses, in which lat 
ter line he has been interested for a number 
of years. He has always been fond of 
horses, and succeeds well in raising and 
training them for good ordinary service, and 
though he started in on a very modest scale 
he has become quite well known in this con 
nection, having turned out some fine horses 
for general purposes. He has captured quite 
a number of prizes at fairs in different parts 
of the county. 

Mr. Smith has made a high reputation for 
himself for integrity in his business trans 
actions, and he was recognized as an accept 
able candidate for public office before he was 
out of his twenties. In 1876 he collected the 
taxes of Aldborough township, County of 
Elgin, and the following year assessed the 
township. In 1898 he was appointed, by the 
township council of Plympton, as tax col 
lector of the township, and he has ably and 
satisfactorily performed the duties of that 
office ever since. During that time he has 
handled over one hundred and twenty thou 
sand dollars, the present year, 1905, collect 
ing $26,000. He has never made a seizure, 
more than once going down in his own 
pocket rather than have a poor man lose his 
property for want of means to keep up his 
taxes. By straightforward methods and 
good judgment in the discharge of his du- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



773 



ties he has made his name a popular one in 
the township of his residence, and has main 
tained the high standing as a business man 
which he always enjoyed among his asso 
ciates in private life. He is a progressive 
man, keeping well read and abreast of the 
times on all questions of interest, and he is 
looked up to as an intelligent, representative 
citizen by his fellow townsmen. In addition 
to his other interests Mr. Smith is success 
fully engaged in the real-estate business. 

On July 7, 1879, Mr. Smith was united 
in marriage, in Plympton township, with 
Helen Forbes, who was born in that town 
ship, daughter of George and Mary (Oxen- 
ham) Forbes, the former still a resident of 
Plympton township. Mrs. Forbes passed 
away in 1899. To this union have come 
three children: Maggie A., Charles F. and 
Mamie Violet. The daughters are still at 
home. Mrs. Smith is a woman of quiet, un 
assuming manners, an excellent house 
keeper, and is a kind and helpful neighbor. 
The entire family attend the Presbyterian 
Church at Wyoming, and in his political 
convictions Mr. Smith has always been a 
stanch Liberal. He is a man of excellent 
habits, temperate and domestic in his inclin 
ations, and is most popular in his home com 
munity, where he has always been ranked 
among the best citizens. 

MRS. MARY McKELLAR, a resident 
of Concession 2, Lot 20, Brooke township, 
Lambton County, where she owns a fine 
farm, was born in Euphemia township, this 
County, May 20, 1842, daughter of Donald 
and Katie (McLachlin) McTagert. 

Donald and Katie McTagert were old 
pioneers of the County of Lambton. who 
came from Scotland, and in 1834 settled in 
a log cabin in Euphemia. Here Mr. Mc 
Tagert cleared a farm, making a home. His 
father had died in Scotland, but his mother 
had come with him to Canada, and died in 
Euphemia, where she is buried. Donald 
McTagert s death occurred at his home, in 
1868, and his wife passed away in 1889. 
They had been married in Scotland, where 
they had four children, three of whom, all 



sons, died there. The other child, a daugh 
ter named Flora, married Dougal McTagert 
of Euphemia, and at her death left seven 
children. The other children of Donald and 
Katie McTagert were born in this country, 
and were as follows : Anna and Donald, 
who live in Alvinston ; John, who married 
Miss Mary McKellar, of Euphemia, settled 
in Petrolia, where he died in 1878, being one 
of the wealthy oil men of that place, and who 
left a family of seven children, all of whom 
reside in Canada ; Katie, born in Euphemia, 
the wife of Duncan McPhail, of Alvinston ; 
and Mary, our subject. 

Mrs. McKellar was educated in the 
schools of Euphemia, where she was reared 
to womanhood. On Nov. 22, 1867. she was 
married to Mr. Neil McKellar, born in 
Mosa township, Middlesex County, in 1835, 
son of John and Sarah (Livingston) Mc 
Kellar, who came from Scotland to Middle 
sex County, with the early pioneers. Mr. 
and Mrs. McKellar first settled in Mosa for 
some time, but after four years purchased 
wild land in Brooke township, the farm 
which Mrs. McKellar now occupies. Here 
they started life in the woods, living in a log 
house for a number of years. Mr. McKellar 
died in July, 1879, leaving his widow with 
five children, whom she has carefully reared. 
In 1897 Mrs- McKellar erected a good frame 
residence to replace the old one, and since 
the death of her husband has cleared more 
than half of the farm, as well as draining it 
and making numerous other improvements. 
It is now one of the valuable, well-cultivated 
properties of Brooke township. 

Mr. and Mrs. McKellar had these chil 
dren : (i) Donald, born in 1868, was 
reared on the home farm, and r< sides in Al 
vinston, where he owns a grain elevator and 
deals largely in grain. He also owns a farm 
near Alvinston; he married Miss Sarah Mc- 
Dougal of Enniskillen township, and two 
sons have been born to him, Stanley and 
Hughey. (2) Sarah, born in 1871. is the wife 
of Spencer Hills, a contractor and builder of 
Glencoe. and has two children, Sarah M., 
and Neil B. (3) Katie, torn in 1873, died 
when eight years old. (4) John, born in 



774 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1876, is single and the manager of the home 
farm. (5) Flora died when three years of 
age. Mrs. McKellar and her family are 
connected with the. Disciples Church. In 
politics Mr. McKellar was a Reformer, as his 
sons are also. 

Airs. McKellar occupies a large place in 
the esteem and affection of her neighbors. 
Many of them remember, her when she be 
came a widow with a family of little chil 
dren depending upon her, and recall her 
efforts in their behalf efforts that have been 
well repaid, for her sons have grown up to be 
a credit to the parents as well as to the com 
munity. They have the benefit also of in 
heriting a name which their, father made 
honorable, and few residents of Brooke 
township enjoy more esteem or command 
more respect than do the McKellar boys. 

GEORGE SMITH, a well known agri 
culturist of Plympton township, w r as born 
in Orforcl township, County of Kent, Out., 
Aug. 3, 1857, son of the late Railton Smith. 
He attended the public schools of the town 
ship, working with his father on the farm 
both in Elgin and Lambton Counties. In 
the latter county he worked with his father 
in both Plympton and Enniskillen town 
ships, remaining under the paternal roof un 
til 1890. In that year, with assistance from 
home, he bought the James Hartley farm of 
100 acres, on the township line of Plympton, 
Lot 1 8, and there for the past fourteen years 
he has been engaged in farming and stock 
raising, in which line of work he takes a 
deep interest, and has been prosperous from 
the start. He is a practical farmer, and the 
appearance of his home and farm bespeak 
thrift and taste, everything being neat and 
clean. Like other members of the family 
he is a stanch Liberal, but he is in no sense 
an office seeker. Fraternally lie is a mem 
ber of the K. O. T. M., affiliating with the 
tent at "\Yyoming, and he has filled the office 
of secretary for thirteen years. He is a 
man of very genial disposition, and is re 
spected by all classes. He is noted for his 
strictly temperate habits and good citizen 



ship, and at home is a devoted father and 
husband. 

Mr. Smith was married (first) in Wyom 
ing, to Miss Maria Black, who died in 1898, 
and is buried in Wyoming. She was a mem 
ber of the Methodist Church. By that union 
there were two children, Thomas and George 
R. In May, 1900, Mr. Smith married Bar 
bara McPhail, who was born in Enniskillen 
township, daughter of Donald McPhail, and 
is a woman of intelligence and good taste. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend. the Meth 
odist Church at Wyoming. 

WILLIAM B. SMITH, brother of John R. 
and George Smith, was born in Orforcl town 
ship, County of Kent, Oct. 17, 1869. He 
came with his parents to Plympton township, 
County of Lambton, where he attended 
school on the London road, and worked at 
home with his father until the latter retired 
from farming. Then he and his brother 
Thomas conducted the farm for several 
years, after which William B. Smith became 
the owner of 150 acres of the homestead, 
the other fifty being owned by his brother 
Thomas ; it is situated in Enniskillen town 
ship. Mr. Smith has ever since been en 
gaged in general farming and stock raising, 
also buying and selling cattle. He has made 
improvements on the place. Like the other 
members of the family Mr. Smith is a Lib 
eral in politics. He is not active in public 
affairs, however, being a man of domestic 
tastes. His temperate habits and genial 
manner make him respected and popular 
with all classes. 

Mr. Smith married in Enniskillen town 
ship, Minnie E. Steadman. daughter of 
Thomas Steadman, a well known agricul 
turist of Enniskillen township, and they 
have had one child, Sarah Gladys. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith attend the Methodist 
Church, at Wyoming. 

JAMES HOSIE. More than the ordin 
ary human interest attaches to the lives of 
those hardy pioneers who abandoned home 
and all the ties and advantages of civilized 
life to enter the unbroken forest, and there 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



775 



devote an entire lifetime to the conquest of 
a new home. They were men of an uncom 
mon type, choice representatives of a supe 
rior, race, to whom struggles and achieve 
ment under the most adverse circumstances 
came as the breath of life. It was under 
the welding of this pioneer existence that 
those traits of character which stand out in 
living light were fashioned to ennoble for 
the time, and for future generations to per 
petuate and revere. 

About the year 1800 in Stirlingshire, 
Scotland, near Glasgow, John Hosie, a 
sturdy and fine-fibred Scotchman, died, leav 
ing a family of young children, among whom 
were two sons, Andrew and James. James, 
the younger, was born in 1795, and was only 
five years of age at the time of his father s 
decease. That he received what in his time 
was regarded as a good education, is evinced 
by the fact that later in life he was one of 
the best educated men in the community, 
which largely through his own efforts was 
created in a distant and then unpromising 
region. It was in the early thirties that 
James Hosie with his brother Andrew, and 
the latter s family, sailed from Glasgow 
for Canada, and after a six weeks voyage 
landed at Quebec. Making their way to To 
ronto they left a few days later by water for 
their future home in Moore township, Coun 
ty of Lambton, Ont. To the eye it was a 
desolate region. There were no neighbors 
within miles, no roads, no bridges and scarce 
ly a blazed trail through the dense forests to 
guide their footsteps. James acquired a 600- 
acre tract adjoining that of his brother An 
drew, but to encourage a settlement in the 
vicinity he later gave much of it away, re 
taining for his own use only a tract of 200 
acres. First making a slight clearing on his 
land he erected a small log shanty, and as 
time would permit made staves and like com 
modities which were marketable down the 
river. Almost the only industry in this nevr 
land was the making of potash, which found 
sale at Sarnia, Detroit and other points, 
where it could be bartered for flour, pork 
and other necessities of life. James engaged 
diligently in the work, and in his trips to 



Detroit he brought back with him food sup 
plies for the scattered pioneers, who were 
gradually taking up land in the vicinity. 

The romance of the life of James Hosie 
centered in the six weeks voyage across the 
Atlantic. On the boat was a young girl, 
Jane Allen Dunsmore. who with the family 
of her father Henry Dunsmore, a weaver of 
shawls, was emigrating from her native 
town. Paisley, to America. It was a case of 
love at first sight, and though James was 
twenty-two years the senior of the young 
girl, he won her heart and her promise to 
wait for him till the little cabin could be 
erected, and a home made in the new land. 
Because of her youth several years elapsed 
before James claimed his girl bride. Her 
father had settled on a farm near Brampton, 
Peel County, and there in winter time James 
Hosie and Jane Allen Dunsmore were mar 
ried. The long journey home was made by 
horse and sleigh, and required more than a 
week. The new home was a lonely spot for 
the young wife. There were no near neigh 
bors, and wolves and bears still infested the 
forest. She became homesick, and in his 
regard for her James Hosie took her back 
to her father s home near Brampton, in the 
township of Chinguacousy, Peel County, and 
for five years taught school at Streets vi lie, 
that county. Regaining courage, the couple, 
now with a child or two to gladden their 
home, returned to the western tract, and 
there James Hosie remained through his 
long and useful life. He was a man of su 
perior mental endowments, a natural mathe 
matician, a close student of the Bible, a con 
sistent member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and a man who readily assumed the full du 
ties of citizenship, and gave to the community 
the force and devotion of his character, aid 
ing in the development of the township in all 
ways. During the AYilliam Lyon Mackenzie 
rebellion of 1837-38 he was a volunteer in 
the government service, doing duty along 
the water front. In politics he was a stanch 
Reformer though he never sought office. He 
was a man of the strictest integrity, an earn 
est Christian, a devoted husband and a kind 
father. Death came peacefully to him April 



77 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



21, 1882, at the age of eighty-seven years. 
There had been no apparent illness or suffer 
ing, but ripe in years, he sunk quietly into 
death. His devoted wife was at the time 
absent from home, but his son and daughter 
were at his bedside during the last moments. 
He was laid to rest in the Burns cemetery 
in Moore township. His widow still sur 
vives at the old homestead, now in her 
eighty-eighth year, where she is tenderly 
cared for by her son and daughter. Like 
her husband she has been a lifelong and de 
vout member of the Presbyterian Church. 

To Mr. and Mrs. James Hosie were 
born ten children, namely : James, men 
tioned below ; Henry, who died at the age 
of twelve years; John, who died young; 
Robert, who became a carpenter and died in 
Sarnia ; Margaret Jane, who died the wife 
of Duncan Callum, of Moore township ; 
Elizabeth, at home; John (2), who died at 
the age of five years; Henry, a farmer of 
Moore township; Thomas P., a farmer of 
Moore township; and Mary, widow of Jo 
seph Needham, now residing at Sarnia. The 
members of this family have by their thrift, 
industry and by honorable dealings won for 
themselves a name worthy of respect and 
esteem, and a place in the annals of this fav 
ored agricultural region of Western On 
tario. 

James Hcsie, the oldest son of the late 
James Hosie. was born on the homestead. 
His education was received at the Watson 
school in Sarnia township, but from child 
hood he worked hard upon the farm. When 
his father died he took charge of the prop 
erty, and has since operated it for his mother, 
who lives with him. In religious matters he 
is a Presbyterian, and in politics a Reformer. 
Industrious, hard-working and faithful, he 
is a model son and excellent farmer. 

Henry Dunsmore Hosie, second son of 
the late James Hosie was born on the home 
farm Dec. 8. 1853. and educated in the dis 
trict schools. After assisting his father, he 
settled on Lot 19. nth Concession, upon a 
fifty-acre farm, and there spent three years. 
He then sold his farm, and bought the old 
Needham homestead of sixtv-seven acres on 



the loth Line. To this he later added fifty 
acres in the nth Concession, which is now 
farmed by his son. Henry Hosie married 
Ella Needham, daughter of William Need- 
ham, and they have two children, William, 
who married Jessie McKinzie, adopted 
daughter of Henry Wellington ; and Flossie, 
attending high school at Sarnia. In relig 
ious belief Henry D. Hosie is a Methodist, 
and takes an active part in church work, 
serving as class leader and superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. He is a Liberal in poli 
tics, and is a member of the school board, as 
well as secretary of the board. Fraternally, 
he is a member of the C. O. F. of Sarnia, and 
is a man widely respected. Mr. Hosie has 
taken a very active part in temperance work, 
and is well known throughout Lambton 
County in this connection. 

Thomas Hosie, son of the late James 
Hosie, was born May 10, 1856, on the farm, 
and like the others, was educated in the dis 
trict schools. After working at home until 
1879, he took charge of his sister s property, 
known as the Callum place, and when Mrs. 
Callum died in 1886, he cared for her family. 
In 1890, he bought a 5<>acre farm on the 
nth Concession, known as the old Gnam 
homestead, where he has since engaged in 
general farming and stock raising. Mr. 
Hosie married Mary Dunsmore, daughter of 
Robert Dunsmore. and they have three chil 
dren : Norman, Roy and Ralph. In poli 
tics Mr. Hosie is a Liberal, and was ap 
pointed postmaster of Logierait in 1903. His 
family attend the Presbyterian Church. Fra 
ternally he is a member of the A. O. U. W., 
of Sarnia. 

GEORGE McINTOSH. Among the 
prominent and well-to-do farmers of En- 
niskillen township, Lambton County, who 
started in life thrown upon their own re 
sources and who succeeded through their 
own efforts and strict attention to business, 
may he mentioned the name of George 
Mclntosh, whose fine i5o-acre farm is lo 
cated on Concession 6, Lot 30. 

Mr. Mclntosh was born March 14, 
1858, near St. Thomas, Elgin County, son 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



777 



of Alexander and Margery (Douglas) Mc 
lntosh, early pioneers of Plympton town 
ship. Alexander Mclntosh was born in 
Scotland in 1825, but was reared to man 
hood in Elgin County, where he married 
Margery Douglas, born near St. Johns in 
1835 an d early left on orphan. Coming to 
Plympton in 1868, they settled on Conces 
sion 2, where Mr. Mclntosh made a per 
manent home. After his death, in 1892, 
his wife sold the home in Plympton and 
removed to the home of her son, Alexander, 
on Concession 8, Enniskillen township, 
where she resided until her death, April 15, 
1904. This worthy couple were liberal sup 
porters of the Presbyterian Church. Alex 
ander Mclntosh had two brothers; George, 
who died in St. Thomas; and James, who 
died in London. Their father died in Elgin 
Countv when Alexander was a young man. 
To Alexander Mclntosh and his worthy 
wife were born ten. children as follows: (i) 
Isabella, born in 1854, who married William 
Harrison, resides at Sault Ste. Marie, Out., 
and has had five children, David A., Sarah 
J., Margery, William V. and Alice; (2) 
James, 1856, who married Miss Lavina Pea 
cock, of Middlesex County, resides on Con 
cession 6, Enniskillen township and lias five 
children, William, John, Ettie, Emma and 
Henry; (3) George; (4) Alexander, 1860, 
who married Miss Ellen Boscock, follows 
contracting and building on Lake Muske- 
gon, where they reside, and has the follow 
ing children, George, Henry, Donald and 
Helen; (5) Margery, 1863, who married 
John Francis, a foreman on the railroad at 
St. Thomas, and who has two children, 
Leonard and Margery; (6) John, 1867, 
who died in his youth; (7) Mary, 1870. 
\vho married Donald Campbell, of Conces 
sion 7, Enniskillen township, and has one 
daughter Maggie; (8) Charlotte, 1873, 
who married Burton Print, resides at Sault 
Ste. Marie on the Canadian side and has 
three children; (9) William, 1876, who 
married and lives at Sault Ste. Marie on the 
American side; (TO) Jennie, 1879, who re 
sides with her sister. Mrs. Campbell, of En 
niskillen toxvnship. 



George Mclntosh was educated in the 
schools of Plympton and remained on his 
father s farm until twenty-six years of age. 
In 1 88 1 he purchased the farm upon which 
he now resides, clearing it up from wild 
land and improving it until he has a fine 
farm. 

In January, 1884, Mr. Mclntosh mar 
ried Miss Sarah J. Evans, born June 18, 
1862, in West Williams, Middlesex County, 
daughter of James and Sarah Evans, who 
were early settlers of that county. Mr. 
Evans was born in Ireland in 1840, while his 
wife is a native of England. She is the 
daughter of John and Sarah Court, who 
came from England, settling in Adelaide, 
Middlesex County, as pioneers, and resided 
there until their death. Mr. Evans died in 
1869, leaving four children : John S.. of Al- 
pena, Michigan; Charles A., a blacksmith 
of Forest. Lambton County; William J., 
born in Middlesex County, who lives with 
his family in Arkona, Ont. ; and Mrs. Mcln 
tosh. Mrs. Evans makes her home with 
Mr. and Mrs. Mclntosh. 

To George Mclntosh and his wife six 
children have been born: Alexander D., 
Sept. 10, 1886, a student at the Alvinston 
high school; James E., in January, 1889, a 
student at the St. Thomas schools; George 
H., in August, 1892; Charles W., in Au 
gust, 1895; William Lloyd, in May 1898; 
and Sarah M., in January, 1903. 

The family take an active part in the 
work of the Church of God and are most 
highly respected members of that denomin 
ation. Although never aspiring to office, 
Mr. Mclntosh has always voted the Conser 
vative ticket and is a stanch supporter of the 
principles of that party. 

WILLIAM ROBERT STEWART, 
one of the best known cattle breeders in 
Western Ontario, who has received a large 
number of gold and silver medals at various 
exhibitions throughout the Dominion, is a 
native of Lambton County, and was born 
in Sarnia, Oct. 14, 1864, son of William 
and Margaret (Courts) Stewart. 

William Stewart, grandfather of Will- 



778 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ian: R., spent most of his life in Aberdeen- 
shire, Scotland, but in his declining years 
came to Canada and died in Sarnia. 

William Stewart, son of William and 
father of William R., was born in Aber- 
deenshire, in 1829, and remained there until 
he was twenty-eight years of age (1857), 
when he came to Canada, landing in Ham 
ilton with only six-pence. He borrowed 
money from friends there, and made his way 
to Sarnia where he secured employment as 
a sawyer in the McKenzie lumber mills. He 
spent seventeen years there during many of 
which he worked beside Alexander McKen 
zie, who later became leader of the great 
Liberal party and was premier of the Do 
minion from 1873 to 1878. In 1867 he 
gave up his work in the lumber mills and 
began farming in Moore township where 
he bought 100 acres in Lot 16, on the I2th 
Line. It was rough land, but he settled 
down to steady hard work, and soon had 
his farm in a fine state of cultivation, put 
ting up a good house and barn and making 
many improvements. In 1874 he entered 
upon the business of breeding and raising 
cattle, and was the first in West Lambton 
to introduce the Aberdeen Angus cattle. His 
son was connected with him and they were 
very successful. His life drew to a close 
there on his farm in July, 1901, and he was 
laid to rest in Burns cemetery. 

The character of William Stewart was 
one to stand almost any test ; his motto was 
"industry, honesty and economy," and he 
lived up to it so faithfully that he was able 
to establish himself comfortably, assist 
his relatives and leave his family well pro 
vided for. In politics he was a strong Lib 
eral, but never sought to hold office other 
than that of school trustee. He belonged 
to the Presbyterian Church and was a 
founder and supporter of the Burns con 
gregation. In domestic life he was a good 
father and devoted husband and fond of his 
home. He was especially strong in his 
views on temperance and never drank a 
glass of liquor during all his years in Can 
ada. His wife, Mrs. Margaret (Coutts) 
Stewart, was from the same part of Scot 



land as he, and they were youthful lovers 
there. After Mr. Stewart had gotten a start 
in Canada she crossed the ocean to join him 
and share his fortunes, proving herself a 
true helpmeet. She is still living and makes 
her home in Sarnia; although nearly seven 
ty-five, she is almost as active as ever. She 
is a Presbyterian. The children of William 
and Margaret Stewart were : John, who died 
young; Margaret, deceased, formerly a 
teacher; Jennie, Mrs. Andrew Lockhart, of 
Sarnia ; Mary, deceased wife of Frank 
Strong; William R. ; Charles and James, 
who both died young; and Eliza, Mrs. 
George F. Murray, of Moore township. 

William Robert Stewart was still young, 
when the family moved to Moore township, 
and he grew up there on the farm, attend 
ing the district school. He worked with his 
father until he had learned all the details of 
the farming and stockraising business, and 
then bought a tract of 100 acres west of the 
homestead where he settled clown to make 
his own way, although he continued in 
partnership with his father in the raising and 
selling of Aberdeen Angus cattle. After 
his father s death he sold his own farm and 
returning to the homestead has been engaged 
there since in carrying on his father s line 
of business. In 1901 he met with a heavy 
loss amounting to $1500 when his barn was 
struck by lightning and burned, together 
with five head of cattle, hay, grain, etc., but 
the building has been replaced by a plank 
frame barn forty-two by sixty-four feet, the 
first one of its kind in the western part of 
Ontario; it is fitted up with all modern im 
provements, including an automatic water 
system. Mr. Stewart keeps about thirty 
head of cattle per year of his Aberdeen An 
gus breed, and they have become noted all 
over the Dominion. 

Since Mr. Stewart began exhibiting his 
cattle in 1893, when he won a silver medal 
at the Industrial Exhibit in Toronto, he has- 
had entries at all the leading fairs in On 
tario and lias won many medals. In that 
same year he took a silver medal at Ottawa. 
Among his later prizes have been a silver 
medal at Manitoba in 1900, a gold one at 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



779 



Ottawa in 1903 and 1904, and a silver one 
at the Industrial Exhibit at Toronto in 
1904. In the latter year he also took one at 
London for the best bull and herd, while at 
Winnipeg, Manitoba, he won a $100 prize 
offered by the Carneful Stock Food Com 
pany, of that place, for the heaviest calf 
under seven months. Mr. Stewart s was 
six months and a half old, and weighed 770 
pounds. He has also exhibited in Kingston 
and Petersburg and in Lambton and other 
county fairs, taking a number of sweep 
stakes. Besides his homestead, he owns a 
half section in Manitoba and rents over 100 
acres in the Indian Reservation in Sarnia 
township. 

Mr. Stewart is connected with a number 
of cattle dealers associations, including the 
Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association, of 
Chicago, and the Dominion Cattle Breeders 
Association in Toronto, in the latter being 
a director. Politically he is a supporter of 
the Liberal party. In religion he is a mem 
ber of the Burns Presbyterian Church, and 
has sung in the choir for some time. He is 
a man of temperate habits and domestic 
tastes, industrious and honest, and is much 
respected and esteemed in the community. 

In 1892 Mr. Stewart was married in 
Moore township to Miss Menetta Young, 
daughter of Nelson Young. Mrs. Stewart 
was born in Owen Sound. Out., and there 
attended school, graduating from both the 
high school and the business college there. 
She also attended the Conservatory of 
Music there and received a fine musical edu 
cation, both vocal and instrumental. Later 
she went to the Collegiate Institute of Sar 
nia secured a teacher s certificate and then 
taught in Moore township for three years. 
She was, like her husband a member of 
Burns Church and was in its choir. Mrs. 
Stewart was specially skillful with her 
needle and her home was adorned with 
many pieces of her fancy work which were 
real works of art. On June 6, 1901, Mrs. 
Stewart s earthly life was cut short and her 
remains were interred in Burns cemetery. 
She was the mother of two children, Flor 
ence and Albert, the latter of whom died 



JOHN BARRON. Scotland has con 
tributed many loyal settlers to Canada, who 
have brought with them the sturdy traits 
of that race, and who have played an im 
portant part in the development of the coun 
try. Among the prominent men of Sarnia, 
Lambton County, Ont, is John Barren, 
dealer in musical instruments and sheet 
music, who was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, 
Jan. 7, 1842. 

William Barren, the grandfather, was 
born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and there died. 
During his business life he followed the 
trade of cooper. The children born to him 
were : James, William and Elsie. Of these 
children, William was the father of John ; 
and James followed the calling of wheel 
wright. 

William Barron, Jr., was a cooper and 
found employment in this line both in Aber 
deen and in Canada, after his location here. 
The maiden name of his wife was Annie 
Lumsclon, daughter of William Lumsdon, 
of Scotland. In 1848 the family emigrated 
to Canada, settling at St. Mary s, where the 
father died. The mother passed away in 
Forest, Lambton County. In politics Will 
iam Barren was a Reformer, and was very 
consistent in his opinions. Both he and his 
wife were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. The children born to them were: 
Andrew, in Chicago ; William, a photog 
rapher in Port Huron; James, of London, 
Ont., where he is a teacher of music in the 
public schools; John; Annie, wife of Robert 
Caldwell. of New York State; and Alice, 
wife of the Rev. Frank Doclds. 

John Barron was but an infant when 
brought by his parents to Canada, since 
which time he has made this country his 
home. While residing at St. Mary s, he re 
ceived a very liberal education not only in 
his literary studies, but also in music, he 
making a specialty of the violin. When he 
had attained to sufficient years, Mr. Barron 
commenced his business life as a cooper, 
following that trade for ten years. At that 
time he removed to Sarnia, and from 1866 
to 1898, he was one of the leading photog 
raphers in the city, being very successful. In 
the meanwhile in April, 1882, Mr. Barron 



780 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



had established his present business, and in 
1898, he found that the demands of the lat 
ter concern were growing so heavy as to 
necessitate his entire attention, and he dis 
posed of his photographic interests. 

Mr. Barron has been twice married, his 
first wife having been Miss Catherine Ram- 
son, of St. Mary s, by whom he had the fol 
lowing children: Jennie, wife of William 
Irvin, of Port Huron ; Annie, wife of Alfred 
Ashby, engineer on the Grand Trunk Rail 
road ; Ella, who married Edward Watson, 
of Sarnia, and has children, Edward and 
Harold. Mr. Barron married (second) 
Annie Whitmarsh, of Sarnia, and to this 
union were born : Dell, a trained nurse in the 
Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago ; Beatrice, 
in the music store with her father; Hazel, 
of Detroit, studying music, and, like her 
father, making a specialty of the violin. Mr. 
Barron is a Reformer in political views, and 
for one year served in the council of Sarnia. 
In his fraternal relations he is connected 
Avith the Masons and the K. O. T. M. The 
entire family are consistent members of the 
Methodist Church, in which they take an 
active part. In all relations of life Mr. 
Barron and his family have worthily borne 
their part, and none in Sarnia stand higher 
in the estimation of the community. 

EDWARD KENNEDY, who is ac 
tively engaged in the cultivation of the soil 
in Brooke township, Lambton County, 
where he owns and operates a handsome 
farm on Lot n, Concession 3, was born in 
County Tipperary, Ireland, Dec. 17, 1841, 
son of Michael and Julia (Carroll) Ken 
nedy, both natives of the same county. 

Michael Kennedy came to Canada in the 
forties, bringing his wife and three children, 
via Quebec, on a sailing vessel, which took 
seven weeks to make the journey. The ship 
was the "Argent," commanded by Captain 
Patrick Coulson. From Quebec the family 
travelled to York State, where they lived 
one year and then returned to Canada, mak 
ing a home at Hamilton. Here Mr. Ken 
nedy worked some years on the Great West 
ern Railroad, and in 1851 he located in 



Lambton County, settling on wild land in 
Brooke township, 4th Concession. His 
death occurred here May 26, 1882, his wife 
having passed away in December, 1875. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy were consistent 
members of the Catholic Church. He was 
an ardent Reformer. To them were born : 
Edward; Mariah, born in Ireland in 1845, 
is the wife of James Hamilton, a prosper 
ous farmer of Bellevue, Michigan, and has 
these children, James, William, Thomas, 
Jane, Julia, Sarah and Simpson; Patrick, 
born in Ireland in 1847, was reared in Can 
ada, where he married Maggie Villon, of 
Euphemia, in which place he died in 1901, 
leaving a family as follows, Michael, 
Thomas, Frank, Bertram, Alary and Julia; 
Margaret, born in 1850, is the wife of Peter 
VanBoncl, a prosperous farmer of Harwich, 
County of Kent, and has two children, 
Mary and Lottie; William, born in 1852, 
now a farmer in Princely, Michigan, mar 
ried Annie Pool of Chatham, and they have 
children, Julia, Annie, Susan, Millie, Ray, 
John, Charles, May and Claude; Thomas, 
born in 1856, a leading wooden ware mer 
chant in Detroit, married Miss Annie Dillon, 
of Chatham, and has children, Laura, Ger 
trude, Thomas, Philip, Maggie, Genevieve; 
Michael, born in 1859, manager for the 
Sutherland & Innes Co., in Forest, married 
Miss Katie Orrange, of Brooke township, 
daughter of Edward and Margaret Orrange, 
and has three daughters, Irene, Catherine 
and Margaret; and Hugh, born in 1862, 
residing on his father s old homestead, mar 
ried Miss Maggie Mugan, of Brooke, and 
has a family of two, Bertha and James. 

Edward Kennedy was reared in Canada, 
receiving his education in St. Thomas. 
When eighteen years old he engaged with 
the Great Western Railroad, as fireman, and 
followed railroading for eleven years. In 
1862 he was united in marriage with Aliss 
Mary King, of St. Thomas, born in Ireland 
in 1842, daughter of Christopher and Julia 
(Brady) King. Mrs. Kennedy s father 
died in the old country, and her mother 
came to Canada, dying in St. Thomas. Mr. 
and Airs. Kennedy lived in St. Thomas for 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



781 



a short time, and he then purchased 100 
acres of wild land in Brooke township. Here 
they settled down to agricultural pursuits, 
and since that time he has added another 
loo acres to his original purchase, having 
200 acres in all now, the whole being under 
the plow. The farm is well situated, the 
land productive, and the buildings commo 
dious, modern and substantial. To Mr. 
and Airs. Kennedy have been born: Mich 
ael, born in 1863, died in young manhood; 
Christopher died in childhood ; Julia, born 
in 1866, is the wife of J. C. Bindner; 
Thomas, born in 1870, lives at the home 
stead; Patrick, born in 1873, is a foreman 
in the Graphite Works of Detroit; Mariah, 
bom in 1875, died in childhood; John, born 
in 1877, married Miss Nellie Barry, of 
Strathroy, and they reside in Alvinston, 
where he is in business, and have one son, 
John E. ; Edward J., born in 1880, resides 
at home; Christopher, born in 1883, edu 
cated in the Alvinston and Watford high 
schools, and for four years a teacher in 
the schools of Brooke, is now a student of 
the Forest City Business College of Lon 
don ; and Mary, born in 1884, was educated 
in the home schools. 

In their religious affiliations Mr. and 
Mrs. Kennedy, as well as their family, are 
consistent members of the Catholic Church, 
of which Mr. Kennedy is a liberal supporter. 
In his political sympathies our subject has 
always been identified with the Reform 
party, and although never aspiring to of 
fice, has always taken a lively interest in that 
party s success. Mr. Kennedy s life, like 
that of his father, affords a good example 
of what men may accomplish through the 
force of their own energy and industry. 
Starting out in life a poor boy he won for 
himself a handsome competency and a repu 
tation for honesty and integrity. His ster 
ling traits of character have won him a wide 
circle of personal friends. 

SOLOMON HYATT, deceased, who 
for many years was a well-known farmer in 
Enniskillen township, was born in Peel 
County, Dec. 9, 1831, the son of John and 



Rachel (Ostander) Hyatt, and on both 
sides, of the family came of old pioneer 
stock in the county. 

The paternal grandfather, Solomon 
Hyatt, came to Peel County from England 
and died soon after reaching Canada. He 
left three sons, James, John and Solomon, 
who all settled and died in Peel County. 
John Hyatt, who was born in England, mar 
ried and settled in Chinguacousy township, 
and there reared his family of twelve chil 
dren. There were four sons, viz. : John, de 
ceased ; James, of Grey County; Elijah, of 
Tillsonburg, Ont. ; and Solomon. Phoebe,, 
the only daughter living, is Mrs. George 
Macalnain, of Oil City. The maternal 
grandparents were \Varner and Emily Os 
tander, who came to Peel County from Ger 
many and were pioneers in Chinguacousy 
township. 

Solomon Hyatt, the youngest child in 
the family, was married before reaching his 
majority, being united in January, 1852, to 
Miss Mary Alexander, born in Peel County, 
March 20, 1832. She was the oldest 
daughter of Alexander and Mary (Ken 
nedy) Alexander, who were born in Ireland, 
resided in County Peel till 1856, and then 
moved to Moore township, in its early days, 
and there lived for many years. Their last 
days, however, were passed in the home of 
their son, William J., in Enniskillen. 

For the first three years the young 
couple made their home on a farm in Pe.el 
County, but in 1856 they moved to Moore 
township and rented a farm for a few years, 
after which Mr. Hyatt bought wild land in 
Concession 6, Enniskillen township, and 
eventually cleared up a large farm. In 1898 
he purchased fifty acres more, in the same 
Concession, which he and his sons cleared 
and on which he made his home for the few 
remaining years of his life. His death oc 
curred there May n, 1904, and was a 
source of deep and lasting regret to his 
many friends. Mr. Hyatt was active in 
public affairs, a Conservative in his views, 
as are his sons also, and had filled a number 
of local positions, having served on the 
school board and as road master for a num- 



782 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



ber of years. He and his wife both belonged 
to the Methodist Church. 

The family born to Solomon and Mary 
Hyatt numbered twelve, (i) Alexander, 
born in Peel County in 1853, married Miss 
Elsie Cameron, has three children, Arthur, 
John and Alary, and resides in Petrolia. 
(2) Elijah, 1855, married Miss Mary 
Leach, of Euphemia, lives in Sanilac 
County. Michigan, and has two sons, An 
drew and Robert. (3) John, 1856, married 
Miss Susan Clark, of Petrolia, who died in 
1893, at their home in Enniskillen, Conces 
sion 6, leaving- six children, Fenwick, Wil- 
bert, Albert, Alfred, Dossie and Bessie. He is 
one of the prosperous farmers in his section. 
(4) David, born in Enniskillen in 1858, 
married Miss Phoebe Clark, of Enniskillen, 
has a family of ten children and lives on his 
farm in Dresden. Ont. (5) Archie, 1860, 
married Mary, sister of Mrs. David Hyatt, 
and lives in Sanilac County, Michigan, with 
his ten children. (6) Solomon, 1863, mar 
ried Miss Mary Culberson, of Sanilac 
County, where they live on a farm with their 
three "children, Ernest, Viola and Ethel. 
(7) Edward, 1865. married Miss Mary 
Cameron, of Enniskillen, has four children, 
Edna, Mabel, Howard and Annie, and is en 
gaged as a wholesale merchant in 
Sanilac County. (8) Mary, 1868, the wife 
of William Barnes, of Petrolia, has four 
children, Ephraim, Pearl, . William and 
Bloss. (9) Elmira, 1871, married William 
Babcock, of Petrolia, an engineer in the oil 
fields, and has two daughters, Sophie and 
Ethel. (10) Ephraim, 1873, who assisted 
his father till the latter s death and now has 
entire charge of the farm, was married in 
May, 1902, to Miss Florence Pierce, born 
in Brooke township, whose parents, Thomas 
and Eliza Pierce, both died when she was a 
child. ( 1 1 ) Nelson died when a young man. 
(12) Sarah J. died in childhood. Mrs. Mary 
Hyatt has also two great-grandchildren, 
namely: Roy, son of Elisha Hyatt; and 
Bessie M., daughter of John Hyatt. 

Solomon Hyatt was identified for many 
years with the interests of Moore and En 
niskillen townships, and was always known 



as a good citizen, ready to forward every 
movement for the progress of his region. 
While not always successful financially, his 
reputation for absolute honesty was never 
stained and he earned the unalloyed respect 
of all who knew him and had seen his strug 
gle with the many difficulties of his pioneer 
days. Industrious and hard working, he 
was also charitable, kindly and generous, 
and his friends were many. 

ROBERT CARRUTHERS, a prosper 
ous farmer of Sarnia township, Lambton 
County, has passed his life from early child 
hood on the farm which is to-day his home, 
and has known all the trials and hardships 
of life in a new country, as well as the many 
compensations which follow when such ter 
ritory has once been brought under culti 
vation. Of Scotch parentage, the boy him 
self was born just over the English border, 
in Cumberland, Jan. 4, 1848, the family 
having moved thither a short time previous 
to his birth. 

Francis Carruthers, the father, was a 
native of the parish of Cannobie, Dumfries 
shire, Scotland, and there grew up and mar 
ried. His wife was Barbara Lorraine, 
daughter of Walter and Ellen (Scott) Lor 
raine, the former a parish school teacher for 
many years. Francis Carruthers was a car 
penter and cabinet maker by trade, and was 
so employed till 1852, when he and his 
family set sail for Canada. For two years 
they lived at Kingston, two more at Brant- 
ford, and then, in 1856, Mr. Carruthers 
bought the Sarnia property, 100 acres in 
Lot 15, Concession i, and though it was 
midwinter he started at once for the new 
home. The trip was made by train from 
Brantford to London, and, as the railroad 
was not completed further, in a sleigh from 
London on, and they were two days on the 
road : they suffered greatly from the severe 
weather and during the stop at Warwick 
the mother walked the floor all night with 
the child Robert, in her arms, in order to 
keep him warm. Although there were 
twelve persons in the party they had but 
one sleigh, and all the household effects were 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



carried in that also. About nightfall, Jan. 
2, 1857, the family reached their new home. 
A small clearing had been made, a little log 
cabin built when they bought the place, and 
when they arrived they found the floor of 
the house covered with snow. But with the 
aid of friendly neighbors, the Simpson 
boys, the new comers were soon settled and 
as comfortable as possible under the cir 
cumstances. 

After locating in Sarnia Francis Car- 
ruthers continued to follow his trade when 
ever opportunity offered, and much of the 
early building in that region was his work. 
In the intervals of such employment he 
labored diligently to get his land cleared 
and was greatly assisted in this by 
his eldest son. Francis Carruthers lived 
to see his farm all under cultivation and to 
enjoy the fruits of his labor, passing his last 
years quietly at his home. His death oc 
curred Sept. 12, 1876, at the age of seventy- 
three, and his wife lived to be seventy-eight, 
surviving him ten years. Their family 
numbered nine, all born before they moved 
to Sarnia. Peter, the oldest, is a resident 
of Sarnia, and married Margaret Simpson, 
daughter of the neighbors, who helped the 
Carruthers at the time of their arrival. 
Ellen became the wife of George Irving, of 
Sarnia. Bella was the wife of the late Will 
iam Shilling-law, of Sarnia. Mary married 
the late William L. Simpson. Joseph L. is a 
fruit grower in Los Gatos, California. 
Francis is a farmer on the I2th Concession, 
Moore township. Walter is a prospector 
and gold miner in Alaska. Elizabeth, de 
ceased, married John Mooney. Robert was 
the youngest. 

Robert Carruthers life during his early 
years was the usual one of a frontier boy, 
and when just in his teens he began hauling 
wood from the home farm. From that time 
on he took an active part in the clearing and 
improving of the farm; his opportunity for 
attending school was limited to the dull 
seasons. He continued to work at home as 
he grew up, and in time came into posses 
sion of the homestead. Most of the present 
buildings and improvements have been 



added since the farm became his own prop 
erty. He has added fifty acres to the orig 
inal purchase, and carries on general farm 
ing with stock raising as his specialty. 

By marriage Robert Carruthers has al 
lied himself with another Sarnia family of 
Scotch extraction. His wife s maiden name 
was Jane Laird. She is a daughter of Fran 
cis O. and Eliza (Patterson) Laird, who 
came from Aberdeenshire in 1854. Mr. 
Laird died in Sarnia aged seventy, and his 
wife makes her home with her eldest son in 
Toronto. To Robert and Jane Carruthers 
the following children have been born: 
-Alexander Lorraine, now completing his 
course in civil engineering at the Toronto 
University ; Walter Scott, and Eliza Ellen, 
both at home. The family are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, and in past years 
Mr. Carruthers served as manager of Ber- 
nice Church. Politically he belongs to the 
Reform party, but has never sought to hold 
office. He has done well in a material way 
and has also won the sincere respect and 
esteem of his fellowmen. 

NICHOLAS JOHN GASCOIGNE, 
one of the worthy farmers of Enniskillen, 
who has worked his way up through all the 
trials and hardships of pioneer life, to a 
position of assured comfort, was born near 
Oakville, Halton County, Dec. 14, 1837, 
the son of John and Elizabeth (Swales) 
Gascoigne. 

The parents were born in England, he 
in 1803, ar "d his wife in 1 806; they grew up 
and married in . Yorkshire, and for some 
years Mr. Gascoigne there followed his 
trade as a blacksmith, but in 1834 they 
came to Canada and settled first near Ham 
ilton, where he continued to work at black- 
smithing. During the rebellion he joined the 
army as a horse-shoer, and after that epi 
sode was ended, lived at Oakville until 
1854. Moving then to Lambton County, he 
bought wild land in Enniskillen township and 
with his sons help cleared up the land and 
made a good home, where he spent the rest of 
his life. His wife died there in 1882, and 
Mr. Gascoigne followed her in October, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1889. While the family lived in England 
they attended the Church of England, but 
after coming to Lambton County they united 
with the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. 
Gascoigne was an active Conservative. 

Nine children were born to John and 
Elizabeth Gascoigne. (i) Alfred, born in 
England, married and settled at Edmon 
ton, Can., where he worked as a wagon- 
maker. At his death he left one daughter, 
Polly, wife of R. P. Snell of Edmonton. (2) 
Mary, born in England, married Charles 
Carpenter, of Walpole, Can. She is now de 
ceased leaving a family. (3) Sarah, born in 
Canada, now deceased, was the wife of Dan 
iel Carpenter of Walpole, and raised a large 
family. (4) Nicholas was the next child. 
(5) Robert, born in 1840, married Miss 
Elizabeth Perry, and now lives in Conces 
sion 10, Enniskillen township. He has no 
children. (6) Elizabeth, born in 1844, is the 
wife of Henry Gooden, of Petrolia, but has 
no children. (7) Diana born in 1846, is the 
wife of William Droupe of Concession 10, 
Enniskillen township, where they live with 
their family. (8) Maggie, born in 1848, 
now deceased, married John Chittick, of Pe 
trolia and had five children, George, Alfred, 
Maggie, Emma and Charles. (9) Charles, 
born in 1850, lives in Lambton County, un 
married. 

Nicholas J. Gascoigne is the oldest son 
living. He was given a limited education in 
his boyhood and even then worked on the 
farm helping to clear the land, for he was 
one of his father s main stays in the early 
struggle to make a home from their wild 
land. After marrying he left home and set 
tled with his wife on the present homestead, 
then bush land, where he entered anew on 
the fight with the wilderness. For a number 
of years they lived in a log cabin, but in 
187*8 the house in which they now live was 
built, together with a large barn, and other 
buildings of improved modern plan. This 
farm and his father s old place adjoined, and 
father and son worked together. In June, 
1864, Nicholas J. Gascoigne was united in 
marriage to Miss Esther Dennis, who was 



born near Hamilton in 1847. She was one 
in the large family of James and Mary Den 
nis, who came from England to Canada, 
lived for a time near Hamilton, and then 
moved to Plympton township, where they 
both died later. In April, 1902, Mr. Gas 
coigne met with a great bereavement in the 
death of his wife, who passed away leaving 
five children, (i) John, the eldest, born in 
1865, married Miss Sadie O Dell, daughter 
of George O Dell, of Enniskillen township. 
They reside there, as Mr. Gascoigne is fore 
man in the Strathroy Oil Company. He has 
one son, John H. (2) Matilda, born in 
1868, lives at home, unmarried. (3) Alice, 
born in Enniskillen township in 1870, mar 
ried George Willoughby, of England, re 
sides in Sarnia, and has eight children, 
Arthur, Florence, John, Dale, Hattie, Har 
old, Audrey and Edna. (4) Maggie E., the 
third daughter, bom in 1879, is still at 
home. She was given a fair education, 
which has been supplemented until she is now 
a lady of much culture. (5) Harriet, bora in 
1 88 1, married Wm. Willoughby, a farmer 
of Enniskillen township. Mrs. Gascoigne 
was for many years an active worker in the 
Methodist Church, as is also her husband, 
who has for the past decade been steward. 

Politically Mr. Gascoigne has always 
been identified with the Conservative party, 
has been active in public life and filled a 
number of local offices. Starting with 
small means earned by hard labor on a farm, 
he accumulated enough first to buy his place, 
and ever since has been growing gradually 
more prosperous. He is a man of genial 
disposition and kindly nature, and is highly 
esteemed by all his neighbors. 

JAMES ANNETT, a prominent and 
well-to-do stock farmer of Brooke township, 
operating a farm on the I2th Concession, 
Lot 24, is one of Lambton County s repre 
sentative men. Mr. Annett was born on 
the 9th Concession, Lot 29, Euphemia town 
ship, March 14, 1841, son of Philip and 
Sarah (Vincent) Annett, natives of Eng 
land, the former of whom was born in Wilt- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



785 



shire, in 1811, and the latter in Dorset 
shire in 1816. 

Robert and Ann Annett, grandparents of 
our subject, came to Canada in 1831, via 
Quebec, on a sailing vessel, being several 
months on the way. Robert Annett was a 
soldier in the English army until discharged 
just before coming to Canada. He was one 
of the very first settlers of Euphemia, where 
he made liis home, following farming until 
his death in March, 1866; his wife passed 
away two years before. They had these 
children: Robert and Charles, who died in 
England; Philip, the father of our subject; 
Eliza, deceased, wife of John Sutton, of 
Euphemia; Jerry, deceased, a farmer of 
Fingal; Louisa, deceased wife of Joseph 
Arnold, of Indiana; Noah, deceased, a 
farmer of Mosa, Middlesex County; Jane, 
deceased wife of Edward Arnold, of Som- 
bra, Lambton County; George, deceased, of 
Euphemia; Stephen, a resident of Sombra; 
and Joseph, of Sanilac County, Michigan. 
Philip Annett came to Canada in 1831, 
and took up land in Fingal, where he set 
tled for a few years, and then came to Eu 
phemia, taking up a zoo-acre tract of land. 
He had married in Fingal, and brought his 
wife to his wildwood home, where they 
camped out under a tree until their log cabin 
was built. Later Mr. Annett erected a 
larger log house, where our subject was 
born, and some years afterward built a large 
brick house, in which he was living at the 
time of his death. Philip Annett was a 
brick layer by trade, and not only erected his 
own house, but also manufactured the brick 
for the same. He erected a number of other 
brick houses in the community before his 
death, which occurred in 1876, his wife sur 
viving until 1900, when she passed away in 
the faith of the Baptist Church, to which her 
husband had also belonged since coming to 
Canada. Politically Mr. Annett was a Re 
former, but never aspired to office. He and 
his wife had these children : Samuel died 
when a young man; George, born in Eu 
phemia in 1835, was a retired farmer, and 
died at Watford, May 3, 1905. leaving a 
large family; Eliza, born in 1837, is the 
so 



wife of William Dolbear, of Brooke town 
ship, a complete sketch of whom will be 
found elsewhere ; James is mentioned below ; 
Isaac, born in 1843, now residing in Detroit, 
where he carries on a provision business, 
married Miss Jane Stubbs, of Euphemia; 
Calvin died in childhood; John, born in 
1848, a farmer of Euphemia township, mar 
ried a Miss Mary McCoy, of that township, 
and has a family of two daughters; and 
Mary E., born in 1851, is the wife of 
Thomas Walker, of Brant County, and has 
four children. 

James Annett grew up at the old home 
in Euphemia township, and received his 
education in a little log schoolhouse on his 
grandfather s farm. He engaged in farm 
ing and lumbering when still a young man, 
which occupations he has made his life 
work. In 1862 our subject and his brother 
George, now deceased, located in Brooke 
and purchased wild land. Each cleared a 
farm, becoming wealthy and prominent cit 
izens of that township. In 1865 James An 
nett married Miss Eleanor Walker, born 
near Ottawa, in November, 1839, daughter 
of James and Jane (Wills) Walker, both 
of whom were born in County Mayo, Ire 
land, and came to Brant County, where they 
died. Mrs. Annett has two brothers, she 
being the only living daughter of the fam 
ily : Elijah, on the old homestead in Brant 
County, and James, of Sombra, Lambton 
County. Mr. and Mrs. Annett have made 
their home on his farm ever since marriage. 
In 1890 they erected their present fine brick 
house, which compares favorably with any 
of the fine, modern homes of the township. 
Mr. Annett has also built fine barns and out 
buildings, and has made his farm one of the 
well-cultivated stock farms of Lambton 
County. 

The following children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. James Annett: (i) Sarah 
J., educated in the Watford high schools, 
married Philip Fuller, a cattle buyer and 
butcher of Watford, and also one of the 
large cattle shippers of this section. They 
have one son, Oliver J. V. (2) Randolph 
C, grew up on the home farm, and married 



786 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Miss Nornia Louks, of Watford. They set 
tled in Watford for some time, where he en 
gaged in a mercantile business until 1900, 
when he engaged in the produce business in 
New York City. They have three sons, 
Ceil, Ross and Victor. (3) C. Arabella, 
married James Hare, a farmer of the i2th 
Concession of Brooke township. (4) Philip 
J. moved to British Columbia in 1899, where 
he was engaged in business at the town of 
Nelson. He was drowned while crossing 
the lake in a boat. (5) Minnie A. is the wife 
of Arthur Kersey, a resident of Flint. Mich 
igan, and has one daughter, Vera E. 

Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Annett belong 
to the Brethren in Christ. Mr. Annett has 
always voted with the Liberal party, and al 
though never aspiring to office, has served 
his township as trustee of the schools for a 
number of years. For a number of years 
Mr. Annett engaged in grain buying in 
Watford, in which he was eminently suc 
cessful. Starting in life on his own re 
sources, Mr. Annett has made every dollar 
of his money honestly, and he has hosts of 
friends in every section of the county, who 
have been attracted to him by his strong, 
fearless and resolute character, and by the 
unswerving integrity of his conduct. 

PATRICK M. DALTON, a farmer of 
Enniskillen township, on Lot 5, Concession 
10, is a native of Ireland, born in the parish 
of Garristown, County Dublin, March 27, 
1842, the son of Patrick and Mary A. 
(Campbell) Dalton. He was, however, 
only six weeks old when his parents came 
to America, so that his whole life has been 
passed in his present environment. 

The parents were both born in County 
Westmeath, Ireland, where they married and 
lived until 1842, when they sailed for Can 
ada, via Quebec. The first year they lived 
at Marysville, then moved to Louis Pond, 
near the St. Lawrence, and there stayed for 
several years, while Patrick Dalton sup 
ported his family by working by the day. 
Another period of two years passed near 
Hamilton, and then Mr. Dalton had saved 
enough to buy a homestead. He purchased 



200 acres of wild land in Moore township, 
Lambton County, from John Patterson, but 
as his wife found it too lonesome at such a 
distance from any neighbors, he gave that 
tract up and bought 100. acres in Lot (>, 
nearer the settlement, which became their 
permanent home. Patrick Dalton built a 
log house to begin with, but after he had 
cleared the land he erected better buildings 
and in time had one of the fine farms in his 
section. He came to Canada a poor man, 
but by his thrift and industry he accumu 
lated property and finally purchased a home 
in Sarnia where he lived in retirement, hav 
ing given up his fine farm to his sons. He 
and- his wife both died in Sarnia, he Nov. 9, 
1878, aged seventy- four, and she, Sept. 14, 
1877, aged seventy-one. They were devout 
members of the Catholic Church. Politi 
cally Mr. Dalton was a Conservative. 

The younger Patrick was the second of 
four children born to Patrick and Mary Dal 
ton. The oldest, Michael, born in the old 
country in 1839, grew up in Moore town 
ship and received the same district school 
education that all the children were given. 
He married Miss Maria McLaughlin, a res 
ident of Moore township, though born in 
Ireland, and they lived first on the old home 
stead and then later in Sarnia. Their six 
children were as follows: Maria; Mary A.; 
Ellen ; Bridget, deceased ; Thomas, a lawyer 
in Detroit, Michigan; and John, born in 
Lambton County, who was killed in the 
Sarnia tunnel while employed by the 
railroad. Ellen, born in Canada in 1844, 
married James . Dundon and had a large 
family. They resided at Marquette, Mich 
igan, where she died. John Dalton, born 
in Moore township in 1847, married 
Miss Bridget McCormick, of Appleton, 
Wisconsin. They lived in that town a 
while and then moved to Sarnia where the 
husband died, leaving his wife with two 
sons. Thomas and John, now business men 
of Chicago. 

Patrick M. Dalton grew up on the old 
home in Moore township, and gave great 
assistance to his father in clearing the land. 
As he worked hard by the day, at making 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



787 



timber or at other labor, be early accumu 
lated enough to buy land for himself and 
selected his present home. He put up a log- 
house and for some eight or nine years lived 
there alone, while he cleared up the greater 
part of his farm. He was married Oct. 19, 
1875, to Miss Margaret E. Sharpe, who 
was born in County Donegal, Ireland, April 
4, 1847. Her parents were James and Cath 
erine (Kearney) Sharpe. natives of Ireland, 
in the vicinity of Dublin. The father died 
when Mrs. Dalton was a child and the 
widow brought her children to Canada and 
settled in Moore township, where her father, 
David Kearney, then lived. She died in 
March, 1884, leaving two children, Charles 
"and Margaret. Charles married Miss Minnie 
Cousins, of Michigan, and resides in the 
State of Washington. Mrs. Dalton grew 
up in Moore township and received a fair 
education. She has borne her husband two 
children. Patrick J., born April 13, 1879, 
was educated in the Petrolia schools and is 
now living at home, unmarried. Catherine, 
born Oct. 24, 1886, was sent first to the Pe 
trolia high school, then to St. Joseph College 
in London, and then to St. Vincent College 
in Toledo, where she was graduated as a 
trained nurse. She is now pursuing her pro 
fession in Toledo and is a most cultured and 
scholarly young lady. The family have al 
ways been devout Catholics. Politically, 
Mr. Dalton is a strong Conservative, but has 
never sought to hold office. 

Although Patrick M. Dalton enjoyed no 
musical advantages in his youth, he was by 
nature a musician and seemed to acquire 
spontaneously the art of playing the violin, 
an instrument .of which he is considered a 
master. He and his violin are welcome 
guests at social gatherings and have given 
the music for many a gay dance. He is not 
only a popular man, but honored and re 
spected as well, and one of the township s 
most public-spirited citizens, awake to every 
movement that promises to advance the com 
munity. He is a man of exemplary char 
acter, of an upright life and a charitable 
heart. Mrs. Dalton is a lady of many Chris 
tian virtues and of a fine mind, which she has 



assiduously cultivated by constant study of 
classic literature, until to-day there are few 
mistresses of farms who are so well versed in 
history and literature. She is a fluent con 
versationalist and talks most entertainingly 
on all topics of interest. 

F. B. HITCHCOCK. Before a country 
can be developed and brought under the re 
fining and progressive influences of civiliza 
tion, there is always a certain amount of pre 
liminary work to be done. The virgin for 
ests and native undergrowth must be cleared 
away. Grains are sown among the rotting 
roots, and little cabins spring up along water 
courses, which connect one tiny settlement 
with the other. \Yild animals, both large 
and small must be killed, or brought under 
subjection, and oftentimes savages have to 
be contended with. In time the pioneers 
pass away, often without seeing any visible 
fruits of their fearful labors, but the seed has 
been planted and those who come after them 
enjoy the rich harvest. The Dominion his 
tory is prolific in accounts of just such be 
ginnings, and one of the pioneer families 
which deserve honorable mention, is the 
Hitchcock family, one of the oldest in 
Lambton County, Ontario. 

F. B. Hitchcock, a member of this hon 
orable old family, was born at Point Ed 
ward, Aug. 21. 1872, and received his liter 
ary education in the excellent schools of his 
native town. At the age of thirteen years, 
he began his apprenticeship to the jewelry 
business with James Laidlaw. now deceased. 
In 1889 Mr. Hitchcock removed to Port 
Huron and engaged in the jewelry business 
until 1893, meeting with excellent success. 
At that date, he returned to Sarnia and 
formed a partnership with his brother, Sam 
uel, in a jewelry and bicycle house, the firm 
making a specialty of the "Huron" bicycle, 
which is a good seller. In 1894 Mr. Hitch 
cock went to Oil Springs, and there estab 
lished another jewelry house. On May 24, 
1897, ne an< l n s brother dissolved partner 
ship. Samuel retaining the bicycle business, 
and our subject the jewelry interests. The 
following year, on Feb. I3th, Mr. Hitch- 



/88 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



cock removed to Highgate, Kent County, 
where he opened another jewelry establish 
ment, but on June 4, 1900, he returned to 
Sarnia, again embarked in the same line, 
and now enjoys a very excellent business 
from the best people of the city. His stock 
is a fine one, embracing all kinds of jewelry, 
clocks, cut glass, novelties, and is kept 
strictly up-to-date in every respect. His as 
sistants are young men who understand their 
business, and patrons are given the most 
courteous attention. 

On June 15, 1898, at Bay City, Michi 
gan, by the Rev. J. Harner, Mr. Hitchcock 
and Miss Lema Margaret Olney, born at 
Port Huron, in 1875, daughter of Henry 
and Permelia (Bailey) Olney, were united 
in marriage. Two children have been born 
of this union: Carl F., born June 10, 1899, 
at Highgate, Out. ; and Lenora, born at 
Sarnia, March 15, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hitchcock are attendants of the Methodist 
Church. Politically, Mr. Hitchcock is a 
Reformer, and takes an active part in local 
affairs. His fraternal connections are with 
the W. O. W., and he is very popular in 
this order, as he is in the social and in the 
business world. 

ROBERT A. BAIN, one of Lambton 
County s most progressive citizens, active in 
every movement for the development of the 
section, is of Scotch parentage, but was born 
in the West Indies, on the island of St. Vin 
cent, July 15, 1846, the son of Daniel G. and 
Margaret Bain. 

Daniel G. Bain and his wife were both 
born in Inverness-shire. He was a soldier in 
the British army and was sent to the West 
Indies, where he served eleven years. In 1849 
he was ordered to Oxford County and there 
bought land from the government. For a 
short time the family lived in Brantford, and 
there one of the children, a boy, died, while 
shortly after they settled in Oxford County, 
a daughter also was taken. About two years 
after they bought the Oxford place, Mr. 
Bain was ordered to join his regiment in In 
dia, but only a few days afterward he fell 
from a building and was killed, leaving his 



wife with five children to support and alone 
in a strange country. As the oldest child 
was but twelve when his father died, the 
mother rented the farm, and moved to 
Brantford, Ont, where she lived some years. 
In 1861 the oldest son, James, while on his 
way to California, enlisted at New York in 
the Union army and was afterward killed 
during one of the Quantrell raids in the Re 
bellion. The oldest daughter, Annie, mar 
ried William Bellington, a resident of Port 
Maitland, Canada, on Lake Erie. They have 
no family. Daniel was a mere child 
when the family left the West Indies and 
grew up in Canada, where he was 
married at Strathroy, to Miss Beckie 
French. The latter died at Bothwell, where 
Mr. Bain still resides, and left her husband 
with one daughter, Alice. Robert was the 
fourth child. John, the youngest and the 
only one not born in the West Indies, was a 
native of Oxford County ; he is a farmer 
along the Missouri river in Kansas, and his 
wife was from that state. 

Robert A. Bain was educated in the pub 
lic schools of Brantford and Oxford County, 
but at the age of fourteen was obliged to 
leave school and go to work. He began at 
Petrolia, where he was employed as a gen 
eral chore boy for Clark and Rudiford, mer 
chants at Oil Springs. After three and a 
half years in their employ he engaged as en 
gineer for an oil company at Oil Springs,, 
and then a few years later went to the Penn 
sylvania oil fields. After only a year and a 
half there, however, he returned to Canada 
and went to work again in the oil regions 
there as a driller and engineer. After his 
marriage in 1870, Mr. Bain purchased land 
in the I2th Concession, where he made his 
home, and engaged in the mercantile busi 
ness as his chief occupation, although he was 
interested in oil production. He was thus- 
employed for some fifteen years, but now 
gives almost all his attention to his oil wells, 
with which he has been successful. He pur 
chased other property in Lot 7, Concession 
13, and has on it a number of productive 
wells. His residence too is on this place. 

Mr. Bain chose as his wife Miss Mary 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Cox, bom in Scarborough, Ont., in May, 
1847. Her parents were George and Har 
riet Cox, natives of Ireland. On coming to 
America, Mr. Cox at first followed his trade 
as carpenter at Pittsburg, after some years 
moved near Clinton, Ont., where he pur 
chased a farm and remained a few years, and 
then settled on a farm in Grey township, 
Huron County. He died there in 1883, but 
his wife still" lives on the old homestead. 
Their six children were : Richard, on the old 
homestead, who married Sarah Michael; 
Mary, Mrs. Bain; Hattie, unmarried, at 
home ; Menue, wife of R. C. Ennis, of Nee- 
pawa, Manitoba; George, of the State of 
Washington, who is married and has a fam 
ily, and Henry, who with his wife and chil 
dren also lives at Xeepawa. The marriage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Bain has been an especially 
happy one and they are the parents of three 
children : ( i ) The oldest son, Harry, born 
in Tune, 1871, married Miss Clara Bailey, 
of Moore township, by whom he has had two 
daughters. Alberta G. and Maud E. He is 
an oil worker and resides in Enniskillen 
township. (2) Alberta M., born in July. 
1879, died at the age of nine. (3) Albert R. 
was born Tune 12, 1889. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bain are among the best 
known and most popular of Lambton 
County s citizens, public-spirited and alive to 
everything that will improve the commun 
ity ; they are prominent in public life, while 
in private their generous natures prompt 
them to endless kind and friendly acts 
among their neighbors. They are members 
and active workers in the Methodist Church, 
and both are members of the Royal Temp 
lars, Lodge Xo. 274, of Ontario, in which 
Mr. Bain has held the office of deputy for 
eight years. He is also a member of the Inde- 
pe\ideiit Order of Foresters, Xo. 412. of 
Marthaville, Lambton County. Politically he 
has always supported the Conservative party 
but has never sought the responsibilities of 
office, although he did serve several years 
as school trustee for his town. For the past 
few years Mr. Bain has been much hampered 
by the results of a specially painful accident 
which befell him; while at work at one of 



the oil wells he was caught in the belting 
and his left arm was so injured that it had 
to be amputated at the elbow, a misfortune 
in which he met with the sincerest sym 
pathy fiom all the many friends with whom 
he himself had sympathized in their times 
of trouble. 

DOUGALD CAMPBELL. Among 
the younger generation of farmers of Lamb- 
ton County, who by their thrift and enter 
prise have won success for themselves, may 
be mentioned Dougald Campbell, who is en 
gaged in cultivating his farm on Concession 
7. Lot 17. Mr. Campbell s birth occurred July 
13, 1880, at his present home, son of Alex 
ander and Margaret (Campbell) Campbell. 

Donald Campbell, grandfather of Dou 
gald, died in Scotland, and his wife and 
two children were lost crossing the ocean, 
making the trip to Canada. Five of his chil 
dren had preceded their mother, and the 
others are all now deceased. They were: 
Neil, John, Alexander (the father of our sub 
ject), Margaret (who married James Read 
er, of Brooke township) and Jane (who 
married Duncan McCullum). 

Alexander Campbell was born in Glas 
gow, Scotland, in 1830, where his wife was 
born ten years later. By trade Alexander 
Campbell was a carpenter, and when he 
came to Canada in 1848, he worked at this 
calling in Brooke township. He purchased 
land at Alvinston, where the McCullum fam 
ily now reside, but this he sold and pur 
chased a bush farm, clearing his farm, in 
conjunction with following his trade. From 
the money he earned from the latter he was 
able to erect good buildings on his farm, and 
to purchase good farms for his sons, and by 
his years of hard work he finally became one 
of the well-to-do men of the township. He 
died Xov. 18, 1901, his wife having passed 
away April 18. 1899. Religiously this 
worthy couple were members of the Presby 
terian Church, in the services of which Mr. 
Campbell was very active. Politically he 
was a stanch Reformer, but never aspired to 
political office. He and his wife were the 
parents of the following children : Maggie, 



790 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born in 1864, married John McLachlin, of 
Concession 8, in Brooke township, and has 
these children : Dougald, Alexander, Julia, 
Maggie, Neil, Gordon and Jessie; Mary, 
born in 1866, married Alfred Darvell, of 
Brooke township, a member of the council 
of this district, and they have one son, Doug 
las; Donald, born in 1868, married Miss 
Mary Mclntosh, of Enniskillen township, 
of the 6th Concession, that township, and 
has one daughter, Maggie; Katie, born at 
the present home, was educated in the schools 
of Brooke township, and died Jan. 18, 1905; 
Phemia, married Gilbert Lucas, of Ennis 
killen township, and they reside near Glen 
Rae; Archie, residing on Lot 10, Concession 
5, of Brooke township, married Birdie Arm 
strong; and Dougald is the subject of this 
sketch. 

Dougald Campbell was reared on the old 
homestead, which he now owns, and of which 
lie has been manager since the death of his 
father. The farm is in a fine state of culti 
vation, and Mr. Campbell can truly say that 
farming pays, when properly managed. His 
knowledge of matters agricultural is con-> 
ceded to be far above the average, and he also 
has a high reputation for integrity. 

ROBERT GIBB, now living in retire 
ment at the handsome residence which he 
erected in February, 1904, at the corner of 
Talfourd and Vidal streets, Sarnia, is a man 
of rare capabilities, combining the hardier 
traits of character with a highly refined and 
artistic temperament. The strength of his 
manhood he has in years past put to good 
use in the development of the agricultural 
resources of his section, and his esthetic na 
ture has found vent for itself in beautifying 
and improving every piece of property 
which has come into his possession. 

Mr. Gibb was born on the I2th Line of 
the township of Moore, Lambton County, 
Dec. 14, 1845, son f Robert Gibb, Sr. Like 
many a pioneer settler s son, from his ear 
liest years, he took a hand in converting the 
region into an inhabitable and safe abode 
for settlers ; and he well remembers his not 
unpleasant boyhood tasks of assisting his 



brother John keep troublesome deer and 
other wild animals from the corn field. Un 
der the beneficent influence of a good home 
he grew to manhood, and in assisting his 
father about the homestead, received some 
excellent training in farm management. 
Possessed of a decided taste for agricultural 
pursuits, upon reaching manhood he made 
that occupation the business of his life. In 
the course of time he came into possession 
of the old homestead, on Lot 24, of the I2th 
Concession, w T hich he still owns. For many 
years he carried on this place with excep 
tionally good results, and was enabled to 
make many desirable improvements, thus 
. greatly enhancing its value. A large and 
handsome residence, commodious barns, and 
other buildings, all in the best of taste, were 
among his additions to the property. "With 
a careful attention to the details of his busi 
ness, and a studious endeavor to put into 
practice both progressive and practical meth 
ods, he continued his labors on the place un 
til 1892. Then, deciding to indulge in a lit 
tle well-earned leisure, he rented the farm, 
and with his wife, spent a year in California. 
Soon after his return, determining to take up 
his abode in Sarnia, he purchased a double 
lot at the corner of Talfourd and Vidal 
streets, and erected a handsome brick resi 
dence, facing the lake, and overlooking a fine 
lawn which he laid out and has since care 
fully tended. He has spared neither time 
nor money in beautifying his grounds, and 
the rear part presents, in season, an artistic 
and brilliant display of flowering fruit trees, 
rare plants, and blooming window gardens. 
In fact this place, where he now makes his 
home, is one of the model residences of 
Sarnia. 

In 1873 M r - Gibb married Jane Skeoch, 
who was born in Grimsby, Ont, Nov. 16, 
1847, daughter of John and Mary (Muir) 
Skeoch, and granddaughter of James and 
Martha (Schuler) Skeoch. Mrs. Gibb is a 
woman of character and ability, and has 
proved a considerate helpmeet throughout 
her married life. Mr. Gibb is a man of in 
telligence and good breeding, who has made 
the most of the opportunities life has offered 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



him. In politics he has always evinced a 
keen interest, and is an advocate of the prin 
ciples of the Reform party. A keen sense 
of honor, the highest integrity of character, 
and a readiness to receive and assimilate 
knowledge, are among his strong character 
istics. Both in social and religious circles 
he stands high in his community, and both 
he and his wife are influential members of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

Both the Skeochs and the Muirs, from 
whom Mrs. Gibb is descended, were natives 
of Scotland. John Skeoch, father of Mrs. 
Gibb, was born in that country, Jan. 18, 
1819. Upon reaching manhood he married 
Mary Muir, who was born in Scotland in 
1827, daughter of Robert and Janet 
(Gowan) Muir, who came to Ontario, prior 
to the Rebellion of 1837, and there made a 
home for themselves. In 1842 Mr. Skeoch 
came to Ontario, where he afterward resided, 
dying there Aug. 25, 1884. His wife sur 
vived him many years, and died in Sarnia 
in 1901. 

OSCAR L. BRITNEY is one of the 
prosperous farmers of Enniskillen town 
ship, who has made his own way, step by 
step, to success and competence. His broad, 
well cultivated acres are an open book re 
cording the well spent years of his life. 

Grandfather John Britney was a soldier 
in the British army, and served under Lord 
Cormvallis through many battles of the Rev 
olution ; he was a sergeant during the latter 
part of his military service. He spent some 
years in Pennsylvania, and finally settled in 
Xew Brunswick, where he died. His chil 
dren were : Seth, who was a sailor on the 
Great Lakes, and met his death by drown 
ing; Beach, who settled in Plympton, 
Lambton County, and left a family of four 
sons and one daughter ; Kitty, who was the 
only daughter and died in Xew Brunswick ; 
and John, who became the father of 
Oscar L. 

John Britney was born in Xew Bruns 
wick in 1802. He grew up in his native 
place and there married Sarah Moore, born 
in Xew Brunswick in 1818. Her father, 



James Moore, came to that province from 
Glasgow, Scotland, and later moved to Ox 
ford County. Ont, where he died in Zorra 
township. John Britney remained in X T ew 
ISrunswick for a time after his marriage, and 
engaged in boat building, fishing and other 
occupations. He then moved to Oxford 
County, Ont., where he bought land and 
lived for a time. His next move was into 
Michigan, where he remained two years, and 
then came back to Sarnia township, where 
he lived for a number of years on land which 
he purchased. He then bought land in Con 
cession 10, Enniskillen township, where he 
passed the remainder of his life. He died 
in 1884, his wife in 1889. Both were mem 
bers of the Church of England. 

Their children were eight in number; 
(i) Susan C., deceased, born in Xew 
Brunswick in 1842, married Thomas John 
ston, of Enniskillen. (2) Edwin E., born in 
Oxford County, Ont., in 1845, > s ""mar 
ried, a farmer of Enniskillen. (3) Theodore 
O., born in Oxford County, married Mary 
Wilson, daughter of George Wilson ; they 
lived on Concession 9, Enniskillen, where 
Mr. Britney died in 1899. Their children 
were, Sarah, George, Charity, Gertrude, 
Frank, Florence and Bertram. (4) Oscar 
L. is mentioned below. (5) Emily deceased, 
born in Oxford County, in 1853, married 
Austin De Mott, of Michigan; they settled 
in the Northwest Territory, where Mrs. 
De Mott died in 1894, leaving three chil 
dren, Bertram, Ellen and Hugh (deceased). 
(6) Ellen, born in Michigan in 1855, mar 
ried the late John L. Wilson, of Enniskil 
len ; their children were : William ; Mary ; 
Robert, deceased ; Linderman ; Alfred, de 
ceased ; and Ellen. (7) Maggie, bom in 
Lambton County, in 1858, married Murray 
Bell, a farmer of Port Arthur; their children 
are Winifred, Maud, Herman, Katie, 
Thomas, Rosie, Edward. Eva and Margaret. 
(K) Jane, born in Lambton County in 1861, 
married William Carr, of Enniskillen ; they 
have nine children, and their home is at San- 
don, British Columbia. 

Oscar L. Britney was born in Zorra 
township. Oxford County, Oct. 31, 1849, 
and was educated in the schools of Lambton 



792 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



County. He remained at home with his pa 
rents until he became of age, and in 1873 
bought a tract of 100 acres of wild land in 
Concession 10, Enniskillen township. This 
land he improved, and sold it in 1880, when 
he purchased his present home, then all wild 
land. He has cleared the land, put up good 
buildings and now owns 150 acres of well 
improved property, one of the best farms 
in Enniskillen. 

In 1874 Mr. Britney married (first) 
Martha Wilson, daughter of George Wilson, 
of Enniskillen. Mrs. Britney died at the 
present family home in 1885, leaving six 
children, (i) John L., born in 1875, mar 
ried Maggie McMann, of Enniskillen; they 
live on Concession 9, and have one daughter, 
Almeda M. (2) Edith E., born in 1877, 
married William Westgate, of Warwick, 
Lambton County; they have two sons, Vic 
tor and Gordon. (3) Clara L., born in 1880, 
married Robert McMann. (4) Edwin O., 
born in 1882 is unmarried, and at home. (5) 
Wilson M., born in 1885, is at home. (6) 
Victor, died in childhood. 

Mr. Britney married (second) in 1895, 
Mrs. Donald McMillan, of Westminster, 
Middlesex County, daughter of Benjamin 
and Maria (Lee) Cook. Benjamin Cook 
was a prominent resident of Suffolk, Eng 
land, and was among the pioneer settlers in 
Middlesex County. The present Mrs. Brit 
ney was one of ten children, and married 
(first) Donald McMillan: they settled in 
Westminster, where he died in 1872. 

Mr. and Mrs. Britney are members of 
the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. 
Britney has always affiliated with the old 
Reform party, and has served as one of the 
school trustees. He began life on his own 
resources, earning the money with which he 
bought his first land, and he is now one of 
the independently wealthy farmers of the 
section. He is greatly interested in the de 
velopment of agriculture, and is highly es 
teemed by all who know him for his kindly 
disposition and upright character. He is 
noted for his scrupulous honesty and his 
charitable nature. 



DAVID L. PURVIS. The history of 
Canada is the record of the lives of her pio 
neers, who through sufferings, privations 
and struggles against the many obstacles 
which beset the way of the early settler, 
brought the land to its present state of cul 
tivation, and caused cities to spring up out 
of the wilderness. Among the well known 
pioneer families of Lambton County, may 
be mentioned that of Purvis, a leading rep 
resentative of which is David L. Purvis of 
Sarnia, a retired farmer and substantial 
citizen. 

The first record David L. Purvis has 
of any of his ancestors, concerns Robert Pur 
vis, a native of Berwickshire, Scotland, who 
married Margaret McLaren, also a native of 
Scotland, where both spent their worthy lives 
and lie buried. To their union were born 
three sons : David, William and Robert, the 
first two emigrating to the States, while the 
latter settled in Canada, selecting Sarnia 
township as his home. Robert Purvis, father 
of David L., was born in Scotland in 1796, 
and was married in his native land to Jane 
Bell, also of Scotland. The parents came to 
Canada in October, 1851, bringing part of 
their family with them. The father died on 
his farm about 1862, and the mother passed 
away two years later, both dying firm in the 
faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which 
they were members. Politically Robert Pur 
vis was a member of the Reform party. The 
children born of this union were : Janet of 
Scotland, married to William Ranton; 
Thomas, of Scotland; Margaret, who mar 
ried Alexander Turner ; David L. ; Robert, 
a farmer of Sarnia township; James, of 
Sarnia ; John, of Michigan ; Euphemia, of 
St. Paul, Minnesota, who married Thomas 
C. Johnson. 

David L. Purvis was born in Scotland, 
Dec. 17, 1831, and was therefore twenty 
years of age when he came to Sarnia town 
ship with his parents in 1851. At first after 
his arrival, he assisted in clearing the home 
farm, but later secured fifty acres for him 
self, and by diligent labor made of the wild 
land one of the finest farms in the county. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



793 



In 1900, however, feeling that his long 
years of hard work entitled him to a less la 
borious life, he sold the farm and retired to 
Sarnia, now residing in a comfortable home 
on the northwest corner of Water and Nel 
son streets. 

On May 6, 1858, Mr. Purvis was united 
in marriage with Miss Margaret Turner, 
and to this union have been born the follow 
ing family: Isabella, born Feb. 7, 1859, mar 
ried John McCormick, of Port Huron, and 
has had children, Frederick, John, Bruce, 
Zoda (deceased), Robert and Isabella; Eliza 
Jane, born Sept. 18, 1860, married William 
Milliard, and they have one daughter, Min 
nie Bell; David, born April 24, 1862, now 
resides in British Columbia; Robert, born 
Oct. 4, 1863, married (first) Mary John 
son, by whom he had one son, Charles, and 
(second) Minnie Greene McCabe, who has 
borne him two children, Frederick and Al 
len McKinley ; Alice . resides at home ; 
William, now deceased, born Feb. 16, 1869, 
married Zada Prettyman, and had two sons, 
Ray A. and Allen Oscar ; George, born Oct. 
25, 1873, now makes his home at St. Clair; 
and Alexander Roger, was born Nov. 9, 
1876. 

The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Pur 
vis is that of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which body they are consistent members and 
highly esteemed workers. Like his father 
before him, Mr. Purvis is a member of the 
Reform party. 

WALTER T. TROTT, one of the most 
enterprising merchants and lumber manu 
facturers of Enniskillen township, Lamb- 
ton County, was born on Alderney Island, 
Great Britain, March 7, 1851, and is the son 
of James and Mary A. (Berry) Trott, both 
of whom were torn in Somersetshire, Eng 
land, the former in 1819 and the latter in 
1822. 

The parents of Walter T. Trott were 
married in England, James Trott being a 
foreman in the employ of the English gov 
ernment. Thev resided for some time on 
the Channel islands but in the year 1857 
they came to Canada, and locating at Paris, 



Ont, Mr. Trott followed bridge building on 
the Grand Trunk Railroad. He made his 
permanent home, however, at Bothwell, 
where he engaged in his trade of wagon and 
carriage making. His death occurred in 
1871, his wife surviving him until the year 
1880. This couple were always connected 
with the Church of England and Mr. Trott 
was a prominent member of the Conserva 
tive party, holding local offices of public 
trust in Bothwell. To them were born a 
family of seven children. ( i ) Langston J., 
born in Jersey Island, married (first) Miss 
Holmes of England, who died leaving him 
two children : Harry, a business man of To 
ronto ; and one daughter, the wife of a Rev. 
Smith of Michigan. He married (second) 
Miss Baily, of St. Thomas, by whom he had 
one daughter, Inez, and they resided in Oil 
City, where Langston J. Trott died. (2) 
Vincent J., born in Alderney Island, fore 
man at Ottawa for a New York Milling 
Company, has one daughter, May, who re 
sides in Toronto with her parents. (3) Wal 
ter T. was the third child. (4) Elizabeth, 
born in Alderney Island, married William 
Houston, a manufacturer of Chatham, and 
died leaving five children, Percy, Harry, 
Fred, Mary and Jennie. (5) Albert, born in 
Alderney Island, married Miss Mary 
Daugherty of Toronto, where they now re 
side and have three children, the oldest a 
son, Fred. (6) Robert, born in Bothwell in 
1858, is a farmer of Orford, Kent County. 
(7) Daniel, born in Bothwell in 1861, su 
perintendent of the Chatham Carriage 
Works, married Miss May Simpson of 
Bothwell and they have three children. Fred, 
Maggie and Mary. 

. Walter T. Trott was educated in Both- 
well, where he grew to manhood. When a 
boy he learned the trade of blacksmith, 
which he followed for some years, contin 
uing in the same business for ten years after 
the death of his father, becoming a partner 
with his elder brother. In 1881 he sold out 
his interest in the carriage business and 
came to Oil City, where he started as a 
manufacturer of hubs and spokes, also en 
gaging in saw milling and purchasing the 



794 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



L. M. Fanner cooperage stock, which busi 
ness he has continued up to the present time. 
In spite of having been burned out six times 
he has rebuilt and is at present the leading 
merchant and manufacturer of Oil City. Mr. 
Trott also owns a fine farm comprising 
240 acres on Concession 6, and keeps it well 
stocked with Shorthorn cattle. 

On Jan. 31, 1871, Mr. Trott was mar 
ried to Miss Ellen Gordon, who was born 
in Edinburgh, Scotland, in November, 
1852, a daughter of William Gordon, of 
Bothwell. To Walter T. Trott and his wife 
have been born ten children. Walter J., born 
in Bothwell in 1873, received a good educa 
tion, married Miss Delia Taylor of Sarnia, 
and they reside in Oil City, where he is em 
ployed as foreman for his father. They 
have one child, Gordon. Ida M., born in 
Bothwell in 1875, ^ s ner father s bookkeeper 
and sales-lady in his business. William, born 
in Bothwell in 1878, is manager of his fa 
ther s farm. Ethel, born in 1883, clerks in 
her father s store. Burton was born in 1886 ; 
Herbert, in 1888; Pearl, in 1892; and Elln. 
in 1894. Alice and Maggie both died in 
childhood. 

Politically, Mr. Trott is a very prom 
inent and enthusiastic member of the old 
Conservative party and has filled many po 
sitions of trust, among them being coun 
cilor of Enniskillen for one term, chairman 
of the school board for a number of years, 
director of the Agricultural Society, and a 
member of the board of health. Fraternally 
he is connected with the Maccabee Order 
No. 17, of Oil City. Religiously the family 
is connected with the Presbyterian Church 
of Oil City, of which they are liberal sup; 
porters. 

Mr. Trott is one of the self-made men 
of Lambton County, who started in life, de 
pendent upon his own resources. For twen 
ty-four years he has been identified with 
everything that would advance the interests 
of his community and has proved himself a 
most useful and faithful citizen. With a 
steady persistence he has labored to re 
establish his manufacturing interests after 
his manv fire losses, and has at last found 



prosperity crowning his honest and well- 
directed efforts. It is to his own steadfast 
ness and untiring zeal that Mr. Trott owes 
his success. 

EMERIC ALEXANDER VIDAL. 
The Vidal family is one of the best known 
in the history of Ontario, representatives of 
it holding positions of trust and responsi 
bility under the government, as well as 
achieving success in various branches of 
commercial activity. A full history of the 
Vidal family is given in the sketch of Sena 
tor Alexander Vidal, which appears else 
where. 

Emeric Alexander Vidal, Sr., was a son 
of Senator Vidal, and was the second treas 
urer of Lambton County, his father having- 
been the first. He married Jane Wilson, 
and their children were : Emeric Alexander ; 
Elizabeth, wife of George Fletcher; Will 
iam, deceased ; and Herbert and Fred, of 
Sarnia. 

Emeric Alexander Vidal. son of the late 
Emeric Alexander, Sr., was born in Sarnia 
April 25, 1876. He received his literary 
education in the public schools of his native 
city, and when old enough, learned the trade 
of stove fitter, at which he worked for three 
and one-half years, after which he spent two 
years in British Columbia. In 1898, he re 
turned to Sarnia, and accepted a position 
with the Imperial Oil Company as a tester, 
and in that capacity he still continues. 

On Oct. 25, 1899, Mr. Vidal was united 
in marriage with Miss Minonna Frederick, 
daughter of Kuno Frederick, and to this 
union has come one son, who bears his 
father s name Emeric Alexander, born 
March 23, 1901. Mrs. Vidal is a native of 
Sarnia, having been born in this city Oct. 
1 8, 1882. Politically Mr. Vidal is a Con 
servative. His fraternal affiliations are with 
the K. O. T. M., in which order he is very 
popular. Mr. Vidal is a young man who- 
makes friends wherever he goes, and is in 
dustrious and energetic. With these quali 
ties his success in life is assured, and he will 
merit it, for it will be earned by hard work,, 
intelligently directed. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



795 



GEORGE BELL. The two great indus 
tries of Lambton County, farming and the 
production of oil, the latter of later develop 
ment, have both steadily increased in scope 
and have enriched many inhabitants of that 
section. One who has been .eminently suc 
cessful in both lines is George Bell, of En- 
niskillen township, Lot i, Concession 13. He 
was born in Moore township, Jan. 19, 1859, 
the son of Christopher and Mary (Arm 
strong) Bell. 

Christopher Bell and his wife were both 
born in Scotland, in May, 1824, and in 
1825, respectively. She was the daughter of 
parents who came from Scotland to Lock- 
port, New York, but before they could pro 
ceed farther on their way to Canada, both 
were stricken with fever and died. The 
daughter and four sons continued their jour 
ney and three of the sons, Thomas, Charles 
and Frank, lived and died in Canada. Will 
iam, the oldest, returned to Scotland and 
spent his last years there. Mary married 
Christopher Bell. He had come to Can 
ada in the early 403 with two brothers : An 
drew, who lives in Wyoming; and Adam 
who was a pioneer of Moore township and 
died there in 1901, leaving a family. Chris 
topher settled in Moore township in the early 
days and cleared up his land, where he lived 
at first in a log house and later put up good 
buildings. In 1890 he left the farm and 
lived with his son George for some five or 
six years, and then moved into Sarnia, 
where he and his wife are spending their de 
clining years in retirement. They are Pres 
byterians in their religion and Mr. Bell is a 
stanch Reformer politically. 

Of the children born to Christopher and 
Mary Bell, ( i ) Fannie, the eldest, born in 
Moore township in 1857, lives with her par 
ents in Sarnia, unmarried. (2) George is the 
second child. (3) Jane, torn in 1861, married 
James Shaw, a farmer of Moore township, 
and has eight children, Alexander, Mary, 
Christ, Hazel, J. Grant, George. Jennie and 
Mildred. (4) John, born in 1863, grew up 
at home, married Miss Ella McMillen of 
Sarnia. and they now reside there, with their 
two sons, Harry and John. (5) Adam, 



born in 1866, married Miss Alice Lackey, 
of Moore township, lives on the old home 
stead and has two sons, George and John. 
(6) Mary, born in. 1868, is the wife of John 
Macintosh, of Brigden, Moore township, 
where he owns a livery and feed stable. 
They have two sons and two daughters, 
Fannie, Ettie, Christ and John. 

George Bell was educated in the district 
schools of Moore township and when he 
grew older learned the trade of a carpenter. 
For twenty years he followed contracting 
and building, one year, 1902, being passed 
in that occupation in Manitoba. So suc 
cessful was he that he accumulated sufficient 
means to invest extensively in farm lands 
and his first purchase was the present home 
stead, which he acquired in 1889. He added 
to the place a large bank barn and in 1893 
built the modern brick house in which he 
now dwells, where many other improve 
ments appeared also. His parents made 
their home there after leaving their own 
farm. Mr. Bell also owns 100 acres of land 
in Moore township. His oil interests are 
connected with his Enniskillen farm, where 
he has eight wells, which have furnished an 
ample income for the last ten years. 

On March 25, 1902, Mr. Bell was mar 
ried to Miss Maggie McCrie, born in Ennis 
killen township in May, 1875. Her parents 
were Matthew and Roxana McCrie, the 
former a Scotchman, the latter born near 
Toronto. Mrs. Bell grew up in Lambton 
County and was educated in the district 
schools. She and her husband have two 
sons: Alexander W., born Dec. 7, 1902; 
and Robert C, born Aug. 31, 1904. Mrs. 
Bell is a member of the Baptist Church, 
while her husband is a Presbyterian. Po 
litically, Mr. Bell belongs to the Reform 
party. He is one of the able, industrious 
men. of the county, who started out depen 
dent upon his own resources, and has now 
become an influential citizen, commanding 
the respect and esteem of all. 

EDWARD IVINSON. The production 
of oil has proved to be one of the most lu 
crative occupations in Lambton County, and 



796 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



has attracted the attention of many oper 
ators, but none among them have had so 
wide and practical an experience in that 
field, or met with such gratifying returns as 
Edward Ivinson, a retired oil producer of 
Enniskillen township, Concession 14, Lot 
8. Mr. Ivinson was born in Cumberland 
County, England, Oct. 10, 1846. His pa 
rents were John and Margaret (Bowman) 
Ivinson, who were both born in Cumberland, 
and remained in England, where the father 
died in 1883, the wife in 1886, leaving two 
children. The sister, Mary, who is the wife 
of Robert Burrows, a resident of Cumber 
land County, England, has a family of five 
children, James, Harry, Edward, Mary and 
Agnes all residents of England. 

Edward Ivinson, the only son, received a 
limited education in his native country; as 
his parents were in moderate circumstances, 
he was obliged when a boy, to work on a 
farm by the month to help them along. In 
the year 1870 he concluded to try his fortune 
in a more fruitful field and came to the oil 
fields of Canada, where he worked as an en 
gineer and driller in the oil district for a 
number of years. There he made his first 
start in his adopted country, and after sav 
ing some money, engaged in the butchering 
business at Marthaville, a village near Pe- 
trolia in the oil district; he continued in a 
successful business for several years and 
during- this time he purchased real estate in 
Enniskillen township, on which he put down 
several good producing wells. His knowl 
edge of engineering and well drilling en 
abled him to superintend his own drilling 
and from his experience he branched out on 
a larger scale until he became one of the 
successful and leading oil producers of 
Lambton County. He owns his own drills, 
operated by himself and sons, all of them 
"being expert oil drillers and producers. 

Mr. Ivinson rapidly enlarged his oil pro 
duction and in 1894 purchased TOO acres of 
land, his present home, as well as 100 acres 
in Plympton township, where he and his 
sons put down a number of good producing 
wells. Erom these his income averaged 
$1800 a month from 1889 to 1900, for his 



knowledge and ability as an oil producer 
have no equal in that field. In 1899 Mr. 
Ivinson erected one of the finest homes to be 
found in the county, a large brick and stone 
mansion, with handsome verandas around 
the entire house. It is all finished with hard 
wood, handsomely carved, hot water heat, 
bathrooms, library and every modern con 
venience. He also erected two large barns 
and modern outbuildings: Mr. Ivinson s 
special hobby is his stud of fine standard 
bred road and trotting horses, and he has 
three in his stables whose registered time is 
under 2:15 and 2:17; as a judge of fine 
horses, he has few equals and takes a special 
pride in his knowledge of the noble equine 
race. 

On Nov. n, 1873, Mr. Ivinson married 
Miss Dora Taylor, who was born near 
Kingston, in 1856, the daughter of William 
R. and Ellen Taylor, and granddaughter of 
Col. Thomas Taylor; the latter served as a 
British soldier in the forts of Niagara and 
Toronto during the War of 1812, and set 
tled near Kingston, where he died after rais 
ing a family. His son William, Mrs. Ivin 
son s father, came to Lambton County dur 
ing the early oil excitement, and engaged in 
the production until he was killed at one of 
the wells in 1882. The Taylor family came 
of noble lineage, tracing their ancestry back 
to England s peerage and to famous soldiers. 
The Taylor coat of arms is still preserved in 
the family. Mrs. Ivinson is the youngest of 
thirteen children, six of whom are still liv 
ing ; her mother died at the home of one of 
her children in Hamilton, Wentworth 
County, in 1902. Of the Taylor family who 
are still living, Isabel is a maiden lady, re 
siding in Canada; Maria is the wife of Ben 
jamin Rothwell. of Victoria avenue, Hamil 
ton ; Mary is the wife of Murray Buckbee, 
of Hamilton ; Thomas B. lives in Watford, 
Ont, where he is a jeweler and druggist of 
prominence; Celia is Mrs. John Tinzie, of 
Wentworth County. 

Edward and Dora Ivinson are the pa 
rents of a familv of six children: one other 
son died in childhood, (i) Thomas, the eld 
est, born in Petrolia. 1874, grew up at the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



797 



Marthaville home, where he learned the 
work of oil drilling and engineering and had 
charge of his father s field of operation for 
a number of years before becoming a part 
ner in. the business. In 1897 he engaged 
with an English oil company as prospector 
and manager of their operations in India ; 
he went from New York to Liverpool, from 
there to Marseilles, France, and to Egypt, 
crossing the Red Sea to the Island of Cey 
lon, and to Sumatra. There he prospected 
for oil two and one-half years. Returning 
to Canada he brought many interesting rel 
ics of that wild region, among them hand 
some inlaid woodwork done by the natives 
of that country. Mr. Ivinson is a young 
man of large experience in the oil business, 
and owns some fine producing wells in 
Lambton County. He married Margaret 
Norton, of Thamesville, Ont. (2) Edward, 
born in 1877, s unmarried, at home, where 
he is interested with his father in the pro 
duction of oil. (3) Laura M., born in 1880, 
is the wife of Philip Droupe, of Petrolia, 
and has one son, Edward. (4) Maggie E., 
born in 1884, unmarried, is at home, a young 
lady of culture educated at the Sarnia Col 
lege. (5) William died in childhood. (6) 
Victor, born in 1888, is a student in the 
home schools. (7) Ruby, born in 1895, is a 
student in the Sarnia Convent. 

In political views the father and sons are 
supporters of the Conservative party, and 
all belong to the Marthaville lodge of the 
Maccabees. In religious belief the family 
are members of the Methodist Church. 

Edward Ivinson has always been known 
as one of the most public-spirited men of 
the region, foremost in everything that 
would be of advantage in the community. 
His character is a most exemplary one, 
marked by a kindly, charitable disposition, 
and by the strictest honesty in all his deal 
ings, traits that have won for him the sin- 
cerest esteem of his fellow townsmen. 

JOHN R. DUNCAN, a well-known 
and prosperous farmer and stockman, liv 
ing on Lot 7, Concession 7, in Moore town 
ship, and one of the substantial men who 



have exerted their utmost energy toward 
the betterment and improvement of their 
community, was born on Line 12, Moore 
township, County of Lambton. 

The Duncan" family to which John R. 
Duncan belongs is of Scotch extraction, 
and was founded in Canada by James Dun 
can, who was born in Scotland and there 
married Christiana Chalmer, of the same 
country. In 1820 James Duncan and his 
wife came to Ontario, and located in Dal- 
housie township, County of Lanark, where 
he followed farming until 1835, when he 
settled on Concession i, Sarnia township, 
Lambton County. This was then a dense 
forest, but he possessed the vigor and in 
dustry to clear up a fine farm and here both 
he and his wife died. They were Presbyte 
rians in religious faith. Politically he was 
a Reformer. Their children were: John, 
James, and Robert, deceased; William, of 
Vancouver, where Duncan Station was 
named in his honor; Andrew, of Sarnia; 
Alexander, of Kingston, Ont.; Joseph, of 
Alberta, Northwest Territory; Isabella, 
Mrs. Ronald McColl; Christine, widow of 
Robert Mills; Agnes, widow of John S. 
Miller; Catherine, Mrs. Lament, of Sarnia, 
Ont. ; Annie, wife of S. Miller, of Florida ; 
Jean, Mrs. Robert Purvis, of Sarnia town 
ship; and Helen, deceased. 

John Duncan, of the above family, set 
tled in Sarnia township with his parents, 
and when a young man bought a tract of 
100 acres of bush land on Lot 7, Moore 
township, where he erected a log house and 
stable, and settled in the woods to make a 
home by hard work. With the aid of his 
sons as they grew up he succeeded in clear 
ing up his farm, and later in making many 
improvements. A frame house was then put 
up, barns were built and the land put under 
cultivation. He was occupied in general 
farming here until his death, which oc 
curred on the farm, in 1874, when he was 
sixty-one years of age, and he was laid to 
rest in the Bunyan Cemetery, in Sarnia 
township. Later he was taken from there 
and interred in the Bear Creek cemetery, 
Moore township. He was a member of the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Presbyterian Church, being elder of the 
Moore line church. Politically he was a 
Liberal, but never sought for office. 

Mr. Duncan was married in Dalhousie 
township, Lanark County, to Janet Reid, of 
Scotland. Mrs. Duncan spent her last years 
with her daughter, Mrs. Buchanan, on the 
2d Line of Moore township, where she died, 
Sept. 5, 1904, at the age of eighty years. 
She was laid to rest beside her husband in 
Bear Creek cemetery. Like her husband 
she was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and was a good wife and mother. 

Ten children came to the union of John 
Duncan and his wife, as follows : James, a 
butcher, resides in Sarnia ; John R. ; Jessie, 
who married Douglass Buchanan, of Line 
2, Moore township ; Christina, who married 
John Morrison of Line 8, Moore township ; 
Thomas, who was killed by the kick of a 
horse, in 1899. and is buried at Bear Creek 
cemetery ; Robert, a farmer on Line i o, 
Moore township; Agnes (deceased), who 
married Peter Smith ; Isabella, who mar 
ried John Elliott, and resides in Point Ed 
ward ; William, a farmer on Line 2, Moore 
township ; Maggie, who married Alexander 
Shaw, of Brigden. 

John R. Duncan, son of Duncan, was 
born Aug. 8, 1849, in Moore township. He 
attended school in the township of Sarnia, 
at the Moore, Bunyan and Burns schools. 
He worked from an early age on the home 
farm, and remained under the paternal roof 
until he was twenty-four years old, when 
he started out for himself, buying fifty acres 
of bush land on the south line of Moore 
township. He sold it later and bought fifty 
acres of improved land east of the home 
stead on Lot 4, Line 12, which was owned 
by \Y. H. McMahan, county councilor of 
Plympton township. Here he spent ten 
years in farming and stock raising, making 
improvements on the place and cultivating, 
draining and putting it into good condition. 
In 1884 he sold out and came to Line 7, 
of Moore township, buying from the Mc- 
Kenzie family a tract of eighty-three acres 
of land on Lot 7, most of which was bush 
land. Here he settled clown to make a home 



for himself and family, erecting a frame 
dwelling house and barns, and he soon put 
the land under cultivation, and added later 
another fifty acre tract west of the home 
stead. He operated altogether a tract of 
133 acres of well-cultivated land, and en 
gaged in cattle raising and dealing. For 
the past five years he has been engaged in 
horse raising for driving and general pur 
poses. He is a lover of good horses and 
takes pleasure in having a good horse 
around his home. He is a strong Liberal, 
politically, but like his father he seeks for 
no office. Both he ,and his wife are mem 
bers of the Bear Creek Presbyterian Church, 
and he is a member of West Lambton Ag 
ricultural Society, also Moore Agricultural 
Society, and has been president for two 
years of the latter. He is a member of 
Moore Liberal Association and the Farmers 
Institute of West Lambton. Honest to the 
core Mr. Duncan has proved himself a 
good, hard-working man, earnest and zeal 
ous for the good of his community as well 
as a kind and thoughtful father. 

Mr. Duncan married (first) in April, 
1871, in Moore township, Maggie Wray, 
daughter of William Wray, of Line 10, 
Moore township. Three children came to 
them : Ethel married James Gibson, of Brig- 
den ; William is in Dawson City, Klondike ; 
Mabel married John W. McDonald, of Line 
6, Moore township, and has two children, 
Mildred and Alean. Mrs. Maggie Duncan 
was buried in the Providence Cemetery, 
Line 10, of Moore. 

Mr. Duncan married (second) on Dec. 
16, 1885, Elizabeth Miller, at the Miller 
homestead. Mrs. Elizabeth (Miller) Dun 
can was born in Moore township, daughter 
of Mitchell and Sarah (Cassidy) Miller, 
both natives of Scotland and old settlers of 
Moore township, who died in Moore town 
ship and were buried in Bear Creek ceme 
tery. Mrs. Duncan is a devoted wife and 
good mother, and is very much beloved. 
Eight children were born to them : Lloyd, 
Sadie. Christina. Isabella. Clifford, Edna, 
Thomas Ross, all living at home, and Mag 
gie, who died in infancy. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



799 



KESSON BROTHERS. Among the 

wealthy and successful farmers of Enniskil- 
len township are the Kesson Brothers, who 
own 250 acres in Concessions 6 and 7. The 
four brothers, all unmarried, are the sons 
of James and Elizabeth (Farquahrson) 
Kesson and were born in Aberdeenshire, 
Scotland. 

James Kesson and his wife were both 
born in Scotland, Aug. 13, 1815, and 1819, 
respectively, were given good educations 
and there married and made their first home. 
In 1870 they decided to emigrate to Canada 
and after making the voyage to that new 
country, they settled down in Northumber 
land County. Mr. Kesson purchased a farm 
there, on which he made general improve 
ments and lived for several years before he 
sold out and rented another farm in Elgin 
County. After three years on that he moved 
again, this time to Enniskillen in 1882, and 
bought 250 acres of wild land, which he be 
gan to clear, his sons carrying on the work 
after his death. Mrs. Kesson had died in 
1878, before the family left Northumberland 
County, and her husband followed her, Aug. 
13, 1889. Both were devoted Presbyte 
rians and active in church work. Politi 
cally Mr. Kesson was a Reformer and while 
never an office seeker, was active in local 
affairs. 

Seven children were born to James and 
Elizabeth Kesson, four sons and three 
daughters, (i) James, born in 1852, was 
educated in the Aberdeen schools before 
leaving Scotland. (2) Ellen, 1854, is the 
wife of William Atkinson, a Plympton 
farmer, and has three children, Bessie, 
Willie and John. (3) John, born in 1860, 
was attending school in Scotland when his 
parents came to Canada, and his education 
was continued in Northumberland County. 
(4) Samuel, 1863, had begun to attend 
school in Scotland, but practically received 
his entire education in this country. (5) 
Jane, 1865, is the wife of Lewis Knight, a 
prosperous Plympton farmer, and has two 
daughters, Clara and Bell. (6) Elizabeth, 
1867, married George Bell, of Plympton 
township. She has since died, leaving no 



family. (7) Alexander, 1868, whose whole 
life has been passed in Canada with the ex 
ception of the first two years, was educated 
here and has been associated with the others 
in their farming operations. The brothers 
are all energetic and industrious, have 
cleared and improved their large land hold 
ings, and are very favorably known all 
through the region. They are upright, 
manly men, of exemplary character and as 
citizens are active in favor of every measure 
that promises to benefit the community. They 
are liberal supporters of their home church, 
the Presbyterian, and in their political affili 
ations are all, Refomers. 

JOHN A. FOWLER. The Fowler 
family, which is numbered among the pio 
neer families of the Dominion, is of English 
extraction, and the records show that one 
Samuel Fowler, great-grandfather of John 
A. Fowler, a native of England, spent his 
entire life in that country. Among his chil 
dren was a son, Abraham Fowler, a native 
of England, who became the grandfather 
of John A. 

Abraham Fowler was a life long resi 
dent of England, where he was engaged in 
farming. His son, Samuel, was born in 
1829. 

In 1850 Samuel Fowler was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Mounster Pottinger. 
Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and 
Mrs. Fowler emigated to Ontario, locating 
for a short time at London, but in 1852 re 
moved to Sarnia, where Mr. Fowler em 
barked in the meat business with his father- 
in-law. Later the partnership was discon 
tinued, and Mr. Fowler continued alone 
until his death in 1870. He was a member 
of the Church of England, in which faith 
he died. Mrs. Fowler, who still survives 
her husband, was a daughter of Samuel and 
Mary (Mounsfcer) Pottinger, and grand 
daughter of Samuel Pottinger, Sr., who 
passed his entire life in England. Samuel 
Pottinger, Jr.. was born in England, and 
there was married. In 1850 they came to 
Ontario, and after a short stay at London, 
located in Sarnia, where Mr. Pottinger first 



8oo 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



engaged in a meat business, and later opened 
up and conducted a grocery establishment. 
He owned the property on which the Bank 
of Commerce now stands, and was a man 
of means at the time of his death, although 
for some years prior to that event, he had 
lived retired. His widow survived him 
some time. They were members of the 
Baptist Church. To this worthy pioneer 
couple were born the following children: 
Samuel, who was for some time with his 
father in business; Mrs. Fowler; John, a re 
tired banker of Hamilton ; Sylvia V., a 
teacher in the Collegiate Institute at Sarnia ; 
Annie Maria, wife of W. J. Proctor, of Sar 
nia. To Samuel and Mary (Pottinger) 
Fowler were born the following children 
who grew to maturity : Thomas, of North 
Dakota ; John A. ; Samuel P., of New York 
City; William, of St. Louis, Missouri; 
Mary, the wife of T. M. Donnelly, a lawyer 
of Detroit; and Annie, of Sarnia. All of 
the above family were born in Sarnia. 

John A. Fowler was born Aug. 16, 1862, 
and received an excellent education in the 
public schools of Sarnia. His business life 
l>egan when he entered the employ of the 
late W. B. Clark as a clerk. After some 
years of service in that capacity, during 
which time he learned the details of his 
work, Mr. Fowler, in conjunction with W. 
B. Clark, Jr., formed the dry goods firm of 
Clark & Fowler, which still continues, the 
house ranking among the leading ones in 
that line in Sarnia. The methods of the 
firm are such as to increase business, inspire 
confidence and hold trade, and their success 
is well-merited. Mr. Fowler is a member 
of the Church of England. Fraternally he 
belongs to the Masons and the Sons of Eng 
land, and his political opinions make him a 
Conservative. 

LLOYD GORING, retired farmer of 
Enniskillen, was born in Lincoln County, 
Ont, April 6, 1836, and is of English de 
scent, his grandfather and father both hav 
ing been natives of England. 

Frederick Goring, grandfather of Lloyd, 
was a soldier in the British army, serving 



in England, and then in Canada, where he 
was in the Rebellion of 1837. Finally leav 
ing the army, he settled down as a farmer on 
land in Lincoln County, which the govern 
ment had granted him for his military serv 
ice. His tract of wild land was located near 
St. Catharine s, and at the time of his death, 
many years ago, it had become a fine piece 
of farming property. The five sons, Har 
mon, James, John, William and Francis, all 
made their permanent homes in Canada. 
The three daughters were : Lucy, deceased 
wife of John Ostander, of Lincoln County ; 
Annie, deceased wife of Robert Lambert, of 
Niagara County ; and Charlotte, deceased 
wife of Frederick Clement, of that same 
county. 

Francis Goring, father of Lloyd, was 
born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1804, and 
his first wife, who was Miss Edith A. Mann, 
was born two years later in the same local 
ity. He came with the rest of the family to 
Canada, served in the Rebellion of 1837-38, 
and in return received a grant very near his 
father s, on this large tract following farm 
ing and stockraising. His deer park, well 
stocked, was one of the largest in the sec 
tion, and he became quite wealthy before he 
died, on April 21, 1869. His first wife had 
passed away in 1844, and he chose for his 
second helpmeet Miss Catherine Clemment, 
by whom he had five children, three of 
whom, as well as the mother, are still living 
in Lincoln County. Mrs. Edith A. (Mann) 
Goring was the mother of nine children : 
( i ) Charlotte married John Sagur, of Eng 
land, and settled in Lincoln County, dying 
there in 1890, leaving a family. (2) Anselm 
went to Australia when a young man, and 
had become, when last heard of, a wealthy 
mine owner. (3) Annie was the wife of 
William Thomas, a resident of Burford, 
Ont.. where she died leaving three children 
Alice, Mrs. Alonzo Perkins, of Petrolia; 
William, of that city, and Mary, Mrs. John 
Brennan, of Kent County. (4) Leman re 
moved to Michigan when a young man, 
married Miss Sarah Bush, of that State, and 
settled near Detroit. When the Civil war 
broke out he enlisted in a Michigan regi- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



801 



ment, and was killed while in service in the 
South. He left one son, Anson, of Michi 
gan. (5) Francis Lloyd \vas the next child. 
(6) Joseph, born in 1838, was married to 
Miss Annie Head, of Lincoln County, 
moved to Kansas, and was there occupied as 
a contractor and builder. While thus en 
gaged he fell from a scaffold and received 
injuries which proved fatal. His wife and 
two children still live in Kansas. (7) Eve 
lyn, born in 1840, married the late Aaron 
Silverthorn, of Lincoln County, and still 
lives on their homestead there, with her 
four children. (8) Maria, born in 1843, 
married Sidney Walter; they moved to 
Kansas, where she died, leaving no family. 
(9) Herman, born in 1845, married Miss 
Sarah Gorman, of Petrolia, resided in Lon 
don, and there died in 1892. He had no 
children. 

Lloyd Goring passed his boyhood in 
Lincoln County, where he was sent to the 
district schools and received a fairly good 
education. His first experience in the busi 
ness world was as a buyer of fruit for the 
Montreal markets, and he continued nine 
years in this line. In 1866, while still a 
young man, he went to Petrolia during the 
first excitement over the first oil discovery, 
was engaged as a driller, and followed that 
occupation eighteen years. While residing 
in Petrolia he was married, Feb. 24, 1869, 
to Miss Martha Smoke, born in Stamford, 
Ont.. daughter of John and Catherine 
Smoke, natives of Germany. They began 
their married life in Petrolia when there 
were but few houses in the place, and in time 
owned their home there. But in 1892 Mr. 
Goring sold it and bought the Enniskillen 
home where he still lives, in Concession 9, 
Lot i, a tract of 100 acres, then wild land, 
which has become one of the desirable farms 
of the county, well cultivated, and with a 
number of good buildings on it. 

On March 29, 1892, the wife and mother 
whose presence and sympathy had made the 
home what it was, was taken from this 
world, and Mr. Goring was left with a fam 
ily of eight children, the youngest only six 
years old : ( i ) Arthur, born in November, 

51 



1871, died in 1899. (2) Ida M., born in 
June, 1873. married Thomas Potter of Con 
cession 8, Enniskillen, and has had two chil 
dren, Nellie and Earl, the latter deceased. 
(3) Mary, born in December, 1875, married 
Overtoil Manning, of Moore township, but 
has no family. (4) Isabella born in June, 
1877, married William Davison, lived at 
Corunna, and died Feb. 16, 1901, leaving 
no family. (5) Anson, born in May, 1880, 
assists his father on the homestead. On 
Xov. 25. 1903, he married Miss Sarah E. 
Hallam, born in Lincolnshire, England, 
March 3, 1882, daughter of Robert and 
Sarah Hallam, at present residents of En 
niskillen, and has one daughter, Thelma 
Grace, born Sept. 18, 1904. (6) Emma A.; 
born in November, 1881, was married June 
14, 1905, to Moses B. Hallam, who was 
born in Lincolnshire, England, Dec. 26, 
J 879- (7) William C, born in 1883, and 
(8) Edith A., born in April, 1886, live at 
home. 

The religious belief professed by Mr. 
Goring is that of the Church of England, to 
which his wife also belonged. In politics 
he always votes with the Conservative party, 
but has never desired to hold office, although 
he is a good citizen, awake to public inter 
ests and ready to help forward any move 
ment that will benefit the community. For 
over forty years he has been a Mason, and 
is connected with the local lodge in Pe 
trolia. Mr. Goring s beginning in life was 
a humble one, but from working by the day 
he has steadily and persistently advanced 
until he is now a prosperous farmer and 
landowner. He is manly, conscientious and 
upright, and has the thorough esteem of all 
who know him. 

EMERY CLEMENS, the popular post 
master of Wilson Croft, is a prosperous 
farmer, and public-spirited citizen of Ennis 
killen. He is one of the leading agricul 
turists of the township, whose opinion and 
advice is much sought and highly valued. 

Grandfather Jesse Clemens came to Can 
ada from Pennsylvania, after the Revolu 
tion, and was one of the pioneers in the set- 



802 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tiement of Waterloo County, where he died. 
His eldest son, Abram M., married Mary, 
daughter of Christopher Rosenberger, who 
came from Germany to Pennsylvania, and 
later moved to Canada. The other children 
of Jesse Clemens were Henry, Jacob, David 
and Hetty. Jacob Clemens still lives in 
Forest, Lambton County; Hetty is the 
widow of Solomon Bechtel, of Waterloo. 

Abram M. Clemens, father of Emery, 
was born in 1819, grew up in Waterloo 
County, and there married. He remained 
in that county until 1863, when he brought 
his family to Forest, Lambton County, and 
cleared a farm, making a home where he still 
lives, at the good old age of eighty-six. His 
wife, who was born in 1826, is also enjoying 
a hale old age in her own home. They are 
both members of the Methodist Church, 
which they helped to establish. Their chil 
dren were as follows : ( i ) Sarah, deceased, 
who married Alfred Simpson, and lived at 
the old Waterloo homestead; (2) Hannah, 
deceased, born in Waterloo, who married 
William Smith, lived in Bosanquet, Lamb- 
ton County, and left three children, Alfred,, 
Samuel and Jessie; (3) Nancy, who is un 
married, and living at the old home in Bo 
sanquet, where she cares for. her aged par- 
rents; (4) Lydia, born in Waterloo County, 
who married E. W. Sexsmith, lives in Brit 
ish Columbia, and whose children are Lena, 
Harvey, Maud, Hazel and Veda; (5) Ellen, 
born in Lambton County, who married Her 
bert Rawlings. lives in Lambton County, 
and whose children are Walter, Lloyd, 
Hilda and Austin; (6) John H., born in 
Lambton County, and living on the old 
homestead, who married Sophie Earnest, of 
Waterloo County, and whose children are 
Arthur, Ernest, John, Ida, Elsie, Mary. Mo- 
let and Dora; (7) Emery Clemens, who is 
mentioned below. 

Emery Clemens was born in Waterloo 
County June 15, 1859, but received most of 
his education in the schools of Lambton 
County. In September, 1881, he married 
Catherine A., only daughter of George A. 
German, one of the pioneers of Lambton 
County, where his daughter grew up and 



was educated. For four years after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clemens lived on 
the home farm in Bosanquet. then rented a 
farm near Petrolia, where they lived three 
years. In 1889 Mr. Clemens bought fifty 
acres of his present farm, which was partly 
improved. He cleared the land and devel 
oped it into a fine farm, and in 1903 bought 
fifty acres adjoining, which he has also 
improved and brought under cultivation, 
thus making one of the fine farms of the 
locality. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clemens 
are as follows : Gertrude, born in February, 
1883. wno i s at home; Roy, born in 1886; 
Harry, born in 1888; Edna, born in 1891; 
Pearl, born in 1895; and Clifford, born in 
1899. The younger children are all in 
school, where they are bright and promising 
students ; the girls of the family are espe 
cially proficient in music. 

The family are members of the Metho 
dist Church, where Mr. Clemens has been 
secretary of the Sunday-school, and one of 
its faithful teachers for fifteen years. In 
politics he belongs to the Reform party, but 
has never cared for office. In July, 1902, 
he received the appointment as postmaster 
at Wilson Croft, and has the office in his 
own home. He is also contractor for the 
mail route between his office and Petrolia. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Order of 
Chosen Friends at Enniskillen, No. 405. 

Mr. Clemens undertook the responsibil 
ities of life early, as he began managing his 
father s farm at the age of fifteen, owing 
to the poor health of the latter. He became 
the virtual head of the family, and was a 
man in experience and care when the ma 
jority are yet careless boys. He has become 
one of the" foremost agriculturists of Ennis 
killen. keeps posted on all the newest and 
best methods, and makes use of these in 
carrying on his own farm. He takes an ac 
tive part in the Farmer s Institute, his motto 
being "never too old to learn." He is one 
who always looks on the bright side, and he 
has a reputation for discrimination and 
sound good sense in all relations of life and 
business. He takes an active part in all 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



803 



matters of public interest, and is a man of 
exemplary character in every respect. He 
and his noble wife are bringing up a family 
who will be a credit to them and to the coiii- 
munity in which they live. 

DAVID MATTHEW JOHNSTON. 
Among the prominent men of Moore town 
ship who have the interests of the commun 
ity at heart, may be mentioned David Mat 
thew Johnston, who, for the past four years, 
has been a member of the Moore township 
board of councilmen. Mr. Johnston s birth 
occurred Feb. 5, 1864, in Marysville, Mich 
igan. 

The forefather of this branch of the 
Johnston family came from Ireland, where 
Robert Johnston, grandfather of David M., 
was born in 1811, in County Tyrone. His 
father, who was also named Robert, was a 
native of the same county, where he mai- 
ried, and brought his wife and children to 
Canada in 1821, locating in what was then 
Muddy York, now the city of Toronto. 
There he made his home, reared his family 
and died at the age of eighty-four years. 
He was a stanch Conservative, and a mem 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

Robert Johnston, grandfather of our 
subject, was only ten years old when he 
crossed the Atlantic with his parents. He 
was reared in Muddy York, and when a 
young man located in the township of Chin- 
guacousy, Peel County, and settled on a 
fifty-acre tract, which he cleared up and 
put under cultivation. He also took con 
tracts on clearing up other land, and con 
tinued improving in Peel County, until 
1855, when he sold out and removed to 
Lambton County, locating on the 6th Line, 
Moore township, buying a tract of 300 acres 
on Lots 23 and 24, for which he paid $3200. 
Here he built a log house in the bush on the 
west part of Lot 24, and set to work to 
clear up the land, converting the timber into 
cord wood, and making many improve 
ments. He also bought large tracts of land 
in the State of Wisconsin, and at the time 
of his death was the owner of over 800 
acres of land. His death occurred in 1893 



in his eighty-second year, and he was buried 
in the Union cemetery at Mooretown. He 
was a stanch Conservative, always support 
ing the principles laid down by that party, 
and was a great admirer of the late Sir John 
A. MacDonald. Religiously he was a mem 
ber of the Methodist Church, and had been 
a teacher and class leader and was promi 
nent in the choir. Fraternally he was con 
nected with the Loyal Orange Legion, Brig- 
den Lodge No. 916, and had been raised to 
the Black degree. He also affiliated with 
the Grand Lodge of the Dominion. Fifteen 
years before his death Mr. Johnston retired 
from active life. 

In Peel County Robert Johnston married 
Martha Foster, born in Newry, Ireland, 
and she died on the farm in 1884, and was 
buried in the Union cemetery. Religiously 
she was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnston 
the following children were born : Thomas, 
father of our subject; Hannah, who married 
Nelson Bowen, now deceased ; David a 
farmer of Moore township ; Robert, a 
rancher of Minnesota; John, also a rancher 
of Minnesota ; Alexander, who was a 
farmer, and died in 1899, in Moore town 
ship; Samuel, on the homestead; James, de 
ceased ; and Martha, who married Angus 
Cameron, and resides in St. Clair, 
Michigan. 

Thomas Johnston was born in Chingua- 
cousy, Peel County, where he was educated 
and reared to agricultural pursuits. He re 
moved to Lambton County with his parents, 
where he followed farming and worked for 
some time in Marysville, Michigan, in the 
lumber mills. He returned to Moore town 
ship, and settling on Lot 18, 6th Line, he 
engaged in farming until 1892, when he re 
tired and removed to Courtright where he is 
n\v living retired, cared for by his wife and 
daughter. He is a stanch Conservative, al 
ways supporting that ticket. He and his 
wife attend the Methodist Church at Court- 
right. Thomas Johnston married Sarah 
Morrison, born in Dorchester, Middlesex 
County, daughter of John Morrison, and 
two children were born to this union : David 



804 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Matthew ; and Ella, a dressmaker of Court- 
right. 

David Matthew Johnston attended the 
schools of Moore township, and grew to 
manhood on his father s farm. When twen 
ty-six years of age he located on the 2d 
Line, Lot 25, on a loo-acre bush farm, 
where he erected a nice frame dwelling and 
good barns and started to make a home for 
himself. Here he has. been engaged in ag 
ricultural pursuits for the past fourteen 
years, in general farming and stock raising, 
and has been eminently successful. 

In January, 1891, Mr. Johnston mar 
ried Hannah Ferguson, born in Thedford, 
Bosanquet township, Lambton County, 
daughter of Roderick and Mary (Cadman) 
Ferguson, and three children have been born 
to this union, as follows: Mildred E., Al 
bert Edward Craig and Rae Keith. 

Mr. Johnston is a prominent member of 
the Conservative party and was elected to 
the township council in 1901, having served 
since. In 1902 he was elected by acclama 
tion. During the years beginning with 1892 
and ending with 1898, he was appointed and 
acted as auditor for the township of Moore. 
Mr. Johnston has always taken a deep inter 
est in the affairs of the township, and heart 
ily supports all measures that will benefit 
the community. In fraternal circles he is 
popular and belongs to the A. F. & A. M., 
Moore Lodge, No. 294, of Courtright, and 
the K. O. T. M., Tent 32, of Courtright. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston attend the Presby 
terian Church of Guthrie. As a public of 
ficer, a fraternity man and an upright and 
honest citizen, Mr. Johnston enjoys a wide 
acquaintance and is held in much esteem in 
the community. 

ALBERT H. MOORE. Lambton 
County has long been noted for its well-cul 
tivated farms, operated by men of an un 
usual order of ability. Among those farm 
ers who have contributed to the prosperity 
of the county may be mentioned Albert H. 
Moore, of Enniskillen township, who is also 
extensively engaged in stock raising. His 
large farm of 200 acres is pleasantly located 



on Lot 29, Concession 9, of the above men 
tioned township. 

Mr. Moore was born near Seaforth, Hu 
ron County, May 13, 1852, the son of Wal 
ter and Mary (Sealy) Moore, who were 
born near St. John, N. B., of Scotch and 
English parentage respectively. Walter 
Moore was reared in the town of his birth 
and after his marriage removed to Huron 
County where he lived for some years. 
Later he moved to St. Clair County, Michi 
gan, where he settled and worked at his 
trade, that of carpenter, until the time of his 
death, which occurred at his home in 1884, 
his wife surviving him until 1898. They 
were consistent members of the Church of 
England, while in politics Mr. Moore was 
a Conservative. This worthy couple reared 
a family of seven children : Herbert C., born 
in New Brunswick, and residing in Sault 
Ste. Marie; James H., born in New Bruns 
wick, who fell from a building when a young 
man and received injuries which caused his 
death in October, 1872; Hamilton, who 
died in childhood; Matilda, born in Huron 
County, who married O. Britney of Conces 
sion 4, Enniskillen township ; Amanda, 
born in Canada, who grew up in Michigan, 
married Henry I. Carpenter and settled in 
Dubuque, Iowa, where she died, leaving a 
family ; Byron, born in Michigan, who mar 
ried Miss Olive Thorp, of Iowa, and now 
resides in Chicago, where he is a contractor 
and builder ; and Albert H. 

Albert H. Moore was reared and edu 
cated in Michigan, where he attended the 
district schools, and after completing his 
education he started out in life for himself, 
working wherever he found opportunity to 
do so, and his industry was rewarded by his 
becoming in this way able to purchase a 
tract of land in St. Clair county, Michigan. 
There he brought the farm under cultivation 
and made many improvements, putting it in 
fine condition, so that in 1883 he was able 
to sell it advantageously, and bought his 
present home, then all wild land. This he 
cleared and improved, adding to it until he 
has 200 acres of well cultivated land, clear 
ing the larger portion of this himself, and 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



805 



erecting a brick house, barn and out 
buildings. 

On June 8, 1875, Mr. Moore married 
Miss Elizabeth Balfour, born in Perth 
County, the daughter of James and Kath- 
erine (Worthington) Balfour, who came 
from Scotland and settled in Perth County. 
There James Balfour followed his trade of 
stone cutter and was employed on the con 
struction of the Welland Canal. He died 
in March, 1902, his wife still surviving 
him. To James and Katherine Balfour a 
large family were born, twelve of whom are 
still living. 

To Mr. Moore and his worthy wife have 
been born nine children as follows: Katie, 
born in Perth County; James, born in St. 
Clair County, Michigan; Byron, born in 
Michigan; Arthur, born in Michigan; 
George W., Blanch M. and Albert R., bom 
at the present home ; Robert and Charles, 
who died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. 
Moore have given their children good edu 
cational opportunities and they all reside at 
home. 

Religiously Mr. Moore and his wife are 
identified with the Methodist Church, of 
which he is one of the stewards and superin 
tendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics, 
although never aspiring to office, Mr. Moore 
has always been connected with the Reform 
party. Fraternally, Mr. Moore is a mem 
ber of the Canadian Order of Chosen 
Friends, of Enniskillen Lodge, No. 405. Mr. 
Moore is a representative of the highest type 
of manhood, and has many friends who hold 
him in high esteem. His efforts have met 
with success and he is regarded as one of the 
substantial men of his section and as a sen 
sible, practical farmer and stock man. 

MALCOLM MACKENZIE. The busi 
ness interests of Sarnia, Lambton County, 
Ont, are many and varied, and are in the 
hands of enterprising men, who are in favor 
of progress and advancement in every pos 
sible line of activity. Especially is this true 
-of the younger element in the business life, 
and among those who are steadily forging 
to the front, Malcolm MacKenzie, a member 



of the well-known firm of MacKenzie, Milne 
& Co., Limited, of Sarnia, one of the largest 
hardware houses in the city, is a notable 
example. 

Malcolm MacKenzie was born in Sarnia 
in 1876, son of the late Charles MacKenzie, 
ex-M. P. P., an extended sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere. The primary education 
of Malcolm MacKenzie was received in the 
public schools in his native city, as well as in 
the Collegiate Institute, he being graduated 
from the latter in 1892. Following this 
Mr. MacKenzie spent two years at McGill 
University, Montreal, and then returned to 
Sarnia, and entered the firm of which he is 
a member which was organized at that time. 
The success of this firm, which although still 
young is doing a large business, is due to the 
enterprise and foresight of its thriving 
members. 

On Feb. 18, 1902, Mr. MacKenzie and 
Miss Blanche E. Beresforcl were united in 
marriage. Mrs. MacKenzie is a native of 
Alabama, U. S. A., and a daughter of Will 
iam and Margaret (Wilson) Beresford; 
she received her education at the Collegiate 
Institute of Sarnia, completing her course 
with the class of 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Mac 
Kenzie are consistent members of St. An 
drew s Presbyterian Church. Politically 
Mr. MacKenzie is an. ardent supporter of 
the principles of the Reform party, and his 
fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, 
the I. O. O. F., the Sons of Scotland, the 
K. O. T. M., and the C. B. P. O. E. Both 
he and his wife are very popular socially, 
and they are numbered among the leading 
people of Sarnia. 

MRS. MATILDA DAVIDSON, 
widow of the late John Davidson, and a 
resident of Concession 2, Lot 8, Enniskillen 
township, is one of the best known and most 
highly esteemed residents of that part of 
Lambton County. She was born Jan. 9, 
1837. in Euphemia township, Lambton 
County, and is a daughter of Lewis and Ju 
liet (Finish) Pesha. 

Lewis Pesha. father of Mrs. Davidson, 
was born in 1798, in Lower Canada, a son 



8o6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



of Bazil Pesha and his wife Mary Mavill, 
both of whom were born in Lower Canada 
of ancestors who came from France in the 
early days. The mother of Mrs. Davidson 
was born in 1810, in Lower Canada, and 
both she and her husband were reared on 
farms and educated in the schools of their 
localities. After their marriage they came 
to Detroit, Michigan, where Mr. Pesha 
followed his trade as a blacksmith some four 
years, then removed to Walpole Island, and 
later to Smith s Falls, in Euphemia town 
ship, Lambton County, where he worked for 
eight or nine years, making many friends 
by his faithful attention to duty and hon 
orable methods of doing business. Seeing 
a better business opening at Florence, he re 
moved there for some years and then de 
cided to embark in farming, receiving a Gov 
ernment grant of land in Euphemia town 
ship, Concession 4. Here Mr. Pesha cleared 
up a farm and made a permanent home, and 
continued to work also at his trade. When 
other business was poor, he sailed on the 
lakes during the summer seasons and thus 
earned the means to invest in his home. At 
this home this industrious man and good cit 
izen died in 1849. 

The widow of Mr. Pesha was left with a 
family of eight children, to whom she dedi 
cated the best years of her life, rearing them 
through many difficulties to estimable man 
hood and womanhood. She died in 1898. 
Her children were: Peter, born in 1823 at 
Detroit, who married Nettie Ward, of 
Lambton County, resides on his farm in 
Euphemia township and has a large family 
of children; Lewis, born in 1825 at Detroit, 
who later removed to the United States in 
young manhood and has since been lost to 
his family; Francis, born in 1829 at Detroit, 
who married Bella Carter, also a Canadian, 
lives on the old home in Euphemia town 
ship, and has two children, Francis and 
Annie; James, born in 1839 nl Euphemia 
township, who married Eliza J. Ward, lives 
in Euphemia township and has four chil 
dren, Lewis, Mary, George and Viola ; Ju 
liet, born in 1841. who now resides with her 
sister, Mrs. Davidson; Bazil. born in 1843, 



who migrated to the State of Pennsylvania ; 
John, born in 1845, wno was accidentally in 
jured in young manhood and is now an in 
valid in a hospital at London; and Matilda, 
who was the fourth member of the above 
family and the eldest daughter. 

Mrs. Davidson grew to young woman 
hood on the old homestead and obtained 
as good an education as the time and place 
afforded. On Nov. 19, 1864, she was 
united in marriage with John Davidson, and 
children were born to them. ( i ) Juliet, born 
in 1866, is the wife of William Hoskin, a 
contractor-and builder at Chicago, and is the 
mother of two children, Margaret and Hes 
ter. She is a very accomplished lady, and 
for some years was a teacher of music. (2) 
Frank, born in 1868, died in 1890, at El 
Paso, Texas. (3) Adelia, born in 1870, is 
the wife of John A. Allen, a farmer of Brig- 
den, and they have six children, Mabel, 
Nettie, Florence, Lawrence, Bertha and 
Ethel. (4) Bazil, born in 1874, is unmarried 
and holds a responsible position in South 
Carolina. (5) Lewis, born in 1876, was 
killed by the kick of a horse, at the age of 
fourteen years. (6) Dougal, born in 1878, 
is the home farmer, a well educated young 
man, one of the most popular and deserving 
in that part of the county. 

John Davidson, the father of the above 
family, was born in September, 1820, at 
Glasgow, Scotland, a son of John and Mary 
(Ramage) Davidson, who set sail for Can 
ada in 1840. All but the mother reached 
this promised land, but she died at sea. The 
Davidson family settled at Jarvis, in Es 
sex County. At this place the late John 
Davidson was married to Miss Eliza Cham 
bers, and then he moved to Chatham and 
went to work in the machine shops, being a 
skilled machinist. Some years later he re 
moved to Oil Springs and went to work in 
the oil refinery. At that place Mrs. David 
son died, leaving six children: James; 
John, of Dakota; Eliza, deceased; Robert 
and Mary, of the United States; and Will 
iam, deceased. 

After his. second marriage, to Matilda 
Pesha, Mr. Davidson continued to work at 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



807 



Oil Springs until 1877, when he purchased 
the present home farm. It was then but a 
native wilderness, these fertile, productive 
fields being totally covered with brush and 
timber. A few words suffice to assert that 
Mr. Davidson cleared up his farm, but how 
little it tells the whole of the story. Months 
of the hardest physical labor and more of 
patient waiting, upon the sprouting of grain 
and tuber, passed before the pioneer could 
reap any reward. Until his death, in No 
vember," 1903, Mr. Davidson took an inter 
est in his agricultural affairs, although ar 
tive work had long since been relegated to 
younger hands. 

Politically Mr. Davidson supported the 
principles of the Conservative party and 
reared his sons intelligently in the same con 
victions. For years he was a consistent 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. 
Davidson is a member of the Catholic 
Church, that being the religious faitli in 
which she was reared. The family is one of 
the most highly regarded in Enniskillen 
township. 

JOHN McKENZIE (deceased). Sev 
enty years is a long period, and how many 
wonderful events it covers in the world s 
history ! It was seventy years ago that the 
late John McKenzie settled down in the wil 
derness, one of the first pioneers on Bear 
Creek, Moore township, County of Lamb- 
ton, Ont, his home being near the site of the 
present town of Brigden. It required a stout 
heart and strong arm to carve out a home 
here then, and these he possessed and dur 
ing a long and busy life they were often 
called into requisition. 

John McKenzie was born in 1815, in 
Inverness, Scotland, son of John. McKenzie, 
who died when his family was small. John 
was nineteen years of age when he came to 
the Dominion, crossing the ocean, a lonely 
boy, in 1834. His objective point was 
Lambton County. On the bank of noisy 
little Bear Creek he purchased 100 acres of 
timber-covered land and built a humble log 
cabin. Xo roads had been cut to the borders 
of civilization, only Indian trails led through 



the dense woods, and few and far between 
were the other hardy settlers. 

This little wilderness home became one of 
domestic comfort, for he found a good wife 
to share it, and it became a noted resting 
place for travelers through the region, a 
hunter, a prospective settler, or a party of 
Indians, all of whom found an equally hos 
pitable welcome. In those early days plenty 
never reigned, but he shared his humble 
meal whatever it might be. The nearest 
market was Sarnia, then but a little village, 
and in order to reach it he had either to 
walk, which he often did, or to go with his 
ox-team, taking the precaution always to 
carry his ax along in order to clear his way. 
Occasionally corn meal had been sold out at 
Sarnia, and he then had to cross to Port 
Huron and carry the bag of meal on his 
back, over the long fifteen mile path. Dan 
gers, too, were on every side, they constantly 
being menaced by the wild things of the 
forests and sometimes the Indians, while the 
fierce storms of winter found them often un 
prepared. There were no schools or 
churches, and for a long time no social life 
at all. All these conditions gradually 
changed, and Mr. McKenzie was permitted 
to live to see the day. Not only did the 
neighborhood prosper, but he did also, and 
the little log house was replaced by a frame 
dwelling, a credit to the locality, and good 
barns and other farm buildings took the 
place of the old structures of logs. 

Mr. McKenzie secured for his wife a 
most estimable maiden, who had been sen 
sibly reared by a good mother. Her name 
was Betsey Shaw, born in Inverness-shire, 
Scotland, a daughter of John and Mary 
(McLean) Shaw, and a sister of the late 
Angus Shaw, this family being an old set 
tled one of Moore township. The eight 
children of this union were: Mary, who 
died young; Margaret, who married James 
S. Keough, of Moore township; Christina; 
John Shaw ; Finly, a resident of Northwest 
Territory; James and William, both de 
ceased ; and Peter, who manages the old 
homestead. 

John McKenzie was ably assisted by his 



8o8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



\vife (luring the early days when discour 
agements were on every side, and her cheer 
ful companionship was everything to him. 
The young- couple, as noted, became 
known for their hospitality, and there 
were few among the early settlers of 
this region who had not enjoyed it. 
Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie later bought 
200 acres of land on the 3d Conces 
sion, Moore township, and this he divided 
between his two sons. He never accumu 
lated great wealth, his hand was always too 
ready to assist others, but he was possessed 
of things worth more than riches, a char 
acter noted for unimpeachable integrity, and 
a kindness which made him esteemed, re 
spected and beloved. 

Politically Mr. McKenzie was a stanch 
Reformer, and was always a loyal, devoted 
supporter of the laws of the Dominion. Dur 
ing the rebellion of 1837-8 he performed 
his duty as a patriotic British subject, was a 
volunteer in the service, and was given a 
commission to arrest deserters. Mr. Mc 
Kenzie was as loyal to the Presbyterian 
Church as to his country, and gave gener 
ously of his means to further its work in 
Moore township. He lived to a ripe old age, 
and died on his farm, in 1891, and was laid 
to rest in Bear Creek cemetery. His devoted 
widow followed him to the grave in April, 
1902, and she was laid by his side in the old 
Bear Creek cemetery. She was also a de 
voted and worthy member of the Presby 
terian Church, a good woman in all the word 
implies, and her children and neighbors, in 
the words of Scripture, "rise up and call her 
blessed." 

JOHN S. MCKENZIE, eldest son of the 
late John McKenzie, was born Feb. 25, 
1858, in the home on the banks of Bear 
Creek, Moore township, and he was edu 
cated in the district schools of his native lo 
cality. From an early age he worked on the 
homestead farm, assisting in its clearing 
and cultivating. After the death of his 
father he continued on the place until he lo 
cated on a farm of 100 acres in the 3d Con 
cession of Moore township, left him by his 
father. 



Following in the footsteps of his father, 
although under easier conditions, Mr. Mc 
Kenzie cleared this large body of land and 
has placed it under cultivation, making ex 
cellent improvements here which include 
a comfortable dwelling, substantial barns 
and all necessary farm buildings. He is a 
man with practical ideas, and these he has 
put to good account. 

Mr. McKenzie was married at the home 
of Mrs. Nelson, in Enniskillen township, to 
Henrietta McMahan, a sister to Mrs. Nel 
son and to W. H. McMahan, the well known 
county councillor of Plympton township. 
Mrs. Henrietta McKenzie enjoys the es 
teem and affection of all who know her, 
and is a woman of Christian life and char 
acter. Her hospitality is proverbial, and her 
kindness has been shown in many cases 
when sickness or trouble has visited the 
neighborhood. She is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. The one child of 
this marriage died in infancy. They are 
rearing an adopted son, Albert McKenzie, 
who will be afforded everv advantage in 
their power to bestow. Politically Mr. Mc 
Kenzie belongs to the Reform party, and he 
has been trustee of School Section No. 17, 
for some time. He is one of the leading 
members of Plum Creek Presbyterian 
Church, where both he and wife are active 
in the Sunday school, of which he is the 
treasurer. His fraternal association is with 
the Woodmen of the World, at Brigden. 

THOMAS SYMINGTON is a sub 
stantial farmer, living on Lot 20, Concession 
7, Enniskillen. He was born and bred in 
Lambton County, where his parents were 
among the early settlers. 

The grandfather of Mr. Symington, 
was Thomas, who married Isabella Simers, 
and came to Plympton, where he settled on 
wild land, clearing it, and making a per 
manent home. He and his wife died at this 
home, and their children were as fol 
lows : James, of Port Huron ; John, who 
was drowned in 1848; William, father of 
Thomas of this sketch ; Thomas, of Plymp 
ton ; Robert and Rev. George, both de- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



809 



ceased ; Alexander, who died in London ; 
and Mary (deceased), who married a Mr. 
Walker, of Plympton. 

William Symington married Catherine 
Carrins, a native, like himself, of Galashiels, 
Scotland, where as a young man he was 
employed in a woolen mill. After his mar 
riage he came to Plympton, and settled on a 
tract of bush land, in Concession 9, where 
his first home was a log cabin. He cleared 
the land, made many improvements and 
later became a cheese manufacturer on a 
large scale. He died at his home in Sarnia, 
May 25, 1893; his widow still lives at the 
old homestead with her son, James. The 
family are all members of the Presbyterian 
Church, where Mr. Symington was an 
elder for many years. He also held the office 
of justice of the peace for a number of 
years. Of his six children, Thomas, of this 
sketch, is the eldest. 

Thomas Symington was born March 20, 
1847. m Plympton township, and was edu 
cated in the district schools. Being the old 
est son, the responsibility of the farm fell 
upon him, as his father was justice of the 
peace, and had other occupations and inter 
ests. After reaching the age of twenty-one, 
he took entire charge of the home farm for 
six years. His mother and his brother James 
still live on this old place at Plympton. 

On Christmas Day, 1883, Mr. Syming 
ton married Amelia D. McLean, daughter 
of Robert and Margaret McLean, both na 
tives of Canada, who moved to Michigan, 
and still live in St. Clair County, that State. 
Mrs. Symington was born near St. Thomas, 
in September, 1860, but received most of 
her education in the schools of Michigan. 
All of her relations now live in Michigan, 
except Joseph McLean, whose home is in 
Enniskillen. Mr. Symington has cleared his 
present farm from the original wild land, 
and made of it one of the fine farms of En 
niskillen. His ten children are as follows : 
Lilian, born in 1884: William, 1885; 
Thomas, 1887; Catherine. 1889; Mary M., 
1890: Lettie, 1892; Beatrice 1894: George, 
1896: Mabel E., 1901; Clifford, 1903. 

Mr. Symington is a member of the Pres 



byterian Church, his wife is a member of 
the Methodist Church. Politically Mr. 
Symington is an adherent of the Reform 
party. He is a man who has carved out his 
own fortune with no outside aid, and is one 
of the pioneers in Concession 7, Enniskillen, 
when he enjoys the home which is the re 
ward of long industry and perseverance. He 
is highly esteemed by all his circle of ac 
quaintances for his kindly disposition and 
upright conduct in all his dealings. He is a 
nephew of Thomas Symington, of Plymp 
ton, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. 

JOHN DANDY. Having attained 
the age of three score years and ten, 
Tohn Dandy, one of the influential and 
monied men of Sarnia, Lambton County, 
Ont.. is enjoying his declining years, happy 
in his recollections of a well-spent life and 
his many travels to distant countries. 

Edward Dandy, father of John, was 
born in Ireland, about 1790, and died at the 
age of eighty years, having spent his entire 
life there engaged in farming. The maiden 
name of his wife was Mary Madole, and to 
their union were born the following chil 
dren : James and Mary, who died in Aus 
tralia ; Saniuel, a farmer in Bruce County, 
Ont. ; John ; Mary ; and James. John Dandy 
was born in Ireland in July, 1833, and at an 
early age went to New South Wales, Aus 
tralia, where for a year he was engaged as a 
market gardener, after which he located in 
the colony of Victoria, Australia, and re 
mained two years, engaged in mining. His 
next removal was to Melbourne, where he 
engaged in teaming in connection with the 
mines, and here he spent two years more. 
The following three years were spent in New 
Zealand, also teaming, but at the expiration 
of that time, he disposed of his teams and 
returned to Ireland. During his stay in 
Australia, Mr. Dandy was married to Miss 
Essie Stewart, in St. Paul s Church. Mel 
bourne, theirs being the first marriage cere* 
mony held in. that edifice. Upon his return 
to his native land, Mr. Dandy found both 
parents dead, and after settling his family 
on the land he inherited, he made a pro- 



Sio 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



tracted trip to Sarnia, Out., in 1870. Re 
turning home he purchased real estate, 
which he disposed of in three years, and re 
mained in Ireland until he decided that the 
New World offered better opportunities, so 
lie returned to Ontario, bringing his family 
with him, and located in Sarnia, on Chris 
tina street, where he still resides. For fif 
teen years, he was engaged in a mercantile 
business, but at the expiration of that time 
moved his store off his lot and erected his 
present commodious and comfortable brick 
residence. In 1883 Mr. Dandy, George 
Matheson, Randal Kenny and Nicholas 
Rainsbury went into the oil business, and 
after many years of successful ventures 
along this line, in 1898, Mr. Dandy retired 
from active life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dandy have six children: 
William John, of Detroit ; Emily, of Sarnia ; 
Selina, wife of Joseph Barr, of Woodstock, 
and the mother of three children, Edith, 
Marjorie and Anna; James, for five years a 
member of the Mounted Police of the 
Northwest, where he later settled ; Annie, 
at home ; and Maggie, at home. Politically 
Mr. Dandy is a Conservative, and has been 
a member of the board of health since its 
organization, and for seven years was its 
chairman. He is also street and water com 
missioner, and chairman of the managing 
committee of the streets of Sarnia. His re 
ligious home is in the Church of England at 
Sarnia, to which he is a liberal supporter. 
Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Ar 
canum, in which he is highly respected. Few 
men have led a more eventful life than Mr. 
Dandy, and as he is a man whose powers of 
observation have been acutely developed, his 
stories of his travels are intensely entertain 
ing and instructive, and he numbers his 
friends by the extent of his acquaintance. 

JOHN RADFORD, a prominent and 
representative farmer of Enniskillen town 
ship, Lambton County, residing on Conces 
sion 4, Lot 4, was born in Cornwall, Eng 
land, March 22, 1840, and is the son of Jo 
seph and Esther (Dennis) Radford, both 
of whom were also born in Cornwall, the 
former in 1811 and the latter in 1812. 



The parents were educated and raised in 
Cornwall, where they were married, and in 
1871 Joseph Radford made the voyage to 
Canada on the steamer "Moravian," settling 
in Petrolia, Lambton County. For some 
three years John Radford worked at this 
place at farming and oil work and then 
rented a farm on Concession 2, in Ennis 
killen township, where he moved his pa 
rents and farmed for some twenty years for 
Richard Smith. In 1893 he purchased his 
present farm on Concession 4, which is now 
considered to be one of the finest farms in 
Enniskillen, clearing it up from bush land, 
erecting a beautiful house in 1893 and his 
large fine barn in 1902. In 1893 Joseph 
Radford passed away, his wife surviving 
him until 1902. This worthy couple were 
connected with the Methodist Church, of 
which they were most devout members. 
Their family consisted of two sons and one 
daughter : John, our subject, is the eldest 
son; William, born in 1843, married Re 
becca Truscott, and they now reside in 
Devonshire, England, where he is a retired 
business man ; Jane, the first born child, 
born in 1837, is the wife of William Par 
son, deceased, who was a sailor and she re 
sides in Devonshire, England, with her two 
children, William and Edith. 

John Radford received a fair education 
in the old country schools of Cornwall, and 
during his youth worked on farms, with the 
exception of three years when he learned 
the trade of blacksmith. In 1864 he was 
married to Miss Annie Grose, who was born 
in Cornwall, April 10, 1845, a daughter of 
Stephen and Elizabeth (Hoar) Grose, mem 
bers of Cornwall s oldest families; both 
died in England, where all of Mrs. Rad- 
ford s family reside, she being the only mem 
ber in Canada. In 1871 John Radford with 
his wife and three children came to Canada, 
bringing with him his parents. At this time 
his mother s people resided in Enniskillen, 
they being William, James and Harry Den 
nis, who were early pioneers, having settled 
on Concession 14. in Enniskillen township. 

To John Radford and his wife have 
been born six children, (i) William, born 
in England in 1865, was educated and raised 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sn 



in Canada, \vhere he married Miss Edith- 
Dennis of Oil City, and they now reside in 
Courtright, where he follows the lakes as 
captain of a freighter. They have two chil 
dren, Marion and Harold W. (2) John, 
born in England, in 1870, married Miss 
May Short, of Enniskillen, and they now re 
side near his father s home, he heing a chief 
engineer on the lake steamers. They have 
two children, Laura M. and Lillian. (3) 
Joseph, born in England in 1871, lives at the 
homestead. (4) Malinda died in Enniskillen 
at the age of eleven. (5) Annie, born in 
Lambton County in 1876, is the wife of 
David Brown, a sailor, residing in Moore 
township, and they have two children, Jessie 
and Edith. (6) Emma, born in Enniskillen 
in 1882, received a fair education and re 
sides at the old homestead. 

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Radford, al 
though not members, take great interest in 
church work and are liberal supporters of 
the Methodist Church. Politically, Mr. Rad 
ford has given his support to the Reform 
party and has very acceptably filled the po 
sition of school trustee for three years in 
Enniskillen township. Mr. Radford s life 
work affords a good illustration of what a 
man may accomplish, although handicapped 
at the start in life by poverty. He has al 
ways identified himself with every project 
which will advance the interests of the com 
munity in which he resides. He is consid 
ered a man of integrity, a good citizen and 
an affectionate father. 

JAMES HARKNESS. Born in Moore 
township, Lambton County, on Lot 14, /th 
Concession, Sept. 10, 1845, James Harkness 
has become one of the leading men of the 
community, through well-directed efforts 
along legitimate lines. 

Samuel Harkness was born in Coun 
ty Tyrone, Ireland, and by occupation 
was a weaver, following his trade in his na 
tive land until he was twenty-four. At that 
time, attracted by the accounts of fortunes 
to be made across the ocean, he emigrated to 
Canada, accompanied by his sister Mrs. Ma- 
guire. who died on the passage over and was 
buried at sea. After nine weeks on the 



ocean, Samuel Harkness landed at Montreal 
in 1832, and made his way to Glengarry 
County, locating at Lochiel, where he worked 
for two years, at a salary of $100, for Don 
ald Cameron. In 1834 he came further 
west to Lambton County, and locating in 
Moore township, settled on 200 acres of 
wild land, Lot 14, 7th Concession. Like 
other pioneers, he erected a log shanty, and 
began to clear his land, keeping house by 
himself. Later Frank Spalding joined him,, 
and for two years they struggled along as 
best they could with their housekeeping, and 
then Mr. Harkness sent to Glengarry 
County for his sister Mrs. Lang and her 
husband James Lang. To them he gave 
fifty acres, and he sold the other fifty acres 
of the west half of his lot. In order to ob 
tain ready money, he made staves, cord- 
wood, and anything else which would help 
eke out his income. After years of patient 
labor, he met death by a falling tree, March 
13, 1869, at the age of sixty-four years, and 
he was buried in Bear Creek cemetery. He 
was a consistent member of the Presbyterian 
Church. In politics he was a Conservative,. 
and he served as commissioner of roads in 
Moore township. In Ireland he was a mem 
ber of the L. O. L. 

In 1843, Mr. Harkness married, at Hills- 
borough, Lambton County, Margaret Car- 
naghan, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 
daughter of Robert Carnaghan. The children 
born to them were : Mary, who married 
William Ellis and resides at Brigden, Ont. ; 
James ; Elizabeth, \vho married George 
Young, and died Oct. 3, 1904; Jane, who 
married David Gray, of Moore township: 
Isabella, who married Robert Baggs, of 
Sombra township; Samuel, a farmer of 
Moore township. The mother died at the 
home of her daughter, Mrs. Gray, in her 
eightieth year, and is interred in Bear 
Creek cemetery. 

James Harkness, the subject proper of 
this biography, attended the Burkhall 
school on the 6th Line, a log school without 
any of the modern improvements or advan 
tages, and during the time he was securing 
his education, he worked upon the farm. 
When his father died, James took charge of 



812 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



the homestead and made extensive improve 
ments. Devoting his vigorous young energy 
towards the improvement of the property, 
he soon had a comfortable dwelling erected, 
put up a good barn, and other outbuildings. 
His fences are in good condition, and his 
land is in a high state of cultivation. In 
1904, he lost his house and all its contents 
by fire, a loss of $1.500. Not at all discour 
aged, however, he soon set about replacing 
it with a much better home than the old one. 

On Jan. 17. 1877, Mr. Harkness was 
united in marriage with Mary Ann Ellis, 
of Sombra, a daughter of Isaac and Jane 
(Kellum) Ellis, at the home of the bride s 
father. No children have been born of this 
union, but Mr. and Mrs. Harkness have 
reared a son of the brother of Mr. Harkness, 
James Paterson Harkness, a very promising 
young man, now living with his adopted pa 
rents who love him as their own. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harkness are consistent 
members of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which they take a very active part, and are 
very liberal in their contributions towards 
its support. In politics Mr. Harkness is a 
Conservative, but, although eminently fitted 
for public life, he will not accept of office, 
preferring to devote himself to his private 
affairs. In habits Mr. Harkness is domes 
tic, taking his greatest enjoyment in his own 
home with his wife and adopted son. He is 
temperate himself, and advocates the same 
course for others. In all of his dealings with 
his fellowmen, Mr. Harkness has followed 
the most honorable of methods, and is noted 
for his fairness and uprightness. Having 
been born in the township he has seen its 
wonderful development, and is very proud 
of it, and of the part he and his family have 
played in its history. 

MRS. JOHN STEVENSON, one of 
the most highly esteemed residents of Ennis- 
killen township, Lambton County, who re 
sides on her well improved farm on Lot 3, 
Concession 4. was born Feb. 2, 1842, in 
Yorkshire, England, a daughter of Henry 
and Nancy Wilkinson, members of old fam 
ilies. 



Henry Wilkinson came to Canada and 
settled in Middlesex county, where he 
became foreman for a large manufactur 
ing plant in London township. Having been 
liberally educated in his own land and hav 
ing held the positions of bookkeeper and 
manager with large English firms, he was 
well qualified for responsible work in his 
adopted country. After the death of his 
wife, which took place when Mrs. Steven 
son was small, he brought his four children 
to Canada. These were : George, who died 
in 1904, at Oil Springs, leaving one son, 
Benjamin, who still resides there; William, 
who is a retired business man at Sarnia ; 
Thompson, who is a resident of Sarnia, has 
a family of five children; and Jane, Mrs. 
Stevenson. By a second marriage, with 
Miss Martha Johnston, Henry Wilkinson 
had two children, Mary A. and Johnston. 
The former married John Folks, who re 
moved to Virginia, where she died. The lat 
ter is a prosperous merchant in Sarnia, in 
the clothing line. Henry Wilkinson died in 
1879, i n Middlesex County. He was a con 
sistent member of the Baptist Church, a man 
of Christian life and character. 

Mrs. Stevenson was well educated in her 
girlhood, and, as the only sister, was the ob 
ject of her brothers loving solicitude. She 
was married in Lambton County, near Oil 
Springs, to John Stevenson, 

Mr. Stevenson was born Jan. 6, 1838, in 
Leicestershire, England, a son of Leonard 
and Mary Stevenson, who came to Lambton 
County, in early days, settling first at Ham 
ilton. Later they came to Oil Springs 
where both he and wife died. Three of 
their children still survive, residents of 
Michigan. 

When. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson settled 
on the present home farm in 1868, it was 
only a tract of wild land. This lie cleared up 
into a good farm during his subsequent life 
here of sixteen years, and, at death, Feb. 19, 
1884, left behind ample provision for his 
family and the record of a noble, Christian 
life. In young manhood, prior to his mar 
riage, he had served in the Civil War in the 
L nited States, for more than three years 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



813 



being a member of the i6th Regiment, Mich 
igan Artillery, and for his faithful service 
as a soldier, his widow receives a pension 
from the United States Government. Prev 
ious to the war he had owned and operated 
a farm in Michigan, which he disposed of 
in order to purchase the one now owned by 
his family. 

Mr. Stevenson was survived by his 
widow and five children. William J., born 
in 1868, married Maggie Scott, a young 
lady of Moore township, and they live in 
Brigden, his calling being that of a sailor on 
the lakes; they have two children, Leonard 
and Wilfred. Mary J., born in 1869, is the 
capable manager of the home farm and the 
loving caretaker of her invalid mother, a 
lady of the highest type of character. Au 
gusta E., born in 1873, died in 1889, a 
victim of typhoid fever. Leonard, born in 
1876. died in October, 1889, shortly after 
his sister, being also a victim of typhoid 
fever. Emma died in childhood. Robert, 
born in 1880, while he makes his home with 
his mother, follows the life of a lake sailor. 
Mrs. Stevenson is a consistent member of 
the Baptist Church. Her late husband was 
a worthy member of the Methodist Church, 
and a liberal supporter of all religious work. 

In politics, Mr. Stevenson was a firm 
Conservative. He was a man of such ster 
ling characteristics that he made friends on 
all sides and was held in the highest esteem 
by his Canadian neighbors and also by his 
comrades of the Grand Army of the Re 
public. Kind hearted and genial, he was 
favorably known outside his family, while 
within the domestic circle he was beloved as 
a loving husband and careful father. 

ALEXANDER J. KELLY. One of the 
prominent citizens of Lambton County is 
Alexander J. Kelly, who has long been a 
leader in public movements, and since 1896 
has been identified with the Lambton County 
House of Refuge, an institution which not 
only reflects credit upon the county for its 
scope and aim, as well as its commodious 
buildings, but which demonstrates the ad 
mirable manner in which such a charity can 



be conducted, when placed in wise and ju 
dicious hands, as is the present case. 

Mr. Kelly is of Irish birth and ancestry, 
his grandfather, Daniel Kelly, being a na 
tive of Ireland, in which country he was 
twice married. The children of his first mar 
riage were: John; Alexander (Sandy) ; 
William ; and Jane, who married John 
Bryce. The children of the second marriage 
were : Thomas and James. 

Alexander Kelly, the father of Alexan 
der J., established the family in Canada, in 
1837, locating at Long Point, where he 
worked at his trade of moulder, for J. and 
O. Vanorman. Soon after settling in Can 
ada, he prevailed upon his father and the 
rest of the family, to come also and make 
homes in Lambton County, where they were 
comfortably established prior to 1840. They 
located in Brooke township, cleared up a 
large tract, making a farm both productive 
and valuable, and this property has never 
been permitted to go out of the family. 
.About this time, Alexander Kelly purchased 
Lot 21, Concession 6, in Warwick township, 
just over the line from the settlement of his 
father. He continued to work at his trade 
at the Point for some time longer, but finally 
settled on his farm, which he cleared and 
made his home until his death, which oc 
curred in 1898, at the age of eighty-seven 
years. All his life he was interested in pol 
itics, being a very pronounced Conservative, 
and was always ready to aid his party, al 
though he resolutely declined office. 

In 1847 Alexander Kelly was united in 
marriage with Mary Mitchel, a sister of Dr. 
Mitchel, of Wallaceburg, and daughter of 
William Mitchel. She was born in Ire 
land in 1825, and died in 1864, in Warwick 
township, Lambton County, leaving these 
children : William, a farmer in Brooke 
township; Nancy, Mrs. John Bambridge; 
Daniel, a farmer of Brooke township; Alex 
ander J. ; Robert, a resident of Petrolia ; and 
Mary, Mrs. Absalom Lucas. The parents 
of this family were consistent members of 
the Church of England. 

Alexander J. Kelly was born on the old 
homestead in Brooke township, April 13, 



814 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



1853, was reared in a good home and was 
educated in the schools of his locality. On 
reaching his majority, he engaged in farm 
ing with his brother Daniel, on Lot 22, 
Brooke township, remaining there three 
years, at the end of which time he sold 
his half interest in the i2O-acre tract to his 
brother, and then located on Lot 16, Con 
cession 8, in the township of Enniskillen, 
this being in 1884. Very soon after locat 
ing in this township, he entered public life, 
with which he has been more or less con 
nected ever since. For five years, from 
1885 to 1889, he was collector of taxes of 
the township, and in 1890 he was elected 
deputy reeve, and then became a member 
of the county council, a position he held 
through 1890 and 1891. In 1893 followed 
his election as reeve of the township, and 
he very acceptably filled that position until 
1896, when he was appointed manager of 
the Lambton County House of Refuge. Mr. 
Kelly then sold his farm in Enniskillen 
township, and took up his home in the 
Refuge, being the first manager, the estab 
lishment being opened at that time. The 
building is of brick, four stories in height, 
1 20 by 144 feet in dimensions, a very im 
posing structure, and capable of accommo 
dating seventy-five people. In connection 
with, it are sixty acres of land, which are 
cultivated by the inmates under Mr. Kelly s 
direction. The successful and economical 
management of an institution of this kind, 
requires the excellent judgment, the broad 
ness of mind, the firmness and determination 
of a born manager, combined with the abil 
ity to watch the minutiae and minimize the 
mistakes which so large a business make un 
avoidable, and all these qualities are pos 
sessed by Mr. Kelly in unusual degree. 

In 1881, Mr. Kelly was united in mar 
riage with Miss Martha Cowan, daughter 
of Alexander Cowan, who was an early set 
tler in Brooke township. Three children 
were born to this union, namely : Adclie. a 
graduate of the Collegiate Institute of Sar- 
nia; Arthur, an accountant in a Toronto 
bank ; and Harol, a student at the Collegiate 
Institute in this city. Mr. Kelly is identi 



fied with the Conservative party ; and fra 
ternally he is a member of the W. O. AY., 
and the K. O. T. M. The religious member 
ship of the family is in the Church of Eng 
land. 

WILLIAM PATTERSON is well 
known among the leading agriculturists of 
Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
where he owns and operates a farm on Con 
cession 9, east half of Lot 23. Mr. Patterson 
was born March 30, 1845, m the north of 
Ireland, a son of William and Rebecca 
(McCullough) Patterson, natives of Ire 
land. 

William Patterson, Sr., came to Canada 
in 1857 and located in Hastings County, 
later removing to the home of his son Will 
iam in Lambton County, where he died 
April 6, 1880, his wife surviving until 1891. 
They were the parents of seven children, all 
of whom, with the exception of Robert M. 
and Sarah, were born in Ireland. Joseph 
came to Canada, married Miss Mary Eliza 
Way, and farms in Hastings County; they 
have had four children, J. Frank, William, 
Emily and Sarah R. Eliza J. married Thomas 
Harrison, of Hastings County, who died, 
and she lives in California with her son 
Jacob, her other son, Joseph, residing in Pe- 
trolia. Maggie is a professional nurse of 
Chicago. Sarah A. married Francis Brooks, 
of Buffalo, where she met her death in 1903, 
being struck by a trolley car while riding a 
bicycle : she left three children, Lena, Mag 
gie and Henrietta. James grew to manhood 
in Hastings County, is now a stock man of 
Manitoba, where he married a Miss Maybee, 
of that place, and they have had four chil 
dren, \Villiam, Maggie, Grace and one other. 
Robert M., born in Canada, died when a 
young man. William is the subject of this 
sketch. 

William Patterson received a limited ed 
ucation in Hastings County, where at the 
age of twelve years he started in life for 
himself, working on farms until he was 
twenty-one. At this time he located in Mich 
igan, where for two years he engaged in 
lumbering on the Black River. From there 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



he \vent to the Pennsylvania oil fields, where 
he worked as a driller and on the Allegheny 
River on scows floated down the river to 
Pittsburg. He then returned to Michigan 
and resumed lumbering until in the year 
1869 he came to Petrolia, and engaged as 
foreman with Mr. R. D. Noble, with whom 
he continued ten years. Mr. Patterson was 
considered an expert oil driller, being 
counted one of the fastest and best in Pe 
trolia during the time he spent in that line 
of work. 

In 1875 Mr. Patterson purchased his 
present home and a farm in Hastings 
County, the latter of which he so improved 
that he was able to sell at a profit of $500. 
His own home he improved with modern, 
substantial buildings, after clearing away 
the bush, and it is now one of the fine 
farms in Enniskillen tow r nship. 

On Sept. 2, 1873, Mr. Patterson married 
Miss Madeline Bates, born Jan. 27, 1855, m 
London. England, a daughter of Joseph 
Bates, who died in England. Mrs. Bates 
brought her daughter to Petrolia, later mov 
ing to California, where she died. Mrs. 
Patterson is the only child of her parents 
and received an excellent education in Eng 
land. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have no chil 
dren of their own, but have adopted Mr. 
Patterson s niece, Henrietta Brooks, to 
whom they are giving an exceptionally fine 
education. 

Mr. Patterson is not a politician and has 
never aspired to public office but always 
votes the Conservative ticket. He and his 
wife are connected with the Baptist Church, 
of which they are highly esteemed members. 
Fraternally, Mr. Patterson has been an 
Orangeman for a number of years and was 
at one time an Odd Fellow. He is a man 
of excellent qualities and one who has a 
large circle of friends in the community in 
which he resides. 

HENRY INGRAM, the efficient treas 
urer of Lambton County, now residing at 
Sarnia, has for the past twenty years almost 
continuously identified himself with the 
public affairs of this county. The 
highest integrity has characterized his deal 



ings with his fellow men, and marked fidel 
ity the performance of every duty. He was 
born in Trafalgar township, Halton County, 
Ontario, Aug. 10, 1850, son of James and 
Jane (Clark) Ingram. 

The Ingram family is of Scotch origin. 
Grandfather Ingram was born in Scotland, 
and there passed many years of his life. 
With the hope of bettering his prospects he 
moved to County Fermanagh, Ireland, 
where he passed his last days, and died. By 
his marriage there were four children, the 
first three of whom came to Ontario : John ; 
James, who is mentioned below ; and Bar 
bara, who married William Rutledge, and 
settled in Peel County. Margaret remained 
in the old country. 

James Ingram, father of Henry, made 
his career as an agriculturist. He was born 
in 1812, and spent many years of his life in 
Ireland. As a young man he embarked 
upon life as a farmer, and as such he con 
tinued for a number of years in his own 
country. In 1837 he married in Ireland 
Jane Clark, who died in 1891, at the age of 
sixty-nine years. They had three children : 
( i ) Alexander, who was for many years a 
farmer of Oxford, and is now a fruit grower 
in California, married Elizabeth Slack, of 
Lambton County, and they have four chil 
dren : Minnie, Maud, Henry and Lillie. (2) 
Eliza Jane married King Houston, of Pe 
trolia. She has since died, but left no chil 
dren. (3) Henry is mentioned below. Re 
ports of the excellent farming land to be had 
cheap in Ontario, induced Mr. Ingram, in 
1837, the year of his marriage, to come with 
his bride to that country. Arriving on the 
track of the rebellion, he left his wife in 
Peel County, and at once enlisted in the 
service of this country. After his return, at 
the close of the year, he settled upon a farm 
in Trafalgar township, Halton County. De 
termination and energy enabled him to make 
a success of his work, and he remained here 
for many years. In 1854, finding Lambton 
County a more desirable location, he pro 
cured in Enniskillen township, on Lot 15, 
Concession 9, a very promising tract of 
land, where he moved and continued his pur 
suit. He opened up new areas to cultiva- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



816 

tion, put the buildings in good repair, and 
made other desirable improvements. Ap 
plying progressive as well as practical 
methods to his farming, he reaped good re 
sults, and won the confidence of agricultur 
ists in his section. He continued his indus 
try here for fully forty years, when, he^ re 
tired from active work, and moved to Sar- 
nia. He died in that place, Jan. 14, 1896. 
Mr. Ingrain s wise management and indus 
try won him the respect of his community, 
aiid his interest in public affairs, the tender 
of several local offices. Only one of these, 
however, he accepted that of tax collec 
tor, which he filled with marked efficiency 
for nine years. He kept himself well in 
formed upon all public matters, and in poli 
tics affiliated with the Reformers. He and 
his wife were substantial members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Henry Ingram received some practical 
business training in the school of farm-life 
activities. Only about four years old when 
taken by his parents to the Enniskillen 
farm, in Lambton County, he there grew 
to manhood. In the district schools of that 
section he procured a rudimentary educa 
tion, and he gave his spare moments to work 
upon the farm. Upon leaving school he 
shouldered the heavier responsibilities of 
the place, and finally coming into possession 
of it assumed the entire management. 

In 1883 Mr. Ingram married Augusta 
Bell, who was born in Addington County, 
daughter of Luke Bell, who, in 1878, settled 
as a farmer in Enniskillen township, Lamb- 
ton County, where he still resides. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ingram have two children: Edna 
Clark, and James King, who are now attend 
ing the Collegiate Institute, at Sarnia. 

After his marriage Mr. Ingram contin 
ued the management of the old homestead 
for many years. He made many improve 
ments upon it, kept the place thoroughly in 
tact, and he was considered one of the most 
successful agriculturists in his section. The 
pressure of public affairs, however, finally 
absorbed his attention, and in December, 
1900. he sold his farm. He now resides in 
Sarnia. Mr. Ingram entered public life 
about 1877 when he was elected to the town 



ship council. Filling the office with marked 
ability and fidelity for five years, he won the 
confidence of his townsmen, and in 1882 
was made reeve of the township, thus be 
coming a member of the county counuci,!. 
During this same period he also served as 
county warden, entering upon the duties of 
that office in 1886. Upon the expiration of 
his last term as county councillor, in 1894 
he was appointed county treasurer, a place 
which he has since filled, proving himself a 
wise financier, and a man of more than or 
dinary business ability. In. politics he 
espouses the cause of the Reformers. He is 
well known in all circles, belongs to the 
Presbyterian Church, and fraternally he af 
filiates with the K. O. T. M. and the Wood 
men of the World. 

PETER McGREGOR, a prosperous 
farmer of Sarnia township, is, as his name 
indicates, of Scottish descent, and he be 
longs to one of the old historic families of 
the locality. 

The first of the McGregors to come to 
Canada was Alexander, grandfather of 
Peter, who was born in Perthshire, Scot 
land, and there grew to manhood. He was 
married to Janet McDonald, and three of 
their children were born before the family 
left Scotland. In 1818 occurred the exodus 
to Canada, and Alexander McGregor settled 
in Lanark County, on Crown land some 
four miles from Perth, being one of the pio 
neers of the region. There he died, about 
sixty-five years of age, and his wife long 
survived him. They had nine children: 
Peter was born Sept. 16, 1814. Alexander 
was born March 12, 1816, and was the first 
of the name to settle in Lambton County; 
he married Miss Catherine Cameron, and 
died Jan. 19, 1900. James, born Jan. 27, 
1821, moved to Cleveland, where he was 
engaged as an axsmith, and later made his 
home with his brother Alexander ; he died at 
the age of fifty-four. Donald, born Nov. 
i, 1822, bought part of the Cameron lands 
in Sarnia township, resided for a time in 
British Columbia, but died here aged fifty- 
six. Margaret, born May 20, 1824, died 
in Lanark County. Catherine, born July 4, 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



817 



1826, died in Lanark County. Isabella, 
born Sept. 20, 1828, is a maiden lady resid 
ing at Sarnia. Janet, born Nov. 12, 1830, 
was the wife of Peter Lamb, and died in 
August, 1902. Duncan, the only living 
son, is a blacksmith at Paisley. Alexander, 
Donald and James came from their home at 
Bathurst, near Perth, in 1846, and settled in 
Sarnia township, where they purchased land 
from Hon. Malcolm Cameron, owner of a 
tract one mile by four that was originally 
an Indian reserve. Peter McGregor after 
ward joined them, and the land on which 
they lived is still known as the McGregor 
settlement, a large part of the first purchase 
being held to this day in the family name. 

Peter McGregor, Sr., was born before 
his parents left Scotland, and came to Can 
ada in early childhood. He grew up near 
Perth, but when ready to strike out for him 
self went to Renfrew County and bought 
200 acres of land on the Madawaska river. 
There he lived for some eleven years be 
fore selling out and returning to the old 
homestead at Bathurst. In 1852 he de 
cided to join his three brothers in Lambton 
County, and bought Lot 4 from his brother 
Donald. On this property a few acres had 
been cleared and the walls raised for a 
house of hewed logs, so Peter McGregor 
cleared the rest of the land, added buildings 
and developed a fine farm. He at once com 
pleted the old house and in later years sided 
it, so that it is still the family homestead, as 
solid and strong apparently as on the day 
it was built. It was there that Mr. Mc 
Gregor died, in 1899. He had been a suc 
cessful and prosperous farmer, and had done 
much public service, as he had filled both 
township and county offices for some years. 
He was an adherent of the Conservative 
party. In his religious belief he was a Pres 
byterian. During his residence at White 
Lake Peter McGregor was married to Miss 
Ann Stewart, who was born at Blairathol, 
Perthshire, Scotland, in 1815, and passed 
away at her farm home in 1885. They were 
the parents of: Janet, widow of the late 
Daniel Clark, of Sarnia: Donald, of Brit 
ish Columbia: Margaret, vnfe-of John Gibb. 

52 



of Sarnia; Alex. R., a farmer just north of 
the homestead, who married Miss Euphemia 
Taylor, and died in 1899; Christiana, un 
married and living with her brother at the 
old home; Duncan, deceased, who married 
Miss Janet Silverthorn; Allen, a merchant 
at Lindsay, California ; and Peter. 

Peter McGregor, Jr., was born in the 
house where he still lives, Dec. 5, 1854, and 
has passed his whole life on the farm. As a 
boy he assisted his father in clearing their 
land and as a man has given his entire at 
tention to farming, with the natural result 
of marked success along that line. A Con 
servative in his political views, he has never 
taken any specially active part in public life. 
Mr. McGregor is a man of broad general in 
formation, but he has made a special point 
of gaining all the knowledge possible in re 
gard to the early settlement of his neigh 
borhood, and has a wonderful fund of fact 
and reminiscence to draw upon. He is well 
known among the residents of the township 
and is generally esteemed and respected. 

JAMES CRUICKSHANK, a repre 
sentative citizen of Moore township, Lamb- 
ton County, and one of the township s old 
est living natives, was born Feb. n, 1843, 
on Lot 1 6, Concession 9, in Moore town 
ship. 

The Cruickshank family is one of the 
oldest and most highly respected of Moore 
township, where its representatives have re 
sided for upwards of three-quarters of a 
century, and the family is of Scotch extrac 
tion. James Cruickshank, the first of that 
name in Lambton County was born in the 
parish of Rhyme, in Huntley, Aberdeen- 
shire, Scotland, Nov. 7, 1807, son of John 
and Annie (Farquharson) Cruickshank and 
a brother of John Cruickshank, superinten 
dent of the grounds and gardens of Windsor 
Castle, under the reign of the late Queen 
Victoria. James Cruickshank grew to 
manhood in his native place, where he re 
ceived a good common school education. In 
1832 Mr. Cruickshank left Scotland, and 
crossing the Atlantic ocean in a sailing ves 
sel, landed at Quebec, from where he trav- 



8ib 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



eled to Montreal. He spent some time in 
Montreal, where he obtained some knowl 
edge of the French language, and in 1834 
located in Moore township, Lambton 
County. He settled on 100 acres of land on 
Lot 1 6, Concession 9, and erected a log 
house, where he lived while engaged in farm 
ing. Mr. Cruickshank worked hard and 
cleared a farm, after which he erected a fine 
frame dwelling house, known as Huntley 
Hall, besides building barns and out-build 
ings, and engaging in stock raising. With 
the assistance of his sons, he was enabled to 
clear his original 100 acres, and later pur 
chased 100 more acres, next to the 8th 
Line, which is now owned and operated by 
his son James. Several years before his 
death Mr. Cruickshank retired from active 
life, and turned over the management of his 
farm and stock to his son, George, and his 
latter days were spent in peace and comfort 
as a compensation for his early labors. 
James Cruickshank was a well-read man, 
finding his greatest pleasure in his books, 
and he always kept himself abreast of the 
times. His death occurred in his eighty- 
fifth year, and he was buried in the Lake 
View cemetery at Sarnia. Politically a Re 
former, Mr. Cruickshank always did his full 
duty as a citizen, traveling in the early days 
to Sandwich, Essex County, to cast his vote 
and serve on the juries. Mr. Cruickshank 
was a consistent and valued member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

James Cruickshank was married at St. 
Clair, Mich., Sept. 27, 1838, by Rev. O. C. 
Thompson, a minister of the Presbyterian 
Church, to Miss Elizabeth Nesbit, born in 
1817, in Edinburgh, Scotland, daughter of 
Alexander and Mary (Lowden) Nesbit. 
Mrs. Cruickshank died at her home March 
8, 1898, at the age of eighty-one years, and 
was laid beside her husband in the Lake 
View cemetery. These children were born 
to this worthy couple: John, a resident of 
Sarnia township, married Martha McGurk; 
Alexander, a carriage manufacturer and 
blacksmith of Lexington, Michigan, married 
Mary Lewis; James; Mary Ann married 
(first) a Mr. White, and (second) John 



Dodds, both of whom died, and she still 
resides in Sarnia township; Elizabeth mar 
ried M. J. Warwick, and died March 13, 
1901, in Thornfield; Isabelle resides at 
home; George is at home; Jennette is also 
at home; William, a resident of Alberta, 
Northwest Territory, married Sarah Van- 
well ; Emma died at the age of twenty-seven 
years ; Charles died in infancy ; and one died 
unnamed. 

James Cruickshank, the subject of this 
sketch, was born in the then wilds of Moore 
township. He "attended the log school 
house, which was furnished with slab seats, 
and was taught by an English schoolmaster, 
William Brown. He grew up on his 
father s farm, which he helped to clear, and 
remained at home with his parents until 
twenty-eight years of age. He then went to 
Toronto where he spent one season in a mil 
itary school, and in 1872 he started farm 
ing on 100 acres of land given him by his 
father in Lot 20, Concession 8, and here he 
erected a small farm house. The timber 
which was cleared from his farm, was con 
verted into cord wood, sale for which was 
found along the banks of the River St. 
Clair, and finally, after experiencing all 
the hardships coincident with the life of the 
pioneer, he managed to clear his farm and 
put it under a state of cultivation. He next 
built large buildings, and engaged in stock 
raising, which he has continued in connec 
tion with his agricultural pursuits up to the 
present time. From time to time Mr. 
Cruickshank has added to his farm, at first 
fifty acres, then fifty acres more, and finally 
100 acres in Sombra, which he operates. 
Mr. Cruickshank has assisted his sons to 
make their homes, and has done his duty as 
a father, husband and citizen. 

In the Fenian raid Mr. Cruickshank was 
a volunteer in the Canadian service, going 
out as lieutenant of Co. 6, 27th Battalion, 
under Captain Lewis, and did duty at Sar 
nia and also on the river front. He was a 
member of the militia from 1866 to 1874. 
He received a medal for services rendered 
during the Fenian raid and was commis 
sioned captain. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



819 



In public life Mr. Cruickshank is a 
stanch Reformer, and has served for four 
years in the township council, and two years 
as deputy reeve, thus having a seat in the 
county council, and in 1867, 1868 and 1872 
was tax collector. His whole public service 
has been one of efficiency, and one which 
reflects credit upon himself and his com 
munity. Mr. Cruickshank is fond of the 
recreation of hunting, being a fine sports 
man, and in 1894 took a very enjoyable 
hunting trip through the Northwestern 
States and Canada. Both he and family 
are members of the Knox Presbyterian 
Church, and he was a member of the build 
ing committee which erected the latest 
church structure. For the past thirty-one 
years he has been a consistent member of 
the I. O. G. T. 

Mr. Cruickshank was married in Moore 
township, July 27. 1872, by Rev. P. 
McDermit to Rachel Brown, born near 
Hamilton, Out., a daughter of Wendell and 
Agnes (White) Brown, the former of 
whom died in Moore township, but the latter 
still survives. The four children of Mr. 
and Mrs. Cruickshank are : James Wen 
dell is a farmer of Sombra township, and is 
still unmarried ; Alexander William is a 
farmer on the 8th Concession of Moore 
township, married Eliza M. Walton, and 
they have one child, Isabella May; George 
Herbert and Mabel are both at home. This 
is one of the representative families of this 
township and its members are prominent in 
business, social and religious circles. 

JAMES EDWARDS. The prosperity 
of any community is largely dependent upon 
the industry, progressiveness and enterprise 
of the farming class, and it is owing to the 
fact that the agriculturists of Lambton 
County are men of a superior order of in 
telligence, that this particular section of 
western Ontario is in so flourishing a con 
dition. Among the substantial farmers of 
Enniskillen township, Lambton County, 
may be justly mentioned Mr. James E d- 
wards, of Lot 24, Concession 9, who was 
born in the township of Warwick, Aug. 6, 



1840, a son of James and Anna (Lucas) 
Edwards, pioneers of the township. 

James Edwards, Sr., was born in Ire 
land in 1808, as was also his wife, whose 
birth took place in 1803. This lady lived 
to the remarkable age of ninety-three years. 
She was a daughter of Andrew Lucas, who 
was among the first settlers of Brooke. 
James Edwards grew to manhood in Ire 
land, where he married, and then came to 
Canada, he and his wife settling in Warwick 
township, where they were among the first 
to take up residence. James was the son of 
Frank Edwards, who came with his son to 
Warwick township, where he died. Frank, 
the grandfather, had a family as follows : 
James; Thomas; Alice, deceased wife of 
James Lucas, of Brooke ; Nancy, who mar 
ried Alvin Smith, and settled in Brooke, but 
died in Michigan ; a daughter who married 
Alfred Phillips, and settled in Warwick 
township, where her husband died. 

James Edwards, Sr., settled on wild 
land, which he cleared, becoming a very 
well-to-do farmer. His death occurred in 
1888, but his widow survived him until 
1896, and both died firm in the faith of the 
English Church, of which they were con 
sistent members, they being among the 
founders of the church in their locality. In 
politics, he was an enthusiastic Conservative. 
The children born to these most excellent 
people were as follows : Betsey, born in 
Ireland, who married John Jones and set 
tled in Warwick township, where they both 
died, leaving one child, Margaret, now Mrs. 
O Neil; Jane, born in Canada, who married 
Noble Howden, of Warwick; Matilda, who 
married Robert Lucas, of Brooke township ; 
Mary A., horn in Warwick township, wife 
of John Hagerty. who settled and died in 
Michigan, leaving a family: Frank, horn in 
Ireland, who married Maggie Coon, settled 
in Warwick township for a time, and then 
moved to Huron County, Michigan, where 
he still lives; John, born in Canada, who 
was married to Eliza Walton, of Ireland, 
and resides in Huron County, Michigan, 
with his family; Thomas, born in Warwick 
township, who married Rachael Walton, of 



820 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Lambton County, and now resides in Huron 
County with his large family; George, born 
in Warwick township, who married Katie 
McKinley, of Lower Canada, resides in 
Huron County, and has a large family; 
James ; William, born in Warwick township, 
who married Katie McNeil, of Lambton 
County, resides in Enniskillen township, and 
has a family; and Andrew, born in War 
wick township, who married Miss Mary 
McKinley, of Lower Canada, resides at 
Sault Ste. Marie, and has a family. 

James Edwards, Jr., was reared on his 
father s homestead, where he received a 
limited education in books, but a very liberal 
one in farm work. He remained at home 
until he gained his majority. In Septem 
ber, 1868, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Jemima Baker, bora in Adelaide, 
Middlesex County. January 9, 1851, a 
daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Camp 
bell) Baker, old pioneers of Middle 
sex, who came from Ireland at an early 
day, and settled in Adelaide town 
ship, where they became very prom 
inent as substantial farmers. The mother 
of Mrs. Edwards died in 1874, but the 
father survived, making his home with his 
daughter, until his death in 1902. Mr. and 
Mrs. Baker had a family as follows: 
Thomas, who died in Michigan, leaving a 
wife and children; Robert, who married 
Anna Richardson, of Canada, removed to 
Iowa, where he owns a farm, and has a 
large family; and Mrs. Edwards, the only 
daughter. 

After a residence of some two vears in 
Warwick township, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards 
removed to Adelaide township, and there 
made their home for twenty-one years. They 
then came to Enniskillen township, and Mr. 
Edwards turned his attention to clearing off 
a farm, and converting it from wild land 
into one of the best pieces of property in 
the county. He has always been industrious, 
and his present prosperity is well merited. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are the parents 
of the following children: Jeremiah, born in 
1871 in Warwick township, is unmarried 
and resides at home; Matilda, born in 1874, 



married Albert Freer, of Enniskillen, and 
has six children, Gordon, William, Lillie, 
Rena, Cecil and Basil ; David born in War 
wick township in 1876, married Laura 
Lamoine, who died in Wyoming, leaving one 
son, Willie; Mary, born in Adelaide in 
1878, who married S. Lucas, a policeman, 
of London, Ont, and has four daughters, 
Mabel, Nellie, Gladys and Delia ; James Al 
bert, born in Adelaide township in iSSi, 
unmarried, a machinist of London, Ont. ; 
Emma, bom in 1888, who is at home; Nor 
man, born in 1895. 

The religious affiliations of the family 
are with the Church of England, and they 
are highly esteemed in that body. Mr. Ed 
wards has always supported the principles 
and candidates of the Conservative party. 
For forty years he has been a member of the 
Orangemen, Lodge No. 1029, of Brooke 
township. He has always been a man of in 
dustrious habits and the result of his thrift 
and good management is shown in his pres 
ent sound financial condition. His land is 
well located, and under his excellent man 
agement and practical methods, has re 
warded him largely. His neighbors quote 
him as an authority on agricultural subjects, 
for they consider him a thrifty, industrious, 
self-reliant man, who thoroughly under 
stands the science of farming and its prac 
tical application to every day life. Mrs. 
Edwards is a lady widely beloved for her 
gentle disposition, and sweet. Christian 
character. All of the children of this couple 
have proved worthy of their family, and 
they with their children, are a source of 
much pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, 
who renew their youth in the prattle of the 
little ones. The attractive home of the Ed 
wards is frequently the scene of pleasant 
gatherings, upon which occasions the genial 
host and his wife dispense a generous and 
gracious hospitality, characteristic of the 
warm-hearted people of western Ontario. 

DUNCAN WARD. Self-made men de 
serve more than passing commendation, and 
their example serves as an incentive to 
others with futures yet to make, and for- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



821 



tunes still to be won. Lambton County 
numbers among its sturdy, self-reliant and 
successful farmers many who have literally 
carved their way to prosperity, and among 
them is Duncan Ward, of Lot i, Concession 
i, Enniskillen township. His birth took 
place on Concession 2, of Warwick town 
ship, July 15. 1857, his parents being 
Thomas and Catherine (McCurchey) Ward, 
pioneers of Warwick township, both of 
whom were born in Lanark County, the 
former in 1828 and his wife in July, 1819. 
The father of Thomas Ward, was 
Thomas Ward, who was born in Ireland 
and came to Lanark County when Ottawa 
was but a village. He was one of the pio 
neers of Warwick, where he made a home 
from wild land, and died leaving four chil 
dren : William, who still resides in War 
wick ; Susan, wife of Thomas Edwards of 
Warwick, who has children, Samuel. Israel, 
Walter, Ida, Joseph, Alary and Herbert; 
Mary who married Henry Lucas of Sarnia 
township, and has seven children, Mariah, 
Minnie, Thomas, Maggie, Etta, Ada and 
Annie; and Thomas. 

Thomas Ward, the father of Duncan, 
was reared in Lanark County, where he 
married Miss Catherine McCurchey, the 
daughter of Duncan McCurchey. who came 
to Canada from Scotland, settling in Lan 
ark County, where he died. Thomas Ward 
came to Warwick, Lambton County in 1851 
ajid cleared up a farm on Concession 2, 
where he remained until 1884. At that 
time he removed to the northwest part of 
Wisconsin, in Clark County, where he fol 
lowed lumbering until several years ago, 
when he retired from active life. He and 
his wife are now enjoying the fruits of their 
early labor, loved and respected not only by 
friends and neighbors, but by their family 
of six children. 

The children of Thomas and Catherine 
Ward are : James, born in Warwick in 
1852, who married Lizzie Wright, of War 
wick, follows the trade of harness maker at 
Oil Springs, and has the following children, 
Howard, Perry, Thomas, Katie, Maggie and 
Beulah; Susan, born in 1856, who married 



Robert Wyner, of Warwick and has four 
children, Joseph, Fred, Laura and Katie; 
William, born in 1859, who lives with his 
parents on the old home; Esther, born in 
1862. who married Charles Austin, of Clark 
County, Wisconsin, and has two daughters, 
Katie and Maud ; Minnie, born in 1866, 
who lives on the old homestead; and 
Duncan. 

Duncan Ward was educated in the dis 
trict schools of Warwick and Sarnia, and 
remained on the home farm until he was 
seventeen years of age. At this time he 
started in life upon his own resources, and 
by his own industry earned the means with 
which to purchase fifty acres of wild land 
in Warwick, which he cleared and improved. 
In 1887 ie was married to Miss Martha 
Brice, who was born in Warwick in 1863, a 
daughter of Robert Brice, who came from 
Ottawa to Warwick, where he died. Mrs. 
Ward s mother still survives and resides in 
Warwick. After his marriage Mr. Ward 
settled in Warwick, until in 1900 he pur 
chased the McClester loo-acre farm, which 
he has improved, having one of the fine 
farms of the section. 

To Duncan and Martha Ward, five chil 
dren have been bom: Ada, in 1888: Alex 
ander, in 1890: Lizzie, in 1893; Effie, in 
189; and Robert, in 1902. 

Religiously this family are connected 
with the Presbyterian Church, of which 
thev are liberal supporters. Although his 
father had been identified with the Conser 
vative partv and had held the office of 
county bailiff of Lambton County for a 
number of years, Duncan Ward favors the 
Reform party. Mr. Ward is one of the 
good citizens of Enniskillen township and 
has a host of friends. He is highly esteemed 
by all who know him. 

HEXRY McGURK is one of the self- 
made citizens of whom Moore township has 
so many, and of whom she is so proud. Be 
ginning life with little to aid him and with a 
capital consisting only of strength, both 
physical and moral, he has bv his honest toil 
achieved success in a material way, and by 



822 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Ills-integrity and devotion to principle com 
manded the admiration and regard of the 
community. He is a native of Ireland, born 
near Belfast, County Down, in 1831. 

The McGurk family was originally of 
Scotland stock, but for generations lived in 
Ireland, where James McGurk, father of 
Henry, was born and lived for many years. 
He was born in County Down, and was a 
farmer there on land rented from the Mar 
quis of Blackwood. He married Miss Eliz 
abeth Olifer, of the same county, and they 
became the parents of five children, viz. : 
Robert, who died in Moore township; Eliz 
abeth, who also died there, unmarried ; John, 
deceased ; Sarah, who married Samuel 
Smith, of Sarnia; and Henry. In 1852, 
Mr. McGurk and his wife and family, all 
grown, sailed from Belfast on the "John 
Bull," and in six weeks landed in Quebec, 
whence they went to Hamilton. There they 
procured a team and wagon and with that 
conveyance traveled to Moore township, lo 
cating on a tract of land in Concession 9. 
James McGurk spent the rest of his life 
there, engaged in farming, and in his de 
clining years was cared for by his son 
Henry. His death occurred in 1882, at the 
age of eighty-four, and he was buried in 
Bear Creek cemetery, where his wife was 
laid beside him four years later, aged eigh 
ty-two. They were consistent members of 
the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. 
McGurk was a Conservative, but not spe 
cially active. He and his wife were good 
Christian people, and much respected by 
their neighbors. 

Henry McGurk was educated in the par 
ish school in his native place, and worked on 
the farm with his father until they left Ire 
land. He was then twenty-one, and on 
reaching Lambton County, which in those 
days was almost a wilderness with few set 
tlers, he continued to work with his father. 
He made potash, which was sold in Sarnia 
to David McKenzie. and cord wood and oak 
staves from his timber, selling them to Col. 
Fisher, at that time in the mercantile busi 
ness on the St. Clair river. He did much 
hard work, but reaped his reward in time, 



having now a well-cultivated farm with 
good barns and a handsome brick dwelling 
erected in 1882. He has added many im 
provements to his farm and at one time also 
owned the zoo-acre tract belonging to his 
brother Robert. This he sold to Mr. Gar- 
rett, and bought instead another 100 acres 
east of the homestead so that he is now oper 
ating- 200 acres. He deals in Short Horn 
Durhams, and was one of the first men in 
the township to raise them. He has been 
quite extensively engaged in the business 
for a number of years, as well as in sheep 
raising, dealing principally in Shropshire 
sheep. He has been uniformly successful 
in his undertakings, and has accumulated a 
good property. 

Air. McGurk takes an intelligent interest 
in affairs of the day, and while a Conserva 
tive in his principles, takes an independent 
stand in local matters. He was elected a 
member of the Moore township council in 
1886. and served for six years, showing 
himself a careful guardian of the interests 
of the tax payers, while for many years he 
was one of the school trustees. With his 
interests in the stockraising and agricultural 
lines, he is naturally a member of kindred 
associations, belonging to the Dominion of 
Canada Short Horn Breeders Association, 
in Toronto, and to both the Moore township 
and West Lambton Agricultural Societies, 
in the former of which he was president at 
various times, and in the latter a director. 
Religiously he is a Presbyterian and was 
one of the founders of the Knox Church in 
Concession 9, which he has ever since sup 
ported generously. His charity is well 
known, and he is not only much respected 
but wnrmly liked. He is a man of temper 
ate habits/ to whom drinking is no tempta 
tion, is quiet in temperament and of domes 
tic tastes, although he has never married. 

JOHN H. SMITH, one of the leading 
farmers of Enniskillen township, Lambton 
County, owns a fine farm of 125 acres on 
Concession 2. Lots 29 and 30. which he has 
improved with attractive buildings of mod 
ern architecture and substantial character. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



823 



Mr, Smith was born Jan. 23, 1854, in Ade 
laide township, Middlesex County, son of 
John and Flora (McNeil) Smith, natives of 
Argyllshire, Scotland. 

John, the father of John H. Smith, is 
the son of John, who came to Middlesex 
County in 1840, settling in Adelaide town 
ship, where he died. After his death, John, 
the father of our subject, settled at the old 
homestead. He married Flora McNeil, who 
also comes of pioneer ancestry, and five chil 
dren were born to this union : Daniel, born 
in 1842 in Middlesex County, who married 
Miss Selestia Bates, of East Williams, and 
resides in Michigan, where he follows car 
pentering and farming, and has a family of 
seven children : Daniel, William, Sarah, 
Mary, John, George and Roy; Mary, born 
in Middlesex County, in 1844, who married 
James Jones , a farmer of Port La Prairie, 
Man., and has seven children, John, Belle, 
Verill, Grace, Ollie, Winnie and one other; 
Maggie, born in 1850, who married Hugh 
Coyle, of Philadelphia, residing for some 
time in Chicago, but now living in Ennis- 
killen township, where he follows farming; 
Flora, born in 1857, who died young; and 
John H. John Smith, the father, was a 
Conservative in politics, although he never 
aspired to public office and he and his wife 
were consistent members of the Presbyterian 
Church. His death occurred in 1874, his 
wife surviving until 1896. 

John H. Smith grew to manhood in Ade 
laide, where he received a district school edu 
cation and remained at the old homestead 
until of age. At the death of his father he 
became manager of the old home. In 1882 
Mr. Smith married Miss Ellen Graham, who 
was born in 1859 in Middlesex County, a 
daughter of Donald and Ellen Graham, one 
of the County s pioneer Scotch families. Mr. 
Smith remained on the old homestead un 
til after the death of his wife in 1887, when 
he removed to Enniskillen township in 1888, 
and purchased a farm on Lot 31, erected a 
house and made general improvements, liv 
ing there until 1897, when he sold, and pur 
chased his present fine 125 acre farm, which 
he has since improved in every way. The 



children born to John H. and Ellen Smith 
were : Lillie May, who died when six years 
of age; Mary B., born June 23, 1885, who 
was educated in the schools of Enniskillen 
township, and has had charge of her, father s 
home since she was twelve years old; and 
John, born in Middlesex County in 1887, 
who still resides at the old homestead. 

in religion Mr. Smith has adhered to the 
Presbyterian faith, being an active member 
of this denomination, holding the office of 
elder in the Inwood Presbyterian Church. 
Politically, Mr. Smith s support is given to 
the Conservative party, and he has very ac 
ceptably filled the position of school trustee 
for Enniskillen township. Fraternally he 
belongs to the Order of Good Templars, of 
which he is a popular member. 

Mr. Smith is very well known through 
out Lambton County, and justly bears the 
reputation which a long life of integrity and 
public usefulness has given him. The ap 
preciation shown him by his fellow citizens 
is grateful to him, as it is to any one who 
has done his full duty. As an active sup 
porter of educational and religious move 
ments, he is universally esteemed and can 
be named with truth as one of Enniskillen s 
representative men. 

JOHN BLACK, one of the prosperous 
farmers of Brooke township, Lambton 
County, residing on his fine well-improved 
farm situated on Lot 22, Concession 3, was 
born on his present farm in 1847, son f 
John and Nancy (McDougal) Black, who 
emigrated from Scotland to Brooke town 
ship at a very early day, settling along the 
river. Here they made a home from the 
wild land, being among the very earliest set 
tlers of that township. Mr. Black died 
when about fifty years old, his son, our sub 
ject being at that time only a boy. Mrs. 
Black passed away in 1872. The parents 
of our subject had these children : Archie 
died when a young man ; Maggie, deceased, 
was the wife of W. H. Haut, deceased, of 
Chicago, and had one son, John, of Chicago ; 
Effie, deceased, was the wife of Benjamin 
Cook, who lived and died in New Mexico, 



824 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



and at her death she left a family of five 
children; Duncan, born in Scotland, is a 
miner of Idaho; Belle is the widow of John 
McPhail, of Alvinston ; Sarah is the wife of 
Peter Campbell, of Bad Axe, Michigan, 
and has a family ; Mary is the wife of John 
Curry of Manitoba; Nancy is the wife of 
John McKinzie, who lives in Alvinston; and 
John. 

John Black was reared to manhood in 
Brooke township. On the death of his 
father, he was left at the homestead with his 
mother, the others going out to earn their 
own way. He cleared up 100 acres of the 
farm, and since that time has added by pur 
chase to the original tract, now owning and 
operating 250 acres. He erected a fine resi 
dence, commodious barn, substantial out 
buildings and made general improvements, 
which have made his farm one of the finest 
in Brooke township. In 1873 Mr. Black 
married Miss Mary Pattinson, bom in 
Brooke, daughter of Joseph Pattinson, a na 
tive of England. To Mr. and Mrs. Black 
have been born : Lizzie, deceased ; Annie, 
who died in childhood ; Nellie, the pride of 
the home, and a young lady of promise, who 
was killed, in June, 1904, at the age of six 
teen, by a runaway team; John A., bom in 
1875, residing at home; Minnie, born in 
1879, at home; Joseph E., born in 1884, also 
at home; Duncan, born in 1886 and Cassie, 
born in 1893, the latter of whom is a student 
of the schools. Religiously Mr. Black is 
connected with the Presbyterian Church. 
Politically he has always supported the Re 
form party. Mr. Black is a very successful 
farmer and stock raiser, and is generally 
considered one of the most practical and pro 
gressive business men of the community. He 
is noted for his industry and honesty, and is 
one who deserves the name of a first class 
citizen. 

THOMAS ACTON. Enniskillen town 
ship is fortunate in having many public- 
spirited citizens who are keenly alive to 
everything of real value to the community, 
and who give their time and service to its 
advancement. One of the younger men 
who has already proved himself of this class 



and has won the complete confidence of his 
fellow townsmen by his efficient conduct in 
office, is Thomas Acton, a farmer and stock 
dealer in Concession u, Lot 25. He was 
born in Warwick township, Aug. 7, 1867, to 
Richard and Sarah (Saunders) Acton. 

The paternal grandfather, William Ac 
ton, a shoemaker by trade, came from Ire 
land to Toronto, where he remained for the 
rest of his life. He left children as follows : 
John, deceased, one of the leading shoe mer 
chants of Toronto and the father of twelve 
children, all living; William, a retired 
farmer of Alvinston, Lambton County, and 
the father of a family; James, who lives 
with his family on a farm in Warwick 
township ; Richard ; Eliza, Mrs. Andrew 
Lucas, of Brooke township; and Mary A., 
deceased wife of R. D. Corestine, of Brooke 
township. 

Richard Acton was born in the South 
of Ireland in 1830, and his wife, Sarah 
Saunders, was a Canadian, although of Irish 
parentage. The father received his early 
education in Ireland and also attended school 
in Toronto. He learned the shoe-making 
trade and followed it to some extent, but in 
1850 came to Lambton County, purchased 
wild land and entered upon his lifelong ca 
reer as a farmer, still residing on this old 
homestead in Warwick township. His first 
wife died many years ago, in 1869, leaving 
him with five children. Later he was mar 
ried again, to Mrs. Eliza Knowles, of Lamb- 
ton County. To this union there was no 
issue, (i) Joseph, Mr. Acton s oldest son, 
was born in Lambton County, and there 
married Miss Effie Fisher, of Brooke town 
ship, where they now reside. He has cleared 
a farm from bush land and there brought 
up his family. The children are : Sarah ; 
Archie, a teacher in the public schools ; Basil ; 
and Effie J. (2) William J., born in 1860, 
married Miss Fannie J. Lucas, of Brooke 
township and has six children, Gordon, 
Sarah, Richard, John, Alfred and Victor. 
He lives on his father s old homestead, 
where his wife died in July, 1900. (3) 
Mary, 1863, is the wife of George Boddy, of 
Port Huron, Michigan, and has three sons, 
Howard, Ernest and Frederick. (4) 






COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



825 



Martha. 1865, married Angus Fisher, of 
Brooke township. Their family consists of 
Lizzie, Archie, Richard, Myrtle, Jennie, 
Grace, Russell and Kenneth. (5) Thomas 
is the youngest. 

Thomas Acton was educated in the dis 
trict schools of \Vanvick township and re 
mained at home till 1882. He then bought 
the place where he now lives, then wild land, 
built a log house and lived there alone for 
several years while clearing his land and 
making it into a good homestead. Eight 
years later, in October, 1890, he brought 
his bride there, Miss Annie Hall, of Pe- 
trolia, born in Ireland, in September, 1868. 
They lived in the first log house for a num 
ber of years, while Mr. Acton was develop 
ing his farm, but in 1900 he built his pres 
ent spacious double house, two large barns, 
with other buildings, and the old home was 
then utilized as a workshop. Mr. Acton 
now has one of the finest homesteads in the 
township. There are five children in the 
family, viz.: Marcella M., born in 1891; 
Weriel Laverne, 1893; Roeseltha, 1895; I r 
vine L., 1897; and Rea E., 1899, all students 
in the home schools. 

Mrs. Acton s parents were William and 
Margaret (Latimer) Hall, who were born 
in the North of Ireland, came to Canada 
after their marriage and settled at Petrolia, 
where Mr. Hall has been for a number of 
years a foreman for a flax company. He 
is now engaged as foreman in the Petrolia 
Packing House, and owns a good home in 
that city. Of the eight children in his fam 
ily, Mrs. Acton is the eldest. She was edu 
cated partly in Ireland, partly in Petrolia, 
where she lived until she was married. John, 
born in Ireland, is employed at Sault Ste. 
Marie; he was formerly an oil prospector 
and was one of those sent to the East Indies. 
George is in the lumber trade in Richmond, 
Michigan. Matilda is the wife of William 
Dobbin, of Enniskillen. William, a bache 
lor, is interested in the oil business in Mont- 
pelier, Indiana. James and Maggie, twins, 
were the first of the family born in Petro- 
lit ; James is a blacksmith in Cleveland. 
Ohio, and Maggie is at home, both unmar- 

53 



ried. Charles is an oil driller in Kingsville, 
Essex County, and married Maud Cousins. 
Thomas Acton and his wife are mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, in which he 
is a trustee and has also served several years 
as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fra 
ternally he belongs to the order of Orange 
men and at present ( 1904) is County Master 
of West Lambton; he is also a member of 
the Odd Fellows, of Petrolia. Mr. Acton 
is always interested in public affairs, is one 
of the directors of the Agricultural Society, 
and has been on the school board for nine 
years, filling the positions of secretary and 
treasurer. He resigned from these duties 
in 1897, when he was elected on the Con 
servative ticket to the township council of 
Enniskillen. He served continuously in that 
body till 1904, giving the greatest satisfac 
tion and winning for himself popularity by 
the sterling character he displayed. His 
fellow citizens have the greatest confidence 
in him and admire the ability and energy he 
has manifested in making his way in life 
unaided. 

JOSEPH BURR, who may well be 
named as one of the prosperous and well- 
known farmers of Lambton County, resides 
on his beautiful and finely cultivated farm 
on Concession 4, Lot 31, Euphemia town 
ship. Mr. Burr was born on the 7th Con 
cession of Euphemia township, in 1845, son 
of Michael and Jane (Boddey) Burr, na 
tives of Ireland. 

The parents of our subject settled in 
Lower Canada in 1832, later coming to Eu 
phemia township, where they started life in 
the woods, and finally succeeded in making a 
permanent home. B oth Mr. and Mrs. Burr 
died on their old home on the 7th Conces 
sion, leaving six children: (i) Catherine, 
born in 1837, was reared in Euphemia town 
ship, where she taught school : she married 
James McCabe, a resident of the 5th Conces 
sion, where he is a postmaster and farmer, 
and has a family. (2) Jane Burr, born in 
1839, is the wife of William Wright, a 
farmer of the 5th Concession, of Euphemia 
township, and has a family. (3) Marian, 



826 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



burn in 1840, is the wife of Lyman Wright, 
a farmer in Euphemia township, and has a 
family. (4) Joseph is our subject. (5) Ed 
ward, deceased, born in 1847, grew up and 
married Miss Mary Curen, of Euphemia. 
and settled at Cairo, Ont. where he fol 
lowed hotel keeping, and at his death left 
his widow, who still survives, with a fam 
ily. Margaret, William H. and Frank. (6) 
Richard, born in 1849, married Miss Betsy 
A. Smith, of Euphemia, and they reside on 
the old homestead, and have four children, 
Mary, Bell, Fred and lla. 

Joseph Burr was reared to manhood on 
the old homestead, and received his educa 
tion at the district schools of his township. 
In his youth he followed lumbering and 
carpenter work, continuing in this line 
until his marriage in 1870, to Miss Jane 
Clements, born in Euphemia, daughter of 
John and Ellen Clements. Mr. Burr had 
purchased his present home in 1868, and to 
this he took his wife. Here he has cleared 
up his property, put it under cultivation, and 
has purchased more adjoining, until he is 
now the owner of 230 acres in one body. He 
has erected good barns, substantial outbuild 
ings and two residences, making his farm 
one of the finest in the township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Burr has come one son, 
John A., torn Aug. 12, 1874, on the home 
farm, who married Miss Mary Dodge, torn 
in Euphemia township, daughter of John 
and Jane (Brownlee) Dodge, and of one of 
Plympton s old pioneer families. They re- 
sid e on his father s homestead where he is 
engaged in farming, and they have one son, 
Alvin L., born Nov. 22, 1904. Religiously 
the family are all connected with the Eng 
lish Church, where our subject s father was 
one of the founders and an officer. Politi 
cally Mr. Burr is identified with the Con 
servative party. He is a member of the Ma 
sonic fraternity of Florence. 

JAMES DEYVAR, a farmer and stock 
deafer of Enniskillen township, is in the 
third generation of his family to have 
lived in Canada: his ancestors were Scotch 
on both sides and through his mother Mr. 



Dewar may boast descent from the famous 
Stewarts, in whom centered so much of song 
and story. 

The paternal grandparents, John and 
Catherine Dewar, came to this country in 
1830, lived for eight years near Toronto 
and then moved to Lobo, in Middlesex 
County, where they joined the ranks of pio 
neers who were gradually opening up that 
section. Both of them died there, leaving 
a large family, of whom only Margaret, 
Mrs. Archie Gray, of Sarnia. is now living. 

James Dewar, son of John, was born 
Jan. i 1, 1823. and was seven years old when 
his parents brought him to Canada. He was 
given only a limited education but was nat 
urally intelligent and made himself very well 
informed: in particular, he was a great 
Bible student, fully versed in sacred history. 
After marriage he continued to live on his 
father s old homestead, but in 1877 he sold 
that and bought the present family place in 
Lambton County, Lot 25, Concession 14, in 
Enniskillen township. When he purchased 
it there were some few improvements on it, 
but he did most of the clearing, erected the 
large barns now standing on it and in 1888 
built a commodious brick house, where he 
and his wife spent their declining years. His 
marriage occurred in 1846, to Miss Mary 
Stewart, who was born in Scotland, Feb. 4, 
7820. She was the daughter of John and 
Catherine Stewart, who after coming to 
Canada settled in Middlesex County, and 
there died. Mrs. Dewar passed away first, 
dying July 13. 1896, the father. Feb. 14, 
1904. He was a devoted member of the 
Baptist Disciple Church: in politics a Re 
former, never aspiring to office. 

James and Mary Dewar were the parents 
of eleven children, all born in Middlesex 
County, d) Janet, born in January, 1847, 
married George Sampy. He is now de 
ceased, leaving no family. (2) John, born 
in December, 1848, married Miss Annie 
Patterson of Michigan, and they reside in 
that State in St. Clair County. Their two 
sons are named Donald and James. (3) 
William, born Jan. 4, 1851, married Miss 
Annie Stewart, of Middlesex County; 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



f< rnierly a foundryman of Forest, he is now 
a stuck farmer in Manitoba. There are five 
children in the family, Athold. Edith. 
Laura, Stanley and Charlotte. (4) Eliza 
beth, born April 7, 1853, ; s the wife of Don 
ald McGugan. of Plympton township, and 
has one daughter. Lena. (5) Donald, born 
Aug. 4, 1855, married Miss Mary Donald, 
of Plympton township, and lives there on a 
farm. His three children are named Muriel, 
Frank and Robert J. (6) Jane, born May 
26. 1858, married James Hamilton, lives in 
Watford, Lambton County, and has one 
(laughter Minnie M. (7) Margaret, born in 
April, 1860, is the wife of Andrew Carson, 
station agent at Sarnia. They have had five 
daughters and three sons, Mamie, Maud, 
James. Laura (deceased). Maggie. William, 
Andrew and Reta. (8) Catherine, born in 
September. 1862, married William Arm 
strong, of Plympton township, and has two 
sons, James and John. (9) Isabella, born in 
December, 1864, married Benjamin Bryson, 
a farmer in Plympton township, and has 
one son, Howard. (10) James, the young 
est son is the subject of this sketch" ( i i~) 
Mary, born in December, 1871, is the wife 
of David O Brien, of Plympton township. 

James Dewar was born in Lobo. Middle 
sex County, Oct. i, 1867, attended the 
schools of Lambton County and then began 
working on the home farm, where for the 
later years of his father s life he was the 
manager. They devoted their attention 
mainly to stock raising and the large barns 
are filled with herds of blooded stock, al 
though Mr. Dewar also deals largely in 
grain. Since the farm came under his con 
trol he has added many improvements in the 
way of buildings and the whole place is 
splendidly kept up. Xov. 14. 1894. James 
Dewar was united in marriage to Miss Jane 
O Brien, who was born on the London road, 
May 29, 1867. daughter of William and 
Julia (Gulet) O Brien. Mrs. Dewar was 
educated in Lambton County where her 
family is prominent. She and" her husband 
are the parents of three children, namely : 
Yehm M.. born Xov. 29. 1895: Durward 
AY.. May u, 1899; and May Julia, Oct. 8, 



827 

1903. Mr. and Mrs. Dewar are both con 
nected with the Baptist Church. Politically 
Mr. Dewar is a Reformer. 

The Dewar family name is a well- 
known one in Middlesex County as well as 
in Lambton County, for the family shared 
the pioneer life of each section. Beginning 
in a modest way they are now among the 
substantial men of the county, for James 
Dewar. senior, by his honest industry, and 
ceaseless energy came to have one of the 
finest farms there. He himself will long be 
remembered by his friends and neighbors 
for his uniform kindness and hospitality and 
for the prompt assistance and comfort 
which he and his wife always hastened to 
give in time of sickness or trouble, a care 
that was amply repaid to them during their 
last years by their own children. 

JOSEPH TAIT, a prominent and enter 
prising farmer of the 3d Concession, Lot 
1 8. Brooke township. Lambton Count}-, 
born on his present farm March i, 1855, son 
of James and Jane E. (Somerville) Tait, 
was the first white child born in Brooke 
township. 

The parents of our subject were born in 
County Armagh, Ireland, he in 1818, and 
his wife in January, 1819. They were edu 
cated in Glasgow, where they were married 
and settled for a number of years. He was 
a steamboat engineer before coming to Can 
ada. The voyage to the Xew World was 
made in a sailing vessel, via Quebec, the trip 
taking seven weeks. They settled for a 
short time at Brampton, and then removed 
to Detroit, where he worked on the Lakes 
for one year, and in January, 1855. located 
on the present home, then all a wilderness. 
Here our subject was born, the first to be 
born in Brooke township. The family lived 
for a time in a little log cabin. Mr. Tait 
erecting the present house in 1862. He 
continued as an agriculturist until his death, 
which occurred in September. 1888; his wife 
still resides with our subject in her eighty- 
seventh year. They were connected with 
the Church of England, and were among the 
founders of the first church built at Augh- 



828 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



rim, In Euphemia township, and Joseph Tait 
was the first child christened in same. Po 
litically Mr. Tait was a stanch Conservative, 
and was prominent in the political affairs of 
the township, being a man of culture and 
education and a fine orator. Mr. and Mrs. 
Tait had ten children, four of whom died in 
the old country, James, Anne, Robert and 
James (2), the latter of whom died in 
young manhood in Glasgow. The other 
children were as follows: (i) George, born 
in Glasgow, came to Canada with his pa 
rents, and when a young man went to the 
Michigan lumber woods, previous to the 
Civil war in the United States. While there 
he enlisted in a Michigan regiment, and 
served throughout the war, being twice 
wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, Penn 
sylvania, but survived. He is now receiving 
forty dollars per month pension from the 
government. He has lived in Oceana 
County, Michigan, one year ago locating 
in Pentwater, same county. He has a 
large family living in Michigan, one of the 
sons having been a soldier in the South Af 
rican war. (2) John J., born in Glasgow, is 
a grocery merchant of Inwood ; he married 
Catherine Kelly, of Ontario, by whom he 
has had two sons. \Yesley and George. (3) 
Nathaniel, born April 7. 1857, married Miss 
Margaret A. Toles of Alvinston, and they 
now reside in London, where he works as an 
engineer. They have these children : Emma, 
Mary Ann, Allen, Edward, Nettie, Dianna 
and Nathaniel. (4) Charlotte J., born in 
1861, is at the homestead. (5) Susan, born 
in 1863, is the wife of Archie McDougall of 
St. Thomas, and has four children, James, 
Mary, Jennett and Maggie. (6) Joseph is 
the subject of this sketch. 

Joseph Tait grew up on the old home 
stead, receiving a district school education. 
He remained at home until he learned the 
trade of builder, which he followed for 
thirty years, when he returned and looked 
after the homestead. In August, 1882, he 
married Miss Sarah E. Collison, born in 
Arkona, Warwick township. Aug. 17, 1862, 
the only daughter of George and Dorothy 
(Quantz) Collison. Nine children have 



been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tait : Roy G. r 
born in 1883 ; Sarah J., born in 1885 ; James 
A., born in 1887; Dorothy R,, born ni 1889; 
Joseph, born in 1891 ; Susanna, born in 
1893; Flora, born in 1895; Robert, born in 
1897; and Nellie, born in 1899. Religiously 
Mr. and Mrs. Tait are members of the Pres 
byterian Church. He has always been con 
nected with the Conservative party in his 
political sympathies, and for the past seven 
teen years has held different township offices. 

JOHN HARGIN, JR., a prosperous 
farmer of Enniskillen, is a native of Lamb- 
ton County, where he has passed all his life. 
He is one of the public spirited citizens of 
his home town, where he takes an active in 
terest in all that concerns the common wel 
fare. 

John Hargin was born July i, 1879, in 
Bruce township, son of John and Mary A. 
(Ryan) Hargin. John Hargin, Sr., was a 
native of Ireland, but came in early life to 
Canada, where he met and married his wife, 
who was born in the New World. Until 
1882 they lived in Bruce township, and in 
that year moved to Concession 6, in Ennis 
killen, where Mr. Hargin still carries on his 
farm. Of their children, ten are living", as 
follows : ( i ) Susanna, born in Lambton 
County, who is the wife of Joseph Hackett, 
and has four children; (2) William, born in 
Lambton County, who married Ida Mc- 
Creery, has one son, Roy, and is engaged in 
the oil business in Petrolia; (3) Florence, 
who married Sidney Judson, of Sarnia 
township, and has one daughter, Leonora; 
(4) Mary, who married James Baker, lias 
one son, Arthur, and lives on Concession 6, 
Enniskillen; (5) John, who is mentioned 
below; (6) Andrew, torn in 1882, who is 
unmarried and living at home; (7) Noble, 
born in 1884, who is unmarried; (8) 
Rachel, born in 1887, who is unmarried and 
living at home; (9) Robert, born in 1889: 
and (10) Emma, born in 1891, both at 
home. 

John Hargin grew up on the farm and 
received a fair education in the district 
schools. He began his business life at the 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



829 



age of eighteen as a contractor for ditching, 
and followed that occupation until his mar 
riage, in March, 1899. 

Mr. Hargin married Jennie McCreery, 
who was born in Warwick, in 1875, daugh 
ter of James and Mary McCreery, now de 
ceased. They were both of old Lambton 
County families, and settled on Concession 
7 in Enniskillen, on the farm now owned 
by Mr. Hargin. Mrs. McCreery died there 
in 1895. ^ r - McCreery went to Manitoba 
for his health, and there died in 1902. Their 
children were as follows : Henry, who died 
at the homestead, in early manhood; Ida, 
who married William Hargin, of Petrolia; 
William, who- is unmarried and living with 
his brother-in-law, John Hargin; Joseph, 
who is unmarried, and living in Petrolia; 
and Jennie, who married John Hargin. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hargin pur 
chased a fifty acre farm in Concession 7, 
now owned by the McGeachy family, and 
on selling that property moved for six 
months to Manitoba. Xot liking that coun 
try he returned to Lambton County, and 
bought the McCreery homestead, where he 
has made many improvements; 

Mr. and Mrs. Hargin are earnest mem 
bers of the Methodist Church, as are also 
his parents. In politics, Mr. Hargin votes 
with the Conservative party. He has made 
his own way in the world, starting out a 
poor boy and being now a prosperous land 
holder and esteemed citizen. He is one of 
the progressive and successful younger 
farmers of Enniskillen, where he has many 
friends. He is also well known for his ac 
tive public spirit. Both he and his wife 
come of old and esteemed families of Lamb- 
ton County, and their hospitable home is the 
center of much neighborly good cheer. 

WILLIAM HEXRY HICKS has won 
an honest and respected place for himself 
as a deputy collector of the Inland Revenue. 
Twenty-one years ago he was appointed to 
this position, and his accuracy, strict atten 
tion to details, and unyielding execution of 
every order from his superiors have retained 
for him the place ever since, for twelve 



years, being in charge of the office in Sarnia. 
Of Irish descent, he is eminently fitted by 
nature to perform the duties of this office, 
being able to meet his own people, as it were, 
in a friendly and comprehensive business-like 
way. 

Robert Hicks, grandfather of William 
Henry, a man of ability, was born and 
reared in Ireland. Here, in fact, he spent his 
entire life, one of honest toil and well-di 
rected effort. He married Margaret Gra 
ham, who was born in Ireland. In 1840, 
after the death of her husband, she came 
with her children to Ontario, locating at 
Perth. Of this marriage there were five 
children: James, Robert, William, George 
and Elizabeth. 

William Hicks, father of William 
Henry, was one of those fortunate men who 
rise easily from one stepping stone to an 
other until they finally attain positions of in 
fluence and affluence. Born in Ireland, Aug. 
21, 1816, he passed his early days in that 
country, receiving a good rearing, and prac 
tical training for life. By the time he ar 
rived with his mother in Perth, in 1840, he 
was a young man of ability and sterling 
worth. A short search for employment se 
cured him a position as clerk in a business 
house of the place. Giving excellent satis 
faction to his employers, he remained there 
some time. Later he was captain of a boat 
on the canal. Though successful, he finally 
retired from this business, and, in 1857, 
opened a hotel in Perth. Keeping a first 
class house, and securing a large patronage, 
he was enabled to continue the business, and, 
being a careful and wise financier, to make a 
thorough success of it. In fact, it seemed 
just the work for which experience and tem 
perament had fitted him, and he remained at 
this post of duty for twenty-five years. In 
1882, with the confident knowledge of a life 
well-spent, he retired from his labors. He 
died in Perth. Jan. 21. 1902. 

Mr. Hicks married Elizabeth Liklv. who 
was born in Perth, in 1833. She died in 
1855, and in 1857. he married Mary Jane 
Storey, who was born in Brockville. and is 
still living. By the first marriage there were 



8 3 o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



three children : Margaret, who was married 
to Nathan N. Miller, of Toronto ; Mary, to 
James Turpin ; and William H., who is 
mentioned below. By the second marriage 
there were five children : Frederick ; Fran 
ces, who was married to J. Walter Quys; 
Charlotte, wife of the Rev. J. T. Stiles; 
Robert Edwin, a merchant at Perth; and 
Mervyn, also a resident of Perth. 

Mr. Hicks was a man of influence in his 
community, taking a keen interest in public 
affairs; and in politics was a strong Con 
servative. He was practical in business, ab 
stemious in habits and a firm enforcer of law 
and order. Though he handled liquor, he 
would have no one in his employ who drank 
it. He belonged to the Episcopal Church. 

William Henry Hicks was reared in an 
atmosphere of business and close contact 
with the world. Born in Perth, March 13, 
1855, he was but two years old when his 
father went into the hotel business in that 
place. In the schools of his native town, 
\vhere he was a bright pupil, he received a 
thorough and practical education, and his 
home life gave him the opportunity of pick 
ing up a fund of general information which 
scarcely falls to the lot of the average boy. 
Possessed of a bent toward mechanical 
arts, upon leaving school he entered a marble 
cutter s shop and there learned a useful and 
profitable trade. Later he engaged in this 
work as a regular business, and, proving an 
adept at it, had all he could possibly do 
in this line. Engaged for the most part in 
a high grade of work, he continued the in 
dustry for ten years. Then, in 1881, he was 
appointed to the department of Inland Rev 
enue. His first station was at Toronto, 
where he remained for one year. Then, for 
periods of three years each in succession he 
filled the office of collector in Palmerston, 
St. Catharines, and in Manitoba. 

During this period, in 1887, Mr. Hicks 
married Clara Nichols, daughter of James 
Nichols, an official in the Inland Revenue 
department at Walkerton. By this union 
there have been five children : Herbert, 
Nora. William, Roy. and . Mr. 

Hicks s work as revenue collector had 



been thorough and eminently satisfactory 
to the heads of his department, and on July 
24, 1890, he was placed in charge of the 
Sarnia office, where he has since remained. 
His position is a responsible one, and he has 
proved himself, throughout his long contin 
uance in the office, worthy in every way of 
the trust imposed in him. In addition to 
performing the duties of this office Mr. 
Hicks has long acted as gas inspector, hav 
ing been appointed as such Sept. i, 1890. 
The office, however, pays nothing. Mr. 
Hicks commands respect and even admira 
tion in almost any circle. Self-poised, in 
tellectually keen, with a discriminating eye 
to order and correctness, he is the type of a 
manly, conscientious public official, who can 
not be swerved from his own interpretation 
of duty. Reared in the Episcopal faith, 
both he and his wife are consistent members 
of that church. Socially they both stand 
high, and fraternally he affiliates with the 
A. O. U. W. 

MRS. MARY A. TEMPLE. The truly 
fortunate in this life are those to whom are 
given both the desires and the material 
means of doing good to the many around 
them whose necessities call piteously for aid, 
and to such the opportunities for their 
kindly ministration are never wanting. No 
one, perhaps, in Enniskillen township, has 
done more to help the sick and needy than 
Mrs. Mary A. Temple, and the full meas 
ure of her charity can never be known, but 
rests hidden in the breasts of the grateful 
recipients. Her warm sympathetic nature is 
a part of her national inheritance, for she 
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Nov. 
19, 1841, daughter of John and Sarah 
(Robinson) Kelly. 

John Kelly was the son of John, a Brit 
ish soldier under Bliicher and Wellington; 
having been wounded he was retired on a 
pension, and died in Ireland, leaving two 
sons. One, Thomas, lived and died in Ire 
land. The other, John, born near London, 
England, grew up in Erin s Isle, attending 
the schools there, and being given a very 
good education. A carpenter, by trade, he 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



831 



followed that calling in Ireland until 1859, 
when he came to Canada, sailing via Quebec 
on a vessel which was nine weeks in making 
a voyage. Very soon after his arrival he 
was given a position as clerk in Watson & 
Wiley s store, in Brockville, near Kingston, 
where he remained four years. Although 
fitted by his education for work far different 
from farming, he chose the outdoor life be 
cause of his health, and about 1864 pur 
chased land in Middlesex County, at Ailsa 
Craig, and began his work as a farmer on 
this wild land, which was his home until his 
death, in 1885. 

For many years he was an active Orange 
man, an energetic worker for the Conserva 
tive party, and a prominent man in County 
Middlesex. Before leaving Ireland he had 
married Miss Sarah Robinson, born in that 
county in 1825, and three of his seven chil 
dren were born before they left the old 
country, Mrs. Temple being the eldest. Rob 
ert, born in 1845, grew up in Canada, and 
then married Miss Harriet Hughes, a native 
of New York State. With their children 
they now reside in Manitoba. Rachel is the 
wife of John Cameron, of Ailsa Craig, Mid 
dlesex County, and the mother of a family. 
Sarah, the first child born in Canada, mar 
ried Robert Benton, of Northwest Canada, 
and has a large family. Andrew married 
Miss Mary Graveman and lives in Brandon, 
where he is a wealthy mill owner and mayor 
of the city. His three children are named 
Eward, Allen and Veva. Lititia married 
John Cowan, a prominent farmer of County 
Middlesex. They have no children. Thomas 
J.. married Miss Mary Alexander, of Craig, 
Middlesex County, and with his family lives 
at Brandon. Northwest Canada. 

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. 
Temple were Andrew and Fannie Robinson, 
of Ireland, where both died. The family 
were consistent and devoted members of the 
Methodist Church. Of the children born 
to this couple, six came to Canada, namely : 
Robert, Andrew. James and Margaret, who 
all died in Canada, the last named a maiden 
lady; Elizabeth, deceased wife of the late 
James Tracy, of Ireland, who after her hus 



band s death brought her children to Can 
ada to live; and Sarah, Mrs. John Kelly, who 
died at her old home in Middlesex County, in 
1890. The Robinsons were, like the Kellys. 
a prominent family in the county politics. 
Mrs. John Kelly s grandfather accompanied 
John Wesley on his first visit to the United 
States. 

Mrs. Mary Temple grew to womanhood 
in Middlesex County, where she received 
only a limited education. Aug. 6, 1856, 
she married Duncan Cameron, of London, 
Canada, where he had passed all his boy 
hood and youth. The young couple settled 
on a farm near Mr. Kelly s place, where oc 
curred Mr. Cameron s death in April, 1867. 
He left his wife with four children: (i) 
Catherine, torn in 1857, married Hugh 
Bowman, of Craig, where they lived on a 
farm. Mrs. Bowman died Jan. 10, 1893. 
leaving three children. Wilfred \Y.. Ernest 
and Mary A. (2) John K., born in March. 
1860, married Miss Emma Brenan, of Lamb- 
ton County. He is now one of the well-to-do 
fanners of Manitoba, with one son. Lee. 
(3) Samuel, Ixirn Aug. 10, 1862, married 
Miss Dora Wheeler, of Enniskillen town 
ship, is foreman in the oil fields of Hon. J. 
H. Fairbank, of Marthaville, and has three 
children, Wilfred, Winnie and Lauren. (4) 
Andrew R., born Nov. 19, 1864, married 
Miss Annie Butler, of Lambton County, and 
resides in Rapid City, where he owns a ho 
tel. He has two sons, Percy D. and Harold. 
Mrs. Cameron s marriage to John H. Temple 
occurred in December, 1875. They settled 
in Enniskillen township, on Lots 3. 4 and 16, 
Concession 12, where Mr. Temple had ex 
tensive oil interests. There were no children 
born to this marriage. Air. Temple, who was 
a prosperous and well known resident of 
Lambton County, was especially prominent 
in the field of church work, to which he de 
voted a generous share of his time and at 
tention ; he was for many years a class leader 
in the Methodist Church. He was a Con 
servative in politics and a member of the 
orders of Foresters and the Templars. His 
death was a sudden one. Sept. 27, 1890, 
caused bv the fall of an oil derrick, and his 



832 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



loss was universally a matter of deep re 
gret. 

Mrs. Temple has been connected for over 
forty years with the Methodist Church, 
where for the past eighteen years she has 
acted as treasurer of the Ladies Aid So 
ciety. She is a woman of rare Christian 
character and has a lifetime of good works 
behind her. While her education in youth 
was meagre, life itself has been her educator 
leading her into the fullness of a cultured 
womanhood and she is loved and respected 
by all who know her. 

JOHN WALL, one of Lambton Coun 
ty s representative stock farmers, is actively 
engaged on his farm on Lot 35, Concession 
10, Euphemia township. Mr. Wall is a na 
tive of Lambton County, born in Brooke 
township, Lot 20, Concession i, July 28, 
1850, son of Henry and Hannah (Sheppard) 
Wall, pioneers of Euphemia township. 

Henry Wall was born in Ireland in 1813, 
and his wife in Ross Gray, near Dublin, in 
1823. She was the daughter of John and 
Mary (Smith) Sheppard, who lived and 
died in Ireland, leaving a family who came 
to Canada. Henry Wall was the son of 
Thomas and Mary (Sheppard) Wall, who 
came from Ireland to Canada in 1826, first 
settling in Lower Canada, whence they came 
west to Brooke, where Mr. Wall made a 
permanent home. He had a family of three 
sons and four daughters: William, the 
eldest, was a farmer, and died in Euphemia 
township; Thomas died at the old home 
stead ; Jane, deceased, was the wife of John 
Bell ford of Euphemia; Ellen, deceased, was 
the wife of John Clements; Ann. deceased, 
was the wife of Thomas Tully; Mary, de 
ceased, was the wife of Henry Roe. who 
lived and died in Lower Canada ; and Henry, 
the father of our subject. 

Henry Wall was thirteen years old when 
his parents came to Canada. He received 
his education in Ireland before coming to 
this country, and grew to manhood on his 
father s farm, which he helped to clear from 
the woods. In 1842 he married Hannah 
Sheppard, and they settled in a little log 



cabin. Mr. Wall cleared up a farm and made 
a permanent home, where he died in 1885, 
his widow passing away at the home of our 
subject in 1903. They were consistent mem 
bers of the English Church, his home being 
headquarters for the ministry. He was a 
lifelong member of the Orangemen. In poli 
tics he was a stanch Conservative. The 
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wall were as 
follows: Mary A., born in 1845, deceased, 
was the wife of William Cox, deceased, a 
farmer of Brooke, and they had four chil 
dren, Henry, Victoria, William and Han 
nah; Hannah, born in 1848, married James 
Pierce, now residing in Alvinston, and had 
a family of four children, Eliza J. (educated 
in the Alvinston high schools, is a dress 
maker), Henry A. (of Alvinston), James 
(of Alvinston), and Hannah (deceased) ; 
William, born in 1854, married Miss Clara 
McCartey, and settled on his father s old 
homestead, where he died April 15, 1905, 
leaving his widow with two children, Charles 
and Cecil; Eliza J., born in Brooke, died in 
young womanhood ; and John. 

John Wall worked on the home farm un 
til he started out in life on his own account, 
receiving but a limited education. In 1879 
he purchased his present home, then all wild 
land, which he has cleared up into a fine 
farm, erecting his home in 1883. and his 
barns in 1888. In 1885 he married Miss 
Sarah Cox, born in Euphemia township. Feb. 
14, 1851, daughter of Frances and Ann 
(Powell) Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are con 
sistent members of the English Church. Po 
litically he is a Conservative. He is a mem 
ber of the Orangemen, No. 292, Aughrim 
Lodge. 

JOHN McCORKINDALE. for many 
years an esteemed resident of Enniskillen 
township, Lambton County, was of Scotch 
origin. 

Allen McCorkindale. John McCorkin- 
dale s father, was a Scotchman of Argyll 
shire, and died in his native land. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Mary Leach, came 
to Canada with her family and settled in 
Enniskillen township in 1852, her death tak- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



833 



ing place there in 1875. Of her family all are 
now dead except two daughters, Mrs. Alex 
ander Dawson, of Enniskillen township, and 
Miss Mary McCorkindale, of Lambton 
County. All three sons settled in Ennis 
killen township: Hugh married Mary Gil- 
lis. Archie, the eldest, was married to Mary 
McKenzie, but left no children. John is our 
subject. 

John McCorkindale was born in Argyll 
shire, Jan. 12, 1830, and his wife, Margaret 
McKellar, came from the same locality, born 
twelve years later. The McKellars settled 
in Lambton County after reaching Canada, 
and there the two young people were mar 
ried in 1867. John McCorkindale was well 
educated, was a great reader, and was well 
informed in current literature and the history 
of his own country. After his marriage he 
and his wife bought the present homestead 
in Lot 23, Concession 14, and there endured 
all the hardships of pioneer life, living in a 
log house for many years. After a while a 
large frame house was erected which was 
the home of the family from that time. The 
mother died in May, 1886, and the father in 
April, 1902. They were members of the 
Presbyterian Church, which they helped to 
found in that section. Politically Mr. Mc 
Corkindale was a Liberal, and he held vari 
ous local offices. 

There was a family of nine born to 
John and Margaret McCorkindale. (i) 
Allen, the eldest, died in early manhood; he 
had always lived at home, and was a teacher 
in the township schools. (2) Annie, born at 
the present home, is unmarried, and is a 
dressmaker at Alvinston. (3) Mary was 
born at the old home, attended the district 
schools, and after completing the courses 
offered in them also took a college course, 
becoming a woman of culture and refine 
ment. After her mother s death she became 
the manager of the family home. For a 
year before her marriage she kept a dress 
making shop in \Yatford. On Aug. 10. 
1905. she was married to John H. Oliver, a 
contractor, of Wyoming, in which village 
they reside. (4) Lachlan is unmarried 
and lives on the home farm. (5) Cath 



erine lives at home, unmarried. She 
is also a woman of culture and education. 
(6) Neil died in April. 1898, aged twenty- 
two years. (7) Peter also died in early man 
hood, in May, 1903. (8) Laurin C. died in 
childhood. (9) John s life has all been 
spent at home, where he still resides with his 
sisters, and since his father s death he has 
been in charge of the farm. The family are 
all members of the Presbyterian Church. 

John McCorkindale, the father, began 
life in comparative poverty, but he was en 
terprising and determined, and came to be 
one of the leading farmers of the county, a 
large landowner, and a wealthy man. In 
disposition he was most kindly and thought 
ful of others, and in conduct thoroughly hon 
est and upright, so that he enjoyed a wide 
popularity and was universally esteemed and 
loved, while his family are all likewise among 
the most highly respected citizens of the 
community. 

JOHN LUKE, a successful farmer on 
Concession 5, Lot 17, Brooke township. 
Lambton County, was born in Berwickshire, 
Scotland, May 26, 1849, son of Robert and 
Marguerite (Ford) Luke, and a grandson 
of James Luke, who died in Scotland. 

Robert Luke, father of John, was a 
farmer on the estate of John Spottswood, 
one of the large real estate dealers of his 
parish, where Robert Luke and his father 
had been managers for over forty years. 
Mrs. Luke was a daughter of James Ford, 
of Scotland, and both she and her husband 
died before our subject sailed for Canada. 
They left three sons and a daughter, all of 
whom are deceased except John, and pos 
sibly Aaron, who may be living in New 
Zealand. 

John Luke was educated in Scotland, and 
in 1873 left Glasgow and came to Canada, 
landing at Quebec and settling in Montreal. 
Here he remained a short time, and then re 
moved to Toronto and worked on a farm for 
about six months. Located in Huron Coun 
ty, he worked at lumbering, and then re 
moved to Brooke township. Lambton Coun 
ty, and was employed by the Michigan Cen- 



34 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tral railroad, during the building of the Al- 
vinston branch. Mr. Luke then purchased 
a tract of land on Concession 4, on which 
he lived for a short time, later selling this 
tract and purchasing the one he now occu 
pies, where he cleared up a fine farm from 
wild land. 

In January, 1875, ^ r - Luke married 
Miss Maggie Ellis, born in October, 1851, 
near Alvinston, daughter of William and 
Mary Ellis, and to this union the following 
children have been born : Robert, born in 
Brooke township, resides at the homestead ; 
Alma Mary, educated in Brooke township, 
married John McCallum, a farmer of Eu- 
phemia, and has one child, Robert Alex 
ander; Eliza E. resides at home; Mary A. 
married Dougald Reader, a farmer of Brooke 
township; and Maggie M., and Eva. Mr. 
and Mrs. Luke are attendants of the Pres 
byterian Church. Politically he is a member 
of the old Grit party, and has filled the posi 
tion of trustee of the Brooke township 
schools for several years. Fraternally he is 
associated with Alvinston Lodge, I. O. O. F. 
Mr. Luke is well known in the community 
in which he resides, and he bears the reputa 
tion of being an upright citizen, an efficient 
public officer and an honest man. 

Wl LLI AM S. STONEHOUSE. 
Among the successful farmers and prom 
inent citizens of Forest, Plympton township, 
Lambton County, is William S. Stonehouse, 
ex-reeve of Forest, who was born in York 
County, Ont, Oct. 14, 1832, son of George 
and Mary (Sommers) Stonehouse. 

George Stonehouse was born in Apple- 
ton, Yorkshire, England, while his wife was 
born in the same neighborhood. They came 
to Canada, first locating in York County, 
where they remained a few years, and then 
moved to Middlesex County, and took up 
100 acres of bush land in Lobo township, 
where he built a log house, as was customary 
in those days. After years of privations, 
hard work and great economy, he succeeded 
in bringing the land into an excellent state 
of cultivation, and erected upon it a sub 
stantial house and good barn. The last five 



years of his useful life were spent in retire 
ment at Ailsa Craig. To him and his first- 
wife were born children as follows : David, 
deceased ; Stephen ; George ; David ; William 
S. and Henry. By a second marriage con 
tracted with Mrs. Sarah Montross, Mr. 
Stonehouse had three children : Mary Ann, 
Emma and Levy. 

William S. Stonehouse acquired a limited 
education in the old log school house of Lobo 
township, but since then has added to his 
fund of information by reading and close 
observation. At the same time he worked 
upon the homestead farm, thus continuing 
until he was twenty years of age, when he 
worked at the carpenter s trade, and in 1864, 
he removed to Forest, where he continued as 
a carpenter for a short time, and then his at 
tention was again turned to farming. 

On June 9. 1857, Mr. Stonehouse was 
married in St. Mary s, to Miss Mary E. 
Pierce, born in London township, Middle 
sex County, Ont., daughter of Oliver M. and 
Sarah (Armstrong) Pierce; she died in Jan 
uary, 1902. To this marriage six children 
were born : Oliver, married Lizzie McLeod, 
had two children. Ophelia and Lome, and 
died June 7, 1898; Sarah Elizabeth; Maud 
Annis, married Israel Dutwilder ; William 
W., married Christina McDougall, and has 
four children ; John Newton ; and Morley, 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Stonehouse has taken a prominent 
part in local affairs, as a member of the Re 
form party, and has served his constituents 
very faithfully as member of the council for 
six years, and for one year as reeve. He is 
very popular with his neighbors and friends. 

JAMES CLYSDALE, now living re 
tired on his broad acres in Moore township, 
County of Lambton, was for many years a 
well-known farmer and extensive cattle 
dealer in the counties of Peterborough and 
Lambton. With the weight of eighty-two 
years resting lightly upon him, in full po- 
session of all his faculties, he is resting from 
his labors, and passing the evening of his 
days in the enjoyment of the comforts \\-on 
in the past. He was born in County Mona- 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



35 



ghan, Aug. 17, 1823, son of Samuel Clys- 
dale, a native of the same county. 

Samuel Clysdale was a farmer in Ire 
land, and in that country wedded Agnes Hol- 
laday, who bore him eight children, seven of 
whom were born before the emigration of the 
family to America. They were : James, 
\Yilliam, John, Thomas, Alexander, Samuel, 
George and Sarah, of whom four are yet 
living, making their homes in different parts 
of Canada. With his wife and six young 
children Samuel Clysdale left the home in 
Ireland, in 1840, for the New World, and 
after a voyage lasting seven weeks and three 
days, landed at Quebec. Coming at once 
to Ontario, then a new country with few set 
tlers, he settled on a loo-acre tract in Dum- 
mer township, County of Peterborough, 
where, erecting a small log house, he estab 
lished his family and began the life of a 
pioneer. He cleared up his land, and there 
passed the remainder of his days, dying at 
the age of seventy years. His remains were 
laid to rest in the cemetery at Norwood. He 
was a strict Presbyterian, and reared his 
family in that faith. In politics he was a 
Conservative. The mother lived to the age 
of eighty-three, and is also buried at Nor 
wood. 

James Clysdale received but limited op 
portunities for an education, the emigration 
of the family putting an end to his schooling. 
He became an efficient assistant of his father 
in the clearing of the home place, where he re 
mained until he was twenty-two years of age. 
Starting out for himself, he bought 100 
acres in the same township for which he was 
obliged to go into debt. Erecting a log cabin, 
he began the clearing of his farm, his ex 
perience on his father s land proving of 
great value to him, and he was able to make 
rapid improvement. He married and his 
young bride began her housekeeping content 
to get along with the barest of necessities, 
and happy in the hope of the future. The 
years passed on. and the little log cabin gave 
way to a handsome stone residence. The 
original 100 acres had been added to until 
500 acres of fine well-cultivated fields were 
comprised in the farm. Mr. Clysdale became 



one of the prominent cattle dealers of the 
Dominion, shipping stock to Quebec, Mon 
treal, Toronto, Buffalo, Albany, New York, 
and other large cities. For over fort}- years 
he carried on this business with great suc 
cess, from $15,000 to $20,000 passing 
through his hands annually. In 1881 he 
sold out the farm and other property in the 
County of Peterborough, settling on the St. 
Clair river in Moore township, where he 
purchased 300 acres. He continued in the 
cattle business with his son John until 1894. 
when he retired, the son continuing alone. 
Honorable business methods and persistent 
efforts were the only aids Mr. Clysdale had 
in winning his fortune, and at the same time 
he won the unbounded esteem of his fellow 
men. 

On Dec. 28, 1847. ^ r - Clysdale was uni 
ted in marriage at Norwood, County of 
Peterborough, by Rev. Mr. Rogers, with 
Maria Jones, who was torn in County Wick- 
low, Ireland, Feb. 4, 1829, daughter of 
James and Alice (Finlay) Jones, who emi 
grated to Canada and made a permanent 
home in the County of Peterborough. Mr. 
and Mrs. Clysdale have spent fifty-eight 
happy years together, sharing each other s 
burdens and joys, and are now passing their 
days in well-earned enjoyment of the rest 
that is theirs. Nine children came to bless 
their union, namely : Samuel, born Sept. 28, 
1849, i s a farmer in Moore township; Sarah 
Ann, born July 6, 1851. is the widow of 
William Wigmore and lives in Cleveland. 
Ohio; Elizabeth, born Feb. 7, 1854. married 
William Henry Breaden, of Norwood; John 
J.. born Feb. 7, 1856, has succeeded his fa 
ther in the cattle business ; William, born 
Oct. 24, 1858, died in infancy; Charlotte, 
born June 27, 1860, married Robert Ed 
wards, of Moore township ; Maria, born Oct. 
14, 1862, married John Hosie, of Moore 
township; T. James, born Oct. 17, 1864. is 
a farmer in Moore township ; and Harriet, 
born May 10. 1867. married (first) David 
Hosie. and (second) Donald Merrison. 

Politically Mr. Clysdale has always been 
independent, voting for the candidate, re 
gardless of party. He is domestic in his 



8 3 6 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tastes, and temperate in his habits. In the 
Methodist Church, in which faith he was 
reared, he has filled the office of steward and 
trustee, and from his youth has been active 
in religious work. His wife has been at his 
side in all good works, and her generous 
warm-hearted nature has led her to lighten 
the burdens of many a weary wayfarer. She 
has been a neighbor of neighbors, and is be 
loved wherever known. 

JOHN J. CLYSDALE was born Feb. 7, 
1856, in Dummer township, County of Peter 
borough, Ont., and was educated -in the dis 
trict schools. He worked at home with his 
father on the farm and in the cattle business, 
and was shipper of cattle at the early age of 
fifteen years. After considerable experience 
under his father in the buying and selling of 
cattle, he formed a partnership with John 
Collins, of Hastings, with whom he was en 
gaged for four years in cattle dealing. In 
1 88 1 he formed a partnership with his fa 
ther, shipping cattle to the United States and 
Europe, and for the past twenty-three years 
he has been extensively engaged as a buyer 
of cattle from western Ontario, doing some 
years from $50,000 to $100,000 worth of 
business. He is also interested in farming, 
owning a tract of 140 acres, and he rents 
300 acres of pasture, feeding yearly over 
100 head of cattle. He is well known all 
over Ontario, and is noted for his honorable 
dealings and integrity. 

Mr. Clysdale married Jan. 4, 1884, in 
Norwood. Ont.. Bertha Reynolds, who was 
born in Norwood, daughter of Hiram Rey 
nolds, a stock dealer. Mrs. Clysdale is a 
woman of agreeable personality, and is de 
voted to her husband and family which com 
prises seven children : Gertrude, who mar 
ried Bert Hamilton, of Detroit, and has one 
child, Vera; Mabel, Myrtle, Bertha. Russell, 
Gladys and Lawrence, at home. 

Mr. Clysdale is a Liberal in politics, and 
though he has no aspiration for office, he 
has served as school trustee of Corunna for 
the past twelve years. He is a member of the 
I. O. F. at Samia. but his tastes are most do 
mestic, and he takes his best enjoyment with 
his family. The family attend the Methodist 
Church at Corunna. 



MRS. LIZZIE WRIGHT is not only 
the head of a family well known and highly 
respected in Enniskillen, Lambton County, 
but is also a successful business woman. 
Since her husband s death in 1890, Mrs. 
Wright has put down several wells on their 
oil producing property, Lot 13, Concession 
12, Lambton County, and has carried on a 
thriving trade. 

Mrs. Wright was born near Dublin, Ire 
land, in October, 1843, and her parents, John 
and Catherine Hennessy, died when she was 
six years old. They were both natives of 
Ireland, and there passed their entire lives. 
The child, Lizzie, was brought to Canada, 
and grew up in the household of Mrs. Ham 
ilton, in Brantford, Ont., there attending 
school. In 1869 she married David Wright, 
of Brantford, and they moved to Rouzer- 
ville, Pennsylvania, where they made their 
home for five years. 

Mr. Wright came of an old Scotch fam 
ily, and was born in Edinburgh in 1842, son 
of David and Margaret Wright, of that 
place. During the years spent in Brantford 
Mr. Wright was engaged as an engineer in 
the oil fields, and in 1874 they went to Pe- 
trolia. Lambton County, Ont., where he was 
oil receiver and foreman for the Petrolia 
Company. After a time he purchased the 
property in Lambton County, still owned by 
Mrs. Wright, and erected the family home, 
engaging in the production of oil until his 
death in 1890. Mrs. Wright then took 
charge of the business, which she still con 
tinues with success. 

Mr. Wright left a family of four chil 
dren. The eldest was William, born in 
Pennsylvania in 1872, who grew up in Pe 
trolia, and there learned the trade of paper 
hanger. He married Nellie Rawling, of Pe 
trolia, and they have one son, John E. : their 
home is in Petrolia. James, the second son, 
was born in 1874. in Rouzerville, Pennsyl 
vania, and is bookkeeper and manager for 
the Standard Oil Company, on the I2th Line. 
He married Bertha King, of Petrolia. and 
their one child is William. The third child 
of Mr. and Mrs. Wright was Annie L., 
born in Petrolia in 1877, and educated in 
the grammar and high schools of that place. 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



For some years she was a music teacher in 
Petrolia, previous to her marriage to James 
Wright, .a machinist of Stratford, Out. 
Their home is in Stratford, and they have 
one daughter, Marian. The youngest of the 
family was David, born in Petrolia in 1879, 
where lie grew up and was educated in the 
public schools. He makes a business of 
drilling oil wells, owning his own drilling 
outfit ; he is unmarried and lives at the family 
home with his mother. 

In politics Mr. Wright, the father, was a 
Conservative, and his sons have not departed 
from the family tradition in their political 
adherence, although none of them have ever 
cared to hold public office. William and 
James Wright are members of the Knights 
of Pythias, Petrolia Lodge. 

Mrs. Wright lias two sisters and one 
brother living, Maria and Jane. The former 
was born in Ireland, and is the widow of 
Cornelius Murphy; her home is at Niagara 
Falls, Xew York. Jane Hennessy married 
Otto Lewin, of New York City, and their 
one child is William, an artist in New York. 
John, a farmer of Crawford Co., Kansas, 
married Matilda Campbell, and has a large 
family. Mrs. Wright takes an active inter 
est in the work of the Presbyterian Church, 
where her husband was also a member. She 
is widely known for her many Christian vir 
tues, and her children are highly esteemed in 
the community. The family is prominent 
both in Enniskillen and Petrolia, and its 
members are honored and respected in their 
business and social relations. 

ROBERT STOXEHOUSE. With the 
opening of the County of Lambton to civili 
zation came a hardy pioneer, Joseph Stone- 
house, who pitted his strength and skill 
against the natural wilderness, and, as the 
years passed by, received the reward of fer 
tile fields and abundant crops. His name is 
worthily perpetuated by his sons. Robert and 
Amos Stonehouse, enterprising farmers, and 
reliable trusty citizens. 

Joseph Stonehouse was born in York 
shire, England, Feb. 10, 1820, and he re 
ceived his education in his native land, com- 



837 

ing to Canada in his young manhood, and lo 
cating near Toronto. He there married 
(second) Diana Graven, who was born in 
Yorkshire, England, in 1824. After their 
marriage the young couple engaged in farm 
ing near Toronto for six years, and then, feel 
ing that wider opportunities awaited those 
who were willing to toil in the uncleared re 
gions, they moved from Toronto by wagon 
to County Lambton. They settled "on what 
is now the present home of their son, Rob 
ert, in Enniskillen. and erected a small log 
house in which they lived for some years. 
As the land was prepared for cultivation and 
the returns became more plentiful, a com 
fortable frame dwelling took the place of the 
original cabin, and large barns were built as 
needed for the stock and grain. Mr. Stone- 
house prospered and became the owner of 
other lands beside his homestead. He con 
tinued to be actively engaged in agricultural 
pursuits until 1892, when he purchased prop 
erty in Wyoming, and built a home in which 
he passed his last years living retired, sur 
rounded by comforts his early years had 
earned for his declining days. He passed 
away in September, 1902, but his widow still 
resides in Wyoming. In politics Joseph 
Stonehouse was a stanch Conservative, and 
he served acceptably as a member of the 
council and as a member of the school board 
for a number of years. He was a man 
among men. Possessing the dogged per 
sistence to go ahead when others fail, he 
won for himself a large property, and was 
able to assist his sons in their work, and to 
rejoice that their lot would not be as hard 
as his had been. All the toil and privation 
of pioneer life was cheerfully endured by 
him and his wife for the sake of their chil 
dren, and while they worked for the material 
side of things they by no means worked for 
that alone. They clung to the faith of their 
ancestors, and were communicants of the 
Church of England, and were active in aid 
ing in religious work. Their duties were 
performed uncomplainingly, and they faith 
fully endeavored to fill their places "in that 
station of life into which it hath pleased God 
to call them." Nine children came to brighten 



8 3 8 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



their home life, and these they reared to be 
honorable men and women, a credit to the 
community in which they were reared. Their 
children were : ( i ) William, born in To 
ronto, resides in Plympton. He married 
May Livingston, of the County of Lambton, 
and has six children, Ella, Angus, Joseph, 
\Yilliam, Agnes and Sarah. (2) Sarah mar 
ried Thomas Steadman. (3) Marshall, born 
in Toronto, resides in Petrolia, where he is 
engaged in the oil business. He married 
Stella Smith, of Guelph, and has six chil 
dren, Henry, Fred, Joseph. Lizzie, Stella 
and Ruby. (4) John, born at Toronto, 
learned the trade of a carriage builder when 
a young man, and located at Brigden, where 
he died in 1878. (5) Robert. (6) Richard, 
born at the present home in 1857, resides on 
Lot 25. Enniskillen. He married Annie 
Armstrong, and has four children, Joseph, 
Annie, Florence and William. (7) Joseph, 
born in 1860, learned the trade of miller, 
and is now the owner of a successful mill in 
Thedford. He married Bella McVicker, of 
Plympton, and has two children. Erne and 
George. (8) James, torn in 1863, is the 
owner of a fine farm in Enniskillen town 
ship, and resides in Wyoming. He married 
Katie Armstrong, and has one daughter, 
Rosie. (9) Amos. 

Robert Stonehouse was born on his pres 
ent farm Jan. 27, 1855. He there grew to 
manhood, and early became familiar with the 
duties of a farmer in an unbroken country. 
He gave the strength of his youth to assist 
in cultivating the home farm, where he grew 
to manhood. After his marriage he located 
in Concession 12, where he cleared up 100 
acres of wild land, and erected barns and 
made general improvements. He remained 
there twenty years, and in 1899 he became 
the owner by purchase, of the old homestead, 
whither he at once returned. Since then he 
has made a specialty of rearing blooded Dur 
ham cattle. Like his father he has become 
a useful citizen, and he has taken an active 
part in public affairs, being always on the 
side of progress, and also being willing to do 
his share to improve the town and county. 



Politically he is a believer in Conservative 
principles, 

In February, 1881, Mr. Stonehouse was 
united in marriage with Mary Gault, who 
was born in Ireland in June, 1857, daughter 
of John and Sidney (Calumn) Gault, all 
residents of Ireland. Mrs. Stonehouse came 
to Canada in 1877. Six children have been 
born to this union : Robert J., born in July, 
1883; William, 1885; Roy, 1887; Delia, 
1892; Reta B., 1895; and Stanley, in Jan 
uary, 1899. In their religious belief Mr. 
and Airs. Stonehouse are members of the 
English Church. Socially he belongs to the 
Wyoming Lodge of Maccabees, No. 38, 
where he is greatly esteemed. 

Mrs. Stonehouse has three sisters in 
Canada : Annie, now the wife of Robert 
O Neil, of Enniskillen; Sidney, wife of Ed 
ward Webb, of Toronto; and Sarah, wife of 
Edward Williamson, of Toronto. 

Mr. Stonehouse is a substantial farmer, 
who holds a high place in the estimation of 
his neighbors and friends, not alone as he 
has proved his ability to win a competence, 
but because of his own intrinsic worth. He 
is a man of high personal integrity, who ful 
fills all his obligations, and withal is a pleas 
ant genial companion, ever ready to help a 
friend. He is kind and charitable to those in 
need, and he numbers his friends by the 
score. 

AMOS STONEHOUSE, a well known agri 
culturist of Plympton township, was torn 
on the old homestead in Enniskillen town 
ship May 19. 1867. He passed his boyhood 
days at home with his parents, attending the 
Union school of Enniskillen, and in Plymp 
ton township, and remained at the homestead 
with his father until the latter retired from 
farming. After that he and his brother 
James carried on the place for about five 
years from 1892, after which Amos spent 
one season in Manitoba. In 1897 with the 
assistance of his father he bought the Col 
lins farm on Lot 17, ist Concession, in 
1 lympton, and there for the last several years 
he" has been engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. He has constructed a fine barn and 

o 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made other improvements on the farm, being 
a thrifty man of domestic tastes. He is a 
Conservative in political faith, but is not 
enough interested in such matters to seek or 
desire office. He is a member of the Church 
of England, attending at Wyoming. Mr. 
Stonehouse is unmarried. 

TROXSOX DRAPER, who departed 
this life in March, 1899, was one of the lead 
ing- men of Petrolia, and a native of Whit- 
by, Ont., where he was born in 1839, and 
where he grew to manhood. He was a son 
of James Draper, the founder of the family 
m Canada, who located in Ontario County, 
where he served as deputy registrar ; he died 
in 1889. 

The late Tronson Draper served an ap 
prenticeship to the trade of machinist at 
Dundas. and in 1866 he removed to Petrolia 
and embarked in that line with Hector Mac- 
Kenzie under the firm style of Draper & Mac- 
Kenzie, which partnership continued for 
about live years. At the expiration of that 
period each went into business for himself, 
Mr. Draper establishing himself on the pres 
ent site of the town hall, which property he 
owned and used as his place of business for 
some years. He also operated a branch es 
tablishment at Marthaville, and was very 
successful, as he was also in the oil business. 
He later confined his efforts to Petrolia, 
where his death occurred, and he became one 
of the leading men of the city. For some 
years he was a member of the city council, 
and he also served on the school board. In 
his political views he was a Conservative, 
and always adhered to the principles of his 
party. 

In 1866 Air. Draper was united in mar 
riage with Miss Mary Ferguson, a daughter 
of Thomas and Rachel (McKechnie) Fer 
guson, the former of whom was born in 
Scotland, and came to Ontario in 1826. and 
was a millwright by trade, dying at Dundas 
in 1846, while his wife passed away in Pe 
trolia in 1893. aged seventy-five year s. Airs. 
Draper was born in Dundas in" 1845. The 
children born to Air. and Airs. Draper were 
as follows: James Ferguson, born in Dun- 



839 

das, in 1867, is a business man of Port Hu 
ron ; he married Janie D. Larson, of Toronto, 
ihomas is a member of the Draper Alanu- 
facturing Company, of Port Huron; Jane 
E. is a teacher in Petrolia; Arthur lives at 
Port Huron; Walter H. at home. Three 
others are deceased. 

Airs. Draper resides in Petrolia, to which 
city she came in 1866, and she is among the 
honored ladies of this locality. Like her 
husband she is a faithful membeV of the Pres 
byterian Church, and gives liberally towards 
its support. The memory of Mr. Draper is 
tenderly cherished by many outside his own 
family, and in his death the city of Petrolia 
lost a good citizen and enterprising busi 
ness man. 

WILLIAM CLEMENTS. Among the 
leading farmers of Lambton County none 
is more deserving of mention in this volume 
than the subject of this sketch, one of the 
councillors of Euphemia township, who re 
sides on his beautiful farm on Concession 4, 
Lot 32. Mr. Clements was born on that 
farm July 22, 1844, son of John and Ellen 
(Wall) Clements, natives of Ireland who 
came to Canada in their youth. 

John Clements and his brother William 
came to America as young men with their, 
mother; their father, John Clements, Sr., 
having died in the old country. The broth 
ers purchased land in Euphemia township 
Lambton County. William on the 6th Con 
cession, and John on the 4th Concession 
\\ illiam settled first on his farm, but later 
moved to Xewbury. Middlesex County, 
where he followed mercantile pursuits for 
some years; he died leaving a family who 
are now living in Winnipeg. Their sister, 
Jane Clements, remained in the old country. 
John Clements settled, as before stated, 
on the 4th Concession, on the farm now oc 
cupied by our subject and his brother. There 
he married Ellen Wall, daughter of Thomas 
Wall, and after marriage settled in the woods 
m a round log house, where he lived until 
1859. Then he went to the gold fields of 
British Columbia, leaving his wife and fam 
ily on the farm, our subject being old enough 



840 



COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to look after the place. Mr. Clements was 
successful in staking out a rich claim, and 
there lie worked for four years, becoming 
quite wealthy. In 1863 he and his partner 
had arranged to return to their families, hut 
he was never again heard from. The farm 
was nearly cleared before he departed for 
the gold fields, and Airs. Clements and her 
sons continued the clearing, our subject and 
his brother James erecting a new house, 
where Mrs. Clements died. The following 
children were born to John and Ellen (Wall) 
Clements : James, born in 1842, resides with 
the family, and is still unmarried ; William 
is mentioned below; Mary A., torn in 1846, 
died in young womanhood ; Jane, born in 
1849, is the wife of Joseph Burr, a resident 
of the 4th Concession, and has one son, Ab- 
ner; Catherine, born in 1851, married Sam 
uel Turtle, of the 3d Concession, Euphemia, 
and has two daughters, Lelia and Mary; 
Thomas, born in 1854, married Miss Mary 
A. Johnston, daughter of James Johnston, 
and they have one son, Russell ; Eliza, born 
in 1856, is the wife of Richard Tully, of the 
5th Concession, Euphemia township ; John, 
born in 1857, now a farmer on the 5th Con 
cession,, married Miss Helen Wright, and 
has one son, Fred W. ; Ellen, born in 1859, 
married David Armstrong, a well-to-do 
farmer of Euphemia township. 

William Clements received a fair educa 
tion in the schools of Euphemia township, 
and with his brother James had charge of the 
farm and of the raising of the family. In 
1879 he erected a house on part of the old 
homestead, which he cleared up to be a fine 
farm. In 1881 he married Miss Hannah 
Brownlee, born in Euphemia township in 



1855, daughter of Christopher and Mary 
(Maxwell) Brownlee, pioneers who came 
from Ireland and settled on the gth Conces 
sion, Euphemia township, Lambton County, 
where he died in 1894, and she in 1882. Of 
the six daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Brownlee, only two are living, namely : Mrs. 
Clements; and Mrs. Joseph Cox, of Brooke 
township. Mrs. Clements was reared in 
Euphemia township, and educated in the 
neighboring schools. After their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Clements settled on the present 
home. In 1882 our subject became agent 
for the Massey Agricultural Co., in Lamb- 
ton County, and was in their employ ten 
years. After this company amalgamated 
with the Massey Harris Co., our subject en 
gaged with Erost & Wood for three years, 
and then entered the employ of the Deering 
Company of Hamilton, where he still is. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Clements have been 
born the following children : Mary, born in 
1883, living at home, is a. very well educated 
young lady, and was a student at Alma Col 
lege, where she finished her education ; John 
C. died in childhood; E. Ethel, born in 1887, 
is a student in Alma College; William C., 
born in 1890, is a student in the home 
schools. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clements are members of 
the Church of England, in which Mr. Clem 
ents is a warden. Politically he is a Con 
servative, has filled the position of trustee of 
schools, and in 1896 was elected a member 
of the Council, a position he has filled, with 
the exception of two years, up to the present 
time. He was deputy reeve of the township 
for two years. He is a member of the 
Orangemen at Euphemia. 



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